My interests are many and I draw sea monster/ dragons in my spare time. I'm a female in my mid to late twenties, and my "speech" is rather blunt when interacting.
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
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Pairing: Crosshair X Oc (Novali)
Word count: 3,391
Note: I barely proof read this. I'm so tired but I want to get this posted before bed 😴 sooooo yeah
Warnings: sfw, Sibling teasing, and a fake moon with a canon planet
Now I would say this is a typical enemies to friends story, with one person hating the other, then both hating each other, then circumstances force them to save each other and then begrudgingly become friends, but then halfway through there is a beach episode gone wrong mixed with a dream episode gone horribly wrong which made the friends become closer, with more events pushing them together and then this story turns into a friends to lovers story.
That sounds typical, and not my kind of thing.
I figured it wouldn't be.
…But how does it start?
Pardon?
How did they meet? How did this story begin?
So! About fifty years ago there was this guy named George Lucus-
NONONONO! This Story!
Hahahaha! I couldn't help it! Okay Let's start there….
It had been a few weeks since the Adventure on Idaflor had taken place, and the Bad Batch were on their way to Ord Mantel when a new mission from Cid came to them. An Old Republic Senator wanted plans that an Old Separatist was trying to sell to the Empire so that the Empire couldn't use them.
“Your target is Victor Reeshe,” Cid’s holo cracked as they flew through hyperspace, “a Pantorian with great connections to members in the Senate. He's trying to sell weapons to the Empire that could destroy starships very easily.”
“Now this is a mission I can get behind on.” Echo whispered to Hunter, who nodded in response.
“I'll send over the information, and I hope you boys have some other enhanced skill,” the all flinched, “‘cause you're gonna need it.”
“What do you mean by that?” Crosshair sneered.
Cid snorted, as if to contain her laughter. “I'll let you find out for yourself.” The holo ended, leaving the batch in a tense state.
“Do you think she found out?” Wrecker asked as he scratched his head.
“I highly doubt it.” Tech said. “Due to our hosts being very protective and secretive with who they were lodging with, and with silencing our enemies when they did find out, it is unlikely that anyone knows of our new enhancements.”
“Except the singing part,” Wrecker added, “She probably knows about that.”
“Probably.” Hunter concurred. Thanks to a certain boy and dragon, they could all sing very well now. Much to their embarrassment. That was one enhanced skill they didn't know that they didn't want. But the other enhancements that they acquired…. They were all given the option to keep them with the risk of being hunted by more than just the Empire, with the understanding that they wouldn't be able to use them but live full lives as normal nat-borns, or they could lose them and go back to have accelerated aging. There were pros and cons to each, and in the end they all chose to keep their decisions to themselves for safety. All Hunter knew for himself was that he wanted to keep his family safe. And he left it at that.
“Maybe that's why she was holding back her laugh?” Omega piped up. Seeing Cid laugh was weird, and she guessed that the only reason why Cid would laugh and make that comment would be because she got word of them singing.
“Looks like it.” Echo frowned at the information he was looking at. “Victor is going to be making the deal at a singing contest on Reecee.” He showed the blueprints and it was not ideal. There were going to be over a thousand people at this party and the room he was going to be in was heavily guarded. “From what the record shows, the only ones allowed back there are the favorite singers from the contest. And surprise surprise! They're all female.”
Omega hopped up, “That means I can do it!” A chorus of “NO”s sounded off in the ship from all five men. Omega's scowl almost looked like Crosshair's. “Why not?! I can sing and I'm a female!”
“The Phantom.” Crosshair hissed at her. There was a blimp of fear that flashed in the girl's eyes as she remembered the four-armed giant on Idaflor. “Those men could be like him. You're not going.”
“Hunter!” Omega pleaded with the oldest brother.
“No.” He didn't have to think long on that. Crosshair made an excellent point. There were too many men at these parties who were a little grabby. “We'll figure out how to get in there without risking you.”
“Now that we know what our objective is,” Tech swiveled in his pilot chair, “we'll have to gather up supplies and refuel before heading for Reecee.”
“And where will that be?” Wrecker asked with a glint in his eyes. He was probably thinking about food.
“The moon of La Harkreus that orbits Takodona.” Tech punched in the coordinates. “It's a neutral system and full of refugees from the war, so we can blend in most effectively.”
“Oh yeah! Now we're talking!” Wrecker tried to lightly punch Tech in the shoulder, but he still managed to almost knock him out of his seat, earning himself a side glare.
“I'll be taking a nap if you need me.” Crosshair got up and moved back towards the bunks.
Hunter and Omega both looked at him, then at each other, then back at him before Omega followed the youngest brother back to the bunks. They had noticed since The Intervention happened, he had been more withdrawn and melancholy, despite the fact that he had been at the healthiest point of his life. He refused to talk about it though, only getting a grunt or hum whenever someone brought it up. So, Hunter had tasked Omega to look out for him in case he decided to say anything about it, and she had yet to report anything. But Hunter did notice that Crosshair’s mood seemed to perk up whenever it was just him and Omega, with her telling him stories of their adventures that he missed with an exaggerated flare here or there, or she would ask questions about being a sniper and everything that it entailed, or learning how to clean weapons. Today it looked like it would be a shared nap.
Crosshair climbed into Tech's bunk and layed down on it and was slightly startled when Omega climbed on him and laid down on top of him. “What are you doing?” Omega shrugged with a hum. He pushed her off and turned towards the wall, only to feel her back pressed up against his. “Tch! You're annoying as Wrecker.”
“So you like his cuddles too?” Omega piped up.
He could feel her smirk. And he couldn't help but smile. “No.” He lied.
