#(( okay but her ciphers do slap ))

[nephalem-da]

I saw you have requests open for Bill x Reader.

I wanted to ask if you'd write a playful sarcastic Bill who realizes he has feelings. And for f!human reader (or GN!reader) no less. And he does a terrible job acting like Bill usually acts when reader is present or the subject of the conversation. Dare I say he acts normal, so very unlike the weird reader is used to. But reader doesn't pick up on the obvious signs either so it's a mutual pining and awkwardness while everyone else just wants them to kiss already.

I hope you have a great day/ night/ weekend and take your time with my ask. No rush!

M'kay byeeee <3

Sarcastically Yours

(Bill Cipher x GN!Reader)

First of all, thank you so much for being my first ask! 🥳 I’m super excited to write this, and I hope you enjoy the playful chaos that is Bill Cipher realizing he’s got feelings (and doing an absolutely terrible job hiding them). Here’s a little fic with plenty of awkwardness, and pining! Enjoy!

Genre: Fluff, Humor, Mutual Pining, Slight Crack

Warnings: None (it’s all fluff and awkward cuteness)

Summary: Bill Cipher, the sarcastic demon, realizes he has feelings for you, and he does a terrible job hiding it. Meanwhile, you’re completely oblivious, and everyone else is suffering through the awkwardness, waiting for you both to figure it out.

You knew Bill Cipher was weird. A literal one-eyed triangle from a dimension beyond comprehension? That’s not exactly normal. But you’d gotten used to his sarcasm, his chaotic presence, and his annoying habit of invading your personal space. It was just Bill being Bill.

Until recently.

Something about him had changed, and you couldn’t quite put your finger on it. Bill, the same demon who once turned your kitchen appliances into tap-dancing minions, now seemed to be avoiding eye contact with you. And when he did speak, the usual biting sarcasm was gone, replaced by awkward muttering and half-hearted jokes.

Today, Bill was sitting—yes, sitting—in the Mystery Shack, flipping through a book he clearly wasn’t reading. His usual floating, bouncing-around-the-room energy was nowhere to be found.

"Are you sick or something?" you ask, leaning on the counter, staring at him.

Bill glances up from the book, his single eye narrowing. "Sick? Me? Of course not!" His voice is just a little too high-pitched, and Dipper, who’s watching from the other side of the room, immediately raises an eyebrow.

"You’ve been acting... off," you continue, your suspicion growing. "Usually, you can’t go five seconds without making some smart remark."

"Yeah," Mabel chimes in, bouncing over to your side. "You haven’t even insulted [Y/N] today. I thought that was, like, your favorite hobby."

Bill sputters. "I—I’m giving them a break! Geez, maybe I don’t always have to be sarcastic!"

Dipper snorts from behind his journal. "Since when?"

Bill glares at him. "Since now, nerd!"

You exchange a look with Mabel, and it’s clear she’s thinking the same thing: Bill’s acting weird, even for him. Normally, he’d be pranking everyone, floating around causing mayhem, but lately, he’s been... quiet. Almost normal, and that’s what makes it even weirder.

"So," you say, eyeing him. "Are you gonna tell me what’s going on, or are you just gonna keep pretending like nothing’s wrong?"

Bill fidgets in his seat. "I told you, nothing’s wrong! I’m just... thinking. Yeah, thinking about... the stars."

"Stars?" Dipper repeats, looking up from his journal. "What, are you planning another apocalypse or something?"

Bill lets out a nervous laugh. "Nope! Just... admiring them! They’re pretty, you know?"

Mabel gasps, slapping a hand to her chest. "Did... did he just call something pretty? I didn’t know he even knew that word!"

Bill shoots her a glare, clearly flustered. "I know a lot of words, okay? Pretty, beautiful, gorgeous—"

He stops mid-rant, realizing what he’s just said. His yellow triangle face turns a strange shade of pink, and you stare at him, completely confused.

"Are you okay?" you ask again. "You’re acting really weird today, even for you."

Bill quickly waves a hand in the air, trying to brush it off. "I’m fine! You’re the one making this weird!"

"I’m making this weird?" you repeat, completely lost. "What did I even do?"

"Oh, I don’t know, exist? " Bill blurts out, and then immediately claps a hand over his mouth.

There’s a heavy silence in the room. Mabel’s eyes go wide, and Dipper looks like he’s just seen a ghost.

Stan, who’s been standing in the doorway this whole time, mutters, "This is painful to watch."

Bill, clearly mortified, stumbles to cover up his slip-up. "What I meant to say was, uh, you’re... distracting. Yeah, you’re a distraction. That’s why I’m... off my game today."

You blink at him, still completely clueless. "A distraction? How?"

"You know, just... being around," Bill stammers, waving his hands vaguely. "Being... you. It’s... distracting."

Dipper and Mabel exchange a look, and it’s obvious they’re both screaming internally. How could you not see what was happening?

Mabel steps forward, putting her hands on her hips. "Okay, Bill, enough with the weird cryptic stuff. Why don’t you just tell [Y/N] what’s really going on?"

Bill shoots her a look of pure panic. "I have no idea what you’re talking about, Shooting Star! Why don’t you mind your own business, huh?"

Mabel rolls her eyes. "Come on, everyone else has figured it out!"

"Figured what out?" you ask, completely confused.

Dipper sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "This is so painful to watch."

"Painful for you? I’m the one being interrogated here!" Bill snaps.

Stan steps in, shaking his head. "Kid, just tell ‘em. This whole thing’s like watching a car crash in slow motion."

Bill groans, burying his face in his hands. "Fine, fine! You wanna know what’s going on? I’ll tell you what’s going on!"

You lean forward, curious. "Okay?"

"I—" Bill starts, then stops, clearly struggling. He takes a deep breath. "I... like you, okay?"

There’s another heavy silence in the room. Dipper drops his journal, Mabel lets out a dramatic gasp, and even Stan seems momentarily stunned.

You, however, just blink in confusion. "Like... like me? As in... what, like a friend?"

Bill lets out a frustrated groan. "No, not like a friend! Like... like like you! Like... in a romantic way!"

It takes a moment for the words to sink in. Bill Cipher, the sarcastic, chaotic demon, likes you? Romantically? The idea is so bizarre, so utterly out of left field, that you can’t even process it.

"You... like me?" you repeat, still in disbelief.

"Yes!" Bill throws his hands in the air. "Isn’t it obvious? I’ve been trying to not be a weirdo around you, but apparently, that’s even worse!"

Mabel gasps dramatically again, clasping her hands together. "Oh my gosh, this is so cute!"

Dipper just stares at you, then at Bill, then back at you. "How did you not notice this? He’s been acting like a total freak!"

Bill glares at him. "I wasn’t being a freak! I was... handling things!"

"Handling things?" Stan repeats, raising an eyebrow. "Kid, you’ve been acting like a nervous wreck. It’s embarrassing."

Bill turns to you, still flustered and obviously out of his element. "Look, I’m not great at this whole... feelings thing, okay? But I do like you. A lot. So... there. I said it."

You stare at him, your brain still trying to catch up. "You... really like me?"

"Yes!" Bill practically shouts, throwing his hands up again. "Do I need to spell it out for you?"

You blink a few more times, and then finally, it clicks. Bill Cipher, the same demon who once turned your house upside down for fun, likes you.

"Wow," you mutter, still processing. "I... I didn’t expect that."

Mabel jumps up and down, clapping her hands. "Finally! I’ve been waiting for this moment forever!"

Dipper groans, burying his face in his hands. "This is so awkward."

You look back at Bill, who’s staring at you with a mix of hope and dread. You’ve never seen him look so... vulnerable.

"Well," you start, smiling a little. "I guess I like you too."

Bill’s eye widens. "You... do?"

You nod. "Yeah, I mean... you’re still annoying, but... yeah."

Bill stares at you for a moment, clearly stunned. Then, slowly, his eye wrinkled like a grin. "Well, well, well. I guess this whole feelings thing isn’t so bad after all."

Mabel squeals, jumping up and down. "Kiss! You have to kiss now!"

Dipper groans even louder. "Mabel, no, and I don't think that's even possible with his... eye?"

Bill just scoffed but ignored him, floating closer to you. "Well, I did say I like you. Maybe I should prove it."

You roll your eyes, but you can’t help the smile tugging at your lips. "You’re still a dork, Bill."

"Yeah, but I’m your dork now," he says, leaning in.

And maybe, just maybe, you let him kiss you.

Thank you again for being my first request! I hope you enjoyed all the chaos and awkwardness between Bill and the reader, and feel free to send in more ideas anytime! 😊

[infinitelytheheartexpands]

national theatre/donmar warehouse henry v is free for the next few days, so let’s react:

-starting off strong with this quote

-chorus immediately wins my heart

-also i want her outfit

-weird choice to just change words here and there but okay i guess

-i do miss the double meaning of “ciphers” (they replaced it with “actors”)

-chorus is apparently doubling boy

-her little wink at the audience omg

-“sweet caroline party remix” LMAO

-starting off with a scene from 1 henry iv (i think) with bardolph (who is also a woman) instead of poins?

-okay but this sweet caroline remix low key SLAPS

-“boy!” “GIRL!”

-quickly is FINE

-henry iv hal plot speedrun

-okay but that is NOT how hal found out about his dad’s death. he was there!

-love the singers

-poor hal 😭

-funeral crashers!

-also yeah that was NOT how that rejection happened

-also why are you only going to do like five lines of that speech if you’re going to do it. you can spare a couple extra minutes

-this is now the second english history production i’ve seen with the opening of monteverdi’s vespers to the blessed virgin

-the throne is a blue plastic chair lol

-THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY HAS A SALIC LAW POWERPOINT I REPEAT HE HAS A SALIC LAW POWERPOINT

-does not feature clip art unfortunately but STILL. OH MY GOD.

-henry is STRUGGLING

-i just need to share exeter’s face

-everyone groaning when the powerpoint continues lmao

-montjoy is also FINE

-gratuitous word changes continue

-everyone starts awkwardly laughing at the tennis balls

-montjoy’s calm side eye at “but this lies all within the will of God” omg

-great tennis balls speech

-oh so that’s where that line went

-chorus/kid is part of a training montage. isn’t the kid supposed to be like 12???

-nym is just Sad (nym is also played by the same actor as montjoy)

-what do y’all have against iceland

-pistol kisses his (arm) guns on “i am armed” lol

-kiddo yells at bardolph in mandarin

-“little body with a mighty heart” yeah that’s you chorus <3

-cambridge and scroop are played as women but still referred to with masculine titles

-british friends: is that a thing now? i’ve noticed it a couple other times too

-also bye bye henry/scroop homoeroticism i guess

-cambridge and scroop are also both very pretty (and i want cambridge’s sweater)

-henry cannot remember grey’s name for the life of him lolol

-cambridge screams “you are destroying this country!” and then tries to attack henry…and then immediately asks for mercy

-weird cut here but okay i guess

-this speech breaks my heart every time

-nym very awkwardly gives quickly a thumbs up before leaving

-okay but why are pistol and quickly low key adorable

-oh honey someone give her a hug please

-off to france!

-ooh they’re doing this scene in french!

-ooh katherine is here! and she’s fighting with her brother! she is politically savvy!

-the dauphin awkwardly greeting exeter in english lolol

-the king is just looking at the dauphin like “what the FUCK did you do”

-the dauphin took that euphemism and ran with it

-the dauphin going “bye bye” omg

-EXETER GOING “AND ENCHANTÉ” BACK AT HIM LMAO

okay i’ve got my own play to get ready for so that’s it for now but rest later, i hope!

[tsuki-sennin]

We've survived the highs and lows of Jyama Ball, but we're only a little bit closer to discovering who the Desaster is. If they go undiscovered to the final round, they win the game outright and get their ideal world. And with the mysterious executives, Keiwa, Neon, and Ace's respective sponsors, Archimedel, and Buffa all making their moves, something tells me the real game is only beginning.

...more importantly than any of that though, where the Hell are we headed now?! Why are there BOMBS everywhere? What do the Jyamato even have to gain from these constant invasions other than food and conquest?

All these questions and more... probably not answered today, but like, important to keep in mind.

Spoilers, I guess...

-Neooooon!

-Neon, baby, if you're the impostor I'm gonna cry.

-Good morning Chirami.

-Oh okay, we're supposed to become fan favorite. I see.

-Well, from what I've seen from the fandom as of yesterday, a number of folks have taken very kindly to Sae-san (rightfully so), so if this were the real world she'd probably win this. Doubly so if she's the Desaster.

-Oh shit! Sara-neesan!

-...oh, she's... she's fine, seemingly.

-Can't cut a pineapple smh.

-Bomb Pineapple!

-Ohhhh, we're dead.

-Jyamato Express!

-Fruit!

-Bombs!

-Fruit Bombs!

-Ooooooh, even more Jyamato ciphers.

-I imagine a lot of folks are hard at work.

-Blowing up an entire city block.

-I see Creepy Garden Daddy Archimedel's very proud of his little Freedom Clubbers.

-Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes!

-Damn, Takahashi's Steam list must be wilding.

-Secret Mission Clear!

-For you, fox man!

-Awwww, spider phone cute :)

-First Blood!

-The Gun!

-Magnum!

