#nothing serious just gonna vent for a sec

[regular-lord-reckoner]

had just...a real shitty day yesterday 

real shitty 

i guess it really started sunday? 

my mood pretty much just tanked and i was really stressed out and irritable 

part of that had to do with me trying to get everything prepared for my classes monday, but i think it’s also just...bad brain in general 

my mom helped me put together almost 200 goodie bags for my students since i had my last class with them yesterday and i like to try to give my kids something on the last day 

on top of that i had to make sure i had all my paperwork and stuff i needed because we were only going to be doing surveys, no official lesson or anything so that whole ordeal was just kind of...a lot 

and in general like...going to those groups is tough. it’s two schools that are like 10 minutes apart from one another and i go to one school at 8 am to do three classes back to back and then i drive over to the other to do my last four over the course of a few hours with just two short breaks crammed in there and even tho it goes by pretty fast that way, it’s still just...a lot (the recurring thought i’ve had on sundays now is “boy, i’d really rather get kicked in the teeth than have to go to work tomorrow!!”) 

like i said, that’s nearly 200 kids to see in one day, so that means i have to be On for that many people, including all the teachers and other staff i interact with 

and just...right fucking away, class one, i was like, “So guys, this is going to be our last lesson together” and some kids...cheered. 

like...okay. ouch. it’s not the first time i’ve ever gotten that reaction in my history of doing lessons and some kids have straight up H A T E D my ass, but it never feels good to basically be told to your face, “Yay, can’t wait until you’re finally gone!” but i just kinda shook it off and kept going. 

the next two classes after that were better, but i kept having to ask for kids to please stop talking while i was talking and to not work ahead of me on the survey and it’s just...frustrating to have to repeat yourself over and over and over and over and over and ask please guys, please we’re almost done. please just bear with me. over and over and over and over again. but they’re kids, so i stay patient and just bear with it

by the time i got to the second school, however...christ

there’s this one class in particular that just the entire fucking time has been an absolute nightmare and it sucks, because i could tell there were kids in there who wanted to participate and liked the lessons and stuff, but just...constant talking. constant. 

and not just a kid or two, like almost the entire fucking class the entire time and i’m almost having to yell over them just to be heard which, of course, means that i have to end up repeating myself and instructions over and over and over and over again. 

eventually i got the point where i was like, “guys, i’m going to be honest with you, i’ve brought goodie bags for everyone, but i’ve had to ask you multiple times now to please be quiet, so if we can’t do that i’m not going to give them out” (something the teacher in the room backed me up on) 

and i even said, “i hate to do that, but i don’t think it’s fair to give you guys a reward when we can’t follow the rules”. 

this led to a few of the kids being just...ridiculously disrespectful to my face and telling me to just leave, get out, that they don’t care, etc. 

and like...listen. i get it. 

i get part of why i’m doing this is that these kids have behavioral issues and likely it’s for some type of reason and i try as best as i can to be empathetic and not take it personally 

but at the same time it also just makes me feel like a massive failure that i wasn’t able to help like...at all. 

that this was our last lesson and i’ve got kids acting like that and saying that shit to my face. it sucks. it really, really sucks. 

and again, i know it’s not likely personal. there’s nothing i’ve done in the entire time i’ve been there that’s warranted that kind of disrespect. 

but it’s already hard enough for me to put myself in front of a classroom of like 20 some odd kids and to be treated like shit when all i’m trying to do is help 

it’s already shitty enough knowing that some of the ones who “like” me only do so because i sometimes bring candy and that’s all they really care about. 

and i get it, like...school’s school and lessons on empathy and anger management aren’t the most exciting things in the world (especially because i feel like i just wasn’t able to find any super interesting activities to go along with my lesson that wouldn’t have been incredibly disruptive and distracting from the point). 

but again it just...takes the wind out of your sails a little bit. 

that said, i still left goodie bags for that class, i just left them with the teacher and let her decide who should get one and who shouldn’t because i didn’t want to punish the entire class for some shit just a couple of kids did, but at the same time i also didn’t want to cause any more problems. 

and on any other day i probably wouldn’t have taken it so hard and would have been able to shake it off a little easier, but because of where my mental state was already at it was just...tough 

on top of that, i’m trying to get in touch with someone from my old work to see about doing some part time helping out over the summer because the other reason i want to find a new job is that this position i’m in is only a 10 month position which means i don’t get to work in june and july and thus...won’t be getting paid 

and with all the medical shit i’ve had going on that’s just...not gonna happen, i’m afraid 

the only reason i’m not just quitting right now and finding a new job is because i’ve already committed to a trip out of the country in july and i just don’t know where on earth i could get hired and already have a week’s worth of pto in order to do that 

still, i am......less than enthused about having to go back to somewhere i really thought i’d never have to be again 

y’know, the place where towards the end there i was having to lock myself in the bathroom and sob my eyes out for a few minutes before washing my face in the sink and going back out to sit at the front desk so i could check some more patients in while also trying to do 3 other people’s jobs at the same fucking time. 

not to mention i...hate a lot of people who work there and have already had to talk to one i ESPECIALLY can’t stand on the phone when i was trying to get in touch with one of my old managers so...y’know. that’s gonna be a lot of fun for me. love that for me. because by the sound of it, i’ll be having to work with her again and i just...hate. 

it’s also frustrating because i’m just waiting now for someone to give me a call to tell me what i need to do to get put into basically a pool of people that the company will call on whenever they need someone to fill in wherever and if there’s one thing i really fucking hate it’s waiting around for someone to call me when i have absolutely no idea when that’ll be 

especially because when i talked to my manager on monday and she passed the info off to whoever’s supposed to be calling me she said i’d probably hear from her that same day so knowing that i’d be out most of the day i gave her my cell phone number, but whenever i’m at home i don’t have cell service so i’m like...shit, i hope she hasn’t tried to call me when i’ve been here at home

i texted my manager and let her know about the cell service thing and gave her my home number to pass along to said person who’s supposed to be calling me since i should be home all day tomorrow but still i’m just like...can i go ahead and get something set up or figure out what i’m supposed to do? because i hate feeling like i have to wait by the phone 

but....yeah. needless to say, too, when i’m in sort of the worst of my mental shit i tend to be very, very mean to myself and about the only thing typically i’ve been able to hold onto is like, “well, i may be useless and suck at absolutely everything and ugly and boring and and and but at least i’m a good worker bee...” (which I KNOW isn’t something i should hang my hat on, I KNOW but it’s...all i feel like i have sometimes) 

and so naturally whenever i feel like i’ve dropped the ball or done a bad job or i just...suck at what i’m doing i take it really, really, really hard and it puts me in an even worse place 

but i tried as best as i could to hold myself together and rationalize with myself to calm down. mostly i just distracted myself and zoned out and i did end up crying real big at like 4 am (because of COURSE i had trouble sleeping) and that kinda helped i guess? idk 

i did have a dream where i saw my sister again and i’ve had dreams like this before where she’s just...back? and it’s like i know she shouldn’t be, i know what’s happened and it doesn’t make sense, but that part of my brain that’s been waiting to find out this has all been a horrible, horrible prank i guess holds out hope for something like this and she’ll just magically reappear and everything will be okay again 

and she’s always really happy and doesn’t seem to want to talk about why she did what she did, she just wants to hang out and i’m fine with that too, but in this dream she was like “we can watch some movies and i’ll answer all your questions” and i just started sobbing and hugging her saying that’s all i ever wanted and so...needless to say waking up from that dream and realizing it was just that wasn’t great either, but in a way it’s also just kinda...nice to see her again, i guess 

i’d like to think that’s actually her visiting me in my dreams, but i’m not sure. i think i just had her on my mind. 

when i was driving home yesterday and already trying not to cry a song came on shuffle that reminds me of her so much and i did end up crying by that point, but i was pretty much at home, so i wasn’t in any danger or anything 

i dunno what’s going on with like...the planets or the universe in general, but i feel like basically everyone i saw on social media yesterday was just having a real rough one, so i dunno what’s up with that but today’s been better, at least 

i had my rowdy boys group for the last time today even though i normally see them on thursdays i was afraid my doctor’s appointment would run over into our usual time so the guidance counselor was nice enough to let me come today instead so if nothing else like...i’m done teaching for the year !!! (and hopefully for like...ever if i play my cards right) 

on top of that i’m also a little anxious about said doctor’s appointment because i should be finding out what our next plan of action is since the last surgery was a failure 

i’m hoping for lithotripsy because i think my other alternative is them doing surgery via going through my back and i...............hate how that sounds, but i guess we’ll see. hopefully. i know they’re going to do another x-ray (yay, ANOTHER bill !!) but i’m hoping i can get scheduled for...whatever they’re gonna do that day 

this whole situation has just been....obnoxious as fuck and i’m ready for it to be over and done with. it’s been like...two months of this shit if you count the weeks i kept running a high fever and nobody could figure out why. 

i’m pretty sure i went to the ER on april 5th i wanna say? i’ve had a stent in me ever since then. i can count on one hand the number of times since then i’ve been able to pee without some kind of pain afterwards. i hate that i’m gonna have to pay for a surgery that was useless!! and that i have so many bills period!! and we’re still.not.done!

and no, it’s not like i’m in absolute agony all day long, but i still just want to go back to normal. it’s bad enough i’ve had constant allergy bullshit happening for about a month as well, like...this too, huh? 

idk. i feel at this point like i’m just whining and whining and whining, but there’s just a lot of bad shit happening now all at once and it’s just a lot to deal with and i know rationally i’ll get through it and things will settle down and fall into place but getting to that point is tough at the moment 

because while allllllll of this is happening there’s also some really stupid drama going on with my mom’s side of the family (specifically with her sisters) and we’ve somehow gotten dragged into it and the whole thing’s just a giant goddamn mess and is so fucking needless but there’s nothing we can really do because it’s not our issue, all we tried to do was help. 

but because everyone is fucking incapable of being an adult and just saying what they really mean or communicating period it has to be this giant ugly thing right now where everyone else is allowed to beat up on people who aren’t directly involved and you can’t call anyone out on it or it’ll just make shit worse, but in a few months probably everyone will just act like nothing happened and everything’s supposed to go back to normal 

but...whatever. 

at this point i’m just telling myself an amended version of Justin’s tweet post election like... I’m just going to wake up and keep trying to do good in this world and nobody gets to vote on that. Nobody gets to have a say on that, not even me. 

My mental health has been pretty abysmal over the past few months, maybe even longer by this point, and i’m fighting as best as i can and pulling myself out of every rut i fall into but some days it’s just really hard

i know the best thing i could do for myself right now is to start seeing a therapist, but here again...with everything else going on i’m really not sure taking on an expense like that is something i want to get into right now and for once this isn’t an excuse

i know i find a million and one reasons to not to do this, but right now i just have too much shit going on and too many balls up in the air i just...need to put a pin in that (and i know mental health should come first, but i do need to give myself a little credit here like...i’ve been dealing with this since i was at least 8. i’ve managed for 20 years, postponing this a few months isn’t going to kill me. especially because, not to be too morbid or anything, but.... even when i do really, really want to die i can’t do that to my parents. i just can’t. losing one kid to that was bad enough, i’d absolutely destroy them if i did it, too so before anyone encourages me to just make an appointment anyway trust me, i know myself, i can carry this weight a little bit longer) 

i already have a list of other doctor’s appointments i need to go to after i get all this other shit sorted out as well so again, the timing just...could not be fucking worse, but i am finally at that point where i know i need to and i want to 

i want to get better. i really do. 

despite how miserable i’ve been and how bad things have been i guess if nothing else it’s pushed me up against the wall to where i’ve realized i can’t keep doing this and since i’ve already established dying isn’t an option i need to figure out how to be okay with being here 

and the shitty part is...that’s on me. it’s not up to someone else, it’s not up to some time in my life where i’ll wake up and suddenly be okay, i have to do the hard work and there’s still a big part of me that doesn’t want to because that’s going to involve going through my trauma and BOY DO I NOT WANNA DO THAT but like...i need to

i’m almost 30 and i’m not saying “ohmygod, that’s so old!!” but like... i already didn’t plan on living this long anyway, but now that i’ve committed to it i’d really like to meet that milestone with at least a little bit more of a grip on myself (especially because i hear your 30s can actually be a pretty cool time if you let them, idk) 

i also just want to maybe enjoy life? like truly?? 

it’s not that i haven’t had good experiences or made wonderful memories, don’t get me wrong, but...in a lot of ways i just haven’t participated in my own life and i’ve actively held myself back and kept myself down 

i don’t let myself pursue anything that could possibly make me feel good about myself and like i’ve accomplished something because i bully myself into quitting or second guessing myself to the point where i’m an absolute mess and can’t enjoy myself 

i don’t...like that. i don’t want to do that anymore. i want to be able to try things, to pick up a hobby or two, to find out i’m good at something or at least work at something until i’m good at it. 

i want to meet more people and build new relationships and not even necessarily at this point looking for something romantic (because i need to get myself in a better place before i could even seriously consider pursuing that) but overall i just...i want to live my life for a change. i’m so tired of feeling like i don’t deserve it or i’m not worthy of it. i’m so tired of holding myself back and constantly tearing myself apart over every little thing and for no fucking reason. i’m tired of hating myself. 

so...yeah. 

this turned out to be a much longer rant than i intended but like i said there’s...a lot going on with me right now and i feel like i just need to get all of that out. 

i think things are eventually going to be okay and i keep telling myself that maybe this is all just one of those times when things are really, really awful right before they get really, really good. 

oftentimes with big change, especially positive change, you’ll find yourself going through a period of just...absolute garbage and shit and i’m hoping this is just one of those times and that pretty soon things will turn around. 

for now i’m just trying my best to focus on all that i have to be grateful for because i know not every aspect of my life is complete shit so i’m trying to surround myself with that for now and keep my focus there until things settle down and i can get my footing again. 

if you’ve read this far thank you, really. i know i’ve done a lot of bitching and complaining and i know it’s not just doing so for the sake of it, but like i said before, i know a lot of people are going through rough times right now as well so if you’re one of those people i just want you to know that you’re not alone and that things will get better for you, too. i don’t know when specifically, but i promise that they will even if it feels hopeless right now. try not to give up. try to hang in there. focus on the good things and the things you have to look forward to. and most of all, try to be kind to yourself as best as you can. i know better than anyone that that’s easier said than done, but still try. <3 

[spark-circuit]

me: *passively dealing with the psychological aftermath of my emotionally abusive gaslighting-ish full time job from a year ago* *does my taxes for this year and figures out my current part time job that is much less stressful and requires less qualifications pays me £500+ more per month than the old job* ,,,,,,,, , , , ,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,, huh.

[thekillingjoke-haha]

We’re Batshit Crazy

@spnquotebingo​ Word count:1,609

Summary: Love isn't all that perfect sometimes love is crazy especially when the Hero is in love with said crazy.

Gotham AU

Jason Todd(Jensen Ackles) x Villan!Reader

Enemies and Lovers (none of that "to" bs)

Gotham Recasting: Batman=John, Dick Grayson(second Robin not first) =Sam ,Tim Drake=Adam, Joker(ledger style)=Lucifer, Harley Quinn=Lilith,ect.

Warnings: Mention of death, blood, guns, and violence

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The mad laughter rung out into the night sky as the purple Lamborghini hit corners with violently sharp turns. "Oh puddin I just love family night!~" The pale platinum blonde giggled as the man with green dyed hair licked his smiling lips. A bubble of laughter came from the back seat he turned around to see his princess looking out the small back window. "Batsy batsy batsy" Her low/high pitched giggle caused a crazy chain reaction as the bat mobile hurried to catch up. "Always ruining our fun,huh,princess?" The clown king shifted his gray-ish blue order into the mirror grinning making the scars on his face raise into a sinister smile at the look of pure chaos in his daughter's e/c eyes. "Not tonight! Not on my birthday!!" She said as she smiled reaching under the seat to pull out a Tommy gun. Climbing to the front seat sitting on her mothers lap she leaned out the passenger window. "Go back to the Rat cave your not gonna put a downer on my weekend!" Y/n yelled shooting off round towards the tires,windshield,and headlights.

The mobile didn't seem to have a scratch as as a motorcycle pulled up beside it. Slipping back in the car the younger women pouted looking at get parents. "He called his little birdie no doubt the replacements in the car." Y/n huffed as she dug around for more fire power. "Puddin we have a visitor.~" The red mask gazed at us as he lifted a forearm pistol. Shots were fired and Joker took a hard right almost like tron the motorcycle quickly turned into a ally to avoid being hit. "Sorry Princess might have to cut tonight shot." He said licking his lips as a thump came from the roof making the youngest clown snarl her eye crazed as she shot above her as the purple car swerved wildly. "YOU'RE RUINING MY BIRTHDAY,BATS!!!" Y/n cackled madly a mixture of her parents laughed till the magazine ran out.

They got to one of their warehouses where Jokers men were armed to the teeth. The clown mask had black soulless eyes and immediately fired the moment the batmobile entered. Y/n skipped out of the purple Lamborghini she got on her tippy toes and kissed her dad on the cheek. "I got the hooded punk. Can you clip the bats wings for me...a little present?!" He laughed as he armed himself with a shotgun. "Anything for my princess." The f/c sf/c female clown skipped away knowing that the motorcycle riding vigilante was hot on her tail. That's how she found herself on the roof tops jumping the gaps as heavy footfalls followed. Her loud laugh echoed as she leaped to a smaller building hiding behind a vent the moment the brown leather jacket came into view she tackled the tall man. They were both panting as a grin pulled on the clowns lips.

Y/n POV

"Caught ya,Jay bird." I giggled pulling of the helmet his apple green eyes covered by a second mask stared at me he chuckled as his hand slipped above his head in mock surrender. "Yeah you caught me,beautiful." Leaning down I kiss him my hands pushed into his cheeks my thumb running over the scarred J. We've been dating for awhile now ever since dad kidnapped the second Robin at seventeen. I was fifteen at the time and dad had me at his side as he tortured him.I was always there to stitched him up and put burn cream after shock therapy I didn't know how we got attached maybe because he wanted to rebel a little by talking to me or someone around his age saw the same if not worse shit.

Six years ago(Y/n 15 Jason 17)

"Why are you helping me?" Looking up his head was strapped down along with his arms and legs. I shrugged my shoulders I knew who he was if I wiped off the make up and temp dyed my hair I was the honor student in the same class as him. Jason Todd anyone with eyes had a thing for him,but after removing his mask it wasn't hard to piece together who the bat fam is. "I know what my dad has planned for you Jay. This is just a band-aid on a gunshot wound and might I say that's very unhelpful." This was the first I spoke to him and it wasn't long before Dad beat him to death.

Two years later.

I sat in the back of the car as Frost drove. We just left the cemetery. "Why are we doing this,n/n." He asked looking in the rear view mirror at me. I'm seventeen now my thoughts screamed at me. Why was I trying to bring him back? "Because I crazy that why!" I giggled as we grew closer to the lazapit. He was dressed in a black suit with red tie his body sunk into the water as I waited. A loud gasp drew my attention as he shot up a white streak in his hair. "Heya sleeping beauty." Looking over in shock he lowly made his way looking like a baby deer. "I'm alive,but h-how?" His green eyes looked at me. "A Ghoul owed me a few favors I just asked to use his fountain of youth." Handing him a towel and some clothes. "Sorry about the outfit,but Arkham does have one size fits all." Jason chuckled as he started to dry off.I realized why I brought him back. I was crazy about him.

Two more years later(two years ago)

Jason wanted to stay dead he didn't go back to His dad and brother after he realized that neither of them tried and save him. It was sad to see,but it brought Jason closer to me and he started to trust me and I gave trust in return. Blood coated my hands while some was on my face. Looking at Jay some was speckled on his cheeks taking the pockets square out of the mobsters coat I wiped it off he looked down at me his arm slipped around my waist pulling me closer my breath hicked. "Will you be my girlfriend,my little jester?" A large smile grew on my face as my arms went around his neck pulling him down further. "Gladly,Jay bird." I kissed him not caring if my lipstick stained his lips and he didn't seem to care either as the kiss grew more intense. We shared our first kiss at nineteen surrounded by dead bodies as sirens and the unmistakable sound of the armed batmobile. At least he's as crazy about me as I am about him.

One year ago. (Jason POV for a sec)

I came to Bruce I hate to admit it but I needed advice about the one think he knew best. Women. It was just a couple of months ago he found out I was alive and shocker he managed to drive Dicky boy to Blüdhaven to get away from him to get his own image and not just Robin. Oh and surprise surprise when out of robins he had a spare like a tire and it's name was Tim. Nevermind that I stood across from Bruce in his home main office he had a frown on his face. "You're dating someone and its serious and I didn't know about it?" He asked trying to deduct everything. "I've been dating her ever since I came back. As strange as it might sound,but I want us to be something more." That's when the billionaire playboy stood up standing just a inch shorter then myself.

