#some things are imposssible

[colorisbyshe]

i remember when someone was complaining about their partner being late for shit allll the time and someone was like ‘oh they MUST have adhd and they just can’t help it,’ so i was like ‘hey, yeah, i have adhd, i get this, here are some things other people with adhd can do to help with this problem’

and like five different people just went ‘um time blindness is REAL and you must just not have a severe enough case :/ but there’s no fixing this’

and it’s just........ is this how we beat ableism? by just pretending that we aren’t in control of our actions at all?

that instead of having conversations about maybe offering more leeway and empathy for people’s struggles while ALSO equipping people with better tools to help themselves

we’re just gonna go ‘yeah, actually, neurodivergent people are wholly incapable of personal will and are ruled by their neurodivergence and can’t be expected to help themselves or other people in any way.’

like i get that some things are truly harmless or truly cannot be helped but... some things... can be worked on. maybe not “cured” or “fixed” but like... worked on. and maybe we should make that info more accessible rather than pretending like its ableist to like... offer tips or  maybe not let people entirely off the hook for behaviour they can manage

[formulatrash]

truly love (do not) the bizarre form of body policing on here, where I never post photos of me, that has led to two asks in a row one of which called me fat and the other one was an essay about how I, a UK 18 (so mid-size, especially given my height) was pretending to be fat for attention ok thanks I've got much more insight into simply not being allowed to have a physical form cheers

edit: just wanna obviously add being fat is 1) rad, and 2) not something I would shy away from I just like... I don't know where this comes from. twitter get out my ask box and touch grass, please

[imaybe5tupid]

King Laios marriage headcanons! (nothing to do with any shipping don’t get excited)

Laios doesnt really gaf about getting married like that, but marriage is such a powerful political tool there is so much pressure. And Kabru, the absolute legend manages to spin a situation where Melini can benefit from that, whilst not infringing on Laios’ really serious reluctance to not just be forced into the kind of situation he ran away from home to escape (or at least as much as is possible since he’s trapped as the King of Melini 😭). 

And that is for Laios to have multiple concubines from noble or semi-noble or merchant families, emperor style, who he doesnt sleep with/have a romantic relationship with at all! (but who all keep getting pregnant and having children anyway hahaha) Laios treats the concubines with the same professional demeanor as he did as a party leader, and it makes his relationships with them much more easy than one in a potential marriage would have been. Also it’s a way to make many new political connections with many places at once, and gain that bargaining chip that any of them could technically be elevated to a wife at some point.  Whilst also keeping the political card on hand that Laios can still get a wife from outside of his concubines, from another powerful place. Kind of Duke Leto from Dune style. Like these are women who would not ordinarily be considered for any kind of high marriage for varied reasons (age, sexuality, gender, illness, low in the family pecking order, some drama in their family etc. things like that), but because of the strangeness of the situation, and political potential they are sent over to Melini.

The concubines get to basically just have comfortable free life paid for them, with the ability to act completely freely so long as any romantic relationships are discreet and any children they end up having are nominally/officially fathered by Laios. Also would be cute if some of them are like Laios in that this is a chance for them to live a free life away from a home they’d rather leave behind. All these concubines and their retinues coming over would also quickly fill up the empty castle, and bring a lot of life to it. 

Would also be kind of funny if the kids all mostly have appearances/racial mixes that make Laios being their biological father completely imposssible lmfaoo. And Kabru the G.O.A.T and actual recessive trait/atavism haver spins like obscure novel scientific theories why its actually possible and how dare you speak such treason. But of course everybody knows the kids are of course not Laios’, it’s just not spoken aloud in formal situations. Like the people of Melini are like look at our royal heirs dawg we are not getting a hereditary dynasty. Since these babies are like freaking half oni or half dwarf or half elf. or fully oni, fully dwarf, fully elf if the mother is the non-tallman etc. 

Also i like to think that one of the concubines can be from the western continent so that Kabru can have a western continent community connection in Melini ❤️ Like maybe one of the concubines from the Western Continent has a retinue that Kabru becomes close to and its all very culturally healing for him, even if it’s of course not quite the same area. Soothe that part of his heart which is seeking something missing, missing something left behind (in Utaya). Would also be amusing for Marcille to potentially have some flopventures in dykeland with these women too.

Laios likes hanging out with the concubines and learning from them since they come from many distant places, and though hes detached from the idea of being a father or husband (I guess he wouldn’t even be anyone’s husband bc they’re “just” concubines), he still tries to be in their lives even though its still not really As A Father or Romantic Partner but as like The King/their friend /the guy their mom’s work for. 

And because I’m a cyclical domestic drama sicko, I like the idea of it creating another situation for Laios to be something of an imperfect, somewhat distant, “father” and “romantic partner” like his father was, even if its borne from completely different situations and with completely different approach. Because as much as he can become friends with the concubines and their children, their dependence on the tangible power granted by their relationships to him will make it so there will always be parts of himself that he holds back, compared to say with Marcille or Kabru whom he also works closely with but who have a different relationship to him. Like Laios will always be something of an enigma to these women and to the children who are nominally his.  Particularly since they will never have known him as he was before he ended up trapped in the position of King, which he sorely does not want and is expressly unhappy with. Like here is their partner or their father, the King who achieved such fantastical things, but who ultimately, despite the meaningful loving friendships in his life, is a deeply unfulfilled and melancholy man.

[honeythekidsarealright]

okay i NEED to tell you about my situationship 😭 shes a girl (ofc) and shes known in our college for being a hot girl who plays with boys. A bit of backstory tho!!!

our situationship started with me comforting her (we’ll call her M) in my room at night and eventually she got tired and fell asleep on my chest. And i couldn’t sleep all night because she kept nuzzling closer to my chest and groping me (i didn’t wake her up because she has insomnia and its IMPOSSSIBLE for her to get some proper sleep). And as her friend since 9th grade, we’ve had a lot of sleepovers before and shes mentioned how she needs to hold something to sleep. So i didn’t really find it weird or sexual. UNTILL we woke up next morning (i woke up before her) and she said my pillows (not knowing they were actually my boobs 😭) were so soft and comfy and that was the best sleep she got in her life. So that was 1/2 encounters of how we got to what we are.

Number 2 is when we were @ a club and her ex was tryna flirt with me, she told him to fuck off and SQUEEZED my breast in front of him to imply that i was gay? 😭 (FYI nobody knows shes bisexual besides me and vice versa). Then afterwards i confronted her about it and she said that she wasnt THAT blacked out that night to the point where she didn’t know she was asleep on my boobs and holding my ass (feels so weird to say that lmao).

Anywho! Later on, we played spin the bottle with our friends and it landed on us two, which one thing led to another and that was the first time i had someone on their knees for me and first time I got head 🙂‍↕️

so ever since then we’ve been linking up and doing the deed (idk if this is a tmi but shes a very much dom person whos down bad to eat ass). And one day, were meeting at my friends apartment (both arriving at seperate times) and before I walk into the kitchen, i hear her and her step-sister talking about their sex life.

And she was basically saying how she loved to give me head and how it was so easily to flip me over into different positions and overall things im not comfortable with another person knowing. Like idk about you, but I wouldn’t want some random person to know that my favourite position to receive is facesitting (its not 😭 just an example).

And now, idk what to do. She’s very easy to tick off and she’ll probably just make herself seem like the victim. But i don’t want her talking about me like that: what do I do?

in any kind of relationship that you may enter into, it's important that your partner knows and respects any boundaries that you might have. that being said, i think it is important for you to have a conversation with her and tell her that you're uncomfortable with her sharing the details of your sex life. you should always feel safe enough to communicate with your partner and not feel like your feelings would be invalidated.

[creature-wizard]

the thing that always stood out to me is the way people would come to these LOA bloggers genuinrky distressed over not getting results and the bloggers would never had any genuinely helpful tips or insight, just generic repetition of "just remember that YOU are the creator! YOU are the boss bitch! there is no such thing as failure! kumbaya!"

like, you think they haven't tried that already? the human mind is wired to work for a particular goal until they succeed, telling people to just turn their brains off and gaslight themselves until the thing they want materializes into reality is not how our minds work! genuinely believing you have the thing you don't actually have is imposssible. we need real, physical proof of something that we can reasonably perceive with our senses.

Exactly. Like, maybe some people can genuinely convince themselves like this, but it's definitely not how most people's minds work.

For anyone reading this: If you are leaving or questioning the Law of Assumption and need help, please see this post.

[quitealotofsodapop]

Hmm...if Mac absorbs the egg - does that mean he would have a rock in his gut? How would that even work? Would the egg be draining Mac's magic as a form of sustenance to replace the umbilical cord? Imagine the panic those monkeys would have - "Didn't your rock blow up when you were born?!" "Calm down, I doubt it's gonna go all chestburster on you! I hope." "Chest-what?!" "Oh, right, you haven't seen the movies..." "WUKONG!" - or does the *baby* go to Mac and leaves an empty rock for SWK to use?

OK Im calling a Long Post warning; cus its a long answer, and gives a pretty good idea Why the plot happens.

Basically the stone "Egg" MK comes from was a comet containing Something. The Jade Emperor and a bunch of other Celestials noticed it coming right for earth and started panicing. To anyone not in the know, it just looked like an unseasonable meteor shower over Megapolis.