-It's back!

-Ringo?

-There's just something so funny to me about how minimal the Jyamato Pawn costumes are. Head, limbs, uniform, that's all you need.

-"OHHHHHH MY SISTER'S GETTING BOMBED"

-"Oh hey little bro, I got tied up. Can you do me a solid and get the kitchen knife?"

-Sae-san's very cool and collected under pressure. Can see why she was picked for this.

-Oh hey, Mrs. Kurama~! I'm still pissed you slapped my homegirl Neon, just so you're aware.

-"Neon's a big girl, she can handle herself. She'd never be able to achieve her dreams"

-Ohhhh, Papa Naoto. You're extremely sus.

-"Time to go to work. See you around."

-I see Mama Kurama's not an entirely heartless lunatic.

-You tell her, girl!

-I'm gonna be honest, I'd be proud of Neon if she were the Desaster.

-There's the Buffa Core ID.

-No doubt there's gonna be a lot of Zombie DNA in that mutant.

-Oh?

-Oh, hello.

-Sponsor-sama!

-So, she's got big plans for ol' Michinaga.

-Beroba...

-Ohhhhh, he's got an infection.

-"You wanna beat the shit outta all them dirty Kamen Riders, huh~? How about you let me pay for everything, no strings attached!"

-A proper sadist, this one!

-Takahashi's giving us a lot of interesting female characters this go around.

-Well, Beroba-san. You're obviously a cold-blooded murderer, you've got a killer fashion sense, your first appearance is accompanied by scary organ music, you're friends with Papa Archie, you got jelly beans...

-Yeah, you're totally trustworthy. I hear you're played by an idol?

-Sae-san... you care a hell of a lot about your family, huh?

-Oooooh, Okinawan.

-Keeping yourself in peak condition for your family. I happen to know a dude in a bathhouse who'd be very impressed with you, Sae-san.

-Neon...

-Who threw that bomb?

-"Did somebody say BOMB~!?"

-Gotta save Onee-sama!

-Ohhhh, sunset is fast approaching.

-I'm surprised we haven't seen lemons yet.

-At least, I don't think so, the picture quality I have ain't the best.

-Michinaga!

-Jurapira!

-Buffato!

-Oooooh, he's pissed!

-"Fuck the bull! Go get pineapples for our Hawaiian barbecue!"

-Can't get in!

-Ooooooh, Zombie Tycoon!

-Damn, Keiwa's playing hard!

-Red Wire.

-HOLY SHIT BUFFA DODGED POINT BLANK

-Goddamn, these stunts are sick every time I see 'em.

-OHHHHH MY DUDE JEAN GOT A GUN

-Okay I checked, it seems it's Gene, okay.

-Hello, Beroba-chan. Guess the dweebs are fighting.

-"I'm betting all my money on that buffalo guy."

-...seems that Gene's okay with this.

-OH GOD NEE-SAMA

-Red wire!

-Nut up man, do it!

-We did it!

-No more pineapple for ever.

-Sibling banter

-Oh man, it's dark out.

-Seems Michi's in no shape to kill anyone today.

-Compass!

-Snacc

-Well, gotta keep the sponsors happy.

-Oh, the producer's coming in.

-...wonder if this is a metaphor of some kind.

-Ah yep! Sae-san was the sussiest baka all along!

-Lone wolf Lopo played nice for so long.

-Oooooh, that's a Glare retool. ...I suppose Gazer's our new "coming in hot and spicy".

-I wonder if we're gonna see a new DGP higher-up come kick ass every new arc?

-...fuck, what if we have to beat up Mama Mitsume? I don't think poor Ace can handle it.

-Shit seems to be getting real now.

[tiredassmage]

*slaps on table* 6, 16, 18 for best agent boy Tyr

(Aaaannnd 21 for your GW2 necromancer 👀 pleaaaase)

I want you to know that every time we trade agent asks I feel like that cat slamming the like and reblog buttons while making laser eyes. xD

As always, rambling under a cut involved, lol xD

best boy best boy best boy best b-

6. Their vices (physical or emotional)

Probably impressively given everything that happens, Tyr manages to dodge any physical addictions. He's far more of a social drinker than one likely to turn to a bottle for his solutions.

But also I have been thinking so intently even before this ask set about how I really don't think Tyr recognizes his own brand of self-sacrificing. He has the potential to be incredibly self-destructive about it, but almost by my sheer spite on the matter, he hasn't. Yet. If this game gives him so much as half an excuse to act on half the shit he thinks and says about taking down the Empire swinging, I'm going to stab this man myself so he can't do it.

I don't even think he'd call it self-sacrifice. He would low-key cringe at the idea of anyone thinking him a hero. Yeah, sure, yada yada, Immortal Sith Emperor is dead, whatever. He's just a lucky bastard with a blaster. All the real work was everyone else's. And watch - he wouldn't let you call him humble about it, either. While he's not particularly forceful or upfront about it, Tyr does have some strong ideas about how, exactly, people should remember him. There's still a part of him that is like (softly) "don't." This wasn't part of his briefing when he agreed to join Intelligence, damn it.

But, yeah, I'd say his biggest vice is that almost resignation to what he was/is as Cipher Nine, double agent to the Republic. He's not going to be ridiculously reckless and take unnecessary risks, but if you handed him a critical mission with a slim chance of a working exit strategy that would put a huge dent in the Empire?

Equally part of his problem is that he recognizes wars of attrition are not sustainable nor have they resulted in lasting peace, but find someone who gives a damn. If he could use a blaster against the Immortal damn Emperor, what is stopping him from taking on the rest of the Sith Empire? (Logic. Logic is what. He's not an idiot. He's just. Opinionated.)

He wouldn't tell Theron. Theron would try to stop him. Theron can know like. Right before he leaves. Maybe. That's maybe not the kind of message he'd like to leave with Jonas alone, after all. (Yes, Tyr and I have thought about this too much. It's such a problem. That's why he's not allowed to do this shit!!!!! Tyr!!!! PLeaSE!!!)

16. Dark Secrets/Skeletons in the Closet.

Hmmm.... hmm, hmm, hmmm.... Ohhh, the things spies don't tell other people. This one's tough. There's plenty of things he won't tell someone. Bastard still hasn't exactly clarified what his relationship with Shara was to Theron, for one. Half of his Intelligence career is still 'whatever you found in the records or think you know probably wasn't the half of it.'

Okay, so, his biggest one he won't probably ever been keen to spell out is that he probably wouldn't even bat an eye at a scenario like our theoretical occasion from the last question. At the end of the day, Tyr is still willing to push his own limits and cross some of his own boundaries to achieve an objective. And he knows there's shit like that that Theron would never agree to. And he would, knowing this, choose to omit details, if it came to this.

Throws my papers up in the air. And Theron was all in knots after Nathema, and Tyr is still willing to pull this shit. What am I gonna do with these two????

Anyway. I think also, in a way, there is a very, very tiny part of him that might, might accuse him of being a coward if it ever managed to wriggle out of the recesses of his mind because I do not believe Tyr would have ever asked Shara to leave the Empire. Part of it would be not thinking, even before he knew about her own programming, that it's what she wanted - and a backhanded accusation at himself from that would be that's not for him to determine to begin with. But I also think part of it is that he loved her, he trusted her to guide him as Cipher Nine, yes - all of that is true.

But I don't think he trusted anyone to understand why he would defect. That's one thing I don't think he would have trusted to her, given an opportunity.

Of course, none of this exactly strikes him as problems to deal with because they're not causing problems right now. He can't change the past and he certainly can't predict the future. So he'll just have to make do with what he's got and what comes at him whenever it gets here.

Oh, I got ahead of myself, didn't I, considering 18...

18. Things they'll never admit.

Okay, well, the last part of the last question is probably his biggest one. He's going to take that with him to the grave. One day he might explain a bit more of who Shara was to him to Theron, but will he ever admit that particular nuance? Absolutely not. Not relevant, unchangeable, nope. Nope nope nope.

There's probably a part of Tyr that could really benefit or feel something from someone giving him a pat on the shoulder and telling him, "you did alright, kid." (A), He, once again, doesn't actively realize this and, (B), BioWare where is Ardun Kothe? I increasingly need to know because I am increasingly having thoughts about him unexpectedly showing up on the Alliance base and it just being a Quiet Thing they acknowledge in private that Tyr would be... so relieved to see that man again. Bastard. He cares about you. They never officially call adoption, but like, Tyr was adopted. (This is even more hilarious to read back knowing like yEAH you're not wrong, but like, different context alkfnsaldkfd). Anyway, bold of anyone to assume Tyr actually had the courage to ask anyone. Did he look into this himself for answers? Who can say????? He sure won't.

I also think for like. At least half a hot minute Tyr kinda crushed on Vector. I've been slowly rotating this in the back of the mind since Tyr met Vector and was like "oh I like them" like, so fast. Tyr trusts him so fast - maybe too fast for being a Cipher, honestly. But also like, the whole complicated thing with feelings for Shara, later he falls absolutely in love with Theron, so... yeah, they ended up just being friends and Tyr never acted on this and, to this day, this is unacknowledged by both parties. And Tyr is, of course, happily married to Theron now.

Okay!!! Guild Wars mY WIFE time!!!! I'm love her...

21. Turning points in their life.

Okay, Letallia is still sort of coming together because I haven't finished everything yet, but what I do know came together surprisingly quickly! So, most of these events are primarily related to the first 30ish levels of personal quests.

Letallia is the oldest of twin siblings adopted by nobility and raised in Divinity's Reach; her and her brother never knew much about their birth parents and, of the two of them, Letallia was more okay with that. Her brother always wanted to unveil the mystery and find them, if they could, and this was something she never exactly discouraged, but she felt more close to the lives they were currently leaving and was relatively content to let the past be the past.

So, while they had their differences, they were overall thick as thieves (badumtss here bc her brother I have on theif, lol). Letallia primarily focused on the public appearances of the family - high society gatherings and dealings with the fellow nobility while her brother focused more on the common folk that served them, often to be found helping them with loose odds and ends.

So far, their two main galvanizing events have been discovering the history of their parents & joining the Orders of Tyria. Letallia chose the Vigil while her brother, always favoring the cloak and dagger type, joined the Order of Whispers. While they've had individual focuses before, separating paths to join the Orders is probably their first long-term departure from each others' sides. Letallia still collaborated with him where she could, though they each respected their allegiance to their Order and their secrets.

But! Igniting them onto such a path was the discovery that their parents spied for Queen Jennah's father. For Letallia, this reforged her desire to see, explore, and protect Tyria as a whole. She wishes to honor that legacy by striving for the unity she believes her parents fought and died for. Her brother took their deaths a bit harder, driven to stronger loyalty first and foremost to Kryta and their Queen. Ultimately, their motives may differ, but they strive for the same ultimate goal, which makes her relationship to her brother quite important to her.

This legacy also sort of solidifies her relationship with being a necromancer. The art can be unsettling, especially with the Risen so close at hand, but understanding is power and she believes all must live and serve in their own way. Meeting and befriending Trahearne also proves quite beneficial to this confidence. She quite enjoys working with him!

(Bonus fun fact, my google doc with all of this, inspired by that first post I think I did is called 'please don't store ur gw2 lore in tumblr tags' since it grew to be... more than I had anticipated when I started, lol)

[seaoftheworst]

@cathiief sent: plots please for anyone we haven’t already discussed 😌

⤏ send me “plots please”

… and I’ll respond with  3  (or more)  interesting  plots / relationships / connections  I can think of for our muses!   There is  no pressure  for us to write any of them,   but it’s a great starting point for you to get a sense of how I think our muses might interact and what sorts of plots I’m most interested in happening between them  -so don’t be shy!

this will be long so under the cut it goes, some will include the ones we have discussed because i know i will always have more ideas

Alber (King)

Alber lost half a wing, he didn't deserve to be shoved into Udon so Alber recovering where the Straw Hats are, solely because of the Lunarian thing

Nami is good at infiltration, why did she not try to infiltrate Onigashima? So let's have her break into Onigashima before the raid and interact with Beast Pirates as a 'recruit'

Nami being the 'hostage' to keep 'Joker' in line in her Donquixote pirate verse

Buggy

Nami dealing with this clown for more than just a day

Charlotte Katakuri

TBH, I have a verse I need to fully write up where Kat ends up on the Sunny cos Luffy didn't want to leave him behind hurt

Crocodile

Verse where Baroque Works recruited her and got her away from Arlong, when?

The rain meant he was solid, let's let her get a few slaps in when he wakes up for what he did to Vivi and Alabasta

Donquixote Doflamingo

The verse you mentioned where she is a Donquixote Pirate, so much to explore, such as when he collected her and Nojiko

When she learns that he was the one who killed Rosinante

Him naming her the Crown Princess of Dressrosa as his favorite niece

Donquixote Rosinante

Rosinante coming to take her and Nojiko away from Arlong, especially in my AU where he lives (canon had him die one year before Bell and I am not ok)

Rosinante visiting Bell while the girls are growing up, especially before he goes undercover

Rosinante introducing her to Law

Eustass Kidd

Someone needs to smack sense into this dumbass and his crew obviously isn't gonna do it

Verse where Nami flees East Blue on a marine ship and ends up in a different sea, and runs into this man and his crew

Jinbe

Jinbe getting wind of what Arlong was doing and coming to clean up the mess/take out Arlong

Jinbe and Nami talking and getting to known one another, after Fishman Island

Jinbe checking in on Nami via Den-den until he rejoins in Whole Cake cos he wants to make sure she is okay/feels like he is responsible for her safety

Koby

Talking together on Water Seven

Marine Nami when?

