#||He's a lizard just refuses to accept he gets cold easily

[shining-gem34]

[blanket] natasha to dan heng ^^

Showing Affection || Accepting! @grislyintentions

Unable to sleep again, Dan Heng spends his time strolling around Boulder Town. He encounters a lost and confused elderly woman wandering the streets. The guard escorts her to Natasha Clinic where one of the volunteers immediately took her inside where it was warm and safe. Normally, Dan Heng should've returned to the hotel and back to his room.

Instead, he sits on the stairs leading up to the clinic doors. The guard has no business here, but he's not ready to head back to the hotel yet. So he watches the scenery of the underworld before him. At this time of night, unless you're a miner or a member of Wildfire, there is no one outside.

Dan Heng shivers, feeling the chill seeping past his coat. He ignores it, because he is not ready to move yet from his spot- like a lazy cat or a lizard.

Then a warm fabric settles over his shoulders.

Glancing up, Dan Heng meets Natasha kind smile and he greets her, "Good evening, Dr. Natasha."

"...And thank you for the blanket." He adds, curling the blanket more around him. "Although, I would've been fine anyway."

[dualityvn]

I dunno if anyone asked this, but could you please write a drabble for UT!Tenebris x MC?

A Milkshake and A Night Under The Stars (UT!Tenebris x GN!Reader)

This was slightly inspired by valentinax3's ask about making a deal with Tenebris. Enjoy!

× × ×

"What is this one?"

"It's a chocolate milkshake. You drink it through this straw. The little tube poking out at the top," you explain to the creature eyeing the cup in your hand. "Wanna try it?"

As one arm reaches out, it morphs into a human one so it can easily grab the treat you've brought him. He hesitates as he brings it to his face and leans in to sniff it. He must not find anything suspicious because quickly after, he sips from the straw.

"Do you like it?"

The many eyes light up with delight. You've seen them do that every time you presented him with a new type of sweet treat. Each time, you find it very cute. Something so big and scary is obsessed with sweets.

"It's good. Very sweet, just like the rest. But I'm beginning to discern between them... What will we do in exchange for it?"

Some time ago, you'd made a deal with "the monster in the forest." You'd bring him the sweets he'd grown so fond of and in exchange, he'd let you get to know him. It was a deal that had perplexed him at first. He couldn't see why you'd want such a thing. Yet he'd accepted nonetheless.

"Since it's nighttime and the sky is clear, I was thinking we could stargaze."

"Very well. I appreciate that this one does not involve other humans."

He brings the straw back to his mouth. You watch the contents of the cup being drained at an impressive speed. Within mere seconds, it's empty. He hands it back to you and you store it away in your backpack.

"I mean, I was thinking we could do it from the top of one of the buildings in the city. The forest is kinda dense for it," you explain.

Half a dozen eyes narrow at you. "No. There is a large clearing deeper in. We're going there, where it is quiet and dark. Your loud vehicles and blinding lights would no longer bother us."

Under different circumstances, going deep into the forest with a monster would be a terrible idea. But if he wanted to harm you, he would've done it many times by now. So you take the risk.

"Okay, fair enough. How do we get there?"

He turns his back to you, then crouches down. "It will be too slow if I let you walk. Get on my back."

You pause, caught by surprise. He's never allowed you to touch him this much before. When you'd tried, he'd move away or snarl at you. Still, you aren't about to refuse the offer. You climb on and wrap your arms around his neck.

His skin is cold, but his hair feels soft as it brushes against your cheek. He smells like grass and honey. The lizard tail and his hunched position help keep you in place once he takes off.

You now see why he suggested you'd be slow. It wasn't an insult, it was a fact when you compared it to the speed he was running at. He wasn't only fast. He was also agile. You never once got smacked by any branches or bushes.

"Am I heavy?" you ask.

"Heavy? You come nowhere close to it. Not to me, at least."

You're not sure if even ten minutes have passed before he comes to a stop and lowers himself again to put you down.

The clearing he spoke of is indeed big. The stars are much more beautiful here, compared to the city. They look like glitter spread over dark fabric. You can't help but smile looking at it.

"You're right. This is much better."

He huffs as he plops down onto the grass with a loud thud. "Of course I am."

You suppress a chuckle and join him.

You'd noticed earlier, but now you have time to inspect him properly. He's dressed up. An intricate necklace resembling golden branches with precious stones instead of fruits hangs over his chest. A similar golden arm band matches one around his tail. And he's wearing pants. Something he didn't do the first time you'd met him in this form. He'd kept in mind you weren't a fan of complete nudity.

Three eyes shift to look at you questioningly. "I thought we came here to look at stars. Why are you staring at me?"

"Sorry, I was just thinking you look nice."

The eyes widen, then quickly look away. You get the impression he's flustered.

"Shouldn't this form frighten you? Why do you always ask me to stick to it instead of the human ones?"

"I like it. And you said the human form takes effort to maintain. I want you to be comfortable," you respond.

He only lets out a grunt and reverts his attention to the sky. You do the same.

You don't know a lot about stars. He does. So you ask a lot of questions. He answers each one without complaint. And when you both lay on your backs to get a better view and you scooch a little closer until your shoulders touch, he doesn't push you away.

It's pleasant. You feel oddly at peace. His voice is deep but soothing. Accompanied by the sounds of crickets and frogs, it begins to lull you to sleep. Your eyelids become heavy. As they close and you drift off to a land of dreams, you feel something brushing away a few strands of hair from your face.

[clownspiral]

my michael headcanons!

- michael shelley wears glasses, michael distortion does not 

- michael shelley is trans 

- michael shelley has a tooth gap! freckles too! 

- he commonly gets nicknamed mikey by his peers 

- michael shelley dots his i’s with hearts & just generally doodles a lot on things 

- michael shelley’s wardrobe consists mainly of sweaters, & he wears pink eyeshadow & nail polish 90% of the time. he’ll also often wear flowers in his hair, as well as earrings & other kinds of jewelry 

- michael shelley loves singing 

- michael shelley is a painter but mainly keeps it to himself 

- michael shelley keeps many houseplants 

- michael shelley is kinda a stickler for the rules & comes across as lowkey bossey at times, but he’s too sweet to ever say anything Genuinely rude (even in situations where he definitely Should) 

- michael shelley had a LOT of pets (snails, dogs, lizards - you name it) & continues to care for them as michael distortion (though they do not recognize who he is...) until they all pass on naturally 

- michael shelley often cat-sits for gertrude’s Several cats (she always chooses him cuz he’s the only assistant who will do it 100% free) 

- michael distortion has dark blue blood 

- michael distortion smells like honey 

- michael distortion cannot be killed through Bodily Harm but it dislikes being hurt nonetheless 

- michael distortion’s skin is ice cold to the touch & is much paler than michael shelley’s was 

- michael distortion changes colors based on its mood (YOU figure out what this means!) 

