#you still gotta go to work even if you become a zombie

[ultrarupture]

I am drawn to things that have nothing to do with my will.

YOU STILL GOTTA GO TO WORK EVEN IF YOU BECOME A ZOMBIE

BY TNUP

[dailyunstableeve]

She's just dropping by to gear up

Jill valentine x cashier/soldier!Fem!reader (at the gas station)

tw: This contains smut, interact with caution. nsfw, some breast play, fingering, dom!Jill, sub!reader, some alcohol, Jill loves to tease, kinda a fall in love in first sight

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“Day 258,” you signed, crossing out a date off your notebook. Your work here has become more and more boring, can't help it, you gotta pay the rent or else you'll be on the street, turning into a zombie.

Ew, thinking of it makes you shiver.

Lucky for you, there's not much people actually come to this gas station for anything so it allows you to blast music, when all you need to do is keep this place clean. Afterall, this is not just some normal gas station by the road. This gas station is also counted as a safe zone from the virus, if zombies start to roam around this area, which means things get way out of hand.

It's not everyday a new virus is created.

From the day you've been assigned here, it's only Chris who appears here, he’s on mission more than anyone, eventually both of you become friends. Sometimes he would invite you to have a drink with him.

Other than that, taking out the trash has never been your favourite of all the stuff you gotta do, no one likes going to the dark back space of the station, you really should push the trash bin next to the station at least there's a little light there.

You heard a car stopped in front of the gas station that made you jump and run back to the cashier. It's a truck, looks very dirty, you silently judge it but when a woman with short hair walks out from the truck, you keep your judgement away.

“Welcome!” You put on your smile.

Oh my gosh, finally a customer after so many days.

“Hi, I would like to stock up,” The woman said, holding her s.t.a.r.s badge up, Jill Valentine, she looked so tired.

If only I can help her rest.

“Yeah, follow me,” you swiftly shut down the gas station, pressing the button under the cashier, then a secret room appeared, “everything you need should be there.”

“Thank you.”

You watched her walk down the stairs to the room then you followed behind.

“So, why is a girl like you here?” Jill asked you as she's checking up on the stocks.

“Well, the pay is high, and I need to pay rent,” you shrugged your shoulders.

“Won't it be boring? Missing out on the actions?”

“Well if it takes for someone like you to show up here, I'm pretty sure it's worth it,” you chuckled.

To look closely, she's just too hot for you to not take your eyes off, you can't stop staring at her.

“Say, too busy to catch a date after whatever you're gonna do after?” You asked, believing your confidence could get you a date with Jill.

“That will depend on if I made it back alive or not,” she softly chuckled.

“I pray for your return, Jill.”

“Thank you.”

★・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・★

A week has gone by, you're still hopelessly waiting for Jill to appear, for once you were looking forward to getting a date, especially since you work in a place that's basically isolated from the city. The whole week gave you a lot of time to think about what kind of date you and Jill could do, but also at the same time, who will take over your place if you asked for a leave? Chris is the first name that appears since you only know him but you can't possibly ask him for that because you're gonna go on a date and he's actually higher rank than you are.

Oh Jill.

You wanted to see her so badly, your mind has been nothing but her face projecting everything and everywhere.

“Y/N.”

“Oh Chris, stock up?”

“No, not today, I'm taking the time to rest,” he bitterly smiled. All those missions he went to must be hard for him, at some point you can't even think what you would do if you were sent to fight zombies.

“Well, if they are asking for you, everything you need is here to get ready,” you laughed and brought out your secret stash, “do you think you'll be able to drink?”

“Call it your lucky day today.”

Three bottles have been emptied out, and Chris is on the fourth bottle.

“Ugh, I am so needed to get my tolerance up,” you complained at your poor tolerances with alcohol.

“Don't beat yourself up, you did better than last time,” Chris laughed.

“Sometimes, I feel like it's a great idea they don't have cameras here, only for the road outside,” you fell onto the counter, the alcohol slowly kicking in, causing your vision to turn wobbly.

“Chris, do you happen to know someone called Jill Valentine?” You asked.

“Jill, yeah I know her, she's my friend.”

“Is she doing okay? I wanted to see her,” you mumbled.

“How do you know Jill in the first place?”

“She stopped by to stock up,” you answered.

“She just recently reported in from her last mission.”

“I see.”

Jill must've been taking a rest after the mission, she'll appear when she is finished. That's what you told yourself.

An hour later, Chris is fully defeated by the alcohol, you have to drag him down to the basement room to let him rest there while you're still trying to sober up. When you got back up to the surface, you spotted a motorcycle outside the gas station and someone was on it. You thought it's someone asking for directions so you talked to them through the small window.

“Hi, sorry the station is closed at the moment,” you speak through the small window, if Chris isn't on a mission, no one is.

“I'm here to pick up my date,” that familiar voice that has been dangling onto your mind for the past few days.

“Jill?” you excitedly asked, hop out from the shop.

“Is this a bad time?” She asked.

“No, not exactly, it's just that I have a drunk passed out Chris Redfield down the basement,” you laughed.

“Chris? What's he doing here?”

“Well, to be honest, it's usually just him showing up here to stock up so eventually we became friends,” you explained.

“So, I'm taking it that you can't leave?” Jill asked.

“I can't, Chris is here and I'm actually still trying to sober up,” you awkwardly chuckled.

“That's alright, we can chill here.”

“I'm so sorry if you have any plans for today, I'm sure next time we can do it.”

Just like that, you and Jill had the date on top of the rooftop, it wasn't really bad, both of you took the chance to know more about each other.

“Well, I know I'm still trying to sober up, but can't spoil the fun for you,” you brought up the remaining alcohol that's left from you and Chris.

Both of you think that it would be fun if you and Jill play some games, such as truth and dare, so the game is on. You started out with asking simple truth and dare for Jill, taking it as a chance to try to know her better, Jill did the same, until you decided you wanted to do something more.

“Truth,” Jill chooses.

“Jill, why did you choose to be on this date?”

“Is that even a question that can be asked?” She frowned, hiding that slight blush off her face.

“C'mon, I'll let you ask the similar question to me later.”

“Well, you're cute, and you have the confidence to ask me out on a date, and from all those talks we had just now, you're an incredible person, and I would love to know you more,” Jill answered.

You hope it's illegal because of how Jill is making you blush at the moment.

“Truth or Dare?” Jill looked at you.

“Dare.”

“Do the one thing you wanted to do so badly right now,” Jill smirked.

“Oh wow, okay, embrace yourself then,” you chuckled as you moved from your seat, moving closer to Jill, both of you looked at each other as you leaned forward for a kiss on her cheek.

You and Jill hold eye contact, she rested her hand on your cheek, looking into your eyes then she leaned forwards, left a kiss on your lip. You returned one back, and she did the same. Jill pulled you closer towards her as she kissed you.

Jill slowly pulled away, holding your hands and rushed down to the basement, a different room from where Chris is sleeping in, she slammed the door, inviting you to join her on the bed that's supposed for pass by soldiers to rest in.

You can feel her touch, slowly caressingly running up and down your body as her soft cherry lip pressing onto yours, giving you the kisses you'll never forget. Her kisses were harsh but yet sweet, brushing your hair to the side as she played with your ear, giving that tingling feeling but all you can focus on is her lip, needing every taste of it.

Jill slowly moved her hand inside your top, drawing circles on your cute tummy, drawing a sensation in you, her hand moved more further up, lifting up your top, revealing that black lace bra. Jill breaks the kiss as she turns her focus to your body, “what a gorgeous you are, sweetie,” as she's sitting on you, looking down. Jill admired your body a little longer, when she met your eyes again, she could see the desire you are wishing so badly for.

You wanted to kiss Jill so badly.

You wanted her touch everywhere on your body.

You wanted to feel her.

You wanted to be hers.

But Jill just looked at you, with a small smirk on her face, she's enjoying this.

“Please Jill,” you mumbled, you felt the heat on your face so you tried to hide your reddened face as you tried to form words.

“Yeah, sweetie?”

You know, she wants you to use your words to beg for her, you slipped your needy side to Jill and now she’s waiting for you to tell her what you need.

“Manage to get the conversation out for a date, can't say what's next?” Jill leaned closer, whispered in your ear, fingertip drawing around your body, teasing your poor desire.

You started to blame the alcohol you drank with Chris just now, you can't think straight.

“I want you Jill,” you looked into her blue eyes, babbling out the words, “I need you Jill, I want to feel you, so badly.”

“Good girl.”

Jill single handedly unhooked your bra, removing every pieces clothings of yours, leaving your naked body bare on the bed. Her hand cupped up your breast as she gently sucked on it, while her other hand fiddled the other lonely breast, muffled moans started to fall out from your mouth, you had your mouth covered, afraid that Chris would hear you.

“It's okay, no one is going to hear us,” she looked at you, admiring the expression you have on your face at the moment, then continued back what she's doing.

You couldn't tell how long it has been for Jill enjoying her time with your breast, she made you feel so good but yet a part of your body is throating for more.

“You gotta use your words to ask for what you want,” Jill pinned down your lower body, you immediately looked down and realised what you did, a dark spot stained on her jeans.

“I want you Jill.”

“Where?”

You held onto her hand as you guided her to the between of your thighs, “here please.”

Jill leans in for more kisses as her hand continues drawing circles the area between your thighs, you wish her to touch, but she likes to tease you a little longer before giving you what you ask for. You squirmed under her touches, you started to beg Jill, mumbling words into her ears, letting her know just how badly you wanted her.

Jill slowly inserted her middle finger in your cunt, spreading up your inside, your body squirmed as you gripped on both of her shoulders, she started to push it more deeper in, as her thumb rubbing on your sensitive clit. Jill could feel every twitch you made, your sweet moans getting louder and louder in her ears, babbling words that can't be understood as she picked up her pace.

Your hip started to lean upwards to Jill, she knows this movement of yours proves that you're close so she pulled away, leaving you groaning and whimpering, asking why she pulled away. You know damn well the answer, she loves to tease and she will take every opportunity she has to tease you until she thinks you deserve to cum.

Jill gives your clit a few gentle rubs, then spreads your inside with two fingers this time. Jill quickly picks back up the pace, your slick juice dripping down from her hand and your thighs, the sloopy sound as Jill thrusted her finger in, hitting the spot, tells just how wet you are. Jill found your mumbling as you're trying your best to cum, cute. She wanted to tease you so much more until you can't even say anything but continually cumming on her fingers but you've been a good girl for her.

“I love you Y/N,” she planted kisses around your neck, your collarbone, your breast, your arch up tummy.

“I love you too Jill,” your arm wrapped around her shoulder, head resting on Jill's shoulder, mumbling her name with the mix of your moans.

“I'm gonna- cum,” you mumbled out, hooked your legs around Jill's waist, gripping harder onto her shirt.

“Cum for me sweetie, cum for me, Y/N,” she whispered into your ear.

Your eyes roll back as your head throws back while you are still gripping onto Jill's shoulder, your hip leans upwards and stays there for a while as you feel the electric shock running through your body and letting out the loudest moans.

Your body immediately flopped back on the bed, trying your best to catch your breath. You could feel Jill caressingly brushing your hair, a soft kiss on your lip, “you did a great job.”

“I love you Jill.”

“I love you too Y/N.”

Hands holding onto each other, Jill flopped on the bed together with you, pulling you closer so she could cuddle with you.

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an: Here's my pardon approach, this is the first time working on the smut, please pardon me for any mistake I've made, and ofc, do let me know which part could be improve so I can learn from my mistake ;-; I hope you guys somehow did enjoyed it ❤️

Masterlist

Imagine this is how it ended:

“And I might have lied,” Jill softly chuckled.

“What did you lie about?”

“The room is not soundproof.”

“Jill!” You jolt up, looking at her.

“I'm pretty sure Chris is still asleep at the moment,” Jill pulled you back into her arms, “we'll worry about it later.”

