#“erm actually they’re insects—“

[fermithesilly]

Oct 1 - Bugs

I adore Flutter’s old design I’m so mad they didn’t stick with it

Template by @piquuroblox

Flutter’s old design if anyone doesn’t know

[pebiejeebies]

PART 10 (FINALE) OF MY CABLOON ANALYSIS! GO TO MY #CABLOON-ANALYSIS TAG TO FIND THE FIRST POST!

(I’m gonna make it easier to access the older ones, I’ll make a master post, then I’ll make it so you can check the next part by a link so you don’t manually tire yourself, give me some time cause I need a mental break from my shutdown 😭‼️)

Literally one of the most precious moments I’ve screen recorded in my whole life, the way he’s sitting beside her, laughing just like her, writing in her files, both of them equally sharing the same annoyed stare at silver spoon (Which is something a lot more common than I thought it was)

THIS.

This is just.. *wipes away tear*

Too perfect..

I wonder what happens to Mephone..? (Good lord I am still traumatized till this 

Now expect MANY MANY MANY random screenshots of my babies togethr 

STOP HOW BALLOON EXCITEDLY INFODUMPS WITH CABBY JANSHEHSHQJJEDHHJWWJ

They’re autistics in love I tell you

LOOK AT HOW HE’S TOUCHING HER AHHH (please don’t thkae that out of context omfg—)

I have a feeling that she was slightly uncomfortable here (sTOP PROJECTING YOURSELF ONTO CABBY PEBIE!! STOP!!)

Its canon guys he was trying to impress her here too

Why else would he give her that smug ass look?!/vpos

Then he sees uninterested cabby and gets sad :(

stop guys it’s actually so sad

The way she got excited when she said that was SO SASAADDDDD 

SHES SO STRESSED OMG I FEEL YOU GIRL AAHHHHHH

AHAHGSGAHHSHHEHGWG😭😭‼️‼️

I CANTT THE POOR GIRL IS HORRIFIED

Unsure if she was looking at Mephone or Balloon, but I guess they’re beside each other here, so uh excuse me lol

STOP

STOOOOPPP

THEYRE IN SYNC YALL

LOOOOOOOOK!!! HANDS ON HIPS, SAME FUCKING FACE TWICE, AND IN THE SAME SCENE TOO OMFG

CABBY AND BALLOON RAISE ONE HAND AUTISTICALLY, AND THE OTHER LIKE SILVER SPOON, FROM. THE. SAME. SIDE. AND LITERALLY HAVE A SIMILAR FACE!! I-I CANT BELIEVE HOW MUCH THEYRE ACTING LIKE EACH OTHER WITHOUT EVEN NOTICING IT IM FUCKING EVAPORATING AND EXPLODING… EXVAPORATING!!!

THATS LIKE.. 3 SYNCED POSES + EMOTIONS IN ONE SCENE IM GONNA CRY

GRRRRRR HOW COULD YOU SHAKE MY BOY LIKE THAT!!

ALSO. WHO THE FUCK DARES CALL MY BABIES INSECTS.. LOOK WHO THE FUCK CAME FROM THE DEPTHS OF EARTH ITSELF LOOKING LIKE ONE!!/silly /nsrs /omfgdontkillmeafterthisplease—

Erm actually… Cabby and Balloon are definitely engaging after this. Real. And uh she has AWESOME YINYANG, AAAAND BOT!! Balloom has an awkwardly clingy and.. well.. pathetic friend aswell, but hey! Even they have something to leave with! Look at silver spoon..

He doesn’t have candle on his side anymore

Btw.. look at this: You see how Balloon is holding his arm and looking at cabby?

Do you think he, well… wants to hold her hand?

LIKE— NO SERIOUSLY LOOK

STOOOPP AAAHHH MY HEART

YOU CANT TELL ME THAT HE ISNT WORRIED ABOUT CREEPING HER OUT IF HE HELD HER HAND

(Uh wow maybe me projecting myself up there could make sense— OH MY GOD IM GETTING SO MUCH HEADCANONS IM HAVING A HEADACHE YEEEOWWCH)

It’s either (Read this well cause it might confuse you the first time you read it)

He wants comfort from her

Or

He wants to comfort her

Or

This is all accidentally lining up too well

Or

I’m just delusional and this isn’t even lining up at all

WOOOOAAAAAHHH!! EPIC BATTLE SCENE IN REEAAALL LIIIFFFEEEEE?££\#+@}+++}={==£[&$]^)-][.

(Just distract yourself Pebie, ignore how AE made an evil alter of silver spoon aswell.. calm DOWN)

STOOOOOPPPP!! WE GET IT!! THEYRE SOULMATES!! H.. HOW DO THESE TWO HAVE SO MUCH SIMILAR MOMENTS LIKE THIS OMFG/vvvvvvpos

My babies are sticking together OMFG I’m actually exvaporting STICK TOGETHER BABIES!! YOULL GET OUT OF THIS ALIVE!!! HH.HOPEFYKLU

IMANNAHAHWGSBHDJDJAKAKKSNDJD

IM SHAKKIIJHHHHH OKDMDHAHBBAHHHWHGGDGGDAAAAAA

WEEEE SHE SAID WE

SHE SAID WE OMFGGFGAFFSFVS

THE WAY SHE SAVED HIM IN CLUCTH IM FGGISNNG

IM GONNA.CRUY. IM SUBHIAJJJJSJ

LISTEN UP WALKIE TALKIE. YOU DONT DRAE THREATEN CABBY’S FUTURE HUSBAND AND GET AWAY WITH IT GRRRRRRYEHAHWJSJ

But let’s be fr, As much as I love Mephone and his silly shenanigans, this literally affected me the same way it did for them, just.. look at their faces man :(

NOOO NOOO!! STOP STOP STOOOP I DIDNT AGREE TO THIS!1 DONT HURT THEM!! PLLEEEAAAAASSSSEEEEEE 😭😭😭‼️‼️‼️ IM LITERALLY SHIVERING FOR THEM OMFG MY BABIES

I SWEAR IF YOU LAY A FINGER ON ANY OF THEM ILL FUCKING—

Deep betreath… breeaathehees… I’m not ANGRY. nooo wayhhhy.  ,.,,uhm..—

HEY AE.. DO THEY MAKE IT SO THEY ALL LIKE MEPHONE IN THE END?? CAUSE LIKE.. It would be so awesome, it would be so cool—

Yeah WHOOOOH!! I took yesterday night, from 8/9pm to 11pm, STYAED UP ALL NIGHT CAUSE I COULDNT SLEEP FROM THESE TWO, stayed up until like.. 10am, fell asleep, woke up at 2:40pm and BAM! FINSIHED AFTER A DAY!! YIPPIEROONIES!!! (Edit: Two days, since I had to leave, came back at 9:50pm, finished at 11pm cause bedtime lockdown, then woke up at 10am today and started to do it again, so I technically finished at 2pm today)

I have a feeling that someone reading this started liking the ship, or felt curious about their rare pair interaction (if they had any/lh), but either way, I’ll tell you how THIS rare pair even EXSISTED.

(THE LORE OF WHY I EVEN SHIPPED CABLOON)

Let’s start from the beginning. In some of the episodes, before I knew I kin cabby, I always had a little fascination towards balloon, his issues living with him for so long and how he still struggles to make a good image of himself was just. Cute to me (stop I KNOW you simp for objects too.. DONT DENY IT!!)

And at episode 17, after I found out I kin cabby, I started to like their interactions more, and since this ship was a HEAVY SELF INSERT, It somehow made sense.

They both struggled to gain a good image, they both had a toxic friendship in the past that got resolved, they both have TOO MUCH ISSUES, and they both act like each other so much it’s actually wild

None of us EVER cared to really analyze hidden relationships in the show, and this is actually a good example, if I never simped for balloon like the ‘loon’atic I am

*knee slap*

I would’ve NEVER noticed their cute feelings for each other

As much as I wanna continue talking, I feel like this ramble will never end, so I give you a cabloon doodle!

And I bid you farewell *bows dramatically*

[reg1ment]

none of my f/os are actually cute erm they’re like a weird insect you see at the zoo… oh ok he’s interesting i guess…

[puppyluver256]

[Image Description: Two fan-made Pokemon designs, a regional variant of Surskit and a new evolution based on a mud dauber.

The first Pokemon is the regional variant of the Pokemon Surskit. It resembles a water strider insect with four spindly legs holding up a round body that has an antennae sticking upward. It is mostly brown with yellow on top of its head, yellow tips to its legs, and yellow markings under its big red eyes. Lime green text outlined in dull brown to the right of the image reads "Surskit - Cantessy Regional Variant".

The second Pokemon is a wasp-like creature with large translucent wings. It has a brown head with large red eyes, dark purple antennae and legs, a brown body with a yellow stripe, and a yellow tail with brown stripes and a dark purple stinger, separated from the body by a spindly purple section. Its wings are mostly a pale blue, with orange, yellow, and green eye markings. Lime green text outlined in dull brown to the right of the image reads "Organdobb".

End ID.]

-----

Surskit (Cantessian regional variant) - Mud Skater Pokemon - bug/ground The Surskit found in Cantessy have turned brown in order to blend into muddy areas. They live near river beds, often staying in the muddy tubes produced by Organdobb for safety. / Living in and around muddy areas, they do not secrete the same oil that their Hoenn counterparts do and so cannot skate across clear water. Toys based on this variant have made it to Hoenn, where collectors who are not familiar with the variant are often convinced they’re bad bootlegs.

Organdobb - Mud Dauber Pokemon - bug/ground It builds nests out of collected globs of mud, in which it will lay its eggs. They sting other insects to paralyze them as food for their young’s first meal upon hatching. / Despite their frightening appearance, Organdobb are largely not aggressive unless provoked. Any attacks on humans, when examined in further detail, turned out to be the human’s fault as they had considered this Pokemon to be a pest and attempted to have it removed from the location.

More Cantessy Fakemon, and a regional variant with a funny origin story. So a while back my buddy @zootycutie​ shared with me a few bootleg Pokemon toys she'd found, and one of them was this poorly painted Surskit.

[Image Description: Three small bootleg Pokemon toys sitting on a table. The first one is the Pokemon Lugia, painted almost all white aside from some blue on its back and pink on its belly. Its eye mask growths are white as well, with little black dots for eyes. The second one is the Pokemon Surskit, which appears mostly normal aside from the blue parts of its body and its antenna being painted brown. The third one is Sableye, which appears normal aside from its gem eyes being sloppily applied. End ID.]

It was the one that looked more, erm, normal of the bunch, so I was inspired to turn it into a Fakemon if she wasn't going to hehe X3 The brown obviously was led into making it a ground type instead of a water, and other than coloration and typing there's not much difference with the initial form.

Organdobb is much less based on a joke than Surskit was, and is based on an actual bug called the mud dauber. It's a group of wasps that don't seem too terribly aggressive to humans unless provoked, and it's mainly known for its nest-making method, which is to clump mud into pipe-like structures, leading to one species in particular being called the organ pipe mud dauber (hence the "organ" in Organdobb's name). And they sting spiders to paralyze them and take them back to their nest, where they'll lay eggs on it and then the babies eat the spider. Hey, I'm not complaining :D Decided to keep some of Masquerain's eye motif in Organdobb's wings, it just felt right.

Reminder that if anyone wants to suggest moves for any Cantessy Fakemon to learn and some physical stats where I haven’t yet figured them out, feel free to throw ‘em at me :3 Links to their info pages will be provided in the replies!

💖🐶 Check out my pinned post for ways to support my artwork, among other things! 🐶💖

~If you like, please reblog to show your friends! Likes are appreciated, but reblogs let more people see my content! If you have something to say, feel free to give feedback in tags/comments/replies as well!~

Surskit (Hoennian form) and other Pokemon concepts © Nintendo/GameFreak Cantessian Surskit, Organdobb, the Cantessy region, and artwork © PuppyLuver Studios

[purplesurveys]

1240

Are you better at cooking dinners or making cakes/biscuits/sweets?  I can’t make any dish. I wonder when I’ll get my ass up and start learning...

Have you ever cut someone else’s hair?  I wouldn’t dare; I have no skills in that department at all.

Who was the last guest in your house and what were they staying for?  Angela and Hans came over so we can watch Sowoozoo. 

How many long term relationships have you been in?  One.

Do you sleep with all the lights out, or do you leave a lamp or even the television on?  My default is lights out, but sometimes I’ll fall asleep with my night lamp still on and that’s fine too.

Who is one person you have forgiven, but still have not “forgotten” what they have done?  I don’t really do forgiving.

Are you a fan of Lana Del Rey?  No. I’ve tried listening to her songs but I find them too slow for my liking.

Do you know your blood type?  It’s O but I keep forgetting what specific type.

Do you know your mother’s birthday?  Yes.

Have you got your period at the moment?  It’s on its last few days.

Have you ever been pregnant?  Nopes.

How old were you when you first went on a plane?  I was around 10 or 11, can’t remember exactly. But it was in 2009 and we headed to Boracay.

Have you ever had to take out a loan for anything?  No. OMG, adult activity I don’t quite understand just yet hfdhfkdjfhdf.

Are both of your blood parents still in your life?  Yeah they’re both grumbling right now just outside of my room because the power went out lmfao.

When was the last time you went apple picking?  I’ve never done this. Apples don’t grow here.

Someone asked you what you wanted, what would you say?  My pay for the last two weeks haha, but that’s not coming until Friday.

Have you ever been drunk at school or work?  No, I wouldn’t dare. I’m pretty unpredictable when I get drunk, so I’d rather stay safe haha. I’ve worked while tipsy, but it had been outside of work hours.