“Hunter was right. You're a bad liar.” She giggled.
There was an icy pause.
“So. What has our brother said about me?”
Oh no. Omega tried to flee the bunk but Crosshair wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back in with a gleeful shriek.
“Spill you little spy!” Crosshair attacked her ribs mercilessly.
“Hahaha! Noooo!” She laughed.
They landed at the spaceport on La Harkreus with Tech and Echo working on the ship while the rest went to get supplies and food. The place was rather open and not as stacked up as other worlds were, resembling that of a more populated Saleucami. They got what they needed for the journey and we're about to head back to the ship, but Wrecker wanted to see a specific restaurant on the way back because of how it smelled.
“Please Sarge!” He begged. “Just a quick bite of food!”
When Hunter was about to protest, Tech commed him with some news. “It appears a creature of sorts made a residence inside the ship and chewed on some wires and filled the space with debris. This will take some time to clean up.”
“Do any of the wires need to be replaced?” Hunter asked.
“Unclear at the moment. I'll keep you informed. Please remain on standby.” Tech ended the conversation with a click, and left Hunter with a excited Wrecker and Omega.
Hunter pinched his nose. “Ugh. Fine. Let's get some food real fast then leave.” As the former two ran off in the direction of the restaurant, Crosshair took the remaining supplies from Hunter with a snide look. “Problem?” Hunter nearly growled out.
Crosshair only shook his head. “You've definitely gone soft.”
“So have you, thanks to the kid.” Hunter chided back.
“Tch!” Crosshair rolled his eyes as he left for the ship, but on the inside he was smiling. He really did like the kid. She was a ball of light and energy in their dim ship. But he knew what she- or they were doing. And he wasn't going to unload on her and tell them of his inner turmoil. Since having his chip removed he's been feeling the guilt of all that he has done catching up to him, and there wasn't a person whom he felt comfortable enough yet to talk to about. Maybe Hunter, but he felt like it was too soon. What he really wanted was just peace. A peace to squash out his guilt so that he didn't need to bring it up. And there were three people who really embodied it, and now they're all gone to a different world entirely.
Crosshair made it back to the hangar with the supplies in town and Echo paused from his work at just seeing one brother. “Where did the others go?” He asked, with a bit of worry in his voice.
“To get food.” The sniper shrugged.
“But we had a detailed list of food to purchase already?” Tech popped up beside Echo, covered in webs. “Any more excessive spending and we're going to have to cut supplies again.”
“You don't want them to have fun?” Crosshair snided as he loaded up the supplies with Echo's help.
Tech shook his head. “That is not the point I'm trying to make and you know it.”
“Well how long do you need to clean the webs?” Echo asked.
“Given the nature of this creature and how extreme the pattern is, I can only guess a few more hours.”
“I'd say that's plenty of time to eat food then.” Echo shrugged.
“So you'll leave me to do all the work?” Tech scowled.
“No.” Crosshair wiped the webs off his brother with a cloth. “You're going with us.”
“Don't be preposterous! There is still work- ACH!” Tech didn't have time to say anything else as Crosshair threw Tech onto his shoulders and began to carry him out of the hangar.
“You! Haven't! Eaten! Since! Yesterday!” Crosshair emphasized with each step.
“Crosshair put me down!” Tech tried to remain balanced but he felt Crosshair about to give out from under him and decided to jump and both ended up crashing to the ground.
Echo shook his head. “I don't know if I miss this or not.”
They made it to the restaurant in one piece, but were almost run into by a server who was scurrying about with a tray of food. She caught herself and the food expertly by doing a hop and then apologized. “Sorry ‘bout that! It's a crazy lunch rush today!” She skipped off to a table, “Welcome to Victor's Kitchen!” She yelled her greeting as she dodged a few customers and delivered the food before going back behind the counter to grab more.
“Well, this is lively!” Echo commented. The restaurant was nearly full of different aliens and people enjoying their food and each other's company, so it was surprisingly difficult to find the other three. But they found them right by the door in a corner booth, just watching them.
“Took you long enough!” Wrecker laughed with Omega giggling next to him. Hunter looked smug but also relaxed. Something about this place was putting him at ease.
“Well you could have said something!” Crosshair grumbled as he climbed into the booth, only for Hunter to shove him out again.
“You have to go order first then come and sit.” He nodded towards the counter. Crosshair groaned. That was the last thing he wanted to do.
“What are they offering here?” Tech asked.
“Mostly soups and sandwiches.” Omega answered, then held up a number. “We're still waiting on our food.”
“Order 42!” Came the sing-song shout.
“We’re over here, be careful with the food!” Wrecker sang back.
“Now you're catching on!” The girl from earlier came rushing over with a tray of their food. “Two sandwiches and a bowl of soup?” She placed them down on the table.
“Yes ma'am!” Wrecker thanked the lady along with Omega and Hunter before she nodded curtly in acknowledgement before bounding away for the next order. “I like this place!”
“Same!” Omega concurred before digging into her sandwich.
“I suggest you three go up there and order before you can't.” Hunter nodded again.
Crosshair squinted at him suspiciously. “You're in a cheerful mood suddenly.”
Now it was Hunter's turn to shrug. “Something about this place feels familiar.”
“Like a home.” Omega spoke with a mouth full of food.
“Omega.” Hunter warned her.
“Oops.” She covered her mouth.
“Let's head up to the counter then.” Tech said.
The three of them made it to the counter behind two other patrons when Tech and Echo began to argue over Tech's eating habits. “Did you seriously not eat since yesterday?!”
“I have noticed an increase in weight in my physic and wished to eliminate it.”