[http-paprika]

what's lost / simon "ghost" riley

part one zombie-apocalypse!au / pairing simon "ghost" riley x female reader / wc 1103 / warnings brief mentions of gore and violence, minor swearing, attempted suicide.

summery during the escort to edinburgh, things don't go as ghost had planned, causing him to lose y/n

note when i saw this is just an angst filled shitshow, i mean it. like, bawled my eyes out a bit, had to write this over multiple days i was struggling.

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The air in his lungs was bitter, stale. His body was a shell of what it was, skin turning purple and yellow like a large bruising sore. It had been too long since Ghost had cried, what felt like a lifetime ago as tears blurred his vision, jagged sobs escaping his throat.

Ghost’s breathing harbors, slowing as the infection pulsed through his veins. In his final few moments of sanity, he thought of Y/N who he’d forced to run when a horde had overcome them on the outskirts of Edinburgh. The sound of her voice, the feeling of her lips against his mask warmed his heart as Ghost brought the gun up against his head. His jaw was slacked, broken in the fight, blood drooling from his lips. The words spewed out his mouth, a muddled mess as he closed his eyes and gripped the metal harshly. “I– I’m sorry.”  

 The gun clattered to the ground, he should’ve done it, but her face burned too painfully in his to pull the trigger. All consuming him along with the infected venom that had transformed him. 

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 Y/N’s laugh was like a sweet song as they continued, through the wild brush of an overgrown wheat field. Ghost couldn’t even remember what he’d said to make her laugh, but a smile tugged at his lips to hear it. 

“If the outbreak hadn’t happened, what did you plan on doing with your life?” She asked him, obvious to the lump that clogs his throat. 

“Didn’t exactly plan for a future.” Ghost admitted, watching her stop and frown at his response. His feet slowed to a stop, and he turned to look at her. “I’m not exactly the type who plans to settle down, have kids, and retire—nothing for me outside of the military. The outbreak didn’t really change that. Probably spend the rest of my days being worked to death by them if I’m not bitten first.” 

 “Oh.” It sounded so painfully bleak for him to tell her the truth, but she’d asked, and Y/N had heard worse. 

“Don’t break your heart over it. You’ve still got a promising life ahead of you.” He walks back over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Gotta make a cure, have your name known across what’s left of the UK, maybe the world.” 

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Y/N can still hear her heart beating like a drum through her entire body as they check it, ensuring it’s clean from infection bites. Her cheeks were tight and dry, the crying had stopped when she’d reached the QZ, not out of relief or happiness, but because of a numb dread that’d washed over her. It had been two, maybe three hours since she’d left Ghost, the infection had either spread and he’d turned into a walking corpse. Or— Y/N shuddered, hating the ugly images that bubbled in her mind. Either result was a knife to the chest and tears threatened to spill over again.

 It had been her fault that he’d been bitten, at least that’s what she’d convinced herself. Had she been more aware, more capable, Ghost wouldn’t have had to become a flesh barrier between Y/N and the undead. She’d scowled and cursed at him, anger turning into blinding grief when the realization hit, a blood indent in his wrist from teeth. He’d been served a fate worse than death saving her. And the guilt of it sliced like a knife through her heart. 

Ghost should’ve been there, with her safely in the QZ. Kissing her and reminding her that they were safe, safer than they’d been since they’d left London over a month before. But she was there, a hollow shell all alone as they escorted her through the secured area to the lab that would become a prison for her. 

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The song of crickets filled Ghost’’s ears as they settled for the night, making a small camp in the deep black of a forest. He sat so that Y/N’s head rested on his lap, his hand absent-mindedly running through her hair. “You’re quiet tonight.” 

 Almost wondering if she’d fallen asleep there, he looked down at her face and she quickly averted her gaze away from his. “Y/N? What’s wrong love?” 

 “What are you going to do when we get to Edinburgh?” She finally speaks, keeping her gaze focused on the small camping lantern they had, watching the few insects that flew to it, hoping for the warmer sun. “Or were you not planning on getting that far either?” 

 “Oh.” Ghost lets out a groan, running a hand over his face. So she was still thinking about their conversation from earlier, considering his words on a personal level, as if they’d been directed to her. He’d been backed into a wall with her question, the truth was pathetic and Ghost worried how she’d respond to it.

“So you didn’t think that far.” Y/N didn’t ask but stated firmly before sitting up and pushing away from Ghost. Taking her warmth away from him. 

“Y/N, love–” He reached a hand out, placing it lightly on her arm and removing it after Ghost watched her flinch from his touch. “No, I didn’t think about what I’d do after. Was too focused on the mission of just getting you there safely. But I’ve thought about it, and if you’ll have me, I’d like to stay there for you.” 

Whipping her head around, she stared at him surprised by his request, almost wondering if she’d heard him correctly. He was being vulnerable with her, it caused a lump to form in her throat.

 “Stay… with me?” 

“Yes.” Ghost nodded his head, taking her hand in his and bringing it close to his clothed mouth. “Please, Y/N? I’ll be your damn guard dog if that’s what it takes.” He finishes his plea, kissing the palm of her hand despite the fabric barrier between his lips and her skin. Stray tears in his eyes he blinked away, focusing on her, nothing else mattered but her.

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The afterlife was not what Ghost expected, his body and mind were infected, driving him with an everpresent thirst for flesh and blood. Like a street dog, wandering the expanse of Edinburgh fighting the wild hunger that’d taken over him and so many others. But there was a hollow feeling, some part of his past life still tethered to the shell of his body. Some haunting voice that still rang in his ears like a beautiful song that drew him away from corpses and rotting flesh. Someone whose side he should’ve never left. 

tag-list @amazingori

[gallusrostromegalus]

ok so re: sternritter i gotta ask, whats the plan for my girl gigi? she's a horrible awful gremlin baby but i cannot help but love her immortal tgirl swag.

also, are there any sternritter who got incredibly underused in the story that you've significantly rewritten so far?

As it stands, Gigi gets to live, but she is going to have to sit through a VERY unpleasant lecture about how yes, Gender is Fake, Political Organizations are Fake, and to an extent the 'Line' between living and dead is fake but Bodily Autonomy and Informed Consent are VERY, VERY REAL and you will *fucking* respect them because the Gotei-13 is the home of monsters.

For better or for worse, the person she's getting the lecture from is Tama Nikuya

---

Tama: Sure, you're a Monster too, Miss Gewelle -that's why I like you so much and am even extending you this offer- but I promise there are much worse things serving in the Guard than were dreamt of in your philosophy. Horrors, artificial and natural alike, well within the comprehension of your intellect regardless of gender, but no less awful. Worse, perhaps, because you understand what's going to happen if you put one drop of blood out of line-

Gigi, twitching: Urrgh!

Tama: Don't gurgle at me in that tone! Tama: You do understand, don't you?

(warning for body horror, parasitism, mind/body control, discussions of violence, transphobia and abuse under the cut) (Bleach is a pretty dark series and the Fic is E-rated accordingly)

Gigi, shaking her head as much as she can: Nglk!

Tama: What part don't you understand?

Gigi: Thzzg-? ThhZomg-!?

Tama, head cocked sideways, squinting as she tries to make sense of what Gigi is saying: 'the zog-'? The Zombie? Oh for fucks sake Gigi, we're well past that.

Gigi: Bugh-? Haaauuuu?

Tama: Alright alright, if it will help. The Zombie relies on some of your blood reaching my brain, or replacing a large portion of my own blood with yours, through which you exert your reiki, and thus control my body, right?

Gigi, Blinking Slowly: ... Gigi: Haugh- Haugh gid you vigure thad oud??

Tama, taking a deep, disappointed sigh: Babygirl, it's not that hard. That's very basic Spiritual Dominion magic. Don't get me wrong, you're very good at it and the sheer number of targets you can control is really impressive but as far as techniques go, it's not terribly complex or hard to counter.

Tama, Gestuting at where Gigi is awkwardly kneeling on the floor, paralyzed: Take the thing you've got- that's an enhanced strain of Ophiocordyceps unilateralis- you've heard of Cordyceps, I'm sure- that I've worked with to function inside humans- REAL pain in the ass by the way, Humans are insanely immune to infection and parasitism compared to most organisms-

Akon, holding an extremely large laser gun, not currently cocked but still at the ready: This is your requested reminder to stay on topic, Sir.

Tama: What? Oh, thanks- but Cordyceps is fun because instead of bothering to control the half-assed mess that is a mammal's neural system, it straight-up structurally takes over the large muscle groups! Just suppress the autoimmune response enough by giving the fungus an antihistamine release function too, and that sucker can crawl into every major support structure you have in under a week!

Akon: Yeah, I'm not sure 'Fun' is the right word here.

Tama: Don't knock it until you've tried it!

Akon, debating becoming the server technician for the 9th again: I'll take your word for it, Sir.

Tama, poking Gigi's arm just below where a long spire of the fungus is sprouting out of her shoulder, one of several growing out of her body and impacting her ability to move, including speaking: I'd say you're about 40% Fungus by weight right now, mostly your skeletal muscles, and those do what I say, which is why you're sitting down and listening while I try to change your mind. Tama, giving Gigi an encouraging thumbs up: -And why you still have a mind for me to change! Tama, giving Gigi a comforting pat on the shoulder next to the fungal spire: I have a lot of faith in your ability to make the right choices when presented with all the information, Miss Gewelle. If I thought I had to change your mind for you, I'd have pulled out the Hypomyces lactifluorum!

Gigi, watching Akon visibly shudder behind Tama: ...uhh. Gigi: Bugh. The Zomgee..?

Tama: Oh, right, The Zombie. Yes, yes- Reiki Domination is pretty tough to resist, especially from someone in your spiritual weight class, but, ah- Well, you've run into two big problems here Gigi.

Tama, sitting down on the floor next to Gigi: First problem is the use of blood as an infection mechanism. Tama, cheerfully, as though giving constructive criticism in an introductory art class: Honestly? Not a bad choice! Blood-bourne infections are some of the hardest to resist, and Forigen Reiki is a PAIN to purge from the bloodstream unless you flush the entire system. Most people, as you have seen, are doomed!

Tama, wincing: ...But I'm not most people. Tama, pondering: ... Come to think of it "People" might be a more correct term for what I am, but my situation is pretty radically different from "most" people!

Gigi, still defiant: Whad- Whaddafug ARE yu?

Tama, gesturing to indicate the situation is about as clear as mud, or morphology-based taxonomy: I- Well. It's long and not really all that funny story, but I got stuck on the wrong side of a a version of the Kodoku Bug Thunderdome curse- you know, the inside- for over eight hundred years with a whole mess of Hollows, Obake, and other nasty things and I went to some pretty extreme measures to survive. Tama, with a sad sigh: To make a long story short- I don't have blood anymore. Or a brain. Tama, frowning in contemplation: ...Or I'm ALL brain, it sort of depends on your definition of 'brain'-

Akon: Topic, Sir.

Tama: Thanks Akon! -But from my perspective, your blood is just another snack with a little bit of Reiki spice on top! Which brings me to your other problem.

Tama: You hit hard Gigi! Real hard! And you really should be proud of the degree of concentration you have! But like I said, the Gotei-13 is the home of monsters, and there wasn't exactly a burger joint or an opportunity to farm inside the Kodoku. ...I survived because I kind of literally ate things like you for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

[There is a long moment of silence as Gigi processes that statement, it's earlier compainion statement about what Gigi's blood was like for Tama, and the general implication of those on Gigi's circumstances]

Gigi: ...Gid I daste gud?

Tama, ears flicking up to listen better: What's that?

Gigi: Uck! Gigi, wide eyed with terror but somehow this situation has not ended in catastrophe yet, and she might be riding the adrenaline as far as it will go: ...Gid I datse good?

Tama: HAH!

Akon, turning around because he can't face this at 7AM without coffee: NO!!

Tama, teasing: Yes, you do taste very good, or at least the aperitif of blood you threw in the thing I use as a face did!

Gigi, giggling a bit in fear like a Hyena: Oh! Dhad'z Good! Gigi, stopping as the rest of the sentence catches up with her: Waid. Gigi: Whad Do you MEANg, 'ting you uze az a fage'? Gigi, with increasing horror: Whag- Whag ARE You?

