#it got no proofing through last basically 4k words

[madridfangirl]

A Weekend in Ibiza - Part 3

(Jude Bellingham blurb)

(Part 1, Part 2, Part 4)

4k words. Jude*female reader. Smut & suggestive language.

A/n - When we don't get Jude holiday content, we make shit up

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Jude stared at the blank screen after she hung up on him. In utter disbelief.

He really thought he was in. The wine & note was such a master stroke. A public message but one only she would understand. That, coupled with the song, was absolute pants-dropping stuff. Proof that he could do more than just think with his dick. 

He had been quite proud of himself for coming up with it. And, unless his radar was completely broken, he had sensed a change in her tone & voice too.

But poof. The pat on the back was clearly premature. 

Fuck this shit. 

Determined to go back to how smooth & satisfying this vacation was going till this morning, Jude returned to the club. And to the set of women he was holding off when he thought he was gonna be otherwise occupied. 

His mates could see he was off the rails tonight. Grinding & grabbing freely. Caution out of the window. High on loads of tequila and some other emotion he wasn’t in the mood to share, not even with them. They let him be, only intervening when he was gonna end up with someone in the club’s loo, and sending them back to the villa.

As a gorgeous & supremely enthusiastic woman bounced on him that night, throwing her head back in pleasure, screaming his name, Jude laid back and shut his eyes, imagining those sounds in another voice. Later, he crashed on the living room couch, face down, drifting to a restless sleep.

You woke up the next day, still undecided, but glad that you had held off last night. And not jumped into something without thinking it through. 

Kicking yourself for avoiding outdoors all day yesterday, you booked a long snorkelling & island hopping trip, soaking in the sun and the glorious water. And kept your phone on airplane mode. Afterall, this was meant to be a relaxing holiday in your dream location. Ibiza wasn’t going to be just about him. Heck, you didn’t even know he existed till yesterday morning. Peaceful times.

Amidst the fun & frolic, though, his thoughts kept creeping up. You couldn’t shut him out, much to your surprise & dismay. This was strange & unusual, but you fought the feeling.

Till you got back to your room that afternoon and succumbed to checking his Insta. The real meaning of the phrase ‘dropping to one’s knees’ became all too clear in that split second.

He had uploaded a set of rigorous workout photos. In a sleeveless black vest and the tightest pair of training shorts you had even seen. Sweaty thirst traps, basically. The comment section had exploded, as did your ovaries.

You had meant what you told him yesterday - casual sex had never appealed to you. Hook-ups were not your cup of tea. You had been in two relationships previously and sex had happened only after an emotional connection. It had been a while since then but you had never felt such a NEED before.

This guy though - the pull you felt towards him, the way your body responded to just his thoughts, the desperation you felt to get his hands on you (& yours on him) - it was an unearthly feeling. Like all the forces in the universe had aligned to bring you two together. 

His persistent attention was flattering, you couldn’t deny. For some unfathomable reason, he really wanted you. 

It was high time to admit, that, you wanted him too.

And what better place to get this anomaly out of your system than this faraway exotic land, where no one recognised you. What happened in Ibiza could literally just stay in Ibiza.

This realisation gave you new found clarity, and courage. Still not enough courage to call him though - you opted for texts.

‘9 pm tonight? My room?’

You’d rather die than go to his villa, that much you were set on. God knows what all would have happened there. 

He saw the message after a few mins, around 6 pm.

‘Why wait till then?’

You took in a few deep breaths. Shit was getting real.

‘Ok. Room 209.’

‘Will be there in 20.’

20 mins. He was gonna be here in 20 mins. Million dollar question - what to wear? But but, this wasn’t a date. So it didn’t matter that you hadn’t packed anything worthy of a date night with someone like him. It was just gonna be a night with him. And for that you knew exactly what to wear. After all, you didn’t believe in half measures.

The bell rang, and there he was. Dressed in a tucked in sheer blue shirt and tight white pants. 

Tall, handsome, and so big. Towering over you.

You let him in & shut the door, leaning your back against it. 

While Jude leant against a nearby desk, facing you. Blatantly checking you out, surveying your skimpily clad body. Trademark cocksure smirk & posture, like he always knew it was only a matter of time before you’d fold. And he’d get his prize. 

You almost wanted to shoo him out right away, just to see the expression on his face.

But, he looked SO SO DELICIOUS right now that your throat felt dry and you started to wonder why he wasn’t all over you already.

‘So, how do you wanna do this?’

You shrugged and said abruptly, wanting him to get on with it.

He chuckled loudly, lips curving into a gorgeous smile. Plump, lush, pink lips claimed all your attention as he sauntered over to you, placing his hands on the door, caging you in between.

You turned your face and crossed your legs as his hot breath hit your cheeks, overwhelmed by his proximity. Soft lips pecked your neck as he moved to whisper in your ear.

‘Wanna get you nice & ready for me. Yeah?’

You nodded eagerly, and he smiled against your cheek, moving to your ear again.

‘Say the word and I’ll stop.’

Before you could respond, he gripped the hem of your kaftan and lifted it over your head. Your arms moving up involuntarily to do his bidding.

Leaving you in your new turquoise blue bikini set. The one you had bought on a whim but never did have the guts to wear. Until now.

He hummed appreciatively and his eyes turned a shade darker as they raked your form. 

Jude kissed the pulse point on your neck and licked down in a straight line, shoving his tongue in your belly button.

You mewled embarrassingly, trying to pull him up to your boobs, needing his touch there. But he just shushed you and smiled against your skin as he kneeled down. THE BASTARD. 

Deft fingers removed your bikini bottoms, leaving your core bare to him. Cool air & warm breath hit you there, making you shiver in anticipation. 

It was killing him to not just take you then & there, but he could tell you were too tense. He wanted you pliant & needy, for what he had in mind tonight. This seemed like the best way to get there quickly.

His head nudged between your legs, spreading them apart. His mouth found your clit, sucking & licking softly. You flinched, trying to close your legs instinctively but his hands grabbed your thighs, hooking one leg over his shoulder to give him better access. Grabbing his hair with one hand and the door knob with the other, you held on for dear life as his tongue slid down your folds.

This was not an activity he did often, or at all. But what he lacked in experience & skill, he made up with eagerness and effort. Your helpless moans massaged his ego, providing extra motivation to elicit more such sounds. Your trembling thighs cocooning his head perfectly. Your wetness tasting bitterly sweet on his tongue. Your fingers digging into his scalp, trying to push him into the right spots & angles that drove you wild.

And wild you were. Moaning with such abandon, right on the door - half the rooms in the corridor would have heard you by now. 

His mouth was heavenly, but his eyes were another story altogether. Shimmering with hunger and pride - for reducing you into a mewling mess. His mouth fucked your core but his eyes were fucking your whole being, reaching the depths of your soul.

But then, he slowed down. Not stopping fully but not going nearly as fast as you needed. Keeping you on the edge.

‘Tell me.’

He rasped from between your legs, voice muffled.

‘That fucker - you didn’t go with him, right? Say you didn’t let him touch you. SAY IT.’

You wanted to choke him with your legs for choosing this moment of peak vulnerability to make you admit this. CONNIVING BASTARD. 

‘I’ll keep you like this all night if I have to, baby girl.’

His silky, smooth voice was filled with promise. His slow strokes accentuated your agony.

‘I HATE YOU.’

You groaned, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of being right.

‘Tell that to you body.’

‘FINE. HE DIDN’T TOUCH ME. HAPPY NOW?’

Jude paused completely. Forcing you to look into his eyes. When you did, a strong hand spanked your butt, on the leg that was hooked over his shoulder. You gasped for air, the shock and sting and pleasure making you nearly double over.

He resumed his work with renewed vigour, each stroke a power move now. His hands gripped your ass, keeping you in place, the force sure to leave marks, which was probably the point of it.

You cried out as his relentless moves forced your body to reach its peak, faster than usual. The familiar sensation built in the pit of your stomach, travelling through your lower body and releasing through your core. Into his waiting mouth.

He lapped you up, but didn’t stop, applying more pressure than earlier to your most sensitive spot, as if testing the limits of your body. You struggled against his grip, in vain, and the overstimulation made you climax again, quickly.

‘P-please…wait…’

Your choked voice got his attention. Unhooking your leg slowly, he stood up, wiping his face with the back of his hand, letting you rest against him. Your drained body falling into his warm, worked up, still fully clothed one. His fingers clearing sweaty strands of hair from your face.

Time stood still for a minute, as he swayed you a little in his hold.

Then, the sharp sting on your butt made its presence known. The fog lifted from your head as you remembered how he basically played you. Manipulated you into admitting something you never would have otherwise. Was that his plan all along?

But he made you feel so good.

Fuck that. He made you lose a point in this battle of wits and you hated losing. It was time to regain control.

Jude felt a soft but firm hand push at his chest. He stepped away, blinking in confusion.

‘I need a shower.’

You said curtly. And the insufferable boy smirked again, cocking his head.

‘I’ll join yo..’

‘NO.’

You cut him off swiftly, enjoying his mouth opening & closing like a buffoon as you sneaked out of his hold & walked to the washroom. Only to be stopped by a strong grip at your elbow.

‘Be back in 10. Or I am coming in.’

‘No you’re not. Also, FYI, if you are expecting me to return this favour at some point tonight, that’s not gonna happen. I don’t do that…stuff.’

You marched to the washroom, locking the door behind for good measure. It took quite a few splashes of cold water to counter how hot you were still feeling, especially between your legs. 

You stared at your dishevelled reflection in the mirror, closing your eyes and reliving his touch. Very aware that you hadn’t felt pleasure like that before. And he hadn’t even properly taken you yet.

Somehow, by satisfying you, he made you even hungrier for him. You wanted more, so much more. His mouth, his hands, his body, at all your sensitive spots. And you wanted to touch him too, so so badly. 

The need for him overtook all your senses & you marched back out. Stopping at the door with the near pornographic site in front.

Jude had stripped to his briefs, glorious hard muscles on full display. And was gulping down a bottle of juice from the mini bar. Little droplets escaping from the corner of his mouth, sliding clumsily down his chin, on to the pool of soft hair on his chest. 

He stopped when your eyes met, intrigued by your feverish expression. 

Time to drop all pretenses.

Taking off the only garment you had on, your bikini, you swiftly walked to him, as his eyes widened, glued to your chest.

You pushed him to sit on the edge of the bed and climbed into his lap, guiding his large palms to your boobs, moaning as they squeezed you firmly.

His mouth was still slightly agape, forming a delicate O, making his glossy lips all the more edible to you. Then, he gazed into your eyes, his hands still groping you thoroughly.

‘Who are you, and what did you do to the girl I met yesterday?’

Great question, you couldn’t believe yourself either.

‘You killed her, with all your naked hotness. I WANT YOU.’

He just moved his hips so his crotch brushed against you, demonstrating with HARD evidence how much he wanted you too. His fingers pinched your hardening nubs, as you fell into the crook of his long neck.

‘Juude.’

His whole body jerked, having waited so long to hear his name from you. 

‘Touch me, please.’

He followed through, like his life depended on it. His warm, strong hands roaming your bare back and his wet sultry mouth tending to your front. You gripped and pulled and bit at whatever of him you could find access to, as your nails dug into his rippling back muscles. He left his fair share of marks as well, paying special attention to your neck and chest. Your lips crashed into each others, FINALLY, as your tongues clashed for dominance, his winning eventually as he left you breathless & dizzy. Your indelicate movements in his lap driving him nuts throughout. Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore, groaning into your ear.

‘Need you…right now.’

‘Umm-hmm.’

Jude grabbed your face, lust dancing in his eyes.

‘You ready to take me, yeah? Like a good girl?’

You nodded & braced yourself for what was coming. He wasn’t gonna go easy, not after you made him wait so long. The thought both excited & unnerved you.

Next second, he tossed you from his lap on to the bed, his large frame looming over you. Your hands moved to grip the sheets but he flipped you again, to your hands and knees.

‘But…’

‘Shhhhh.’

You wanted him face to face, so you could feel him close, so his eyes could fuck the depths of your soul again. But his need was more primal right now.

His finger prodded at your core, checking your readiness. Finding you dripping wet but still too tight for his liking. He added another one to stretch you further, burying them in till his knuckles. 

Jude leaned over your back, stroking your boobs with his free hand, kissing your shoulders, whispering in your ear.

‘Breathe. Relax for me, doll.’

You would have given him the world at that moment if he had asked like that. He should have been a hostage negotiator, with that honeyed charming convincing voice.

He felt your walls unclench in real time, cooing appreciatively in your ear.

‘Such a good girl.’

That felt like a bigger validation than graduating top 1% of your class in uni or landing a high flying consulting job. Both of which were your biggest achievements. Till that point.

A minute later, he was running his covered tip up and down the edge of your folds. But his own need didn’t allow him to tease for long, and he entered half way in with a single thrust, pausing to let you adjust. 

Your hands and knees gave away at the intrusion as you fell face down into the pillow. It had been a while and his size didn’t help either. He placed a pillow under your lower waist to lift your ass up, giving him the angle he needed. Then pulled out & thrusted again, going three quarters in this time.

You already felt so full, biting the pillow to curb your moans. 

‘Just a bit more, yeah? You’re doing so good. So good for me.’

Enchanting you with that silky sweet voice, he thrusted in again, entering fully. So deep, you could almost feel him in your throat. He stayed still, letting you get used to him. You desperately reached behind with your hand, looking for some contact, and he held it firmly, giving it reassuring squeezes. 

Jude felt like his head would explode any moment with arousal. The shifts in her demeanour, from sweet & coy one moment to this wildfire he had met today, were giving him sexual whiplashes. He was worried he’d burst too soon, given how painfully hard he already was, & embarrass himself.

Unable to wait any longer, he started moving inside you. Slow, deep, rhythmic strokes, driving you mad. One hand balancing your ass, while other moved underneath to find your clit. Doubling your sensations to ease his path. As you moaned his name like a chant, the sounds making him harder.

Chasing his release like a mad man, his hips picked up pace soon, as did his hand. You cried into the pillow, feeling hot all over, as he played your body like a fiddle, for the second time tonight. Your head started to spin, as he pounded you mercilessly into the mattress. Your legs started to shake & your walls started to clench around him.

‘Not yet.’

He commanded hoarsely, denying you the friction of his hand anymore. You whined, and tried reaching down with your own hand, but he grabbed it mid-way.

‘I said, NOT YET.’

You mumbled some gibberish into the pillow, which he didn’t bother to register. Too far gone by this point.

Suddenly, you felt his weight on your back, crushing you further into the mattress. His voice in your ear wasn’t silky soft this time, it was downright menacing.

‘What did you call me yesterday, a little boy fresh out of his teens, huh?’

You desperately shook your head, having no memory of it. But he remembered. Every. Single. Word.

The force of his next thrust made your voice choke in your throat. Burning your insides. The pain unlocking a different layer of pleasure. He was all-consuming. All around you. Deep inside you. Your existence was anchored on him, everything else blurred into the background.

‘Still think so?’

You had lost the ability to think or feel anything, other than the sensations he was giving you.

‘I…I don’t. Please Jude, let me….I can’t….pls…’

The helplessness in your choked voice gave him the final nudge he needed. His strokes became sloppier, deeper.

‘Now, doll. Let go now. Cum for me.’

Right on cue, you let yourself go. Almost embarrassed at the timed precision with his command. The delicious squeeze of your walls & your cries tipped him over the edge too. He continued to stroke lazily, letting all the pent up need release. Then crashed on top of you, panting into the side of your face, still buried to the hilt inside.

‘H-heavy.’

You struggled underneath, with whatever minuscule energy you had left. He caught it, pulled out slowly and rolled off you, smiling contently, tracing lazy patterns on your sweaty back.

While he dispensed off the condom, cleaned himself & put on his briefs, you stayed out like a light. Only coming to life when you felt a wet towel between your legs, kicking it away instinctively given how sore you were. Faintly hearing a light chuckle somewhere.

Jude let you be for a few minutes. But when you still didn’t move, he wrapped an arm around your waist, slowly turning you to face him. You groaned at the light hitting your face.

‘Heyy, you’re ok?’

You hummed and snuggled into his warm, broad, inviting chest, shielding yourself from the light. 

‘Let’s get some food into you, yeah?’

Food arrived 30 mins later, by which time you had recovered enough to realise he couldn’t answer the door. Couldn’t be seen in your room. While he argued you looked too fucked out to get in front of the waiter right now.

You won the argument, shooed him into the washroom (as he tied the bathrobe tightly around you), and collected the food-table at the door itself. The room was too much of a mess for anyone to see.

Both ate in peace, falling into a comfortable silence. You, in particular, were shocked at yourself, at how easy you felt around him. Given you had no experience of such arrangements while he, well, his was a different story altogether.

You wondered at what point he’d wanna leave, and how come he hadn’t done that already. But he was showing no signs of wanting to leave. It was 10 pm, and they ended up putting on a random movie on Netflix, snuggled together in bed. The movie ended at 12, and he still didn’t make a move. 

‘You could leave if you want to. It’s fine.’

He looked at you curiously. If you didn’t know better, you’d think he was hurt.

‘Do you want me to leave?’

No. Not at all. 

‘Isn’t that what you’d normally do?’

He shrugged, and you didn’t push it further. Falling asleep into his comfy arms. While he stayed awake for a bit, gazing at you & questioning his unusual behaviour tonight. Finally drifting off to a peaceful sleep.

You were awoken way too early the next morning, with his kisses on your shoulder. 

‘It’s 6 am. Let me sleep.’

‘Are you still sore?’

Of course. He wanted another tumble. Is that why he stayed? You tried to be mad but your voice betrayed your excitement.

‘Just a little. Not much.’

He smiled that gorgeous smile, drawing one from you too. And got on top of you, granting you your wish of being face to face with him.

Your bodies moved in sync, as if already in tune with each other. Unlike the rush of adrenaline last night, this time was slow & soft. Him being mindful of the residual ache in your limbs. His pace & force never exceeding a certain threshold. Your hands wrapped around his shoulders, as you pulled him down for a kiss, gazed into his beautiful eyes and shut out the world. If this was gonna be the last you ever see of him, then you wanted to commit every inch of his handsome face to memory. 

‘How long are you here for?’

He asked suddenly, pulling you out of your trance, while still moving inside you.

‘Till tomorrow morning.’

‘What are you doing today?’

You had booked a day long tour today, filled with activities.

‘Nothing.’

His eyes twinkled happily, turning you into mush. 

‘Good. Let me just sort out a few things & I’ll be back in a couple of hours, yeah?’

His mouth reached your breasts, sucking & nibbling in tune with his thrusts, making you work extra hard to string words together.

‘W-we can’t go outside.’

‘It’s fine, we’ll stay here.’

‘You don’t hv other plans?’

He very much did. Infact, the plans were heavily dependant on him, & he’d have to go sort it out soon.

‘Nope.’

‘Okay then.’

You closed your eyes, as he rocked you to ecstasy.

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I died a few times while writing this.

And I still have plans for the last day / final chapter. Someone kill me.

Would absolutely love to hear your thoughts here / in inbox. Thank you for the feedback and interest in this story - it kept me motivated to turn it around soon.

[iturbide]

Honestly, bless you and your writing! Quality content fadgsaffsg-- But what if something super bad happened? Like the summoner somehow got captured by maybe Muspell (Surtr?) ovo I'm imagining the reasoning could be something like 'Askr is nothing without their precious summoner. Watch as their mockery of a kingdom falls apart even before I raze it to the ground.' kinda deal? How would Grima (and the whole castle by proxy I suppose) react? :>

quality content I am so flattered okay i’m still screaming about this

but okay you see this

this prompt

this set my brain on fire

so please forgive me for the fact that this monster is literally 6,500 words long and clocks in at a full 18 pages

If you’ve read anything else of mine that exceeds a thousand words, I like to change perspective sometimes.  For ease of understanding, asterisks (*) represent a perspective shift, dashes (-) represent a scene shift.  The first bit is there as a teaser, the part below the cut is significantly larger, you have been warned. 

Kiran was fairly certain by now that combat would never become familiar.  Nothing in their prior life could have prepared them for this, and even with as many fights as they’d seen (and between the conflict with first Embla, now Múspell, and all of the battles waged for practice in the Training Tower or sport in the Arena, they had seen a lot), it never really felt natural or right, sending soldiers – friends – onto the field to fight and bleed and sometimes fall for the Askran cause.  

Perhaps it was good that war did not sit well with them.  But regardless of their feelings, they had a job to do here, and they intended to do it well.  Anything to keep Askr from becoming a mirror of Nifl’s scorched wasteland: the further they traveled, the more wreckage they encountered, empty towns covered in snow that could not hide the burned remains of what had once been thriving communities.

As they continued their trek toward Nifl’s former capital, the Askran forces had run afoul of Múspell soldiers camped in one of the ruined villages.  Tagging Ike, they glanced briefly at his health, winced, and instead sent Lissa to heal him before ordering the young mercenary into a green mage’s line of fire.  Robin moved to intercept a mounted archer encroaching on their flank, sending a conspiracy of magic ravens tearing through the bowman’s defenses, while overhead a six-winged dragon banked slowly over the battle, awaiting his next command.

“We might need to retreat,” Kiran muttered as enemy reinforcements appeared upfield, well beyond their line of sight but easily tracked by the tactical map piped into their phone.  The axe fighter and the red manakete wouldn’t be so bad, with Alphonse and Sharena to intercept them, but the cavalier with the firesweep lance was another matter…

“The situation hardly seems so dire.”

The Summoner looked up at the hooded figure leaning over their shoulder, a wry smile twitching across their face.  “When did you take over as the Order’s tactician?”

Grima rolled his eyes, keeping easy pace with the Kiran as they picked their way through the remnants of the village square.  Several of the houses beyond remained more or less intact: the narrow streets would afford them a good choke point to deal with additional reinforcements, provided they could keep their ranks in order.  Humming thoughtfully to themselves as they climbed the steps of an abandoned home, Kiran drew the Askran fighters one by one across the on-screen grid, casting a quick glance back the way they’d come to see faintly glowing marks on the ground leading into the plaza.  They still had no idea what Breidablik had done to their phone, but it had certainly been effective.

“Incoming,” the Summoner noted, listening to the approaching hoofbeats.  “You ready?”

The fell dragon grinned, violet flames licking at his boots.  “Always,” he chuckled.  Though they both knew it wasn’t necessary, Kiran still moved Grima’s icon down the street as he advanced, the great six-winged form overhead descending to attack.  More reinforcements had appeared around the square, and the Summoner bit their lip as they sized up the new opposition, attempting to suss out the least risky solution to their predicament.  Tapping a few troops experimentally, Kiran gauged their chances…and, satisfied that they could pull off a defensive ploy, moved their allies one by one to engage the newly summoned soldiers, grinning as the blinding glow from Alphonse’s Sol momentarily brightened the overcast afternoon.  Grima’s dragon form screeched as an axe fighter filled the position occupied by the now fallen cavalryman, and the Summoner glanced briefly at the screen…only to chuckle at the damage predictor’s single-digit output.  Even with two hits, there was no chance they could take down the Wings of Despair.  Maybe they had been too hasty, considering retreat–

“Hello, Summoner.”

Kiran froze.

They hadn’t heard movement in the building behind them.  Hadn’t even considered that someone might be in there waiting – which was foolish, given the hard lesson they’d learned combatting the Black Knight not so long ago.  But they slowly raised their hands in the universal gesture of peaceful submission, taking great care not to disturb the blade pressed to their neck.

“Hello,” the Summoner replied, grateful that their voice did not quake the way the rest of them did.  “It’s Laegjarn, right?”

“I’m flattered that you recall my name,” the general chuckled.  “Perhaps you also recall my offer.”

“Surrender quietly and you won’t hurt me?”

“Your memory serves you well.  What say you?”

Kiran swallowed, feeling the sword’s edge burn their throat.  With the fight still raging out of sight in the plaza and Grima’s attention focused on the wyvern rider flying into range, no one had seen the enemy under their noses.  No help was coming.

Some tactician they turned out to be.

“I submit.”

“Very good.  Please disarm, Summoner.”

The blade at their throat relaxed an inch.  Nodding slightly, Kiran removed Breidablik from its place on their hip, kneeling to lay it on the stoop alongside their phone…

…and as they lingered, casting one last pleading look toward the fell dragon, they cranked the volume up to the max.  The music barely even reached their own ears over the pounding of their heart, and the general made no remark on it as the Summoner straightened.  

“Thank you for being so cooperative,” Laegjarn remarked, taking hold of Kiran’s arm and pulling them into the shadows of the scorched house.  The back half had collapsed, blackened beams jutting from the ash; the Múspell general paid the wreckage no mind as she guided them out onto the next road and past a fresh wave of soldiers.  “Retreat,” she ordered.  “We have what we came for.”

The troops pulled back from the village with shocking speed.  The Askran forces remained, perhaps confused by the swift turn of the tides, perhaps elated at their victory.  Kiran did not know.  They could only wonder what the Heroes would feel when they realized what they’d lost.

***

Grima frowned as the Múspell soldiers withdrew.  “Barely a challenge,” he snorted.

Something’s strange.

“I’m inclined to agree, given how fierce these forces are said to be–”

We were outnumbered.  There were still reinforcements coming in.  Why did they retreat?

He glanced up at the dragon floating lazily overhead.

A wyvern rider tried to stab you in the face.  I don’t think the dragon really made much of an impression.

A grin twitched across Grima’s face as he moved back down the icy road.  Kiran had left the doorstep; turning into the square, the fell dragon joined the other Heroes that had gathered, submitting without complaint to the fair-haired cleric’s treatment.

“I was worried for a moment there,” the Askran princess giggled.  “There were so many of them!”

“Nothing we couldn’t handle,” Ike muttered, the words clearly at odds with the wounds the healer had yet to mend.

“What troubles me is how quickly the tides turned,” Alphonse said.  “Our enemy has shown fearsome skill at predicting our course of action and heading us off…they may seek to lure us into a trap.”

“Where’s Kiran?” Anna asked.  “Perhaps they’ll have some insight…”

All eyes turned to Grima.

A sense of disquieting unease crawled down his spine.  “I did not see them when the battle ended.  I thought they had joined you here.”

But scanning the worried Heroes that turned to look amongst each other, he found no trace of the Summoner.

“They can’t be far…right?” Lissa asked, wringing her staff between her hands.

“Let’s look for them.  Perhaps they were sidetracked investigating something,” Robin suggested, the slight tremor in his voice betraying his otherwise calm logic.

The fell dragon retraced his steps as the other members of the Order fanned out through the square, calling to the Summoner to reveal themselves.  Approaching the doorstep where he had left them, Grima narrowed his eyes at the open doorway leading into the wreckage.  Had it been ajar before?  If Kiran intended this to be some prank–

That isn’t like them.

As he drew close, an odd sound snared Grima’s attention: a muffled, melodic hum from somewhere nearby.  Tilting his head, he peered up and down the street, toward the scorched eaves, down to the snowy ground…

Oh, gods.

The fell dragon crouched, lifting the Summoner’s magic tile off the step.  Free of the ice, the song it sang grew louder, a tense battle hymn that set his nerves on edge.  “Kiran,” he called, taking to his feet and striding through the doorway, out through the collapsed rear wall, and across the packed snow left by the enemy’s retreat.

No response.

They won’t hear you.

“Kiran!” Grima snarled, loud enough to echo through the wreckage, distorting beyond recognition.

They can’t hear you.

“KIRAN!!”

The dragon overhead shrieked in unison with him, sending scores of dark birds rushing from the forests on every side.  But as the ringing in his ears at last abated, nothing more than silence greeted him.

They’re gone.

—

The Order had searched.  They had scoured the woods until the last light left the sky, following the tracks left by the Múspell soldiers in hopes of finding the place where they converged; but even with six eyes overhead peering through the dark, they found no clues to spur their progress.

Nightfall forced their hand.  With few options and grave uncertainties of what lay ahead, the Order’s commander called for a retreat back to Askr to resupply and assess the situation.  And as little as Grima liked it, he had nothing better to offer.  

“We should gather reinforcements,” the Askran prince insisted as they strode through the luminous gateway into the plaza.  “The Múspell forces couldn’t have traveled far.  If we set off at dawn we may be able to catch up with them–”

“It’s too risky,” the commander replied.  “We don’t know how many soldiers they have.  Even if we were to take the whole of the Order, we’ve no guarantee of victory – and that could be exactly what they want, leaving Askr’s defenses weak for Surtr’s invasion force.  Until we know more, we should wait and prepare.”

“You would abandon them.”

The words echoed through the plaza, leaving silence in their wake.  Grima stalked forward, rage fueling the violet tongues of flame that swirled around him; only the warning from the presence in the back of his mind kept him from lifting the red-headed general off the ground by the front of her tunic.  The Askrans still retreated, warily touching their weapons as the fell dragon stared down at them.

“We’re not abandoning anyone,” Anna insisted, the tremor in her voice undercutting her patient tone.  “Rushing in will only put everyone at risk.”

“Múspell’s general is a formidable strategist, but has treated the people of Nifl fairly even after its fall,” Fjorm offered.  “If she has taken the Summoner, we can be assured of their safety until terms are delivered–”

“And if Surtr is responsible then they may be dead already,” Grima snarled.

“…we can’t afford to risk the Order, or the Summoner’s life, by rushing in ill prepared,” the commander repeated.  “We will make ready, and when we receive word–”

The fell dragon bared his fangs, feeling the pull of the great form atop the castle and wanting nothing more than to bring the walls crumbling down on the Askrans’ miserable heads…

That won’t help Kiran.

He hated that voice.  All the more for the fact that he knew that it spoke true.

Clenching his fists, Grima stormed from the plaza, winding his way through the halls and up to the castle roof where his six-eyed form roosted.  The dragon made a small noise of distress, six eyes fixed on the distant horizon while Grima settled against the parapets and struggled to fight down the rage burning its way through him.  “Miserable wretched cowardly worms, every one of them–”

They have some sound points.

“They’re leaving Kiran to die, how is that a sound point?”

If Surtr had been involved, we would have known it.  He likes to gloat too much.  He wouldn’t have retreated with Kiran, he would have made it known immediately what he’d done.  Odds are good that it is the general who’s responsible, then, and that gives us time to prepare.

“Prepare for what?  Do you really imagine their terms will be anything beyond ‘surrender or we slaughter the Summoner?’”

…unconditional surrender or providing Gunnthrá’s location would be my guess.

Grima sneered, pressing his fists to his forehead.  “How reassuring.”

What else can we do, though?

“How should I know?  As I recall, you were the genius tactician.”

The presence at the back of his mind had no response for that.

Heaving a heavy sigh, the fell dragon reached into the pocket of his coat, removing the Summoner’s magic tile.  The divine weapon they’d left behind had been left in the commander’s care…but Grima had kept the Summoner’s fohn.  The surface had gone dark, the eerie music silent now as he held the device in his palm…but as he prodded it experimentally, the screen flashed to light, a series of tiny white dots speckling the bottom of the screen.

He had watched Kiran toy with this blasted thing often enough.  Touching the surface, he drew his finger through several of the spots…and with a soft click, the tile’s surface rippled and changed, a faint red cast overtaking the screen.  Touching it lightly sent sparks dancing under his fingers…before a map of the Askran kingdom appeared, glowing stones marked with ornate banners scattered across the continent.  The Summoner had shown him this once before…tapping one the seals arranged along the bottom of the tile, he frowned at the banners filing down before his eyes.  Skills, seals, growth…tapping another made the surface shimmer into a list of even less helpful banners: dueling swords, stamina restoration, barracks expansion…

What are you looking for?

“There must be some way to help them,” the fell dragon muttered.  “If this so-called ‘Order of Heroes’ is as grand as the Askrans claim, there must be something…”

Like what?

“If I knew that, would I be searching?” Grima growled, squinting in the tile’s light and touching another symbol, only to find himself back on the map of the kingdom.  “Wretched thing…”

Try the last one.  On the right.

“I didn’t ask you,” Grima snarled.

…I want them back, too, you know.  But I don’t have a body anymore.  I can only help if you’ll let me.

Silence settled over the rooftop, broken only by the whisper of the breeze rustling the Askran flags flying high over the towers.  And finally, without ire or protest, the fell dragon touched the furthest symbol, scanning the list of banners that scrolled before his eyes.

There.  Catalog of Heroes.

Grima touched the words, watching the screen shimmer and change, displaying tiny portraits of the Heroes assembled within the Askran palace.  Dragging his fingertip along the edge sent the tiles trailing out of sight, replaced by new ones.  Some were familiar: Naga’s young daughter, the Hoshidan archer prince, the Ylissean tacticians…others much less so.

Touch one.

He did without argument.  The surface briefly darkened before an image appeared of a fair-haired man in red, a quiver of arrows secured at his side; a scroll emblazoned with a name and epithet hovered over a brief biography…

A strategist.

“How many do you think there are?” Grima asked quietly, touching the scrollwork arrows and browsing through the other Heroes.

If we’re lucky?  Enough.

The dragon felt a smile tug at his lips, exposing pale fangs to the moonlight.  “Then tell me, tactician: what will we need?”

—

It came as no surprise when the Askran troops made no move.  One day passed.  Then another.  A pall of silence hung over the castle; the Heroes carried on their conversations in hushed voices and terse words, half their attention seeming forever fixed on the gates leading to the lands beyond Askr in hopes that some message would arrive from beyond their borders.

None came.

And for that, Grima was grateful.  It would have been far more difficult to lay plans with the Order scrambling to meet Múspell’s demands.