- michael distortion’s hair moves to emote with it 

- michael distortion moves silently & enjoys sneaking up on its human friends, especially martin blackwood 

- michael distortion is worried at first that the new archivist is going to do the same thing to his assistants as gertrude did. it is especially worried for the well-being of martin in the earlier phase of his employment under jon’s supervision 

- michael distortion Hates elias/jonah and avoids him at all costs 

- elias cannot See the distortion & is unable to read its mind 

- michael distortion invites the leftover spiral avatars into its hallways to hang out 

- michael distortion transports its human friends (the ones trusting enough to step through the door) to the places they would like to visit 

- michael distortion cooks & bakes for its human friends & absolutely does not pay for a single ingredient it uses 

- michael distortion purrs, chirps, growls, etc. 

- michael distortion sits in unconventional positions 

- michael distortion has a LOT of teeth 

- michael distortion is very good at singing & whistling 

- michael distortion enjoys gardens & flowers 

- michael distortion cannot sleep but often feigns it (in other words, dresses up in pajamas and lays still with its eyes closed for several hours on end) 

- michael distortion’s stomach cannot digest human food so it only Pretends to eat and doesn’t actually ever swallow 

- michael distortion can (AND WILL) float at will 

- post-spiral michael has no choice but to work at the archives since he was already marked by the eye during his pre-spiral years. he considers blinding himself but has no one to take care of him if he does, so he’s forced to become jon’s assistant (much to both men’s dismay) 

- elias changes some of the institute’s doors to yellow ones just to screw with post-spiral michael. everyone agrees that this is a Huge Dick Move 

- post-spiral michael straightens (& eventually cuts) his hair in an effort to look less like the distortion 

- post-spiral michael wears contact lenses cuz glasses remind him of his old self. he also changes up his fashion a lot & asks to not be called mikey, his old nickname 

- post-spiral michael avoids mirrors & doors, and he ALWAYS carries keys to each door of his home right around his neck 

- post-spiral michael has sensory issues & gets overloaded easily 

- post-spiral michael has horrible night terrors & panic attacks 

- post-spiral michael cannot STAND being lied to, including little white lies 

- post-spiral michael would find post-spiral helen to be the easiest to trust & would have a natural bond with her right off the bat. however he refuses to trust Anyone as completely as he trusted Gertrude before the spiral 

- post-spiral michael would be quite afraid of post-spiral helen leaving him & would follow her around a lot to make sure she isn’t going to disappear 

- post-spiral michael is touched by the lonely but has too much of a deep hatred for peter lukas (whom boated him directly to his death) to fall all the way into it 

- post-spiral michael is Mean at first, as in he’s got some serious anger issues, but he starts to soften up over time (with the Help of therapy, which was strongly advised by martin, who actually sees the same therapist michael ends up seeing) 

- post-spiral michael highkey blames himself for what happened to him and resents his past self. he only starts to really move on from everything when he finally begins to forgive himself for being tricked & accepts that not everyone is going to be the same as gertrude 

- it takes the Longest for post-spiral michael to warm up to the archivist (who he starts calling “Jon” after a while) but. he’s trying. he has a lot to re-learn about Being Human & has some really deep injuries to heal, but the people around him are being kindly patient with him & eventually? he’s going to be okay. he’s not going to be the Same as he was before, not ever, but he’s going to find a New Version of okay. <3  

[quitealotofsodapop]

MvA assorted headcanons

General:

So many years together has made the core monsters inseperable. If something affects one member, it affects the group.

All. The. Monsters. Are. Family.

It takes Susan a while to understand inside jokes and past incidents because of being the most recent addition.

There are Other anomalous creatures kept in Area 5X, but they are either non-sentient and/or are too dangerous to be kept around the more human-friendly monster group.

Area 5X is so gotdang big because they were expecting a lot more kaijus like Insecto to crop up. Sadly not many have surfaced to justify the space.

There’s a hangar in Area 5X full of wrecked UFOs. Some are spacecraft wreckage while others are stuff like weird meteors (Susan’s is in there), and at least one alien creature that got crystallised upon entering Earth’s atmosphere.

There’s significant difference in staff employed at different points throughout the past 50 years. There are far more women on the Area 5X worksheet than back in the 50s, and the guards are generally more sympathetic towards the monsters. Many modern staff members have been reprimanded or let go for failing to uphold secrecy, or for unnecessary cruelty towards the monsters.

Budget cuts were a legitmate concern up until the Battle of Golden Gate Bridge. The facility was far more barebones and sterile before the government had to formally recognise Area 5X’s importance. There have been a lot of redecorating at the facilty since the fat checks started coming in.

Putting individual characters under read due to length.

Susan:

Enjoys many hobbies considered stereotypically feminine; baking, sewing, cosmetics, etc...

Grandparents and extended family are farmers or are atleast connected to the business. Modesto is the agricultural centre of California after all. Her parents were the first of their generation to go against the mold and seek out white-collar careers.

Studied cosmetology in school and was working at a beauty salon to save up for her and Derek’s wedding.

Is very athletic and grew up doing a number of physical extracurriculars like cheerleading, dodgeball, and roller-derby.

Grew up being teased for being the shortest kid in her class/family. They still tease her for it.

Greatly fears causing collateral damage and/or harm to others through her size.

Has issues with anxiety, worsened only by her new job as “savior of earth”. She wishes for a confidant to tell her worries to.

Married life with Derek was doomed to fail. Susan had a plan in place for what came after the marriage, and focusing 100% on Derek’s career was not it. There’s also the line from Derek’s mother about Susan being “the weatherman’s wife”, implying that she was to be the homemaker and not have a career of her own. It’s possible that Susan was planning to settle down and have kids with Derek, but the lack of control she had in moving to Fresno implied that more was going on.

Is currently “taking a break” from love and dating, despite gaining many new admirers.

