#non-binary echo | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

skellymom · 7 months ago

Text

"Vagabonds" Chapter 26

"LOVE AND HOPE"

Ongoing fanfic Hunter x Reader/Fem Reader/OC

Hunter meets a smuggler Nomaadi Star Woman with a powerful force sensitive teen who changes the trajectory of CF-99's lives...as they ALL try to escape from The Empire together.

To read Chapter 24 & 25 - "SEPARATION & THE NIGHTMARE"

https://www.tumblr.com/skellymom/764929745333927936/vagabonds-chapter-24-25?source=share

Word Count: 2.3K

Background: The return of a friend. Echo comforts Sil. And, the Batchers are given Thoomie's back story from Uncle Taavi. It's a very unorthodox origin story...and one that I am familiar with when another woman I worked with left her baby behind in a locker room, and the police came to my home for questioning. TO BE CLEAR: This story is NOT an attempt to punch down at any one person in particular. This part of the story, much like a lot of other parts sprinkled into this series is a commentary on SOCIETY overall.

The Batch and Taavi ask an open ended question. One that could be seen as scornful, but instead are blunt questions. They don't judge, only contemplate their own luck. And, the scale of value society sets for life in the galaxy.

For anyone new to this series: "LOVE" is the nonbinary/genderfluid neurodivergent/nonverbal Force sensitive kid of the main OC of this series named Mad. Mad is an older single mother, close to almost 50 years of age (not many older female protagonists in stories, so I decided to make one.)

Warning: swearing, angst and brief mention of a LIVE baby in a dumpster (no worries reader, baby is rescued-NO blood or gore, but brief mention of a "blue baby").

(Credit: Cool dividers by @4ngelic-Wh1spers, @plum98 @strangergraphics-archive Pinterest: Blackstar)

Tech tinkered under the Beldame. It helped keep his mind off of Hunter’s depression and sadness. This was the first time Tech and the rest of The Batch had seen Hunter openly cry since...well, probably since that Reg broke Hunter’s nose when they were children.

Thoomie administered a light sedative to Hunter so he could rest and heal for an hour or two. Taavi announced he would whip up a meal for them all in the Bar’ge ‘N Go’s cafeteria after he was finished with his duties.

Now that there was access to more tools, equipment, and parts, Tech would have the ‘Dame up to speed in no time. And, with Echo researching intel, The Batch could help Mad and Sil locate and retrieve LOVE and Tiggy.

Tinkering away deep in thought, Tech reflected on how so much had transpired since leaving Kamino, then Ord Mantell.

It had been a DIZZYING turn of events...

“Well...look WHO popped up”

Tech was pulled from his rumination, glanced down recognizing a familiar pair of metal heeled boots...

His eyes widened.

Immediately he wheeled out from under the ship and sprang up. Tech slicked back his hair and dusted of his clothing.

Pushing up his goggles, Phee Genoa came into focus.

“Hello Brown Eyes.” She slyly smiled.

Tech stood there speechless... Say SOMETHING! But...WHAT???

Your hair has a buoyant quality that attracts my attention...

NO...

The scent wafting up from your skin excites my senses...

NO NO....

The timber of your voice causes prolierection of the hairs on my arms...

NO!

The thought of you quickens my heartbeat, resulting in tachycardia...

NO!!!

Phee watched amused at Tech’s internal struggle.

His face began to flush slightly.

Phee mused ADORABLE when he’s flabbergasted.

“Uh...hello.” Tech exhaled, trying to keep his cool.

“Glad you made it off Ord Mantell. Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“I am currently repairing this ship...for a close friend.”

“Oh? Looks like Madienne Dax’s ship.”

“Why...yes...it is...”

“Close friend, you say?” Phee smirked.

“Why yes. She’s been very hospitable with sharing it as a living space. And preparing meals for consumption...” Tech trailed off.

Maker, I am rambling He cringed.

“Sounds cozy.” Phee teased.

Tech silently analyzed Phee’s words. Cozy? Peculiar thing to remark. I am NOT cozy with Mad...

Phee stood patiently and watched his brain work it out

Tech’s eyes widened as he made a realization.

...OH!

“I should be clear.” Tech raised an index finger to accentuate his point. “HUNTER is Mad’s boyfriend.”

Phee giggled. “Just the person to keep Bandana on his toes!”

“That she certainly does.” Tech smirked.

Phee leaned in and her voice softened. “Hey...Brown Eyes?”

“Yes?” Tech answered

“I missed you.” She smiled.

“I missed you as well.” Tech beamed.

Sil sat in the darkened clinic room alone. The only light filtered out from the bacta tank where Mad floated silently, sleeping with help of a sedative.

He refused to leave when Thoomie offered to show him to a room on the barge. Taavi reassured her Sil would be alright. Just needed time to spend with his auntie and to sift through his feelings alone. Uncle Taavi moved a hover stretcher next to the tank for his nephew.

Sil, now lying upon the stretcher, whispered to his auntie.

“I feel SO lucky you found me Coruscant. And thank you for taking me with you and LOVE....glad to have you both as family. We’ll find them, Mad. Tiggy too. These guys are gonna help us. I can feel it. Please don’t be so sad. It will work out...”

He took a deep breath and exhaled.

“Then we get away from all this trouble that’s been following everyone. We find a place to hide out. LOVE will help you have them babies. And...maybe...you marry Hunter, huh? We send out a coded signal. And, when the rest of our family shows up we have a great big Reunion with a Nomaadi wedding...yeah? We will all be so happy...”

Sil wiped a stray tear from his eye and sniffled.

“We get that ole’ Nomaaddi tattooist to mark Wrecker, Tech, Echo, and Hunter...they can officially be part of the Star People Family. Auntie I want to LIVE...instead of just trying to SURVIVE.”

Sil gathered his hearts wish hoping it would come true with The Force.

“Hey...you awake?”

Sil turned over to see Echo faintly standing in the darkness by the clinic doorway.

“Yeah...just talking to her. She can hear me...us, you know.” Sil spoke wistfully.

“She’s probably very grateful to hear your voice. Can get pretty lonely in there.” Echo strode over to Sil. “Hey...Taavi is cooking up his all day, all you can eat breakfast. Don’t know much about it but sounds promising. Wanna come eat with us?”

Sil exhaled wearily “Not very hungry...sorry. Just want to be alone...with my auntie.”

Echo’s heart went out to Sil “No worries. I’ll bring you something later...ok?”

Sil nodded.

Echo headed for the door, then turned with conviction.

“We’ll find LOVE and Tiggy. Somehow. Some way. Promise.”

Wrecker emerged from the refresher clean and wearing a fresh change of clothes.

“Ahhh...good to be in a decent sized shower for once.” He flopped down on the king-sized comfy bed and eyed Omega sitting on the other one across from him. “You’re turn.”

She sighed and snuggled deeper into the pillows.

“Go get cleaned up, ya smell like musty Bantha Butt!”

“No I don’t.”

“Yeah...you do. If I can smell it, you definitely stink.” Wrecker rolled over and propped himself up with a pillow. “Besides, you don’t want to gross out Hunter when he’s tryin’ to eat, do ya?”

Omega perked up slightly “He’ll be eating with us?”

“Yep. We’re gonna wheel that hover stretcher right up to the table. No reason for him to be eatin’ alone.”

“Is Mad going to be alright? How are we going to find LOVE and Tiggy.” Omega looked so sad. It broke Wrecker’s heart.

“Yes to the first question. Uncle Taavi told me so. I believe ‘em.” Wrecker winked. The second question...” Wrecker struggled to answer in a way that would give Omega some hope. “I...don’t know. But Echo is trying to figure it out. If anyone can find ‘em, Echo can...”

“I miss them...and I’m scared they aren’t safe.” Omega whispered.

“Me too, Omega.” Wrecker agreed. “But we can’t do anything about it right now...on an empty stomach.” He tried to put on a silly face to hide is concern.

Omega looked skeptical.

“C’mon...get in the refresher.” Wrecker negotiated. “Sooner you clean up, sooner we go eat with Echo and find out if he has any leads.”

Omega dragged herself off the bed and slowly made her way to the refresher.

“What is Thoomie’s story” Tech inquired

The Batchers and Uncle Taavi sat comfortably at a large booth. Echo had wheeled Hunter into the cafeteria on a hoverchair. He was healing quickly with a bacta wrap over the sutured area, but still advised to stay off his feet for another standard day. Echo parked the chair at the table so Hunter could eat with the group.