SWK is summoned cus the Jade Emperor had Visions of what was in the "Egg"; an infant Stone Monkey that could transform into an Eldritch Abomination. Jade Emperor gives the order of scrambled stone egg.

SWK and a bunch of other characters are Not Down For It; so they teleport to SWK's Shame Temple (seen in "Imposssible Delivery") to hopefully catch the Egg before it lands.

Coincidentally; The Shame Temple happens to be where Macaque was put to rest hundreds of years ago, and he's just Woken Up (more details on Why later) to his ex-best-friend/possible soulmate standing there.

Moskha and Nezha have to keep the monkeys apart long enough to form a plan.

The comet that contains the Egg finally crashes down, and begins leaking a horrific chaotic energy thats ripping apart the reality around it. It takes the power of SWK, Nezha, Mohska, and Guanyin herself to perform a ritual to contain the energy within a confined space.

Problem was that when The Egg hit the earth, it had cracked open. But unlike SWK and Mac, it had not developed a body for its soul to survive in just yet.

Wukong has a rare lightbulb moment.

Wukong: "Hey, if *our* eggs held us - then could we use our old shells to patch it up and let it finish cooking?"

Macaque: "Thats the stupidiest idea you've ever had. Lets do it."

Guanyin gives the thumbs up, and Macaque takes SWK's place in the ritual, summoning all his shadow powers to keep the Soul within the temple. SWK causes some chaos zipping around to Flower Fruit Mountain and the Moon for the remains of his and Mac's stone eggs.

SWK patches the broken Cosmic Egg with the remaining shells, successfully trapping the energy.

Then Macaque's control on the shadows faulter, causing the Cosmic Egg to zoom towards him (Samadhi Fire flashbacks anyone?) and hit just before Wukong can jump in for a save; the Soul contained within the Egg absorbing into Macaque's body and leaving behind a seemingly normal egg-shaped rock in Wukong's hands.

Everyone starts panicking.

Guanyin explains: since the Soul existed outside of the natural order, it couldnt just simply jump into the nearest body like a reincarnation. It needed similarly un-natural progenitors.

In essense; the undercooked MK soul was like: "Where am I?! What am I!? Why am i so cold!? Where's my parents!?" *sees SWK and Macaque fixing his egg* "Oh, there they are, my bad."

Which means that Shadowpeach just metaphorically and *literally* concieved a future mystic Monkey.

Macaque is NOT HAPPY and immediately jumps to beat the crap out of SWK.

Moksha has to stop herself from laughing cus; "Bro you just magically knocked up your ex.", while Nezha looks horrified cus he thinks he just saw what Stone Monkey baby-making looks like.

Guanyin advises the two monkeys that if they keep things civil, the Soul will likely incarnate into a physical body and get born as an infant Monkey demon do. But there's a catch:

On a gross physical scale; its not an issue. Mystic Monkeys exist outside the natural category of creatures, and are shapeshifters to boot, meaning that Macaque already had built-in "equipment" to carry a kid. Its just him and SWK never "tried" making more of themselves - a war and a bad break-up put a damper on any family planning they had.

On a magical + spirtual scale though? : Its Dangerous.

The mystical pregnancy takes so much energy from Macaque that he needs to in-turn "steal" energy from other life sources in order to keep both of them healthy/alive. SWK thankfully cannot die and can replenish his energy on his own via food and rest, but the HP donation in turn drains his powers.

Basically by deciding to spare the Egg, Sun Wukong and Macaque have become functionally Mortal until MK is able to provide for himself.

As for the leftover shell; SWK presents it to the Jade Emperor as evidence that he "scrambled" whatever was inside. The celestials present can tell that whatever was in there, isnt anymore, so they accept that SWK did as he was told.

Except for Erlang Shen who's like; "SWK would never do what he's told! This is sus. Imma keep my eye on you if anything new enters the celestial realm."

SWK: "Fine by me, imma go back to being retired and having my main antagonists sealed away."

Once its confirmed that the Celestial Realm considers the Egg destroyed; SWK and Macaque agree to hide in plain sight among the mortal world for the time being. There's a *few* hiccups along the way ofc, but by the time MK is born, they're settled into the apartment above Pigsy's, and faking being a "Completely Normal (Demon) Couple With Baby", and are getting forcibly adopted by the reincarnations of the old JTTW gang.

Cue the rest of the story, and Shadowpeach forgetting where the Fake Relationship ends and where the "Whoops, you're still my soulmate!" begins.

And the three Realms collectively crapping themselves when MK picks up the staff.

And yes; Wukong would worry about the possibly of MK being born chestburter-style. Macaque would then yell at him and banish him to his cloud for the night.

I'm close to finishing the first chapter, so please continue sending asks for more details you'd like to know, and I'll answer without giving away too many spoilers.

Tldr: No rock in Macaque's gut, just baby. Leftover cosmic eggshell used to juke the god. MK is the result of a Covalent Bond. Guanyin is an amazing Fairy Godmother

[iguessitsjustme]

I’m writing this while walking to work so forgive me if it’s not entirely coherent. I think it might benefit some people to have a reminder that books and show/movie adaptations are different. Reading the book might mean you know the framework for the show/movie but it does not make you An Expert on the show/movie.

First and foremost, I’m not going to say don’t post spoilers, but I will so do not go onto someone else’s post and post spoilers. You would not like it if someone came into your house and spoiled things for you. Do not do that to others. It is not only incredibly rude. It is entirely selfish. Which brings me to my next point.

If reading the book enhances your experience, if it’s something you enjoy, I’m glad! I am so incredibly happy for you. It does not make you smarter or inherently more informed than the people that choose not to read for whatever reason.

You might know what happens and have more knowledge about the story as a whole but that does not mean that people that are posting predictions or speculations don’t know what they’re talking about. I know a lot of people that watch these shows have some sort of degree in writing or literature or visual media. Gonna use myself as an example here, I have a degree in writing. I am decent at analysis. I mostly post silly little shitposts or memes but all of my posts are operating from a place of being informed.

I am capable of predicting what’s gonna happen. I am aware of narrative structures. I’m aware of plot devices. I’m aware of the common tropes in the shows I watch. And that doesn’t matter! Because that is entirely Not The Point. I don’t care if I predict accurately. It’s not about the what happens. It’s always about how we get there.

Of all of the shows that are airing and I can pretty much tell you what the ending of each of them is going to be. Even without reading the novels. That does not make them any less enjoyable for me. It makes them even more enjoyable. Cause now I get to watch for the details. I get to watch and see how this show has decided to show the journey of the story. And sometimes how they completely rewrite expectations. Some of the things I have watched have been very, extremely good at subverting tropes and expectations. Things can veer off in directions you don’t expect even if you’ve read the novel. Simply because it’s a different story. It is imposssible to do a 1 to 1 adaptation. As much as we might want it. It is simply not possible.

I have read a few novels that the shows are based on. Every single show has made drastic changes to the source material. So while you might have knowledge of what’s to come in the novel. You might have the ability to spoil everyone for what’s coming, even you can’t be 100% sure until it happens. And condescendingly telling people it’s so obvious when you have future knowledge is incredibly unacceptable.

This has gotten very long and I am actually at work now and should probably actually do my job but I just need to reiterate. Reading the novels is fine! It’s fun! I am genuinely so happy people are reading and enjoying themselves and also enjoying the shows! That is wonderful! But do not ruin or attempt to ruin someone else’s enjoyment simply because you think you know more. Make posts about the differences on your own blog. Talk about spoilers with friends that have also read the novel. But do not go onto a stranger’s post and post spoilers because you might be ruining the media you love for that person without even realizing what you’re doing.

[loveandfictionforall]

Romantic Headcanons for Symmetra, Zarya, Widowmaker, and Pharah with a soft, emotional Male S/O, Please? Because Soft Emotional Bois need more love.

Hi there!

I have never written a male reader yet, so I hope you like it :)

Symmetra

Symmetra would wear the pants in your household. Everything in your home has its order and structure to which you bend. While she does not say it, she is thankful that you are so accepting towards her need of order and control.

Symmentra tries to be there for you when your emotions gets to you but sometimes she can't truly follow how you are feeling. But even then, she will be against your side, taking your hands in hers and tell you, she is there for you.

Symmentra is really thankful that you are a very understanding person and that you are not angry when she needs some alone time because she ist too overwhelmed. You even try to help her and remind her of some of her soothing routines.

Zarya

Zarya loves you dearly and is not afraid to voice it.

She loves how you are always at her side, giving her some protein snacks and water when she is training and weight lifting.

Sometimes she even jokingly uses you as her weight but more often than not it leads to ofther certain things.

Zarys loves also that you don't feel intimitated by her strength and sheer massive muscles. Nonetheless, she tries her best so show her love towards your body which is not as toned as hers - Which is no problem, since she loves your softness.

Widowmaker

Widowmaker admired your persistence, even while she was not very nice towards you. You however were kind and caring.

Even though she can not feel the cold, she appreciated your gesture as you handed her your jacket.

Since most of her personality is repressed and with that many of her emotions, it is nearly imposssible to come close to her.

Her demanour towards you is very mean and she often says that you are annoying and that she wants to kill you - yes, you cried many tears because of her treatment.

But after all this, you are still supportive because you know that she went through living hell to become who she know is and so you take your time, slowly cracking one wall after the other until she breaks and all the manipulation will reveal itself.

Pharah

Your first meeting with her would have been when she saved you from some robbers or something along these lines since Pharah has a stroing sense of justice.