How many bedrooms are in your house?  4. One for each kid, then my parents’.

Are you smart about computers?  Nah.

Have you ever played Just Dance for Wii?  We didn’t have the game on our Wii, but I’ve played Just Dance before, just at other peoples’ houses.

Do you own a Xbox 360?  We were a Playstation household.

Would you ever do a sex tape for a million dollars?  Erm, sure, whatever.

So, do you need a nap?  I think I should be taking one for the sake of my health, but I won’t.

What would you rather be doing?  I stumbled upon a Facebook post of this newly-opened store in Greenhills that exclusively sells photocards and I wanna head the fuck over there rn with Angela. That store concept is practically unheard of so it’s a big deal and I wanna go there as I’m 100% sure the BTS ones would sell out pretty fast. But they heightened the stupid COVID protocols yet again and we have to stay at home, so there’s that.

What sport are you the best at?  Table tennis.

Do you have a little sister? What’s her name?  Yeah but she’s turning 21 this year, so little wouldn’t be accurate anymore. We call her Nina at home but everyone else calls her by her full first name, Janina.

Do you complain a lot?  I do complain a lot but I also do the thing that is causing the complaint right after so I can shut myself up lmao.

Would you rather go to an authentic haunted house or an ancient temple?  Both sound fun but I’ll probably take the temple. Yay for learning something new about culture!!

Do you like fruity or minty gum?  I don’t mind flavor when it comes to gum because they fade out anyway.

Are you looking forward to any day of this month?  My company set another mental health break day this upcoming August 27th, so I’ll be thinking about that day throughout the month.

Have you ever gotten detention?  We don’t have detention.

Is there a traumatic event that you’ve experienced that’s changed your life?  Sure.

Do you buy a majority of your clothes from a certain store, or do you just pick out items of clothing you could see yourself wearing, not caring about the store it came from? The latter. < Same. I can be brand-conscious sometimes, but generally if I find something cute, regardless from where I found it, I’d grab it.

Have any of the artists you’re fond of released new albums recently?  Technically yeah. It was a single album. 

Would you ever keep your favorite animal as a pet?  I already have two of them.

Ever cried so much you threw up?  Possibly.

Who is your best guy friend? Hans.

What do you two do when you hang out?  We usually eat out and have a drink or two.

What is a movie that you thought you would hate but you ended up loving?  Spotlight, just because it looked boring at first glance. It turned out to be very riveting and the screenplay was fascinating as well.

Do you even like horror movies?  Yes, but they’re best watched with other people.

Do you live in the country?  Nopes.

What is your favorite accent?  I don’t have one.

Have you ever had a boyfriend your parents didn’t like?  No.

Do you drink Pepsi or Coke?  I had the chance to try out Pepsi when we went to Taco Bell two weeks ago - it was my first time to have it and it was...actually pretty good??? The soda-hater in me was scandalized HAHAHA but it was good!!! I think I prefer Pepsi now.

What do you plan to do on your 21st birthday?  My 21st birthday started out terribly because Gabie’s family didn’t want her to hang out with me on a Sunday (the day my birthday fell on), so we were in an argument the whole day. Angela saved the day when she planned out an impromptu dinner + arcade date for me, and that was the only good part of the day, really. I’d rather forget the rest of it.

Do you have any person in your family with an addiction to beer?  I don’t think so.

Do you take a lot of pictures?  I’m starting to, now.

What kind of face wash do you use?  Good ol’ water.

Does drama always seem to follow you?  Not these days.

Does anybody in your family race?  Nope.

Are you closer to your mom or dad?  Dad, I guess. But I wouldn’t particularly call myself ‘close’ with either.

How much money did you used to get from the ”tooth fairy?”  I never received money from them.

How long do you want to live with your parents?  Maybe up until my mid-20s? Late-20s at the latest. I’m not exactly in the position to move out yet. The money I make at the moment would probably just be enough to cover rent, and just rent. I’d end up starving to death hahaha.

Do you have a laptop or desktop?  Laptop.

Do you like your parents?  Sure.

Do you secretly like someone?  I don’t.

Would you ever date your best male friend?  No. I also wouldn’t do that to Angela.

What are you currently listening to?  Moon by Jin! Such a comfort song.

Do you want to be single?  Yes.

Did you go out or stay in last night?  I stayed in and was knocked out pretty early since I had been up since 1 AM.

Have you pretended to like someone?  No. I don’t see why I would have to that.

How is your heart lately?  Just filled with nothing but Bangtan at this point haha. It’s doing well!

Are you wearing socks?  No. Socks bother me for the most part; they make my feet feel a bit suffocated.

What do people call you?  Robyn.

Do you get stressed out easily?  Yeah, I’m quite the overthinker.

Have you ever been taken to the emergency room in an ambulance?  No, I’ve never actually been inside an ambulance, whether it came for me or for another person.

What is wrong with you right now?  I should probably cut back on the vaping, for one.

Do you own something from Hot Topic?  No.

Would you rather sleep with someone else or alone?  It’s hard for me to sleep with someone else. Even when I had been in a relationship, I usually only got to fall asleep an hour or so after my partner already dozed off.

Do you still talk to the person you last made out with?  No, I cut ties at the start of the year and have been substantially better since then.

Have you ever seen your best friend cry?  I honestly don’t think so. I’m the bigger crybaby between us.

Did you get any compliments today?  My mom thanked me for covering for Cooper’s shots today since they ended up being quite costly.

Have you ever gone to a beach?  Yes, it’s one of my absolute favorite places to be.

What would you say if someone asked you to get high right now?  Pass up on the offer.

Do you believe that everything happens for a reason?  Yes.

Have you ever done volunteer work just because you wanted to?  I’ve never had the ample time to, so no. I’ve always wanted to volunteer at an animal shelter, though.

Do you have long nails?  They’re not dramatically long, but they have started to grow out.

Do you like the gender you are? I don't like or dislike it, honestly. I'm just neutral. < Same.

Do you generally look nice in photos?  I think this is the case these days, yeah. I’ve started feeling more confident and I think it’s able to translate in photos.

Have you ever had a stick insect as a pet?  No.

What colour are your father’s eyes?  Dark brown.

If I handed you a concert ticket right now, who would you want to be the performer?  BTS DUH

Name three facts about your family?  I come from a family of lawyers; many of us are big history buffs; and many are also fantastic cooks so I don’t know where that talent could have possibly gone when it come to my generation hah.

Would you ever get into a long distance relationship?  If I’ve reached a certain level of investment in the relationship, I could probably handle it. 

What’s the most thoughtful present you’ve ever received?  A Punk shirt and Petals For Armor physical CD from Andi this last Christmas.

What’s your favorite hot beverage? Hot chocolate. < Yessssss!

Did you ever play an instrument? If so what?  I don’t.

Would you rather carve pumpkins or wrap presents?  Carving pumpkins sounds fun, especially since I haven’t tried it before.

Do you think you’re important?  Idk. I don’t really like drawing attention to myself though, so that could probably answer your question.

What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received?  Andi wrote a letter for me to accompany the aforementioned Christmas gifts they gave, and it remains to be my favorite letter I’ve received. They essentially reminded and affirmed me that I’m stronger than I think I am, and that I’ve been through a lot and have grown a lot, and that that growth is seen by people around me.

Have you been diagnosed with any mental disorders?  No.

Have you ever moved to another state or country? If so, how did it feel to be new?  Just to different cities, but considering how tiny my country is, the move is quite insignificant lol.

Do you know how to properly eat food with chopsticks?  I’m 100% sure I don’t know how to properly hold chopsticks, but I have my own way and it works lol. Fake it til you make it.

Are you more of a leader or a follower? Definitely a follower, but I can step up in certain situations. < Same. I don’t mind leading, especially considering the control freak I can be lolol.

What was the first thing you ate today?  I haven’t eaten anything today. I skipped breakfast since I brought Cooper to the vet, and by the time I got back the dining table had already been cleared. It’s fine though, I don’t feel too hungry.

If you could spend the day, doing absolutely anything, with anyone, anywhere, what would it be like?  I’d be with Angela, Reena, and Hans at that insane new photocard store I talked about earlier. IDEALLY, we’d probably pick up a photocard or two if the ones we want aren’t sold out yet (lol a rarity), then we’d have some nachos and stuff right after and just talk about all things Bangtan lol with Hans cracking us up the whole time since he is just naturally hilarious.

If I were to ask you how you are doing, and you were only able to answer completely honestly, what would come out?  Content. Happy. I feel warm and loved and surrounded by the best people.

What is the one thing that you have been avoiding that you should do?  Learning how to cook is one.

Is there anything that you wish you could take back?  Not really.

What, in your mind, could make you truly happy?  Being in the purple ocean with my best friends.

If you could change one conversation in your life, what would you say differently? Would it have REALLY made any difference?  A part of me wishes my final face-to-face conversation with Gabie had been a more solid closure, just so we could finally put a hard stop to that chapter. But at that time I thought we would continue talking, so there had still been some stuff lingering in the air when we called it a day and parted ways. So in a sense we never really got closure when I finally cut ties, which the ESTJ in me remains to be nagged by, but I try not to be bothered by it anymore considering how much better I am doing right now. We didn’t know the future at the time, so it’s okay the way things turned out, ultimately.

When is the next time you’ll change your hairstyle? Will you color it?  I have no clue. It’s not really a priority.

Do people normally say you’re a fast typist, or are you rather slow?  I’m fast.

Have you ever been considered the ‘smartest person in school?’  Nah.

How many drugs are in your system?  Just caffeine.

What’s on your schedule for tomorrow? Werkwerkwerkwerk.

Do you currently have any bite marks/hickeys on your body?  Nopes.

Do you call anyone baby?  I don’t.

What’s your current mood?  I’m prety neutral. I wish I could be out right now, but stupid Covid and stupid quarantine. But I don’t really mind staying at home, either, so. I’m just so-so.

Do you think you are a good person?  I hope so.

What were you doing before filling out this survey?  I watched Sunday mass with my family.

How late did you stay up last night?  Around midnight.

When was the last time you cried really hard?  I cried just a few days ago because period hormones, but the last time I cried hard? I’m not sure. April maybe?

Is your hair longer than your shoulders?  LOL yes it’s soooooooo long already.

[hopeatermeetsgodzilla]

Chapter 17

“Holla, Emily Kane. Sure is nice to finally meet the person who keeps breaking through our security system.”

Despite the initial surprise, the woman quickly shook her head, gaining her bearings back. “And you must be Julian Cyan Florès.” She answered back.

“Alright, I’m gonna have to stop you right there chica- it’s just Florès, J.C. if you’re a friend. And if you were trying to be intimidating by using my full name: that is nowhere long enough to be my actual name.” Florès informed her, shaking his head. “Anyway, did you guys know the military thinks you guys are Monarch agents in disguise?”

“What?” The woman on the screen- Emily Kane- asked incredulously. “Well that would explain why no one has come after us- wait a minute, did you just- !?”

“Expose the existence of your group to the military and blow the cover you guys didn’t even know you had?” Florès asked, before smirking. “Sure did, chica.”

Serizawa blinked, before turning toward the younger man. “How did you do that?”

“Serizawa, I’m the one keeping the firewall so solid.” Florès told him, really looking like he wanted to deadpan but restraining himself. “I know every single attempt to breach it, failed and successful alike. By the way,” The younger man turned back to the screen, brows furrowed. “Pretty smart to hack the cameras the one moment I’m not looking at a screen. Too bad the footage you got is basically useless now.”

Kane sighed. “What do you want from me, Florès? And don’t try anything sneaky, I know what you’re capable of.”

“And you think I don’t know about what you’re capable of, Emmy?” Florès started, his teeth flashing almost menacingly as he smiled. “You’re twenty-six years old, an orphan, and you got yourself a master in bioengineering with a minor in programming two years ago. You live alone with three cats- that’s sad- and the reason you decided to join the Titan Liberation Front is because Jonah is the only one who didn’t dismiss your talents because you’re a young black woman in field dominated by white male.”

She seemed surprised at that. “How do you know all that!?”

“Oh, idle snooping around in Jonah’s files. Dude needs a better firewall, and to trust his employees enough to not collect every single bit of info on them: official address, names of loved ones, birthplace, social security number-”

“Florès, we get it. You snoop around.” Emma started, getting up from behind her desk with her husband not far behind her. Until the Ghidorah fiasco was resolved, Monarch had allowed her to stay and help, and this was, in fact, what the earlier argument between Monarch’s head-scientists and the military had started about. “What I want to know is what the Titan Liberation Front thinks it’s doing.”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Kane asked. “We’re saving the world.”

“By releasing the Titans- that doesn’t make sense!” Mark retorqued back, before Emma put a hand on his shoulder.

“Actually, it... does.” She started. “As impossible as it may seems. You know how the planet is slowly being cooked by pollution?” He nodded. “A very possible theory here at Monarch is that the Titans can fix it.”

“Indeed.” Kane started back, taking a deep breath. “Humans... w-we’re a sickness. An infection on the planet. But like all organisms, the planet has unleashed a fever to kill it’s infection. It’s rightful rulers. The Titans.”

“Is that what you actually think, or is that what Alan ‘Eco-fascism is my middle name’ Jonah fed you so he could get you to abandon your ideals and work for him?”

“Florès.“ Serizawa admonished before turning toward the screen.

“Jonah made me see the truth.” Kane snapped back. “If the human infection continues to spread, the planet will perish, and everyone with it. Unless we let the Titans do what they must do.”