A HUGE spread of breakfast food, served all hours during one rotation, sat in front of them. Omega, Hunter, Echo, Tech, and Wrecker heartily filled their bellies while conversing with Mad’s Nomaadi Uncle.

At the opposite end of the cafeteria in the game room section a menagerie of droids loudly and happily cavorted with several Tooka kitties.

“Little Thoo?” Uncle Taavi flamboyantly waved his hand smiling. “Well... found her!”

“A street urchin on some Outer Rim planet, huh?” Hunter probed, sipping his Meilroon juice.

Taavi calmly shook his head “Nah, on the bottoms of Coruscant...in a DUMPSTER.”

Hunter dramatically spit his drink out onto the table. “Eh...apologies.” He sputtered.

Omega, ever ready to help her brother, stepped in “It’s ok, Hunter. I’ve got it.”

Taavi didn’t miss a beat and tossed a handful of napkins onto the mess and kept speaking. He gesticulated animatedly no matter whatever the topic of conversation.

“Yeah...so I got tip about a buncha slightly used but primo ship parts being tossed out for garbage pickup. Just picked up and hoofed it down there right away. I ain’t one to let somethin’ valuable go to waste!”

Echo and Tech were transfixed, caf cups raised, watching this man so casually speak about something so...personal. Hunter refilled his glass with juice. Wrecker listened intently while shoveling food in his mouth like it might get away. Omega absent mindedly wiped the table slowly with the napkins while watching Taavi tell his story.

“Landed, hiked into the bottoms, found the right location, then hopped right into that dumpster and went to diggin’ through all the stuff people don’t want no more of. Shit...” Taavi threw his head back and laughed “ALL the stuff the rich up at the top of Coruscant just casually throw out ‘cause they got that money to burn.”

Taavi other hand shot out and rubbed his fingers together. “LOTS of ‘garbage’ they would call it...the good stuff. The people at The Bottoms don’t have nothin’ much ta part with. They keep as much as they got...which is pretty little.”

Omega kept slowly, absentmindedly wiping the table. Hunter sipped his juice. Wrecker shoveling in food. Tech and Echo sitting motionless...still haven’t sipped their caf YET!

Taavi still gesticulating, as if conjuring the story with his hands. “THEN I hear a noise. Well...my nosy self thinks it some Tooka diggin’ in that dumpster for some food. ‘Dem poor little kitteh’s start explorin’ around in there, and then the garbage just caves in on ‘em...and they can’t get out.” Taavi was intense during this part. REALLY committed to giving every Batcher at that table a glimpse of how terrified Taavi felt about it.

“So’s, I dig down and find this backpack...in more than middlin’ condition I might add. Open it up...like YOU do...”

The amazement of what must have been on Taavi’s face at the time of the story shone brightly.

“...and... there SHE was! This sweet little baby, struggling to breathe, BARELY alive...NO LARGER THAN MY HANDS...”

Taavi holds out both of his calloused hands. A poor workman’s hands with starship grease in the worn creases and under his fingernails.

His face then turned pensive. “And I think to myself...WHO DOES THAT???”

The Batchers sat transfixed...stunned.

“So’s, I took that backpack with that perfect little girlie home with me. Told myself ‘Taavi, you done found a little gift right in that there dumpster.”

Omega wiping, wiping. Hunter sipping. Wrecker eating. Echo and Tech motionless.

Taavi leaned across the table at them, raising his voice “AND SHE WAS BLUE! BLUE I TELL YA!!!” Strugglin’ for breath but holdin’ on like a real trooper. That ship parts tip...that right there was a SIGN!” Taavi’s index finger stabbed down RIGHT on top of the moist napkins Omega was using to wipe the table.

Omega stops wiping. Then Taavi stabs his finger down repeatedly with every other word to DRIVE HOME HIS POINT.

“The FORCE wanted me to find that little dumplin’ and take care of her!"

Taavi finally takes his hand away from the table, gesturing randomly towards the doorway, where in the heart of the ship Thoomie was treating another client who had arrived needing rudimentary medical attention.

“You all have seen her now. Happy and healthy as a lee Romay clam!” Taavi smiles tenderly, a glimmer of tears glaze his eyes. Eyes of love and gratitude for his girl.

Hunter sees Taavi’s eyes and suddenly struggles to hold back his own glimmer of tears. Omega gave up on the napkins and picks up her Star Cake. Echo sits still like a Dugardugar in the Marauder’s headlights. Wrecker chews...

Tech... lump in his very composed, logical throat slides his plate of Bantha Bacon and Star Cakes slowly over to Wrecker...who silently takes the plate. “Apologies...I am NO longer famished...”

Taavi realizes the impact his story has on the group. He empathizes with them. Shared quite a bit just the first day of meeting. But he felt a closeness with them. And... Mad doesn’t just make friends with ANYONE...well a particular one was a mistake, but that’s just ONE. She’s discerning...or she wouldn’t be alive. The Force whispered to him that The Batchers are discerningly loyal and trustworthy. Two things worth mineral backing credits to the Nomaadi.

“Oh, PAL, it’s all A-okay! My Little Thoo is doin’ GREAT!!! Don’t let ole’ Uncle Taavi’s story get to ya.” Taav’s head snaps down to the empty caf carafe on the table. “Oh GEEZ, what kinda host am I? Let me get ya a refill!”

He pops up from the booth and scurries over to the Bar’ge ‘N Go counter for a fresh pot. The Tooka kittens mob him and he cheerfully ladles eggs and meat from a pan into several bowls. They mill around happily as he sets the bowls onto the floor. Then belly laughs in pure joy while they fall over one another to get to the food.

The Batchers sit with everything Taavi said for a while.

Hunter finally breaks the silence “SOMEONE PUT THEIR CHILD IN A DUMPSTER???” His face is grief stricken.

Echo mused quietly. “Makes our childhood look almost like an amusement park ride.”

Wrecker had NOTHING to say. He silently enjoyed the contents of Tech’s plate...spacing out...clinging onto the flavors and textures in his mouth, along with the present-day image of a very small, yet healthy and happy teen. The food helped to push the image of a tiny baby barely clinging to life...barely old enough to cling to any HOPE of salvation from their situation out of his mind...

Omega takes a bite of her Star Cake, sadly remembering all the very young clones the Kaminoan’s euthanized when they didn’t meet up with their exacting expectations...names and numbers the 99’s had never knew briefly existed...

Tech could only make a VERY true, yet sad statement. “WE were CONSIDERED valuable...” He stared into the bottom of his caf cup. “Apparently...there are many MORE in the galaxy who fail to reach even close to that arbitrary standard...”

TO READ CHAPTER 27:

https://www.tumblr.com/skellymom/773452066226159616/vagabonds-chapter-27?source=share

Please let me know if you wanted to be added to my taglist or removed! Thanks so much for your support!!!

30 notes · View notes

sock-to-the-third · 7 months ago

Text

Tennal threw his whole self at the sync and met Surit, whose defenses crumbled , fissures opening all over his mind like the shell breaking away from a magma core. The heat of him was overwhelming. Tennal fell into him like a root system grasping the earth, like nerves knitting themselves back together.

Tennal had seen the sync as a threat, as a punishment, as all but a death sentence. This didn’t feel anything like that— this was a surge of life, heady punge into orbit. Tennal had thought he would sense Surit controlling their minds, but all he got from Surit was the same electrified wonder as Tennal as their fragmented selves coalesced into a newer and terrifying and alien whole.

They took a breath. Tennal had a moment of terror when he realized he didn’t know which set of lungs was his.

pg296 of Ch23, Ocean’s Echo by Everina Maxwell

#ocean’s echo #everina maxwell #scifi #non-binary friendly #queer #fiction #quote

4 notes · View notes

sirenium · 2 years ago

Text

Me: *looks up stuff relating to radical inclusion*

Google: hey pal you want multiple links to the truscum subreddit???

#no the fuck I do not #'anyone who isn't a woman isn't a lesbian' okay so forgetting about lesboys for now #that literally excludes non-binary lesbians. but honestly that checks out most truscum don't believe in non-binary people💀#this is why I have so much respect for people who get out of those spaces because it's just such a rigid and hurtful echo chamber #fuck transmeds #anti truscum #transgender #trans #genderqueer #lesbian #all lesbians are valid #get your heads out of your asses exclusionists for the love of whatever #nonbinary lesbian #he/him lesbian #lesboy

23 notes · View notes

answersfromzestual · 1 year ago

Text

Hello there!

I run a ftm transition blog that mainly focuses on phalloplasty, but I do have several articles on other types of surgeries and procedures as well.