Nightfall cleared the plaza.  None of the Heroes seemed interested in idle chatter when one of their own was missing.  And it made the task of locating them far easier as he stalked through the quiet barracks, glancing from door to door and knocking one by one on the rooms he and the tactician had so carefully chosen.

Responses were, as expected, mixed.  Soren had no interest in helping Grima, with his loyalties so firmly tied to the young mercenary swordsman; Ike, however, needed no encouragement at all to join when he heard the proposal, and in his wake the strategist grudgingly followed.  The Ylissean tacticians, meanwhile, were far more open to hearing the fell dragon out, though the rest of their exalted families harbored grave misgivings (and Grima felt a pang from the presence in his mind when Lucina touched her sword).

They assembled in the castle’s grand council chamber, taking their seats at the round table and looking among their number: four Ylissean tacticians in various states of dress and festive attire, one fair-haired Archanean archer, a stoic swordsman and his branded mage companion an Ostian spy with a sly smile and sharp eyes, and one Ylissean thief contemplating the gathering over a lollipop.

“You said this is about Kiran,” Ike said, breaking the uncomfortable silence at last.

“I did,” Grima agreed.  “And it is.”

“Have you seen something?” his counterpart ventured, glancing up at the ceiling as though searching for the six-winged form roosting far above.

“No,” the dragon replied.  “Which is why I asked you here.”

“…’fraid I don’t follow,” Gaius muttered.

Yes he does.  He just wants to hear you say it.

“How ‘bout you spell it out for us?” the thief continued, leaning far enough back in his chair to nearly upend it.

A smile carved its way across Grima’s face.  “Why are we all here in this place, fighting this war?”

“We were summoned,” Jeorge replied.  “By Kiran, and that strange weapon they hold.”

“I’m still not sure if we’re bound by contract or not,” Robin said, twisting a lock of long white hair around her finger.  “We can’t go home unless we’re sent back, but…”

“I don’t…exactly feel obligated to help here,” her twin agreed, adjusting the coat over her bare shoulders.  “Not like some of the Heroes we’ve encountered in Veronica’s ranks.

“Why is that?” the fell dragon asked.  “Why do you remain here, why do you commit yourself to the Askran cause, if not for a contract?”

“I’m only here because Ike is,” Soren grumbled.  

The swordsman paid him no mind, meeting Grima’s eye steadily.  “Kiran.”

“Kiran,” the fell dragon repeated, beginning to pace the length of the room.  “The Summoner.  The one who brought us together, who’s honed our skills, who’s afforded us every chance to better ourselves.  Who’s listened to us, and tried to help us find our places in this strange world.  Who’s seen us through countless battles and allowed us to be the Heroes we’ve been branded, regardless of our worth.”

You’re waxing poetic.

Kiran brought out a strange side of him.  Turning to the assembled Heroes, he leaned his weight against the table.  “Who’s now lost behind enemy lines, who’s been abandoned by the leaders of this Order, and who may be in danger.”

“You heard Anna,” the festive tactician noted uncomfortably, folding his mittened hands a few times.  “There’s too much of a risk, both to ourselves and to Kiran, to charge back in when we don’t know the full situation.”

A smile tugged at Grima’s lips, exposing the tips of his fangs.  “Then perhaps it would behoove us to rectify that.”

“…alright.  I’ll bite.  How?” Matthew asked, his smile twitching as he fought to keep it in place.

“A covert operation.”

All eyes turned to Grima’s doppelganger.  He folded his hands on the table, meeting the fell dragon’s eye steadily.  “That’s what you’d propose.  Isn’t it?”

“No wonder you need spies and strategists,” the woman seated beside him remarked.  “The first to slip into the Múspell camp, assess their forces and potential weak points; the other to take that and devise the plan to strike, extract Kiran, and retreat.”

“I’d expect nothing less from Ylisse’s illustrious tacticians,” the fell dragon murmured, inclining his head in agreement.

“Why, though?” Gaius asked, propping his boots on the edge of the table.  “What’s in it for you?”

The assembled Heroes turned their attention back to Grima.  He met their stares without flinching, standing tall beside his place at the table.  “You imagine I have selfish motivations.  And you are not mistaken.  Were it another, I would have no qualms about leaving them, whether they were royalty or the Order’s commander.  But this is Kiran.  They are a weak, wretched, pathetic excuse for a human, unable even to defend themselves in a fight.  I want them returned.  Nothing more.”

“…I would like to see the Summoner returned safely, myself,” Jeorge remarked, resting his chin on his hands as the other Heroes nodded in agreement.  “So, then.  Where do we begin?”

—

The council lasted well into the darkest hours of the night.  But their plans came together, bit by bit, until at last they parted ways to rest and prepare for the opportune moment.  Slipping through the plaza, Grima made his way toward the soft glow of the gates that led beyond the Askran kingdom.  If conditions were in their favor, they might be able to set things in motion with the next nightfall–

“Where is Kiran?”

He paused, glancing over his shoulder at Hoshido’s archer prince as he emerged from the shadows of the pillars.  “Not here,” the fell dragon replied brusquely.

“Where?”  His voice sounded hoarse. Narrowing his eyes, Grima watched the noxious violet fog swirl and eddy around the young man.  The possessed one, then.

The volatile one.

“I haven’t seen them since the battle,” the fell dragon said.

“I need to find them,” Takumi insisted.  “Where are they?”

“I could not say.  But they are not here.  Look elsewhere.”

“I’ve looked.  Everywhere.  Nowhere else to go.  I need to find them.”

“…why?” Grima asked.

“It won’t go away.”

The archer pressed a hand to his face, fingers curling into an unsteady fist.  “I try.  I try to block it out, but…the voice keeps telling me…to kill them, all of them, and I can’t make it stop, I need Kiran to make it stop, I need them, where are they…?”

“Gone.”

Takumi looked up, his expression an unsettling mask of distress and rage.  “Where?”

“Captured.”

Are you sure you should be telling him that?

“By who?” the archer growled.

“Múspell,” Grima replied.

“Get them back.”

“The Order intends to do nothing,” the fell dragon sneered.  “They will sit on their hands and wait for Surtr’s demands.  Or for him to put Kiran’s charred corpse on display.  Whichever comes first, I suppose.”

The mist around the prince seethed and roiled, and a thin smile cut across Grima’s face as he watched the bow at Takumi’s side begin to tremble.

You’re doing it on purpose.

“I will go.”

“The Order won’t allow it,” the fell dragon remarked.

“I don’t care.  I’ll go.  I’ll kill them all for Kiran, I’ll get them back, I’ll…”

“You want Kiran back so badly?” Grima murmured, knowing the answer even before he asked.  Takumi nodded, offering no more than a low, guttural noise of assent.  “Then collect yourself.”

The singer might be able to help.  Azura?  Kiran called her in to help before, I think…

The fell dragon gestured for Takumi to follow, making his way back into the halls.  Considering their purpose, a performer could prove advantageous, though a songstress ran the risk of betraying their position…

But if you plan to use him, you need a way to keep him together.  Besides, a singer doesn’t need room to perform the way a dancer does.  Reach out to the one in blue, she’ll have a better chance of blending into the dark.

The fell dragon grinned.  Perhaps it truly had been a stroke of luck that he’d been bound to a tactician’s body.

You can thank me any time.

…he might consider it if they succeeded.

***

Laegjarn had been true to her word: following the retreat from the village, the Múspell general had personally escorted the Summoner through the march to the edge of the forest before placing them – under heavy guard, of course – in a private tent near the heart of the camp.  While Kiran was grateful for that, it didn’t stop anxiety from gnawing a hole through their gut, leaving them queasy and sleepless through the next few days and nights.

It didn’t help that Surtr was on his way.  Laegjarn hadn’t said anything about it, but the Summoner had heard her call for a messenger shortly after they made camp.  It didn’t take a rocket scientist to guess what she was going to send.  

Aside from the unbearable waiting, though, it wasn’t as bad as Kiran might have expected.  No one bothered them, the general was conscious of their needs, and the conditions were more than fair given their prisoner status.

The Summoner wondered, often, as their nerves twisted their stomach into knots, what would end up happening to them.  Laegjarn had vowed that no harm would befall them, but with Surtr on the way, that seemed like a hard promise to keep.  Would she be able to convince her father to discuss nonviolent terms?  Would the flame king overrule his general and act on whatever violent whims ruled him?  Would…

…would the Order somehow find a way to save them?

Impossible as it seemed, that was the thought that gave them the most heart.  Heroes swooping in to the rescue, defeating the Múspell soldiers…

A flurry of activity on the third night made their heart seize up.  Kiran heard Laegjarn calmly directing the soldiers as she strode past the Summoner’s tent…and as she passed, someone entered: not the eldest princess of Múspell, but her sister, her face an expressionless mask and her eyes far colder than her heritage would have implied.

“Is something going on?” Kiran asked, feigning calm.

“You will come with me,” Laevatein ordered.

The Summoner heard no room for argument.  And they weren’t exactly in a position to protest, either.  Rising to their feet, Kiran approached the young general, submitting without protest as she took hold of their arm and led them out of the tent.  

The frantic bustle of activity set their nerves on edge as they moved toward the lanterns lighting the front of the camp.  “Your sister seems pretty great,” they noted quietly, watching soldiers scrambling from one corner of the camp to another.  Kiran swore they saw the ghost of a smile cross Laevatein’s face at that, though she made no reply.  “I’d like to thank her, if I could.  Sometime.  Y’know.  I really appreciate everything she’s done…”

Anything else they might have wanted to say died on their tongue as they approached the edge of camp.  The lights they had seen were not lanterns at all: they were naked flames, writhing in the air and nearly choking the Summoner with their heat alone.  And at their heart stood the Ruler of Flame himself, his dark eyes staring down at them through the rippling haze.

“I present the Askran Summoner,” Laegjarn said, gesturing to Kiran as Laevatein released their arm.

A wicked sneer sliced across Surtr’s face, and any breath the Summoner might have salvaged to speak abandoned them.  “Pathetic,” he chuckled, a sound so low it seemed to shake the ground.  “This wretched thing is what’s given them such nerve?  They look like they would lose to a mere ember.”

Kiran had to admit that they probably would.  But the words would not come out, even if they’d wanted to speak.

The man’s smile grew, exposing teeth and gums alike.  “I wonder how well they will burn.”

He raised a hand, and the Summoner stared at the flames licking his fingers, sparking across his nails and crackling in his palm.  They could not speak.  They could not move.  Try as they might, all they could do was watch in growing horror as his hand stretched toward them, the heat baking their skin and singing the edges of their hood and oh gods this was how they would die, they would burn to death here and they couldn’t even cry as they stood rooted in terror beneath the burning gaze of Múspell’s king–

A hand closed on their arm, pulling them back a step.  

Kiran stumbled, gasping into their sleeve as Laegjarn placed herself between the Summoner and her father.  “I gave my oath that no harm would befall them,” she said, her voice perfectly composed.  “The Summoner is a valuable bargaining chip.  We can deliver terms of surrender to Askr in exchange for their safe return and end this war tomorrow, but only if we have the Summoner to offer–”

“You should not have made such a hasty oath,” Surtr growled.  “Stand aside, or the flames may feast twice this night.”

Kiran’s knees threatened to give way beneath them as Múspell’s king brushed his daughter aside, leaving her armor scorched from even so light a touch.  Another step and he loomed over them, the flames making him seem still larger as they flared around him, and the Summoner could not be sure whether it was the haze of heat around him or the adrenaline coursing through them that made his silhouette waver and blur–

And in a flash, chaos erupted all around them.

Horses shrieked and bolted with glowing green wolves snapping at their heels, blue-black ravens descended on the archers reaching for their bows, and wyvern riders taking to the skies fell to a hail of arrows.  Kiran scrambled blindly out of the way of the scattering soldiers–

Someone gripped their arm.  The Summoner yelped, whirling in a panic…

“Stop sniveling, Summoner.”

Their breath caught.

“…Grima!?”

***

The weather held throughout the day and after the fall of night.  Thick clouds obscured the moon and stars from sight as the band of Heroes made their way through the dark: two mages, two dagger wielders, two archers, a swordsman, and a songstress with an ornate axe.  Not a brigade for sustained combat, but they had all agreed it would suffice for a strategic strike.

They found the Múspell camp with little difficulty.  Gaius and Matthew slipped from the cover of the trees, darting across the icy ground to the pillars of ice that sheltered the enemy tents.  They would need time to assess the situation and return to brief the rest of the company…

A sound overhead drew his attention.  Glancing up at the heavy clouds, Grima narrowed his eyes at the winged silhouette moving against the sky.  He scanned their small force, catching Takumi’s eye and gesturing up to the enemy on patrol; the archer followed his gaze, raising his bow and taking careful aim before loosing a bolt of black energy into the air.  The fell dragon saw the wyvern jerk and list in its flight an instant before its wings crumpled…

A sharp hiss drew his attention back.  He frowned, watching Takumi shudder while the aura pulsed and coiled around his neck.  Nodding briefly to the dark-clad singer, he focused once more on encampment glowing against the blue-white ice while a soft song filled their ears.  Even from this distance, he could see soldiers moving hastily through the lines of tents, seething and swarming like ants disturbed from their mound.  Something was going on, that much was clear…

He heard, rather than saw, the return of the spies from their patrol, the faint crunch of pine needles and snow under soft boots betraying their presence.  “We gotta move fast,” Gaius muttered as he slunk up to Grima’s side.  “Bad news just walked in.”

The fell dragon growled low in his throat.  That would explain the activity.  “Then we had best make haste.”

He moved swiftly, hearing the others following his lead.  They moved swiftly, dark shadows against the pale ice, taking shelter behind the icy stones that littered the plain.  As they drew close, he saw Surtr speaking with one of the two Múspell generals, watched him brush the woman aside, his hand reaching for…

Kiran.

“Now,” he hissed.

They did not hesitate.  The tacticians leapt into action, their spells descending on the encampment and throwing its soldiers into disarray.  Jeorge and Takumi took aim at the wyvern riders, arresting their attempted flight while Grima cleared the remaining distance, his attention fixed on the Summoner’s gilt robes amid the chaos.  Taking hold of their arm–

Kiran whimpered, rounding on the fell dragon and raising their free hand to shield their face.  He could feel them trembling beneath his touch.  Typical.  And yet, the fell dragon felt a smile curve across his lips, a soft rumble of laughter rising in his chest.  “Stop sniveling, Summoner.”

Kiran stilled, turning their face up to look at him.  And in spite of himself, he could not hide his grin.

“…Grima!?”

“Who else would it be?” he asked, turning back the way he’d come.  “Quickly, now–”

“Hold.”

The fell dragon stopped, moving the Summoner carefully behind him as Surtr towered over them.  “Stand aside,” Grima commanded.  Even at his full height, the fell dragon was forced to tilt his head up to look the Ruler of Flame in his scarred face.  But he felt no fear, even as the man lifted his axe, tongues of fire licking the glowing blade.

Surtr sneered.  “Or what?  What can a puny thing like you do?”

Grima’s smile widened, exposing his fangs.  “I will devour you,” he replied.  He raised his hand, gesturing to Múspell’s king as the man uttered a booming, mirthless laugh…

The clouds above roiled and parted for the six-eyed dragon, its maw gaping wide as it descended toward the camp.  Surtr paused, watching the dragon’s descent with a vaguely amused smirk.  “Keep close,” Grima muttered, sheltering the Summoner with one outstretched arm as the dragon overhead breathed a cloud of violet smoke over the encampment…

“Foolish wretch – you will learn the meaning of fear,” Surtr laughed.

Sparks danced through the veil of haze.  The king of Múspell raised his axe high, flames coalescing into a ball that rivaled the sun – and as he swung his weapon, it soared high, striking the dragon squarely in the jaw.

The fell beast shrieked in rage and agony, expelling another cloud of noxious fog across the enemy’s forces.  He felt Kiran’s hand grip his sleeve, and without hesitation he retreated through the dark, away from the Múspell forces and onto the snowy wastes beyond.  He saw the others ahead, pulling back with equal speed, cutting swiftly across the ice and into the shelter of the trees beyond; with the songstress speeding them along their way, they continued without pause until at last the light and sound of the battlefield had faded from a ringing in their ears to utter silence.

And then, at last, their breathless troop stopped, collapsing beneath the shelter of the Nifl pines.  Grima glanced across the battered force, an odd sense of relief settling over him as he found them all accounted for.  They had done well.

And moreover, they had succeeded.

The fell dragon turned to the Summoner beside him, looking them over carefully as their breath at last grew steady.  They appeared unharmed, if slightly singed…  “Are you alright?” he asked.

Kiran drew in a shaky breath.  And when they looked up at him, their wide eyes were full of tears.

Before he could speak, the Summoner flung themselves at him, pressing close and clutching his coat in their trembling hands.  “He was gonna kill me,” they whimpered.  “Gods…g-gods, I could’ve died, he was gonna burn me alive, and I couldn’t d-do anything – I froze up, I just stood there, like s-some dumb…I couldn’t do anything, I couldn’t even run away, I was gonna die th-there…”

Grima hesitantly coiled one arm across Kiran’s shoulders, the other awkwardly patting the peak of their hood.  “What did you expect?” he asked quietly.  “You do not fight.  That is not your role.”

“I could’ve…a-at least run away, i-instead of dying like…like some c-coward,” the Summoner sniffled into his increasingly damp shirt.

“There is no cowardice in what you did,” the fell dragon murmured.  “Brave words can mask a coward, but his actions will betray him.  You showed great courage.  You held firm in the face of fear.  You faced a foe that even Heroes fear.  You should take pride.”

“I’m no Hero,” Kiran mumbled.

“No,” Grima agreed.  “You are not.  You are a Summoner.  But what makes us Heroes is not our presence in Askr.  It is not our histories, nor our titles, nor our lineages….it is you.  You are the one who makes us Heroes.  Your belief in us.  Your faith.  You are not a Hero, Summoner…but we are not Heroes without you.”

You’re waxing poetic again.

It seemed effective, though.  Kiran’s sniffling abated, and they turned their gaze once more up to look at his face.  “…do you really think so?” they whispered.

“I think any here would agree,” he nodded.  The Summoner drew back slightly, mustering up a shaky smile as they dried their eyes and turned to scan the assembled Heroes…

“Holy shit, what happened to Takumi!?”

Kiran broke away, hurrying over to where the archer sat.  His head came up, bloody lips curving into a relieved smile as the Summoner settled beside him.  “You’re back,” he mumbled, the shifting aura around him beginning to disperse.

“Of course I am,” they chuckled.  “You guys can’t get rid of me that easy.  Don’t suppose a healer joined the party…?”

“No,” Grima confirmed, moving to stand beside them.  “But Askr is only a brief warp away, and there are clerics enough there.”  

“We should probably get going, then,” they said, helping Takumi to his feet.  Nodding in agreement, Grima turned–

Something tugged on his sleeve.  Looking back, he found the Summoner’s hand on his arm, a familiar smile taking its place once more on their face.  “Thanks, Grima,” they murmured.  “For saving me.  And…for everything else, too.”

The fell dragon inclined his head slightly, concealing his smile beneath his raised hood as he turned to join the tacticians in seeing to the preparations for their return.  The commander would likely have harsh words for them all, but…he would bear them without complaint or apology.  The risk had been well worth the reward.

[hunterrated]

Akaza Headcanons

So, I see the Akaza x Reader tag is pretty lacking of content, and I got tired of checking everyday tumblr hoping for new stuff, so I decided to give my contribute.

I don't know what to call this post, there will be some headcanons, but also basically canon facts about Akaza's character, and a bit a scenarios...it's also my first time writing this kind of format so bear with me. It will be Fem oriented.

I will be cheesy and I will be weird 'cause that's how I am. If you see some ideas from this post that you like and you wanna use it for your story/post/headcanon, feel free to do it, no need to ask!

Also: BEWARE OF SPOILERS!!

English is not my first language, there could be some errors in this post.

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The Character

Let's talk about the character per se. I'll start with a favorite of mine: Akaza is a talker.

Proof:

We've seen him being chatty during fights, talking is in fact a way for Akaza to tantalize his opponent.

Buuuuuuuuut, not many knows that in the Kimetsu no Yaiba Fanbook Two there are two paragraphs that confirm that Akaza just really likes to talk with people. Here's the parts:

So yeah, I just like the idea of an Akaza who can't shut his mouth for his own good.

Also, Akaza is warm. Demon aren't ded, they're mutations, blood flows through their vein. I just think Akaza would be warm, and since in his free time he's doing workout, that would, of course, make him even warmer.

He'd probably do anything to repel any kind of memories from when he was human.

His memories from when he was human reminds him of his weakness, and the promises he could not keep.

Poor Baby™

About Akaza's role in the Upper Moons, which is quite peculiar. Doma says this:

I think this means that Muzan was okay with him getting power his own way, Akaza didn't need to get stronger, and that's because he was deployed to gain intel, just like the informations about the Blue Spider Lily.

Of course, this is closely connected with Akaza's chattiness.

Next: I don't think he knows how to write or read on his own. I don't think someone teached him.

His master teached him how to fight when he was human, but I don't think he received any kind of education.

Now, we don't know how demon's reminiscence of Muzan's memories work, but we know they can share their master's memories.

So I have this headcanon that Akaza can write and read, using Muzan knowledge.

This still means that he has no instruction on how use brush and ink to write letters, so he has a really bad and messy calligraphy.

And maybe he also struggles with some compicated words. Like, he knows how to pronunce them, but he has no idea on the meaning?

Dunnou, I just think it's pretty and funny :3c

Also, following the same idea, he knows how to speak english. I bet Muzan knows how to, so Akaza know's how to. I rest my case.

Also, I'm sure Akaza and Hakuji may share some character traits, but their personality is quite the opposite.

I'd like you to take a look at this baby

And now look at this bitch

I just can't imagine Hakuji aka cinnamonroll doing that-

Also, I have this two different ideas about the type of people he eats. Either, he eats the strong men he defeats in battle or he doesn't, he just kills them and leave their body intact as a sign of respect. Maybe he goes for people who, for him, don't really deserve to live.

I'd like to point out that Akaza most likeky piked up his outfit. Like, the bottom is clearly form a uniform, but where is that top coming from? Or maybe someone picked it for him? Like...to match his hair color...I'll stop now, sorry-

This last thing will be foregone, but I believe Akaza's weight and hight are perfect for what he does and what he is. Not too tall, not too heavy. Like, he just has the right ingredients to be a perfect fighter.

•───────•°•❀•°•───────••───────•°•❀•°•───────•

Thanks for reading!

But I'm not done!

I just found out you can only write 4k characters on a post and I already wrote another part called "First Encounters" that I could not finish because I had reached the max characters.

So I decided to divide this post in several parts, for now there should be 3, but it could be more.

See you later 🌸

[sporadicthingcollection]

Sooo I just binged your entire Catch Us If You Can series and I’ve been thinking… It’s been stated that Bane is fascinated by mc’s tatas cuz he’s basically a lizard man and his species doesn’t have them. So what if as a side effect of the hormonal implant mc got in the last chapter to control her estrous cycle caused said tatas to lactate? I’d imagine Bane would flip the fuck out lmao. Just an idea from the deep recesses of my filthy mind

So no actual lactation, because I have...plans...but have some tata lovin'!

99 Problems: Entry #72 (Cad Bane x F!Reader)

Summary: You're really keen on showing off your tits to goddamn everybody and Cad Bane is sick of it. Also, he finds your erotica stash.

Pairing: Cad Bane/F!Reader

Rating: 🌶 Explicit 🌶

Word Count: ~4k

Warnings: Flashing, really bad in-universe erotica, xeno fucking, mammary intercourse, Todo abuse, really bad in-universe pornography

<;&lt;< | masterpost | >>>

DRIVE B//: User > Me > Documents > Text > Personal > Other > list1.hpd

LIST OF REASONS YOURE A PAIN IN THE ASS AND I SHOULD TURN YOU IN

#72: YOU KEEP TAKING YOUR TITS OUT IN FRONT OF PEOPLE THAT ARENT ME

---

Bane is sitting in the cockpit, conducting a very important business call.

“Whaddaya mean, ‘ya can’t find it?’” Bane hisses. “It’s a Zeltron streakin’ across the quad of a Core World university. Something had to have recorded it.”

“I mean, yeah, but...” Ike replies. The projection shifts in his seat. “You’re asking me to comb through terabytes of information--”

“So do it.”

“Cad, I’m one guy! I’ve got a life outside of this, believe it not.”

Bane bristles. “One: quit callin’ me dat. Two: I gave ya a time frame an’ a location. Start combin’. Use one o’ yer logarithms or whatever ya called ‘em.”

He’s not sure why the idea of you streaking has stuck with him so hard, but stars above, it is stuck. Public nudity? Your breasts? Co-ed you was hitting all his buttons and you didn’t even realize it.

He’s been ekeing information about it out of you since you mentioned it: it happened in the second half of your freshman year, there was snow on the ground, and it was from one end of the quad to the other. That should be more than enough information to go on.

Ike huffs like a bantha. “Algorithms. They’re algorithms.” He leans forward and types something. “It’ll take awhile. I want half up front.”

“Ya get yer money when I get my footage--”

The doors open and you barge into the cockpit, carrying a data pad. You look... mildly panicked about something. “I need your help, Cad.”

“Oh, so she gets to call you that...” Ike mutters.

“‘Cause she’s prettier’n you.” Bane turns to you. “I’m in de middle o’ somethin’.”

You respond by throwing the datapad down and lifting your shirt up. You are not wearing a bra.

Ike makes a choking sound, and Bane cuts the holofeed. “Are my boobs bigger?!” you ask.

Bane blinks several times. “Ike, I’m callin’ ya back.” Without taking his eyes off you, he terminates the call.

He drags his gaze away from your chest and up to your face. He wants to get mad at you for interrupting him and flashing someone that wasn’t him, but your brows are knit up and your lips pursed. You’re really distressed about this.

You cup your breasts in your hands, squeezing them firmly. “I think they’re bigger,” you say.

The squish of the pliant pink flesh between your fingers is entrancing. He’s having a very hard time thinking. “Ya say dat like it’s a bad thing, girl.”

“I mean, it might be!” You keep squishing, and he keeps staring. “These things have been the same size since I was sixteen. I’m either getting fat or...” You trail off. Worry clouds your face for a brief moment, but it passes. “No, no, I’m in estrus. That’s proof alone that I’m not.”

So that’s why you’re flustered. Nice.

He doesn’t fight his grin. “Ya know, they do look a li’l big... Gonna hafta take a closer look.”

He grabs your hips and pulls you to stand between his legs. You don’t fight at all, and he brings his hands up.

Sometimes he hates how much he loves these things. They’re really just perfect in every way. Big enough to bounce when you trot around and weighty enough to fill his palms. A nice curve, too, gently sloping downwards to rise as they reach your nipples. He loves those the most. Dark little circles that bump up as he squeezes them, sometimes makeing you moan. And they taste so sweet...

He brushes the pad of his thumb over one, making you shiver, and presses his lips to the little peak. You coo, but as he’s about to draw his tongue across it, you push him away.

You pull your shirt back down. “Later,” you say softly.

Bane’s train of thought crashes. You turning him down rarely happens, but it still hurts when you do.

He must not have hid it very well, because you smile sweetly at him. “I just need some girl time, alright? Come on up and see me later.”

Well, better than nothing. He releases you from his grip and waves you off. “Have fun buzzin’.” He pauses. “...Dey did feel a bit bigger.”

“Okay, so I’m not going crazy. Thank you.” You leave him with a wink and trot off back to your ship.

Alone in the cockpit, he sighs. Now he needs some girl time, too. But his hand will have to do.

As he stands, he steps on something flat. It’s the holopad you dropped earlier. He decides to snoop.

There’s no lock on it. Surprisingly unwise move on your part, though he supposes there’s no one else on your ship but you.

He flicks through the files. This must be your reading holopad. All of the files seem to be books, based on the accompanying images. Zeltros: A History, Volume 3. At the Foot of Mount Belzoni. Kingdom of Thirst. Respectable reading with minimalist, classy covers.

He keeps scrolling. The more recent titles become simpler. The One-Week Night. The Marquis and I. Lonely Seduction. He recognizes the cover style: highly doctored glamor shots of barely-clothed men and women gazing at each other. Trashy romance novels he’s seen advertised at every convenience stop. Lots of Zeltron women being caressed by Zeltron men -- though he sees a few Humans in there. Maybe a Twi’lek.

And then he gets to a folder. NOT PORN, it says. He opens it.

DION GET OUT OF MY HOLOPAD OR I’M TELLING YOUR MOM, reads the next folder. Well, he’s not Dion. So he opens it.

Now here’s something he can give you a hard time about. These covers are thrown together, with titles in big block lettering. Giving the Emperor an Heir. A Gangster Forced My Estrus. A Baby for the Bounty Hunter.

Bane snickers at that last one in particular. Seems you get baby fever in your estrus as much as he does when he gets fertile.

He’s looking for more things to tease you with when he sees the most recent folder: DMZF. He swears he’s seen that acronym before, but where?

He opens it and, looking at the titles, gets his answer.

It’s a porn site category. Duros Male, Zeltron Female.

And apparently it’s an erotica category as well, based on the kilobytes upon kilobytes of filth you have here. And all very recently downloaded. The earliest is from a few months ago.

He does some quick math in his head. That’s about the same time he first captured you.

Cad Bane does not get giddy. Excited, maybe, but not giddy. But right now, he feels the same sadistic glee as a child catching their sibling doing something they’re not supposed to be doing. You are never going to hear the end of this.

He jumps out of his chair and practically sprints to the ladder. He bolts up the rungs and into your ship, clambering inside.

He can hear the humming of your vibrator from here -- you call it Buzz, but he refuses to anthropomorphize your sex toys. He’s got a line and calling your dildo Richard is on it. Your quiet purrs and moans echo in the small space, though slightly muffled.

Vincenzo snoozes at the base of the stairs, and he gives the tooka-cat a tip of the hat as he passes. Vince blinks slowly, then paws at the air.

You’re under your blankets. Completely under. He raps his knuckles on the wall and you squeal, the lump under the blankets sitting bolt upright. You pull the thick comforter off, ruining your hair. Your surprised expression turns to irritation.

“Go away,” you say flatly. “This is Irno Time.”

He holds up the holopad. “Forgot yer books. Thought you might need some material. Like...” He looks at the screen. “A Lighter Shade of Blue: A Xeno Love Story.”

You blanch. Eyes wide, jaw dropped, color completely draining out of your face. It’s the most glorious expression he’s ever seen on you.

“Or maybe Delfina’s Duro Delight. Dat cover looks nice. Girl kinda looks like ya,” he says. “Or The Good Captain Cachi: Pink Pirates #13. Any strikin’ yer fancy?”

You leap out of that bed like your ass is on fire. “Give me that!” you shriek. You lunge towards him, only for your foot to get caught on the sheet. You fall on your belly, and he grins wryly.

“I could read to ya, if ya want. Really capture de spirit of it.” The pirate one looks the funniest, so he taps it. If he knows you half as well as he cares to admit, you probably have the sex scenes bookmarked.

And he does!

You lunge at him, but he throws his forearm out to hold you back as he reads. “‘She hisses as he enters. Maker, he’s so big and his cock cool against her scorching pussy. Nothing like Zeltron men. His ridges fill her insides so wonderfully--’”

You’re so mad you’re going in and out of a few different languages. Something in Zeltrian, something that sounds like Huttese, “--rat bastard son of a motherfucker--” and something he has no idea what it is. Honestly, it just makes the situation funnier.

He skips ahead a few pages. “‘Ah, my dear, you take me so well,’ the captain croons. His scarlet orbs blaze like the setting suns as he pumps his throbbing member in and out of her. ‘My beautiful izrin piratess--’” Bane cuts himself off, frowning. “Dat ain’t how ya use dat. Dis idiot didn’t do de research--”

You duck under his arm and tackle him at the waist, hitting him right in the diaphragm and taking the wind right out of him. You’d be great in a game of gravball, he thinks as he falls. His hat pops off as he hits the floor.

You crawl up his body, pearly teeth curled into a snarl as you reach for the pad. He holds it above his head, forcing you to clamber even further, forcing your breasts against his face.

They’re still as fantastic as they were a few minutes ago.

He drops the datapad and wraps his arms around your torso, pulling you in as close as he can, completely engulfing his face in your tits. You squeak and try to scramble away, but he has you tight. He inhales your scent -- you absolutely reek of flowers. You’re definitely in estrus.

He growls in appreciation and rolls you over beneath him. He keeps nuzzling your breasts, using his hands to squeeze them close together. He grinds his hardening cock against your thigh. Your moan reverberates in your chest and fills his ears.

He twists his head to the side to free his mouth. “Ya feel my ridges, girl? Rock hard ‘cause o’ dese.”

“Guh-huh,” you choke out.

He’s never heard you make that sound before. He pulls himself away to look up at you, make sure you’re not dying.

You’ve got a smoky look in your wide eyes, your lovely lips parted as you pant. You stare at him, then blink.

“...you ever have a Farstine fuck?” you ask.

Bane straightens up to stare at you. He’s heard both of those words, but never in that order right next to each other. “Have I ever what?”

“Farstine fuck,” you say. “It’s where you put your dick between my breasts and... go for it.”

Is that what it’s called? He’s seen it, but never done it. Didn’t feel right to ask a working girl for that, nor did any short-term paramours ever offer.

Bane leaps to his feet, struggling to get his trousers off with his cock already at full mast. You stumble over to your, where you flop onto it and grab your vibrator. You grind against it as he peels off his clothes, watching him intently.