Bonding over being conscripted into a pirate crew against their will

Marco

Talking while Luffy and Zoro recover

Monkey D Garp

Marine Nami being under Garp

Monkey D Luffy

More adventures between major arcs

Luffy and Nami being the iconic duo they are

LuNa is a guilty pleasure ship of mine tbh >.>

Page One

I feel like Nami would got to Udon to at least see how things are going and see poor Page dealing with his sister, pleading for help when he sees Nami cos Ulti is very overbearing

Nami is good at infiltration, why did she not try to infiltrate Onigashima? So let's have her break into Onigashima before the raid and interact with Beast Pirates as a 'recruit'

Nami being the 'hostage' to keep 'Joker' in line in her Donquixote pirate verse

Portgas D Ace

Ace sticking with the crew for longer than he did in canon

Bonding over navigating the Grandline (I see that log pose on his arm and know he had that role as well as captain in his crew)

Spade Pirate Nami?

Racing, Nami on her Waver, Ace on his Striker

Rob Lucci

I need Nami to rip into him for Enies Lobby

Cipher Pol Nami?

Nami learning that Lucci was a child soldier

Roronoa Zoro

Zoro and Nami having to deal with their feral captain

Again more adventures between islands

Down time when they wait for Luffy to recover after big fights

They were both rather early in their return, kinda wanna see her learning that he got back to Sabaody first

Sabo

Nami getting to meet the other brother

Revolutionists helping Nami

Revolutionist Nami in general

Shanks

Shanks landing on Cocoyashi when he is in the East Blue, visiting like he also did with Windmill Village

Compounding on that Shanks stopping Arlong before Bell-mere could be killed, cos that's his friend

Silvers Rayleigh

She was back for a while before they left Sabaody, the two just talking

Tony Tony Chopper

Chopper and Nami crewmate bonding threads

Trafalgar D Law

Reuniting in Sabaody in the verse where he spent six months with Bell-mere

Reuniting on Punk Hazard in the verse where he spent six months with Bell-mere cos oh she is gunna have words with him

Donquixote Pirate Nami running into Law

Vinsmoke Ichiji

More of their shopping trips

Princess of Dressrosa Nami engaged to Prince Vinsmoke Ichiji to tie Germa 66 to Dressrosa and the Donquixote Pirates?

Wedding planning

Vinsmoke Niji

Nami needs to verbally abuse his ass more, he deserves it

Vinsmoke Sanji

NaSan bonding

Sanji opening up to Nami about his not great family before the reveal in Zou

Sanji spoiling her like the princess she is

Vinsmoke Yonji

Leash the Himbo

Seriously she could honestly tell him to do what ever and his dumb himbo ass would do it

X Drake

After the Raid someone checked on Drake and got him fixed up, it could easily have been her who found him when looking for anything she could loot from Onigashima

Nami is good at infiltration, why did she not try to infiltrate Onigashima? So let's have her break into Onigashima before the raid and interact with Beast Pirates as a 'recruit'

Nami being the 'hostage' to keep 'Joker' in line in her Donquixote pirate verse

[astro-b-o-y-d]

I know nothing about your OCs please tell me who they are

Okay WELL I appreciate the vagueness but I have so many at the forefront of my mind so 🤔

I could always tell you about my Shining Star University 7/DR7. Basically just seven Danganronpa OCs whom I also plan to use in a few chapters of the Gravity Falls fic I'm writing.

Ryuji Saeki: The Ultimate Otamatone Player. My special goofy boy who's just an absolute ray of sunshine, although he isn't quite as bright when it comes to thinking. But he means well and has a big heart! He's also very good at rhythm games!

Honoka Saeki: The Ultimate Alternative Singer. Ryuji's twin sister, and a lot more reserved and quiet than her brother. A girl of few words until you put a microphone in her hands and let her sing her heart out onstage. She's also a fan of tourist trap type shops (she has a taxidermied possum named Fluffy that she got from one), gothic lolita fashion, and she's pretty good at identifying mushrooms.

Katsuo Matsuda: The Ultimate Tennis Player Robotics Engineer. Was originally entered into school as a tennis player via his mother, but he knows she only did it because all the women in their family were professional tennis players. And, uh, given how he's a trans boy...we can put two and two together. Anyway, he's treading his own path and pursuing his own dreams. Outside of that, he's a fan of scary movies and will infodump at a moment's notice. ALSO his name translates out to 'victory, hero, manly'. Good for him.

Ava Tarnbull: The Ultimate Baker. She's a sweetie who was born on Valentine's Day, but due to that and not having many friends in her childhood, she chooses to give other people gifts on this day instead of asking for them in return. Usually her gifts are baked goods she made herself, and all of them are free of any fondant because she refuses to touch the stuff and thinks it's nasty uwu She also loves puppets and cooking shows, especially ones focused on bad cooks. Also clearly only half-Japanese; her other half being Scottish.

Mio Hatanaka: The Ultimate Ballerina. Very shy and meek, and prefers to let her dancing do the talking for her. Which it often does; she's the best ballerina in the country and beloved by so many. But despite her nerves off the stage, she's very kindhearted and will warm up to people if they talk to her long enough. She loves cute things like plushies and tiny dollhouse furniture, and also pretty girls who bake (heehee).

Hitomi Yoshihara: The Ultimate Surgeon. The Girlie of all time. She was raised in a 2-bit circus and did surgery on the performers when they got hurt. She's aroace. She can juggle. She wants to study the anatomy of a paranormal or supernatural being, specifically by getting one of their limbs. She is a Bill Cipher fangirl for this reason in her GF-verse (once again, not in a romantic sense. She just wants to put him in her handbag and steal his arm, #girlthings). She's such a silly and a little scary, but she takes her job and the lives of her patients very seriously.

Ishida Amano: The Ultimate Extreme Sportsman. If there was ever someone who could toe the line between extreme stunts and extreme safety, it's Ishida Amano. He will perform death-defying stunts on the regular, but will cancel any and all plans to do so if he doesn't have the specific safety equipment needed for the stunt. He will ride around school hallways on an electric scooter (one that stops on a dime), only to scold someone for running in the hallways. He's VERY intense and VERY extreme, but his heart is usually in the right place. He just wants to keep his friends safe, in a very Ishida way. Also my friends and I have a running joke with him slapping a helmet on every unprotected head he can find.

That's it, those are my darlings~! 🥺 I've been thinking about them for a year straight, and I love them SO much.

[aries-rp-corner]

Cobalt stepped back with a growl upon seeing Calvin once again, remembering what he did to him the day he was captured, and interrogated twice.. Leafie meanwhile was surprised to see Calvin again, yet she was very relieved not only he is here but okay as well from Cipher’s attack.

“I still haven’t forgiven you after the nightmare you put me in…if you want to play protector on that wretched pest of a Pokémon… by all means… Die trying.” Cobalt got on all fours and roared at the two, yet he noticed Leafie took the Scrafty to a safe spot behind some crates. Watching her return as she hold up her bladed arms as they glowed in bug energy. “It’s a shame the Witch won’t join your fight this time the both of you….” He taunted out, yet one of his clawed hands held his neck. He quickly threw that thought aside as he looked at Leafie one more time as she now stood by Calvin’s side. Ready to fight. “You had that guts within you, and you took your damn time to FINALLY show us your worth…too bad it’ll be waisted on this night!”

Cobalt charged at the two, yet to their surprise, Leafie’s arm blades glowed with a dark type energy. Finally she got under the now beast man and delivered her move, Night Slash. Catching Cobalt off guard completely, as it doubled when he was slapped in the face by her fur coat. Feeling webbing and fur blocking half of his vision as it was combined with itchy scales. Now looking at her with pure anger. “The fuck did you do?! You can also learn that move now?!”

Leafie quietly chased after the two former Commanders, looking up to see them stop pinned down the Scrafty again as Mira bit it. Causing the poor Pokémon to yell in pain. While that, Leafie stopped in place as she used her coat to cover her hearing as the painful cries of an Scrafty pierced the air. Creating memories from her past of how she and her brother were taken away from Pinwheel Forest, and been put through so much pain through training and testing…to the point her brother couldn’t move anymore which made Mira and Veda enraged. As Mira tried to smack him back to training, causing Leafie to lash out and bite Mira. Remembering to be a horrific mistake as Leafie received her scars on her face and side back…wounded and exhausted…but alone. She remembered she was thrown into isolation, scared for being isolated, but scared for her brother…who unfortunately didn’t make it through the training… leaving Leafie … all alone.

Surviving through hell itself from Mira, selecting her as one of her Pokémon Members… Leafie didn’t remember much after that, all she felt was herself being numb and so angry…but the most she can remember was darkness that she couldn’t escape from. Hearing cries and whimpers for what she was forced to do…until…

Leafie woke up from her memory, as she looked back to see the turning Mira and Cobalt. The Scrafty’s cry was lessening, making the prey mantis panic…she had to act. She was afraid…yet she couldn’t let them take another life away…just like what happened to her brother. She finally came out of hiding and used X Scissor on the two. Landing a hit on both Mira and Cobalt as they let go of the Scrafty.. now shaking and terrified from the whole experience as it looked up to see a fur and feathered Leavanny.

Mira growled but thanks to her meal, her wounds healed quickly…except one. Her chest contained a stab wound caused by Wes when he held Aries’s Moon Blade. Sadly, it won’t be enough for Leafie as she stood in front of the Scrafty. “Bold…I’ve forgotten you had a fighting spirit ever since we captured you and your sibling…shame he didn’t make it.” Mira huffed, causing Leafie to hiss out of anger as well having tears form from the mention of her fallen brother…

“I’m still in need of Blood…. I’m trying to understand what Ozul and Durai did to us… it hurts… yet it’s… Fascinating?…” Mira questioned, making Cobalt walk up in front of her as he stand his ground. His shadowy body blazing as he grunts in pain, forming his tail as it had spikes glowing with dragon energy.

“We’ll worry about this later sadly… for now, not only this is our Dinning Hall…but we sadly must escape it… and if you are planning to get in our way, perhaps I’ll do you a favor in meeting your weakling of a brother again...” Cobalt opened his shadowy wing arms as he unleashed an inhuman roar at Leafie. Making her shutter in fear but she stood ready to fight…question is….how long will she last?

[loveandletter]

Check out my carrd for more info on groups I stan and my biases!

-

omg her stylists were inSANE for this they need to be imprisoned 😫

what about my mental health, lyn??? 

i’ll never move awn from this lyndis 

✨ stream blazing blade rn!!! ✨

[slashingdisneypasta]

Hopefully this isn't perceived as a request, but what do you think some Disney Villains favorite cuddling position would be?

Oooh, okay lemme see. Remember not all these characters are cuddlers XD So a lot may be left out. Also I myself do not like the idea of cuddling so its hard to imagine haha XD

Some key-cuddlers I can think of though...

Human!Bill Cipher: He likes your backs to be pressed against eachother late into the night because at that point he's still planning and thinking, so he's muttering to himself and lighting up and all that for ours after you've gone to sleep and he wants to be close to you but you don't want him bothering you. When he's done though he's definitely a big spoon, if only to tease you (; Get a good handful of your thigh, or tummy. You know, that good stuff.

Captain Hook: Of course he's a cuddler. He likes to have you buried in his chest at night, so he knows you're not going anywhere. He's a little possessive.

Clayton: Clayton likes to have you in someway against his chest. Like, he's laying on his back and you are using his chest as a pillow.

Don Karnage: Cuddles sustain him. Any kind of cuddles will do. he just gets sad- and comes straight to you. You're like his charger.

Evil Queen Grimhilde: SECRET CUDDLER. She just loves to be all tangled up with you, similar to Hook so she knows you cant get away in the night and also because she just cant get enough of your body. In a sexual and non-sexual way.

Gaston: He only hugs you when he's jealous, sorry. Or he wants to stake his claim. He'll have you perched on his lap in the middle of the tavern if he feels he must, and you don't slap him (But then again, depending on how jealous he is- that may not even stop him.)

Hades: He loves to have you sitting all comfy in his lap while e's doing Important Lord Of The Underworld Stuff like paperwork, and strategy. Its just an easy way to spend time with you when he's busy.

Hans: I think, like Hilde, he is a secret cuddler. The boy is touch starved to the max and turns to mush on the inside (because on the outside he's still heartless, of course) when you wrap your arms around him, or snuggle in his body in bed at night. He has a preference for you facing him when it happens.

Horned King: See Hades. Cant say his lap would be very comfy for you though XDD Maybe place a cushion down.

Jafar: Ehhhhhhh, any snuggles with him turn sexual...

Long John Silver: All. All of the cuddles.

Human!Lotso: Oh my god, he loves cuddles. You wouldn't expect him too after the 'abandonment', but its in his bones. So all sorts of huggles happen here. Happy hugs, sad hugs, angry hugs...

