#nobody DESERVES to get sick

[chinese--satellite]

sebastian vettel: yeah, i'm sure you would have waved me past as well.

[shaissa]

[akkivee]

their designs, their grief, their anger, kaibyakumon’s unexplored loneliness borne from wealth, kenji’s untouched survivor’s guilt, just them honest2god are too good for rhyme anima and might even be too good for hypmic LOL

[opens-up-4-nobody]

...

[randomtheidiot]

The true villain of Cujo was the owners for not VACCINATING THEIR FUCKING DOG AGAINST THE BRAIN EATING MURDER VIRUS THAT SPREADS LIKE WILDFIRE.

[snzluv3r]

i actually feel so incredibly uncomfortable and isolated in this space right now and i know that’s silly because of how many people there are just like me who share the same feelings but idk…the fact that people even think this is defensible behavior is making me feel sick

[icewindandboringhorror]

"We can get through this by working together, reach out to your friends, community is all we have, a social network will be your security in the world, now is the time to lean on others!"

I do agree, and it's scientifically sound (pretty sure there is data about how people with better social networks live longer and etc) but also....augh..... what about the severe social issues, difficulty to leave the house, physical issues which lead to like zero socialization energy a majority of the time, etc. etc. Social support can be a replacement for structural support, but.. I guess I just wish it didn't have to be. Community is extremely difficult to build, even moreso if you're someone who has issues with social cues or group conversations or even just being around others in the first place. And blah, nuance, of course I'm just complaining or maybe being too negative or maybe misunderstanding, but, I hardly have the energy to brush my hair once every 2 months.. how am I supposed to maintain a wide social network and be active in a Community and Join Groups lol... sometimes it kind of feels like "er.. well if thats my only option then...... ruh roh". It's overwhelming

[angeltism]

thinking of jackalope backstory stuff now and. GODDDDDD

[mars-ipan]

there's always more fucking shit to do

[heartbeetz]

Guys genuine question um would it be weird if I designed a fankid but only for theoretical purposes. As in not actually canon to our ship but still there Sometimes. Like an au I guess.

[toschestationed]

Chapter Summary:

Kix is so used to being the one to take care of his brothers, but what happens when they need to take care of him?

Set in an Everybody Lives/Nobody Dies AU, roughly based on my Hard Knocks 'verse fic, but can be read as-is.

Fic Summary:

Medical Leave or Leaving Medical? A collection of fics where Kix takes care of his brothers, despite their initial protests. Inspired by a comic by @swdomesticverse on tumblr of various troopers needing a week of bedrest. Set in canon/near-canon timeline unless otherwise specified.

Notes:

This chapter is roughly set in my Hard Knocks ‘verse AU, but that background isn’t technically needed to enjoy this fic. Basically, Hardcase survived the supply ship explosion on Umbara with some scarring and chronic pain, Dogma lives and gets some medic training, and Fives and Tup survive the chips arc, although Tup has some brain damage, resulting in vision issues, mood swings, and some executive functioning issues (he has glasses when he’s not using his helmet, and he either looks like a hipster or a tired college kid, lol). Kix was still captured by the Separatists, but was rescued after like a month, and Echo was still captured at the Citadel, but he was rescued recently with the help of the Bad Batch. He and Fives are currently in a “shared custody” arrangement with the Bad Batch and the 501st, splitting their time with each, since I didn’t want to get rid of that arc altogether. Basically, I’ve put too much thought into the background for this little fic, lol. Enjoy!

Chapter 7: Kix (Part 1)

“I’m so sorry, Kix. If I’d known, I would’ve–” Rex’s voice bled with conviction as he apologized to Kix, still a little hoarse from a recent cold. The reason for his apology became apparent as the medic doubled over in another rough coughing fit, having been kicked out of medbay the moment Coric saw him attempting to start his shift.

Kix sighed tiredly, “Don’t worry about it, Rex. It’s not pleasant, but I’ll live.” After all, how was he supposed to know that his month-long cryo nap had weakened his immune system? Altogether with himself, Rex and Echo (who was still nursing a fever of his own), Torrent was accumulating quite the collection of under-the-weather troopers. 

