#robot elixir

[cranberrylane]

evie and caleb in the bus was extremely endearing to me like they are my children im pat patting them on the head and rooting for them as a fly on the wall about to be swatted for intruding on something personal !

[sunskisser]

sanctuary | bucky barnes

bucky barnes x reader — ★ — wc 1.1k

summary: bucky is worried about you when you’re overworking yourself

cw: fluff, reader is a newly recruited avenger, reader is exhausted, please don’t read too much into this — definitely not self indulgent!!

“Hey.”

“Hey,” you call back shakily, not slowing. Punch after punch after punch gets thrown at the poor bag hung from the ceiling.

Bucky observes quietly as he leans against the wall of the training room. You’re dripping in sweat, though it looks like some kind of elixir in the moonlight. “It’s late. You should be in bed.”

“So should you.”

He quirks a lip upward. You’re stubborn, just like him. “I don’t have to work a 9 to 5 tomorrow.”

You cast him a glaring glance. “Working a 9 to 5 has nothing to do with this.”

“Oh yeah?” he pushes himself off the wall, crossed arms falling to his sides as he steps towards you. “So staying up late and training, waking up in the wee hours of the morning to study — none of this has anything to do with the fact that you’re working eight hours tomorrow?”

You don’t reply.

Bucky was worried about you, though he hated to admit it.

He saw you even when you didn’t think he did. You’re gone all morning for school or work, and come back to training sessions with the Avengers. Then you spend whatever time you have left studying, exercising, or whatever else it is you’re doing with the lights in your room turned on all night. Not that he was checking.

Being a new recruit on the team did mean that you had to work hard, but Bucky was sure what you were doing had to have been way past the threshold of hard work; probably on the edge of burnout.

He keeps his gaze locked on you, watching the sweat flicking off with each fist you slam against the bag. It’s robotic, almost, except for how your punches get harsher with each passing second.

“You know you’re gonna burn yourself out if you keep at this?” Bucky tries again.

“I’m fine.” There’s a sharpness to your tone. It pinches his heart in all the wrong ways.

He comes closer until he’s right in front of you, until just a centimetre off would result in the punching bag slamming him in the guts. But he knows you wouldn’t do it.

“Y/n,” he starts again, softer.

Your punches start to slow. Less and less aggressive, till you’re glaring down at your gloves and the punching bag is left bobbing with the momentum.

“I said I’m fine.”

Bucky’s heart squeezes at how defeated you sound. Dead, almost.

He steps closer yet, and he can see it. The bags under your eyes, chapped lips and droopy eyelids. You’re exhausted. “You’re not fine, doll. You’re overworking yourself.”

Your eyebrows bunch up at his words. You continue to stare downwards, bottom lip pulled between your teeth. He has to resist the urge to cup your cheek and gently pull it free. Instead, he settles on resting his hand on your arm.

“I…” you mutter, tensing up for a moment before relaxing into his touch. “I’m not overworking myself. I’m doing what I have to do.”

You hardly look like you believe it yourself. Bucky sighs.

“You’re doing much more than that, doll. You’re always working. Do you ever rest?”

You frown. “But I can handle it.”

He arches an eyebrow. “Look at yourself.”

“Is that your way of telling me I’m ugly?”

Bucky snorts. “You’re far from ugly, you little minx. You know what I mean — you look dead tired, and I’m sure you feel it too.” He squeezes your elbow, not unkindly. “Do you even sleep?”

You shrug, and that’s all the response he needs.

Bucky exhales exasperatedly, moving his hand down to take your fingers in his. You make a noise of protest as he starts to drag you out the training room.

“Hey! Where do you think you’re taking me?”

He sighs when you claw your fingers into his arm, trying to gain friction and come to a stop.

“I —“ he wraps his metal arm around your waist, hoisting you up and ignoring your yelp, “— am taking you to bed; where you would’ve already been if you took proper care of yourself.”

You squawk, patting his back in a hopeless attempt to be released. “Put me down!”

“Nope.”

“Bucky!”

“Yes?”

“Put. Me. Down.”

“No. If you’re not going to rest, I’m going to make you.”

You groan.

His lips curve into a small smile when you finally stop protesting, your head coming down defeatedly to rest on his shoulder. He carries you up the stairs and into your room.

Bucky lays you down with all the gentility he can muster, which is surprisingly a lot. You mutter a begrudging thanks and instinctively crawl under the covers.

He immediately spots your phone on the nightstand. He takes it before you can, holding it up to your face to unlock it.

You grimace. “What are you doing?”

He squints at the tiny screen, fingers poking here and there. “Turning off all your alarms.”

“I have work tomorrow!”

“You also have off-days,” he mutters, waving you off and putting the device where you can’t reach.

You sigh for what must’ve been the hundredth time that day, rubbing your forehead frustratedly. Bucky softens.

He comes to sit on the edge of the bed, smiling at the petulant look you were giving him. Something in him stirred at the sight; you looked so childlike, so innocent. The need to protect you was strong.

“Listen,” he starts gently. “Like I said before, you need rest, okay? Just — try not to think about work, or school, or anything tonight. Relax.”

You exhale, some tension slowly leaving your features. You seem to be contemplating what to say, maybe whether to ask him if he could reschedule your shift for you, talk to your professors about your absence. Bucky was ready to say yes, yes I’ll do anything you want me to. Yes, I’ll do it because it’s you.

You look up at him nervously. “Am I gonna be okay?”

Bucky opens his mouth. He blinks and shuts it.

He rakes his fingers through his hair with a soft sigh and nods slowly. “Yeah, doll. Yeah, you’re gonna be okay.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure.”

You stay quiet for a moment before nodding, letting yourself sink fully into the mattress. He smiles at the sight.

“Goodnight.” Bucky stands up.

“Goodnight,” you mumble back. He watches as you tug the covers up to your chin, eyes fluttering shut.

He makes his way across the room.

“Bucky?”

He hums in response, turning back around.

“Thank you.”

He feels his heart do a little jump. He can’t stop the smile from spreading across his lips. “You’re welcome, doll. Now get some sleep, yeah?”

You nod, already starting to drift off.

Bucky closes the door as he steps outside. The lights in your room are turned off for the first time in a long, long time.

