#two for one cause im tired

[befuddled-calico-whump]

Hand in Hand (part four)

@whumptober Alt. 10: Shaking + Alt. 06: Playing Cards

cw: aftermath of whump

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~ ~ ~

When they're done with Wes, when his body is limp and trembling, they unchain Dan and drag him out of the cell. He asks them to let him check on the unconscious man, in a voice hoarse from screaming for them to stop, but they ignore him. He knows they're taking him to Swift.

Dan doesn't realize how cold the cell is until he's taken out of it, the warmer air of the hallway easing some of the tension out of him, though it's not enough to make a difference. Even with the men supporting him on either side, walking is difficult. His head throbs, and his legs shake with every step, threatening to give out. He's gone longer without food, longer without sleep, taken harder hits, but the combination of the three is hell on his body. It's a miracle he's still on his feet.

Mercury Swift is sitting at a table when they reach her, a pack of playing cards in hand. She doesn't even glance up as the men push Dan into the chair across from her, not bothering to restrain him before leaving the room. He knows why. All the assurance they need that he won't try anything is back in the cell.

"Are you ready to tell me your terms?" he asks once they're alone, but Swift acts as if she didn't hear, idly shuffling the cards from hand to hand. The movement looks bizarre; Dan never took her for the type of person who likes having fun.

At last her hands are still, and her gaze slides across the table to land on him. The look in her eyes is one of appraisal. Is she taking in the fresh bruises? The way he's gripping the table to stay upright?

"Do you play rummy?" she asks.

"Some," he replies, easing his forearms onto the table and leaning heavily on them. Better support. Less swaying. "What happens if I lose?"

"I'm not a gambler, Mr. Melchior," she says with a heavy sigh. "I only wanted some company. Maybe a challenge, if you're any good."

He won't let himself believe her. It'll be so much worse if he goes in expecting mercy; better to brace himself for the worst outcome. But he isn't going to turn down the game either, not when the alternative is probably returning to the cell for another twenty-four hours. "Then let's play."

Dan takes deep breaths through his nose as she begins to deal the cards. His head feels like it's full of gravel, and the rest of him... well, the rest of him feels like it just took a beating. Still, he needs to try and stay sharp. He can't let the waiting game go on forever; he needs to figure out what she wants.

They play a few rounds in silence before he tries. His hands shake as he sorts his cards, and he isn't sure if it's nerves or exhaustion.

"If all you wanted was a partner for cards, you could've asked," Dan says, laying a three-of-a-kind onto the table.

"Mm. Isn't that what I just did?"

"Without torturing my friend," he adds, trying to make the accusation sound light. Friendly.

"You admit you're friends then?" She lays down a sequence of her own. "He isn't insignificant?"

Dan clenches his jaw, wincing as the movement spikes pain through his bruised cheek. "I know the stakes," he says, drawing a card. "I swear, I'll do what you want if you stop hurting him."

"Why, I haven't lain a finger on him."

"You give the orders. Or do you mean to imply you don't have control over your new army?"

Her eyes darken as she looks up from her cards. "Careful, Mr. Melchior, that's hardly polite."

"My apologies," Dan mutters, letting the silence draw out as she considers her next play. So far, even her responses have just been another way to toy with him. He needs to be more direct. "What do you want from me?"

"Nothing," she says.

"Nothing," he repeats. There's no way. Why keep him alive at all, if she wants nothing? Why force him to listen to Wes scream, if she wants nothing?

Swift finally lays out a sequence of cards. "What could you possibly give me?"

Dan makes his own play immediately. "You're the one who came to me," he says. It was months ago, but that changes nothing. Before that day, he'd never once heard the name Mercury Swift. He wishes that were still true. "You're the one who wanted to meet with me."

"And now I have what I want. My new army." She pulls apart the sequence he's played, adding it to her own.

"Then why am I still breathing?"

"Maybe I thought you'd entertain me."

No. No, that can't be it. He knows she's a schemer, she must have some bigger plan than breaking them both for her own amusement. She let Wes live, let Dan know he's alive. She wants his compliance with something.

"Maybe," he says. "But I think you need me. You need my image." That has to be it. Physically, he's only one man, hardly enough to make a difference in the grand scheme of things. Strategically, she can't trust him. But if she truly wants to take over the known universe, she'll need more than pure strength. She'll need support from those of a similar mindset.

"If the world sees me agreeing with your cause, willingly conceding leadership to you, don't you think they'll take you more seriously?" He's almost certain his hands are shaking from nerves now. He's holding his cards with both, digging his elbows into the table to try and keep Swift from noticing the tremors.