"Life is short Jason and you've experienced that first hand if you feel that both of you are perfect enough to be more then go for it." Perfect wasn't realistic nothing was ever perfect my life isn't perfect her life sure as hell isn't she's the clown princess I'm a bat son. Maybe that what makes us so good together the fact that it would have never really happened any other way life is just crazy like that.

Present

Staring into those vexing green eyes always brought me back. We're both twenty-one him being older only by a couple of months. "Happy birthday,gorgeous." His voice brought me back as my smile grew. We were standing up now he held a box wrapped in my two favorite colors. "Awe you shouldn't have." I grab it and opened it a gun was inside it was red and gold revolver it looked like my moms love/hate gun,but it said King/Queen. Looking at Jay I reached to hug him when suddenly he dropped to one knee pulling out a box with a beautiful f/c ring and ruby gem. "This feels over due. You took care of me when I was considered enemy number one. You brought me back from the grave when my own family didn't try. And this might sound stupid,but I had a crush on you in middle school you were one of the only people that didn't give me pity after Bruce adopted a street kid." He licked his lips as he gave of a small smile. "Together we are far from perfect, but we are good. You complete me...Y/n M/n Napier become my queen?" My eyes glossed over with tears my make up running down the pale foundation. "Oh my god of course!!!" I jumped into his arms hugging him tightly before letting him slip on the ring. "I love you." "I love you more crazy." I chuckle it sounded watery in my throat. "If I'm crazy then that makes two of us. You wanted to marry me." Yep we're both batshit crazy.

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A/n: Quote= We are far from perfect, but we are good. ~Supernatural

Is it just me or does Jensen look fucking hot as Red Hood?! I'm mean he's definitely a reason to move to Gotham

Well first crossover AU in my bingo card

[ashintheairlikesnow]

The Boy: 435689

CW: Whump involving a minor (character is 16), although minor is not whumped in this piece. Institutionalized slavery setting, pet whump setting. This piece is more angsty comf, though

“435689, Position Two,” The handler said as the door opened, but the boy didn’t move. He kept his jaw set and curled up even more tightly, pressing himself into the corner of the small white room.

“I said, Position-… shit. See, I knew when I saw the other one… You’re definitely too young,” The handler said, and the boy looked up at him, confused by the words. They swam around him, swooped down and up, made sense only after whole seconds had passed. They put stuff in his food, but he had to eat, right? He tried not eating, but they made him, anyway. He’d do anything to not have to be fed through the gag again. 

Or the drip.

The boy shuddered, tears in his eyes, blinking them away as rapidly as he could. If he cried, the handler would laugh at him, they laughed at all the trainees who cried. 

This handler, though, just… stood there. 

“Jesus, how old are you?”

The boy’s eyebrows furrowed, and he tried to curl himself up even more tightly, arms around his knees, shivering in the constant frigid chill. “All…” His voice cracked and he flinched, ready for the crack of the baton - but nothing happened, and finally he forced his eyes back open to see the handler hadn’t moved. “All p-pets are of legal and c-c-consenting age, sir-”

“Yeah, but you sure as fuck aren’t.” The handler sighed, raking a hand back through his hair, his other hand dropping off the black baton that hung on his belt, little a little ridiculously oversized compared to the young handler’s skinny hips. As soon as he wasn’t touching it, the boy relaxed, just a little, but he kept his eyes locked. “What are you, sixteen?”

The boy hesitated, waiting for the trap he knew must be in the question. It was a trick - he had to say he was eighteen, they worked on this, it hurt and hurt and hurt until he agreed to say he was eighteen - but the handler’s expression didn’t change.

There was no satisfaction there. Instead, there was something the boy hadn’t seen in anyone’s face since he got here… concern.

“I w-was… I’m eighteen,” He said, not quite whimpering the words, his eyes still on the black baton that hung off the handler’s belt. “All pets are of legal and consenting ah, age, I’m sorry don’t be mad at me-” 

The handler stepped into the room, and the boy cringed, putting his arms up over his head to defend himself. 

“Hey-… hey, it’s okay, let’s just settle, yeah?” The handler kept moving, step by careful step, slow like a documentary the boy had once watched in class, where they moved up towards a scared wolf and-

Pain - piercing like a knife through his skull - and the boy cried out, curling up tighter. “Please,” He whispered. “Please don’t hurt me.”

“Settle,” The handler said again, more softly. “Settle. It’s okay, 435689, you’re okay. You’re going to be okay. I just want to get a better look at you, yeah? Can you look up at me now?”

The boy, sniffling, forced his arms down only with serious effort, lowering them until he was sitting with his back to the wall, drowning in the oversized white trainee shirt, shivering against the cold in the thin fabric of shirt and shorts that did nothing to warm him. He wore his collar, the heavy box at the back so they could shock him when he was bad - some of the others didn’t have shock collars, but the boy was never good for long enough.

They’d chopped his dark hair short, and he knew it was uneven and shaggy even though he hadn’t seen himself in a mirror since they brought him to his room the first time. 

“Fuck.” The handler bit down on his lower lip, and the boy stared up at him, hoping this was okay, hoping he wouldn’t be hurt any worse than they already did. “Shit. No, you know, I kept thinking some of you guys look young, but… fuck. You can’t be older than sixteen.”

“I-I… I’m eighteen,” The boy insisted, weakly.

“It’s okay, kiddo, I’m not gonna hurt you.” The handler sighed and dropped into a crouch in front of him, holding out one hand. The boy wasn’t chained to the wall, like some of the others, but he didn’t move, not right away. “I’m not gonna hurt you, c’mere,” The handler said, softly.

He sounded nice. No one was nice anymore. 

No one had touched him at all except to hurt.

“Y-yes… yes, sir,” The boy whispered, and shifted slowly forward, teeth nearly chattering at the cold. The handler hesitated, then pulled the boy in for a hug, and the boy at first tensed, rigid and with his heart pounding in his throat - please no please please no please - but the only thing that happened was that the handler was warm.

The boy melted into it, tucking his head under the handler’s chin and sliding his arms around him, pressing himself as tightly as he could against the warmth of another human body. “Thank you, sir,” He whispered.

“Call me Todd,” The handler said softly, then paused. “Wait, no. Don’t do that. We’ll both get in the shit if they find you calling me by my first name. How old are you, really?”

The boy swallowed, hard, and braced himself against the pain in his head, the sharp lance that tried to dissuade him from remembering. “S-Sixteen, sir.”

“Fuck. I knew it. I’ll put in a complaint, they’re not supposed to be able-… what’s your name?”

“Uh, um. I’m. Um, I’m, I’m a number, I’m a pet, I exist to provide domestic care and cleaning for my owner’s household-”

“Yeah, okay, I thought that one might be a step too far for you. Okay, okay. Let’s just be quiet for a sec, okay? Fuck.” The handler held him so tightly, and no one had touched the boy in so long. He had to choke back a sob, curling into the warmth. “You’re never supposed to be this young, you can’t even consent. How did they not catch that when you came in to sign up?”

“I… I d-didn’t.” The boy knew this was dangerous, saying it out loud, but he couldn’t stop himself. He kept his eyes closed, terrified of what would happen next. “I was… was walking h-h-home from practice, and there was this other boy, h-he said he was lost and needed help… they, they put me in a van…”

“… they kidnapped you? Like… we kidnapped you? They used another pet?”

The boy nodded, breathing in hitched gasps.

“Holy fuck.” The handler sounded… ill, almost, and the boy pulled back to look up at him, having to force himself to break the contact with the handler’s body heat, his only shield against the shivering, teeth-chattering cold he lived in. 

The handler’s face was ash-white and green around the edges, his eyes wide and white-rimmed. He looked like a man who had seen a ghost.

“I… I can’t believe they-… but, no, there’s no… there’s no fuckin’ way… I have to talk to someone about this. I have to ask-… oh, shit. Oh… oh shit, okay. Fuck. Okay. Oh… oh my God.” The handler looked like he was going to throw up. “Listen, is there anything I can do for you, kiddo, right now? Anything you want?”

The boy looked up at him, blinking, barely understanding the question.

What you want is no longer important, pet.

You have no desires now, only your owner’s.

Stop fucking whining, you don’t have a family.

Your owner is all the family you’ll ever need.

“I, I want… I w-want…” The boy bit his lower lip as the tears came again, and this time he couldn’t hold them back. He collapsed back against the handler’s chest, feeling the arms tightly around him, and began to cry, sobs that wracked his whole body.

“I want my mom,” He sobbed, and felt the handler’s grip on him tighten. “I want, I want my mom, I m-miss my mom, I w-w-want my mom…”

The room was silent, except for the sound of the cold air recirculating through the vents in the ceiling, and the boy’s tears.

The handler said nothing, but there was nothing to say.

They both knew the boy would likely never see his mother again. 

[edendaphne]

“Discordant Sonata”- Ch. 15

Have some quarantine reading material!!

>>Read it here on Ao3<< >>Read it here on Wattpad<< 

CHAPTER 15: BRAVURA

Music glossary:       Bravura - (from Italian “bravery/spirit”) Style of music in which the performer plays boldly, requiring exceptional agility and technical skill in execution.

 (Mood music: “For the Love of a Princess” - James Horner )

Sunday Evening

Marinette knocked on the guest bedroom door, or rather, on Chat Noir’s bedroom door, as it had now officially become.

“Come in! It’s open,” she heard from the other side.

Marinette’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

Odd, she thought. For someone who was supposed to be guarding a secret identity at all costs, one would think that Chat would always keep the door locked. First the “bathroom incident” and now this? She wondered what his aversion to locked doors was all about.

Marinette peeked her head into the room and saw him at his desk, writing in a notebook.

“Hey Kitt–uhh, Chat Noir, dinner will be ready in a minute. Would you care to join us?”

Chat’s cat ears perked up. “I’d love to! Thanks! I’ll help set the table in a sec.”

“What are you up to?” she asked, sitting at the edge of his bed.

Chat swiveled his chair around to face her. “Oh, it’s...” he grimaced, rubbing the back of his neck to ease the stiffness there. “I was doing some calculations, figuring out a monthly budget and that kind of thing. Trying to figure out how much all my bills will cost.”

“Me-owch,” Marinette cringed. “Sounds suuuuper fun.”

“Yeah, definitely,” he replied with matching sarcasm. “It’s actually been more complicated than I thought.”

“How so?” she asked.

He let out a long sigh. “Well… this is gonna sound weird, but my father as a civilian is, uh… pretty well-known. There’s a lot of people who would recognize me. Any potential employers would be getting in contact with him, asking him questions, or even give him an idea of where to find me. So I can’t apply to jobs as my normal self.” He ran his gloved hand through his hair in exasperation. “But where could I possibly get a job as ‘Chat Noir’?? ‘He’ can’t start a bank account, has no birth certificate, driver’s license, address, phone number. I’d have to get hired under the table, but I might run into some shady people. They might take advantage of the situation, and there’d be nothing I could do to contest them. Or they might try to use me to get free advertisement, and then my father would know where to find me anyway. Ugh, it’s all just a mess,” he groaned. “Anyway, thanks for letting me vent. I’m sure I’ll figure something out, so don’t worry.”

Marinette hummed, thinking. “Well, actually…” she said, tapping her chin. “Since the school year’s starting up again, a couple of our full-timers are switching to part-time to accommodate their university schedules; so the bakery will need some extra help. Obviously you wouldn’t be able to work at the front of the store, attending to customers and whatnot. But there’s still cleaning, washing, and heavy lifting that needs to be done behind the scenes. So if that sounds alright with you, we can talk to my parents about it. I’m sure they’d be happy to have you aboard.”

“Really??” Chat’s head shot up and he chirped excitedly, accidentally dropping his pen in the process. “Th-that would be great! I’ll work really hard, promise! Are you sure it would be okay?”

“Don’t worry, I’m sure they’ll say yes! My mom’s already taken quite a liking to you; she’s always talking about how polite and sweet you are.” Chat’s ears perked up and his cheeks reddened upon hearing this, which she found much too adorable. “And I’m sure my dad’s slowly coming around; I can tell, even though he’s stubborn.” She reached over and squeezed his hands. “I’ll put in a good word for you,” she said with a wink.

“You will?!” he replied with a laugh. “Best job reference ever!!” He hopped out of his chair, then bent over and wrapped her up into a tight hug. “You’re the best, Marinette. Seriously.”

She shook off her initial surprise and squeezed back, smiling wide.

“Anything for a friend.”

Dinnertime went over even better than Marinette had hoped. When the subject of a job was broached, Marinette’s mother took to the idea immediately and, citing the need for some extra muscle, eventually managed to win over her father.

Thus, they hired Chat Noir on the spot for part-time work, adding a few extra household chores in lieu of charging him rent. Marinette could hardly contain herself when she saw Chat’s face as he heard that; he looked like he’d won the lottery. And if anyone else had noticed how his eyes got misty and his voice began to quiver as he thanked them, nobody had mentioned it.

After dinner, Marinette invited Chat Noir upstairs to her bedroom, saying she needed help picking out the perfect outfit for her first day back to school. Truth be told, she really did need to choose an outfit; but it was mostly an excuse to hang out with him and serve as a distraction from his stressful circumstances.

Behind his cheerful smile and never ending stream of jokes, he always carried such a lonesome air about him. She’d never noticed it until that first night; the night they danced during the ballroom akuma attack. Or rather, she’d never allowed herself to open up to the possibility that he might be suffering. It would have made fighting him much more difficult had she known.

But as they swayed to the music that night, she could feel the melancholy in his voice, how it seemed to be yearning for more, and she couldn’t ignore it anymore.

It was shocking to her; mind-blowing, even. Not the same shock as one might get from a slap in the face, but rather like she’d woken up from a deep sleep. And yet, even then, she never could have anticipated how things would’ve unraveled from that day forward. They had come a long way, and there was still much more ahead of them.

In any case, he was sure to appreciate an evening goofing around with his new roommate, to get his mind off of both his superhero problems and his civilian worries.

“So, what do you think?” she asked as she peered into her closet. “Classy? Trendy? Girly? Vintage? Boho chic?”

Chat furrowed his brows, cocking his head in uncertainty. “I dunno… You’d look great in anything! Just close your eyes and grab something, and voila!”

She wrinkled her nose at him. “What if I grab my fuzzy, pink bathrobe?”

“You’d look great in that too! ‘Comfy chic’, the newest trend on all the cat- walks!” he grinned cheekily.

She rolled her eyes. “Oh come on, you dork, be serious! I wanna look good!”

“But you already look good!” he said, lifting his arms and motioning up and down her entire length for emphasis. “You’d even look good in a burlap sack. I mean it! You’re really cute, Marinette! Besides, it’s not like you need to impress anybody. Everyone already loves you.”

She felt her cheeks warm up at the praise he gave so freely. “I-I… th-that’s sweet of you to say. B-but I wasn’t trying to fish for compliments or anything. I just… want to look a little extra nice. Maybe even stand out a little bit, that’s all,” she added more quietly, fiddling with the hem of her shirt.

Chat paused and forward on the chaise. “Hang on,” he said, narrowing his eyes at her. “Marinette... ARE you trying to impress someone? Someone special, maybe?”

Marinette made a startled noise that would best be described as a squawk and whipped back around to face the inside of her closet. “Uhh, NOPE! Nope, nope. Not at all! What makes you say that?!”

Wow, Marinette, very convincing, she groaned inwardly.

Despite her stammering and weak attempts at protesting, Chat exclaimed with a gasp, “So there IS someone!”

He hopped off the chaise towards her, trying to get a peek at her reddened face. “So who is it?? Would I know them? Are you in the same grade, or just the same school? Do they already know you like them? How did you two meet?”

Marinette let out a long screech, rushing away from the closet towards her vanity desk and plopped down on the chair, dropping her head onto the table with a small thunk.

Chat practically glided across to where she’d sat and put his hands on her shoulders, squeezing gently. “Our little Marinette has a crush on someone~!” he crooned in a sing-song voice. “That’s so romantic! You’ll invite me to your wedding, won’t you?”

Marinette let out another long, muffled groan, which only spurred him on, becoming giddy like a small child who’d been given a pile of candy.

He’s never going to stop now that he knows, is he? she bemoaned, cursing her inept, awkward self.

Foregoing any further attempts at denial, she decided to just be honest with him. After all, Alya knew about her crush, and so did her other gal friends. She could confide in Chat too; especially since they were going to be living with each other from now on. Surely there was no harm in him knowing. It’s not like he’d go around blabbing it to anyone. She knew him better than that.

She sighed heavily, not bothering to hoist up her head, which felt like it weighed as much as a boulder at the moment. “He’s a classmate,” she replied in deadpan.

“A classmate, huh?” Chat repeated, voice full of wonder. “That’s so adorable! What else can you tell me about him? Is he cute?”

“Gorgeous,” she replied, with perhaps more emphasis than she intended. “And thoughtful and gentle and kind. A little awkward and nerdy, but friendly and optimistic to a fault. He’s practically perfect. At least, perfect in all the ways that matter to me, anyhow. I’ve known him for a few years, and I’ve been in lov– I MEAN… I’ve had a crush on him pretty much since we first met.”

Sensing her shift in tone, Chat dropped all the playfulness in his voice and asked in earnest, “W-wait… D-did you say… in love?”

Marinette let out a long, pitiful whine, grabbing the hair by the sides of her head and covering her face with it like a tent, trying to hide her eternal shame.

“I can’t believe I just said that…” she moaned wretchedly, very much wishing she could shrink to the size of a mouse right now. “Can you just cataclysm me and pretend you didn’t hear that, please?”

“Wait, so that means…” Chat interrupted, his brows scrunched. “He doesn’t know how you feel about him?”

She shook her head, or rather, kind of shuffled it back and forth on the table’s surface. “I’ve always been too afraid to say anything to him. I never wanted things to become weird between us, so I’ve always just… not taken the risk. He always just kinda… seemed to need a friend more than he needed a relationship, y’know? And I didn’t want to take that away from him. From us.”

Chat paused for a moment, pondering her words. “But what if he feels the same way?” he countered. “Wouldn’t you rather get it off your chest and find out for sure?”

Marinette hesitated, turning her head sideways. “Have you ever liked someone you were too afraid to lose?” she replied quietly.

She could hear Chat’s breath hitch, but he didn’t respond. She wondered if that was something he’d been worrying about as well. He’d never confessed to Ladybug about his own crush; but was that merely due to shyness, or from not wanting to complicate their relationship and their duties as superheroes? Would he jeopardize it?

Chat was a romantic at heart; of that she was certain, judging from his taste in media and books, from their late night conversations, and especially from what Plagg had told her a few days ago.

However, despite his playful flirtatiousness towards her as Ladybug, he’d never verbally expressed any serious interest in a romantic relationship. She could only assume he wanted to keep things as friendly and professional as possible, in order to work on strengthening their relationship as a team, instead of risking a fallout.

Or, at least, that’s what she’d started to tell herself. Everything in her brain was a terrible jumble. Especially after hearing about Chat’s family situation the night before, after the akuma attack. Ladybug had finally learned about Chat’s mother, Hawkmoth’s wife, and things were way more complicated than she could have ever imagined.

Chat Noir had introduced a variable of unpredictability in her life, and she was still trying to sort out her own growing feelings towards him. Were these merely feelings of protectiveness, or was it something else? Had she been projecting her desire for Adrien onto Chat? She didn’t think so, and yet, she’d never experienced anything like this before. How could she know for sure?

Unrequited love felt awful, but at least it was fairly straightforward. Trying to figure out her thoughts and feelings when adding another person into the jumble was frustratingly confusing.

In addition, Hawkmoth’s cruel words from the akuma attack echoed in her head despite trying to dispel them countless times. They resonated within her, trying to worm their way into her brain to plant undeserving guilt and shame. Accusations of taking advantage of Chat; of blind infatuation; of festering doubts and lack of trust.

Not to mention the elephant in the room: the giant, seemingly impenetrable wall of having to hide their identities from each other, which prevented them from being able to grow closer.

Pursuing a romantic path with him right now would not be prudent.

Especially since she was still in love with Adrien.

UGH. She was in love with Adrien. Why had she allowed herself to fall for him?!? Why did he have to be so darn wonderful, so awfully talented, so ridiculously considerate?!

The uncomfortable feeling of embarrassment slithered down her spine once again, traveling all the way from her head to her toes. How could she possibly face Chat Noir now that he knew what a coward she was?

Moments passed and neither of them had broken the ice. She supposed she should be the one to do it, since she was the one that had made things awkward in the first place.

Before she could say anything, however, she felt Chat’s hands settle on her shoulders, and he gently pulled her up into a sitting position. He gazed at her reflection in the mirror, a kind smile painted on his handsome face that she couldn’t help but feel her face flush. His emerald green eyes were so piercing, so sincere, which caused a multitude of butterflies to swarm in her chest despite her having banned them.

Bringing his arms in front of her, he draped a colorful garment across her collarbones so it would cascade all the way down to her lap. Apparently she’d been too busy internally freaking out that she hadn’t even heard him rummaging around in her closet.