Tama, giving Gigi a light, encouraging punch in the shoulder: You're a smart girl Gigi! You can figure it out if you put your mind to it! Tama, counting off the datapoints on her paw-pads: I don't have blood, or a brain, I lived underground with nothing but corpses to eat for a few centuries and my go-to restraint method is a parasitic...

Gigi, a horrible new world of possibilities opening to her like the lid coming off a tub of very expired sour cream: ...Mu-Mushgroom?

Tama, giving her two thumbs up: You got it! Tama: "Mushroom" is probably more specific than you intended, but you're not wrong! The part of me standing here lecturing you is more or less the organ I use for sex and sometimes paperwork!

Akon: Speaking of, the division W-2's still need to go out-

Tama: Akon, we're in the middle of an apocalypse. If the council tries to make everyone pay taxes on time this year, the Old Man won't have the chance to burn the government chambers down before the peasants do it for him. Chillax.

Tama, returning her attention to Gigi: It's probably why I'm so cheerful and down to party too! You know. Because I'm a *Fungi*!

Gigi, staring blankly: ...

Tama, wilting a bit: -A. Fun? Guy? A Fungi?

Gigi, starting to cry big, ugly genuine tears: Uh-uh-uuuuuhhhnnn...

Tama, trying to console Gigi with a hug that definitely makes things worse: ...You're right it'd probably be funnier if you didn't have a parasitic fungus rapidly taking over your person and forcing you to sit still and listen to a genuine freak of science tell you about Cannibalism. Tama, giving Gigi a little shake of encouragement: But you see how this makes my point, right? This isn't very fun for you, is it?

Gigi, suddenly locking up like a badly taxidermied fox: ...

Tama, staring blankly: ..? Tama, ears slowly rising as understanding dawns on her face: Oh?

Gigi, face rapidly alternating vivid shades of pink and white as her emotions battle for dominance, before settling on 'Scaroused': -Uh...

Tama, delighted: OH!

Akon, enraged: OH. MY GOD.

Tama, pointing at him and hissing: You are the LAST person who gets to kinkshame anyone young man! Tama, pointing back at Gigi: At least SHE knows how to have fun!

Akon: I'm gonna transfer to the Ninth and never, ever leave the server room again.

Tama: If you think you can withstand the emotional toil of leaving the mass spectrometer in my hands, be my guest.

Akon: :(

Gigi: Uh?

Tama: He's spiritually bonded to a particularly finicky piece of lab equipment that hates me, like how some tween girls become spiritually bonded to giant murderous equines, which also tend to hate me. Don't worry about it. Tama: Back on topic, this does explain a few things. You DO understand that your feelings about this situation are unusual and given that most humans and their spiritually powerful derivatives experience pain and fear from having their autonomy restricted and bodies invaded by parasites, How do you think being made into a Zombie feels for other people?

Gigi: ...Bahd?

Tama, nodding enthusiastically and making her ears flop in agreement: That's right! Bad! Tama, settling down a bit more to explain things carefully to Gigi: See, the thing is- even monsters like us need to get along with other people. Tama: I know a lot, but nowhere near enough to enjoy the benefits of civilization all on my own- I don't know how to fix a toilet, or fill out grant applications or stand in the same room as the mass spectrometer without breaking it, so it's really, really good I've got people Akon over there, who like me, who can, and more importantly are willing to do those things for me!

Gigi, annoyed: Gyou woulgnd AVV to-

Tama: hang on, hang on-

[Tama pokes a few points on Gigi's face and throat, using Reiki to disconnect some of the Cordyceps parasite, then pulls the spire that was developing under Gigi's tongue out. It's much larger than it looked, and makes Gigi's throat wiggle as she removes it.]

Tama: Oh hell, that shouldn't have been there. How were you even talking around that thing girl?

[Tama tosses the fungal spire aside and offers Gigi a water bottle. Gigi takes a few sips before nodding and Tama puts it away.

Tama: Okay, try again-

Gigi: Ugh- You wouldn't HAVE to get along with tall, drak and grumpy back there if he was a zombie!

Tama, disappointed: ... Tama, taking another deep sigh: ...Okay, let's say I zombify Akon-

[Akon cocks and aims the Laer Gun, which whines ominously as it charges]

Tama: WHICH I AM NOT GOING TO DO FOR REASONS I'M ABOUT TO ELABORATE ON, PUT THAT DOWN-

[Akon turns off and lowers the lazer gun, still glaring.]

Tama: Thank you. Tama: I know you're still getting used to how most people have conversations, but that was a normal way to discuss a theoretical scenario and not me about to turn you into a Zombie. Do you understand?

Akon: ...Ues, Sir.

Tama: He used to work for an Evil Clown, don't worry about it- Alright, Let's say I was a micromanaging-type moron, and I decided to zombify Akon instead of just getting along with him. I'd lose all his expertise immediately. No more functioning mass spectrometer or bathrooms.

Gigi, haughty: Mine do.

Tama: Pardon?

Gigi: My zombies keep. most of their skills and personality. At least the ones I make out of corpses. Gigi: Akon could still fix the mass-thingie and if you zombify the Grant Committee you don't even have to ASK for funding.

Tama, intrigued: ...Do they? That's good to know, I'll want to hear more about that later-but that still supports my point.

Tama: Alright, HYPOTHETICALLY I Zombify Akon, and the Grant Committee- well now, the person who's choosing when the mass spectrometer gets fixed and who gets grant money I don't need is ME, and I already have WAY too much work to do, I don't have initiative to spare for them! I got stuff I want to do! I can't micromanage everyone, everywhere all the time! Tama: It's literally easier, more efficient and frankly, way, WAY less stressful to just get along with people and live in a society than to try to DIY one out of corpses.

Gigi: ...I guess.

Tama: So that's my question Gigi. Tama: Are you capable of respecting people's bodily autonomy and personal space to get along with them?

Gigi, frowning and biting her lip: ...

Akon: That doesn't sound like a 'Yes'.

Gigi: It's not though. It's not less stressful to just get along with people. Gigi: That's- That's WHY I learned how to make zombies in the first place. I'd. I'd TRY to get along, dammit! But any time I let people make choices, they chose to get up my ass about my name, or cut off all my hair, or send me off to 'camp', or beat the shit out of me, or- or lock me in the mausoleum and leave me to starve instead of just call me my name or admit they had a daughter- Gigi: ... Gigi: So it was- Gigi: -It was easier with bodies. Gigi: Bodies don't insist you're a boy or call you a freak or take you to a 'private institution' to 'help you get better' where they strap electric paddles to your head and run a million volts through you- Gigi: Dead people are SO MUCH EASIER to get along with! They don't think you're a creep! They don't think at all! Gigi: I mean, why should I-? Why should I try to get along with people who have already made up their minds that they're never, ever gonna get along with me??

Akon: ... Akon: ...I mean, you are kind of a creep-

Tama: -AKON!

Akon: Hang on I'm not done! You are a bit of a creep, but it's not the girl thing, it's the zombie thing!

Gigi: Oh, just because you're scared of a dead body-!

Akon: GIRLIE I'VE BEEN DISSECTING CORPSES SINCE BEFORE I COULD TALK I AIN'T FUCKIN' SCARED AND I AIN'T DISAGREEING WITH YOU- YEAH. IT IS EASIER TO TALK TO A CORPSE THAN A PERSON. I SPENT PRETTY MUCH ALL MY ADOLESCENCE IN THE 12TH DIVISION'S MORGUE BECAUSE TALKIN' TO LIVE PEOPLE SCARED THE FUCK OUTTA ME!!

Gigi: WIMP! YOU HAVE NO IDEA-

Akon: NO, I THINK I FUCKIN' DO! Akon: YOU KNOW WHERE URAHARA HIRED ME OUT OF? Akon: PRISON. Akon: I GOT THROWN IN PRISON WHEN I STILL HAD ALL MY BABY TEETH, *JUST* BECAUSE I WAS SO CURIOUS ABOUT BODIES. JUST BECAUSE I MADE PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE! PRISON-PRISON! THE MAGGOT'S NEST, WHERE THEY KEEP WAR CRIMINALS AND WORSE! Akon: YEAH, TALKIN' TO LIVE PEOPLE SCARED THE SHIT OUTTA ME, BECAUSE THE LAST TIME I TALKED TO SOMEONE, I LITERALLY GOT SENT TO HELL!

Gigi: -!

Akon: Captain Nikuya is RIGHT, the Gotei-13 is the home of Monsters- and the twelfth has got some of the most freakish and frightening ones of the whole guard! Akon: But I'll take the self-vivisecting, species-transgressing, only-barely-human Monsters any day of the week over the maggot's nest because we're all shamelessly, gloriously monstrous together, and the ONE damn rule of the monster's ball is to ASK before you fuck around with someone's stuff, especially their body. Akon: Not "Don't mess with someone's body", Not "Don't be weird", Not "try to be normal". It's "Be freaks and monsters, but also friends."

Akon: God help me if Nemuri ever finds out, but that's why Mayuri is still in that flask. Most of us have a pretty good idea how to isolate his consciousness again, but they way he- I'd have killed him the week after he took over if I had any idea how.

Akon: That's the rule Gigi. No violating anyone's right to live as they are. Akon: That's the difference between a monster- someone people are scared of just for being how they are- and the kind of FILTH that needs to be scrubbed off the earth. Akon: Do you understand Gigi? Nobody gives a shit if you're a girl on purpose or whatever- Fuck, I can think of a few colleagues who'd put themselves on a list for you to reanimate them when they die no matter how much of them actually comes back. It's overwritin' people's minds and controlling bodies BY FORCE. Akon, putting down the gun and patting his coat for his cigarettes: If I understood you right, that's more or less what people tried to do to you, isn't it? Tell you how to act, who you were, by whatever means necessary?

Gigi: ...fuck you.

Akon: Fuck me yourself, you coward.

Gigi: ... Gigi: So what am I supposed to do when someone gets up in my face again? Smile and play nice? Roll over so they can kick my guts out?

Tama: Oh, no- If they violate the "Don't mess with other people's autonomy" rule, all bets are off! That's why when you tried to murder me and Akon a few minutes ago, I was right to infect you with a parasitic fungus to protect myself and stop you! Tama: In fact, the sooner and harder you react to that shit, the less people will try to cross that line, so if anyone tries to fuck with you, you absolutely can and should make an example of them!

Akon, holding up his cigarette to ask if it's alright, and wating for Tama's nod: -If anyone tried that shit with me I'd absolutely turn them into a living educational exhibit on why people need to have skin, but genuinely? Nobody in soul society gives a shit what's in your pants unless they're your doc or fuckin' you.

Gigi, rolling her eyes: Sure, sure-

Tama, laughing: No! Really! It was a surprise for me too.

Gigi: You're lying to me.

Tama, shrugging: Okay, don't believe me, believe your eyes- Tama, ticking people off on her paw-pads: You saw the peacock earlier, he's a seated officer and Baldy is his Husband. Tama: Their boss is the most rampantly bisexual slut I've ever had the pleasure of meeting and the primary load-bearing member of the captainacy polycule-

Akon, starting to giggle: -Yeah I bet he can bear a lot of loads-

Tama, casually plucking off another fungal spire to half-heartedly throw at him: Oh, and the guy who had this job before me IS pregnant with his second child!

Gigi, incredulous: ...The guy with the stupid hat that looks like off-brand Shaggy from Scooby-Doo? That looks more a beer belly.

[Akon: Loud, Snorting Laughter]

Tama: Okay, you're right, it looks more like a beer gut than a baby right now, but PLEASE don't tell him that- He's in the weepy mood swings phase right now, and won't get his sense of humor back until the third trimester. Tama: We' re all placing bets on when Baby Kegger is gonna be born if you want in on the action.

