#'you can't strongarm into this' *gets strongarmed*

[eowynstwin]

clawing at the door

ghoap x reader. jealousy. bisexual soap. bisexual ghost. emotionally constipated ghost. manipulative soap. ghost likes em thick. lightly explicit. MDNI. ao3

When Ghost first sees you and Soap together, his jealousy is hard to parse. He doesn't quite understand what he's feeling.

On the one hand, Occam's Razor. Simple explanations usually prove the truest. Soap is his boy, has been since Las Almas, and you are an interloper in their hard-won dynamic. Ghost does not absorb others into his life lightly, even less so then he allows them to strongarm themselves beneath the mask. He doesn't particularly like people, isn't really fond of their tendency toward abject mortality.

Soap's strong arms are a rare exception. And Ghost has nearly died too many times not to admire a nice round ass when he sees one—the kind that glistens and quivers beneath the weak spray of a communal shower. Some part of him has always kind of supposed the sergeant had been showing off specifically for him, too, when he dropped trousers and moaned like a whore when the hot water started flowing.

The boy certainly dogs his steps like that's the case.

Then, you: showing up on base one day, Soap's hand spread wide and possessive on the small of your back. Jewel-bright eyes following your every move. Blush high and feverish on his boy's cheekbones every time you throw half a smile his way.

So it's envy. So it's a crush, unrequited.

Simple problem, simple solution. Getting over by getting under and all that. There are apps for every heartache, and plenty of hard-bodied gym rats out there tripping over themselves to bottom for a brute like him, who can actually throw them around.

Not two minutes after making his profile (military, six-five, top), likely candidates start filing themselves into his inbox. Some part of his ego is gratified, at least. The influx of taint pics certainly confirms for him that his vanity, in fact, is justified, even if the last thing he wants to see is some random stranger's asshole.

He messages a jacked brunette with brown eyes and dimples, who led instead with a comparatively tame "hey big guy," and lets him pick the bar where they'll meet up.

And it's...fine.

The guy is fine. Equally as attractive in person as on camera, with curly hair and short stubble. He's there before Ghost, and directs an easygoing smile at him when he drops onto a stool at the bar beside him.

He doesn't even question the mask, though his eyes linger on it, half-lidded, the kind of way that suggests he's figuring something out about himself that he hadn't considered before. Not the first time it's happened for Ghost.

The problem with fine is that Ghost can't work up even much of a chub talking to him. The guy has a nasally voice and a friendly attitude that makes Ghost's teeth go numb from the sweetness. When they sequester in the dingy pub bathroom, the guy goes to his knees like an angel, and Ghost's cock actually softens more, thoroughly bored already with the notion of this random guy’s mouth on it.

The problem is, Soap would bust Ghost's balls for this.

Sure, Ghost could get him on his knees. Soap is a good boy, he'll take an order if he's given one. But he's also a fucking brat, and the moment Ghost pulled his cock out Soap would immediately start complaining about it.

Too big, too ugly, not hard enough, and when was the last time Ghost washed that fucking thing? How romantic, LT, making him suck Ghost off in a pub bathroom, hasn't he ever heard of good old-fashioned wooing?

He'd complain, Ghost knows, because he'd want, more than anything, for Ghost to just cut through the bullshit and shove straight down his throat. He'd run his mouth because the only thing he wants Ghost to do is shut him the fuck up, for once, and make him actually work for the praise they both know he's so desperate for.

And Ghost would give it. If Soap earned it. The fight isn't about winning.

This guy isn't putting up a fight. He tries nicely, licks all over the limp-hanging head and pale glans, but Ghost ends up making some excuse—Dad has cancer, Mom died, the usual—and leaving him there still on his knees.

He deletes the apps. He can invest in a fleshlight, and find some porn star another with enough of a resemblance to be functional.

Less of a hassle for everyone involved.

Problem solved.

And then he encounters you again.

You're walking out of the supermarket one night, with two huge bags over your shoulders, digging through your purse out in front of you. He has to stop you with one hand on your shoulder to keep you from running into him.

The evening is warm; your shirt is a thin camisole with little elastic straps. His palm meets your bare skin, and finds it soft and dewy with a little sweat.

You look up, startled, blinking as if caught in a bright light.

"Oh," you say, "Ghost, hello!"

"Bird," he grunts, wondering why he's surprised that you recognize him.

He pulls his hand away, and still feels the imprint of your body heat in its grooves.

"Sorry, I should have been looking," you say, smiling. It's a friendly expression, open and innocent—a daisy's petals spread on a clear day. "Johnny's making beef wellington tonight when he's off duty, so I went and got everything."

Ghost frowns. What kind of boyfriend lets his girl do so much heavy lifting?

He helps you carry the bags to your car. He's jealous, not an asshole. You thank him with a breezy laugh when he closes the hatchback—

"I'm sure Johnny wouldn't mind if you stopped by for dinner," you say, folding your arms across your ribcage. It presses your tits together as you cup your elbows in your hands, pronouncing the line of your cleavage with an uncomfortable eloquence.

"Busy," Ghost says immediately, staring very hard into your eyes. "Thanks."

You shrug, unperturbed. "Anytime. Good night!"

He stands in the carpark for a full five minutes after you drive away. He thinks he can feel his own heartbeat throbbing through the palm he touched you with.

Well, then.

Bereft of any opportunity to get to know you—as if it would even be appropriate—Ghost stalks social media until he finds you through Soap's Instagram. Your account is private, so he sends a follow request, expectations very low that you'd allow someone with a blank sky for a profile picture and only one post on their feed to follow you, "sghostriley" notwithstanding.

But—you do. And suddenly he has a decade of material to peruse, beginning with your last year of secondary school and leading all the way up to present, the most recent photo one of you and Soap at the top of some mountain, grinning at the camera in your hiking gear.

You don't post very many pictures of yourself, he finds. Instead you document interesting food you eat or make, crafts you're working on, nice scenery you caption with variations of "saw this on my walk today :)". It's all very domestic, sweet in a way without being saccharine.

Soft, really. Totally separated from the hard edges of the world he and Soap routinely throw themselves along.

And yet, honest in a way that makes your version of the world feel more like the real one, and his and Soap’s the nightmare.

Ghost hasn't been with a girl—let alone been interested in one—in years. It isn't that the attraction had ever died, exactly. Rather, it simply became so complex, so twisted in on itself and trapped beneath years of grown-over scar tissue, that he'd made an unconscious decision never to confront it. He ignored Price’s stories about his wife’s antics at home, Gaz’s perennial heartbreak after strings of failed dates—

Soap’s lurid bragging about the women he’s taken home from various pubs.

(Were you one of those pub girls?)

So, here it is now, confronting him instead. Reminding him, in a pretty camisole, just how very much it exists.

In the carpark, there’d been a bead of sweat slipping down your neck as you’d waved him goodbye. He finds himself wondering how long it would’ve taken to slide all the way down to the slope of your breast, if he didn’t catch it with his tongue first.

He continues through your Instagram. The majority of your selfies show up, he guesses, after the beginning of your relationship with Soap.

Earlier pictures of you make your discomfort obvious. You don't like the way you look, and it shows in the tension on your face when confronted with a camera lens. But later on, you gain confidence. Your expressions are softer as you show off a new haircut or glasses.

And when the first picture of you with Soap shows up, it's like seeing someone glowing from the inside.

Your head is tucked into the juncture of his shoulder and neck. The smile on your face is soft, small and lovely in how little you're clearly thinking about it.

You're happy.

It floors him. A happy girl, settled into the embrace of a man who’s made her feel that way.

Piece of work, he is. Could ogle another man's ass without shame, but present him with that man’s girl and suddenly it upends his entire sense of self.

Some old cunt psychiatrist would have a field day analyzing him.

Ghost skips the apps and, following in Soap’s footsteps, heads back to the pubs.

It’s worse.

Not that he doesn’t have options sidling up to him, that is. It seems like all he has to do is sit at the bar and wait, and women circle their way into his orbit, not really talking to him but letting him know, simply by hovering, that they’d love for him to talk to them. Batting their lashes, laughing near him seemingly at nothing.

Up to him to make the first move then. It seems to him like the rules haven't changed over his long absence from the dating pool.

Therein lay the snag—Ghost doesn't know how to talk to women. Not that way, the way one says without saying it that he'd like to take her home and bend her over the back of his couch. Say that to a man at the right bar and that was his evening sorted, but Ghost has a feeling that won't play as well among people with cat-shaped brass knuckles on their keychains.

He's not much of a talker, period. Soap yaps enough to fill in his side of the conversation whenever they're in the field. And you...well, he doesn't know about you. Ghost has the uncomfortable feeling that he'd try for you, and fail miserably.

The bartender slides a drink in front of him, distracting him from his agonizing. When Ghost gives him a questioning look, he nods in the direction of a table behind him.

One of the barflies has made the first move.

She winks at him when he raises the glass at her. She’s pretty—her dark makeup makes her eyes look angular and mysterious, and her red dress is tight, thin, and low-cut. Her exposed chest shimmers, as if she dusted some sort of powder across her collarbones before making her way here.

Sparkly and colorful, like a lure on a line. Ready to hook something and pull it in.

(Your camisole had been threadbare and lined with cheap, fraying lace. A favorite of yours, probably, something you wore when you wanted to be comfortable, and didn’t care who thought what about it.)

Ghost notices other men are eyeing the woman, and a couple of them send nasty glares his way. That is, they do before promptly averting their gazes once they see what he looks like.

He can have this, then, if he wants it. He just has to reach out and take it.

He feels your warmth in the palm of his hand again. The breeze of your laugh brushes his cheek with a soft touch.

He sends the woman one of her own drink, drops forty quid on the bar, and leaves without looking back.

Another dinner invite comes his way, this time courtesy of Soap himself.

“She told me she met you at the store,” Soap says, one afternoon when they’re in the changing room. “Really nice of you to help her out, LT.”

“You weren’t there to do it,” Ghost grumbles. Soap has been prancing around shirtless for fifteen minutes, faffing about while Ghost waits for him to leave so he can adjust his erection.

“I didn’t tell her to get everything!” the sergeant protests. “She just went and did it herself.” Then Soap’s eyes go all dreamy and stupid. “She’s grand, isn’t she.”

Ghost grumbles again, something noncommittal.

“Anyway, dinner’s at seven, and I’ll send you the address,” says Soap, pulling a thin t-shirt over his head. Ghosts watches him yank the hem down over his pecs, covering the toned plane of his abs.

Soap winks at him. “See you there, Ghost.”

Ghost grunts.

Soap does, in fact, see him there.

He goes out of resignation. Or maybe with some notion that seeing Soap and you together again will finally vanquish whatever sits on his chest so heavily whenever he thinks of the two of you.

Soap’s the one to answer the door. “There he is, the braw wee bastard!”

“Soap.”

From the looks of it, it’s your flat. It’s nicely decorated without being too over-designed, something warm and comfortable and welcoming. When Ghost steps inside, he’s hit immediately with the smell of seared pancetta and garlic.