“Are you saying you ate too much of Nara's cooking?” Echo smirked.
Tech's face darkened. “I'm saying I have put on some unnecessary weight that could hinder my ability to perform on the standard level of clone physics.”
“Just say you liked her cooking.” Echo chided.
“And you still didn't eat enough!” Tech tried to throw back at the Arc trooper.
Nara. She had a strange sense of peace about her that felt almost tangible and it help with Crosshair's guilt. What he wouldn't give to feel that again. And then it hit him. This place felt like The Cabin. Safe, warm, and peaceful. No one here seemed to care about six new faces.
“I can take who’s next!” Called the familiar voice. Crosshair looked up and saw the girl again behind a register waving at him. He moved towards her and gave his order of a half sandwich and a small bowl of soup. “Sounds good! Your order number is going to be 66.” She beamed up at him as she handed him a card with the number on it. He flinched at the number and he saw her smile falter. “Is something wrong?”
He shook his head. “No.” He reached for the number but she dropped it back on the counter and reached for a different one.
“How about 68?” She held up the different card for him to take, and he felt himself relax. He nodded his thanks and she nodded back, her frizzy light brown hair getting into her face and sticking to her forehead, despite the fact that it was mostly in a braid. She handed him a cup unprompted before she heard a bell and then left the register in a flash to grab the next order. Crosshair slowly made his way to the drink station. Something about her seemed familiar. “Order 49!” She sang out.
“Well about time!” A different customer called back playfully.
“You just ordered, it'll be fine!” She playfully fired back.
Crosshair stuck a toothpick in his mouth as he watched her bob and weave through the crowded restaurant with a smile on her face, singing under her breath. He went back to the corner booth and Hunter finally let him sit down. “How long did it take for you to get your food?” He asked.
“About ten minutes or so.” Hunter wiped his face with a napkin. “See those men over there two booths down?” Crosshair tentatively looked over his shoulder and saw the men. They were covered in skeleton tattoos and scars, but we're chatting with an elderly couple next to them. “And another group left before you showed up.”
“Order 51!” The girl cried out again.
“Now it's time for fun!” A different customer sang.
Crosshair felt like he was going to get annoyed with this. But he saw that she went to the table with the men to give them their food and rushed off again.
“You're relaxed because there are so many people here with similar tattoos,” Tech answered, “Meaning that we blend in with our surroundings, and because we look different from the- uh- others,” Tech caught himself in time with a nod at Echo, “No one can report us.”
“Exactly.” Hunter nodded.
“And yet you still chose the corner booth closest to the door.” Omega added. “Why?”
“We're still not sure who is friendly and who is not.” Echo answered her. “And if a situation arises, we can make a quick escape.”
“Ahh….” The girl looked around and studied the room. “Well they all seem friendly so far.”
“You're still naive.” Crosshair pointed his toothpick at her. “Anyone can appear and act friendly only to stab you in the back later.”
“I trusted you, didn't I?” Omega reminded him and he paused.
“Order 56!”
“Throw it, you can't miss!”
The server made a nervous laugh. “I have before and I won't do it again!” She gave the man his order and ended up going by their table to throw away trash before dashing away again.
“I don't think that one can.” Wrecker pointed back at the girl as she made her way through the restaurant with more food. “She’s friendly and silly like Tore, but has Nara’s calm energy.”
Tech frowned. “Of course you would bring those two up in the conversation as well!” He pulled out his data pad and tried to ignore them.
“What?” Wrecker threw a napkin at him, somewhat confused. “All I said is that the little server reminds me of Tore and Nara.”
Crosshair made note of what Wrecker said and watched the girl. She called out each order with a song and the customers usually responded with a call in a rhyme for some reason, unless she knew where the customers were and just brought them their food. She hopped and danced like the minstrels, was constantly singing something either to herself or when serving food, and sometimes she would bow dramatically with the food held out as if she was addressing royalty. When she did finally bring out his food, he dreaded her singing it outloud, but she just brought it to him.
“Soup and sandwich my good sir.” She waved her hand before bowing dramatically again.
Something about her energy was soothing him, like how Nara's and the blue dragon’s used to, but seeing it coming from this energetic woman was somehow amusing in his mind. He scoffed at her performance, and he saw her flinch. Oh. She did not take that well. Hunter nudged him under the table.
“Sorry about him.” Hunter apologized to her as she straightened. “He woke up on the wrong side of the bunk.”
The girl scratched her head nervously. “Ah, well that was me yesterday, so I guess you caught it from me?” She voice pitched as she backed up. “I-I’ll see about the other orders then.” She turned on her heel and quickly marched away. Taking that soothing energy with her.
She can sing.
She can perform.
And there seemed to be a well spring of peace coming from her.
“Crosshair?” Are you okay?” Hunter asked him.
“She's the one.” He answered.
Hunter was confused. “What do you mean?”
“She's going to be our singer.”
“You mean to ask Novali to sing for the contest on Reecee?” Tech asked.
“What was that?” Crosshair looked back at his goggled eyed brother.
“Novali's her name. Have you looked at her name tag?” Tech studied Crosshair with an uncomfortable gaze, making him shake his foot in nervousness. Tech shook his head.
Crosshair looked back at the girl and saw her being silly behind the counter while she waited for more food to arrive. No one seemed to be in line now. “Maybe. Might as well ask her.”
“It never hurts to ask.” Omega piped up.
No, it never hurts to ask. But what if Novali says no? Crosshair thought.
@clonexocweek
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Awww, little babes😍🥰
However
All I can picture
Older Crosshair tries this trick again to impress a girl😆
The Baby Batch: Valentines Day for Da Cootie Angel.