Please check out my blog directory, I also take questions, comments, and concerns.

i wish ppl didnt shit so hard on (transmasc) bottom surgery man. i feel like i wouldve looked into a metoidioplasty a lot sooner if i hadnt seen all of the negativity and stigma surrounding phallo and metoidioplasties. but as soon as i actually looked into it i realized it was something i want! extremely bad! and i feel like a lot of other transmascs would want bottom surgery if they actually knew more about different types and results

#ebby echoes #trans tag #bottom surgery #transmasc #trans #metoidioplasty #phallo #phalloplasty #Phalloplasty resources #metoidioplasty resources #transgender ftm #Transgender ftm #Transgender reaources #Phalloplasy educational blog #Ftm Bottom surgery resources #Transmasc resources #Trans non binary resources #Sorry to hijack your post but I'm trying to get more information out to the public #Thank you

2K notes · View notes

crimsonender · 5 months ago

Text

If a trans man interacts with other trans men he's in an echo chamber.

If a trans man interacts with cis women he's falling for TERF ideolgy by bonding with them over assigned sex.

If a trans man interacts with cis men he's falling for patriarchal oppressive roles

If a trans man interacts with trans women he's love bombing and manipulating her.

If a trans man interacts with a non-binary person then just pick whichever of the other four people think fit them the closest.

These are all things that I've heard said about me for having friends and acquaintances of any gender and it's like the only right way for a trans man to exist in some people's eyes is alone. Or, you know. Not that either because then trans men are just mass shooters waiting to happen.

Don't let anyone tell you who you can be friends with. Falling for the constant demand to self flagellate will put you in a loop of never being good enough.

#transandrophobia

2K notes · View notes

paperbackribs · 1 month ago

Text

"Hey, it's 'they/them,' dickheads," Steve interrupts exasperatedly.

Modern non-binary Eddie who is out but the kids just don't really let it sink in. Don't think about how Eddie increasingly flinches every meet-up as they exclaim during the campaign, calling out that 'he' has said this and that about the current monster in their tracks.

Steve though. Steve, feeling a little stupid the first time Eddie had haltingly told him about why it was so important to them. That the euphoria of 'woman' or 'man' was actually reserved for the fizzing feeling of rightness when gender was mixed and erased for them.

Steve, who felt the cogs in his head rubbing slowly together but had fixed the idea firmly in his heart--for the person in his heart--interrupts as the kids draw up their last play.

"They," Steve cuts in, firm and with a gimlet stare at the boys who frown up at him in confusion.

"They what?" Mike asks in exasperation, clearly expecting Steve to stutter and back away despite Steve never having backed away from a fight in the entire time the two guys have known each other.

"Who what?" Dustin mutters absently as he adjusts his gold count. "We're nearly done." He licks the tip of his pencil before returning to his count of the loot.

Lucas eyes the hardening stare on Steve's face, flicking over to Eddie's suddenly wide gaze and pokes Dustin to look up, "I don't think it's that."

Mike sighs at Steve's hands falling to his hips, recognising the chastening posture even as he doesn't understand why. Eddie though. Their expression falls from wide surprise to understanding and something with a touch of awe that Steve doesn't quite understand from his friend.

"They, you dickheads," Steve repeats, lips pursed. "Eddie is not a 'he.' They're not 'her.' They are 'they.' They are 'them.' It's not hard. I literally used it like a million times already today."

Steve sniffs into the air and Mike scowls, "It just happens; Christ, Steve."

The light dims in Eddie's eyes, but he nods gamely, voice even and-- Steve can tell--deliberately light, "It's no big deal, easy to do. Don't worry about it, Stevie."

"But it hurts you," Steve insists.

Mike's eyes widen in surprise and Lucas winces.

Eddie hurriedly shakes their head with a forced laugh, "It's not like I've not gone by 'he' for nearly my entire life." They wink at Dustin, who had raised his head suddenly.

"You did a thing," Dustin says slowly, putting down his pencil next to a dragonborne figurine and miming an exaggerated wince and flinch. "Two hours and--" he checks his Casio watch, "thirteen minutes ago when the orcs invaded. I said our dungeon master was a right man of a bastard."

Eddie softens, genuine amusement lighting their face, "I'm used to you lot cussing me out, Henderson."

"But it wasn't the swearing," Lucas says, remorse filling his voice even as he pinches Mike. The other kid yelps but quietens when Lucas leans in, heatedly whispering and Mike goes red then white in the face.

"Oh shit, I forgot."

Teeth gritted, Eddie repeats, "It's not a big deal. Now--"

"Okay," Steve interrupts again, pulling a seat over to sit next to Eddie, thighs almost touching, "then it's no skin off our nose if we start practising for you, right?"

He turns to the boys, expression pleasant for the first time, "Eddie said it's no big deal, are they right?"

Mike blinks three times before pointing to his character sheet, "Eddie should have given me experience points for the giant spider but they stiffed me."

In an uncanny echo, Eddie blinks at Mike for his word choice.

"They were right," Dustin argues. He points at Lucas, "He figured out the clue and stabbed it--" he turns his finger to Eddie, "--and so they made the right call."

Eddie blinks again with eyes that look a little moist while Lucas continues with the cues given to him by his friends. He makes a loud boinking sound, "Sucks to be you. Hey, Eddie, can I have the spear these two bozos found?"

And with that, the sound of squabbling fills the room.

Steve looks on contentedly as Eddie leans back in their throne, eyeing the boys as they confidently back the adventurers into a corner while teasing the idea of a new battle simultaneously.

Steve leans back into his small frame of a chair too, a smile playing at the sides of his mouth as he listens to his favourite people love each other in their own special ways.

#steddie #nonbinary #nonbinary eddie munson #stranger things #steve harrington #eddie munson #paperbackribs writing

703 notes · View notes

skellymom · 8 months ago

Text

"Vagabonds" Chapter 24 & 25

"SEPARATION" & "THE NIGHTMARE"

Ongoing fanfic Hunter x Reader/Fem Reader/OC

Hunter meets a smuggler Nomaadi Star Woman with a powerful force sensitive teen who changes the trajectory of CF-99's lives...as they ALL try to escape from The Empire together.

To read Chapter 23 - "RETREAT"

https://www.tumblr.com/skellymom/763930279133970432/vagabonds-chapter-23?source=share

Word Count: 3.9K (Sorry so long. Wasn't sure WHERE to end this chapter, so I posted TWO CHAPTERS! I am hoping to wrap this series up by the end of this year!!!)

Background: What plans do The Empire have with LOVE? We meet several more NEW supporting characters. And Hunter has a helluva nightmare!

Warning: SW Canon violence, some blood, swearing, angst.

(Credit: Cool dividers by @4ngelic-Wh1spers, @plum98 @strangergraphics-archive Pinterest: Bad l3atch, f/StarWarsJediSurvivor)

He stunned the little shit, but REALLY wanted to kill her outright. He HATED this dog with every fiber of his being.

CX swore as he carefully pulled off his ruined faceplate. Blood poured from the toothmarks and sharp edges of the destroyed plastoid. Then dropped it to the floor.

An animal of that size SHOULD’NT be able to bite through his armor. And she SOMEHOW managed to hide or cloak herself within the confines of his ship easily. Her mastery of stealth, ferocity of attack, along with her bite strength might be beneficial to breed into a new class of working dogs for the Empire. Dr Hemlock might be pleased to have such a specimen to experiment with.

And, if the doctor didn’t feel the need to use her, he could destroy her himself.

CX applied pressure to the facial wounds with his bacta bandaged left hand that had been mauled. He hailed his contact with his still intact right hand.

Governor Tarkin’s likeness popped up on holocomm.

“Did you capture the Force sensitive?” Tarkin sniffed.

“Yes. Aboard my ship and restrained successfully. We are enroute.”

“Good. With this asset our timetable for PROJECT STARDUST is AHEAD of schedule.” Tarkin seemed pleased. “We will expect your arrival within one standard rotation.”

The Governer's image immediately disappeared.

CX would contact Dr Hemlock about the dog later.

LOVE awoke both hands tethered together and a collar around their neck. They cautiously glanced up where they lay on the floor.

Tiggy lay prone and unconscious nearby. One of her back legs dangled at an odd angle. Clearly, she was injured. LOVE reached out to her with the Force.

Nothing.

LOVE was unable to feel...anything. They couldn’t levitate, either. And, unable to Force Manipulate physical objects.

The fisticuffs binding their hands, looked different from anything LOVE had seen before.

The CX Trooper in the pilot’s seat faced away from love, busily dabbing bacta on his facial wounds.