He gasps in relief as his cock finally springs free, and he notices you licking your lips. “So how we do dis, exactly?”

You pause in your buzzing to pull a bottle from your bedside table. You dump the green-tinted lubricant all over your chest, and give him a lidded smile. “Slick me up.”

He’s on you in a femtosecond, straddling your chest, working the lubricant all around. They look wonderful all shiny, and he suddenly understands why models get themselves all oiled up.

“So here’s how we do,” you say. You guide his cock to lay in the valley between your breasts. With one hand, you squish one of them up against it. “Take the other side.”

He does so. He can’t resist giving your nipple a little pinch.

You let out a little purr and grin at him. With your free hand, you reach around for your vibrator, and after a sharp click, he feels the buzzing traveling up your body.

“Now you just-- ooh!” You hit something good and cut yourself off with a cute hiccup of a moan. “--just start thrusting!”

He does just that. It doesn’t feel quite as magical as it does buried in your pussy, but sweet stars above, the sight of two of his favorite things in such close conjunction sends a jolt straight to his groin. “Now dat’s a view,” he rasps.

You try to give him a cool, seductive smile, but with the blush on your cheeks and your brow knit up, it looks comical. No less sexy, though. Hells, you actually look more attractive.

He kneads your breast as he fucks between them. “Ya know, I always wanted t‘ ruin a girl fer her own species,” he says.

Your hips jerk up, and you suck in a breath. “I’m not-- It’s not just you, I--”

“Don’t deny it, li’l lady.” He brings his free hand up to drag his fingers along your cheek, so soft and warm. “Gotcha hooked on xenos, didn’t I? On dis big, long prick?” Your twitch turns your face away, and he grabs you by the hair to drag your head up. “Look at it. It’s split yer pussy open a hundred times an’ it’ll do it a hundred times more.”

You stare at his cock as it moves between your breasts, the pupils of your eyes wide. He realizes he can feel your heartbeat through his cock, and it’s going wild. So is his, of course, but you don’t know that.

You swallow and drag your gaze up to match his. “Sounds like you’re the one addicted.”

...How’d you know that? There’s no way you knew that. This is just your usual back and forth.

Mercifully, you don’t seem to notice his shock and continue. “You’re the one who’s -- guh -- wanted to put a baby in me twice already despite the fact that we’re not the same species.”

There’s his out, thank the Maker. He chuckles, low in his throat. “Can’t fault me fer dat. Ya’d just look so good wit’ yer belly all round.”

Your eyes widen and your heartbeat quickens. The buzzing of the vibrator increases in intensity. “Keep... Keep talking.”

He pulls his lips back to show you his fangs. “But it’s so hard t’ focus... Why don’tchu tell me whatchu like about de idea of carryin’ an alien's baby?”

The noise that exits your mouth makes Bane worry you swallowed your tongue, but you find your voice. “I-I-I don’t know...” you stutter. “I just... All Zeltrons want babies, and--”

“Babies?” He gives your breast a squeeze. “Ya sayin’ ya want more’n one? A couple li'l Cads an' Irnos runnin' 'round, raisin' hell?”

He wishes he could bottle your expression. You’re so flushed you’re almost red, and your eyes so wide and dark he could fall into them. Your hair quivers as you give him a jerky nod.

“I could make dat happen. I’ve got a few more good breedin’ years left in me.” His own breath catches at that phrasing. “An’ yer young an’ plenty fertile, if dat estrus o’ yers is anything to go on.”

The vibrator clicks to an even higher setting. “Yes. Yes, I am,” you say quickly. You squeeze your eyes shut. “Very. Very fertile. I’ve had-- Quite a few scares over the years--”

“An’ you’ll never have one again, li’l lady,” he croons. He strokes your hair, soft and silky. He’s getting close.

Your eyes pop open, your brow furrowing. “Huh?”

“‘Cause next time, it won’t be a scare.” He grabs your jaw, forcing you to hold his gaze. “Yer gonna be pregnant.”

Your face contorts, and your breathing quickens. You let out a mewl, and your hips buck upwards.

“An’ once ya got a li’l baby squirmin’ in yer arms, I’ll do it again. An’ again. An’ again. An' again.” His voice gets rougher with every word. "Couple boys fer me, couple girls fer you. Sounds fair."

You find your voice between bucks. “Why stop at four?!” you squeak. “We got-- We got the credits!”

Maker, he wishes he was in your pussy right now. “Five? Six? Seven was always my lucky number, but eight--!”

The vibrator hits the floor as you thrust your pelvis upwards, your brow knit and lips gasping for air as you come undone, your eyes wide and looking right into his. It’s such a lovely sight that he hits his peak as well. Thin beige droplets splatter all over your neck, and he has to catch himself with his arms before he falls atop you.

You grab his hips as you come down, catching your breath. A few aftershocks rack you, and you give him a weak smile.

He returns it and falls to the side. He lays there, gulping down air, admiring your body. Lithe and lean, with nicely-proportioned hips. You’d have no problem birthing a child. And you’re young, so you’d probably lose the weight quickly...

Your voice knocks him from his musings. “Eight kids would ruin my figure.”

He huffs a laugh. “Got ya t' cum, though.”

"I'm in estrus. Every part of my body is telling me 'make a baby.' And what's better than one baby?” You throw your hands up. “Eight, apparently."

He sits up with a grunt. You keep a towel under your nightstand for cleanup, and he grabs it. "Can't say I agree wit' dat," he says.

"You'll be singing a different tune when you hit your... whatever you call it.” You touch the thin drops ringing your neck. "Finally gave me a pearl necklace," you murmur.

He chuckles a little at that. "Looks good on ya." He hands you the towel and stands to get dressed. "Any chance ya'd let me fuck yer tits again?"

"Of course!" you chirp. "I'm glad someone in the galaxy appreciates them."

The implication of that raises his brows. He pauses in pulling his trousers up. "Whoever doesn't like yer tits is an idiot." He pauses. "Or likes men."

"I appreciate the enthusiasm." You toss the towel away and give them an idle squeeze. His cock twitches, but he doesn't think he can go another round right now. Definitely later, though. "They really do feel bigger... But I'm not pregnant, so I don't know why..."

He pauses again to look at you. "Why would dat make 'em bigger?"

You frown at him like he asked a stupid question, but it vanishes. "Right, you're a reptile, you wouldn't know." You sit up. "That’s where we make the milk to feed babies."

He stares at you. You're fucking with him. You have to be.

But before he can call you on it, Todo's voice echoes through the ship. "Mister Bane?"

"Up here. Whaddaya want?"

Todo putters into the Rashoon Breeze and up the stairs to your quarters to hover before him.

"You've received a call from Ike. It seems that he found the footage you'd requested--"

Suddenly, a black streak jumps from the stairs and collides with Todo. Todo yelps and tries to get away, but Vincenzo clamps his jaws on one of his leg joints and he crashes to the floor. He rips the leg right off and streaks back down the stairs, his claws clicking on the metal.

"My booster!" Todo shrieks.

Bane is too surprised by the whole chain of events to react, but a musical sound reaches his ears. You've flopped back onto the bed, your arm slung over your eyes as rollicking peals of laughter escape you. It's not chirpy anymore -- more like a flock of nuna all riled up about a nexu in the henhouse.

It's contagious, and he can't help but smile too.

===

You are Irno Favara. And after introducing Cad Bane to the wonders of mammary intercourse and giving a brief biology lesson, your cat absolutely wrecked his droid out of nowhere and it was the funniest goddamn thing you've seen in a month.

You do feel a bit bad, though. Through a combination of bribery and pss pss pss-ing, you managed to get Todo's booster back, but as Bane repaired the little guy, he realized a gasket was missing. You were on your hands and knees for a good half hour, but no sign of it.

Cad was nonplussed, though. "Got some spare parts in a box somewhere," he said as he twisted a screwdriver along the droid's chassis. "Check de compartment under my bunk." He paused to point the screwdriver at you. "An’ don't touch anythin' else."

You’d put your hand over your heart and held up the other. "Wouldn't dream of it."

For once in your life, you're weren’t lying. You've already scoured his room before and found nothing, so why bother doing it again?

You take a closer look at the pin-ups on his bunk wall. Again, you note that there are no Duros girls. You wonder if there's a reason for that or if they just don't pose sexy. Which is a shame, you think. Every woman should feel hot when she wants to.

You squat down to open the compartment. It's deep, and you have to reach in to grab things.

This must be his equivalent of a junk drawer, because there's all sorts of stuff in here. You pull out a few music slugs, enough random parts to build a whole new droid, and what looks like it might have been an oddly-shaped hand-sewed pillow at one point. The fabric is completely worn, the stuffing disintegrated long ago, and it's covered in rips.

No gaskets to be seen, though. You reach in deeper.

You think you find the gasket, but it's on top of something flat and cool to the touch. A few somethings, actually. Holodisc cases? Why would he have shoved them under here? You pull them out.

And looking at the covers, you realize why. Lots of sexy, scantily-clad, heavily made-up women posing with equally attractive, very well-endowed males. Big, ridiculous titles like Twi'leks Gone Wild 5: Heads With Tails.

You found his porn stash. Men really are all the same, you muse.

But you notice the layer of dust on these. They haven't been watched in ages. You wonder if he got bored of them... Or if he hasn't needed them because he's been screwing you.

You reach into the compartment again and feel around. More smooth cases brush against your fingertips, these less dusty. You pull them out.

Tickled Pink. Rose As She Goes. Backdoor Man 10: Zeltron Verandas. Magenta Mamas. Candid Cafarels. A Duros on Zeltros.

"Cad Bane, you fucking hypocrite," you say aloud.

---

DRIVE B//: User > Me > Documents > Text > Personal > Other > list2.hpd

LIST OF REASONS YOURE KIND OF USEFUL AND I SHOULD KEEP YOU AROUND

#72: YOU HAVE IMMACULATE TASTE IN MEN

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⬅⬅⬅ | "Catch Us If You Can Masterpost" | To the Mastahpost | Tip Jar | ➡➡➡

[oneirataxiahiraeth]

Hey darling, i was wondering if i can have a request with ron weasley x reader. They start 7th year, the first morning of class she is getting ready with the girls (Hermione and ginny are her roomates) and she realized she packed her 5th year skirt and not the new one, she wears it anyways but its a little too short like to the mid thigh, the boys are always whistlering at her, looking at her legs and throwing "compliments". Ron doesn't like it, it makes him a little insecure but she reminds him she only loves him and she is only him's

I loveeee this concepttt, and I hope you like it<3

Promise?

Pairings : fem!reader x Jealous!RonWeasely

Warnings : Language, jealous Ron, catcalls, unprotected sex, oral (m.), classroom quickie, not proof read

Word count : something over 4K

You were totally going to flip out.

You spent so long making sure you had everything packed for the semester and here you were. It was frustrating to you, how could you miss this? This skirt was a size and a half too small, the most you moved the wrong way your whole asscheek would've been on the newsletters front page.

"It doesn't look that bad, it's wearable." Ginny stated, genuinely not finding a problem in you skirt as she brush through her red locks. "Besides you definitely have the legs for it." She tried to cheer you up as you stared at yourself in the body length mirror.

It's was your first day of year 7 and you were already off to a bad start. You wore this exact skirt on this exact day 2 years ago. You had grown since then, you were no longer a child, yet somehow you still managed to squeeze yourself right into this god awful skirt. It stopped down right at your mid thigh, and to say this was out of your comfort zones would be an understatement. You were on the verge of just deciding not to show up for classes today. Though you knew Hermione was never going to let that actually happen.

"You think I'd get away with it?" You pouted, and both of the girls nodded.

"You look like some of the muggle girls I see back home. They have interesting taste, personally I'd never pull it off, but you do, very well." Hermione spoke in hopes to cheer you up.

It didn't work very well.

"And if anyone asks just say you're making a fashion statement." Gin spoke, sending the idea through your head for only moment before you shook it out.

"No one makes fashion statements at Hogwarts... it's basically forbidden." You whined, stomping your foot on the ground.

"Says who?"

"It's an unspoken rule amongst like... everyone." You sighed in response.

Ginny rolled her eyes, standing from the edge of her bed. It was time to head for breakfast and meet up with the boys. You've been rambling about this since you got back to campus. You had yet to see Ronald, and you were overly ecstatic to see his beautiful face yet again. He and Harry sent you letters all summer long but you were busy doing things back in your hometown. You wanted to sneak out last night, but the two of you agreed on the morning. Besides, most of your classes were together, including your off period meaning you too got to do whatever you pleased for a whole hour. What's not exciting about that?!

"We have to get going soon, y/n. I'm hungry, and Hermione is halfway out the door already." Ginny spoke, grabbing you bag from off the floor as well. "No one is going to notice, you look fine." She reassured you. "And if anyone says anything about my sister-in-law we will be having some words." She smiled sweetly making your cheeks hot.

"Me and Ron aren't even married." You fought back you smiled as you took your bag from the girl. She was basically like the little sister you've always wanted. "And after today I might die of embarrassment, so we never will be."

"I think you look great. Now. Can we go?" Hermione stood, ready to start her day.

"Ugh, fine." You groan, both of the girls smiling widely at you. "But I'm only giving myself until 3 class before I started sobbing." You sighed as Hermione took your hand in hers. Leading you to the door.

"Please, you won't make it past snap me if he sees you in the hallway." Ginny scoffed, your eyes widening as you realized she was right.

"What if he dress codes me? Or all the teachers think I'm a whore? Oh god, I'm going to get kicked out-"

"Y/N! You're skirts not even that short, and I was talking about you holding in tears!" Ginny sighed, closing the room down behind the 3 of you.

You couldn't help it, you were on a rollercoaster of emotions up all the way to the dining hall. That's where the lot of your friends stood in the halls catching up and sending you sweet smiles and took you how good you looked. You're cheeks were burning hot, and the compliment made you want to curl up into a ball.

"Look, there they are!" Hermione spoke, pointing to the two boys, already digging into the food on their plates. You noticed the extra cup of juice and muffin on Ron's plate, he saved it just for you, knowing how uneasy your stomach is in the mornings.

A bright smile formed on your face as you began making your way towards your boyfriend. Your smile slowly faded as loud group of ravenclaw boys in the corner of the cafeteria sent loud whistle noises through the air. Your eyes went to them immediately before you noticed their sights set on you. Ron's head turned slowly too, not very interested in whatever poor girl they were harassing until his gaze was set on you.

His jaw nearly dropped to the floor. You looked beautiful, as you always did. You were walking with that smile you do when your uncomfortable, and your finger freshly manicured fingers gripping the strap of your book bag. You were dressed in your regular uniform, except when you scanned you over his eyes got stuck on the length of your legs. They were nice, they looked warm, and comfortable. He's see your legs before though, he's seen each of your boys part very close and intimately before but, now everyone was seeing what was usually reserved for his eyes only.

"People are staring." You mumbled.

"Let's just get to the table so they have nothing to stare at." Hermione spoke and you nodded.

"Nice skirt, Y/L/N!" A voice called out from somewhere in the cafeteria.

You ignored the comment, heading straight for your boyfriend who stood quickly from his seat at the table to greet you.

You're smile returned as you approached, neither of you waiting too long to wrap up in each other's arms. You threw your arms over his shoulder, his cinnamony scent taking over you nostrils almost instantly. His arms wrapped around you waist, gripping you tightly as he soaked in your presence. You felt your body release all tension it held and for a brief moment in time you forgot all about-

"Hey y/n," you're attention broke away from the warmth of Ron's body sinking into yours to the tall brunette with a bright smile on his face. "There's a party in the commons later, you should drop by." He spoke, eyes falling down your body, taking their sweet time in returning back to your face.

"Oh uhm, sure thing Cedric." You spoke, pulling away from you're red headed boyfriend.

"You guys can come too if you want." He spoke looking at the rest of your friends. "Can't wait to hear all about your summer, y/n." He spoke to you, sending a wink before waving goodbye.

You and Cedric had a few classes together, but you were never super close friends. Definitely not close enough to be inviting each other to party's.

"Since when are you Cedric best friends?" Your boyfriend asked noticing the way Cedric totally checked you out and how you didn't even notice.

"We're not. He was just being friendly." You shrugged it off, not seeing much more too it. You sent your boyfriend a sweet smile, unable to contain your happiness that you were finally reunited. "Now am I going to have to pretend that I want you to kiss me or are you going to read my mind?" You joked. Ron smiled, shaking off the weird feelings. His hands moved up to cup your face, bringing yours up to his until your lips came together. He tasted like orange juice and some type of tart berry.

"Oh young love. I love love." Lunas voices spoke breaking your kiss apart. Suddenly you pushed your boyfriend away to hug your other friend Luna. You missed her all too much this summer, seeing her again made your heart happy. "Hello." She giggled.

"It's good to see you, Luna. I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you too, y/n." Your friend smiled sweetly as you finally let her go, giving her space to breathe. "Bold fashion choice, really shows off your legs. You have nice legs." She commented, making your cheeks turn hot.

"Thank you, Luna." You smiled. "It wasn't really intentional, but I have to stick it out for the next few days." You explain and she nods.

"Hey y/n!" A voice called from across the cafeteria again. "Looking good!"

  You smile a bit, not really sure how to respond to the comment. You haven't changed much over the summer. Maybe you grew a few centimeters, and changed your hair up a bit, but you were still the same old y/n. It was like you haven't know half of this dining hall for the past 6/7 years of you life.

  "You've got to be kidding me." Ron scoffed, eyeing around the room from who the sound came from.

  "Ronnie, it's whatever, let's just sit, yeah" you hummed looking the spot he had reserved to you. "Muffins, my favorite." You tried changing the subject but you could still tell how the comment made from some asshole across the way bothered him. His cheeks were glowing red and his eyes squinting a bit. His lips pressed together in a thin line as you guided him to sit back down at the breakfast table.

  The day past very slowly. Teachers making snide remarks about skin, groups of girls whisper in the halls as you passed, and the occasional whistle call from a boy who just couldn't help himself.

  You were invited to the same party about 4 different times today. Each times with your boyfriend present, as if he wasn't standing right there. Some 5th year even tried asking you out in front of Ron, you saved his life by not respond and just pretending you didn't hear. Ron would've ripped the kids ears off if you acknowledged the plain foolery.

   "Where are you going, Ronald?" You asked as class ended. The two of you were supposed to spend your first free period of the school year together in the garden with sweets you snuck here from back home. Right now he just wanted to get out of the classroom as quickly as possible. "Ron!" You spoke louder, your steps quick in order to catch up with him.

  "I heard you the first time, y/n." He turned his head to gripe. Your eyebrows furrowed together at the unnecessarily aggressive comment.

  "If you didn't want to hang out with me, you could've just said. You don't have to be a dick about it." You scoffed, shaking your head even though he couldn't see your obviously hurt visual reaction.

  His hand reached out for your wrist, before you could walk away. You didn't want to cause a scene in the hallway full of students rushing to be out of the halls in a jiffy. You allowed Ron to drag you along with him, until he opened up an empty class room door. He pulled you in, shut the door behind you and spelling it shut so no one would interrupt the two of you.

  "You're not seriously going to that party tonight are you?" He scoffed out first, setting his bag on the ground as he turned to look at you with disappointment.

  "People are expecting me there, Ron. Everyone is going!" You sighed.

  "Doesn't mean you have to!"

"Is that why you're upset? A party? Bloody hell Ronald." You cursed, annoyed with the red head.

  "I'm upset because guys have been flirting with you like crazy all day and you just bloody let them!" He growled as you set your own bag down. "Don't act as if you had all of these friends last year, when we both know you didn't. The only reason the want you to go is so they can stare at your ass some more!" He fired your eyes widening a bit. It made perfect sense... You rarely ever spoke to Cedric before, or half of the boys that approached you today. You took all of their friendly gestures as... friendly gestures. Pulling out seats for you, complimenting your appearance, everything, you thought they were just being kind.

  "Excuse me, I don't see the worst in everyone. It's a new year, we're growing up, they were just being nice! You defend."

  "To you!" He snaps.

"What's that supposed to mean?" You're arms dropped from being crossed over your chest. His mouth opened to respond before shutting again, shaking his head and muttering a quick "never mind, it's nothing". "What did you mean, Ron." You spoke seriously, honestly quite annoyed with his behavior.

  "I've had to watch every boy in this school practically drool all over you since breakfast." He spoke up. You had forgotten about breakfast. "The whistles, the compliments, I even heard some Slytherin talk about winning you over at the party tonight." He sighed, explaining his anger. Was he jealous?

  "But literally everyone knows I'm yours, Ronnie." You respond in a softer tone, taking a step towards him. "I've been your for almost a whole year now, The thought of not being with you hasn't even crossed my mind."

  "Do you think they care, y/n?" He scoffed again. "Your hot, your smart, and you have a boyfriend, your a perfect target!" He whined.

  "I'm not going to be won over by cheap pick up lines and bad booze."

  "Are you sure? Because Cedric seems to think that your already begging him to sweep you off your feet. Was whispering about it all class." He pouted and you heart dropped into your stomach. "And why wouldn't you? He's good looking, sporty, funny, charming, and apparently he's a great kisser."

   "I wouldn't because I don't love him. I love you. I'll always love you, I'll never love anyone the way I love you. Your good looking, smart, you can be sporty if you didn't doubt yourself every five seconds-" he rolled his eyes, attempting to turn away from you before you grabbing his hand pulling him closer to you. "Like your doing now... your hilarious to me, Ronnie. You're the most interesting person I know, and I'm pretty sure your the best kisser to ever grace this sad run down planet." You spoke, pulling him until your bodies touched, placing his hands on your waist as you looked up into his soft eyes. "I love you, Ronald."

  "Do you promise?" He spoke quickly and you nodded.

"I'm going to marry you one day" A smile slowly found its way to his red face, allowing the anger and sadness to flush right through him.

  "I love you, y/n. More than life itself."

"Promise?" You smiled back.

   "Would I ever lie to the mother of my future children?"

  You stood on your tiptoes, leaning your head up until your lips pressed against his. He still tasted like orange juice, the tart berry faded as the day went past. His hands on your waist squeezing as you arms went over his shoulders. Your lips moving against his gave him a good taste of your cherry flavored lip balm. It was a new one, last year your stuck to a watermelon flavored balm.

   You hadn't even noticed the two of you were moving until he helped you hop up on one of the lab tables. Your hands moving down to unbuckle his pants as quickly as possible before he pulled apart your kiss.

  "Are you sure you wanna do this here?" He asked, only because he knew you would die of embarrassment if caught by anyone. He had no problem having sex with you in here, it's not like he hadn't that about it tens of times core.

  "Take me, right here." You nodded, unbuttoning his pants as you focused on one thing. "You know, I've really really missed you this past few months." Your bottom lip caught between your teeth. "I've missed you over and over and over..." you hummed, tugging his pants down enough until they weren't in your way.

  "That's a lot of missing me." Ron swallowed, you fingers slipping past the waist band of his boxers pulling them down a bit before you pulled out his cock with precum already leaking from his tip.

  "Mmhmm." You lost count of how many times you struggled to get yourself off without Ron. It was frustrating and made you regret not spend at least a few weeks with him and his family. "I've felt Kinda... empty." You spoke spreading your legs for him as he prepped himself.

  "I could help you out with that... make you feel more... full." He offered and you nodded. His hands slipping under the skirt that was no basically showing your whole ass, pushing you black panties to the sides. You were already dripping as his fingers ran up you slit to make sure you were ready for him.

  "Please Ronnie." You moaned, as he lined himself up with your entrance.

   He looked to you for last second approval, you nod, pulling his body closer to yours by his tie, connecting your lips once more before he finally pushed into you. You both groaned at the sensation, he stretched you out until you felt the pleasurable burn spreading through your groin. Not stopping until your hips met and he was deep inside of you. Your walls clenched around him, missing the feeling of the burn he usually ensued.

   He drew his hips back only a bit before slowly rocking himself into you. Your ass on the very edge of the table. Legs wrapped around his waist and he fucked into you. Lips still connected in sloppy slow sensual kisses that you dreamt about so many nights this summer. Your muffled moans filled the dead silence in the empty classroom the two of you were occupying. The sounds only encouraging his movements as his hips sped up in pace, hands down to grip your thighs to keep your legs apart for him. This wasn't the way either of you wanted to wanted to greet each other after 3 sum months, but it'd have to do.

  "God, your so tight!" Ron moaned through the sloppily kisses. His voice made you clench around him once more making his hips stutter as he moved faster and harder.

  "You feel so good baby."you moaned, voice in a high pitch and out of breath.

   His lips moved from your to down your neck, arm wrapped around your back to keep you steady. You were trying to keep yourself quiet in case any stragglers in the halls happened to walk by. You let out tiny gasps and squeals whenever he hit a particular deep spot in your cunt that nearly drove you mad.

   "F-fuck"

His hand moved from your thigh to your clit. Rubbing harsh circle on the bundle of nerves. Your jaw fell open as you tried to focus on a single point of pleasure to celebrate, with his cock hitting your g spot with every thrust and your clit sending pleasurable shocks through the rest of your body it was hard to focus on just one thing.

   "M's-so cl-ose-" you choked out, unable to really forming words.

  "I know, babe, cum for me, Princess." Ronald murmured, brain foggy with lust. Hips still rocking into

yours as you desperately tried to hold on for just a bit longer. It became harder to control to noises slipping past your lips. Uttering his name in your whines as he brought you over the edge, hips moving a bit slower as you clenched tightly around him, legs shaking a bit as he helped you ride out your orgasm.

“Oh fuck” you moaned, breathing heavy and hips still rocking into his.

“Almost forgot how pretty you are when you do that.” He smirks, your eyebrows furrowing a bit.

“When I do what?” You hum, he opened his mouth to respond but he just shut it back again before shaking his head.

“Nothing.” He shrugged.

“N- wait, did you..?” You peered down between the two of you.

“Uhm no, it’s fine- I don’t even have condom on me-”

“I can-”

“No, you don’t have to-”

“I want to.” You stated, smiling at the way it was so easy to read each other’s minds. “Really.”

“I mean... yeah, uhm okay.” He spoke, cheeks turning a bright red color. You nodded letting out a slight moan as he pulled out of you. He helped you off the table, allowing you to fix your skirt before sinking down to your knees. You looked up to him through your lashes basically causing his insides to melt at the sight.

You wasted no time in making sure he was satisfied. Your lips arm lips warming around him, tongue collecting all of your own juices as you took him further into your mouth. You let out a soft moan, sending the vibrations through his spine earning a groan from him. His mouth fell open as he felt his tip touch the back of your throat. His eyes glued on your lips as his cock disappeared in your mouth over and over. He fought the strong urge to see just how far you could take him in your pretty mouth before you couldn’t breathe.

“Bloody hell, just like that, y/n.” He moaned, hand finding its way to the back of your head, only pushing you into him gently. You didn’t mind it, you actually very often craved the way he usually took control. That ache between your legs returned, the one that usually made your mind foggy and made bad decisions seem not so bad in the long run.

The ground cold on your knees, skirt wrapped tightly around your body, boyfriend beginning to twitch as your push your limit in how far he could go. Tears polling in the bottom of your eyes, threatening to ruin the makeup you had done perfectly for the day. You felt his cock twitching in your mouth enjoying the noises coming from his throat as he neared his high.

“Fuck I’m gonna-” he moaned before spilling his hot seed into you mouth. Without think you swallow I’m around him, milking him for whatever he was worth before he had to pull you away from him. Both of you slightly out of breath before as he helped you to your feet. Your lips glossy from a mixture of spit and his cum, which he didn’t seem to mind as he pulled you in for one final kiss.

“We should skip next period and lunch, have some fun... I haven’t seen you all summer and I really missed you.” You emphasized on the really, as you pulled away from the kiss.

“And as much as I’m not opposed to that, you’d castrate me tomorrow for letting you skip the first day just to have sex.”

“Mm, you get me.” You giggled, watching as he fixed himself so he could the two of you could return to normal civilization. “Now we should go before someone tries to get in here.” You mentioned, fixing your own skirt once again, and making sure you had no remnants of Ron on your face or clothes. You helped fix his tie until you both looked as well as two people could after fucking in a classroom. “Do you think we could sneak out tonight? Have a picnic under the Stars somewhere?” You asked, earning a light hearted chuckle from your boyfriend.

“What about your party?” He asked.

“They’ll just have to miss us.” You shrugged, taking Ron’s hand in yours as you know lace your bag on you shoulder.

He didn’t respond but you knew the answer. He just smile as pulled the both of you towards the door stopping as you heard the quick tapping of someone’s feet’s along the stone floors. You both paused in the doorway, hearts beating before watching your dark haired best friend turn the corner. He spotted the two of you quickly with a smile, out of breath and not really in the position to stop but he did so anyways.

“Woah, mate, what are you doing?” Ron asked, confusion lightly his face.

Harry’s eyes flickered from you back to Ron before rolling to the back of his head out of annoyance.

“That thing we said we were going to do earlier. You disappeared so I did it myself... and well... I got caught, so if you will excuse me-" you’re eyebrows furrowed as you looked to Ron with a sudden pale and tense figure.

“What did you do?” You groaned.

“YOU’RE DEAD POTTER!” A familiar clump of voices called, echoing through the halls before you’re eyes went wide.

“Tell you later?” He offered before you rolled your eyes gripping your boyfriend hand as you both prepared to run along side your friend.

[quillandink333]

Scarlet Carnations ~ Part VII

BotW Link X Zelda ~ Detective AU

Rating: T

Word Count: 4k

WARNINGS: death, murder, loss, trauma, blood and gore, terrorism, organized crime, self-harm

Summary: Inspector Zelda Hyrule, assisted by the faithful Constable Link Fyori, is infamous for cracking the most confounding of cases in a town dominated by crime. Her latest assignment is to solve the murder of her own godmother, Impa Sheikah, the late CEO of Sheikah Tech. Incorporated, while staying under the radar of the dreaded Yiga organization.

Part I • Part II • Part III • Part IV • Part V • Part VI • Part VII • Epilogue • Masterlist

It took me far too long to recover from the discovery I’d made deep beneath the foundation of the Sheikah estate. Who knew how many more had been forced to suffer at the hands of the Yiga over the course of that period? It was high time to end this era of tyranny and grief, and to have anyone but myself take the lead was not an option. Whatever truth was waiting for me at the end of all this, so be it. I had to see it with my own two eyes. I had to see her.

To help set my plan into motion, the only person I had left to turn to was Prosecutor Sigatur, and though she had once held my mother in the utmost respect, she had benevolently volunteered to present my findings to the courts in my stead. As confident as I was in my argument and as desperately as I desired to be there for Link, I couldn’t quite stomach the thought of taking the stand and exposing myself to the discrimination of the public eye again.

And so, as the proceedings went on for the following few days, I spent my time back at the apartment, making myself useful by poring through my mountainous collection of data on the eighteen-year-old incident that I’d amassed over the years and had been keeping in my office until now. Now that I had been let go, my flat was practically overflowing with newspaper clippings, copies of investigation reports, and whatever else not. Every time I would open the door upon arriving home, I’d get hit in the face with the musty stench of dust and old magazines that I had nowhere to properly put away.

Though my collection was indeed vast, it was far more so in physical volume than in information. Most of the documents in it were no more than different accounts of the same basic facts. All the useful info I could glean was that the fire at City Hall had taken the lives of most, if not all, administrative officials who had been there working at the time, and those members of council who may or may not have been killed had never been seen nor heard from again, their bodies left for ash. And according to my sources, Mayor Hyrule had been amongst them.

There was a certain line in her letter to Auntie Impa that had tipped me off to her current whereabouts. “...I have been keeping watch over you from the ashes of the afterlife...” The imagery laced so intricately into those words had struck a nerve. There was only one place in this town that both would’ve been of any significance to her and was covered in ash: the crumbling ruins where the former City Hall had once stood.

Having reached the point of culmination in my plotting, I invited the newly reinstated Constable Fyori over for tea. The two of us meeting in my office would have been preferable, but we’d just have to make do with this for the time being.

“If my hypothesis is correct, then I am about to enter the belly of the beast,” I deliberated. Seated on my settee and restlessly tapping the floor with his heel, Link listened with both eyes and ears as I paced about the room. “Ideally, I’d have some sort of backup at my disposal. Maybe I could phone Urbosa and ask her to lend me a hand, just once more...”

“If I may,” he butted in, “why are you speaking as though you’ll be on your own?”

I hadn’t been nearly as prepared as I probably should have been for such a question. “Well...” I stammered, forcing the shame of admitting that I was too afraid to confront my own mother alone down my throat, “would you happen to know someone who’d be willing to accompany me?”

His mouth gaped at my answer. Then jutting his neck out and laying his palms across his chest, he stood up. “Me!”

I took a step back. “Link, what are you talking about?” If something happened to him as a result of this, which was more likely to occur than not, then his last moments would surely be filled with nothing but fear and regret. Not to mention, I would never forgive myself. “I really shouldn’t have to remind you. She’s the reason your family—”

“I know,” he snapped. His eyes were burning a hole straight through me. It was almost frightening. “Believe me, I’m not about to go forgetting it again any time soon.”

“Then why...?” I half-whispered in the most deathly serious tone I could muster.

“Because I���m tired of hiding.”

A harsh breeze rattled the blinds against the window frame. It took me by surprise, but he wasn’t phased by it in the least.