“And what will be left then!?” Mark exclaimed. “A dead, charred world overrun by warring giants-”

“No, actually.” Kane answered, shaking her head. “The Titans- they emit radiations that keeps the planet going. It’d be more like a land buried under the ashes of a volcano bringing life back to the land. And the survivors will be able to reap the rewards.”

“This is a dangerous path.” Serizawa hissed. “You’re all messing with forces beyond our comprehension- gambling with the life of millions!”

“And what are you gambling with?” Kane answered back. “Monarch is on the verge of being overtaken by the military, and all the resources you’ve dedicated to merely studying the Titans will be used to enslave them, destroy them, use them as weapons- if that happens, the planet will die!”

“The planet will die if Ghidorah is allowed to do as he pleases!” Graham started, visibly at the end of her patience. “They’re not from Earth! They are hostile Titans from outer space, who have always been malevolent, and your group forced one of our own to free them!”

“I understand where your intentions come from, miss Kane- I used to think similarly when I first joined Monarch.” Emma started. “But if we let this happen, there will be no going back. Tons of lives will be lost, and what will be left will be plunged into chaos. And that’s only with what we know about Earth’s Titans: Ghidorah isn’t part of the natural order, and they have the potential to disrupt it severely, if not destroy it beyond repair. Do you really want to to risk so much just for a slight chance of the planet healing?”

“... If that’s what it takes, yes.” Kane rubbed her eyes. “I suggest you all take refuge. We know Monarch has built bunkers in case of a mass extinction event caused by the Titans. I suggest you find them before Ghidorah comes out hiding.” Before anyone could say anything, she cut communication, plunging the room into a consterned silence.

You could hear a mutter of “That bitch.” from Dr. Chen, 

“Well,” Stenz started. “I’m certainly surprised her message idn’t resonate with you people-”

“You. Shut .Up.” Florès hissed, glaring at a bewildered Stenz through the screen. “As far as I’m concerned, Ghidorah being free is your fault, and I don’t want to hear you tell us how Monarch should do their job, or that they have any affiliations with those madmen from the T.L.F., ever again, got it!? If you do, you’re next on the list of people I have to do some... idle snooping around about.”

“... Got it.” The admiral closed the screen shortly afterwards, a sigh of relief coming from almost everyone at this.

“We need to find a way...” Serizawa muttered under his breath, before turning toward the programmer. “Florès? I’m going to ignore the fact that I should probably fire you for cybercrimes on two conditions: find as much information as you can on the Titan Liberation Front, and use it to make their life a living hell.”

Florès smiled. “Of course, Serizawa.”

“Everyone else: get to work. We have to start preparing for the worst.”

-

Alright, Rodan had been back for a while now. He just needed to walk up to him, give him that stupid stone, and walk away. It was simple. A child could do it. Too bad the literal hundreds of nightmare scenarios going through Ni’s head simultaneously prevented him from moving from the rock he was hiding behind.

He took a peak, looking at Rodan. The bird was currently eating a fish, facing away from Ni’s point of view. He also seemed to be struggling with it, for some reason. Ni took a deep breath through his nose to steady himself, before getting up and walking up to him. “Rodan.”

“Gah!” Rodan exclaimed, turning toward Ni, before deflating a bit. “Don’t scare me like that.” He then turned back toward his fish, taking another bite and pulling a face as he did so. “Urgh, rotting flesh is the worst...”

Ni raised an eyebrow. “What do you usually eat?”

“Roots, nuts, insects, fish but prefer when it’s fresh... sometimes, humans would leave me grain in offerings, always a nice surprise.” Rodan answered. “... kind of palled to when they would kill one of their own in front of me as spectacle, but hey.”

“You don’t know what a sacrifice is?” When Rodan shook his head, Ni sat down. “It’s... an gift mortals give to gods by destroying or abandoning something dear, often the life of the sacrificed.”

“... yeah, sounds like something Quetz would’ve liked.” Rodan muttered, before shaking his head. “Don’t they know I’m not a god? I just... live here.”

“You’re bigger than them, at least one element obeys you, and you pretty much decide whether or not this island explodes.” Ni deadpanned. “To them, that’s enough.”

“... Uh.” Rodan took another bite of his fish, cringing as the flesh hit his tongue.

“If you don’t like it, stop eating it.”

“I can’t just stop eating it, I can’t find any other kind of food around here!”

Find food he can eat to get on his good side. Got it. “Why not just absorb energy, then?” Rodan seemed to freeze at that. “Well?”

“... can’t absorb any if I’m not in lava...” He finally muttered. As Ni opened his mouth, he snapped. “And no, I can’t just live the rest of my life in lava. Sure, it’s warm and I don’t risk ever being hurt in it again, but... I’m the only thing it doesn’t burn to the touch. I can’t see. I can’t hear. I can’t talk with anyone. I’m... I’m all alone.” Rodan shook his head. “That’s no way to live, so I try to stay out of it.”

“... San could teach you how to do it.” Ni finally said, Rodan turning toward him with a perplexed expression. “He’s the more spiritual out of the three of us... and he’s better with words than me... since we’re talking about San-” Ni took a hold of Rodan’s wrist, the bird screeching before realizing he was just putting something in his hand. “He found this, and wanted me to give it to you.”

There, it was done.

Ni closely watched Rodan as he reacted to the gift. After a few seconds of watching him, bewildered, he actually looked at the rock on his hand. After a few seconds of confusion, Rodan’s eyes widened, and his face turned a bright orange. “I- uh- erm-” He put the stone down, doing a strange gesture with his hands as he looked away.

Ni frowned at that. He understood, logically, that Rodan’s blood was lava-like from their fight. But why was it coming to his face? Was he overheating for some reason? Was he dying!? Was that why he couldn’t speak!? No no no no no, they needed him alive to get out of here.

Ni picked up Rodan, the bird squawking as he dragged him up. “I- what are you-” He started trashing in his grip as he realized that he was bringing him to the water, clutching at him with both set of claws. “No, NO- DO NOT FUCKING THROW ME INTO THE WATER-”

“You’re overheating, you need to get cooled down-”

“Overheat- I’M THE FIRE GUARDIAN, I CAN’T OVERHEAT!!!” Rodan finally screeched, freeing himself from Ni’s hold.

Ni’s only reaction was to frown. “Then why was your face turning red?”

“I was flustered! That happens!” Rodan exclaimed. “What, have you never seen someone flustered before!?”

“I have not.” Rodan blinked at Ni, before sighing. 

“I’m fine. Your gift just... caught me off-guard.” There was a heavy silence, before Rodan broke it. “Do you have something I could use to wear it, like a thin rope or something?” 

“No... wait.” Ni grabbed a few of his hair, tugging them out and braiding them together in a thin rope. “Hand me the stone, sit down, and turn around.” Rodan quickly followed the instructions, Ni wrapping the cord around the stone to make a necklace. “There we go... What was that thing you did with your hands earlier? He asked as he tied the cord around Rodan’s neck.

“Oh, sign words. I was saying thank you.” He answered. Ni made an inquisitive noise. “Basically, you speak with your hands instead of your mouth. Mothra taught me some time after I became the Fire Guardian because my transformation wasn’t finished and I couldn’t speak. I think the monkeys are the ones who invented it to talk with their worshippers.”

“I see... would you... mind teaching me?” Ni asked, trying to make his voice seem softer.

Rodan blinked, before nodding, turning toward Ni and sitting down. “Alright. Let’s start with the basics...”

[iamonlypartlymajestic]

Everybody Talks (But Especially The Plants) - FjorClay Week Day 5: Dreams/Day 7: Nature

Fjord didn’t know where he was.

He had just finished his turn at driving the wagon, having been replaced by Caduceus. He decided to rest his eyes for a bit knowing that his friends were with him ready to wake him up at the first sign of danger.

He reopened his eyes to discover he was alone and the world out of sorts. Everything was much larger than it should be. Bushes were the size of town buildings, trees were larger than the tallest of giants, and the insects were monstrous.

It was one such mammoth bee that startled him. He attempted to summon his sword but found himself unable to move. He finally looked down at his body to see a long green stem sprout from his head and leaves for arms.

He screamed! Or rather attempted to scream, he didn’t have a literal mouth, so he just shook there in horror.

“Shhhh...it’s okay.” A deep timbre soothed him into a tranquil state. A colossal hand caressed his head gently. “You’re absolutely beautiful...What’s got you so worked up?”

The owner of the hand was quite blurry. But he felt like he knew who the being was regardless. Fjord felt safe in their hand, knowing they had saved him in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

“I’ve got you now.” The being blurred even more and a white light pierced through Fjord’s eyes.

Fjord woke up.

“Wakey, wakey, Fjord!” Jester sang and poked the half-orc hard in the face.

“Ugh! Jester! You almost poked my eye out!” Fjord rubbed at his assaulted eye, now noticing that the wagon had stopped and many of the others had already started setting up camp.

“No I didn’t!” The tiefling stuck her tongue out and leaped off the wagon with a flourish. “You must have been very tired. You were knocked out the entire rest of the way.” She went ahead to help Yasha and Caduceus get dinner ready.

After making sure he still had proper vision, he followed Beau to get some wood for the campfire. She preferred to cut the logs herself and let whoever carry what she couldn’t hold, so Fjord had some time to look at the scenery.

He noticed a patch of colorful flowers that looked out of place among all of the green. It reminded him of his dream. He walked up to the flowers and crouched down to get a closer look at its petals. Maybe Caduceus would like them.

“Do you see that guy? He looks like an asshole.”

“Nah...probably just misunderstood.”

Fjord almost fell back, startled at the voices that came from the blossoms. However, still tired from the long travel and unsettled by the unusual dream (and he’s had a lot), he glared at the flowers that were talking about him as if it was perfectly normal that flora were talking at all. These particular flowers though elegant in appearance, were unafraid of loudly voicing their rude opinions about the half-orc.

“See! Look at his face!” The taller of the two flowers seemed to be subtly wiggling its leaf towards Fjord’s unamused expression. “We’re just minding our business, doing what we do, and he’s giving us the stink-eye. Total asshole.”

Offended, the half-orc frowned even further and pointed at the plant keen on insulting him, “Hey! Now listen here. I—”

“Fjord...what the hell are you doing?” Beau paused in the middle of swinging her axe. “You’re acting like Caduceus. Except much less nicer.”

Fjord glanced back at the plants who apparently returned to being still and quiet. They remained still and quiet, and Beau was starting to look at him as if he was crazy. The half-orc shook his head, he must have been really drained out. He cleared his throat and continued picking up the logs that Beau split. “Erm. Nothing. Nevermind. Just thought I heard something.”

The monk gave him one last dubious glance before they finished the final batch of wood and headed back to the campsite.

Fjord dropped the wood in the pile next to the bonfire and dusted off his hands. He looked around the area, his eyes sweeping over his friends until he found Caduceus. The firbolg was nearby a cliff wall that made up the side of the campsite adding extra protection and cover. Fjord straightened out his clothing and walked over, eager to spend more time with the cleric especially during the small amount of downtime they had.

Caduceus had his fingers in the patch of moss that grew alongside the stone. He was murmuring as he stroked the moss’s threads. “Hello there, friend. I’ve never seen your kind before. You’re absolutely beautiful.” The firbolg’s long fingers twisted and twirled through the greenery.

Fjord admired the pink-haired firbolg completely in his habitat, surrounded by the trees and all kinds of flora, appreciating the fruits of their goddess’s blessings.

“Oh, yes! Right there...”

Fjord’s eyes sharpened at the voice that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. He readied his hand to summon his sword and surveyed the area for anything dangerous.

“That feels amazing.” The voice moaned and the half-orc whirled his head back to the patch of moss Caduceus was still innocently talking to. It continued, “Harder, please…”

Fjord’s jaw dropped and a flush began to spread from his cheeks throughout his whole body. The crass plant got worse.

“If I could, I would cover your entire body, firbolg. Every inch of your long body will be engulfed. I’d be careful at first, gentle. I’ll take my time. Make you beg for me as I slither inside and out. I’ll—”

A loud slap cracked through the evening as Fjord smacked Caduceus’s hand from the perverted moss.

Everybody turned towards the pair in shock. Fjord never did anything even close to rude to Caduceus. The firbolg cradled his poor hand, ears drooping, and eyes wide at the half-orc. Fjord was heaving, blush still very visible.

“Uh. No. I. Your hand!” Fjord gestured wildly at the firbolg’s hand and at the air conveying absolutely nothing. “Poison! I—I thought the moss. Was poisonous. So I...saved you?” The half-orc winced at his crappy excuse. Not like he could tell Caduceus the moss wanted to have sex with the firbolg...Could he?

The cleric remained quiet. Fjord shut up and went to gawk at a quite interesting piece of rock that was on the ground. Fjord could feel Caduceus peering over him critically. However, instead of voicing his concerns, the firbolg thanked him.

“Thank you for your concern, Fjord. But although I’m not familiar with this type of moss, I know it’s not harmful to me or others.” Caduceus smiled at him serenely, his ears perking up again.

“R-right. You’re welcome. S-sorry for hurting you.” Fjord relaxed a fraction, but not wanting to push his luck, immediately went for the first watch. He needed to freak out far, far away from his prying friends.

Unfortunately, away from prying friends didn’t mean away from prying literally everything else.

Fjord was able to experience a moment of silence, focused on his surroundings for any intruders. After a quick first glance that yielded nothing, the half-orc fully relaxed against the wide trunk of the tree behind him, appreciating the refreshing breeze that passed every so often.

The peace did not last for long.

“Hello!”

Dammit.

Fjord wrinkled his forehead and sighed. The greeting belonged to a young bud sprouting on the vine hanging next to his head.