The sergeant leads him through the flat. Ghost has a bottle of wine under one arm, having remembered at the last minute he should probably bring something along. You’re in the kitchen, stirring a pot on the stove.

“Hi, Ghost!” you chirp when you look over your shoulder. “Ooh, good, that’s drinks settled. Hope you like bolognese. It’s all I know how to make.”

“S’fine,” Ghost says, which he would say even if bolognese made him violently ill.

“Ach, you can make more than that,” Soap says, retrieving three long-stemmed glasses from a cabinet. “Pour a nice glass of water.”

You snatch the dish towel hanging from the oven handle and give it a snap in the general direction of Soap’s ass. He laughs and dances out of the way.

“There’s a bottle opener in the island drawer, Ghost,” you say cheerfully. You're pretty tonight, in a loose t-shirt and soft-looking joggers. Casual, like you don't have a guest over at all.

Like it's just a night in with your boyfriend.

Ghost pops the cork as Soap sets the glasses down. After he pours, the sergeant delivers a glass to his girlfriend, and there’s a brief moment of quiet as everyone sips and the sauce on the stove bubbles.

It’s all so nice and normal as to make Ghost’s hackles raise just in anticipation, although he knows there’s no reason for it. Truthfully, he almost hadn’t come. The thought of you and Soap, and Soap and you, in the same room, together, a unit, had made his stomach clench up so tight that he though he might not be able to get any food down.

But some part of him needed to come, and see this. Test out Pavlov’s theory, to see if enough negative reinforcement could break him of this borderline manic fixation. If he could associate Soap and you with romantic nausea, and nothing more, maybe he could finally stop jerking off every night to no satisfaction.

Because he had, in fact, found a porn star who looked like Soap. More tattoos, and a buzz cut rather than a mohawk, but Ghost couldn’t be picky.

The real shock had been to find that this proxy often partnered with a girl who looked enough like you to be uncanny. Too skinny, definitely, but in the one video Ghost had watched of them together, he could have sworn, as the lookalike reamed her from behind—

That it was you looking at him over your shoulder.

Looking at Soap. Or, looking at Ghost, behind him.

At that moment in the playback Ghost had come so hard, cock blazing red and raw in his hand, that the notion had liquified a little. So he couldn’t be sure what the thought had originally meant.

He hadn’t been brave enough to watch another.

“This isn’t bad,” Soap says after tasting the wine. “Nothin’ on a good whisky, mind.”

“Don’t neg your lieutenant, Johnny,” you say. “This is good, Ghost, thank you.”

Hearing Johnny fall from your lips so casually threads something uncomfortable between Ghost’s intestines. Uncomfortable, because he likes it.

Had Soap told you to call him that? Or had you decided on it all on your own? Did Soap think of Ghost whenever you said his name? Did he think of you whenever Ghost did?

“Simon’s fine,” he replies.

It escapes him before he even thinks about it. The same way he’d taken his mask off in Las Almas and looked directly at Soap, wondering in some hidden part of himself if the sergeant was impressed.

“That’s a nice name,” you say, swirling the wine in your glass. You take another sip, closing your eyes to savor it, and then, tilting your head like a little bird in thought, you pour a stream of it from the glass into your pasta sauce.

“Suits him, aye?” Soap says, side-eyeing Ghost with amusement. “Right posh name he’s got for a big scary bugger. Hidden depths, him.”

“Yeah, unlike you,” you snark, stirring.

Soap slaps a big hand over his heart. “Ach, lass, you wound me always.”

“Someone has to keep you humble,” you say, grinning. There’s a charming twinkle in your eyes.

“You gonna let ‘er get away with that, sergeant?”

He surprises himself by saying it. But something in the way you and Soap bicker—absent of the usual sugary drivel, as if the two of you have skipped over the honeymoon phase and stuck the landing right into stable commitment—invites him in.

It's magnetic, almost. It seizes the spinning needle in his brain, draws it to a standstill. Evens out the landscape, so he knows where he can go.

“You’re absolutely right, LT,” says Soap, who smacks his lips, sets his wineglass aside, and bum-rushes you.

You shriek as he captures you in both arms, lifting you off the floor and whirling you around—both the spoon in one hand and the glass in the other fling drops of red and white absolutely everywhere. And then you’re giggling as Soap wedges his face between your neck and shoulder and shakes his head like a dog, probably biting down.

Soap growls; a big smile takes over your face, eyes squeezed shut as you laugh breathlessly. The sergeant’s broad, brown forearms have yours pinned up against your chest, pressing your breasts together.

“Not fair, Ghost!” you exclaim as Soap’s growling noises turn into obnoxiously loud kisses. “No pulling rank in my house!”

“Two against one, hen, you’re outnumbered,” Soap counters. “What should we do with this one, eh, LT?”

“See if I ever cook for you two again, is what!” you protest, still grinning with delight. You kick your legs to no effect.

Soap, also grinning, slots his face back into your neck. You giggle again, complaining that it tickles.

Some incomplete circuit finally connects.

Order given. Girlfriend “punished.”

Soap making you laugh because Ghost told him to.

Not one. Not the other. Both.

“Think we can let ‘er off the hook this time,” he says, feeling dazed.

The pictures on your Instagram, with you and Soap together. The both of you, smiling together, wrapped around each other, standing at the top of a mountain and grinning what the two of you get to share.

Soap's hand spread on your back.

“Aye, sir,” Soap says, setting you down. You’re still laughing a little as you go to check the sauce, and Soap finds a towel to clean up the mess he made. Ghost reels in the meanwhile.

There’s an imprint of Soap’s teeth on your neck.

They wouldn’t be there if Ghost hadn’t sicced Soap on you.

He’s still reeling as you begin plating dinner, and Soap sets out the silverware. When everyone sits down to eat, the sergeant tops up everyone’s drinks.

“I hope you like it,” you say to Ghost, setting his plate in front of him. There's a shyness to you, a verity to your concern for his opinion.

“Oh, he will,” Soap says, grinning.

He trails the tips of his fingers along the back of your arm as he directs that jewel-blue gaze at Ghost. It's sharper than Ghost has ever noticed before—

“The LT has good taste. Don’t you, Ghost?”

And with his other hand, he raises his glass to the knowing smirk on his lips.

a/n: I can't use arse, I know it would be more accurate but I just can't I'm sorry

[radiance1]

"Danny!" Danny turned around to find Plasmius, gunning straight for him on his motorbike, and came to a quick stop as if he wasn't about to run him over. "You need to keep your alternative self on a leash. You hear me?"

Danny took one long sip of his tea, staring Plasmius straight in the eyes, savored the taste for a moment before swallowing. "Nuh uh."

"What do you mean 'Nuh uh'!?"

"Nuh uh."

Plasmius straight up hissed, red eyes glowing from beyond his pair of sunglasses as he stared the teenager down. "Do you know how many times he's woken me up, before the sun itself is up, just to annoy me into spending valuable hours of my time with him!?"

Danny took another sip of his tea, reaching a hand under his shirt to scratch his stomach. "That sounds like a you problem, really."

"Da-"

"You know he's also made from you right? If I had to fight him, you're going to be annoyed by him." Danny stated plainly, making a gesture with his thermos. "Also, it's a bonus for me since you're too busy to do your frootloop things-"

Plasmius grabbed Danny by the back of his shirt and wrinkled his nose. "You really need to get better pajamas than a simple shirt and oversized pants." He placed the boy under his arm and took the sky. Danny idly shifted to Phantom as he took another sip. "So like, where're you taking me?"

"To go and put stop to that imbecile."

"You know I had plans today."

"Ice cream for a month, all from my card."

Phantom humed. "Make it two."

"Deal."

Phantom flexed his fingers. "...Three..."

"Doable."

"Oh, you're actually serious about this."

A drive later

You see, Dan was having the time of his life. Strongarming that old man at the asscrack of dawn, driving to Metroplis and causing mass amounts of property damage with the crown jewel being that he got to chase around Superman in an attempt to run him over.

He should've expected something to go wrong.

One moment, he was casually minding his business, trying to trample one of the Earth's greatest heroes under his motorbike. The next he was nearly knocked off of it when something slammed into him.

"Ello." Phantom said calmly, as if he wasn't just thrown by Plasmius right into his alternative self from a future that no longer exists. "Twerp." Dan also said 'calmly' as he grabbed onto Phantom and lifted him off of him.

Then dropped him.

Superman was very quick to catch the boy. "Thanks." Phantom said, and Superman smiled. "You're welcome! Are you here to pick him up now, or are you just waiting?"

"I'm getting three months worth of ice cream if I stop him now so like, pick him up I guess."

Superman help him up under the armpits and faced him towards Dan. "He's here to pick you up, by the way!"

"I fucking heard that!" Dan shouted at Superman before turning his attention to Phantom. "Also, what the fuck! You can't just do that! Did that old fuck put you up to this!?"

"Whaaaat? Noooo, he would neveeer..." Phantom glanced around, looking for Plasmius before clicking his tongue. There was an unfortunate lack of said halfa to throw under the bus. "If you stop for like, now, I'll share some of my ice cream with you."

Dan genuinely considered this proposal. "Know what, fine." He yanked Phantom from Superman's hold and dropped him onto the seat beside him before driving away.

"Enjoy your ice cream!" Superman shouted.

"Shut the fuck up boy scout!" Dan shouted back.

[taylor-titmouse]

i've been seeing it popping up again with the ao3 stats that just came out, and it's something that's nagged at me for a while in porn spaces, and let's be real--fanfic spaces and porn spaces are more similar than they are different--but there's this bizarre sense of entitlement to representation from the audience of what are unambiguously self indulgent creative works.

with fanfic i usually see it as complaining about a lack of f/f in comparison to the predominate m/m. in porn, it's usually a lack of certain body types/genders. and what i'll see is anger that those things aren't represented enough by artists/authors to suit the audience's taste. there's not enough f/f in my fandom, people aren't drawing characters that look like X enough, etc. and it just seems so... pointless?

you can't strongarm individuals into making the work you want them to make. you can't bully somebody into an interest. you can invite them to examine why they might not be interested in certain things, and they may come out the other side of it with a new perspective, but you can't force it. there is always the possibility of "i see why someone could be into that, but I'm still not and don't want to make work about it." and where do you go from there? people are just not going to be interested in or attracted to everything, no matter how you moralize it.

if you want to see more of something in an entirely self-driven space like fandom and porn, you have to make it yourself, or find the money to pay for it. fandom authors and porn artists are not beholden to a publisher deciding what they get to spend their precious effort and boner on, no more than they are beholden to you.

[defire]

Dragged into an organization for their skills

Content: defiant whumpee, leader whump, beatings, electrocution, manhandling, evil organization

Whumpee is super confident, dresses in like a red blazer with lightning bolts and expects respect. They're a pro. Getting slammed into a table with an arm twisted back behind them triggers anger, not panic.

Sweating from rage as they walk in down a corridor to speak to "whoever's in charge" because "you can't hold me here against my will!"