But she smiles at his words, not looking up from her own cards. "Now you're speaking reason."

Dan lets out a shaky breath. At least he's made some sort of progress. At least he's less in the dark, but he can't rest yet. "Alright," he says. "If that's what you want. I can play your loyal dog."

"Play?" Swift draws a card. "Hardly. I want you to become it. Convince me it's your true nature."

"I will," he says. He has to, doesn't he? "If you let my friend go."

When Swift lets out a short laugh, he knows she won't. He already knew it wouldn't be so simple, but he had to try.

"Do you really think I'm stupid enough to take you at your word? A good leader ensures they can trust their underlings. A smart leader has collateral."

Dan clutches his cards tighter. "So he stays. Fine. But if you hurt him--"

"I will hurt him," Swift cuts him off. "Every time you step out of line, he will pay the price. But you already knew that, didn't you?"

He did. "Mercury--"

"It's your turn."

Dan lets his shoulders drop, leans heavier on the table. He plays one card, adding it onto an existing sequence. "Will you at least give me a show of good faith?" he says, his voice quiet.

"Good faith?"

He swallows. "Unchain him. Let him rest, give him food and water. Please. You have nothing to lose by treating him humanely." At this point, it's all he can hope for. He can wait. Play her game. He just needs to keep Wes alive until he can come up with a way to outsmart her.

"Hm. I'll think about it," she says, and lays down the last of her cards. "I suppose a dog is better controlled if the leash is maintained."

~ ~ ~

@kira-the-whump-enthusiast @kixngiggles @shywhumpauthor

[shower-phantom-ideas]

I would like the record to stand that I don’t think the waynes think Danny is some sort of hot twink guy. Just the cutiest lil dude ever.

I want them to see his hero persona (give that boy a mask) and fantasise over how cute or hot they think he will be.

They hear his voice. They see his actions. His strength. And assume hes gonna be babe material.

Later it happens. The reveal. And hes just some guy. Just a dude. I mean it’s gonna be shellshock for them. No one but Damian is shocked cause they all assumed his looks would be face and upper body model levels. Bruce probably was thinking the poor lil guy was covered in bruises and injuries but didn’t know about our kids healing factor.

I stan pristine danny who only gets scars from ghost hunting equipment. And that dissection.

Let them over look Fenton cause hes too normal. Let them not even consider him cause hes so scrawny. Too much like a human child.

[lunarharp]

What led to this (orufrey comic, cw an uncomfortable/creepy scene)

[starry-bi-sky]

realizing i have. a lot of untapped trauma potential for clone^2 danny because i just Fully Processed Four Months Late the fact that his parents were capturing and torturing ghosts in the basement before he became Phantom. and the fact that he was on house rest for 2 weeks. during that time period. and he wasn't really leaving the house. he could hear their screaming through the floorboards

*points at clone danny* i can give you suuuuuuch a bad time babe ahaha. i've got two untouched years before you meet damian what fucks you up before then

[moeblob]

I am really tired of a situation rn.

[its-a-beautful-day]

Updating my donation post as it's been a few months. I'm still struggling with being homeless and I recently lost my health insurance (yayy turning 26!)

I've applied for section 8 at a local large city but that can take time. I'm also in the months long process of applying for SNAP/medicaid. I've also applied for financial assistance through my work to help me as well but I'm unsure of the turn around time or how much they can assist me.

Currently with the cost of rent in my local area the best option might be for me to renovate a free mobile home. However I need to move it to a lot/mobile home park with hookups and that can cost alot of money. The current estimate I got is around $8,000.

This doesn't include the lot rent per month or the cost of fixing the mobile home. But I do get to own the trailer after and can sell it once I have my feet under me again and ready to move.

I've been looking into so many different options but I'm struggling with finding something in my budget. Current income restricted housing is at a 1 to 2 year wait list. Others require a $48 per person application before you get to even see the apartment (for a one bedroom no less)

I've already made so many sacrifices during this year including not perusing fighting to get my cat back. Unfortunately with the way I can't find housing there wasn't a hope I could find housing and have it allow pets.

I've anyone has suggestions for finding roomates (that's not Facebook) or housing please feel free to message me

I'm also doing donation doodles for any donation over $10, give me a suggestion or prompt when you donate otherwise you get a bug art lol

[a-usernamelol]

YALL KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS!!!! MORE SCREENSHOTS FOR EVERYBODY!

Once again bringing up that I’m tired of seeing posts strictly for the female fans of the game. So here he is in all his glory, the absolute (bisexual??) icon of the franchise! Doesn’t matter if you’re a girl or a guy- or in my MCs case- something else, chances are he’s going to try his hand!