Gigi, Biting her lip and grimacing: I- I don't-

Tama, taking Gigi's hand: -You know firsthand how weird my body is. I'm not properly male or female- I've got at least 21,837 sexes within me because of the insane way I have to metabolically regulate my body. Tama, shrugging: I'm just female in conversation because language hasn't evolved the 12th-dimensional pronouns I'd need yet. But when I brought this up at a meeting, the only question I got from the old man was if my uniform would need altering. Tama: I mean. It did, but that's because I'm 4'6" and i get all my clothes in the children's section, but I'm still amused that that was the captain-general's polite way of asking if I'd need any accomodations.

Gigi: ...Promise it'll be okay?

Tama: I don't know how the war is going to turn out, but if you help us and stop making zombies, I promise I'll do everything I can to make it okay.

[Gigi manages a weak smile]

Akon, wheezing, and doing a terrible Scooby-Doo impresson: Ruh-roh! Rhe Rexperiments Breached Containment, And Raggy's rust Whadder broke!

[Gigi, snorting and giggling in spite of everything}

Tama: See? Now you're laughing. When was the last time a Zombie made you laugh?

Gigi, sniffling a bit as she giggles: ...never.

Tama: So, are you ready to give an alliance a shot?

Gigi: I- I guess?

Tama: You guess? I can't go to the captain-general with a mere hypothesis.

Gigi: ...Yes. Yes, I'm ready.

Tama, grinning: So you're going to be a good girl and keep your bodily fluids to yourself unless asked?

Gigi, turning bright pink: Y-yes!

Tama: Yes, what?

Gigi, going even redder: Yes, sir!

Tama, patting her head and releasing the hold on the Cordyceps, at least for now: ...Very good girl.

Akon, rolling his eyes: Uuuugh....

Tama, helping Gigi up: Hey! You know damn well that positive re-enforcement-

Akon, hefting his Lazer-Gun back onto his shoulder: -is an important part of interpersonal communication, reward the behavior you want to see yeah, yeah-

[Akon is about to turn to leave when a thought occurs to him and he stops and glares at Gigi]

Akon: ...You DO hit like a fuckin' truck.

Gigi, blushing and twirling her hair: Well, I mean-

Akon, pointing accusingly at Tama: I KNEW IT! YOU'RE NOT RECRUITING HER FOR THE WAR, YOU'RE RECRUITING HER FOR THE SHINIGAMI WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION INTRAMURAL CRICKET TEAM!!

Gigi: -the what?

Tama: And what if I am? It doesn't matter to you- The Shinigami Men's Association couldn't keep their wickets up if their lives depended on it!

Akon: -Call me when Matsumoto-taicho can bat out of the pitch!

Tama: Yeah, the fact that Rangiku and Hiyori both suck at it and you STILL lost by 203 points to us is not actually helping your case here.

Gigi: Is. Is cricket a sport?

Akon: SPORT? Cricket is an entire EVENT! It's a Way of Life! It's the philosphical ideal of-

Tama: Yes. Tama: It's a very silly sport, and his team sucks at it.

Gigi: Ooh! If we all live through this, I can be a cheerleader!

Tama, causing problems on purpose: Yeah!

Akon, sputtering with fury: I- That's- CRICKET DOESN'T HAVE CHEERLEADERS!!

Gigi, pouting with her index fingers pressed together, rocking her hips: -But I wanted to cheer for YOU Mr. Akon!

Akon, freezing like a deer in front of an oncoming 18-wheeler: -! Akon, turning ever-so-slightly-pinkish about the ears: ...I'll think about it.

Gigi, grabbing onto Akon's arm: Yay! Gigi, hanging off Akon and babbling: What are the team colors? Do you think like Majorette uniforms are cuter or something more like a miniskirt and halter-top?

Tama, letting them get a bit ahead of her as she dials the main camp: Anyone on the horn? It's Nikuya.

Nanao, on the other end of the communicator: Status report?

Tama: Good news! I've eliminated an enemy, found us an ally AND a new batter for the team if we all live to see spring training.

[em-dash-press]

Are Prologues Worth Your Time?

It felt like every book I picked up when I was a kid and a teenager had a prologue. I thought they were super deep and essential foreshadowing, but then I went to college for creative writing.

You know what every professor taught?

Prologues are outdated and unnecessary.

I was shocked. Not that I’d ever say that I had only read the greatest books (many were trash—and some, beloved trash), but how could so many published books have outdated and unnecessary prologues where they’re supposed to hook a reader?

Here are a few thoughts you can consider when unwrapping this problem for yourself.

Give Your Prologue a Purpose

There are two primary purposes for prologues:

They give the reader a glimpse of a future event in the plot (like a movie trailer).

They give the reader a glimpse into the fictional world’s past to set the scene for the current world (like a flashback).

You don’t necessarily need to put a prologue in your manuscript. Your reader will likely get hooked from the first chapter you’ve worked so hard on. However, if your character/world/conflict will drastically change later, you can make the reader wonder, “How does it get from here to there?” after the first chapter with a prologue.

Flashback prologues are also helpful. A handful of pages could introduce the reader to a conflict (a deity getting betrayed by other gods and cursing all humans to forget they exist) that sets the tone/explains why your universe exists the way it does (every single character and person in the novel doesn’t know about gods because their history has been wiped from their minds, but the protagonist meets one of the gods who betrayed the antagonist deity and wants others to see/hear them too).

How to End a Prologue

Your prologue should end with the reader fully engaged, but wondering—WHAT?!

This might mean that you write your prologue (after deciding on one of the purposes mentioned above) when you’ve finished your manuscript. You’ll know exactly which historical or future point in your world will be most relative to your plot and the most captivating for your reader.

If George R.R. Martin had become inspired to write Game of Thrones based on an idea like this—historically powerful households go to war with each other to regain the most powerful throne in the realm, based on their various birthrights—and written the prologue immediately, we never would have been introduced to the potential-dead-brought-back-to-life in the actual prologue. 

You gotta admit, zombies are a much more gripping hook than political rivalries. Especially when there are so many rivalries and so much history to learn before the tension builds!

When a Prologue May Be Necessary

Sometimes writers feel that their first few chapters are basically info dumps. You may have created a complex world with lots of history, lore, and ongoing conflict. The reader has to understand it all in the first five chapters, but it makes your story read like a textbook.

Prologues can help by summarizing the most important information the reader has to grasp to enjoy your manuscript. Challenge yourself to write some flash fiction (in this case, ~1-3 pages) about your novel’s world to see if you can create a prologue that condenses the most essential info for the reader. You can edit the next few chapters to see if they have better flow/pacing.

Reasons to Avoid Writing a Prologue

You may need to remove your prologue or pass on writing one if you agree with any of these factors:

The info explained in the prologue (history, initial conflict) reappears later in the plot.

You’re including the prologue because your first chapter is boring (just rewrite the first chapter—it will likely still feel boring even with an amazing prologue).

You feel like you have to have one. (This is common in fantasy/sci-fi.)

You want a prologue to set the mood for your story. (That’s the job of your first chapter.)

You need a prologue to do all of your world-building. (Introducing the reader gradually to your world through action-based events the first few chapters is much more engaging than an info-dump prologue.)

Make Your Decision After Getting to Know Your WIP

I tend to think of prologues as something you consider and potentially write well after developing your WIP. Get to know your characters, your plot, the stakes, and the world’s history/conflict before deciding if a prologue would hook your readers. You can always write it in a separate document/page and play around with removing/adding it with beta readers.

[priestessame]

Yandere Baizhu X GN reader

YANDERE BAIZHU! YANDERE BAIZHU! YANDERE BAIZHU!

GN reader.

Warnings: This is pretty morbid, induced illness, death, grief angst, horror, mentions of blood, Baizhu is full yandere, reader is clueless.

<̴̖̖̮̼̻͛̎̈̄3̸̙̞̺̎͊̊̓̀ <̴̖̖̮̼̻͛̎̈̄3̸̙̞̺̎͊̊̓̀ <̴̖̖̮̼̻͛̎̈̄3̸̙̞̺̎͊̊̓̀

In the late afternoon sun, the gentle petals of the flower wither. It elicits a strange smell, lingering in the clinic between the bitter nodes of the herbs.

Sweet.

It had almost become a routine now, you dragging the kid in for her weekly medication and promising her sweets afterward. This time it was almond tofu.

You hunched over to talk to Little Meng again, and a faint scar peeked from under your shirt as it rode up.

But looking at you was never really easy. Baizhu peeled his eyes away from your skin. It was the cut that he had sewn up for you. He had felt a pit in his stomach when he had seen that wound, splitting open your skin like a red mouth.

You had come in grinning after you had an untimely face off with a geo-vishap. He remembered every wound he healed on your body. Every scar like the back of your hand.

"I was just collecting Core lapis." You had explained airily, fanning yourself.

“It will need ssstichess.” Changsheng stated.

“Qiqi…will…get…the…suturing…tools.” The zombie said before hurrying inside. Baizhu crouched down, lifting the hem of your shirt to inspect the wound better. The thin fabric clung to your skin from the sweat.

“You must be more careful,” he said. His voice sounded light, strained from the proximity. A feverish haze clouded his mind as he smelled your blood.

His fingers worked deftly, practiced strokes as he stitched up the wound.

"All done." He sighed, his tone noticeably somber. "Why did you have to go there alone?" He asked you,

You looked at him as if it was obvious. "My brother needed it," you explained through an adoring smile. You shook your head as you continued "he wouldn't shut up about it, plus you can sell them for a good price..."

You chatted on but Bazihu's face soured. You were too attached to that brat. Snotty-nosed and idiotic. Hung on you like an albatross around your neck. He took up all of your time, what's worse was that he demanded it. A weight you would better be rid of.

And when it wasn't your stupid brother, it was the entirety of Liueye.

You were always on your toes, skipping from place to place, a blur before him, like the wind that never stops blowing. Of course, he was a patient man, but even his resilience had limits.

"Even so," Baizhu replied, "You must learn to take better care of yourself," he said, he dropped the scissors and string in the bamboo-sewn basket beside him.

"Yes, doc." You replied sheepishly before hopping to your feet.

"Wait a minute now, I haven't given you any ointment-"

But you were already halfway out, "Sorry Baizhu I gotta run, I'll come by for some later I promise!" You replied, the departing smile craving into flesh.

Something in him stilled as he watched you run back.

"Does... this... go... in the... incinerator?" QiQi asked him. The doctor gritted his teeth, biting down on his cheek so hard he drew blood. His fingers dipped into the basket, pulling out the cloth soaked in your blood.

"Yes QiQi." He replied, dismissing the zombie. The child followed through at once, trotting away with the basket. Baizhu knew that this was the borderline. It was sick and psychotic. A line couldn't return from once he crossed it.

"What are you doing?" Changshen hissed as he brought it to his lips. But the desire was maddening. The metallic taste of your blood curled in his mouth. A part of you to keep to himself forever. His fingers curled around the cloth, droplets of blood sliding down his knuckles. Surprisingly his heart was perfectly still as he snaked his tongue out to taste it again. To taste you again.

"Oh Baizhu." Changsheng's voice hissed out.

At that moment the thought was as simple as it was sudden. He had to own you.

His amber eyes followed your figure as it walked back to the bustling crowd of the harbor.

And if he had to own you that deadweight of a brother had to go.

<̴̖̖̮̼̻͛̎̈̄3̸̙̞̺̎͊̊̓̀ <̴̖̖̮̼̻͛̎̈̄3̸̙̞̺̎͊̊̓̀ <̴̖̖̮̼̻͛̎̈̄3̸̙̞̺̎͊̊̓̀

He was taken by surprise when it actually worked. Being the most trusted doctor in the harbor, his ways weren't even questioned. Your brother's death was easily brushed past as a tragedy.

It had been perfect, everything he had dreamed of. You had sobbed silently, trembling as the rain poured down outside. He could tell you had run back to the village in the rain. Your clothes were completely drenched, but he didn’t mind at all. He had never felt so full before. The way you had curled into him in your moments of grief, burying your face in his chest.

He had held you regardless, ignoring how the poison was already causing the corpse to rot, flooding the room with a sap-like sweet smell. Ignoring how you were still soaked from the ice-cold rain and ignoring Director Hu's steely- skeptical gaze.