“Hi! I’ve never seen someone like you before. Are you also a plant? You’re green like me!” The yellow and green bud wiggled back and forth as it spoke.

The half-orc rolled his eyes and kept stoic perfectly willing to ignore the plant for the rest of the night but the trunk he was leaning on rumbled. He yelped and jumped from his seat.

“Now, child. Leave the young man to his job.” The leaves of the tree rustled and the wood groaned low and deep. The bud whined, chagrined. The ancient tree then aimed its attention at Fjord. “Please excuse the young’un. It’s been a long while since we’ve had visitors in this area that are able to talk to us.”

Extremely hesitant, but not wanting to appear disrespectful to the probably nice elder tree, Fjord said “It’s fine. It’s just...I’ve never been able to talk to plants before.”

“Oh really?” The tree’s leaves seemed to bunch up in surprise. “I thought speaking to us is a common trait in your party. The firbolg, in particular, has been quite friendly. I have heard from many of the birds that traveled in the past how polite and helpful he is. He’s quite a celebrity amongst the forest dwellers.”

Fjord couldn’t help but laugh goodnaturedly. “Of course, that’s Caduceus. He cares a lot about helping others, especially those who can’t ask for it.”

“Why thank you, Mr. Fjord.” Speak and he shall appear.

Caduceus pushed away the vines and branches in front of him as he came closer. The light of the moon revealed his arrival and reflected against the firbolg’s hair, turning the bright pink strands into a soft lilac. “Please excuse me for eavesdropping, but I'm here to relieve you of the first watch and was wondering who you were talking to.”

The half-orc took a while to respond as he gaped at the firbolg’s beautiful figure. “Oh! Um.” He peeked at the elder tree in panic before giving up. Caduceus would help him with whatever predicament he got into now. “The tree. I was talking to the tree.”

“You were?” The firbolg’s smile grew even wider. He took a moment to say hello to the tree himself, and even pet the young bud delicately. “I’m glad you’re getting more comfortable with communicating to the Wildmother and her children.”

Fjord sighed. “Well...Duceus. This time, they’re responding to me. With actual words!”

The bud on the vine wiggled again, “Yup! Yup! Hi!”

The cleric must have felt the energy pulsing from the young flower in confirmation as the firbolg’s pink eyebrows lifted in surprise. Caduceus glided up to the half-orc excitedly. “Oh! That’s wonderful, Fjord!”

“Really?” Fjord took a small step back to look at the other in disbelief. “I don’t know why it’s happening at all.”

Caduceus hummed and grabbed Fjord’s arm leading him back to the tree. They both sat down. “Was there anything new that happened in particular? Anything special or strange?”

It was then that Fjord remembered his short dream from last night. He relayed it to the cleric hoping for any answers.

“That must have been a message from the Wildmother.” The firbolg’s face brightened in awe. “She wanted to connect with you on a deeper level. Have you understand what it’s like to be even the smallest of her children, to be hers.”

Fjord grinned sheepishly, “Of course it was. I’ve just gotten used to her speaking directly to me in my dreams.” He was still confused about one thing though. “But why let me be able to speak to plants and have them respond back? Why did she not do the same for you? You could help so much more if you could directly comprehend them.” Fjord looked at the greenery encompassing them as if Melora would appear to meet them. He wanted to plead with her to give Caduceus the gift the goddess gave Fjord instead.

Caduceus held Fjord’s wrist with one hand and placed his other hand against his own heart. “Oh, Fjord. I’m grateful for the gifts I have already. I hear her everywhere we go. She aids my journey through the guidance of her creations. Without them, I would never have met you all. Please don’t worry for me.”

Fjord gazed down at Caduceus’s hand around his wrist and shifted to hold the firbolg’s hand with both of his hands. The contrasting color and size overwhelmed the half-orc. That two beings so different were loved by the same people and the same patron. That maybe despite these differences, they could love each other. “If this gift stays with me. I’ll gladly help you with translation when you need them.”

Caduceus looked at Fjord fondly. He placed the palm of his free hand against the side of the half-orc’s face, lifting it so both of their eyes met, and kissed Fjord’s cheek. “That’s very sweet of you. I’d love to take you up on it.”

Fjord’s blush reappeared and stayed throughout the night.

“Awwww!”

“Hush, child. Don’t disturb them.”

Author’s Note: Based on the fact that Caduceus can speak to plants and animals, but is unable to get an understandable reply in return. Written entirely with Everybody Talks by Neon Trees on loop.

For @fjorclayweek 2020 Day 5: Dreams and Day 7: Nature

Cross-posted on AO3 as Everybody Talks (But Especially The Plants) by IAmOnlyPartlyMajestic

[themanicmagician]

Future GO Fic Snippet

Hey Folks~

Since this oneshot is taking a bit longer then I thought, here’s a sneak peak of a pair of scenes (subject to further revisions) to tide you over until its completion. We start out on an angsty note, but I tucked some smut below the cut 😘

~*~

Aziraphale is falling.

That must be what this is. It makes sense. He gave away his divine sword. He fraternized with the enemy instead of smiting him on sight. And, perhaps, his worst transgression of all: he lied to Her.

The humans are long gone, far from the gates of Eden. The serpent slithered after them. Aziraphale had watched him leave, a ribbon of black twisting along the dunes of sand. The angel had intended to follow—just to make sure the snake wasn’t going to stir up any further mischief, that’s all—when he was suddenly struck to the ground by an unimaginable pain.

He fought in the Rebellion, led a platoon of his own. He’s not new to physical pain. He all too clearly recalls when an unholy sword dug into the meat of his thigh, the excruciating torture that was battlefield surgery.  

This is so much worse. His chest is searing, burning, like he’s being carved open. Is that what’s happening? Is God ripping her Grace out of his soul, wresting it back by force? He wants to apologize. To beg for mercy. Anything. But agony clogs his throat, and he writhes in the sand, clawing at his chest, trying to keep himself whole. The pain crests, and he loses all sense of time and space, dumb to anything outside of the hot lashes against his skin.

The sun vanishes and rises four times before the pain finally slopes off, and his mind is his own again. Aziraphale drags himself upright, and hobbles through the eastern gate, into Eden.

God’s despair has soured paradise. The flowers are wilting, foul-smelling clumps. The trees have all shed their leaves, and insects ravage their insides. Aziraphale stumbles to a stop before the nearest pool of water. It hasn’t yet dried up into crusted mud, but it won’t be long, surely.

Aziraphale reluctantly looks down at his reflection.

He staggers back. “Oh, God.” He chokes. His wings are white, pure white, as they’ve always been. He twists every which way, to be sure, and there’s not so much as a lone black feather, no clinging ash or sulfur. He hasn’t Fallen, after all. So then, what—?

With fumbling hands he unknots his robe and steps out of it. The pale flesh of his chest has been carved open with a molten gold, a single word branded across his skin in flowing Enochian:

Liar.

Aziraphale’s heart thumps with fear. She knows. Of course She does. Did he actually think he could get away with it? She’s omnipotent and omnipresent. She gave him the opportunity to redeem himself, to confess that he’d given away Her sword, and he’d lied about it. 

Aziraphale traces a hand around the lettering, and winces at the residual sting. He should be grateful. He could’ve Fallen for his many transgressions. How many had been cast from Heaven by his blade, or on his orders? As demons, would they remember him still? Would they torture him for the eternal damnation he’d sentenced them to? Better to never be among them, to never find out the answer to that question. Things are better like this, certainly. Better to branded (like a beast), than Fall. He is grateful for Her mercy, he thinks, and almost manages to convince himself he believes it.

~*~

After the Ritz, they go back to Crowley’s. It’s Aziraphale’s choice. Once they’re in the Bentley, Crowley begins driving in the direction of the bookshop until Aziraphale, emboldened by his escape from Hell and perhaps three glasses of celebratory champagne too many, places a plump, manicured hand on Crowley’s knee and asks to be taken to Mayfair instead.

Crowley sobers for the lightning-fast drive, and Aziraphale follows suit before long. As lovely as the pleasant fuzz of mild intoxication is, he wants to remember every second of tonight.

The front door of Crowley’s flat is barely shut before the demon presses him up against it. He peppers kisses up Aziraphale’s neck, his jaw, before crashing their mouths together. It’s sloppy and frantic—they can’t get enough of each other. Crowley’s glasses go askew, and he irritatedly rips them off his face. They clatter off to the floor. Aziraphale groans into Crowley’s mouth, and drags his demon closer still.

He can feel Crowley’s need pressing hot and insistent against his thigh.  

“Take me to bed, Crowley.”

Those wonderful amber eyes darken further with lust.

“Yesssss.”

Crowley scoops him up like he’s a damsel on the front cover of a bodice ripper. The romantic gesture steals Aziraphale’s breath, and he huffs incredulous, happy laughs into Crowley’s neck as he’s carried into the bedroom.

After placing Aziraphale reverently upon the bedspread, Crowley attempts to extricate himself from his stylish, too-tight pants.

“Nhrght—stupid—blasted, shitty, nrgah—”

Aziraphale watches him flounder and hop about for a moment, a fond, amused smile on his lips, before he scoots over to the edge of the bed, in front of Crowley.  

“Let me help, darling.”

He finishes unzipping Crowley’s trousers. He hooks his fingers in the belt loops and eases the fabric down, slowly, inch by careful inch.

“Angel,” Crowley whines with barely-leashed impatience.

He’s wearing black briefs beneath. There’s a visible damp spot in the fabric. Aziraphale leans forward and mouths around the obvious bulge, his breath hot and wet. His tongue presses fleetingly against the fabric, tasting. 

Crowley bucks, pressing himself against Aziraphale’s open mouth. “Fuck, angel. What you do to me.”

Then he’s kicking off his pants the rest of the way before tackling Aziraphale onto the bed. Aziraphale rolls his hips, and they both groan as their clothed erections brush together.

“Let me—I want to—”

Crowley’s hands dive beneath Aziraphale’s shirt, stroking his skin, squeezing the rolls of his stomach. They creep upward, closer to the brand.

Aziraphale goes rigid.

“Why do you wear so many blessed layers?” Crowley complains.   

 His hands retreat from Aziraphale’s stomach, but his relief is short-lived, as Crowley’s nimble fingers dart up to unbutton the front of Aziraphale’s dress shirt.

“No!”

Aziraphale clamps his hands around Crowley’s wrists. Crowley stills, one button undone around Aziraphale’s collar. Aziraphale’s heart pounds so loud he’s sure Crowley can hear it.

“Angel?”

“I just—not that. I’m not ready. Yet.”

He never will be, but Crowley doesn’t need to know.

“Alright,” Crowley says, withdrawing.

Aziraphale has fooled around with humans before (rather difficult to go 6,000+ years without being a little curious what all the fuss was about) but that’s all it ever was—fooling around. They were always furtive, illicit fumblings, where both men remained fully clothed, ready to straighten their ties and button their collars at the first sound of an unexpected interruption. He wasn’t thinking—love and lust had clouded his mind—and he’d nearly given away his darkest secret, just like that.

Once he’s calmed, he realizes his panic poisoned his arousal. Moments ago he’d been eager as anything, prepared to hilt himself on Crowley’s cock and ride him with abandon. Now, he just wants to bundle himself up again, and soothe his frayed nerves with a good book. Crowley sits cross-legged on the bed, more than an arm’s-length apart. He’s watching Aziraphale with unveiled concern.

Aziraphale fidgets with the balding velvet of his waistcoat, and bites his lip. “Oh, I’ve gone and ruined it, haven’t I?”

Everything had been going so well.

“No!” Crowley denies, sharply. Quieter, he repeats, “No.”

He extends his arm towards Aziraphale’s, reaching slowly for his hand. Giving him ample time to pull back if he wants. Aziraphale instead meets him halfway, and their fingers thread together. 

“Whatever you want, angel.” Crowley says, his thumb stroking the side of Aziraphale’s hand. “Whatever you need.”

Aziraphale is awash with gratitude—and shame.

“I’m sorry. You’ve waited so long for me to...catch up, so to speak.”

Crowley let slip a low, wounded noise. “Aziraphale, you don’t owe me anything. You’re not obligated to do this—” He gestures to their current half-dressed states. “—if you don’t actually want to.”

Aziraphale clasps Crowley’s hand between both of his, and draws him closer. “No, I swear to you, that’s not it. That’s not what this is about at all.” He pinkens. “I very much want to be with you in the....biblical sense. It’s just…”

Oh, what to say? Not the truth. What good would that do?

“It’s just…?” Crowley prompts him, softly.

Dear, kind, wonderful Crowley. How will he look upon him if he knows what Aziraphale really is? What he’s kept from him for so long, too long?

He casts about for a believable excuse. His hands land upon the slight swell of his belly, and it comes to him.

“I am aware, and there have been comments acknowledging the fact that I am not, erm. In perfect physical condition. That I could stand to, you know.” Aziraphale pats his stomach. Crowley’s expression darkens. “Slim down a tick.”

“Who said?” Crowley growls.

Aziraphale glances away. “No one important.” He lies.

It’s all a load of tosh, for the most part. Yes, Gabriel’s comment about him needing to “lose the gut” had stung. But the Archangels have always found something to nitpick about him and his choices—be it his weight, his hobbies, his miracles. The hurt he felt was more in that he constantly sought their approval, and never managed to earn it. He received acknowledgement and recognition only for those moments he despised; he got an accolade for helping Noah construct the ark, and then slam its doors to a sea of faces.

Aziraphale likes himself, his body. He can change it easily enough, if he really wants to spend the miracle, but he is happy with the image humans have of him, of a silly little bookseller who gives warm hugs. Someone harmless and squishy that you can come to with any problems, and expect a plateful of biscuits, warm tea, and earnest compassion from.