Pro getting beaten up trying to let a younger, weaker colleague escape

As soon as pro starts yelling, Evil Director gets up and like 10 masked guards step out of the shadows. Pro falters, especially as Director begins to explain how they can get away with this

Pro getting beaten up for refusing to take the "training" required for their "new position"

"You can't strongarm me into this!" "Yes we can. Security? Strongarm him." Security comes in and forces pro to their knees, and director makes them have the rest of the conversation in that position with their shoulders strained harshly forward.

That foot-on-crotch thing, with security holding pro down.

Pro getting tazed every time they talk to the director because they keep trying to rush them.

When they're so isolated and in an unknown place and they curl up in their bed at night into as small a ball as they can get.

Quieter talks when they're so tired and alone and Director is the only person they're allowed to talk to. Getting vulnerable and hating Director for making this happen.

Blackmailing pro by assigning the weakest member of the team to a mission that will get them really badly hurt when they fail

When they finally do what they're being forced to do, they have a set, almost teary expression as they turn their back on their honor code

Leading the team in rebellion against the director

[solar4seekstron]

They’re Hot!

TFRID2015!Bumblebee x Cybertronian!GN!Reader One-shot

Content: 16+, Bee loses his memories and Reader sees a side of him where he’s more open. Reader and Bee reconnect in the end where their relationship has grown.

Introduction Movies/Series Oneshot Masterlist

TW/Tags: Angst, relationship problems, Bee neglecting reader, child bee showing his true feelings, argument at end, more angst again. Have fun crying you simps.

Notes: Reader is slightly taller than bee and reader has a very grabbable waist.

It was a normal day at the junkyard. It was getting late and Bee was still on his patrols with the others.

You stayed with the humans and Sidwswipe.

You have been super busy lately and honestly, you’ve needed a recharge. And so when the humans and Sideswipe noticed you were struggling to stay awake.

Sideswipe letting you know they’ll be fine and to go to sleep. You were hesitant but agreed. You can't keep doing this to yourself. So you stood and walked to your sleeping quarters.

It always felt cramped when in your alt mode.

For you at least and so Danny created a shack for you and your Conjunx bee.

You sent a message through the bond. But he doesn’t respond..

You soon fall asleep once lying down and Bee can feel your warmth once asleep through the bond.

And so you went to sleep. Only to be awakened by a light sound of talks and a bit of arguing. You were lying on your side when the door opened. You then heard the door locked and steps being made to you while you kept your optics closed.

Then you fell a cervo on your side. Digits gently rubbing your frame.

You’d then feel Bees dermas on the side of your neck as he lays behind you.

Spooning you from behind. He then spoke while his arm now wrapped around your waist and you felt his helm pressed against the back of your neck. He finally spoke in a gentle whisper. “Sorry for waking you. And keeping you waiting, Sweetsaprk.”

You let out a soft sigh and responded. Your frame moves only a little to get comfortable as you respond. “How was the patrol? Steel jaw still at large?”

Bee lets out a hum. Thinking back to when you last fought. Bee was so angry with how he flirted and even held you in a way that only Bee should be allowed to. Then again you were captured. So you couldn’t do much,

Bee finally responded. “No luck with even finding their base…” He remained silent.

You two as you looked down. He then spoke once more. “I missed you. Why don’t we..Go for a drive tomorrow? What do you say?” You can feel his stare behind you.

Finally speaking. “Sure. It’s been a while..Sweetspark.” You turned your helm a bit once you said that last word. His optics staring at yours as you glanced at him. You had a smile on your dermas. He has a much smaller one.

And so you both fell asleep together.

The next day when you were getting ready for your patrols and watching that cartoon Grim likes. Something about colorful horses who use magic. Not something you’d watch but you like seeing the big silly bot get excited over the songs and all.

You were then walking to the entrance waiting for Bee until he walked up to you. His face is neutral and he gently took your cervo.

Telling you there’s been a site of a Decepticon on the loose and how you need to stay here to protect the humans just in case. You were disappointed but understood. He understood this feeling through the bond. He apologized and kissed your forhelm before then pressing his own against yours. Making optics contact then leaving with the others.

Who said their byes to you. You let out a sigh and stayed waiting and waiting.

When they returned, you were looking over a data pad and heard the others drive in through the front. It wasn't even past the afternoon to evening yet. You also didn’t expect to see Bee with a large grin.

Something he didn’t really do before. So you know something happened.

You listened as Strongarm told you what happened. You then nodded and told her you understood. You all then are left with how to handle the matter.

As time passes, you continue your evening walks around the base to make sure everything is in order and normal. You didn’t know Bee was pranking the others. You made your way to the center of the junkyard. You were confused for a moment since you heard nothing. Usually, the others are here.

That’s until you then felt two cervos on both sides of your waist. You then feel them lifting you and when you are in the air looking back. It was Bee.

He had such a large grin on his dermas while he stared up at you.

You both heard Strongarm alongside Sideswipe speaking to Bee. Bee soon had a frown on his dermas while you remained in the air. “Sir, No! No bad Bee. Put them down right now!”

Bee stood there for a moment. Slowly putting you down but before your pedes ever touched the floor, he then lifted you once more and started to run with you.

Basically Bee giggling like a child while holding you above his head like you weigh nothing. The others chasing you both through the junkyard. Bee then yelled out with excitement. “Haha, I got a hot bot and you doooooooon’t!” You honestly didn’t even know what to do. You just have a ‘I’m so done.’

It soon got late and eventually, you were able to get down while the others got left behind on the other side of the junkyard. You then placed your cervos on his shoulders while he kept grinning. You then spoke.

”Bee come on now. You’re causing enough trouble already for everyone.” He then started hugging your waist. Taking you by surprise. He then spoke with a cheerful tone. “But I wannaaaaaaa play! Plus you're hot so a hot bot needs a hot gal in My Arms!”

You were surprised. Wondering if these are his true feelings. Maybe?

You then asked in curiosity. “So you find me cute Bee?” He giggled and spoke.

“Yeah! You’re hot! And the bond we have is making me wanna smother you with hugs and kisses even more. Even if it is icky!” He grinned.

Honestly.

You blushed a bit. Bee hasn’t given you a genuine compliment for such a long time. It was…nice honestly. Putting a genuine smile on your dermas. But you also remember this is him…fully. So you had to think fast to fix the situation. Maybe this is a sign to finally have a serious talk with Bee. You then spoke. Gently holding his shoulders.

”Bee, why don’t we play a……game? You be good and not prank the others then….I’ll um.”

He had a frown at first until he soon had a grin. Then speak to finish your sentence. “A kiss?”

”On the cheek.” You finished. Having a small grin on your dermas. He cheered like a little kid who got a lollipop. But then he said he got bored and drove away. Yelling as he got further. “See you later, Hotstuff!”

You let out a sigh as you turned away a bit. Holding the bridge of your nose.

Later that night Sidwswipe and Russel decided to babysit Bee. You leaving with Strongarm and Grimlock to deal with a Decepticon. Before you both knew it when you both saw the police. Knowing this might be harder than you thought. You three then heard Bee speaking.

Be then tried to make his way to the police until Strongarm gave the order for Grimlock to watch over him.

You and Strongarm making your way to the police.

When they were clear. You and Strongarm got to work with dealing with elephants. Everything else was kinda a blur since you were too tired. But you do remember Bee somehow getting to you and Bee riding on Grimlock.

You though were able to catch the Decepticon. Bee later joined you in the weird bouncy house place. Though you did struggle to keep your balance. “Bee! Stop goofing around and try to get him!”

Bee just ignored you and continued to have his fun. You have to step out to catch your breath.

When you walked back with the others. Bee was able to miss the quills and the Decepticon got hit instead. You and Strongarm stared at Bee in shock while he remained energized.

Strongarm then later gets the idea to strap him up somewhere. Strongarm then glanced at you for your opinion. You thought for a moment. Then looking at Bee. He then had his arms open trying to get closer to you while making kissing sounds.

Your cervo holding his face while his pedes keep moving.

Creating a line in the dirt while you remained still. You then let out a sigh and looked back at Strongarm. Speaking you then moved Bee around and held around his waist with your arm.

”Alright Strongarm. What’s your first order.” This caused her to grin and speak with enthusiasm. “Alright, everyone. Let's get to work!”

Should smiled at her then at Bee. Who looked a bit scared nod started to struggle to get out of your grasp. You and Grimlock getting to work with timing up Bee to this tower. You guys then tell him it’s a game.

The next morning, Strongarm and Grimlock went back to the base.

They were exhausted and you offered to stay behind. Napping against and sleeping elephant until you and the poor elephant then heard Bee shouting.

” Whoever did this! Is getting a large scolding when I get down!”

You let out a soft chuckle and then stood up. Stretching your arms then yelling to him. “I’ll get you down Bee. Just hang in there.”

You chuckle. Able to get him down soon while he grumbled and tried his best to remember what happened. You then explained while just seeming upset. “So instead of dealing with the Decepticon first. You decided I was more important? What were you thinking, Y/N?”

You frowned and spoke. Almost staring down at him. “You’re our leader Bee. Decepticons will always come. The same one or not. And You can complain all you wish but team or not. I’m still your Conjunx.”

He let out a sigh and spoke again. “That isn’t an excuse. Our job is the Decepticons come first and to not let foolery come first.” He almost got into your face. But only making it to your chest. You just glared down at him.

”So…if I was in danger but the Decepticon got away…” Bee seemed to be taken aback for a moment. His optics were a little wider as you spoke once more.

”Would you go after the Decepticon….even as I bleed out?” You were serious.

He just stared at you. Then turned his helm away for a moment. Trying to find his words. You continue to glare down at him. Farrowed optics and your optics dim as you stared at him. You then speak once more.

”You know the way you speak about ‘these’ Decepticons. Makes me rethink how you see me before I decided to join you on this earth mission. You changed Bee….But not for the better….I’m going home.” You turned away. Walking to the excite. But you soon felt his cervo grab your wrist.

He then spoke. “Wait. I’m sorry I didn’t mean.-“ You cut him off.

”Oh I know what you meant. But the team- family. Is everything. And I do wish to be a part of it still. But not as your partner.”

You pulled your wrist away. “We have Decepticons to deal with. Don’t want them getting away. Right?” You started walking away once more. Making it past the gate and soon transforming and driving back to the junkyard.

Bee standing there in almost defeat. Looking down with angry and upset optics.

Angry with himself he feels the bond soon break. Things weren’t the same much since then.

Oh man this one actually made me sad. Whe I realized how I wanted to end this i story while writing it. Rewriting the beginning was a bit hard. But I think I was able to make it work. If not. Oh well.

Hope you guys enjoyed this one like I did and as always a repost is appreciated. I hope you guys have a good rest of your day and I’ll see y’all in the comments!

[themeraldee]

Hello, I don't know if someone has you this in the past, but how would Homelander feel/react to a reader that wants to wait for marriage before doing it lol?