Tries her best to return to Modesto to visit her family and friends whenever possible, though work often keeps her away for weeks at a time.

If she retains her height-shifting abilities as in the series; Susan goes through really bad “growing” pains.

Link:

Was frozen in his relative late-teens during a cold snap. Got shifted around until he ended up somewhere in Greenland before being discovered by modern humans. Post-thaw he went a bit wild, swimming frantically back south to try and find his old enviroment.

Was one of many scrappy youngsters in his troop, with a number of adoptive parents. The strongest ruled the troop, and Link was fairly weak in comparision to the leaders. He had gotten into a fight the day of his freezing (over something silly in hindsight) and swam away to sulk. When he didn’t return after the cold snap - the troop accepted that he had likely died out on his own.

Likes to freak out humans by making up weird biology facts about his species and ones he’s fought against - like joking about laying eggs or having his tail dettach and regrow like a lizard. However there’s some things he has to ask about, because he doesn’t have medical knowledge or words to describe something.

A lot of his macho behavior came from imitating the guards who kept watch on him. 1950s violent military alpha males aren't a very good role model for someone who doesnt know what societal norms are yet. Link was a lot more insufferable back in the day but chilled out as he began interacting with other walks of life.

Has a high paternal instinct and immediately becomes softer around kids and smaller animals.

Has body language similar to a cat/alligator. Slaps his tail when angry or in deep thought. And yes; Link purrs/rumbles when happy.

Loves monster movies - especially the ones where the monsters “win”. He cried when he saw “Beauty and the Beast” and then immediately booed loudly when the Beast turned human.

Does Not Trust doctors or scientists due to bad past experiences. Will only go to Dr Cockroach and Monger if he ever gets hurt/ill. Gets stressed fast if he has to be in a waiting room or doctors office.

Link had no idea what gender indentities or orientations were until recently - he did come from a pre-human civilization that really didnt mind/care about the schemantics. It took him some time to wrap his head around it. He identifies himself as bisexual after much thought and many hours alone on the computer.

Don't press him about his body. He's built different from humans and cis people. He will punch anyone who doesnt respect his or anyone elses identity.

Has been in love before. It didn’t end well.

Will occasionally wear clothes, but finds it a challenge to find anything that fits him. Will give any shoes he finds to Dr Cockroach and BOB to eat.

The best driver/pilot out of all the monsters.

Dr Cockroach:

True name is Jaques-Yves Herbert. Prefers to just go by "Dr Cockroach" because he dislikes the association with his birth family.

Picks up human languages very easily, although not as quickly as he can understand animals.

Parents were a mixed scientist couple. His father was an aggressive “Strong British Man” that would beat him son down for not following orders or for not meeting his standards for a man. Dr C turned down both chances to attend his parents funerals.

This man isn’t straight. He probably uses old-fashioned slang when asked about romance such as; “I am Uranian” or “I wear a green carnation”. It took Susan a few times to realise what he meant, as she is used to a more open minded enviroment.

Got the idea of transforming into a cockroach from reading Franz Kafkas “The Metamorphosis” as a child. He sympathized with Gregor’s abusive situation, and began considering the possibilties of how one could survive better as a creature like a cockroach.

Studied in biology and entomology in the Uk before moving to the states to follow engineering. Obtained his degree in Dance as a “side gig” in University.

Has been barred from free access to the coffee maker/machine due to overnighters. Once stayed awake so long that he forgot the letter “R”.

Owned a terrarium of Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches throughout college. He mourned each of them when his roommate’s iguana got into the tank.

Was a "beatnik" back in the day and still kinda is. Embraces and encourages modern counterculture as he himself was not given such acceptance in his youth. He has however shamefully eaten his old Lenny Bruce album.

Hasn’t actually aged physically since his transformation. He attributes this to the fact that certain athropods can’t age physically beyond maturity. Link is very jealous.

Has obtained more degrees while in captivity, as Monger allowed him access to research and learning materials. He has however had his allowances revoked for previous escape attempts/doomsday devices.

Does still enjoy human food, but the cockroach instinct of "eat detritus" tends to overrule his eating choices. Can’t cook either.

Ironically a terrible driver. The damages from previous drives has made Monger restrict him from operating even a razor scooter.

BOB:

Pretty much considers himself human. Was created by them, raised by one (Monger), and talks like one. Gets sad when he's reminded that no other humans are blue blobs like him.

Absorbed some dna from the scientists present at his "birth", leading to his eye, speech, and omnivorous diet.

Doesnt actually need to breathe (as he can just absorb oxygen through his mass) but the fact that humans Do means that BOB thinks he has to as well.

Shares some physical characteristics with tomatoes/nightshade plants, as he is technically half tomato. He refuses to eat tomatos for this very reason, considering it cannibalism.

Attracts garden pests looking for a tomato plant. This unwittingly makes BOB a pretty good bug zapper.

Still retains his "mental broadcast" ability from "BOB's Big Break" although at a more subtle level. He tends to parrot the things he accidentally "eavesdropped" on.

Is empathetic, and can tell when others aren't doing ok emotionally. Will flop down on someone who’s really sad to comfort them. No brain, only heart.

Best cook out of the monsters. If he doesn’t forget what he’s making at least.

"Whats a gender? Can I eat it?"

Insectosaurus:

Core body is that of a Japanese Silkmoth, although she ended up being spliced with other animals present on the island during her initial mutation; namely ants and ground squirrels.

Eats over a literal ton of mulberry leaves per day. Also enjoys oranges.

Secretly wishes to be more humanoid.

Was only able to pupate and transform due to physical trauma. It seems that her transformation was like a “power-up” that required her to be in geniune distress for it to activate.

First language is Japanese. She learned it from the intial recovery team, and later developed an understanding of English from years in Area 5X.

Goes into torpor in cold weather. Pretty much impossible to wake her up for missions during Winter, as she needs to “rev up” before becoming mobile.

Still very much Link’s best friend. Still enjoys sports, chicks, and beer.

Monger:

Full name is; Warren Rex Monger.

Is very protective of the monsters and will defend them to the death.

Pretty much raised BOB (as seen when BOB was a baby blob in “Night of the Living Carrots”), and considers him his “freaky gelatinous son”.