“I’m tired of turning a blind eye and acting like none of the horrible things she’s done ever happened.” I tried to think of a snappy rebuttal, but none came to mind. He’d said these words as though they’d been burning on the tip of his tongue for an untold number of days. He’d had a lot of time to reflect between his false conviction and his acquittal, so it seemed. He and I were of the same mind, of course, but... “And, because...” He stopped himself. Some of the fire in his gaze had gone out in smoke. I got my hopes up when he broke eye contact for a moment or two, and I could all but sense the resolve in him dying, just a little bit.

But then, emitting a slight sound of frustration, he stepped closer. His hands gripped my shoulders, and he pulled me in with the force of a hurricane.

When his lips made impact with mine, my eyes flew open.

He kissed me with what could only be described as reckless abandon. His mouth scraped across my own, and I could feel every ounce of his aggravation in the way his fingertips bit down on my skin alone. It was rough and clumsy and pressed, as if this were sincerely the last and only chance he would ever have.

All of a sudden, we were seventeen again, and standing in the middle of our secondary school’s greenhouse. The scent of dust was replaced with that of lush flora on all sides of us, and sunlight shining in from above caressed the top of my head with its warmth. This was the very scene that I’d used to daydream about time and time again, wasting more hours of each day than I’d have liked to admit at the time.

Now his fingers clung to the corners of my face like I was made of paper, his lips brushing mine almost imperceptibly as his bated breath fanned out against them. When my eyes opened and met with his, his complexion had turned a delicate rouge, and his faultless aquamarines had been clouded over by doubt. In that moment, all I could think to do was to make that doubt vanish. So I ignored the distant sense of guilt that yet lingered and seized the navy blue tie around his neck. Our forms collided, and a sigh like trees swaying at the mercy of a light breeze in summer grazed my cheek.

With Ms. Sigatur’s aid, the constabulary had been more than willing to cooperate and construct a perimeter of officers around the old City Hall’s charred skeleton. Just the fact that the vicinity wasn’t littered in tarps and rubbish and other evidence of homelessness was proof enough of my theory. And yet, the way the wind howled and that the only signs of life were the crows circling up above filled the pit of my stomach with an unease that I could not ignore.

“You know what to do as soon as you sense any sign of danger, I trust?” Urbosa had both her hands planted firmly on my shoulders, bending down to meet my gaze with that same, old look of worry.

I gave a firm nod, never breaking eye contact. “Of course.”

“And you have Fyori and the others looking out for you, so don’t be afraid to call for them if—”

“I’ll be fine, Urbosa. I—”

“No, you will not.”

All I wanted was to get this over with, but she just had to go and remind me of the risks. No matter what I wished for, it wouldn’t change the fact that this was, in all likelihood, a suicide mission. Which was why I’d been so adamant in refusing to allow Link to come along initially.

Said constable was watching the two of us out of the corner of his eye, ever the vigilante as he stood facing the stronghold a mere half dozen paces away.

I heaved a constricted sigh and looked the prosecutor earnestly in the eye. With a deep breath, “I understand how worried you are for me, but please, don’t try to stop me. I’m aware of the risk and I’m prepared to face the consequences. I wouldn’t be doing this if I weren’t confident in my ability to succeed.”

Her stance softened, if only just slightly. “If Hilda weren’t still alive, her spirit would haunt me for letting any harm come to you.”

“But that won’t happen, because she is alive and she would never try to hurt me.” This much I was certain of, for if she had harboured any such intentions, she would have acted on them already, with how the Organization typically operated.

Urbosa’s lips tightened, and the out of place worry lines permeating her expression faded incrementally. She cast her gaze toward my stubborn guardian in silence, and he offered her a calm, yet resolute, nod of the head.

After a quiet embrace that seemed to go on endlessly, she sent me on my way. I looked over my shoulder as she grew smaller and smaller, then turned my focus ahead of me.

Staring up at the towering columns before me, I fell into an unnatural combination of wonder, nostalgia, and loss. (For whom or what was I still mourning? At this point, I didn’t even know the answer to that.) For the most part, the only parts of the building left standing were those invulnerable to fire, and even a great portion of that had fallen victim to weathering and decay over the years. Many of the brick walls had crumbled, leaving little in the way of places to hide a single person, let alone an entire crime syndicate.

The wind was unrelenting as it whipped and thrashed my hair about my face. Yet somehow, even as we drew nearer, the air remained as deathly still as ever.

As we finally came upon the scorched remnants of the main entrance, a gust from the north sent a whirlwind of ash in my direction. My arms rose to shield my face in the nick of time.

After taking a moment to collect myself, I took my first step since childhood into the domain of my mother’s workplace. Surely when I crossed that threshold, I’d thought, surely that was when havoc would finally be wrought upon us. But I was met yet again with stillness. Was nothing but my own breathing able to break this seemingly impenetrable silence?

Just then, my question was answered.

I felt my soul jump out of the confines of my body when the caw of a crow reverberated throughout the government building. If my heart hadn’t been pounding hard enough already...

I jumped again seconds later, though not nearly to the extent at which I just had, when Link’s hand came to weave itself between my fingers. We locked eyes, and he gave me the kindest of smiles. It made me want to melt right into his arms and to never let go, lest I lose him a third, and very likely final, time.

But a clearing of the throat from one of the other nearby constables reminded me of the ever present need to stay alert.

I elected to have the group split into two: one to search the ground floor of the ruins and one to search the upper floor. It was hard to say for certain how stable they were, but the stairways connecting the two stories were still almost fully intact. The upper floor itself, however, was another matter. Though its foundation hadn’t been constructed from any organic material, much of its structural integrity seemed to have been lost. About a third of it had broken off and landed square in the middle of the ground floor, leaving a vast chasm between the two sections of the upper floor that remained. The police had come prepared and equipped for the traversal of rough and uneven terrain, though there was still the danger of stray pieces of rubble raining down onto our heads from above.

I adjusted the strap of my helmet, which was beginning to chafe at the skin underneath my chin, before making my way around the monstrous hunk of brick flooring lying along the length of the grand foyer. Beyond that, as I’d remembered correctly, was the hallway leading to where her office had once been. But the scene I would discover there was a far cry from what I recalled.

What I found there wasn’t unlike what we’d found in the other offices up until now. Any furniture that had once filled the space had been destroyed. I could only just make out the contorted pieces of an old, blackened writing desk, its legs collapsed and the only thing relaying the tale of its former shape being the lamp lying shattered beside it. This I’d only noticed after hearing the crackling of shattered glass underfoot.

A clipped, nasal exhale sounded from behind me, where Link was taking in the scene with an expression similar to my own set into his face. He’d been clinging to my side since we’d begun searching, whether out of a desire to protect or to be protected, I did not know. A question rang in my ears that he’d posed to me during our meeting at my flat. “What will you do once you find her?” It was a simple question, one that I reasonably should have been able to answer, but the only one that came to mind would have sounded beyond foolish if said aloud. In the midst of such an era of power, what crime boss in their right mind would be swayed by a meagre plea to stop? But if not try to reason with her, there wouldn’t be many other options at my disposal.

This supposition only applied given that my mother would be found. My inspections so far had yielded no signs of Yiga activity, or for that matter, any activity whatsoever. Everything here seemed to have been here since the very incident that had levelled the place. In a way, this only added onto my already existing restlessness. The longer this search went on in vain, the less likely we were to find anything of worth, and the more likely it was for this endeavour to end in yet another failure. The moment I would finally give into my fear and call off the mission was steadily approaching.

A shadow flickered in my peripheral vision, followed by auditory pandemonium.

I just barely withheld my yelp. Link had turned toward the source of the sound with his hand on his holster.

But it had only been a piece of debris coming down from the floor above. I sighed furtively.

Between how Link’s shoulders had tensed up to meet his ears and the way his hand twitched as he lowered it from his hip, it was plain to see that I wasn’t the only one who was shaken up.

There was one more area of the ground floor that I had left to search: the conference hall. If the Yiga were anywhere to be found across these vast burial grounds, it was there.

What was left of the wood flooring creaked underfoot at a much greater volume than I’d been expecting. The ceiling, though just as high as that of the rest of this floor, somehow felt even loftier. Out of all the rooms we’d visited, this one was the most intact. Half of the risers, though scorched, were otherwise undamaged, and even the podium was still standing tall. But of course, being more intact meant giving sharpshooters more places to hide. One misstep and—

Crack

The floor fell out from beneath me. I let out a shriek, feeling the realm of death open its big, black maw and swallow me whole.

Then I landed with a calamitus crash.

If I hadn’t managed to curl my limbs around myself in time, the concrete flooring I seemed to have landed on surely would’ve cracked my head open, or given me a severe concussion at the very least. My whole body ached from the impact, and it felt as though I may have sprained my ankle, for when I tried to stand, it throbbed in the most violent pain I had ever experienced. I fell to my hands and knees, reeling.

The spot in the floor that I’d placed my weight on must have lost much of its hardiness to the fire. In all the times I’d been here as a little girl, it had never once occurred to me that this place had housed a basement.

“Zelda...!”

I looked up to see Link peering down from the hole in the ceiling that I’d made, his expression poised with worry. My body, covered in scrapes and bruises, cringed when I realized he had borne witness to that pathetic spectacle, making the pain tenfold.

“I’m fine,” I whisper-shouted up toward the only source of light in the room, and some of the fear in his face relaxed. He glanced around him, then looked back down in my direction before standing up and disappearing.

I could only hope he’d find his way down sooner rather than later. In the meantime, I shifted into a position I hoped I’d have more luck rising back to standing from, and I did. Though, maimed as I was, I’d still have to find some way to take some of the weight off my right foot.

The first thing I latched onto was rusty and sharp. I winced and pulled my hand back, looking blindly to see if my palm was bleeding or not.

As my eyes adjusted, I was relieved to see that the cut had only just grazed the surface of my skin. I scanned the room, seeing that the thing I’d touched was a piece of an old oil drum. In fact, the room was full of metal scraps resembling it.

A vision flashed before my eyes. Of City Hall being engulfed in flame within seconds, and the criminal mastermind hiding the evidence in a cellar, where no one would ever find it until the better part of two decades later.

The rest of the basement was still a cluttered mess, but somehow it felt a great deal more lived-in than what I’d seen up until this point. There wasn’t a soul to be found in any of the windowless rooms I came across, but the few things I found lying around with the help of my pocket torch, like an unopened pack of cigarettes and a deck of cards left strewn across a small table, gave me the distinct impression that I wasn’t alone. The numerous corners provided by old, metal bookshelves and file cabinets did little to slow my racing heart.

Eventually, I came upon an open doorway, beside which a small sign on the wall read, “Archive A.” Beyond the barrier, unlike the pitch darkness I’d been wandering through for I’d long lost count of just how long, a few threads of light were trickling in from above, presumably through a crack in the flooring above that I’d failed to notice before.

I stepped through the doorway, turned to face the yawning expanse of the former archive, and saw her. Dressed in pale white and standing radiantly in the center of the room.

My mother. The very image of my ever vivid memory of her was right there.

My feet carried me, with newfound purpose and with minds of their own, toward her. I wanted to reach out and feel her next to me. I wanted to ascertain that she was truly there and that I hadn’t actually hit my head and wasn’t now seeing things. I wanted to run at her, arms outstretched, more than anything in the world.

But then my ankle throbbed violently in protest, and my reason for being here came back to me at full force. I swallowed down my longing and stopped in my tracks. Her smile—that warm, glowing, congratulatory smile that held all the hope and light of the sun within its corners—wasn’t making this any less difficult, however. I was reminded of the simpler times, when at the end of each day, there was someone back at home waiting to hold me close and make all my worries melt away.

She held her arms out to me in a gesture that made my eyes well up with the tears of a child. It felt unspeakably wrong, but for what reason I could no longer place. Why shouldn’t I? What harm could it possibly do? It was only natural to want to wrap my arms around her as tightly as I was able, and to never let go again, wasn’t it?

A gunshot ripped through the peace.

Her face turned still as stone. Square between her harmless eyes had appeared an inky black-red orifice—an exit wound—from which a spray of crimson had decorated her visage.

Time slowed almost to a stop as Mother careened forward and fell flat onto the cold, hard floor. A hollow thump echoed throughout the empty space.

Before I’d had time to react, I looked up and met eyes with a painfully familiar pair of icy azures, which thawed in an instant as the owner lowered his weapon. I glanced down at the body, which had landed just two or three paces in front of me, then back at him. Then my own body started to shake.

No matter how I tried, I couldn’t control the violent tremors that had taken hold of me. My knees hit the floor, my bad ankle being wrenched one way in the process. This tore a scream from the depths of my lungs as the tears began waterfalling down in spiteful defiance against my will. I couldn’t bare to look at her—lithe arms strewn out limply at her sides and golden hair scattered in every direction—so I hid like the coward I was behind my stinging palms.

A metallic clack, followed by footsteps pounding the cement one after another as they neared. When his arms cradled my head into the shelter of his chest, I didn’t stop him. Nor did I when his hand began its gentle stroking up and down the curve of my back. He could have said something, anything, but he refrained. Instead, the silence surrounding my cries did nothing but amplify them.

A resounding clatter broke the air.

My vision was fogged up like a window pane in the dead of winter, but as I blinked away the tears, I began to make out the shape of an assault rifle lying on the concrete, at the feet of a person who hadn’t been there before and whose face I was unable to make out from this distance. In the figure’s hand was a bone-white mask, which they turned over in their grasp before dropping it onto the floor as well. It shattered upon landing.

In every corner, assassins were emerging from the shadows, each one of them laying down their weapons and turning to face the cooling corpse resting at the axis point of it all. Somehow, the room seemed even more devoid of daylight than ever before.

[tsarisfanfiction]

Grounded pt1

Fandom: Thunderbirds Rating: Teen Genre: Hurt/Comfort/Family Characters: Scott, Virgil, Gordon, John

Re-watched Buried Treasure and Venom and this little muse dug its claws in - Scott took a bit of a beating in the former, and then doesn’t pilot TB1 or even the pod even though speed is of the essence in the latter.  This isn’t finished - don’t know if the eventual thing will be a oneshot or multichap on AO3/FFN - or even proof read because it’s midnight and I’ll get yelled at if I don’t go to bed now, but muse wouldn’t shut up, so here’s 4k words of whatever this is gonna end up being.  Title is also still a wip.

It was an exhausted Scott Tracy that dragged himself into his shower at the end of what had been a day he honestly wished had never happened.  A trip into a trash mine had never been on his bucket list – and even if he’d known about the things before today, it still wouldn’t have featured on his bucket list – and after the chaos that had ensued, he would be delighted if he never had to enter one again.  Somewhere in the big brother part of his mind labelled Gordon was a mental note to make sure his second youngest brother never went in one again, either. While Scott was all for his brothers making friends, he had concerns about his budding acquaintance with the woman known only as Scraps.

He wasn’t entirely sure Gordon had told the truth when he said he’d never gone scavenging himself, and he certainly wasn’t sure Gordon wouldn’t if the opportunity presented itself. After the hydrofoil, the blond had gained a ‘if today was my last day’ attitude and refused to let new experiences pass him by; it was understandable, but more than a little stressful for Scott at times.

The mission had been a success, but it hadn’t felt like it when both his accompanying brothers were stewing in angry silence over the comms on the way back, Scraps (encouraged by Gordon) had insisted he fork out the quite frankly ludicrous price of the stretchy toy, and the owners of the site were breathing down his neck about destruction of their property.  Apparently they didn’t care that it was Scraps who had damaged their WRM when IR had wrecked their park and were well known to be the Tracy family – that is, known to be filthy rich.  It had been a very expensive day for both him personally and the family at large, and just to compound it all he’d come home to the news that while the Mechanic was now willingly working on the engine, the price of that had been the Hood finding out about their plans.

Brains’ furious lecture about the mole pod had just been the icing on the cake.  Scott had tried to save it and nearly got himself munched by the mechanical monster in the process, but apparently trying wasn’t good enough.  He understood – he did.  Every time Brains had to build them a new pod so they could keep functioning at full capacity was another delay on the T-Drive engine.  It was just one more thing he didn’t need in a day where the only highlight was the fact that at least their rescue hadn’t failed where it counted – Scraps was alive, and being treated for shock and a fractured rib at her local hospital.

Speaking of ribs…

Four long, gruelling hours after the rescue finished, Scott finally had the chance to peel his dirty, mud-splattered uniform away from his aching body and assess the physical damage he’d sustained.  His suit was reinforced and designed to protect him, but it had its limits, and Scraps’ shrill scream to stop forcing Gordon to make an emergency stop – just for the sake of a damned toy – had slammed his torso into the rigid exoskeleton of the dragonfly pod.

Just because their pods couldn’t stand up to a WRM didn’t mean they weren’t solidly built.  Very solidly built.  Scott had felt a sadly all-too familiar sensation of at least one rib breaking at the contact, but with their lives still decidedly in peril hadn’t had the chance to do anything about it.  Their frantic flight for the surface, where he had nothing but his uniform and what shelter he could glean from the front of the pod to protect him from their forceful resurfacing, hadn’t done him any favours either.

It spoke volumes that both his brothers were so annoyed with him – one of them for reasons outside of his control, which was very unlike Virgil – that neither of them had noticed how stiffly he’d been standing.  They hadn’t even glanced at him twice despite knowing that he’d been on the outside of a pod travelling at high speeds through a tunnel, and while there was always a part of Scott who hated to worry his brothers and hid injuries he found himself wrong-footed at the fact he’d got away with it.

The painkillers he’d popped the moment he was back in One, out of sight, had done their job to get him home, but after four hours they were wearing off, pain stabbing its way through his chest.  He should go to the infirmary, get a scan to see how bad it was and maybe even reluctantly tell someone, but he couldn’t bring himself to do that.  Virgil might be in a bad mood with him, but he’d instantly feel guilty for not noticing, and Grandma would not go easy on her favourite grandson for neglecting something as basic as a health check after a dangerous manoeuvre, no matter how annoyed he’d been with the person in question.

He had a stock of painkillers in his ensuite, like they all did, for minor things like bumps and bruises. They weren’t supposed to be used in relation to any unreported injuries, but Scott had already decided he couldn’t report it, and besides, he was the commander.  He could bend a few rules – it wasn’t his first rodeo with broken ribs, anyway.  He knew how to treat them.  Painkillers, ice if he could get some without causing suspicion, and rest when he could snatch it.

This was a case of snatching some rest – it was dinner soon, but it wouldn’t be the first time he’d skipped Grandma’s cooking and it wouldn’t be the last.  It wouldn’t raise any eyebrows if he wasn’t there; he doubted his brothers would be if they could escape.

Looking in the bathroom mirror, it was clear straight away that he’d taken quite a hit.  Mottled bruising decorated his torso and shoulders – the first from the collision with the pod, the second from breaking through the surface.  Tentative probing with his fingers told him what he already knew as his chest flinched away from the touch with a spike of pain.  At least one broken rib.

He’d sneak some ice from the freezer once everyone else was in bed, but for the time being he had a long overdue date with his shower and popped a fresh dose of painkillers before easing himself under the water.  Ideally, Scott wanted a hot one, but the broken rib meant he kept it cool in an attempt to soothe the swelling.  Brown water swirled around his feet, finally washing away the dirt he’d acquired in the trash mine, and he let himself relax as the painkillers kicked in.

The mission finally felt like it was over.  He couldn’t say the day was over, because he still had the never-ending pile of reports for both the GDF and Tracy Industries to write up and there was never any telling when the next emergency call would come in, but no more trash mine, no more furious gardeners or landowners.

Just Scott and-

“Scott, sorry to interrupt your shower but there’s another situation.”  John appeared suddenly and Scott jumped, muffling a curse as his ribs informed him that painkillers or not, that was not appreciated.  He sighed instead.

“F.A.B.”  He rubbed his face tiredly, beyond glad their bathroom cameras didn’t transmit anything below the neck so his decorative torso was hidden from his ever-attentive brother… who had apparently also missed that he’d been slammed hard into the pod.  “I’ll be in the lounge in two.”  He wanted to say five, but it normally only took two minutes and longer would make John suspicious.

“See you there.”  John vanished and he let out another breath, turning off the water.  Strictly speaking, he shouldn’t fly with a broken rib, or go on a rescue at all, but as long as he took it easy it would be fine.

Two minutes later found him in the lounge, apparently the last one there.  Virgil and Gordon didn’t acknowledge his arrival and he tried not to let it sting.  They’d work with him on the rescue – it wasn’t the first time they’d gone on a rescue mid-row, and no doubt wouldn’t be the last.  The perils of living and working full time with siblings.  Alan, at least, gave him a big grin and he returned it as best he could before turning to John, who was hovering impatiently in the middle of the room.  He was always impatient when they weren’t all immediately available; Scott didn’t take it personally.

“Good, you’re here,” John acknowledged.  “We’ve got a collapsed mineshaft with a worker trapped inside in Cornwall, England.  His colleagues all got out okay but they don’t have the gear to get him out without risking a bigger collapse.”

“F.A.B., John,” Scott replied.  “I’ll go on ahead in Thunderbird One.  Virgil, Gordon, follow me in Thunderbird Two.”  Another underground rescue, and another mole pod needed.  Typical.  Still, if it was really only simple, he wouldn’t be needed for more than co-ordination. He could handle that.  “Virgil, have you had the chance to replace the lost gear from the trash mine?”

“All replaced,” Virgil confirmed, heading for his launch chute.  “We’re out of spares now, though, so we’d better not lose this one.”  Scott winced – that wasn’t good.

“I’ll bear that in mind,” he said, reaching up towards his lamps and pulling them down towards his chest as always, glad that the painkillers had more or less kicked in so the movement didn’t make his ribs flare up in pain.  The last thing he saw before being whisked around into his chute was Alan, looking somewhat dejected at being left behind, again.

They’d barely needed Gordon for the mission – if Scott was at full health he would have entertained leaving him behind – so there was no reason to bring Alan.  Still, there was a scolding voice in the back of his head that sounded suspiciously like Grandma telling him he should have let Alan take Thunderbird One and take a rest himself.

If Thunderbird Three was needed while they were gone, Alan would be fit to pilot, he argued back.  Thunderbird One would be tough, but he conceded that there was no way he could launch into space with at least one broken rib.  The voice quietened but he knew it wasn’t pacified.

The painkillers diluted but didn’t entirely quash the pain of suiting up, but with no-one around to see he could gasp without fear of being caught, and soon he was scrambling into his pilot seat – still muddy; cleaning his ‘bird had been next on the priority list after the shower, because apparently his brothers had decided not to help him out on that front.

If suiting up was bad, launching was worse.  He’d anticipated that, throwing his comms onto mute – John knew better than to interrupt during the launch sequence unless it was truly urgent so there shouldn’t be anyone to see him – as he gasped for breath against the stinging of his chest. Full speed was out of the question, but as it was a rescue they already knew what they’d need, he didn’t have to get there much before Thunderbird Two, so he settled for an almost bearable Mach 10 and flicked his comms back on, hoping John wouldn’t ask questions.

Presumably John had reached the same conclusion as him, as his decision of half max speed wasn’t commented on when his brother made contact a few minutes later to continue the debrief with additional information coming in from the danger zone.

It was a textbook rescue, a fact Scott was incredibly glad for as he let Virgil take the mole pod down, followed by Gordon with stabilising foam to stop the mine collapsing any further.  In and out, no complications, no injuries.  The trapped worker emerged from the pod shaken but otherwise fine and Scott watched Virgil check him over thoroughly to be safe as he and Gordon secured both intact pods back inside the module, where they belonged.

“I’ll see you back at base,” he told his brothers as he headed back to his ‘bird.  Gordon gave him a crisp nod while Virgil gave no indication that he’d heard – as he was still checking the rescuee over, Scott hadn’t expected one. Gordon’s reaction told him everything he needed to know – the attitude was still professional-only.  He wasn’t yet forgiven for whatever transgression it was Gordon was mad at him about.  It was nearing midnight at home, though; they were all tired and Scott fully expected it to all blow over by morning, once they’d had some sleep.

The site supervisor was waiting for him as he approached.

“Just wanted to say thank you again,” the woman said, sticking out her hand.  He took it and hid a wince at her particularly vigorous shake.  It was too soon for more painkillers, but this particular dose was wearing off already; the flight home was not going to be fun.

“Just doing our job,” he returned, polite smile on his face, and carefully retracted his hand.  She let him.

“Your job’s an impressive one,” she winked at him, before her gaze wandered slightly.  Scott wanted to groan – he knew that look, and normally he’d play along, maybe even see if he could score if he was feeling particularly lucky, but he was physically tired, emotionally drained, and in pain. No flirting for him today.

He just nodded at her, smile slightly more genuine because regardless of the situation it always gave him a bit of a boost when he got attention of that sort – not that he’d dare admit that to his brothers, or they’d never let him forget it – and she laughed.

“I’d say another time, but I’d hope we don’t need your assistance again,” she grinned, and before Scott realised it was coming, there was a playful elbow in his ribs.  Nothing hard, not even something he’d normally react to, but his ribs screamed and he gasped, instinctively doubling over before forcing himself straight again.

He fervently hoped his brothers hadn’t noticed, but didn’t dare glance around to check.

“Oh, I’m so-”

“You’re right, hopefully you won’t need us again.”  He overrode her apology, sent her another small grin, and got himself back inside the safety of his ‘bird as quickly as he could without seeming like he was running away. His ribs burned and he eyed the first aid cabinet, sorely tempted, but squashed the impulse.  Piloting in pain wasn’t advisable, but piloting overdosed on medication was potentially fatal.  Taking a moment to settle, he opened up a link to Thunderbird Five.

“I’m returning to base now,” he informed his brother.  “Rescue complete; Virgil and Gordon are finishing up with the worker, but they’ve got it all in hand and I’ve got a shower to finish.”

“F.A.B.,” John acknowledged, a small grin on his face at Scott’s mention of a shower.  “I’ll see if I can get the world to wait on getting itself into any more trouble until you’re done, big brother.”

“That would be nice,” Scott grinned, settling back in his chair more comfortably and ignoring his ribs. They both knew John couldn’t control that, especially not with the Hood and his Chaos Crew running around, but sometimes it was nice to pretend.  “Thunderbird One out.”

He muted his comms again – against protocol, but he doubted Virgil or Gordon would be calling him up for a chat given the way they were cold-shouldering him and he’d already addressed John – before taking off.  VTOL launches were far gentler with the G-forces, but unlike earlier, he wasn’t riding high on the full effect of the painkillers, so it hurt worse as he accelerated.

Mach 8 would be plenty to get him home, he decided, unwilling to risk anything faster than necessary, and once he was cruising he unmuted his comms, confident he wouldn’t have missed anything.

“-ott.  Scott.  Thunderbird One are you listening to me?”

Virgil sounded furious. That didn’t bode well.

“Reading you loud and clear, Thunderbird Two,” he replied.  “What’s happened?”  He reached out in preparation of turning his ‘bird’s nose back the way he’d come.

“What’s happened, he asks,” Virgil steamed, hologram materialising.  He was standing firmly upright, arms crossed and one hand tapping on his arm.  “The site supervisor wanted to know why you’re working with a rib injury.”

Dammit.

“Virgil-” he started, not quite sure how he was going to deflect the accusation.  His brother didn’t give him a chance.

“Don’t Virgil me,” he snapped.  “Get back here so I can see why she thinks you’re injured.”

“It’s fine,” Scott lied. “Nothing serious.  I’ll see you back at base.”  He cut the call, which in immediate hindsight was stupid decision, but to his surprise, Virgil didn’t immediately call back.  Still, he switched his comms back to mute and eyed his speed.  If he wanted to get back before Thunderbird Two, Mach 8 would be enough, but if Virgil pushed his ‘bird, it wouldn’t leave him with much time to grab a shower and smuggle some ice.  Gritting his teeth, he pushed her up to Mach 10, swallowing the grunt of pain from the additional pressure.

Almost immediately, Thunderbird One started to slow.

“Hey!” he yelped.  The absolute last thing he needed was his ‘bird crashing.  It might give him enough injuries to hide the fact his ribs were already broken, but wrecking his ‘bird was not worth avoiding a lecture.  He tried to correct it, but her controls jammed under his hands. “Oh you’re kidding me,” he groaned, preparing himself to stand up and get to the reset.  What had even happened?  She hadn’t been damaged since the Icarus, and Brains and Virgil had both sworn through and through that she was fully functional again.  There was no reason for-

His holographic display lit up with the icon for Thunderbird Five.

Ah.  Dammit.  Virgil had got John on his case.

Reluctantly, he unmuted his comm and immediately got blasted with three brothers all yelling at him. The temptation was there to simply mute them again, but instead he sighed and leaned back in his chair, waiting for them to stop.

“-t mute your comms ever-”

“-swer us you-”

“-re you an idiot-”

They didn’t, but their voices were getting more and more frantic, and he realised they were starting to panic at his lack of a response.  He groaned.

“You don’t need to shout, I can hear you just fine,” he told them.  “John, what are you doing with Thunderbird One?”

“Landing,” his brother said abruptly.  “You’re just coming up over the Sahara so I’m putting you down there.  Thunderbird Two is en route.”

“This really isn’t necessary,” Scott complained. “Can’t we deal with this at home?”

“You mean in another two hours, providing we don’t get another callout or distraction so you can slip away again?” Virgil asked dryly.  “No, we’re doing this now, and if I find anything worse than a minor bruise you’re finishing the trip home in Thunderbird Two’s medbay.”

Scott groaned, having absolutely no desire to be subjected to that.  “Seriously, guys, I’m fine.”  Thunderbird One’s VTOLs fired as her speed dropped, and he felt her land.  Looking out of the viewing window, he saw sand and more sand.  The Sahara, as John had promised.

“We’ll be the judge of that,” Gordon scowled.

“Thunderbird Two is five minutes out from your location,” Virgil informed him coolly.  “Stay where you are.”

Thunderbird Five’s insignia was still firmly ensconced in the holographic display, informing him that John had not retracted his override.  As much as he wanted to, there was no way he was going anywhere until his brothers had satisfied themselves.  He groaned again and eyed the medical cabinet once more.  It was still too soon to take another dose, but he knew there was no way any of them would be letting him pilot the rest of the way home anyway.

The relief from pain would not be worth the lecture from Virgil and then Grandma.  Reluctantly he turned away from it and closed his eyes, listening out for the engines of Thunderbird Two.  His brothers kept the channel open, talking to each other and occasionally shooting a question his way – presumably to make sure he hadn’t passed out on them – which he answered reluctantly.

True to Virgil’s words, five minutes after John had landed his ‘bird there came the sound of Thunderbird Two’s VTOL overhead, and he jabbed at his seat controls to leave his ‘bird, seeing no point in sitting and waiting for them to descend on him when he’d be dragged into Thunderbird Two anyway.  Some battles weren’t worth fighting.

“Scott!”  Virgil strode across the short distance between the two ‘birds, grabbing his arm as soon as he was in reach as though he thought he’d flee if given the chance.  With John still controlling his ‘bird, Scott thought the gesture unnecessary.  “You absolute idiot.  Thunderbird Two, now.”  The hand gripping his bicep didn’t give him much of a choice, forcibly guiding him towards the lowered hatch.

Gordon was waiting in the cockpit, arms crossed and eyes like fire.  Beside him, the cockpit’s stretcher had been lowered.

“Sit,” Virgil snapped, dragging him over to it.  Scott obeyed reluctantly, and scowled at the medical scanner immediately deployed.  It didn’t take long to flag up amber along his various bruises, and red at his ribs.  He didn’t hear what Virgil ground out under his breath, but he was fairly certain it wasn’t language he’d use in front of their grandmother.  “John, take One home.  Scott’s piloting nowhere.”

“F.A.B.”  Scott knew his brother well enough to hear the anger in those three letters.  His ‘bird’s VTOL roared to life and he watched her take to the sky through the cockpit windows.

“When did this happen, Scott?” Virgil demanded, setting the scanner to one side and tugging at his zip. Scott batted his hand away, taking over. He still had enough pride to not be undressed by his brother.  Two sets of brown eyes narrowed dangerously as the bruising became visible.

Caught, there was nothing to be gained by lying.  “Last mission, when the pod stopped suddenly.”  A flash of guilt swept across Gordon’s face.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” the aquanaut demanded.  He shrugged, then winced when his body reminded him that the painkillers were all but worn off.

“Didn’t exactly get the chance,” he said.  “Couldn’t do anything about it at the time because we were trying not to become WRM food, then there was the thing with the Mechanic and the Hood, and the landowner wanted compensation for the damaged WRM and park, and-”

“And most of that could have waited for you to get checked over,” Virgil interrupted, a gentle hand lightly touching his bruised torso.  Scott’s body flinched away from the contact unbidden.  “Why the hell did you come out to Cornwall?  Gordon and I could have handled it by ourselves.”

“It was a rescue,” Scott protested.

“Which you’re now grounded from for six weeks, minimum,” Virgil growled.  “Lie down.  What have you taken for the pain?”

He didn’t get a chance to protest before both brothers were carefully but firmly pushing him down onto the stretcher.

“Two Tylenol when I left the trash mine seven hours ago,” he admitted.  “Two more just before this mission, three hours ago.”  Virgil frowned.

“You’ll have to bear with it until we get home,” he said.  “Once the Tylenol’s out of your system, I’ll give you something stronger.”  Scott scowled.  “Gordon, get some ice on his ribs.  Scott, stay still.”  Virgil had the gall to strap him down, avoiding putting pressure on his ribs.  “We’ll be talking about this when we get home.”

It was a promise, but just before he turned away to head to his seat, Scott saw the one thing he’d hoped he’d be able to avoid: guilt.  Virgil was well aware he’d missed the signs because of his flare-up about the topiary, and wouldn’t be forgiving himself for it any time soon.

