#��oh!! did you already have what I needed?’ ‘No? was the issue not transporting it???’

[metal-harbor]

I am so fond of my headcanon that shadow has no idea how money works

Like he knows he exchanges money for goods, but he has no idea of the value anything holds

G.U.N issued him a bank account that they pay into, but he has absolutely no way of quantifying the amount in there. He was just told that he was not to give the numbers on the card to Rogue.

He once bought a $300 bag of coffee because he liked the packaging. He has a designer jacket that cost thousands and it was only when Amy pointed out that she knew the brand that he realised it must have been expensive. He’s bought VIP tickets for their concert trips more than once by mistake, then got frustrated when they tried to bring him backstage to meet the band (which he accidentally paid to do).

A few of his friends have described him as ‘surprisingly generous’ but truly he just has no idea what things cost

[opinated-user]

... LO, do you really need to be told why lying about having cancer is bad? do i really need to sit here and explain to you, with puppets, in explicit detail why people might have an issue with that? this is like asking why should anyone care that you killed someone in the street if you already served your time in prison. caring about if the person you're supporting killed someone or if they are the kind of people to lie about having cancer, especially right after their sibling comes out to accuse them of sexually assault them multiple times growing up, is the bare minimum you should ever expect from any average person. the fact that you pretend like "even if i lied, it's not a big deal" speaks volumes to me about how little do you care about the fact people have actually deal with cancer. people have died, survived and see their loved ones be consumed in front of their eyes because of that disease. those who have any close encounter with cancer would know instantly that once you have it, you're more likely to develop cancer cell later on than a person who never did. you just selfishly put the thought "sure, she's fine now, but what if...?" in the mind of every person who for some reason still cares about you, your own wife who you lied to too, and you still want to pretend like you did nothing wrong? oh, and if anyone feels the need to ask "how do we know she lied about having cancer", to summarize. 1. ask her right now what type of cancer it was. she'll either say that she never said. she did. it was skin cancer. skin cancer on the early stages will mean a minor surgery and check ups in the future, nothing else. LO explicitely and clearly said that her only treatment was chemotherapy. the only reason she's pretending like "i'll never say what cancer i had" is because we keep pointing this out and she wants her audience to just feel bad for her. same reason why she feels the need to exaggerate her back pain during streams now.

2. chemotherapy is an extremely aggressive treatment on the body that, in order to be fully effective, has to last at least half a year. this will mean that we're all meant to believe that LO has been streaming for hours upon hours, making videos, being perfectly normal for everyone around them, while completely hiding any and all symptoms of chemotherapy. not to mention lying to both her closest friends and her wife for half a year. the woman that right now is making a show about having back pain in almost every stream she does and screaming into the mic for it. that woman you're supposed to believe could tolerate chemotherapy as it was nothing at all. i'm sorry, but you can't both be such a badass that can do that and also pretend like you're a poor little soft patootie everyone should feel bad about. 3. she said that all of this, the cancer treatment, costed her barely anything and the expenses "were minimal". consider this is a woman who can't drive and doesn't have a car, so she'd have to pay public transportation every time she goes to the hospital. this one just pisses me off because i went out of my way to research that people in her exact same city go into debt paying for their own treatment. it's not just a cutesy lie to be more interesting, LO. people have lost the savings of their life trying to survive this disease, so you so flippantly making light of that is ammoral and disgusting. (all the archives, screenshots and links mentioned here can be found on the same tag i used for this.)

[roses-r-rosie3]

Dancing With Your Ghost: Unexpected Reunion

Miguel O’Hara x M!Reader

[Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4]

(Btw credits to whoever drew that spider-man character)

Warnings: angst, spoilers for SpiderMan: Across the Spider-verse, and memory loss-ish

Summary: Miguel was in love with his version of y/n from his universe but that y/n dies bc that’s his cannon, and he meets an alternate version of y/n who is the Spider-Man of his universe, but isn’t in love with Miguel

Quote: “I'm sorry, but you're not ringing any bells"

✁ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Miguel is what some people what call “cold hearted” but he wasn’t always like this. He was happy once. He was in love with y/n l/n. He loved y/n so much. But because he was a Spider-Man, y/n died. He died when that universes’s goblin blew up a building, while y/n was inside of it. It hurts Miguel to think about it. The way he held y/n in his arms while he begged for y/n to stay with him. But Miguel couldn’t undo the inevitable, and y/n died in his arms while he cried for hours.

"Miguel" Jess said, snapping Miguel out of his thoughts.

"Are you okay?" she said.

"Yeah, yeah, just a little tired, what did you want to talk to me about?" Miguel said.

"I found a case where an alternate version of the goblin from another universe got transported to another universe, and is now having a tantrum"

Miguel's blood ran cold at the mention of 'The goblin', the bastard took one of the only people making him happy away from him.

"I know you have some issues with the goblin, but you need to remember that he isn't our goblin-"

"Yeah, whatever let's go" Miguel said, completely ignoring what Jess had to say.

skip to when Miguel is fighting the goblin b/c i'm lazy af

Miguel spent what felt like hours trying to land a single punch on the goblin, each attempt getting him more riled up. All of a sudden another spider-man swooped in and kicked the goblin in the face dead-on.

"I'll take it from here" The masked hero said cockily.

That voice... it sounded familiar, but Miguel couldn't quite put his finger on it. But Miguel had no time to play the guessing game, so he immediately swung over to help fight the goblin.

When Miguel finally caught up to the other spider-man, the goblin had already been defeated.

"How-"

"it's easy when you're as good as me" said the cocky super-hero, as he cut off Miguel.

"Oh great another narcissistic one" Miguel said as he rolled his eye under his mask.

"I wouldn't call it narcissistic, more like- wait- what do you mean another- oh whatever, who are you and what are you doing here" said that universe's spider-man.

skip to Miguel explaining the whole spider organization

"Does you telling me this mean that I'm apart of this organization now, or are you gonna pull a 'men in black' and erase this from my memory?"

"Yes, you can join" Miguel said in annoyance as he opened the portal.

"Holy shit, very cool.." The masked hero said before walking inside of it.

"Hey, scary boss guy, can i take off my mask, that portal thing is making me feel sick" said the hero.

"Yes" Miguel said as he turned to see what the cocky hero looked like under his mask.

When the spider-man unmasked himself, he was revealed to be y/n.

Miguel couldn't speak, his once dead lover was in front of him.

"Oh I didn't tell you my name did I? My name's-"

"Y/n" Miguel cut him off.

"How did you-"

Y/n was cut off by Miguel hugging the life out of him.

"I missed you so much" Miguel croaked.

"Woah, woah dude I don't even know you" y/n said pulling Miguel away.

Miguel took off his mask, hoping that universe's y/n would notice him.

"I'm sorry, but you're not ringing any bells" y/n said.

"Y/n please, we have to at least been acquainted in your universe" Miguel said with tears in his eyes.

"Uh- you're starting to creep me out" y/n said

"Oh, uh, sorry about him, you just look like someone he used to know" Jess interrupted

"Okay then..." y/n said as he walked past them to explore the place.

"Listen Miguel, I know you loved y/n and he loved you, but that's a different y/n, I don't want to sound harsh, but he probably didn't know you until now, okay? Just know that our y/n loved you." Jess said as the other y/n was out of eye-sight.

Miguel just broke down. The fact that, that y/n will probably never love him like his y/n, He felt like he was re-living the grief he felt when y/n died in his arms.

[stay-midnight]

Unreleased Draft #2: Divine Amusement

God! Han Jisung x Male Reader

Sypnosis this time: In this world certain gods rule over certain cities and each god graces their city with their different blessing and operations based on their own preferences but what happens when a servant of the God of Order was issued to take a vacation to the City of Entertainment where the God of Entertainment, Mischief and Enjoyment resides in?

A/N • This draft is actually more recent than snowswept tails! And the writing is definitely more improved than the s.t, this plot is something I wanted to explore cuz when i see Han on the mv of circus the firsy thing I thought of was, “What if Han was a higher being who is the embodiment of entertainment..?” HAHAHA anyways it was also influenced by genshin at that time in modern state ig.

A/N Ratings • Plot/Interest - 7.5/10, I don't mind writing it but i certainly have an idea in mind and plus its quite unique as it strays (haha pun) from the usual god/goddesses au where its usually not modern, oh and I kind of wanna see where it goes?

Writing in this draft: 8/10 much much much better! HAHAHA

Write-ability / Needed Creativity: 6.5/10 I would have to scoure my head for ideas cuz my usual bright brain doesnt function quite as well.

TW: Vulgar Words, also its kind of short.

“We are now arriving at the city of entertainment everyone — for the people stopping here, please prepare your things and pack so that we can go forward with no delay. Thank you for using SK train as your transport and we hope to ride with you again. Please entertain yourselves in this amazing city.” the voice on the speaker said in a cheerful tone contrary to your facial expression right now — pissed and not quite happy as you stood up, holding your briefcase. The other people turned their eyes on you, in the compartment — you were the only one that's about to leave.

“‘Amazing city’, my ass.” you grumbled, copying the speaker guy sarcastically, the train stopping abruptly as the mechanical doors slide open. The flashing bright lights and the vandalism drawings on the walls were the first thing you were met with as you step out of the train.

After the bullet train leaves, you look around and saw just about 5 people actually stopped here. You sighed, carrying your luggage as you walked out of the train station — cursing the name of your best friend who said goodbye to you with a smile as he watched you get send off to this hellhole.

Walking the streets of the city in the night was a hassle but in no way in hell are you riding the taxi services called "Fake Taxi" that are literally the only taxis you see pass by, you even saw two people getting it on inside them.

“Oh, Lord Bang — why here, I want out.” you cried to yourself, you wanted some place to relax — but not here, my god, definitely not here.

The unclean alleyways, the smell of alcohol wafting throughout the air, the loud men laughing with no decency, the ladies' attempt at seducing the smoking men aroundand the children laughing as they vandalize the walls with penises and other horrid stuff.

What kind of god do they worship in a place like this.. .

Your legs felt like giving out at the long walk to your booked hotel, your arms were wobbly too from the heavy luggage and lastly, your eyes were about to give out from the lack of sleep.

“Oh heavens, what kind of horrible thing did I do in my past life to have to go here.” you grunted, and finally, breath of relief releasing from your mouth as you finally came face-to-face with your oh-so-very-lovely hotel with a broken sign and walls filled with drawings that are explicit.

Very welcoming, you thought.

After a long time of contemplation about whether it was worth it to go inside, added by the fact, you felt eyes at the back of your head. You took the step forward and headed in the establishment.

–

“Mhmm, the name is already written on there — I booked it 2 days beforehand.” you said calmly at the receptionist, feet ready to bolt and eyes closing in distress. The awful scent of cigar was making your head throb, your eyes were about as bloodshot as the druggies you saw earlier.

The receptionist eyed your badge on your clothing — a symbol of worship towards the god of order. He remained looking at it before handing you a keycard, a smug look on his face as he did so. “Goddamn order scum.” he muttered under his breath before your eyes wandering to the face of the man.

Not easily swayed by it, you took your keycard and tore your eyes away from him.

Walking over to the room given in long, drawn out strides and sliding the keycard on the room — you sighed and slumped your shoulders, stepping towards the bed with much little energy left.

The room has a rather comfortable atmosphere, very different from the outside — it had well-cleaned king-sized bed filled with pillows and a warm-looking blanket, windows, an air conditioner, nightstands and a good-sized bathroom.

“At the very least, there's one good place here.” you said in a relieved way, smiling for the first time since you got on that train and falling to the bed but not before throwing your badge, phone and removing your coat.

“Oh lord, sweet sleep...” you mumble tiredly, before almost-drifting away to your bubble in a abnormal position.

RING! — —

As a response to your lethargy, your phone started ringing. Your eyes slowly blink open at the loud noise interrupting your supposed—beauty sleep.

The number shown was terrifically familiar and you rolled your eyes at the man calling you at this hour. Always finding the perfect time too.

What a fucking amazing best friend.

“What the fuck is it? It's 2:30 AM.” you aggressively said through the phone, heaviness in your tone as you were met with mellow silence hereafter.

Silence from the other line cut shortly before you were met with the voice of none other than Kim Seungmin, the devil himself. “Looks like someone didn't take his chill pill tonight.” he snarkily said, plain sarcasm on his tone.

You sat up from the bed shortly, rolling your eyes as far as they could roll, “What is it? I was about to sleep.” Voice stained with annoyance as you groan afterwards through the speaker.

“Mhm, What? Can't check up on my best friend now?” he said through the phone, making a bunch of noises as if he was on the verge of hysterically cackling.

“I swear—”

“Anyways,” Seungmin cut you off sharply, his grin widening.

“Had fun there yet? Body count yet? And I mean both sexually and the deadly kind.” he continued, snorting a bit at the end before you heard him talk to someone else in a bit.

“You are annoying. Okay, I’m going to hang up now. Y/N needs his beauty sleep, thank you for calling Y/N's phone this fine midnight. Bye.” you said sarcasm fills your tone as a sour smile is on your lips.

“Wai—”

CLICK! — —

After the line cut, you threw your phone toward farther nightstand, it barely hanging on the edge of table. Your hand rest atop your eyes, a soft snore sound passing through your lips before you flop down to the bed, sleeping like a log in a matter of minutes after the call stopped. Dreams woven in your mind as someone finally noticed outside the hotel that an outsider entered their territory — grin full of interest and awaiting entertainment.

“Well, well, well~ That old man knows how to pick his followers alright.” A cracking laugh slides down their tongue effortlessly, eyes intrigued and form trembling in excitement.

—

As the sun hangs brightly, you stretch your arms — mind aloof.

On a normal day, orderly practices, altar cleaning and other things were your main priorities but today. . .

Let's just say while the heat is shining on to you via the windows, all you could feel is as if a heavy raincloud is atop your head.

Seungmin mentioned something of a library in here, so that's the first place you will go to instead of going to daybars or clubs (which he recommended but received a smack on the back of his head).

Though he did mentioned getting laid, acting like a child as he did — you'd rather learn about why this place is quite the dump it is and about this city’s ‘beloved’ god rather than prance around like a virgin in headlights or go straight for a hooker in sight.

If somebody was reading your mind right now, they would be both hurt and amused.

You groan standing up from your now-messy bed, wiping the dried saliva from the sides of your mouth — last night's sleep was the one of the best sleep you had in awhile to be honest.

“Okay, first day — Woohoo...” You mumble to no one in particular, cheering in a monotonous way possible.v

[spookyspecterino]

Lost in the Stars

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2

Sam Coe x Old Earth! GN! Reader

(Warnings are chapter based) Foul language, fear, anxiety

It's hereeeee! I said I would release last week, but work and life in general said no. Anyway, hope you enjoy! This was requested by @wuzpoppinrose and, as usual, I took the prompt and ran away with it.