[divinit3a]

thing au drabble for @magspieart :o)

word count: 1513 jack-of-all trades YN, corrupted research drone Sun cw: fear, "living" circuitry/wires

PS- check out their lovely artwork&ideas >:D

The nights here are pitch black. 

Like dwelling beneath the surface of the Earth’s crust, hidden away in cave systems. The notion sounds comforting at this point. To be isolated far from mankind without a care in the world.

You blink through fatigue and sleep deprivation. Muscles strung like a bowstring, taut with stress and ready to snap apart. 

Yawning as you mix together an elixir of instant coffee and boiled water into a blackened sludge. The sludge swirls around in your thermos. You stare into it, as if a magical answer would appear from the ether within and answer your countless questions. 

The meager light of your head lamp, fastened to your snowcap, barely ignites parts of the impromptu research station. You don’t bother wasting the power reserves on your late night excursions anymore. 

You find it hard to sleep. Difficult to dispel the images from your mind. Of the injuries you saw on others. Unnatural. Unholy. 

The rest of your crew chalked it up to an unlucky streak. It was best to not let paranoia fester in close quarters like this. With a storm raging overhead, the helicopter couldn’t be called until it subsides. And after the first of your crew was picked off… well, there is only so much stress a human mind can take before–

You startle when you turn the corner.

A towering figure stands there. Your eyes travel up, and up. Blinking rapidly to accommodate the jarring dilation of your pupils, as the overhead lights burn an afterimage into your retinas.

It’s Sun. 

You relax your shoulders. It’s odd to see the research drone out this late. The night time patrols are handled by its security counterpart, Moon.

But it has been more active lately, perhaps on high alert from the emergency status of your team. The blinking of a radio in the helm that is constantly relaying out an “SOS” into an uncaring, unlistening void.

The fate of your injured coworker is still uncertain. They are resting in the infirmary. They said they were attacked by some sort of wild animal; but you cant imagine what sort of fauna around here could do such damage, yet leave them alive...

The drone stares at you for a while. Most of your crew find it unnerving. A corporate, friendly design. A model that was once considered cutting-edge and sleek is now more of a hindrance and a pack mule for the company. Almost lost to time and disrepair, until you started taking them on as a personal project to rejuvenate and remove from the chopping block of becoming obsolete.

The upgrades have landed the model a ‘new’ job: act as a wall of metal set about to do menial tasks. To monitor the station and keep the research on track. Yet you've always been endeared toward its rigid personality.

"Hi Sun," you greet it with a dip to your head.

Expecting that to be the end of the brief encounter, you try to walk past it, but the mechanical creature stands stagnant in your path. Unmoving. The hollowed-out grin seems to stretch wider in your presence. You blink, imagining two pinholes, two dots of light in its mouth, but that would be— "E-evening, researcher," the robotic hum of an automated response churns through its circuitry. You find your concern taking a backseat, enjoying its simple yet effective pleasantry procedures.

“Evening,” you return the greeting. Sun’s posture never relaxes, mechanisms stiff with weathering. Yet its face plate swivels on its neck hinge, keeping a monitor on your every movement to shuffle past the robot.

Before turning the bend of the hallway, you pause.

There's a nagging thought inside your head that just won't leave. Maybe it's the paranoia bred from lack of sleep – of feeling like someone in this station could be a murderer. A screw loose that shatters the whole facade of being somewhere safe, surrounded by well-equipped professionals. 

No, that would mean admitting that even now, your life is in danger. Leaning in to the certainty of a predictable machine, where your faith in mankind has been tested.

All that fear winds up tight until it becomes an uncomfortable knot in your chest. So, you seek to take on a task that is familiar. Reassuring. 

It will keep your mind from wandering – worse yet, spiraling, at least for the rest of the night.

"Actually, Sun—care for an early maintenance check up?" You call out to the drone.

Its face jolts on a rotation to mime a head tilt. The cracking sound it makes reminds you of a neck snapping. "Soundsounds just peachy, friend! Lead the way!" The jovial voicebank continues, a sway to its arms that is cartoonishly friendly. You admire the gusto while the world is otherwise so bleak. 

Sun marches after you. A slight drag to its left leg. The metal is torn into, panels hanging off the hinges. 

You take note of the detail for later. 

The two of you walk to a smaller offset of the lab: the mechanic’s room. You are a jack-of-all-trades, a hire put on to keep an eye on company tech. Such as the assistant drone across from you.

Sun sits down on your work bench. The mechanical being leans forward, the expanse of its back on view. You feel around the planes of curved metal, fingertips knowing where the latch is that opens up the entire panel. 

The panels open with a groan. With strong resistance. A snapping noise like vines torn apart. Far beyond what you’d mark down as a need to have hinges oiled, almost as if an opposing force was trying to hold it together. To keep them whole.

"I'm going to power you down now," You instruct. Sun's eyes flash a burning white glow. Then in a flicker, dim to their regular intensity. "Y-you got it, researcher!" The lines exalt from their circuitry. Complacent. Yet something curls into its wires, a frantic and fleeting moment of panic that suddenly expires in a supernova the moment you are reaching in and turning off their systems.

The switch is easy to access. Though it parts with difficulty.

The sounds of their internal workings still. The fans stop. The coolant ceases pumping. Electricity stuck without an outlet. Frozen.

You fall into the lull of the routine maintenance check. Dutifully testing wires, cleaning out stubborn gunk that clogs up their delicate machinery. You frown at a particularly stubborn batch of gristle. You lean closer to allow your headlamp to illuminate the situation, but find that–

"Ow," you utter. The small shock to your finger feels insignificant. A faulty wire. You hadn’t been able to check over their systems as frequently, not on this research mission. Perhaps it had put a strain on their foundation, caused a few glitches and bugs that you’d normally catch well in advance.

You move to retreat. But you freeze up. Eyes widening at the sight before you.

The wire matrix pulses. A hypnotic array of neurons sparking and activating. An expanse of circuitry interconnecting and linking. The lights flash once, twice. 

Rippling throughout the dense machinery like a wall of flesh—sentient, breathing, cascading. 

You panic. Rush to turn the assistant's system back on. To stop this horrid hallucination and ground yourself back into reality, because this can’t be real–

You find that you don't need to flip the switch.

Sun powers back on without prompting. The twisting innards interlock with the lines of electricity, completing the system. Routing electricity through like a nervous system. 

You jump back as his hull shuts close in a rapid motion.