“How about this top?” he asked softly. “The cut of the neck will draw attention to your jawline, especially if you wear your hair down, so the sides can frame your facial features. And if you wear this necklace here-” he said as he lifted the accessory from her vanity table, “-it will emphasize your blue eyes very nicely. For bottoms, I’d either go with some dark-wash skinny jeans paired with low heels, or a skirt with a bright pattern and some close-toed flats. Keeping it simple is best, in my opinion. Clean and sophisticated.”

Wait… what?? How did he–

Marinette hadn’t even noticed her jaw had dropped until Chat closed it gently with his index finger, her teeth coming back together with a soft clink.

“You should ask him out. This mystery person,” he added. “You never know what’ll happen. He’ll either like you back, or he won’t. But at least you’ll know, and whatever happens afterwards, it’ll mean you can move on.”

She held the shirt in place with her own hands, but never broke eye contact with him through the mirror. “Would you do the same?” she asked quietly.

Chat looked away, cheeks darkening. He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed deeply. “Someday, perhaps. But… I’m not ready yet. Maybe once I become a better person. Somebody worthwhile.”

She turned around to face him, studying his expression. A weight settled uncomfortably in her gut, urging her to fix it, FIX IT!!

But fix what?! Fix it how?? She didn’t know; but she had to try regardless.

She stood up, setting the garment down on the chair, then practically stomped over to him. Chat looked a bit taken aback at how close she’d gotten, his eyes widening in confusion. She threw her arms around his torso, pulling him as close as physically possible without literally merging together. She laid her head on his chest, relishing the sound of his heart thumping in his chest.

“You dumdum. You’re already amazing. Anybody would consider themselves lucky to be loved by you.”

She felt him freeze up, unsure of what to make of this sudden and almost aggressive display of affection. But a beat later he relaxed, practically melting into her embrace and hugged back just as tightly.

He laid his own head on top of hers, a motion that still felt so comforting and so familiar; and yet she couldn’t figure it out. Whenever she would come close to making a discovery, the thought would slip away, as if by magic.

Or, come to think of it, most likely because of magic. His mannerisms and speech were so familiar, and yet she couldn’t place where she knew them from, or whom they matched up with. Chat had said that they knew each other outside of the costume, so surely that was why they felt so familiar. But the glamour of his miraculous was quite efficient in protecting his identity; therefore, despite teetering at the edge of her recognition, she still could not identify him. She supposed that was for the best, even if it was maddening.

“I wish I could believe that. I really do,” he murmured sadly, interrupting her train of thought.

She nuzzled her head into him. “Stop being so hard on yourself. Life doesn’t revolve around achievements or some arbitrary measurement of greatness. Being you is enough.”

“I... don’t really know how to stop thinking that way, to be honest,” he said with a shrug.

Marinette let go of him and took a small step back, eyes sparkling with mischief. “Well, it’s too bad you don’t have a choice, then. ‘Cause from now on, you’re officially enrolled in the Dupain-Cheng self-esteem boot camp, where you learn to be nice to yourself… or else, I’ll kick your ass!” she said, poking him lightly on the chest.

His eyes popped open for a moment, then he threw his head back and laughed. “I believe it!” he said, squeezing his arms around her once again. “I’ll do my best to meet your expectations and avoid all the ass-kicking, sensei! Bring on Du PAIN!”

She let out a snort and giggled, looking up at him from her lower height.

Her gaze softened once again, then added, “By the way... thanks for your help, and for your advice, Minou.”

Chat chuckled at the term of endearment, and Marinette’s brain froze.

How could she forget?? Again. She wasn’t Ladybug right now. Marinette didn’t have nicknames for Chat.

Before she could backpedal, Chat leaned down to kiss her forehead, then replied, “Anytime, Mari.”

She relaxed again and gave him one last squeeze, unable to contain a giant, satisfied grin.

She released him so she could return to the task of getting ready for school tomorrow. She asked, “Will it really be okay for you to go to school? Won’t it be risky, since your father will know where you are?”

Chat let out a thoughtful hum. “He’s a pretty powerful person, but even he can’t walk into the school and drag me out of there in front of everyone. I should be okay, as long as I’m always around other people.”

“Well… if you say so,” she said, crinkling her eyebrows. “You’ve got my cell phone number, so call me if anything ever pops up and I’ll be there in a jiffy, no matter where you are.”

Chat smiled at her fondly. “Thank you.”

She smiled back. “Come on. Let’s go watch a movie downstairs. It’s our last day to be certified couch potatoes and I’m not gonna pass it up.”

Chat winked. “Aye aye, Captain Spud! Lead the way!”

(Mood music: “The Chairman’s Waltz” - John Williams (Memoirs of a Geisha OST)

Monday Morning

Chat Noir landed on the roof of the school without a sound, eyes darting around the perimeter to verify that no one was present at this hour. Upon seeing that the coast was clear, he slinked towards the door that led inside the building.

He tried the doorknob. Locked, as expected. He detransformed, and without a word, Plagg phased through the door. It clicked, then Adrien slipped inside.

Heart thumping, he shifted his backpack and continued down the rooftop stairwell until he reached a hallway. It was empty, although that didn’t do much for his nerves. Getting caught on campus before the school opened would mean getting asked questions he would rather not have to answer.

Adrien wasn’t a rule-breaker. He was courteous, mild-mannered, and above all, obedient. He did things by the book. Or, at least... he did as Adrien . Chat Noir was another story altogether.

Trying to shake off his jitters, Adrien took a deep breath and tried to summon the playful part of him that enjoyed more mischievous types of activities.

There wasn’t much for him to do for the next couple of hours but to wait until people slowly trickled into the school. He decided to occupy himself by organizing his locker, so he stepped out into the common area from the dark hallway and carefully crept to the locker rooms downstairs.

As it turned out, it was a good thing he checked it before anyone was around, for the loud gasp he let out as he discovered its contents would have surely attracted the attention of the entire room.

Inside the locker was a duffel bag full of belongings– his belongings: his passport and birth certificate, his wallet, some clothes, his favorite blue scarf, a photograph of his mother; school supplies and stationary, a brand new laptop, and an indistinct burner phone.

There was no written note, no card, no name left behind. The only identifier provided was a picture of an black and red butterfly on it.

A butterfly? Surely this couldn’t be a gift from Gabriel Agreste. He’d never be this thoughtful, not in a million years.

He studied the picture, flipping it over for more clues, and found some small text on the back.

“Scarlet Peacock Butterfly”, the caption said. “A vivid red and black butterfly that ostensibly poses as another toxic species in order to deceive predators.”

Adrien gasped.

A fake.

Could it be…?

Adrien’s fingers trembled as he picked up the phone. It was an older model flip phone. He opened it.

It had a single phone number saved in its contacts.

He selected the number, fingertip hovering over the “call” button. With a shaky breath, he pressed it. And waited.

A few agonizingly long seconds passed. Then the ringing stopped; someone had picked up.

Adrien’s breath hitched and he gulped. He couldn’t help the crack in his voice as he whispered hesitantly into the phone.

“...Nathalie?”

(Mood Music: “L’Indifference” - Café Accordion Orchestra)

For once, Marinette Dupain-Cheng managed to make it to school on time, having set her alarm for an earlier time just to make sure. Tardiness always seemed to be her calling card, but she was determined to not let this happen today; not after all her preparations from the night before.

And so she walked into her first class, happy to see a room full of (mostly) friendly faces. Alya smiled at her from her desk across the room, waving her over enthusiastically. Marinette returned the smile and headed towards her.

She gave a wide berth to Lila and their teacher, who stood by the door. The new teacher listened, enraptured, about the stylish Italian girl’s most recent trip to the Malagasy islands and how she single-handedly founded a lemur rescue organization. Marinette fought the urge to roll her eyes and quietly passed them by, without challenging the validity of her claims.

Not today, she told herself. Not on the first day of school.

On her way towards her best friend, Marinette also walked past Chloe Bourgeois, her former bully. They made eye contact and gave each other a brief nod.

“Chloe,” Marinette greeted her plainly.

“Dupain-Cheng,” Chloe acknowledged in return, then turned her full attention back to her phone, vigorously texting someone with a dragon profile picture.

Marinette couldn’t quite call Chloe her friend, though they were definitely more than just acquaintances. They’d come to a sort of unspoken truce a couple of years back. They’d both done some growing up these past few years, and for that, Marinette was grateful. Especially since this arrangement made it possible for them to remain mutual friends with Adrien.

Marinette went up the steps to where her best friend sat, and they greeted each other with a hug.

“Hey, Alya! No Nino?”

“Nah, looks like we only have three classes together this year, bummer.” Alya shrugged. “But that means I get to sit next to my Mari-bean!”

Marinette noticed a markedly cheery-looking Adrien entering the classroom, only to be stopped by Lila at the door, who flipped her hair theatrically and batted her exaggeratedly long (and most likely false, hmmph!) eyelashes at him.

She decided to ignore it and turned around to fully face her wavy-haired friend. “So, how was your weekend? Did you and your aforementioned husbando do anything fun?” she asked with a knowing smile.

Alya’s cheeks darkened, but she tried to cover up her blushing by pretending to adjust her hair. “Well, we did get ahold of the new Super Pinguino III. You’ll have to play it sometime and try to beat our high score.”

Marinette giggled. “I dunno, that might be the one game where I’ll never be able to beat you.”

“Well, we’ll just have to see about that,” she gave her a wide smile in return. She exclaimed (rather loudly even by her standards), “By the way, Marinette! Your outfit looks AMAZING! Don’t you think so too, Adrien?”

Marinette’s eyes widened and she whipped around to realize Adrien was headed their way. Her face felt like she was sticking it inside a furnace, and suddenly she felt quite naked, wanting nothing more than to hide in a dark corner somewhere rather than display the outfit she’d meticulously chosen the night before. What if it was too much? What if she was overdressed? What if everyone could tell she was trying too hard? What if it was way too last-season and not avant-garde enough? Or what if it was too avant-garde and she should have dressed more conservatively?! What if–

Adrien’s eyes met hers and he gave her the brightest, broadest, most radiant smile, so stunning it should be illegal, so resplendent that it caused her brain to suddenly fizzle.

“Absolutely! You look beautiful, Marinette,” he said, his voice so earnest and sincere that Marinette felt she might combust on the spot.

Marinette wasn’t sure how long she’d been standing there, mouth agape, feeling like her feet were no longer touching the ground, when Alya nudged her with her elbow, coaxing her to reply.

And reply she did. Or at least, she tried; for only for a brief noise somewhere between a croak and a squeak managed to emerge from her throat.

“Uhh, I think Marinette means ‘Thank you,” Alya replied helpfully.

Marinette nodded enthusiastically. “Y-YES!! That’s right!! Th-thank you, Adrien!” she stammered, forcing the air out of her lungs.

Adrien beamed at her. “It’s great to see you guys again. I’m really glad we have our first class together this year. It’ll be a great way to start off the day.”

He waved goodbye to them, then walked to sit at the empty seat next to Chloe, who greeted him with a loud, happy squeal and friendly cheek kisses, then proceeded to talk rapidly about a subject way too complex for Marinette’s current brain-dead state of gleeful stupefaction.

And most definitely too dumbstruck to notice the daggers Lila was glaring at her from across the room.

(Mood Music: “Closer Than Sisters” - Abel Korzeniowski )

Marinette’s mind managed to rejoin her body sometime around halfway through their first period, and the remainder of her classes went by without a hitch. There was a lot of chatter and gossiping about Ladybug and Chat Noir, and whether they were actually working together or if it was some sort of elaborate publicity stunt. Conspiracy theories abounded, but for the most part it was merely curious conjecture. Ladybug had always worked alone, so what would this mean for the city? Would she finally defeat Hawkmoth now that she was no longer outnumbered?

Alya, of course, was utterly buzzing with excitement about these recent developments. Marinette wasn’t quite sure she’d be able to stand all her wild speculations and hypothetical questions; so it was both a shame and a relief that they only had two classes together this school year.

Despite the mental toll that hearing all these conjectures took on her, Marinette was still in high spirits by her last class of the day.

Or so she’d thought, until her absolute favorite classmate made her way over to her desk, giving her a sickly saccharine smile that would put high fructose corn syrup to shame.

“Hi, Marinette,” she lilted in a hollow sing-song voice.

Marinette brought out her phone and pretended to look busy. “Hello, Lila.”

“Did you have a nice summer?” Lila asked.

As if you care, she thought. “It was peachy,” Marinette replied curtly.

Lila pouted. “You don’t sound too happy. I don’t suppose you’ve already heard?”

Marinette sighed. Might as well play along. “Heard what, Lila?”

Lila leaned into her personal space, which made unpleasant goosebumps rise on the back of Marinette’s neck. “Well, I don't suppose you and Adrien are close enough friends that he’s told you all about his secret girlfriend, right?” she said more quietly.

Marinette’s brain screeched to a halt, but she forced herself to keep typing into her phone. “And I suppose he's told you?”

Lila giggled coyly. “Oh, well, I’m not one to blab secrets around, but the poor dear’s just not very good at hiding those hickeys. A scarf and concealer can only do so much, you know.”

Marinette felt sick to her stomach, but she refused to indulge Lila into thinking that she actually believed her.

“Go away, Lila,” she hissed through gritted teeth.

“Don’t believe me? I can prove it-” she replied, with that false cheerfulness that always carried a secret smugness to it. “-as soon as he walks through the door. He’s told me his schedule, you know… We really are very good friends, he and I.” She lifted her head to look around. “Ah, there he is.”

Adrien walked into the classroom with Kim, joking and laughing together.

Lila waved them over, and Adrien smiled as they both walked towards them.

“Adrien, I was just talking to Marinette about our plans for the school year. What does your modeling schedule look like?” she asked, as she thumbed the fabric of his scarf. “This is the year before we graduate. Is your father going to ease up on the photo shoots? I do so remember how very busy you were last year,” she lamented with another fake pout.

Adrien replied, his voice harboring a tinge of nervousness as she ran her hands up and down the length of his scarf, “Uh, actually, I won’t be- uh, modeling. This year. To… prepare for university exams and whatnot.”

“No modeling gigs, you say? That’s awfully kind of him,” she replied sweetly, as she slowly pulled back and forth on the two sides of the scarf like a seesaw. “Letting you focus on your studies and whatnot.”

Before he could reply, Lila tripped sideways with a dainty yelp, yanking the scarf along with her, and she fell towards him. Adrien caught her and she wrapped her arms around his neck securely, the scarf falling onto the ground, forgotten by all.

All except for Marinette, of course.

“Lila, are you alright?” Kim cried, and Adrien weakly echoed the question.

“Oh… clumsy me… I’m still getting used to these new shoes. I haven’t quite broken them in yet, you see,” she remarked as he helped her up. “I mostly wore combat boots over the summer while helping build schools in Bali for impoverished children, so I guess you could say I’ve gotten out of the habit of wearing heels.”

Marinette got out of her seat to retrieve the fallen blue scarf. The scarf that she had made for him almost four years ago for his birthday. Lila’s tugging had rubbed the fabric against Adrien’s neck, and the center was stained with make-up the same tone as his skin. She gulped heavily, then looked up at him.

And there they were, peppered all over his neck: various small bruises below the sides of his jawline, barely noticeable, but still visible if you looked closely.

“Umm, here,” Marinette said numbly as she handed him back the scarf. His hesitant eyes met hers, and he looked guilty, as if all his secrets had been laid bare for her to see.

“Thank you,” he said, almost too soft for her to hear.

“Why, Adrien!” Lila said, feigning secrecy but still speaking louder than she should have been, had that been the case. “I know you said you didn’t have to model anymore, but you really ought to tell your girlfriend to take it easy when you guys make out.”

Adrien sounded genuinely puzzled. “Wait… Girlfriend? What are you talking about?”

Kim’s features scrunched up in confusion. His eyes traveled towards where Lila was looking, then his face lit up with excitement. “Dude, you got a girlfriend?? That’s amazing, congrats! When were you gonna tell us??”

“Huh? I don’t have–” Adrien tried to interject.

“Oh, no! I’m so sorry Adrien,” Lila pretended to realize she’d said too much. “I didn’t know you wanted to keep it a secret. How silly of me! Surely your father would take away your extra free time if he knew you were spending it with a girl instead of studying.”

Kim pumped his arms excitedly. “Don’t worry, bro! We can totally keep a secret! Right, Marinette?”

Marinette smiled weakly, trying her best to look cooperative, and nodded.

“So, tell us about her, Adrien! Tell us about this girl you love so much,” Lila prodded.

Adrien’s cheeks turned bright red. “W-well, she’s not actually my girlfriend, b-but–”

Kim waggled his eyebrows. “But does she want to be?” he asked playfully.

Adrien laughed, voice high and skittish, “Uhh, I-I don’t know… Umm– w-we’ll see what happens. I-I want to take things slow.”

“Do you like her?”

Adrien’s head whipped around. It was Marinette who’d asked the question, her voice soft and curious.

Her eyes searched his, sincerely seeking the knowledge she both yearned and dreaded to hear. Her heart clenched painfully in her chest, knowing that his answer could change everything.

And yet, she needed to know.

Adrien’s face softened, the corners of his mouth crinkling with the ghost of a smile, and his cheeks gained a more subdued shade of pink, which contrasted with the embarrassed shade of red he’d worn earlier.

“A lot,” he replied breathily, like a wistful sigh, like he’d rather be with his loved one than anywhere else in the world.

Marinette swallowed heavily, and she forced herself to smile. “I’m happy for you,” she said as earnestly as she could manage.

After all, Adrien’s happiness was always paramount. No matter the source.

Their conversation was cut short by the sound of the bell, and the group scattered into the surrounding seats. Lila gave Marinette one last self-satisfied smile before walking away; not that Marinette even noticed. Her body felt too numb, too limp, too weary to see or care. All she could see in her mind’s eye was the way Adrien’s eyes lit up when he talked about the person he cared for. It had been brief, but it had been enough. She’d seen it. She knew now.

Adrien Agreste was in love.

(Mood Music: “No One Knows Who I Am” - (Jekyll & Hyde, the musical) Frank Wildhorn)

The last period of the day went by more sluggishly than any other she’d ever experienced in her life. Marinette’s mind replayed that conversation a seemingly infinite amount of times by the time the bell rang and it was time to go home. She lethargically packed up her belongings and left the classroom.

Before she reached the locker room, however, a hand gently tapped her on the shoulder, and she turned around.

It was Adrien. Of course. It just had to be him.

He meekly asked if he could talk to her in private. She agreed. They stepped into an emptied room, and he looked around to make sure no one else was present.

“I’m… sorry about the awkwardness from before, Mari,” he muttered uneasily.

“It’s okay, I’m just sorry you got put on the spot,” she replied, twisting her hands together, her shoulders tense with discomfort.

He seemed to squirm a bit himself as he continued, “D-did… Did you see…?” He gestured towards his scarf.

Marinette froze and her gaze dropped to the ground. She couldn’t get herself to speak, so she nodded.

Adrien took a deep breath. “W-would it be too much trouble if I asked you to not tell anyone? Things could get really difficult for me if- if people were to find out.”

Marinette’s head bobbed up and down quickly. “I-it’s okay! I won’t say anything! I-I don’t want to get you into trouble. Anytime you need help, I’ll be here.”

Before she knew it, she was being pulled into a brief hug. She willed her arms to hug him back, although she couldn’t really feel her body right now.

Adrien let go of her and put his hands on her shoulders in reassurance. “I promise everything is going to be okay. Everything is fine now. Trust me. Thank you, Marinette.”

Marinette’s mouth smiled back, and she heard her own voice say, “Anytime.”

Adrien thanked her again, and opened the door to leave. “See ya tomorrow.”

“S-see you,” she called back.

The door closed behind him, and Marinette was left alone. Everything felt like it was steeped in a thick haze. As if she was stranded in a vast fog with no discernable way to go. She felt hollow, yet heavy, which didn’t make a single bit of sense. A gaping, empty hole where her chest was, ripped away suddenly and without warning.

Is this... is this what heartbreak feels like?

Chat landed on Marinette’s balcony and knocked on the hatch five times, as they’d previously agreed. He listened for any of the code phrases or sounds that they’d gone over and practiced. There was no answer, which could only mean that she wasn’t home yet. However, since the latch was always unlocked for him now that they were roommates, he had permission to enter.

He felt pretty silly wearing a backpack as Chat Noir, so he didn’t dally in her bedroom, and instead went to drop it off in his own room.

Chat wondered what could be going through Marinette’s head after she saw his bruising. Had she figured out that Gabriel was abusive? She’d agreed to trust him, so maybe she believed he’d been able to work out his home situation. Did she think he still lived back at the mansion?

He plopped face down on the sofa. UGH, this all sucked. He didn’t want to lie to her, but he couldn’t tell her the truth, either. She was the nicest girl, and all he’d been doing lately was be dishonest with her. Not without reason, but still. He felt horrible about it.