That moment was his epiphany. His fingers trailed down your arms, it was the moment he had waited for all this time. This is how he could have you. This was the only way you would ever need him.

Through grief and pain.

But it didn't last.

You had gotten better.

Healed they said. With everyday you learnt to live with the pain, you pulled further away from him. Your visits to the phramcy getting shorter.

Your pursuits taking you further and further away from liuye, further and further away from Him.

He couldn’t fucking let that happen. Not when he had come so close. Not now when he had gotten away with so much.

If he had to own you, he couldn't have you jumping around.

<̴̖̖̮̼̻͛̎̈̄3̸̙̞̺̎͊̊̓̀ <̴̖̖̮̼̻͛̎̈̄3̸̙̞̺̎͊̊̓̀ <̴̖̖̮̼̻͛̎̈̄3̸̙̞̺̎͊̊̓̀

"Why don't I get you a full dish of Almond tofu to celebrate later?" You said.

The child looked up at you with a tear-soaked face, "Y-You promise?" She choked out through her sobs.

"Of course!" you said, "You can even help me make it later."

"Okay." The child replied, shifting on her feet. "I'll have it."

Gui gave out a relieved sigh, " Then I shall prepare it right away." he said clapping his hands.

You gave him a weary smile, finally deciding to sit down on a chair near you. His eyes caught the faintest tremor in your legs as you did.

It won't kill you now. He would never do that. He just loves you so much, he wants you away from all the danger.

And watching you today he can tell it's working already. The small amounts he had given you wouldn't show the direct effects right away. It would happen over time, lazily, lulling you into a false sense of safety.

The faint flush on your cheek, the ragged out-of breath manner in which your chest heaved. Such a reaction from just walking up the stairs to the pharmacy.

The delight was almost too much for him.

"Everything all right?" He asked you, finally deciding to step in. You gave him an exhausted smile, "Yeah." you replied shakily, "Just a little tired."

He had made the poison with so much love, so much dedication. Crafted from changsheng's own venom and sweetened it with honeydew. He wondered if he would taste it on your lips. He would finally taste something else then, something other than the harsh bitter medicine he had to drink all his life.

He had known there would be no cure. Something made from changsheng's venom couldn't ever be negated. By no one else, and after a while even he wouldn't be able to stop it. You would have to live with it, to bear it's pain for the rest of your life, live every breath laboured. Yes it sounded harsh but that's what you had done to him, didn't you see?

Crippled him with the thought of you, day and night. This way you'd know what it felt like. This way you would need him. You'll need him to live. Always.

You shook your head, "I feel like I'm getting lightheaded more often." You said softly.

His fingers were clammy as they felt your forearm. “Remember the medicine takes it own time to show its full effects.” Baizhu replied,

“That aside, are set for the trip to Inazuma? I heard the Crux is leaving tomorrow morning.”

A darkness crept onto your features. Your shoulder’s slumped, a feign smile lacing your lips, “I- decided against it this time.” You replied.

“I see,” Baizhu said.

And if you didn't already, you'd learn to love him eventually.

"C-can i g-get almond tofu n-now?" Meng sobbed curling her small arm around your leg.

You gave her head a small pat, "of course."

Baizhu smiled as he handed you your poison, "Now don't forget your own medicine either." He reminded you, the vial was small, fitting in the palm of your hand. "He stayed up lasst night to make it," Changsheng added.

The gratitude in your eyes tightened his chest, "Thank you, doctor." You chimed back, "You do too much for me."

Baizhu smiled, behind him the violet of the flower looked hauntingly beautiful. The setting autumn sky making it glow like a yellow-eyed predator.

You'll need him forever.

"It's only my duty."

<̴̖̖̮̼̻͛̎̈̄3̸̙̞̺̎͊̊̓̀ <̴̖̖̮̼̻͛̎̈̄3̸̙̞̺̎͊̊̓̀ <̴̖̖̮̼̻͛̎̈̄3̸̙̞̺̎͊̊̓̀

im soory if this got a little too intense, but goddamn do I love insane yandere baizhu or what TTTT

[aquietwritingcorner]

Help Them

Title: Help Them Day: Febuwhump 2024, Day 26 Prompt: Help Them  Fandom:  TMNT 2003 Word Count: 1399  Author: aquietwritingcorner/realitybreakgirl Rating:  T Characters: Raphael Warning: NA Summary: Kevin Eastern has been on his patrol nearly seven years now, working with his partner Peter Lairdman, and he’s seen some crazy stuff. Yet somehow, coming face to face with a turtle man that’s trying to keep a wall from collapsing on some citizens is still pretty high up there.    Notes: Why yes, I did take those two cops we see all the time in 2003, that are supposed to be representations of Eastman and Laird and give them slightly different names because I could. It’s fun!    ff.net || AO3

___________________________

Help Them

Kevin Eastern had seen a lot a lot of strange things in his time as a cop. Over the past seven or so years, he’d seen alien invasions, zombie apocalypses, dragons, and a million smaller things that just added up. It was to the point that even seeing superheroes had become unimpressive. He was beginning to understand his partner’s comment of “Pfft, rookie,” that first night, when some little green men in costumes had thrown money at them from an armored car. He wouldn’t blink twice if that happened to him now.

And yet, somehow, he still hadn’t expected to find himself face to face with a little green man who was seemingly holding up a wall to keep it from falling on people.

That was the problem with natural disasters in a city like this. There was too much to fall and too many people to get injured. Sure, out in the country you’d get more trees and stuff falling, but it was more likely to be property damage and not people in danger. Here, now, there were people trapped and in danger, all thanks to what he was assuming was an earthquake.

He and his partner, Lairdman, had been on patrol when it happened. They’d immediately taken off to try to help people and get a grip on the situation as soon as the quake had been over. Going in slightly different directions, Eastern had heard cries of distress and headed straight for them. He’d come across a half-collapsed alleyway, with one large section of wall forming a bit of a cave area. There was an old woman, a boy, a woman, and a few other adults trapped under it. And above them all, braced against the wall, as if keeping it from coming down more, was a green man, a turtle man, with a red mask, who looked like he was throwing his all into keeping that wall from falling on them. He locked eyes with Eastern and grunted out one phrase.

“Help. Them.”

Eastern wasted no time.

Moving quickly, he threw himself into pulling the people out of there. Some of them were simply scared, but there were a couple who were pinned by debris. Eastern worked fast, some of the others helping him, as he moved some debris off of a man, freeing him, and helped others to move out. His partner showed up at some point, immediately lending a hand and not even commenting on the turtle man.  Soon they were just down to the old woman, the kid, his mom, and the turtle man himself. The old woman, he discovered, was blind, and she had hurt her leg. Eastern moved to help her out.

“No, no!” she said. “What about Raphael?”

“I’ll be fine, Ms. M,” the creature said, strain in his voice, clearly not fine. “But you gotta get out of here.”

“We can’t leave you!” the boy shouted, clearly upset.

The turtle grunted. “Go with your mom, Tyler, and Ms. Morrison,” he said. “I can’t—uuungh—I can’t help myself and you. Go!”

“Please,” Eastern said to the three who were left. “We’ll come back for him, but we have to get you out here.”

That seemed to be enough to get them moving, and Eastern led them out, trying to get them to safety. Lairdman helped, taking the old woman, while Eastern escorted the boy and his mother out of the collapsing alleyway. Once he was sure they were safe, he turned around, intent on keeping his promise.

And then the ground rolled again.

Someone yelled “Aftershock!” and nearly everyone found themselves on the ground one way or another. Lairdman threw himself across the old woman, trying to protect her, and Eastern did the same for the boy and his mother. But they all watched in horror as what was left of the alley collapsed, burying the turtle creature.

The boy yelled, but it was lost in the sounds of the aftershock, and other yelling. Eastern held tightly on to him, only letting up when the aftershock seemed to have passed. He stared at the collapse. The turtle man was buried under that, now.

And then, suddenly, to his shock, there were three other turtle men there, appearing out of seemingly nowhere. They glanced back at the people, but their attention was focused on the collapse, and the other turtle man underneath it.

“Raph! Raph!” one with an orange mask was yelling.

“Donnie—what do we do?” the blue one asked.

The one with the purple mask—Donnie, presumably—was looking over the collapse with a critical, if somewhat panicked, eye. “Mikey, don’t get up there!” he snapped at the orange one, who immediately complied. “We don’t want to put extra pressure on it, if we can.” He pointed to a few areas. “We’ll need to start digging here and here and see if we can get to him.”

“Do you—do you think he’s okay?” the orange one said.

“Okay or not, we’re not leaving our brother buried there,” the blue one said, and immediately started working under the purple one’s direction.

For a moment, Eastern stared in disbelief at what he was seeing. These three turtle men working hard to try to rescue their fourth—one who had rescued all of these people, who could have easily just turned on him.

Eastern pushed to his feet.

He walked closer to the turtle men, and they froze, watching him carefully, warily.

“You said, here, right?” he said, and reached to help move a large piece of debris. The turtle men exchanged a look, but nodded and went back to work, Eastern helping them.

It was only seconds before he heard someone else say “Come on, let’s help them!” and soon everyone that could was doing what they could to help out. Piece by piece, bit by bit, they moved debris, clearing a path according to Donnie’s instructions. Within thirty minutes they had eyes on the red turtle man, Raphael, and within ten after that, there was enough room for someone to go in and get him.

Eastern volunteered.

Raphael had gotten lucky, and part of the collapsing wall had stayed together, enough to give him a small cave that he’d stayed safe in. He was hurt, that was true, but he wasn’t dead, and he was able to pull himself out, with only a little help from Eastern.

As soon as he was out, his brothers swarmed him, checking over him and talking over each other at once, even as the others around cheered. The boy, Tyler, ran to him, knocking into his legs and holding him tightly, and Ms. Morrison called out to him. Raphael tightened his hold on Eastern’s arm.

“Yeah, Ms. M, I’m good,” Raph called out, even as he reached down with his free hand to pat Tyler’s head. “I’ll be fine with a little rest.”

Donnie shot him a look, and Eastern had the feeling that Raphael wouldn’t be up and around for a while.

“Hey.” Raphael tugged on his arm, and Eastern turned his attention back to the turtle man. “Thanks. For helping them. And, you know, not shooting me on sight or something.”

Eastern gave him a bit of a smile. “Nah,” he said, “We help each other. Besides—with an accent like that, you’ve got to be a native, even if you aren’t human.”

Raphael laughed, and let go of Eastern’s arm, and Eastern moved back and away.

The blue one, Leo, turned to face the small group, and bowed to them, even as Donnie gave Raphael a more thorough look over.

“Thank you,” Leo said. “We couldn’t have gotten our brother free without your help.” He glanced at Donnie, who nodded, and Mikey reached out to take a hold of Raph. “We’re grateful,” Leo said. “But we’ll take it from here.”

As if on some unseen cue, the four of them faded back into the shadows, disappearing.

Lairdman came up beside Eastern, staring at where the turtle men had been. “Huh,” he said, and then clapped Eastern on the back. “Welp, let’s keep going. Lots of other people to help. I’m sure we’ll see them around again.”

Eastern nodded and took one last glance before turning to go. “Yeah,” he said. “I’m sure we will.”

And who knew? Maybe they’d have another chance to help them, if they could.

[acidh2otoby]

Can't Let You Go

Carlos Oliveira x Male!Reader

Warnings: Injury, death, angst

Won 2nd place from this post.

You didn't expect to spend almost four days trying to survive and escape a zombie infested city but that's what happened. You were a U.B.C.S. soldier and your platoon was sent in to save people but that didn't work out. As far as you were concerned, the only people alive were you, Carlos, Tyrell, Jill, and Nicholai.

You and Carlos had started dating a few months back but kept it completely secret due to most people still not being the most supportive of gay people. The confession and dates and such were done in the privacy of either yours or Carlos' apartments. You loved Carlos to death and would do anything for him and you knew he'd do the same, even if you weren't dating.