Fast, like it had tried to snap down swift enough to decapitate you.

Sun rises to stand before you.

Moving so swift, with such fluidity, that the drone is hardly recognizable from the clunky machinery you’ve grown accustom to. 

Like it is alive, breathing, and not–

"D-don't dont do that again," ‘friend.’ Your breath catches in your throat. Its grip on your wrist is so tight that your muscles spasm and you drop the screwdriver held tight in your fists with a clatter.

“I d-don’t like being shut,” ‘off,’  Sun says. The faceplate swivels and dangles on its flimsy hinge. Within its mouth, shadows ripple and seep out. Reaching toward you. Wisps of claws and unearthly matter that caresses across your face. Cold, bitterly cold. 

Your mind stops working. 

‘so dark.’ The shadows murmur, like a chime lost on the breeze. The temperature of the room keeps plummeting until your breath is crystalizing in the air. Every panicked, hushed wheeze. As your lungs shudder, your body pumps out adrenaline, yet you are stuck in place.

"Good," 'good,' it utters. Synthetic voice blending with a whispering shush. Almost natural like breathing, an exhale that speaks alongside its record-like voice.

Alarm flashes through you. 

You need to tell the others. 

You need to check in on your coworker in the infirmary—you need to, to—

pass out — expecting a thud of your head hitting concrete, only to be caught. Enveloped in arms made of metal and unreal, wispy sinew alike.

[vonbabbitt]

throws tetro rpg au at you

Isono

Role: On-Field DPS

Weapon: Electric-charged gauntlets

Skill: Big burst o’ s p e e d

Addtional notes: Controls a robot to fight like a first person computer game bc agoraphobia go brrr, hits inflict short-lasting debuff that slows movement speed of opponents

Harada

Role: Off-Field DPS

Weapon: Spear

Skill: Sawa summon

Additional notes: For elaboration, he always has Sawa with him, but when he summons her she becomes b i g and can fight independently for a given time (also if they want harada can ride sawa like a mount >:3), Sawa hits like a truck and can add a bleeding affect for a short time

Chiba

Role: Support

Weapon: Magic wand

Skill: Flight and bomb dropping

Additional notes: Can fly because demon spawn hell yeah, drops bombs that do a bit of AOE damage before releasing a cloud of attack-lowering debuff dust

Kamimura

Role: Healer

Weapon: Chemical bomb shit?

Skill: Healing Elixir

Additional notes: Throws chemical compounds at opponents to fight like a badass, heals by drinking an elixir that heals party a certain amount for a given time

Hayashi

Role: On-Field DPS…duh

Weapon: Dual-Wields Butterfly knives

Skill: Rage

Additional notes: When in rage, damage signifigantly increases for a time, but takes small ticks of damage for the duration of the rage or until she leaves the field (Xiao’s burst from genshin comes to mind)

Wada

Role: Support

Weapon: Iron Man-esque palm blasters (i can’t really think of anything else and i think this would be really funny)

Skill: A big fucking noise idk

Additional notes: Can create a sonic shockwave that disorients opponents and lowers defence

Sasaki

Role: Off-Field DPS

Weapon: Scepter

Skill: Turret

Additional notes: Rpg sasaki would absolutely go to a magic school, turret is a small wisteria that deals magic damage within a certain AOE, characters standing in this field gain a small attack buff

Ojima

Role: Support

Weapon: Paintbrush

Skill: Armor

Additional notes: Summons armor for teammates, increasing defense but lowering movement speed

Okazaki

Role: On-Field DPS

Weapon: Ping-ponging between dual-wielding guns or a rapier because c l a s s y

Skill: Shadow Dash

Additional notes: Can dash forward in a flurry of shadows (dealing damage to any opponents in line of dash) and imbue bullets with shadow magic shit, this is doubled at night

Hama

Role: On-Field DPS

Weapon: Demon Arm

Skill: Hellraising

Additional notes: Can summon a demon to fight alongside party for a time, it has heightened defense and movement speed, gets incrementally stronger as Hama is on the field

Tsuno

Role: Healer

Weapon: Shield but like it can split in two and be worn on each wrist

Skill: Healing turret

Summons a ✩Statue of Justice✩ that can heal nearby party members, doubled during the day

Hiroaki

Role: Support

Weapon: Bow

Skill: Crowd Control

Additional notes: Can fire a special arrow that sucks in enemies and deals small damage over time

Tamba

Role: On-Field DPS

Weapon: Whip?

Skill: Tamba Time stance

Additional notes: When stance is activated, attack and movement speed is increased greatly, but defence is lowered, when stance ends attack and speed drop and defence rises

Hasegawa

Role: Off-Field DPS

Weapon: Longsword

Skill: Jellyfsh

Additional notes: Summons a big-ass jellyfish that does big chuncks of damage in slow increments

Watari

Role: Off-Field DPS

Weapon: Fire Dancing Sticks

Skill: …fire dancing

Additional notes: Summons a ring of fire that follows party around and deals burning damage, pairs well with Yanagi

Yanagi

Role: Healer

Weapon- Ice Skates

Skill: Snowstorm

Additional notes: Creates a snowstorm that heals party and inflicts “cold” affect on enemies, pairs well with Watari

crap now im thinking about a tetro tcg

i have nothing to add i just want the people to see this

[renlyslittlerose]

Kinktober Day 7 - Touch-Starved

For ME because I wanted to write it~ 🥲

Little Bit of That Human Touch - 2,044 Rating: T Content: Established Relationship / Suited Darth Vader / Darth Vader Redemption / Redemption / Darth Vader Needs a Hug / Touch-Starved / Reconnecting

---

It was the sounds of the world no longer constrained by the press of his helmet that Vader first marvelled in.

He could hear the trill of a bird’s song and the rustle of wind through sun-bleached leaves, the tinkle of water against a porcelain dish and the creak of metal crates against one another. When allowed outside he could hear the worms in the dirt below his feet, the rumble of electrical current beneath stone steps and thick grasses, and feel the planet expand and contract with each deep breath it took.

Next, he enjoyed the feel of fresh air on his face. The recycled air of the Imperial cruisers had always been sharp and uncomfortable against his exposed body, sliding beneath the curled burns of his skin and the corners of his sensitive eyes. He had to exist within self-contained areas on the ship, such as oxygen chambers and bacta tanks, designed to make the ache in his chest hurt just a little less, but in turn further isolated him from the world.