And she’d looked so out of it at the end of school. He wondered what might have happened to her, since she’d seemed in such high spirits at the beginning of the school day. And what was that weirdness with Lila all about?

He didn’t have to wonder long, because a few moments later, his cat ears perked up as he heard footsteps that led to the front door. He sat up and turned around, excitedly awaiting her arrival.

Marinette opened the door and entered the living area. She closed the door and silently set her backpack down. He got up to greet her, but something was wrong. Her whole aura was different. Even in the dim late afternoon light, Chat could see the weariness in her expression, the sadness in her posture.

“Mari…?”

Several long strides later and he was there, in front of her, holding her by the arms.

“Mari, what happened?!” he asked more urgently. “Are you okay??”

She looked up at him, her glassy blue eyes becoming damp. Then she crashed into him, gripping him like he was the only thing keeping her from sinking into a sea of quicksand.

She cried, and he held her. He was desperate to know what had happened, but he waited, stroking her hair, running his fingers through it soothingly, not pushing her, but always willing to listen.

Finally, after a few moments, she spoke. “There’s someone else,” she whispered simply.

Then he understood.

Chat held her, and she sobbed quietly, and together they slumped to the ground. She didn’t need words of comfort, or any reassurance that she didn’t need this guy, or to be told that she was too good for him, or that there were other fish in the sea. She didn’t need to be told any of those things. All they needed at this moment was each other. And that was enough.

[xreaderbooks]

Come back to me 

Pair: 1940s! Bucky Barnes x Reader 

Summary: You’re in love with your best friend, Bucky, who’s going to war. You might’ve run out of time to tell him.

Word Count: 2k

Warning: Fluffy/ Soft Bucky (yes It is that serious), Jealousy 

Masterlist

“James Buchanan Barnes!” You stomped your way into the diner ignoring all the stares coming your way. “When the hell were you going to tell me you enlisted?” You noticed he was trying to talk up some red haired girl, but you ignored her and continued giving him a knowing face with your hand on your hip, waiting for him to answer.  The smirk he had on his face while he was talking to the girl faded as his face paled. He cleared his throat attempting to recover. “Dot, this is my friend (y/n).” He ran a hand through his hair. “(y/n), can you give me a sec?” 

You rolled your eyes and made your way to an empty booth. You saw him as his friend kiss his cheek saying goodbye. Finally he sat across from you, avoiding your gaze. “Well, What do you have to say for yourself?” You asked.

“Listen Doll-” 

“No don’t ‘listen doll’ me, do you have a death wish?” your fuming, you would never admit it to him but you were hopelessly in love with him. When you were kids, Bucky saved your other best friend Steve from getting beat up by bullies, ever since then you were a goner. Little things that he did would make you question whether what you were feeling for him was just friendly.  

One night Bucky decided that he should take you out dancing; it was one of the many ways he showed you that even though he went out with other girls, you were his best gal. Platonically, of course.

You got all dressed up in a blue v-neck cocktail swing dress, your hair half pinned up and half down in curls, red lipstick topping it all. He was going to pick you up at 7 o’clock exactly and you were counting down each second, full of nerves. You pinched yourself every time you thought it was a date. cause it wasn't. was it? you’ve been dancing with Bucky multiple times but for some reason this night it felt special, momentous even. 

It was 7 o’clock on the dot when the doorbell rang announcing Bucky's presence. You swung the door open, rushing outside before any of your roommates decided to pester you both with questions on whether or not this was a date. Which you did not even know how to answer that yourself. 

“Gee Doll, didn't know you were that embarrassed of me” He was looking down, avoiding your eyes while scratching behind his neck. 

“Buck, you know damn well every time you pass by they-” You turned around finally after fumbling around your clutch for your keys and locking the door. There was a look on his face you didn’t want to mistake for awe, but you let yourself have this moment allowing yourself to assume there was a possible chance he might feel the same way, just because this one look that seemed similar to the one you give him everyday. 

“God, you look beautiful.” you heard him mutter under his breath, at that you smiled. “You don't look so bad yourself, Barnes.” you nudged him and shifted past him. 

~~~

When you made it to Buckys’ go to dancing joint you got a little anxious, you had a slight fear of crowds. Bucky knew that and as if sensing your anxiety, he wrapped an arm around your waist pulling you closer to him. It made you feel safer, until the crowd got lighter the deeper you went into the place. Though Contact wasn't completely severed, as he still held your hand guiding you towards the dance floor. 

Your eyes widened, “Oh no, You know I can’t dance Buck.” He pulled you along, you still resisting. “Doll, What’d you think we were gonna do when I said I wanted to take you dancing?” He gave you an amused look. 

You huffed “Fine, but if I step on your toes, don’t say I didn't warn you.” You settled for a spot where you couldn’t bump into as many people, a French song (la vie en rose by Edith piaf) was playing, you were chest to chest, you hoped he couldn’t feel your heartbeat. One of his arms secured on your waist, your hand on his shoulder, both you and buckys other hand fit perfectly in each other. You swayed to the song, your head layed on his chest, you were happy you decided, if this was the closest you were ever going to get to him in a semi romantic way; you were happy. 

Once that song ended, and a new upbeat song started then that’s where disaster started; Bucky was going to teach you how to dance. He spun you around giving, you an encouraging smile, as you fumbled around trying your best to not make a fool out of yourself.

You began to get a little frustrated with yourself. The other couples being able to do the jitterbug dance as you struggled. Bucky was being patient nevertheless, he was amused even! ‘Damn him’ you thought ‘With his charming smile and ability to dance like no ones watching.’

“And you said you couldn’t dance.” He laughed as you shot him a glare. “Hey, I'm proud of you. You've improved.” You shoved him playfully, hiding your smile.

He continued to attempt teaching you the simplest dances of your time; the charleston stroll, which you miraculously got the hang of. “There you go, Darlin’ you got it.” He laughed as you mimicked his movements. Luckily the dance he taught you easily fit with all of the songs that played making you enjoy the evening further.

Just as you were letting loose, jumping around with him, giggling. He stopped suddenly when the song shifted into another one. The mood becoming humorless. Eyes meeting yours. 

“(y/n), you know I would always come back to you right?” Grabbing your hands in his. 

You were confused why he asked that but answered anyway. “Y-yeah Buck” Was he leaving you? Leaving somewhere? If he was, Where was he going? and Why? 

He pulled away slightly to look you in the eye. “I mean it, Baby, you’re it for me. In everything I do, I’ll always come back to you.” Your heart swelled and you could feel the heat rushing to your cheeks. You were so close, you could see the detail in his deep blue eyes. Your eyes flickered to his lips, for a second you thought his did too. Just an inch closer and your lips would touch. Right before anything could happen a blonde woman sauntered over to where you both were. 

“James? James Barnes is that you?” She questioned. You internally rolled her eyes. Of freaking course you were going to get interrupted by a past conquest, possible new one.

Bucky snapped out of whatever trance he was in, looked over to the woman and smiled. That smug look he gave all the women he was about to seduce. ‘Great. Just great.’ you thought. What was about to happen was really just in the moment of whatever speech he gave was about and you two weren’t just about to kiss, you convinced yourself. 

Steve showed up a little while later, saving you from third wheeling any longer. He said that Bucky invited him earlier but he was busy doing something so he told Bucky he would be a late. That made you feel worse. You finished your drink and ordered another one. 

When the night had ended and Bucky was walking you back home you asked him who that girl was, He responded that she was just a friend, nobody you had to worry about. That made you question what made him think he had to reassure that she was nobody...it’s not you were bothered or at least you hoped he didn’t notice if you were. 

And because you are you, you pried more “Well she must be somebody if you ditched me for her.” It was a joke, sort of. You tried to hide the jealousy in your tone.

"I didn't ditch you for her, doll, just needed to catch up with her is all.” you internally rolled your eyes.

“Like I don’t know what ‘catching up’ means.” He caught you armed and moved you to face him. 

“Hey-” He grabbed your chin between his index finger and his thumb to make you look at him, “She is literally just an old family friend who knew me when I was a kid. Guess she noticed I grew up.” 

Moving away from him and walking up the steps of your home you said, “Yeah, I noticed too.” 

~~~

He finally looked at you after you were done with your questions. “Steve wanted to enlist so I did too.” your face deadpanned. 

“Is he an idiot?!” you gained looks from other customers who were eating. “Is he an idiot?” you repeated in a whisper scream. 

“There’s a war going on (y/n), we can’t just sit here and do nothing.” 

“Oh don’t act all American patriot with me.” He gave you a serious look that probably meant you should stop talking. You didn't, you continued on and on about how things can go wrong, which of course it’s a war, what can one expect. This was all just so you wouldn’t say “I love you, Please don't leave me.” Your two best friends would go off and be heroes, while you’d- well you don’t know what you’d do. You got teary-eyed. 

“I know this is hard and me and Steve are practically the only family you have left but think about it like this-” He reached over the table to grab your hand, brushing his thumb over the back of it. “The quicker we go in, the quicker we get out. The war will be over and everybody’s happy.” He smiled. 

“Fine but before you leave we’re going dancing.” You smiled back. 

“That’s my girl!”

~~~

As promised you did go dancing before they left. The next morning you woke up in the same clothes you went out in. Walking into you bathroom and looking into the mirror you saw the mess that was your hair and face. Smudged with makeup that you slept in over night and hair in its usual nest that it becomes overnight. During your shower and brushing your teeth you recall the events of last night. 

The memories rushing back of the kiss or kisses you and Bucky shared. You suddenly feel embarrassed. Then a thought appeared ‘What if he doesn't remember?’ You were almost certain the only way Bucky would Kiss you is if he was blackout drunk so you decided you wouldn’t tell him what you remembered.

Later that day when Bucky came to pick you up for your mid-afternoon walks to talk about your plans and what you’ve already done that day. Kind of just to vent; the topic of last night hadn't come up. Not the part that you so vividly recollect at least. You decided to stick with the plan to not tell him, because if there was a chance that you were right about him not feeling the way you do about him, then you’d rather not know. 

~~~ 

A week had passed and the time has come for your best friends to leave. Waiting for Bucky to pass by your place your anxiety builds up, You were finally going to tell Bucky how you felt. It was perfect, you could tell him how you feel so if he rejects, you wouldn't have to face him again until he comes back, which by then you’ll be over it and it’ll be something you both could laugh about. 

Always punctual, Bucky walks up to you. Your breath taken from you as you take in the sight of him in his uniform. You both came a long way from the kids you were. 

“How you doin’ Beautiful?” 

“I’d be better if you weren’t leaving me.” Feeling awkward, not knowing what to do you crossed your arms. Which did nothing since he pulled your arms down, wrapping them around his waist and putting his around you. The embrace felt shorter than it was. Your eyes were soon filling up with tears when he let go. 

“Hey, hey, hey” Bucky wiped your tears with his thumbs. “I won’t be gone long, maybe a couple months, maybe a year.” You scoffed. “Think about it like this; you needed knew friends anyways.” 

“Buck-”

“No listen (y/n), you can’t waste your life by sitting around waiting for me and Steve to come back home when there is a possibility that we aren't.”

“Why are you saying it like it’s a definitive thing.”

“Because it might be and I love you too much for you not to live your life while I'm gone.”

“You love me?” You asked, your heart fluttered. That’s when he started stuttering and before you had time to think straight you blurted out: 

 “I am in love with you.” you paused, hoping he’d say something, you continued. “Have been for years now and I thought you didn’t feel the same way until last week when we were drunk and I remember we kissed. I didn't wanna mention it because I thought you didn't remember and you probably still don’t-” 

He cut you off by grabbing your face and pulling you forward to kiss you. “I remembered too. 

Breaking out of the kiss with your foreheads pressed together, realizing that he had to go, you say “Come back to me.” 

“I will. I promise.” He gives you one final kiss before finally leaving. 

[graveyardbard]

I’m really really fucking low rn so im gonna vent for a sec Nothing serious just ya know

So I’m a practicing witch, I’ve been studying pagan and nordic practices for a few years and still have a lot to learn, all this to say that I find my paths by listening to both my ancestors and what ever forces guide my hand. Today I was feeling meh about any potential relationships since 1) Im sick of being single and 2) I want someone to share the very few happy moments that I have with. So I looked up an astro map with my lines to see where I would “be the most desired” or whatever and that landed me no where, literally... It said I’m most attractive in the middle of the ocean just north of Ireland, and in the dead center of the Sahara. Which fucking blew. And then I was like okay, divination is what I’m more attuned with so I’ll do a potential love/relationship reading and it pretty much said, I’m going to be incredibly happy and full of joy and this person that I’m supposed to be with is looking for something new and adventurous and that it’ll come about because of things that were out of our hands work-wise and that I should pretty much let the cards land as they will, which I’m fine with, and that it’ll end because something somewhere is going to become very toxic and draining.... I think it hurt the most because that sounds soooomewhat like my last relationship and I don’t want that every again. I’m gonna do another reading tomorrow and just see what happens but rn I’m so low about the fact that even the deities and ancestors are saying that i’m better off single and that a relationship will only take my happiness... I just want to be loved... thats all...

Edit:// Its actually funny bc I’m currently doing a few self insert things and the ONLY thing that pops in my head is lol these characters wouldnt even show my the way to the citgo for some gas...

[verdigrisprowl]

August 14 Dancitron Movie Night - Star Trek tribbles episodes

Prowl is bothered by the apparent conservation of mass issues with the tribbles.

Everyone was tired.

ItsyBitsySpyers 7:57 pm *Soundwave is tucked into his corner of the couch, in a small slouch with his legs propped on feelers. His usual black glass is replaced by a thin red band and a white mask and he's just. Quietly petting Chimera. There are snacks on the bar.* boomtank 7:59 pm -too tired to notice this. He's exhausted and trying to organize things that aren't going so well- FakeProwl 7:59 pm *shows up, plops down, zones out* FakeProwl 7:59 pm *apparently this room collectively needs about 30 more hours of sleep* boomtank 8:00 pm -that would be nice- ItsyBitsySpyers 8:00 pm *Can he opt for 45?* Specs 8:00 pm ((can I type now)) Specs 8:00 pm ((YES)) Specs 8:01 pm ((I am free from the hell)) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:01 pm *Soundwave gives Blaster the laziest of waves with a feeler end and pings Prowl hello.* Specs 8:01 pm *a small, fluffy dragon slides several plates onto the bar. energon cookies with silver orbs on them, truffles with highgrade centers, and chewy bars with lots of mercury. enjoy!* Bevel 8:02 pm *trundles in like a beacon of obnoxious positive energy to contrast with the rest of the room apparently?* boomtank 8:02 pm -waves back, before curling up in his selected chair, like he's about to take a nap- Bevel 8:02 pm *oh look swoop and impact have arrived to join her* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:02 pm *How tired is Laserbeak? Well, she's not even going to zip over to the bar. She's just going to do this.*

{{Swoop. Swoop, you get Bird snacks.}} Swoop 8:03 pm *slides in through the door* Swoop 8:03 pm *perks up at the instruction* Swoop 8:03 pm KAY Swoop 8:03 pm *skitters across the floor to go grab snacks, this is a serious Bird mission, he'll need to transform and use arms instead of just scooping things up in his beak* Impact 8:04 pm ((what's the movie?)) Impact 8:04 pm *waves at soundwave* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:04 pm ((is more trek because i didn't have time to get a movie)) Impact 8:04 pm *pause, new visor thing? 3:o cool!* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:04 pm *Another super-lazy wave in Bevel and Impact's direction. No flobster this time, right?* Impact 8:04 pm *waving resumes* boomtank 8:04 pm -tired wave at more people- ItsyBitsySpyers 8:05 pm {{Best Swoop.}} Impact 8:05 pm *waves at Prowl, too. she won't mind if he doesn't notice, though, he seems tired.* Bevel 8:05 pm *not tonight* FakeProwl 8:05 pm *Laserbeak isn't flying tonight?* Specs 8:05 pm *waves at impact* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:05 pm *Noooope.* FakeProwl 8:05 pm *is her energy zapped?—sorry—sapped?* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:05 pm ((LMFAO)) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:06 pm *Why is Prowl asking? Shouldn't he know?* Swoop 8:06 pm *grabs enough treats to feed Grimlock and carts them over to Bird* Hi Bird ItsyBitsySpyers 8:07 pm {{Good. Mine mine.}} She's not even floating, y'all. She's just on the ground like a stack of plates. {{Hi. You have... four. That Bird thank you.}} Swoop 8:07 pm *sets the treats out in front of Bird is what can vaguely be said to resemble a line* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:08 pm ((3-8 MINUTE WARNING getcher snax)) Swoop 8:08 pm You sick Bird? Whirl 8:08 pm ((time for me to get my nuclear-strength ramen)) Specs 8:08 pm *waves at Whirl* I made some truffles for you to try, if you want? If Swoop didn't take them all? Whirl 8:08 pm ((...*spicy ramen)) FakeProwl 8:08 pm *slouches down and flops his head on the couch backrest.* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:08 pm {{Nooooo. Sleepy.}} Swoop 8:08 pm Oh Whirl 8:08 pm *the moment he steps in, he is approached by that gregarious dragon from last week* ...oh. Uh. Truffles? As in, solid food? Swoop 8:09 pm *considers this information for a moment and then carefully slides his hands under Bird's wings, scooping her up and depositing her in his lap, still facing the treats* Swoop 8:09 pm *naps are in piles, this is the law of the Dino-land* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:09 pm *Good law. Happens to be shared in Minitopia.* Specs 8:10 pm Uh... Solid outside, liquid inside. Specs 8:10 pm Maybe I should have just brought in the centers instead. I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:10 pm @Prowl: (txt): Helm prop wanted? FakeProwl 8:11 pm Mmm... no. *he just got comfortable.* Whirl 8:11 pm You're not the first person to forget, and you won't be the last. *snorts* But, yeah, bring me something liquid next time, and we'll see. *and now, he will take his seat* Bevel 8:12 pm *goes to her usual seat after getting something simple to drink* Swoop 8:12 pm *absentmindedly traces at the darker bits of Laserbeak's wings and looks around, everyone is sleepy...... what fight did he miss????* Whirl 8:13 pm *a hell of a fight, is what it was* FakeProwl 8:13 pm *a good one* Bevel 8:13 pm *the same one she missed boo* FakeProwl 8:13 pm *prowl almost died and he wasn't even in it* Whirl 8:13 pm Though, I'll be honest, little dragon--it's got to be extreme for me to taste it at all. So you've gotta whip up something borderline NOXIOUS. Swoop 8:13 pm *would be offended and whiney if not for the lap full of Bird... that's pretty good* Impact 8:13 pm *belatedly* HI WHIRL! Whirl 8:14 pm *bobs his head at Impact* Specs 8:15 pm I can't exactly taste my own craft. Organic, and all. I could try, um, melanterite? Tarantulas says that one tastes strong, if my memory serves. *the dragon trails off, muttering to herself about mixes* Swoop 8:15 pm *has Bird in his lap and a shitton of treats laid out in front of them, not an ideal situatoin for antoher Dinobot to meander in on* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:16 pm ((WARNINGS... uh, i guess if you're allergic to fur this is gonna be a bad night for you)) Specs 8:16 pm ((are we doing the tribbles)) Impact 8:16 pm ((oh gosh is this what i think it is)) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:16 pm ((all three eps)) Specs 8:16 pm ((YES)) Impact 8:16 pm ((3:D)) Slag 8:17 pm *squints at Swoop* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:17 pm *Laserbeak is idly stuffing snacks in her mouth one at a time without moving from Swoop* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:17 pm ((finishing grabbing hot dogs one sec)) FakeProwl 8:17 pm ((hot dogs!!)) Swoop 8:17 pm *doesn't even notice the squinting, he has a Bird to pet kthx* Impact 8:18 pm ((ma, i could go for a hot dog right now)) Slag 8:18 pm (( *in the progress of inhaling a burrito after missing breakfast and lunch* )) Whirl 8:18 pm I'll try it. But there's a drink here, the Gaugebuster--it's my favorite--and it's so spicy that the fumes alone make most of the mecha in this room cough if they sit within ten feet of me.