Aziraphale twists the ring on his pinky round and round, praying for Crowley to believe him.

“I still want to do everything—anything—with you. I just need this,” He tugs down his shirt. “To stay on, during. If that’s alright.”

“Of course. If that’s what you need, angel.”

Aziraphale flashes him a grateful smile, and tugs Crowley over to him for a kiss. It’s softer than the kisses they’d exchanged moments ago. There’s nothing sexually charged behind it; rather, it’s just meant as a reassurance, a comfort.   

The brand itches. Guilt pools hot and heavy in Aziraphale’s gut.

[dreamingofhypno]

Getting Back to Nature

[A young man finds himself lost in the jungle and encounters a strange serpent]

The jungle heat was immense with hot and thick air. The jungle was more lush than he could’ve imagined with dense leaves and colourful flowers. Chris followed his tour group step by step through the bends and curves of the path. He was a good-looking guy with a strong jaw and brow bone, slightly neanderthalic, but in a hot way. He had found his way onto this tour during a backpacking trip across Asia just after finishing university. He wasn’t a conformist and liked going his own way but, decided it would be best to explore the Indian jungle in a guided group lest he cross paths with the dangerous creatures which lurk inside. 

“Legend has it that strange and powerful creatures reign over this jungle” the tour guide announced while the group followed, “many from the local villages pay homage to these creatures by making offerings, they are like deities to them”.

Chris pondered this. What about a jungle animal would be so fearsome to consider it a deity? After all, mankind can dominate nearly any creature it sees fit?. Still, he didn’t want to have to fend for himself out there. This dense jungle was a world away from the quiet English forest he had grown up around. As the group trailed on he daydreamed about the woods and fields from his boyhood. When he was young he liked nothing more than to run free in the natural surroundings of his hometown. No conformity, no rules, it felt like there were limitless possibilities when he was around nature. As a young boy it took him a while to conform to the normative rules of society when he was so used to following his more simplistic, natural inhibitions. Because of this, he was often thought of as an imaginative guy with a vivid imagination, with a tendency to get lost in his thoughts. It came as a surprise to him then, when he reached a fork in the road and his tour group nowhere to be seen.

It took him a second to gather himself. He hadn’t realised that he had slipped so far behind the rest of the group. “It’s ok” he thought, “they must not be far.”

“Hello?...Hello??....HEY!...”

He shouted after them. He listened to hear a response. A few long seconds passed. All he heard in return was deafening insect chirps and bird calls. His eyes darted between the 2 paths in front of him. He had no clue where either of them went. “Fuck ok, 50/50 chance” he rationalised, and legged it down the left-hand path. He knew he was ‘supposed’ to stay put but he didn’t like the thought of himself being a sitting duck for some carnivorous predator. He continued to jog through the jungle, passing countless trees, boulders and shrubs all the while shouting out for his tour group. As the pathway became more and more overgrown he began to think that he had made the wrong decision. He was a fit guy but even for him the think humid air wore him down faster that he expected. His already warm body was now sweating through the loose tank top he was wearing. He hoisted the top over his head and felt some relief as his bare torso was exposed to the open air. The hair on his chest and stomach blew gently as he moved forward.

“Dead end” he thought. Frustratingly, he turned around and began his way back the route he came. He checked his mobile. No signal. He began to panic slightly. Before he reassured himself that he wasn’t that far from the group but now the thought that he might actually get lost out here was becoming dangerously real. This panic made him step up his pace as he passed through trees and bushes followed by trees and bushes followed by…the same trees and bushes? He could swear he had already passed these trees before. His heart sank. 

He was well and truly, lost. 

Chris breathed deeply in and out. “It’s ok” he reassured himself, “it’s ok, they’re gonna notice that I’m gone and they’ll send someone out to find me”. He looked up to the sky, it was still mostly light out but it was starting to ever so slightly turn. “It’s probably best if I stay put somewhere”. He had reached a small opening that seemed like a good place as any to stay put. He took a seat at a conveniently placed tree stump. He took a deep breath and calmed himself. It was strangely peaceful being out here in nature, feeling the air against his bare skin. His shorts were stifling after all that activity and he wasted no time in taking them off. The air cooled his hot thighs and he was now only left in his loose red boxer shorts. His thumb hesitated around the elastic waistband of his boxers. Chris looked around. He knew no one else was around but getting completely naked still felt so risqué even if it felt wonderful. What if there was someone was watching? Indeed, he almost felt as if the jungle had eyes everywhere. 

Chris pondered the futility of this whole situation. Even out here, with no one around for miles he still couldn’t quite bring himself to just let go, to be completely naked and free of inhibitions. Just as he had that thought he could hear rustling in the canopy above and a strangely familiar sound.

"Sssssay now, what have we here? Has a mancub wandered into my domain?"

A voice came out of the foliage above. Chris, shocked by hearing another person immediate jumped up, hoisted his shorts back up and reached for his vest.

"Ohhhhh, have I caught you at a bad time?" the voice said playfully.

Chris had just managed to get back into his vest before turning around to face this stranger but, much to his surprise, he saw only the familiar jungle scenery. He looked around trying to find the source of his intruder.

"erm, I'm so sorry It's just I thought I was alone and er..." he trailed off trying to defend himself. "God, the only other person around for miles and they probably think I'm some kind of pervert" he thought, as his face turned red from the embarrassment.

"Well that'sssss nothing to be ashamed of, mancub hss hss hss" the playful voice above responded from above as it grew clearer.

"Sorry um, where are you exactly?" Chris asked as he searched the leaves above.

"Of course, where are my mannersssss..."

A green python with bright yellow eyes slithered down slowly from a branch above Chris, "my name, is Kaa. Nisssssse to see you, mancub".

Chris was stunned. What is going on? Had the heatstroke set in?? He watched in disbelief as the talking serpent gently dropped down to his eye level. Not only was he talking to a serpent, but one with an attitude??

"In fact, it's nice to see sssssso much...of you hss hss hsss!" Kaa laughed. 

Chris blushed, suddenly aware of how much this snake had been eyeing him up. 

“oh er...right, sorry, I thought I was alone and….”, he trailed off, embarrassed that of all things, a talking snake, had intruded on what he thought was a solitary moment. Chris took a second to take a look at this new acquaintance. He was clearly a sizeable python, long enough to hang comfortably from the branches above. But what stood out the most about Kaa was his large yellow eyes. They were bright, almost luminescent which stood out against surrounding jungle. Chris wondered, with eyes that bright how he could’ve missed them peering down at him from above.

"I'm Chris by the way" he introduced, offering his hand, then quickly returning it when he realised that he was talking to, well, a snake. Kaa chuckled at the manners of the mancub and brought down the tip of his tail from the canopy above. It wrapped itself in a loop around Chris's hand and gave it a gentle shake. He watched the cool scales of the serpent brush against his palm and returned to meet his gaze. His eyes were truly captivating, so large and bright that they almost demanded to be looked at.

“Pleasure to meet you mancub”, Kaa responded. 

“Umm, I don’t mean to be rude but...

“Yesssss?”

“You can...talk?”

“Hss hss hss, i can do many thingsss mancub, the jungle is home to many experiencesss most humans...could only dream of”, Kaa looped a coil and draped himself over Chris’s broad shoulder, cozying up to him. “you know, it’s such a shame we don’t get more humanssss in these parts don’t you think Chrissss?”

He pondered what Kaa had said. What kind of experiences was he talking about? And why would Kaa want more humans in these parts? It was pretty obvious why there weren’t any other people around.

“I mean, jungles are pretty dangerous, you’ve got tigers, bears, snak-”

Kaa raised a brow. 

Chris gulped. “I mean er...panthers?”

Kaa didn’t look convinced. 

“Shit”, Chris thought. He is a predator. I should keep him on my good side or else I could end up his next meal. He was still perplexed over how a literal talking python could remain so unknown. Anyone who came in contact would surely notify the media or scientists…unless? In order to do that one would actually have to get back to civilisation which means...

 Chris gulped, brushed off Kaa’s coil, and took a few steps back.

“So er, would you happen to know how I could get back to my tour group? I’m sure they’re looking for me and I’d hate to keep them waiting and it’s getting a little late and-”, 

“Oh? Leaving so ssssoon?” Kaa interrupted, “and here I thought we were starting to find sssome common ground”

“No no no! It’s nothing like that I just I-I really need to be getting back and yknow I’m on a whole trip so-“

“And to think you were so clossssssse, tsk tsk tsk…”, he shook his head and turned away, as if disappointed.

Chris was confused. Close to what exactly? What was this snake talking about? Now was his opening, Kaa wasn’t facing him and he could easily outrun him. He told himself to turn around and get out but, a little morsel of curiosity was holding him back. What did Kaa know that he didn’t?

Against better judgement, he asked “close to what exactly?”,

“Well, let me assssk a question mancub, when was the last time you felt truly free?”,

There were a few moments of silence between them as Chris thought of what to reply but before he could respond, Kaa already had his answer.

“I’m willing to bet it was a few minutesssss ago, wasn’t it?”

“W-what do you mean?” he said, a little stunned.

Kaa laughed, he was constantly amazed by the inability of humans to recognise even their most basic urges.

“Hss hss hss, when I sssaw you from above, I saw a mancub getting in touch with what he really desires...being his most natural sssself....you were so closssse to having your whole manhood proudly on disssplay”.

Chris gulped and started to feel blood rushing to the growing bulge in his shorts. He didn’t know what to say, it was as if this strange serpent had looked right into his innermost desires that even he was too embarrassed to admit to himself. He turned away, looking at the ground shyly. He didn’t want to admit it. He didn’t want Kaa to be right, he didn’t want to be some kind of exhibitionist...but he couldn’t deny how good it felt. How free, excited, and aroused he started to feel when he had stripped off like that. He knew what he really wanted was to be completely bare, out here in the open, for all of nature to see his nakedness.

“That’sss a kind of experiencssss...I can offer you”

Chris’s mind was getting increasingly fuzzy. He didn’t know what to say or think. His inner, primitive desires had been spoken out in the open and he didn’t know how to process it. What did Kaa mean? What kind of experience? His mind started running with possibilities about what that might feel like. The kind of pleasures it would hold. His cock was getting stiffer and stiffer as his curiosity was piqued.

“...h-how could you do that?”, he asked, raising his head back up to face Kaa.

He smirked a knowing grin.

“Oh, I have my own ssssubtle ways. Now…look into my eyes, won’t you?”

Chris looked forward at Kaa’s bright eyes and watched in amazement as they began to pulsate rings upon rings of colourful rays. Green...purple...yellow. It was as if he was watching the most beautiful display he had ever seen. So captivating and enriching, the colours blended into one and other in ways he couldn’t believe. He just had to keep watching to see what beautiful rings would pulsate from Kaa’s eyes next.

“Thaaaaat’s it mancub, jussssst keep looking into my eyes”, Kaa told his new subject. 

Chris felt his eyes widen uncontrollably, as if his unconscious mind was forcing him to take in as much of the beautiful display as he could. His mouth fell agape at the sheer surprise of such an amazing illusion. He gazed onward and started to feel the pulsation of Kaa’s eyes to be matched in his own. In doing so, his field of vision became completely saturated with the dazzling colours. In every direction there was a stunning display.

“Kaa wha....what is....”, Chris trailed off. He could barely string a sentence together. His mind was getting increasingly fuzzy and difficult to think. He had no idea what was happening. What on earth this display was. But his body knew. And it knew that it felt incredibly good. The bulge in his shorts was getting bigger as his cock got more and more stiff with each colourful pulse. 

Kaa’s playful smile had now become sinister. He had the mancub right where he wanted him. He knew how mancubs functioned. How intelligent they thought they were. How much they denied their animalistic desires, how just teasing the smallest primitive pleasure, was enough to crumble all of their restraint. Kaa knew from when he first saw Chris what he had found. A lost boy, looking to find that youthful sense of freedom once again.

“Thaaaaat’s it mancub, it feels, sssso good, doesn’t it?”.

His slacked jaw slowly twisted into a smile. Chris’s mind was slipping away from him. It was like the messages sent in his brain were now traveling slower and slower through an increasingly dense fog. The problem for him was that this included those little precautions that had previously told him that he was face to face with a dangerous predator. They had been completely dwarfed by the only thing that was now on his mind: pleasure.

He nodded, keeping his eyes fixed on Kaa’s gaze. He didn’t even think of his response. He was asked if it felt good. And he nodded. Because he felt very, very good. 

“Good...it felt so nicssssse to be naked again didn’t it? so nicssssse to be free and natural” Kaa reassured Chris. He nodded his head again, this time a little more sluggish. Kaa knew he was reaching his cliff of restraint and that before long he would only need a little nudge to tip him over the edge.

“So why don’t we take care of these pesky restraintssss shall we? hss hss hss...” Kaa gestured to Chris’s clothes with the tip of his tail. He nodded sluggishly and without thinking, lifted his vest over his head and pulled down his shorts.

That instinctive freedom was coming back to him. He was once again that young boy at peace in nature, free from rules and restriction and curious about the wonders of the natural world.

“Aren’t you forgetting a little ssssomething?”, Kaa’s tail caressed up Chris’s bare thigh and gently snapped the waistband of his boxers. “Don’t you want to get naked?”.

Chris nodded. His last gram of resistance was the only thing stopping him. His deep subconscious knew that this pleasure was undeniable. This feeling was coming for him no matter what.

As he continued staring into Kaa’s eyes he could feel it approaching. A feeling of absolute freedom, submission and bliss. 