At least this prison came with a view.

Taking in a deep breath, Vader listened to his mask as it sucked the air through his lungs and pushed it back out. This remained a constant: the mechanised breath of a body that struggled to exist outside the chains that had bound it to a brutal, torturous existence, alive only because the robotics that pumped his heart, breathed into his lungs, made his stomach churn and his guts twist, wouldn’t allow for him to slip away into nothingness.

This too was similar to a prison. He couldn’t make a decision to leave or stay; couldn’t tell those that controlled his fate to allow him to choose where and when he died. He was too valuable to the rebellion. A prize worth keeping, to parade around as a victory, even though he’d given himself up willingly.

Those in the Rebellion were pitiable. Contemptible even.

Save for one.

Taking in another breath Vader felt Obi-Wan before he heard him approach the door to his chamber. Vader wasn’t allowed to close off his bond to Obi-Wan; couldn’t retreat into the darker recesses of the Force where pain met despair and hatred, a soothing elixir that was so easy to fall into. Here he was made to lay in the pools of Obi-Wan’s consciousness, to touch the once familiar warmth that was his certainty and love, and bear the weight of a forgiveness given so willingly.

The door slid open with a series of clicks, the locks put in place both mechanical and mystical. Other Jedi who had survived the years of the Empire’s mindless hunting had come to aid Obi-Wan in Vader’s confinement, preventing him from attempting an escape that he didn’t even want.

He’d bowed his head for a reason, begged for mercy even though the words sliced and caught.

He wanted this.

Obi-Wan’s physical presence still hurt. The moment he stepped into the room Vader’s muscles seized around his ribs and his breath caught in his throat, making him cough into the mask. Blinking back the swell of tears, he kept his head ducked and turned from Obi-Wan as his boots came in to view.

“I hope I didn’t interrupt your meditations,” Obi-Wan said gently.

“I was not meditating,” he replied, attention still trained on Obi-Wan’s boots. He still struggled to look Obi-Wan in the eye. “I was… contemplating.”

“You should be meditating more on your own,” Obi-Wan said. He stepped forward before kneeling in front of Vader. “You’ve come a long way in your recovery. Journeying into the Force alone is the next step.”

He couldn’t smell Obi-Wan but knew the perfumes he wore all the same, the leathers of his belt and boots mixing with the scent of fresh cotton that swaddled his form. He’d lost some of his gravitas in the ensuing years, the sandy shoals of Tatooine wearing away at him like they did all vibrant creations, until they too crumbled into dust and became a part of the planet itself. Soft eyes had hardened, the lines across his brow and around his eyes deep set and visceral to look at, muscle giving way to sinew that sucked tight around bone.

But he was still beautiful. He always would be.

“Not today,” Vader said. He knew he sounded dismissive and perhaps petulant, but he didn’t care.

“Is something troubling you?”

Vader finally looked up at Obi-Wan. He was dressed in blue today. He looked good in the colours, though Vader still wasn’t used to the sight. Stranger still were the white medical robes that swaddled his own body, the fabric made to lessen the irritation across his sensitive skin. Black and always been Vader’s colour. He still wasn’t sure he liked the white, so stark, so… pure.

At first Vader wanted to hide his uncertainty. It was a foolish thing to get caught up on. But he also knew Obi-Wan would sniff it out - pull on their bond and have Vader give him the answers. He wasn’t allowed to have secrets right now. He wasn’t allowed privacy. He wasn’t allowed to be just a man.

“This morning when one of the doctors came to change the feeding tubes… one of them… she smiled at me.”

Obi-Wan’s lips twitched. Vader glared but Obi-Wan’s smile remained.

“Smiled?”

“Yes.”

“And this troubles you?”

Vader sighed, the inorganic sound shuddering through quiet space. “I do not want their courtesy nor their pity. They should continue to treat me with distrust. I do not want their kindness.”

“Why is that?”

Gritting his teeth, Vader turned from Obi-Wan and stared out the narrow windows of his chamber. The leaves outside created a dappled light across the stone, flickering and difficult to follow. “I do not deserve it,” Vader finally said.

“Don’t deserve it, or don’t want the responsibility of having to live up to an image you don’t think yourself capable of fulfilling?”

Turning back to Obi-Wan, Vader flexed his mechno-hands that remained on his lap. “What do you mean?”

“When people show genuine interest in another person even through a simple smile, that can create a small bond between the two. Suddenly you have to live up to certain courtesies that perhaps you’re unwilling or unable to see to. It can be as basic as a return of the smile or an acknowledgment of some kind that you recognize their presence.” Obi-Wan tilted his head to the side, his eyes searching Vader’s own. “When the doctor smiled at you, she saw you as something other than a prisoner - as someone other than Darth Vader. She saw a part of that humanity that you’ve shut yourself off from for over a decade. And when she smiled at you, she reminded you that the piece of yourself you strove to hide for so long wasn’t as easily hidden as you’d once thought.”

Obi-Wan’s thoughts curled in Vader’s mind like they had all those years ago, patience mixing with wisdom. And a little arrogance for good measure.

Just a few months ago he’d have strained against Obi-Wan’s words. They dug too close to the truth, working their way between the layers of armour that Vader had built in order to survive; digging, digging, digging until he found the boy that lay beneath. A boy that Vader had tried so hard to kill.

But now he was expected to let Obi-Wan in, and allow him to push against the cracks until something gave way. Sometimes it was just a concession, other times a confession. More often than not, it was just allowing Obi-Wan to be present within his space, a painful and comforting reminder of Vader’s continued existence.

“Perhaps you are right,” he said after a while. “Maybe I… maybe I need to be willing to accept the grace shown to me.”

Even though he thought he might choke on it.

“Do you wish to meditate?” Obi-Wan asked.

Vader nodded, and the pair slipped into the Force together. The first time they’d done this Obi-Wan had been scared, and Vader had liked it. The licks of fear curled with his own excitement, slashing like the clash of their blades - red against blue, skittering and cutting. He’d chased Obi-Wan through the thickets of their bond, focused in on him as he hurried through the brambles like a hunted fawn, footsteps quick and eyes wide. Vader knew he shouldn’t have given chase and yet he couldn’t stop, madness and the drive to hurt overriding all other senses, the scent of Obi-Wan’s fear intoxicating.