“Virg-” he started, only to interrupt himself with a hiss as a cool sensation spread across his chest. He closed his eyes briefly, before opening them to find Gordon stood next to him, ice pack in hand.

“Not right now, bro,” the blond said quietly, and the same guilty pain was in his eyes.  “Give him time.”

“Gord-”

“And me,” Gordon interrupted him.  “Just… not yet, okay?  Wait ‘til we’re home and you’re all smothered better in the infirmary.”

Scott didn’t like it, but he understood it – they’d find it easier to deal with once they knew he really was okay.  Broken ribs sucked, but in the grand scheme of injuries, they were relatively minor.  The real fear his brothers carried was what if it had been worse – a punctured lung, for example.

In answer, he pulled a face, showing exactly what he thought of being ‘smothered better’ as Thunderbird Two roared to life beneath him.  A small grin tugged at the corner of Gordon’s mouth and he considered that progress, settling back comfortably as his brother’s ‘bird carried him home.

next...

[cbapk]

Okay, so, I’ve been doing writing commissions via one of my other blogs for like a year and my first dip into it worked out pretty well, but I figured I could probably make a little more money doing them over here too. This is basically the exact same post as the one on my other blog, just rewritten to better reflect this blog.

☆Writing Examples☆

Example #1: From “Trial and Error”, my baby and the longest work I have ever written (and it’s still going, wow). If you’ve been here for a while, you already know that T&E is rife with sensitive content and the warnings should be heeded.

Example #2: From “Dead Man Walking”, another baby of mine that is... Pending an update. It’s totally sfw as far as sexual content or gore go at the moment, though. Worst thing you’ll encounter is some stuff I tagged wrong (D.I.D. that isn’t necessarily actually D.I.D.) and need to re-tag in a more accurate way, honestly.

☆Will☆

Pretty much anything.

This does include OCs/Self-Inserts, Self-Shipping, etc.

In fact I encourage OCs/Self-Inserts, and Self-Shipping!

NSFW is also allowed. On principle I won’t ask you to prove your age because I feel it’s an invasion of privacy but please do not commission me for sexual content if you are under 18.

Oneshots!

☆Will Not☆

Black Mirror (tv series)

Big Mouth (tv series)

P*dophilia

Inc*st

Anything blatantly transphobic, homophobic, racist, or otherwise exclusionary.

Fart kink.

Chapter fics

☆Why?☆

In order:

Show grossed me out or triggered me

I’m not touching p*do or inc*st with lava-proof gloves, babe.

I’m not an exclusionary asshole.

However, if you can provide to me a legitimate reason why I should write this (ie, it’s a reflection of something that happened to you, it’s a narrative you think needs to be seen to spread awareness, the excluded character overcomes the exclusion in the end, etc...) I will potentially make an exception.

It’s really just not my thing and I’ve written it before but I’m not keen on doing it again.

I just don’t have the time or the focus right now to work on anything multi-chapter outside of personal projects and older commissions from the last batch that I’m still finishing up.

☆Fandoms☆

Put incredibly simply, if I can get a healthy understanding of it through research it in under two hours, I’ll write it.

If I already have a healthy understanding, I’ll write it.

If I do not already have a healthy understanding and cannot gain that understanding through research in under two hours, we might just have to get back to each other when I’m up for more than two hour research sessions. At this time I can’t really spend more than two hours researching anything.

I also write ORIGINAL COMMISSIONS, not just FANDOM COMMISSIONS, so if you’ve got an original idea you’d like me to try writing, hit me up.

☆Prices☆

Oneshot (1K words or less) = $5USD. Price increases by $5 per 1000 words. (2K - $10, 3K - $15, etc). Discounts begin at 10K words.

I don’t apply a charge for time spent working or any sort of sales tax, so the prices you see are the prices you’ll pay no matter what.

Discounts no longer offered at 5K words because I need all the money I can get.

☆Payment☆

I’m willing to work with clients on payment if need be.

I will ask for half the base price upfront and the rest after completion, primarily to ensure I actually get paid for my work and that you are getting what you want out of the deal, since I am open at all stages of writing to changes you may want to make, within reason.

To clarify: $2.50 upfront, then the rest of the full price on completion.

If you want to pay the full price upfront, I’m cool with that too!

☆Refunds & Additional Words☆

If you decide you no longer want your commission before I finish it, tell me and I’ll do my best to refund what you’ve paid me. If you decide you don’t want it after I’ve finished it, I will retain the upfront payment to cover time spent working.

If you decide you don’t want your commission solely for money purposes, let me know, because I would be happy to simply shelf it for the time being and come back to it whenever the time comes that money is no longer an issue. In this case as well I will retain the upfront payment.

Additionally, should you decide after I’ve finished off a commission that you’d like it to be longer, that can definitely be arranged! I do charge for the additional words but it’s at the same rates as normal. So, basically if you get 3K and decide you want it to be about 4K instead, you can do that, and I’ll throw the additional $5 for the extra 1K on top of your total - no extra surcharges.

I accept payments via my PayPal, but other methods of payment can be discussed if needed.

☆Special Offers☆

For no extra cost, I will doodle a title page for your commission!

For $5USD each, I will add simple sketch illustrations to your commission.

For $10USD each, I will add mono-color lineart illustrations to your commission.

For $15USD each, I will add full color illustrations to your commission.

You do not have to accept special offers, they’re just there for people who might want them.

☆Estimated Completion Time☆

Between a couple of hours to a couple of days per project*, depending on what else is going on in my life and how much of my focus I can afford to devote at a time.

*I can be bribed to prioritize one commission at a time, thereby decreasing completion time in most cases. This costs $5.

☆Contact Info☆

If you’re interested in a commission, I can be reached here:

via my DMs

via email at thepuppetwolf@gmail.com OR fusedaesthetic@gmail.com

I check my emails 4 times a day and my DMs at least twice a day, so if I don’t get back to you immediately don’t get discouraged. I’ll likely get back to you within a day unless I’m having internet issues.

☆Openings☆

Oneshot Commissions: 7/8* Available

Priority Commissions: 1/1** Available

*Each slot accounts for 1 work, with a 20K word limit on each.

**Again, this is something you pay me for to get your commission done faster.

☆What You’re Helping Me Do By Commissioning Me☆

Under the cut since it’s not super pertinent but I figured I’d be kinda transparent about what I’d be using the money for.

(This list is subject to change but usually composed of the same stuff. Last updated 11/14/19.)

Get Married

Pay Bills

Buy Food and other household supplies

[breegullbeakreviews]

Summary: The Spyro adventure that started it all has been rebuilt from the ground up by the studio that brought the world Skylanders. What could possibly go wrong?

Overall: The answer is everything. I cannot recommend this remaster at all. Outside the updated camera controls, every update somehow actively makes this game worse in some way. Just play the original release.

Controls: You can finally control the camera with the right stick. An option exists to let L1 and R1 rotate it as well, but that moves the useless directional rolls to L2 and R2 which means the odd ability to use flame breath with R2 is removed. I always thought it’d make more sense to have the charge on a trigger, but that’s not an option here.

Otherwise the game controls the same, just a lot worse. The jumps are oddly floaty in a way that makes it hard to get a decent glide in. I’ve missed a lot of ledges because my glides just didn’t start from the right height. The free flying segments are a nightmare. The movement is incredibly slow which means you have zero room for mistakes. I’ll get back to these when I talk about the graphics, but spending upwards of half an hour on the second one of these is ridiculous considering I breezed through these earlier this year.

Character Designs: I hate them. I know I said I was going to be more positive going forward but hate is the appropriate word. I have a strong and passionate dislike for these redesigns. Spyro is the only one I’m sort of okay with. I’d rather it be one to one with the character art from the boxes of the original games, but I don’t dislike it. It’s just passable.

Sparx looks terrible. His eyes are so far apart that he looks like he has a mental disability. I do not understand why anyone thought this looked good. I could go on endlessly about the dragons, but I will cut things short and simply say that they are all over designed. I like that there are a variety of body types and that they are much more animated in their appearances, but each one is wearing a bunch of gear which is strange when you consider Spyro is the only one who isn’t wearing any. I’m still baffled that they didn’t do something about the fact that the game is a total sausage fest. Was anyone really going to be mad that one of the 80 dragons got replaced with a female dragon?

And now for the baddies. It’s safe to say a lot of the charm was lost while adding polygons. This comes back the the graphics as well, but none of them really pop anymore. The classic shiny texture that indicates an enemy is resistant to fire is gone. This was an easy way to decide how to attack a foe, but it’s gone because repetitive textures don’t look pretty. Imagine if Portal had changed up the texture of walls you can place portals on so that it was never consistent. This failure to account for the thought process behind these sorts of things just keeps coming up again and again in this remaster. As for the new designs themselves they are sort of faithful. Certain foes like the Magic Crafters and the basic Gnorcs have a lot of issues. The additional detail of the Magic Crafters baddies makes them look less cartoony. I always thought they were wearing oversized sweaters up past their mouths. The Gnorcs just don’t pop against the rest of the grass in their levels.

I never really cared for Gnasty Gnorc as a villain, but I really don’t like the update. Particularly the introduction. The interview opening to the original game I always thought was silly, but it zooming back to show Gnasty watching a TV is strange. Mostly because it raises the question of what does it mean that a TV exists in this universe, especially considering all of the motivational posters around Gnasty’s room. I never questioned the boom microphone in the original games, but when it is all compounded with these additions they somehow broke immersion in a fantasy setting. That’s a rather impressive failing.

Graphics: Graphics over gameplay. That was clearly the design philosophy here. Otherwise I can’t possibly see how some of this got through. I’ve already mentioned the fire proof texture no longer being a thing, but let’s double back to the flight course.

I’m going to go on a brief tangent here, but I’ll come back to make my point. People who are really into music prefer to listen on vinyl records. You may think it’s a bit pretentious, but there is a reason. When you listen on a record the record is all you are listening to. It is not edited for radio. On the radio music is all loud all the time. This is because loud things stand out so you listen. The problem is when everything is loud nothing is loud because loud is what is considered normal. On a record there is no competition so music is edited so that it isn’t all loud all the time. The music can change volume to put emphasis on something.

So what does this have to do with Spyro? Well when everything is bright, nothing pops. The original game had one shade of green for the grass and a darker green for the Gnorcs. This made the Gnorcs pop against the grass. The same goes for the green gems. They popped. Here they are all about the same color so not only does it all look bland, but I’ve had to double back for gems multiple times because I couldn’t see them since they were hidden under the grass or blended into the background. Now you might say “well what about the glimmer of the gems?” and I did check, and it is there. The problem is that it is tiny and blends into the background. If I wasn’t looking for it I wouldn’t have seen it. It’s insanely small in the screen.

So how does this mess with the flight courses? Well the second and third of these are all filled with vibrant colors and crystals that are the same color as the things you’re looking for. They’re also occasionally obscured by the models environment itself. It’s a combination of bad choices and controls that made these flight segments unbearable.

Now I have no idea of these complaints are lessened by having an HDR/4K capable display/console, but that should not matter. If the game design doesn’t work across all console skews than you’ve failed at game design.

One last addition I must make is a comment on the motion blur used in this game. It’s excessive. Now I honestly don’t know what to look for when it’s in motion to spot it, but when I decided to check out all my screen shots it was clear as day. Over half if my screen shots were a blurry mess. Now while this all looks fine in motion it is very clear that they failed to take into account the ability to capture a screen shot. It’s no wonder the pause menu isn’t s paused screen with a menu overly. It’d reveal how awful the game looks when not in motion.

Skill Points: This game originally didn’t have skill points. These new ones are hit and miss. There are quite a few don’t get hit ones and a lot of random tasks, but that seems pretty on par with the other games.

Trophies:

This shouldn’t have been hard. Trophies for the newly added skill points, some for the harder to reach dragons, and some for various completion criteria. Instead they suck. You can double back to most of these, but most of these can easily be missed. Things like flaming the arrow fairies in the speedway or taking out a certain enemy class a certain way in a certain level are oddly specific. It’s just really poor design. It’s not hard, but it is certainly obtuse. If you don’t go in knowing what tasks are required to obtain the trophies, a 110% completion run could end with an incredibly small amount of trophies.

[winterridinghood]

Strangers and Coffee (3/3)

Pairing: Tom Holland x Female OC

Word Count: 3,670

Warning: Slight angst, Mentions of First-Degree Burn, A sprinkle of fluff

Note: This is for @starksparker 4K writing challenge.

Summary: When an frustrated girl with reading glasses causes an accident and gets burn, she ends up meeting a not-so-stranger stranger.

Part 1: http://winterridinghood.tumblr.com/post/174087869117/strangers-and-coffee-part-13

Part 2: http://winterridinghood.tumblr.com/post/174184706577/strangers-and-coffee-part-23

I widen my eyes in realization and blushed. "Ye-yeah. It's um, it felt weird if I would have called you Tom. Being that I just met you like, five minutes ago."

He put his elbow on the sink, "Not going to lie, this whole situation is a little weird. It’s a first for me. How does your arm feel?"

I looked back to my arm, "Good, actually. I think I got use to the water on it."

"Again, I'm really sorry about this."

I shook my head, "And again, it's my fault. I shouldn't have freaked out over technology. I just frustrated with myself over my final." I held my breath. My final. I started at Tom. "Do you think this is crazy?" I asked in a rush. 

He thought for a second before he replied. "Um, depends on what you mean." He said carefully.

"This whole thing. The situation. There is no way anyone would believe that this is happening. Not without proof. I mean, it feels like someone would question it, right?" I felt excited for a moment. Could my time of waiting finally pay off? I've been stressing over this project for weeks, and crunch time was close. I could be done with it in less than 30 minutes.

"Yeah, sure." The rush of energy disappeared in an instant. Tom was looking down at his shoes. I couldn't fully see his face, but I could hear him. His voice made me feel guilty, and I know that wasn't intentionally because he caught himself and put on a fake smile. "It is a little crazy."

I bit my lip. I know that wasn't what he wanted to say because that was the exact answer I wanted to hear. "And I just need one person to believe me.”

“Who?” he asked somewhat cautiously.

I offered a smile, “My professor.” When he didn’t say anything, I explained further. “The paper I told you about. It's essentially our final. The only one who's allowed to see is our professor. After we turn it in, that's it. Grades will be turned in the same week." I sighed to myself. "Which is next week."

Tom leaned back slightly, "I don't get how that has to do with what's going on."

I went to adjusted my glasses again, but nothing was there, so I scratched my skin instead, "My final. It's about a crazy or unbelievable experience that we have to write about with evidence, and we have to make it as convincing as possible so that the person who's reading it would question their sanity."

Tom started blankly at me. He didn't say anything for a moment. I thought that I might have confused him. I winced slightly as he closed his eyes and pressed him lips into a fine line. "You mean to tell me that your assignment was to make your professor think they were crazy."

I hugged my stomach with my free arm, "Basically" I could tell me had trouble believing me, and I won't blame him. The way I explained it made it seemed like the whole thing was a lie. "I know it sounds weird and maybe it sounds like a lie, but it's a hundred percent true. And I won't tell anyone I meet you, if that would make you comfortable."

He was quiet once again. I felt the tension between us, and not the fun kind. It was the kind that felt like no one knew what to do.

"It's not that I don't feel comfortable," he said facing towards me but not necessarily looking at me. "It's just, this feels like a fib." I must have given a confused face at the word because he explained it the next second. "A fib is a lie. It all feels very specific. Like an elaborate plan just for a picture. And I feel bad for saying that because I don't think you would intentionally burn yourself for that, but it's hard to know for sure because I don't know you."

I nodded. I didn't know what to say at the moment. I felt bad for him, and it felt weird because he didn't know what to think about me. He looked afraid of the thought that I would use him for something, like my own personal gain. He didn't know if I was telling the truth or not and it was making him flustered. I don't think I gave him a reason to not trust me but being in this day in age and being who he was, you can never be sure. I was stranger.  

I was curious if he ever let this part of him out before. We were in the back of a small coffee shop, alone probably because Zach told the other employees to leave us, more likely Tom, alone. Would I feel the same? Would I feel like I can't trust many people when it feels like the world knows my name? Probably. I would probably feel like I can't trust every friendly face I see. Maybe I'd feel used from time to time. Maybe it already happened to Tom.

I stood up straighter, "Get my laptop."

The words surprise him more than it surprised me, "I'm sorry?"

I took a deep breath, "I need you to get my laptop, open it, " I gulped, "so I can tell you my login password."

Tom looked like I just told him that I grew wings, "Why would you do that?"

I tapped my free hand that was still on my stomach, "So you can open my email and see the assignment. So, you know I'm not lying."

"You said that you wouldn't let strangers go near your belongings. Not even if it was Beyoncé." He said with no caution.

"I did say that." I said with a small smile, "But I rather have a stranger hold on to my stuff than have a stranger think I'm lying without giving them a reason to think so."

"You want me to trust you." He said understanding.

I shrugged, "That is the simple way to put it, isn't it?"

He seemed to relaxed, "You have a thing where you question your own answers. Did you know that?"

I smirked, "I may have noticed from time to time." We looked at each other for a while, not saying anything. I asked him if he would trust me. And he did.

He took out my laptop from by backpack and powered it up. I told him my password and where to go from there. He uploaded my email and searched my professor's name. He clicked on the first and most recent email that said what the final prompt of our class's final essay writing assignment was about. He read once, then twice. I don't know why I was nervous. There was no lie, or fib, in what I was saying. In was 100 percent true, but for a second if felt like everything could make Tom hate me. Like maybe I read the email wrong, or maybe my laptop could shut down again, even though we just opened.

“You said it was for your final?” he asked, Not looking away from the screen.

I nodded, “Yes,” I said, then quickly panicked, “Why? Is it not on the email? I suppose to be on there!”

Tom shook his head, “No, no. It’s there. I just wanted to double check. And I’m sorry, again.”

I relaxed my shoulders, “You already apologized for the drink spill. I’m pretty sure I forgave you by now, even though it was my bad. How ‘bout this: It was both of our faults. We're both sorry and we’re both forgiven. Does that sound like a plan?” I asked the last question with much more caution than before. Being around him made me realize that even though he’s an the front of all media’s eyes, he's still a stranger to me. I know next to nothing about him. That made me understand him more when we spoke again.

“I wasn’t talking about the spill, but that is a good compromise.,” he smiled for a second, but only for a second. “I meant with me. I may have let go of myself for a second and that wasn’t right. I snapped at you, and I don’t even know you. That’s why I’m sorry. I’m use to people going up to me with a plan. There are things I can handle, like photos, autographs, even a video message here and there, but there are times where it feels like I’m being used for something else. Like a social gain of some kind, and it doesn’t sit well with me. Ugh! It feels like I’m someone else’s trophy at times.” He paused as he rubbed his hands on his face. “I did it again, didn’t it.”

Tom sounded tired. Exhausted even. I wonder how long he's been holding this in. I read that when a person holds in a lot of their emotions after a while it stressed the brain, to the point where it when it gets released, it could come out all at once, trying themselves out.

“I think it’s your turn to question your answer.” I said to try to lighten the mood. I couldn't tell if it worked because he didn’t move his hands from his face. “You shouldn’t have to apologize for being you, Holland. You should be allowed to get frustrated and stressed without having to hold it in.”

“It’s not easy with eyes on you where ever you go.”

“I understand.” I said after a moment. Tom drew back his hands and raised an eyebrow. “I may not relate, but I do understand. You feel like you have to hold it in. You get angry and frustrated and stressed, just like any other human would, but if you vent that out, people might look at you differently, and not in a good way." I paused, choosing my next words carefully. "With everyone having their eyes on you, I would guess it would be hard to remember, but it's okay to lose it sometimes. It's what makes us human." He just stared at me. I couldn't tell what he was thinking. The words were sinking in, that I knew, but I couldn't tell what he thought of them.

At that moment, Zach came through the door, "Hey guys. Just wanted to check in. Make sure you're alright. How's your arm, Miss?"

I looked to the side of my shoulder, "Uh, good, actually. I'm good." I put my free arm on my opposite shoulder.

"Great! Tom, I got you a replacement drink. It was Earl Grey, right?" Zack asked as he walked straight to a now relaxed again Tom.

He took it as if we wanted to laugh, "Thanks, mate. You didn't have to do that." He said while taking a small glance at me. "What about Nellie over here? Does she need replacing with anything? If she does, I'll take care of it."

Zach stood still of a second, "Who?"

Before Holland could say anything, I cut in, "I actually didn't order anything today. I was just here for the free Wi-Fi."

"Oh! Right! I remember now. You usually order a raspberry donut on Friday's." Zach turned to Holland, "We ran out today," Tom laughed as Zach turned back to me, "It's been twenty minutes now, so let me just look at your arm and then you're free to go." I nodded at him as he turned off the water and examined my arm.

"Is she gonna be alright?" Tom asked, now taking a closer look at my arm.

Zach look at the areas around my redness. I had gotten use to the pain from under the water but having him just lightly touch it made me want to yell. It was tender and very annoying.

"The swelling's gone now, so that's great. It's going to hurt for a few days, so don't where tight long sleeves. Uh," he said in thought as he let go of my arm, "no pressure on your arm and put on Aloe Vera as soon as you can." He was thinking if there were any other important things that he forgot to mention. When nothing came to him, he said that I was free to go.

"Actually," Tom said in a flashing smile, "would it be alright if my friend and I could stay back here for a while? Just to make sure everything is alright."

Zach stared, "Of course! Uh, take your time. I'll, uh, I'll be finishing the work." He stood between us a while. I wrapped my burned arm around my stomach as I scratched my cheek with my good hand.

Tom cleared his throat as Zach got the message, "Right! I'll just go now." He walked right past me with a quiet "'cuse me", leaving us alone once again.

As he walked out the doorway, I waited a second until I knew he was out of ear shot, I smiled, "So, I'm your friend now."

Tom smiled, "Well, you're definitely more than a stranger."

I smiled back until I realized something, "Why do you need to make sure I'm alright? I'm pretty sure we both know I'm good. A first-degree burn is easy to take care of."

"Right," He said while looking at the floor, "Well, I just wanted an excuse to not be outside for a few more minutes. If you don’t mind, of course. If you have somewhere to be, then I completely understand." He talked faster with every sentence, I couldn't help but smile.

"I still have loads of time before I have to go to work. I think I can hang with my new-friend Tom." I smirked.

"Can I be honesty with you? Just don't get weirded out, I mean this in a friendly way." He stressed.

I raised my eyebrow at him, "I think whatever it is, now you have no choice to tell me."

He scoffed lightly, "I kind of like it when you call me Holland."

I tried my best to keep me face blank. "Huh," I said while I tried to act snobby.

He chuckled nervously, "What? Was it weird? I didn't think it was that weird, at first."

I shrugged my shoulders breaking into a smile, "You're the one who said it, not me." I leaned on the counter and immediately regretted it because I just happened to put pressure on my newly burned arm.

"Karma, Darling." Holland said with a straight face. I gave him a look that said Are you serious? He received it. "Yeah, I felt like I crossed a line, there."

I took a step away from the counter, not daring to touch the burn, "We'll get there," I paused, "Holland."

He shifted weight on his feet, "And thanks, for what you said. You may not relate, but you do understand what I'm going through, somehow."

I can't pretend and say that I know what he feels because I can't. I can't know, but maybe I can help tear off the stress the way a friend can. Maybe that is what Holland needs. I friend who he can vent to. A friend who sees him as someone who gets so deep in thought that they don't realized that the world is happening around them. A friend who doesn't see him as a star or superhero, but as a person who gets tea's instead of coffee. I felt slight pride lifting me up. My words had settled. It was true that I had no idea was he goes through, and I only had a guess. I couldn't express what the words meant to me, so I afforded a shrug, "I read."  

Holland's smile grew as turned he back to my laptop, "So, should I turn this off, or what?"

I couldn't help but smile. The past thirty minutes went from zero to a hundred real quick. I am now sporting a new injury, but now I have a new friend and a story for my final that only one person needs to know about.

"Actually," I said with mischief, "keep it on. I still have a paper I need to write. Only if you let me, that is."

He pulled away from the screen, "How does the grading work for this?" He said while tilting his head up.

"Well," I began, "our professor will ask for it once we set foot in close. She'll grade while we have our brunch party, then we have a choice if we want it back our not by the end of the final period."

Hollands faces screamed confusion. "I have a fun professor," I explained.

"What happens if your professor doesn't finish reading the papers before the final hour? How long does her have?"

"In class, she had two hours, and when you turn the paper in, she'll ask if you would want to keep it or not. The one's who want their paper's returned will be read first. Not many people want their paper's back. She does this for every class that she has."

He crossed him arm, intrigued, "You had her before?"

"Yup, for different classes."

"Interesting," he mumbled. "So you know how to write for her, then. You know what makes her want to keep reading your paper."

I nodded and smiled, "That's right. I just need a great first paragraph. That's what gets to her the most." I looked at Holland, "That's where you come in."

He put his hands in front of himself, "Say no more. Just tell me how you want me to pose, and I'll do it."

I laughed, "Great," I said, holding out the "r" a little longer than I needed, "but that wasn't what I meant."

"Oh," he said dumbfounded, "Then what did you mean?"

"Well," I said while tangling my fingers together, "I was injured today, in a weird accident involving some foreign guy and when they took a look at my injury, they said not to put any type of pressure on it."

He smirked, "Okay, then tell me what does typing a paper have to do with pressure on your arm. Last I checked, you type with your fingers."

I tilted my head to one side, "Well, I could accidently bump into the counter again, or I could be resting my arm the wrong way."  He was nodding his head sarcastically, not really believing anything I was saying were valid excuses. "Okay, can you at least help me type the first paragraph. It's the hardest to come up with for any paper. So once I have that, the rest would come easy."

He chuckled at me then cracked his knuckles, "I'm teasing. Of course I'll help you. Got any idea how you want to start it?" He leaned over the laptop, fingers ready to type away. I didn't know how to start it. The introduction to anything is hard to come up with. I quickly tapped my index finger on my thigh.

Holland must have noticed and cleared his throat, "Actually. Before we start, can I ask you something."

I couldn't help myself, "I think you already did."

He leaned on his elbow to face me and gave the same smirk, "Ha ha." He shook his head, "I should have guessed that."

I giggled, "What's up?"

"I was wondering. Why did you go into a shop like this and not get a drink? Why only a donut?"

A similar thought came to me, "I'll answer your question if you answer mine." He leaned away from the counter and nodded. "Okay." I took a breath, "I hate coffee. The smell and taste in disgusting to me. I literally gag sometimes."

He nodded in understanding, "Me too. What was your question?"

I leaned back, "I think you just answered it. I was gonna ask why you got a tea instead of a coffee at a 'coffee shop'. And also, how?"

"I don't think we should question the tea," he said, "seeing as you got a donut and we both think that coffee is disgusting to the senses."

I gestured to him which made his laugh, "Touché. Continue."

"As for the how," he paused, purposely creating suspense, "Earl Grey is the most known tea, I think. We should leave it at that."

I leaned my back to the counter and placed my hands next to me. "We shall." I gave a thought, "And I think I have an idea on how to start the paper.  

I spoke aloud as he typed. I was basically spilling out everything that I was thinking. Once I started, it was hard to stop. Once I finished talking, I turned to look at the screen. The paragraph he was supposed to type ended up being a full page.

"Woah! Shoot, sorry. I didn't realize." I said as I looked between the screen and Holland. "Why didn't you say anything?"

He shrugged, "I didn't want to disturb your creativity." He looked at the screen, "You're were on a roll."

I smiled at him and nudged him with my good arm, "Thanks, friend."

He turned to me and nudged back with a smile, "Anytime, friend." There was no question that this was a genuine nice moment between us.

I took a deep breath and cleared my throat, "So, uh, how about I read it back to you and you tell me if it flows or not." I said as I took steps closer to the laptop.

Holland just took one step back, "Alright. But just so you know, some of the words could be wrong, or miss spelled, or something."

"That's alright, " I said as I gave him a reassuring smile, "That's what 'Spell Check' is for."

He gave a wide smile and looked down blushing for a second before he turned to the screen, "Alright. Let's get started."  

I bit my lip, "Okay, so it starts with 'I always hated coffee...'".

[tech-battery]

Nvidia RTX 3070 review: AMD’s stopwatch just started ticking a lot louder

Talking about the RTX 3070, Nvidia's latest $499 GPU launching Thursday, October 29, is tricky in terms of the timing of today's review embargo. As of right now, the RTX 3070 is the finest GPU in this price sector by a large margin. In 24 hours, that could change—perhaps drastically.

Ahead of AMD's big October 28 event, dedicated to its RDNA 2 GPU line, Nvidia gave us an RTX 3070 Founders Edition to test however we saw fit. This is the GPU Nvidia absolutely needed to reveal before AMD shows up in (expectedly) the same price and power range.

Inside of an Nvidia-only bubble, this new GPU is a sensation. Pretty much every major RTX 2000-series card overshot with proprietary promises instead of offering brute force worth its inflated costs. Yet without AMD nipping at its heels, Nvidia's annoying strategy seemed to be the right call: the company established the RTX series' exclusive bonus processing cores as a major industry option without opposition, then got to wait a full year before competing with significant power jumps and delectable price cuts.

Last month's RTX 3080 saw that strategy bear incredible fruit—even if ordering that $699 GPU is still seemingly impossible. But what happens when Nvidia scales down the Ampere 7nm promise to a $499 product that more people can afford? And how will that compare to whatever AMD likely has to offer in the same range?

Future-proofing around the 1440p threshold

We can only answer some of those questions today. (Until Nvidia proves otherwise, we assume that availability will continue to be a massive asterisk for this and all other RTX 3000-series cards.) In good news, at least, the RTX 3070 gets off to a roaring start by rendering its 2019 sibling, the RTX 2070 Super, moot. Both debuted at $499, but the newer option typically approaches, and occasionally bests, the RTX 2080 Ti (whose $1,199 MSRP in 2018 sure feels like a kick in the ray-traced teeth nowadays).

But RTX 3070's price-to-performance ratio comes with one significant caveat: a not-so-future-proofed VRAM capacity of 8GB, shipping in the not-as-blistering category of GDDR6. That matches the best RTX 2000-series cards but is surpassed by higher-speed GDDR6x VRAM in pricier RTX 3000-series GPUs.

The thing is, "future-proofed" for PC gaming is relative. What's going to matter in 3D processing in the near future, both for the games you love and the systems you run them on? If you're set on having the crispest native 4K rendering for the foreseeable future, the RTX doesn't leapfrog over the 2080 Ti, particularly with a VRAM allotment that could stress any games that ship with 4K-specific texture packs.

But if you're favoring a lower-resolution panel, perhaps 1440p or a widescreen 1440p variant—and Steam's worldwide stats make that a safe assumption—then your version of future-proofing revolves more around processing power and ray-tracing potential. In those respects, the RTX 3070 currently looks like the tippy-top option for a "top-of-the-line" 1440p system... with the bonus of Nvidia's Deep Learning Super-Sampling (DLSS) for surprisingly competitive fidelity in 4K resolutions, should gamers upgrade their monitor between now and the next GPU generation. (Until AMD shows us otherwise, Nvidia's proprietary DLSS 2.0 pipeline remains the industry's leading upscaling option, and game studios have started embracing it in droves.)

In other words, if you're more interested in high frame rates on resolutions less than 4K, and you want GPU overkill for such a CPU-bound gaming scenario, the RTX 3070 is this year's best breathing-room option for the price... at least, unless AMD announces an even more compelling proposition on October 28.

Strong, but not the 2080 Ti topper we expected

The above collection of game benchmarks mostly mirrors the ones I used for my RTX 3080 review, and once again, these tests err on the side of graphical overkill. You may have zero interest in using an RTX 3070 with 4K resolutions or maximum graphical slider values, and that's understandable. Instead, these tests are designed to stress the GPU as much as possible to present the clearest comparisons between the listed cards. Look less at the FPS values and more at the relative percentages of difference. (The exception comes from "DLSS" tests, which I'll get to.)

Even though this year's $499 RTX 3070 clearly exceeds the power of last year's $699 RTX 2080 Super, I tested it against last year's $499 RTX 2070 Super as well to show exactly what a difference a year makes in terms of price-to-power proposition. The percentage differential between the 70-suffix GPUs varies based on what kind of software you're testing, but the most massive surge in performance can be found when ray-tracing effects are toggled at pure 4K resolution. Wolfenstein Youngblood, in particular, sees the 3070 double the 2070 Super's frame rates in its ray-tracing benchmarks.

While Nvidia has made benchmarking claims that put the RTX 3070 ahead of the RTX 2080 Ti, that doesn't necessarily bear out in my testing—but this is because the RTX 2080 Ti Founders Edition shipped in 2018 with a remarkable capacity for safe overclocking. The 3070 FE, like its 2070 Super sibling, seriously lacks headroom for such safe overclocking for either its core or memory clocks, as managed by tests-at-every-step automation by programs such as EVGA X1. Testing was nearly identical on the 3070 with or without a scant EVGA X1 overclock applied, and as such, I've left its OC tests out of this roundup. Remember: as Nvidia's Founders Editions go, generally, so do other vendors' variants. So we're not sure other vendors will squeeze much more out of the same model.

