#02468 challenge

[internutter]

Challenge #02468-F278: Tougher Than Tough

"What's wrong I heard screaming!?"

"Oh, hey can you help me get my hand out of here?"

"I was practicing with Australian Bull-oak and made a hole."

"What were yo- by the stars you're bleeding!"

"I know that so help me!"

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allocasuarina_luehmannii -- Anon Guest

[AN: Changed the spelling of Buloke so people could read the prompt a smidge easier]

Humans with a fascination for martial arts -especially fictional martial arts- are more insane than what passes for normal amongst Humans. Some part of them wants to believe that the things they see on the screen can be real, and that they can do what it took several actors, a team of scriptwriters, stunt-men, and special-effects people to make look real enough to be believable.

Things like stabbing one's hands into containers of sand, beads, or lentils makes a certain amount of sense. Doing so causes microfractures that, thanks to Deathworlder healing abilities, make the hand bones stronger through natural re-enforcement. Theoretically, tapping wood with the fingertips or other parts of the hands is the same principal, but with less danger to low-gravity environments. This was, as evidence decreed, the logic behind Human Pel's little board.

The little board that had a series of instructions written on it... and one unfortunate knothole that was not resistant to persistent, percussive pressure. Now, raw, dry buloke wood was splintered in Human Pel's flesh with no immediately foreseeable way of withdrawing flesh from wood without further damage. After the initial scream, Human Pel was remarkably calm about the entire predicament.

[Be sure to visit internutter (dot) org for a link to the rest of this story, and details on how to support this artist. Or visit steemit (dot) com (slash at) internutter for the stories at their freshest]

[cmweller]

Challenge #02468-F278: Tougher Than Tough

"What's wrong I heard screaming!?"

"Oh, hey can you help me get my hand out of here?"

"I was practicing with Australian Bull-oak and made a hole."

"What were yo- by the stars you're bleeding!"

"I know that so help me!"

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allocasuarina_luehmannii -- Anon Guest

[AN: Changed the spelling of Buloke so people could read the prompt a smidge easier]

Humans with a fascination for martial arts -especially fictional martial arts- are more insane than what passes for normal amongst Humans. Some part of them wants to believe that the things they see on the screen can be real, and that they can do what it took several actors, a team of scriptwriters, stunt-men, and special-effects people to make look real enough to be believable.

Things like stabbing one's hands into containers of sand, beads, or lentils makes a certain amount of sense. Doing so causes microfractures that, thanks to Deathworlder healing abilities, make the hand bones stronger through natural re-enforcement. Theoretically, tapping wood with the fingertips or other parts of the hands is the same principal, but with less danger to low-gravity environments. This was, as evidence decreed, the logic behind Human Pel's little board.

The little board that had a series of instructions written on it... and one unfortunate knothole that was not resistant to persistent, percussive pressure. Now, raw, dry buloke wood was splintered in Human Pel's flesh with no immediately foreseeable way of withdrawing flesh from wood without further damage. After the initial scream, Human Pel was remarkably calm about the entire predicament.

[Be sure to visit internutter (dot) org for a link to the rest of this story, and details on how to support this artist. Or visit steemit (dot) com (slash at) internutter for the stories at their freshest]

[localocksmithnearme]

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[squirrelacorngliterfarts]

Blood 2. 22.

Everything Taglist: @gold-dragon-slayer @your-internet-granny

@darkwhisperswolf​ @youbloodymadgenius​ @blonddnamedhandz​ @thelastemzy​ @inforapound​ @supermassiveblackhope​ @captstefanbrandt​ @roonil-wxzlib​  @syreni-dea​ @cynthianokamaria​ @rosiebrosie @loliismutt@pinkisokay @heavenly1927​ @annekleyn​  @rose-02468​ @ilikealotofpeople-younotsomuch @moonie-flower101

(y/n) is quietly sitting in her chair, the one she always used to sit in when she was a child growing up, listening to the people around her talk, as she had yet to voice her own words.

ubbe is by her side, torvi on the other, margarethe beside ubbe.

“enjoy your meal” the thrall says, bowing to ubbe and (y/n) before backing away to the kitchens.

(y/n) is far from hungry, especially when she hears loud, confident footsteps come from behind her, and that voice begins to speak.

“i am surprised to see you back in this hall ubbe, i-”.

as lagertha rounds the table, speaking to ubbe, her eyes catch sight of the girl who has her head hung low, her fingers digging into the chairs handles.

lagertha pauses, staring at the girl with her lips open in sheer shock, looking from her to ubbe.

ubbe she can understand coming back to her court, but to see (y/n), to know she had left ivar, the man she was so close to, who she had been close to her entire life..................

ubbe shakes his head, silently telling her not to speak to her just yet.

lagerthas brows cinch for a moment, but follows with his words nevertheless.