Maleficent: Power cuddles. She has to be in a position of 'power' (Like the big spoon or the bottom, on her back with your head on her chest or on her lap as she sits up) but she does find them quite lovely.

Mother Gothel: She used her cuddles as a manipulation tactic... sorry...

Oogie Boogie: He's more a hug man then a cuddle man.

Prince John: Like Don Karnage, you will need to give him lots of cuddles and affection when he gets all pouty and whiny in order to charge him up again; Console him. He requires these.

Prof Ratigan: He's open to being educated on this matter, but... its not really his thing. He prefers to waltz you, honestly!

Randall Boggs: Very similar to Hans, he doesn't want you two know he wants/likes snuggles, but he does want them. He just cant let you know, because he's really freaken touch starved, and he refuses to let anyone see he actually needs anything soft like that- which he doesnt.

Scar: OH MY GOD SUCH A CUDDLER. All together he's just very affectionate. Lots of kisses, lots of brushing up against you, lots of standing very close, and l o t s of PDA- and a good 90 percent of that is cuddling in front of the rest of the pride. It is part of his power claim, but also he just loves you. He just loves to be touching you.

Shan Yu: He's excuse is that its freezing outside and you two need to stay warm... now take off your clothes. Skin on skin contact is warmer. *Cough* In other words, like Jafar, many of Shan Yu's cuddles turn sexy. He at least wants to really tease you.

Shere Khan: Absolutely. He's down. Likes to sweet talk you while you cuddle so you go red.

Stabbington Brothers: Yes, they do... Patchy more so. He's not ashamed of wanting you in his sleeping bag with him. Sideburns on the other hand is a bit of a 'macho man' and doesn't want to admit he wants cuddles in a purely innocent way. But yeah... he does.

Steelbeak: Again, all.

Sykes: Loves to have his arm around you in the back of his limo, just talking quietly and enjoying the minutes you have alone together before the drive ends and he has to work again.

Syndrome: Again- like Hans and Randall.

Toon Patrol:

Greasy- Greasy is definitely a kisses over cuddles kinda guy but he can appreciate cuddles every now and then too.

Psycho- Hugs that feel more like restraints. You may bruise. He also can be super super gentle though- and there is no in between.

Smartass- AGAINNN, like Hans, Randall and Syndrome. Doesn't want to admit it but he does appreciate them.

Stupid- This boy will wrap his arms around you in the middle of the street and will not let go until he's filled.

Wheezy- If you're buried in his chest, you aren't inhaling the smoke that comes puffing outta his face like a steam train. He also likes it ^^ And he isn't afraid to admit it ^^

King Candy: Ohhh yep. Has his arm around your waist so much of the time.

Ursula: Her cuddles turn sexual too.

[larena]

Identity Unknown

"You want me to rejoin the Empire? Are you absolutely mad?"

The noises of the cantina seemed a suddenly overwhelming din to the Commander of the Alliance as Republic SIS Agent Jonas Balkar looked her square in the eye and... gave his best noncommittal shrug.

"Not rejoin it for real or anything. We just need a man - sorry, woman," he winked obnoxiously as if that was the best line he had ever delivered "on the inside. And given your former ties and..." he paused and tilted his head like a polite ferrazid hound meeting someone new "Well, you weren't exactly famous, were you. What was that funny little name they gave you... Cipher Nine?" He didnt wait for her to answer "But hey, at least that espionage training will see use. Probably been a while since you've been anonymous."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing, Lana hadn't mentioned anything like this "I don't understand... I didnt expect to join the Republic but I hoped we could at least be open allies. After what happened on Iokath..."

Jonas leaned over the dingy cantina table. The Commander was too caught in her confusion to pull away as he placed a hand on hers. "Listen, I know you've got that whole Alliance behind you, people from all walks, Empire *and* Republic, but that doesn't mean much to the nerf herders on Alderaan or the kath hound wranglers on Dantooine. We publically ally with you, now, and we've gotta do a *lot* to defend that choice. We can't unless we know for sure you're the real deal. Especially given that you've pulled one over on us before..."

The Commander sat up straight, slapping Jonas's hand away as she flew out of her daze "Are you kidding me? Does my work with Ardun Kothe mean nothing? I had been selling him the Empire's secrets for over a year before I became a blasted carbonite paperweight!"

A few of the other cantina patrons had started to look in their direction. Jonas flagged down a server droid and ordered a round for the house to ameliorate the onlookers. "Ardun... isn't exactly someone we parade around these days. He did good work in his time, I respect the man, but that work wasn't pretty. As you know," Jonas leaned back and put his feet up on the table. A twi'lek across the room gave him an uncharacteristically scandalized look for Nar Shadaa "I really don't get why this is an issue for you. Didn't you get buddy buddy with former Empress Acina while you were fighting Vaylin?"

"That was different..." a serving droid arrived with a drink for her, she picked it up, but didn't drink, simply swirling the salt-tipped straw aimlessly "Acina knew that we all needed to work together to defeat Vaylin, or there wouldn't be a galaxy for her to rule. She didn't ask for anything in return for her help."

"And then when she did, you killed her," Jonas raised an eyebrow searching the Commander's face for signs of remorse or guilt. Or maybe even vindication. The woman was definitely former Imperial Intelligence. He could make a guess what she was feeling... but who knew if it was real. Finally he sighed, sitting back in his chair like a normal person "Okay, I get it. The Empire ain't exactly my cup of tea either. But these are the terms. You either leave this bargaining table a mole in the Empire, or go back to being their servant. I'm sure that's an exciting prospect."

No... if Cipher Nine knew anything about her own mind for certain it was that she could never go back to the Sith Empire. Even as a mole, the thought of it...

She remembered being a child, an alien alone on the streets of Dromund Kaas. The transport she had stowed away on was cold and lonely, but the more the days passed, the better she felt. Her back no longer hurt, she could breathe easier. Even if the air on the transport was stale and smelled of desperation, even if Dromund Kaas was always humid from the rain, it was better than the gas from the mines. She remembered picking pockets, spying on people in the cantina and selling their secrets to their wives, husbands, superior officers. She remembered the large man in black armour who caught her spying on him as he cheated on his wife, how he dragged her to a cell deep in the Citadel. She remembered the people who came to her cell, asking questions, giving her tests. Grooming her for Intelligence. She remembered Keeper. Both Keepers. Darth Jadus... the sith and superiors who drugged her mind and locked it away from her, who made her question every thought she had, even the most minor, who took away her own name.

She couldnt remember... had it been the conditioning that made her forget? She had a different name before. The name they called her in the mines. The name they called her at Intelligence before Cipher Nine. Before Agent. Before Commander. Before Legate.

She looked at Jonas, the man wasn't paying attention, keying in another order at the serving droid. Her mind wandered to the other SIS Agents she had known. To Ardun. To Theron. Even Rane Kovach... were they good men? Was she right to forgive Ardun for using the Empire's conditioning to keep her in line? To forgive Theron for his foolish plot with the Heralds of Zildrog? To outright lie to Lana, her closest friend and confidant, about Kovach's true allegiances?

Nothing seemed right. Nothing seemed like the right choice. Nothing ever seemed like the right choice, no matter what she did, as Cipher Nine, as Legate, as the Commander of the Alliance, as that little girl with gas in her lungs. Everything she did was a mistake. If not by her standards, then someone else's. There was always something wrong. Wrong wrong wrong-

No. Not now.

Keyword: Iconoclasm

There wasn't time. She pushed her chair back from the table and stood up. Jonas looked up at her as he grabbed his drink from the passing serving droid.

"Alright, Jonas. You win. I'll play your game, I'll go back to the Empire. Tit for tat right? I'll betray and ruin them like they betrayed and ruined me," in a flash she reached across the table and yanked Jonas by his shirt collar so that they were eye to eye "But you and the Republic had better be ready to throw your full support behind the Alliance once the Citadel burns to the ground from the inside out. If I can do it to them, don't think you'll fare any better."

At that, she dropped him and left the SIS Agent to pick himself up and get back to his drinking, or, whatever he was actually doing. "Great! I'll have my people call your people!" He shouted behind her, face flushing.

If the galaxy was so determined to see her return to the Empire, Legate would ensure there wasn't an Empire for her to return to. Cipher Nine would cover her tracks, ensuring no one knew of her deception. The Commander would guard the Alliance from any possible fallout. And she... would just hope she could remember who she was when she was with the people who cared for her. She hoped she could remember who she was...

[asterkiss]

What a Catch!: Chapter 10

Pairing: Bill/Mabel Synopsis: Mabel was a mermaid who didn't ask for much. In fact, all she pretty much wanted from her soulmate was a romantic first meeting where he would sweep her off her fins. Unfortunately, fate had other plans. Her soulmate didn't so much sweep her off her fins as he trapped her in a fish net. [Read on AO3 here]

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5  | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 |

CHAPTER 10: BURN

'Grunkle Stan, hi!'

'Hm?' The stone-like gargoyle glanced down from his perch on a tree, peering towards a smiling mermaid in the waters below. 'Oh, hey pumpkin. How's it going?' 

'Uh, not too bad.' She had recently been tied up by a Hunter but she figured it was best to leave that part out. The Hunters had mysteriously packed up and left early the next day, though they had also shown up prematurely as well this year. It was all rather weird.

She still hadn't told Stanley about the whole soul mate with a Hunter thing but she knew she'd have to fess up to him and Stanford some time, and that time was probably now. 'I heard Grunkle Ford just came out of his hibernation?' The sphinx would go into a deep slumber for a few years at a time and his absence was always felt - she and Dipper missed the ol' guy.

Stanley's face fell. 'Urgh, I swear. The guy's been back a few days and it's like half the forest want to see him.' That probably wasn't an exaggeration, Stanford was super smart and knew the answers to almost everything. He probably had a large line of critters waiting to enquire with him. 'Even your brother came by yesterday.'

'Dipper did?' She frowned. She hoped he wasn't going to spill the beans on her soul mate thing. The deal had been she'd tell their uncles once Stanford returned. It had been her way of procrastinating the difficult conversation for a while but now Stanford was back and her time had run out. That said, she did have things she wanted to ask her uncle as well.

'I wanted to talk to both of you about some... stuff,' she finished vaguely, earning a raised eyebrow from the older man. 'And I also wondered if Grunkle Ford had ever heard about a particular family name before.'

'What family?'

'Just, you know, some names.'

Stanley's stonely face darkened. 'You can tell me as well, y'know? I know things too, kid.' 

Mabel gave a small smile, she'd hit a nerve hadn't she? It hadn't been her intention to make him feel second place. 'Okay fine, the name is Cipher. Do you know anything?'

He blinked. 'Nope, not a clue.'

She puffed out her cheeks, pouting up at him. See, this is why she wanted to ask Stanford! But she couldn't say that or Stanley would grumble again. 

The gargoyle shrugged. 'Look, I doubt even my brother will know anything but since it's you asking, I'll pass it onto him when he gets back, alright? The old codger's stretching his wings at the moment.'

'Thank you Grunkle Stan, you're the best!' She gazed up at him with an adoring smile and hands clasped in front of her chest. He muttered something but she saw the flush on his cheeks and could tell he was happy. She felt a little guilty actually, she should visit him more often. As she regarded him from below in the shadows of the tall tree, her eyes caught the edge of lettering peeking out from beneath his pants as he shifted on his perch. His soulmate's words. He always refused to speak about it though when she asked, claiming she was too young. But she was going to be sixteen soon, so he couldn't keep using that excuse. She figured the words were super embarrasing and that's why he always hid them out of sight. 

But Mabel was persistent and she'd find out one way or another, you could bet on that.

She absently scratched at the lettering on the inside of her arm, wondering what her "soul mate" was up to as she engaged her uncle in further chit-chat.

>

Bill tried not to flinch as he was slapped violently, his cheek stinging painfully from the velocity of it. It hadn't been entirely unexpected but he was still left briefly stunned as he stood within the centre of an ornate study room, a figure stalking angrily around a large oakwood desk and a warm fireplace burning brightly.

He slowly raised a hand, rubbing tenderly at his skin with a wince as the dark-haired individual continued to walk and fro in agitiation.

'Twice,' the woman spat, high heels clacking against the wooden floor. Dark hair pulled into a taught bun threatened to come loose in her frazzled state, and her formal business attire seemed crumpled attesting to her upset presence. 'Twice you've come back from that shithole with nothing nothing!’ She snapped her head his way, dark eyes meeting his with a volatile rising anger within. ‘Your father may have been worth less than the ground I walk on, but at least he brought back a prize with every god damn Hunt. So far since his demise you’ve brought our family nothing but shame!' She grabbed a glass sculpture off the desk, turning on her heel to throw it across the room. It shattered on impact with the floor, glass shards scattering. 

He swallowed back several words he would prefer to say in lieu of releasing a soft sig. ‘I apologise, mother-‘

‘Shut up,’ she hissed, voice laced with revulsion as she cast him a glare. ‘You don’t speak unless I tell you to, understand?’

‘…’

‘Your fucking cousin had to tell me what you pulled,’ she went on irately. ‘I already get enough hassel from my sister without her idiot son showing us up as well. Seriously, you actually capture something and then you just... let it go?' She arched an eyebrow in his direction, expression twisting into something ugly. 'Are you stupid? You shouldn't be, I don't hit you nearly hard enough to make you that dumb.' She muttered further insults beneath her breath as Bill scowled, fists clenching at his side. 