“You can TRY. The restraints were specifically designed for a Force Sensitive such as yourself.”

He didn’t glance up from his wound care.

LOVE reached out again.

NOTHING. No Force powers at all.

However, LOVE could still physically move their body.

CX swung around in his chair. He raised his left hand and motioned to his face.

“Your...pet is responsible for this!”

LOVE’s eyes widened with the realization Tiggy was the culprit...smiling deviously at the Trooper.

He snarled back at LOVE and swung his chair back around to face the pilot’s console.

“You think this is a JOKE? If you resist in ANY way or refuse to do what I say, I will shoot your pet dead and blow her body out the airlock.”

He calmly fitted a new glove carefully over his bandaged hand.

LOVE laid their head down on the metal floor and whimpered pathetically.

It was quite the vision: Taavi’s Bar’ge Fix ‘N Go was an immense, rough looking, refurbished old barge freighter, including a multitude of modifications lit with neon. Blocking out the stars as it slowly sailed past. According to Sil, it served as a docking station, mechanical repair, hotel, cafeteria, bar...

...and an illegal and VERY secretive “treat and street it” clinic.

Uncle Taavi always came up with several streams of income. His major one being a repair service for ships, droids, devices, and prosthetics. He also rescued feral Tooka cats, spayed, neutered, providing them medical treatment and care.

Taavi NEVER stopped fixing things. Fixing things was HIS LIFE.

The Marauder was able to pull the still barely operational Beldame from the hyperspace lane, then detach from its top. Echo and Wrecker piloted the Havoc Marauder while Hunter and Sil slowly followed behind piloting the Dread Beldame. Tech and Omega sat with Mad on the ‘Dame making sure she stayed medically stable. Omega also kept her eyes glued on Hunter. He INSISTED on helping pilot the Beldame...knife STILL buried in his thigh. She twirled her fingers in Mad’s long mohawk tail with one hand and held Mad’s hand with the other.

Omega ALSO worried about LOVE and Tiggy while listening to Mad’s ragged breaths.

Mad didn’t know LOVE and Tig wasn’t with them. She anticipated the fear and heartbreak a mother would experience when she found out...

Tech did his best to TRY and distract her by infodumping...to no avail.

With help of the Bar’ge ‘N Go’s tractor beam, it pulled in the hulking mass of the Dread Beldame into the landing bay of the barge. The Batch marveled at the repair bay. Taavi seemed to have EVERYTHING to fix ANY kind of ship, arranged neatly and cleanly. True the equipment was much older but well-made and maintained expertly. Odd looking, refurbished droids zoomed and whizzed back and forth inside it’s mechanical bay.

After both ships landed. Their respective crews emerged...to greet the man who owned this establishment: Mad’s Uncle Taavi.

He was as tall as Echo with shaggy black hair, dark skinned, his face heavily tattooed with symbols and designs. His eyes, pitch-black silver speckled irises, indicative of the OLD Nomaadi. A subset of their people older than time...before the Long Purge of their numbers....and one of the reasons the Nomaadi were referred to as “The Star People.” His patchworked but well-fitting clothing indicative of a Nomaadi with deep family ties...the pieces of snipped fabric from family and friends sewn as embellishment on his clothing. A tapestry of memories and strength of family ties to accompany him on his Long Road: The Journey of Life. Heavy and well-worn work boots completed the outfit.

A small statured...child? Walked next to Taavi with the confidence of an adult. Her unmelanted hair braided into many long, tiny braids that trailed past her shoulders. Her eyes: Either blue or ultraviolet, depending on the light. Blue veins occasionally showing through her pale albino skin.

Finally, a standard Astromech adorned in rose gold detailing, a yellow light on her dome. She was a spiffy droid to behold. Of course...she knew it... Behind the astromech followed several tiny droids, and two Tooka kittens chasing after them.

Taavi stopped. His eyes wide in surprise.

“Sil? As I breathe the stale recirculated shitty air of this ship...never thought I’d see ya AGAIN!!!”

He grabbed Sil up and hugged the teen. Sil hugged Taavi back.

When Taavi let go, he wiped a tear from his eye.

Sil leaned out, grabbing Thoomie and pulling her into the hug as well. She embraced Sil.

Then Taavi caught sight of Mad being carried in Hunter’s arms. She was covered in dirt and crusted blood from multiple wounds. Her breathing loud, harsh, and labored. She was barely conscious.

“Ohhh FORCE NOOO! We gotta get her into the bacta tank! COME WITH ME!!!” Taavi didn’t ask for introductions. He ushered them through the ship and into a secret wing that contained a large medical lab.

Taavi motioned to Hunter “Put ‘er in there. We’ll clean her in that tub first, then put ‘er in the tank.”

Hunter carefully placed Mad into the stainless steel tub. Then stood over her and stared silently. He seemed mentally far away...

“Uncle...” Thoomie tapped Taavi on the arm. “I think he’s in a state of shock.”

Taavi did a double take at Hunter, pointing “Son...ya got a knife stickin’ out of ya there...”

Hunter calmly glanced down at the knife and back at Taavi “Yes...”

“Thoo, take...whatshisname...” Taavi nodded to Hunter.

“Hunter” Hunter answered.

“Hunter and that smart lookin’ fella...” Taavi nodded at Tech.

“I’m Tech.” Tech added smugly.

“With Tech and that droid guy” Taavi referred to Echo.

Echo didn’t answer, just shook his head grimacing.

Tech answered for Echo “Uh, that is Echo.”

“Sure.” Taavi waved them on. “Have ‘em help you prep Hunter for surgery. Can’t be walkin’ around MY ship with a knife stickin’ outta ya like nothin’s happenin.” Taavi shook his head. “Mad sure can pick ‘em...”

“Come with me” Thoomie took Hunter’s hand and led him, Tech, and Echo away.

“Sil, stay with me. You can catch me up while we work on your Auntie.” Then Taavi addressed Wrecker. “Eh, big guy...Help me clean up Mad so we can plop ‘er in that bacta tank.”

“Uh...ok.” Wrecker seemed confused about what was happening.

Taavi recognized Wrecker’s confusion. “You wanna get free care, ya gotta pitch in and help. Droids will finish after we start, ok? Besides, Mad will pitch a fit if we let them droids touch her.”

Wrecker hesitated.

Sil nodded to him and patted his back. “You got this Wrecker. Uncle Taavi will walk ya through it.”

Wrecker nodded and did as he was told.

CHAPTER 25 - "THE NIGHTMARE"

Thoomie handed Echo a surgical gown and bag for Hunter’s clothes. She then handed a tub of Bacta wipes to Tech. She instructed Hunter to sit down.

She pulled a syringe out of a drawer, then a drug bottle from a wall unit, and began drawing up a dose. Thoomie approached Hunter.

Echo and Tech glanced alarmingly at each other. Tech stepped in her way “Is it standard protocol on this ship to have CHILDREN give injectable medication?”

Thoomie laughed. “Forgot you’re new here. I’m NOT a child.”

Echo and Tech glanced at each other again...now in confusion.

“I have a rare genetic disorder that inhibits my normal growth and development. Will FOREVER look like a preteen or teenager...for the rest of my life.”

Both clones stared at Thoomie stunned.

“You’re defective???” Tech blurted out.

Thoomie winced “Er...you COULD say that. I prefer the term different...or unique. PLEASE step aside and let me treat your batchmates' pain. His condition is worsening, and I need to remove that knife as soon as possible.”

Tech stepped back.

“How did you know we’re clones?” Echo asked as Thoomie swabbed Hunter’s arm with a bacta wipe and injected into his vein. Hunter winced slightly and came out of his glazed state to attempt to rub the area. Thoomie handed him a square of sterile gauze and gently placed his hand over the area like a parent would a child. Hunter kept quiet and held pressure on the injection site.

“The timbre of your voices. Subtle similarities in your facial features. Other...tells in your mannerisms. Hard to explain.” She tossed the syringe in a sharp's container.

“What would you require of us to assist you in helping Hunter.” Tech spoke up.

“I’ll let you both undress him completely, throw the clothes in the bag, then wipe him down all over. Don’t worry about his hair. Put the gown on with the opening in the front. Please drape several FRESH bacta wipe over his private parts for cleanliness and discretion. Knock on the partition when you’re done. I can then prep him for surgical removal of that vibroknife.”

Then she handed a pair of medical scissors to Tech. “Imagine you will need these to get his blacks off without further injury. We have extra clothing on board if this is his only pair of pants. Please be quick. Thank you.” She promptly left the room.

Tech pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose “The Nomaadi NEVER cease to amaze me.”