“Is there… anything I can do to help?” Rex asked, still feeling guilty about the whole thing. Kix raised an eyebrow with a small smirk before responding. “Any chance you’d reconsider that requisitions request I sent you last week?” Didn’t hurt to ask, especially while the Captain clearly owed him one.

Rex stifled a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose even as guarded amusement entered his tone. “A massage chair for the medic’s break room? Really?” 

“I’m sorry, I can’t hear you. My ears are kinda clogged from this cold, and it’s a little hard to focus right now; muscle aches and all that.” Kix responded smugly, his fever only partially responsible for the exaggerated shiver he gave as the Captain rolled his eyes.

“Look, I’ll think about it. Now, get some rest, Kix. Preferably before Jesse tries to drag you back to the barracks.” Rex huffed, giving the medic’s shoulder a sympathetic squeeze before he wandered off in search of a warm meal before he inevitably crashed in the barracks.

“Kriffing– Jesse, let go! I’m more than able t-to–” Kix’s protests broke off with a sneeze, closely followed by another one as Jesse attempted to cart him off towards the barracks. Ever since going through ARC training, his vod had taken an unnecessary amount of pleasure in the fact that he could now easily carry most troopers, and he seemed to take Kix’s pause as permission to pick him up bridal style, much to his embarrassment.

It also didn’t help with his growing sense of vertigo, Kix noted as he blinked dizzily for a moment before regaining his bearings enough to continue arguing. “ –and put me down! If anything, you’re making my headache worse, you overgrown womp rat!”

Jesse huffed in amusement but complied, a look of concern crossing his face as he put him back down. He kept a steadying hand on his brother’s shoulder, though, which ended up being appreciated as Kix started listing to the right.

“Easy there, vod. You need anything before we head back to the barracks?” He asked, noting how Kix started to shake his head before thinking better of it.

Kix sniffed, bringing a hand up to rub his forehead. “No, should be alright…” He swiped at his nose again, and Jesse didn’t comment, instead offering him a packet of travel tissues, probably stolen from medbay, now that Kix thought about it. But that was a problem for on-duty medics, Kix reasoned as he blew his nose, offering a muffled, “Thanks,” to his batchmate.

“No problem, vod. Let’s get you back to the barracks, yeah?” Jesse responded. Kix nodded tiredly and didn’t protest this time as he was herded towards his bunk.

Arriving at the barracks, Kix was quick to spot Echo dozing under a pile of blankets, his prosthetic legs in a haphazard pile near his bunk. He woke up just enough to glance blearily at Kix and Jesse, taking in Kix’s haggard appearance before lifting his blankets enough for the medic to join him. Like the heat-seeking missile he was, Echo was quick to curl up close to Kix, whose own shivers lessened under the small mound of blankets. Even before the whole Citadel fiasco and the chips, both Echo and Fives had been cuddlers. Now that they were all back together again, that tendency had increased tenfold, not that anyone really minded.

Thankfully, he’d worn his medic grays today, and they’d never gotten a chance to get dirty thanks to Coric’s insistence that he rest. In Kix’s opinion, the scrub-like fabric was about as close to civvies as most troopers got, and they were nearly as comfortable as their off-duty reds, after removing the belt. Snuggling up next to his vod, It wasn’t long before he was warm and comfortable.

Of course, his cold just couldn’t have that, and Kix’s breath hitched at an oncoming sneeze, only for him to groan in frustration when it disappeared. This process repeated itself a few times until Echo made a disgruntled noise, muttering, “Look at a light or something, vod.” Not having any better ideas, Kix complied, and sure enough, a harsh fit of sneezes quickly followed. Kix groaned, somehow feeling worse than before as he blew his nose before settling in next to Echo again. 

He had just managed to drift off when Echo’s comm went off near their bunk, its shrill beeping stabbing his brain, worsening his headache. Echo groaned before reluctantly reaching out of their blanket pile to check his messages.