Thus, the 2080 Ti still pulls ahead in most, but not all, of the above gaming benchmarks, whether ray tracing is or isn't enabled. When comparing both cards' specs, this difference checks out, since the newer 3070 cuts back on certain components for efficiency's sake (not to mention that dip in VRAM capacity). Categories like Tensor cores and RT cores are listed as "newer-generation" versions for the 3070, and the bigger 3000-series cards beat the 2080 Ti both in quantity and generation, so they get the clearer wins. The 3070 finally sees that efficiency trade fail to win out in certain testing scenarios—nothing tragic, mind you, but worth noting in case you'd hoped for across-the-board wins against the 2080 Ti. That's 184 "third-generation" Tensor cores in the 3070, versus 544 older Tensor cores in the 2080 Ti, and 46 "second-generation" RT cores in the 3070, versus 68 older RT cores in the 2080 Ti.

Size, ports, noise

The RTX 3070's efficiency figures into its size reduction, down to 9.5 inches in length (242mm) from the RTX 2070 Super's 10.5 inches (but not quite as small as the original RTX 2070's 9-inch length). Like other 3000-series FEs, the RTX 3070 utilizes what Nvidia calls a "flow-through" design that pulls cool air from below and pushes hot air out in two directions: through its "blower," out the same side as its DisplayPort and HDMI connections, and upward in the same direction as your motherboard's other components. Basically, the size reduction may help you cram an RTX 3070 into a smaller case, but you'll still want to guarantee considerable airflow.

Speaking of connections, they're identical to what you'll find on the RTX 3080: three for DisplayPort, one for HDMI 2.1. (If you missed it, Nvidia quietly dumped the VR-friendly USB Type-C "VirtualLink" port found in most RTX 2000-series cards from this year's GPU generation, perhaps owing to how few VR headset manufacturers bothered supporting it.) Additionally, the 3070 continues the RTX 3000-series trend of employing a smaller 12-pin connector for power, though it ships with an adapter for today's common 8-pin PSU standard. In the 3070's case, it only requires one 8-pin connection to a PSU, not two (or a mix of 8-pin and 6-pin), even though it maxes out at a 220W power draw. (The 2070 Super requires one 8-pin and one 6-pin connector with a power-draw maximum of 215W.)

And when Nvidia brags that the RTX 3070 runs quieter, the company means it. While I lack solid decibel-measuring equipment to tell you exactly how much quieter this card runs than its competition, it's safe to say that its full-load mix of fan noise and operational hum probably won't be the loudest component in your system. And with my ear directly up to it, its noticeable noise certainly wasn't louder than, say, a PlayStation 4 Pro. (Nvidia has described its noise level as "up to 16dBA quieter" than the original RTX 2070 Founders Edition.)

Thoughts on 1440p, ray tracing, and DLSS

The above benchmarks make clear that 4K/60fps performance in newer PC games, with all settings maxed out, isn't a given on the RTX 3070. But it's important to note that many of these tests include overkill settings for things like anti-aliasing, shadow resolution, and even "maximum" ray-tracing effects, all meant to guarantee maximum GPU impact for the sake of accurate comparisons between the GPUs. In the real world, you can safely drop most of these from "ultra," "extreme," or "insane" while still exceeding most console ports' settings and barely looking discernible from their over-the-top maximums, and the results often land darned close to 4K/60.

Scale down to a resolution like 1440p and you'll hope for frame rates that take advantage of monitors rated for 144fps and above. One good indicator of the RTX 3070's capabilities is Borderlands 3, a particularly demanding (and arguably inefficient) game that doesn't leverage Nvidia-specific GPU perks while packing its scenes with dynamic lighting, alpha particle effects, cel-shaded detail, and massive draw distances. When put through its benchmark wringer at 1440p on my testing rig (i7-8700K OC'ed to 4.7GHz, 32GB DDR-3000 RAM), BL3 averages 99.5fps at the "high" settings preset or 88.0fps at "ultra." Not 144fps, mind you, but I think of BL3 as a good "floor" for performance, easily outdone by older and more efficient 3D games.

Without ray tracing turned on in 3D games from the past few years, RTX 3070's frame rates have easily surpassed 80fps with tons of bells and whistles enabled at 1440p resolution, and they've easily gone higher with every drop in settings from there. But what happens on the RTX 3070 with ray tracing turned on?

As of press time, there's an interesting combined trend for just about everything I've tested with some version of DirectX Ray Tracing (DXR): the harmonious pairing of Nvidia's latest "DLSS 2.0" standard. Should you run GPU-pounders like last year's Control or this month's Watch Dogs Legion at near-max settings and 1440p resolution, plus ray tracing enabled, you can expect frame rates at roughly 50 to 55fps on the RTX 3070. But a funny thing has happened with DLSS 2.0: much improved support for DLSS upscaling from 906p to 1440p. Last year, I would've told you that you were crazy to upscale from anything lower than 1440p, in terms of pixel smudginess.

When testing at 1440p, Control has seen its DLSS 2.0 translation of tiny details, particularly text on posters, improve compared to native rendering plus temporal anti-aliasing (TAA). Meanwhile, WDL's benchmark is keen on adding rain to its mix, which is clever on Ubisoft's part; this is the exact kind of detail that DLSS has struggled to render in games like Death Stranding, yet in this newer game, rain materializes almost identically when its 906p signal is upscaled with DLSS' machine-learning wizardry.

With both of these games' DLSS modes toggled at this 906p upscale, frame rates jump to the 78-84fps range... and that's with ray tracing enabled ("high" RT settings in Control, "medium" RT settings in WDL).

A masterful game of GPU dominoes

Nvidia really couldn't have set these dominoes up any better. Its RTX line of GPUs has separate components to handle the above fancy features—dedicated ray-tracing cores and dedicated "tensor" cores to handle ML-assisted computation. The way its ray-tracing cores work lines up neatly with industrywide standards like DXR, which means it's a drop in the programming budget to implement those in ways that will work on competitors' GPUs and on brand-new gaming consoles. And the tensor cores' upscaling methods line up neatly with TAA, a particularly common anti-aliasing standard that Nvidia's DLSS effectively piggybacks off. As of DLSS 2.0, the model does not require game-specific coding to work (though developers still have to partner with Nvidia to implement it). For Nvidia gamers, then, the ray-tracing proposition going forward is clear: if you want to turn it on, you'll almost certainly have the simultaneous option of toggling the efficiency of Nvidia's dedicated RT cores and the efficiency of their DLSS implementation. In terms of pixel fidelity, DLSS 2.0 has pretty much proven to be a wash, with games generally enjoying a mix of sharper and blurrier elements depending on the scene (with neither being egregious, with the notable exception of Death Stranding's peskiest, super-detailed moments like cut-scene details and screen-filling rain). And that's a wash visually, not computationally; the proof is in the frame-rate pudding.

We still don't know if AMD can possibly compete when its future cards have their ray-tracing modes turned on. Maybe we're in for a $500-ish scenario where AMD can beat Nvidia's rendering performance in a game like Borderlands 3 at a better price-to-performance ratio, only to lose out on the same performance gains with ray tracing turned on. Having tested Watch Dogs Legion over the past week, I can safely say its RT perks—as slathered over a massive, open-world city full of reflective surfaces and other handsome light-bounce effects—are difficult to disable now that I have a midrange GPU that can reasonably handle said effects at "1440p."

Meaning, I could turn them off... but I no longer want to. It's hard to go back to plain ol' rasterization after seeing so many light sources realistically emerge no matter what time of day or scenario I'm in. As I pilot a drone past a shiny office building, or drive in a shiny, future-London car past a beautiful landmark, I see objects in WDL reflect or bounce light in ways that acknowledge objects or light sources that otherwise aren't on the screen. This is what ray tracing does: it accounts for every nearby light bounce, even if it's not on screen, to render the whole world whether you can see it directly or not.

Plus, if you have dreams of one day toggling ray-tracing power at 4K with this card, WDL on an RTX 3070 at "high" settings gets up to a 58fps average in 4K resolution with RT at "medium," so long as I use DLSS to upscale to 4K from... wait for it... 1440p native. Those upscaling results are convincingly crisp, as well.

Thus, as I said in the beginning, your definition of a "future-proofed" GPU will likely drive your interest in what the RTX 3070 has to offer for $499. We're about to see even more interesting ray tracing in games—including at least one we're not allowed to talk about yet. You'll have to take our word for it, in terms of how exciting it is to live inside of some games' ray-traced worlds.

If that's not your bag, due to visual preferences or budgetary reasons, I get it. But it remains to be seen whether a cheaper RTX card can deliver the same future-proofing in the 1080p range or whether AMD will arrive with a perfect amount of budget-minded power and ray tracing—or even a butt-kicker of a card that skips ray tracing altogether in favor of powerful, traditional 3D rendering for a damned good price. For now, in the 1440p range, Nvidia has the clear lead... for at least 24 hour

[pogueman]

The tiny, 4K Mavic Air crushes other DJI drones

Every consumer product goes through three stages of life. It’s invented; it’s improved and adjusted; and, finally, it becomes a commodity. There’s not a lot of innovation anymore in microwave ovens, ceiling fans, or toilets — they’ve pretty much stopped morphing. They’ve reached the third stage, their ultimate incarnations.

Drones, love ‘em or hate ‘em, are still in the second stage: They’re rapidly changing direction, gaining features, finding out what they want to be. It’s an exciting period in this category’s life, because new models come out fast, each better and more interesting than the last.

For proof, just look at the Chinese company DJI, the 800-pound gorilla of drones. It releases a new drone or two every single year.

They’ve just introduced a drone called the Mavic Air ($800). It’s so small and smart, it makes you wonder why anyone would buy the 2016 Mavic Pro, which costs $200 more — but it’s not what you’d call perfect.

The new Mavic Pro is incredibly tiny, stable, and lightweight.

  Meet the Air

The 15-ounce Mavic Air is small — and that’s huge. It folds up for travel: its four arms collapse against the body to make the whole thing small enough to fit into a coat pocket, about 6.5 inches by 3.5 inches by 2 inches. (The top two arms swing horizontally, as you’d expect. The bottom two, though, are hinged in two dimensions: They fold downward and inward, and you have to remember to do those before you do the upper arms. You’ll figure it out.)

The Mavic Air’s arms fold up.

Of course, there are plenty of small drones — but not in this league. The Mavic Air, for example, can capture gorgeous 4K video. And its camera is on a three-axis gimbal for stabilization; the video looks like it was shot from a tripod even when the drone was being buffeted by 20 mph winds, as you can see in the video above.

The box includes the drone, a remote control (it uses your smartphone as its screen), a battery, a charger, a set of propeller guards for indoor flying, and a spare set of propellers (in crashes, they’re the first to go).

The Mavic Air comes with four propeller guards for indoor flight, 1 battery, a case, spare propellers and a charger.

The Mavic Air is also smarter than any sub-$1,000 drone DJI has ever made. It has depth-sensing cameras on three sides — forward, down, and backward (that’s new) — so that it can avoid collisions automatically in those directions.

Like most drones, this one has an automatic Return to Home feature that kicks in whenever the battery is getting low or if it loses the signal with the remote control. (You can also call it home with one button press whenever you’re just feeling anxious.) Thanks to the cameras underneath, this thing lands exactly where it took off — within a few inches.

The competitive landscape

The Mavic Air’s primary competition comes from two other DJI drones. Here’s the rundown:

Mavic Pro (2016 model, $1,000). Twice the size of the Air. Folding arms. 4K video. “27 minutes” of flight per charge (in the real world, 22 minutes). Front and bottom collision avoidance. Remote control included with built-in screen (no phone necessary). Very few palm control gestures (see below).

Mavic Air (2018 model, $800 — the new one). Folds up. 4K video. “21 minutes” per charge (more like 18). Front, bottom, and back collision avoidance. Remote control folds up tiny — even the joysticks unscrew and store inside the body, for even smaller packing. Has the most palm gestures of the three drones — and the most reliable palm gestures. 8 GB of internal storage for video and stills, so you can still record if you don’t have a micro SD card on you. Another $200 buys you a “Fly More” kit that includes two extra batteries, an ingenious folding four-battery charger, and even more spare props.

Spark (2017 model, $400). The smallest body of all, but its arms don’t fold, so it winds up being bigger for travel. 1080p video. “18 minutes” per charge (more like 11). Front and bottom collision avoidance. Remote control is an extra purchase ($120); uses your phone as a screen. Responds to hand gestures, but not reliably.

The Spark may look smaller than the Mavic Air, but remember that it doesn’t fold up.

True, the Mavic Pro gets a little more flight per battery. And there’s an even more expensive model, the $1,100 Mavic Pro Platinum, that gets “30” minutes per charge.

(Do those seem like incredibly short flights? Yup. But that’s drones for you. As it is, a modern drone is basically a flying frame designed to haul its own battery around.)

But in my book, the Air’s tiny size is far more important than the marginally greater battery life. As the old saying doesn’t go, “The best drone is the drone you have with you.”

Only the front “arms” have landing gear (the white thing), which fold up for travel.

In-flight entertainment

You can fly the Mavic Air in three ways.

First, you can use the included remote control. If you insert your smartphone into its grippers and connect the little cord, you get a number of perks — like actual joysticks, which make the drone much easier to fly than using the phone alone. The remote also has a dial at the outer corner for adjusting the camera’s tilt in flight, as well as a switch for Sport mode, which unlocks the drone’s top speed of 42 mph (by turning off the obstacle-avoidance features).

The remote also gives the drone a much greater range. It uses a Wi-Fi connection to the drone, instead of the proprietary radio connection of the Mavic Pro. DJI says that still gives you 2.4 miles of range, but I say baloney; even in the middle of the Texas desert, you’ll be lucky to get half that distance. It doesn’t really matter, though, since Federal Aviation Administration rules say you can’t fly a drone out of sight. (Speaking of the FAA: You don’t need a license to fly the Mavic Air as a hobby, but you do need to register the drone itself. And if you intend to fly it professionally — this means you, wedding videographers, filmmakers, construction firms, realtors, police, and farmers — you have to get permission from the FAA.)

The second way to fly the drone is using your smartphone. It works, but you get a much shorter range (about 250 feet), and it’s harder; DJI’s app has become one super-crowded, complex piece of software.

The third way: using hand gestures. The drone must be facing you at all times, and it has to remain pretty close to you, so this trick is primarily useful for positioning it for “dronies” (selfies from the air). Keep in mind that you also need the phone app with you, though, to turn on the palm-control mode.

You stand with your arm out, palm forward, in a “Stop! In the name of love!” pose. Now, you can “drag” your hand up, down, or around you; the drone follows as though connected to your palm by a magnet. It’s the next best thing to The Force.

New, two-handed gestures let you push the drone farther away or pull it closer to you. And you can now make the drone land by pointing your palm toward the ground and waiting.

In the previous model, the Spark, those palm gestures were super iffy; sometimes they worked, sometimes not. The Mavic Air makes them far more reliable, although I never got the new “take off from the ground” gesture working.

As in other DJI drones, the Mavic Air can follow you as you ski, bike, drive, or run (it tracks you optically — you don’t have to have the remote control on you). Unlike earlier ones, this one doesn’t just hover when it encounters an obstacle; it actually attempts to fly around the obstacle and keep going.

How’s it look?

“4K” may be a buzzword, but it doesn’t automatically mean “great picture”; it could refer to 4,000 pixels’ worth of ugly blotch.

The Mavic Air contains the same tiny camera sensor as the Spark and the Mavic Pro. The footage and stills generally look terrific — anything shot from the air is automatically kind of stunning, and the Air uses more data (100 Mbps) to record data than the Pro does.

Unfortunately, this sensor is still fairly disastrous when it comes to dynamic range. That is, it tends to “blow out” bright areas and “muddy up” dark areas. Alas, those are things you get a lot of when you’re shooting from the sky.

  The Mavic Air’s footage is often marred by blown-out highlights (sun, left) and goopy, murky shadows (people, right).

The Air can also do half-speed slow motion (in 1080p, not 4K), and take high-dynamic range photos (not videos).

All of these drones offer preprogrammed flight patterns, called QuickShots, that make great 10-second videos, incorporating flight maneuvers and camera operations that would be incredibly difficult to do yourself.

For example, the one called Circle makes the drone fly around you, keeping the camera pointed toward you the whole time; Helix makes the drone spiral out and away from you; and so on. There are two new ones: Boomerang flies a grand oval around you, up/out and back. Asteroid combines a flight up and away, with a spherical panorama. On playback, the video is reversed, so that it seems to start with a whole planet earth viewed from space, as the camera rushes down toward you. Here, have a look.

But it’s small

Like all drones in this price range, the Mavic Air is complicated and sometimes frustrating. It does a lot of beeping at you, it’s still full of options that are “not available now” for one reason or another, and it still doesn’t come with a printed instruction manual.

And yeah, someday, we’ll look back and laugh at an $800 drone that flies for only 18 minutes.

But you can’t buy a dream drone that doesn’t exist. And among the ones that do, the Mavic Air is ingeniously designed, impressively rugged, and incredibly small. Its features beat the cheaper DJI Spark in every category — and even the more expensive Mavic Pro in almost every category.

In other words, if you’re the kind of person considering a drone, the Mavic Air strikes a new sweet spot on the great spectrum of drones, somewhere between beginner and pro, between tiny and luggage-sized, between cheap and pricey. Invest as much time learning it as you’ve invested in buying it, and you’ll be flying high.

David Pogue, tech columnist for Yahoo Finance, welcomes non-toxic comments in the Comments below. On the Web, he’s davidpogue.com. On Twitter, he’s @pogue. On email, he’s poguester@yahoo.com. You can sign up to get his stuff by email, here.  

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[lucifercaelestis]

Sheith Fic Rec

I figured that I wanted to contribute to the fandom in some way and I read a lot of fics, so why not make a rec list? I included the summary for each fic, plus some commentary from me in italics. I hope the authors don’t mind that I linked them, at least the ones I know of. Thank you so much for contributing to this wonderful ship, it wouldn’t be as great as it is now without you. Feel free to talk to me about sheith anytime, I’d love to make more friends.

One-Shots (Canon-verse)

the whole town’s sleeping by astrainclinant (T) 18k 

Of inevitability and stars.

Alternatively, how Keith and Shiro come together.

Basically what I’d consider a classic Sheith fic, and a must read for any Sheith fan. I will never have the words to describe how I feel when I read this.

the fear of falling by amillionsmiles/ @amillionsmiles (G) 4k

Keith can pull off a downward spiral. It's the kind of maneuver he does in his sleep.

Keith character study, with implied Sheith. Different attempt at Keith’s backstory.

 ‘til you set fire to my atmosphere by amillionsmiles/ @amillionsmiles (T) 2k 

And it’s like the first punch Keith ever landed on him: quick and glancing, right at the ribs, out of left field and yet simultaneously a long time coming.

Pining Shiro, because Pining Shiro is everything.

the body remembers (what the mind forgets) by ShirosRedKnight (SweetFanfics)/ @shirosredknight (E) 10k

Shiro’s fingers slide up to touch his skin, warm points of contact that make Keith shiver. “It’s just a year," Shiro reassures him quietly, "I’ll be back before you know it. It’ll be like the time you were studying to come here.”

His lips twitch up, trying to be supportive but it’s hard. Keith knows its the right thing to do, to be happy for Shiro. But it's hard when he's imagining a space without Shiro in it. Loneliness is already creeping up his torso, curling around his heart and lungs and choking the happy pride he feels for Shiro.

He already misses Shiro so terribly.

--

tldr: Keith and Shiro were together pre-canon but then Shiro went on his mission and came back with no memories of his time with Keith. How does one even begin to deal with the love of your life forgetting you?

That Shiro forgetting Keith and their relationship AU we all need. The feelings in this were A+.

Days Like Masquerades by lordzuuko/ @lordzuuko (G) 1.8k

Lance didn't believe the rumours about Shiro and Keith back then at The Galaxy Garrison, but suddenly, he was beginning to doubt himself.

Sheith through Lance's eyes.

Outsider POV of relationships is my favourite, especially the subtle realization that always happens later in the story.

the normality that is water being wet and eating pink alien goop gives you stomach cramps by heihua (G) 1.2k

There isn't anything special about today.

Until everyone hears Shiro calling Keith "honey" and suddenly, the whole world's in an uproar.

(And yet, at the same time, nothing's changed.) 

I really love how completely normal everyone is?

The universe is such a lonely place (without you) by anditwasstinky (thewicked) (T) 3.8k

Keith comes out, and Lance decides it’s time to step up as a wingman.

I love how disastrous this was, and the aftermath.

Too Much, Gone Too Fast by purpleweekend/ @blushweddingowns (E) 19k

The entire length of Keith and Shiro’s relationship before Kerberos. Alternative, how many sex scenes " can I fit in 19k words.

An interesting take on how their relationship develops.

Believe Me, For a Little While by unalignedant (T) 8.3k

Keith wakes up because a giant dog is licking his face. 

Sheith fics with lots of team interactions are so pure.

talk your shadow into starlight by idrilka/ @idrilka (T) 6k

Above him, the stars are still distant and cold, a tangible proof of the indifference of the universe. Beside him, Shiro is just out of arm’s reach, radiating warmth.

(Or: five times Shiro and Keith looked at the stars, and one time they did more than that.)

Sheith + stars will never go wrong for me. Ever.

Victorious by themorninglark/ @themorninglark (T) 3.2k

"When you come back - " says Keith, again, and then he can't finish the sentence for the enormity of it, so he stops short. Leaves it hanging like a promise, waiting to be fulfilled, and settles for reaching out to rest his hand on Shiro's shoulder instead. Lets the contact linger for as long as he can, etched like life lines and heart lines into his palm.

Shiro nods. He doesn't break promises.

Neither does Keith.

Keith backstory + Sheith. It’s all good.

Coherence by commodorecliche (x_carnivale_x)/ @commodorecliche

Close your eyes

Let me touch you now

Let me give you something

That is real

It's been a while now, and they haven't really talked, at least not about anything important. They haven't talked about Shiro's disappearance, or what happened to him during captivity, and they certainly haven't talked about what they were before the Kerberos mission and how things have changed. But nothing can stay bottled up forever. During a late night combat training session, Shiro and Keith find themselves in a position to talk, to reconcile, to come to terms with all the things they endured and all the things they lost.

Sheith talking to each other and just communicating is really great.

our stories of the gentle fall by idrilka/ @idrilka (M) 18.6k

The Galra prison cell sees no light.

(Or: Shiro and Keith get captured. Shiro tries to hold on and keep Keith alive at all cost.)

Shiro trying to protect Keith is what I live for. 

Unintentionally by Ottermouse (G) 3.2k

In which Keith is an oblivious idiot.

Basically what it states in the summary. 

but now you’re here (and I don’t feel a thing) by Utsukushin (UserFromPluto) (Unrated) 9k

When they reached the red paladin, Hunk was the first to react, dropping to the floor and pulling the battered, sobbing boy into his arms.

“Keith? Keith, it’s alright. Take it easy, buddy,” he soothed, but the heartbreaking cries only continued. 

The team supports Keith, it’s really heartwarming.

good grief by billionairevolleyboysclub (M) 3k

Shiro brings it up when he's got Keith pinned to the training mat, arm twisted behind his back and body pressed up along the line of his back.

"Are you going to winter formal next week?"

---

A quick fic on Garrison prom, drinking, and bad communication skills. Not necessarily in that order.

Basically a Garrison prom fic, and about what you’d expect honestly.

we were shotgun lovers by cherryvanilla (E) 8.9k

Keith knows the deal. A lot of people his age who leave the system end up back in even at 18, 19, 20 just because they can't adjust. He doesn't want to be another statistic. His literal one bag was packed and ready to go day of his birthday.

 I have literally never seen any Sheith fic like this before, you really should try it out. 

forget about this map by the hyacinth girl (arguendo) (E) 13.4k

In which everyone has a crush on Space Dad, and some handle it better than others.

Yay for team bonding and some Sheith backstory. 

the interior of a heart by billionairevolleyboysclub (M) 8.3k

He hears Shiro's voice through his earpiece frantically ordering him to -stay close Keith try to stay as close as you can- before the wormhole's gravity pushes upon his chest and makes his vision swim. His mind slowly goes blank as his body slumps forward.

And Keith dreams. Keith remembers.

---

Everything needs a creation story. 

Keith backstory just because?

I’ve Got Your Grasping Hand by dimplelegacy (M) 5.9k

"I'm sorry," Shiro's words are the only warning he gets before arms are wrapped around his body, almost hosting him up in their strength. Keith lets out an embarrassing loud gasp. "I can't," Shiro says.

"What-" Keith blinks. "Stop-"

"I can't. I'm sorry, I can't," Shiro says those words to him again and again, sounding so much like a broken robot that it scares Keith. He barely manages to touch Shiro's biceps, so crushing is the power that Shiro's holding him with.

-

Five meaningful times when Shiro apologized to Keith and one time when Keith knew he didn't really mean it.

Sheith 5+1.

for what binds us by amillionsmiles/ @amillionsmiles (T) 7.1k

This is who you are, Lupa had told him during his first medal ceremony, nose nudging the fist clenched at his side. Own it. Let them stare.

And people do. It’s impossible not to stare at Lupa, with the proud tilt of her head, that fierce canine intelligence and the way her black fur catches the light. Shiro’s loved her all his life, and the day she settled was one of his happiest moments.

He just wishes that it didn’t always feel like when people look at him, they’re seeing only his daemon.

Daemon AU, characterisation is really well done and the daemons so fitting.

A River of Light Between by coyotesuspect (M) 14.3k

After crash landing on an unfamiliar planet, Keith and Shiro venture out to collect needed supplies for the castle. When they meet the local inhabitants, some confusion results.

Fake relationship AU in canon? Sign me up.

At the Beginning by locketofyourhair (E) 13.2k

It’s the first thing parents are supposed to teach their children: that the words mean nothing, that the marks don’t mean there is a match for you. The universe is cruel and cold, and plenty of people never meet the one whose writing is emblazoned on their skin.

Keith doesn't believe in soulmates, no matter what his skin says.

A soulmate AU where the words on your skin aren't always the first words you hear from your soulmate. Sometimes it takes time.

Sheith soulmate AU with mutual pining and misunderstandings.

Baby, You’ve Got Stars In Your Eyes by BlueRoboKitty (T) 4k

Keith has a crush and finds the most unlikely inspiration to finally express his feelings.

Someone stop him.

Did someone ask for Sheith and cheesy pick-up lines?

hope is currency and death is not the last unknown by chii (T) 10.5k

Seven pieces of mail Shiro's parents send Keith and one he sends back.

This is both heartwarming and completely heartbreaking to read.

transgalactic, 1:30 AM by themorninglark/ @themorninglark (G) 3.4k

"Replay transmission," Shiro murmurs.

By the dim light of an Arusian constellation, one that's shaped like a different kind of scar, he hears him.

"Hey, Shiro? Does this thing work?" In which Keith goes, and Shiro waits, for a change.

Quiet introspection and feelings.

One-shots (AU)

Like Crystal Guts by Glossolalia/ @fenri (E) 14.3k

Keith uses an app in order to find sugar daddies, but when one of his patrons sticks out, he finds himself negotiating with the idea that 'falling in love isn't always selling out.'

Hoe Keith au, AKA I wanted to read about sugar daddies and got hit by feelings instead.

region of the summer stars by astrainclinant (M) 32k

Shiro's life revolves around his job and his team and occasionally dealing with his trauma. The young man who was dumped onto his doorstep is a new development.

One of the earliest long Sheith fics, and AU at that. The slow development is wonderful and everything seems to flow naturally.

To Be By His Side by starticker (T) 19.2k

Prince Takashi of Shirogane must marry to inherit the throne, and his spouse must be determined by eligible candidates competing in a series of competitions known as the Royal Games. Complications arise when Shiro's bodyguard, Keith, goes missing weeks before the Games begin, and then again when a mysterious suitor shows up to compete. What has happened to Keith? And who is the Red Knight, the challenger who seems determined not just to win Shiro’s hand but also his heart?

Prince Shiro and Bodyguard Keith, with a twist.

Complete Multi-chapter (Canon-verse)

117-9875 by Glossolalia/ @fenri (M) 45k, 10/10

The issue with loving a hero is that the hero will never love you more than his cause.

Keith is not the hero, and time and time again, he must remind himself that Shiro is.

In the mood to get your heart broken? Well then my friend this is just the fic for you! I still cry thinking about this fic, but it was definitely worth the read.

nothing can breathe in space by idrilka/ @idrilka (E) 40k, 4/4

The truth is: what Keith wants or doesn’t want won’t bring Shiro back.

The truth is: nothing can breathe in space.

(Or: the story of how Keith and Shiro come together, come apart, and come together again.) 

One of my all time favourite Sheith fics, the progression of their relationship is lovely to see, and the slow burn just killed me.

Pressure Suit by CheshireCity (E) 116k, 21/21

Keith and Shiro don't have time to be stranded on a foreign planet, not with their friends scattered to unknown places and Zarkon dogging their every move. They especially don't have time to deal with the shared past they Do Not Talk About or the complicated feelings stretching between them. Even more so with the Galra closing in on them, Shiro's PTSD resurging when it's least convenient, and Keith's increased introversion and social withdrawal. But forced together by circumstance the two paladins soon find that they are less alone than they seem and come upon a surprising discovery.

It’s pretty long, but it has a great plot, believable character dynamics for Keith and Shiro, and even the entire team once they come in, with an interesting plot.

Burning Skies by Ithiel_Dragon (M) 34k, 14/14

Keith and Shiro find themselves stranded on a dangerous and desolate world with little hope of survival. Against all odds, Keith must find a way to contact their team mates so they can be rescued, before the injuries Shiro sustained in the fight with Haggar kill him.

Post-S1 finale fic plus Sheith backstory. 

Long way forward by queerly_it_is (E) 34k, 3/3

When they drop out of the hurtling nightmare of the wormhole, everything blends into nausea and the scream of alarms, the stars smearing into concentric loops outside their Lions.

Keith grits his teeth, hauling helplessly at controls that were already damaged even before they got thrown out of the hangar, across the universe and back into space again. Arms and shoulders straining, muttering constantly under his breath, he tries to get any real response from his Lion, but the connection’s been reduced to just a faint wavering spark, like a candle about to go out.

Finally Shiro brings his own Lion around and physically stops Keith’s uncontrolled spin. His voice sputters in over the com. “This is no good. We’re gonna have to find someplace to set down.”

 Honestly everything I wanted from a post-s1 fic. The slow burn was done really well.

my right-hand man by felldragons (M) 17k, 2/2

Always, always, Shiro found himself plagued by the sensation that he had forgotten— something. Something.

How cruel it was, to know that you do not know.

In which Shiro remembers too late, Keith never forgets in the first place, and a promise is kept at the very last moment, when it barely even matters anymore.

Warning: Major Character Death. I know that kind of warning scares everyone, it scared me too, but I promise, this fic really is worth it, even after all the crying you’ll probably do.

In Reverse by riverbanks (T) 12.7k, 7/7

This is where the night pulls you in

Nothing like old times, when we were friends

And this, this is where the water calls

And severance sings me out again

-

Or: There’s a pool in the castle.

The slow progression is wonderful and the pace fits really well.

Redshift by fuhllmetal (T) 12.1k 7/7

alternative title: five times shiro said he was fine and one time he admitted he wasn't 

Team fics with accompanying sheith are also great.

Call My Name by Mythril (fantacination) (T) 19k, 7/7

Shiro wants to get to know a certain new pilot. Keith wants nothing to do with this.

That's fine. Shiro always liked a challenge.

Features: Tsun!Keith, Charmed!Shiro and BestWingman!Matt

Garrison Sheith is always great, and the addition of Matt makes is interesting.

Emissions by illicio (E) 20k, 8/8

"How long were you alone?"

"Eh. On and off."

"Exluding supply runs."

Dubious silence.

"Not helping," said Shiro.

‡‡‡‡‡

See also: a lot about Shiro and Keith and not much in the way of everyone else, although they are and will continue to be mentioned. Mostly Lance. Lance is mentioned a lot. (Because I think his relationship with Keith is particularly important even if I'm not focusing on it.) Summary subject to occasional change.

Lots of focus on Shiro and Keith’s relationship, pre- and post-kerberos.

Complete Multi-chapter (AU)

Under His Care by BoxWineConfessions (M) 53k, 13/13

Keith is living his childhood dream of co-owning the city's most famous motorcycle customization and repair shop. He spends a lot of time with Lance, Hunk, and his best girl Peaches (A 1972 Yamaha DS7). Life is pretty decent, even when he makes the mistake of answering the phone and Lance's mom is on the line chiding him about something he's pretty sure Lance is responsible for anyway.

Until the accident.

Apparently having a stupidly hot physical therapist is a pretty good pain killer.

Biker Keith is always good. Well actually mechanic Keith, but it still counts. The progression of the story feels pretty natural.

though the stars walk backward by dawnstruck/ @dawnstruck (M) 22.5k, 11/11

When Shiro is captured by the Galra, he loses his team, his arm, and his freedom.

The one thing he gains is Keith.

AU where they meet after Shiro is taken prisoner, +galra!Keith. The build up is really good and you really feel for the characters.

The Legend of the Sun and Moon by TruebornAlpha/ @itdans & @runicscribbles (E) 165k, 25/25

Since ancient times, the Sun and Moon have been tasked with guarding the Heavens, but a bitter betrayal fractured their delicate balance and destroyed the peace between the two kingdoms forever. Centuries later, a new power has arisen, threatening the very sanctity of Heaven. Priest-Prince Shiro of the Moon Kingdom has trained his entire life to fight the supernatural creatures that stalk his people, but he was never prepared for war. Captured, humiliated, and chained, his only hope lies with Lieutenant Keith Kogane, the handsome but deadly enemy soldier of the Sun Kingdom.

An epic sprawling adventure with monsters, dragons, and the fate of the world that balances on the hearts of two literal star-crossed lovers.