Echo put his hand on Hunter’s shoulder to get his attention. He could tell the pain meds were starting to to work. “Let’s get you ready, ok?”

Hunter nodded sleepily...as he closed his eyes...drifting into the dark...

They had come for him and his brothers AGAIN.

Hunter wedged himself under the small gap beneath his lower bunk, pressing his back against the wall of their barracks. He managed to pull Crosshair halfway under. Only little Hunter and his skinny younger brother could manage to fit.

Crosshairs fear was palpable as he scrambled to squeeze in with Hunter. Tech rigged the mechanics of their bunk room door so it could only open from the INSIDE. He hid behind the already large Wrecker who stood tall and RAGEFULLY angry, fists clenched and ready for a good fight.

They were ONLY children.

The Kaminoan’s and their clinical assistants routinely carried out medical experiments on them. They rebelled against the pain, shame, and inappropriately probing hands that explored their bodies.

This was NOT the first time the Bad Batchers had resisted.

The Kamino medical staff learned the hard way several times to bar access to ANY sharp objects or ANYTHING at all that could be used as a weapon. This left the Batchers room barren of any toys or enrichment. Only to be let out for training and mess hall meals. When it was found the defective clones had smuggled in an occasional training weapon or a table utensil from the mess hall, they were routinely patted down, scanned, and accompanied by the staff themselves.

As the Batchers anger and resentment peaked, along with their accelerated growth, strength, and strategy, fully trained teenage Reg clones were called in to perform this duty.

Some of these Regs sustained severe injuries, thus creating MORE resentment already present among the “Defective” Clones and the Regs. This rivalry came to a head when Hunter’s nose was broken during a particularly violent scuffle and Tech was knocked unconscious, almost compromising his advanced mental capacity. Wrecker and Crosshair’s retaliation was immediate and SEVERE. One of the Regs barely survived HIS injuries.

From that time on the Kaminoan’s ONLY sent in the most hardened adult clone troopers in armor to retrieve them. Lama Su considered “discontinuing” their squad due to the inconvenience. But Nala Se convinced him this sharpened their skills and made them more “elite.”

Clearly, the child Batchers were no match for these new adversaries.

Wrecker didn’t give a damn. As the door was finally breached and the clone troopers spilled in he rushed them. His screams of rage sounded familiar to Hunter...

...like an angry dog.

Tech begged for leniency as he was dragged away, promising to be compliant from now on...

Hunter held tight to Crosshair...

...who was yanked from his grasp and pulled out from under the bunk.

Hunter attempted to call out to his brother but could make NO sound.

“OW! LITTLE FUCKER BIT ME!!!” As Crosshair was dropped face down on the hard white glossy floor. Blood splattered across the polished tiles from Cross’ split lip.

Crosshair pulled his face from the floor, yelling Hunter’s name...

...it wasn't Crosshair’s face, but Jebith Freed.

A green armored CX trooper grabbed the boy’s leg, dragging him away while he trailed bloody purple rose petals in his wake...SCREAMING Hunter’s name over and over...as the bunk room melted into an alien forest...

Lightning struck the ground. Torrential rain fell in thick sheets.

Hunter, terrified watched from under his bunk as the ground gave way swallowing both the boy and trooper up.

The wall behind Hunter groaned, buckled...muddy water spilled through cracks. He attempted to scrabble away, but the remaining wall of the bunk room collapsed around him. A wave of muddy water and debris enveloped Hunter....

...dragging him down into the darkness...

Hunter awoke with a START.

"You’re safe, Hunter. I’m here.” Omega’s voice.

Her face came into view.

He felt fuzzy around the edges of his consciousness. Hunter had gotten enough injuries in the past to recognize recovery from sedated anesthesia.

“You’re not on Kamino anymore. We’re on a Nomaadi sanctuary barge.”

Omega held Hunter’s hand tightly as the realization set in.

“How...did you know?”

“I remember EVERYTHING you ALL went through on Kamino.” Omega’s voice trembled “Until Shaak Ti found out and intervened...instead of the Reg troopers, they began sending ME to help gain your trust.” Her face conveyed deep sadness. “When you all finally complied, I was not allowed around your squad...again.”

“How come I don’t remember?” Hunter rubbed his forehead.

“It was traumatic. You shut it out. The memories are still in there...they come out in your dreams.”

“...nightmare...definitely NOT a dream.” Hunter swallowed. He was overcome with emotion from the effects of the anesthesia. His eyes welled up.

“SO glad to have you ‘Mega. I LOVE YOU.” He choked. Hunter felt this MANY times but never vocalized it.

Omega threw herself onto Hunter, hugging his neck tightly. “I LOVE YOU TOO HUNTER! I was so scared of losing you!!!”

“Take the whole galaxy to hold me back from you, ‘Mega. Sorry I had to leave you on this mission...” He hitched as he inhaled. A tear ran down his cheek. And Hunter squeezed his eyes shut tightly. “If I hadn’t left you behind this time, probably never see you again...”

He opened his eyes to see Wrecker and Echo approaching his bedside. He could see the relief in their eyes.

But Hunter’s post anesthetic daze wasn’t done...

“I failed...” He mumbled to them. “Lost LOVE, and somehow Tiggy...Jebith...this kid on that planet we ran into...”

“Hunter...” Echo squeezed Hunters shoulder reassuringly. “You couldn’t...”

“NO...should have had you and Wrecker along with us...”

Wrecker looked concerned over his brother’s uncharacteristically strong emotional outburst.

“It was HORRIBLE! Like losing Caleb Dume all over again!!!” Hunter worked himself up. “I FAILED CROSSHAIR TOO! HE WAS RIGHT...I’M NOT FIT TO LEAD...” More tears. “...NOT FIT TO BE A BROTHER...OR A FATHER...”

“Now, now” Echo patted Hunter’s shoulder. His normally gruff voice softer. “That’s SOME kind of anesthesia he comin’ out of!”

“Perfectly normal range of surgical recovery behavior” The old Med Droid, who had been washing Hunter’s muddy hair prior to him awakening, handed a tissue to Hunter. “Deeply held thoughts and feelings do tend to surface when the patient awakens. Wipe your eyes, friend. We must get some sustenance into you soon. It will help you heal”

“Thank you, Rusty” Omega took the tissue from the droid and dabbed at Hunter’s face. “PLEASE don’t cry Hunter. You did what you could.”

Hunter sniffed and steadied his breathing.

Wrecker leaned over and carefully hugged Hunter, then kissed him on the temple. “Hey...let the Droid finish ‘yer hair.”

“Yeah, you look like a wet mess.” Echo joked.

Hunter took the tissue from Omega and blew his nose. “Yeah...a total mess...” He started to come out of the anesthesia a bit more. “Apologies”

“None needed.” Echo smiled.

Omega held Hunters hand, patting it.

Rusty conditioned and rinsed his hair again, then dried it fully. Hunter reached up to run his fingers through his hair. SO SOFT!

He mildly panicked at the absence of his bandana.

“No worries, friend. All of your clothing has been taken to the laundry. We will return it to you soon, clean and pressed!”

The droid wizzed around to Hunter’s bedside. “Don’t YOU look HANDSOME! Now your family will take you to see your lady.”

Hunter attempted to pull back the blankets and get off the hover stretcher.

“NO Hunter!” Echo pushed Hunter back down on the stretcher. “Gotta lie still, or you’ll pull out your sutures.”

Wrecker chuckled “And you’re only wearing that blanket. Nothin’ else.”

“Oh!” Hunter blushed and chuckled, now in better spirits but still feeling the effects of the drugs.

“Relax and your family will take care of the rest.” Rusty waved goodbye as Echo wheeled Hunter down the corridor. Omega and Wrecker waved back following behind.

They wheeled Hunter into an adjacent room containing several bacta tanks. Sil leaned against the tank, waiting for Mad to awaken. Omega ran to him, and they embraced each other. Tech infodumped animatedly with a 2-1B med droid named “Bucket.” But paused when he spotted Hunter.

“You appear to be recovering quite well.” He smiled brightly. “I am extremely pleased, Hunter.”

“That’s...SO affectionate of you, Tech.” Hunter chuckled, then turned to Taavi and Thoomie. “How is Mad? Are the babies...”

Thoomie answered “She’s just recovering from anesthesia. The babies are EXTREMELY healthy...and STILL growing! Never seen anything like it!!! I am concerned about Mad, though. She’s been through A LOT physically.”

“She’ll REQUIRE quite a lot of rest and nutrition. The accelerated growth could take a negative toll on her health as the multiple fetuses she is carrying will literally leach the nutrients from her body.” Tech added.