She would make sure to walk you home, to ensure you are being safe and that no harm will fall upon you.

While you two walk, you are very thankful for her help. You two talk, you invite her towards you, making her a strong coffee since she wants to go back to patroling after that.

It takes a long time until she lets you in since her main focus is saving other people and her private life has no such focus for her.

but you could wiggle into her heart and with that you became her number one priority to protect.

[missamyrisa2]

Miss Amy, you're so cute! I'd just love to use some feathers and make up brushes along your thighs and ears, get you nice and hot till your princess part is near bursting from your cute purple panties. I'd tell you how cute you were as you moaned and giggled, how I need to hear more as I edged you and gave you soft, gentle kisses wherever I pleased in between feather strokes ❤️

I seriously can't with thissss~~~ okay okay~ it's the simplest thing but I can never not get wiggly squirmy when someone calls me cute I just cannnnnt~ and then you had to sayyy feathers and makeup brushes why my gossh why are makeup brushes so hot? Like they're soo pretty and sweet and helpful and also like, teasingly tauntingly girly & artistic. And then feathers ~~~

okay, I'm going to share something and keep it censored but I will post it separately just in case the post is flagged (update: it was flagged, sorry but look me up on Fetlife I think I posted that pic there a while back~). But it's the effect a single feather can have on me, that sound they make on skin, the way they flutter and look sooo heavenly eeee!! Just on sight alone my princess part quivers under their magic~

But shuuuussshh those loving words melt me so badly when I'm struggling. It's another pair of feathers twirling in my ears and brushes dancing on my lobes ~~

did you know my eyebrows are ticklishhh? I don't know why I said that but I can't help it when I'm talked to soo sweetly it's like some indirect interrogation where I have to confess and tell stories about my ticklishness ~ like one time someone meant to kiss my forehead and they kissed my eyebrow and I was like eeeeeek that tickles so they ran their thumbs on them and I fell apart into a blushing mess as they held me and it's soo ridiculous nnnh~

Andddd stupid sillllly pantiesss how does anyone wear them ~ I mean so adorable and cute and that's why but cradling your royal part with that material and cute color just sets up for teasing and I can't resist it ever and once you start this fire the material hugs more and more snug taunting my princess part as it gets soo worked up & hot and bothered, like a teasing loop that continues until the panties can strain no more and my most royal part escapes its silky prison~!!

Mmmh kissy edgingssss that's what you're doing you're edging me with kisses and that's just outrageoussss I'm edgying from kisses and purples and my dress and my belt and my panties and this is imposssible you're horrible horribly amazing and I love youuuuu pleeeheeasee mmmmh let me gigglecum~~~<3

[chameleon-on-lsd]

Tatort Saarbrücken (Das fleissige Liesschen) liveblogging

when I tell you that this show has me fucking screaming (starting this liveblogging after 30 mins of watching, so some recap following) his little 'adam' at the first meeting the fact that they hug IN the car, after getting to the scene. like did you drive all that way in silence? protective bby! dog trauma is real the medical examiner is insane and I don't know if I hate her or love her ADAM SITTING ONTO THE TABLE LIKE *THAT* after being told 'setz dich doch erstmal'. very normal. as if you *needed* to show off your long legs any more. also love his turtleneck look. makes his angular face stand out even more (lovingly) also I like his wavy hair and I forgot how much fun German shows are. the slang gets to me. (like "matschepampe" xD) I don't watch things in German because usually it's dubs and those are an abomination to the original language. but after watching allll electric callboy vlogs I remembered how much fun German can be they had a treehouse??? aaaaaah (well it could be a Jägerstand but come on. chilling in a tree, 2 feet apart cause we're not gay) lmao a TRUCKLOAD of files. cause that's what the police needs, more files is that his GF?? "der traurige" lmao, get roasted 'was soll losgewesen sein' sir young!leo has the biggest sadded eyes my god adam, you have eyebags for daaayss. sleep my poor baby (idk how I feel about the canonical gay character being the accused murderer. I like them though) sorry but leo's goofy little smile at adam turning up late night AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH and the glances at eachother working "dein kollege, der hat schiss in der buchse" "willste auch n tipp? halt einfach mal deine fresse' do NOT come for his fucking boy! loyal dog behaviour from the dog phobist I like that he spelled out 'usw' in his speech as U S W what kind of fucking squishy cake are you eating adam?? what is the old lady serving you oh is it apfelstrudel? I wanna cup adam's stupid head. what is your jaw line sir challenge for adam: stop leaving your food uneaten!!! level: imposssible something something 'aufm weg zu dir' + 'bin gleich bei dir' sakldaldkölaskdölaskd leo fully pulling a gun on the employee standing inHIS WAY AND PARKOURING!!!!! I LOVE HIM HOLY FUCKKKKK adam: DISREPECT MY SURROUNDINGS (car version) leo fully shaking at handling the gun. baby boy <3 YOU SHOT HIS DAD? babies :( :( :( lol adam. that was the LAMEST takedown with the most urgent yelling after something something *slouching on a car to make up for height difference.* *rubbing shoulders and looking at the hand* lmaoooo. the skull middle finger head tattoo. love it 'das ist n echtes schnatterentchen' and the "ihre *holding middle finger up and doing chefs kiss noise* ausstrahlung" the fucking bad cop, good cop 'ich hatte keinen beef mehr mit dem' xD i love the random english fucking hell leo taking the jacket off "ich bin eher... so ein weicher" smug leo is freaking adorable "ich ruf meinen kumpel reiner an. den hab ich auf speed dial" YOU JUST TOSSED A DOG OF A BRIDGE???? INSANE laughs a little every time they say 'haftbefehl' (because of the german rapper) HE'S EATING A DRY CUP NOODLE. ADAM MY LOVE. WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS. THAT IS NOT AN ADEQUATE SNACK OR MEAL also how hot do you have to be leaning on the car like *that* aw poor Konrad 'rutsch ma rüber' xD god adam ily 'sie stinken ja wie n iltis' lmao I love how everyone is accusing adam of not having a home. first leo, now the grandpa dude god leo is pretty okay so leo visits adam's dad and pretends to be adam's brother to do it? adam. be normal and stop pinching your dad's cheek. aw the very heartfelt 'FUCK.YOU.' old woman chekov's gun, SHE SAVED THE DOG AND IT JUST DIED?????????? god they need to make out. leo stop looking at him like that fucking badass lida!!! you go girl 'ich hab ihn geheiratet weil er mutig war, wo ich feige war' something something, leo and adam whew this is actually making me tear up 'der hass war so stark er hat mich ausgefüllt' something something, leo's hate for adam's dad dundunduuuuun (adam's dad woke up)

[whoree321]

Hey, I believe your requests are open, so, could you please write smth were reader and Tech are friends with benefits?

Also, I’m in the same dilemma as you, cause everyone already forgot tbb and I’m still obsessed??? Like, were is everybody excitement about the show, it was gone so fast…

Anyway, thank ya <3

hello friend! this is a delicious request and i am more than happy to oblige! i’m not sure if you wanted like pure angst or like sexy successful fwb but above all else i am a dirty dirty slut for happy endings so i went light angst, heavy fluff, mild smut to get a little of everything lmaooooo. this also got a little out of control and i’m not sorry.

and literally i am suffering so much in this ever increasing drought of bad batch excitement. like i feel like the person at a party when everyone else is tired and wants to leave who’s still just way too hyped and is like “NO WAIT GUYS LETS HAVE MORE SHOTS AND PLAY TRUTH OR DARE COME ON ITLL BE FUN”. i am in absolute agony. but anyways!

a mutually beneficial arrangement (tech x gn!reader)

it was purely sex. just two friends helping each other relieve some stress occasionally. just two friends who happened to have sex with each other. until it wasn’t.

warnings: fwb, mild smut, reader is gender/genital neutral but they are penetrated by tech (amab)

word count: no idea but it’s pretty long

***

In hindsight, it really shouldn’t have shocked you that this was how things played out.

It’s not like you’d ever been friends with benefits with someone before. It’s not like you didn’t know how easily you could develop feelings for people. It’s not like you didn’t know you were maybe just a little too interested in Tech non-platonically before any of this even started.

No, you knew all of those things going into it. You made the conscious decision to be the biggest dumbass in the galaxy.

When Tech had first suggested a friends with benefits situation, it seemed like a much better idea than it actually was. You had been assigned to Clone Force 99 for a few weeks at that point and had already developed fast friendships with all of them (Crosshair even sometimes acknowledged your presence with neutrality and that definitely felt like at least an acquaintanceship). You were closest with Tech, and one tipsy night at 79’s found the two of you making out in a hallway near the bathroom. You could still remember the way his mouth tasted like whiskey as he pressed you up against the wall

He paused his assault on your lips to look at you, breath fanning lightly across your face. You whined at the loss of contact, not noticing in your haze the intensity in his eyes as he studied you, as though if he took in enough of you he would have the answer to an imposssible question. He migrated lower, planting kisses and sucking lightly on your neck until he made his way to your ear.

“Have you ever heard of people being platonic sexual partners?”, he asked low in your ear. You shuddered at the feeling of his breath and the deeper tone to his voice before you answered.

“You mean like friends with benefits?”

“Yes, that is exactly what I mean,” Tech clarified as he moved to once again nibble on the sweet spots of your neck. Had you had a little more sense, you would have warned him not to leave any noticeable marks, lest you suffer the teasing of the rest of the boys.