Has a reputation of being a “control-freak” due to his aggressive overseeing of the monsters’ containment. This toughness is partly because of incidents that occured without his knowledge. Lets just say some scientists have been wedgied/fired for running experiments on the monsters without Monger’s approval.

Has a very “Ron Swanson” emotional response and view of the world. Crying is acceptable only at funerals and at the Grand Canyon (if he hadn’t lost his tear ducts in the war).

Has been married multiple times. Will not confirm or deny if he is currently seeing anyone.

Invisible Man/TiM:

Legit got out but no one at Area 5X is sure how. He suffered a geniune medical emergency and disappeared after surgery. The other monsters were informed that he died from complications to deter them from getting escape ideas.

Is able to be detected in Infrared light. Dr Cockroach managed to rig up goggles to view TiM in case of injury and to foil pranks.

Was a scientist working on an invisibility potion for the military and used himself as a guinea pig. Hasn’t actually been able to replicate his results since - thinks the effect may have been caused by a genetic abnormality.

Dr Cockroach and him are massive rivals. Both actually met eachother pre-transformation through a CalTech expedition. This makes the pair one of few people that have seen the others human face.

Is 100% naked. Was forced to wear clothing once this was discovered.

A massive prankster and a cynic. Him and Link were a force to be reckoned with.

Has revisted the facility multiple times and has started a number of ghost stories.

Any additions are welcome! I proably have alot more to dump about. Might make one of the alien characters from the series

[ophiniaonistecua]

((Why not s’more))

She’d seen these buildings before, usually from a safe distance. Police stations were more easily hassled and molested, given the circumstances, but these places were built to operate above it all. The idea, as she heard it, was to promote a healthy relationship by handing power and authority to the new class, instead of enforcing it themselves.

She was told it was a facade of power, where dogs were trained to sit on command, while also being told that it was all on them. Simultaneously exerting control while washing their hands of responsibility. A cake that is had and eaten all at once. From a distance, such things are easier to say. Few things survive a closer analysis, and that included her own views.

It was such a rich structure, with glass and steel, and brickwork on the side. Meant to inspire the familiar, the modern, the accepting, the new.

Or so she heard. She really didn’t know much about human history.

T-Rex, however, was less appreciative of her analysis. To him, it was akin to a bank robber callously walking straight into a bank, flipping every desk to find every alarm. Admittedly, this metaphor wasn’t appropriate. He was more upset that she was beating around the bush. The outside was not the reason she was here.

“Miss Liz, I’d like to remind you that your bag would better be placed inside. Your room is ready and waiting, after all.” He said with a polite cough. “And perhaps you can dress into something less provocative? The vibrant orange and reflective strips are not complimenting your appearance, if you’ll excuse my language.”

Her crossed arms tightened as she provided him with a dismissive glare. With a chuckle he reached for her bag instead, offering to carry it. Liz provided not rebuttal, even as he entered without her. 

“Not going to hold the door!?” She shouted, finally relenting to enter the place. A wash of cooler air brought her off balance.

“You’ve shown not interest in manners. And nothing more insulting than to continue with manners when someone prefers otherwise.” T-Rex, despite being quite large, and speaking with a hefty voice, had a curious gentleness to his intonation. He chose his words carefully, or at least with more care than she was used to.

“Now then, shall we get to business?”

“What business?”

“The business of telling you where your room is, and what needs to be taken care of. Miss Liz, I can’t help but get the feeling you’re not taking this situation with the kind of seriousness I had in mind when I suggested it.” His voice sounded disappointed, as did the lowering of his brows.

“Then you shouldn’t look for recruits in a prison.” She snidely remarked, her rear bumping the door closed. Instead of heading along, she remained leaning against it.

“I can’t claim to be psychic, miss Liz. I only believe that people in prison simply need guidance. Especially with a background as your own.”

“And what if I just hoof it?”

“I’d question your logic of running while wearing your prison garment, instead of at least changing into something less suspicious. Following that, I’d wonder how interested your old friends would be in you, given that this deal wasn’t exactly done under cloak and dagger circumstances.” He placed her bag on the table and, figuring she wasn’t going to budge, waved his hand a few pictures on and besides the refridgerator.

“That one is Lilly. A little younger than you. Holds beliefs like my own, though too zealous for her own good. I requested she be moved to another district, but they insisted I fluff out my squad before making requests.” He started off, aiming at a picture of an orange-scaled lady. Liz knew that kind of build; the bulky kind, bound to try and meet human standards.”Or was it Lucy? I’m quite sure she flips a coin on that.”

“And that’s Terry. A thrill-seeker. Plenty of those each year. Similar to Lilly, with the type of parents to push him to the safer spots so he doesn’t get too hurt.” The bright orange, slender head had such a wide grin she almost felt like she’d met him before. 

“And then there’s me. But there’s nothing to be said about me. Just a big old softy who thinks that everyone has good in them.”

“Would you kill a man to save another?” Liz asked with a straight face.

“Miss Liz, if you’re asking questions like those, you’ve never considered the importance of context.” He replied with a healthy chuckle. 

“Are you going to keep calling me ‘miss Liz’ then?”

“I’d call you Elizabeth, or Lizard, but I’d rather not create any undue animosity. Respect is earned, after all.”

“But.” She sighed and rolled her eyes. She shifted from the door only to take a glass and drink from it. The open kitchen saved her the awkwardness of having to ask. “You’re in charge.”

“You believe that power comes with exceptions?”

“Wha?” 

T-Rex seemed to lose it as he covered his nose in confined snickers. Liz was not as happy, if only because she didn’t fully understand the comedy. She asked again and again, before he recovered and answered properly.

“You know, my father had a good saying to live by. The king holds not the keys, only the favor of the ones that do. At the end of the day, abusing my power for petty entertainment wouldn’t help anyone, would it? Or, how does that other saying go: 'Any man who must say I am the king is no true king?' Pah, listen to me, going on. Do tell me when I’m babbling too much, I’d rather not stink the place with an air of pompous book clubbery.” His chuckling had not ended.

By this point, Liz just gave him a cold stare. He laughed at his own jokes, he talked like some librarian who read books purely for the quotes, and seemed oblivious to his own position in life. With another sip, she stilled her mind.

“They’re out on a little stint. Groceries, I mean.” His eyes darted to the clock. “If you’re fast, you can get to your room and change. Not to imply I have anything against it. I just have the feeling you’re dressed like this to provoke.”