A peak. 

A cliff. 

It was coming. 

Closer. 

And closer. 

Whether he embraced it or not.

Either way. 

He was going to pull down his boxers.

Let his manhood spring out and…

*PING*....

Kaa’s eyes stopped pulsing colours as he swung back to admire his latest catch. He couldn’t believe his luck! A sizable and lean male specimen was standing in front of him, upright and stiff, as if standing to attention. While Kaa had ceased his hypnotic stare, Chris’s eyes were still wide open, pulsing the same colours he had been gazing into just moments ago.

“There now...that wassssn’t so hard now was it?” Kaa asked playfully.

Chris shook his head. His smile was beaming as if he was so utterly happy and joyful to be in this wonderful state. Kaa knew that at this point the mancub was completely defenceless. He had no weapon. He had no clothes. He didn’t even have any free will. He was just a mindless, naked mancub so overloaded with pleasure he couldn’t do anything but stand there, arms at his side, cock upright and stiff, and bask in this bliss.

Kaa smacked his lips and appreciated his latest capture. This mancub was certainly going to become a part of nature very, very soon.  

[gingeralehux]

ship: Hux and Ostra

Ships — ||ACCEPTING||

Who is a night owl:Oh, it’s definitely Hux, though he runs into Ostra enough during his late shifts to make him suspect if Ostra even sleeps. 

Who is a morning person:Hux is the morning person, but only out of necessity. He’s up and awake far too early, taking a stim, and trudging to the bridge, which by the time he does get there, he’s buzzing. 

Are they cuddlers:Ostra is the cuddler, though apparently it took a long time for the Knight to actually initiate cuddle sessions with Hux. He is a good cuddler, though, and Hux isn’t complaining, except when he’s cold since Ostra runs slightly colder. 

Who is the big spoon:Ostra. It’s definitely Ostra. All that spooning, and keeping Hux pulled close to his chest when they’re in bed. 

Who is the little spoon:Hux is the little spoon in this relationship. Since he doesn’t like physical contact much, he settles for just letting Ostra pull him close when they’re sleeping together. 

What is their favourite sleeping position:I feel Hux would sleep on his back, but he’d eventually scoot closer to Ostra. Ostra more or less sleeps on his side, and just latches on to Hux. 

Who steals all the blankets:Hux. But Ostra always has extra blankets on hand. 

What they wear to bed:Hux just wears his standard issue sleep clothes. Ostra will occasionally sleep in the nude, especially if Hux’s rooms are too hot, which they almost always are. 

Who likes seeing the other wearing their t-shirt:They don’t really share their clothes. 

Who falls asleep mid-conversation:Hux. Most nights Hux has to take a sleep tab to fall asleep, so Ostra has taken to making sure Hux takes them. He thinks it’s cute when Hux falls asleep in the middle of a sentence. 

Who wakes up in the middle of the night with nightmares:Nightmares. Both of them suffer from nightmares, and they usually both comfort each other and talk to each other, or just curl up together. 

Who accidentally punched the other in their sleep:Both. Except it wasn’t a punch for either of them. The Force and a knife. Enough said. 

Who can’t keep their hands to themself:If Hux is drunk enough, he’s all grabby hands. If he’s sober, then it’s usually Ostra who can’t. The Force is used for very inappropriate things. 

Who said “I love you” first:Potato chip. Erm, maybe Ostra? Hux would probably also initiate it, but he’s too awkward in this whole love business, so it would most likely be Ostra. 

Who would have the other’s picture as their phone background:Hux, but it’s not just Ostra. Ostra likes to take photos with Hux’s datapad of them.

Who leaves notes written in fog on the bathroom mirror:Ostra. He leaves cute little things that make Hux blush. 

Who buys the other cheesy gifts:Ostra. He brings Hux back little trinkets from whenever he’s not onboard the ship. 

Who initiated the first kiss:That’s difficult to stay. Ostra, most likely, and Hux surprisingly went along with it, a feat most would be impressed by, because Hux would normally have his knife buried in someone’s kidney by that point. 

Who kisses the other awake in the morning:Ostra. He likes to shower Hux with lots of kisses in the morning before they both have to go and do their jobs. 

Who starts tickle fights:Ostra. He cheats with the Force. Hux thinks that’s totally unfair, because it’s not even at close range. 

Who asks who if they can join the other in the shower:I feel they both would prefer taking individual showers, though they have shared them on occasion. 

Who surprises the other in the middle of the day at work with lunch:Ostra. The entire ship knows Hux’s eating patterns are next to nonexistent, and Ostra has taken it upon himself to make sure the First Order general is fed. 

Who was nervous and shy on the first date:They both were nervous. Ostra didn’t want to screw up the date, and Hux has the emotional range of an actual spoon, so he had no clue what he was doing. He was always more of the quick fuck kind of guy when he was younger. 

Who kills/takes out the spiders:Hux. He really hates insects, thinks of them as filthy creatures, and won’t hesitate to kill them. Or sic Millie at them, which he does often enough. 

Who loudly proclaims their love when they’re drunk:Hux. It’s Hux. Hux loosens up with enough alcohol and gets plastered. Declares how much he loves Ostra and his arse, and basically will fight anyone, even Kylo. Ostra has to be the one to drag Hux away from the officers’ lounge. 

[sloppy-little-witch-bitch26]

My Dirty Secret Part 3

Warnings: Swearing, angst, fluff? If you squint

Thank you so so so soooo much for all the love for this fic 

This chapter is quite short, the next chapter is more full on, Previous chapters: Chapter 2 , Chapter 1

Summary: You’re happy with your boyfriend Duncan Shepherd, until certain events and people start to get in the way…

“Y/N? What are you doing here?”

“I erm. I, I had a call about a potential story. just about to go and meet the client” you stammered.

Clearly as a high profile journalist, thinking on your feet was part of your job, only now you were struggling to remember how to breathe.

“Right” Duncan replies, still looking at you quizzically.

“That’s why I text you” you said quickly.

“Seeing if you were free before I had to meet them”

“Oh, right. Well actually I’m off out anyway” He told you. All of a sudden avoiding eye contact.

“He’s taking us to Masion Cherie” Pipped up the blonde stick insect. A sickenly sweet smug smile plastered on her immaculately made up face.

“I see” you nodded. Not entirely sure how to respond.

“I’m Tiffany by the way” she told you, her dainty manicured arm outstretched to greet yours.

“I’m Y/N, I’m er...”

“She’s my girlfriend, Tiff” Duncan replied for you. Clearly picking up on the fact that you weren’t sure if your relationship should yet be common knowledge.

Tiff?! He’s given her a nickname

“Ohhh, so this is the famous girlfriend, huh?” She joked. Even though she clearly had no interest in acknowledging you. Her gaze directing only at Duncan.

“Yes, well I better go” you told them.

“Have a fun” you stated, wanting desperately to get away from the situation.

“Y/N, wait” he called. Quickly catching up to you with his ungodly long legs.

Grabbing your arm, forcing you to turn to him.

“You’re okay right? You don’t seem yourself” He queried, worried eyes searching yours.

“I’m fine Dunc. Go enjoy your date” you confirmed, trying to snatch your arm away only Duncan’s vice like grip keeping you in place.

“You aren’t upset about that are you?” He scoffed.

“She’s just a colleague” he told you.

“I know” you nodded meekly, trying to remain stoic.

You didn’t want to have this conversation with him right now, let alone out in public.

“Just er, let me know when you’re free and I guess we’ll talk then” You replied, wanting to get away from him as quickly as possible.

Duncan leant down to kiss you, only you moved your head so he could avoid your lips, leading him to pause, noticing how you tried to avoid him, he placed a quick peck to your cheek. “I’ll call you later” he told you, trying to get you to meet his eyes.

“Mmhmm” you mumbled. Still avoiding his steely gaze as you pulled your arm out of his hold and walked away from him as quickly as you could without looking suspicious.

“Trouble in paradise?” Tiffany piped up from behind Duncan. He hadn’t even heard her approach him. Too preoccupied with your strange behaviour.

“Nope.” He shook his head.

“Shall we?” He asked her as he gestured his head towards the street. Still not convinced that there wasn’t something up with you.

You were sat in your office. Going over the details and proof-Reading your latest article. It was late and staring at your screen for so long was starting to give you a headache.

Your attention was broken by the sound of your phone buzzing.

It was Duncan. This must’ve been the tenth time he called you. Figuring you needed a break and you couldn’t put off avoiding your awkward encounter from earlier on, you decided you’d finally answer.

“Hello”

“Hey princess, I was starting to think you were avoiding me”

“I’m busy Duncan, what’s up?”

“Do I need a reason to speak to my girlfriend?” he chuckled.

“I thought you were ‘busy’ tonight?” You replied.

“I’ve got a meeting with the app creators” he told you.

“Finalising some of the details and the coding”

“Oh right” you replied. Not quite understanding why that meant you had to stay at your own place tonight.

“I was thinking. Why don’t I take you out to dinner? It’s been a while since we’ve been on an actual date?” He expressed.

“Ok. Just let me know when I guess”

“What’s going on with you? You’ve been acting strange since earlier, I can tell there’s something wrong” he mused

“Nothing’s wrong” You confessed. You were too anxious about voicing your concerns to him, worried he was going to paint you as a jealous, overbearing girlfriend.

“Y/N? I know you. Something is up”

You sighed, figuring it was just best to get it out in the open.

“I wasn’t meeting a client earlier” You confessed.

“I came by your office to surprise you, when I saw you with your assistant” You told him

“And you’re upset because?...”

You sighed.

“It was the way she was draped over your desk, Dunc. No self-respecting person drapes themselves over their boss’ desk like that. It looked like she was flirting with you” You admitted.

“That’s what’s upset you? Seriously Y/N? She’s just a colleague, you know that” He replied, annoyance lacing his voice.

“It’s not just that. I didn’t want to intrude so I thought I’d text you asking if you wanted to see me for lunch and you barely even acknowledged my text. You just sent me a short reply saying you were too busy only to go out with her to some fancy bistro” You told him. The memory coming back making you feel melancholy again.

“Baby, I had plans to meet a client, I wasn’t blowing you off” He tried to reassure you.

“If I had a choice, I’d have much rather been with you” He told you.

“It just didn’t look good Duncan. I don’t care who you spend your time with, I just didn’t like feeling that I was a fleeting thought” You confessed.

“I also don’t get why you didn’t want me to stay at yours tonight, meeting clients has never made you ask me to not spend the night with you before” You also admitted.

“Honey, I didn’t want you sat in my apartment by yourself waiting around on me to join you. I have no idea how long I’ll be, I didn’t like the thought of you being alone” He told you.

You really were overthinking. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see you; he was just looking out for you.

“I’m sorry Dunc, I’m being silly I guess” You admitted, feeling more than foolish at ever doubting him

He laughed at your words. That deep set chuckle you loved so much bringing a smile to your face.

“Yes, but you’re my silly princess” He joked. You sighed along with him. You knew how much he cared about you; you had no reason to doubt his loyalty.

“Duncan, babe, they’re waiting for you” You heard in the background.

Mouth gaping in shock...

Did this bitch seriously just call your boyfriend babe? Did she not have an ounce of respectability, you thought spitefully. Praying you had misheard her.

“I’ve got to go baby, promise me you won’t work too late?” He asked you.

“And make sure you get some rest” He instructed

“I will, I’ll speak to you soon, handsome” You told him.

“God, you have no idea what it does to me when you call me that” He purred down the phone.

“Tst! Yeah, yeah, don’t let your ego knock you out on the way to your meeting” You half joked.

“Ha! I love you babe, speak to you later”

“Love you, speak later”

After listening to the beeping signifying the end of the call, you placed your phone down ready to turn off your computer and call it a night.

Once the screen of your laptop had gone black, your phone buzzed, indicating a message.

“Goodnight Princess. Sleep well. I’ll speak to you tomorrow. D, xxx”

Smiling at your phone, you typed a quick reply to him.

Not entirely settled about everything that happened that day, but it was late, you figured it was beat to just let things go. For now at least.

My babes: @kellysimagines, @tickled--pinkmoodpoisoning, @stupidocupido, @gelukstraan, @sojournmichael, @michael-langdon-appreciation, @alexcornerblog, @frucienlover, @petersfern-fics, @ccodyfern, @cotomandra, @confettucini, @queencocoakimmie, @langdonalien, @sweetlangdon, @duncs-donuts, @sassylangdon. @sassyhollandx, @sassylangdon, @holylangdon, @lovelykhaleesiii, @sodanova, @queenie435, @master-langdon, @langdons-rep,  @1-800-bitchcraft, 

[x0401x]

Mekakucity Talkers: Chapter 30

This time, we have a girls’ group talk with no boys allowed! Just what kinds of conversations are they having without the boys’ knowledge...!?

← Previous || Index || Next →

Mekakushi-dan Girls’ Group

Ene: My~, it’s autumn already, huh~. That oh-so-hot summer is over~.

Kido: Yeah. It’s gotten pretty refreshing.

Momo: It’s already at the point of being cold! It gets chilly during the evening and times like that, doesn’t it?

Kido: Kisaragi, that’s because you have too many clothes that leave out your arms and legs. It’s not good to let your body get cool. I recommend a wool waistband.

Momo: Ah! I know! Waistbands are fashionable and cute lately, huh~! Like those with fish paste cake patterns!

Ene: You’ve found something rare again, huh, Imouto-san?

Momo: Wouldn’t the feeling of entering a fish paste cake tube be wonderful?

Kido: If you’re talking about foods with holes in them, at least limit it to doughnuts.