Carlos had informed you and Tyrell about what he found in Nathaniel Bard's office in the hospital and wanted one of you to go with him and one of you to stay with Jill. You decided to go with Carlos since Tyrell looked like he could use the break. That was unfortunately the last time you both saw Tyrell.

The underground lab was full of zombies but you both managed but ended up nowhere near getting a vaccine or anything. You both found yourselves helping Jill fight the monster Nemesis from a control panel. Then chasing down Nicholai since he stole the vaccine Jill made and was about to leave the three of you to die.

Carlos had gotten to him first and put up a fight but Nicholai managed to get the upper hand and knocked Carlos out. You tried to attack him with your knife but that also didn't work out. Nicholai shot you in the abdomen, you fell backwards and tried to stop the bleeding by forcefully holding the bullet wound.

Your hearing and vision became somewhat of a blur and you heard a few gunshots near you until you felt someone grab you and hold you. The person held you tight and was saying something but couldn't hear it at first. Your vision cleared a bit and you saw Carlos, he looked scared and a little tired.

"Hey, (Y/N). Can you hear me?" Carlos asked, cupping your face.

You nodded before coughing up some blood, Carlos put some pressure on the wound once he saw where it was.

"Listen, you're gonna be okay. I'm... I'm gonna get you out of here, I'll take you to a hospital and everything will be okay." Carlos said, his voice becoming shaky.

"Carlos..." You muttered, knowing that none of that was gonna happen. "Stop lying..."

"I'm not. Come on, I've gotta--" Carlos tried to pick you up.

"No, just go." You said, pushing Carlos away a little.

"I'm not leaving you here." Carlos said, still trying to pick you up.

"Carlos, there isn't time." You said before coughing again. "Just go, please."

Carlos began to protest again but you stopped him by kissing him, making his full attention go to you.

"I love you, but I'd love you more if you'd go and find someone better for you." You said, trying to smile.

Carlos shook his head before Jill grabbed him and started pulling him away. Carlos kept saying stuff but you were too tired to listen or watch.

Things went silent after the helicopter left, it was just you all alone. You didn't know where Nicholai went off to but because of how silent it was, you were assuming he died or managed to get away. The sun was starting to rise and you had just enough strength to find where the sun was and watch it rise before nothing. No more pain, no light, no sound, nothing.

You were gone.

Carlos and Jill were still in the helicopter but had found a place to land and stay for a little. They had been quiet since landing but they both knew why. Jill was the first one to even say anything.

"I'm sorry." Jill said before sighing. "I'm sorry for everything."

"It isn't your fault. It'd be one thing if you made the virus but you didn't." Carlos replied, he wasn't the same since he left.

"That (Y/N) guy, he a good friend of yours?" Jill asked, she didn't see much of you except at the end.

Carlos was just about to say "Yes" but stopped himself and decided to just be honest. "A little more than friends. We, uh... we were boyfriends." Carlos said, avoiding eye contact with Jill.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't know." Jill said, she sounded like she was about to cry.

"No one knew. We kept it a secret because we didn't wanna risk either one of us getting hurt." Carlos said, shrugging a little.

Jill didn't say anything after that, she felt terrible about everything. Carlos was grieving in a silent way but he was still upset. He didn't know how he could move on, or even if he could.

[incandescent-creativity]

Well, the nightmare was awful, but now I have a great idea for a zombie novel premise if I ever need one.

‘Twas basically a terrible combination of IT (2017) and zombies.

All the zombies looked like the egg boy from that movie, the headless one that chased Ben in the library? If you want a picture of what I’m talking about: This one. 

The parasite had hollowed out the human, and the stump of the neck is held closed, like a more secure turtle shell. It only comes out to feed, by launching most of its body out of the host human and wrapping around the torso of the victim. Some internal machinations (ie lots of teeth) cut the head off to eat, and shove a zombie seed down the now-exposed esophagus.

Once the seed is planted inside, it grows in an otherwise inert corpse. It doesn’t even become a zombie right away, because the baby parasite consumes the internal organs when it hatches, so it’s not walking around yet. It’s gotta eat and grow first. But once it’s eaten everything and made a nice happy home inside, it can continue the life cycle.

Now, the weird dream part of this was that Kratos from God of War was there. 

He wasn’t fighting back against the houseful of headless zombies, because he had fallen prey to the classic zombie trap of “No, that’s definitely still my son.” Sir. He has no head. What are you doing.

But the whole haunted mansion house (very similar to the house on Niebolt Street, actually. Another IT tie-in. Weird.) was full, and he wasn’t fighting any of them, because I vaguely remember something about a hivemind? Which I could probably work in thanks to the cloning reproductive cycle thing. 

Anyway once I woke up I thought it would be cool to have a zombie novel where you can’t just “aim for the head” and call it good. And I do still think it’s cool! 

But I also absolutely woke up paralyzed with certainty that I was going to look around and see a bunch of headless people standing there. So that was a fun way to start the morning.

[imsparky2002]

Ghouls and Monsters - The Ghost

(SpectrAlya is working on her blog at her bedroom’s desk, waiting for her species’s counterpart. Suddenly the TV turns on with tons of static, as KagaRing crawls out, her eyes covered by hair, her white dress flowing, as she twists her head around with a creepy smile.)

KagaRing: Boo.

(This is how ghosts usually greet each other.)

SpectrAlya: Boo to you too. This was a surprise for sure.

KagaRing: I didn’t expect the ghost to be one of my sisters, not especially one who’s a mummy. It’s fascinating to see you without any bandages on.

SpectrAlya: (Smiles) And it’s a kick for me to see you without horns and scales!

KagaRing: Now that I would very much like to see. Do you have any pictures?

(SpectrAlya pulls up her personal blog, and clicks the ‘Friends’ section, scrolling till she comes to a picture of her with DracoGami.)

KagaRing: Ah, I see by the drawing that Juleka’s the same, albeit with much different attire. I can’t say the same for the others, but it’s still nice to see you all together. Even Luka is still alive.

SpectrAlya: Oh, I’m so sorry to hear he passed!

KagaRing: He is always with us in our hearts, and we can visit him in the spirit realm!

SpectrAlya: (Looking relieved) That’s good to hear. Ooh! Do you go to school too?

KagaRing: We spend a lot of time in DuPont, but we receive our education from the Witches of Wisdom.

(She shows a ghostly picture of the Witches of Wisdom teaching scare tactics to the Ghoul Squad. The ghost journalist perks up, noticing it’s Miss Bustier and Giselle, as well as Mendeliev with an attached head.)

SpectrAlya: Wow, it’s weird seeing Ms. B and Giselle as witches instead of zombies! And Ms. Mendeliev isn’t holding her head in her hands!

KagaRing: Well ours can do that with a spell, but usually it causes shenanigans to ensue.

(SpectrAlya chuckles before becoming worried all of a sudden.)

SpectrAlya: Do… monsters get treated any better in your dimension?

KagaRing: In my version of Paris, we are seen as heroes, and the large majority of people are tolerant of monsters…but there will always be the exceptions.

SpectrAlya: Girl, I can’t help but envy that. You guys get to kick butt against bad guys, and we gotta go into quarantine when Halloween comes around.

KagaRing: That…sounds horrible. I can’t imagine living in a world where we hide away because we have no other choice.

SpectrAlya: Oh it isn’t all bad! There are humans who support and protect us! Plus, I’m going to a great school, got a great boyfriend, support group, and blog! Ooh, does your Alya have one?

KagaRing: Yes, she does. She’s very passionate about it.

SpectrAlya: I do hope I have more than a ghost of a chance to meet her.

KagaRing: (Giggling) Oh, you'll meet her soon enough.

Here's the next installment in the crossover, which you can thank Weeby for helping me write! I hope you enjoyed the Scared Straight post, I certainly did. Make sure to reblog, reply, post and ask for more. @artzychic27 @msweebyness

[rollercoasterwords]

hey rae, congrats on winning the costume contest! gotta be honest, i got very curious about what you think about promising young woman's politics and the ending. i remember enjoying it, other than thinking it was a bit irresponsable at some parts... but also i watched it a while ago and dont really remember much from it. im currently reading the zombie essays you rec'd, and im franlky loving it so so much. monster theory my beloved. And this is the first time im reading about zombies through sexuality lens, all essays i've read about zombies so far were about afro-latin religions and black resistance during colonization, but im loving, reading it in bed while giggling and quicking my feet, etc.... bc "queer zombie jesus" deserves to be a bed read cmom look at that sexy combination of words. hope you're doing well!! xxx substack guy

hi substack guy <3 would love 2 share my thoughts abt promising young woman but i will do that in a min + put it under a cut bc. spoilers etc. love that ur enjoying the zombie essays tho!! there are so many different angles 2 approach zombies as a monster; if u have any reading recs abt religion + colonization my inbox is always open...i have a book or 2 downloaded but have mostly read scattered articles in that vein. agree that 'queer zombie jesus' is SO fun that was one of my fave articles from zombies & sexuality lol. also just recently bought a book called dead white & blue that's abt zombies + usamerican nationalism so. excited 2 start exploring that topic as well...

anyway. promising young woman thoughts (got long...also tw sa):

still thinking & working thru them etc but. generally speaking i am not a huge fan of movies that fall into the rape revenge genre so i typically start them skeptical, and ultimately i thought it was...an odd choice to have the main character be seeking revenge not for herself, but on behalf of her dead friend's past assault...talk abt a dead girl haunting the narrative etc...but like. usually one of my issues w rape revenge is the tendency to turn the person who's been assaulted into this figure of the Righteous Victim such that they become less a person + more a symbol onto which an audience gets to project + live out violent catharsis etc...honestly don't necessarily think there's an inherent issue with creating or seeking out that form of catharsis in film but i just. do not think it is particularly politically useful...+ this setup just like. took that to the next level by literally removing the Victim from the narrative entirely, stripping her character of all agency + personhood, and making her friend the Agent seeking Justice on her behalf which. i mean it's a bit ironic innit...

was also not too sure how i felt abt the whole setup of "woman goes to bars, acts drunk, and there's ALWAYS a creep who tries to take her home + assault her"...i'm somewhat torn feeling-wise here bc i used to very much have this sort of "all men are [potential] monsters" mentality that like no matter where u go there will be someone there ready 2 take advantage of u but. i no longer feel like that is a very useful framework 4 discussing or addressing sexual violence. firstly in that it tends to devolve quickly into the sort of gender essentialism that i am fundamentally opposed to, but also bc it seems so defeatist to me. how are u supposed 2 address a problem if u assume that the problem is already so baked in, and in such simplistic terms? so while i do understand that this is a film and it's sort of dramatizing what is a very real issue, i'm not sure i was entirely sold on the way it was dramatizing it...felt like it was trying 2 highlight but in the process was also flattening 2 a certain extent...

and then like. i did to some extent appreciate the way the film is trying to highlight that it's oftentimes "nice guys" committing sexual violence, especially bc rape revenge films often just portray the "bad guys" as like. cartoonishly evil. but i felt like even there the film was still wanting to get back into that black + white territory, which manifested especially in the bo burnham character. like, on the one hand the film wants to highlight the fact that people committing sexual violence are often sympathetic, perhaps even kind, "nice" people and not obviously evil bad guys, but on the other hand it did not seem to want to sit in the gray area of what that means at all (ie, asking the audience to actually sympathize with or relate to anyone implicated in acts of sexual violence), meaning that whenever we found out a character was involved in an assault that character immediately became a completely unsympathetic bad guy. and like, again, i understand why the film wants to do that--nobody wants to encourage someone to sympathize with a rapist. but irl sexual violence is by and large not black and white, and the fact is that most people are able to sympathize with and relate to people who have committed these forms of violence, because they're not cartoonishly evil bad guys--they're friends, partners, coworkers, family members, etc. and so again, this just isn't a framework that i find particularly useful in addressing irl sexual violence, bc i think it leads to this dichotomy we so often seen where if The Perpetrator/The Accused is not clearly Evil, then they must be Innocent. so like. the film tries, in some ways, to trouble that dichotomy, but i think in the end it just falls back into it--it's just that the guys we thought were "nice" are actually "bad"; imo the audience isn't really encouraged to sit in any emotional stew beyond that.

i do give the movie props for the actual way it handled portrayals of assault; i thought it did a pretty good job there. in particular was a fan of the way they elected to never show the actual video of nina, and how in basically any scene with sexual violence the emphasis was largely on the face + emotions of the person experiencing it. and i mean i did enjoy the movie, for the most part, while i was watching it--like i thought it was a pretty engaging film, good acting, etc.

but if anything the ending really. solidified my disappointment in the politics of the movie. not just bc cassandra died--honestly, i think the death was an interesting choice and there are ways they maybe could have played it that i would have liked more. but having the "triumphant" ending be the cops swooping in to arrest al...give me a fucking break lol. like u set up this whole movie abt how the legal system + these various institutions fail people who have experienced sexual violence, and then...i'm supposed to expect the cops to handle it? the justice system that already failed previously in the movie? and the entire framing of the ending--cassandra's final texts, the music, etc--makes it clear that this is supposed to be a triumphant moment. so i was just like. wtf....like in the end both women are dead. what form of justice is the suggestion that their abuser might go to prison? especially when prison itself is a violent + corrupt institution that must be abolished as part of the fight to end sexual violence? just a very shitty ending overall to what was already a movie that had me sort of going "hmmm...idk" throughout lol. so! those r my thoughts currently

[hearts4golbach]

Zombified. (Larry Johnson x Fem!Reader.)

part 2

co-written by @cupid-isgone

it's been ages since I'd last seen the group! Seeing the three work together so smoothly... they were different. but somehow the same, as well. sal laughed when he saw who I was and doubled down on Larry, taking care of me.

as if I needed 'taking care of'.'