And to me it's an extremely mild flavor. So that's the level of "not being able to taste" you're working with here. Slag 8:19 pm *looks at Swoop. Looks at Laserbeak. Looks at Slendy. Looks at Swoop.* Specs 8:19 pm Oh boy. This'll be fun. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:19 pm [[We seem to have most of everyone.]] Long vent. Motion in the direction of the screen. [[Let these be a lesson to you. Somehow.]] Slag 8:19 pm *shuffles off to lay down on the outside of the gathering away from his stupid brother and his brother's girlfriend* Bevel 8:20 pm ((mmm hotdogs Swoop 8:20 pm *knows that irritated stomp and does nothing about it, cute girl is priority, also Slag is always mad so w/e* Bevel 8:21 pm *sits and drinks her energon while being exteremely pleased with herself* Whirl 8:21 pm *he will salute the dragon. Godspeed on your experiments. He will gladly try them* boomtank 8:21 pm -looks up from his tight curl to stare at the screen- Specs 8:21 pm Hello, Tarantulas! *gapes a grin* Treats on the bar. I didn't even put sulfate minerals in them, this time. Impact 8:21 pm *snuggles up next to Bevel with her snacks* Whirl 8:21 pm *has no barter, so he'll watch 'em dry tonight* FakeProwl 8:22 pm *lifts head to look at the screen. it's unpleasant. he has to use his spinal strut.* FakeProwl 8:22 pm ... I'll take that helm prop now. Swoop 8:22 pm Bird. When you not Sleepy Bird anymore, You tell Swoop about FIGHT : > Bevel 8:22 pm Would Impact like to sit on my shoulder to see better? boomtank 8:22 pm -would like to know what happened to the rest of the room, but...tired- ItsyBitsySpyers 8:22 pm *One feeler moves out from beneath Soundwave's legs - the other shifts to take its place - and instead slithers across the back of the couch and down the side, so the tendrils are away from Prowl's head.* Impact 8:22 pm WOULD I?! 38D ItsyBitsySpyers 8:23 pm {{Who saying Bird fight? Bird say fight?}} FakeProwl 8:23 pm *watches the tendrils go by, but doesn't even twitch.* Bevel 8:23 pm *will allow self to be a jungle gym for the evening* Swoop 8:23 pm Keheehee, nooo! Swoop KNOW after fight sleepy naps. FakeProwl 8:23 pm *leans back on feeler. good.* Whirl 8:23 pm I'm getting a kind of Batman feel from this one. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:23 pm [[Older records.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 8:24 pm *Tired pap of Swoop face.* {{Smart Swoop. Most smart Dinobot.}} Slag 8:24 pm *GRUMBLES* Swoop 8:24 pm Keehee <3 Specs 8:24 pm *flies over to the bar and grabs a cookie. prepare for a cookie to be shoved under your nose, slag* Tarantulas 8:25 pm *tara's just walked in - wh- what? a dragon who knows his name???* I - How did you know - ? *...he's probably hallucinating* boomtank 8:25 pm -very tempted to try going back to sleep- Specs 8:26 pm *a hissing laugh* I sent you that ice cream! The one with melanterite in it. That was a bit of a failure, hah. Slag 8:26 pm *disgruntled noises* Swoop 8:26 pm *unless that escalates to murder noises, Swoop's going to keep scritching Bird's back* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:27 pm *If Swoop keeps that up she's gonna fall aslseep for real.* Specs 8:27 pm *gently pushes the cookie further under Slag's nose* Slag 8:27 pm *blinks at cookie under his nose. Can't actually see it around his horn* Impact 8:27 pm *cackles* Bevel 8:27 pm *giggles* Tarantulas 8:27 pm *OH. the melanterite, primus no* ...T-thank you, I suppose? *he'll snag some snacks, but he's not up to much conversation* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:27 pm //Heh. I seen the Boss in moods like this.// Whirl 8:27 pm Pfft. And yeah--about that melanterite, Tarantulas--how storng was it? What did it taste like? FakeProwl 8:28 pm *doesn't know who this Mr. Spock is, but he showed up somebody who was trying to condescend to him AND the captain listens when he uses the word "logical," so he's got Prowl's attention* Swoop 8:28 pm *is 1000% down for Zzzz Bird* Specs 8:28 pm I like making treats. Sometimes I do it better than others! *grins at Slag* Try it! Slag 8:29 pm ... *eats the cookie* Specs 8:29 pm *smiles hopefully* Is it good? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:29 pm *Ravage mutters something that sounds like "pest".* Impact 8:29 pm animal! Tarantulas 8:29 pm It tasted like - you don't even have the sensors for it, Whirl. Not pleasant. Slag 8:29 pm Me no know. Tastes crunchy. Whirl 8:29 pm I can pick up really, really STRONG tastes. The more noxious the better... Whirl 8:29 pm *trails off and stares at the screen* Whirl 8:30 pm *squints* Specs 8:30 pm *gets all poofy like a tribble* Whirl 8:30 pm *after a few moments he starts to softly but quite accurately mimic the tribble noise* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:30 pm *Ravage squints at Whirl.* Swoop 8:30 pm *joins in the tribble noises with his own, less accurate birdy coos* Bevel 8:31 pm *mimics tribble noises* Impact 8:31 pm *joins in trying to tribble* Impact 8:31 pm *fails* Tarantulas 8:31 pm *tarantulas is transforming, shrinking, and crawling over to prowl and soundwave's couch. does anyone need a throw pillow spider* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:31 pm =MUST you all.= Bevel 8:32 pm *claps for Impact anyway* Whirl 8:32 pm *swivels his helm to regard Ravage* What's the matter? Don't like tribbles? FakeProwl 8:32 pm ... The tribbles are going to eat the quadrotriticale. Specs 8:32 pm *stops poofing* As you wish, Ravage. Slag, if it's crunchy, that means I did good. I think. Bevel 8:32 pm Yes. Slag 8:32 pm Kay. boomtank 8:32 pm -agrees with Ravage on this. Tribble noises, really?- Specs 8:32 pm Would you like another? Slag 8:32 pm Kay. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:32 pm *Ravage growls and mumbles and curls up with his paws over his audial dishes.* Bevel 8:32 pm Mimicking things is fun. Whirl 8:33 pm *still has no idea what the deal is, but he likes Ravage, so he will stop* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:33 pm *And there's space for a throw spider on the couch.* Specs 8:33 pm *okay then. flies over to acquire moar cookies. here you go, slag... right in front of your nose again.* Impact 8:33 pm *ceases tribbling* I think Prowl's right! boomtank 8:33 pm -and curled up in a tired ball again- Slag 8:35 pm *lays crunching cookies and sulking* Slag 8:35 pm Him got evil-beard. Bevel 8:35 pm Evil beard? Slag 8:35 pm Yah. Slag 8:35 pm Him face got hair. Mean him evil. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:35 pm //It's fur. How's it evil?// Swoop 8:35 pm Hairball Bevel 8:36 pm Tribbles are all hair. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:36 pm //Gee, I wonder what this reminds me of.// Whirl 8:36 pm Pfft. Oh, I see who this is meant to be a lesson for. Whirl 8:36 pm *cheeky gleeful look over in Rumble's direction* Impact 8:36 pm *giggles* Whirl 8:36 pm That was NOT my fault, by the way. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:36 pm //Uh-huh.// ItsyBitsySpyers 8:37 pm *Sticks his tongue out, but in a good mood sorta way* Whirl 8:37 pm I mean, it's not like I sat and coached it beforehand. You guys were just babysitting at the exact wrong time. FakeProwl 8:37 pm ... What's it eating to have produced so many offspring of such mass in a single day? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:37 pm [[Quadrotriticale.]] Specs 8:37 pm Presumably the grain. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:38 pm [[The Chekov human said it got into it.]] Swoop 8:38 pm *is setting a new record for good behavior, mainly because he's paying zero attention to anything but Bird, mark this down for the record books* Slag 8:38 pm It Gremlin? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:38 pm *It's being recorded, trust us.* FakeProwl 8:38 pm THAT much grain? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:38 pm [[Just the little bit on the bar.]] FakeProwl 8:38 pm And this one has been contained. It likely wasn't being fed. Slag 8:39 pm It Gremlin. Slag 8:39 pm Mahg-why. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:39 pm \\HE MIGHTA FED IT.\\ ItsyBitsySpyers 8:39 pm //Hey, the Gizmo things, right?// FakeProwl 8:39 pm The co— Slag 8:39 pm Yah. Him Gizmo. FakeProwl 8:39 pm *stops. looks around. windchill isn't here.* Whirl 8:39 pm Gizmos? FakeProwl 8:39 pm The conservation of mass is all off. Unless their mass is much lower than they APPEAR to be. Slag 8:39 pm It gremlin like Him Gizmo. Turn gooey. Bevel 8:39 pm All hair. Impact 8:39 pm maybe they're teeeny and all hair Bevel 8:40 pm Just hair. Evil beard hair. Specs 8:40 pm I mean, if you've ever thrown up a hairball. They're little mass, but a pain to get out. Slag 8:40 pm What hairball Whirl 8:40 pm What do folks have against keeping useless parasites as pets, ANYWAY? Bevel 8:40 pm *laughs* Impact 8:41 pm *giggling* boomtank 8:41 pm Because it's cute or something Specs 8:41 pm A hairball is when you clean your fur, and it gets stuck in your crop. It... is bad. FakeProwl 8:41 pm But hair does take mass. Unless they're much lighter than they look. Tarantulas 8:41 pm *spider is on the couch and mumbling something about pseudoadvanced species and pocket something* Slag 8:41 pm What crop? Swoop 8:41 pm *giggles the tamest giggle he's ever giggled jic Bird is asleep* Slag 8:41 pm What wad-ka ItsyBitsySpyers 8:41 pm *She is.* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:41 pm *Little thin whir-snores* Whirl 8:41 pm *he's hugely amused. This reminds him of Killer's last vacation* boomtank 8:41 pm ...looks more like a more round version found on the sides of human roads Swoop 8:41 pm *so cute <3 <3 <3 <3* Specs 8:41 pm A crop is the part of the throat that, as far as I can tell, only serves to get hair stuck in it. Slag 8:42 pm That gross. Have removed. Whirl 8:42 pm He's gonna get his face caved in. Whirl 8:42 pm And he's gonna deserve it. Impact 8:43 pm uh oh Impact 8:43 pm he said the thiiiiing Bevel 8:43 pm Fight. Impact 8:43 pm he's gonna go doooown Slag 8:43 pm Him Klingon? Specs 8:43 pm He's a klingon. Slag 8:43 pm Him look like Him Kirk though. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:44 pm \\DECK HIM\\ Specs 8:44 pm Slag, watch, they're gonna fight. Bevel 8:44 pm Fight! Impact 8:44 pm *imitates kill bill sirens* Slag 8:44 pm YEAAHHH FakeProwl 8:44 pm *for a moment is confused by the scene.* Whirl 8:44 pm Excellent. Whirl 8:44 pm Nothing's more fun that a good old-fashioned BARFIGHT. Slag 8:44 pm Whaaat that pansy slap FakeProwl 8:44 pm *and then remembers that some people are actually proud of their captain and ship.* boomtank 8:44 pm ...... FakeProwl 8:44 pm *he spent too long on the lost light* Bevel 8:44 pm ((omfg prowl Swoop 8:44 pm *wants to whoop, does not, is biting the shit out of his lip and snickering instead* Whirl 8:44 pm ((PFFT)) boomtank 8:44 pm wow Slag 8:44 pm Where blood Slag 8:45 pm Why him butt sparkle ItsyBitsySpyers 8:45 pm [[Pants.]] Slag 8:45 pm Why him butt pants ItsyBitsySpyers 8:45 pm //'N don't none of you get no ideas.// Specs 8:45 pm Clearly, klingons are ranked by the sparkliness of their butt pants. Impact 8:45 pm the sale guy is stealing booooooze! boomtank 8:45 pm Right, they're crazy Bevel 8:45 pm Maybe it is a good time to steal booze since everyone is fighting. Slag 8:45 pm That wussy slap Slag 8:45 pm them bad fighters Impact 8:46 pm that's true Impact 8:46 pm *cackles* FakeProwl 8:46 pm *... tentatively reaches over to put a hand on tarantulas?* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:46 pm \\HAHA!\\ Slag 8:46 pm Them not break anybody Slag 8:46 pm laaame Specs 8:46 pm I know some of the Cousins would canonize the sales guy as a saint, if he was one of them. Slag 8:47 pm Them not even cut up. Lame fight. Whirl 8:47 pm I wouldn't trash a bar I plan to come BACK to. As always, you lot can enjoy nothing but my best behavior. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:48 pm *Saves the "NO this is not off the record"* Specs 8:48 pm I will be on my best behavior because I am small and easily crushed. Slag 8:49 pm (( He seems hurt by this )) Tarantulas 8:49 pm *accepts the hand. pet meee* Impact 8:49 pm there's MOOOOOOORE Bevel 8:49 pm Too many. Slag 8:49 pm Why them no put lid boomtank 8:49 pm That...is a lot of hairballs Whirl 8:49 pm *LAUGHS AGAIN, AND KEEPS ON LAUGHIN* Specs 8:49 pm We have nothing like them back home, but I wish we did. Swoop 8:49 pm lid squish Slag 8:50 pm So? Slag 8:50 pm Put lid on *you* Impact 8:50 pm *snorts* Specs 8:50 pm They are purring all the time, though... Swoop 8:50 pm Keehee no lid Swoop 8:51 pm No Swoop lid Impact 8:51 pm they're everywhere! Specs 8:51 pm Don't sit on the tribble! FakeProwl 8:51 pm *Prowl has decided he likes Mr. Spock* FakeProwl 8:51 pm *sassing off at people who object to him wanting to be practical.* Impact 8:51 pm o_o Impact 8:51 pm so many Slag 8:51 pm why him take Specs 8:51 pm I love them. They're... They're just good. boomtank 8:51 pm That...that is an infestation...of a very large degree Swoop 8:52 pm Eat Whirl 8:52 pm Lord. Half the room must be having flashbacks right about now. Specs 8:52 pm No! Do not eat them! ItsyBitsySpyers 8:52 pm //Juuuuus' a little bit, mech.// Whirl 8:52 pm It turned out all right in the end. Specs 8:53 pm She's got one in her shirt. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:53 pm //Well, yeah. We got 'em off the ship after a while.// Whirl 8:53 pm Most of them went out into wider Cybertron, if i remember correctly. Impact 8:54 pm What're you guys talking about? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:54 pm //...Tribbles. I think.// Bevel 8:54 pm Did you infest Cybertron with Tribbles? Impact 8:54 pm 3:o ItsyBitsySpyers 8:54 pm //Pffft. No. What'd they eat?// Whirl 8:55 pm I've got a pet space barnacle--Killer--that I needed Rumble and Frenzy to watch for me. It spawned while they were looking after it. Impact 8:55 pm oopsie! Bevel 8:55 pm Um... Whirl 8:55 pm Hundreds of tiny baby barnacles. Bevel 8:55 pm *that's a good question* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:55 pm //Oh. Yeah, the barnacles too.// Slag 8:55 pm What Barney-kulls? Bevel 8:55 pm Oh! Wait! Barnacles!? Whirl 8:55 pm They're like... these little guys. Bevel 8:56 pm Like your pet? Slag 8:56 pm Them Dinosaurs? Whirl 8:56 pm Crustaceans. They never move, and they eat garbage. Bevel 8:56 pm *relaxes a little* Slag 8:56 pm Him Barney move lots. Whirl 8:56 pm Also... I think Rumble and I aren't on the same wavelength. But yeah. There were barnacles. Impact 8:56 pm spock and kirk are really good at zingers! Specs 8:56 pm Oh no. Impact 8:56 pm tribbles on the walls! Bevel 8:56 pm Ew hair in food Whirl 8:56 pm I have no idea what Barney is but if it walks around, it ain't a barnacle. Impact 8:56 pm ...on. the food? boomtank 8:57 pm How the...they're in the... Whirl 8:57 pm I mean, Killer has a mouth, and everything. It dismembered a Decepticon once. How it got its name. Impact 8:57 pm air vents! Impact 8:57 pm i am better than a trribble ItsyBitsySpyers 8:57 pm ((so apparently they lost track of some of the tribbles on the sets and were finding them randomly forever after this episode)) Slag 8:57 pm Him Barney dinosaur Bevel 8:57 pm ((amazing FakeProwl 8:57 pm ((omg)) Whirl 8:57 pm ((omg)) Specs 8:57 pm You're more charming, too, Impact. boomtank 8:57 pm Primus have mercy on them boomtank 8:57 pm ((nice ItsyBitsySpyers 8:57 pm ((and sometimes would play pranks with leftovers like one time mccoy was doing surgery and he pulled a tribble out instead of an organ)) FakeProwl 8:58 pm ((OMG)) Specs 8:58 pm ((thank you for that knowledge I love it)) Whirl 8:58 pm ((HAHAHA)) Impact 8:58 pm i'm th echarmingest Slag 8:58 pm (( PFF) Bevel 8:58 pm ((thank you for sharing that Specs 8:58 pm *the dragon just dies of laughter* Impact 8:58 pm *laughing* oh noooooo Slag 8:58 pm That lot of fuzzy FakeProwl 8:59 pm *shoulders tremble slightly* Impact 8:59 pm they ate it all! Bevel 8:59 pm Buried in evil hair. Impact 8:59 pm they ARE evil hair! Specs 8:59 pm Talk about- *wheeze* Talk about a crop infection! Slag 8:59 pm nooo evil hair on face boomtank 8:59 pm -nearly topples out of seat laughing- FakeProwl 8:59 pm !!!! Whirl 8:59 pm I wonder if they're edible? Whirl 8:59 pm If they are, they'd be a better food source right? FakeProwl 8:59 pm *spock can do what prowl does. he Maths.* Specs 8:59 pm Presumably. They have predators. Bevel 8:59 pm Fast math! Whirl 9:00 pm Well, y'know. Not all species can eat the same things. Whirl 9:01 pm Ohh. They poisoned the grain? Specs 9:01 pm Fair enough. I assumed you meant in general, not by humans. FakeProwl 9:01 pm So it seems. Whirl 9:01 pm *bobs his helm in acknowledgement* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:02 pm *Streeeetch. Small plating flare and then resettle.* Swoop 9:02 pm <3 <3 <3 ItsyBitsySpyers 9:02 pm *...That was Soundwave, Swoop.* Bevel 9:02 pm ...shapeshifter! Swoop 9:03 pm *uhh he can <3 whenever he feels like it kthx* Whirl 9:03 pm *gonna scoot back and put his feet up; he's got his table to himself, so he's gonna stretch out* Specs 9:03 pm Cosmetic surgery! Bevel 9:03 pm Maybe he just shaved his evil beard off. Swoop 9:03 pm *touches the tippy tip of Bird's mandible with is claw, boop* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:03 pm *Laserbeak cleans her face in her sleep* FakeProwl 9:03 pm ... He's a Vulcan? Slag 9:03 pm Me want Tribble. Whirl 9:03 pm ((THAT'S TOO CUTE)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:03 pm [[Mr. Spock? Yes.]] Swoop 9:03 pm *INTERNAL SCREAMING AT THE CUTE* Impact 9:04 pm ((cutebeak* Specs 9:04 pm ((impact is correct)) FakeProwl 9:04 pm ... Ah. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:04 pm @Prowl: (txt): Pink silica memory. Slag 9:04 pm Me Slag want one. How get FakeProwl 9:05 pm *nods* The same process. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:05 pm =No. No getting.= Slag 9:05 pm Why? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:05 pm =PESTS.= Slag 9:05 pm So? Slag 9:05 pm Humans pest too Whirl 9:05 pm And hey, they turned out to be useful to the investigation. Good little guys. Impact 9:05 pm He scares people off with tribbles. *giggle* boomtank 9:06 pm -he's better now- boomtank 9:06 pm -ish- Impact 9:06 pm o_o that's a lot of tribbles boomtank 9:07 pm Attack of the hairballs Slag 9:07 pm Me Slag want one FakeProwl 9:08 pm @Soundwave «... Is Mr. Spock intended to be likable or dislikable?» *because PROWL likes him. But he's a Vulcan. and the other Vulcan was very obviously dislikable.* Impact 9:08 pm What did they dooooooo? Bevel 9:09 pm *laughs* Impact 9:09 pm *cackles* Specs 9:09 pm *hisses at pun* boomtank 9:09 pm -dying of laughter over here- FakeProwl 9:09 pm ((brb gotta check on laundry)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:09 pm ((will save sw's response for when u return)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:09 pm ((and small break for music)) Impact 9:09 pm I like these guys! ItsyBitsySpyers 9:10 pm //Boss, Boss, pause a sec. I wanna check Killer. Jus' - jus' in case.// Slag 9:10 pm Me Slag want tribble Whirl 9:10 pm *snickers* I'm sure it's fine. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:10 pm [[Fine. The other two episodes in just a moment, then.]] Impact 9:10 pm The captain and spock are really good with words like Papa is! 3X3 ItsyBitsySpyers 9:10 pm //I jus' wanna make sure.// ItsyBitsySpyers 9:10 pm *Rumble darts outside* Swoop 9:10 pm You slag talk to wheeljack Slag 9:10 pm You Swoop shut up Slag 9:10 pm Me Slag not ask you Swoop 9:11 pm ???? Slag 9:11 pm *grumbles* *plops head back down* FakeProwl 9:11 pm ((still damp)) Impact 9:12 pm ((ooh, what's this, it's pretty?)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:12 pm ((this gives me a chance to get more tea brb)) Bevel 9:12 pm Spock and Scotty were cool. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:12 pm ((will resume as soon as this is over)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:12 pm @Prowl: (txt): Likable. Respected, logical figure. Vulcans, often that. Impact 9:12 pm ((noice)) Impact 9:14 pm oh yeah, scotty too! Slag 9:14 pm Where get tribble boomtank 9:14 pm -really nice song. making him sleepy though- Impact 9:14 pm My chickens make lots of babies, but not THAT many babies. Specs 9:14 pm *the dragon's eyes are closed. she looks like she's completely zonked out. dragon hypnosis music.* Swoop 9:14 pm ((goddamn this is awesome)) FakeProwl 9:15 pm *just heard two people admire Spock. and then Soundwave.* @Soundwave «Then—he's intended as a positive character? While talking about logic, running rapid calculations, discussing computer simulations, displaying minimal emotion...? All of that? And the audience is intended and expected to like him?» Bevel 9:15 pm Eowyn has never had any babies. Impact 9:16 pm Maybe she can't make them by herself? Slag 9:16 pm What chicken Whirl 9:17 pm Yeah, I think flobsters need a partner. Killer could do it on its own--that's why it was kind of an issue. Impact 9:17 pm It's an organic animal with feathers! Impact 9:17 pm They make bwuck bwuck noises and lay eggs and I have lots! ItsyBitsySpyers 9:18 pm @Prowl: (txt): Affirmative. Well-liked. Doctor McCoy also likes, beneath rude exterior - protects, trusts, values. Vulcans often respected diplomats, lawkeepers, ship officers, other positions. Bevel 9:18 pm Maybe yeah. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:18 pm @Prowl:(txt): Prowl likes? Soundwave knows centered tapes. Slag 9:18 pm hmmm... feather burn Slag 9:18 pm smell bad Impact 9:19 pm ._. you're not supposed to burn chickens FakeProwl 9:19 pm @Soundwave «... Yes. I'd like that.» Impact 9:19 pm ...i mean, humans eat them? but they take the feathers off first??? Slag 9:19 pm Me am Dinobot. Me burn eeeeeeverything. Slag 9:19 pm *flickers flame from his nostrils* Impact 9:19 pm *sticks out tongue. blep* Specs 9:19 pm Hair smells terrible when burnt, Slag. *the dragon is trying so hard to de-zonk* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:20 pm @Prowl: (txt): Acknowledged. Soon - tonight's selection already chosen. Soundwave will arrange.