Momo: ‘Ka~y... Ah, what about green onions?

Ene: That’s an aggressive fashion sense, huh~. Still, getting excited over a talk about waistbands is something we can only do in a girls-exclusive chatroom!

Kido: That’s right. At first, I thought there’d be no need to make one, but there are things we can only discuss with fellow girls, after all.

Ene: Well, when I some~times take a look at the log, a lot of pointless discussions come up, though~.

Momo: Ever since we started using the chat, autumn arrived before we realized. I can’t hear the cries of the cicadas at all anymore... Huh?

Kido: Hm?

Ene: What’s wrong?

Momo: I wonder if it’s just my imagination. I noticed just now... that I can actually hear the cicadas’ cries, y’know...?

Kido: By “cicadas”, you mean the insect?

Ene: It can’t be~! We’re already in October, y’know?

Momo: But I definitely heard a “mi~n, mi~n”! Ah, it stopped. What might it have been?

Ene: Myy~, how scary~. Could it be that this is a curse from the cicadas that haven’t yet gone to heaven...

Kido: Hey, don’t say weird stuff.

Ene: Eh~, then... Surprisingly, it might be just Master saying “min, min”?

Kido: No, that’s actually scary.

Ene: That room has quite a bit of sound leakage, you see~.

Momo: That’s right~. I can sometimes hear Ene-chan’s voice from Onii-chan’s room.

Ene: Eh, seriously?

Momo: Does the hideout have that problem?

Kido: I’ve never been bothered by it. I sometimes listen to music in my room, but I listen with headphones, so the sound doesn’t leak out.

Momo: Indeed, the walls of the hideout seem thick, huh~.

Kido: There are no issues with sound, but... there are with smell.

Momo: “Smell”?

Kido: You see, it seems that Seto sometimes hides lost animals in his room.

Ene: Heeh~! Isn’t he nice~?!

Kido: Well, if it were cats and dogs, that’d be fine, but...

Momo: Don’t tell me...

Kido: Every now and then, there I feel the presence of deers and boars...

Ene: Aren’t they wild beasts?!

Kido: They’re from the wild, after all... It stinks of animals quite a bit...

Ene: I think the smell isn’t the problem anymore, though!?

Momo: That’s kinda like a zoo, huh~.

Kido: I want him to do something about this at least.

Ene: As expected, isn’t it better to be wary of wildlife? It’s dangerous.

Momo: Even if it’s Seto-san and even if he used to animals, it’d be terrible if he became unable to return from the wild, right~?

Kido: True... Wait a bit.

Momo: What is it?

Kido: Well, Seto called me just now.

Ene: Oh! Speak of the devil!

Kido: By the looks of it, he has something to discuss.

Momo: Then, while you’re at it, how about you tell him about the animals?

Ene: Ah~, that’s right~! Take full advantage of the opportunity!

Kido: Right... ‘Kay, I’m off.

Momo: Have a safe tri~p.

Ene: Still, what might he be wanting to discuss with Danchou-san?

Momo: Maybe advice for today’s menu?

Ayano: Oissu. Huh? Did I just miss Tsubomi?

Momo: Ah! Ayano-san, welcome~.

Ene: Oissu for yo~u.

Momo: Do you have some business with Danchou-san?

Ayano: Yup. Not just Tsubomi. I thought I’d tell everyone about it for a bit. Shintarou has a pet rabbit, right?

Momo: Tono-chan, you mean?

Ayano: Yes, yes. To tell the truth, it seems she’s gone missing...

Ene: EEH!? ISN’T THAT A DISASTER?!!

Momo: Onii-chan didn’t say a single thing about that...

Ayano: Surely he didn’t want to make you worry, Momo-chan. Shintarou is kindhearted despite his looks, after all. But by that reaction, it means nobody knows about it, right...?

Kido: Just came back.

Ayano: Ah, Tsubomi, welcome back. There’s something I wanna ask...

Kido: Nee-san, about that...

Momo: Danchou-san, you know something?

Kido: Well, I don’t know where the rabbit went, yet comparing what Nee-san just said... No, but...

Momo: What happened, Danchou-san?!

Ayano: Tsubomi, can’t you talk about it?

Kido: Aah... To tell the truth, I was called over by Seto, who said he had something to discuss with me, but he didn’t say anything in particular and handed me a little something.

Momo: “A little something”?

Kido: When I asked, “What’s this?”, he answered “Rabbit fur” and left.

Momo: R-R-R-Rabbit fur!?

Ene: This story is too timely...

Kido: I was also surprised when I read what Nee-san said.

Ayano: Then could it be...

Momo: It’s Tono-chan’s fur?

Kido: No, there’s no way...

Mary: Next will be you.

Kido: Ma-Mary, you were here? What’s up with you all of a sudden?

Momo: Hold on a minute. Does that mean “the same will be done with you next”...?

Kido: Don’t spout nonsense. It couldn’t be... There’s no way that would be it.

Momo: But, that stuff about Seto-san bringing in animals... could it be...

Ayano: You’re overthinking it! Kousuke isn’t the kind of kid that would do something like that...!

Momo: T-That’s right. I’m misunderstanding it.

Mary: There Seto is.

Momo: Eh!? Mary-chan, Seto-san is nearby!?

Mary: Yup. When I threatened him, he ran away.

Ene: If you threaten the culprit, you’ll only motivate him more!

Ayano: I-I don’t like this “culprit” thing...

Kido: It’s not for certain yet, right? It’s true that Seto doesn’t choose his means when he has an objective, but...

Ene: Feels like this didn’t turn out as a follow-up...

Momo: Mary-chan, how was Seto-san’s attitude?

Kido: Mary?

Ene: Eh? Is she gone?

Kido: What happened?

Mary: Just now, Kano came by. He handed me a letter.

Kido: A letter from Kano?

Ene: There seems to be some meaning to this...

Kido: Anything and everything can be thought of as suspicious right now... But indeed, Kano and Seto had been locking themselves up in their rooms lately and seemed to be doing something night after night...

Ene: There’s a possibility of complicity...

Momo: What’s written there!?

Mary: Erm, it says “next Sunday in the amusement park”.

Momo: “Next Sunday”...?

Ene: “Amusement park”...?

Kido: No good, I don’t get it at all.

Hiyori: It’s obviously a letter of challenge.

Momo: Hiyori-chan!?

Ene: Oh~!? Such a rare guest at such a timing, huh~!?

Kido: How long have you been here?

Hiyori: Since just now.

Momo: But, by “letter of challenge”, you mean...?

Hiyori: By that date, place, and the current situation, there’s no mistaking that you’re being requested for a duel. The boys are underestimating you.

Kido: No, Kano and Seto aren’t that type.

Ene: There, there, there, isn’t this fine? We won’t make any progress, so let’s all go hear out the real situation on the day!

Mary: I’ll fight.

Hiyori: Well said. This means you aren’t just a little princess, huh?

Momo: A duel! I’m kinda excited!

Ayano: Though I’m worried, I’ll go too!

Ene: Since it’s settled, we must prepare for the duel! How about a sleepover until next Sunday?

Momo: Yay~! Sleepover!

Mary: Looking forward to it.

Momo: I gotta hurry and prepare the sleepover goods.

Ene: Anyway, let’s dismiss ourselves. When we’re ready, let’s contact each other again.

Momo: Ye~s.

Kido: No, hey, wait a bit. What will we do in that duel?

[cursedvessels]

Dolls, Failure, Mirrors && Insects

Fear-Themed Headcanon Questions

Dolls: Has your muse ever collected something?

Failure: Has your muse ever given up on an important dream?

Mirrors: What is your muse’s least favorite thing about their appearance?

Insects: Name something your muse finds gross or annoying. 

Has your muse ever collected something?

I feel like Ambrose has sort of always been a collector of sorts, but not like of one specific thing. He just… COLLECTS. Posters, old newspapers, trinkets and things… Tea. Music. Some might say he’s a bit of a hoarder. I think, specifically, if he has one thing that he collects it’s… words. If that makes sense. I think he likes to take things he hears or reads or sees or is told by the voices in his head and he writes them down anywhere he can, whether it be on the walls of his prison cell or in a little notebook that he’s filled a hundred times over… His hands, his arms, his LEGS. His chest. Erm, wherever he can write it down, when it sticks with him he makes note of it.

Has your muse ever given up on an important dream?

I mean, I think any dream or idea he’s ever had has definitely been left in the dust. I feel like if he ever had a dream at the start of life, his father sort of crushed it and the people around him laughed at him for it. His whole life he’s been called a failure and a screw-up, so it’s not really his place to have dreams… I think the biggest thing he’s ever given up on is his potential to be a peacemaker. He was born with a chaotic heart that still desired to make people happy, to bring peace and help those who had passed on… Like he really, seriously cares for those trapped in the spirit world and in the end that care was what got him in the mess he’s in now, which is why he’s such an apathetic bastard all the time.

What is your muse’s least favorite thing about their appearance?

Hm… Well, actually, pretty much everything. He’s skinny as hell, pale, freckly, tall, dirty… Generally just looks like the junkie that he is. He would probably liken himself to the appearance of a corpse, though only to himself. I think his sense of fashion is pretty much the only thing that keeps him thinking he’s beautiful in any way. He acts like he has a much bigger head than he does… Most of all, he hates any part of him that resembles his father.

Name something your muse finds gross or annoying.

This is a hard one because I think most people just find HIM gross or annoying, so… Um.. I mean, I feel like he finds his own box pretty gross, the dead hands and whatnot. He’s not like… I think he’s used to dead things, but at the same time, he finds dead bodies to be pretty gross. He’s quick to say “ew,” but at the same time not very affected by gross things. Um… So, severed body parts for sure. Not insects because really anything alive he… finds mercy for and compassion for in some way or another. LIke he won’t kill bugs. Um… As far as annoying goes, rules. Definitely rules. And… anyone who… thinks they’re better than him. Because he’s always stuck in this constant position where he has to prove himself to everyone around him and I think that can get very old very quickly. So, I guess, also when people don’t believe him when he tells them he’s an all-powerful god of the Underworld.

[asktheraggededges]

Ragged Edges, this is Commissar Fiorenzi again. Today I’m reaching out to ask for advice on armaments. For whatever reason when I received my sash and hat I wasn’t issued a dedicated execution pistol, only receiving a Chainsword and a Mark IV Laspistol. Having spent little of my pay since then I have some savings so I was hoping that given the wide array of armaments used by the Ragged Edges that either your more experienced Commissar, or some of your guardsmen could suggest a weapon.

You have options. None of them are the wrong choice, don’t worry.

Use the laspistol AS the execution pistol. That’s generally done from close range, so the comparatively low potency of the laspistol wont be a problem.

Not to be impertinent, sir, but are you sure that’s wise? Between a soldiers flak helmet and their skull, the las shot might not make it all the way through. It could leave them unharmed or, most beastly of all, could end up slowly burning out their brains from the inside.

Ha ha! REALLY?  Like, the las shot just bounces around their skull and cooks their brain?!

Erm...yes..takes about a minute for the victim to die. Makes them thrash about in the most ghastly fashion. A bit like a dying insect.

AWWWESOOOME..

Enough.

When you execute someone you don’t shoot someone through the direct back of the head, or the side. If they’re wearing a helmet, its not necessarily going to work. You aim between the occipital bone and the atlas. Unprotected on most uniforms. Dead in seconds. If that’s not an option your best option is to shoot them through their soft pallet. If they don’t wear a helmet, and you get the chance, then behind the ear is fine too.

But anyways.

On a commissar’s salary, and maybe with a little luck you should be able to switch to something with a little more bite or at least intimidation as your primary sidearm.

I favour a high end, custom tooled, autopistol, but something that scatters shell casings and has that much recoil might not be what you’re looking for if your melee weapon is something with as much finesse and balance as a chainsword.

There’s also the plasma pistol, which is just a beautiful weapon. It looks good. It SOUNDS good and its not a bad little distinctive weapon. Remember: as a commissar you’re sort of a performer as well. A gun that launcher miniature exploding suns at the enemy is pretty impressive.

Especially if you actually hit something with it...

I cannot, as a physician, recommend plasma weaponry.

It may be effective but you’re taking a chance every time you pull that damn trigger. Save it for mad people like the commissar and that ludicrous techpriest. You have your whole life ahead of you. Still might be short, but give yourself a chance.

The commissars is well maintained. A priceless archeotech find and I’ve still had her in 2-3 times for hand burns. On a starting salary/ Without inquisition backing? You’re basically just holding a bomb. If you buy a cheap plasma pistol, the next thing you better save for is a bionic hand.

My advice? Not as a doctor but as a soldier? Save a little longer. Get a bolt pistol. Even the cheapest among them is reliable, intimidating and powerful.

No argument.

It is a classic commissar weapon. A status symbol. Even a glancing shot with one is devastating.The noise it makes is practically a weapon. Usefully it also has minimum recoil. Keep an eye on your shots, though. Bolt pistol only holds about 8 rounds.

Most of my students ended up using a bolt pistol, actually.

Oh yeah, you used to teach this sort of thing huh?

It’s weird hearing you sound informed.

Naw, man, naw. Use ya cash to keep on tricking out the ol’ flashlight.

Expand the clips, customise the grip, put an omni-scope on it, a fire selector, an over charge pack and load it up with some hot shots. All of that tricking out will probably still cost less than most fancier weapons and the end result will be a cheap to maintain, free to reload, reliable as all shit, armour punching badass little unit.

Get yourself a stub automatic for executions. You can always double tap if you gotta.

Then, just keep saving. If you can ever afford it - go big. Get yourself something balla like a refractor shield or a needle pistol. Don’t hear about a lot of commissars using that sorta weapon. You could be the first.