“you both are more than welcome back to our hearth”.

she comes closer, and eyes margarethe and the chair she sat in.

with a moment of hesitation, margarethe stands from the chair, moving away from lagertha and standing by a near wood beam, arms crossed over her chest.

as lagertha settles in her chair, she doesn’t miss (y/n) scooting herself farther and farther from her.

“we have all heard of the success of our great army, how you revenged ragnar’s death, overcame both alle and ecbert. i thank my own son, but also you, (y/n), and all the sons of ragnar for these immortal events” lagertha says, raising her mug of ale to both (y/n) and ubbe, before sipping from it.

“then you must have heard of sigurd’s death at the hands of ivar. and his challenge to bjorn that he was the leader of the great army”.

torvi and lagertha subtly glance at (y/n) when they hear her breath stutter, her eyes blinking closed for a moment.

lagertha couldn’t help but note how much she had changed since they had last seen each other.

her hair was shorter, her skin was littered with small cuts and scars and bruises, her lip split and her shoulder bandaged, she looked like a true shield maiden, but they could see the pain that lay behind her eyes.

“i want to tell you both.... bjorn ironside behaved himself throughout with great honor and courage. i love and admire him as a brother” ubbe says, and (y/n) couldn’t agree more, she nods at his words.

“thank you for your words about bjorn. he is a good man. i know that” torvi says, looking from ubbe and (y/n) with a kind soft smile.

but (y/n) can see below that smile, see that torvi is a bit sour from bjorn not returning to say goodbye to her and her children before he set for the mediterranean. 

ubbe casts his eyes towards (y/n) for a moment, afraid how she might react if he speaks these words, but she chose his side, and he knew she’d never feel ill feelings towards him for what he’s about to say.

“but ivar is a different. he tore us apart. as far as i am concerned, i am now at war with ivar”.

a heavy silence falls over them, and (y/n) knew deep down in her heart ubbe felt that way.

but could she feel that way?, could she really go to war with her own family?, her and her brothers fighting to the death, trying to kill each other?.

it made (y/nI feel ill, her eyes casting down to her hands which were gripping each other so tightly her knuckles were white, starting to shake.

“our brother hvitserk, he has decided to stay with ivar. so he is now my enemy”.

at his admission, (y/n)’s worst fears have been realized, they were truly torn apart now, and even in this room surrounded by people she knew, she never felt so alone.

lagertha has a look in her eyes, almost smug, yet, cunning and in understanding for the lothbrok siblings’s pain at losing their family in a matter of weeks.

she leans back against her chair, speaking to ubbe without looking at him.

“let us make a pact. i will support you and (y/n) against ivar and hvitserk if you both agree to support me against king harald”.

(y/n) looks up finally, looking from ubbe to lagertha with hooded eyes, confusion filling her.

harald?, what did he have anything to do with lagertha?, and she felt that ubbe couldn’t say yes to her, anyone but her.

“you see, that would make us an ally of my mother’s killer”.

(y/n) couldn’t deny that she hated the way ubbe was speaking on her behalf, but then again, she chose to stay with ubbe, that made them one, together in all this chaos.

“Mmm. i know. your choices are all difficult, ubbe. but for the sake of the good folk of kattegat, can we not be allies?” she says, looking at him expectantly, holding her mug out to him.

(Y/n) hopes somewhat deep down that ubbe will decline, they could just live there in peace and not have to worry about anymore battles, no more war, just utter peace.

but she knows that can never happen.

her shoulders sag as ubbe taps his mug against lagerthas.

“skol” he says, looking at her whilst lagertha looks ahead, seemingly into her own powerful future.

“skol”.

she stares at lagertha openly, watches her hands, the same hands that murdered her mother, that locked her in that cell.....prevented her from saying goodbye to aslaug at her funeral...............

(y/n) stands, causing all eyes to fall on her.

“are you not going to finish your meal?” lagertha asks, taking a drink of her ale, looking at the young with slight concern, but was trying not to show it.

she pushes her plate away from her, towards lagertha.

“i am not hungry anymore”.

she moves from the table, mostly speaking to ubbe.

“i am tired, i am in pain”.

“let one of my healers tend to you”.

“no, i-”.

“i insist”.

“i do not want your help, lagertha” (y/n), her anger beginning to overflow.

lagertha simply blinks, silent after (y/n) words. nodding.

“alright, if you wish to rest i left your room the way you kept it, i didn’t touch it”.

(y/n) nods, wishing ubbe had gotten a place to stay outside of the hall.

she walks past them, not sparing anyone a single glance as her eyes burn with tears.

could she truly go to war with her own family?.