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@zaya-mo @the-sith-in-the-sky-with-diamond @ladykatakuri @marierg @thecoffeelorian @salubriousbean @bring-backup-99 @99tech99 @sunshinesdaydream @Jane8675 @eclec-tech @noblelightfighter @nika6q @ilovethebabybatch
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This hurts
White Tiles: Ear tag
Relationships: Crosshair & Wrecker
Content Warnings: Child Abuse, Dehumanization
Summary:
How Crosshair got his ear tag.
Part of my TBB Selkie au. Wrecker is 4, Crosshair 2.
Word count: 1,393
Read on Ao3
Masterlist
Chapter Text
03 wakes to footsteps. Not outside of the enclosure, no, they sound too close. There are people in the enclosure.
Cracking his eyes open, 03 pushes himself onto his elbows and looks up. Towering over him and 04 are four guards and a doctor. 03 can't help the small whimper that leaves his lips. This can't mean anything good.
The guards are dressed in dark clothing like they always are, bearing the lab's logo on their chest. Some have things called tasers, others these long sticks attached to their belts. Both of those things are only used when 03's being especially bad, but they still scare him. Any moment, he could slip up, do something wrong, and the guards will take them out. 03 extends his arm, putting it over 04's waking form.
The small selkie in question makes a little inquisitive noise, mumbling a selkie word 03 doesn't know. He tries to move closer to 03, only to startle and hiss when he spots the humans. 04 bares his teeth, moving to hide behind 03, hands rested on the walrus selkie's shoulders.
“What do you need?” 03 asks, standing up whilst covering 04. He knows 04's scared of the humans, more than 03 could ever be. He keeps his voice polite and doesn't raise it. He doesn't want to cause any problems.
“Nothing from you, little beast,” one of the guards hisses, raising his hand. 03 braces, ready to be struck. That only makes the guard laugh. “Were here for the runt.”
03 doesn't know what that word is, but guesses they mean 04.
“Is- Is he in trouble?” 03 asks, wringing his hands. 04 gets in a lot of trouble because he's scared and he bites. Just a few days ago some guards came and punished him. 04 was screaming and crying the whole time, and 03 was just ordered to sit there through his pelt. He almost started crying too, even if he wasn't being hurt.
When the guards finally left, they'd left big, dark bruises on the outside of 04's legs, making it impossible for him to sleep on his side like he usually does. 04 barely let go of 03 for the rest of the day, clinging to him constantly. 03 couldn't really do anything to help but hold 04.
If they're here to hurt 04 again, 03's going to beg them to punish him instead. At the very least, 03 hopes they'll let him take part of the beating. 04's still healing and he deserves a break. He's only little after all.
“No,” the doctor says, stepping forwards. 03 almost sighs. The doctor motions for 03 to get out of the way, addressing 04. “It's your lucky day kid, you're getting tagged,” she smirks, pulling a fanged tool from her pocket. 03's seen it before and it's vicious teeth. It's what put the tag in his ear.
04 growls, snapping his teeth as the humans circle them. 03 tries to calm him before the guards decide he needs to be hit. 04 has to get an ear tag, just like 03 did. They need them so Hemlock can always recognize them, just like the brand. It only hurts for a moment, and then it's fine if you don' touch the tag whilst it heals.
But before 03 can even try to fully communicate even half of that, a guard grabs him by the back of his neoprene shirt and throws 03 to the side. 03's not proud of the little yelp that leaves him when he lands hard on his hip, but he can't stop it from leaving his mouth.
“Get out of the way,” the guard hisses, pointing to the taser at her hip as a threat. 03 curls in on himself, both from the lingering ache from the impact, as well as the fear of the guards.
04 is distraught by 03 being removed from him, emitting a loud distress call and lurching after him, only to be grabbed by the guards and pinned to the floor. 03 sits there, wringing his hands as he watches 04 being subdued, being unable to do anything.
Then, a guard more to the back of the group holds 04's white pelt aloft and commands him to go still. All the fight immediately leaves 04's body as he goes limp. His head rests on the tiles, turned in 03's direction. Tears are running down 04's face as the command forces him to lay motionless.
“03,” he gets out, not having been told to be quiet as well. 04 can't say “three” that well yet, but 03 understands him. He's been slow to talk, saying few words in selkie, and even fewer in English. He knows things like “yes” “no” and “hurts” though, and he's learning more and more.
“It'll be okay, baby,” 03 says softly, reaching forward only to retract the hand quickly as he remembers what heavy boots the guards wear
“Shut up,” the doctor hisses in 03's direction, “both of you!”
04 is quickly ordered to do so with his pelt and so is 03 only moments later. The tug in his chest is uncomfortable, but 03 is used to it by now. It's not as bad as the feeling of being without his pelt for too long. That's probably the worst pain 03's ever felt.
The doctor pins 04 with one of her knees, resting the other on the floor beside him, muttering something about getting her trousers wet as she preps the scary tool. 04's eyes are wide, pupils trying desperately to angle up enough to see what's happening with the doctor looming over him. Once the tag is in the tool, the doctor brings her gloved hand down to 04's ear, feeling the skin there. Then she places the tool so its jaw wraps around the lower part of 04's ear.
03 doesn't want to watch, wants to force himself to look away but he can't. He knows this has to happen, that all selkies that belong to Hemlock need an ear tag. That's just how things are. But that doesn't mean 03 wants to watch his new friend suffer.
It feels like an eternity as 03 watches the doctor adjust her grip on the tool, checking the placement of it. Then, with a loud click, it's all over in seconds.