Blue balls would be an understatement 😂

It would start off with an incredulous "you've never fucked? in this day and age??" And he would accept your answer whatever it may be.

But ofc he wouldn't let it go. Asking all sorts re: your experience. (Idk how committed reader would be to 0 sexual interaction or if it's purely about penetrative sex but still)

"ever give head? or have you ever gotten head?"

"alright, don't tell me some horny teenage boy didn't manage to sneak those clumsy fingers under your skirt? no, really?"

"surely you got some over the clothes action eh?"

if all of that gets a negative answer he's less upset over your "stupid rule" and more excited by the fact that he'll be the first one. Of course you were waiting for him!

His good mood would soon turn sour once you'd refuse all of his ideas of getting down and dirty. From "come on, I can make you feel real good with my fingers (or tongue)" to "trust me, just the tip doesn't count, I won't tell anyone." Or "do you touch yourself? what am I saying of course you do. You could at least let me watch? Throw me a bone will you?"

But of course he doesn't want to force you. He wants you to want him. No point in strongarming you into it just to have you upset with him later. He wants you happily whimpering for him 🩷

So instead impromptu proposal it is! He gets everyone around you to slowly plant the seeds of marriage and extract information regarding your ideal proposal/wedding so when he pops the question very shortly after you can't help but feel swept off your feet 🤭

[jweekgoji]

yan!TFRID2015 small hcs. (bot!reader)

Overprotective yandere.

Like, Bumblebee is already so overprotective over his team because they're all so inexperienced and young compared to him it's natural for him to do the same towards you. Except you will be treated with more caution, like 10 times more than Sideswipe or Grimlock for example. He's selfless and tends to throw himself in front of you if the decepticon is a little too close to landing a hit on you. 🐝 often gets hurt because of it but maybe if you spend a little time with him, treating the injuries, he is happy to do that again.

Manipulative yandere.

I see Sideswipe as someone who will try to impress you all the time. He always tries to look cool or strong around bots who he sees as a role model, like Jazz or Windblade. He's not manipulative in a bad-bad way, but more in a childish way. Expect him to be more risky on your missions together because his optics will be all on you. If you look away from him, he will try to do everything to make you notice him again. Sideswipe is not the one who often follows what other bots say, but if it's you asking or ordering something — he's listening. It's funny how he acts like some bad boy most of the time, showing off and stuff, but surprisingly gets cooperative once he sees you. He just knows how to get what he wants.

Clingy yandere.

Grimlock probably can't take being apart from you. I mean, most of the bots would rather spend time with you whenever they can but this dinobot would beg Bumblebee to put him on the same mission with you no matter what your job is. He can't go with you because you will be busy finding a decepticon in the city? Don't worry, he already mastered how to disguise himself! He will try to say that because he's a muscle of the team and extra muscle is never enough if you deal with decepticons. Grimlock would be more whiney and impatient when he's not around you, making other bots so annoyed because they have to listen to him talking about you for hours! As soon as you come back be ready to get crushed by his dino hugs.

Obsessive yandere.

Strongarm sees you as someone who inspires her and she learns everything from you. If you're more experienced bot than her, she will ask you millions of questions, watching you in battle and analysing your moves. Just like Sideswipe she sees you as a role model but unlike him, Strongarm will be more calm and polite about it. If you're the same newbie as her, she will be glad to train with you and learn more how you can improve your teamwork together. Strongarm thinks you're perfect no matter what flaws you might have, if someone tries to tell her otherwise she gets easily agitated to protect your honor!

[lgbtlunaverse]

One underdiscussed aspect of the bone-deep lack of mutual understanding during the nieyao stairs scene is that Nie Mingjue doesn't know - and can't know - what he's actually asking of Jin Guangyao. Not because he doesn't understand how his father treats him, or how tenuous his position is. But because he has no clue Xue Yang is a demonic cultivator.

Remember: Nie Mingjue is still alive, which means the position of chief cultivator doesn't exist yet and Jin Guangshan is facing heavy pushback for suggesting it. Most of that is coming from a fear that the Jin will try to become the next Wen. So having an outer disciple murder an entire clan and then not even punish him properly? This is a collosally bad move politically! You might as well be waving a red flag around yelling "I want to kill other sects with impunity!" There's a reason that years in the future, the moment Jin Guangyao becomes acting sect leader, he will immediately order Xue Yang's death (He doesn't actually die, either by accident or on purpose on jgy's part. But the point is that as far as the public is concerned he had Xue Yang executed.)

From Nie Mingjue's perspective, Jin Guangshan just shot himself in the foot politically for some random outer disciple. It's morally wrong, but it's also incredibly fucking stupid. In his eyes, he is asking Jin Guangyao to do the glaringly obvious right thing, even when exclusively looking at the Jins' self-interest. The thing that surely everyone else in the Jin also wants Jin Guangshan to do! Jin Guangyao can say that he has no influence on his father all he wants, but it is obvious how much work he does and so, as much as his father may not respect him, he clearly at least trusts Jin Guangyao's competence. Nie Mingjue has already tried shouting directly at Jin Guangshan during the trial and it seemed to work, but then Jin Guangshan went back on his decision like a complete idiot. So now Nie Mingjue is asking the guy who is famous for being good at rhetoric and convincing people to convince his donkey of a father to do the obviously correct thing with minimal downsides because again, to Nie Mingjue, this is all about some random outer disciple. It makes sense to ask this! It's a pretty reasonable request! Jin Guangshan can't possibly care that much.

Except of course he does. Because Xue Yang isn't some random outer disciple. He's the only good shot Jin Guangshan has at recreating the yin tiger tally. And Jin Guangshan reaaaaaally wants the yin tiger tally. So bad that he is fully willing to tank an ungodly amount of political goodwill to get it. Jin Guangyao is fully aware that not only will Jin Guangshan never kill Xue Yang, he isn't planning on keeping him locked up either. In fact, after Nie Mingjue is dead, he'll free Xue Yang and strongarm Chang Ping into denying the guilt of his family's murderer. Jin Guangshan cares a lot about keeping Xue Yang in his employ.

And Jin Guangyao knows this. But he can't tell Nie Mingjue that! Because then he'd have to admit they've been doing demonic cultivation. That the fucking ghost geneal is in their basement. That, oopsie, they actually also killed a whole other entire clan just a while ago after framing their sect leader for an assasination attempt and then used their bodies as fodder to make more fierce corpses. You know, in case one mass murder wasn't enough!

So obviously he's not gonna say that. Which means Nie Mingjue has no idea what he's demanding from Jin Guangyao, and therefore no idea why he absolutely can't fullfill that request.

I get why it's not mentioned very often because there are a lot of other problems which are both more obvious and more fun to talk about. (Who doesn't love a little overcomplicated trolley problem?) But I think it adds just another layer to the chasm between them in this scene. They're not just disagreeing, they're having completely different conversations.

[lets-try-some-writing]

Um maby about how bumblebee's team from rid2015 finds out about his base coding or how they deal with it.

Boy oh boy its been a while since I got to one of these asks.

━━━━━━ ⊙ ❖ ⊙ ━━━━━━━━━━━━

What do you do when your boss begins acting strangely? Ignore it of course!

Sideswipe is of the opinion that Bee is eccentric. Strongarm is familiar with the whole concept of active base coding and so does her best to keep clear of him when he's having moments. Grimlock has no idea what happens to Bee when he gets a bit feral, but he recognizes the animalistic instincts and is rightfully afraid. Fixit is by far the most educated on the matter and tries to be helpful rather than simply avoiding the former scout. Overall, Bee's team are not entirely sure what is up with their leader when he has his little 'episodes', but they've found ways to work with it.

Bee doesn't tend to have his episodes often. They are rare and often induced due to extreme stress. Sometimes, leadership get to be too much. A harsh battle or a difficult situation can leave Bee so on edge that he can't help but revert without Optimus or someone else around to ease his base coding. And so he lashes out.

When an episode occurs during a battle, Strongarm has taken it upon herself to get herself and the team out of the area while Bee rages. There have thus far been no casualties, but frankly, none of the team are particularly inclined to step in even if Bee did start to get a big vicious. Bumblebee for his part tends to compose himself about half way through a moment of rage, in large part due to his age. Still, sometimes the agitation lingers and can lead Sideswipe and Grimlock to take Bumblebee out to spar once they are back at base. The additional combat lets him get out his aggression and ease him back into a semi-stable state. Fixit usually guides Bumblebee to some dark corner of the base with a pile of comforting things afterwards.

Let the beast rest and ease back into dormancy. Don't disturb him lest he lash out.

When Bumblebee base coding is activated in response to leadership induced stress, its a different story. He either becomes painfully clingy or overly reclusive. Without Optimus around, he either wants to vanish into the void where its safe or hang around the next best thing. It's hard to tell what he'll do, but the team manage. Sideswipe tends to be the unfortunate spark stuck under the umbrella of 'small child'. This means that when Bee is unsettled and the base coding is particularly active (And Bee isn't trying to be a recluse), Sideswipe is watched like a hawk and occasionally dragged back into base if he wanders too far. Grimlock gets stuck with Bee hanging off him since he's big, intimidating, and overall tends to be quite warm (he reminds Bee of Optimus when he's in bot mode, but he will never admit that).

Strongarm tends to sit somewhere between 'small child' and 'parental unit' on Bumblebee's base coding inspired way of looking at the world. Often, this means that when he's feeling clingy, he'll just... hang around. He won't touch, but he follows her quietly and occasionally shoos off others who get too close. Fixit is firmly in the guardian category, landing him with the lovely fate of having Bumblebee lurk around him the most, sometimes even carrying him around when Grimlock is too afraid to let Bee hang off him. Fixit is surprisingly fine with this and even makes use of his situation to finally be on optic level with other bots.

However, when Bumblebee is more inclined toward being a feral recluse, the team take more drastic measures. When he gets into such moods, he doesn't want to leave his quarters and will fight anyone who tries to make him. He tends to not feel safe and so will have a violent reaction without Optimus or another loved one near. The team try to make due by sending Grimlock in as an offering. Sometimes it works and can snap Bee into being clingy over reclusive. Other times, Grimlock comes screaming down the hall with claw marks (which Bee always apologizes for afterwards).

If the Grimlock solution fails, the team have to wait it out. They try to speed along Bumblebee's whole process though.

Sideswipe will purposefully make a ton of noise in the halls, trying to make it seem like he's been injured. Sometimes it gets Bumblebee to come out and drag him to the medical bay, usually leading to Bee shifting gears. If that fails, Strongarm will attempt to entice Bumblebee with energon and other goodies. If it works, Bumblebee will hide for a few more hours before emerging. If that fails, the last resort that is Fixit is brought in. The only reason he's the last resort is because he is the only mech with recordings of Ratchet and Optimus.

If Bumblebee won't move because he's in a state of unsettlement, Fixit takes the risk and plays a recording. It never fails to get Bumblebee to scramble out of his room, anxious to see the closest mecha he has to parents. This quite literally never ends well and the team are often forced to hide in a barricaded room until Bumblebee finishes hunting his way through the entire base just to check and make sure that no one is there. After that, he usually snaps out of it.