I glared at Larry, immediately hating every second of what just happened. he has sold me skunk weed countless times until I cussed him out, resulting in me being shoved into a locker. we had fought every day until graduation. I rolled my eyes. "I can take care of myself. I don't need Larry, thank you very much."

"As if! you can't even stand right now on your own." Larry smirked at me.

sal clapped his hands once. "Great, so you agree to help her until she's better, right?"

"I did NOT say that."

"Glad we agree. now, we all need to head somewhere safer. this city is overrun by zombies by now. but there should be a forest nearby."

"Yeah, i don't really want to become a human happy meal." I smiled, ignoring Larry's rude manner.

I began to stand by myself before falling on my ass.

"for fucks sake, Larry, just help the poor girl." sally rolled his eyes.

Larry grunted as he lifted me to my feet and adjusted, moving my arm around his shoulders and his around my waist. I could feel my face heat up with embarrassment.

by now, my arm had been put into a makeshift sling, and the pain was easier to ignore.

"Let's just get going." I didn't want to deal with Larry's standoffish behavior, but at least he was cute.

his muscular arms flexed as they wrapped tighter around me. my face was still hot, but with more than embarrassment.

"okay, look, if we get through the forest we will come across a different town. the further south we get, the less there are. there should also be a stable amount of supplies." sal cleared his throat, pulling up a map.

"You know that's just a rumor? they same the same thing about here." I mention.

Todd piped up from where he was standing. "it's the best we can hope for right now. if there's even a small chance, we have to take it."

"he's right, and we should leave now before the hoard circles back around." sal said.

Larry and I nodded, and we set off. ignoring the fact that I could barely move, the trek started out easy enough.

"By the way, sal, the hoard was already here and almost killed Y/n."

sal rolled his eyes. "You know they're  fucking everywhere, right?"

we began our March towards the woodlan, which was more or less an awkward hobble for me.

the forest was quiet at first, but then the sun started setting. there weren't any in sight, but we could hear some zombies. we had to find somewhere to stay soon. it was barely a few minutes later that we saw a small building.

"the fuck is this? Larry asked, cautiously opening the door.

"a fucking shed, you idiot. what does it look like?" I retorted.

"It looks like this is camp tonight." sal groaned, placing his sleeping bag as close to the wall as he could so that there was room for all of us.

"You've gotta be shitting my dick." Larry grumbled, setting up out sleeping bags next to Todd's.

my sleeping bag was against the other wall, but I had to be turned towards Larry to avoid putting pressure on my bad arm.

"What are you looking at?" he whispered, not wanting to wake anyone up.

"You." I replied bluntly. I was having trouble sleeping, but I wasn't going to tell HIM that.

"You're so weird." Larry closed his eyes.

"Why did you turn to look at me?" I looked away from him and began working on my snapped bandages.

Larry's eyes flickered open to look at me once more. "Let me help."

"I'm fine." I attempted to argue, but he ignored me. his soft hands gently caressed my arm, sending goosebumps around my whole body. I looked up at him, admiration forming as I watched his concentrated face. "...thanks." I shivered as a cold wind passed through the run-down shack. Larry, without even looking up, pulled me closer. he hummed a vague acknowledgment, but otherwise said nothing. I exhaled slowlythroughh my nose. "weirdo." I teased.

"shut the fuck up dude, I'm cold too." I rolled my eyes at him. I looked down at my tattered jacket. Larry seemed to sense my worry and sat up.

"Where are you going?" I questioned him. he didn't answer as he reached into his backpack and brought out a black hoodie that said 'Sanitys Fall' on the front.

"I was keeping this for memories, but I guess you need it more." he whispered, tossing it to me before laying back down and pulling me close once more.

the hoodie smelled vaguely of cologne. it was neatly folded so it would fit as small as it could in his bag. I closed my eyes and exhaled the musk.

we were just laying down, looking at each other.

it was like Larry was trying to look into my soul and pull me apart, like he was trying to figure something out.

I shifted the best I could without agrivating my injuries. "stop looking at me like that."

"like what?"

like I was a particularly tough puzzle, like I was somebody he wanted to know.

"like a loser."

"I look like a loser? I'm not the one with a broken arm." he held a proud smirk on his face.

"yeah, you do." I frowned.

"flip that frown upside down, babe. there's no need to be sad." he chuckled, pinching my cheek.

I slapped his hand away. "get your crusty hands off of me." I mumbled.

"awe, someone is a little moody."

I huffed. "anyone would be moody if they were stuck with you for too long."

"you sat that, but you don't seem really upset, do you?" Larry snorted as I was silent for a short moment.

"oh, shut up." it was late and yawns were interrupting my sentences often. I could hardly think of any good comebacks anymore as my eyes finally fluttered shut.

"falling asleep on me already, y/n?" I could hear the smugness in his voice, but it was strangely comforting.

"Yeah, stupid. I'm in a lot of pain, and having to look at your face makes it worse."

Larry mumbled something incoherent under his breath. I snuggled close to his chest and fell asleep.

[iobartach]

have a quick(?) rambling / shallow(?) dive on the verses i got for this blog, bc boi i got some thinkings ;

soo i've got three 'core' canon..ish... verses so to say, which are;

comhrá an bhaile mhóir seo

pre-atsv miguel, covering young!miguel, alchemax!miguel, vigilante!miguel, etc. all earth-928 based. basically covers everything before he goes messing with multi-verse tech. probs will be slightly more quippy & approachable here? i just can't write quips to save my life. 🥴bourbon's human!lyla also plays a big role in this, they're quite close!! as for the inclusions of dana.... hah :') xina though, yes. he still despises both george & tyler with a passion, and relations with... conchata... and also even gabriel are, for this verse... rockyyy... to say the least.

trasnaigh an rubaicón

the main boi. and the default verse for crossovers especially. atsv based, with miguel being a leader and an absolutely changed and grieving man. i'm really enjoying putting him all over the place, especially in the present. take heed around him. main objective is stopping anomalies, and making sure more dimensions don't, uh,,, get destroyed,,, also gabriel's still alive... r-right, movie? you wouldn't kill him off too,,, would you, movie? :')))

fear as am

kind of one aimed mostly at 616 / comics things. might occasionally use this at random, but it's more for interactions with chars who are 616 based and not mcu / movie affiliated. my spin on this is it follows the premise of necessary evil , where stone basically fucks him over and strands him in the past, but with atsv!mig instead of comics!mig. still ironing out the details how this happened. (maybe the portal functionality of his dimensional gizmo got blocked or something?) idk, still needs work!

now for the au's!!!

an chéad chéim eile

prototype au. absolutely hit the ground running with this! tysm, sen! premise is miguel becomes an evolved -- replete with all the body horror such a transformation could possibly entail ( read - he gets spidery limbs 👀 ) i gotta yell at u, sen & abraxas (heyo 👋) more about this, but if more folks are also interested... hmu 👀

is fearr a fhios ag athair

a venture crafted w/ gabriella-trn1042's spider!gabri. alt take on atsv verse, whilst also amping up the 'miguel goes fucking around with genetics again' vibes. as close to villain!miguel as i might dare get, with the core premise of miguel turning a variant gabriella into a spider creature , with mig himself doing a good ol' heel-monster turn himself. loaded with angst and body horror. heavy on 'the fly' vibes, if you've seen that movie. been thinking of opening this up to other plots, if i can keep the core of this au intact... any takers? 🤔 gonna add a caveat tho that anything for this verse will likely need to be plotted.

laoch imithe dul ar strae

overwatch au. i... had a kernel of an idea for this verse... but i forgot to write it down. 🥴 may need to work shop this -- think i had the vague idea of saying it's scientist!miguel w/ gene implanting work existing in this au, but makes him a target of talon and the like?

lúb bheag i slabhra mór

kinddd of a corpo!miguel / cyberpunk 2077 au? might just split this out into separate verses eventually, but this is one that i'm currently trying to cook up ( inspiration is... mmm :') ) basic premise for this , if leaning into cyberpunk 2077 side, is miguel's an arasaka stooge, with links to the relic biochip. ik, ik.. i... need to work on it. 🥴

ocras buile

bleach au. basically zombie!miguel, turned by contact with sternritter gigi's / giselle's blood, when alive. that's... about the extent of what i have for now,,,, needa plot / use it more!

ag troid ar nós an

kengan ashura au. made simply bc i could and i just,,, loved the thought of having miguel brawl for alchemax ,,, sue me ,,, 👀 i could also go the whole nine yards and say that, pssst, maybe miguel's a corporate raider in this au, enhanced by his one gene imprinting tech ... trust me, give me an inch, i'll take a damn mile 😂so if anyone's interested...? 👀

----

anddd that's it for now!!! will there be more au's in future? probably! i just can't think of anything extra, aside from a wrestler au?

i'm always open to ideas and suggestions for aus tho? 👀 even if i don't know the fandom, i might still give it a try! you never know!!

[bunky-writes]

Chapter 4:

“The Rise”

After that incident, Pax and I started hanging out a lot. He was friendly, humorous, and naturally a good guy. He was cute as well but that’s not something I wanted to act on. I already had a difficult time gaining friends, I didn’t need to get a crush on a developing friendship.

“I’m telling you, there’s gotta be some zombies out there, like in Fallout!”

Pax has been debating the existence of zombies and other mutated creatures after ‘The Incident’ and to be honest, I’ve only been half listening. It kind of gets repetitive after the fifth time.

“Pax, my buddy, my pal, my comrade, please quit it already.”

“What, too scared?”

“No! There’s no way there are zombies. If we go outside, it would simply be a wasteland. Dead stuff everywhere.

“You don’t know that! The closest thing we have to a biologist is my mom and she hasn’t disagreed with my statement.”

“Well, she hasn’t agreed either.”

“Hush!”

We were currently in the main room, eating breakfast. It was a miserable one but filling. Glue-like oatmeal has become a ‘delicacy’ in the bunker. In the middle of Pax‘s debate, Harvey had joined with his bowl of oatmeal and a cup of black coffee. He merely raised an eyebrow at Pax’s passionate one-sided discussion though.

“Come on Harv! You have to agree with me, wouldn’t it be cool with zombies?”

Harvey only scoffed and continued eating, he was most likely a coffee-before-talking person. Soon Joseph and Mrs. McCarthy joined as well, Jo didn’t seem that thrilled about the glue-like meal.

“So what are we doing today?” Pax asked.