If 04 weren't ordered to be silent, 03 knows he would scream. Silent tears streak his face as his eyes seem to widen further.
The guards start to remove themselves and the orders the selkies were given are dissolved. 04 starts hissing and spitting as he crawls away from the humans, a shaky sob leaving him as he trembles. None of the humans react, except for two of the guards laughing at 04. That makes 03 angry, more than he should ever allow himself to be towards humans, but he can't help it. They shouldn't make fun of 04, it's mean.
03's frozen in place for a little while longer, watching the guards leave. He's interrupted by small, pained whines from 03, who's tugging at the fresh tag in his ear. 03 rushes to his side, taking the young selkies hands in his.
“No, no, you have to leave it 04! If you pull it out, it will hurt,” 03 speaks softly, shaking his head. “You need it anyway.”
Pulling his crying friend closer, 03 carefully looks at his ear. The tag's still perfectly in place, even if a little blood has spilled around the plastic. It has 04 written on it.
“Look, we match now!” 03 exclaims, trying to distract 04 as he points at his ear. 04 sniffles, wiping at his face before slowly reaching for 03's tag and touching it.
“03,” he says, then flops forward against 03's chest. He does so with the side of his head with the tag first, hissing and switching sides before settling fully. After a moment of silence filled only by quiet crying, 04 speaks again. “Hurts,” he says, trying to crawl closer to 03.
The walrus selkie can't tell if he only means the tag or is referring to the bruises on his legs too. Either way, 03 can only think of one thing to say in response.
“It will be over soon,” 03 says, wrapping his arms around 04 a little tighter.
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White Tiles: Ear tag
Relationships: Crosshair & Wrecker
Content Warnings: Child Abuse, Dehumanization
Summary:
How Crosshair got his ear tag.
Part of my TBB Selkie au. Wrecker is 4, Crosshair 2.
Word count: 1,393
Read on Ao3
Masterlist
Chapter Text
03 wakes to footsteps. Not outside of the enclosure, no, they sound too close. There are people in the enclosure.
Cracking his eyes open, 03 pushes himself onto his elbows and looks up. Towering over him and 04 are four guards and a doctor. 03 can't help the small whimper that leaves his lips. This can't mean anything good.
The guards are dressed in dark clothing like they always are, bearing the lab's logo on their chest. Some have things called tasers, others these long sticks attached to their belts. Both of those things are only used when 03's being especially bad, but they still scare him. Any moment, he could slip up, do something wrong, and the guards will take them out. 03 extends his arm, putting it over 04's waking form.
The small selkie in question makes a little inquisitive noise, mumbling a selkie word 03 doesn't know. He tries to move closer to 03, only to startle and hiss when he spots the humans. 04 bares his teeth, moving to hide behind 03, hands rested on the walrus selkie's shoulders.
“What do you need?” 03 asks, standing up whilst covering 04. He knows 04's scared of the humans, more than 03 could ever be. He keeps his voice polite and doesn't raise it. He doesn't want to cause any problems.
“Nothing from you, little beast,” one of the guards hisses, raising his hand. 03 braces, ready to be struck. That only makes the guard laugh. “Were here for the runt.”
03 doesn't know what that word is, but guesses they mean 04.
“Is- Is he in trouble?” 03 asks, wringing his hands. 04 gets in a lot of trouble because he's scared and he bites. Just a few days ago some guards came and punished him. 04 was screaming and crying the whole time, and 03 was just ordered to sit there through his pelt. He almost started crying too, even if he wasn't being hurt.
When the guards finally left, they'd left big, dark bruises on the outside of 04's legs, making it impossible for him to sleep on his side like he usually does. 04 barely let go of 03 for the rest of the day, clinging to him constantly. 03 couldn't really do anything to help but hold 04.
If they're here to hurt 04 again, 03's going to beg them to punish him instead. At the very least, 03 hopes they'll let him take part of the beating. 04's still healing and he deserves a break. He's only little after all.
“No,” the doctor says, stepping forwards. 03 almost sighs. The doctor motions for 03 to get out of the way, addressing 04. “It's your lucky day kid, you're getting tagged,” she smirks, pulling a fanged tool from her pocket. 03's seen it before and it's vicious teeth. It's what put the tag in his ear.
04 growls, snapping his teeth as the humans circle them. 03 tries to calm him before the guards decide he needs to be hit. 04 has to get an ear tag, just like 03 did. They need them so Hemlock can always recognize them, just like the brand. It only hurts for a moment, and then it's fine if you don' touch the tag whilst it heals.
But before 03 can even try to fully communicate even half of that, a guard grabs him by the back of his neoprene shirt and throws 03 to the side. 03's not proud of the little yelp that leaves him when he lands hard on his hip, but he can't stop it from leaving his mouth.
“Get out of the way,” the guard hisses, pointing to the taser at her hip as a threat. 03 curls in on himself, both from the lingering ache from the impact, as well as the fear of the guards.
04 is distraught by 03 being removed from him, emitting a loud distress call and lurching after him, only to be grabbed by the guards and pinned to the floor. 03 sits there, wringing his hands as he watches 04 being subdued, being unable to do anything.
Then, a guard more to the back of the group holds 04's white pelt aloft and commands him to go still. All the fight immediately leaves 04's body as he goes limp. His head rests on the tiles, turned in 03's direction. Tears are running down 04's face as the command forces him to lay motionless.
“03,” he gets out, not having been told to be quiet as well. 04 can't say “three” that well yet, but 03 understands him. He's been slow to talk, saying few words in selkie, and even fewer in English. He knows things like “yes” “no” and “hurts” though, and he's learning more and more.