“Eh, sounds like she’s got parasites.” Wrecker shivered.

“Technically...unborn babies ARE commensal parasites” Tech adjusted his goggles.

Echo grimaced “Pregnancy sounds...creepy...compared to clone Growth Jars.”

“It’s beautiful.” Hunter mused, staring at the bacta tank Mad was currently floating in. “Imagine giving up your body for another life. Not just during pregnancy but devoting all your energy to raising that delicate being once it’s born, grows, becomes its own person. Loving that little life so much it almost hurts...willing to sacrifice or even die for it...heck...some people do it for others who can’t experience that themselves...” Hunter smiled and tears welled up in his eyes.

Thoomie was impressed “That’s...pretty deep.”

“Yep. That’s Hunter.” Echo grinned. “Usually, it’s all in his head. We’re lucky to hear it out loud right now because of the surgery drugs.”

“He does wax poetically when inebriated as well” Tech added “When sober Hunter tends to hold a HUGE amount of emotional weight in.”

“That’s Tech’s way of sayin’ Hunters a BIG softie.” Wrecker whispered to Taavi.

Taavi chuckled. “Good thing to be. The galaxy needs more empathy, no?”

“My apologies for the interruption” Bucket interjected “Our patient is waking up. Vitals are within normal ranges currently.”

“Whoa, there!” Uncle Taavi tapped the bacta tank to get Mad’s attention.

Mad stirred and slowly started to realize where she was. Inside of the bacta tank she was hooked up to an IV line, a feeding tube, respirator, bacta nebulizer, and endotracheal vacuum. The lines swayed around her as she bobbed in the bacta solution. Mad was only clad in a medical chest binder and med panties which helped secure the lines that carried her urination and defecation waste away. The rest of her exposed body covered in a multitude of small lacerations from the shrapnel Uncle Taavi had surgically removed.

He could see her anxiety ramping up.

“She gonna RIP them out. Bet ya.” Taavi remarked to Thoomie and Tech.

“While I understand your concerns restraints seemed too severe an option.” Tech remarked.

Thoomie nodded “I agree with Tech.”

“Ah, you never seen Mad lose her SHIT! She’s got a phobia about all of this” Taavi motioned to the whole tank, then addressed the B1. “Sorry Bucket, best to leave outta here for now 'fore she notices you. Or gonna be hell to pay!”

The B1 turned to Thoomie. She nodded “It would be best for the patient. You can return when she is sleeping.”

Hunter commiserated “My apologies, Bucket.”.

The droid silently turned to leave.

Mad eyed the med droid suspiciously, then flashed an obscene hand gesture as it left the room.

Hunter giggled.

Mad attempted to laugh too but erupted into a violent coughing fit.

She choked and gagged SOMETHING up. One of the tubes attached to her life support face mask suctioned it out of her trachea.

Her breathing sounded slightly better and less raspy.

Hunter put his hand up to the glass, pressing his palm flat against it.

Mad did the same on the interior of the tank. Eventually, she glanced further out in the room, shocked to recognize Uncle Taavi and Thoomie. She waved excitedly to them...and scanned the room again...

Someone was missing...Mad signed in Basic with her other hand...

LOVE? Tiggy...

Hunter TRIED his very best to keep a neutral face through his post-surgical haze. He was at a loss for words.

Mad glanced up at the faces of all the Batchers, Sil, Taavi, Thoomie...

Varying expressions of sadness and guilt is all she saw. Nobody spoke.

She hitched and cried out loudly, then choked and gagged violently again. In her grief, she reached for the tubes attached to her in what looked like an attempt to pull them out.

Thoomie immediately punched the sedative button on her IV line.

Mad went still within the tank, floating quietly while the endotracheal vacuum cleared her lungs.

“Hate to say it...I told ya so...” Taavi whispered sadly.

Hunter covered his face with both hands and quietly sobbed.

To read Chapter 26 - "LOVE AND HOPE"

https://www.tumblr.com/skellymom/765645976136564736/vagabonds-chapter-26?source=share

Please let me know if you wanted to be added to my taglist or removed! Thanks so much for your support!!!

22 notes · View notes

sock-to-the-third · 6 months ago

Text

Ocean’s Echo

By Everina Maxwell

Got to admit, for someone who doesn’t seek out romance novel’s, I have a unique habit of finding a crap ton of them in my research lol.

Story-wise, Ocean’s Echo’s got a couple twists and turns. The main draw for me was the poppy dialogue, personalized narration to Tennal and Surit and the social dynamics of neuro-mods.

Maxwell really emerses you in the world with opening it in a gambling den. It feels like slipping into the hot tub equivalent of learning about the world, setting up possible conflicts and introducing you to Tennal in his natural environment.

Tennal has this bigger than life personality that can easily dominate any scene he’s in. Yet, he has this social awareness + powers that we wields like a magician. He’s a clusterfuck of a person but man, the nuance *sips the fine wine of characterization* is divine.

Contrast that with Surit’s upstanding forthright nature + intense moral compass makes for a fun dynamic. Also, the way Maxwell introduces him… XD fucking goats. If you read anything, read the goat scene [insert page in post].

The story has the strongest tension at the beginning and the 3/4th point of the story so naturally those were my favorite.

Architects and Readers originating from remenants of an ancient alien civilization was cool. I loved how it’s this pseudo military / perhaps representative state? Either way, I like the vibes. Plus the “light” motif and how it replaces “god” and references to the supernatural in when exasperated. It helps immersing into the world.

Though, I have to admit that judging by the first quarter of the book, I assumed it’d be a much darker book than it was. There’s a bit of a lull period about 1/4 point to 1/2 point that you’d think would get to Tennal more or that there would be a bit more time before they could build that level of allying.

Granted, I think that’s more an indicator of my preferences for slow burning of enemies to friends than really a comment on Maxwells writing.

Did I mention the descriptive prose is killer? It’s fucking amazing. Especially related to describing the floating through space and sync stuff *chiefs kiss* so good.

On to ~REPRESENTATION~ the original reason I picked up this book.

Like wit all books I read, I was hoping for an MC with they/them or neopronouns. While I didn’t get that, Istara (pilot) did have they/them and a neo pronoun (xam).

The conventions of pronouns and gender were intriguing. Made me google if Maxwell was non-binary and/or gay cuz man, the cis or cis gays do not put this much effort into cuff links to denote pronouns.

Wood: he/him

Flint: she/her

I can’t remember what they/them was but I liked how there was an indication that other territories had different accessories that indicated pronouns. Also, there was pronoun edicate that some personal pronouns wouldn’t be shared while others would be. Less as an indicator of “yeah I don’t wanna be bullied” and more “we’re not that close, fam.”

Another thing I enjoyed gender wise was how little it came up. There was some entwining of it when explaining the cuff links but otherwise, the main characters, Tennal and Surit, despite having he/him pronouns didn’t get referred to as “men” or any gendered term constantly.

Plus Surit’s “alt-parents” (god I love that word, it fits the setting so well” were referred into in a partner-esque fashion that felt like a breath of fresh air.

I think it was a bit silly to tie gender to pronouns but that’s more of a “i’m sick and tired of gender, please shoot it into the sun. Kill it. Die die die” than an actual criticism, more a preference tbh.

I really love seeing other authors takes on how to handle introducing pronouns. I can’t tell you how awkward it is to introduce pronouns with names. It just makes me want to choke because it feels so ineloquent. Personally, i just make everyone psychically know each other’s pronouns when I write like how people IRL pretend they can spot pronouns by looking at you. So it’s fun to see other people’s takes.

How would society operate if we had the equivalent of pronoun pins incorporated into society? How would some one react if they didn’t recognize a given pin? Would you be curious about someone’s gender?

It’s so rare that you find conversations like this in the wild of books so it’s fun having these conversations at all.

Though I do wonder sometimes…. Hmmm… Not referring to Maxwell but I’ve read a couple authors who are outside the binary and have a tendency to have their main characters use binary pronouns, at most, a supporting character or love interest using neo or they. It makes you wonder how hard it may be to publish mc’s with they/them pronouns or if there’s some internalized stuff going on.

A thought to ponder. I have only superficial evidence to back it up but its certainly something I want to explore.

All in all, pretty good book. Love some he x he love.