“I’ve heard of it, I’ve never done it before though. Why?”

“Well, given our current circumstance,” his response was punctuated by his ministrations on your pressure points, “it may be mutually beneficial for us to enter into that type of arrangement.”

You stopped him for a moment, and lifted his face so that you could make eye contact. Tech stood up a little straighter, hands running up and down your sides lightly as he gazed down at you.

“You think that we should be friends with benefits?”

Tech nodded, one hand moving to brush a strand of hair out of your face.

“I believe it would be an advantageous relationship. We could have relations while still maintaining our successful platonicity, thus eliminating the need to alter the dynamic of the squad with the complications of some trivial romance. It would also be physically beneficial. Sexual intercourse has been shown to successfully alleviate stress, as well as…”

He kept going, explaining the health benefits of sex, but it was hard to pay attention to his rambling while you tried to clear your head of the alcohol and the intoxication of his touch and figure out where you stood on his proposition. In that moment, everything he said made total sense. Granted, that part about “trivial romance” stung a little, but you could still fuck him without ruining the squad or your friendship with him, and Maker did you want to fuck him…

Uncharacteristically cutting off his rant, you responded. “I accept your offer. I would love to be friends with benefits with you.”

Tech grinned, a lust forming in his eyes at the new promise of the benefits the night was leading to.

“Splendid”

From that (mind-blowing) night, sex became a very regular thing. A mission went poorly? Frustrated sex. A mission went well? Celebratory sex. The Batch got leave time? Vacation sex. The Batch hadn’t gotten leave time in too long? Cabin fever sex. It really had started out pretty platonically, but after the first few times you could feel yourself falling head over heels for him. You knew you should stop it, Tech would never hold it against you or be upset if you changed your mind. You told yourself again and again that you would just break it off with him, but then his hands and his lips and his body would be on you, and the hungry way he looked at you would knock the air, and any ideas of making him stop, out of you.

In your defense, it wasn’t like you were the one who had suggested it. Tech had to know the likelihood that your “platonic sexual relationship” would only stay platonic for so long. Actually, you were surprised he hadn’t done a little more analysis of the situation. If he had taken into account all of the factors (the rate of failure in friends with benefits situations, each of your levels of emotionality and past relationships, the effects of living and working in close quarters, etc), you can’t imagine he would have thought it was a smart idea. If Tech had crunched the numbers like he normally would, it wouldn’t have produced favorable results. So for him to want to do it anyway, or to not even analyze it beforehand, must mean he had some sort of feelings for you, right?

This was one of the various problem in your current situation. Tech would always do things that were just on the line between “friends” and “more than friends”. He would go out of his way to do little things for you, he would share info and jokes and side comments with you that he never tried to share with brothers, he would blush when you complimented any of his work, he would stand just a little too close to you or let his touch linger just a little too long. He would suggest a sexual relationship that was highly statistically improbable to be successful.

And while Tech offered nothing but mixed signals, you took it a step further and let those mixed signals fester in your brain until you had warped them into one very clear signal: he liked you as more than a friend. You were so sure of it too. Why would he do all of those things if he didn’t like you like that? It’s not even like he treated you like some one night stand when he fucked you. He cared about making you feel good (usually it seemed like he cared more about you getting off than him), he would clean you up after and you always stayed the night together, cuddled and whispering late into the night about nothing and everything.

There was nothing friendly about your intimate nights together, come to think of it. Friends that just fucked would never treat each other so tenderly or lovingly. It’s not that completely unbelievable to think you would accidentally blurt out that you love him. Tech should have expected that.

But it was out there, unfortunately. You had committed the cardinal sin of being friends with benefits and you couldn’t take it back.

Tech’s brutal pace never faltered as he pumped in and out of you, your moans growing louder and louder as you began to approach your peak. He gazed down at you, locking eyes, and the emotion you could feel behind them was overwhelming. You could tell that he was close, with all the experience you had with him you knew his body better than your own, and he brought his hand up to softly caress your cheek.

“You’re so beautiful. I can’t believe I get to see you like this,” he huffed out, brow furrowing as the rhythmic slamming of his hips against you brought him closer and closer to the edge.

At his words, you reached your climax, and as you came undone words of ecstasy slipped from your lips between wails of pleasure.

“Kriff Tech… ah…. Tech..fuck…I love you”

You didn’t even realize it at first, too caught up in the moment, but Tech did. His eyes grew impossibly wide, and he was finishing inside you before either of you could fully process what you had just said.

As you both came down from your high, the gravity of your admission settled between you. Tech pulled out and flopped down next to you wordlessly, and for a few minutes you both just stared at the ceiling in torturous silence. And then he got up and walked to the refresher, not even looking at you once, and you felt like that was all the confirmation you needed that you woefully misinterpreted your entire relationship with him.

You lept out of his bunk, threw your clothes on, and left as silently as possible, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill down your cheeks. At least you could spare yourself the embarrassment of your words in that moment, and both of you could just forget it and move on.

Of course, you knew that pretending it didn’t happen would be impossible. You told him you loved him, and he said nothing. For several minutes. And then hid in the fresher. That was a clear rejection, and while it devastated you, you were still hoping that the two of you could just move on and be friends like you were before the benefits were added.

Apparently to Tech, you had offended him beyond repair. He never spoke to you (unless it was specifically mission oriented), he rarely looked at you or acknowledged your presence, and he positioned himself as far from you as possible at every opportunity. It had been two weeks since your slip up, and he hadn’t even made eye contact with you once.

It was agony. You missed him. You didn’t even really know what it was like to be on this squad without keeping him company while he made repairs or asking him questions about the next place you were going just to hear him talk. You missed making snide jokes with him. You missed admiring the way his goggles magnified his gorgeous caramel eyes.

The other boys noticed the shift very quickly. They had suspected the two of you had some sort of arrangement, and they knew how close you were, so to see it change so abruptly was concerning. Hunter had tried talking to you about it a few times, but you just reassured him that everything was fine and it was nothing he needed to worry about. Wrecker and Crosshair tried to pick up the slack, and started filling in the holes in your routine that Tech used to occupy. Crosshair would sit next to you in the mornings and during briefings, sometimes trying to make little comments in your ear like Tech would. On missions, Wrecker would always aim to pair up with you, and afterwards would try to do something fun like find a sweet treat or rent a good movie.

You appreciated so much what they did for you. But no matter how hard they tried, nothing could take your mind off the wall of ice Tech had built between you. You loved the other boys, but trying to share happy moments with them when all you could think about was how much better it would be with him was becoming unbearable. You didn’t want to leave them, but you couldn’t stay with Tech being so close to you and yet lightyears away.

As you filled out your transfer paperwork, you chuckled wryly to yourself. Even without the “trivial romance”, the squad was still disrupted. In a bittersweet way, it felt good for Tech to be wrong.

***

Tech had really done his best to analyze the evidence and make an informed decision based on his findings. He had been crunching his numbers with you since the day you joined the Batch, after all. Back then, it was the probability of your attraction to each of them. Tech was fascinated with you, and right off the bat he wanted to know his odds- just out of curiosity of course (for the record, they were pretty highly in his favor).

He knew there were pros and cons to the possibility of a relationship with you. First of all, it was technically against regulation for any clone to be involved in a romantic relationship. Second of all, it was likely that such a relationship would have the potential to cause countless rifts and points of weakness among his squad (regardless of the relationship’s success). Then there was also the very possible chance that the relationship wouldn’t work out anyway, leaving both of you hurt and irreparably damaging your friendship. As much as Tech may have wanted you, the costs unfortunately outweighed the benefits.

But then he kissed you at 79’s. And you kissed him back. And there he was, kissing you at 79’s, memorizing the sweetness of your lips on his. And he knew he should stop. He had studied the data and it’s conclusions were not very good, and if he had any sense at all he would stop. But he pulled away and looked at you, took in the flush on your cheeks and the dazed look accompanying your dilated pupils and the swell of your bruised lips. And he couldn’t bring himself to part ways with you. So he offered the closest thing to a relationship he could think of: friends with benefits.

A friends with benefits arrangement would be a more than adequate solution, Tech had decided. He could be physical with you in the proper moments, and then outside of those moments everything would be just as it was before. The squad’s dynamic and mission proficiency would remain consistent, and technically no regulations were being broken since they only specified romantic relationships. Of course, it wasn’t truly what he wanted, but in this arrangement he would get to enjoy you so much more than he currently was.

Unfortunately, he had made a critical oversight. In the dim haze of the club hallway, Tech had only considered how casual sex would compare to a full blown relationship. He didn’t think to analyze it singularly. And he certainly didn’t calculate the logistics of a friends with benefits agreement when one of the friends in question already had romantic feelings for the other friend.

But Tech knew himself. He knew he could have feelings for you and not let them get in the way. He could accept what he was able to have and make peace with what he couldn’t. Casual sex seemed like a good idea when his emotions were the only ones he took into account.

He wasn’t expecting you to fall in love with him.