“It'll be okay, baby,” 03 says softly, reaching forward only to retract the hand quickly as he remembers what heavy boots the guards wear
“Shut up,” the doctor hisses in 03's direction, “both of you!”
04 is quickly ordered to do so with his pelt and so is 03 only moments later. The tug in his chest is uncomfortable, but 03 is used to it by now. It's not as bad as the feeling of being without his pelt for too long. That's probably the worst pain 03's ever felt.
The doctor pins 04 with one of her knees, resting the other on the floor beside him, muttering something about getting her trousers wet as she preps the scary tool. 04's eyes are wide, pupils trying desperately to angle up enough to see what's happening with the doctor looming over him. Once the tag is in the tool, the doctor brings her gloved hand down to 04's ear, feeling the skin there. Then she places the tool so its jaw wraps around the lower part of 04's ear.
03 doesn't want to watch, wants to force himself to look away but he can't. He knows this has to happen, that all selkies that belong to Hemlock need an ear tag. That's just how things are. But that doesn't mean 03 wants to watch his new friend suffer.
It feels like an eternity as 03 watches the doctor adjust her grip on the tool, checking the placement of it. Then, with a loud click, it's all over in seconds.
If 04 weren't ordered to be silent, 03 knows he would scream. Silent tears streak his face as his eyes seem to widen further.
The guards start to remove themselves and the orders the selkies were given are dissolved. 04 starts hissing and spitting as he crawls away from the humans, a shaky sob leaving him as he trembles. None of the humans react, except for two of the guards laughing at 04. That makes 03 angry, more than he should ever allow himself to be towards humans, but he can't help it. They shouldn't make fun of 04, it's mean.
03's frozen in place for a little while longer, watching the guards leave. He's interrupted by small, pained whines from 03, who's tugging at the fresh tag in his ear. 03 rushes to his side, taking the young selkies hands in his.
“No, no, you have to leave it 04! If you pull it out, it will hurt,” 03 speaks softly, shaking his head. “You need it anyway.”
Pulling his crying friend closer, 03 carefully looks at his ear. The tag's still perfectly in place, even if a little blood has spilled around the plastic. It has 04 written on it.
“Look, we match now!” 03 exclaims, trying to distract 04 as he points at his ear. 04 sniffles, wiping at his face before slowly reaching for 03's tag and touching it.
“03,” he says, then flops forward against 03's chest. He does so with the side of his head with the tag first, hissing and switching sides before settling fully. After a moment of silence filled only by quiet crying, 04 speaks again. “Hurts,” he says, trying to crawl closer to 03.
The walrus selkie can't tell if he only means the tag or is referring to the bruises on his legs too. Either way, 03 can only think of one thing to say in response.
“It will be over soon,” 03 says, wrapping his arms around 04 a little tighter.
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Some Emerie ( Chance) Karr sketches from my folder that I coloured. Some warm-up sketches, literally.
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I’m also shamelessly adding references to the back of her armour since I love the design but never draw her from the back so you never get to see it.
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Although she’s definitely training with Echo (Domino), the last character art I posted was Wrecker also getting ready for sparring practice (apparently that’s the current mood) so part of me is head cannoning them training together (even if that doesn’t really align with the AU)
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Clone x OC Week 2025
Day 1: Introduction / First Meeting
Tell us about the first meeting of your clone x oc pairing! Where did they meet? How were they introduced to each other? What were their first impressions of each other?
Today's tags:
#clonexocweek #clonexocweek2025 #clonexocweek2025 day 1 #[insert clone name]* x oc
*please write the clone name without the brackets, e.g., cody x oc
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she's everything, he's just ken, etc. etc.
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oh dear...
If there's one thing you learn about singing, don't drink pool water
Who knows what nasty things are in there
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Bitter Brew Part 3
previous
Stories from the Red Lantern Inn
-Febuwhump day 3 - pinned down -
WC: ~700 CW: Vomiting
That evening Ellea was back down in the cenote, willing her voice to come back with gentle humming exercises while drinking some hot drink with honey Nicco had insisted would help. Trying to loosen her vocal cords in a last ditch effort. The traveling bards were set to return tomorrow, and her voice had not improved one bit.
She absently strummed on her banjo, her sour mood emanating from the minor chords and harsh string picking. Her eyes wandered around the cavern, the sheer limestone walls towered over nearly a story tall, the water glistened in her lantern light. The vines and lush flora that clung to the walls usually garnered her admiration, but today their presence felt encroaching. She continued strumming, focusing on the water.
No. It's a stupid idea. I can't, not after what it did to Nicco.
But if it works like a battery, like Nicco said, nothing should happen if just one person uses it.
I breathed in an entire pint of the stuff and nothing happened, surely I can drink it and be fine, right? I've drank way nastier stuff on a dare.
Her thoughts began to spin back and fourth between rationales. So many times that she forgot what she really wanted out of this decision.
In a flurry of frustration and impulse, El dropped her banjo and rushed to the waters edge with her mug still half full of Nicco’s concoction, spilling it on the ground. She dipped the vessel into the dark milky waters and chugged. She breathed hard as water spilled down her chin, she stared at the water in shock. Her mouth parted into an exasperated gasp and she rushed back up the wooden steps.
-
El blinked awake the next morning. Today would be the test, but she’d rest her voice until the last possible moment for warmups. The bards didn’t say what time they’d roll through to see her audition but she’d be ready. She worked her whole morning shift in her nicest outfit, a pair of wide embroidered pants with a matching silk shawl, with an apron on top just in case. She gave Arturo many dirty looks when he jokingly threatened to spill breakfast on her.