When you get transported to a strange new city where nothing looks like home, or even Earth, one or two people are more than a little curious about your arrival.

---BREAKING---EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE GONE BY 2203---HOAX OR THE END OF HUMANITY---NEW DEVICE COULD SAVE US---

They’re really trying to start a riot.

The bright, flashing red on your phone screen blinks out as you lock it and slip it into a pocket. Yet the blaring words of the news leaves spots in your vision. Imprinting itself not only in your mind but your literal eyes as well.

That was definitely an intentional design choice.

Hard to believe that humanity has found another avenue to their destruction, adding to the seemingly endless mix already out there. Maybe that’s why it wasn’t really clicking in your mind. Just a news headline, for now at least, to be replaced by another—something just as urgent—tomorrow.

With a heavy sigh you look at the clock.

1:13 AM

Damn.

While the idea of going to bed isn’t the most exciting thing, a gentle wind blowing through your open window calls and beckons to one of your favorite activities.

Star gazing.

As a child you would look through your amateur telescope every night, like a ritual of sorts. Now…well, you didn’t have a telescope, but you did have a backyard with a clear view. On a warm night like tonight, you could stare up for hours. Getting lost in that black, star speckled blanket.

The temptation is too great, and without meaning to your feet carry you to the double doors leading out into your backyard. Crickets chirp. The wind rustles the grass and leaves. A peaceful and much needed change. To enhance the feeling, you slip off your shoes and revel in the way the grass sticks up between your toes and the feeling of dirt underfoot. It was hard to image a great calamity when here and now there was only the feeling of calm tranquility.

Yet, curiosity creeps into your mind. Your hands itched to pull up your phone again, to find out more about the “Atmosphere issue” as some news channels were calling it.

Which feelings are stronger? Fear and anxiety? Or is it the overwhelming exhaustion from another story about how Earh (and everyone on it) is going to die?

Not for the first time, your sad stare turns skyward. How many of your ancestors had done the same? Stared up into the great unknown and wondered just what is out there?

Humanity’s salvation?

Or maybe just a cold death.

For some unknown reason, you close your eyes, imagining yourself flying through the stars. Even though you’re standing, your mind begins to drift, you feel your body pulled into sleep. And you fall into the welcoming black.

. . .

“Oh man…uh—hey Sarah! Sarah!”

“Yes Noel, what is it?”

“We just got a huge spike in anomalous activity readings. It might be a glitch, but I wanted to you to look at it.”

“What makes you say it’s a glitch?” Sarah walks up to Noel, holding a steaming coffee mug.

“The reading came from here in New Atlantis.”

“Let me see.” Sarah trades the small tablet for her coffee, placing it down on the table. Her brows furrow deep as she starts to read. “That is…very odd. We’ve never seen a reading pop up here before.”

“And so suddenly.” Noel agrees.

“When did you—oh, it’s gone!”

“The anomaly?” Noel asks, huddling in close to get a look at the screen.

“It just disappeared. Like a blip.”

“So…maybe it is a glitch? Malfunctioning equipment? The idea of an anomaly appearing and then disappearing here in New Atlantis, practically outside our doorstep, is absurd.” She pauses after Sarah doesn’t react. “Right?”

“I don’t know, but I intend on figuring it out.” She turns to the garden doors. “Sam?”

“Yeah?” He calls back a moment later. He sounds like he might have food in his mouth.

“Would you mind coming with me? There’s an anomaly reading from here in New Atlantis, but it’s disappeared. I want to check it out.”

“An anomaly? Here?” Sam’s head appears through one of the doors as he leans inside. There’s a half-eaten bagel in one of his hands. “That has to be a glitch.”

“That’s what I said.” Noel commented, moving Sarah’s coffee off the table so she could run some diagnostics.

Sarah focuses on Sam. “I’d like to make sure. We have no idea what we’re dealing with or what these artifacts are capable of.”

He shrugs, tossing the rest of his bagel to the side. “Alright, don’t see why not.”

“Good. Noel, we’ll be back soon.”

“Got it. I’ll keep running some system tests.”

Sarah, in all her confidence and ease as leader, strides toward the double doors of the Lodge. Sam is right behind her, adjusting his hat, only slightly torn about his breakfast being interrupted.

“At least today has started off interesting, I was about ready to—"

“Wait.” Sarah halts, one hand resting on the ornate door handle. “Do you hear that?”

“Hm? Hear what?” Sam freezes, tilting his head around.

“It sounds like…” Sarah looks back to the door, as if she can see through it. “It sounds like shouting.”

. . .

Fresh air.

A slight breeze.

The feeling of grass.

Shifting around, your body aches—in dire need of a stretch. Limbs refuse to obey, heavy and stiff. It must be early, your eyes refuse to open, still tired and fighting the feeling of being yanked from comfortable darkness. Moving a little, the grass and leaves under you tickle and scratch lightly at your exposed skin.

When’s the last time you fell asleep outside? It must be a few years at least. Strange. You don’t remember laying down or falling asleep.

People’s voices draw your attention. That’s also strange. Your backyard isn’t anywhere near where other people would gather. Are the neighbors doing something?

And why do the birds sound so weird?

The sunlight is suddenly harsh as you crack your eyes open just a hair’s fraction. Placing a hand to block the sun, alarms in the back of your mind go off. Something feels uncomfortable in this. You turn over, using your elbow as leverage to prop yourself up. The fog is lifting as you try to get your bearings. Leaves and grass cling to your clothes.

As your eyes open up more, adjusting to the light, you stare at the strange root formations in the ground. They don’t seem right. And the trees…

You’ve never seen these trees or anything like them before.

You’re not in your backyard.

“What the fuck?” You can’t help it. The words come out as a whisper.

As your eyes travel the alien landscape you’re no longer whispering.

“What the fuck?!”

Tall, silver buildings, twisting and jutting into the sky. Planes—at least you think they are—roar overhead. You try looking for them but aren’t able to catch one. They sound so close. Are you at an airport?

How the fuck did you wind up at an airport? And what airport is this?

“Ok, weird trees. Weird city. Airport? What the hell is going on?”

Looking out through the bushes, you think you can see people walking around, milling about, talking with others.

Getting to your feet is a panicked scramble as you fight to calm your mind and racing heart. Possibilities and scenarios of the worst-case scream at you.

You don’t feel any kind of pain, a quick check around your abdomen and you confirm that you still have your kidneys.

“People. Talk to people.” The plan is set. Maybe someone can help you.

But as you move closer, they become clearer. And they look…like people…but their clothing is different. Styled in a way you’ve never seen.

Suddenly talking to them doesn’t seem appealing. You shy back, closer to the trees, almost fumbling over a tree root. You reach out for anything that can break your fall and scratch your hand on some bushes, it rustles loudly as the sticks crunch and snap. If you had any fantasies that you might be dreaming, they’re cut short when your hand stings.

You look back out into the street; you’ve caught the attention of a few people. They stare as if you’re the weird one.

Maybe it’s time to go…somewhere. The bulky weight of your phone in your pocket is reassuring. As you reach for it, fishing it out, a gruff voice startles you enough you almost drop it.

“You need to take your roleplaying elsewhere.”

It’s a man in a heavy-duty uniform. A visor covers half his face. The colors are different and foreign. Across his chest the word SECURITY is printed in bold lettering.

A cop? Private security? Maybe you’re in a resort or something.

You lean forward, as if you didn’t hear him. “Excuse me?”

“I said, you need to take your Earth roleplaying elsewhere. We don’t tolerate destruction of the gardens.”

“Earth role—I—I’m not roleplaying! Do you know where I am?”

“Oh, sure. That’s what all you freaks say when you get caught. Move along, or you’ll be spending the night in a UC security cell.”

“I don’t what the fuck a ‘UC’ is!”

“Get out of the garden! Right now!”

“Ok…Jesus.” You step out, noticeably aware that you’re still barefoot. “Please just tell me where I am.”

The guard sounds more pissed off with each word you say. “I don’t have the patience for this. Don’t you have somewhere else you can do this shit?”

“I—don’t—know—where—I—am!” You feel like clapping your hands along as you speak to try and make it clearer for him, but he already seems like he wants to kill you.

“This is your last chance to move along!”

A woman, blonde haired and tall, in a red jacket and a man in a cowboy hat, leather jacket, and jeans round the corner a little ways down the street. You hardly notice, only your subconscious registers them as more people to join those already staring.

For the sake of not causing too much of a scene, you intentionally lower your voice. “Please, help me. I have no idea how I got here. I just want to go home!”

“Uh huh, and where’s your home? Earth?” He sneers.

You’re so frustrated you feel tears spring up in the corner of your eyes. “No shit!”

“Your acting is pretty good.” The guard laughs, it sounds sharp enough to cut you. “Maybe I can arrange for someone to drop you off—without a spacesuit.”

“Drop me off—what the hell are you talking about?”

Spacesuit? Is he trying to make a joke?

“You know what, I’ve had enough, you’re coming with me.”

The blonde woman interrupts, jogging closer to stop the man. “Excuse me, hang on a moment, please.” She has a slight accent. At this point you’re just glad everyone is speaking your own language.

He’s not too happy to see her either. “And what do you want?”

“What are you doing with them, they’re obviously in distress and you’re not helping at all.” She points to you. Her companion, the cowboy, waits back. Watching curiously.

The guard snorts. “This isn’t any of your business. Just got someone here who’s taking the joke way too far.”

She looks between you and the guard. “Joke, what joke? What’s he talking about?”

You’re close to a mental breakdown. “I have no idea! Please help me!”

The guard raises his arm between you and the woman. “Don’t fall for it. I’ve dealt with these weirdos before. They love acting like they’ve got no idea what’s going on, or that they’re scared and confused, or whatever. Once they’re faced with actual consequences, they drop it.” He faces you. The blue tint of his helmet gives him an otherworldly appearance. “Isn’t that right?”

Wherever this is, it sucks. You grip your phone so tightly in your hand you might actually crack it.

Blondie turns to you. Her eyes are a gentle green. “Are you actually a role-player?”

Since she’s being kind, and asking honestly, your tone lowers. “I don’t know what that means…roleplaying what?”

“I told you, this one’s really into it.”

She holds up a hand. “Just one moment.” She points to your clothes. “Where did you get those?”

Blinking, you’re not sure if she’s serious. “My clothes?”

“Yes, where’d you get them from?”

“I bought them at the store…”

“What store?”

“H&M.”

This makes her pause. “H&M? What does that stand for?”

“I... I don’t really know—look, I’ll just show you where I live—” You hold up your phone, still in a death grip. It only takes two tries to unlock it as your hands shake. Your GPS is easy to find, but it doesn’t load. Something sinks in your stomach. The bars in the top corner of your phone screen flash with an ‘X’ through them.

“Well, isn’t that interesting.” The woman murmurs, leaning over to get a better look at it in your trembling hands.

The guard grumbles, crossing his arms. “So, they got ahold of some relics, big whoop. How many credits did you pay for that? 20K?”

You can’t seem to catch your breath. The world starts to blur. You must be stuck in a fever dream. “Credits? You mean like currency? Money?”

As you look between the guard and the woman, she’s looking at you peculiarly, as if you’re some kind of specimen under a microscope. The guard, half his expression hidden, twists his mouth in disdain.

She looks like she’s about to say something, even her hand comes out in invitation, but the guard is hellbent on ending this unpleasant distraction.

“You’re not gonna get anything useful out of this freak.” He grumbles as he swats your phone out of your hands.

Your whole body freezes up in shock at the personal affront. Your eyes track it as it falls to the ground.

The woman scoffs. “Was that really necessary?” To her credit, she seems genuinely angry on your behalf.

Your phone clatters with a sickening sound. It lands, screen facing up, and you can see it’s cracked, the background image flickers on and off.

As if it’s just another day in the office, the guard is unphased. “They need to learn the hard way—”

Even if you weren’t in a foreign land, you couldn’t—wouldn’t—let someone get away with such disrespect. Even if it was a glorified cop.

His boot is tougher than your bare foot, but you slam your heel down hard enough, with all your weight, that he feels it. You want it to hurt. You want him to feel just a modicum of the pain and anger that hums through your veins. Every ounce of frustration you feel is poured into the action.

He makes a noise close to surprise and stumbles back a few steps. Reeling and clawing at the air for purchase. Seeing your chance and wanting nothing to do with this place any longer, you dash to pick up your phone—holding it close—and nearly skid on the concrete trying to turn and beeline it for the garden.

Your bare feet sting, but the wind against your face and the small amount of triumph drowns it out. What’s a small bit of pain in the face of one-upping an asshole? Your body thrums with the force to go, go, go!

There are shouts behind you.

You distinguish the woman’s accent. “No! Stop!” It doesn’t sound directed to you.

Leaves brushing and tugging at your skin is the last thing you feel before something painful, like a powerful shock, hits you square in the back. Your body goes completely numb in an instant. You lose control of your legs, and you fall forward. Your arms are useless at breaking the impact. At least the grass and dirt are soft—cushioning and cradling you. The last thing you see are thin, green blades of grass and a twisting tree trunk before the world tilts and fades out.

[heavensmtl]

TNGDH 42

I endured it for just a day, and then popped my head into the capital the next morning.

Of course, I didn’t forget to place the replica hamster inside the house while I was using ‘summon’. I asked the system to make the crying sound believable, so it should be ok for a while.

‘Still, I should go back quickly……’

Kyle, he’s so perceptive, he’ll probably call the vet again, saying our beast is acting strange. For the sake of the poor veterinarian who was trembling in front of the Grand Duke, I had to resolve the issue as briefly and quickly as possible and then return.

“Okay then.”

I ‘summoned’ to a deserted bush outside the castle, and the first thing I did was find out the location of the top of the castanets with the help of the system. Fortunately, it wasn’t too far away, and if I went straight, I’d be there in less than 10 minutes.

However the real problem was different.

I don’t know how life can be such a clogged sewer. Even if I sold my country in a previous life, honestly, it wouldn’t be any worse than this.

[⁄(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)⁄]

Ha……

I squeezed my eyes shut and took a few deep breaths before I looked down at my body.

The sweater knitted by hand, stitch by stitch, was riddled with holes. An embroidered strawberry so large it could be seen from 50 meters away. And, of course, my skinny thighs that felt like they were basking in the warm breeze of the Imperial Palace. 

It’s the icing on the cake, it’s the icing on the cake.

I sank down and put my head in my hands. Then I let out a soundless roar.

At this point, I think I’d be happier as a hamster. At least my dignity wouldn’t be hurt!

“.......”

Nope. Isn’t it more dignified to be a hamster?