The yellow lady plopped her glass down with a heavy thud and shrugged. Even as T-Rex grabbed her bag and headed to the oddly placed spiral staircase, she refused to move. “What about it?”

“How about another saying? ‘You can’t bury the past you’re carrying with you?’ I’m sorry, that’s a little too direct. If you want your bag, I’ll leave it upstairs, second room on the... only wall on the upper floor.”

Her eyes peeked up a minute. The staircase went to an elevated walkway. Indeed, it’d be strange if her room was over the railing. A soft snort came from her nostrils, the only acknowledgement that T-Rex had a proper sense of humor. With a heavy steps, she moved forward. Not so much to change, moreso to get her stuff out before he got in it, and maybe put on some shoes.

And he wasn’t kidding. Ascending the stairs, she saw the rooms and nameplates. Somehow, Lilly was also labelled Lucy. On a small spinning rail. Giving it a twirl, either name ended on top, left or right. A lot of work for no gain. 

And from up here, she could enjoy the rather opulant room. Big couches, nice tables, big glass wall. This place felt more like the penthouse suite to a fine hotel than any sort of mission base. Only the briefest second did she not find this suspicious. An alliance born from bribery, is what she’d call it.

“Your room, miss Liz. There’s a short questionairre on the desk. Mostly for personal accouterments and what have you. As well as sizes for your field gear.” T-Rex leaned in close and whispered. “There’s a measuring tape and a size-conversion sheet as well.” 

“You could just check my clothes. Or whatever FBI document the parole hearing provided.” 

“It might be the FBI’s business to snoop around in your clothing labels, but not mine, miss Liz. Your bag, your key, and most importantly, your file.” 

Her eyes bulged. His hand produced a filled folder, with her name on it. It quantly mentioned “Classified” on it. It would’ve been believable if it didn’t smell of fresh ink.

“It’s not the only copy. It wouldn’t be right for me to hold onto it either. After all, if I have questions, you’re right here.”

She snatched the keys, bag and file out of his hands, juggling them between her own. He didn’t produce any particularly cute or overwhelming smile, only a simple polite one. Even cashiers put on more insulting grins than this. 

Even when she closed the door, he just kinda walked off. Her eyes trailed him, part of her hoping he’d suddenly turn into a vampire or something equally exciting. 

Subsequently she figured that the situation was just getting better. Either he was a trusting oaf, or she just found her way into a nice cozy place. She was going to play this one for every thing she could get. It could’ve been much worse....

[ganymedesclock]

Based off of what we see of the red lion so far, it doesn't need a pilot in order to find keith. Based off of the traits that the Red Lion is suppose to have, I don't think it would need someone who doesn't fit it's traits in order to save Keith, unless Keith is in serious dire help, in which case Lance having the time of his life doesn't really seem necessary. So Lance in red and having the time of his life doesn't make sense, because Lance doesn't have the traits that allows him to pilot it

I would contest this, mostly because, simply enough- the Lions have to have some benefit from having a seated pilot, otherwise we wouldn’t have a show. We also see in practice that it is very rare, and often evidence of a dire situation, that a Lion attacks or fights on their own, and we’ve never seen a Lion in single combat- the closest we’ve come is Black one-shotting Zarkon out of the astral plane. Red’s assault on the base wasn’t against another enemy, just a stationary target.

Yes, Red hasn’t taken a pilot with her before to go find Keith, but Keith has never been under fire before, he’s just been lost or floating out in space away from enemies. Rescuing Keith in the middle of a firefight would involve Red fighting on her own, and, when it comes to fighting, even with fights where the Lions easily outmatch their foes?

Black still needed Keith to work with her to rescue Shiro from those saber-toothed creatures. Even though Black could basically step on them and hit them with her tail to do so.

That much is given to us by canon- the Lions need a pilot, and sometimes, in desperate straits, any pilot will do even if it cannot work optimally. They would much rather wait or hold out for their designated paladin, if they can choose, but sometimes they can’t. Compare Red ignoring Coran to go get Keith, to Black accepting Keith because Shiro was away from her and about to get mauled by lizards- she couldn’t wait for him to run her way, and, seemingly, sustaining damage from the wormhole and Zarkon’s tampering, she couldn’t go get him on her own.

So- if Keith was in Black and they were both under fire, I think it makes perfect sense for Red to team up with Lance to bail them both out, because it isn’t just a matter of getting to him, he needs backup. And considering Red’s both incredibly fast and firepower-heavy, it’s possible that Red and Lance teaming up would result in them backing Keith up surprisingly easily- so yeah, Lance might go in all serious, but he might pretty rapidly have a blast because “holy shit did you see me set that on fire just now?”

Lance is pretty consistently someone who can open up and even have some fun in a bad situation. Especially if Red handles very well. That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if ultimately, it’s not just exciting for Lance- if there’s kind of a message of, yeah, it sure is a thrill how fast and powerful Red is, but this doesn’t feel right, this isn’t where he’s comfortable and happy and wants to spend the rest of his life. His happy bubble might last right up until he takes a hit that Blue could shrug off and Red nearly crashes from and then he realizes that he’d really prefer to spend time in the Lion that makes sense according to his sensibilities. 

Red might be glamorous the way that Lance has always wanted to be, but, adopting other roles that are more illustrious but not who he is at heart has not helped Lance before. Just like I’m sure Keith would like it if he actually wasn’t an alien, but fully human, but the team collectively agreeing to ignore the fact that Keith has galra heritage would not be good for him.

Ultimately, Lance is on a journey of self-discovery. He wants to find his own virtues, rather than prove he’s good enough for Red- remember how defensive he was about Blue, and emphasized how happy together they are? We’ve seen similar emphasis between Shiro and Black- it isn’t that Shiro doesn’t want Black, but he tries to push her towards Keith because he doesn’t think he’s worthy, and Black responds very much that she does want Shiro as pilot. 

This is another thing to add to the pile of reasons why I don’t think the switches are going to stick- because the writers specifically stocked season 2 with evidence how all three Lions are very happy, thank you, with their bonded paladins.

Black adores Shiro, he means the world to her, he’s the one she wants to open up to and talk to- the only reason she might turn against him is because Zarkon is messing with her head, and even then, that creates visceral empathy- because Shiro’s the one dealing with people like Sendak and Haggar playing on his foggy memory. Hell- the team even discusses in s2e3 that Shiro’s brain might be compromised! 