Then the Bards arrived. Their bright colors a dead giveaway.
Arturo was wiping down the counter when the frontman entered the saloon, the tabbards that hung from her belt floated on a wind that wasn’t there.
“Is the halfling around?”
Arturo gave a confused glance before going back to his chore. “You’ll need to be more specific”
“The one who works here, we met last week.”
“Gnome.”
“Excuse me?”
“Ellea is a gnome, not a halfling.”
“Tomato, Tamahto. You haven’t answered my question.”
Arturo didn’t ingratiate her with an answer and flung his rag down with an audible plop before turning to the kitchen.
“They’re here.” He called through the door:
“I know.” El gripped the counter near the oven, working up the guts to exit the kitchen. Her voice was back, and sounded completely normal.
“You’re going to do great, El. Don’t worry. Let’s go! I’ll be right near you.”
El’s eyes widened and didn’t leave the threshold as she straightened and walked stiffly toward the dining area, clutching the necks of her banjo and fiddle with a seriousness as if she were taking fowl to the slaughter.
She stood on her usual stool and settled into the arrangement she’d made just for the occasion. Her voice wasn’t just good, it rang clear as a bell, it filled the room as never before. Even Esper, who looked as if she’d never worn a smile in her entire long elfish life, wore the whisper of a smirk on her lips.
El pulled together her ballad with the final chorus, belting out the final line which ended abruptly with her strumming. Then she picked up her fiddle to hum out one final reverent outro measure. She looked out at the crowd uncertainly, fear still evident in her expression despite the flawless performance.
A beat of silence fluttered by, followed by an applause that betrayed the small amount of people in the room.
El stood up on her stool and took a bow, as she leaned forward her stomach lurched. No, no not now. She’d gotten stagefright nausea before, but that was always before the performance, not after! She used her forward stance to hop down and ran straight outside through the back door, everyone’s heads following her strange behavior as they still clapped. Arturo and Nicco chased after her.
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The Defender (ch.8)
Febuwhump 2025 | Day 8 | Prompt: Blowtorch
Read here on Ao3
<< Previous Chapter | Master Post | Next Chapter >>
Rated: G | Words: 1521
Character Ages
Omega (8)
The Batch (Chronological: 4.5 / Biological: 9)
CROSSHAIR
Crosshair enters the barracks with the medical droid practically attached to his hip, even though he has told the stupid thing over and over again that he is fine and doesn’t need its stupid help anymore. At least the droid has stopped chattering. If Crosshair didn’t know any better, he’d think the droid was trying to be his friend, which is the last thing in the galaxy Crosshair needs. What he needs is to recover as quickly as possible so that this droid goes back to whatever kriffing medical ward or closet it came from.
The room is quiet, a silence that only exists when it is completely unoccupied, since Wrecker somehow manages to be loud even when he’s sound asleep. Crosshair is disappointed, but he isn’t surprised. His brothers would not have been allowed to miss their training sessions. He wouldn’t want them to, besides. It is embarrassing to think - to hope - that they would risk punishment to wait for him. After all, this concussion was his own fault. He should have listened to Tech. If they had stayed together, the three of them would have taught those kark regs a lesson they would never forget.
Instead, Crosshair fought by himself and lost.
Three versus one.
What was he thinking?
He had squeezed the trigger too soon, and the only thing those regs learned was that he probably was as dumb as they thought he looked.
“You should go to your bunk and rest,” the droid says.
At the mention of rest, Crosshair realizes how exhausted he feels, even though he just woke up. His muscles ache, like he’s done nonstop simulations and training a week straight. Not to mention his persistent headache. He glances around the room, which looks as it has always looked, down to the ration bar crumbs scattered around Wrecker’s bed. The mess that would infuriate him any other day makes him smile, a relieved chuckle escaping his lungs. His vision. It’s okay.
He’s okay.
He’ll be okay.
…I told them you’d be okay…
Crosshair shakes the memory – the dream – away.
“Do you need assistance reaching your bunk?” the droid asks.
“I don’t need anything from you,” Crosshair growls, forcing himself to walk to the center of the room. He looks at his bunk, the blanket rumpled as it was when they’d left to search for Hunter. But it isn’t the bunk he goes to.
The droid protests, “That is not your assigned bunk. That is Hunter’s.”
“How in Sith’s hells would you know that?” Crosshair shoots back, undeterred, as he shamelessly climbs across the tightly tucked blanket, destroying the meticulous work Hunter went to every morning for whatever kark reason.
Then, what the droid said really sets in. Crosshair turns to look at the funny looking thing staring back at him with its yellow, glowing eyes.
“How did you know this is Hunter’s bed?” he asks again. “And where do you get off calling him Hunter? Isn’t he just CT-9901 to you droids?”
The droid tips its head. “Yes?”
Crosshair groans. His head hurts too much to overthink this right now. He thinks he remembers Tech talking about the Kaminoans trying a new program on medical droids to have bedside manner…although that does not begin to explain every odd thing this droid has said. Crosshair scoffs and lays down, turning his back on the droid.
Wrapping his arms around Hunter’s pillow, Crosshair closes his eyes.
He hopes his brothers come back soon.
TECH
Divided focus is dangerous, if Tech being sent to the medic station - twice - for second degree burns is any indication. Tech decides that working with a blowtorch and worrying after Crosshair’s absence are incompatible mental pursuits, a mistake he hopes he will never have to make again.