...Will teach more later, if also wanted. FakeProwl 9:21 pm *small nod* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:21 pm *Rumble skids back in and flops near Whirl.* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:21 pm //Safe. Ain't no babies in there.// Impact 9:21 pm We're safe! Whirl 9:21 pm *he will scoot to make room* See? Told you. Specs 9:21 pm Uh, what are we safe from? I missed it. Slag 9:21 pm Babies? Impact 9:21 pm from a baby invasion! Whirl 9:21 pm Maybe it was the whole... "new environment" thing. And it's been on Cybertron for weeks now. Slag 9:21 pm where? Whirl 9:21 pm Nowhere. Slag 9:21 pm Where babies? Whirl 9:22 pm Killer didn't spawn. Specs 9:22 pm ...I should hope I'm not gravid. I'm definitely not at the right body temperature. Specs 9:22 pm OH Slag 9:22 pm Him Swoop baby Whirl 9:22 pm He's not a barnacle baby, though. Slag 9:22 pm Him Swoop ugly bird baby Whirl 9:23 pm Hmm. *peers at him* Whirl 9:23 pm Nah, Swoop's all right. He's got swagger. That counts for something. Slag 9:23 pm Nah Slag 9:23 pm him ugly Slag 9:23 pm him ugly bird Slag 9:23 pm him ugly smelly bird Whirl 9:23 pm *shrugs; he's delivered his assessment* Slag 9:24 pm *it's his brother and he'll diss him if he wants to* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:24 pm //Swoop punched a phase sixer in the crotch. What'd YOU do?// Swoop 9:24 pm :V Whirl 9:24 pm *snickers* Swoop 9:24 pm ?? Swoop 9:24 pm *is an ugly smelly bird????* Slag 9:24 pm you shut up. You Him Swoop ugly boyfriend too? Impact 9:25 pm 3:o? Punched a phase sixer? Swoop 9:25 pm ??????????????????????? Whirl 9:25 pm *outright laughs* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:25 pm //Nah. I ain't nobody's boyfriend. Ain't nobody bothered askin' lately.// Whirl 9:25 pm He thinks he can shut me up! Not even *I* can shut me up. Swoop 9:25 pm *has no idea why we are talking about him, wasn't paying attention* Whirl 9:26 pm And, ditto. Slag 9:26 pm *glowers at .. Rumble? Frenzy? Dipstick? He has no idea* Swoop 9:26 pm Me Swoop not a BABY Slag 9:26 pm You Swoop dumb ugly smelly bird baby ItsyBitsySpyers 9:26 pm ((one day i will show the episodes where koloth and the others show up on ds9 all old men)) Whirl 9:26 pm ((omg...)) Bevel 9:27 pm ((yesssss Swoop 9:27 pm Not dumb OR baby Swoop 9:27 pm *is fine with the rest* Specs 9:27 pm ((this animation is... deeply upsetting to me as an animation major)) Bevel 9:27 pm ((bevel needs more shapeshifting law guy odo tho Impact 9:27 pm ((hee, sorry to hear that)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:27 pm ((it's from the era in which animation wasn't given much funding)) Swoop 9:27 pm ((It is beautifully dated)) Specs 9:27 pm ((oh I know the exact reasons and such it's just... I'm distressed anyways.)) Slag 9:28 pm *sarcastically* You Swoop sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo smart. Too smart to be DINOBOT. Dumb ugly bird. Impact 9:28 pm TRIBBLESSSSSSSSSSS Bevel 9:28 pm Pink. Specs 9:28 pm Here they ar- Why are they pink? Whirl 9:28 pm The tribbles' revenge! FakeProwl 9:28 pm Different breed, evidently. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:28 pm ((MORE FUN FACTS WITH CRO: they're pink because the guy in charge was color blind and thought they were grey.)) Swoop 9:28 pm *why are we being sarcastic??? what did he miss??? what is happening??????* Specs 9:28 pm ((OH MY GOD. that's beautiful)) FakeProwl 9:28 pm ((omg)) Whirl 9:28 pm ((omg...)) Impact 9:28 pm ((huh, interesting!)) Bevel 9:28 pm ((amazing and perfect result ItsyBitsySpyers 9:29 pm ((i like them pink tbh)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:29 pm [[They don't reproduce. And yet he has piles of them.]] Specs 9:29 pm ((okay the tribbles movement is good. just. the speaking ;-; )) Bevel 9:29 pm Clones? Specs 9:29 pm ((mouths don't do that)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:29 pm *Shakes his helm and drifts toward Prowl in a half-afted semi-lean.* Impact 9:29 pm o_o Specs 9:29 pm O_O Whirl 9:29 pm Ohh. I'd rather have a glommer. FakeProwl 9:30 pm If they're engineered not to breed, then how does he have so many? Swoop 9:30 pm why you slag whiny bot? Impact 9:30 pm SPACICIOUS ItsyBitsySpyers 9:30 pm [[Clones. Perhaps.]] Bevel 9:30 pm Jurassic Park. Slag 9:30 pm Why you Swoop pussy bot Swoop 9:30 pm ?????????????? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:30 pm *Seems like the Shockwave solutions.* Swoop 9:30 pm what Bevel 9:30 pm Bet they learn to breed. Specs 9:30 pm Such is the way of things. FakeProwl 9:31 pm *half-afted semi-lean back* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:31 pm [][][]Life finds a way.[][][] Whirl 9:31 pm I like their new look. Bevel 9:31 pm Yeah that! Slag 9:31 pm *sulks grumpily* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:31 pm //Someone musta fired that at us.// Whirl 9:31 pm ((what was the weapon again...)) Impact 9:32 pm ((stasis beam thingy)) Specs 9:32 pm ((stasis field)) Whirl 9:32 pm ((gotcha(( Swoop 9:32 pm Slag mean Slag 9:32 pm Swoop traitor Whirl 9:32 pm *well, Whirl isn't sure why Rumble's referring to a stasis weapon anyway so...* What? Swoop 9:32 pm Traitor?????? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:33 pm //Look around, mech. Most everybody here wants a nap. Heh. I was jokin'.// Whirl 9:33 pm Oh. Pft. Specs 9:33 pm There they are! Whirl 9:33 pm I hadn't noticed. *peers about. Who here is sleepy?* Bevel 9:33 pm Crossbreed? FakeProwl 9:33 pm If the tribbles just "get fat," then perhaps they'll simply get massive by eating all the grain? Whirl 9:33 pm Oh, lord. That'd be great. ...can. Swoop 9:33 pm What traitor ItsyBitsySpyers 9:33 pm *Prowl, Soundwave, most of the minicons - the twins got sleep - Blaster...* Slag 9:33 pm you swoop Whirl 9:33 pm You imagine... giant Killer. Specs 9:33 pm What is better, one large tribble or many small ones? Small tribbles are cute, but large ones would be nice to sit on. Swoop 9:33 pm What do???? FakeProwl 9:34 pm *incredibly sleepy* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:34 pm =None. No tribbles.= Slag 9:34 pm *grumble grumble* Whirl 9:34 pm *the room indeed seems very sleepy; Whirl is one of the few who seems to be pretty awake and full of his usual energy* Bevel 9:34 pm Flobsters are better. Impact 9:34 pm UH OH Specs 9:34 pm Oh no. Impact 9:34 pm GRAIN EVERYWHERE Impact 9:34 pm FAT TRIBBLES INBOUND Specs 9:34 pm Tribbles everywhere. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:34 pm //Killer's already big. How much bigger's he gonna get?// Swoop 9:34 pm *reaches ooouuut with a wing to pat Slag* Swoop 9:34 pm What do Whirl 9:34 pm I have no idea. Specs 9:35 pm ((E X P A N D T R I B B L E)) Whirl 9:35 pm I don't even know what dimension Killer's from. boomtank 9:35 pm -he's playing with politics. This is naptime- Bevel 9:35 pm Eowyn got bigger but not that fast. Slag 9:36 pm *nips at the wing prodding him* Specs 9:36 pm Look at that large one! Swoop 9:37 pm *pulls away and chirps* Impact 9:37 pm What bones figured out is gonna be important i know it! ItsyBitsySpyers 9:37 pm *Wonders how badly that breaks Prowl's mention of conservation of mass and whatnot* Specs 9:37 pm Of course it is! Or else Kirk would have listened to it. Bevel 9:38 pm *laughs* Impact 9:39 pm it's a bean bag chair! Specs 9:39 pm *hissing laughter* FakeProwl 9:39 pm *pretty badly, but it's hard to tell when he can't tell exactly how much each tribble consumes and how much their size increases proportionately to that.* Whirl 9:39 pm *snickers* Impact 9:39 pm TRIBBLE ATTACK Specs 9:39 pm *HAH* Impact 9:40 pm why aren't the tribbles hissing? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:40 pm [[Perhaps they're no longer frightened?]] Bevel 9:40 pm Glommer. Windchill 9:41 pm *Appears, fashionably late with a drink in hand. And, yes, that is an aluminum straw. He slurps loudly ONCE to announce his presence.* Specs 9:42 pm OH. Whirl 9:42 pm An avalanche. Whirl 9:42 pm *he'll bob his head at Windchill in greeting* Impact 9:42 pm *waves* Bevel 9:42 pm *almost falls back laughing but manages to keep upright so Impact won't fall* Impact 9:42 pm *giggles* Specs 9:43 pm *laughing her fur off* Oh dear. Slag 9:43 pm Me Slag want tribble Windchill 9:43 pm What in the name of Primus is this. Whirl 9:43 pm More Star Trek. Bevel 9:43 pm Star Trek Impact 9:43 pm star trek! FakeProwl 9:43 pm ((brb again to check laundry again)) Impact 9:43 pm with small furballs! Windchill 9:43 pm I shouldn't even be surprised anymore. Slag 9:43 pm him Kirk got small hairy balls Swoop 9:43 pm You Slag mean to Me Swoop. Me tell Wheeljack not to get tribble for mean Slag. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:44 pm ((one small break again and then the last one)) Windchill 9:44 pm *He won't complain, it's a vast improvement over Titanic.* Bevel 9:44 pm Evil hair. Slag 9:44 pm You Swoop shut up. No one ask you Swoop ItsyBitsySpyers 9:44 pm //Primus frag, Slag.// Swoop 9:44 pm 😛 Bevel 9:44 pm *Titanic was awesome if you ignore the boring love story* Slag 9:44 pm Primus frag ?? Windchill 9:44 pm *It would have been better, but he still doesn't like it.* Impact 9:45 pm I should try making a toy tribble! Impact 9:45 pm Then it DEFINITELY can't take over a ship! *giggles* Windchill 9:45 pm *He's just gonna...saunter in and sit as close to Whirl as is physically possible without sitting on Whirl.* Windchill 9:45 pm *Sorry dude.* Specs 9:45 pm I can donate shed fur to that cause. Whirl 9:45 pm *you get the side that's not occupied by Rumble* Bevel 9:45 pm That is a really good idea, Impact. What will you make it from? Impact 9:46 pm There's big yarn! Impact 9:46 pm *nods at spec* or donated fur! Whirl 9:46 pm You missed it. The episode was about a ship overrun with these little self-reproducing furballs. Whirl 9:46 pm Remind you of anyone? Windchill 9:46 pm *He'll take what he can get without sitting on Rumble, either.* Swoop 9:46 pm ((OMG)) Impact 9:46 pm *excited gasp* Swoop 9:46 pm ((a classic)) Impact 9:46 pm THIS STORY! Whirl 9:46 pm *please so not, your enormous butt would crush him* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:46 pm [[We'll have one more tape after this.]] Windchill 9:46 pm Um. Windchill 9:46 pm Rabbits? Bevel 9:47 pm ((this comedian never fails to entertain me Whirl 9:47 pm Well. ...don't you need two rabbits to make more rabbits? Windchill 9:47 pm *He's not gonna say it Whirl, you have to.* Windchill 9:47 pm *He's playing dumb, as usual.* Whirl 9:47 pm *genuinely uncertain* Windchill 9:47 pm I know you need...more than one rabbit. Bevel 9:47 pm Can you make things with yarn? Whirl 9:47 pm Well. Killer, is what I mean. Whirl 9:47 pm Last time the twins babysat it exploded. Windchill 9:48 pm Ah, yes. Impact 9:48 pm Uh-huh! I use a hook to do crochet! Impact 9:48 pm I made Daddy a dinosaur! Windchill 9:48 pm Were they pink and fuzzy? Impact 9:48 pm *very proud of herself* Windchill 9:48 pm *He never saw the bebes.* Slag 9:48 pm Dinosaur? Bevel 9:48 pm I want to see what you make. Whirl 9:48 pm Sadly, no. Neither pink nor fuzzy. Impact 9:49 pm *whips a half-finished ball shape out of her subspace* Windchill 9:49 pm I'm sure they were beautiful. *Hand over spark, the other one's trying to shove the straw back into his face.* Impact 9:49 pm it's gonna be an octopus! boomtank 9:49 pm .... Bevel 9:49 pm *will tilt her helm enough to see what Impact has presented* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:49 pm ((i do not remember if this is the version with the less than pleasant bit in it or not, if it is, i'm sorry)) Bevel 9:50 pm Octopuses are awesome. *thumbs up for you Impact* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:50 pm [[Octopus?]] Impact 9:50 pm *It's orange super-chunky yarn, and the stitches are mostly even* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:50 pm *Small sit up* Impact 9:50 pm *holds up the half-finished octopus so Soundwave can see* Impact 9:50 pm I'm making it! Slag 9:50 pm how you make octopus? Slag 9:51 pm you engineer? Impact 9:51 pm You make a ball shape, and you put eight tentacles! FakeProwl 9:51 pm ((back! laundry was ALMOST dry)) Impact 9:51 pm nope, I'm a kid! Slag 9:51 pm Octopus smart. How you make? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:51 pm ((all right let's get on #3)) Whirl 9:51 pm Baby barnacles are definitely weird looking. Nothing like the grown ones. Impact 9:52 pm ((woo!)) Windchill 9:52 pm Huh. Swoop 9:52 pm Me Swoop am COMEDIAN Me Swoop am COMEDIAN - boomtank 9:52 pm -awake-ish now- Impact 9:52 pm ((OH GOSH)) Windchill 9:52 pm *Slurps loudly to express how annoying he is.* Bevel 9:52 pm ((presh ItsyBitsySpyers 9:52 pm ((AAAAA CUTE)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:53 pm *Soundwave nods at the octopus in approval and settles back into place* Specs 9:53 pm ((so adorb)) Slag 9:53 pm (( cuties )) Windchill 9:53 pm *Snorts.* Swoop 9:53 pm *all this <3 directed at Bird and no wrestling Slag or punching people at all* Swoop 9:53 pm *how bizarre* Slag 9:54 pm HMPH.. Whirl 9:54 pm *nudges Windchill* Windchill 9:54 pm *Raises a brow in return.* Whirl 9:54 pm Can you take it easy with the disgusting face-hole noises. Whirl 9:54 pm You're giving me flashbacks. Windchill 9:54 pm *Optics crinkle demonically.* Windchill 9:54 pm Flashbacks, eh? boomtank 9:55 pm ((Barry Allen?)) Whirl 9:55 pm ((swoop THAT'S SO ADORABLE)) Specs 9:55 pm What's wrong with fish? Whirl 9:55 pm Yep. *stares Windchill in the eye* Back to that tragically disastrous make-out session. Whirl 9:55 pm *you think he won't say it? He'll say it, mech* Windchill 9:55 pm Ehehe, well I was just thinking. Swoop 9:56 pm ((this is the tiny : > face everyone has been subject to tonight, instead of the regular fantastic commentary)) Swoop 9:56 pm ((Next week, we'll be back to your regularly scheduled shinanigans)) Swoop 9:56 pm ((tonight is birb snuggles)) Windchill 9:56 pm *He leans in, not close enough to spill his dinner, but almost.* We could go outside to make out and nobody would know. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:57 pm ((OH YEAH. Next week there will not be anything because I will be away. We will resume as normal on the 28th)) Windchill 9:57 pm *Except maybe Soundwave, he wasn't sure what the dude's range was.* Whirl 9:57 pm *leans back* -I- would know. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:57 pm [[He would know.]] Swoop 9:57 pm ((Swoop will have to burn things on his lonesome then)) Whirl 9:57 pm Save your sweet kisses for your Junxy. You drool too much. FakeProwl 9:57 pm ... They're surprised to see the Enterprise. The set-up for this story is that they accidentally travel time. FakeProwl 9:57 pm The ships we've been following haven't been operating contemporaneously? Windchill 9:57 pm Well, most people wouldn't know. The rest of you would have to live with it. Impact 9:58 pm I guess so! Whirl 9:58 pm I think I'll spare them the horror. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:58 pm [[No. The Enterprise happened approximately... let him think.]] Windchill 9:58 pm *Snorts.* Windchill 9:58 pm I wasn't drooling to begin with, for the record. Whirl 9:58 pm I think you exist in a constant state of drool. Slag 9:58 pm them being gross kissy bots again ItsyBitsySpyers 9:58 pm [[At least a century apart. Perhaps more.]] Windchill 9:58 pm *Wipes his mouth, just to be sure.* Windchill 9:59 pm Nah... FakeProwl 9:59 pm Huh. Whirl 9:59 pm I know plenty of mecha with perfectly respectable mouths that -aren't- hiding a tsunami inside. Swoop 9:59 pm who kissy bot Slag 9:59 pm You Bevel 9:59 pm Lots of Enterprises. Slag 9:59 pm Also them Swoop 9:59 pm No????????? Slag 9:59 pm Yeah????? Swoop 9:59 pm No KISSY bot ItsyBitsySpyers 9:59 pm [[Ah. There you are. 105.]] Whirl 9:59 pm Nobody's doing any kissing tonight. Windchill's not allowed to kiss me anymore. Slag 9:59 pm You Swoop Gross Kissy Bot FakeProwl 9:59 pm Ah. There we go. Windchill 9:59 pm *Gasps.* Windchill 9:59 pm That's right. Swoop 9:59 pm No gross kiss bot Windchill 9:59 pm I...ruined it. Swoop 9:59 pm *whine whine* Slag 10:00 pm You EXTRA GROSS kiss bot Whirl 10:00 pm *pats him consolingly* Slag 10:00 pm MEGA GROSS kiss bot Windchill 10:00 pm *Has no idea what the Dinobots are on about, and ignores it thusly.* Bevel 10:00 pm Yay Odo 😄 Slag 10:00 pm *is picking on his brother for having a girlfriend and also being smarter than him* Bevel 10:00 pm *pleased with this episode already* Windchill 10:00 pm Ruining it is like...my singular talent. Swoop 10:01 pm *has no idea why he's being picked on cause he didn't??? kiss????? anyone?????* Whirl 10:01 pm It really is. Slag 10:01 pm Ugly bird Swoop kiss him girlfriend Windchill 10:02 pm *Leans in closer.* Swoop 10:02 pm Me Swoop never kiss anybody :X Whirl 10:02 pm *eyes him warily* Impact 10:02 pm fashion history! Slag 10:02 pm You Swoop kissy bot Slag 10:02 pm gross icky kissy bot Swoop 10:03 pm nooooo Swoop 10:03 pm >.> Slag 10:03 pm yah Windchill 10:03 pm *Rests his head Whirl's shoulder despite the risk of getting a MASSIVE CRICK in his neck and whines.* I'm tired. Windchill 10:03 pm *You can hit him in the face, he'll forgive.* Swoop 10:04 pm ((this is so charming)) Swoop 10:04 pm Me Swoop never ever ever never kiss ANYONE ever Whirl 10:04 pm Oh, my god. We really DID get hit with a stasis beam. *he allows this, though* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:04 pm //See?// Whirl 10:04 pm Everyone's napping tonight. You need a pillow, Rumble? ItsyBitsySpyers 10:04 pm //Why. You offerin'?// Windchill 10:04 pm I didn't get hit with anything! Slag 10:05 pm You Swoop kiss EEEEEEEEEEVRYone cuz you gross gross kissy bot Swoop 10:05 pm *could not look more confused than he does at this exact moment* Impact 10:05 pm ((them all nerding out is so cute)) Windchill 10:05 pm *Not even Whirl's extremities, a shame* Whirl 10:05 pm *gestures grandly to Windchill* I'm already doing such a good job. Why not? Windchill 10:06 pm *Manages to look extremely pleased with himself.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:06 pm *Well then. Rumble will just get nice and comfy.* FakeProwl 10:06 pm *heyy, that guy. prowl likes that guy too.* Whirl 10:06 pm *whirl's got one enormous bot leaning on him on one side and a tiny one on the other. This has to look ridiculous. But, he's quite content* Swoop 10:06 pm : < Slag 10:07 pm >=( Windchill 10:07 pm *SUCKS through his straw quietly. He has no real gag reflex, it's okay.* FakeProwl 10:07 pm ... Were they there the first time we watched this? We have to watch it again. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:08 pm [[He is willing to watch it again with you afterward.]] Even though he knows they weren't there. Bevel 10:08 pm *waits eagerly for Odo to turn into something/someone else* Whirl 10:08 pm Thanks. Windchill 10:08 pm I like...that holographic paneling. Windchill 10:08 pm *Rainbows?!* Impact 10:09 pm aww, nice coworkers! FakeProwl 10:09 pm *nods* Swoop 10:09 pm You Slag dumb. Me Swoop never do any of that stuff. You make up. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:09 pm //Yeah. Super shiny. Heh, imagine bein' painted up like that stuff. Bet the light'd blind people// Slag 10:09 pm You SWOOP dumb >=( Windchill 10:09 pm Imagine my ASS painted holographic. Whirl 10:09 pm Can you make your plating do that? *looks to Bevel* Whirl 10:09 pm Lord. Everyone in the room would have to look away, or be blinded. Bevel 10:09 pm I can make it do just about anything I want. Bevel 10:10 pm I can even change my biolights! Swoop 10:10 pm Me Swoop not dumb. Me know what HAPPENS, what NOT happens. Not like You Slag. Bevel 10:10 pm *makes said lights flash red instead of their current blue-green* Slag 10:10 pm You Swoop shut up Impact 10:10 pm That's so cool! Bevel 10:10 pm *grins* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:10 pm *Briefly distracted by the new source of red. Ah, Bevel. Right. Back to the screen.* Windchill 10:10 pm Pfft, as if anybody willingly looks at my butt. Windchill 10:11 pm 'Cept Buttface, I mean. Swoop 10:11 pm *sticks his tongue out but does shut up for sleepy bird's sake* Whirl 10:11 pm Nice! Whirl 10:11 pm *flickers his own in response, but Whirl's biolights are few and quite subtle* Bevel 10:12 pm Awesome :3 Windchill 10:13 pm *Fakes a yawn.* Windchill 10:13 pm *His open mouth is DANGEROUSLY CLOSE.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:13 pm *Rumble pulls out a rock and puts it in there* FakeProwl 10:13 pm ... How can they safely beam aboard another ship? Won't the crew who are crewmates and who aren't? Whirl 10:13 pm *SNRK* Impact 10:13 pm I guess it's big enough that they don't know? Windchill 10:14 pm *Pauses, somewhat in shock, somewhat deciding how to react.* Windchill 10:14 pm *CRUNCH.* Whirl 10:14 pm *there's only one thing you can--YES.* Whirl 10:14 pm *POWER MOVE* Windchill 10:14 pm *He eats it and washes it down with the energon.* Windchill 10:14 pm *He is the alpha.* Bevel 10:14 pm ... Slag 10:14 pm (( DON'T FUCK YOUR GRANDMOTHER )) Specs 10:14 pm ((DO NOT)) FakeProwl 10:14 pm ((DON'T FUCK YOUR GREAT-GRANDMA)) boomtank 10:14 pm -he's taking a nap now, thanks- Bevel 10:14 pm ((bashir plz ItsyBitsySpyers 10:14 pm [[He believes they were in the early stages of their travels at this time. Perhaps they do not know everyone too well yet.]] Impact 10:15 pm If this was Homestuck, he'd have to be his grandpa Bevel 10:15 pm ((go back to ur lizard bf boomtank 10:15 pm ((boy, no)) Whirl 10:15 pm *outright laughing again* Whirl 10:15 pm ((BAD IDEA...)) Specs 10:15 pm *snickering so hard* Windchill 10:15 pm That was not the tastiest rock I've had. Bevel 10:15 pm ((augh i love the effects for this episode so much, they fit so well Impact 10:16 pm *giggles* Impact 10:16 pm *giggles more* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:16 pm *Slight nudge to Prowl.* FakeProwl 10:16 pm *a nod. he's even depicted as attractive.* Whirl 10:16 pm What WAS the tastiest rock you've had? FakeProwl 10:16 pm *and famous over a century later? that's forever in human time.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:17 pm *He can understand the Dax Trill. He would probably feel the same way if he fell back in time to Harmonex.* Windchill 10:17 pm It was like...granite and quartz or something. Windchill 10:17 pm Very sparkly, right. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:17 pm *...And now his tiredness dips just a touch deeper.* Windchill 10:17 pm So I ate it. Whirl 10:18 pm Well. ...can't say I've ever done that. *salutes Windchill* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:18 pm //Swoop ate a rock. Didn'tcha, Swoop?// Windchill 10:18 pm It's for the best... Swoop 10:18 pm Huh? Oh. YAH! Because Bird <3 Whirl 10:18 pm Nice! Impact 10:19 pm *giggles* Slag 10:19 pm Gross kissy bot Whirl 10:19 pm *pauses* Is... rock-eating a completely normal thing that I missed somehow? Bevel 10:19 pm Both! Bevel 10:19 pm *wild mass guessing* Swoop 10:19 pm No kissy bot Windchill 10:19 pm No, unless you're me. Slag 10:19 pm you swoop gross kissy rock-eating bot Swoop 10:20 pm Me Swoop eat rock cause Bird. But no kiiissy : < Whirl 10:20 pm Pfft, if you wanna kiss Laserbeak, I say, do it. You're lucky enough to have a mouth. Whirl 10:20 pm And she's pretty cool. Swoop 10:20 pm No????? D : ItsyBitsySpyers 10:20 pm [[Nobody is kissing Laserbeak.]] Slag 10:20 pm SEE GROSS KISSY BOT Whirl 10:21 pm *shrugs* Impact 10:21 pm kissing? 3:o Swoop 10:21 pm *pulls his wings in close, he's not hiding, you're hiding* Windchill 10:21 pm You can get minerals from rocks obviously, but depending on the rock it mostly leads to suffering. Slag 10:21 pm butt pants back Windchill 10:21 pm ...Are those tables made of cardboard? They seem so...flimsy. Slag 10:22 pm Them table from eye-key-ya. Windchill 10:22 pm No no, see. Swoop 10:22 pm *whines and twitches and hides in his wings* Windchill 10:22 pm Those tables are assembled. Slag 10:22 pm ... Slag 10:22 pm *lays his head back down. Okay he's never attempting a joke again ever* Windchill 10:23 pm *You're welcome, everyone.* FakeProwl 10:23 pm *he appreciates this practical, bureaucratic approach to time travel.* Impact 10:24 pm dun dun dunnnnnn Impact 10:24 pm tribbles! Specs 10:24 pm Oh goodness. Windchill 10:24 pm Eh. Bevel 10:24 pm Too many Tribbles. Slag 10:24 pm Me Slag want tribble ItsyBitsySpyers 10:24 pm ((darvin is the same actor btw)) Whirl 10:24 pm (( :D)) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:25 pm ((and so is koloth, if i ever show his older ds9 appearance)) Whirl 10:25 pm *snickers* Impact 10:25 pm he's bragging! ItsyBitsySpyers 10:25 pm //That's a scrap statue.// Impact 10:25 pm he's gonna give something away! Bevel 10:25 pm ((koloth <3 Whirl 10:25 pm That's what I would want my death-statue to be. Except, specifically, the head of my greatest nemesis in one claw. And Killer in the other. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:26 pm //Yeah, but your nemesis is named Killmaster. I mean. That's a billion times cooler.// Swoop 10:26 pm *if Soundwave had any doubts about Laserbeak's virtue being safe and sound, the childish embarrassment and recurring theme of NUH HUH in his head should set the host at ease* Windchill 10:26 pm *Brows furrow.* Whirl 10:26 pm *nods* Hmm... but then I have to ask myself--am I cruel enough to make everyone stare at Killmaster's ugly mug? ItsyBitsySpyers 10:26 pm *Quite* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:26 pm //It ain't cruel. It's funny.// Windchill 10:27 pm *Almost makes a defacing statues joke but thinks better of it.* Whirl 10:27 pm Regardless, it's a moot point. I don't see any circumstances where they'll make a statue of me. Whirl 10:27 pm Except to say, "Thank God, We Finally God Rid of This Asshole." Impact 10:27 pm I could make a statue! Whirl 10:27 pm Which is why I'm determined to live forever. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:27 pm //I bet Buzzsaw would if ya wanted. Or, hey, yeah, Impact.// Windchill 10:27 pm Good plan. Windchill 10:28 pm I support this. Whirl 10:28 pm Nah, nah. No statue. No funeral, no statue, no big to-do when I finally bite it. Whirl 10:28 pm Ravage has dibs on eating as much as he wants, but just throw the rest of me in the garbage. Specs 10:28 pm ((DAX)) Impact 10:28 pm ((cackles)) Whirl 10:29 pm ((GIT IT DAX)) Slag 10:29 pm Why her care bout hands Windchill 10:29 pm I could eat you, I'm practically a garbage chute anyway. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:29 pm [[It's... a compliment.]] Impact 10:29 pm No, no, I can make one while you're alive! Slag 10:29 pm Him Ratchet doctor Swoop 10:29 pm Medic hands special Swoop 10:29 pm You ask Ratchet. Ask First Aid. FakeProwl 10:29 pm *so humans do that, too? judge their surgeons by their hands.* Swoop 10:29 pm Them show you. Slag 10:29 pm NO ONE ASK YOU SWOOP Swoop 10:30 pm o.O Windchill 10:30 pm *Geeze guys, change the subject.* Whirl 10:30 pm *quite calmly and casually* Graceful, dexterous hands are often considered attractive. Whirl 10:30 pm And--thanks, Impact, but no thanks. Impact 10:31 pm aww Impact 10:31 pm Lemme know if you change your mind! Impact 10:31 pm I like making stuff! Whirl 10:31 pm *salutes her* Windchill 10:31 pm Gross. Windchill 10:32 pm Look at the suffering on his face. Windchill 10:32 pm Delicious. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:32 pm *Soundwave could confirm that Whirl's were quite attractive, but he won't. Telepath-subject confidentiality, or something like that.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:32 pm *...He rather likes his own as well.* Swoop 10:32 pm You Slag yelly scream bot..... Whirl 10:32 pm *So does Whirl* Slag 10:32 pm hmph. Slag 10:32 pm so? Whirl 10:32 pm *but like hell is he ever gonna admit it* Slag 10:32 pm Is what Slag good for.. Slag 10:32 pm *plonks head down* Windchill 10:33 pm *Finishes his drink and subspaces the remains.* Swoop 10:33 pm ((omfg)) Specs 10:33 pm Oh. boomtank 10:33 pm -awake now- FakeProwl 10:33 pm *shoulders tremble* Bevel 10:33 pm *giggles* Swoop 10:33 pm Slag good at lots of thing ItsyBitsySpyers 10:33 pm *Mm?* Swoop 10:33 pm Being butthead Swoop 10:34 pm Yell at Swoop Swoop 10:34 pm Eat scrap ItsyBitsySpyers 10:34 pm (txt): ...Humor missed. Slag 10:34 pm You Swoop shut up FakeProwl 10:34 pm @Soundwave «Just—the visual of a lone tribble and tricorder floating through space. And spontaneously combusting.» ItsyBitsySpyers 10:34 pm *Ohh. The tiniest nod and resettle* Windchill 10:35 pm *He's totally not nuzzling, he's scratching himself on every angle Whirl's shoulder has.* Swoop 10:36 pm Me Swoop DO shut up. Then You Slag liar about kissy. Whirl 10:36 pm *shifts fitfully* You did this to yourself, mech. Whirl 10:36 pm I'm not exactly -comfortable.- Windchill 10:36 pm ITCHY! Impact 10:36 pm oh nooooooooo! Windchill 10:36 pm *Not really.* Specs 10:36 pm Oh. Oh dear. FakeProwl 10:36 pm ... Oh no. *trembles* Whirl 10:36 pm *snrk* Bevel 10:36 pm *laughs* boomtank 10:36 pm ....... boomtank 10:36 pm whoops Windchill 10:36 pm *Sits up though, finally.* Impact 10:36 pm *lots of giggling* Bevel 10:37 pm Too many Tribbles. boomtank 10:37 pm Right. Thanks for the shows...I have to get home Whirl 10:37 pm Oh. Well. ...I guess I AM a decent back-scratcher. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:37 pm [[Mind your food stores.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 10:37 pm *Gentle trembling* Specs 10:37 pm *yawns* Goodnight, everyone. Windchill 10:37 pm ...Are you a decent butt scratcher? Impact 10:37 pm *climbs down* thanks for letting me sit on you, Bevel! Windchill 10:38 pm *He's willing to test this if Whirl is.* Whirl 10:38 pm Y'know, I've never tried it. Whirl 10:38 pm Seeya, fluffy dragon! boomtank 10:38 pm -up he gets. Back to home he goes. G'night!- Windchill 10:38 pm That's a real shame. Bevel 10:38 pm Any time, Impact! boomtank 10:38 pm ((and mun has to go too, g'night! Whirl 10:38 pm Don't you give me that look, I'm not scratching ANYONE'S behind tonight. Windchill 10:38 pm (( Goodnight!)) Whirl 10:38 pm Or touching anyone's behind. Whirl 10:38 pm Except mine, if I have to. Whirl 10:38 pm ((seeya!)) Windchill 10:38 pm If you have to? Slag 10:38 pm *hrmphs. Last time he carried Swoop home but this time - THIS TIME - he's tromping off by himself. At least he didn't gore anybody.* Windchill 10:39 pm *That sounds QUESTIONABLE* Swoop 10:39 pm : < Swoop 10:39 pm *how is Swoop supposed to take his own nap without someone to pile on???* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:39 pm *Frenzy flaps a hand goodnight in the direction of those who are leaving before curling up in his chair.* Slag 10:39 pm *You got your girlfriend figure it out on your own GENIUS* Swoop 10:41 pm *isn't really scaled appropriately for Laserbeak's upstairs room but CLEARLY it is time for sleep and his other buddy is gone so Swoop carefully gets to his feet with one arm under each side of Laserbeak* Windchill 10:41 pm *Rubs his neck, he KNEW this would happen and did ill-advised things anyway.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:42 pm *Soundwave turns his helm to watch. He mostly trusts Swoop with his minicon, but after the other day he's a little - he just wants to be sure things are okay.* Bevel 10:42 pm *with her shoulder unoccupied, Bevel is free to do some minor transformations* Whirl 10:42 pm *watches this* As you can see, I don't make the best pillow. Windchill 10:42 pm Correct. Windchill 10:42 pm You're like...second best. Impact 10:42 pm *oooh, watches Bevel* Whirl 10:42 pm I'm pretty sure I'm near the bottom of the list. Swoop 10:43 pm *is fairly trustworthy tonight, since he gets Laserbeak upstairs then immediately collapses down to his dinomode to snuggle up for a x2 bird pile* Swoop 10:43 pm ((night nerds)) Windchill 10:43 pm Not if I'M making it, *he scoffs.* Whirl 10:43 pm ((gnight!)) Bevel 10:43 pm ((night! Windchill 10:43 pm (( 'night! )) Whirl 10:43 pm Well. Fair enough. Impact 10:43 pm ((night!)) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:43 pm *Gets comfortable where he is again.* Windchill 10:44 pm *Lifts his arm suddenly.* Windchill 10:44 pm *The one nearest Whirl.* Bevel 10:44 pm *nothing major happening here, just some plating adjustments, but she's enjoying the audience anyway* Whirl 10:44 pm ...are you trying to ask a question? Windchill 10:44 pm Yes. Windchill 10:45 pm *But it's not his usual hand raising, no.* Whirl 10:45 pm *makes a clicking throat-clearing noise and adopts the Teacher Voice* Yes, Windchill? Windchill 10:45 pm *There we go.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:45 pm *...Should have done this when he could have done this properly. Mmf.* Windchill 10:45 pm Is my armpit stinkier than the rest of me? Whirl 10:45 pm ... Windchill 10:46 pm *Giggles.* Windchill 10:46 pm *He couldn't NOT...* Whirl 10:46 pm *cranes his neck over and huffs a few times* Whirl 10:46 pm Nope. Whirl 10:46 pm You smell more or less the same all over. Windchill 10:46 pm Well. Windchill 10:46 pm There's a discovery for you. Windchill 10:46 pm *Lowers his arm into his lap. He's almost sitting proper.* Windchill 10:46 pm You know. Whirl 10:46 pm Most mecha do. ...except for their feet. Windchill 10:47 pm If we write it down it's practically science. Windchill 10:47 pm We could like. Windchill 10:47 pm Sniff a bunch of people and write down the results. Windchill 10:47 pm And call it research. Whirl 10:47 pm You are NOT tricking me into doing any kind of scientific sniffing. Windchill 10:48 pm I guess I'm not. Windchill 10:48 pm What about regular sniffing? Whirl 10:48 pm I'll pass, thanks. Whirl 10:49 pm All right, you lot. I need to get on. *gently nudges Rumble. Did he pass out?* Windchill 10:49 pm Okay, but before you go. Whirl 10:49 pm Yeah? ItsyBitsySpyers 10:49 pm *Yeeeeep. As alert as he was, he apparently wasn't alert enough* Whirl 10:49 pm *well now he's trapped* Impact 10:49 pm *trundles over to soundwave* Windchill 10:49 pm *He leans in again, but this time it will be more diabolical.* Whirl 10:49 pm *nowhere to go but Windchill's armpit* Windchill 10:50 pm *If only Whirl could stay there, where it's safe, but Chill has other ideas.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:50 pm *Soundwave's visor brightens just a tad as Impact approaches. Yes?* FakeProwl 10:50 pm *the show's over. he's slowly dozing off.* Bevel 10:50 pm *settles finally into something slightly different from earlier but mostly the same* How come Odo never uses his shapeshifting powers to solve stuff? Impact 10:51 pm Did something happen? Everybody looks tired. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:51 pm [[Late work nights. Underworld menaces. Running a noisy club.]] Windchill 10:51 pm *He manages to wiggle around and shove his face in the general area of Whirl's head, his gross mouth hovering presumably near his audio receptors.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:51 pm [[We are well. Simply tired.]] FakeProwl 10:52 pm *prowl would answer, but he's kind of. slightly. nodding off.* Impact 10:52 pm Oh, good. You should take it easy the next few nights, though! Impact 10:52 pm You gotta get enough rest! Whirl 10:52 pm This had better be good, because I'm two seconds from headbutting you. Windchill 10:52 pm *Whispers loudly.* Windchill 10:52 pm Choke me, daddy. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:52 pm [[Mm. Yes, he believes he will.]] Pause. [[And Odo does. He will find something of that later.]] Windchill 10:52 pm *Was it worth it?* Bevel 10:52 pm Yay Whirl 10:53 pm *HEADBUTTS* Whirl 10:53 pm That--I am not entirely sure what just happened, but I think I just had a VIOLENT and INSTINCTUAL reaction to you calling me "daddy." Windchill 10:53 pm *TRUMPETS IN PAIN, but not shock.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:53 pm @Prowl: (txt): Rest, if needed. Recharge priority above avatar presence.