“.......Ugh.”

I sighed and stood up.

In any case, it was better to acknowledge the situation quickly. I had some work to do, and I couldn’t waste time here.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts and looked around. The first thing that caught my eye was a family home with a wall as high as my waist and a simple but beautiful rose flower bed.

“I’ve never committed a crime in my life, and I can’t believe I……”

I muttered to myself as I walked up to the wall of the house. Then, I raised my tiptoes and, after failing around a few times, I finally managed to grab a pair of shorts that were lying on the clothesline.

Just the pants, please, just the pants, I’ll wash them and return it to you.

My eyes were also drawn to a shirt hanging right next to the pants, but I held back. If I can just get to the top, I’ll find my clothes, and then I can say goodbye to this nemesis, the strawberry-embroidered sweater.

Right. Even if there were people at the top, how many would there be?

*

“......”

Damn castanets top. I should have known when they said they had branched all over the place to move stuff.

[The Castanets Shipyard is the fourth largest shipyard in the Meinhardt Empire, and the largest transportation business!]

I hit my chest. 

You should have told me something that important beforehand! Then I would have stolen the shirt! I thought there would be a couple of receptionist at most!

“Look over there…”

“Bare feet and a strawberry-print sweater.”

“......It’s really unique.”

It’s not that I’m unusual…….

Ah, Kyle Jane Meinhardt, for real!

I wanted to tear off this strawberry embroidery, but if I did that, I would become infamous in the capital as a true pervert wearing nothing.

Let’s calm down. You need to stay calm.

“But, those bare legs…… No way, he’s not wearing pants?”

I shouted, my patience quickly running out.

“I wore it?!”

What are you looking at, man? Did you see it? Don’t follow me! Don’t even whisper. Just stop paying attention to me!

“......ha.”

Being treated like a pervert by strangers was not part of my plan, but I managed to retrieve my money and items safely.

After changing into normal clothes, I returned to the palace as quickly as possible. I only have a penny or two, and it would be a shame to lose it,

“Oh, Shu. Are you here already? Your Majesty said it would take a little longer…”

As soon as I entered the imperial palace, I ran into Sen, who was strolling through the gardens. It was a stroke of luck.

I approached her with a happy expression. After a quick hello and a quick “How are you?” we reached out to shake hands.

[The overdue miracle figure is settled all at once!]

[Person, ‘Serena’ has been deleted]

…….What?

Serena, deleted? 

Who is the person in front of me then?

[A character not in the original work, ‘Sen’, has appeared.]

[To the extent that it contributes to the character’s change, it is reflected in the miracle value.]

Because I became involved in this novel, her fate changed over the course of the winter.

But what does it mean that Serena has been deleted? Sen becomes engaged to her prince, Belial… Does this mean that, unlike the original, Belial will not become the emperor this time?

System windows began to appear mercilessly before my confused eyes.

[Current miracle value 31.0%]

[Current miracle value 34.5%]

[Current miracle value 37.0%]

[Current miracle value 39.2%]

“......”

I got a little tired of that bright blue light, so I hesitated and took a step back. The instantaneous increase in miracle value seemed strange. 

Is the change in Sen’s fate a good thing for Sen? Would she be able to find her own happiness this time, without killing Kyle…..?

Whether it knew my thoughts or not, the system window, still glowing menacingly blue, just came layer after layer.

[This person is not in the information!]

[You cannot view the person’s story!]

It was a strange thing to say.

From the beginning, this story was about the contents of <Heart of Winter> being reconstructed  due to my appearance and actions. But what happens if someone becomes a different person to the point where they can’t be viewed at all?

‘Serena’ is the term for empress.

But just now, the ‘Serena’ of this story disappeared.

Why?

You don’t know the future. It can change. There are three princes of the Meinhardt Empire. Lorenz, Belial, and Kyle.

Kyle has no interest in the throne, but Belial does. He’s not dead, and he hasn’t broken off the engagement yet… Why did fate make ‘Serena’ into a non-existent person?

“Shu?”

Sen stretched her arms out to me. Seeing that worried expression, I bit my lip and took a step back.

I didn’t know what to say. What the hell had happened to the Imperial Palace while I was gone, and what would happen to Sen now that she was no longer a character?

Sen approached me. I took a step back.

Sen approached me again. I took another step back.

“......Wait, Sen. I’m sorry. I’m…..”

What expression should I make?

What should I say?

As I hesitantly stepped back, my body hit something, hard and warm. When I lifted my head to the shadow overhead, Kyle was staring down at me.

“Shu.”

In a flash, my vision snapped back. He grabbed my shoulders and spun me toward him.

Grabbing my chin and lifting it, Kyle looked at my expression, then pressed his body close to me, almost as if I was half-hugging him.

“Did you take a carriage on the way here?”

“.....No.”

I wondered for a moment whether I should tell him that I rode a horse or a donkey, but Kyle didn’t ask anymore questions, looking like he’s just asking for a good excuse.

“Okay. You must be tired.”

“......ah. Yeah, I guess so. You said we got separated halfway through, right?”

Sen smiled awkwardly, as if apologizing.

“I didn’t think of that, sorry, Shu. We’ll talk about it later, but first, let’s go inside and get some rest. The room is……”

“I’ll show you, it’s next door.”

“You sure?”

“Mhm.”

I looked up at Kyle. There was no expression on his clean-cut, stern face.

What are you thinking? He still doesn’t ask me anything. He just watches my expression, then walks away, his arm around my shoulder.

“Your Majesty.”

“.......”

“....... Your Majesty.”

“Just a little.”

He said, matching my pace.

“Just a little while. This way.”

There was more than one thing suspicious about me.

Not only did I show that unnatural expression to Sen, I arrived much earlier than expected despite not getting on the carriage, and I looked neat……

But Kyle doesn’t ask me anything. I’m a little taken aback by his attitude, as if nothing is more important than my current state. 

Rattling.

The door opened, and the two of us were gently sucked into the darkness. The curtains were closed, so I could barely make out the outlines of the furniture.

“You must be tired.”

Kyle said, placing his chin on the top of my head and hugging my waist.

“You’ll feel better when you wake up after a nap. I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep.”

It’s not that I’m not suspicious. There are so many questions I want to ask. But I don’t ask because I don’t think it’s the right time.

“I’m okay……”

Kyle cut me off with a low laugh.

“It doesn’t look very good.”

“.....”

“I’m just tired.”

Kyle would get away with anything with that excuse. At least, for today.

“You’re right.”

In the end, I responded with a light sigh.

“I’m just tired, and maybe a nap will help.”

Turning my head slightly, I saw the system window floating in the air.

There was less than 10 minutes left until ‘summon’ ended. I slipped out of Kyle’s arms and obediently laid down on the bed, and turned to him.

“Don’t worry, just go back.”

“I’ll watch you fall asleep.”

“......”

I quickly closed my eyes tightly. He was so determined to see me fall asleep, so I had no choice but to pretend to sleep. It’s awkward even thinking about it, and I don’t know if he’ll fall for it, but…….

I heard footsteps walking towards the bed. With my eyes still closed, I felt him move closer.

Stopping in one spot, Kyle gently brushed my forehead, then leaned in close enough for our lips to touch.

However, the lips that seemed like they could touch did not. His hand slowly moved away and pulled the covers a little further, and then he walked away with a small voice.

“Have a nice dream.”

The door closed, and the room was filled with silence. I lifted my hand to touch my forehead, where his fingers had been, and where his breath had grazed.

“It’s…… hot.”

Yes. It was hot.

It was as if he had transferred his heat to me.

-----------------------

Caelum's Note

This chapter had me giggling ahhh I love them so much (⁄ ⁄>⁄ ▽ ⁄<⁄ ⁄). I think I might have a somewhat schedule. I'll try to get chapters out every Wednesday and either Saturday/Sunday. Hope you enjoyed this chapter, please look forward to the next one °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°.

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[splattales]

((Not sure how many of you are following the Queenie/Eelrune fluff since it's kinda side-story, but as a diehard fan I wrote a little fic a few months back and I want to share it here. Got the go-ahead from @grandpa-cephalopods - since I was experimenting with perspectives too. ))

((It's set before the human rocketship stuff happens, but apart from that it's pretty self-explanatory mushy stuff lol. Under the cut.))

Coughs and Sneezes

It was Eelrune’s day off. Her plans for a family visit had been cancelled due to transport issues, leaving her without much to do. She’d had a shower and watered her garden but was now struggling to find another means of occupying herself. She could read, or watch TV, or even try to study—but none of it felt particularly appealing. Something to drink, perhaps? That could waste about … five minutes…

After making herself some tea, she sat on the sofa to think. It was quiet. Things had been quiet for the past week and a half. Queenie hadn’t been visiting the clinic lately. She usually showed up every other day after work—Eelrune always finished much later. But recently, the human hadn’t shown up at all. Or called, or texted. Perhaps she was busy, but Eelrune had been contemplating the possibility that her friend had simply lost interest. After what she’d shared of her life; the little she did in her free time … it was highly possible Queenie found her boring.

Eelrune glanced at her shellphone. She could initiate a call herself, but knowing someone as talkative as Queenie, if she’d wanted to chat they’d be on the phone already. Then again …  the human was prone to stumbling into dangerous incidents. What if something had happened to her?

Before Eelrune could begin wording her message, the phone rang. Startled, she answered at once, barely registering the caller ID—but it was someone she knew. “Hello?”

“Oh, Eelrune—” The high-pitched, teary warble of a voice reminded the nurse of Marina’s first visit to the clinic, where she’d burst through the door crying like Queenie had died. “It’s Queenie, she—”

“Has something happened?”

“Well—sort—kind of? I know you don’t know everything about human illnesses, but T’s phone is engaged, I don’t know who else to ask, I really need your help…”

“Okay, try to calm down. What’s the problem?”

Marina took a long, whimpering inhale, trying to control herself. “Ohhh… She says it’s fine, but you know how she downplays stuff all the time. She’s really sick, she only gets out of bed to throw up, she keeps sneezing and snuffling, and she can’t stand up for long…”

“That certainly doesn’t sound good…” Eelrune considered where she left the human handbook. This didn’t seem like a situation where she’d have to operate, but the details on human anatomy and bodily functions might help with a diagnosis. While it seemed like Marina was overreacting, it had been worrying enough that Queenie had kept this to herself. “I’ll come over and see what I can do. Where do you live?”

Silence fell on the other end at Marina’s pause. Not a snivel could be heard. As Eelrune was about to ask again, the octoling finally said, “I’ll meet you at Grizzco Industries and we’ll go from there.”

Once she’d collected her things, Eelrune set off to meet Marina. She hadn’t picked up much, most of the useful equipment was at the clinic, but the handbook and a purse-full of medicine would be enough until she could determine which to use.

Grizzco Industries wasn’t hard to reach, but the octoling wasn’t prompt about appearing, and it was an unpleasant place to stand around. When Marina finally did arrive, Eelrune was losing her patience, but she held her temper for the fretting girl. Besides, she’d used the time to revise human anatomy. It had some surprising similarities to other species.

“Sorry, I … got lost,” Marina mumbled. “I can find my way back, though. For sure. We can’t take too long.”

Eelrune nodded. “Lead the way.”

Marina seemed certain of her lead, though some of her turns felt a bit directionless, making it clear to Eelrune why she’d become lost. Eventually, though, they arrived at the outskirts of Splatsville, where a large lone caravan stood.

“Here we are.” Marina gestured before stepping closer.

“Where—the caravan?” Eelrune’s eyes darted around. “You both live here?”

“Yeah,” Marina confirmed, not registering the confusion in her voice as they started up the entrance. “It’s real close to the dig site I work at, so it’s a pretty great location – can you make the step? There aren’t too many, but it’s the only way in, so…”

Inhaling deeply, Eelrune tried to focus on the matter at hand. “Yes, not to worry.”

Once inside, it was clear they’d entered the kitchen. It was a lot tidier than the eel was expecting; clean kitchen surfaces and a neat dining table for one. There was another room leading to the right, but Marina seemed more interested in the one on the left.

“Queenie, I’m baaaack…” She motioned for Eelrune to stay put for now. “How are you feeling?”

A response drifted from within the room, nasally and pathetic. “Awful. Did you get me the tea I asked for?”

“Yes—and something better.” This time, Marina motioned for Eelrune to come through instead.

The moment she laid eyes on Queenie, a look of pure horror graced the human’s visage, and she pulled the covers of her bed up to her face. Her hair was unkempt, the bed itself was strewn with tissues, and there was a (mercifully empty) bucket next to the side-table.

“No, don’t look at me—!” Queenie squirmed, curling her legs up beneath the covers. “Marina, why did you bring her? Seeing me like this … it’s just a cold, I don’t need medical attention. Now she knows what squalor we live in!”

The octoling didn’t take this very well, and her concern flared into anger. “You can sleep outside if you want! I didn’t have to get you anything, or anyone, but I was worried about you! Shows me!” She stormed out into the kitchen, and Eelrune was left to deal with the situation.

“Well, it’s nice to see you too,” she huffed, sliding further into the room. “Marina said you’d been throwing up, and that sounds worse than a cold to me.”

“I’ll be fine, I prom—prom—hatchoo!” Queenie’s condition made this entirely unconvincing. “I’ll get better within a week on my own.”

“You might be right, but I’ve been asked to make sure.” Eelrune tightened her grip on her handbag. “I also brought a decongestant and some painkillers, but I’d like to make a diagnosis before I risk giving you any medicine.”

“Alright, fine. What do you want to do to me?”

“I’d like to take your temperature, listen to your breathing, and look at the inside of your mouth. There’s not much I can do without equipment…”

Queenie glowered at the floor, reluctantly lowering her blanket shield. “Do what you must, but I don’t like the sound of that last one.”

“I don’t have any tongue depressors on-hand, so you might escape it.” She didn’t have a sterilized thermometer either, so she placed her hand on Queenie’s forehead instead. It was warm. Humans were hot-blooded, but not THAT warm. “I think it’s safe to say you have a fever.”

“I could’ve told you that,” Queenie muttered. “How are you going to listen to my lungs without a stethoscope?”

Eelrune gave her a look, barely stopping herself from saying ‘How do you think?’ by maintaining her bedside manner. “I’ll put my head on your chest. The stethoscope’s purpose would be to amplify that sound.”

“You—you’ll—” Queenie was flushed already, but now she looked hotter. “Ohhh, hurry up then...” She took a sharp intake of breath as Eelrune rested her head against her.

“Exhale slowly, please.”

Queenie tried to do as she was told but was interrupted by her own cough. “Ugh… I hate having you see me like this.”

“Oh, please. I met you in a much more compromising situation.”