Tech had not wanted to leave the barracks that morning, even after the voice had given them a brief, but encouraging, update regarding Crosshair’s condition. It was not a logical inclination, risking disciplinary action which might result in further prolonging the separation. Hunter said as much. And while he had used more words to explain than strictly necessary, the combination of words had somehow convinced Tech and Wrecker to prepare for their day without further protest.
Tech often marveled at Hunter’s seemingly effortless communication style. He had the ability to say exactly what ought to be said, but in such a way as to encourage, motivate, correct, or comfort his brothers as the situation required. No matter how long Tech studied Hunter’s methods and verbiage, replaying conversations over and over in his mind, he could not seem to even begin to emulate it in his own diction.
Perhaps, if he were more adept at interpersonal communication, he would have been able to convince Crosshair not to go off on his own.
The training room door opens, a steady stream of cadets emerging. Tech feels their eyes on him as they walk past, but he ignores them.
“Tech? What are you doing here?” Hunter asks, the last to come out. “I thought you would’ve gone straight back to the barracks.”
Tech had thought so too, when the day had begun; however, as the hours ticked by, his resolve had crumbled. Tech does not know how to articulate the reasoning for it. He searches for words in his vast vocabulary, but none seem to be correct. So Tech shakes his head in the negative, no explanation readily available.
To his surprise, Hunter’s expression softens. “I get it,” he says, and he bumps Tech’s arm with a fist. “We’ll go together.”
Tech nods, relieved that at least one of them understands, and falls into step beside Hunter as they begin their wordless trek back to the barracks.
CROSSHAIR
“Crosshair! You’re back!”
Crosshair moans, head still throbbing, and rolls to his back, staring blearily up at nothing. The sound of Wrecker’s booming voice is an odd combination of grating and comforting.
“You must keep your volume at a minimum!” the droid's voice comes next, and that sound is simply and only grating.
“Who are you?” Wrecker asks, alarmed, his volume decidedly not at a minimum.
“I am AZI-345211896246498721347. I have been tasked with Crosshair’s care for the duration of his recovery. You may call me AZ. I have been informed that it is more efficient.”
“I’ll say!” Wrecker laughs.
Crosshair had never thought about the droid possibly having a name. He honestly didn’t care. It wouldn’t be staying much longer anyways, and he was not going to get attached.
“Cross, whatcha doing in Hunter’s bunk?” Wrecker is standing over him now. “Is it ‘cause of your concussion messing with your memory?”
“No…” Crosshair mutters, embarrassed.
He moves to sit up, but Wrecker pushes him back.
“I’m sure Hunter won’t mind,” Wrecker tells him, a grin on his sappy face. “You just stay put. You probably shouldn’t be up moving around.”
“That is correct,” AZ says.
Crosshair wants to be annoyed with Wrecker, wants to argue; however, he only scowls and looks away. He changes the subject. “Where is Tech? Don’t you guys usually get back from training at the same time?”
“Yeah,” Wrecker agrees, sounding surprised. “I don’t know where he is.”
Crosshair can think of one reason Tech might not come straight back to the barracks after specialized training, and Crosshair won’t blame his brother if he’s still angry with him after what he said. He’d said it to hurt him, after all.
It was only fair if Tech didn’t forgive him.
TECH
When they reach the barracks, Hunter pauses at the door and listens. After a few seconds, he grins, looking at Tech. “Sounds like Cross is back!”
Before Tech can respond, Hunter activates the door and walks inside. Tech follows.
Crosshair is in Hunter’s bunk, for some reason, Wrecker sitting on the floor beside him.
“Crosshair’s here!” Wrecker crows.
“They have eyes, Wrecker,” Crosshair mutters, but he does not sound annoyed as he normally would.
Wrecker ignores Crosshair’s comment with his usual ease, pointing across the room to a medical droid. “And that’s AZ. He’s Crosshair’s new friend. He’s staying with us until Cross is recovered.”
“He’s not my friend,” Crosshair protests.
“Aww, don’t say that,” Wrecker laughs. “You’ll hurt his feelings.”
“My feelings are not hurt,” AZ assures them.
Hunter goes to his bunk, stepping over Wrecker and sitting on the edge of the mattress next to Crosshair. “How are you feeling, Cross?”
Crosshair shrugs. “Fine.” Then Crosshair looks at Tech.
Guilt, sharp and familiar, twists in Tech’s stomach. If only he had listened to Wrecker, if only he had not been driven by his own pride. None of this would have happened.
Unsure what to do with himself, Tech goes to the table, slipping into the chair with its back to the bunk Crosshair occupies, and begins working on one of his many projects.
There is silence behind him for a few moments, and he distantly wonders if he is at fault. However, Hunter asks Crosshair another quiet question that Tech doesn’t hear, and Wrecker laughs. Tech focuses on his project, and tries to ignore the uncomfortable emotion that attempts to influence him.
Up next...
Prompt: Die A Hero
Let me know if you'd like to be added to my tag list!
Tag List: @arctrooper69 @groguandthebadbatch @ezras-left-thumb @maeashryver @baddest-batchers @laughhardrunfastbekindsblog @omegafett99 @heidnspeak @fionas-frenzy @dreamsight73 @royallykt @blackseafoam @skellymom @griffedeloup
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A new color palette for an OC… 😍
Freesia’s on her sh*t again… 🥸😎
Stay tuned… 😂
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randomly felt like telling my besties that i love them. it's not something i just drop in conversation, tho i do love them so much.
one of my friends texted back saying they really needed to hear that today and thanked me.
i teared up because, yeah, we never know what someone is thinking and that pull to tell her that i love her made her happy.
so, to all yall that haven't heard it today, i love you. you are loved. so much. i don't care if we don't know each other, my heart goes out to you.
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