That idea didn’t turn out to have merit, since Ulaz and the Blade were telling the truth, but the idea that the empire might use their prior hold on Shiro against the team comes up again in s2e5- Shiro never implicates himself, but, he’s the one who brings up the idea there’s a tracking device on the ship, and considering both Sendak’s capture of the ship and Allura’s stint in captivity were incredibly short, if that had turned out to be true, Shiro is the most likely party that device would be attacked to.

Even the fact that Zarkon manipulates his connection with Black to hurt the team is echoed in Shiro. Something he sees that paints him as less worthy as a Black Paladin is something that brings him closer to his Lion.

For Red? Red spent most of season 2 going to rescue Keith, and specifically refusing someone else (Coran) trying to replace him.

And once again, Lance emphasizes how happy he and Blue are together, something that we frankly see emphasized heavily in s2e2 and again in s2e10 when Blue’s used as the drop ship for the Beta Traz mission and her unique sonic cannon is essential to getting them in, just like Lance’s long-range bayard and precision marksmanship are essential to getting them out.

This is not a lead-up to permanent switching. This is, if anything, a lead-up to the suggestion that attempting to shuffle Lions around is going to be a learning experience in how much they’ve been able to take the strength of their bonds for granted.

Of course, to them, it would seem easy to pilot their bonded Lion. Everything makes sense, it all comes natural, because they’re literally and figuratively in their element.

I mean, I’ve heard people suggest Black being hard for Keith, and Red being hard for Lance, but... in DotU, Blue was absolute hell for Allura to learn how to pilot, and her first attempt led to the Lion pretty much hurtling wildly around- and sure, that was because of abject sexist writing that assumed Allura, as a woman, was an inferior pilot and would struggle that much more-

But what if VLD retakes that, in a different spin? After all, Blue is claimed to be the most accepting but she’s got her limits, and, just like Lance, I’d expect Blue has her sharpness and insecurity. Someone might expect Blue to be docile because she’s the “agreeable” one, only to find out the hard way that the ocean may have warm, inviting, tropical shallows, but it also has cold, crushing, sunless depths, and being the master of the sea means knowing both of them.

[kattyallialchemy]

Nothing but dark: The day off

Chapter 2

AO3

Tags: Fluff, Nightmares, Night Terrors, Feels, Angst

Word count: 3 456

Summary: After being up so long the previous day, Sans decided that they could use day off

Sans was woken up by a ringing of his phone. He grumbled and groped for his phone at the bedside table. When he found it, he stared at the display for a moment trying to focus his eye lights to be able to recognize who was calling. When he realized it was Alphys, he grumbled once more and picked it up.

"What is it?" Sans said, voice still sleepy. He was met with the loud and angry shouting of the lizard guard. He had to put the phone away from his ear. Her voice ringing in his skull.

"Oh my god, Sans! You are late for your lesson, you didn't call me and now you are asking what is it?! You better give me a good explanation why you didn't come!"

Sans slid a hand across his face. "Sorry, Alphys. Yesterday we came back home pretty late and I probably overslept. It won't happen again, I promise."

"Why is that? Did you have any problem with other guards again? If yes, I'll regrade them!" her voice was still pretty loud but she wasn't shouting at least.

"No, it's nothing like that."

Since Sans become a member of the Royal Guard a two months ago, some of the guards tried to force him out. They gave him absurd tasks and were hard on him. Sometimes they had beaten him up. Sans was trying to deal with it on his own, but when he once came with an almost broken arm, he had to tell the truth. He couldn't lie. The guards were immediately fired. Sans didn't agree with Alphys' decision. He just wanted them to stop, but he couldn't do anything about it. Alphys is their captain and they must obey her commands.

"Pap just didn't show up at home and I went looking for him. If I think about it, would it be a problem if we took a day off?"

"Is something happening? Are you two sick?" Alphys slipped from anger to worry.

"No. We are not sick. We are just pretty tired and it's been a long time since we had a day just for us. I miss spending time with Pap."

There was silence at the other side for a moment before Alphys spoke up. "Ok. But just because it's you. And I warn you if I found out you are sick..." Alphys was cut-off by Sans' chirpy voice.

"Thank you very much Alphys! See you tomorrow."

When Sans hung up, he put his phone back to the bedside table and with long yawn stretched his spine with a quiet pop. When he slipped out of bed, he gathered some clean, more casual clothes and headed to the bathroom. Even when it was late for breakfast, he still had some time before he would go to wake Papyrus.

The hot water was as balsam to his bones. He spends there more time than he needed, just to enjoy the feeling of little hot droplets on his body. When he was finished, he put his dirty clothes in their laundry basket and went to the kitchen. He decided that he would make them at least some snack, so they would not be hungry until lunch.

It wasn't that long ago when Muffet gave him her new recipe. It was some kind of pie. Muffet said that Papyrus was really fond of its sweet honey taste. Sans wanted to try it all week and now seems to be the right moment. Just when he was pulling out needed ingredients, he felt a painful tug in his soul.

His body froze, hands stopped midair and his head shot up to the stairs. The eye lights in his sockets shrank to small pinpricks as he dashed up the stairs to Papyrus' room. Sans slammed the door open to see his brother fight with blankets. Air in the room was cold and heavy. Sans quickly tossed the blanket aside. Papyrus' body immediately stiffened. Sans came closer and studied his face. His eye sockets were wide open, but there was nothing in them. Papyrus almost never used his eye lights, but his eyes never been this... blank. They were empty.

"Pap?" Sans called hesitantly. He reached his hand to Papyrus. But as soon as his fingers touched his brother's arm, Papyrus let out a loud terrified cry and started to fight again, magic sparkling in the air. Free objects in the room started to float. Sans withdraw his hand and jumped back. His mind was running a mile per second. He didn't know what was happening. But he knew that he must stop it. This wasn't a normal nightmare. It never made him react like this. Whatever it was, it could really damage Papyrus' soul, if he didn't stop it.

Ok. First step: immobilize him. Sans jumped at him, trying to hold him down, but he was easily knocked over by Papyrus' long arms. Fine, another way it is then. If you can't take them down by a front, take them down by their back. So Sans pulled Papyrus to sitting position by his arms and quickly shoved himself behind him. Sans hooked his arms under Papyrus' shoulders and locked his legs around his brother's waist. Papyrus started to fight more at the feeling of being trapped, but he couldn't do much more than squirm. They fell back on the bed, Papyrus on a top of Sans. All right, immobilization: checked.