#sock talks #ocean’s echo #everina maxwell #scifi #non binary friendly #they/them

5 notes · View notes

genderqueerdykes · 11 months ago

Text

you can tell who's actually a part of the lesbian and dyke community and who sits on the sidelines and tries to define these entire identities based off of their own speculation as an outsider. i'm not saying these people aren't lesbians- but when you refuse to actually interact with the broader dyke community outside of your tiny insulated echo-chamber, you are actively refusing to acknowledge how the lesbian community actually functions and behaves

people who think that lesbianism is all about femmes and women are people who refuse to immerse themselves in real lesbian and dyke spaces. masculinity has ALWAYS been a part of lesbianism. there is NO point in queer history where masculinity HASN'T been a big part of the dyke experience. boydykes, studs, bois, bulldykes, male lesbians, ftm lesbians, daddy dykes, testo butches, genderfluid dykes, multigender dykes, masculine agender lesbians, transmasc dykes... these people have ALWAYS been in the lesbian community.

if you believe that lesbianism is strictly about femmes and butches who water down their butchness to mean "androgynous/SLIGHTLY masc woman" for the "safety" of femmes, you have no clue what the lesbian community is actually like and i encourage you to explore the community as a whole, because if you can't handle butches, testo dykes, transmasc lesbians, male lesbians, lesboys, guydykes, studs, bois, bulldykes or any other type of masculine lesbian, you don't belong.

interact with real dykes and lesbians and you'll see masculinity is a permanent, inseparable part of the dyke community. you can't only accept the lesbians you personally like. you also have to accept the ones with identities you don't understand or agree with. you don't have to date butches and male lesbians if you don't want to. you have the right to be attracted to who you're attracted to. but the second you try to exclude these people based off of your own personal tastes, you are committing a grave misdeed to this community by actively participating in the silencing and alienation of masc and male dykes.

you drank the radfem kool aid if you genuinely believe this. this belief stems from the "lesbian separatism movement" in the American 1980s which specifically started to remove butches and transmasc lesbians from the community. if you seriously believe lesbianism is about "EWW NO MEN MEN DNI", hiding from men, hating men, forming "women and non binary spaces only", excluding men and mascs, shaming butches who want top surgery and testosterone, you are not a lesbian: you are a terf, and a radfem. your beliefs don't line up with the real lesbian and dyke communities. you have been brainwashed. this is your sign to wake up.

we aren't standing for this bullshit anymore. we've always been here and your "lesbian means non-men loving non-men" definition of lesbianism is the least historically accurate definition of these terms that you could ever possibly ascribe to them. that definition is factually incorrect and will never be the proper definition. stop defining lesbianism by who we exclude and start defining it by the vast and varied members of our community that we include. our lives depend on it. i don't care if you're not personally attracted to lesboys and testo butches- we belong. it's not about who you're personally attracted to, it's about who feels sapphic, who feels like a lesbian, who feels like a dyke, no matter how they identify. you are not the protagonist of the lesbian community. let go and learn to accept.

2K notes · View notes

dalishious · 7 months ago

Text

Vorgoth Game Files Notes

Vorgoth is deep-voiced, solemn, and imposing. They're a member of the Mourn Watch, an elite group of necromancers from the kingdom of Nevarra. But what Vorgoth is exactly--their species, age, gender, whether or not they're alive--is a mystery, shrouded and masked in a cloak. Vorgoth clearly has supernatural powers, however. Even their voice has an otherworldly echo. Vorgoth doesn't speak much, and only in short sentences. As one of the Mourn Watch, they help guard Nevarra's sacred burial complex, the Grand Necropolis. Like all Watchers, Vorgoth is also sworn to stop occult threats to this world, and takes this duty seriously. NOTE: Vorgoth is masculine in appearance (tall, broad) and voice, but their pronouns are "they/them". Vorgoth does not use they/them because they are non-binary (as opposed to our more typical non-binary characters); they use them because they're a total unknown (and may be a pluralistic entity; in the rare instance Vorgoth refers to themselves, they use "we" not "I".)

Diversity win: The entity known as Vorgoth is plural

#vorgoth #datv #datv spoilers

715 notes · View notes

felassan · 1 year ago

Text

Snippets.

A user asked if there are instances wherein Rook will be referred to by their last name. "Yes, there are places where we refer to Rook by their last name. It's very contextual - we don't want to awkwardly insert a reference in where it doesn't make sense - but it does happen, though it is going to be more common with some backgrounds than others."

Q. "Does Solas have a type of tea he doesn't mind as much as others? Or are all of them equally detestable?" A. "Orange zinger."

A user asked about the ages of the companions. "We're not getting into specifics right yet, but the companions cover a broad range of ages and experience. They're all pretty established in the world and in their expertise by the time you meet them, though. You are recruiting a team of experts after all."

You can have body tattoos!

John Epler: "Echoing Corinne, the last few weeks have been an absolute whirlwind but also incredibly rejuvenating. I'm so excited to share more with y'all."

A user stated "There are no restrictions on lineage/faction/class combinations other than dwarves cannot be mages". Corinne added "Correct. I've really been enjoying the different combinations."

Q. "Will the gender identity of a trans/non-binary Rook be acknowledged in game by other characters? (beyond just pronouns I mean)". A. "There are moments when you can disclose and discuss, however, disclosure remains the right of the individual so you have to make that choice for yourself." (!!)

Re: release date. ''Exact date has not yet been revealed. Fall 2024 is as much as we can say right now.''

''Lots of great cameos in the game, but I'm not going to spoil anything. You'll have to play to see who shows up for yourself.''

''We can't reveal our upcoming marketing beats or media presence just yet. Stay tuned.''

Q. ''Can companion AI be customized - ie. DAO/DA2 style tactics or even something like Aggressive -> Defensive'' A. ''Very different system this time around. In the skill trees you can affect their behaviors, like setting you up for combos, or auto-healing you when health gets low. Each Companion is a little different mechanically.''

Q. ''Will we get the option to give our Rook more fantastical hair colors, like purple, blue, pink?''. A. ''Yes''

Q. ''How about heterochromatic eyes?'' A. ''Yes''

Corinne: ''We're so excited too! As much as I've played, I absolutely cannot wait to do my first playthrough when the game is out. Also cannot wait to hear about all of your decisions and experiences.''

Q. ''Will I be able to make a short qunari and a tall dwarf or are there limits to that? Do the qunari have to be buff?'' A. ''There are limitations, of course... but yes, you can make a Dwarf that is tall or a Qunari that is short, relative to their lineage. We stan the skinny Qunari''

Corinne: ''Need to get back to it, all. But it's always a pleasure to check-in and see the great questions. We'll do this again soon :)''

[source: the official BioWare Discord]

(emphasis mine)

#dragon age: the veilguard #dragon age: dreadwolf #dragon age 4 #the dread wolf rises #da4 #dragon age #bioware #video games #lgbtq+#solas #long post #longpost #!!! so much good stuff in here #i wonder if we can have full-body vallaslin ^^#tysm to aceofdragons ^^#1k+

1K notes · View notes

phantom-of-the-501st · 7 months ago

Text

Clone Headcanons

This has been sat in my phone notes for a while and I kept forgetting to actually turn it into a post. So here are some of my clone related headcanons (some of which have no explanation)

Crosshair is a nail-biter. When he was a cadet, his nails were almost non-existant and completely ragged. Once he had to start wearing blacks, he stopped because he couldn't chew his nails through the gloves, and he turned to toothpicks instead. He eventually worked himself out of the habit, but he will start biting his nails again if he goes without toothpicks for too long.

Echo talks in his sleep. Normally, it's non-sensical but he has spooked some of his brothers due to some slightly terrifying things that have been said while he's asleep.

Tup is non-binary.

Echo is aroace.

Wrecker has hearing loss in his left ear as a result of the explosion that scarred the side of his face. His brothers will talk a little louder if they are stood on his left, so that he can hear them better, and sometimes it takes them a few attempts to wake him up because he's fallen asleep on his right side and can't hear them very well.

Cody despises crying in front of people and will avoid it when he can. Rex is the only one who has actually seen Cody properly cry.

99 would tell the cadets stories when they were having nightmares and would often sacrifice his own sleep to make sure that they were okay. He would also name characters after the clones that he used to tell the stories to. One of the greatest honours was for a clone to be told that a character was named after them in one of 99's stories.

Dogma is allergic to tookas.

Echo has always run cold and would often sleep with socks on. He only stopped doing it because of his prosthetics. Fives is the opposite and will often sleep in as few clothes as possible.

Jesse has a scar on the back of his hand where Hardcase accidentally stabbed it with a fork.

Hunter is dyslexic and Tech would often help him during assessments so that the Kaminoans didn't find out.

Cody sleeps like the dead. He's very quiet and doesn't move around a lot, so much so that his brothers have panicked that he's died in his sleep on more than one occassion.