“It’s from Fives,” He said, raising an eyebrow before reading aloud. “Why did the computer take a day off from work?” Looking decidedly unamused when his comm buzzed again, thankfully now on silent, Echo read the next message in silence before letting out a slow, beleaguered exhale through his nose.

“What?” Kix asked, peering out of the blankets enough to read Fives’ most recent message.

‘Because it had a virus!!!’

Despite himself, Kix snorted. That was such a terrible joke. Echo glared at his comm, grumbling, “I’m gonna kill him. Best nap I’ve had all week, and he interrupts it for this?!”

Rolling his eyes, Kix muffled a cough before responding. “Please, you’ve told jokes much worse than that. I still don’t know how you’ve convinced that new squad of yours that you’re the reasonable one.” Kix was still a little bitter about the whole “shared custody” agreement that Clone Force 99 had worked out, stealing their most-experienced ARCs every other mission. The only reason Fives wasn’t there now was because of a last-minute mission on Mimban, but they’d be back later tonight. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Echo responded smugly, intentionally leaving his messages on ‘Read at 1302,’ before settling back under the blankets, and Kix was quick to join him. 

It was a couple hours later when a quiet Tup entered the barracks, closely followed by Dogma. Both troopers were carrying a tray of rations, as well as a couple hypos. Setting the trays down nearby, Tup looked apologetic for having woken them.

“Coric asked us to bring these up to you two.” He said, gesturing to the trays. He adjusted his glasses, a new addition since the whole inhibitor chip fiasco. Personally, Kix thought they suited the vod’ika, giving him another thing to fiddle with when he was deep in thought. The blue-light filters also helped with his headaches, he’d admitted to Kix earlier. 

While Tup chatted quietly, Dogma set about administering their meds. Technically Kix could do it himself, but he didn’t protest when Dogma offered, tiredly tilting his head to one side. Dogma’s hands were surprisingly gentle; he’d gotten a lot better at it since Kix and the other medics had taken him under their wing all those months ago.

Kix and Echo sat up in the bunk to eat. Echo, at least, had regained his appetite now that he was starting to recover from whatever bug Rex had accidentally inflicted upon them, but Kix only got through half of his before setting it back down. He rubbed his forehead with a groan, feeling tired and achy.

“Headache?” Tup asked sympathetically. Kix nodded, saying, “I’m starting to realize why you take so many naps, vod’ika. Headaches are exhausting.” He leaned back into his pillows, waiting for the meds to kick in. 

Tup snorted in agreement before moving to sit with Echo and Kix. Much like he’d done with Kix, Echo was quick to bundle himself up next to Tup, mumbling something about needing to kidnap Tup for his personal space-heater. Tup huffed a quiet laugh before moving a pillow into his lap and gesturing for Kix to lay back down, which Kix did with a tired grumble. Once he’d settled down, Tup started running a hand through his hair, lightning-bolts fuzzy from neglect. He’d have to ask Hardcase to fix them up again when his brain stopped trying to pound its way out of his skull. As Tup continued, Kix could feel his tension slowly fading, letting out a relieved murmur of thanks.

Tup quirked a smile, nodding. “Any time, ori’vod.” 

Hazily, he could hear Dogma moving around the space and offering to grab them some tea from the officer’s lounge, but it wasn’t long before Kix drifted off again in his vod’ika’s embrace.

“Well, you look miserable,” Hardcase commented as he came over, plopping himself on Kix’s bunk, watching the poor medic try to shiver out of his skin. Echo had gone to take a shower and Tup had needed to leave for guard duty, leaving Kix all alone under a too-small pile of blankets. 

“Thangks,” Kix sniffed, feeling congested and terrible. “I try my best.” He responded sarcastically, sighing in defeat when Hardcase offered him another tissue. 

Huddling under his blankets as another shiver wracked through his body, Kix didn’t notice Hardcase moving around the barracks until an entire mattress flopped on the floor in front of him, having been pulled off the top bunk.

“ –‘Case, what’re you doing? You know that’s not even your bunk anymore?” Jesse and Hardcase had switched bunks after Umbara, when Hardcase’s injuries made it tricky getting up and down. Nowadays, the heavy-gunner appreciated the lower bunk; said it was easier to tinker with his Z-6 without having to sit on the floor.