Step two: wake him up. Sans tried to shout at him, but it looks that words won't work. So Sans called for Papyrus' soul. To his dismay, he didn't get an answer. It looked like the soul wasn't there. He searched for it. It was hidden deep down in him, covered by the dark shadow of the nightmare he was trapped in. Sans send a strong pulse of his magic to his brother's core. No response. Panic washed over him. He sends another pulse and another. Nothing. It was like Papyrus refused to accept his call. But Sans wasn't going to give up. He put almost everything he has to this next call. A stabbing pain shot through his soul. Papyrus froze. He was breathing hard and orange light flared in his sockets, looking around frantically. He was awake.

His soul lets out a small beat and Sans immediately caught it, sending warmth and reassurance. Chasing away the shadow and replacing the nightmarish scenes with nice and happy memories. How they had a snowball fight with Alphys and Undyne when they were still kids, how they found their secret place, when Papyrus got the first telescope for his birthday, how they ruined the whole house when their friends came for a sleepover...

Sans carefully pushed them to sitting position, slightly rocking them from side to side in a calming manner. The tension from Papyrus' body slowly disappeared, the magic crackling in the air vanishing, the floating things falling down. Sans eased his grip and moved his hands from Papyrus' shoulders to his ribcage in a tight hug. Kindness and understanding still pouring from his soul. Sans hid his face in the crook of his brother's neck and whispered quietly. "It's alright, Papy. Everything is alright. I got you."

Papyrus' hands fell to his sides. He was staring in front of him, orange light fading from his eye sockets as he took in all the soothing feelings from his brother. His own soul calming down. Sans gradually stopped moving them until they stopped completely. Sans slightly loosen his hold. Papyrus' soul gave panicked ping and his eyes flared again. He quickly grabbed Sans' arms and gripped them tightly. A quiet whimper escaped his mouth. Sans tighten his hold once more. "It's alright, Papy. I got you. I am here. I am not going anywhere."

They sat there who knows how long, holding each other. After some time Sans spoke quietly, not wanting to startle the other skeleton. "I am going to let go, ok? Don't worry. I'll be still here. I won't go anywhere."

Sans slightly loosen his hold. Papyrus' hands slid from Sans' arms and Sans slowly removed them completely. Sans stood up, walked around him and kneel in front of his brother. Papyrus' gaze was turned down. Sans carefully took his hands. "Pap?"

Nothing. Sans gave one last pulse. "Pap, look at me."

Papyrus looked up. He was staring right into Sans' slightly scared, but still strong and reassuring deep blue eyes.

"It's ok to be scared." Sans tried to sound calm, but can't stop his voice from trembling. A small tired smile on his features. "But you are not alone, you know? You have me, Undyne, Alphys, even Muffet. We are here for you. So, if you feel like drowning, just call. We will pull you out."

Tears appeared in Papyrus' eye sockets and he pulled Sans into a tight hug. Sans returned the embrace. He could feel his own tears to spill to match his brother's now loud crying. Sans circled his hand at Papyrus' back, trying to calm down the hiccups that were wrecking his body.

Only now Papyrus let out all his fears and dark thoughts. Even if it was just a faint touch, Sans tried to chase away those cold feelings and replace them with his own warmth. It was after his crying died down to muffled sniffles when Sans pulled away just enough to be able to look at his brother. They were looking at each other with watery eyes, cheekbones stained from the tears.

"I am here. I am not going anywhere." Sans said, his voice small.

Papyrus leaned down and placed a soft kiss on Sans' forehead. "I know, Sans. I know."

After what felt like an eternity of silence, Sans spoke quietly. "Alphys called before and I asked her for a day off. We don't have to go to work today. Wanna go down and watch some TV?"

"Yeah, I'd love that." Papyrus agreed, voice hoarse from crying. Every kind of distraction was welcome.

The both of them went to their living room and sat on the couch. They watched to some new records of Napstaton's show. They sat close to each other, Papyrus' arm resting around Sans' shoulders. Sans knew he would have to ask Papyrus about his nightmare, but he was too tired for it now. And Papyrus would most likely refuse to talk about it. So he decided to let it go for now and don't ruin the little peace they now had.

When the show ended and there was nothing interesting on the program, Sans came up with some board games they once found in the dump in Waterfall. Some of them were in a pretty good state, but sometimes they were without game instructions so they have to come up with their own rules. Plenty of human games were modified for monsters during all those years in the underground. They played Snakes&Ladders, Ludo, and some other games. They even had a bit of fun.

When the time for lunch approached, the brothers moved to the kitchen. Papyrus sat at the table and Sans took his place at the stove, moving away the things that he took out for the pie and taking out new ingredients for lunch. Papyrus' eyes fell on a recipe on the table and examined it closely.

"What is this?" he asked.

Sans turned to see, what he meant. "Oh, this? Muffet gave it to me some time ago. I just wanted to try it, since we have a day off."

"You still wanna try it?"

"Well, yes. But what about lunch?"

"We can have this for lunch. I can help you."

Sans' eyes lit up. "Really? You really want to help me with cooking?"

Papyrus shrugged and smiled a little. "Sure. It could be fun. Maybe I'll even learn something."

Now Sans' eyes were brightly shining big blue stars, a mile-wide smile on his face. He was almost vibrating with excitement. The best part of Sans' nature was his infectious excitement and good mood. Papyrus' smile widened as he felt his own mood brighten up.

Sans started to prepare the topping and Papyrus was making the dough. Sans was almost finished when he felt flour splat at the back of his skull. He stiffened and slowly turned around. Papyrus was still working on the dough, his back turned to him. Sans returned to the topping. After a few minutes, another load of flour landed on his skull. Sans turned instantly. Papyrus was now facing him, arms laxly crossed on his chest and saucy look at his face.

"Oh! So this is how it's gonna be?" Sans said with a malicious smile. He then tossed an egg at Papyrus' face.

"FOOD FIGHT!!" Sans yelled as he grabbed more throwable ingredients. Papyrus wiped the egg from his forehead and joined in.

It didn't take long and the kitchen was completely ruined. The table was knocked over, chairs were scattered around and the food was everywhere. On the floor, on the counter, some eggs even found their place on the ceiling. It looked like a tornado went through here.