Sometimes though... sometimes Fixit will find Bumblebee crying softly in his room, clutching whatever memento of his Sire he had closest to him at the time.

He politely never mentions this.

[in1-nutshell]

Third request since you opened them, I just have a lot of ideas. I was rereading the Bee's team meets megatons daughter with the opposite personality Buddy and it got me thinking. You know how Knockout, Breakdown, Steve, and maybe Soundwave? Couldn't tell. But you know how all of them switched side because of Buddy in that one fic you wrote? (Or maybe not, there's a nagging thought in the back of my mind that I dreamed that.) Imagine they all notice that Buddy's missing and there's a slight panic because yeah, Buddy can take care of herself but why wouldn't she tell them? They find out that Buddy's back on earth and now there are a few ex-cons standing at the scrapyard's gate. (Or maybe Knockout never left earth and already knew she was there? Because there's that one episode where Bumblebee and Strongarm are thrown into the car lot with the uhm, wheel cuff things, and it pans out to a very suspicious cherry red Aston Martin. I refuse to believe that's not Knockout. And since Fixit (I think, can't remember.) and the humans had to go and rescue them maybe Buddy tagged along and Knockout saw them? Buddy might've also seen Knockout and decided to get the wheel cuff off of him as well. (Or maybe he didn't have a wheel cuff, can't remember. Jeez, how much have I said that?)) Anyways this was just a really long ramble of an idea that can be taken multiple ways. So do what you wanna do with this.

There's a bit of an explanation on the timeline in here. If it sounds a bit confusing, feel free to let me know so I can explain it better.

Also, added a little extra in here...

Hope you enjoy!

Megatron's daughter with the opposite personality reactions from Knockout, Breakdown, Steve, and Soundwave finding out she went missing

SFW, Platonic, Romance, Familial, Cybertronain reader

RiD 2015

Going through the canon timeline of megs daughter.

Soundwave does get sent to the shadow zone through an altercation.

Buddy never finds out what happened to him.

She believes that he left Megatron during the chaos.

She was a bit sad that he never came back to talk to her or anything, but she also believed that he was taking some time to find himself after being a Decepticon for so long.

Knockout and Breakdown end up having joint stay between earth and Cybertron.

The pair loved driving through Earth scenery and was a place to escape Cybertron for a while.

Most of the Decepticons had started their new lives on Cybertron now that the war was over.

Buddy was no different.

Not only had she started a brand-new life, Buddy and Steve had recently become Conjunx Endura after a while of dating.

Steve had been on an away assignment for his work when Buddy left through the portal of their shared habsuite.

Steve walking into their home.

“Buddy! I’m back!”--Steve

Silence…

“Buddy! I’m back?”--Steve

Silence…

Steve starts looking around the home.

“Buddy? Buddy if this is another joke, I don’t like it!”--Steve

A few minutes later…

Knockout looks at his monitor seeing Steve calling.

“Breakdown its Steve!”--Knockout

“Put him on.”--Breakdown

Steve shows up on the screen.

“Hey Ste—”--Breakdown

“SHE’S GONE!”--Steve

Breakdown and Knockout out jump a bit.

“Gone? Who’s gone?”--Knockout

Steve has his servo on his helm.

“BUDDY! BUDDY’S NOT HERE!”--Steve

“Calm down Steve. Maybe she went out for a walk or something. Or maybe she went to go visit a friend. Remember last time?”--Breakdown

“…Maybe your right…”--Steve

“But if she doesn’t come back in a week then let us know.”--Breakdown

“Steve nods and hangs up.

One week later…

Steve starts calling Knockout and Breakdown.

Breakdown answers.

“Hey—Primus Steve!”--Breakdown

Steve looks tired and on the verge of a literal break down.

“SHE’S STILL NOT HERE!”--Steve

Soundwave, meanwhile, had spent his time looking for Megatron’s signal. He escaped the shadow zone a couple weeks before Buddy showed up, so he didn’t know that she was here.

Soundwave picks up on a frantic link between Knockout, Breakdown and Steve about Buddy disappearing.

He follows the frequency to Breakdown and Knockout which scares them half to death.

“Soundwave!”—Breakdown and Knockout

Soundwave stands there with his arms crossed.

“Breakdown—Knockout—Buddy?”--Soundwave

“We don’t know. Steve just told us she went missing from their home.”--Breakdown

Soundwave clenches his servos a bit.

The sound of a portal gets their attention.

Out pops out Steve.

“I’m here! I’m—SOUNDWAVE?!”--Steve

“Explain.”--Soundwave

“Steve is here to assist us on the search for Buddy.”--Knockout

Soundwave steps to Steve.

Knockout and Breakdown step to Steve’s side.

“He is Buddy’s Conjunx Soundwave. He has the right to be here.”--Breakdown

Soundwave freezes a bit hearing it.

“Buddy—Conjunx?”—Soundwave

Steve gulps a bit but puts on a brave face.

“Yes, I’m her Conjunx. A Conjunx that’s worried for her safety. We’d really appreciate it if you helped us find her.”--Steve

Soundwave pauses a bit and turns to Knockout.

“Continue.”--Soundwave

“As I was saying, a day’s weeks ago I was booted and taken to the yard where I saw this other Autobot get stuck there too, awfully annoying mind you. And then look who shows up but Bumblebee and his new crew.”--Knockout

“He has a new team?”--Steve

“Yes, and I swear I heard him say ‘Buddy’. I thought at the time he was remembering her from Cybertron, but now that she went missing, there is a chance that Bumblebee might know where she is.”--Knockout

“What are we waiting for? Let’s go!”--Steve

“Slow down Steve we don’t even have a trail on where—”--Breakdown

“Signal—found. 30—minutes—east—city. Coordinates on—commlink.”--Soundwave

“Now we go!”--Steve

Steve transforms and speeds down the road.

“…He’s good to Buddy. Their a good match for each other.”--Breakdown

Soundwave looks at Steve’s retreating form.

“Soundwave—will see—about that.”--Soundwave

It’s nighttime when they arrive to the scrapyard.

Knockout thinks about literally knocking on the door.

They hear Buddy yelling.

“Okay we need a good plan—”--Knockout

Steve uses Breakdown like a steppingstone and launches himself over the high wall.

“Or we can go in guns blazing I guess…”--Knockout

“Soundwave—approve.”--Soundwave

Breakdown offers Knockout and Soundwave a way over.

He could wait until they opened the door.

Soundwave and Knockout are now over the wall.

All the scrapyards’ alarms are sounding.

The team is on high alert when Fix-it mentions the Decepticon signals inside the scrapyard.

Bee tells Buddy to get Denny and Russel out of the area.

Buddy grabs her friends and sets on leading them to the other side of the scrapyard with Fix it.

Steve is dodging blasters and staffs like it was his job back in the Decepticons.

He is slightly hurt that Bee didn’t recognize him but then again, he does have a pretty basic frame.

Steve raises his servos in surrender.

“HOLD IT! HOLD IT!”--Steve

“Freeze Decepticon!”--Strongarm

“Hey! I said hold it! Now, I’m not here to hurt anyone—”--Steve

“I am.”--Soundwave

“Soundwave?!”--Bumblebee

The weapons get charged up and ready to attack.

“WE are not here to attack. Listen, Bumblebee, we’re just here to—”--Steve

“Where did everyone go?”--Breakdown

Breakdown and Knockout walk in on the standoff.

“Knockout? Breakdown? What is going on?!”--Bumblebee

Steve face palms.

“That’s what I’ve been trying to explain but everyone here seems to keep on interrupting me!”--Steve

Silence.

“Now. We came here to ask you if you’ve seen Buddy around?”—Steve

“Buddy?”--Bumblebee

The team immediately gets ready to attack.

“If you think we’re about to give her to you, then your sorely mistaken.”--Drift

“So, you do know where she is!”--Steve

Grimlock steps up front.

“And you’re going to have to go through me if you want her.”--Grimlock

“Fine by me.”--Steve

Meanwhile, with Buddy...

“I think we’re safe here.”--Buddy

“Thank the Prime’s.”—Fix-it

“AAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHHH!”

Buddy freezes.

She quickly looks at Denny Russel and Fix it.

“Stay here.”--Buddy

With that Buddy sprints back.

Grimlock had grabbed Steve and slammed him to the ground when he tried to get past him.

Steve luckily manages to get out of his grip and falls back.

Buddy is sprinting back to the main part of the scrap yard ready for whatever she was going to face.

She hides behind some used oil barrel and takes a peek at who the trouble was.

Buddy spots Steve on his knees, holding his side a bit.

She runs out of her hiding place.

“HOLD YOUR FIRE! HOLD YOURE FIRE!”--Buddy

Most of Team Bee looks in shock that Buddy starts running past them.

“Buddy! Don’t—”--Grimlock

“HOLD YOURE FIRE!”--Buddy

The team hesitantly puts some of their weapons down.

Buddy rushes over to Steve, who was frozen seeing Buddy there.

“Primus Steve are you okay? That denting doesn’t look too—Oof!”--Buddy

Steve fights the shooting pain on his side and flings his arms around Buddy pulling her incredibly close.

“Oh, Thank the Allspark you’re okay!”--Steve

He lets go to look her over.

“Are you hurt? Where did you go? Were you kidnapped? What’s—“--Buddy hugs him tight making him go quiet.

He just wraps his arms around her and stifles a sob in his throat.

“I’m sorry… I didn’t know this was going to be such a long mission, but when Prime calls you, you gotta go.”--Buddy

“Excuse me when Prime what?”--Steve

“CAN SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT IS GOING ON?!”—Sideswipe

Team Bee is extremely confused.

Soundwave takes a few steps forward and Buddy launches at her uncle he hugs back surprising everyone.

Then she goes to Knockout and Breakdown.

There is a lot to explain.

Steve stays by Buddy’s side the entire time.

“Hey Buddy, who is… Steve exactly?”--Denny

“He’s my Conjunx.”--Buddy

Steve feels a swell of pride and love hearing those words.

Steve grabs Buddy’s servo.

“That’s still sounds nice, you know.”--Steve

Buddy smiles shyly at him.

“Your Conjunx!”—Team Bee

“How come you never told us?!”--Sideswipe

“It never came up?”--Buddy

“What’s a Conjunx?”--Russel

“The Earth equivalent of a significant other.”--Breakdown

“You’re married?!”--Russel

“How?!”--Sideswipe

Buddy looks at Steve.

“That’s a story for another time.”--Buddy

“No, that’s a story for now.”--Sideswipe

“Another time.”--Buddy

“Now!”--Sideswipe

In the end Knockout and Breakdown end up going back to their home on earth. They do offer their services in case something bad does happen in their area.

Soundwave decides to take some time for himself not knowing what to do with everything now that the war is over.

Steve decides to stay in the scrapyard with Buddy and Team Bee.