But Obi-Wan learned how to push back. He’d turned and suddenly the fawn was a stag, horns sharp and nostrils flared. He’d beaten back Vader’s rage and chaos, pushing him further and further into the cool rapids of his Force signature, submerging him in the waters of the light side of the Force until Vader drowned in its simplicity.

It was there that they floated together now, the pair without form as they curled and swirled like tendrils in the Force. Obi-Wan guided them deeper in the pools, the darkness comforting, the warmth of the water soothing. It was there that they lingered.

Here Vader felt no pain, no ache, no need. The blood soaked maws of the darkside couldn’t press against the back of his neck and lock down, keeping him in place until he had no choice but to succumb to the raw ache. His limbs didn’t feel disconnected and separate from him, his lungs didn’t hurt, his skin didn’t catch and pull, his guts didn’t seize and twist, his mind didn’t cut and devour.

It was here that Obi-Wan found it.

A desire. Pure, simple, focused. That longing for human connection, unlocked by a simple smile as the early morning dew faded from the blades of grass.

A hand touched his cheek in the physical space.

Vader’s eyes flew open and he jerked away from the touch, eyes wide as his heart thundered beneath his chest. Obi-Wan remained as he’d been before, hand stuck out between them, fingers gently curled as he let the hurt of rejection slip away in an instant.

“What are you doing?” Vader asked, quick and sharp.

Obi-Wan kept his hand where it was, still reaching, still yearning. “Come, darling…”

Vader bit the inside of his cheek until blood gushed into his mouth, coppery and thick. Familiar. He hadn’t heard that expression in many years, hadn’t been swallowed up by the tone and the softness in which it was said. Hadn’t been comforted by the knowledge that he was someone’s darling.

He was his Master’s darling. A beautiful boy worthy of love and affection.

A boy worthy.

Fear rattled through his body, digging into his stomach like a blade. But just on the edge was Obi-Wan’s presence, like a light on the shores, patient and steady, guiding him back. With an unsteady breath he locked eyes with Obi-Wan, light-blue with dark blue that still held the presence of a fire-red storm.

Swallowing, he turned back into Obi-Wan’s touch. Without hesitation Obi-Wan cupped Vader’s cheek, fingertips sliding along his jaw before resting palm flat across his skin. Obi-Wan’s touch was soft, his skin hot, calluses rough and yet pleasurable all the same.

Vader had not felt human contact like this in…

He’d not felt. In so long. For so many years.

Sighing, Vader turned into the touch, nuzzling his mask into Obi-Wan’s palm, desperate for more. Needing more. Like a man parched for decades and finally given succour he fell into Obi-Wan’s embrace, his larger frame curling in as he demanded to be held. Obi-Wan opened himself up to Vader, his arms strong as they wrapped around him and held him close. His lap was familiar, his chest broad and steady, heartbeat thundering as Obi-Wan cradled Vader against his chest and held him.

Oh how quickly Darth Vader forgot what it was like to be loved.

And how easily Anakin was able to remember.

[goosefruit]

surprise!

vanessa shelly x reader

tw: none really, slight mention of william afton killing kids

a/n: this is really random but i love the way vanessa says "frickin'" in the movie so i included it in this fic

================================================

You scanned the room around you one last time, checking that everything was in place as planned. 

Gold and white balloons adorned every corner, streamers hung off the ceiling, and a romantic candle-lit dinner was prepared on the dining table. The only thing missing was the subject of celebration, who you suspected should be arriving any moment now. 

"Happy birthday!" You cried out as Vanessa finally stepped through the front door. She was immediately taken aback; however, her expression quickly became one of joy.

"What is all this, Y/N? You didn't have to!" 

You knew that Vanessa didn't like to make a big deal out of her birthday. Hell, you weren't even sure if she remembered that today was her special day, with the way she never mentioned it (in fact, the only reason you knew her birthday was because of that singular time it slipped into the conversation when you were just a month into dating). 

"Nessa, babe. I know you have a hard time celebrating yourself, but today is your day, so let me help you feel special, m'kay?" You helped her out of her work gear and guided her to the dining table. Arranged was a variety of all her favourite dishes, alongside a vase of roses. You gave a shy laugh; the food had taken you several attempts before it was satisfactory. "I'm not the best cook, but I tried my best."

"God, I don't even know what to say," Vanessa couldn't suppress the grin that stretched across her face. "Thank you so much, my love. You are the sweetest frickin' angel ever."

One hand cupped your cheek and the other found its home on your waist as she pulled you in for a kiss, her cherry flavoured-lips fitting perfectly against your own. She smelled amazing, like an elixir of vanilla and jasmine that you had now associated with warmth and comfort.

"How about we eat before the food gets cold, and continue this later?" You whispered when you finally pulled apart for air, your face a centimetre away from hers. 

"You're right. I gotta see if I should make you do all the cooking from now on."

Dinner was filled with laughter, flirty exchanges, and your girlfriend complimenting your culinary skills. You swore that your face was bright red by the end of it, with her praises and the way she made you giggle till you couldn't breathe. 

"Alright, alright, if you thought the steak was good, just wait till you see the cake," you got up and proudly made your way to the fridge.

"There's cake too? You're going to put me into a food coma!"

"Wouldn't be a birthday without a cake. Made it myself too," the excitement in your voice was evident as you set down a colourful cake on the table. Vanessa gasped as she took a closer look. 

On the cake was your best attempt at drawing you, Vanessa, and the four animatronics in icing. You were definitely not a professional artist, but your years of art lessons as a kid paid off, if you said so yourself. It was a depiction of your girlfriend's favourite picture: one taken at the pizzeria while the six of you danced to music, Vanessa in your arms as the animatronics looked on with joy (as best as they could, in their robotic ways).

You looked to her for approval, but were alarmed when you were met with her tear-streaked face instead.

She caught you staring in concern and buried her face in her hands, shoulders trembling as she sobbed. You had rarely seen Vanessa cry like this, not even after almost getting murdered by her own father. 

"Vanessa? What's wrong, sweetheart?" You wrapped an arm around her, thumb rubbing her shoulder comfortingly.