Sans and Papyrus were sitting on the floor, both panting, their back leaned against the wall, big smiles on their faces. Sans looked around and grumbled at the disaster.

"Don't think you will escape from cleaning," Sans said when he caught his breath.

"Oh, damn it." Papyrus cursed quietly.

"Language!" Sans admonished him. "Besides, it's all your fault."

"My?" he gasped.

"Yes, yours. You started it." Sans stood up and turned the table back to its legs. Papyrus stood up too and stretched his arms, walking to help Sans with the furniture. When he was passing by the kitchen counter, his attention was caught by the debris of the dough and the topping.

"Welp, there goes the pie."

"Aww... And I wanted to try it." Sans whined.

"Come on, bro. We can make it another time. And you must admit it was fun."

Sans opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by a knock at the front door. When he opened them, he was greeted by Muffet.

"Oh hello, Sans. I just... came... to..." she trailed off at the sight of the dirty skeleton.

"Hello, Muffet. What brought you here?" Sans greeted with a big smile. Papyrus then appeared from the kitchen and joined his brother at the door.

"Sup, Muff," he said, also smiling.

She was staring at them, puzzled. Both of them were covered with eggs, flour and who knows what else with from head to toes. After a minute she crossed all her arms at her chest, forming knowing a smile as a realization hit her.

"So, who won this time?"

Papyrus raised his hand, but Sans quickly nudged him with his elbow. "It was a draw."

Muffet let out her tiny sweet laugh. "Ahuhuhu ~ Ok, but look at you. You look terrible. And I don't want to see the kitchen. So you two go wash up and I'll help you clean around."

"Thanks, Muffet, but you don't have to," Sans said.

"Nonsense. Now go. I'll wait in the kitchen." she ordered them and went straight to look at the mess. Papyrus shrugged and closed the door, heading upstairs to the bathroom. Sans quickly followed him.

When Muffet saw the ruins that were left from the kitchen, she almost had a soul attack. This was the worst mess these two ever made. Even as kids they were more housebroken. Food fighting was their favorite. She couldn't help but feel a little nostalgic.

It felt like it was yesterday, when she found them in the backyard of her shop, looking for some leftovers in the trash. She will never forget the fear in Sans' eyes. Sans was six and Papyrus was just three years old baby. They stayed with her until they got old enough to get a job and move to their own house. Despite the fact that she was glad that she met them, she still curses whoever left them outside at the mercy of their fate. They were just little kids.

She remembered how hard it was to persuade them that they were safe, that no one was going to hurt them or kick them out. It was easier with Papyrus though. He was just a baby, even when he could already function like a much older child. He just didn't understand the situation they were in. He has no memories of the place they were before, or how did they end up homeless. And Sans refused to tell. Sans was in a worse state generally. As small he had a lot of health issues. Skeletons have basically very powerful magic, and Sans was too fragile to hold such power. The worst time was after his magical overflow. He was sick for three weeks. He even needed professional medical treatment in a hospital in New Home. They said that his state was critical and there was nothing much they could do. That day, Muffet felt like her world was shattering. But despite how fragile Sans was, he was incredibly strong and fought every day. And won. She was thanking every god who heard out her prayers.

Muffet was snapped from her thoughts by loud footsteps and turned around. At the door was Sans. His big smile fell.

"Muffet, are you alright? Is something wrong? Why are you crying?"

Muffet raised one hand to her face and felt tears, she didn't know she has spilled. She smiled gently and opened all her arms, inviting Sans into a hug. Sans smiled back and accepted.

"I hope it's not that bad for you, Muff... oh..." Papyrus remained standing in the doorway. Muffet waved at him, telling him to join them. Papyrus shook his head, smiling, and joined the big family hug. His long arms wrapped around the both of them. They were surrounded by a happy and comforting aura. Their souls warm, beating in a synch.

Muffet patted them at the top of their head. "Ok, boys. We have work to do."

The skeleton brothers nodded and let go of her. Muffet then looked around once more and let out a long sight. Sans took the broom, Papyrus took up washing the dishes and Muffet took care of the rest. While she was wiping the counter, she noticed remains of the pie.

"What was this supposed to be?" she asked.

"Well, I wanted to try the recipe you gave me. But it got out of hand a little bit." Sans said ashamed.

"Oh, I see." Muffet laughed. "Next time though, don't crack the eggs so hard."

"Don't worry, Muffet. Next time I..." Sans cut himself off and shot her glance, as he realized what she just said. "Unbelievable! I can't believe he drowns you with him."

Papyrus, who just chuckled quietly, couldn't hold it anymore and started to laugh loudly.

"Don't laugh, Papyrus!"

"Oh, come on. Her jokes are cracking me up."

"Pap, I am serious!"

"Don't worry, dear. I have a dozen of them."

"Don't encourage him!"

The rest of the afternoon was spent with cleaning and friendly chatting. Of course, Papyrus sometimes couldn't help himself but tease Sans with some more jokes. When the kitchen finally looked like a kitchen again, it was almost time for dinner. Both skeletons could feel the rumble in their nonexistent stomach and Muffet insisted that she will stay and prepare them something to eat. Meanwhile, Sans and Papyrus were sat at the table, watching her and waiting for the food to be ready. It smelled really good. What else could be expected from Muffet, the cooking expert? She made them pasta with sweet sauce and Papyrus couldn't miss the chance to add more honey to his plate. Sans scolded Papyrus that he ruined this perfect and delicious dinner and Muffet chuckled happily.

"I can't remember when last we had dinner all together like that," she said. "It feels like an eternity."

Sans smiled at her. "I miss these days too. We should do this more often."

"Sure. We must rectify our draw." Papyrus added with a smirk. Sans playfully kicked him under the table. Papyrus shrugged and continued eating.

When they finished, Sans helped Muffet with the dishes. After everything was done, it was time for her to leave. Sans escorted her to the door. When they said their goodbyes, she turned to walk home through the falling snow.

"Oh, just one more thing." Sans stopped her.

Muffet turned to him. "What is it, Blue?"

"Thank you, mom. For everything."

Muffet felt her soul warm up. She never thought he would call her like that again. "It was my pleasure, dear. I am always here for you if you need anything."

"You should come here more often, it was really fun."

"I would love that," she said with a wave of her hand as she walked away. Sans waved back and closed the door.

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