[quirkwizard]

On the Matter of Quirk Counseling

So one of the hot-button issues of the fan base is the subject of Quirk Counseling. That it's this horrific practice done to "deviants" like Himiko to make them normal, and it's what turned her into the person she is today. And with the ending, people thought that Uraraka working to spread it out over the country was a terrible thing and was only going to make more problems. Naturally, this is something I disagree with. At least, to the extent the fanbase takes it.

We're told that Quirk Counseling is a program that helps the youth understand and adjust to living in modern society. However, as we see with Himiko and her flashbacks, this kind of process can end up isolating people who don't fit in with that society. A pretty grim perspective on the world. However, I don't think it's the most reliable one. This is the kind of perspective we get from Chitose, who is someone who is radically opposed to how society handles Quirks and wants to destroy it, and Toga, someone who was hurt by this same process. So I think that paints a specific picture of the practice. One that may not be entirely true.

Because in spite of being such a big part of a major villain, we know very little about what Quirk Counseling entails. We're told by Midnight that every kid goes through Quirk Counseling during elementary school. So every character in the series must have undergone this same process at some point. During Tamaki's flashback, we see something like this going on in middle school. People being taught how to use their Quirks, at least in a basic way. This is later reinforced during the Remedial Course Arc, where the whole point is the heroes helping to teach kids about their powers. All in all, it doesn't seem that terrible, and it seems to work with a lot of people in the world.

This all paints a different picture of what exactly Quirk Counseling entails. Because when we see it in action, it's mostly just teaching people how to use their Quirks and helping them understand their own powers. Which isn't a bad thing. Quirks can be very dangerous and wild, even from a young age. It's important you know how it works, whether it be how it functions or how to use it. Better yet, how not to use it. Because, as we have seen, the unchecked usage of Quirks is going to be dangerous for everyone involved. Values like this need to be put into kids at a young age to keep any kind of peace or stability in the broader world. And it seems to work.

Himiko is an odd case within the world. Someone whose Quirk had a potent effect on their interests and personality, more so than any other person we've seen. She is an outlier. A deviant. Yet she was still a little girl that needed help. Maybe, if she had gotten the right help, she wouldn't be the person she is today. And that is part of the tragedy of Himiko. That the concept of normality has been so enforced that they can't even hope to properly help Himiko. The problem wasn't the system itself. The problem came in its inefficiency to handle cases like Himiko. Outliers that couldn't handle possibly fit within the brackets of "normal." And when all that pressure comes down on someone, they will eventually break under it.

It's why I don't think that Quirk Counseling growing is the problem everyone tries to make it out to be. Uraraka's helping to expand the system that is meant to help and teach kids about their powers. We've seen how that can help troubled kids. The Remedial Course is the prime example of that, where it's something that works with the kids rather than trying to strongarm them. And with that system growing, it will help to prevent cases like Himiko. It can help the kids learn about themselves and their powers. It can show kids not how to be "normal." But what they're going through isn't something they have to be afraid of and can live with. Just as Himiko could have. Expanding this isn't disrespecting her. It's keeping other kids to suffer like she did.

[mychlapci]

i couldn't really get into rid15 cuz the decepticon furries were unsexy but i think grimlock should be fucking the whole team, except strongarm because she's a volcel who thinks retaining her cum will make her more focused and alert. she's stewing in self-imposed frustration while grimlock's using fixit like a cocksleeve or crushing bee in a mating press or bending sideswipe over every possible object in the junkyard and bellowing about how he's gonna make the pretty little autobots have his babies. one day strongarm is going to snap.

- 💀

i can get just firm enough for the ugly furries, you know, but it is about the main team for me. they have that big ass dinobot living with them, you can't tell me it doesn't take all of them to drain his transfluid tank. soon Strongarm won't be able to skip out on her duty.

[melishade]

Attack on Prime The Future Anthology: Snowball Fight (Rematch)

StrongArm and Sideswipe I

Strongarm and Sideswipe II

Thanksgiving

Winter Anthology:

Snowball Fight I

Snowball Fight II

The Survey Corps demand a rematch with Optimus.

Levi sneezed as the cold winds blew once more on Paradis. The fields were blanketed in white once more, the trees no longer had their leaves, and-!

"Bring it on!" Sasha screamed before chucking a snowball directly at Miko head. The agent rolled to the side before grabbing some snow and hiding behind a tree. She compacted it into a snowball and was prepared to throw it, but Sasha threw another one, forcing Miko to hide behind the tree more. Sasha was about to throw another one, but she felt the hairs on her back stand up before dodging a snowball that Jack had thrown out of the corner of her eye. She looked down behind her snow wall to see Armin on the ground, his chest covered in snow.

"You're weak, Armin!" Sasha pointed before throwing her snowball at Jack. Miko threw a snowball at Sasha once more, but Mikasa swatted the snowball away with a stick before grabbing a snowball and running after Miko.

Meanwhile, Gabi, Falco, and Colt were laughing with delight as the trio rolled in the snow, getting the frozen water all over their winter coats. It was their first time actually experiencing the element, and they wanted to enjoy it to the fullest. Rafael, Jean, and Pieck were finishing up the last of their decorations on the snowman they built together.

"Finally got building a snowman off my bucket list," Rafael grinned as he put a top hat on the snow scuplture.

"Can't you go anywhere in the world to make one?" Pieck asked.

"My first time seeing snow was when I got involved with the Autobots," Rafael explained, "If that didn't happen, then I would have been living in the desert until I went to college. And who knows if I went to a place with snow."

"The snow is making my leg colder though, and I don't like it," Jean grumbled.

Levi felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see Erwin offering him a cup of tea. The captain took it and took small sips, noticing the difference in taste. "What kind of tea is this?"

"Apple tea!" Hanji grinned, popping up behind Erwin.

"You can make tea from apples?" Levi questioned in confusion.

"Apparently you use apple peels!" Hanji explained.

"Hm." Levi took another sip, "How's the arm treating you?"

"I'm thinking about taking it off," Erwin grumbled. "Every time it touches my skin, it feels like ice."

"Maybe there is a way to make the arm reattach, like Jean's leg," Hanji suggested.

"The arm is connected to my nervous system," Erwin reminded.

"Doesn't mean that it should stop us," Hanji proclaimed.

A few moments later, the veteran trio heard the familiar sound of a spacebridge and turned their attention to see Optimus driving through it.

"Hello, Boss Bot!" Hanji waved, "How was the geopolitics?"

"I do not wish to discuss it," Optimus grumbled as he activated his holoform.

"If the world leaders are being a pain in the ass, just let Buckethead handle it," Levi suggested, "The one thing he's good at is scaring people."

"I have been avoiding the world leaders for quite some time," Optimus admitted, "Megatron informed me that it was a problem and I had to address it."

"At least it's over for today," Erwin reassured.

Falco stopped rolling in the snow when he noticed Optimus standing next to Erwin. "Hello, Mr. Optimus Prime!"

Levi nearly choked on his tea while Hanji snickered.

"Optimus will do just fine!" The Prime reassured.

Sasha noticed the Prime, wondering why he was here for a brief moment, before devious and infuriating thought crossed her mind. "YOU OWE US A REMATCH!"

Everyone stared in confusion while Sasha grunted when Jack landed a hit directly to the back of her head.

"Um...rematch?" Pieck questioned.

Levi blinked in realization before slouching in his wheelchair. "Oh god no."

"Oh god yes!" Hanji exclaimed with delight.

"Wait, what's going on?" Erwin asked.

"YOU OWE US A SNOWBALL FIGHT OPTIMUS!" Sasha pointed at the Prime.

"Sasha, no-!"

"Sasha, YES!" Miko yelled in agreement, cutting Armin off.

"I will have to abstain," Optimus proclaimed.

"No, you are not abstaining!" Sasha stomped over to him, "You're fighting all of us because Armin cheap shotted you and I refuse to accept it!"

Erwin snapped his head to Hanji and Levi. "What happened?"

"The 104th challenged Optimus to a snowball fight a few years ago. He only participated because I managed to phrase it as a training exercise which got him to participate. And that resulted in everyone getting their asses handed to them. But Armin somehow managed to sneak up on him and win the match," Hanji summarized.

Erwin looked at them like they were insane. "Optimus Prime lost a snowball fight?"

"Yes," Levi answered.

"Sasha, I must insist that-!"

"No! All of us!" Sasha gestured to her friends, "Versus you! Same rules as last time! We have to land one hit on you with the snowball!"

"Pass." Jean raised his hands in surrender before walking away.

"Coward!" Sasha yelled at him.

"I just got used to walking again!" Jean reminded before pointing to his prosthetic, "And this leg is cold!"

"Then you'll be support!" Sasha declared.

"Sasha you were dangling from a tree last time we did this!" Jean reminded.

"Maybe we shouldn't do this," Jack told Miko and Rafael.

"Oh, we're doing this!" Miko grinned.

"I'm with Jean on this one," Pieck agreed, gesturing to her cane, "I'll never have the same mobility that I used to."

"Fine!" Sasha pointed to Armin. "You!" Then Mikasa. "You!" Then Jack. "You!" Then Miko. "You!"

"YES!" Miko cheered.

"You three!" Sasha pointed to the Warrior Cadets.

"Uh...." Colt wasn't sure if he should say no.

"And you!" Sasha finally pointed to Rafael. "Where's Annie?!" Sasha demanded.

"I think she's with her dad," Gabi recalled.

"Besides, I don't think she wants to fight Optimus," Hanji reminded.

"Then you two!" Sasha pointed to Hanji and Erwin.

"No," They both said in unison.

"Why?!" Sasha demanded.

"Girl, I know my limits," Hanji reminded in annoyance.

"I am practicing self-preservation." Erwin sipped more of his tea.

"I still have not agreed to this," Optimus declared.

Hanji raised a finger and was about to speak, but Optimus shot them a warning look, causing them to recoil a little.

"C'mon, Optimus!" Sasha begged, "Don't you want revenge on Armin for getting the jump on you?!"

"Why are you dragging me into this?!" Armin demanded.

"I am not going to participate," Optimus declared.

"You know," Rafael began, "You did break your promise in bringing me that snowball."

Miko gasped in mocking disbelief. "Optimus Prime broke a promise?!"

"What is happening?" Pieck was at a loss for words, "Are they blackmailing Optimus?"

"Oh, yeah, he's a softie. He's gonna fold," Hanji declared.

"You should make up for that promise~," Rafael suggested.

"Jack." Optimus turned to the eldest.

"Well you did break a promise," Jack retorted.

"There was a scraplet infestation," Optimus shot back.

"That's not an excuse, Chief!" Miko warned, "Snowball fight! Snowball fight!"

"Snowball fight! Snowball fight!" Sasha chanted along with her.

Jack looked at Rafael and the two shrugged before joining in. "Snowball fight! Snowball fight!"

Optimus could feel his eyes twitching at the chanting, knowing for a fact that it wasn't going to relent. "I will only do one-!"

"YES!" At least half of them cheered.

"Yeah, I'm gonna sit this out," Jean proclaimed as he started to walk away.