“I am making-” Hardcase grunted, pulling another two mattresses onto the ground, using his right arm more than his left, “a vode pile.” He made a triumphant noise as he pulled the last mattress down, arranging them more comfortably. 

Kix huffed in amusement. “Can’t have a vode pile with only two vode, Hardcase.”

“Who said it’s just me?” Hardcase asked with a grin, and right as he spoke, the barrack doors opened, revealing Fives, fresh from his mission, Jesse, and Rex trailing behind. Fives was quick to shuck off his armor and flop onto the pile of blankets and pillows while Jesse gave Kix a hand up before they joined the ARC trooper.

“Sent your request up to General Skywalker. I’m willing to bet he signs it without reading it, so you should have that requisition filled by the next time we make port.” Rex said, giving Kix a look of weary amusement as he took the spot between Fives and Hardcase. 

“Thank you, sir.” Kix grinned, happy to hear that his request was as good as granted. 

Settling in next to Jesse, Kix sighed in contentment as he finally started to feel warmer, at least until Hardcase shoved his frozen feet under the blanket near Kix. This prompted another round of groaning and shuffling under the blankets, by the end of which, Echo had returned and was quickly pulled in next to Fives. As the evening continued, more troopers joined the pile, but even if Kix was feeling more smothered than comforted by the end of the night, he wouldn’t change it for the world.

[golvio]

The only way I can describe intrusive thoughts is that your brain is trolling you with the thoughts you, personally, find most upsetting. It’s doing this to chase the sweet, sweet dopamine hit of the temporary rush of temporary emotional relief that comes when you perform whichever compulsion ritual you do to cancel the bad thought out. (For me, that was knocking on wood, thinking a “counter-wish” for nasty thoughts that were framed as wishes, or punching myself when the intrusive thoughts got really upsetting. It looks different for every person.) The unconscious brain does this because it’s a stupid little hedonist that will chase short-term good feelings over longterm mental health.

However, these thoughts aren’t you. They don’t reflect what you actually want or believe. At most, they reflect whatever upsets you the most, whatever goes the most against whatever you truly care about or believe. Someone who’s scared of dying might uncontrollably think of swerving headlong into traffic. Someone who loves their pets would constantly imagine those pets being injured. And, yeah, someone who cares about the wellbeing of kids would imagine unspeakable harm coming to them, possibly by their own hands if the thought proves upsetting enough to immediately trigger a compulsive counter-ritual.

These thoughts don’t have desire or sexual arousal attached to them like fantasies, only panic, shame, and misery. The satisfaction that reinforces the intrusive thought cycle comes not from thinking them, but from trying to “cancel them out” using personalized compulsive rituals. Yet anyone who doesn’t have OCD or know what it is assumes they’re fantasies, because if they’re so bad, then why constantly think about them lmao, etc. Even though, y’know, “obsession” and “compulsion” are in the name, and you can’t magically turn those off like a light switch at will like normal thoughts.

People refuse to be compassionate towards people with moral OCD or any form of OCD that’s not quirky handwashing like in the movies. I’m sick of it. People suffering from intrusive thoughts who are too ashamed to come forward will never get the help they need. They’ll just suffer in silence, convinced they’re horrible evil people, and that constant misery and guilt wears down their souls and their self-esteem until they die. If you have thoughts like this, please, please, please talk to your doctor or your therapist. You aren’t an evil person. You don’t deserve to suffer quietly in your own private hell inside your head for the rest of your life. You deserve help.

[crueclown22]

hm

[theres-whump-in-that-nebula]

Imagine doing so much hard work and persevering through law school to have your failed tests advertised on the internet news. The bar is really hard; he’s not “cringe fail.” I am jealous of his ability to even attend college without committing suicide. He did a good job. Leave my dude the fuck alone.

I don’t care if they’re elites. If they’re elites; then make fun of them solely for being rich nepotism babies. There are non-elites who have failed the bar (or any important test) once or twice as well who will see this and feel bad about themselves.

[connormoving]

i finally FINALLY changed the litter bleuguhuj