“At least that was spontaneous and dramatic.”

Eelrune rolled her eyes. Queenie’s pride always came from an unusual perspective. Maybe it was a human culture thing. “Yes, well … I can’t listen when you talk to me, so take another breath.”

This time, Queenie managed to subdue her cough. She shut her eyes, savouring some unspoken feeling as Eelrune listened.

The nurse soon lifted her head, adjusting her hair-tails. “It doesn’t sound like you have much liquid in there, which is better for you than it would be for seafolk.”

“I don’t like how you said much instead of any.”

“Well … your breathing is laboured. But it could be far worse. I can safely confirm that you’re not dying, as Miss Marina feared.”

Queenie pouted. “I told you I was fine.”

“That’s the problem—you’re not fine, either.” Eelrune folded her arms. “Is it true you’ve been throwing up? Can you stand for me? Can you walk?”

Trying to prove her point, Queenie struggled out from underneath the sheets and emerged from the bed, holding her hands out to steady herself. She teetered, attempting to set one foot forward, all with a defiant look on her face.

Eelrune put her arms out to catch her when she inevitably fell forward. “That settles it. I think you should stay in bed and rest.”

Queenie clung to her, hiding her face in her shoulder. She shook slightly, and Eelrune felt the fabric of her clothes dampen, but the human didn’t make a sound.

She patted her on the back. “I’m trying to help because I want you to get better. I’m not trying to hold anything over you—everyone gets sick.”

“Please can I have the medicine you brought now?” Queenie’s voice was much meeker than it had been.

“I’d like to give you it – but I have one more question to ask. Have you had our medicine before? I wouldn’t want to cause further complications by giving you something that wasn’t designed for your species’ intake.”

“Well, nothing else I’ve had has killed me yet … I’ll have a look at the packaging though, for your sake.”

“For my sake…?” Eelrune helped Queenie back into the bed, where the human sat up and grasped onto the blankets. She didn’t elaborate at this confusion and was still sulking. Before Eelrune could prompt her further, Marina re-entered with a tea-tray. It seemed she’d let off some steam with the kettle, her concern greater than any offense she’d taken. There were two cups.

“I’ve brought your tea.” She offered the tray to Queenie, who silently took one. Marina turned to Eelrune. “Sorry, I didn’t ask if you wanted one, but I made some anyway. If you want, there’s some sugar in the kitchen.”

“Oh—thank you.” The eel slid her cup off the tray, placing it on the bedside table. She watched as Marina tucked the tray under her arm. “Aren’t you having any?”

“Mine’s in the kitchen. I don’t really want to interrupt whatever it is you’re doing in here. Um, how’s it going?”

“I was just about to give Queenie something for her sickness. She should be alright, as long as she keeps resting and drinks plenty.”

“That’s a relief…” Marina rubbed at her brow. “Anyway, I’ll leave you be.”

Eelrune passed over the decongestant she’d taken out of her handbag. “You can’t take both medicines at the same time. But do make sure this hasn’t got anything toxic to humans…”

“I’m familiar with most medicinal components, I assure you,” Queenie reassured her as she studied the packaging, taking a quick sip of tea with her other hand. She thought it best not to mention her poison studies again. “This should be fine.” A pause. “Thank you.”

As Queenie took the medicine with her tea, Eelrune dipped out to put sugar in hers, mostly unnoticed. On her return, she rolled a chair over from Marina’s desk at the back of the room and sat at the bedside.

“I’m not much to look at right now,” Queenie grumbled, blowing on her tea.

“I assumed you’d want some company. But I can go—”

“Don’t go,” Queenie sighed. She put her tea aside. “Let me be plain with you, Runey.”

The tip of Eelrune’s tail twitched at the nickname, but she turned her head away in a demure manner. “I’m listening.”

“I am quite guarded with my emotions. Preserving my ego is … excruciatingly important to me.” She stopped to raise a tissue to her nose, sneezing before she continued. “As such, I find myself unpractised with expressing how I feel. About people, about my passions—I am often at war with myself, and as a result, I tend to put my foot in my mouth...”

Eelrune didn’t think that sounded healthy, exactly, but she left room for Queenie to continue.

“Which brings me to what I’m trying to say now. You … are very dear to me. You’ve done a lot for me, and I enjoy my time in your company.” The human fought her nerves, swallowing. “So … please don’t ever think I want you to leave, or that I’d want to leave you, er, ‘high and dry’. If I’ve been acting strange, it’s because…” Well, she didn’t have to admit the whole truth. “I’m struggling between long-dead social expectations and being a good friend.”

Hearing that Queenie had finished, Eelrune exhaled a long sigh. The human’s hand was flopped on the bedsheets, and she took it gently. She probably couldn’t catch it, but she’d definitely be washing her own hands later...  “I understand. Well—more accurately, I understand what you’re trying to say. Your situation is practically unheard of. A fish out of water, if you’ll pardon the expression.” She looked down. “That must come with a lot to learn. Not just about Splatsville, but about yourself. I had a taste of that when I first moved here, but for you, well…” Eelrune looked up again to see how Queenie was reacting.

The human was regarding her with intense interest, patiently waiting for her to continue, so she did.

“It’s not surprising that you’d feel overwhelmed—nor will things magically fit into place.” She squeezed her hand, hoping to reassure her. “But if you want me here, then I’ll stay. I want you to get better.”

Queenie’s mouth half-opened, but she seemed to think better of whatever she was going to say. Eventually, she asked, “Is that because you’re a nurse, or because you’re my friend?”

“Well, take your pick.” Eelrune drew her hand back, reaching for her tea. “Because I’m both. But I didn’t come all the way here on my day off just because some patient of mine had the flu.”

The edges of Queenie’s mouth curled upward for the first time that day. It was weak, but the smile was there. “So … tell me what gossip I’ve missed while I’ve been sick in bed.”

[anonymousewrites]

Logos and Pathos (Book 2) Chapter Ten

Spock x Empath! Reader

Chapter Ten: Trouble with Bureaucrats

Summary: (Y/N) and the Enterprise have to deal with government dramatics, grain, and Klingons. Luckily, they get to enjoy some shore leave and cute critters.

            Captain’s Log: Deep Space Station K-7 has issued a priority-one call. More than an emergency, it signals near or total disaster. We can only assume that Klingons have attacked the station. We’re going in armed for battle.

            “Main phasers armed and ready, sir,” reported Chekov.

            The Bridge officers leaned forward as the station came into view. They expected holes, debris, destruction, but all they saw was the station. It seemed perfectly fine.

            Chekov was the first to voice it. “But…there’s nothing there. Just the station.”

            “Priority one distress call? It’s just absolutely peaceful,” said Kirk.

            (Y/N) furrowed their brow and looked at Spock. “What do you make of it?”

            “Either the emergency is already within the station or there has been an unnecessary priority-one call,” said Spock thoughtfully. He raised an eyebrow. “However, that would unlawful, so I fail to understand why they’d issue a false emergency.”

            “(L/N), break subspace silence,” said Kirk, sighing in exasperation at not knowing what was happening.

            (Y/N) flipped the channel on. “We’re open, Captain. Go ahead.”

            “Space Station K-7, this is Captain Kirk of the Enterprise. What is your emergency?” asked Kirk.

            “Captain Kirk, this is Mr. Lurry, manager of K-7,” came the prompt reply. “I must apologize for the distress call.”

            (Y/N) and Spock raised an eyebrow simultaneously. Kirk frowned and said, “Mr. Lurry, you issued a priority-one distress call. State the nature of your emergency.”

            “Uh, well, perhaps you better beam over,” said Lurry. “I’ll try to explain.”

            “This has gotta be good,” murmured (Y/N) amusedly. Spock glanced at them, a faint tinge of diversion in his eyes at their comment.

            “You’ll…try to explain,” said Kirk slowly. He huffed. “You’d better be prepared to do more than that. Kirk out.” (Y/N) shut off the channel. Kirk sighed. “Mr. Spock, (L/N), I’ll need your help. I have a feeling I’ll need some logic and good communication with Mr. Lurry. Mr. Chekov, maintain battle readiness. Lieutenant Uhura, see that the Transporter Room is standing by.”

            “You think Mr. Lurry will have a decent excuse?” asked (Y/N) as they walked to the Transporter Room.

            “It would have to be an excellent one,” said Spock.

l

            Once aboard K-7, Kirk wasted no time accosting the manager. “Mr. Lurry, if there was no emergency, why did you issue a priority-one distress call?”

            “That was my order, Captain,” said someone, undoubtedly a bureaucrat.

            Lurry cleared his through. “Captain Kirk, this is Nilz Baris.”

            (Y/N) raised an eyebrow, the smugness radiating from this guy was unbelievable. They could tell he was going to be a pain.

            “He’s out from Earth to take charge of the development project for Sherman’s Planet,” explained Lurry.

            “And that gives you the authority to put an entire quadrant on defense alert?” challenged Kirk.

            “Mr. Baris is the Federation Undersecretary in charge of agricultural affairs in this quadrant,” said another new face.

            (Y/N) cocked their head. There was something resting below the impertinence of this man’s emotions. It was anger. At them, most likely, for interrupting his boss and questioning their power.

            “And that gives him the authority,” admitted Spock.

            “Oh,” said Kirk.

            “This is my assistant, Arne Darvin,” said Baris.

            “This is my First Officer, Mr. Spock, and my Negotiations and Communications Officer, Mx. (L/N),” said Kirk.

            “And now, Captain, I want all available security guards,” declared Baris. “I want them posted around the storage compartments.”

            “Storage compartments? Storage compartments?” asked Kirk.

            “The storage compartments containing the quadrotriticale,” said Darvin.

            “Quadrotriticale?” asked (Y/N) curiously.

            “Here.” Lurry handed over a small bag.

            (Y/N) poured out some of the contents into their hand. “A type of grain?”

            Baris smirked. “Well, not just grain. Of course, I wouldn’t expect you, your Captain, or Mr. Spock to know about such things, but, uh—”

            “Quadrotriticale is a high-yield grain, a four-lobed hybrid of wheat and rye,” said Spock, shocking Baris. “A perennial, also, if I’m not mistaken. Its root grain, triticale, can trace its ancestry all the way back to twentieth century Canada.”

            (Y/N) suppressed a grin. Spock may claim not to be claimed by emotions like annoyance or tempted to be petty, but that…well, he schooled Baris, and that had to be satisfying.

            “Quadrotriticale is the only Earth grain that will grow on Sherman’s Planet. Now, we have several tons of it here on the station, and it’s very important that that grain get to Sherman’s Planet safely,” explained Lurry. “Mr. Baris thinks that Klingon agents may try to sabotage it.”

            “You issued a priority-one distress call for a couple of tons of wheat?” said Kirk incredulously.

            “Quadrotriticale,” correct Darvin.

            “Uh, of course, Captain, I realize that we—” began Baris.

            “Mr. Baris, you summoned the Enterprise without an emergency. You’ll take full responsibility for it,” declared Kirk.

            “What do you mean?” asked Baris.

            “Misuse of the priority-one channel is a Federation offense,” said Spock.

            “I did not misuse the priority-one channel,” said Baris obstinately. “I want that grain protected.”

            “Captain, couldn’t you at least post a couple of guards?” asked Lurry, trying to compromise. “We do have a large number of ships passing through.”

            “That seems an acceptable arrangement,” said (Y/N), looking at Kirk. “After all, Sherman’s Planet is important to the Federation.” Spock nodded in agreement.

            Kirk sullenly took out his communicator. “Kirk to Enterprise.”

            “Enterprise here,” replied Uhura.

            “Secure from general quarters, and, uh, beam down two, and only two, security guards. Have them report to Mr. Lurry,” ordered Kirk. “Authorize shore leave for all off-duty personnel.”

            “Yes, Captain,” said Uhura.

            “Kirk out.” He flipped the communicator closed.

            “Captain Kirk, how dare you authorize a mere two men for a project of this importance!” cried Baris. “Starfleet Command will hear about this!”

            “I have never questioned the orders or the intelligence of any representative of the Federation,” said Kirk. “Until now.” (Y/N) could not suppress their grin this time.

l

            Kirk was still huffing about the ordeal in a briefing room with (Y/N) and Spock when the bosun whistled.

            Kirk hesitated, hoped it wouldn’t be more issues, and then answered. “Yes, what is it?”

            “Message from Starfleet, Captain, priority channel,” said Uhura, back on the job after her shore leave.

            “Another priority channel message. It’s popular today,” observed (Y/N).

            “Admiral Fitzpatrick speaking,” announced Uhura.

            “Put it on visual, Lieutenant,” said Kirk.

            The computer screen flicked on, and Admiral Fitzpatrick spoke. “Captain Kirk.”

            “Kirk here.”

            “Captain, it is not necessary to remind you of the importance to the Federation of Sherman’s Planet. The key to our winning of this planet is the grain quadrotriticale. The shipment must be protected. Effective immediately, you will render any aid and assistance which Undersecretary Baris may require,” said Fitzpatrick.

            Oh, boy. This is not gonna be fun, thought (Y/N).

            “The safety of the grain and the project is your responsibility,” continued the admiral. “Starfleet out.” The screen turned off.

            “Well. That’s just lovely,” sighed Kirk.

            “But not totally unexpected,” said Spock.

            “Baris is going to be insufferable,” sighed (Y/N).

            Spock nodded. “He will undoubtedly make many demands.”

            “Captain Kirk! Captain Kirk!” came Uhura’s panicked voice.

            “Yes, Lieutenant, what is it?” asked Kirk.

            “Sensors are picking up a Klingon battle cruiser, rapidly closing on the station,” reported Uhura.

            “Go to Red Alert, notify Mr. Lurry. We’ll be right up,” said Kirk.

            “Today is not our day,” remarked (Y/N) as they headed up to the Bridge.

l

            “What is the position of the Klingon ship?” asked Kirk as he entered the Bridge.

            “One hundred kilometers off K-7,” reported Chekov. “It’s just sitting there.”

            “Captain, I have Mr. Lurry,” said Uhura.

            “Put him on visual,” commanded Kirk.

            “Aye, sir.”

            Spock stepped slightly closer to (Y/N). If Klingons did attack, he wanted to be ready to protect them if needed. It was illogical as phasers couldn’t be stopped by anything but shields, but Spock knew that if the ship was rocked at all, he wanted to be by their side to protect them from even minor injuries. Of course, as illogical as it was, it was reasonable with one explanation: love.

            “Mr. Lurry,” said Kirk as the manager of K-7 appeared on screen. “There is a Klingon warship hanging one hundred kilometers off your station.”

            “I don’t think the Klingons are planning to attack us,” said Lurry.

            “Why not?” asked Kirk incredulously.