"I'm sorry," she lifted her head to look up at you with teary eyes. It was astounding how beautiful she looked, despite her smudged mascara and red puffy eyes. "I'm not sad, I promise. It's just, as cheesy as this sounds, no one has ever made me feel this important before. I think you're the first person in this world that has ever loved me like this."

"Baby," you kissed her forehead, on the verge of crying yourself.

"And I can see that you put in so much effort to learn all these little details about me, not to mention the time you must have spent putting this whole thing together. Y/N- fuck, I feel like I don't deserve you."

You rested your head on the nape of her neck, your hand finding hers to interlace your fingers together, 

"The last time I had a birthday party, I was eight," she continued with a sniffle. "And," 

A sigh interrupted her sentence, and you could guess that this next part was hard for her to say: 

"You know, when there’s a bunch of unsuspecting, innocent children around, my father...h-he takes advantage of that. I begged him to never have a birthday party again after that, because though I might not have been able to stop him, I couldn't bear to be an accomplice to his crimes."

Vanessa's father really messed her up----that much you knew----but it still broke your heart every time you heard her speak about it.

"What he did will never be your fault, Nessa. I love you more than you know, and I need you to know that you deserve nothing but the best." 

She cracked a weak smile. "Okay, okay, enough sob stories. I want to be in a good mood when we cut this gorgeous cake of yours."

"You know what, I have something else that may be able to cheer you up." You shook your head in amusement. "Don't you wanna see the presents I got you?"

From behind the living room couch, you grabbed a large gift bag and presented it to her. 

And oh did she love it. She couldn’t stop squealing in excitement as she opened your present: a book that was on her reading list, a candle with her favourite scent, a gold necklace that you caught her eyeing at the jewelry store, and a photo album filled with pictures of the two of you. 

The cherry on top was a heartfelt card that brought tears to her eyes, once again.

“And also,” you began to unbutton the top of your blouse, allowing her to catch a glimpse of the hot pink lingerie underneath. “A bonus gift.”

“Holy shit, I really am spoiled!”

[grimbunnies]

Dina: "I'd like to get married tomorrow, after I've had the nooboo."

Mortimer: "So soon? You don't think you'll be too tired?"

Dina: "I don't want to waste another moment waiting! I'm an excited bride-to-be. Is that a problem?"

Mortimer: "Of course not, my dear. I'll make all the arrangements."

Alexander: "You seem robotic in speaking to her, not the picture of a man in love. Should you not call off the wedding if you are unhappy?"

Mortimer: "Oh, it's not that. I just... never expected to have children with anyone apart from your mother. Now... I'm an old man. I won't even get to see this child grow. The worst is, I'm uncertain I'm appropriately upset about it? I don't know how I should feel, but I'm hardly excited. It just... is."

Alexander: "Perhaps we could work together on the Elixir? You would have time to raise another child if we could stabilize the formula."

Mortimer: He does have a point... No! My mother was right. What I did was akin to blood magic, and there's always a cost. Poor Michael...

[monkie-kid-oc-showdown]

Yu Huìxīng (@floatingstarshine)

Age: 1000 (looks 27)

Pronouns: she/her

Born and raised in China after her parents moved there from Hawaii, she grew up in a small house on a mountainside. Her family of pueo (owls) kept to themselves, meaning she was ready for a friend to keep her company. After finding a hurt human and helping them out, the two of them quickly became friends. That friendship was cut in half on her 16th birthday though, when both of her parents were killed by demon hunters, her friend included in the group of hunters. She became used to being independent and on her own until she found herself on FFM, where Sun Wukong took her in and they gradually grew close sibling-wise.

Now, she lives in an apartment in Megapolis and runs her own small jewelry making business.

Yùtù (@starlitskvader)

Name: Yùtù to Wukong, Chang'e, and other contemporaries; Jade Rabbit or simply Jade to everyone else.

Pronouns: They/them

Abilities: Elixir making, super speed, pestle-based combat, brewing a mean coffee or tea

The original Lunar Rabbit, Jade once served as Chang'e's indefatigable personal assistant... until the invention of the Lunar Rabbit Robots saw them labeled as obsolete. Bitter at being replaced after all those years, they hold a grudge against their former mistress - but is generally affable with anyone else, and has become the proprietor and primary barista of Lucky Bunny Tea & Coffee.

An old friend of the Monkey King (their battle in JttW was a huge misunderstanding that was then misunderstood by the chronicler - seriously!), Jade is delighted to meet their long-time pal's new protege and friends, and eager to lend their barista skills or pestle-swinging might to the table as needed. For now, until needed they're content to run their shop and play 'tag' with the King!

(Which consists of playing whack-a-mole with clones until they find the real monkey. Hey, it's all in good fun!)

[fsaxjack]

Rayman's lore (at least the parts I'm familiar with, 2 and 3) is fantastic, it's so many really good ideas run through the filter of a child's imagination. The Lums are primordial beings of pure energy - the Yellow Lums built the Heart of the World, Red Lums are the source of life, Purple Lums give the world substance and form, and Blue Lums are the first breath of all creatures that they carry with them their whole life... and Yellow Lums are also a fun little collectible, Red Lums restore your life bar, Purple Lums are grappling hook points, and Blue Lums are your air pickups when swimming. The Lums created a creature with the power to make his dreams reality - his name is Polokus, he's a toad-looking guy with a big top hate and arms twice as long as his body is tall.

He created a species capable of finding and elucidating hidden passages and secret paths, who created the place where all paths converge, the Hall of Doors. They're called the Teensies, and they're little Squidward-looking guys who can't decide who their king is and so they constantly play musical chairs with the crown

He created what is essentially a mountain-moving demigod who carved the landscape into hills and valleys, mountains and canyons. His name is Clark, his chin is as big as his torso, and he gets a nasty stummy ache when he accidentally swallows part of the robot-pirates he was fighting and he needs the rare and legendary Elixir of Life to cure him

He made Globox, Rayman's best friend, basically just because he thought it would be funny.

He has a wife and her name is Uglette

They have had 650 children, who are basically tiny clones of their father

And Polokus' nightmares become reality - meet Jano, his very first nightmare

Remember that Elixir of Life I mentioned Clark needed? He's got it in that skull on his staff. And he's willing to share it... if you can escape

[ecargmura]

Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise From The Shadows- Episode 4 Review - S-Rank Miner

This episode has the least amount of action, yet I was still glued in. That’s pretty crazy. Anyways, I do like the change of pace as Jinwoo realizes that being E-rank is now an inconvenience for him and decides to get a reassessment so he’ll have better opportunities to earn money and buy necessary items for his goal to make the Elixir of Life.