Long, epic worldbuilding. Fantastic characters and development. What more could you wish for?

Frostbite by TruebornAlpha/ @itdans & @runicscribbles (T) 40k, 8/8

Far away in a land of eternal winter, the Snow Prince Keith ruled over his frozen lands with cruelty and magic. Only a brave hunter named Shiro can find a way to save the cold, heartless prince. Or destroy him.

A Sheith Snow Queen Fairytale.

Sheith Snow Queen AU, with the added benefit of Prince Keith.

On-going Multi-chapter (Canon-verse)

Find Me In The Shadows by Wenzel/ @the-wenzel (M) Currently 135k, 24/?

With the other Paladins lost to the wormhole and the Castle of Lions out of contact, Keith struggles to survive on a dying Lion. But his rescuer isn’t Shiro or Allura or even Lance: it’s the Galra, and Zarkon has plans for his new find.

Shiro/Keith and Keith/Zarkon

Okay, this isn’t really Sheith yet… But it’s still an amazing read, the world-building is phenomenal, and the characters are very distinct and you’ll learn to love them more as you read…

Flight Patterns of the Lonely by Rambutans (M) Currently 15.5k, 4/?

Keith and Shiro find each other and lose each other and find each other again.

Or: Keith grew up alone in a shack in the desert until the day Shiro found him trying to do flip tricks on a hoverbike against the rock wall of a cliff.

Or: The first time Shiro met Keith, Keith broke his nose. The second time Shiro met Keith, Keith broke something else. 

Everything about this was just pure gold. Especially Keith.

cut yourself on my edges by kitnaks (M) Currently 6.7k, 2/?

"Remember," Hunk says, "the safeword is Sporks."

Or: The singular instance in which a political mission ends with Keith in a dress and Shiro in distress.

 Actually really interesting, the summary does not do it justice.

The Body Burns Away by Carrionflower (T) Currently 2.5k, 1/?

His arm was gone, replaced by inorganic machinery that clicked and whirred, but the physical memory of its loss remained burned into his nervous system. It translated as a haunting pain that spiked and ebbed but never fully receded, always constant like a needle digging into his brain.

Shiro's coming apart at the seams and Keith is the only one that can see it happening. 

So this begins with a really good start, with interesting Shiro and Keith dynamics.

when the levee breaks by fuhllmetal (T) 24.2k, 6/16

The Galra have finally discovered Earth's location. They're on a course for the Paladins' home planet, and with only a matter of months left before Zarkon finishes mobilizing his forces for a full scale invasion, Voltron has to step up to the plate and address Earth directly.

So, clearly, Pidge is going to hack the Garrison's YouTube page and livestream a very important message for the human race.

It’s actually Shiro/Keith pre-slash, but it’s plot is enough to make up for it in my opinion.

Escape Hatch by Glossolalia/ @fenri (T) 4.3k, 1/2

 "You could go on the Kerberos Mission with me," Shiro tried again, knowing he was napping on a guillotine by mentioning the mission. "The only reason you're not my co-pilot is because of your interpersonal communication skills. Learn how to deal with me, and you'll graduate early on top of being a part of the greatest space exploration known to mankind."

Just everything in this. I can’t even find the words to explain.

The Human Touch by inkfishie/ @inkfishie (T) 36k, 7/?

Sometimes a problem isn't really a problem. Sometimes a mountain is really just a mole-hill in disguise. And sometimes, Keith gets everything so spectacularly wrong that when it goes right he doesn't know what to do with himself.

Angsty Soulmate AU with a happy ending, I promise :)

The Sheith soulmate au you never knew you wanted. Lots of platonic paladin bonding too.

The Farthest Moon by EyesHalfFamiliar (T) 11k, 3/?

Shiro was the Garrison's golden boy, but not necessarily their best pilot. That title went to Keith, and when the time came to select someone for the upcoming Kerberos Mission, the talented young firebrand was chosen in Shiro's place.

But then, of course, "pilot error" happened...

This story is an exploration of what could have been if Keith had been taken by the Galra in place of Shiro. Featuring Shiro in love, Keith not realizing he's in love, and me trying to meet my angst quota for the year.

Fate-swap fic where Keith goes to Kerberos instead.

Ongoing Multi-chapter (AU) 

hey, hey, my playmate by felldragons (E) Currently 89k, 5/?

Captive Prince meets Sci-Fi meets Omegaverse. (more info on story & tags inside) Keith is the Prince of the Galra. Shiro, the Black Paladin, suffers egregious betrayal from those closest to him, and is sent to be the Prince's Champion. They hate each other, as enemies are wont to do. Until they don't.

There's a universe that needs saving, and if Keith and Shiro are ever going to succeed, then they must save it together. "So what you're saying," drawled Lotor, in the lazy lilt of a man half-drunk, "is that you want the Champion to get a leg over Keith, and breed him."

"Yes. That is precisely what I want." Zarkon replied, after a long, deliberate pause. "My nephew's twenty-first birthday approaches, but I will not allow him to inherit this empire. Not now. Not ever. It is mine, rightfully mine, and no bitchy little omega is going to strip me of my power."

As the description says, it’s basically a sci-fi omegaverse captive prince au. My descriptions really can’t do it justice, but the character interactions in this fic are what I live for. 

maybe we’ll find a brand new ending by CarbonFootprint (M) Currently 96k, 13/?

"There was a new light of shock and relief in the hybrid’s eyes, bringing out the subtle violet of his gaze in the low light. Shiro could see then that under the fear on his face and the unkempt state his owner had left him in, the boy was someone who could be considered beautiful.

And Shiro certainly regarded him as that even with pain brewing in his eyes.

He didn’t understand how someone could take and hurt and desecrate a creature that was created from humans to love humans. The only thing companions inherently wanted was to love their masters and receive love in return. The pain bad owners caused was despicable and Shiro hated it, but he would do whatever he could to try and fix it."

In which Shiro is an officer for the protection of human-animal hybrids, and rescuing Keith ends up healing the both of them more than he had originally thought.

Cat!Keith with Shiro, who wouldn’t wanna see this? Seriously, it’s really cute, but still has a lot of character stuff and slow burn.

Temporary Fix by lordzuuko/ @lordzuuko (T) Currently 33k, 6/?

Shiro asked his flatmate, Keith, to go with him and pretend to be his date on his best friend's wedding.

It was a two week long event and Keith had no idea why he even said "yes."

Fake Dating AU because someone's got to do it.

The fake dating AU we all needed.

Alien Sex Fiend by Glossolalia/ @fenri (M) Currently 55k, 8/?

It started at a drive-in in the 1980s.

No, this isn’t the story about the immaculate conception that happens in the backseats of high school boys’ cars, nor is it the origin story for a New Wave-fueled cocaine addiction. Those two things would be interesting. Unfortunately, this is a love story; a love story about the frontman of Quantum Queef, a punk band, and a boy who drives a red motorcycle.

Also, they fight aliens.

Just read it. You won’t regret it. Probably.

Spit & Out by Glossolalia/ @fenri (E) Currently 25.5k, 4/6

Shiro is the head spy at the Garrison, and while on the same team, Keith feels more like a bed warmer than a colleague.

It’s really interesting to see how everything happens.

Series (Canon-verse)

this corner of the universe by amillionsmiles/ @amillionsmiles (T) Total 2.7k, 2 fics 

pre-canon Shiro&Keith ficlets, in which they are a Secret Thing at the Garrison and nobody can tell me otherwise

It is really, really good. It’s Sheith at the Garrison and basically everything I could have hoped for. 

Constant Satellite by inkfishie (M & E) Total 44.3k, 3 fics

An earlier alternate take on Shiro and Keith’s relationship and how they knew each other. The characters feel real to me in this one, they’re like actual people.

Crashing Down by snofeey (G) Total 57k, 3 fics

 An exploration of Shiro and Keith’s relationship before and after Kerberos, it conveys the emotions very well.

The Road Not Taken by TrueBornAlpha/ @itdans & @runicscribbles (T & G & E) Total 31.9k, 6 fics

Shiro left for the Kerberos mission without ever telling Keith how he felt and he never came back. By the time they found each other again, Shiro was broken and scarred, a different person. But what if they had a chance to do it all over again?

A story where Shiro and Keith get a second chance to correct all their past mistakes to create their perfect life together. But a perfect life isn’t always what it seems.

Explores Keith and Shiro’s relationship if that one thing hadn’t happened.

orbiting Pluto by kuill (T) Total 35k, 2 fics

Shiro and Keith’s relationship pre-Voltron is explored and established in this fic. I think it really grows on you? 

Space Shenanigans and Other Misunderstandings by chocolatemoosey (E & T) Total 25.4k, 2 fics

Misunderstandings as a plot point is actually kind of amusing, who knew?

Across, Around, and Upside Down by mumblefox (T) Total 50k, 5 fics

I love Shiro and Keith having an equal relationship and helping each other grow as people.

Series (AU)

dumbstruck by awkwardspaceturtle (CastelloFlare)/ @eruriholic (G & T) Total 9.2k, 3 fics

A Sheith College AU in which the usually levelheaded, charismatic, and headstrong Shiro falls for the first time - and he falls HARD - for a brooding freshman named Keith.

So much pining, especially Shiro. It’s just so adorable.

PWP 

raise me to your lips by eunzos (E) 2.7k

He can fuck you good, but I can fuck you better.

Hahahaha, I’m just gonna leave this here. It’s Kuro/Keith, but whatever you’re thinking, it’s better than that.

The Direct Approach by Lys ap Adin (lysapadin) (E) 3.1k

Keith and Shiro play chicken. Sex chicken. Everybody wins.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing?"

Shiro has an excellent poker face; it doesn't even flicker when he says, "Demonstrating the male version of the human reproductive system. Why are you doing it on my lap?"

Why not? It’s really good anyway.

Eight King Mattresses by Glossolalia/ @fenri (E) 4k

Before the Kerberos Mission, Keith and Shiro might've had a wholesome sex life. 

Garrison Sheith smut. Enough said. 

Letting Off Steam by Ithiel_Dragon (E) Total 8.6k, 2 fics

A series of one-shots for when I feel like writing porn. A little bit of angst (and plot) might creep in, but probably not much. These stories are unrelated to my other Voltron Series. 

Ok, it might be smut, but you’ll still find the characters you know and love there, which is what really sold it for me.

Moondust by Lycoria/ @lycoria (E) Total 9.2k, 2 fics

It’s very, very good smut, with bits of plot. Just enjoy really.

i’m lost in faith (how true it is) by ShirosRedKnight (SweetFanfics)/ @shirosredknight (E) 2.5k

If he could, he’d like to stay in this maddening moment for the rest of time. Let the whole universe be contained to this room. Keith as the sun and Kuro and himself as his orbiting stars. Content to stay there until the sun died out or the universe faded out of existence.

--

A super self indulgent shiro/keith/kuro threesome smut piece.

Like it said, Shiro/Keith/Kuro, but really tender regardless.

nostalgic (for those golden days) by ShirosRedKnight (SweetFanfics)/ @shirosredknight (E) 3.5k

Uncurling his hands from under his head, Keith shifts until he’s on the edge of his Lion’s nose. Shiro stands a couple of feet away from Red, tall grass swaying around his hips. He's smiling up at Keith as he asks, “Mind if I join you?”

“Sure,” Keith nods, gently patting Red’s nose before directing his next words at the Lion he'd seated on. “Could you put your head down on the ground so that Shiro can come up?”

 A deep rumble echos through the Lion before it begins to shift.

--

the most tldr summary of this would be (as Aida put it) "what about sex ON a lion after romantic star gazing"

I honestly didn’t know I wanted this until now. Do yourself a favour and read it.

supernova by kinpika (E) 5.4k

Shiro holds him, tender and close. This was everything he'd wanted, and more.

Tender Sheith smut, enough said.

Non-Critical Peacetime Circumstances by kuillsins (EykielAfterDark) (E) 2.3k

"You look better than I remember," Keith murmurs, a hand resting just beside Shiro's crotch. Shiro actually rewards him with a whimper, his gaze blurry and faraway. "I’ve only dreamed of ever seeing you like this again."

-

Porn with mild(?) plot, a Keith/Shiro fic because we need more bottom Shiro pls. 

What happens is actually fairly interesting and the characters are written believably, which is great.

seat of the lion by kinpika (E) 3.1k

“Give me a minute. Or five." 

Keith had totally planned it from the beginning, and Shiro didn't mind. Not at all.

Very much pwp, but it’s really good.

Post S2

cobbled glass by ShirosRedKnight (SweetFanfics)/ @shirosredknight (T) 6k

 One of the first things Keith learns about himself is that he is different.

--

An AU where Keith was always part of the Blades of Marmora and the Paladin's of Voltron come looking for the Red Paladin. 

Everything I wanted from a BoM!Keith au, and it gave me so many Keith feels.

Stacking the Odds by Mythril (fantacination) (T) 1.5k

Alternate Realities are Serious Business. And Slav is determined to get the best possible outcome.

If that means the Black and Red Paladins need to get married, asap, well, then, Shiro and Keith just have to take one for the Universe.

This fic, AKA thank you Slav.

EDIT: I bolded the links and added some space between fics so it’s easier to read.

[myvideosscripts-blog]

[Onision Clips:

1.  I think one of the most important things you can do as a person when you go through a lot of hard things is to just… stop focusing on the negative and sh*t.

2.  “Can you make more DDlg videos of you making fun of it?” I would love to. I will most certainly make fun of DDlg.

3.  Youtube Adpocalypse really f-ed me up.

4.  Full Disclosure, I’m making this video today because none of my other videos are getting monetized.

5.  I used Eugenia Cooney

6.  Jaclyn Glenn, because she didn’t listen to me, and it’s literally because she didn’t listen to me. Had she listened to me, she would’ve been fine.]

Image of Fair Use Notice and Disclaimer, followed by countdown.

Voiceover: Hello everyone and welcome back to my channel. The Onision Saga continues… apparently. It’s also a reminder, in Ayalla’s words, “Onision psychologically and emotionally abused young women repeatedly. Just in case you forgot”. I’d like to add onto that saying that there are multiple testimonies circulating the internet and this is an issue that, while it has died down, should not be forgotten.

Before I jump in, if there’s anything you think I should cover with regards to Onision or anyone else, please feel free to DM me or leave me a comment below, my social media links are in the description! Also, this video is purely opinion unless otherwise stated. I discourage anyone from going out of their way to bully anyone in my video (but there’s a difference between being a bully and criticizing another person) All right, let’s get started.

If you’re unfamiliar with Onision, I have several videos you can view to catch up that have more backstory. On January 23rd, 2019, Onision released a video on his OnisionSpeaks channel titled “I need to be a better dad and husband” where it sat at about 4k views, and it now sits on almost 20k. Here’s the problem with that. He made the video with a title knowing it would trigger a response but only dedicated the last few minutes to actually talking about how a comment about him being an unattentive father hurt his feelings.

[Onision Clip: Somebody made a comment that really hurt my feelings. “Onision spending all day making videos” which I’ve been doing for a very long time, “So he can get paid $10 a video instead of spending time with his family.” That’s what they said. And that still hurts my feelings even now.]

Voiceover: The rest of the time he talks about how he’s never going to talk about Eugenia again because he doesn’t want to be a bottom feeder, going into detail about how using youtubers’ names in the title is what gets clicks and money.

[Dirty Dan clip of Onision: “I stated before I wasn’t going to make videos about this topic” all of Onision’s videos about Eugenia are being placed over the clip of him. “I stated before I wasn’t going to make videos about this topic.” Followed by screenshots of the dates in which he has since posted videos on Eugenia. Feb. 10th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th]

Voiceover: This isn’t the first time Onision has failed to follow through on his word, especially regarding Eugenia Cooney despite being asked not to talk about her.

Let me pause for a moment. I am so proud of her for getting help, it’s a very hard thing to do and I have the utmost confidence in her recovery. Recovery is a hot mess.

Back to the topic on hand, he’s also done the same thing with Jaclyn Glenn and Shane Dawson. Onision kinda reminds me of Jax Taylor from Vanderpump Rules, serial cheater, liar, manipulator, narcissist.

[Clips of Jax Taylor on Vanderpump Rules:

1.  You know, if there was a rumor that Brittany and I broke up… well, maybe I was the one that started that rumor. I’m definitely allowed to flirt.

2.  Jax: I never cheated. Sandoval: How can you ever trust someone like that?

3.  I did go to Vegas and have relations with someone else.

4.  Kristen: Jax is still the same piece of sh*t liar that he always has been.

5.  Brittany: You lied to me. Jax: I didn’t mean to lie, but you understand why I did it. I didn’t wanna make a scene, like right in the middle of the comedy show.]

Voiceover: In his video titled “I need to be a better dad and husband”, he attempts to manipulate the viewer with phrases like, [Onision clip: “And when I say this, you know it’s true because her name’s not in the title.”] Except it wasn’t true then and it still isn’t now.

[Onision clip: While the Eugenia Cooney videos are about educating others on eating disorders and being healthy, and so forth. They were very educational videos.]

Voiceover: How educational was that cooking show?

When being accused of continuing to make money off of Eugenia, he took to twitter to debunk it but instead lied. I took a screenshot of his tweet and responded on my own account. His tweet reads, “As usual, the rumors are not true. I am not making videos on Eugenia Cooney for money. This is an important topic that needs to be discussed. I have a patreon to help me when my videos do not get monetized. I truly do care about her. As usual, I come with proof.” And he provided a screenshot of his videos on Eugenia Cooney, all of which have been flagged with the yellow icon, but apparently Onision thinks his followers are dumb as a bag of rocks. My response reads, “Let’s get one thing straight. The yellow icon simply means there are limited ads, ergo you’re still making money. And requesting for manual review means you’re trying to get coin. This is easily debunked and really terrible manipulation.”

In another video, he leaks DMs between himself and Jaclyn Glenn, in which he fails to mask his aggression and anger. Does anyone else notice that if Onision doesn’t get attention from someone or can’t use them in his videos, he bashes them relentlessly and makes videos about them anyway.

[Onision clip: Because it doesn’t f-ing matter who’s responsible. You guys are so f-ing stupid… Anyway, and I just wanna express the ‘you guys are so f-ing stupid’. That is an act, it’s a performance. That is me trying to express myself in a way that will impact you. It is not some kind of loss of temper.]

Voiceover: Let’s back up a second. When Eugenia first posted on twitter that she was working with her doctor directly, everyone jumped for joy, but Onision being Onision took advantage of the situation. On January 23rd he said he would stop making videos on her.

Two and a half weeks later, February 10th he posted a video with her name in the title, like the rest of us bottom feeders, titled “You Guys Saved Eugenia”. Let’s not sugar coat this, Eugenia saved herself probably with the help of Jaclyn Glenn and other close friends.

[Onision clip fake crying: Um, thank you guys so much for helping Eugenia Cooney and I am so glad that this might not actually be… the end of her. Thank you so much, bye.]

Voiceover: Oh god, it’s like watching Ashton Kutcher cry on The Ranch, just god awful acting. Another manipulation tactic, superficial sympathy, also known as crocodile tears.

Not only does his acting reek of disingenuous bs, but he brags about all the things he’s done to help Eugenia

[Onision clip: I did so many things. If you guys go through all the videos I made: I contacted the authorities, asking them what I could do. I asked you guys if you knew a family member you could reach out to, get the family members to help. Um, I tried so many things. Tons of research, tons of campaigns and so forth. You don’t wanna see people suffer, you don’t wanna see people struggle like Eugenia was.]

Voiceover: He talks about how he didn’t want to see anyone struggle, however when Jaclyn Glenn first came forward with her video on Social Repose cheating on her, he made a video basically saying I told you so

[Onision clip: I deserve an apology for all of the lies that Jaclyn told about me… or about herself, her relationship. Making me seem like the fraud when I knew I was right.]

Voiceover: And I really wonder how pleased he was when he heard about it. Maybe he’s salty about the fact that she has since found a healthy relationship, with someone who isn’t him.

Onision is incapable of committing to his word, which at this point is as reliable as a plastic spork when you’re eating a steak. No wait, he’s a vegetarian… uh, I don’t know, an eggplant? He further exploits Eugenia for his own personal gain in order to drive traffic to his pathetic forums, which omg have over 600 members, congratulations on a major feat, Greg.

Let’s continue, in his video titled “Eugenia Was Saved by a Youtuber? It wasn’t me”. No one was wondering if it was. He spends the first 6 minutes of it complaining about people calling him a narcissist.

[Onision clip: People were saying it was crocodile tears. They say, uh, narcissist, sociopath, uh, egomaniac, etc. This is all to dehumanize me.]

Voiceover: I mean, change your behavior, and commentary channels might change their opinions.

[Onision clip: This is how you know I’m honest, because I tell you things that no reasonable person would admit.]

Voiceover: Proceeded by things that don’t remotely define honesty. And remember from Greg’s own mouth, it’s easy to fake. I’ve heard a couple people comment that Greg has once said he can make himself cry, on command, so that’s worth noting.

The thing about Greg is when he’s on a mission, he’ll go to any means necessary to achieve his goal, even if that means disrespecting other people, leaking private messages, shaming others, pretty much anything.

This video is essentially him retelling the story of Jaclyn Glenn and Social Repose, pointing all of these mental flaws in others and possible happenings which he thinks are immoral but are perfectly legal, if they happened. In the DMs you see that Onision did not get the answers he wanted from Jaclyn so he built this video projecting all of the blame on literally everyone else.

[Onision clip: I got DMs and I dm-ed Jaclyn Glenn. Uh, of her asking me to shut the f-ck up.

Voiceover: Yeah her asking you to not tweet at her about Eugenia is the same thing as telling him to shut up. When he asked what she put in motion, she answers, “There’s a lot happening and to be totally honest I don’t trust that our convo won’t end up online”. That’s a pretty good judge of character right there.

[Onision clip: I’m a performer. I’m an entertainer.]

Voiceover: You’re a mess, Greg. A mess.

[Onision clip: It’s just a performance. It’s just a creation that I felt you would be entertained by.]

Voiceover: How do we know whether or not him caring so much about Eugenia, making all of these videos about her isn’t purely for entertainment and money.

The rest of that video is essentially Greg contradicting himself and verbally assaulting his camera.

Let me save everyone the pain of having to watch any of his further Eugenia videos, and any of his videos in general.

The ones on Eugenia are clickbait and they’re all made a certain length probably because of the algorithm, which tends to promote longer videos. But rest assured, he doesn’t have any insider information. Or any information on her that isn’t readily available and accessible through a simple, little google search.

In short, well, not really at this point, but in a certain length of time, I personally believe that Onision is incapable of change.

But remember that’s just my opinion, and you are welcome to have your own opinions. Let me know what you think down below. Give me a thumbs up if you like, and subscribe if you’re interested in more of these types of videos. I will catch you guys next time, bye!

-Black screen-

[Onision clip: I have borderline personality disorder. So now we know the problem. So let’s figure this out, let’s conquer this problem and let’s become better people. Right?]

[unlikelydreamlandcreation-blog]

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What is more important? Health Insurance or House/Car Insurance?

If you could only afford one. Which would you pick? Health insurance or House and Car insurance.

Should i tell my car insurance?

i got 3 bans but now legal and got a new job as a delivery driver should i tell my insurance company and would it make my insurance cheaper

""Lost heath/dental insurance, anything more affordable than COBRA?

I just graduated from college and have 30 days to determind if I stay with the COBRA plan (about $350 a month) or find other insurance. I don't mind having to use in-network doctors. I'm also based in NJ if that makes a difference. Any ideas on what I can use? Much appreciated.

What cars are cheap to insure? UK ?

i know it depends on individual person but, in general, which cars have the lowest insurance? thanks""

Can't afford healthcare but make too much for medicaid?

I'm so frustrated with how our country handles healthcare - it should be a basic right for all citizens, not a big business. Anyway, my boyfriend and I are full-time students currently living off of student loans and not working while we are in a very demanding program. We have no health insurance and our school does not have a health clinic. My boyfriend has been having severe gastrointestinal issues that are getting increasingly worse, he fears he may have bowel cancer or some horrible disease and wants to get checked out. We looked into medicaid and found out he does not qualify b/c he has more than 2k in the bank (all loan money), but we need that money to pay rent and eat and pay tuition and books. The cheapest health insurance we can find is $150 a month and doesn't include any extra testing (like a colonoscopy, etc.) So, what does your average middle american trying to get by and go to school to become a better person do? Should we just wait until he dies? Seriously. Rapists and murderers in prison are getting better healthcare than your average family. This place sucks, I want to move to Europe. Any suggestions on how we can get him affordable or free help before he dies?""

Here are my plans when i turn 16 can i do it?

ok to make it real short i am going to turn 16 here in about 2 months here and there is this car ive wanted ever since i came out of my moms woumb lol. Literally this car is my all time dream car. They are not the most ammount of money in the world they are about 10-15k and i was wondering if id be able to pay payments each month when i have a job if i cant would i be able to give my mom/dad the money and they pay the insurence and payments. And also my dad i going to give me around 4k to put on a down payment. Please give me ways i can do it cuz i literally need this car its a dream of mine

What is the best car insurance?

What is the best car insurance company? Has there historically been one that really stands out for following through on claims/advice/help? Not so much just a question of price, but reliability...""

Cheapest insurance for a 05 ford mustang?

am 19year old and have my licenses for 2 years. a also financing the car.

Switching auto insurance & moving to another state?

This is my first time dealing with switching auto insurance to another state. I really would like to know which day should I switch the auto insurance. My insurance company covers both states. If I move from MD to VA on April 1, and I plan to register my car with VA DMV on April 4th. On April 4th, I guess I should have VA vehicle insurance ready for car registration, maybe I need to switch the auto insurance between April 1st and April 3rd. But if I switch auto insurance between April 1st and April 3rd, but at that time my car is still registered with Maryland (while no more MD vehicle insurance). Regarding switching auto insurance and car registration, which should happen first? Thanks.""

Should I purchase life insurance for my child?

Should I purchase life insurance for my child?

How much would state farm car insurance charge for a 17 year old under my own name in connecticut?

i have a acura 3.0 cl... 2 door... and i was just wondering does anybody know how much i would be paying.. in anyway (monthly, yearly... but monthly is better)... so if you could help thanks... and dont tell me to look it up... im just asking.... and this kid has it under his own name... but i dont see him anymore so i cant ask him....""

How much will health insurance cost for a 21 year old with no preexisting conditions?

I never had to pay for health insurance (part of family benefit package) so now I'm thinking of getting one. How much will it cost? I am healthy, work in an office (not dangerous), attend university (are there student discounts?), I am athletic,(healthy weight), I live in Los Angeles the only health issue my family has is that my dad is diabetic (but he got it when he was around 50 so i don't think it's heritable)] I need an insurance to only cover me in case something happens and I need emergency care (surgeries, hospital stay etc.) approximate numbers will be appreciated.. thank you""

electric auto insurance quotes

electric auto insurance quotes

Car lease insurance question?

I am leasing a car from Honda and wanted to know if there is insurance you can take out to cover any damage to the car that will repair scratches and minor dents, things that I will be hit for when I return the car when the lease ends? I was wondering what that kind of insurance is? Thanks""

What does a lapse in coverage for car insurance mean?

What does a lapse in coverage for car insurance mean?

Where on earth can I find affordable maternity insurance?!?

I didnt have it with my son and we are looking to get health insurance but all the plans that are decently priced (under $350/month) dont cover maternity. even if I could JUST find a maternity insurance that would be great! does anyone have or know of any insurance companies that offer maternity coverage? if so what are the names? heres a little info we live in FL we have one child my husband and I are 20 and 21 years old if you know of any insurance that will have affordable rates please let me know so I can get a quote!

Approx how much for car insurance for 18 year old to drive parents car?

I do not have my own car, but I have had my license since September, I have not driven since because I have no car nor insurance. I really want to drive again, it's hard for me to have just gotten my license and not being able to use it. However, I am not stupid, and would never even think about it without insurance. My mom says that I can drive my dads car when it is available if the insurance isn't too much. She emailed the woman who takes care of the insurance and she told my mom she wouldnt ask because they would automatically make them pay whether I would drive the cars or not. (We have 2) ANYWAY, I live in CT, and I cannot find anywhere that says how much it would cost approx a month in insurance for me to drive my Dads car (2010 Toyota Camry) Would really appreciate a response to this. :)""

Whats the cheapest auto insurance in texas?

i need to get a 1 month auto insurance for my 94 mustang whats the cheapest i can get it for and also about how much would i have to pay to put it under my name

""What would motorcycle insurance cost for 17 yr old guy, kawasaki ninja 250R?""

what would an average motorcycle insurance cost for me? i am looking for a ball-park estimate and understand that there are MANY other factors which matter... If anyone has an idea, what would be like the MAX price for a good insurance... i've seen that insurance prices can range from 200-400 yearly, but i want to make sure that after i get the motorcycle i dont find that the insucance is like 1000 /yr. Thanks""

How much is insurance for a 17 year old ?

im looking forward to buying a mitsubishi galant 1999-2003 but before anything i would like to know how much is the insurance , because im paying everything myself ,so it would be under my own name .""

How much would motorcycle insurance be for a 19 year old in Florida?

I'm 19 years old living in Toronto Ontario Canada. I've been riding street bikes since 16 years old and have obtained my M class license. (Ontario's full motorcycle license) My dad is moving the Family back to our hometown of Jacksonville Florida and was curious as to insurance prices since there is no way in hell a 19 year old boy from Toronto can afford a premium on a 600cc sport bike. I currently have a premium on a ninja 250R around 2000$ a year and a secondary driver policy on my dads R6 around 1100$. since my bike here in Canada goes by KMPH i would need to sell it and save myself the hassle of transferring all the info. So would there be any chance of me affording a R6 in Florida or would they rape me there too?

My son-19- is a full time college student.His Ga peach care insurance ends august 3.can he get medicaid?

He is receiving student aid in the form of scholarships and the pell grant for low-income families. I don't want him to be without insurance coverage. His only income is back child support that will end in a few months. What are my choices? Please help. Thank you. I only receive disability income from social security disability.

Car insurance offence codes?

hi, i was trying to get a car insurnace quote online today when i realised that under the conviction section there are no codes that correspond to my licence. i am from Northern Ireland and have points currently on my driving licence, when i tried to enter my conviction codes for my insurance quote they were all different. the codes on the drop down list all started with 2 letters e.g. IN60, SP40 but the offence code printed on my licence all start with 50 e.g. 5010042 is this because they are Northern Ireland codes? how do i get my codes onto insurance quote?""

Classic car insurance in ireland?

iv a sports car that will be 20yrs old next yr,its not my main car so mileage kept low,insurance and tax is high , so i was looking into classic insurance,part of qualifying for classic insurance is i have to be registered with a classic car club,does any1 know of one that would suit that's not limited to a particular make of car or air-cooled in ireland thanks""

Life Insurance needed for Motor Insurance ?

Hello, I will be buying a ne bike in about a weeks time. Someone told me that for the Insurance for the Bike, I will need to have a Life Insurance policy also e.g from LIC or else I could face problems. Is this correct ?""

Car insurance rates/prices?

This is my first time buying a used car, just about to get my license as I'm researching the difference insurance companies out there, I'm 22, living in Colorado Springs. Which one is the best? What are the different prices/rates they charge so I'll know what to save up?""

How much does insurance go up from a ticket?

got a failure to yield on a turn ticket on intermediate license first ticket wa state, I know it depends on a lot of things but I just want an idea, does it double? 10 percent? age 17 thanks""

Does request of Auto insurance quote have any negative effect ?

My current auto insurance is All State. I am looking for a new insurance of similar policy with lower cost. want to shop online and see if there is better deal. Does request auto insurance quote have any negative effect in my credit ( they need to pull my credit scores, i have a very good one), or any other negative effects. thanks very much!""

Cheapest car insurance uk?

I know it also depends on what car you have but just a rough guess how much will it cost for me I'm 21 Iv also heard that the older you are the cheaper the insurance

Is It Fine to Do Online Payment Transfer for Impounded Car Insurance to a Company ?

Hi there, I am trying to put a question here for the yahoo community in a bit detail to give a clear picture of situation and try to get some useful information regarding it. What happened is my car got stopped over by police and towed away by their recovery van. Now i am getting an impounded car insurance to get it back ( Long story short , the car i was driving was without insurance as i had not received letter of my insurance cancellation and i was under the impression that i had insurance. By the way i had paid them in full for one year in advance and it was not a monthly direct debit payment ) I have searched and able to get a quote from two well know car insurance companies ( One of them is Impoundedcarinsurance.com and other is INSURENCE CHOICE ) and both companies are asking for DIRECT TRANSFER OF MONEY IN THEIR BANK ACCOUNT as they don't accept Credit Cards and Debit cards for the payment of temporary insurance. Today i and yesterday, i spent my whole days to contact these companies and get information for method of payment. I have a few points here to ask and i am sure your valuable information will guide me to make a decision to buy the insurance for my impounded car. ->First of all, I called my previous company which cancelled my insurance to persuade them for a temporary insurance to get my IMPOUNDED CAR BACK, The customer assistant simply stated that none of their policies can be used to get an impounded car back from compound. So they don't provide temporary cover for impounded cars at all. -> The second and more important thing is as i stated before, i had called a couple of companies yesterday for impounded car insurance ( In-fact i googled Impounded car insurance in Uk on google and it gave the names of main companies on FIRST PAGE OF GOOGLE ). If you would ever google Impounded Car Insurance , you would see one of them is INSURANCE CHOICE and they provide insurance for impounded car. -> And with that i called Insurance Choice today and spoke to the person who gave me the insurance quote yesterday for my impounded car and told me the method of payment as of Online Transfer to their account (Yesterday he told me that they don't take credit or debit card payment as mostly people take the insurance and get their car out of compound with the help of the insurance certificate and later on cancel the insurance giving the reason of unauthorized payment and hence claim the insurance money back, so that's why they do online transfer only). Today i was FRANK AND STRAIGHT TO HIM and told him about my question asked on different online forums and all the answers and suggestions which were discussed with me. I told him simply that it looked too suspicious to pay them by online transfer and hence i feared of losing my money and it can be a spam !!! -> Well the person there maintained and cleared his position by stating that He was going to give their company's sort code and Account number and it can be verified in the bank that what company the money is going to if i do online transfer ! Hence i had a record of payment to a CERTAIN COMPANY (Insurance Choice) for impounded car insurance and its all safe. So please advise in light of above mentioned discussion/inquiries that is it safe to deal with this company and do a payment transfer directly into their account. I have also mentioned this company's name as its on google for the authentication and i called on 01926 454 348 number which is on their page at http://www.insurance-choice.net/ppc/convicted/impound_insurance.php?gclid=CKHu1KKN2bwCFZShtAodWioATQ Please advise as this time is one of the difficult times of life ! Many Thanks.""