"Nope!" Sasha grabbed the hem of Jean's coat and dragged him back.

"What?! Hey, what the hell?!" Jean squawked.

"Um, we've never really been in a snowball fight," Colt spoke up.

"Oh, you are going to love it," Miko reassured with a grin.

"Or get hurt," Mikasa muttered under her breath. She remembered the last time she went up against Optimus in a snowball fight.

Pieck walked up to the veteran trio. "Should I be worried about Gabi, Falco, and Colt?"

"Hmmmm," Hanji hummed in thought.

"The fact that you're thinking about it is concerning me," Pieck stated.

"Prime will go easy on them," Levi reassured.

Moments later, the humans stood across from Optimus, each side having their snowballs and defenses ready. But not one person moved. The other side was waiting for the other to make their move. Pieck couldn't help but feel the tension in the air, and shivered at the cold wind.

"I don't think it seems fair that Optimus is all by himself," Falco confessed, causing everyone to be distracted for a brief moment. But it was enough for Optimus to make the first move. He threw two snowballs, one that hit Colt in the side of his head, and the other hitting Armin square in the chest. Both ended up hitting the snow hard.

"I knew you had it out for Armin!" Sasha grinned. Everyone yelped and ducked as Optimus started pelting them with snowballs.

"I'm just gonna crawl away," Armin groaned before he started shimming his way across the snow, grabbing Colt in the process.

Miko couldn't help but start cackling. "This is gonna be so much fun!"

"You go left and I go right!" Jack ordered Miko as he grabbed some snowballs, "Raf, help Gabi and Falco make more!"

"Don't need to tell me twice!" Gabi frantically started making more snowballs.

"I'll throw from here! I'm not moving!" Jean declared.

"We'll cover you!" Sasha and Mikasa stated. Jack nodded before he and Miko bolted from the snow wall. Mikasa stayed close to Jack while Sasha followed behind Miko.

Optimus' eyes darted at the two teams that split off and quickly tried to target them. The two teams managed to find some cover behind some trees before throwing their snowballs. Optimus quickly ducked before hiding behind his own snow wall. He was getting overwhelmed. He could try running into the forest like last time, but he was certain that they would be prepared for that. He needed to take out the weakest first, or at least take out the support.

He needed to get to where Jean, Rafael, Gabi, and Falco were. He needed to get to their stock pile.

Sasha was ready to throw another snowball, but flinched when her vision became blurry. When it regained focus, she saw the energy coming off of everyone once more. "Damn it, not again."

"You okay?" Miko asked her.

"I'm fine!" Sasha snapped at her before turning her attention to where Optimus was hiding. She gasped when she saw glowing energy coming from behind the wall. It was blue and bright and fluid, almost divine. Sasha grew tense when that energy grew more rigid and guarded. Almost as if-!

Sasha gasped when Optimus jumped over the snow wall and bolted straight for the four they left behind their makeshift fort.

"He's heading for the others!" Sasha shouted.

Mikasa didn't know what overcame her, but she bolted, and fast, rushing over to Optimus faster than anyone could think. Mikasa slid down low and threw a snowball directly for Optimus' face, but the Prime bent backwards to dodge it. The snowball hit a tree, causing it the shake and make the snow hanging on the branches crash to the ground.

Mikasa tried to make another snowball, but Optimus was faster. He dug his hand into the snow and flung it directly at Mikasa. She quickly rolled out of the way before the snow hit her, but broke focus when she saw Optimus getting ready to throw a snowball. Mikasa was ready to dodge, but was surprised when Optimus threw the snowball somewhere else. She followed the trajectory and winced when the snowball hit Jean directly in the face.

"Ooo," Miko winced as Jean hit the ground.

"Jean, you're weak!" Sasha shouted.

Jean raised a finger over the fort. "I told you I didn't want to participate!"

"Revenge!" Gabi shouted before throwing a snowball at Optimus, reigniting the fight. Mikasa yelped when Optimus grabbed her by the coat and used her to block a few of the snowballs. Mikasa grunted before kicking Optimus in the chest, causing him to drop her. Mikasa threw punches at Optimus, but Optimus was quick to block them.

"Mikasa! Snowball fight! Not fist fight!" Jack threw a curve ball right for Optimus' back, but the Prime ducked at the last minute and the ball hit Mikasa in the face.

"Sorry!" Jack apologized.

Optimus was prepared to throw a snowball at Jack, but stopped when he heard the snow crunch behind him. The Prime grunted when Miko jumped on his back and pulled at his hair, nearly causing him to lose his balance.

"Throw it! Throw it!" Miko shouted.

Mikasa quickly ran out of the line of fire as everyone else threw their snowballs. But in a split second, Optimus fell backwards. Miko yelled as she let go of his hair and crashed into the ground. The Prime had managed to dodge all the snowballs thrown his way before flipping backwards over Miko. He grabbed some snow and compacted it quickly before throwing it in Miko's face.

Erwin and Pieck could only watch the fight in disbelief while Hanji and Levi watched with apathy. Meanwhile, Armin, Colt, and Jean finally made it to the sidelines, but elected to remain on the floor out of pain and fear.

"This isn't a snowball fight. This is a full-blown fight," Erwin declared.

"Every time I see Optimus' fighting capabilities, it makes me grateful to be alive yet fearful at the same time of Optimus' abilities," Pieck gulped.

"You should have seen it when Optimus was fighting Megatron," Hanji added, "Those two were monsters."

Armin and Jean groaned in agreement.

"Miko, move!" Miko yelped when Sasha rushed forward and jumped before throwing a snowball at Optimus. Miko rolled out the way while Optimus dodged Sasha's throw. Optimus noticed Jack and Mikasa rushing forward to throw their snowballs, but Optimus ducked down and spun, using his leg to trip all three of them. Mikasa was the first to get up at lightning speed, sliding between Optimus' legs and grabbing the holoform jacket. She pulled it back to pull him down, but gasped when the jacket disappeared into sparks, leaving only the holoform shirt.

"What the-!"

"Cheater!" Sasha screamed at him. Sasha grunted when Optimus grabbed her by the face and threw her towards their snow fort. Rafael pulled Falco and Gabi down as Sasha crashed into the snow, ruining the snowballs they had set up. Before Sasha could get an intact snowball to throw, she grunted when Optimus threw one directly at her face. The huntress' head fell back against the snow in defeat.

"This is insane!" Falco cried.

"Nah, I gotta agree with Miko: this is the most fun that I've had in ages!" Rafael grinned.

"Any ideas would be great right now!" Gabi screamed.

Rafael thought it over before looking up at the trees. "Yeah, you two are bait!"

"What?!" Falco and Gabi screamed as Rafael ran to the trees.

"Sasha are you okay?!" Jack called out, earning a loud groan in response. Jack yelped when Optimus threw a snowball at his head, but the agent jumped to the side in response. Optimus dug his hand into the snow to throw at Jack, but Mikasa jumped on his back and wrapped her arms around his neck. Optimus grunted as Mikasa yanked him back, giving Jack an opening. Jack quickly grabbed some snow to compact into a ball and was prepared to throw it, but Optimus grabbed Mikasa by her coat and threw her at Jack. Both ended up hitting the snow hard, unable to get up in time as Optimus threw snow at the both of them.

Optimus then turned his head to the damaged snow wall, his eyes falling to Gabi and Falco. He ran over to them, causing them to scramble back into a tree and hold each other for dear life. Optimus jumped over Sasha's unmoving body, grabbing two intact snowballs before walking over to them. Optimus was about to throw it at them and call the game over, but...Falco's eyes darted upward. Why would they-! Wait, where's Rafael?!

Optimus heard something above him and grunted in surprise when a pile of snow fell atop all three of them. He looked up to see Rafael grinning down at him from the tree branch, holding a snowball in his hand. He stretched his arm out and dropped the snowball atop of the Prime's head.

"We won!" Rafael called out.

"Nice!" Miko cheered while Jack and Mikasa groaned in unison.

Erwin couldn't help but feel his eye twitch. "He lost, again?"

"At least this time, it wasn't a lucky shot," Levi commented as Rafael climbed down the tree.

"Sorry guys," Rafael apologized as he dusted the snow off of Falco and Gabi.

"It's okay, Mr. Esquivel," Falco said.

Rafael winced. "Don't call me that. Makes me feel old."

Optimus dusted the snow off of his own body before going over to assist the others to their feet. He offered Mikasa his hand, and the Ackerman grunted and took it. As Optimus pulled her to her feet, Optimus noticed the shine in her eyes had faded to the blue that had now replaced her gray eyes. Optimus' mouth formed a thin line before he went to assist Jack to his feet.

"That was so much fun!" Miko tackled Optimus into a hug from behind, "We should totally do it again!"

"NO!" Falco, Gabi, Colt, and Jean shouted.

"I believe that I am done with snow activities for the day," Optimus declared.

"You sure?" Hanji sauntered their way over to Optimus, "You don't want to help with building a huge snowman or something?"

"Oh please!" Miko begged.

"That would actually be a lost safer," Pieck agreed.

"And we didn't get to do that today! We want to do all the snow stuff!" Gabi declared.

"I-!...suppose that would suffice," Optimus relented.

"Giant snowman!" Miko exclaimed with delight.

==

Later

Megatron had arrived at the island and planted his pedes in the snow. He couldn't help but shiver a little at the sensation of the cold weather but chose to ignore it. He was only coming here because he wanted to check on Optimus after the Prime had left that meeting with the world leaders. He looked so tired and annoyed, but he asked to be left alone for a now. However, he figured enough time had passed for Optimus to cool down.

He arrived at the coordinates he remembered Optimus used and was stunned to see a comically large snowman, about half the size of the Prime. He saw the Prime compacting the snow to make it sturdy while the rest of the humans were talking about decorations to put on the massive snow pile. However, Optimus didn't seem to mind at all. He seemed content with helping the humans out with this tedious task.

At least this helped ease the pain in his spark.

[syneilesis]

I forgot I started a sub!Rafayel fic when the beta version of the game came out but never finished it because I got derailed by the darker and angrier facet of Rafayel in his Abysswalker era lol

Anyway, I'm posting it now in its first draft (un)glory. It's supposedly smut but I never got to that point lmao so this is still relatively sfw

Rafayel keeps making incessant and silly demands of you. You retaliate by putting him in his place.

Today is a weird day. It's also a busy day, but that's probably why today is a weird day.

You look down and Rafayel looks up at you, silk ties snaking around his wrists and on the bed frame, firm and tight. Redness begins to take over his cheeks and the rest of his face and ears. His eyebrows are drawn down, as are his lips, but his eyes flare with something you can't identify right now, hot and unyielding and it stirs your gut, the embers in his gaze.

“Apologize.”

Rafayel's nostrils flare in defiance and his head whips to the side, huffing despite his being in the disadvantaged position. “Why should I? I did nothing wrong.”

His clothed hips touch the inner sides of your thighs, bare, and they graze the hem of your skirt.

Above him you sigh in frustration, originally not planning to arrive at this compromising position but unwilling to back out nonetheless.