[calyssmarviss]

Calyss Watches the Clone Wars - 47

03x04 - Sphere of Influence.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA TELL THAT TO THE JEDI

Chuchi!! Girl looks pissed.

WAIT ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT THE TRADE FEDERATION STILL HAS A SEAT AT THE SENATE???

“We’re not Separatists because we do business with them.”

DUDE IT’S WAR. YOU’RE LITERALLY HELPING THE ENEMY.

“The Trade Federation is neutral.”

YOU’RE NOT NEUTRAL YOU ASSHOLE YOU JUST TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BOTH FACTIONS.

I ship it.

Blue people are introduced but I have no idea what their name actually are cause I’m not using subtitles and alien names are weird.

That style, tho. I wonder if it means something, because her sister is dressed pretty normally. 

ANAKIN YOU SILLY BEAN.

“That blockade wasn’t that bad. It’s the reason I met you after all.”

I mean, yeah, sure, without that blockade he wouldn’t even be a Jedi but to say to Padmé that it wasn’t that bad???

This man has never heard about “tact”.

“You certainly have a unique way of looking at things Ani.”

She seems amused. Guess he’s lucky he’s cute.

PADME PADME PADME. YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED YET DON’T SAY THAT THE LOCAL POLICE CAN’T HANDLE IT LIKE THAT. Okay, it’s like 99% sure that’s it’s a Separatist thing, but don’t be so dismissive of the regular authorities? The fuck did they do for you to drag them down like that??? Do you really want your man to get involved in yet more life threatening nonsense that bad? Do you hope to get a threesome with Chuchi if you both help? Damn the Skywlakers sure love threesomes.

Ahsoka seem to think that she’s better fitted for the task than the Coruscanti police. Anakin seems doubtful.

I’m sorry, he’s actually opening his mouth to say “Alright” but I paused at this moment and his face was too epic.

Why, when Anakin says he has too make sure the Council doesn’t hear about this unsanctioned investigation, my mind directly goes to him, erm, occupying Obi-Wan? I mean, dude’s on the Council, but he’s not the Coucil :D

Gratuitous Skywalker Face:

Padmé: “I still can’t believe they let you teach.”

:’D

Yeah, ok, Padmé, I get why you where saying that now.

IT’S GREEDOOOOOOOO

IT’S TATOOOOOIIIIINE.

Because, of course it’s Tatooine.

So it has actually been like a week since I’ve seen the Greedo scene (and, yes, I know I do that a lot but FYI those episodes actually take me a while to watch so I often get interrupted. Also I easily get distracted.)(Like just now I went and drew a holodrama cheesy scene for five minutes) so I’m not really sure about what exactly they’re doing on Tatooine? OH! Silly me! That’s where Greedo home turf is!

Jabba’s son just killed an insect half his size with his tiny fist. (btw WHO THE FUCK IS HIS MOTHER? I’m asking cause I read somewhere that Jabba was really into humanoids and was considered like a deviant because of it and can you imagine how it is for poor Mrs Jabba? Bet she only saw some action because her husband wanted an heir and now she’s all alone in her chambers, reading some romance novel or watching Days of Corellia. OMG DOES STAR WARS HAS SPACE TUMBLR? IF IT DOES THEN I’M 100% SURE MRS JABBA AND ANAKIN ARE MUTUALS AND THEY ARE HAVING PATIONATE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOLODRAMAS.) … Okay back to business.

*two days later* I’M SORRY BUT I HAD TO GO EAT AND THEN I FELT THE SUDDEN URGE TO REINSTALL FALLOUT NEW VEGAS.

It looks like Ahsoka is sneaking on a watered on Vader.

Who knew Greedo had a hot Twi’lek girlfriend. I guess she’s in for his pretty eyes :D

Chuchi: “Have you done this before?” Ahsoka: “No. But I’ve been practicing.”

NNGGGGGHHH SERIOUSLY THERE BETTER BE A VERY GOOD REASON REY WAS ABLE TO MIND TRICK JAMES BOND WITHOUT ANY TRAINING OR ELSE I’M GONNA HAVE TO FLIP SOME TABLES.

Pantorian Dude: “I don’t wanna die on this dustbowl!”

Welcome to Tatooine, most hated planet in the Galaxy.

THE CHAIRMAN IS FRIEND WITH JABBA?

Wow, Mos Eisley actually looks like a pretty big city. (Okay, don’t judge, my memories of the OT are not the best)

So Sheev totally got the inspiration for Vader’s mask while in business meeting with the Trade Federation dudes.

I like it when the good guys save the day with blackmail.

Prev/Next

[a-moment-in-time-blog]

Newt x reader :: Close Encounters - Part 2

PART 1 

Notes: Thanks for being so patient with these, everyone! I hope you like this second part of the series and have a wonderful day/night/4 a.m. fanfic reading session! :) 

WC: 1,744

On  doctor’s request, you had been given the rest of the week off. As for the robbers, they were still at large and nobody seemed to have any leads. It was if they had vanished like steam. Every other worker in the store was on high alert and an air of suspicion made everyone look over their shoulders. On your first day back you were greeted by a small army of security guards posted at every imaginable exit and the air was warm from nearly every lightbulb burning.

You instinctively reached up to touch your bare neck. There was a tiny golden locket that normally hung there. A gift from your grandparents, it was something of talisman for you. You felt safe wearing it and you touched it periodically throughout the day as a reminder that yes, you actually existed. It had gone missing the day of the robbery and you assumed it had fallen off your neck in the struggle and was taken. You were grateful to have survived, of course, but losing the keepsake kept your heart in a steady deflation.

As you stood behind the counter, rather dejectedly rubbing your neck, a man slowly approached. “Hello, sir,” you tried to draw as much pep into your voice as you could, “Good morning! Can I help you with anything today?”

You threw him a huge smile that seemed to disarm him momentarily.

“Erm, yes.” He dug a hand into his coat pocket and rummaged around for something, gripping his case in the other. Something about him looked...odd. Oddly familiar? You were about to ask him if he was a regular customer when he produced a tiny bundle. It seemed to be wrapped up in extremely crinkled brown paper and he placed it on the counter between the two of you. You looked at him expectantly as he seemed to be searching for what to say.

“I found this. Outside on the ground. I asked another woman, just over there, if she knew who this belonged to, and she said it may be yours.”

“Mine?” you said picking up the small package. From one side a golden chain had begun to snake its way out. “Is this…?”

You quickly tore open the paper and found your locket tucked safely inside. A lighter-than-air relief filled your chest as you inspected it. It was completely undamaged and even looked as if someone had polished it nicely. Your lips stretched into a huge smile.

“Oh...oh, sir,” you looked up to thank him, but he was gone.

“Sir?”

You saw him hurrying away, walking quite fast toward the front doors.

You checked over your shoulder (to make sure your manager wasn’t around) and darted from behind the counter, “Sir! Sir!”

The doorman noticed and placed an arm out to stop the man, “Hey mister, I think that young lady is trying to get your attention.”

“I want to thank you...for returning this to me. It’s...very...precious to me,” you tried to catch your breath as the man threw the doorman an annoyed glance.

“Oh, no problem at all--” he turned to leave again but you interrupted.

“May I ask your name?”

“It’s, erm, Newt. Scamander.”

“Newt Scamander?”

“Yes.”

“Well, Mr. Scamander, is there anything at all I could do to repay you?”

“I’m really not in need of--”

“Ey,” the doorman elbowed Newt playfully in the ribs, “When a pretty little broad like that offers you something, you’d be a fool not to accept!”

You gave the doorman an exasperated look, but he seemed to have made Newt uncomfortable enough to stand there. Newt seemed unsure of who to look at so he just stared down at his case.

“At least let me get’chya a hotdog,” you offered.

“Oh, that’s very kind of you.”

The doorman winked at Newt as you told him quietly, “Benny, if Marg asks where I am tell her I’m taking my lunch.”

Newt followed you silently as you punched out for lunch and walked out onto the busy sidewalk. It was the middle of the day, but packed with people admiring the intricately animated storefront displays. You led the way but kept looking back to make sure you didn’t lose him and you felt oddly protective. He obviously wasn’t from here. He seemed rather detached, observing the bustle around him as if he were watching an ant colony swarming a sugar cube.

“Just this way, Mr. Scamander,” you nodded toward the line of people snaking around the tiny hot dog stand that was sending plumes of smoke and steam high into the winter air.

“I’m really not hungry, miss…”

“(Y/N). Just call me (Y/N).”

“Yes, (Y/N). I’m actually in a bit of a rush right now, so I don’t think I’ll be able to wait.”

His eyes were darting all round as if he was looking for something, or looking at something you couldn’t see.

“Hmmm…” you pondered,  A little tug at the side of your gut was drawing you towards him. It didn’t want you to let go of him so easily. “Would you like to just go for a walk?”

“Er, a short one,” he said smiling, but still looking past you.

The two of you managed to escape the crush of the crowds and slip down a side a street. Here the snow was dirty and brown, but at least you could hear yourself think.

“So what do you do Mr. Scamander?”

“I work with animals.”

“Oh, I love animals!”

“Really?”

“Yep, I’m a dog walker on the weekends. Not particularly because I need the extra bucks, but I just love being around ‘em.”

“A dog...walker?”

“Yes, you know.”

He looked at you blankly.

“You know, when rich old people are too tired to do it,” you laughed, “I just walk them and make sure they’re back home safe. My friends call me a dog nanny.” His eyes sparked with curiosity.

“Mrs. Portimer--she lives in a big old place on 4th avenue--has the most beautiful Alsatian you’ve ever seen. So strong and proud-looking. But the thing is deathly terrified of rats. Tiny little rats! And of course they’re everywhere in the city. I have to hold him extra tight so he doesn’t dart off. The job’s more challenging than it looks!”

“So...I suppose you get to know the dogs quite well?”

“Oh, absolutely. They’re like friends to me,” you chuckled, “Sometimes I think they understand me better than people.”

Newt paused for a moment and then nodded in agreement.

“You can’t tell anyone this,” you lowered your voice, “But I talk to them sometimes. Tell them a bit about my day or what I’m feeling. They’re excellent listeners!”

You were terrified for a moment that the joke went over his head and he was going to think you were a lunatic, but he timidly smiled.

“They won’t judge you,” he said softly.

“Yes, yes, exactly! People can be so rash these days to label you, especially in this job.”

“Well--” he stopped abruptly. You kept going a few steps before turning to look at him.

“Mr. Scamander?” you said cautiously.

His eyes were pointed directly overhead where some kind of large buzzing insect was flitting about. In a blur of motion, he pulled something out of his pocket and pointed it upward causing the creature to fall from the sky to your feet with a small thud.

“Oh, Merlin, if that had stung you…” he scooped up the tiny insect into his palm.

“Did you just shoot that bug or somethin’?” you said looking at the impossibly vivid blue creature. It was unlike anything you’d ever seen--and you’d lived in New York your entire life.

“No, just stunned it,” he replied  matter-of-factly, “if it had gotten you, you’d be floating around uncontrollably for days.”

“Floating?”

“Yes. Anyways, I’m sorry to do this to you again, (Y/N), I truly am. This can’t be healthy,” he sighed, reaching back into his pocket.

“What is that? Isn’t that what you shot the bug thing with?!”

“A wand, and I only stunned it temporarily.”

He seemed to suddenly be very frustrated as he gently tossed the creature into his case. As he moved to point the wand at you, you felt something heavy drop into your purse and slightly lost your balance. Newt looked concerned as you staggered sideways.

“I promise this is the last time as long as I stay away from you. And I’ll do my best to. I’m…” he paused taking a deep breath, “I’m glad I got to return your necklace to you.”

You stared at him, eyes wide in fear.

“I’m also glad I got to speak to you, (Y/N). You’re a good person.”

He was talking like he was going to do something drastic. You turned to run away in panic, and almost immediately felt a warm sensation running through you. As if you’d just breathed some nitrous oxide at the dentist.

He took your hand and helped you up. He wrapped an arm around your waist for support as you swayed momentarily.

“I’m...I’m...supposed to be at work. How did I get here?”

“You, erm, slipped?”

“I slipped?”

“Yes, I saw you slip on the ice from just over there.”

“O-Oh…”

“Are you alright?”

“I think so. It’s just that this is the second time I can’t remember what I was doing.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. Thank you for helping me.”

Newt bent down and picked up your purse for you, “Here you go. Do you need any help getting back?”

“No, I work just down the street. Thank you, though, Mr.--”

“Scamander.”

“Mr. Scamander.”

You became conscious of the man’s arm still around you, supporting you. He seemed to notice too as he blushed and quickly withdrew it. The chilly winter wind blew up under your jacket where he had been holding you and you shivered. It wasn’t just his body heat that warmed you, but  his pale skin dusted with the rosiness of the cold, his brown hair the color of firewood, and his accent as well. Not to mention he had troubled himself to come help you when no one else had.

“Well, goodbye. Have a nice life,” he smiled.

His candor knocked you from your daydream.

“Um, yes. Thank you. You too,” you said quietly. He turned and walked away unceremoniously. You watched him until he was about to turn the corner and saw him look back. He looked a bit sad.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

tags: @ladytevans07 @frankthethunderbird @allnewtsbeasts @danisaurus-rexx @hardcore-ravenclaw @storyofmemory@needlesinacandybox @confused17yold @astronomicaldun @orangepumpkinpen @meka-meow @prodigal-books @see-the-thestrals @newton-scamander-lover @legit-trash-bro @kawaiiusagichansan @cutedictionary  @itsleviosa14