            (Y/N) frowned. They make a big deal about quadrotriticale, but a Klingon warship is no big deal?

            “Because at this moment, the Captain of the Klingon ship is sitting right here in my office.” Lurry let his camera pan out to show two Klingons sitting across the table from him.

            Spock and (Y/N) exchanged glances. This was a development that could prove disastrous if not handled correctly.

            “Cancel Red Alert,” ordered Kirk. To Lurry, he said, “We’ll beam right down.”

            “What do you think, Spock?” asked (Y/N) as they walked to the Transporter for the second time.

            “Quite the development,” said Spock.

            “Do you think they’re planning something to interfere with Sherman’s Planet?” suggested (Y/N).

            “We do not have enough information to come to a conclusion.” Spock looked at them. “Your empathic abilities will be useful.”

            “I’ll let you know if I figure anything out.”

            Spock nodded. “Good.”

l

            (Y/N) stepped into the office with Spock and Kirk and found the Klingons sitting calmly across from Lurry.

            “Ah, my dear Captain Kirk,” said Koloth, an infamous captain of the Klingons.

            “My dear Captain Koloth,” replied Kirk coolly.

            “Let me assure you that my intentions are entirely peaceful,” said Koloth. “As I’ve already told Mr. Lurry, the purpose of my presence here is to invoke shore leave rights.”

            (Y/N) assessed his emotions as he spoke. No nerves lay within them, but that in itself didn’t mean he wasn’t lying. It could just mean he was a good liar. However, (Y/N) couldn’t trust his words. There was aggression beneath his curt politeness directed, undoubtedly, at the Federation officers. And where there was aggression, there could be problems.

            “Shore leave?” questioned Kirk.

            “Captain, we Klingons are not as luxury-minded as you Earthers.” Koloth’s eyes landed on Spock and (Y/N). “Or Celians.” He did not comment on Vulcans. “We do not equip our ships with…how shall I say it? Non-essentials.”

            “We have been in space for five months, and what we choose as recreation is our own business,” said Koloth’s right hand.

            “I might also add that under the terms of the Organian Peace Treaty, you cannot refuse us,” said Koloth with smug satisfaction.

            “Yes, well, I don’t make those decisions,” said Kirk with a polite smile. “Mr. Lurry is in charge of those matters.”

            “Captain, may speak to you a minute?” asked Lurry, pulling Kirk aside. They spoke for a moment before Kirk turned to face Koloth again.

            “My dear Captain Koloth, you may indeed bring your men down on shore leave,” said Kirk graciously. “But only twelve at a time, and I assure you that for every man you bring down here, I shall have one Enterprise officer.”

            Koloth smiled with a barely contained disdain lying just beneath it’s surface. “There’ll be no trouble.” He chuckled. “Captain Kirk, there’s been no formal declaration of hostilities between our two respective governments. So naturally, our relationship will be a peaceful one.”

            Koloth and his right hand left the office, and Kirk turned to (Y/N).

            “On the next round of people I send down, I want you among them. It won’t be suspicious that way, but I need you to keep an eye on the Klingons,” said Kirk.

            “Yes, Captain,” said (Y/N).

            It didn’t take an empath to know that he was definitely planning on causing trouble. Whether that would entail sabotaging the Sherman’s Planet development or just picking a fight with the Enterprise crew was left to be seen. Who knew? Maybe they’d do both.

Taglist:

@a-ofzest

@grippleback-galaxy

@genderfluid-anime-goth

@groovy-lady

@im-making-an-effort

@unending-screaming

[chrysoula]

The long day of training eased into afternoon and Kaeya finally allowed most of his soldiers a bit of rest and recreation. Then he strolled over to where Albedo was sketching some diagrams. “Keeping busy, I see. Well, since you’re such a smart guy, I’ll let you go work on the teapot for the rest of the day with Xiao, if first you help Zielle straighten out her map.”

Albedo kept his eyes on his sketchbook and did a credible job of pretending he hadn’t heard his fellow Knight. “Ah, Kaeya. I was just investigating a way to make a Geo construct ‘transport’ an elemental stone.”

Kaeya knew Albedo too well to be distracted, though. “I see your counter-offer and I raise you: if you don’t agree to work with Zielle in public, I’ll lock you in the lodge with her alone.”

That brought the alchemist’s gaze up from his work, his teal eyes very bright. Tension suddenly thrummed between them. In a distant, polite voice, Albedo said, “Oh? And how would you manage that?”

Leaning a little closer, dropping his voice just for the drama of it, Kaeya said, “How hard do you think it would be for me to convince the rest of the expedition that an appropriate punishment for your little experiment is a private half-hour chat with Zielle?”

Albedo’s eyes widened, and he took a half-step back. “Kaeya, no…”

Kaeya gave him a not-so-friendly smile. “Not that I get why you’re so afraid of her. If I were in your position, I’d be accepting whatever she wanted to give me.”

Albedo flinched, but from somewhere nearby came Xiao’s snort of disbelief.

Kaeya’s faint smile didn’t flicker. “She’s a nice girl, how bad could it be? And you’ve already spent so much time alone with her, right?”

Albedo looked at Zielle and wished he’d never been created; that his Master had died in her cradle; that Khaenri’ah had withered with the City of the Rising Stars. But he kept it to himself, because Klee was watching.

Instead, he walked over to where Zielle still sat on her table, staring at her scroll. “Hello, Zielle. I understand that you’ve been having some trouble making a map? Do you mind if I correct it for you?

She raised her brown eyes and studied him, steady and unsmiling. He waited, calm, attentive and ready to assist, without thinking about past or future.

Finally, she said, “I’d rather you teach me how to correct it myself. I know that will take longer, but you said you don’t want me to depend on you.”

“Ah, of course,” he said pleasantly. “I’ll need a moment to diagnose the source.” He glanced at the map, noting two different distortions: the skew that affected the entire map, and whatever had caused the village to pull away from the map’s edge. In his opinion, the skew was the real problem; the village issue just seemed like a copy malfunction, perhaps inspired by the overall skew. Now, how to fix that…

After a brief analysis, he said, “All right. I’m going to ask you some questions. Please respond to them however feels right.”

“Okay,” she said, still watching him with those serious brown eyes (that he’d once tried so hard to make sparkle.)

He arranged the photos of the playing field scattered around her into a mosaic image. “First, what shape is portrayed by these photos?

“A rectangle?” 

He raised his eyebrows at her questioning note. “Are you unsure?” 

“I mean, it’s sort of a kite shape but I know it represents a rectangle—wait, doesn’t it?”

“Don’t worry about it. Now, tell me. Where are you right now?”

“Right here,” she said immediately, an answer given without reference to her map or even her surroundings. 

Ah, thought Albedo. “Good. Finally, will you draw me a circle?” He put his own sketchbook and pencil down in front of her.

Without a word, she picked up the pencil and drew a decent mid-sized circle near the bottom of the page; he could see it was something she’d practiced as part of her doodling.

“All right.” He took the pencil and begin to sketch. “Now I’m going to create a little design for you. If you draw it several times before trying your transfer technique, I think you’ll get a better map of the Rumbleway.”

She frowned. “That sounds like a superstition for a child.”

“Just temporarily rewriting a tiny part of your brain. It won’t last that long; looking at nearly anything but your scroll will probably reset it. Why don’t you copy it ten or so times to learn the movements?”

She began to do so, asking as she did, “What about the village?”

“I think something else is going on there—”

Xiao was suddenly standing half a meter above the table. “Enough hand-holding. Alchemist, you will come with me now if you wish to work with the teapot spirit to repair the damage you did.” 

“I’ll do that then,” said Albedo, moving after Xiao as he began to drift away. “I suggest you try a fresh village transfer after transferring the Rumbleway, Zielle.”

 Barely audible, Zielle muttered, “Damn you Xiao, I didn’t get to hold even a single hand.”

[renzieluvsvt]

nice to meet you

pairing: jun x reader

genre: college!au, fluff (attempt at humour-)

word count: 2.6K

summary: your uni year cannot be more hectic after the announcement of your extra classes. what good on earth would it be to study more of chemistry? but who knew this would lead something more than the chemical chemistry until you asked mr.jun aka a-neighbour-type-friend for a favour!

a/n: valentine's and carat day special!

i was supposed to upload joshua's first but it got messed up and i cant really serve yall a story that got the writer herself bored. so here is jun's~

this work of mine seems a bit too lengthy but lemme tell you guys that the story is really sweet and will prolly give yall butterflies in your stomach ig....? anw, hope you enjoy!!

also, while i was writing this ff i was listening to- come inside of my heart by IV spades♪

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

"this is so hectic," you said to your friends. "like for real! who keeps a class twice a day of two to three hours each? as if we only have one subject to study," one of them ranted out of frustration. "but seven to nine in the evening? isn't it too late? also how are you planning to go back i mean you live distant," your friend asked you in concern. "umm..." you had no answer. it made you wonder for awhile.

usually your dad would drop and pick you up from the university if the classes were held too late but now that the both of your parents had left for a business trip, there was no one to do the same for you. you were confused and agitated by your situation because it was not like you could skip the class just because of transportation issue. they wouldnt accept this excuse. even if you missed it, it meant you would fail the upcoming exam because every class was important. moreover attendence mattered too. you had already taken alot of leaves due to your health issues. "is there no one who can drop you home? do no one live by your place?" your friend asked you.

you hated it more to realise that you live in such an isolated place. did your dad really have to decide on living in such a place? i mean it served you a great view from your room. it was a healing place as it let you live away from people, which you loved no matter whether you were an extrovert or an introvert. sometimes you need time to yourself right? but these were the type of days which made you hate the place you lived.

"hey you can ask jun to drop you," one of your friends took your attention as she suggested. "he can just drop you on his way back home. isn't it?" oh yes. jun lived nearby to your place. how could you forget about how you met him mear your place?

∘*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:

once you went to a nearby convience store in the most casual way as you didn't expect anyone to see you. you had tied up your hair in the messiest way. not the attractive messy but the messy messy. you were in your pajamas and wore pororo t-shirt. you surely had a great taste in fashion. as you were sucking onto your popsicle a male bumped into you. you dropped your popsicle. your heart broke. your just-bought-favourite-popsicle dropped. "hey! watch your steps," you said. "my popsicle!" you called out for it dramatically as you looked at it fallen on the ground. "im sorry i can pay you for it," he said. "they only had one of these. what about it-" as you turned to look at him, he seemed undeniably familiar.

he was jun. your laboratory partner. the guy whose authentic shirt you spoilt while doing a chemistry experiment. he was the guy whose finger you hurt due to your carelessness with the battery eliminator in the physics lab. you knew it was your fault but hey who wears an expensive item to the lab. but you were undeniably too clumsy. you knew it too. luckily, he was kind enough to let you go. he didnt ask you for anything in return.

"oh jun-" you said in surprise. "why are you here?" you asked. he seemed to be surprise too, "i live here but i didn't expect to see you here. especially like this..." there was silence then it clicked you how you were dressed up. "shut up! unsee that now!" you bite back. "anyways, i live here too. nice to see a familiar face around in this isolated place. i have been here since my childhood yet i havent seen you here ever before. how so?" you asked curiously while hitting his arm. he stared at the arm you hit and then your hand. his stare screamed 'how dare you touch me vibes.' you noticed and took two steps behind. "yo sorry mr.ice prince," you said as you raised both of your hands in the air in surrender. "um... i just shifted a few weeks back though," he replied. "but-" he looked at the direction to your fallen popsicle. "nevermind. it makes us even now that you caused a blunder for me or else i always felt guilty," you said. "i cant let that happen and you did seem to be too bothered after you dropped it." wait did you just see mr.ice prince smile? you clearly saw him smile slightly as if to laugh on your silliness but you overlooked it. "no, its better than ruining an authentic shirt," you replied. "it wont put me in ease to not pay you back for it and anyways i wanted to eat one too so come follow me," you tried to protest against it but he was too stubborn.

now the both of you were having a popsicle each, walking down the street while talking about school life. specifically it was just you ranting about your school life and jun listening and responding to it whenever required. you both parted ways after you reached your apartment first.

you told your friends about him and how you were happy to see a familiar face there. since then crossing paths with jun happened often but hey no one was complaining. but you two used to have only 'hi' and 'bye' exchange. that was it. nothing more, nothing less.

*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:

"um...i don't really know. will he agree to it though?" you wondered. "just text him and ask him. it's simple. arent you guys friends?" asked the other friend of yours.

(later that day)

you: hey may I know how you will go back home after the class we have in the evening?

jun: bike

'wouldn't that be too weird for the both of you if he agrees. even if he doesn't, won't it make me look like I have some ulterior motive?' you thought to yourself. yet you had no option because you didn't want to travel alone because it was not safe. you mustered up the courage and texted him,

you: would you mind if I ask you to take the bus for few days? i am not so comfortable in travelling alone so late. also my friends can't drop me to my place as it's far so i thought if you were fine with it you could just accompany me

you pressed the sent button and waited for a response.

jun: okay

you:tysm!

you sent back a text while thinking of how coldly he texted you. but you excused him because what else would you expect from someone who was known to have the least interactions unless it was with his friend group of twelve other boys.

later that day, after the class ended, you caught up with your friends then went to the bus station nervously as you didn't know whether jun would be there or not. judging by the way he is, you asked yourself to be ready to go back home alone. but once you reached the bus station, you were surprised to see jun waiting. "hey", you greeted him. "oh hi", he wished you back. you sat there waiting for the bus. there was silence at the bus station but you were sure it wasn't the awkward one. the bus came. he let you get into the bus first then stood next to you. you asked him to sit on the vacant seat next to you but he refused. 'what? does he have a problem with sitting with you?' you thought to yourself but just realising that you had someone you know as your company on your way back to your home made you feel at ease, but again it will take you an hour to reach home now.

after a while, a drunk man had come into the bus. he was utterly wasted. he was looking for a seat. there were many but he chose the one next to you. why? because you were a young woman. this is what you were scared of, wasted men. as he was walking his way to the vacant seat right next to you, jun sat next to you. you were surprised at the sudden shift of weight on the seat next to you as you had no idea about that man making his way to the seat. jun turned to the man without any word. you understood and made an 'o' shape with your mouth. "that's why" he said in return. you thanked him and the gods above mentally to have someone by your side.

jun was really tired and had zoned out in his thoughts. probably thinking of disowning minghao as a friend because he went out for a dinner with the other boys of his friend circle without inviting him. or maybe how funnily the physics teacher dressed up today or maybe what he should eat for the dinner. but he was soon snapped out of his thoughts when he suddenly felt a weight on his shoulder. it was your head. you had fallen asleep. as he turned he could smell the fragrance from your hair. he thought to himself that probably you washed your hair just today.