The reassessment test center is pretty chill. The vibes remind me of a DMV, where you get your driver’s license in America. The only difference is that you stick your hand onto a crystal and it evaluates stuff for you. Surprisingly enough, Jinwoo’s newfound powers have gotten him to become the 10th S-rank Hunter. Congrats, Jinwoo! Wait, is the the 10th one in Korea or in the world? Somebody, please clarify for me. By the way, if you’re confused on why he’s still referred to as an E-rank despite being reevaluated into S-rank, the system need to process it and change his paperwork and such. Think of it as waiting for your passport to be created.

Because it’s such a big deal, other S-rank hunters come to meet him, specifically Choi Jong-in and Go Gunhee. I honestly like that as the story progresses, the more important characters start showing themselves as if the world building is slowly expanding like how Jinwoo levels up. Choi Jong-in tries to start a conversation with him, but basically leaves him on read…is it because he’s wearing red? Jong-in is the guild master of the biggest Hunters’ Guild, meaning he is a big deal, yet Jinwoo ignoring him was hilarious because he’s being playfully petty about it and even telling Jinchul whether he was being polite or not. Though, he does seem like he’s showing a facade, so it makes sense why Jinwoo be wary and not try to initiate a conversation. I do like that the episode also shows off what he can do. He’s a master fire mage who summons extremely huge fire attacks. Jong-in is voiced by Daisuke Hirakawa in the Japanese dub. If you’re not familiar with Hirakawa, he’s the voice actor of Rei from Free, Enmu from Demon Slayer and Frankenstein from Noblesse. In the English dub, he is voiced by Ian Sinclair, who you might know as Zaveid from Tales of Zestiria, Brook from One Piece and the narrator from Love is War.

Go Gunhee is the biggest authority amongst Hunters, so it makes sense that Jinwoo would try and be more polite to him because he’s much stronger than him. When Gunhee asks him about his path as a newly appointed S-rank Hunter, Jinwoo responds that he lives for fighting and isn’t interested in joining a guild. This gets Gunhee intrigued because he can’t do the things Jinwoo can do at his age, which is over 80. I wonder what sort of role Gunhee will play in the future.

There’s also Cha Hae-in introduced. She’s also another S-rank Hunter and is Jong-in’s second-in-command. She seems to be a swordswoman but also has a sensitive nose as she has to cover it with a handkerchief. I wonder how this affects her in battle. She’s also perceptive of aura as she can sense erratic ones like Jinwoo, but believes it had belonged to Gunhee. Then, she shows up at the ending, making you wonder what she’s doing there when she got out.

There’s also a scene with Hwang Dongsoo where he thinks about Sung Il-hwan who pulverized him when mentioning his family. This is definite foreshadowing him going after Jinwoo or Jinah. Please don’t let bad things happen to them…but let bad things happen to Dongsoo.

I know that Jinwoo isn’t a comedic character, but the way he was in the mines was super funny to me. He was just mining ore like a robot and then when he’s alone, he just scurries to the boss gate like some sort of mischievous troublemaker. I found that so hilarious for some reason like the man’s grinning like he’s finally happy to break some rules. To be honest, I thought he was going to summon his shadow minions to help him with the mining, so seeing something that subverted my expectations was great!

Anyways, I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen now that Cha Hae-in is in the picture. Also, what lurks beyond those gates? I’m curious and I can’t wait for next Saturday! What are your thoughts on this episode?

[password-door-lock]

Mystictober 2024 Masterlist

Read it all in one place on Ao3!

(Links to individual days below the cut)

Day 1-- Favorite Character/Hourglass Unknown brings an hourglass to the RFA party. (1k words)

Day 2-- Domestic Life/Sweater Weather You visit Saeran in the garden (708 words)

Day 3-- Ending/Prologue Ray takes you back to Magenta after the prologue (797 words) Content warning: stalking

Day 4-- Pirate/4th Wall Unknown breaks the fourth wall (928 words)

Day 5-- Date Night An evening in with SE Saeran (791 words)

Day 6-- Skull/Possession You’re a demon. You try to possess Suit Saeran and get more than you bargained for (931 words)

Day 7-- Chatroom/Bomb You share some concerns about the special security system with Seven and Jaehee (648 words) 

Day 8-- Painting Unknown catches you painting in the intelligence room (722 words)

Day 9-- Fate/Lie You and Ray have a conversation about boundaries and fate (963 words) Content warnings: referenced abuse

Day 10-- Robot Unknown attempts to make a robot (932 words).

Day 11-- Doll/Heart Saeyoung teaches you and Saeran how to make dolls (771 words).

Day 12-- Saddest Moment SE Saeran stares up at the ceiling (936 words).

Day 13-- Secret Ray route, day 9, 1:29am (957 words).

Day 14-- OST You can hear the OST playing during a confrontation with Unknown (691 words).  Content warnings: manipulation, guns

Day 15-- Empty/Hurt You try to comfort Suit Saeran (780 words).

Day 16-- Theater You and Saeran discuss Zekyll and White before watching Zen’s performance (866 words).

Day 17-- Vampire/Elixir Vampire Ray gives you a special elixir (1.2k words).  Content warning: blood, blood drinking, manipulation

Day 18-- Antagonist/DLC Unknown comes to rescue you following Jumin’s BSE2 (832 words).

Day 19-- Healing SE Saeran reflects on his healing journey on a visit to your favorite museum (788 words).

Day 20-- Best CG You come home to find Saeran in the maid dress again (723 words). Content warning: slightly suggestive (just in case)

Day 21-- Video Games You have a lot of questions about Ray’s work as a game developer (915 words). 

Day 22-- Moon/Sun You try to get Ray and Saeran to take care of themselves (926 words). 

Day 23-- Saeran/Ray x MC/Ice Cream Saeran shares his ice cream flavor preferences with you (815 words). 

Day 24-- Love/Hacked Ray really had no choice but to hack into your thoughts… right? (825 words)  Content warning: manipulation 

Day 25-- Tea Party Unknown hosts a little tea party (1.2k words). Content warning: manipulation 

Day 26-- AU Mint Eye is obviously a vampire cult (960 words). Content warning: death mention

Day 27-- Haunted House Saeran comes with you to a haunted house (1k words).