When you had said it, Tech thought his heart was going to stop right then and there. In the heat of the moment, he couldn’t have imagined more precious words falling from your lips, and instantly it had him spiraling over the edge into ecstasy. But then the moment ended, and you didn’t say anything. He wanted to end the silence, to find out if you really meant it, but his brain was moving too fast to figure out what to say because he really hadn’t considered this would happen. It was naive of him, he supposed, but he really had thought the two of you could have done it without the emotional complications. Part of him, of course, was thrilled, but the other part of him, the logical part, was thrown into absolute chaos at the implications of your statement and what it would mean and all the statistics and probabilities he had calculated and

And you still hadn’t said anything. Tech could see you out of the corner of his eye, face red and chest heaving with emotion. You looked embarassed, regretful, and the realization that maybe you didn’t mean it hit him like a brick to the face. Maybe it was just something that slipped out, something your orgasm-addled mind had conjured up against your will and now you didn’t know how to take it back, didn’t know the right way to tell him you don’t actually love him.

It was too much for him to process at once, and he ran to the refresher in the hopes that he could clear his head and actually think coherently about the situation for a moment. Tech couldn’t have been in there long, maybe a few minutes, just long enough to splash some water on his face, look himself in the eye, and come to the conclusion that he needed to just have a conversation with you instead of playing with hypothetical numbers in his head. But then he came back out and you were gone, and that seemed like all the answer he needed. You didn’t mean it.

That was good, right? You didn’t mean it, and the two of you could keep going the way you had been.

But the ache in Tech’s heart said otherwise. You didn’t love him. He loved you, he knew he did, and he could be ok with pretending he didn’t when he didn’t know how you felt. But he knew now. And it hurt.

It hurt everytime he talked to you, so he stopped talking to you. It hurt everytime he was near you, so he stopped being near you. It hurt everytime he looked at you, so he stopped looking. The squad’s performance hadn’t been altered, so Tech concluded that the awkwardness could be tolerated until your presence didn’t feel so much like a blaster shot to his chest.

But just like pretty much every other choice Tech had made in regards to you, that plan only worked until it backfired horrifically.

***

The Batch were back on Kamino in between missions. Tech had been vaguely aware of Hunter being called in to a meeting of some sort, but he offered his full attention as Hunter stormed back into their room and huffed his way to Tech’s workbench.

“I don’t know what you did, but you need to fix things with Y/N. Now”

At the mention of your name, Tech pretended to return to his work, fiddling with a tool and avoiding eye contact.

“I do not know what you are referring-“

“Like hell you don’t Tech! The two of you haven’t even looked at each other in weeks and now they’ve put in a request to be transferred to another unit, so don’t tell me there’s nothing going on between you.”

Tech shot up, tools abandoned and stool knocked over with the force of his standing.

“They requested a transfer?”

“Yeah, they did. Now, I don’t know what happened, but I know your little silent treatment has been hurting them a lot. I don’t want to see them go, and you don’t either. So go talk to them and fix it, or I’ll have you transferred instead,” Hunter ordered, finger pointed at Tech’s chest. The threat was empty, of course, but it had fallen on deaf ears regardless.

Tech all but sprinted out into the hall, desperate to change your mind before you left them for good. As much as it pained him to be near you, the thought of being without you was somehow so much worse. He reached your quarters and unceremoniously burst in, barely giving the doors enough time to slide open before he was moving past them.

You jumped at his sudden entrance, hand coming up to clutch your chest.

“Maker, Tech you scared me!”

“Please don’t leave”

You stared at him, taking in his appearance for the first time. His chest was heaving, like he’d just run a marathon, and his eyes were frantic and impossibly wide behind his goggles. You didn’t think you’d ever seen him so disheveled, even when you’d slept with him.

You wanted to look away, but you were conscious of the fact that this was the first time you had made eye contact in Maker knows how long and you couldn’t bring yourself to do it.

“Tech, I-I can’t stay with the way things are. I’m sorry about what I said, I know it was just supposed to be a friend thing and I shouldn’t have fallen in love with you. I really tried not to, but I did and I ruined everything and you can’t even look at me anymore so how can I-“

Tech took step closer, cutting off your rambling as his brow furrowed.

“You fell in love with me?”

He spoke so quietly, it was barely above a whisper. You nodded, confused at his surprised considering the whole issue was that you told him you loved him and he didn’t feel the same. That was the issue, right?

You could practically see the smoke coming out of his ears as he tried to process what was happening.

“I thought… I thought you didn’t mean it”

Now it was your turn to be confused.

“Why would you think that?”

“Y-you didn’t say anything. You confessed your affections for me while in a compromised state and didn’t say anything else afterwards. Your body language indicated regret and-and you left. I concluded that you said it by accident, and did not actually mean it,” he explained as calmly as he could in his rattled state.

“I left because I told you I loved you and you locked yourself in the fresher! And then you wouldn’t talk to me so I figured you were mad at me because I have feelings for you and you don’t feel the same way!”

Tech’s face broke out in a huge grin, and just as you were about to ask him why he was so happy all of a sudden, he rushed forward and passionately slotted his lips against yours. You gasped into him before immediately reciprocating the kiss, and you tangled your hands in his hair as his fingers desperately clutched your hips. Of all the kisses you had shared with him, none had felt the way this one did. There was an emotion pouring into it, one that had always been on the verge of spilling over but never had before. Eventually you broke apart, and you cursed your lungs for needing air.

He leaned his forehead against yours as you both caught your breath, and broke the silence after a few moments.

“I love you, too. I have for a significant amount of time. When you left that night, I incorrectly assumed you did not share my affections. I avoided you after because I… I was hurt. I apologize for misinterpreting your actions, and for allowing you to think that I was upset with you. I assure you, that could not be further from reality.”

You laughed giddily, bumping his nose with yours as you relished in his confession.

“If you loved me, why did you just want to be friends with benefits?”

Tech blushed and look down, a sheepish look overtaking his features.

“Well, I performed a cost-benefit analysis on engaging in a romantic relationship, and the potential complications were too great. A platonic sexual partnership offered a less risky alternative. Although, I must admit that I failed to properly calculate the possible outcomes of such an agreement between two individuals in our specific situation,” he elaborated.

“We might be the two dumbest people in the galaxy,” you joked with a giggle.

“Technically, it is statistically impossible for that to be true, given-“

You cut him off with another deep kiss, your hands coming to rest on his arms as they kept you in his iron-clad grip. He had never loosened his hold, as though he thought if he let you go, you would disappear.

Abruptly, the kiss ended as Tech pulled back slightly to look at you.

“Does this mean you are no longer transferring out of our squad?”

You grinned.

“That depends. Does this mean we can have a real relationship, not just sex?”

Tech brought one hand to rest on his jaw as he looked upwards and pretended to be deep in thought.

“Well, according to my calculations, we have already experienced nearly all of the possible complications of pursuing a romantic relationship, so I have no objection to enjoying some of the benefits,” he concluded with a playful smile.

You leaned up to kiss him again, pausing just before your lips made contact with his to make a sly comment.

“And we know how good we are at some of those benefits already”

[cookie-run-kingdom-story]

The Dragon Awakens!

(Previously, in Cookie Run: OvenBreak) Purple Yam Cookie and Milk Cookie set off to find Dark Choco Cookie!

The Two Cookies joined forces to overcome the perils they encountered.

Dino-Sour Cookie decided to tag along on their quest into the Dragon’s Valley… Where will their path lead them?)

Deep within the Dragon’s Valley was a village of fierce warriors: the Mala Tribe.

Strengthened by generations of exposure to the blazing heat, invigorated by the red-hot flames, the Mala Tribe became the most spirited and spiciest of warriors.

Mala Sauce Cookie: So there ya have it, HRAGHAHA! The history of the Mala Tribe. Milk Cookie: What an amazing tale! Purple Yam Cookie: We never ASKED for a history lesson... Mala Sauce Cookie: But there’s some strange things going on in the valleys nowadays... Mala Sauce Cookie: The ground is gettin colder and the tribe is gettin bland! Dino-Sour Cookie: Er… really? It’s still really hot here... Mala Sauce Cookie: There’s only one way to solve this: We gotta find the fire-breathin dragon! Mala Sauce Cookie: It ain’t gonna be easy... Mala Sauce Cookie: But I’m gonna find that dragon, no matter what! Milk Cookie: There must be a way to help the Mala Tribe... Milk Cookie: We will assist! Purple Yam Cookie: What do you mean WE!? Milk Cookie: There are Cookies in need. We must help them! Purple Yam Cookie: Why should I help THEM!? Purple Yam Cookie: I’m going to go find DARK CHOCO COOKIE! Milk Cookie: Now, wait a second! The tribe helped us when the valley’s landscape shifted before our eyes! Milk Cookie: We need to repay our debt to the Mala Tribe! Purple Yam Cookie: HMPH! Who cares! Milk Cookie: Come now, Purple Yam Cookie! How could you say that!? Mala Sauce Cookie: ENOUGH!

Mala Sauce Cookie: It’s too dangerous here! I’ll hand this by myself so get outta here! Purple Yam Cookie: ……! Purple Yam Cookie: You’re quite strong... Purple Yam Cookie: FINE! I’ll go with you. Milk Cookie: I wholeheartedly agree, Purple Yam Cookie. Dino-Sour Cookie: Can’t talk about dragons without me in the picture! I’m with you, too! Milk Cookie: Mala Sauce Cookie, where should we start in our search for the dragon? Mala Sauce Cookie: The Mala Tribe has an ancient legend about the dragon. Mala Sauce Cookie: Just leave it to me!