*Itty bitty curl tighter of feeler.* Bevel 10:53 pm *has so many questions about Odo and shifters in Star Trek but thinks tonight might not be the best for that, next time Soundwave shows more Star Trek. Yes.* Whirl 10:53 pm Who knows what sort of horrible thing I'll do if it happens again. FakeProwl 10:54 pm *head jerks up* Huh? Impact 10:54 pm Good! Impact 10:54 pm You should rest more, too, Prowl! Windchill 10:54 pm *And Windchill was BANNED from Dancitron henceforth.* Whirl 10:54 pm *Banned from Whirl's Ear, as well* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:54 pm *Windchill and Whirl are promptly bridged.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:54 pm *He said he would not condone violence.* Whirl 10:55 pm *ZOOP HE'S GONE* Windchill 10:55 pm *Well okay then.* Whirl 10:55 pm *technically only whirl should be bridged* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:55 pm *...It occurs to him that Rumble was with Whirl.* Bevel 10:55 pm ... Whirl 10:55 pm *whirl did all the headbutt-0JDSJDF* Impact 10:55 pm 3:o Whirl 10:55 pm *did he just BRIDGE HIS MINICON TO GOD KNOWS WHJERE* Bevel 10:55 pm Um. Windchill 10:55 pm *Windchill said bad things so, even if they weren't against the rules, good enough.* FakeProwl 10:55 pm Huh? ItsyBitsySpyers 10:55 pm [[....................]] Bevel 10:56 pm You should get Rumble back. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:56 pm [[...He - hold on, Prowl. Chimera. Get Rumble back.]] FakeProwl 10:56 pm *somebody said his name and a bridge opened somewhere. looks around in confusion.* Impact 10:56 pm *Completely distracted from scolding adults for not sleeping* Windchill 10:56 pm *It's a wonder he wasn't bridged sooner, really.* Whirl 10:56 pm *WHEREVER THE HELL HE ENDS UP, he'll make sure Rumble is taken care of* Whirl 10:56 pm *he's not gonna ditch his pal* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:56 pm *He sent Windchill and Whirl to the Lost Light. It's the only place he knows to safely put them* Bevel 10:56 pm *wave goodbye to Chimera before they leave* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:57 pm *Chimera perks up and chirps a goodbye* Whirl 10:57 pm *well, Whirl can bridge Rumble back, or he is welcome to stay* Bevel 10:57 pm *grins* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:57 pm *...Ah, let him stay. He can come back in the morning.* Impact 10:57 pm ...right! Windchill 10:57 pm *But the LL smells of Rodimus, ew?* Impact 10:57 pm Prowl! You gotta get more rest@ Impact 10:57 pm ! Windchill 10:57 pm *Oh well, he'll complain later.* Whirl 10:57 pm *Windchill is granted the same offer, though he'll probably wanna get home to his wiggler* Windchill 10:58 pm *SLEEPOVERRRRRRR.* Bevel 10:58 pm *giggles* Whirl 10:58 pm ((whirl is such a butt he got an innocent bystander bridged)) Windchill 10:58 pm *U done it now Soundwave.* Windchill 10:58 pm *Everybody was so pooped, who's to say they WON'T?* Windchill 10:59 pm *It's a mystery.* Whirl 10:59 pm *SO HELP ME WINDCHILL if you say the "d" word again and/or make any more mouth noises you're getting bridged AGAIN* Windchill 11:00 pm *Wait wait though: he's a dad, you gotta make a concession for it in THAT context. Or at least 'dad'* FakeProwl 11:00 pm Uh? ... I get all the rest I can. Windchill 11:00 pm *Daddy might be too much in any context.* Whirl 11:00 pm *not allowed, you used it all up tonight* Windchill 11:00 pm *Of all the D words he knows.* Impact 11:01 pm *pout* But you're still tired! So you should get more! Windchill 11:01 pm *It was Daddy that crossed the line.* FakeProwl 11:01 pm I can't. Impact 11:01 pm Why not? Windchill 11:01 pm *It's okay though, he won't. It was only gonna be funny the one time.* Whirl 11:01 pm *YEP. at any rate, time to stop clogging the chat with stuff that isnt't even happening here; whirl remains on the LL with Rumble and possibly Windchill if he stays/behaves himself* FakeProwl 11:01 pm Because I— What do you care? My recharge isn't your business. Whirl 11:01 pm *and eventually he, too, will sleep* Windchill 11:02 pm *Oh please, as if Windchill isn't always perfectly behaved.* Impact 11:02 pm I care 'cuz you're Soundwave's friend? Windchill 11:02 pm *Perfectly BAD.* Impact 11:02 pm And my Papa's a doctor, so people being healthy is my business absolutely. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:02 pm *Comes back to attention from setting things up with Rumble to hear the possibility of - is this an impending argument?* FakeProwl 11:03 pm YOU'RE not a doctor, and HE'S not MY doctor. My condition is not your business. Bevel 11:03 pm *...ponders if she should be caring about other bot's health because of doctor creator... nah* Whirl 11:03 pm ((GNIGHT Y'ALL)) Impact 11:03 pm ((GNIGHT!) Windchill 11:03 pm (( 'NIGHT. )) Impact 11:04 pm *puffs out her cheeks in an even bigger pout. he is right but she doesn't like it* FakeProwl 11:04 pm *the pout has zero effect on prowl* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:05 pm [[Impact, thank you for the concern, but Prowl will take care of himself. You can be assured of that.]] Impact 11:05 pm Okaaaaaaay ItsyBitsySpyers 11:05 pm *That's the best diplomacy he can offer in this state* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:05 pm ((night y'all who are leavin)) FakeProwl 11:05 pm *side glance. the thanks wasn't necessary. it implies the nosiness is something appreciable.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:06 pm *He thanked her for the concern, not the inquiry.* Impact 11:07 pm *bounces on her heels once* Okay! Impact 11:07 pm I'm gonna go now! FakeProwl 11:07 pm *meh. ... fair.* Impact 11:07 pm G'night Soundwave! G'night Prowl! ItsyBitsySpyers 11:07 pm [[All right. He looks forward to you returning next time.]] Impact 11:07 pm *Waves* Impact 11:07 pm G'night, Bevel! Impact 11:07 pm *Bevel gets a hug before Impact leaves, too* Bevel 11:08 pm Night! FakeProwl 11:09 pm *vague farewell nod.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:09 pm @Prowl: (txt): Apologies. Impact: newbuild, extroverted. Simplistic, idealistic worldview. Inquiry harm unintended. Bevel 11:09 pm *will take Impact's exit as her cue to leave as well and heave herself up from the floor* Goodbye. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:10 pm @Bevel : [[Buzzsaw requests your help with Predaking's throne arms, when you have time. He and Darksteel have reset them more than a dozen times.]] FakeProwl 11:10 pm I'm sure it was unintended. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:10 pm @Prowl: (txt): Will discourage in future. Bevel 11:10 pm @Soundwave *project!? PROJECT!* Ok! I will comm him when I do. Promise. FakeProwl 11:10 pm Which is why I was nipping it in the bud by pointing out the faults in his behavior. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:11 pm @Prowl: (txt): Understood. Also: her. FakeProwl 11:11 pm Her. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:11 pm @Bevel : [[Thank you. Rest well. Be sure to bring an image of your last project.]] ItsyBitsySpyers 11:11 pm *Small, tired nod.* Bevel 11:12 pm @Soundwave - I will take a holo. You rest well too. Everyone was really tired tonight. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:13 pm @Bevel : [[We will.]] Bevel 11:13 pm *and she will go now with a wave to whoever's left* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:14 pm *Now.... he was. Somewhere. Before all this. What was he...* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:14 pm *Oh. Small helm shake.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:16 pm (txt): Prowl, falling asleep. Recharge needed? FakeProwl 11:17 pm *leaning against soundwave, having turned his optics off shortly after impact left,* Always. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:23 pm @Prowl: (txt): Avatar processing requirement known. Can deactivate, if needed. Sp...