‘Do you have any idea how lucky you even are?’ the woman labelled his "mother" spat, as she approached him. She halted before him so they stood toe to toe, piercing blue eyes glowering up at him. And even though Bill had a clear foot over the petite woman, he remained submissive to her, shoulders hunched and gaze averted. ‘I struggle to think of anyone else in our class who who would willingly take in a mutant monster like yourself and call it their own.’

His back itched.

‘Don't forget the only reason we adopted you was because your pathetic father couldn’t have his own,’ she advised, voice venomous as she jabbed a sharp, manicured finger into his chest. ‘If it wasn’t for that, you’d have died in that monster dimension years ago like you deserved, worm.’

‘I know.’

She snorted derisively, turning around towards the lit fireplace. Stepping towards it, the woman appeared to take in several deep breaths before the flames as she forced herself to calm down. 

‘…Take off your shirt.’

Bill blinked at the request before his expression became solemn. Clenching his jaw, he did as she said, pulling the shirt over his head to reveal his bare torso.

With her back still towards him, she spoke again, voice clipped: ‘Turn around.’

With a grimace he did as she ordered, turning his back towards her just in time for the older woman to glance back. He could feel her eyes roaming his injured back and shoulders, her gaze piercing.

‘….Hmph. It’s started to heal again,’ she muttered.

Bill heard her pick up the fire poker from the embers, her heels clacking once again against the floor as she approached him. He closed his eyes and tensed in anticipation.

‘Soul mate marks,’ she muttered in disgust. ‘A ridiculous notion conned by monsters to force breeding.

A Cipher, no matter how off brand, has no need for it.’

The hot metal pressed against his flesh and the blond bit his tongue to keep back a yelp, fingernails digging into the palms of his hands as his fists clenched tightly enough to turn his knuckles white.

Bear with it. Bear with it.

He was a Cipher.

And one day this entire family would belong to him.

When that day came, every single person who had looked down on him would feel his wrath.

His nails dug further into his skin as she tutted and pressed the poker against his back again, burning away the words etched into his body.

…Oh, they’d pay dearly.

>

'Hey you missed Mabel, she was looking for ya earlier today.'

Stanford blinked upon his return to his makeshift shack, noting his brother standing in the shadows ominously. 'Oh, what did she want?' 

'Eh, wanted to ask you if you knew about some family she was babbling about.'

The sphinx unfurled his wings, dropping several bags from his wander which seemed to be secreting odd slime. All part of a normal days work for him. After being out of commission for eighteen months he had to restock. He glanced at his brother. 'Did she say which family?'

'Uh, somebody called Cipher? Weird-ass name if you ask me, right?' 

Silence.

Stanley frowned at his brothers lack of response, looking towards him only to blink at his brothers frozen expression. 'Stanford?'

His twin twitched, clearing his throat but unable to displace the look of alarm on his face. 'W-Where did she hear that name?'

'She didn't say. Why?' When his brother said nothing, the gargoyle scowled and shifted forward. 'Oi, if you know something then spill the beans. She's my neice too, dammit!'

Stanford frowned, eyes sliding towards his brother. He seemed to regard his words carefully before speaking. 'This isn't good Stanley, that family is bad news. For all of us.'

Stanley swallowed thickly. 'What d'ya mean?'

'...If we aren't careful we might invoke a war with the Hunters and undo all the hard work I've carried out to keep this dimension peaceful.' He looked grim. 'We need to find Mabel and find out what she knows. Now.'

The gargoyle felt his heart squeeze in alarm.

Mabel, what had you got yourself involved with?

[elemental-daddy-neos]

YGO! Questionnaire

Tagged by @cipher-wise

Pleasantly surprised to be in one of these, so let’s go

Favorite series: *Gestures to icon* Is it any surprise I’ll be picking GX? I love GX with all my heart and soul. The story’s pacing is very good and never feels like it’s dragging its feet to get to where it’s going, most duels are over in less than a full episode with the longest one being three, there are so many good characters to get invested in, and this boy right here is your protagonist.

Look at him blow kisses to the audience after beating Crowler, how could anyone not love Jaden Yuki? I care him so much. Even the filler episodes in GX are pretty fun to watch most of the time, and it’s the good kind of filler that may not advance the plot much or at all, but it’ll give you plenty of good memories to take with you. Who could possibly forget the eggwich thief? Not to mention the soundtrack fucking slaps.

Favorite protagonist: I mean...

Yeah it’s Jaden. GX hooked me immediately when I started watching it because of how much I loved this boy. He’s that perfect mix of cocky and sweet when it comes to dueling because he’s confident in his own abilities, but he never stops having fun and being amazed at what his opponent can do, he cares about all of his friends and does his best to help them with their problems, he’s kind to strangers, and he has exactly half a brain cell. 

I feel the gif speaks for itself, but Jaden’s dialogue when he turns around here is “I’m such a sucker for things like this! I’ll help you, ma’am!” Dorothy says “No, you’ll be late... Don’t you have a test today?” And Jaden replies with “Who cares if I’m late? I couldn’t leave a lady in trouble!” Jaden Yuki is my absolute favorite protagonist.

Favorite rival: Oh man is that a tough one. Am I allowed to pick two? It’s a hard call to make between this dumb edgy bitch-

And this dumb gay bitch

Honestly they’re tied for favorite rival in my book. I absolutely loved Chazz when I watched GX, and I thought his arc about breaking through his inferiority/superiority complex and learning to accept loss as a part of life without letting it define him was wonderfully written, and seeing him grow as a person throughout the show just made me feel happy for him. Shark... I really thought I wasn’t going to end up liking Shark at first, but god he just gets so much better as Zexal goes on, starting out as this mean spirited middle school bully in episode one, and slowly ending up as Yuma’s boyfriend closest friend. It’s incredible to look back at how Shark acts when he’s first introduced and compare it to... season 3, I think it was, where just hearing the words “Yuma’s in danger” is enough to send him running to his rival’s side. Chazz and Shark. They are my favorites.

Favorite BFF: Him

Crow Hogan is an absolute treasure and he was my favorite part about watching 5Ds. This little bird man first gets introduced by stealing cards for his kids and clowning on Sector Security, and he’s a source of so much good throughout the show. Excellent best friend (technically brother but I’m counting him), wonderful father, 10/10 person all around. Plus the fact that the only thing stopping him from berating his bitchass brother even more was Yusei having to literally pick him up and pull him away is definitely extra points in my book. What a powerful little bird. His only weakness is people that are taller than him, which is unfortunately most people.

Favorite GFF:

Yuzu. Have I actually watched Arc V yet? No, but I’m still picking Yuzu for my number one here. Tea and Tori are just awful characters, I’m neutral towards Alexis, and Akiza... Did have potential to be something interesting on her own, despite how uncomfortable she made me in seasons 1-2 of 5Ds, but her relevance is alllll downhill from there. I’ve seen one clip of Yuzu yelling at a man eating pie and calling him a 100th rate duelist, and that was all I needed to know she would be my favorite. (Clip here) 

Favorite villain: Oh boy

The fuckin carrot is my favorite villain, and I say this as someone who fully believes he didn’t deserve to be in the last episode. Vector did some fucked up shit in his day, and he only continued to do fucked up shit in Yuma’s day, but I have to say he was pretty effective when it came down to his goals. He got things done and went right for what he wanted by taking direct action to seize Don Thousand’s power, and he manipulated Yuma perfectly by preying on his kind nature and love for Astral to use him to further his goals. 

...Plus I mean just look at his subbed dialogue God he’s such a slut. Evil slutty alien.

Tl;dr Vector was a horrible horrible person, but he was a good villain, and he was so entertaining whenever he was on screen that it was impossible not to like him. Still kinda wish he got what he deserved though, and what he deserved definitely wasn’t another chance.

Speaking of Don Thousand though, can we talk about how unfairly pretty he is? If I had to pick a runner up villain in terms of looks alone, it would definitely be him.

God it was not fair how pretty the big bad of Zexal was. He’s fucking gorgeous, and in my opinion, the best looking villain at the very least.

Favorite card: *Sweats in Duel Links* Favorite? There’s so many cards out there to pick from, but since I’ve already broken the rules with my two favorite rivals, I’ll be picking two of each card type: Spells, traps, and monsters. One for the aesthetic, and one for how often I make use of it.

First up, the Aesthetics group

What can I say, Vampiric Koala is such a cutie, Dwimmered Path has some really pretty card art, and Rainbow Life is an eternal flex on any heteros I may encounter while playing Duel Links. Nothing better than a gay trap card.

Now for usability

Dragon Knight of Creation is suuuper helpful in any dragon themed deck and has a permanent slot in my decks for Mokuba and Kaiba, PoG is always a fun way to boost up weak monsters to ridiculous heights, and Dark Bribe just lets you block your opponent like “Okay I know you wanna hurt me but I will let you draw another card if you do not do that thing”, and they can’t refuse you.

Favorite episode: I’ll be copying cipher’s format here and picking one for each series, but this will still only total out to five for me since I’ve yet to watch past Zexal ^^; Soon I’ll get to Arc V! One day...

Season 0: Episode 16:  Turnabout by a Hair's Breadth - The White-Robed Crisis I’m a sucker for my son Joey, and this was a good Joey episode about him and his sister, plus it was nice seeing that doctor get what he deserved :) Duel Monsters: Season 5, episode 12-14:  The Deciding Match for Duel King - Yugi vs. Leon/Golden Castle of Stromberg/KC Grand Prix Ends  Probably a weird batch of episodes to pick, I know, but a lot of DM was kinda forgettable to me, and these are some of the few episodes I do recall. I just... really felt for Leon’s situation, and I wanted good things for that boy. I care him. GX: Season 3, episode 34: Dark Fusion! Inferno Wing!! Jim. Jim Jim Jimmmmm. This was the episode that finally made me understand why saviorshipping was a thing because it hits you with all these memories Jim has of Jaden and shows how they bonded before all this Dark World shit happened, and the whole thing was very emotional. 5Ds: Season 4, episode 2-3:  Recollections, Entrusted with a Friend's Dying Wish God Crow, my precious bird son. I really liked the backstory they gave him, despite how much it hurt. It was probably the best character development he got in the whole of 5Ds, and let you see a side to him you probably wouldn’t expect. I loved watching him get his justice. Zexal II: Season 2, episode 5-6:  Alito the Silent Fighter - Reunion of the Passionate Duelists!/ Be Revived! The Duelist Soul That Transcends Life!! I picked these episodes for Nistro and Nistro alone. He was one of my absolute favorites in Zexal, and seeing how well he and Dextra were doing was good for the soul. Just look at this good lion man right here.

Look at him!!!

Favorite decks to use: Elemental Heroes, Aromages, Red Eyes, Six Samurai, and Crystal Beasts.

Fusion, Ritual, Synchro, Xyz, Pendulum, or Link: I’m a simple girl, I love fusion/tributes for how easy they are, but synchro can be pretty fun, too

Years in fandom: ??? Even I don’t know the answer to this one, friends. I used to be in the fandom when I was in middle school, wrote/read a few fanfics here and there, but then I fell out of it for... Well I’m 22 now and only got back into things 6 months ago? I started rewatching the abridged series of Duel Monsters in March, and from there I just wanted to consume actual Yugioh content and never went back.

Who am I tagging: @finding-fallen-petals @dizziedaikonn​ @chazzaroo​ Go wild y’all

[tinybibmpreg]

Prompt 2/80, #36 - Did you honestly think that was going to impress me? ft. two of my S/tar T/rek ocs, Captain Cipher Nine and Li Ilik Dari’Oza

USS Sifr: Unimpressed

“Did you honestly think that was going to impress me?” Li Ilik drawled, leaning back against a workstation. He crossed his arms across his chest the best he could with two infants strapped there, tilted his head, and leveled Cipher with a glare so unimpressed Cipher slouched. He'd felt like quite the hero when he first turned around to see what his partner thought of his success in a firefight. Now that feeling of victory was rapidly fading away.

Even their daughters looked sorely disinterested in him, and they were just babies.

Foolishly, Cipher answered, “Kind of?”

Li Ilik’s scathing retort was instantaneous, “You wasted resources, time, took damage that could have been avoided, used tactics that were juvenile and utterly predictable, not at all suited to the situation at hand, and you were woefully unprepared. You spent far too much time trying to negotiate as well when we were immediately attacked.”

“I wasn't unprepared.”

“Oh, you were. If I'd been the captain-”

Cipher barely suppressed a grin, perking up. Li Ilik only pulled out that hypothetical in their debates when he was faltering in coming up with arguments, flustered and trying to rile him up fast. He wasn’t really unimpressed, despite the glare. “This is a Starfleet ship, Li. I'm far more suited.”

Li Ilik scoffed. “It doesn't matter. I have far more military experience than you. Don't forget, I was once the second in command of the flagship of the Cardassian military. Second only to-”

He was interrupted by a sharp, “I thought Captain Cipher did really well, Dari’Oza. It's been a while since you were even Dal, right? I bet you'd be rather rusty. You don't know what you're talking about.”