NJ car insurance?

NJ My daughter borrowed my car and was in a minor accident. She has her own insurance. My insurance company paid the other drivers claim and my insurance went up. Shouldn't my daughters insurance pay the claim. We have twoseparate companies.

How much is the insurance for a 1980-1992 FERRARI MONDIAL?

how much is isurance every year for a 1980-1992 FERRARI MONDIAL for a 16 year old in California using 21st century auto insurance. PS onlyh liablity insurance

Will I have to pay the excess on my car insurance.?

My car was attempted stolen last night..the thieve(s) broke in looted my car then let the handbrake off, my car rolled down the road & hit a lamp post..the police are treating this as attempted theft... my car has been sent to police forensics will I have to pay the excess on my insurance policy?..thank you.""

What is the cost of auto insurance in Florida?

I plan on buying a cheap beat up car in florida. It will be my first car and I was wondering what it would cost for auto insurance?

Homeowners insurance in California????

I am thinking of purchasing my first home, and I was wondering about how much homeowners insurance would cost me. The home costs 200,000. Does anyone have any idea about how much that would be? I don't want to get into something I can't afford.....""

If you get a learners permit will your parents insurance go up?

my mom wont let me get my learners permit cause she says her insrance rates will go up is it true? I live in california and they got Farmers insurance

If i report my car stolen will the insurance company ask for the keys?

My car was tolen... But i lost the keys to it. Does either the police or the insurance company ask for the keys?

Which is the cheapest insurance for UK minicab drivers?

Which is the cheapest insurance for UK minicab drivers?

electric auto insurance quotes

electric auto insurance quotes

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/insurance-small-business-quote-ethan-gray/"

[fancycollectionfury-blog1]

What is the safest cheapest car to buy and also for cheapest insurance as a first car?

"What is the safest cheapest car to buy and also for cheapest insurance as a first car?

What is the safest cheapest car to buy and also for cheapest insurance as a first car?

BEST ANSWER:  Try this site where you can compare quotes: : http://salecarinsurance.xyz/index.html?src=tumblr 

RELATED QUESTIONS: 

About how much does car insurance cost for a 18 year old that just got her liscence?

About how much does car insurance cost for a 18 year old that just got her liscence?

Can you resume your auto insurance policy one it was canceled?

Can you resume your auto insurance policy one it was canceled? ok it was canceled 5 months ago I wasn't using the car so I didn't need insurance at a moment. Now I am planning on using the car again. Can I just call them and ask them to send me a monthly fee and get insurance resumed or do I need to go to insurance place and talk to Insurance sales agent and pay $200 finders fee again? I don't want to pay those fees again. Is there a way to resume my insurance without those extra fees. I am a California resident.

How does being self employed affect car insurance rates?

I was laid off a month ago (I'm actually happy I was because I was not enjoying work at all). I've started my own company, and I mostly work from home and I don't drive very much. My car insurance is up for renewal. It says I drive 1-3 miles to work or school. Should I tell them that I'm no longer employed? Do you think my rates will go down???""

""How much is average for childcare? I have a 4 year old, a 2 year old and a 8mth old. About 8 hr/5days a week?""

I'll explain a little more. I own a duplex which I rent out the top of while my husband and I live down stairs. The renters upstairs have been my friends for a long time and they needed an apartment so we rented to them for $535 a month. After a year we agreed to trade daycare for rent so I could go back to work full time. The arangment has gone from no cash exchanged to us paying their car insurance ($90/month) the water bill ($50/month), the hot water ($35/month), an extra $190 in cash per month along with the no rent income ($535/month). We also give them about $60 in random cash when they ask for help. I provide the formula, diapers and wipes and she provides the food. The kids are upstairs from 11am to 5:30pm and she refuses to take them earlier even though if she did I could get a better schedual. I trust the woman and her son is the same age as my oldest. But there are also some serious disipline issues too. (My four year old now says bad words.) I need some advice""

Will my children from a previous relationship get my husbands insurance?

basically myself and my 2 children were on food and medical assistance and i am now off it, i will be starting to get new insurance through my husbands work and so will our child in common...but i have 2 children from a previous relationship. im not sure if they will need to have my insurance or if they will still qualify for the government medicaid since there father pays child support.""

Car insurance?.............?

if im 17 and i want to pay car insurance, would it be cheaper if i put my grandpa whos been driving for yeara on the insurance?""

Where can I get moving insurance?

I'm moving cross country. This involves lots of companies, packing, boxing, loading, unloading, car haulers, etc. Does someone sell a blanket moving insurance?""

If i report my car stolen will the insurance company ask for the keys?

My car was tolen... But i lost the keys to it. Does either the police or the insurance company ask for the keys?

What's the best car for cheap car insurance?

I'm a male, and I'll be 25 next month. I haven't actually owned a car before, since I've been usually on my parents' insurance, and I just used theirs if I needed a car. I want to own my own car now though, and I want to know what the cheapest cars would be for car insurance. I live in Norfolk, VA, United States, if that helps. I don't have a blemish at all on my driving record, either.""

Maternity Insurance?

Does anyone know of a good insurance company with maternity insurance? I'm not pregnant yet, but me and my husband are talking about starting to try, and need to get insurance first. I would like to find a company with very little or no waiting period. Any suggestions?""

Will a speeding ticket from another state affect your auto ..insurance?

Will a speeding ticket from another state affect your auto insurance?

Which insurance company insures in the us and in canada?

question is in the title.

""Of these cars which has the best reputation for safety, cheap to insure, low maintenance, and high mileage?""

dodge charger jaguar XKR porsche boxster audi A5 cadillac CTS and for people about to say that if you can afford one of them why is being cheap to insure an issue, ive been saving up to buy a used one of these cars as i am still a college student thanks""

Car insurance for audi a6 2.8 awd?

right now im under my parents Allstate car insurance, i pay around $90 a month it would be $60 but my parents added collision for the winter. im looking at this red v6 Audi for $5990. how much do you think it would be per month with Allstate??""

How to switch car insurance in New York State?

I'm currently with geico! I'm thinking to switch to progressive. But my geico police expires on octobre 2013, It this an issue? if I choose to switch car insurance provider do I have to notify the DMV about the Change? Thank you""

California motorcycle license???????????

I want to get a motorcycle license but heres my question, I dont have a motorcycle and if I was to buy one how could I get it insured? if I dont have a MC license? cause I know the insurance guy will ask me for my MC license first ( just like when you insure a car ) and heres another question, if I had a MC how would I be able to show proof of insurance to the place where you take the MC highway test ( not sure what its called ). Just to let you know I dont know anyone who has a MC so I could borrow it to take the test.""

How much will my insurance cost? Just turned 16?

I want to get a 1994 Mitsubishi 3000gt, but my dad said the insurance would be way to high. Can anyone estimate the price per month insurance would be for a 16 yearold that just got their first car and lisence? Thanks, Dustin""

What is 20 year term insurance?

Is it a good kind of insurance. I will be 49 in two months. Does it mean if I die outside of the 20 years it doesn't pay off?

Which is the best CAR INSURANCE....UK?

I'm 19 and was wondering which is the best company to get car insurance from and the best way of getting it the cheapest.? Me and my dad are not quite sure of the tricks used to get the best deal, so i would appreciate it if you could help.? A few of my friends get their insurance dirt cheap because they are named drivers on their parent's car - but when i try to get a quote online it still charges me over 1500. Thanks. (In the UK btw)""

50cc Yamaha Neo wont come up on insurance comparison sites :(?

Im looking at one tommrow but after selecting 'Yamaha' , Neo isnt there to select fro the drop down bar. Is there another name for this bike?""

How do i get individual health insurance quotes for southern California?

i am soon shifting to southern California. how can i know if my if insurance will skyrocket or stay more or less the same so i know if getting it is justified or not. also where can i get quotes for it?

Insurance co is saying my car is totalled?

I have an 11-yr old car with 106K miles that runs well. Last night I was rear-ended quite hard while waiting at a red light. Both the other driver and his insurance co immediately admitted liability. The damage to my car is pretty bad. I went to the auto body shop recommended by the other guy's insurance co - they told me the car will have to be totalled b/c it will cost more to repair than what the car is worth - he estimated the car is worth $2K and repairs will be at least $4K. So the insurance co is saying they'll give me a check for $2K and I have to get rid of the car (apparently that part is New York law). But I cannot buy another car - at least not one I'd trust to drive! - for $2K. The accident was completely NOT my fault - how can the insurance co not pay to repair it? Has this happened to anyone else out there? Is there anything I can do? I don't want to give up my car! :( Please help?

Car Insurance for 4 months?

Hi guys, I'm back with my parents for about 4 months, and I would like to drive the car. To do this, obviously I need to have insurance activated (secondary driver). They are saying that they need to charge me for a year that. Saying that I might come home and drive the car. Meaning, for 8 months I would be paying for nothing. Because I'll be in another city, not even close to the car. 1) If I did come home, I wouldn't drive the car without insurance 2) I don't even come home during the school year, and there is a chance that I won't come home for the summer Do I have any grounds on this? I think the insurance salesperson just wants to gouge money.""

Can a car have two insurance policies but two different drivers?

for instance i have a car and i am insured with my insurance company, can my friend/relative then go and take out another insurance policy from a different company so he can drive, with out having me on his policy. two separate insurance policies for two separate drivers but one car. Thank You for your help""

125cc bike or scooter Under 500 and LOW INSURANCE?

Hi im looking to by a bike or scooter that is 125cc for under 500 And has low insurance All suggestions helpfull

What is the safest cheapest car to buy and also for cheapest insurance as a first car?

What is the safest cheapest car to buy and also for cheapest insurance as a first car?

What are the best insurance companies out there if you have had a DUI and a speeding ticket in the last 8 year?

Looking in California for an insurance company with reasonable rates I just got my renewal and they want me to pay 175 per month I have been only paying 100 dollars a month So if anyone of you know of a great company please post a reply and thank you

Cheap Cars to Insure for 17 year olds?

Hi, I am 17 was was wondering if anyone knows of any cheap cars to insure that they could recommend. Cheers Kieran.. (P.s., if that's OK maybe you could roughly say how much your insurance was or approx how much it would be?)""

Does any one know a really cheap car insurer for young drivers?

i need insurance quick. does any1 know areally cheap insurer?

How Much Is Car Insurance? Please Help?

Ok See im 16 and i have a 1990 Pontiac Firebird and I have a Junior License Year: 1990 Make: Pontiac Model: Firebird Trim: Engine: 6-Cylinder V-6 Trans: Auto Fuel: Gasoline Color: Black Interior: Grey Miles: 170000

How much does COBRA insurance coverage cost?

I know that it can cost 102% of whatever the company pays for the insurance on a group plan, but I want to know what people have actually paid for their continued insurance under COBRA. Real figures from the past year are appreciated.""

Lying on car insurance to police when stopped?

if a person lied about the age on a car insurance policy and stopped by the police ..what would happen i understand if someone were to do this that they could not claim if crashed and would probely lead to criminal charges.

Insurance question....................?

If one parent has insurance for their kids then is it ok for the other parent to get insurance for them too?

Question about my car accident and insurance?

Last night I was involved in a 4 car pile up. I was stopped at a red light when i was hit. I felt the impact of all the cars behind me. The lady who caused the accident was drunk. She was arrested. I have state farm full coverage. She has state farm insurance also.. So here is my question: I owe 7000.00 on my car. The car is valued at maybe 6000.00. Even though I was no way in the wrong, will I have to cover the difference if my car is totalled. (which it probably will be) And also, have severe neck pain. I contacted an attorney. As much pain as im in, im scared to miss work. Will this affect my case if i miss no work. (And if i did miss, it would only be for a couple of days)""

What does rated separately mean in auto insurance?

i am a 19 year old on my parents' insurance. do i share all of their benefits or am i rated separately?

""How much is the yearly average insurance for a sixteen year old in LA, California.?""

How much is the yearly average insurance for a sixteen year old in LA, California.PS. Liability only. And if you need to know the car and insurance corp its an 1995 Ferrari f355, and 21st insurance. Please give real averages and i am serious so please real and serious answers. What i mean is please tell me the price only for a year. Please only serious and real answers.""

What Auto insurance is more affordable and dependable?

nation wide..

Is it illegal to drive a car that has insurance but I'm not?

My dad has insurance on his car under his name but I'm not insured. Can I drive his car or is it illegal. Please help. Oh and I live in California.

Can someone explain the difference between Health Insurance and any other Insurance?

I don't understand why people act like health insurance is so radically differently than other insurance. Is it? Insurance is a form of risk management to hedge against loss. Auto, Life, Homeowners, Unemployment and Health are among the types of insurance you can buy. I'm generally not required to buy any of those insurances. If I have the title to my home, I'm not required to have homeowners insurance. If I don't drive a car, I'm not required to carry auto insurance. Why should I be forced to buy health insurance? If I want to take that or any gamble by not buying insurance, isn't that my choice? I will admit that by not purchasing health insurance, I could be putting a burden on others if I was admitted to the ER and couldn't pay, that burden of payment would fall on others. HOWEVER, that burden would be there whether I was forced to carry insurance or not. If I don't make enough money to buy this mandatory insurance, then the gov't will give me tax credits to purchase insurance. Who's paying for those tax credits? All of the tax payers. So either we pay the providers/insurance companies via higher premiums to cover loss, or we pay the gov't via taxes. Forcing (perhaps unconstitutionally) citizens to purchase health insurance won't solve anything, it will just move where the cost is incurred. But please, explain why people are treating health insurance so differently.""

First car ideas? I'm going to be 17 so insurance is a problem what car is cheapest to buy and insure?

I'm not interested in a Nissan Micra or Ford Ka. Need a cheap car to insure and to buy..

Motorcycle insurance for 18yr old first vehicle(sportbike)?

I am considering purchasing a 2007 Kawasaki ninja 250r. I was wondering how much insurance would be for me(18) if it was my first vehicle . I have no prior car insurance history. And I just got a motor license.

Does having big bore kit affect the insurance cost?

Im looking at buying a vespa scooter registered as a 50cc, im 16 years old, and was wondering because it has a 110cc big bore kit fitted on it how this would effect the insurance cost? Thanks for any help.""

Life insurance / suicide clause?

My husband committed suicide 3 weeks ago, and left me w/ a lot of bills and 2 kids. He has some insurance policies, some of which he has had for 20 years. My question is, will the older policies most likely pay, or will they dispute, or can they??? I don't know much about these things. One policy said they would pay, but now I can't seem to track anyone down since I sent in the paperwork.. Any ideas?""

Car insurance rates in florida?

I lent my friend my car in florida and the car broke down he called for assistance and the tow truck hit the car will my car insurance go up i have geico

18 year old car insurance quotes?

I passed my driving test 2 months ago live in a small village and have a full time job i am 18 years old.recently i have been looking around for car insurance quotes for the obvious 1st cars 106s,corsas etc and the lowest quote iv had is still over 3 grand these are all of compare sites aswell as admiral quinn and direct line, surely this carnt be right? this is on my own insurance as the main policy holder, because apparently you carnt go on your parents insurance anymore. would appreciate any help Thanks""

Teen insurance question?

this is just a hypothetical question. but say your 16 and got a bmw 528i, 2008 version. what would your insurance rate be? including the following: you took drivers ed. family has 3 cars, so add the car into that pile. etc. thanks. ****JUST WONDERING****""

Car Insurance?

My car insurance renews in january.. what if I pay it all off say by april, but then I get a new car in May does the insurance transfer over and I pay the difference for the new car? and what if I didn't pay off all the insurance but got a new car would I not have to pay off the rest of the balance? I never understood this.. thank youu""

Cheap car insurance for young male drivers?

where is the best place to get cheap car insurance for a young male driver??

What would be the cheapest auto insurance for me? i am 19 and drive a 1998 camaro z28?

What would be the cheapest auto insurance for me? i am 19 and drive a 1998 camaro z28?

What is the best place to get cheap insurance on a large van?

What is the best place to get cheap insurance on a large van?

What's a good insurance company to sign with?

I'm 20 years and pay $800.00 every six months for my insurance. I want to find a better and much cheaper insurance company. Please help me out.

What is the safest cheapest car to buy and also for cheapest insurance as a first car?

What is the safest cheapest car to buy and also for cheapest insurance as a first car?

What would my Car Insurance Rates be?

Im 17, male, and I'm wondering what car insurance rates would be for me. What would they be for a 2008/2009 Honda civic, simplest version? What would they be if it was the same car but a few years older? Same questions for a Toyota corolla. I have done drivers education, which should help lower the rates.""

""When getting a quote from a car insurance place, do they automatically add you to there car insurance?""

I did an online quote for a car insurance place, and they asked for my name, number, e-mail, address, if I am currently insured, etc. they gave me a total of how much I would have to pay, does that mean I am added to there car insurance? or not?""

HELP with insurance ofr 16 year old?

yo wat up. i just turned 16 and i found my dream car its a 2008 bmw 335i. but now i was thinking that if my dad bought the car and put the insurance under his name would that still be ...show more

Good insurance for my car?

my car's insurance is expiring soon. i have two options one is to renewal the existing policy, which i took when i was bought the car. And second one is to take a new policy from a private insurance company. which one is best and which issues should i consider to take a policy and for comparing both.""

17 / 18 year old (male) car insurance (UK only)?

Hi, I am 17 (male) and haven't took my test yet but hopefully will be soon. Can anyone tell me what they have paid for insurance recently so i can get the heads up on what car's to be looking out for and insurers to get quotes from. I have tried moneysupermarket.com and they just chuck out really high quotes 6000+ whatever car you put in. So, if any 17/ 18 year old boys have recently got a quote can you tell me how much the insurance was, who insured it and what the car is? Thanks.""

What insurance do i need?

I am buying an house I know i need buildings insurance and insurance to cover for if we are out of work, but the life insurance I take out do I HAVE to take out with critical illness to be able to go forward with my mortgage.???""

A question about car insurance....?

What if a guy parked his car in the parking lot and when he came back from what ever he was doing, his car was crashed He have no idea who did it. WIll his car insurance cover for the damage?""

Personal health insurance?

Any other health insurance companies in Michigan that are good? I checked out Blue Cross. They're pricey but offer dental coverage which might be worth it. Because I got hit with some dental bills these past few years. Any websites that allow you to compare companies?

I need to find cheap renters insurance in Michigan? Wheres the best place to go?

I need to find cheap renters insurance in Michigan? Wheres the best place to go?

Which of the following might put you in the high risk insurance category?

a. ticket for drinking in public b. ticket for speeding 80 in 55 mph zone c. ticket for jaywalking d. 2.0 grade point average...(ofcourse not!!)

Insurance company offering me a check to settle? What should I do?

I was in a car accident, where the other driver was 100% at fault. We both have the same insurance. They reimbursed me fully for my car, reimbursed my employer for health expenses (I assume) and I didn't get hurt too bad min the accident besides some whiplash and scrapes on my hand. Today, I get a call and an offer of a $250 check for the inconvenience of being in an accident. It sounds kinda fishy, I thought this case was closed long ago, so I told her to send the offer, in writing, describing the details of this inconvenience check. What exactly is going on here and why would they feel the need to randomly cut me a check? Something doesn't add up.""

Can anyone give me an estimate for A 17 year old car insurance!?

Hello I am 17 in december and am looking to insure A classic Austin Mini 998cc and I was just wondering if anyone would have any estimate idea of how much it would cost to insure!? :)

Car Insurance Question?

I live in Los Angeles and I am leaving the country for 6 month. Can I stop insurance of my car as no one will drive it? In case of theft how can I get it covered? Would the house insurance work in that case?

Is there anyway we can boycott all the 'LOOKING FOR CHEAPER CAR INSURANCE ADS'?!?!?

They are so annoying!!

Is it better to buy cheaper can than expensive car?

I love expensive sports cars, but I don`t need to have it, I can just watch those at museum, stores, and photos. I think buying cars is waste of money. It costs money to buy cars, car insurance, gasoline, and parking ticket. Also cars get stolen lot , it can break easily by car crash, some bad kids will scratch it, and high risk of death. Using train is way cheaper. If I really need car, I would stick with least cheapest car. Because when my car got stolen, or broke, I have less things to lose.""

Insurance for Bentley GTC Continental?

I (sadly) dont have one of my own - yet (im working on it..) Just out of general.Theres another new footballer on the go,hes only 21 & recently purchased a bentley.Approx. for someone in there early 20s how much would insurance cost? (I understand hes a footballer,he earns more a year we all do lol..) Thanx in advance xx""

How can I get life insurance on my parents?

I'm 27 and my dad is having his 6th child this month. Which means by the time my little sister is my age I'll be near elderly. Furthermore, as we picked up the cake for the baby shower, my dad informed me that since it's quite likely he may be gone before the child fully matures, I will be left in charge in his absence. Is there anyway to get life insurance for my dad without his consent. I don't mind informing him, but it's something I would like to manage alone.""

How much life insurance do I need? How long?

Hi, I am 31, married, in decent health (don't smoke). No kids, but planning for one next year. How much life insurance do I need? Thinking about a term policy for $500,000, but not sure if I need it for 10, 20 or 30 years? Any advice much appreciated. Annual income is the $100,000 range. Thanks.""

How can I put my girlfriend (8 1/2 years and still going strong) on my health/dental insurance?

Hi guys, so I have asked my job and it seems the only way I can add her to my health/dental insurance is if 1) we are married or 2) if i provide proof of living with her for a certain amount of years. There has to be some loophole because I really think it is ridiculous that we have been to together since we were 16 and I cant add her or help her in such a way. There is no possible way, in timeline, for us to qualify for such rules. 16-18 years old (in high school and lived with parents), 18-23 years old (Attended separate universities and lived in different cities), 23- 24 1/2 years old, (both living with parents back home, we alternate and stay at each others place, so have no set home or bills in our name, such as direct tv, electricity, internet, you name it. we are blessed with awesome parents) and yes we have though about just getting married, but no way... we are waiting until we are established and can fend for ourselves to make a decision like that, but yes we do want to get married some day, but not over screwing the government or other reasons. Also we live in california if that helps, since i know every state varies, thank s guys!! ^_^""

How to reduce payments for young car driver insurance ?

how to minimize it ?

""This is the time to renewal of my auto insurance, but do not want to continue the same company.?""

So I purchase a new policy from other company, but my previous insurance company sending me e-mail and mail me, that insurance gap will u cost and it might harm me financially. But as I already purchased new policy and will start as soon as previous one expire. so do I need to worry? ( is the current insurance company doing their job to aware me or they to threat me so I go back to them)""

16 year old insurance rate after an accident?

this afternoon i backed into another car in the high school parking lot, the damage was very minor, been insured for 2 months. how much will my rates rise ?""

Got a ticket and insurance doubled NJ?

I got a ticket on my very first day of driving for an illegal left turn (one of those that you cant make during certain hours unless you are a resident of the street). I got the ticket with 3 points, i went to court and paid off all 3 points and got unsafe driving under my name hoping that it wouldn't affect my insurance, which was under my dads name (Allstate). Even with paying off the points my insurance still doubled. Now my question is, is there anything I can do to lower my insurance? Maybe I can take a course somewhere. Are me and my dad better off looking for a new insurance company? Maybe i should drop my car from my insurance and taking the bus again? If there isn't anything I can do, how long will it take for my insurance to drop again? Right now we are all in hard times and i made it much worse for my family, any help would be greatly appreciated.""

Whats the cheapest car insurance company for young/newly qualified drivers in the UK?

I have just passed my test and have a car, but the insurance is ridiculously high, around 3,300. There has got to be cheaper quotes out there. Please help, thanks!""

Anyone have experience with ASDA car insurance?

Asda car insurance seems to be the cheapest by far in the comparison websites but are they reliable?

What is the safest cheapest car to buy and also for cheapest insurance as a first car?

What is the safest cheapest car to buy and also for cheapest insurance as a first car?

How does bein married or single affect your auto insurance rates?

How does bein married or single affect your auto insurance rates?

1 Month Car Insurance?

I'm looking to insure a car for 1 month only, I have did all the search engine checks but most sites want 180 + which is far too expensive. I'm 41 and have held licence 20+ years so no young driver problems. Any ideas??????""

Car insurance?

i cancelled my car insurance which i pay by installments i paid 75 at the beginnning and monthly premiums of 67 i cancelled the other day and on the phone they said i might have to pay a cancellation fee 45 as this is standard if your policy is not finished now they have calculated that i have to pay85 this is more than a months payment doe anybody know anything about these things and will i have to pay thanks

Insurance for a minor?

Ok im turning 17years old and i am going to buy a bmw m3 2003 Whats the best way i can get insurance, i dont know how exactly it works but i wanted to go under my dad. what is the cheapest and best way to get the insurance for my car. and how much will it cost""

""I need car insurance, but have a terrible driving record right now. Any suggestions?""

How can I get coverage at a decent rate when I have a crappy driving record?? Ive called about 4 different companies, the lowest rate i found was $209 a month for 6 months. I have 7 points on my record currently!! I cannot get insurance through my parents and i am not married so basically I'm screwed...or I should look into paying a driver to cart my butt around.""

Car insurance for teens !! Help?

So I live in Benton Louisiana and I'm 15. I'm about to turn 16 and my mon said that she won't let me drive or get me a car because insurance is expensive. How much is insurance for 16 year olds?! It just really makes me mad because at first she was all for it and said that she would get me a car since she ruined my 15th birthday. Now, she just let my hopes down once again. That's why I want to know like about how much is car insurance for teens. Thank you!!""

Can i cash a check from an auto insurance company and not fix my car?

i had hit a deer yesterday, i had made a claim with my insurance company. When they send me a check for the damages, can i cash that check and fix the car myself and not go to a body shop?""

What is a medical insurance deductible?

What is a medical insurance deductible?

Cheap car insurance for young new driver?

hi, I`m 19 years old, i passed my test two months ago and i would like some help. I tried lots of insurance companies, different cars, last time i tried i used a 2002 smart for two with my dad as a first driver, 4 years ncb and the insurance is still 4k. can someone help me and give me some advice ? thank you""

Where is the best place for cheap car insurance for young drivers?

Hi there, I just bought a Renault Clio 1.2 Expression 52 plate and when i try get insurance just on my name its giving me quotes like 4555 is it becuase i am only 19 years old and i just passed my test 4 month ago ? i have been trying loads of comparassion websites but now that i have checked so many websites admiral, bell and elephant have stopped giving me quotes. could somebody recommend any good car insurance companys ? Thanks""

Cheapest way to buy new glasses without insurance?

I recently broke my glasses that ive had for two years. I am currently in a predicament that does not permit me to spend alot of money on a new pair and to make matters more complicated, i do not have any insurance. I cannot apply for medicaid so that is not an option either. I need a fast alternative or some ideas as to how I could go about buying a new pair preferably under $100. I constructed a plan of buying my own frames and having the lenses filled but all the optical offices i called do not allow that method, they prefer you to buy their glasses. Thanks (:""

""I have a new baby, will I get a auto insurance discount or increase if I tell them?""

My little girl is 10 weeks old, I'm not sure if I have to tell my auto insurance company (AAA). Would it be better to insure that she's covered? Or will it just cost me more?""

Abt cancelation of car insurance?

i have taken car insurance from admiral .its abt 10 months installments.each month 70 pounds direct debit,its a third party insurance.unfortuntaely after paying 1 month(70) insurance.my car got big accident.i had given my car to scrap. when i called to my admiral insurance company to cancel my insurace.they are not doing it.pls can u tell me any other way to cancel my insurance..can i cancel my direct debit of insurance from bank?is der any problemss if i do direct debit""

How do you justify an insurance company raising rates by 39% for individual policies?

California insurance regulators asked Anthem Blue Cross to delay controversial rate increases of as much as 39% for individual policies, hikes that have triggered widespread criticism from subscribers and brokers -- and now from the federal government. In a rare step, the Obama administration called on California's largest for-profit insurer to justify its rate hikes, saying the increases were alarming at a time when subscribers face skyrocketing healthcare costs. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-anthem-obama9-2010feb09,0,4384044.story""

""Decent looking vehicle, good gas mileage,low car insurance? &Where to find good car insurance rates??""

I filled out a couple quotes from esurance.com and allstate and i got like $2100 & $4100 premium 6 month payment. Does that mean its going to cost me that much for insurance for only 6 months? If so, that is insane. That would be $350-$750 dollars a month. That cannot be real. My dad gave me a quote from Allstate(thats what he has) and it was about $117.00/Mth for a Chevy Blazer for 18 Year Old First Driver. I am very new to the whole insurance thing so can someone just point me in a small direction to the lowest priced insurance with good plans. I would absolutely love to have an older car(oldsmobile, or between 60s&80s)But thats way to pricy, along with a nice sports vehicle. Because of the gas mileage and decent look, i would like a Chevy Convert Tracker. Just give me some advice if you know what im talking about. :) Thanks Much xox Brittany xox""

Whats the cheapest car insurance in ME?

Mazda RX7 1986 23yo driver no lapse have a wet and reckless from california. Need cheapest Liability coverage

Non owners policy insurance in CA?

i'll be using my parents' car, which is in IN, in california, it already has insurance, but i'll be going to CA and probably stay there for some time (around a year) and use their car, im 18. So does buying a non owners policy insurance save me, since they will still pay for regular insurance on car plus the non owner that i'll purchase? any advice? since if i'll buy my own policy the numbers are 500/mo or more. So im thinking if i buy a non owners insurance lets say at 1200/yr, plus their regular coverage it'll save some money. any advice will be greatly appreciated or it is illegal?""

Texas Car Insurance - 16 Years Old - Provisional License?

Okay, I'm sixteen years old (turning seventeen on July) and I have my provisional driver's license already. I don't have a car so I use my parents' when I drive. They don't let me drive alone because I'm not part of the car insurance. My question is: do I need to be part of the insurance coverage that we currently have for our car to be able to legally drive alone, even though I don't own it? Or can I drive alone without insurance as long as owner of the car (my parents) know that I took the car? 10 points to whoever answers the best and the clearest.""

Car insurance?

Ok, cheap me has been trying to find a second hand car (Opel corsa). Found one I might like at about 29k with a mileage of 167k on Carfind. Tried to get an eQuote from First for women - (I'm still waiting). Anyone could suggest any other reasonable insurance companies I could try? Or do any of you know how much I would be paying for insurance, just an estimate. Would also love some help with any other cars (preferably Opel corsa) at reasonable rates. Looking between 20-35k and no more than R800p/m. If anyone has info please contact me by email. Thank you PS: I'm in Johannesburg (Northen Suburbs)""

How can I start an auto insurance business in California?

How can I start an auto insurance business in California?

""Does anyone here use cancer insurance? If so, which kind?""

Does anyone here use cancer insurance? If so, which kind?""

Will a cat D effect the cost of insurance?

i know the insurers value the car at up to 25% less so it's important to get a car that is atleast 25% below most similar models but what about the insurance group does that go up?

50cc Yamaha Neo wont come up on insurance comparison sites :(?

Im looking at one tommrow but after selecting 'Yamaha' , Neo isnt there to select fro the drop down bar. Is there another name for this bike?""

Haggling Car insurance?

I am 20 years old Guy, and my car insurance is up for renewal, i have a Peugeot 306 hdi 2.0 turbo diesel. I have 2 years driving experience, however only have had a car for 1 year. I have had no claims, no tickets, no points on my lisence. Im Fully Comprehensive, live in a good area, have no criminal record, and park my car on the drive. I have my father, a Police Officer with 30 years no claims and 30 years experience as a named driver on my insurance. My Insurance last year was 1400 (steep yeah) and now its up for renewal i have had a quote of 1100. To me, this seems really steep seeing as surely by now i have proved that i am not some boy racer with a deathwish. My question is, do you guys think ill be able to get this price down with alittle haggling, what would you expect to pay for insurance if you where in my situation?""

What's a low cost yet good car insurance co in California(northern)?

I have a gas hog and I am trying to lower my bills since the economy slump and I am trying to find if my car insurance is high and if I should switch and to who I pay every six months 681.00.Thanks in advance.

What is the safest cheapest car to buy and also for cheapest insurance as a first car?

What is the safest cheapest car to buy and also for cheapest insurance as a first car?

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/anamoose-north-dakota-cheap-car-insurance-quotes-zip-58710-kevin/"