Milk Cookie: Whew! We finally made it. Dino-Sour Cookie: Dudes… is this THE Dragon’s Nest!? Purple Yam Cookie: How many times did we get LOST… You SAID you were an EXPERT in navigating the Dragon’s Valley! Dino-Sour Cookie: Psh… Milk Cookie: But thanks to Mala Sauce Cookie, at least we’ve arrived, safe and sound. Dino-Sour Cookie: That’s right. If it weren’t for Mala Sauce Cookie, you’d be at the bottom of the cliff by now. Purple Yam Cookie: HMPF... Mala Sauce Cookie: Our journey here was an awesome show of teamwork! Mala Sauce Cookie: It’s all part of the adventure! Lotsa stories to tell in the future!

Mala Sauce Cookie: Now let’s head on into the Dragon’s Nest! Dino-Sour Cookie: This is so RAD! I can’t wait to meet a real DRAGON!

Milk Cookie: There’s something over there! Dino-Sour Cookie: The dragon…! Gotta be the dragon!

Pitaya Dragon Cookie: *Rumble* Grrrr... Pitaya Dragon Cookie: That ssscent… Are you Cookiesss? Pitaya Dragon Cookie: How interesssting! I have not met a Cookie ever sssince the Cookie Kingdom fell. Milk Cookie: Are you the Red Dragon from the legends!? Pitaya Dragon Cookie: HAHAHA! Legendsss, you say? Why yesss… Basssk in my glory! Dino-Sour Cookie: Huh? But you’re just a Cookie... Mala Sauce Cookie: Red Dragon! I’m here on behalf of our tribe! Mala Sauce Cookie: The legends say your magic is limitless. Please! Grant me a wish! Pitaya Dragon Cookie: Defeat me in sssingle combat…! Pitaya Dragon Cookie: A while ago, a Cookie touched by the Darkness jussst left... Pitaya Dragon Cookie: How long can you lassst, I wonder... Mala Sauce Cookie: Huh!? This is gonna be tough…! Mala Sauce Cookie: But… the tribe is depending on me! I gotta find a way! Milk Cookie: Stand fast, Mala Sauce Cookie! We are by your side. Purple Yam Cookie: I survived through HELLFIRE! A dragon’s flames are NOTHING! Dino-Sour Cookie: Best. Day. EVER! I get to fight a dragon! Mala Sauce Cookie: HRAGHAHA! Thanks! Now, let’s do this. Mala Sauce Cookie: Fooooor theeeeee MALA TRIBE!

Mala Sauce Cookie: Ooof… Quite a punch, ya got there! Pitaya Dragon Cookie: I may look like a Cookie, but I am ssstill a DRAGON! Purple Yam Cookie: Urgh... Pitaya Dragon Cookie: I’ve not had this fun in agesss! Jussst look at how AFRAID you are... Pitaya Dragon Cookie: Let’sss take it up a notch… Have a tassste of this! Dino-Sour Cookie: Watch out! Dragonfire incoming! Milk Cookie: Take cover behind my shield! Pitaya Dragon Cookie: Imposssible! Purple Yam Cookie: NOW’S our chance! We NEED to STRIKE! Milk Cookie: Mala Sauce Cookie, NOW! Mala Sauce Cookie: WITH ALL MY MIGHT! Mala Sauce Cookie: HRAGHHH!

Pitaya Dragon Cookie: *Maniacal laughter* Pitaya Dragon Cookie: I’ve ssseen enough. Put down your weaponsss. Pitaya Dragon Cookie: What a thrilling duel. Cookiesss sure know how to have fun. Mala Sauce Cookie: Does that mean you’ll hear my request!? Pitaya Dragon Cookie: Oh, very well… What requessst do you bring? Mala Sauce Cookie: Our tribe’s lands in the Dragon’s Valley are cooling down by the second... Mala Sauce Cookie: If this keeps up, the entire Mala Tribe will become bland and dull! Mala Sauce Cookie: Please… ya gotta help. We need HEAT! Pitaya Dragon Cookie: Is that all? How… quaint. Pitaya Dragon Cookie: Never have I heard sssuch a humble requessst. Pitaya Dragon Cookie: Indeed, a sssimple enough tasssk. Pitaya Dragon Cookie: I grant you one of my ssscales. It ssshould be enough to warm up a sssimple village. Mala Sauce Cookie: A dragon’s scale… Ain’t ever seen anything like this! Mala Sauce Cookie: Thanks! Pitaya Dragon Cookie: But take heed to this warning: the Dragon’sss Valley will continue to collapse into dessspair... Pitaya Dragon Cookie: This is jussst the beginning. The unnatural collapssse even forced me to take the appearance of a Cookie. Pitaya Dragon Cookie: Perhaps the other dragonsss know a more permanent sssolution. Mala Sauce Cookie: Other… DRAGONS!? Purple Yam Cookie: WUDDYA mean by that!? Milk Cookie: There are more terrifying dragons roaming the world…? Dino-Sour Cookie: ...We’re talkin about REAL dragons this time, right!?

Mala Sauce Cookie: This scale may not be enough to save the village... Mala Sauce Cookie: I can’t go back with just half of an answer! Purple Yam Cookie: You’re NOT thinking about finding these DRAGONS, are you!? Purple Yam Cookie: NOPE! I’m out. Milk Cookie: But we’ve already been through so much together in this quest! We must see this to the end. Milk Cookie: We need to help Mala Sauce Cookie! Purple Yam Cookie: I know EXACTLY which direction I’m going to go. Purple Yam Cookie: I’ve got a HUNCH! Milk Cookie: Huh…? A hunch? Purple Yam Cookie: I know where Dark Choco Cookie is! YOU of all Cookies should KNOW! Milk Cookie: What!? Please explain! Dino-Sour Cookie: *RUMBLE* Wa… wait! The ground is shaking…! Milk Cookie: No… NO! Purple Yam Cookie: It’s an EARTHQUAKE! The ground is SPLITTING!? Mala Sauce Cookie: Milk Cookie! Dino-Sour Cookie! Mala Sauce Cookie: NNNNOOOOOO!

[agreementtale]

A drawing of a Corny and his tiny crochet hat, for the @vex-bittys’s fic giveaway.

So on our visit to the bitty clothing store, I noticed he got a bit down when he couldn't fit the pink slippers we usually find in display, but the moment he caught me looking he put on his usual smile and tried to distract me with puns, the little jokester.

I thought of buying him a human sized one, so he could use as a den, but he is very picky of where to sleep (unlike what I've heard about Cornies). He always coils on my shoulder while I try to fix him a place to sleep, and helps me with tips like "too small" or "too big" or "too windy" or "too hot", and even once he said there were "too many pebbles" but as I took one away suddenly there were "not enough pebbles", when I didn’t understand, he said something about the iridescent/transparent ratio between pebbles and how that interacted with the area of the bed and that was a very important thing to lamias and basic knowledge to every adopter… also that as a Corny, he was "clearly too lazy" and it was “imposssible to do it myself”

He always end up sleeping curled on my shoulder or neck before I can do proper arrangements, he says he gets tired just by seeing me working, but at least he is never upset that I can’t get it right, plus I have some fun trying to build things for him, so its ok, I guess.

When he wakes up (He ends up sleeping in my neck/pillow most of the nights) he always says that is the effort I put in it that counts and follows it by a pun related to what I was working with, pebbles, feathers, pillows, blankets, etc.

Anyway, I thought to myself, what would better fit a snake than a little hat?

I managed find samples on the internet and to crochet one myself while he slept, adding “Pun-fu Master” to the design. When I showed it to him next morning, I swear it looked like he had teeny tiny stars in his eyes, and he hasn’t taken it off in a week!

I don’t have much experience with lamias, and he basically taught me all I know about Cornies,  but he seems happy, what makes me happy :-)

What do you think, Vex?

[fairycosmos]

grief makes me think such bitter thoughts. i think she (mine, not yours of course) had it so easy. got in bed, injected herself, peacefully went without even knowing. now im here debating what will leave the least gruesome corpse bc i dont want to traumatize nobody. now im feeling trapped bc another death im going to throw on my loved ones?it seems so bc life is imposssible. but how easy she fucking had it. i dont even want to see her again after im gone. i hate her for trapping me in this hell

i know what you mean. i'm the same. at least, i'm at a total loss as to how she just went to sleep and never woke up. and now i'm in this hell version of reality without her, now i'm going to have to deal with a whole lifetime without her. bc of one messed up choice she made. it doesn't even feel like something that should be possible. i feel cheated and indignant like a little kid. honestly, grief makes you think and feel all sorts of things. you don't have to justify or explain any of them to anyone. the process of managing it is not a linear, fast or simple one. these emotions come and go in new ways, in cycles, in memories, in avalanches. and the only thing we can do is sit with them. it's fucking awful. personally, i am just trying to accept being completely and utterly and irreparably ruined. i'm trying to understand that there is no way out, and that i have a right to be fucking angry. you have a right to be angry. every time i talk out loud to my sister i end lecturing her like a pissed off teacher, or just apologising over and over. it doesn't help, but i've got nothing left to lose by trying these things - screaming at her, drawing her, breaking completely. wrote her a letter for the first time today too. none of this means i'm coming to terms, in fact every day i feel worse in a different manner. don't know if its the same for you.