Cipher rolled his eyes and sighed in exasperation as his first officer spoke. Even after so much time, the man didn't seem to realize Cipher didn't need his reputation or orders defended, especially not from Li Ilik, who criticized everything he did as Captain, according to traditional Cardassian courtship. It was the easiest and most passionate argument they could have. Li Ilik straightened immediately, tail lashing. His grey protofeathers ruffled, and he growled before storming off of the bridge. Well, not really storming, exactly, Cipher thought. With two babies always strapped to his chest or tucked in his arms, and a heavily pregnant belly hanging off of his slim figure, Li Ilik waddled off a bit more than he stalked off, lately.

It was very funny to watch, even though Cipher knew Li Ilik only took off like that instead of verbally ripping into whoever he felt insulted him when he was upset. Being pregnant again had made the Cardassian rather emotional. Cipher wanted to go after him, but he had work to do as Captain. He couldn't just run off right after a battle. He needed to review damage reports, assign repair teams, be there in case another ship showed up. Get the ship back in top shape before they could continue on their mission course. Then he could go see if Li Ilik was still offended.

“Okay. Do we have an update on the hull and shield status?”

“Yes, Captain. There was a hull breach near engineering, but no casualties. They're already fixing it. The shield is on its way back to 100%.”

“Excellent.” Cipher sat down in his chair and settled into his role as Captain.

For all of three minutes. Then his second officer walked in, looking a bit confused. Cipher greeted her, “Ah. Lieutenant Commander Rian. You have a report?”

“Um, yes. Though, uh, is Dari’Oza alright? I passed him on my way up. I thought he would be on the bridge- it looked like he was crying, almost…”

Li Ilik rarely cried, even when hormonal and overemotional in his pregnancy. Work would have to wait. Cipher stood up. “Commander, can you man the bridge for me? I’ll be back later.”

“Sure, Captain. I'll take that report then, Rian.” 

Cipher walked out of the bridge and onto the elevator. Once the doors closed, he asked for the lift to bring him to deck 8, where the Captain’s quarters were. He tapped his foot as it descended. He tried not to think about how slow the turbolift was when he was impatient, as it’d only make it seem even longer.

When the lift finally stopped on his deck, he practically leaped off of it, heading towards his quarters. He kept his pace quick in case he passed anyone. His crew tended to leave him be if he looked like he was in a hurry to get somewhere. Rian always told him he could be quite intense when he was determined, whether that be when he was having a conversation, fighting a battle, or simply making his way through the ship corridors.

As soon as he was in front of his quarters, he slapped the entrance panel and stepped in, calling, “Li? Girls?”

No sign of Li Ilik or the twins in the living room or dining area. Cipher reached out to give his cat, Fox, a pat on the head as he went for the master bedroom, which was currently shut. A rarity, since Cipher insisted it be kept open at all times so his cat could go in and out of the bedroom as she pleased. Li Ilik had grown fond of the animal the past few years, sometimes preferring her company over Cipher’s. He never closed the door unless he was very upset, too upset for even Fox to comfort.

He clicked for the door to open, but it stayed shut. Now very worried, he input his override code. The door slid open and he headed into the dimly lit room. Li Ilik was curled up on the bed, his face buried into a pillow to muffle his crying. His shoulders were wracked with sobs. The girls were sound asleep on the bed, each on their nursing pillows, with their father’s tail wrapped around them. Cipher rushed to his side, climbing onto the bed but being careful not to disturb the girls. “Li!”

“Go away.”

“No, you’re upset. I want you to talk to me.” He rubbed Li Ilik’s back. “Please?”

Li Ilik lifted his tear-stained face a bit. “Why bother? You know what’s wrong.”

“The thing with Commander Gaines?” 

Li Ilik nodded. Cipher pulled him up so he could hold him. Li Ilik kept a firm hold on the pillow but leaned against him. Cipher exhaled with relief. At least Li Ilik wasn’t angry with him, or else he would have fought the hold or pulled away. He reached over and pulled the girls closer, so Li Ilik could keep his tail around them. When he tried to kiss his temple, Li Ilik turned his head. So he was definitely upset with him, and not so much the first officer.

Cipher kissed the top of his head anyway. Normally he loved feeling the soft grey protofeathers that made up his husband’s hair, but now he couldn’t focus on that. “He’s a bit temperamental. Still, he shouldn’t have said that to you.”

Li Ilik shook his head, more tears welling up in his eyes. Cipher felt a bit helpless. It’d never bothered Li Ilik before when the first officer argued with him. Sure, he’d get offended, but he’d always get over it fairly quickly. But now it seemed like it was something a bit more than Gaines making a needless retort, something he’d missed.

“If the Commander didn’t upset you, what did? Did something happen on your way here?”

“You didn’t defend me!” Li Ilik cried. “You let him speak to me like that!”

“But you’ve never gotten upset about him before?”

“I don’t care what he says! He’s just some sycophant Federaji lackey-” Cipher filed that phrase away to laugh at later when all of this was over with and he was allowed to find it funny. “But you never defend me!”

“I- I didn’t know I needed to do that. You always defend yourself so well. You never seem to need my help.”

“How could you think that?” Li Ilik sobbed. “Do you find it okay that your subordinates flirt or offend me in front of you?”

“I don’t think Gaines was flirting with you,” Cipher said, then immediately wished he hadn’t. That wasn’t what he should have focused on.

“It doesn’t matter whether he was flirting or arguing with me!” Li Ilik hissed at him, voice rising. One of the girls mumbled and Li Ilik glanced down at her. He touched her with the tip of his tail, and she settled down. He crumpled, burying his face into the pillow again and sobbing miserably.

Cipher hugged him tightly, but Li Ilik squirmed out of his grip. “I don’t like when Gaines or the others upset you.”

“Then why do you let them do that? You’re the Captain, your subordinates shouldn’t be talking to your mate like that, especially not in front of you, in front of everyone, in front of our daughters, when I’m carrying your children-”

Man, Cipher thought, it really was bad that he was letting those things slide. He should have realized that his husband wanted him to speak up for him like a proper Cardassian mate would have. Or like a proper mate at all would have. Being human wasn’t even an excuse.

“I’ll talk to Gaines about it, I promise.” That seemed to soothe Li Ilik. Cipher kissed his hunter-eye, and Li Ilik took a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself. “I’m sorry I let things get this bad, Li. Shouldn’t have let you get into this state.”

“If you were Cardassian, this never would have happened. You would have kept all your men in line from the start,” Li Ilik told him, and Cipher knew he’d been forgiven.

“Oh, if I were Cardassian, you wouldn’t like me nearly as much.”

Li Ilik gave him an unimpressed glare, somehow just as effective even with his face wet with tears and his hair all ruffled.

Cipher grinned and kissed him, then pecked extra kisses on his cheek for good measure. Li Ilik pulled away to wipe off his face and try to fix his hair. “Enough, enough.”

“Oh, man, it freaks me out when you’re upset.”

“Then you should endeavor to be the best husband possible, so I’m not upset again,” Li Ilik told him, jabbing at his chest. “I don’t expect to cry again until you die and leave me a widower with four children to look after.”

Cipher rolled his eyes. “I won’t be dying that soon, geez.”

“Good.” Li Ilik thought for a moment and then added, “Unless of course, you die in an idiotic way. Then I won’t be crying over you.”

“I’ll die as a hero and you and the girls will weep over my body or what’s left of it in front of everyone, or in such a ridiculous way that you’ll be crying tears of frustration over how I could be such a fool. Deal?”

Li Ilik scoffed. Then, he asked, “Do you have to go back to the bridge?”

“Nah, I think Gaines and Rian have it handled. I’ll stay here with you and the girls until they need me.”

“Help me hold the children.” Li Ilik reached to gently pick up one of their daughters, careful not to wake her up. Cipher reached around Li Ilik to pick up the other twin and placed her in Li Ilik’s arm. Once he had them comfortably laying against his chest, the both of them nuzzling against the base of his throat, Li Ilik leaned back against Cipher. Smiling, Cipher wrapped his arms around Li Ilik, resting his hands on his belly.

It was nice to have his whole family in his arms. Cipher made sure to cherish it. The girls were going to get bigger and it’d be impossible for Li Ilik to try to hold two almost-toddlers and two newborns, though Cipher was certain that he’d try. And then as all the kids grew it’d be more and more difficult to fit them.

“Hello there, Fox.” Meowing, Cipher’s cat hopped up onto the bed and plodded around before sitting next to her owner and kneading the blankets. He scratched behind her ears and was glad when she started purring. Then she stood, stretched, and flopped down against him.

Now he had his whole family, he realized.

But before he could settle in again and maybe try giving Li Ilik some more kisses, his commbadge chimed. “Rian to Captain Cipher.”

Cipher sighed and hit his badge. “Cipher here.”

“Captain, we’re receiving a long-distance message from a ship similar to the one that attacked us. We need you on the bridge.”

“Put the ship on yellow alert and increase sensors, make sure to keep an eye on that ship, try to get a visual. I’m on my way. Cipher out.”

Grumbling, Li Ilik looked disappointed. Cipher detached himself from them, guiding his husband to lean against a pile of pillows.

“Duty calls,” Cipher said apologetically, giving Li Ilik another kiss. He pressed a kiss to the top of his daughter’s heads, and then one to Fox’s. She gave a small ‘mew’ in response. Finally, he dipped his head to press two kisses to Li Ilik’s belly, pulling up his shirt to kiss against his skin.

“H-hey!”

“Stay safe and get some rest. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He headed out of the bedroom, but then stopped and dipped his head back in. Smirking, he said, “And by the way, I think I made excellent decisions in battle as Captain today.”

Completely flustered, Li Ilik hissed back, “No, you didn’t!”

“Love you too, Li. Love you, girls!” Grinning like a fool, he left his quarters and went to the bridge.

-

As it turned out, the ship that had attacked them was a stolen ship commandeered by criminals, and the ship contacting them, a military ship in pursuit of the theives, was very grateful for the sensor readings they could provide and the course heading of where the damaged ship had run away after being overpowered. They were given permission to head to the ship’s system of origin, an invitation of first contact.

It would take three days to get there, and once things were underway and all repairs were sorted out and started, Cipher stood up, beamed down at his first officer, and said, “Commander, can I see you in my ready room?”

“Of course, Captain.”

Cipher led Gaines into his ready room. He sat down behind his desk and flicked at a stray marble that had escaped its display container. It rolled towards the edge of the desk but bumped into the little siding he’d had installed to prevent his collection from falling.

Gaines sat down in front of the desk, watching him flick the marble. “Did you want to go over first contact procedures, sir?”

“Oh, no. We won’t be able to do that until tomorrow anyway when we get that information packet from their capital they promised.”

“Then what is it, sir? I thought you’d be headed straight down to your quarters once things were quiet, to be with your family.”

“Once this is done with, I will.” Cipher plucked up the marble and set it back where it belonged. “And funny that you bring up my family, actually-”

“Yeah, Rian already ripped into me about earlier. I didn’t mean to make Dari’Oza cry, sir. He’s just… very insulting.”

Cipher shrugged. “I know you don’t like my husband. Cardassians can be an acquired taste.”

“I don’t think it’s a taste I’ll get used to.”

Cipher appreciated that Gaines was so honest, and he liked him. He hoped that Gaines wouldn’t be too upset. Li Ilik’s feelings mattered more, though.

“I hope you’re not aware that Cardassians flirt by arguing, Drew. I know Li and I probably shouldn’t be so brazen on the bridge, but in a proper Cardassian romance, the couple argues all the time. It’s very fun, getting riled up.”

“I… I didn’t know that, Captain.”

“I tried to give you time to figure it out so I didn’t embarrass you, but then I realized enough is enough. Even if Li Ilik wasn’t just doing a Cardassian courting tradition, I don’t like how you speak to him. You shouldn’t be purposefully trying to argue with or offending your captain’s spouse, especially not when he’s pregnant. And you absolutely shouldn’t be so disrespectful in front of the bridge crew, in front of me, and in front of our daughters.”

Gaines looked thoroughly ashamed. “I’m sorry, Captain. I shouldn’t have been unprofessional.”

“Great! I look forward to things being better from now on. Also, I think Li Ilik is, hm… a bit pettier now that he’s so pregnant, so he’ll probably try to rile you up to upset you. Not in the good way that he does to me, either. Use all of your training and Starfleet determination to resist, okay?”

“Captain…!”

“I’d tell him not to, but it would not go over well. Imagine telling an almost full-term pregnant human not to do something. That would be a disaster. Now imagine telling a Cardassian. Yeah, that won’t happen.” Cipher laughed. “Dismissed, Commander. You have the bridge. Now I’m going to go to my quarters and spend time with my family. I’m sure Li Ilik’s been prepping on how to criticize any first contact ideas I might have, and I’m looking forward to it.”

[pastelwitchling]

This prompt is courtesy of Anonymous.

TW: attempted drugging, violence.

Malex prompt where Michael (or/and Kyle?) catches someone spiking Alex’ drink

***

               Alex took another sip of his drink, and rubbed his eyes. He glared at the codes and ciphers he had transferred to paper, all by hand of course, forcing himself to stay awake. He’d thought coming to the Wild Pony, getting away from all of the silence of the bunker, and the inviting warmth and comfort of his cabin, would help him focus better, but then he’d gotten here and found Michael at the bar, talking to Maria, and he’d found himself unable to focus on anything else.