Day 28-- Elegance You can’t understand why Saeran insists on playing dress-up with you (950 words). 

Day 29-- Fairy Tale You and Saeran get married (1.2k words).  Set after Glow-in-the-Dark.

Day 30-- Role Swap Ray would love to spend his life with you, if only you weren’t fictional (732 words).

Day 31-- Halloween Suit Saeran decides to participate in a Halloween tradition (776 words). 

[steeltwigz]

It's also So Dumb that Gerald is alive. And like seemingly just chilling. We didn't need him back it's okay! Actually I think it's More Important that he dies at the hands of the military! I don't want Shadow to ever be able to talk to him to discover his True Purpose was always being friends w the military or whatever. The whole point is Shadow is haunted by this past he'll never be able to remember clearly, and he can never truly know if Gerald really cared or if Shadow was just another weapon at the end of it all. Also didn't that shit happen 50+ years ago. If this movie takes place in 2024-ish, and Gerald was already a grandfather w an approx. 12 yr old daughter 50 years ago, how old is he now??? I always thought he was supposed to b like. 60 or even 70. He has fully grey hair and sounds like an Old Old man. Is he supposed to be 110+ yrs old now? Did his experiments w immortality work, did he make some magic elixir that can keep ppl alive forever???? "Wait until the movie to find out! Maybe Robotnik just started hallucinating or it's some kind of hologram or robot!" I gotta b honest I think I'd rather just watch a long play of every single 320-smth route of Shadow the Hedgehog with no commentary start to finish w no breaks than watch him forgive the military for killing his only family (but not all of them I Guess) and freezing him for 50 years in Cinematic HD Quality.

[dizzyhslightlyvoided]

The other night I dreamed that I was in this sort of. creepypasta-adjacent LARP or VR or something, where you got attacked by various monsters and things, like some animatronic-mascot, or Senthia (a Mimi-Sentry-adjacent robot-girl anthropomorphization of a TF2 sentry-gun) or whatever; I know music from Slender Fortress was going in the background of the dream. I kept getting, like, insta-killed whenever I tried to do literally anything. I decided to RP as Mokou in this scenario, with an unspecified friend taking the role of Kaguya; the dream didn't really mention the Hourai Elixir, but I guess "dying" as a houraijin still counted as losing or whatever? Anyway, we started playing, and Kaguya insta-killed me. Via incineration. When I woke up it was like "... wait."

[racefortheironthrone]

Any characters you feel got a big upgrade in the krakoan era? I just finished x men red and Ive really been impressed in Apocalypse aka Revelation’s story all across

So many characters.

Post-Hickman and Howard and Ewing Apocalypse is a fundamentally different (and more interesting) character than the one who's existed for almost fourty years. It's like pre- and post-Claremont Magneto.

Cypher has become a scheming political twink with a robot arm and a large wife enforcer.

Hope, Goldballs, Elixir, Tempus, and Proteus got a huge glow-up. Not only are they collective messiahs of their people in a power-boosted polycule, but Proteus is now a philosophical club kid with a manageable chronic illness and a therapist rather than a Nosferatu.

Jean is Phoenix again, that's a big shift. Also, the whole Summers polycule Brady Bunch thing really changed the whole Jean/Scott/Logan dynamic.

Mystique is Nightcrawler's dad and Destiny is his mom. Also Mystique is way more powerful now, quasi-omega level.

Moira is now an ex-mutant who's become a genocidal robot.

Kate Pryde is now canonically bi and incredibly violent and traumatized.

Storm is now a Main Character again, and arguably the most powerful mutant in the galaxy.

And so on.

[mothcpu]

With the ability to add custom music to the cybergrind out now, what vocaloid songs/songs in general would you recommend? So far i have 39 Music! But I need more ideas

I have a couple spotify playlists for cygrind (general cybergrind / malding at P-2) but those are messy as hell so I'll also link a handful of my favorites under the cut :)

Vocaloid / J-pop News 39, Love! Snow! Really Magic, Ageage Again, and Viva Happy by Mitchie M sukisukisukisukisukisukisukisukisukisuki by PinocchioP I Nyaned for Hours (' w'​) ​‼ by DaniwellP / YZYX LUVORATORRRRRRY! by Reol Virgo by Kiichi Banshee Strikes by Kiichi Bad Apple!! by nomico (a classic)

and some general songs, mostly electronic literally anything by KEYGEN CHURCH but specifically this album ONE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS by Angel Electronics Elixir by Angelspit Freedom Dive by XI Full Metal Dipshit, Mchngrl vs Wlfgrl, and This Is Your Face On Dogs by Machine Girl CITRUS! by lianhua haruhi by jarvas 9999999999 IN A DREAM by Ada Rook Robot Stop and anything off of Infest the Rats' Nest by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard Exorcism by Megachurch Nerds Trying To Dance by Pedestrian Tactics GOD RACE by METAROOM

my joke suggestions are The Seer by Swans and literally any Godspeed You! Black Emperor track. they're all really good but at least three times as long as an average cygrind run

[starsfic]

EVERBODY SHUT UP ABOUT THE MONKEYS, ITS MID AUTUMN FESTIVAL, ITS CHANG'E TIME (29/9)

Chang'e HCs!

She and Macaque, despite common canon belief, hate each other. Macaque managed to get on the Moon once, and that was enough for Chang'e.

It's why the bunny robots are so primed to attack intruders

Hou Yi's bow and arrows are encased in a shrine in her home. Jade Rabbit was kind enough to bring them to her when he died. They also buried her wedding ring with Hou Yi.

She wears Hou Yi's wedding ring around her neck.

Mooncakes used to be her favorite food. At the time of LMK, however, she is worn out on them.

That's why she cooks and bakes so often!

Jade Rabbit also got Chang'e her first computer, and Chang'e taught herself with YouTube how to make the bunny robots and her show.

Jade Rabbit is also how Chang'e learned about Sun Wukong.

She makes regular shoutouts to thank viewers and, for his birthday, Wukong got Chang'e to shout out DBK. (He was incredibly touched.)

In LMK, Chang'e sacrificed herself in order to make sure Hou Yi's apprentice, Peng Meng, didn't get the elixir.