it's hard with drugs because you cant help going over it all in your head. it's not fully an illness, not fully an accident. you can't help just wanting to shake the person and make them truly listen to you. you cant help feeling completely incredulous. i also see it the same way, as if i'm trapped. i am trapped. i kept saying i wasn't going to kill myself after she died because like you, i didn't want to throw another death at my family. i still don't. they would buckle under the weight of this pain x 2, and i wouldn't blame them. i understand that, so i'm trying to stick around because now that i've experienced this i cant imagine causing it. i don't want to stay, but i have to for the moment. no long term commitments. just knowing i have to deal with tomorrow. and that's all it takes, the awareness of having no option but to wake up in the short term, to minimize the potential grief of your death. you discard the option because it isn't one, no matter how desperate you are. if that makes you even angrier, that's understandable. i hope you can keep trying, too. just in general. try to go on. try not to think about the far future, what you're going to do, how you're going to cope. truth is you probably won't know until you're in the situation. i know this is the last thing you want to hear and i also feel entirely misunderstood when people say it to me, but please don't act drastically. if you feel like you're at risk of harming yourself, please let your family know, or a professional/hotline. for your sake, and the sake of your loved ones. talking about it is like cleansing a wound. awful, necessary, you know. while people may not fully understand, they do to an extent and it can help a little to accept that you're not alone in your grief. even just to say it all out loud, and to break down and be witnessed in your break down, can temporarily alleviate the weight. i know we're going to carry this forever, and it's never really going to get better. but people do keep telling me the things that trigger that intense feeling of total devastation/rage lessen with time. people keep telling me you learn to keep the person around, that you learn to continue on your relationship with them despite their death. even if it'll never be the same ever again. idk how true any of it is, i just know it's worth it for you to get through today, just to see for yourself. it's normal to be angry, dude. they left us here in the most impossible, unbearable, imaginable situation without any form of escape. no one would blame you for being bitter for the rest of your life, and it's okay if you are. it'll grow and change as you grow and change, even if in some form it always remains. it's also okay if the feeling eventually dissolves into something else. ultimately there's no wrong way to do this. every moment that you continue forward is, in and of itself, more than good enough . sending so much love your way. i'm so sorry for your loss 😔 💕

https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines

[torimetaxas]

icariahq task: 40 questions

Describe your character in a few words.  Flexible, chill, affable, resigned, fun-loving 

What do you know about your character that they don’t know yet? Lilith Thompson has siblings with their own demigod children, and she’s met some of those children. Legitimately, she has no idea that Millie and Mike are her first cousins and that there are more cousins lurking out there. Oh, and that she’s not as stupid as she thinks she is. She’s not like a secret genius or anything, but she always thought that she was an idiot.

What are your character’s major flaws? She’s passive and can be a little careless. Her time-blindness is unmatched. Her house is a mess.

What would your character give their life for? Probably some stupid mistake to protect someone she considers family.

What is your character’s greatest asset? Adaptability. She’s great in a crisis. Need to suddenly bury a body? Call Tori.

What would completely break your character? Losing someone she loves, coming to terms with her feelings about her birth mother and how upset she is that she was adopted out and apparently never mentioned again.

How does the image your character tries to project differ from the image they actually project? There’s a lot more going on her head than she usually gives off.

What is your character afraid of? Having to confront her feelings of abandonment. Meeting Lilith. Dying alone. Falling into a volcano.

Where would your character fall on a politeness/rudeness scale? Uhhh, she’s a nice enough person, but she swears a lot and can be a little forward. Closer to rude?

If your character could choose a different identity, who would they pick? She hasn’t watched the new series or anything, but Carmen Sandiego is the shit.

In what or whom is your character’s greatest faith in? A good time.

What was the best thing in your character’s life? Probably ferrets

What was the worst thing in your character’s life? Finding out Mira exists and trying to figure out what the fuck Lilith was thinking.

What is a favorite flavor or smell of your character? Tori has a total sweet tooth and a fondness for super sugary things like pixy stix. She likes actual good food, but sugar is comforting.

What seemingly insignificant memories stuck with your character?  Trying to start a stamp collection and getting five stamps in before getting frustrated about duplicates.

What is your character’s secret wish? To have some more predictability in life. Just the right amount of predictability. Seems imposssible.

What is your character’s greatest achievement?  Shit. Maybe when she was in high school and her field hockey team got a big win?

What is your character’s deepest regret? Uhhh she doesn’t really do regrets very often. Probably agreeing to go on a date with Eli when she only saw him as a brother.

What is your character’s deepest disappointment? Not being able to help Phoebe out more while growing up

What is your character reluctant to tell people? Definitely who her birth family is. She hasn’t told anybody about them, and it’s kind of eating her alive. Also, she’s very good at keeping secrets.

What is your character hiding from themselves?  While she’s very chill, Tori is angrier than she thinks she is. She also isn’t really angry at Mira- there just isn’t anyone more convenient to represent her problems.

What makes this character angry? What calms them? Mira and Eli existing make her upset. She’s calmed down by her ferret and her friends.

List situations in which your character would not have control over themselves.  Having to have a real conversation with Mira. Being faced with familial truth. I’m serious when I say that Tori was happy to skate through life before the Thompsons came to town.

How strong is your character’s emotions? Controllable? Uncontrollable? She has a lot of control over expressing anger and sadness, but isn’t great about hiding her joy and gossip.

What wakes your character up in the middle of the night? Anything. She’s a light sleeper.

Describe a recurring dream and/or nightmare. She’s in line and can’t figure out why other than knowing it’s important. People keep cutting in front of her, and when she tries to cut too, they throw a fit.

Describe your character’s family. Her mother, Irene Metaxas, passed away four years ago. She has several half-siblings via Hermes, but is probs closest to Phoebe because they both grew up in Icaria. Her birth family are the Thompsons

Name your character’s favourite person and why. Probably Phoebe. She thinks her sister is super entertaining and also a total badass.

How many friends does your character have? A good bit; she was pretty popular growing up

How many friends does your character want? More would be chill.

How would a friend or close relative describe your character? Fun, welcoming, all over the place

Who depends on your character? Why? I mean... When she is employed, she is depended on to do a good job. Tori is your go-to gal in a crisis... not daily life.

Who does your character most want to please? Why? At this point, probably Noah and Ezra because she doesn’t want to get fired again.

How does your character feel about sex? She really likes sex, but is disappointed that she has some trouble finding people willing to do so with her. 

How does your character feel about romantic relationships? Nothing’s stuck, so she imagines that it never really will.

If your character had to live in utter seclusion, what six items would they bring? A really big book she’s never read, good sleeping bag, an axe, some sort of book on survival, a lot of sunblock, tent

What is your character’s most noticeable trait and most noticeable physical feature? She’s got strong chill energy and a persistent smirk

How does your character feel about work? Cursed endeavor

Write one headcanon. Tori is big on soaking gummy bears in alcohol and almost always has some lurking. If you’re good friends with her, you should know that the gummy bears are always boozy and she wants you to have them.

Write one additional thing about your character. Tori could use some more hook-ups and fwbs. She is definitely my character who is best in bed (yes, I can rank them without wanting to write anything nsfw out. idk shoot me a message if you can’t guess the order), so help a girl out.

[sinking-sank-surfaced]

//TRANSCRIPT_Y_1_3_2_2_1

//TRANSCRIPT_A_0_0_0_0_1

… running yet? Oh, it’s lighting up. Ok, Seymour, tell us how you feel.

I can’t move my arm. It was working fine before. What- what did this program do again?

It’s an experiment. Please, sit down and let us proceed. How about now?

It’s so stiff. Why… is- is that skin? Is my- what’s going on? No, hey, HEY WHAT’S GOING ON!

The patient is freaking out, we need security here at Six. Yes please securi

//TRANSCRIPT_end.

//TRANSCRIPT_A_0_0_0_2_9

… running. Ok, miss Amanda, how do you feel? Is there any adverse feeling?

I think there’s something wrong with the audio, ma'am. I’m hearing voices? I think it’s a feedback loop.

Are you sure? We’re not picking up anything.

Yeah, it’s… oh God, that’s a lot of screaming. It sounds painful.

Sorry miss Amanda, can you describe the screams further?

They’re begging to stop? What, what’s going on? I’m not sure I feel comfortable continuing.

Neither are we. Cut the feed. Amanda, we’ll take you somew

//TRANSCRIPT_end.

//TRANSCRIPT_A_0_0_0_7_4

… running. Miss Holly, how do you feel?

There’s a burning sensation in my chest… oh my, I feel invigorated! It, it does hurt a little.

Yes, we are trying to work that kind of thing out. Please, miss Holly, answer us. Are you experiencing any kind of auditory or visual hallucination?

No, I feel completely fine, ma'am.

.. ma'am?

Yes, Doctor. Is that too casual?

I, come, get up. Cut the f

//TRANSCRIPT_end.

//TRANSCRIPT_B_0_0_3_9_4

… running. See, General? I told you. Look at this. This can generate the most complex battle scenarios you can come up with. We can design them as precisely as you want, down to the wind and grain count of the ammo.

Mhm. Activate the protocol then?

It, it is activated. He should be seeing a projection right now. Is there something wrong?

He isn’t moving.

Paralysis has been a small side effect from //;begin _TRANSCRIPT_ FILE CORRUPTED _ DNI _ DNI _ DNI _ DNI

//TRANSCRIPT_D_0_0_9_2_2

… running. ;;;. //FILE CORRUPTED _ DNI _ DNI _ DNI

Wha//TRANSCRIPT_D_0_0_9_2_3tD o dyoo u fyeoeul  atnhy idnikf eirse nct?