               But it was late, Maria had spotted him (Michael hadn’t), and he had figured that if he stayed at the very back, everything would be all right. He had been wrong.

               “Still working, huh?” Alex heard, and his eyes fell shut in exasperation.

               The man that had been hitting on him all night slid into the chair opposite him, his hand around his own beer bottle, his hungry eyes raking Alex’s body despite Alex holding the files up to hide as much of himself as possible. The man was tall and handsome, which Alex might’ve liked a lot better if the guy didn’t reek of alcohol and didn’t insist on bothering Alex when he’d made it plainly clear that he was exhausted and in no mood to chat.

               Instead of responding, Alex hummed, hoping it would be enough to bore the man. It wasn’t.

               “You ever think you work too much?” he pressed, grinning his stupid grin that Alex was sure was meant to come off as charming and humorous, and instead came off as creepy and annoying.

               “Doesn’t really bother me,” Alex said, the finality clear in his tone.

               “You came to a bar to study,” the man said, leaning in. “You seem pretty bothered to me. I can help with that…” he reached out to touch the back of Alex’s hand, and Alex, unable to take any more of it, stood.

               “I’m going to the bathroom,” he said curtly. “When I get back, you better be gone.”

               The man’s smile twitched, and he leaned back in his seat, his lips pursed as Alex stuffed his papers into his backpack and took it with him to the bathroom. Once inside, Alex splashed his face a few times with the icy water, and he waited a moment against the wall, wanting to be absolutely sure that man had left his table. But because he was Alex, his mind had to wander if left in silence for longer than a second.

               He thought of the numbers he’d been studying, the symbols, the Project Shepherd system protocols he’d gone over – it all connected, he knew it did, but how was the question. And, of course, his mind went to the person it should never go to but always went to anyway.

               Alex shut his eyes tight, urging the thoughts away. He knew Michael wasn’t giving him a first thought, let alone a second. Alex just had to stay useful, he had to figure these ciphers out, Michael had to need him or Alex really would be nothing to him then. And that would be the one thing he could never take.

               Alex sighed, forcing himself off the wall. Hopefully, his creeper for the night would’ve left by now. With the thought that maybe Alex should try aligning some of the symbols and codes he saw, Alex stepped out of the bathroom to a noise louder than before. People were standing in a half circle, blocking the door as grunts and screams filled the air.

               Alex scanned the bar first, instinctively looking for Maria. Was she okay? She must’ve been out of her mind with rage and annoyance and –

               Then Alex spotted Maria, and he blinked. She was standing to the side, her hip against the counter, her arms crossed. Alex might’ve thought she was completely calm if not for the way her jaw twitched and she seemed to be silently encouraging the fight.

               Alex’s eyes widened. Where was Michael? He pushed through the crowd and spotted his cowboy, to his shock, straddling the creeper that had been bothering Alex all night, his face now bloody and bruised as Michael punched, and punched, and punched. Alex was too startled to move for a second, but as the creeper winced, Alex snapped out of his thoughts. He rushed to Michael side, trying to pull him off.

               “Guerin, stop it, what’s you doing?!” But it was as if Michael couldn’t hear him, wouldn’t hear him until the defenseless stranger below him was dead.

               Alex wrapped an arm around Michael’s shoulders, his other arm around Michael’s waist, and he used all his energy to pull him up. “Stop it already!”

               He managed to move Michael off with difficulty, and pulled him in against him, his back against Alex’s chest, holding him tightly until he stopped trying to swing his now bloody fists.

               “The sheriff’s already on his way,” Maria said coldly, but not to Michael, to the stranger. “Sit tight. You think of running, and I’ll taser your ass.”

               Alex, no less confused than he was a moment ago, thought there was no way the stranger was going to be able to lift his head, let alone run away. Michael was still vibrating in Alex’s hold, his heart hammering even through his back, so while a few men came forward to help the man sit up, Alex pulled Michael along toward the backdoor. Michael let him, his glare on the man.

               Once outside, Alex released him and snapped, “Are you out of your mind?! You could’ve killed him!”

               “Good!” Michael yelled back. “He deserves to die!”

               “How can you even say that?!”

               “He put something in your drink!” he said, and Alex blinked. “When you went to the bathroom, he pulled something out of his pocket and slipped it in your bottle! What’d you want me to do?!”

               “You…” Alex’s brows furrowed, and he shook his head. “Guerin, there’s no way you could’ve known that, you would’ve had to have been…” his words trailed off, but Michael’s gaze never wavered. Watching me. He thought Michael hadn’t noticed him there at all, and in reality, Michael had been watching him the entire time.

               “Oh,” was all he could end up saying, and Michael finally looked away. They both stood there, neither making a move to go back inside to the chaos and the noise. Alex’s eyes fell to Michael’s fist, battered and bloody, and he swallowed.

               He moved closer to the cowboy, gently taking his still-tight fist in his hand, yet Michael jumped at the contact as if Alex had shocked him.

               Alex was extremely careful as he looked over Michael’s fist. After so many broken bones and dislocated shoulders while training, he’d come to recognize when a bone was broken. Luckily, Michael’s knuckles were just bruised. A week or two on ice, and he would be fine.

               Still, he asked, “Does it hurt a lot?”

               The distance between them seemed to almost be nonexistent, their foreheads almost pressed together, but Alex kept his eyes on Michael’s hand. There was a time he’d wanted to look over Michael’s hand, check the injuries, try to help him, but he hadn’t been able to then. He wanted more than anything to do it now.

               Michael shook his head, and Alex’s heart fluttered as he felt the cowboy’s curls brush his own straight strands, Michael’s breath fanning his cheek.

               “We,” Alex cleared his throat, “we should get you cleaned up.”

               Michael nodded. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “Yeah.”

               When Alex dared look up, he saw Michael’s eyes half-lidded as they focused on his lips, as if in a trance.

               “Alex,” Michael muttered, and leaned in. He took Alex’s lips between his slowly, as if terrified Alex might pull away if he kissed him any harder. Alex stood, letting himself be kissed, not knowing what else to do.

               “Alex,” Michael breathed and pushed Alex against the wall, sighing deeply against the airman’s lips. The muffled music from inside seemed to disappear completely as the air filled with the sounds of Michael and Alex’s lips, pressing together and pulling apart.

               Michael tilted his head to deepen the kiss, and Alex’s hands reached into Michael’s curls, gripping them. Michael moaned against Alex’s lips, his hands on Alex’s waist, his fingers stretching across the smooth expanse of skin beneath Alex’s shirt. Michael’s tongue slid against Alex’s, and Alex’s brows furrowed at the taste.

               He pulled away, turning his head aside as Michael chased his lips.

“Alex,” Michael whispered, “kiss me.”

Alex’s brows furrowed. “How much have you had to drink?” he asked, his voice hoarse.

               Michael frowned. “What?”

               “You taste like…” he shook his head, “like you’ve had a lot, how much have you had?”

               “I…” Michael shrugged, then his frown deepened as he seemed not to know the answer himself. “Um…”

               Alex’s heart fell into his stomach. He forced himself to let go of Michael’s curls, to step away, and as he took a step back, Michael followed him. Alex felt a lump in his throat.

               “I’m exhausted, and you’re drunk. We – we shouldn’t be doing this.”

               “Wait, wait, hold on,” Michael said, holding onto Alex’s waist. “What – what does it matter if I’m drunk, you know I’d want you either way.”

               Alex inched away from him. “No,” he said simply. “I don’t know that.”

               Michael looked as if Alex had slapped him. “Alex…”

               “We should get back inside,” he said, lightly tugging on Michael’s wrist. “Get your bruises some ice. Come on.”

               He waited until Michael, his head ducked, his expression resigned, agreed to follow him, and Alex let his wrist go.

[ayawriter]

Fever

Characters: Naib&Friends

Summary: Naib falls ill, but decides to deal with it on his own (re: suck it up and ignore it until after matches were over) This causes some complications once he actually participates in a match, and puts his relationships and values into question.

The dining hall was alive with noise, yet none of it reached his ears. Naib silently picked at his food, letting the buzz of conversation wash over him as he slowly lost his appetite. Everything was too loud, and his body was stuck in between feeling fine, and feeling achy. Same with his headache.

“Yo, Naib, you gonna eat that?”

“Hm.”

Naib pushed his plate towards the Forward before standing up, closing his eyes to keep himself from getting dizzy. He opens his eyes and starts to leave when he was called out by a concerned doctor.

“Wait, Mr. Subedar! You’ve barely eaten anything, are you feeling alright?”

Naib huffed inaudibly. He wanted to get back to his room quickly, and sleep until match time. His ears felt stuffed with cotton, his body felt like it was in freezing snow and on fire at the same time, and his nerves were on high alert, throwing his senses into overdrive. He felt before he saw Emily reach out toward him.

“Don’t touch me!” Before he could register what was happening, he had already slapped Emily’s hand away from himself.

The entire dining hall went silent, staring at the two. Naib struggled to keep his breathing in check. Stumbling backwards, he mumbled a quick apology before disappearing towards his room.

The lawyer was the first one to break the silence.

“Hmph. At least it’s finally gotten quiet.”

Emma glanced worriedly at Emily as the doctor sat back down in her seat beside the gardener. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, I am not hurt. Please, do not worry.”

William, who had turned back to his food at that point, chimed in, “Still, it’s not like him to react like that to anyone, especially someone like Dr. Dyer. I mean, he’s always been kinda spiky, but he never lashed out like that before.”

Martha hummed in thought. “Perhaps It’s stress? He has been participating in the games almost every chance he gets. Which, I’m all for the enthusiasm, but I’m worried he’s going to burn himself out at this rate. Or work himself sick.”

Slowly the noise returned to its previous level, but there was now a tense atmosphere as the survivors worried over their fellow comrade.

—

Naib kept a steady pace back to his room, one hand on the wall to keep himself steady. He sighed. He shouldn’t have reacted like that. Emily was only worried. He’ll have to apologize later.

“Oof.”

“Ah!”

So lost in his own thoughts, Naib didn’t notice the figure rounding the corner. They collided, bouncing off each other and falling on their butts.

“S-sorry…”

Naib looked up once the dizziness subsided to find Aesop’s concerned face staring back at him. Surprisingly, the embalmer was the first to recover. He held out his hand. Naib grabbed it and was helped up.

“Nah, it was my fault. I wasn’t paying attention. Thanks.”

Aesop mumbled a “no problem” and another apology before speeding off. Probably towards the dining hall. Once he turned the corner, Naib started his walk back to his room. He locked the door and flopped down onto the sheets, he didn’t bother taking off his boots or untying his hair. As soon as his body touched the sheets, he was out.

—

   He didn’t know how long he was asleep for before he woke up to an incessant amount of knocking on his door. He groaned, half from being woken up, and half from how sore his body was. He shivered. Was it always this cold in here? Naib opened his door, glaring daggers at whoever it was that woke him. God, his head hurt.

   “Oh, you’re awake.”

   It was the seer.

   “The matching is about to start. I was just wanting to check up on you and make sure you were ready.”

   Despite the smile on his face, Eli was studying Naib with an intense gaze through his blindfold. He didn’t have to rely on his seer abilities to guess that Naib wasn’t in the best shape to be participating in any matches. The mercenary wasn’t necessarily close to other survivors, but the seer had somehow proved himself to be a trustworthy fellow, and maybe even could be considered one of the mercenary’s closest friends.

   “Sure. Just give me a sec.”

   The mercenary left the door to grab his elbow pads before leaving his room and closing the door behind him. He turned to Eli, nodding, and they both made their way towards the matching room. Naib involuntarily shivered again, which did not go unnoticed by Eli. There was a reason he was one of Naib’s best friends.

   “Cold?”

   Naib jumped, which made the seer frown in concern. It was the same as the incident from breakfast. Naib may have a heightened sense of danger, but he was never jumpy, and he never lashed out, unless provoked.

   “What? No. Besides, how can I be cold if it’s already so hot?”

   Hot? Now something was definitely wrong. First the jumpiness, then the shivers, then the claims of the mansion being hot. Sure, it may not be the coolest, but it surely wasn’t as sweltering as Naib seemed to think it was, nor was it cold. Right as they were about to enter the matching room, Eli grabbed Naib’s wrist, pulling him close and placing his other hand onto the mercenary’s face. He wasn’t burning with a fever like he originally thought, but Naib was still too warm to be healthy. There was even a light blush on his cheeks, though whether it was from embarrassment or sickness he wasn’t sure. Eli was struck with a sudden feeling of foreboding.

“Naib,” he started, “I think you should sit this one out. Don’t volunteer. Or if you are chosen, switch with another survivor.”

“…Is it another one of your ‘premonitions’?”

Eli smiled wryly. “I guess you could say that. But it’s more of a gut feeling. You know I can’t exactly “see” anything at the moment.”

Naib studied him for a moment, acknowledging his comments with a hum before opening his mouth.

“I’ll…I’ll think about it.”

Eli watched him walk through the doors into the matching room. With a sigh, he walked in after him, hoping Naib would take his advice. Though he already knew the answer to that.