a small snore like sound escaped from your mouth, from your nose to be specific. it made him laugh. "cute", he said to himself. he let you sleep on his shoulder knowing that you must have beem tired from the extra classes and extra naggings of the teachers while he thought of how clumsy you can be that you got yourself into trouble after you almost pushed the teacher as you got into the class when he was giving an earful to jun. thanks to you jun was able to escape the scoldings because now the teacher had an earful for you and your clumsiness. he recalled how you did the shortest long jump yet adorable one during the physical training class. your silliness cheered him up.

suddenly, he felt your arm lock onto his arm. it got him nervous. he looked at you and got nervous even more. "jun what is happening to you?", he said to himself aloud. "mom....", he heard you murmuring. you must be missing your mom. jun couldn't help but adore you even more.

after an hour, he shook you out from your sleep when you were about to reach your home. "wake up your station is already here." as you woke up with your head above his shoulder, you smiled at him. "ahh thank you so much jun. i will never forget the favour you have done for me", you said as you parted ways. he smiled warmly. jun smiled at you. It made you feel as if you reached a milestone because "jun" was the one who was smiling at you. mr.jun who is known to be cold. you waved at him as you watched the bus leave and so did he from the window.

as you reach home, you couldn't stop thinking of what had just happened. you knew you had made a friend out of the most unapproachable and mysterious guy today but for jun, he knew he was in trouble as he was falling for you more and more now.

for a week, you both went back home together making jun excited for every class but it was too bad for him as you were oblivious to his feelings or maybe he was just too good at hiding his feelings. whatsoever, you were happy to make a new friend and to know the other side of jun who always sat quietly without any interaction. and since then, he had been falling for you more and more. he loved listening to your rants about your pet dog being too active only when you were lazy on weekends or about how your parents asked you more about your best friend rather than you making you feel adopted. he loved it when you spoke about your favourite artists while listening to their songs through the same earphone. he loved to watch you click pictures of anything that you liked.

he started loving to go to the uni even more. he started to look for ways to see your face even during the school hours. his heart skipped a beat even when you smiled at him while waving your hands towards him when you both crossed paths in the corridor or lunch or in the campus. his heart craved for more than seeing you from distance in the class. he always looked forward for the extra classes to end soon. you made him want the night to end soon so that he could see you the next day.

you made him go crazy. you made him feel and know a different side of him. he knew he was in love with you. the next day while the both of you were in the bus as usual and as usual you kept on maundering about the most random things. "y/n", he said. "hmm?" you looked at him with puppy eyes as you were curious about what made him sound so serious but what you didn't know was that it was simply making it hard for jun to speak up as you made his heart skipped a beat again. he wondered how could you be so adorable.

"y/n... would you mind if i said that i would want to hear more of your stories over a cup of coffee?" shit. jun was asking you out. your breath hitched as you found it unbelievable. "you dont have to force yourself to say yes, it wont affect me i mean it'll make me sad but that's just a friend. if you want you can forget-" "i never thought of you to speak this much" you said and stopped his rambling. "huh?" he said in a confused manner. "i'll save my talks then."

was that a yes? jun looked for an answer in your eyes. in response you smiled at him and said, "tell me the time and place and i'll be there but i hope to hear more from you that day" you said. jun was sure that if it weren't for his self-control skills he would have surely hugged and kissed the bald head of the old man sitting infront of you.

your station came. you stood up but before you left you passed another smile and waved him bye. "bye mr.shy" he laughed at the nickname yet he waved back with the brightest smile. you felt something on seeing jun smiling like the happiest man alive just because a small yes from you.

surely the both of you spent good time in the coffee shop and then later on the both of you decided to watch a movie in the theatre. eventually making it hard for the both of you to part ways. the both of you started spending more time together and started to do homeworks together either at his place or yours and sometimes in a library.

as the both of you star gazed from his balcony you were thankful to your parents to leave you alone which made you ask jun to drop you which made him to be in your life but more than you, it was jun who was more grateful to the gods above for everything that led you to him, that made his life even more beautiful. "i love this" you said as you looked up the sky filled with stars. "i love you more" he responded almost in a whisper while turning his head towards you. he found the view too pretty not sure if it was the city lights in the night that made it even harder for him to take his eyes off from you as you enjoyed the starlit sky. he promised himself to keep you happy in this relationship forever and he made his promise.

---------------happy ending----------------

[casitafallz]

LTRL AU | Packed Issues

As it turned out, breaking and entering was very easy.

Isabela had started first by having Fran check out the house to make sure it was empty and that the area around was quiet. A few houses had windows facing towards them but…Isabela used her gift to grow the nearby bushed just a little bit to mask the direct line of sight then a series of bush-trunk-like steps that gave her a direct access to his bedroom window.

Fran had given her a set of old clothes which were burgundy and green and a scarf which she kept around her head when she built the steps up, not that it was overly high given it didn’t have a second floor. No one robbed a home in familiar clothes.

“All he wants is three changes of clothes, sandals and the big book under his bed with the decorative box next to it.” Fran reminded as she began her ascent up.

“Okay.” Isabela didn’t wait for anything less than a warning before she lowered herself carefully down and got to work; straight to his wardrobe where inside was his clothes and a bag. She grabbed that before she realised one thing; it was full.

She frowned carefully, opening it up to see it already packed, his clothes by the stale scent. Did he prepack and forgot? She could see a few empty hangers and more empty spaces on the shelves…at least it looked emptier than it should. She just took that instead and dropped it out the window.

“Oh you’re faster than I ex—ow!” Fran swore softly.

Isabela dropped softly to peer under the bed where she wrinkled her nose at the mess underneath before she began to move some of the lost laundry before the box was the first thing she uncovered.

It was… about the size of a show box and handcrafted with beautiful carvings etched into floral patterns on all of its sides. As tempted as she was, Isabela didn’t open it and just tucked it off onto the side before she found the huge freaking tome of a book.

She shoved the mess back into place, struggling to the window with both but withdrew all her plants away as Fran shut the shutters again and they quickly hurried back towards Fran’s.

Only for Fran to lead her to the backyard where she saw a wagon set up behind a wall; out of immediate sight.

“So soon?”

“It’s my Abuelo’s wagon he had to carry stuff when they fled. They kept it in good condition so we use it. Just load up here for now. All I’ll need is to get the donkey and we’ll be good to leave.” Fran shrugged, setting the bag into the top then took the offered box and book and opened up a small compartment and tucked to book inside for safekeeping.

“You gonna steal one?” Isabela guessed with a smile.

“Yep, why stop at robbing Mateo’s house?” Fran winked before pulling a tarp back over the few bags in, “Why don’t you start getting stuff to pack? Or some supplies made in advance?”

“Ugh….yeah.” She knew that was what she should go and do but…that risked going back home. Abuelita would no down try and talk her down but… she didn’t want to deal with that right now. “Have you got any sacks and baskets I could use?”

Fran paused for a moment, “Not…many. We use our baskets every day. We tend to only have Maize and potato sacks at our disposal.”

“Can you get them?” Isabela asked hopefully. “I can’t produce the dried-out kernels but I produce it all on the cobs whole.” They didn’t have time to dry them out and make it easier to transport with most of them… she had to grow the whole plant first to do so. She hadn’t learned how to just make the maize kernels by itself, or wheat either. So it was a lot of manual work that neither of them had time for.

She was sure once they had found a place, to get a garden they could use it as backstock and for show. But coming in, they had to prepare and…sure fabric would be long-term. If she could get raw fruits and veg made, then they had an immediate start-up for quick cash.

“Okay. Go home and pack. I’ll bring the wagon around at eight tonight.” Fran patted her arm, though waved her off in her typical manner to get going.

-

Mirabel sat quietly in her room, the gift she had been planning to give just…sat on her knee but her insides continued to roll with her anxiety it wasn’t just about learning Isabela was just going to up and leave them all but…this was the first…real argument she had had with her sister.

The last time almost ended with her death.

This time, it hadn’t. But her heart still raced about it.

She still felt…angry at her Hermana. She was…going to leave them all. Her statement felt like it had value because…Isa was part of the family. Sure, it was a little broken but…they were still a family. Not only leave them but…also meant the baby wouldn’t be born into their family here either; he wouldn’t get to see how loved he would be growing up with them…Antonio—god she was already dreading when Antonio would find out. His little heart was fixed on befriending that baby as his own best friend.

Leaving meant making their broken family more broken. No way to repair the damage and… for what? Mirabel couldn’t understand it still. Things were hard but Isabela had coped well; she had what she needed here… Abuelita was the best and… they had time.

A soft knock pulled her mind to see Luisa pottering in carefully with Tio Bruno. In her hands, she had a tray with a reflective green shine off it that told her what it was.

Mirabel’s eyes lingered on it. “Take a seat. Is it fixed?” she offered the chairs

“Not fully but Tio’s an expert at puzzles,” Luisa spoke, setting it down.

Mirabel’s breath paused as she finally set eyes upon the image but her heart ached to see such a small, and beautiful baby boy, looking otherwise oblivious in his crib and looking to be seconds away from sucking his hand and—oh, he was wearing her knot hat. The effect was slightly ruined by the cracks that ran through down through his left ear.

“We’re glueing it down onto the tray base than just to the edges,” Tio spoke, pulling out a bottle of glue from his under his ruana. “I’m…really not up for making a new one just yet but I’m happy to fix this one.”

He went to sit on the floor but Casita shifted the boards to fling a chair under him, almost falling off in the process before he righted himself and carefully took the tray and moved back some of the loose pieces that had slid.

Luisa looked a little lost,  fiddling with a single piece of the vision’s edge between her fingers but her mind looked to be a world away.

“Tio,” Mirabel started, “did you know Isabela was leaving?”

Bruno’s fingers paused a little, his eyes flickering up to her face nervously. “I did.” His tone was careful.

Mirabel raised her eyebrow at him. “Seriously?!”

Bruno set the glue down, eyeing the door for a moment. “You’re mad about that?”

“She’ll break this family apart if she leaves, Tio.” Mirabel whined, “Why didn’t you tell us? Ma or Abuela?”

“I told your Abuelita.” Bruno wiped his hands down the front of his ruana. “I trust her with discretion more than my mother.”

“Abuelita’s supporting her leaving.” Mirabel gave him a look, “You told her and she’s giving her permission to just…go.”

Bruno shrugged, far too casually. “I know. But having anyone go off on her would speed up her leaving or worse, believe never coming back is the best option.” He gave her a look, which made her shrink back “Señora Rojas is a smart woman and do you think she would be supporting Isabela’s choices blindly?”

Mirabel opened her mouth to answer but Luisa spoke first.

“No?”

Bruno nodded approvingly to Luisa. “Señora Rojas knows more than you two. Do you understand why Isabela is leaving?”

“She wants to get away from us?” Luisa offered, “We thought…she got sick of her punishments.”

“She’s dealt with the punishments for almost eleven months now, Luisa.” Bruno reminded, surprisingly with an edge that reminded her of Abuela when she was slightly inconvenienced. “It’s not about the punishments. The family may be a factor but it’s not the cause.”

Mirabel made a discontent noise, folding her arms back around herself. “Didn’t sound like it.”

“Everyone says things that they don’t mean when they’re emotional,” Bruno stated. “I know why she’ll be leaving and…I think it’s the best course of action—"

“Tio!”

“—With that, I know.” He finished, not raising his voice like she would expect an adult would with an interruption. “I know you don’t want her to leave but this…this is important. I know you want her to stay and I know you want the baby to be born here and that you can all love him and…I want that as well. If she stays…there’s a worse future which means you still don’t get that.”

Mirabel’s head rose back to face him. Her mind stalled a little on that last bit. A worse future? What could possibly happen to make it worse? Her mind jumped to the possibility of…the baby being stillborn. That’d hurt everyone. Yeah…that…would be a bad future.

“You don’t have to agree or believe me but…Isabela leaving is her best course of action. For her sake and for the baby’s sake.” He reached for the bottle of glue, “At least then she’ll come back…or have the option to.” Bruno held his hand out for the piece Luisa had in her hands and stuck that down. “I’ll leave you two to finish now the important ones are done. Your Abuelita will be here after dinner to talk to your parents.”

-

Isabela was glad to finally push down and bind the cotton down with her vines to compress it further, binding and compressing down the last bit of the cotton before she shoved the sack over the top and bound that down to allow the internal vines to decay and release without causing the decompression that would split the bag. The vines strained but she was glad to see it hold, having done for a multitude of vines that were swirled together to increase strength integrity in the bind than having them snap as that rope did.

Cotton was now done. Flax for linin was tightly wrapped as well, many seeds were in little bags and stored in a small box for ease of transport. That was set ready to go with the rest of her clothes that she had packed along with the baby stuff she already had. She left a few old presents from selected family members on her desk in a pile because…she didn’t want to open herself up for anything.

Tio Felix had since passed along his gift for the baby so, that she did have packed as well with the baby things which…was only tucked away at the bottom of her bag since there wasn’t as much stuff to carry with him just yet. She packed a few changes of clothes; leaving her pretty dresses behind for good, her makeup but she opted for more practical packing; her tools and equipment. Her looms were covered and bagged. Her spinning wheel was set to be moved. Her bedcovers and pillows, she opted to take as well because that felt like some oversight when they should have some comforts on their travel.

“Isabela.” The voice interrupted her mulling.

Isabela didn’t turn to face her Abuelita but simply belted up her bag. “If you’re here to convince me to stay, you won’t work.” She stated.

“Two more days, Isa. Please.” Abuelita appeared at her side, her withered hand coming to touch her arm.

“No.” Isabela shook her head. “Now that Mirabel knows, I can’t just wait for the rest of the family to suddenly try and stop me…or worse try and throw shit into my face to guilt me into staying.” Not like Mirabel. She didn’t want that. Not again.

“I have yet to talk to the family…. I made sure to ask your siblings to say nothing on the matter until I could talk to them.”

“That…that doesn’t change anything,” Isabela gave her Abuelita a long look. “No matter how long it takes me to leave, their reactions will be the same and…I don’t want to deal with that. Not to mention, when Tia founds out, she’ll flood the place and make it impossible for me to leave in time.” That was another challenge she didn’t want to face. Not after Tia’s blatant interest in seeing Camilo get off his punishments or talking up Sara’s ass. She didn’t need her to pretend to care or get emotional about her going. She had much of a hand in this as the rest.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve made up my mind.” Isabela set her jaw, “I’ll prepare a few letters for the family but I won’t meet with any of them.”

“Isa… they deserve more than just letters. You’re cutting them off by leaving without talking to them.” Abuelita looked just as concerned, “if you come back, nothing between you and the family will be healed.”