“You strongarmed me into becoming your plus-one for that high-profile art gala and I got mobbed by a group of reporters asking me whether I'm your girlfriend! There were cameras! Videos rolling! And when I turned you weren't there to help! You'd already sneaked out! I literally had to run away—like a coward!”

Rafayel isn't fazed in the slightest. “You could have told them off in the first place. Didn't you say yourself that you're strong, Miss Hunter?”

The urge to roll your eyes burns so bad. Sure, Rafayel has his moments—plenty of them, to be exact. Nearly all the time. He's a brat, whiny and self-assured, but he isn't malicious.

+++++

Rafayel is sitting on the floor, leaning against the wooden ladder, hands above his head just pressed into the third step, bound by a silk tie with a knot that is firm and tight but doesn't bruise his paint-stained wrists. Bright crimson spills across his cheeks, his nose, his ears—his whole face as if overbaked by the sun, almost matching the color of his expensive formal jacket. It makes you want to tease him, tell him that he's no different from a lobster, but you hold back, because this isn't the time to say such cheeky words, not when things are only beginning.

His two-toned eyes follow your movements, his brows tugged downward, as are his lips. Every minute shift from him draws attention to his exposed collarbones and his chest, the first three buttons of his shirt opened and splayed like a recently bloomed hibiscus flower. Barefoot and seemingly helpless, Rafayel is a dash of paint against the plain white of the studio—striking like a lightning bolt.

“What did I do to deserve this?” He tugs his hands a little, and the ladder shakes behind him.

“Careful,” you warn, “you don't want the ladder to topple on you, yeah?”

“I can get out of this easily, you know,” he says, and you can hear the pout in his defiant voice. It's true, though. Despite his slender build, Rafayel is a competent fighter. In this kind of situation, his Evol is also an appropriate means to escape—and destroy.

“I know. But you're not going to do that.”

“And what makes you so sure?”

You step towards him, careful of the discarded papers on the floor, and stop when your feet cage his squirming legs. He freezes at the contact, craning his neck to meet your amused gaze.

“Because,” you answer, singsong, bending down to trace a finger along the dip of his collarbone, then further to his chest, tapping the mole on his left pec. He gulps at the touch, and you almost miss his shudder. If anything, he reddens more. “You want to know where this is going. You're curious, but you also don't want to admit it.”

[johannestevans]

genuinely don't understand many other self-published fiction people's approach to marketing, which seems to take its cues from like. people who sell self-help books, or like. fucking do drop shipping

your goal is to find the people who like work like yours and connect them with it.

i think it's really difficult for people to envisage this because they're just poisoned by commercialism & capitalism as exists today, where every company is basically trying to strongarm, manipulate, and trick every single person in the world into buying their product

it's not just stupid and impossible from a marketing perspective, even for whatever garbage they might be shilling, but it's particularly misguided to do for a piece of fucking art or entertainment

and part of it i suppose is just like. a lack of identity but also a desperate fear of rejection

in order to meaningfully think about who will like, love, identify with, crave, and otherwise want to engage with your work, you have to meaningfully think about the people who won't

and that's scary bc a lot of people want to be vulnerable by creating art but don't want to be perceived or judged

and certainly don't want to be rejected, or receive negative reviews, or have people say "egh, it's not my thing", as if that's going to be the immediate death knell on their career

but it's just like. the thing of "i must try to make everyone in the world buy my book" will lead to MORE rejection

idk man. who are you? what's your work, like, about, at the core of it? what are the problems in it? what's the pathos, the core tragedy or core comedy, the meaning? what makes it entertaining? what makes it fun, or miserable, or horrifying? why did you write it? that's why people will read it

what's funny is that i talk to straight people all the time who can't do this, and they think that the way i do it is just by being like. hey boys, i'm a homosexual crippled jew, and my work is about that. and then i sell my books to my fellow disabled gay jews and such

which, sure, a bit

but what my work is actually about is like. trauma and trauma recovery. making peace with the many limits of your body and your relationships, and the limitations placed on you by your scars or your circumstances. fucked up monster sex, which is itself radical acceptance of the horror of our bodies

a lot of gayjew cripples and trans folk identify with that shit because… you know. of fucking course

but a lot of other people do as well, my work is in many ways informed by my identity, but the core themes aren't

many people DON'T like my work bc it's not plotted or structured traditionally

"what was the point?" many disappointed readers ask. "there's no actual STORY here," many complain. "nothing happens," many understandably grumble.

any jew or homosexual will tell you - there's no story. there's just suffering, and then you try to make it better, and then there's more suffering.

but you try to make it better, and it gets a bit better. you take your painkillers, you put balm on the wound. you fall down - maybe someone pushes you down. doesn't matter. get up again.

and for a lot of people, that's fucking dull as shit. where's the adventure? where's the fucking stakes?

and that's fine. there's plenty of books written for those people, they're just not written by me. i'm too busy doing my thing. and what i'm also too busy doing is selling my work to people who actually WANT it, rather than trying to trick people into buying it who won't.

part of the horror of meaningfully looking at your work and going, "okay, who is this for, and who is it NOT for?" is like. not just accepting your limitations, but also having genuine faith in your work. some people won't like it, but some people will fucking adore it. and you have to lean into it

and mostly stop paying for fucking facebook ads. jesus wept. what's wrong with you.

[rontra]

tell me more about these OCs. What’s their deal. How’s life where they live. Do they have games on their phones

the 4 dipshits i drew yesterday are from one of the oldest oc settings ive got (they were minted from the forge of stupid fuckheads in the year of our lord 2011) (and i'm very mean to them<3)

so because it's so old a lot of my followers will recognize them or even be familiar with previous iterations of their story/lore... there's been like. 3 discreet incarnations of it by now. and 3.0 needs some serious aid so this might be 4.0 now. so basically things people know may or may not be canon anymore. i just go in there and sift thru the entrails like fnaf mangle when im bored its my toys

but basically they live in chess world. and they all hate it. and life is bad. because of the Forever War. we should put a stop to that. but the Powers That Be are very picky about the steps that need to be taken to End the Forever War so that part sucks too. also because its chess world everybody has a lil rank and title and has to go perish on the battlefield or whatever

yesterday''s posts,

these two assholes are flang (blonde) and kaitlin (has games on her phone). they're part of the group of 4 main characters with kaitlin serving as the "guy everyone gives exposition to" vehicle, because she just got here, because it's also an isekai (surprise!). so she owns a phone and has games on it but she can't use it anymore because there's no phone service in Chess World. sad!

her rank is king (she/her king W), which means she has a lot of responsibilities in a lot of areas--none of which she wants or really signed up for, but her fun new wife (the black queen) just kinda recruited her into it. in the setting, king/queen are primarily military titles, then government positions; it is not necessary to be royalty "by blood", hence these unruly (albeit rare since there can only be one of each at a time) pawn-to-queen and pawn-to-king promotions happening on the board. she also has a cursed sword that is surprisingly unrelated to all of that but it has magic powers

flang (they/she) is From chess world and has grown up in alabaster. her mother is a doctor so she is too. her rank is pawn. she has a lot of issues and almost all of them are because alabaster sucks ass to live in if you're even like 1% outside of what alabaster considers Proper. it's a "reasonably stable and reasonably safe" kingdom to live and work in, but that safety and stability is always conditional; it's only stable and safe if you're born 100% conforming to it or discard your existing self to assimilate into it. this has made flang a very precious kind of insane that hurts them and everybody around them all of the time. but it can be repaired by defecting from the country, scaring their family, getting a fun haircut, almost succumbing to a fever, and finally the tender touch of a lesbian who has games on her phone

the other two people in the Main 4 are aster (kaitlin's wife, queen) and erin (the other queen) and are NOT the people i drew yesterday (BDHJBGS)

this is aster and erin 👇

you can tell because they have the look of 2 people who have been ruining each other for like a decade now and arent gonna stop until they change or die

aster (she/they) is trying to kill the white king for Revenge Reasons and ending the forever war is just like a cool side effect for her. she's the one who got kaitlin into all of this mess which is complicated because on the one hand, she got kaitlin into all of this mess and is trying to strongarm her into doing things she absolutely doesn't want to do (like killing people). on the other hand though, being roped into all of this mess did pretty directly save kaitlin's life in the first place and somehow loops back around to improving her mental health in the long run. so who's to say whether big murder plots that only you like and want are bad to do or not

erin (she/her) is normal about that freak^ but is in a very bad position because aster getting kaitlin on the board and starting their big dumb plan is a very clear signal to erin that aster has already won, long before anyone else thinks that. erin doesn't really gaf about the white king but she has other things she cares about and is willing to die to protect. to erin, aster's victory means she's on borrowed time and it won't be long before aster will go Through Her to get what they want. there's a confrontation on the horizon where erin fully believes one of them will kill the other one. but also they're like in love. but also erin has way better gfs available. you understand

the two other bitches i drew yesterday are NOT in the main 4 theyre just some other freaks . this is zarni (short hair) and fal (blonde) 👇

faolan (she/her) is the white queen's bishop which means she's the piece closest to the queen--basically shes erin's right hand arm man. she's erin everything. her confidant. her best friend. her silly rabbit. (is that what erin calls her?) no.

fal WANTS to be all of those things and has a weird crush on the queen but erin never lets anybody in and that includes fal. but basically faolan is the bitch who's always in it for Rank And Power and has climbed as high as she can and is still vying for erin's personal approval and acknowledgement because nothing's ever enough for her. she sucks to hang out with and almost dies very badly but zarni has her back

zarni (she/her) isnt actually from either kingdom she's with the unrelated third party pirate faction that mostly keeps to itself and has its own squabbles and drama that doesn't really have anything to do with the Forever War. an outlaw... a GRIMINAL... she met faolan way back when fal was much lower rank than she is now. fal was escorting her to the capital to receive basically a slap on the wrist for doing crimes in alabaster territory and they kinda hit it off in a weird way. right now zarni is technically like. fal's hired muscle. her right hand arm man (henchman edition). but for zarni it mostly doubles as a convenient way to have free passage into and within alabaster, for her own sidequest reasons. she ends up saving fal's stupid life because unfortunately they care about each other now and it's embarrassing for everyone. but maybe it'll distract faolan from looking at erin just long enough for her to realize she needs a big strong woman to carry her off into the sunset and build her a cottage where she can fucking retire already. or something. one can dream

anyway that's the people i drew yesterday (and the 2 in the middle that i didnt even draw but i would feel neglectful if i didnt mention). ssorry for the long post i just love talking about my ocs and these ones are 13 years old so talking about them comes Very Easily To Me MDJBSBJGS

i skimped on details just to get thru the tl;dr basics but i hope it was at least entertaining (and if anyone has more questions after this i dont mind i know i skipped a lot HDHBJG)

to me this is an oc setting entirely populated by stupid assholes who are constantly ruining at least 1 other character's life in some way. and that's how they all save each other. and that's beautiful. godbless our beautiful gay chess soldiers