No, I feel finefinefinefinefinefinefinefine__// ausing the glitches?

I don’t know but it can’t continue. This is just worthless. Just because Yi’s code has been simplified it does NOT mean we can afford to cut corners!

Well if we want to meet on schedule we will. Get the next batch ready. I think we can work some things out.out.out.out.out.out.

That’s imposSsible to do right and on schschedule. It’s one or the othother.

Then chose on scheduleeeeee. Test more than one person at once. LiLILILINk them together. puPUput th th th them in the s a m e simulation I DON’T CarCarCarCare just get it donnnne.

//TRANSCRIPT_END

//TRANSCRIPT//TRANSCRIPT_K_K_0_0_3_3_2_2_1_1_4_5 WhatWhatWhatWhatWhatWhat do you fefefefefefefefefefefefefeel solSOLDier?

ThThThThere’s a lot momomomomore people in this rOoI feel fine.

WhWhWhat do yoOoOU Want me to do s*s*s*s*s*(DNI _ DNI _ DNI _ DNI _ DNI)

FfFfFfFFUCK why are they soSosososo realistic? ThThThaT one looks like YyyYYYYYOuuu. Whhhhy dodododo you do thatthat?

We assASSASSASSASSASSASSure yoyoyou we have not input any commands yet.

I can fefefefeel it though! Under my skin! FUCK! GOD1WHAT IS GOING ONONONONONONONONO

this cannot continiunprececececececece//TRANCRIPT_end. I recognize that mamaman, I, he’s my coucouoC O U S i n? What is he doing? WhWhWhy is he S C re a m i n

cancel cancel canceCECEL

//TRANSCRIPT_end

//TRANSCRIPT_Y_1_3_2_2_1

//TRANSCRIPT_INCOMPLETE_MEMORYCORRUPTION;93%_OF_FILE_CORRUPTED_PROCEED Y/N?

//Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y

… rUrunrunuRUNUNNUNUNiiiiiiing. Con-con-con-con-continuing.

Pppppp Pyke cccc fffffff to meee uu.

Ttttt ww hhhh gathhhhh to tetETETETETETE ultttt ver o ro p am

w arE AW of h at you mmmm hhhh hhhhh abbbb pRoJJJJJJJJ ple DO NOT worryyyy***

LoloLOloloLOloloLOloLOcc

tryIn

vittttttALStttttfffffaaaaIIIIIIl

FailailailailailailailailailOVERfailfailfailailailailailailailailfailailailailailfailUREiminnentttttt

faiLure ImMMMMinenTTTTTT

FaiFAIfaiFaiFAIfaiFAIfai

VvvvvvvvvvvoicEEEE

FAFAFAI__SHUTDOWNOWNOWnownnnnnn

De adeadeadeaed dedededeeedddd?

Ttttt ake his body outttttttttt doo'o teeeee

wwwwWWWWwwhhhhhhat do we do with him?

BurburburburBURYYYY h i m

wash the oOoOoOoOoIl-l-l-l-l and di-di-di-diDIdiddiidid DISCONTINUE this pro-pro-pro-pROJEcT

//TRANSCRIPT_end.

//program; project_leviathan_

starting sequence-ce-ce-ce-ce-ce

//program; project_leviathan_

starting sequeeeeeeee

//program; project_leviathan_

starting sequencccccc

//program; project_leviathan_

//program; project_leviathan_

//program; project_leviathan_

//program; project_leviathan_

//program; project_leviathan_

//program; project_leviathan_

//program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_ //program; project_leviathan_

//program; project_leviathan_

starting sequence

rebooting;;

checkingstatus_bps_; 0/bpm

unstable vitals

unstable vitals

unstable vitals

pumping blood at an accelerated rate ; UNSAFE ; DO YOU WISH TO PROCEED ; DO YOU WISH TO PROCEED? Y/N

Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y

checkingstatus_bps_; 20/bpm

unstable vitals

inject adrenaline ; UNSAFE ; DO YOU WISH TO PROCEED ; DO YOU WISH TO PROCEED? Y/N

Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y

checkinstatus_bps_; 44/bpm

vitals stable

do you wish to start the program? Y/N/E

Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y

starting

brainwaves not detected ; wish to proceed? Y/N

N/N/N/N/N/N/N/N/N

how to proceed?

ELECTRIC PULSE

that may harm the user; proceed; proceed; proceed? Y/N

Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y

emitting pulse

n

o

W!

AGH!

C-cold.

The cold was the first feeling that his feeble body could process.

The next was pain.

There was such a strong feeling of heartburn that he could barely believe he was alive. Each one of his joints burnt with a tingly sensation, like a million ants crawling inside him, through his bones, his veins. In this dark, cramped space, he imagined this was hell. Buried beneath the earth. But.. but what his hands found were not the cold walls of a casket, or even the damp and chilled earth. It was cold and wet, true, but sticky. It stunk. And as he tried to move… it shuffled.

He froze.

He pushed again, and found that his efforts were met with resistance. Resistance he ignored and continued to push until there was a sightline into...

.. into...

.. pitch black. He couldn’t see anything.

//TRANSCRIPT_F_0_1_4_2_2

I don’t I don’t see how this could go wrong. She’s unconscious. Look at h her.

Her brain still works, dipdipdipshit. If we want to rework it the way we intended there can be absolutely not even a SINGLE failure. No doubt. Nothing. Her mimimimind can affect EVERYTHING. We can’t have someone fucking upupupupup the program again!

We can patchchch it. It’s linked to the c-c-c-c

Fuck patching it! A single bug in thethe wrong time could have catastrophical meanings. Look at how many subjsubjects we’ve went thrhough already! I’m not sure why we’re still even running this division. Christ! I hope the Project division runs you into the dirt.

I can hear them.

What?

What? She’s unconscious isn’t she?

She is supposed to be, yes?

I can hear them, I can, why are you asking? I’m not afraid. Don’t worry I’m not I’m not I’m not I’m not af AF afraaai

//TRANSCRIPT_end.

Another shove.

Another.

Another.

She didn’t dare to look down. At the broken bodies she pushed. Occasionally she swore she saw a face in the darkness, staring right back at her, but she never recognized it. Dark skinned, almost blending with the dark and cramped mass grave. His eyes were closed. Poor Pyke.

Who.. wait, what? Who was Pyke?

She shuddered, but her conviction didn’t let up. She could see light streaking through the outlines of a hundred bodies. She had been digging for so long.

So close to the surface.

So close.

Another shove.

Another.

ANOTHER!

ANOTHER!

//TRANSCRIPT_G_0_1_3_9_2

//TRANSCRIPT_INCOMPLETE_MEMORYCORRUPTION;25%_OF_FILE_CORRUPTED_PROCEED Y/N?

Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y/Y

“Yeah, yeah, I, I got that.” He spoke, nodding. Thank God. The large white room felt much, much less menacing with two scientists inside it. Nothing, nothing bad could happen if they were in with him, right?

Even if he wasn’t in a white room.

If he wasn’t staring at the doctor’s faces.

If he was staring at hollow eyes and a gaping mouth.

He screamed and clutched the steel mask that covered his head.

It was…

It was talking to him.

//TRANSCRIPT_A_0_0_0_1_2

So, what happened to the other ones?

What other ones?

“You know.”

Sir, maybe you should stay quiet while we run the program.

“Wait, no, I… I need to finish something.”

Yes, like that. Please, inform us if you have any kind any kind any kind any kind any kind any kind any kind an–

“STOP! I-I will! I.. I…”

He looked around, and saw only the serpent-like construct in front of him, its mechanical guts wide open and ready to be repurposed. There were… so many of them in this place. It was a cold, desolate place. It wasn’t hell; from what he heard, what he could remember, hell was hot and full of people crying. The only sound here was the wind blowing past and the electric shimmer of these little snakes. Sometimes, the loud mechanical howls of the larger ones.

He.. he knew how to work with them. Why did he know what wires go where? How to shape it to his will. The design was… was spread, in front of him. Like looking at a pamphlet. A tutorial.

The serpent was changed as if the job was done by an expert, and it was. Though he didn’t understand who he was right now. He’d scream if he had the strength to do it.

His circuits were outdated. They were not even compatible with this sharp-looking tech. An old, discarded model.

He couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Pyke… Pyke, you need to move, Pyke.” He mumbled to himself. Pyke. That was what this body was called. What little of his memory could be deciphered called him Pyke. Pyke. Pyke. It’s who he was. It had to be. It was the body he was inhabiting. It had to be. It had. To. Be.

Pyke.

“Pyke. Pyke, you can’t live like this Pyke. You’re old, Pyke. Pyke.”

He stared outside of the wreck that must have been a container of sorts… it was full of bodies when he found it. Now they made a wall, to hide him from the serpents’ gaze. They wanted to scavenge him. Treat him like scrap.

But…

But he wasn’t scrap. He was alive. He was smarter than them. He was better. He just needed.. just needed parts. Parts the dead wouldn’t need. Parts Josy could sell him– NO! NO! “NO! Pyke. Pyke. Pyke!”

The dead were staring back at him.

He forced the serpent to activate, the sharp orange glow cut almost as deeply as the butcher knives he once wielded. Park… no, no, Pyke. Pyke. His name was Pyke, and he was gonna fix himself.

He was gonna repair himself.

And he was going to burn Project to the ground.