Flashes of blue in his mind.

(txt): ...Strain understood, remembered. This, not - not glass. Acceptance offer, if believed necessary. Discarded otherwise. FakeProwl 11:26 pm ... I am here by my choice, not by your request. FakeProwl 11:26 pm And I've been finding ways to streamline the process, so it costs less processing power to maintain. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:28 pm *Discarded it is. He wasn't sure. Prowl gets caught up in expectations sometimes, and they've settled into a dozing pattern like this, so.*

*Tiny interested shift.*

(txt): Would share? Imitation room strain: heavy. FakeProwl 11:30 pm ... My—my streamlines? ItsyBitsySpyers 11:30 pm (txt): Affirmative. FakeProwl 11:33 pm I... don't know if they would work for anyone but me. Probably not. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:35 pm *Disappointed, but he understands why that might be.*

(txt): Understood. Achievement remains impressive. FakeProwl 11:36 pm Not that much of an achievement. I've simply had regular practice. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:38 pm (txt): Megatron practiced leadership often. That not improved. Soundwave upholds judgment. FakeProwl 11:39 pm Did he? I thought he practiced tyranny and called it leadership. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:41 pm (txt): That, probable reason progress not made. Xenobotanist studying metallurgist textbook also poor student. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:42 pm *...Was that too unclear in their current state? It probably was. Oh well.* FakeProwl 11:43 pm *... he's still trying to figure that out.* FakeProwl 11:43 pm *... oh.* Poor xenobotany student. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:43 pm *Nod.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:48 pm @Prowl: (txt): ...Query. FakeProwl 11:49 pm Yes? ItsyBitsySpyers 11:50 pm *Ask about the three pings. Ask about the three pings. ASK ABOUT THE THREE PINGS.*

@Prowl: (txt): Kaon pits. Senator presence, condition shock remembered. Prowl would see, if shown? ItsyBitsySpyers 11:50 pm *DAMN IT.* FakeProwl 11:52 pm *turns on his optics so he can look at Soundwave* The pits where they made you fight? Why? FakeProwl 11:52 pm I mean, yes—probably—I would—but, why? Yesterday ItsyBitsySpyers 11:58 pm *Rough vent. He'd wanted lighter fare for what time he had left before he passed out, but... it seemed his filters had a mind of their own. He hadn't meant to ask that for a another couple of weeks. Suppose there's no choice but to explain now*

@Prowl: (txt): More circumstance, choice understanding. Senator hypocrisy depth demonstration. Not...

*His hand twitches. How does he put this. His brain module won't spit it out right. Here's his best try.*

(txt): Show past. Truth, not gloss, guarded versions.

(txt): ...Also emberstone location. Plant show promised. FakeProwl 12:05 am *a slow, thoughtful nod.* ... I'll see it. After I've recovered. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:18 am (txt): Acknowledged. Recovery need shared, reasons: different. Predacon inhabitant bribe acquisition also required.

*Quiet for a second. Or, well. He's always quiet. There just isn't any transmission of written sentences.*

(txt): Prowl spark

*Twinge.*

(txt): ...If Prowl: carrier unit, jump choice: honorable, devoted action. Prowl: not; spark design not support-oriented. Greater sacrifice. Not unnoticed.

(txt): Anything recovery needs, given, within ability. FakeProwl 12:25 am The Predacons live there now? You're sure it's wise to enter their territory, even with a bribe? *last Prowl saw of them, they seemed... hostile.*

*Ah, yes. right. Prowl glances down, shrugging off the praise. Sacrifice. He was surrounded by people who tried to sacrifice themselves at the drop of a hat for far lesser causes than that. What was sacrifice worth?*

It was the right thing to do. *a pause.* I don't know if it was the correct thing to do. But it was the right thing. FakeProwl 12:26 am ... It's what he would have done. FakeProwl 12:26 am Not for ME, of course. But in general. ItsyBitsySpyers 12:32 am (txt): Not certain. However, ours not destroyed. Chances: higher. More, if respect paid.

*And a little deal with Starscream might help. If he can get Starscream to talk to him for five minutes.*

(txt): Right thing. Correct thing. If that, also Springer's general choice, Springer: impressive creation.

*Something awkward nearly slips out of his thoughts. He catches it and stuffs it into the nearest storage space to hide it.*

ItsyBitsySpyers 12:34 am *He's getting too tired. Much longer and he'll accidentally say something too personal, like last time.*

*So he pings Prowl affection, as usual - one ping? ... Yes. Just one ping. This time. He's not - it's not - he has to think about things. And gives the shoulder he's on a good nuzzling before dimming his lights.* FakeProwl 12:35 am He's impressive, yes—but he's an impressive person, not an impressive creation. Nothing Tarantulas or I did made him that way.

*And Prowl doesn't want Springer to be seen as a "creation." He's spent Springer's entire life ensuring he wouldn't be seen as a creation.*

*a returned nuzzle, and a returned affection ping. just one, this time.* ItsyBitsySpyers 12:39 am (txt): Impressive person.

*He hadn't meant creation as an object. More of a... a child, is probably the term. But he'll take the verbal correction.*

*...And curl up tighter than usual at the loss of the other two pings.*

*That shouldn't make his chassis ache. He doesn't even know if he was reading them right. Probably just seeing too much in them, like the hopeful fool he knows better than to be.*

*It does anyway.* ItsyBitsySpyers 12:39 am (txt): Goodnight, Prowl. FakeProwl 12:42 am *Prowl, oblivious to the emotional turmoil he just caused, pulls up his knees and leans more heavily against Soundwave.* Good night.

[freyanchronicles-blog]

Another Sample

Going to the other half of the story, following Sabrina as the main character in her side of things.  The second half of the series’ overall story, a very close friend and I were working on it for a long while before we went our own ways.  I’m not sure if he even reads the blog or cares anymore, but I figure I might as well post a sample of what we got done before the schism.  A light overhead hummed, barely illuminating the empty, grimy padded room.  Small, four walls, one door in and out, a table in the center and a chair close to the door.  A figure resting upon an upright stretcher across from the chair, no arms or legs, it’s body belted and buckled to the steel slab with leather and metal clasps over it’s torso and neck.  It didn’t move, didn’t speak, it’s eyes fixated on the door.  Nothing moved, nothing made a sound, just the inner trumpeting of breath and a drumming heartbeat.  Several minutes passed.  Ten.  Twenty.  Thirty.   An hour and more before anything happened, the door slowly swinging open, a figure stepped into the light, followed by two red-clad guards, heavily armored and packing serious weaponry, closing and locking the door behind him; the two soldiers taking up their positions on both sides of the door.  In his hand was a clipboard, digital, a faint blue glow coming off the screen.  He nodded, setting it down and taking a seat.  Several seconds of silence passed before either of them spoke, the man clearing his throat.  The figure looked at him, only it’s eyes moving.  It was fascinating- and terrifying- at the same time; knowing that a pair of blank red eyes, no pupil, no iris, just red sclera looking at you directly through long, greasy red hair.  The canine removed his glasses, running his grey furred fingers through his hair.   “Patient B-55.  My name is Doctor Kal R. Jurael.  I’m going to be your new psychologist for the time being.”  No response, just a blank gaze at him. “Nothing?  Not even a hello?”  Again, nothing, she just stared at him.  He took a deep breath, exhaling in a sigh. “B-55?  Are you okay?”  He sounded almost concerned, like a father to his child.  Several seconds passed before continuing. “I see.  Anyways...Let’s get started, shall we?  I want to start with your past.  How you arrived in CORE?”   She continued to mindlessly watch him, not a word uttered.  The man stood up and patted down his long, white coat. He could tell this was going to be difficult.   “B-55, please, work with me here.  I want to help you.”  He hummed  “I just want to know how you got here all those years ago.  Just to start.”   Her eyes just followed him back and forth as he paced and spoke, his words falling on deaf ears. “Don’t bother.”  one of the soldiers spoke.  “It never talks when we want it to, haven’t been able to get a damn thing out of this trash since day one.” His tone spoke almost resentment and hatred towards her.  Kal sat back down and just watched her, his eyes wandering up and down her body.  He looked to the soldier on the left, looking at the goggles of the helmet to attempt eye contact.  “Can it speak at all?  Is it mute?”  The guard shook his head at the canine “No, it’s not.”   Kal scoffed and turned his attention back to the woman.   “Listen, I know you’ve been through alot…”  He looked at the stumps that remained of her arms and legs.  “If I were in your position, I’d want to die. Die or be free.  I would want nothing more than some form of release.  But you, B-55…”  He looked at her patient record momentarily.  “You’re...different.  Resilient, strong, terrifying.”  He turned the file to her and pushed it forward.  A lot of the file was marked ‘redacted’, most of the data missing.  She didn’t even look, her gaze never leaving the doctor's eyes.  It made him feel uneasy, scared even.  He turned to the soldier on his right, eyeing his radio.  “Bring him in.”  The soldier nodded and began to speak unintelligible gibberish into the small speaker on his shoulder.  They waited, nobody moving, barely breathing, only the faint sound of the air vent and light overhead in the room.   The door opened slowly, quietly.A large, obese canine in a blue-gray security uniform walked into the chamber, his girth taking up quite a bit of the room as he was seated before her.  The doctor set her record before him and patted his shoulder.   "You're the only one it'll speak to, so I’ve heard."  He tapped the datapad, a note about him highlighting itself complete with a photograph and employment history at the Asylum.  The large man looked down at it and huffed.   "Yeah, we're friends.  I...I think. " his gaze moved to B-55, a look of sorrow on his face at her predicament.  The overweight dog cleared his throat, setting his hands on the cold metal table.   "Sabrina…?”  He gave a weak smile, trying to look at her eyes through her long, stringy, greasy red hair.   “Sabby, you okay...?" His shaky voice filled with concern.  She seemed to respond, looking at him, at his mouth as silent words passed his lips, a faint smile crossing her face before she nodded at him.  He gave a brighter smile back at her, barely able to keep his eyes off her removed limbs, her blood red stare, everything about her just screamed at him in his own mind to do something,  to help.  Something he was unable to do. “You will refer to it by its designation as well as ‘it’, not ‘her’, not ‘Sabrina’, not ‘Sabby’.  Just ‘it’ and B-55.  Are we clear?” "What are you trying to get out of her anyways, Doc?" He asked, Kal sighing a response.   "Same thing we've been trying to get for a long time...Answers."  the doctor fished something out of his coat pocket, a small orange and yellow pack of cigarettes and a lighter.  "You smoke?"  He asked the large man.   "No, sorry.  Not my thing."  The doctor shrugged and lit up before he glimpsed at B-55, she was looking at his hand almost intently; at the pack.  He looked down and then back up at her, holding the pack towards her.

"Can I have one...?" 

She finally spoke, her voice soft and shaky, one would go so far as to say she had the innocence of a child. The doctor almost gasped in shock, his eyes frantically scanning to reassure he wasn’t hearing things.   "Erm...well...yes, I suppose..."  He walked around the table, fishing a single cigarette from the pack.   Her eyes locked on the white cylinder, he brought his hand up, her mouth opening to take it. "I wouldn't do that, doctor." One of the guards interjected.  He took a bounding step forward, placing his armored hand on the doctor's wrist.   "Last guy who did that got his hand bitten off."  The doctor lowered his hand, coughing slightly, nervously, at the thought of losing his hand as well.   “W-Well, then...”  he glared angrily at B-55 before stepping away, back behind the large dog.   “Alright, Sabrina… Tell the good doctor what he wants to know… please?”  She seemed to scoff at it, turning her head away from the group.  Refusal at it’s most basic level.  The doctor and the man looked at each other for a moment, the fat dog shrugging his shoulders.  “If she doesn’t wanna talk, that’s all there is to it.”  He set his hands on the table, reading over the datapad for the moment.  Medical records, patient interview transcripts, and a sub-folder simply marked ‘Nefas’.  It wouldn’t respond to his taps, fingerprint recognition locking him out.  He set the pad back down as the doctor swiftly retrieved it.   “Don’t pry where your eyes don’t belong.” He scoffed, adjusting his coat before continuing.   “Now then….” He muttered, clearing his throat. “Two transfers within a seventeen year period. Seven interviews; unsuccessful, I might add, over the past five years, one ending in the murder of the presiding psychologist...Two escape attempts from this facility alone, several incidents of assault on asylum guards, assault with a deadly weapon, battery, murder of staff and security personnel…Multiple counts on each.” He scrolled down, reading it over.   “I could go on.  I have your history with us as well as your criminal records from CORE Sec. Don't you not feel guilt?  Some form of anguish over what you’ve done?”  She stared for a moment before shaking her head, no words, no sound, just a shake.  “Doc, like I said, you’re not gonna-” “I KNOW, you obese buffoon!...Urgh, I...I know…” He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “I'm the psychologist here, not you.” Sabrina looked to the door, pondering for a moment before looking to the doctor with a chuckle and a smirk. “You wanna know how I got here so badly?”  The doctor almost froze in place, turning his head to her slowly.   “...Go on, B-55.”  Sabrina smirked back, cocking an eyebrow.   “It all started when I was a teenager, about five hundred years ago, give or take…”