—

The match started with little incident. As he suspected, Naib ended up participating in the match, ignoring Eli’s warnings, taking the place of Tracy, who had injured her wrist while working on one of her projects, making her decoding skills useless. The final team ended up being Aesop, William, Naib, and Eli.

[Focus on decoding!]

Messages pinged from all directions, and Eli set to work on a cipher nearby. Today’s match was in the Red Church with the Gamekeeper. Eli bit his lip, barely catching one of the calibrations. This is going to be rough. Especially with Naib in his weakened state…A low hoot alerted the Seer of his owl’s return.

“Welcome back, my friend. I’m sorry for giving you so much work, but do you think you can check on Naib for a moment?”

With a nod, the owl took off in the direction of the Mercenary. Meanwhile, Naib was feeling miserable. He started nearby the small hut, which he was thankful for, since it was a strong kiting area. Unfortunately, he kept missing calibration after calibration, which lead the Hunter straight to him.

[The hunter is near me!]

Naib sent the message just as he was about to get hit. Fortunately Eli’s trusty owl had swooped in just in time to block the first hit. Naib sent out a quick message of gratitude, preparing to dash towards the next kiting area when the world started spinning. He had used his dash as usual, but it left him feeling nauseous and forced him to stop and heave. His body was burning, and his shivering became more pronounced.

‘Damn, I can’t stop here. Still got three ciphers left and Bane’s going to catch up any time!’

Naib somehow willed his body to keep his food down and keep running, his breath coming out more like gasps. His body felt like lead. Everything was losing color. The hunter was close enough that he could see the red shadow of his gaze. His heart pounded a vibrant mix of purple and red.  

“Shit–”

Bane’s hook got caught in his hood, pulling him back and forcing him to take a hit. The force of the pull and the blow from the same hook knocked out all the air in his lungs, and caused his to make flips. Before he could register what was happening, he was on his knees, throwing up what little breakfast he had.

Bane froze, stunned. Survivors didn’t usually go down like that when he hit them, especially the Mercenary, who usually takes a few seconds to register the attack completely. Something was definitely up. Somewhat panicked, he decided to try and seek for the other survivors for help.

—

Eli sighed in relief as he was able to block the incoming attack from the Gamekeeper at the last second. He ignored the brief headache caused from taking a hit from a hunter, and continued decoding his cipher. He welcomed the owl back with a good job and a small pat on the head, and popped the machine. In the distance another cipher lit up upon completion. Only three more to go. Only three more to go. Alright, now to go find Naib. Sure the Seer was able to block one attack, but the Mercenary was sick. Eli needed to be there to support him. He immediately left in search of his friend when another cipher popped. Only two more left. He pinged a message to the other two and quickened his pace. A gong sounded.

“Naib!”

Said male’s icon had slowly started to fill up. Eli only prayed he would make it in time. His heart pounded. Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Eli almost froze when he saw the hunter approach him, but something was different. The gut feeling came back. The gauge was now completely up to half, showing Naib’s status as “wounded”.

“Eli.”

Strange. The Gamekeeper never used the survivors’ names unless they were outside of the match. Something must have happened.

“Bane, did something happen? Where’s Naib?”

Bane didn’t answer, only motioned for him to follow urgently. Eli didn’t waste any time to comply. He was led to an area where Naib often liked to do his chases.

“Oh god.”

Naib was sitting, leaning heavily against the wall. There was a puddle of bile nearby. The Seer tried not to look, focusing on the unconscious Mercenary. He dropped to his knees, putting a hand to his forehead. He was burning up. Nothing like the slightly warm sensation from before the match. He grit his teeth.

“I told you…Damn it, you’re such an idiot.”

A cipher popped in the distance. Eli and Bane looked at each other, the hunter nodding.

“I still have about a hundred seconds before I can surrender. I suggest you gather your comrades and tell them the situation.”

“Thank you, Bane.”

The hunter nodded.

[Cipher machine primed!]

[Follow me!]

Eli spammed the message in response to William’s own, never once keeping his gaze off his ill friend. It took a while but William and Aesop finally arrived.

“Hey, what’s going on–Holy shit, Gamekeeper! Eli, run!” William ran to tackle the hunter, but was easily evaded.

“Will, stop, now’s not the time.”

“…Naib?”

Aesop’s quiet voice was muffled, but the surprise and concern was clear. He had silently joined the group in the short commotion. William turned and almost did a double take.

“Is…Is he okay–I mean–obviously he’s not–but, like…” William trailed off, but his question was clear.

Eli shook his head, “I’m fairly certain this isn’t anything serious, just a high fever and coughing. He may have also been suffering a bit from nausea.”

After a bout of silence, Ban finally spoke up, “The cooldown’s up. It’s your win.”

“Thank you again, Bane.”

“A match with an ill player is not worth playing,” he eyed the mercenary, currently being held by the Forward. “Next time, lock him up in his room or something before he does something stupid like this. We hunters may not be able to kill you, but things outside of the control of matches can. I shall hunt you when all players are healthy.”

And with that, a message popped up along with Bane’s disappearance, signifying the surrender. The four were transported back to the manor.

“Oh, welcome, back–Oh!”

Emma was the first to greet them, dropping some flowers she had picked from the garden in shock.    “I-I’ll go get Emily right away!”

The four headed to the makeshift “med-bay”, which was really just a large guest room with many beds. William gently laid the Mercenary down on one of the beds. Naib’s face was flushed, his hair sticking to his face slick with sweat. Aesop took care to pull his hair from the usual ponytail to make things more comfortable. The Gardener returned with Emily, who immediately went into work mode, shooing out William, Aesop, and Emma, and leaving Eli to explain the situation. She checked the ill Mercenary for any abnormalities before sighing.

“Well, fortunately, it’s nothing serious. Just a simple flu caused by a mix of stress, exhaustion, and overwork. He should be fine in a couple days if he rests and takes it easy. Even after that, I would recommend staying away from matches for at least a couple more days after recovery. He really has been participating a lot lately, and now that I have had a chance to look him over properly, there are traces of lack of sleep,” She sighed. “It truly was a matter of time.”

Eli nodded. “Thank you, Emily. I don’t know where we would be without you.”

“It is no trouble. I’m just doing my job as the resident doctor.”

“Still, thank you.”

The Doctor only smiled, and let Eli take Naib back to his room.

—

For the next couple days, Eli took turns with his friends and Emily to take care of the sick Mercenary. Fortunately, he was way too delirious with fever to even think about trying to do anything strenuous. He spent most of the time sleeping off the fever, only waking to eat or throw up. After two long days, Naib’s fever peaked before finally breaking. After what seemed like forever, Naib woke up, eyes frantically blinking away the sleep. Eli was beside his bed, reading a book when he noticed Naib awake.

“Good morning, Naib,” he greeted, smiling. “You caused quite a panic, collapsing during a match. And then you’re fever spiked last night…It broke finally.”

Naib brought up an arm to cover his eyes.

“How long was I out.”

“Two days.”

Naib shot up, instantly regretting it as the room spun. He felt gentle hands steadying and supporting him, helping to lean him against the headboard.

“Careful, you just woke up. Don’t strain yourself.”

Naib nodded, trying to wrap his head around the fact that two days had passed with him out of commission. He sighed heavily.

“Still…two days? That’s…”

Too long is what he wanted to say, but one look from Eli made his words die in his throat.

“Naib,” he started, not missing the slight flinch the Mercenary made at his tone, “You had an extremely high fever. You collapsed during the match–a match I specifically told you to sit out of. If it weren’t for Bane’s kindness in throwing the match, you may have been in worse shape–I know the injurines gained in matches are gone afterwards, but the exhaustion and stress doesn’t.”

Naib couldn’t find the words to refute. In hindsight, perhaps he really should have taken it easy. Even if he didn’t volunteer, someone else would have. Then again, maybe not. He’s probably one of the few people who willingly volunteers for matches. At the time, he didn’t want Tracy to play a match with injured wrists, and his body went into autopilot and pressed the volunteer button. Naib hung his head in shame. In his recklessness he had caused problems for his friends and comrades.

“Which leads me to my next concern,” Eli continued, snapping Naib out of his thoughts. “Ever since you arrived, you’ve been playing the game non-stop. I can’t deny that when you play, you truly do seem to enjoy the thrill of the chase, but…it also seems like there’s a desperation to your actions. You almost never escape, and always volunteer in place of another who couldn’t, and you refuse to seek for help. You constantly support us…rescue us, but refuse to accept the same…Do you not trust us?”

This made Naib perk up with shock.

“That’s not true, I–” he paused. Now that he thought about it, when was the last time he actually fully relied on a comrade? “You’re…You’re right…I’m sorry. It’s not that I don’t trust you, I just…”

Eli smiled, “You don’t want to burden us because you care too much. Same with the chases. It’s the one time you feel useful, and when you take hits meant for others and let the others escape before you, it’s the same. You’d rather be the sacrifice than sacrifice another.”

Naib perked up.

“Haha, by that reaction, I guessed right.” He sat down on the bed, a hand on his head and pulling him into a hug. “You’re not alone. Don’t try to shoulder the burden by yourself.”

They stayed like that for a bit longer, before they pulled apart. Eli stood up abruptly.

“Alright! It’s almost time for breakfast. Everyone was worried, so why don’t we head down once you’ve changed?”

Naib stared for a moment before a small smile spread across his face.

“Yeah.”

Eli turned to leave.

“And Eli,” Naib paused as Eli looked back, “Thanks…for everything. I’ll need to thank the other guys too.”

Eli smiled wide, “It’s what friends do. We lean on and help each other. Don’t forget that.”

Naib nodded and waited for Eli to exit the room before changing. Really, he’s found some great comrades–no–friends. And he’s vowed to protect each and every one of them with his life.

[restintheriver]

consequence-1{Cementation of the Deed}

“You find the shit?” the man asked without turning from the tv. Demyx laughed, finding homeostasis upon hearing the voice of the consistency in his life.

“Depends, Did you come clean to Luxord?” he asked, putting his bag down and pulling out the book. The important book. The book that should have been restricted. The book he pulled out from under the nose of a friend.

“As if. Told you, that’s never going to happen” the The man grumbled, sinking more into the cushy couch.  Demyx slapped the book onto the coffee table, ready to be done with it.

“So he’s still calling you Xigbar then?”

“Yes, and so will you when there are ears around” Luxu grumbled again, some warning in his voice.

“Fair enough, I’m taking a shower” Demyx said lamely.

“Have fun Princess” Luxu waved him off.

“Always do. Be careful with the book. Something tells me he will notice if it’s damaged” Demyx said slowly, serious.

Luxu furrowed his brows and snickered. “He doesn’t need or use this dusty old thing anymore. It’s just a relic now”.

Demyx winced and gave the sniper a warning look.

“Okay, fine. It’s not my problem if circumstantial damage does occur though” The elder man grumbled, picking up the tome. His face softened for a moment, as if looking at the photograph of an old friend he hasn't talked to for years. “I still can’t believe those old coots never but two and two together. He looks just like the old Beldam”.

Demyx continued to listen to him from the bathroom. His face grew ever more serious. He turned on the water. Frigid cold this time.“The Scientists never saw her. Ansem himself only ever saw her disguise. She wore a plague doctor mask when she played the role. Heard them talking about it on the recon long hall.” The blond said monotonously.

“Plague doctor huh? Fitting.”

Demyx groaned at the implication.

“Thank you by the way kiddo, no one else could have pulled it off. They still never caught on to what you were doing when you would run off?” Luxu smirked.

Demyx felt cold fire in the pit of his stomach.

He wished he never grew to like Ienzo, that he never wanted to be Zexion’s friend. He wished he had stayed objective like he was supposed to. Guilt was hell.

“Never”

Demyx came out of the shower in a fog of chill, the hair plastered to his face. In a loose t shirt and jams he plopped down next to the reading Luxu. He found some enjoyment in the frustration infecting the man’s face.

“Not what you hoped?”

“Either the Beldam wrote this in code or the kid ciphered it afterward” He grumbled.

Demyx winced and thought how in the world Zexion would pull that off. Luxu, seemingly reading his companion’s mind simply said

“Magic. The magic he gained as a nobody. Dude, none of us ever saw this book until after we joined. I was sure we fucked up and lost it to the flood after the swarm. I was ready to send you into the ocean to find it, then boom, look what the kiddie has got”

Demyx nodded, holding onto the words.“Why didn't you take it then?”

“As if, too conspicuous. Besides, this book would have poofed over his dead body. It was safe with him, he didn't know what it was. For all he knew it was a scientific text turned grimoire by an insane hag”

“Can you not talk about it that harshly?” Demyx moaned.

Luxu burst out laughing. “Cute. You gotta crush on a dead man walking”

“Don't” Demyx breathed.

Luxu turned to him and groaned on a heavy exhale. “Have to kid. We nyxed The Beldam too early. Ienzo is the only replacement we g-”

Demyx didn't let him finish. He couldn't listen anymore. The Nocturn got up and grabbed a coat, heading for a window and jumping on to the fire escape.

Luxu sighed. “Your funeral. I warned you not to get attached.”

https://archiveofourown.org/works/23268634/chapters/55733281#workskin