Isabela shrugged. “Right now, I don’t want to talk to them. They had their chances to do so for the last year and when it’s not convenient for them… I’m the one in the wrong?” Isabela pressed, “Abuelita, please. It took you pulling me out of Casita every other week for things to improve but that wasn’t enough. Not to mention, Antonio has access to birds who can do what he wants so really, not all the lines are dead after we’re gone.”

Abuelita’s lips pursed. “Do not leave without talking to me first.” There was a touch to her arm before she walked out, the front door distantly shutting.

The last bit about Antonio and his animal friends, Isabela had surprised herself on saying but…it wasn’t like she hadn’t thought about it before given how it would be impossible for normal mail service to and from Encanto to where they could wind up. Animals, or trained animals at the least were the next best option; Antonio was the only one who could achieve that if she wanted…any shred of contact with her family.

Certainly for Abuelita and Abuelito… Antonio himself if he wanted to see his best friend grow up….assuming the kid would tolerate not actually meeting the baby just yet. The others? She didn’t know. Tio Felix would no doubt oversee anything she sent to Antonio but...Tia Pepa?

Nope.

How things had truly fallen between her and Tia. How close they used to be, Isabela remembered their dancing lessons mostly; how fun it was and how happy it made Tia. Moments of freedom between two trapped souls. Now…

Isabela turned around, coming to the side where the family photo she had was resting face-down before she picked it up, taking a final look to see most people accounted for in the picture—thank the lord she didn’t get a copy of Antonio’s birthday photo. This had…every one of her maternal side. She tossed that into her personal bag before she went in search of another few photos to take with her.

There were a few of her Tia Sofia’s family, but she opted not to take that; she wasn’t overly close with them after all. Word of mouth would be good enough for her son to learn about his other cousins. Her grandparents though were far harder to find. Their wedding photo was beautiful but certainly not one she was going to take. With no photos in frames of appeal, Isabela went to Abuelito’s study for his photo albums.

There, she found the perfect one; both of them in a single frame some years ago when they had their wedding anniversary; married for forty years. Looking very happy and still arm-in-arm. She felt a little envious but…maybe one day she could have that sort of love as well.

She had better chances now than before.

Isabela tucked that photo in between one of her books and added that in and continued to sort through her room.

-

“Vera, it’s okay.” Ruben’s voice was soft as she paced around the backrooms of their shop.

“No, it’s not. Isabela won’t even try with her family to actually talk and… I can’t convince her to wait. If I talk to the family now, they’ll get on their high horses and try and stop her…or worse, guilt her. I can’t…I don’t know how to tell them.” Vera admitted, “Everything else, I can handle but… this?”

Ruben set aside the set of pants he was adjusting and reached for her. “It’s hard because we know she has to leave and why, mi Vida.”

Vera hummed in agreement; they had to let her go but…how it looked to others meant it looked a tad hypocritical. She was always a ‘stand your ground and fix it’ than ‘run from your problems’ attitude. Telling the family she dies if she stayed felt like emotional blackmail she wasn’t willing to put on the family but there was no good reason aside from the shallow, superficial reasons they’d assume.

At least, none that would work prior to her leaving. After she was gone… it could be easier with fewer risks of running off to talk her out.

“It looks like I’m helping her pack and getting her lunch together for the trip!” Vera huffed, running her hand down the front of her dress though allowed herself to be tugged into his warm embrace. “I don’t…I don’t want her or anyone to leave with open wounds here.”

“You can’t help them all the time. Some things can’t just be resolved by us. This is something Isabela needs to do with her family.” Ruben rubbed her back, “Some things aren’t for us.”

“But—“

“We’ve done as much as we can.” Ruben pulled back. “As long as Isabela is safe…that the baby is safe then all we can hope for is that they come back at some point. Things are too rough between Isa and the family and… her injuries aren’t without reason.”

Vera huffed out. “I know.” She hated to admit that.

“Let her leave. I will close early and we can both talk to her before she goes, after which, we can talk to the family. They will be blindsided and hurt but… maybe that will motivate the family to get into action with the mess they still have. “

Vera’s shoulder’s slumped a little in dismay but… she knew Ruben was right. The worse lessons come at the biggest costs. Isabela had to go…. And as Isa had said, they weren’t without communication options.

[thessalian]

Thess vs A Return to Normalcy

Updates from the workplace, and the news is ... for once, not terrible.

See, turns out that Scruffman came in on Sunday, along with the other part-timer (who has been petitioning for more hours and I think she's going to get them at this rate), and really registered the massive dent I made in the backlog. Because seriously, that whole week we went from just under 300 to just under 150 and that was about 95% me. So we're finally back down to the low-mid double digits in terms of the size of the typing queue, and I have a feeling Scruffman had a general sense of, "Ooh. [Thess] did a lot. [Thess] should not have been doing that much, I know that."

Scruffman does not have the best communication skills, mind - especially not over email. He sent an email going, "Give me a bell ASAP" and actually included his number, which I have had stored on my phone for literally years, so I thought there was going to be something urgent and horrible. Because, you may recall, he was going to touch base with me today about potentially having to drag my poor fibro-riddled carcass over to fucking Hampstead owing to lack of bums in seats. I was concerned that this was going to be a call where Issues were brought up.

However, no, this was his way of saying, "I has a concern and want to make sure you're okay after the hours you put in last week". I didn't pull punches, either. He asked how I was doing, which is how he starts all telephone conversations, really, and I just told him, "I seriously overdid it last week". I could hear the gears turning as he was going, "Oh. Yeah. Oh, right" before moving on to the whole thing about the various unexpected absences.

So ... turns out that Violet, Goblin, and Temp are all out at the moment, though Goblin and Temp are apparently coming back on Friday. He's got Other Part-Timer coming in tomorrow, so it's really only Thursday where there might be a requirement for me to come in. But apparently that's only if Scruffman himself takes ill or something else goes entirely to hell. It was pretty clear that he was trying desperately hard not to make me go into the office, particularly after the couple of weeks I've already put in. He also recognised that I do more typing when I'm at home than I do at the office, and then surprised me further by going, "I don't necessarily mean overtime or anything!" like he very much doesn't want me to have to do any more of that either.

So the overall gist is, "Things are back to normal, we will try to manage things without forcing you on to public transport, thank you for all the help and we promise we're not going to make you do too much more of that!" I'm not sure what happens with my overtime - whether it's Time Off In Lieu or actual money, but I think I'll find that out when Head Honcho comes back from his own holidays ... or rather, when I come back from mine because he's away until next week and I'm off next week.

I very much need to be off next week. I haven't fully recovered yet. But at the very least my house is full of nice foods to have that don't require too much in the way of cookery. I did up a pork roast last night so I have leftovers from that. There's a roast chicken that's good in the fridge until Friday, which gives me time to do things with the leftover pork roast and with the duck legs and pork chops I got on sale with this month's grocery shop. But tonight, since I am exhausted (whoever was typing with me today also left me with the longer bullshit - thankfully there were no ten-minute atrocities but if I see one more placenta report this week I'm going to lose my damn mind), it will be leftover roast pork with mashed potato and an asparagus/tenderstem broccoli medley, with an appetiser of gluten-free mozzarella sticks (which, yes, still have the lactose issue but I have Lactaid so I can still have my breaded hot cheese) and possibly a salad. I did actually eat today! Okay, not lunch, but two pieces of gingerbread as breakfast went really well with my morning coffee.

[absolutely-not-my-main-blog]

My internet provider was straight up playing me before because it took 3 hours to download the ep last week and with the new internet, 20 minutes this week, so anyway I took random notes while watching and just gonna post a couple of them in one hit before scrolling my dash:

1. “Anybody can get a guy to bang them once.” Oh, can they, Dennis? Can they?? Sounds like a man speaking from experience, huh.

2. Jack to Charlie regarding “play dates” together and him saying “You don’t remember,” oh that hurts my heart, Charlie having to repress memories of him. And then the extra creep factor with the fucking ice cream truck, good lord, I’m starting to think Jack murder is more and more possible this season.

3. “Don’t mind my friend, he’s schizophrenic.” “I am, yeah.” I know it’s like a joke here, but I like schizotypal Charlie headcanon so I choose to see this as a win. (Spider in my ear vibes though <3)

4. Dee and Mac asking “why” and “how come” Dennis has a system to get men and him shhing them, oh yeah it’s all coming together, he’s used this system fr, and the truth and something else is gonna come out, baby.

5. Love The Waitress is Getting Married vibes from Dennis helping Mac and Dee on their dates the way they tried to help Charlie.

6. Girl, how did Dennis get that bottle open over that guy, this man lives off of beer and air, he’s a weak, frail Victorian maiden who would absolutely get Mac to open jars in their apartment constantly.

7. MOMMY ISSUES DENNIS REAL. Okay so we’re all in agreement we’re gonna transport Den “back to a time when he was a snot nosed little bitch who depended on the most important person in his life for absolutely everything, the person who inflated his ego, who made him feel powerful but also powerless, the person whose validation he’s been seeking his entire life.” I’m SCREAMING. “The way to make a guy fall in love with you is to make him feel like you are his mommy.” GIRL, WHAT THE FUCK, Freud would like a word, I could write a whole essay on this scene alone, but I’m sure someone else already has, but oh my god they’re bringing up how Barbara’s influence really messed with him, inflating his ego, making him the golden child and holding him up to these perfect standards, but he’s trying to maintain that perfection even after she’s gone and realizing he can’t, making him powerless. He just wants the illusion of power! he doesn’t want to have to work for it this much. Head buzzing with incoherent thoughts but there are thoughts here I may come back to just aaahh.

8. On another note, I really liked their acting in this one, especially the S.I.N.N.E.D. scene, their deliveries were all great, they seemed to be having fun and it was sooo cute.

9. A boy in love with Johnny so he can’t be with anyone else, but Dennis is Johnny, Dennis catfish real, Dennis controlling anal beads real, what fever dream is this fucking episode, a boy in love with Johnny, Johnny dennis Dennis Johnny, I’m losing my mind.

10. “I’m Dennis, I’ve always been Dennis” and Ireland’s “You’re you, you’ve always been you” parallels and Mac’s need for solid and clear labels of identity, but Dennis’ continually vague notion of his own self, and Mac remaining completely clueless this whole season, not seeing what’s right in front of him, the blowing jokes, Dennis and his system for men, Dennis is Johnny, while Dennis is starting to realize maybe what he wants and continuously gets more aware, and it leads to mental health day, aaah idk!! So much!

11. I love how everyone was deep dive analyzing the Frank Dennis scene and it was just him telling him he got anal beads in his ass 😭

12. The chess opponent looks a lil like Donald to me.

13. Full ass blast 😭 I hate how this show makes me insane regardless of that.

[pyroweasel]

🤡🎢✨⛔💖💌❌👀🤲

🤡 (What's a line, scene, or exchange you've written that made you laugh?)

I'll share this WIP line that will probably never see the light of day. You kind of need to know to appreciate it, maybe, but it still kind of makes me laugh. **"Don't fucking touch me - filthy little - do you ever bathe?” 

"I try not to," Peep chirps, and then with a fresh grin they reach both hands out in Hazel's direction - making grabbing motions as if threatening to touch his face."** 🎢 (Which of your fics would you call your wildest ride?) Had To Be You, hands down. Mostly because it would so wildly fluctuate from 'this part is so easy let me publish four chapters in a row' to 'I've taken two months to finish this chapter and I still hate it.' It was a good time over all but boy was it a ride to get through. ✨ (Give you and your writing a compliment. Go on now. You know you deserve it. 😉) I already did one do I have to do another...(jkjk) I think my long/run-on sentences are pretty well-crafted and tend to add exactly the sort of punch/affect I'm trying to manage. ⛔ (Do you have a fic you started, but scrapped?) Oh I have so many of these. I wouldn't even try to list them, but I'll highlight one of my personal favorites. I once had a fic planned that was essentially Addison being assigned Captain on this massive ship who's sole purpose was to transport "precious cargo." Spoiler alert, the cargo was an imprisoned Trep. It was very saucy, very much meant to highlight Trep's abilities as an Imp and was not necessarily destined for a good ending. It would have been fun, I think.

💖 (What made you start writing?) I couldn't tell you, honestly. I've been writing since I was a kid, since before I even remember doing it. We still have one of the first 'books' I ever wrote. What I can say is it's just...everything to me. It's a distraction. It's soothing. It's a way for me to connect with my partner and my friends. When I'm really sad, or really happy, or hell I'll say it even horny, writing is there, you know? I can do anything I want in there. I can write anything I want. I can bring these characters that mean everything to me to life in my own words. I can put them through hell, or get them comfort, or find them love. I can explore the world's brightest themes, and its darkest. I don't know. It's how I get all the things inside out. I don't really have any other creative pursuits that I feel like I'm good enough at to do that, so writing is the way. 💌 (How do you feel about comments and feedback?) I love comments. I love to know what I did right, what resonated, what people are thinking about what could happen next. I also love expressions of joy/enjoyment like keysmashes and such. I'm sensitive to criticism though, even well-meaning criticism, which is purely a me issue but can make getting feedback/comments kind of stressful sometimes. Especially when I'm nervous about a write to begin with.

❌ (What's a trope you will never write?) Never is a strong word because there have been times I've dabbled in things I thought I'd never dabble in. And I honestly can't think of any specific one right now that makes me thing 'ew no never.' I don't enjoy most things centering around pregnancy, though. Little cute moments with pregnant characters is one thing, but I don't like to focus on it much. 👀 (Tell me about an up and coming wip please!)

I have so many WIPs....a few fan favorites in the works are more chapters for the reincarnation AU for Hazing, Fable finally gets to meet Keet's pets, that one chapter for To The Left where these two finally get down, and a scattering of other hazing stuff. 🤲 (Would you please share a snippet of a wip?)

Okay...let me dig one up here. **Home, he thinks - spitting the word in his mind even as his feet turn in its direction. A tiny townhouse he doesn't know the first thing about fixing. A ratty bed, a shitty TV, a computer that barely connects most of the time. The self-inflicted bare minimum because it has never really been his home - only a place for his pets. A place to land when he wanted to rest because where the hell else was he supposed to go? 

It's not his home, he thinks - bitter, angry, aching. 

It's not his home, he thinks - paused outside, glaring up at the shingles and the brick. Humans pass around him - souls whispering at a distance, arching briefly in his direction until they're far enough away to snap free. Busy, loud, and something stings at his eyes. 

"Keet?" 

He starts, turns, and there's Fable. This silly little human who resists his pull but somehow keeps finding him anyway. Who'd held him at his worst, and called themself his friend, and who's here now, again. Standing near his apartment, watching him with a turned head and a curious stare. 

"Are you alright?" 