Wolffe accidentally called Plo Koon dad once. Plo actually found it very endearing but no-one is allowed to bring it up because Wolffe has very heavily implied that anyone who mentions it will never be found again.

Fox has a small scar just above his right eyebrow. If anyone asks, he just says he got it in an altercation and leaves it at that. No-one knows that said altercation was actually with a door that Fox walked into because he was too tired to pay attention.

534 notes · View notes

if-divinepunishment · 26 days ago

Text

If a soul is born without resonance, what does it echo instead?

✦ Rating: 18+ (Mature Themes, addiction - substance use, Strong Language, Emotional Abuse, torture, violence, sexual assault, explicit sex)

✦ In Thalwood, the trees don't just whisper, They sing. And when they fall silent, we hold our breath.

It has been many centuries since you made the mistake of stepping out of line. Before this room, and before the horrors inflicted upon your body and soul you were someone – something.

Anger. Rage. Wrath.

Though, those titles were much prettier when first bestowed upon you like an act of love. Now the only acts of love given to you are the cuts of a blade and the painful tugging of a cleaning cloth.

After years, and years of pleading to be forgiven and begging for your sins to be released, you are dismissed from the celestial realm to continue your divine punishment. As if centuries of pain weren’t enough. You find yourself vulnerable in a world you’ve dreamt of exploring before.

Altheria.

Unfortunately, your newfound freedom is fleeting.

Just as you awaken on the moss-covered ground, you’re struck with the bubbling frustration of a man standing no more than ten meters in front of you. His sloppily managed magic shackling you once again. Not by a God this time, but by pale, shaking, mortal hands.

✦ In this interactive fiction you will be able to

‣ Customise your character’s appearance, gender (male, female, non-binary), personality, and sexuality.

‣ Meet and romance (or don’t romance), antagonise, or befriend some interesting human companions. - Please note that being in a romantic relationship does not mean you have to persue sex or physical intimacy.

‣ live as familiar and experience whatever that entails.

‣ Explore the town of Thalwood and learn about the Ethereal Harmonics.

‣ Find about about Thalwood's history and solve some of it's mysteries.

‣ Escape from the chains binding you to your abusive creator and their flock of angels and enact revenge.

✦ Nyneve Minowa (he/him) RO

Age: 25

A 5’11, pale, slender man covered in black clothing. He has silky, black hair that cascades down his back. His blue eyes seem to look past your skin and right into your mind sometimes. Though, you suppose that’s because you’re his familiar.

A scholar in Ethereal harmonics, he holds the ability to gain power from the Angel he worships – rage. Which happens to be you.

Currently, he spends all his time with you. However, he used to primarily spend time studying the Ethereal Harmonics.

Tropes: Worshipper/worshipped, stuck together, forced proximity, secretly pining.

Green flags: smart, protective, observant, dependable, curious, loyal.

Ethereal Harmony - Emotant

Red flags: Possessive, emotionally constipated, prone to anger, cynical, confrontational.

✦ Nami Lovecroft (she/her) RO

Age: 26

A 5’6, chubby girl with deep, cool tone brown skin and a flat nose. She’s covered from head to toe in modest clothing. Her black hair is natural in a small Afro. She carries on her a beautiful rosary and you can help but notice how her dark brown eyes light up when she looks at it, a stark contrast to the uncomfortable grimace she pulls when she speaks to you.

Often seen volunteering in the church, maybe she can give you a mortal perspective on Altheria, your creator and the angels.

Tropes: apprehensive friends to lovers, deconstructing harmful religious beliefs (together), forbidden love.

Green flags: Kind, generous, Passionate, Merciful, gentle.

Red flags: initially hostile, heavily (toxic) religious, very guarded, insecure, Naive,

Ethereal Harmony - Virtuant

✦ Crew Ledger He/him (RO)

Age: 40

A 6’4, stocky man with tanned skin with a roman nose. Usually wearing his ‘comfortable inn-keeping clothes’ for the inn Harmon’s Rest. His curly brown hair reaches just past his ears and his cheeks are flushed. His sleeves are rolled up and his arms are covered with hair. His green eyes seem to almost sparkle as he talks about his seven-year-old daughter Laverne. On his right wrist he has the names Liren and Laverne tattooed in cursive.

He spends most of his time with Laverne or manning Harmon’s Rest.

Ethereal Harmony - Virtuant

Tropes: Single parent, big secret.

Green flags: Eager, nice, affectionate, good parent, animal lover.

Red flags: Cagey about past, stubborn, addiction.

✦ Ahri Magnolia (she/they) RO

Age: 29

A 5’4, plump person with tanned skin and a flat nose. They wear elegant, ‘sharp’ looking clothes that drape her in a cloak of mystery. Black and dark red, straight hair that reaches her shoulder blades tied in a half-up half-down hairstyle, with a sharp jewelled hairpin that dangles when she walks. their hazel eyes are as sharp as their voice and her confidence radiates into any room she walks into.

She spends most of her time solving disputes in Thalwood.

Ethereal Harmony – Desirant

Tropes: Messing around first, shameless flirt, sworn off relationships.

Green flags: Empathetic, charming, observant, strong willed, capable.

Red flags: emotionally unavailable, non-committal (no cheating), closed off, mildly manipulative.

✦ Cazine (they/them) RO

Age: 23

A 5’6, lithe person with brown skin and a hooked nose. They wear androgenous clothes and heavy jewellery. Their wavy hair is black and is short in the morning and long at night, however they aren’t open to explaining why. Their left eye is black, and their right is covered with an eyepatch. They don’t seem to very invested in anyone, however they are uniquely interested in you.

They lead a hunting and foraging squad in Thalwood. It's said they get their keen aim and steady hand from hours of painting.

Ethereal Harmony - Emotant

Tropes: Found family, traumatic past, gender identity issues.

Green flags: resolute, resourceful, independent, flexible, open-minded, preceptive.

Red flags: Avoidant, careless (to self), quick tempered, stubborn, sarcastic, impatient, impulsive.

✦ Aquine (They/She/He/it)

Your creator, and the creator of all things living. Though she was once brimming with ambition, emotion and desires all you’ve seen the last few centuries is their blank excuse soul. You’ve felt her warmth and devotion and now you feel her icy hot bite and the ripping of your wings.

Soon, you will get revenge.

✦ Envy (he/him)

The second angel ever created by Aquine. Always watching and always wanting more of you. He was your dearest friend, but recently you’ve realised he’s nothing but the knife that stabs into your back. Now, you’re sure he would have torn the wings from your back himself, just to see your face as he did so - if Aquine would have allowed it. Yet, he settled on exposing your expedition to Altheria. And in the end, he got what he wanted, he got to drink you up and spit you out for good.

✦ The Angels

Woven from Aquine’s heart are her beloved Angels. As a testament to his love and affection towards the first living beings they’ve ever created, they forfeited their emotions, desires and virtues. Thus, the first Angel dubbed ‘the Prototype Angel’ was given her hatred. A boon for her future creations to share – the gift of never feeling hated.

✦ The Ethereal Harmonies

Not a person, rather a thing given to human-kind. Given to the people to connect divinity and mortals. Through the Ethereal Harmonies humans may request boons for power from an angel through the devotion of desire, emotions, or virtue.

✦ Demo - TBA ✦ Spotify Playlist - Cazine, The Prototype ✦ Pinterest - TBA ✦ Character arts - TBA (when I have some money I want to commission some artists!)

✦ Severe content warnings for the following: Self harm, suicidal ideation, torture,transphobia, child death(mentioned), addictiom, abuse, sexual assault and abuse, flashbacks, recovery from trauma, disordered eating, power imbalances, re-traumatisation, animal death through hunting for food, Sex and suggestive themes, death.

(The sexual abuse, assault, abuse, and torture happen to MC. These scenes will be skippable however they will still happen.)

This list may be subject to change while the interactive fiction novel is in development, please keep a regular eye on the contents warning list on this page as the chapters update.

✦ Additional disclaimers and information

I am a novice writer and am doing this as a passion project for fun. I will try to be as quick as possible but I have zero coding experience. I will give as many updates on this blog as i can though.

(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶) .ᐟ.ᐟ

Character asks & POV are okay, nsfw is okay, if I don't want to answer something due to being uncomfortable I won't! I appreciate YOU if you have read this far into my little post.. I'm quite nervous but really proud of this idea!

#divine punishment #divine punishment if #interactive fiction #intro post #twine if #twine wip #twine interactive fiction #itch.io #indie dev #if wip #dp

327 notes · View notes