HAVE SOME FREE SEBASTIAN BECAUSE YOU DESERVE IT NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE❤️ PEACE AND LOVE ON PLANET EARTH

[daisy-bugs]

scar's red life shawl is his last life robes after one (1) mental breakdown and a pair of shears. to me.

[lunar-wandering]

ASK AN LMK CHARACTER GAME

Ask Box is Open!!

That's right gang, I'm doing it again!! You guys send in questions, and I'll answer them in character, and create an ongoing narrative with it!!

This time, we're doing a mystery. Something very important has been stolen and it's up to YOU guys to figure out what it was, and who took it.

Important Notes/Rules:

all the characters are available to ask!! this includes people who should be dead.

if i get multiples of the same question, i will answer the one that arrived first. (so don't feel to bad if your version of the question doesn't get answered!!)

for the sake of everyone having fun, there will be no shipping related questions!! if you send one in, i'm just gonna delete it!

if there are multiple characters in an area, sometimes a character who doesn't speak in the answer might overhear it. In this case, there will be a tag, like; "Tang heard this answer". Pay attention to these, as they can sometimes give clues to the ongoing story!!

the overall tag i'm going to be using for every ask is 52624. if you don't want to see any of this nonsense, block #52624

have fun!!

[garciamorales]

Only Oscar Isaac as Leto Atreides could pull me back from my slumber onto this hellhole nearly a year after I last posted… the power of Leto still controls me clearly 😵‍💫 Also seeing Dune again in the cinema gave me whiplash so hard I am SO READY for part two tomorrow I’m SCREAMING

[mbat]

im still not done with my rewatch but i SWEAR its so obvious that the stuff cass did didnt come out of nowhere if you were actually paying attention to her over the course of the show. like sure maybe people dont care about her as much since shes a character that wasnt in the movie, but i mean come on. like everything is right there in the text, the stuff she did was absolutely not out of nowhere

[sundial-bee-scribbles]

l♡vely p♡is♡n

bonus

[rapidhighway]

i actually wanted to buy a new sketchbook today but they didn't have the only brand I like using at empik

[istherewifiinhell]

electrolytes

were NOT too sweet. lucky me. supposed to be (squints) strawberry lemonade. but it taste like an apple that can bite u.... prickly. i think the main factor is it just. greatly reduced the speed i was willing to drink it.

[todayisafridaynight]

daigo-gets-trolled kinda fuckin panel

[quaranmine]

hi it's me at the lookout :D

things of note:

-the terrain around this particular tower is a bit more rocky/extreme than i envisioned for grian's tower, but the environment in general is very similar. the geography, biome, etc isn't too different from wyoming, which is just to the north a few hours

-it is a good thing grian is very acclimated to all this after living in the mountains for a few years because the altitude kiiiiinda kicked our butts. i thought this trail would be fine for my mom since it isn't very long but i didn't really take the elevation in consideration. she did not make it to the tower, unfortunately.

fortunately...we have radios, because my dad gave them to us. i'm living the firewatch dream by radioing my mother from the top

-this lookout is staffed!! i think it's the only remaining staffed lookout in Colorado. it has been continuously used for over 100 years. unfortunately, it was Sunday, and nobody was on duty. I did see the lookout though at the cabin below, because she was talking with some search and rescue personnel who were out training. She stayed in her cabin though, or else I would have spent like half an hour asking her questions.

-this lookout is not a live-in one, it is a 10x10 ft cabin on top of the rocks. there's a huge staircase to get up there and at the bottom is the cabin the lookout lives in. that is also the set up that Philip Connors talks about in his memoir Fire Season, but both lookouts in the game Firewatch are live-in ones. thus, so are Scar's and Grian's.

^ very steep staircase

also, this lookout bears a STRIKING resemblance to the Thorofare Lookout in the game (which would be Scar's lookout in the fic)

^ firewatch game vs a photo of this place from google images because i don't have one at this angle. iirc, the thorofare lookout in the game wasn't quite as steep/insane to get to as this one though. there's stairs but not THAT many

i do not know if the kitty i saw was fjord or fiona, but i was so surprised and excited to see they had cats! previously in all my research i had only seen lookouts having dogs. Jellie the lookout kitty is in good company up here!

i had an excellent time :D i didn't even plan for this to land on the 100th day of the challenge ofc that just happened. i had this trip planned way in advance and when planning it i found this trail and decided to go. had no idea that it was day 100 of my writing challenge, which is also basically the 100th day of writing this fic

<333