“Well… the water pump is giving us trouble, but Harvey said he’d look into it. Right?-“ Mrs. McCarthy glanced towards Harvey, who only grunted and nodded “-But we’ve still got some cleaning and sorting to do. We need to figure out how much food we’ve got left, we might have to start finding other means for food, maybe a farm?”

I perked up at the mention of a farm, my mother used to grow vegetables and potatoes in our garden. I remember helping her, so I might be of use.

“Uh, Mrs. McCarthy, I used to plant stuff with my mom. Maybe I can help?”

Mrs. McCarthy smiled and nodded.

“Sounds great, hun! And how many times have I told you, you can just call me Kate.”

“Ah, sorry. I’m used to being polite.”

Harvey scoffed, almost chuckled, at that.

“A real gentleman, polite to the ladies, but not the old man, huh?”

I felt my cheeks grow hot, I was probably the color of a tomato.

“Now now, Harvey, don’t tease the sweet kid.”

“Nah, seeing Six all red and nervous is cute.” Pax chimed in.

I thought it was impossible, but somehow it got even hotter in the room.

‘I’m going to die of embarrassment.’

Jo just laughed.

The day went by rather quickly, Mrs. Mc-, I mean Kate and I found a few seeds and big, long pots for planting. We had found a small room in the kitchen perfect as a ‘farm-room’ The UV lamp in the room was flickering, but somehow working. Kate and I both agreed we’d had a productive day.

“DAMN PUMP!”

Harvey wasn’t as fortunate, the work on the water pump was going slowly. He was very stubborn about accomplishing it himself. The boiler room was on the opposing side of the main room, at the end of the hallway uniting the bunkrooms.

I decided to peek into the boiler room, just to check up on Harvey. I had brought a snack, a sandwich. Pax and Joseph had calculated that we had enough food for at most six months so a small snack was all we could do for lunch.

“Erm, Harvey?”

I apparently spooked him, because as soon as I spoke up, Harvey jumped and hit his head from under the pump’s water container.

“Ow, fuck!” He exclaimed.

I put down the tray with the sandwich on a reasonably clean and mess-free surface and rushed forward to check up on Harvey.

“I’m fine, just fine!” Harvey put out a hand towards me, stopping me in my tracks.

“Sorry” I practically whispered.

He sighed and nodded. “It’s fine kid.”

An uncomfortable and awkward silence surrounded us. But Harvey soon spoke up.

“What’ya want, kid?”

‘This will be an interesting mission; trying to help Harvey without hurting his ego.’

“Erm, I’m done with my chores so I just… I thought maybe y’know, you could teach me how to fix the pump?”

‘Smooth dude.’

Harvey eyed me, looking up and down, with narrowed eyes. He could probably see right through my lie. He grumbled and hummed.

“Okay, kid. Only this once.”

I let out a sigh, not realizing I had held my breath. I kneeled next to Harvey and started listening to his teaching. He might’ve seemed annoyed and frustrated by the fact he ‘HAD’ to teach me but he explained vividly and answered any questions I had, he even seemed to enjoy teaching me. Although I’d never tell him that, I would like to live for my 20th birthday.

Before we knew it, it was dinnertime, and Harvey and I had fixed the pump. I was happy to help, and Harvey was happy to relieve his back and knees.

“You did good, kid.”

Harvey’s comment circulated in my mind. When was the last time my dad praised my work? It gave me an uneasy feeling, but I tried to ignore it and think of Harvey’s statement. It had been full of fondness, he seemed… proud. It warmed my chest, I never thought such a half-assed and simple compliment could make me this happy.

After dinner, it was time for bed, and for the first time in weeks, I didn’t wake up due to a nightmare.

[tsuki-sennin]

We've survived the highs and lows of Jyama Ball, but we're only a little bit closer to discovering who the Desaster is. If they go undiscovered to the final round, they win the game outright and get their ideal world. And with the mysterious executives, Keiwa, Neon, and Ace's respective sponsors, Archimedel, and Buffa all making their moves, something tells me the real game is only beginning.

...more importantly than any of that though, where the Hell are we headed now?! Why are there BOMBS everywhere? What do the Jyamato even have to gain from these constant invasions other than food and conquest?

All these questions and more... probably not answered today, but like, important to keep in mind.

Spoilers, I guess...

-Neooooon!

-Neon, baby, if you're the impostor I'm gonna cry.

-Good morning Chirami.

-Oh okay, we're supposed to become fan favorite. I see.

-Well, from what I've seen from the fandom as of yesterday, a number of folks have taken very kindly to Sae-san (rightfully so), so if this were the real world she'd probably win this. Doubly so if she's the Desaster.

-Oh shit! Sara-neesan!

-...oh, she's... she's fine, seemingly.

-Can't cut a pineapple smh.

-Bomb Pineapple!

-Ohhhh, we're dead.

-Jyamato Express!

-Fruit!

-Bombs!

-Fruit Bombs!

-Ooooooh, even more Jyamato ciphers.

-I imagine a lot of folks are hard at work.

-Blowing up an entire city block.

-I see Creepy Garden Daddy Archimedel's very proud of his little Freedom Clubbers.

-Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes!

-Damn, Takahashi's Steam list must be wilding.

-Secret Mission Clear!

-For you, fox man!

-Awwww, spider phone cute :)

-First Blood!

-The Gun!

-Magnum!

-It's back!

-Ringo?

-There's just something so funny to me about how minimal the Jyamato Pawn costumes are. Head, limbs, uniform, that's all you need.

-"OHHHHHH MY SISTER'S GETTING BOMBED"

-"Oh hey little bro, I got tied up. Can you do me a solid and get the kitchen knife?"

-Sae-san's very cool and collected under pressure. Can see why she was picked for this.

-Oh hey, Mrs. Kurama~! I'm still pissed you slapped my homegirl Neon, just so you're aware.

-"Neon's a big girl, she can handle herself. She'd never be able to achieve her dreams"

-Ohhhh, Papa Naoto. You're extremely sus.

-"Time to go to work. See you around."

-I see Mama Kurama's not an entirely heartless lunatic.

-You tell her, girl!

-I'm gonna be honest, I'd be proud of Neon if she were the Desaster.

-There's the Buffa Core ID.

-No doubt there's gonna be a lot of Zombie DNA in that mutant.

-Oh?

-Oh, hello.

-Sponsor-sama!

-So, she's got big plans for ol' Michinaga.

-Beroba...

-Ohhhhh, he's got an infection.

-"You wanna beat the shit outta all them dirty Kamen Riders, huh~? How about you let me pay for everything, no strings attached!"

-A proper sadist, this one!

-Takahashi's giving us a lot of interesting female characters this go around.

-Well, Beroba-san. You're obviously a cold-blooded murderer, you've got a killer fashion sense, your first appearance is accompanied by scary organ music, you're friends with Papa Archie, you got jelly beans...

-Yeah, you're totally trustworthy. I hear you're played by an idol?

-Sae-san... you care a hell of a lot about your family, huh?

-Oooooh, Okinawan.

-Keeping yourself in peak condition for your family. I happen to know a dude in a bathhouse who'd be very impressed with you, Sae-san.

-Neon...

-Who threw that bomb?

-"Did somebody say BOMB~!?"

-Gotta save Onee-sama!

-Ohhhh, sunset is fast approaching.

-I'm surprised we haven't seen lemons yet.

-At least, I don't think so, the picture quality I have ain't the best.

-Michinaga!

-Jurapira!

-Buffato!

-Oooooh, he's pissed!

-"Fuck the bull! Go get pineapples for our Hawaiian barbecue!"

-Can't get in!

-Ooooooh, Zombie Tycoon!

-Damn, Keiwa's playing hard!

-Red Wire.

-HOLY SHIT BUFFA DODGED POINT BLANK

-Goddamn, these stunts are sick every time I see 'em.

-OHHHHH MY DUDE JEAN GOT A GUN

-Okay I checked, it seems it's Gene, okay.

-Hello, Beroba-chan. Guess the dweebs are fighting.

-"I'm betting all my money on that buffalo guy."

-...seems that Gene's okay with this.

-OH GOD NEE-SAMA

-Red wire!

-Nut up man, do it!

-We did it!

-No more pineapple for ever.

-Sibling banter

-Oh man, it's dark out.

-Seems Michi's in no shape to kill anyone today.

-Compass!

-Snacc

-Well, gotta keep the sponsors happy.

-Oh, the producer's coming in.

-...wonder if this is a metaphor of some kind.

-Ah yep! Sae-san was the sussiest baka all along!

-Lone wolf Lopo played nice for so long.

-Oooooh, that's a Glare retool. ...I suppose Gazer's our new "coming in hot and spicy".

-I wonder if we're gonna see a new DGP higher-up come kick ass every new arc?

-...fuck, what if we have to beat up Mama Mitsume? I don't think poor Ace can handle it.

-Shit seems to be getting real now.

[spark-glow]

5, 16, 19, 32, 38, and 50 for Juliette :)

― JULIETTE LAVOIE .

5.) Do they have any tattoos? If so, what are they and do they have any special meaning? -

I definitely think she has some, but I just haven't thought a lot about what they might be. First thing that came to mind was a pair of hearts on her hip bones. Maybe a double venus on the nape of her neck. Stuff that's easily concealable when she's on the job.

I think she's absolutely gotten some stick and poke ones now that the apocalypse is here. Probably something angry because that best reflects how she feels. That woman is all sorts of muddled up inside.

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16.) Do they have or want kids? -

Right now? No.

I think there was a point in time where the idea seemed novel to her, but that could very well just be her trying to fit into societal expectations when she was younger. Yanno, marry a handsome man, have his kids, live in his nice house. The older she got, the more that whole idea became less and less appealing to her, especially the 'marrying a man and having his kids' part.

She's older now. She knows other lesbians that're parents and I think the idea has crossed her mind again with that new frame work but... I dunno. I think she realizes that she's just not in a place where she can do the job right and safely. That's a lifelong commitment, and she hardly even knows who SHE is.

Maybe down the line, after she figures some shit out and learns how to breath, then she could be a good mom but... It's not gonna be something she actively pursues. Especially now that there're zombies outside for the foreseeable future.

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19.) How easy is it to become their friend? -

Juliette is a pretty prickly lady, so not a lot of people bother. I think she liked it that way for awhile, but then she started to realize just how lonely she was becoming. It sorta ate at her for awhile, but she never wanted to be the type of person to show outward weakness yanno? She wanted to be self sufficient and capable, so she just buried it. Not a great idea.

If you try, and earnestly try, it's not all that hard. You just gotta learn how to play her ball game, because she won't play yours. If you can put up with her attitude and get passed all the red tape, then she's a pretty good friend. Maybe even a little bit of a sweetheart.

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32.) If they could change one thing about themselves, what would it be? -

This is a difficult question, because I think if you asked her this, then she wouldn't have an answer at first. I think she's very... unsatisfied with who she is and where she is some days. She regrets not following her passion more, she regrets not being more authentic to herself, she regrets the time she's wasted. She doesn't process that she's only 34 and, hopefully, has the whole rest of her life ahead of her.

If you asked her, she'd probably take a drag off her cigarette and be quiet for a long time and then go, "Maybe make it so I'm not so much of an indecisive fuck up."

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38.) What are their dreams like? Do they have any recurring dreams/nightmares? -

She suffered from night terrors a lot when she was little, and because of that she kinda doesn't like to sleep. She'll usually lay down for a few hours and then get up, do some stuff, and then lay back down. Sleeping in bursts makes it less likely for her to have an episode.

In all honesty, she doesn't have terrors much anymore. Maybe once or twice a year at that, but it's still not great. I'm sure the first time it happens when she's with her little group is, uh, eventful.

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50.) What is your favorite thing about them? -

She's kind of a manifestation of my want to be more true to myself. I admire her for that. She has a lot of drive and a want to be more whole and i'm trying to use that as inspiration for myself too. <:)

Also she's got a funny little accent ( ! FRENCH CANADIAN ! ) and I think its fun to imagine how she sounds sometimes. Oui oui.