Keet opens his mouth to answer - closes it again - and then finally, after a second, he says instead,

"What are you doing here?"**

[autobot2001]

The Right Place at the Right Time

@mediwhumpmay: surgery @themerrywhumpofmay: safe place

(Snipped from HIdden Killer) Rating: T TW: Gun, shooting

"Yes, I hope I'll be recruited," a man says to the person on the other end of the call, "I doubt it works like that. Ok, I'll be home soon, bye." The man walks down the street in the city's industrial area, heading to a bus stop. Austin watches his victim, feeling like he's slacking with his killings. Soon, the city will think I disappeared again. He believes. Killing is fun, but I must plan carefully not to blow my cover and get caught. This should be quick.

The man stops, hearing a soda can roll across the sidewalk. It's just the wind, and you're being ridiculous. He tells himself and continues walking. He walks a hundred feet down the sidewalk before hearing footsteps behind him. Even in a quiet area, the man questions how loud the person behind him is. He turns around to see who's behind him. Realizing he made a mistake, he questions if he'd be safe if he kept walking or ran down the sidewalk? "Yes, you made a mistake," the person taunts, "I love playing cat and mouse." Austin wants to torture his target, but seeing an ambulance and police car approach ruins his plan.

:: It's him! :: Ratchet comms Prowl. The two hope to get the killer but watch him shoot his target before running down the street. Prowl can't continue with the chase knowing a human is injured, even if he can do nothing until the human is more stable. The two mechs' holoforms rush to the human. The human passes out from the pain, and Prowl finds himself having to help Ratchet get the human prepped for transport. "No time to get him to the hospital or wait for air ambulance," Ratchet tells Prowl, "he needs surgery now."

"What?!" The woman on the other end cries, "I talked to him ten minutes ago!" Oh boy, no way she's going to the police station without seeing if her son is ok. Prowl realizes, happy he already talked to Lennox and Optimus.

Lennox, Optimus, and Prowl hate telling the worried woman what happened to her son. The woman knew about the Holiday Killer and hoped her son wouldn't cross paths with the guy. The three mechs take the worried mother to the medbay to wait to hear word about her son.

The three medics meet the worried mother, Emily, and learn their patient's name is Cayden Young. "...the good news is we only had to remove parts of organs that will repair themselves partially. I have Cayden on the ventilator for twenty-four hours," Ratchet explains. This doesn't help the worried mother. The four mechs with her silently agree to talk about Cayden's recovery and possibly the secret tomorrow. Happy Jasmine can support Emily. The only issue until tomorrow is getting Emily to go home. Emily is allowed to see her son. Lennox calls his wife, Sarah.  

Anyone would be distraught seeing someone they know on a ventilator and getting a blood transfusion. For Emily, it's like she's having a nightmare even though she's awake. She sits by the bed, wishing Cayden would wake up, hating he won't until tomorrow. Jasmine and Sarah do their best to support Emily. Sarah decides Emily needs to come home with her. Hoping she can help the worried mother get some sleep.

Emily is distracted with the Lennox's twin daughters until they go to bed. Ratchet did tell Emily to take sleep aid to help her sleep. Knowing she's not sleeping without it.

"I can't believe she's being put through this," Sarah sighs, "or that someone else was the Holiday Killer's target, even if Cayden will recover." "I think we're beyond arresting him. Kill that Fragger! Let Sunstreaker deal with him!"

Ratchet is at the medbay at six in the morning, stopping the infusion keeping Cayden sedated. Hoping to take his patient off the ventilator before Emily gets to the base. By now, word has spread around the base that another victim of the Holiday Killer ended up in the medbay. The Autobot psychiatrist has a full schedule today.

By ten, Cayden is getting oxygen via a nasal cannula. "Your mom knows," Ratchet tells him. "Oh boy. She's been worried about the killer more than Dad. The one day I didn't take my gun with me either," Cayden sighs. "I saw what happened, and I doubt you would have had time to get your gun out and shoot."

Before Emily gets to the base with Sarah, Lennox, Optimus, Prowl, and Ratchet talk to Cayden. Hoping to get more answers as to why he was shot. He puts them on the spot when he asks why he was taken to a military base rather than the hospital. Cayden is trying to figure out what to think of the four men's expressions. He takes the chance and asks if this is the N.E.S.T. base. Feeling relieved, he doesn't sound insane to them and can explain how he knows N.E.S.T. was re-established.   "My dad was a soldier. He suspected since Autobots are once again legally allowed to stay on Earth, N.E.S.T. would have been re-established. I don't know how I would have found out otherwise while enlisting, but I hope to enlist in the special unit." "Cayden!" Emily rushes in. "Sorry, she wasn't going to wait any longer," Jasmine apologizes. The four mechs walk out of the room to talk. "I'm ok, Mom," Cayden tells his mom. She's probably going to tell me to forget the military. I'm amazed she has been ok with me joining since she worried about Dad while he was in N.E.S.T., Cayden believes.

The four mechs agree to let Emily know the secret, wondering if she has any idea since her husband was a soldier with them. "It's been eleven years, and this isn't public knowledge," Prowl reminds the others.

Emily is pleased to hear her husband was right about suspecting N.E.S.T. was re-established. While his mom is smiling, Cayden still worries she's no longer supporting his goal to enlist in the military. "Mom, you likely think I need to forget about the military, but I'll be safe." "He's out there, but I know this will be a safe place for you," Emily smiles, "and you got what you wanted." Emily knows the attack had nothing to do with her son wanting to join the military or the special unit. "Not yet, but I can attempt to get Cayden enlisted in N.E.S.T.," Lennox tells the two, "I can allow you to stay at the base for now while you recover." Emily knows home would be a safe place for her son but believes the base is better. It's a safe place and where her son wants to be.

[whatyourusherthinks]

Terrifier 3 Review

The theater I work at had no trailers or poster for this PIECE OF HUMAN EXCREMENT DRIPPING FROM THE SCREEN INTO MY EYES AND EARS! Way to bury the lea- NO SHUT THE FUCK UP BUGGNUTZ I WANT NOTHING FROM YOU FOR THIS ONE. This movie already has 7.1 from IMBD and a 61% on Metacritic I don't need a two-bit devil's advocate for this cinematic equivalent of an actual mass murder! I never watched Terrifier or Terrifier 2. Reading the plot description on Wikipedia is like looking at the manifesto of someone who gets angry when women won't let him sniff them on public transportation. And yes, I read the part in the article where the writer/director promised to fix the "underdevelopment of the lead characters and the perceived lack of plot". But the read is less "I recognize my short-comings and plan to do better" and more "Oh shit, I got caught sneaking a wannabe snuff film into theaters and don't want to get blacklisted from releasing future movies". At least to me anyway. And my final prerelease experience is being told that this movie is "so gross that people have been running from the theater vomiting" and that made the movie "good". *Knock knock* Hey everyone who said that. THAT'S NOT A SELLING POINT! "This movie is so good it'll make you not want to watch it."

What's The Movie About?

Art the Clown, a slasher who is a fantasy of someone who regrets not going postal in high school, returns to stalk the final girl from the last movie BECAUSE... he's a demon. That's it. Art is a demon and Sienna is an Angel and they are prophesied to fight forever and ever and ever because the franchise will go on forever and ever and ever because clearly humanity has done something horrible to make God punish us forever and ever and ever...

What I Like.

The guy playing Art is a funny physical performer. When he wasn't killing people I had a laugh at some of his scenes. He kinda reminded me of the Mask, but not CGI and he doesn't talk, so he's better. I really want to reiterate that my issues with the Art character have nothing to do with David Howard Thornton. He was just hired to play the character that was written for him, and he did a good job. The effects, costuming, and setting were also well done and lend itself well to a horror Christmas atmosphere. And there's a couple scenes where characters interact that I thought was interesting.

What I Didn't Like.

Too bad those interactions don't MATTER FOR SHIT. The movie ends with everyone except for Sienna and Art dead. Nothing is resolved. No plot point in the movie finishes. Just the two characters surviving for the sequel because of literal Deus Ex Machina and Diabolus Ex Machina. It was all for nothing. Similar to Civil War, I noticed, but at least the BAD GUY died in that one. Hopefully you came over those overly gratuitous gore effects earlier, because Terrifier 3 has NOTHING ELSE. Why do any of the characters matter? They all just die. The story is stupid. For some fucking reason it's Christmas, five years after the last movie, and I think it's just because they wanted Art to run around in a Santa Suit. It makes less sense that people just tolerate Art for any amount of time instead of immediately throwing out or calling the police on the CREEPIEST LOOKING CLOWN EVER. There is literally a part where kids are running over to him excitedly. Like I know he's giving away toys, but fuck off movie. I GUARENTEE that any kid wouldn't go within ten feet of Pennywise but the pedophile dial is cranked from 6 to 9.

Every event in this movie is just obnoxious. The kills are way to pleased with themselves for how boring they are, and the only one that isn't boring is one of the grossest things I've ever seen. And almost all of them drag themselves out for as loooooong aaaaaaaas fuuuuuuuuucking pooooooooooooooooooosible. When tension is built it needs a quick release for the fear factor to work. To watch Art jump a guy, the guy start yelling in anger, then Art stabs a railroad spike through his hand, then the guy starts screaming in pain, then we have to see Art reach over and grab a hammer, then the victim is begging for mercy, then Art whacks the guy with the hammer, then the guy goes "NONONONONONO!", then Art tears his head off, and MY FUCKING GOD. I know what's gonna happen as soon as Art grabs his victim. Dragging out the kill is not scary. It's watching a trench coat mafioso jerk off over his switchblade collection. But hey, at least that preferable to seeing a disfigured woman jill herself off with a broken piece of glass. Which is something that happens in this godforsaken I-hesitate-to-call-it-a-film.

Maybe it's hedonistic enjoyment. Maybe I'm getting to high-minded about the serial killer movie. That's what you're thinking right now, right? Well you're wrong and I can prove it with two scenes. First is the sex scene. It's one of the blandest sex scenes ever, because there is no explicit nudity. This movie is Not Rated. They had no restrictions, and could have totally could have gone completely full X-Rated nudity if they wanted to. So the fact that there is none means they must not have wanted to. Actually, I lied. There's one shot of explicit nudity, when Art is using a chainsaw to carve up the guy's taint. So the movie is okay with showing nudity when it is being mutilated. But again, maybe that's the statement, the hedonism is just for violent imagery? Well, no. I keep harping on the kills being boring, because they are, but the gore is lame too. Much like the characters being too stupid to be realistic and too sensible for the movie to be a parody, the gore is too tame to be splat-stick and too unrealistic to give tragic catharsis. They throw around blood so vibrant it would make a Hammer Horror tell them to turn down the saturation, but everyone seems to bleed realistically, no excess spray or gallons fall from victims. A couple people get disemboweled, but all Art seems to pull out of them is large intestines. People get faces eaten and decapitated, or have their limbs chopped off with axes and chainsaws, but I am not positive if I saw a bone even once. It's all so bland and the various mauling scenes blend together. And I can't stress enough, they mean fucking nothing. No character who get's killed by Art has a satisfying story arc or contribute to a plot line. Maybe it's tragic catharsis? Like look at all these characters we built up, not say goodbye because we are gonna unceremoniously and graphically kill all of them! Except the brother from the last movie get's killed off screen. Yeah. No warning. No hint that it's coming. Off. Fucking. Screen.

I keep thinking back to that sentence I read on Wikipedia. "[The writer/director] has expressed regret for leaving the protagonists underdeveloped." Well whatever you think is developed is man, this ain't it. Sienna is where most of the character lies, and her whole thing is this stupid quasi-biblical prophecy thing along with being traumatized from the last movie. Fair, if I lived through that I'd be messed up too. But the PTSD writing is as subtle as a mortar bombing. Sienna literally sees the disgusting mangled corpse of her friend screaming at her. I was liking the flashbacks with her dad until it transitioned into this bizarre origin for her sword. A sword, which for all the build up of it's appearance and how much they bang on how cool and important it is, looks like a plastic prop you can buy at Walgreens for 10 bucks. Actually, it looks worse than that, because the plastic sword I got at Walgreens has a shiny blade and comes with a sheath. And the scene where we see it forged I swear to Beelzebub is 5 decibels louder than the rest of the movie. Because it'll be really scary if we make the audience's eardrums burst, right? The only other characters who gets a modicum of development are the brother, who once again is killed OFF SCREEN, and Sienna's cousin who looks up to her. And she falls into hell! It's for a promise of a sequel, but a) it's less of a promise and more a threat, and b) given the track record of these movies, I would bet when Sienna finds her cousin in hell she'll be completely broken from being barbed wire-skull fucked by Adolf Hitler and Henry Kissinger over the last 8 years or whatever.

All of this comes to my conclusion that Terrifier 3 was not made to be scary, or tell an actual story, or even for hedonistic enjoyment. And the smoking gun is the first thing I though when the movie itself started proper. Why did this movie release in October? Sure, the other two movies did (Kinda sorta if you squint.), but those movies take place on Halloween. Because of Halloween, October is the spooky month so that's when all the Horror movies come out, right? Except not only do horror movies come out all year, ESPECIALLY this year, but this is a holiday horror movie. The whole point of those is to take a ubiquitous cultural moment of fun and enjoyment and make it scary and taboo by breaching social norms. It's an honored tradition that goes back over 400 years if you want to count Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale as the first example. So when you release these movies matter. The cultural context matters. What cultural does Christmas in October bring? It brings the thought of Christmas overtaking all other holidays. The thought of corporations pushing the winter holidays earlier and earlier so they can sell their novelty goods earlier. The thought of retailers pushing seasonal product to sucker in consumers to spend even more money. The pressure of average people to start their gift shopping earlier. Christmas doesn't mean any high minded "peace on Earth" spiritual ideals until December itself. People HATE that Christmas seems to come earlier and earlier every year. (At least the ones who are self-aware enough to distinguish themselves as more that a consumer.) And I think the guy who both wrote and directed this celluloid massacre knows this.

Final Summation.

I am sorry The Substance. I did not enjoy sitting through you, but at least you had a reason. At least their was a message you were conveying to the audience. I am fully prepared to admit that you are a good movie that I just didn't like, although I still hang on to my criticisms about you. But it's true. The Substance is a good movie that just wasn't for me.

Terrifier 3 is edgelord bullshit. Anyone actually well served by this crock of feces would find greater enjoyment from a real snuff film because they are a goddamn psychopath. Everyone else just thinks they'll get big boy brave points for sticking it out, but it's not an endurance test to watch this movie. No, watching this movie is akin to getting cosmetic surgery with no anesthesia. Unnecessarily painful, completely optional, a waste of time, and at the end you're just worse off.

God. Let's talk about something good. Like Donald Trump.