[squirrelacorngliterfarts]

Blood. 2. 13.

Everything Taglist: @gold-dragon-slayer @your-internet-granny

@darkwhisperswolf​ @youbloodymadgenius​ @blonddnamedhandz​ @thelastemzy​ @inforapound​ @supermassiveblackhope​ @captstefanbrandt​ @roonil-wxzlib​  @syreni-dea​ @cynthianokamaria​ @rosiebrosie @loliismutt@pinkisokay @heavenly1927​ @annekleyn​  @rose-02468​ @ilikealotofpeople-younotsomuch

two days later, one day before battle

“harder” ivar commands, and (Y/n) groans, but complies, raising her sword high and slashing for his chest.

of course he blocked her, ever so fluidly swiping his sword at hers, sending it backward, her arm twisting in a very uncomfortable position.

“i hate this” she mumbles, looking at this new large sword in her hand.

she was used to the one she had always used, it was quite a large blade as well, but this was one was made for a brutish man, not a swift woman.

she knew how to fight, better than anyone else in kattegat, her and ivar dominated everyone with their skills, but this sword was proving to be a challenge for her.

“you have to get used to using it, the saxons wear new armor, thick and heavy metal that you haven’t fought against yet, your sword will never be able to cut through that, this sword will” ivar says, swinging at her again.

she ducks under the blade, kicking at it with her foot, but ivar had too good of a grip on the sword, he merely paused for one second before returning to defeating her.

she goes to swipe at his neck next, but he grabs ahold of her wrist, twisting her into him, her back against his front.

she pants heavily, her eyes trying to find his as they glance to the right.

“you seem distracted” he teases, running his hand along her waist, and she can’t help but laugh.

she violently bashes the back of her head against his, making him call out in pain.

she escapes his grip and grabs both her sword and his, pointing at his chest.

“so do you”.

they both grin, and she drops the swords to the ground, she turns, going to grab a drink.

but just as she does, a smaller knife is sunk into the tree next to her, mere inches from her head, causing a shocked gasp to leave her throat.

she freezes, staring at it, before slowly looking over her shoulder at ivar.

he’s holding in his laughter, one hand resting on his thigh, the other over his mouth, his eyes crinkled with amusement.

“you think this is funny?” she asks, but she can’t help but laugh with him, shocked yet utterly hilarious laughter.

he tuts at her.

“you think i’d honestly hurt you?”.

the words were in a joking matter, but (Y/n) could feel the honest question behind them.

she shakes her head, making her way towards him.

“no. i know you’d never hurt me, ivar”.

he smiles, and accepts her arms around him, holding him close.

“i could never, and i will never”.

she leans in, brushing her nose against his.

“i know, ivar. you do not have to try and convince me of something i already know”.

he kisses her, deep, slowly, taking her in.

she’s touching him, really touching him, feeling his warmth, his skin.

no feeling would ever amount to this one, (y/n) can not imagine something ever feeling better than being with someone she truly loved so profoundly.

“are you ready?” he asks as they part, foreheads leaning against one another, his eyes searching hers for her upmost truth.

she thinks for a moment, deep in her heart she knows she doesn’t really want to kill anyone, she doesn’t want to remember the light leaving another’s eyes, she wishes there were another way.

but her answer to him is confident and strong.

“yes. i want to protect our new home”.

he smiles at her words, kissing her lips once more.

“you understand the plan?, where to be placed?”.

“ubbe and hvitserk are planning to explain it to everyone once more after dark, i am fully informed”.

he pats her jaw lovingly.

“good”.

“ivar?”.

they turn and find ivars most loyal, whitehair standing there, smirking at the two of them.

(y/n) backs away from ivar, clearing her throat as her cheeks reddened. causing both men to chuckle.

“(y/n)’s needed”.

“by who?” ivar asks, his annoyance causing whitehair to contain his grin.

“ubbe and hvitserk”.

ivar goes to argue, but (y/n)’s hand on his shoulder stops him.

“it’s fine, i promise after i will come find you”.

he sighs, shaking his head.

“alright”.

she places her hand on his cheek, smiling.

“i love you” she whispers.

ivar bites his lip, smiling back at her, bright.

“i love you”.

she walks off, casting both men a nod before meeting with her brothers.

whitehair raises his brows at ivar and ivar waves him off.

“shut up”.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“i understand, ubbe” she says, her head resting in her hand, ears exhausted from hearing the same words repeated over and over.

they truly did underestimate her sometimes

“then tell me again” ubbe says, crossing his arms over his chest, wanting her to get every detail right.

if anything were to happen to her tomorrow................

she sighs so lightly ubbe and hvitserk wouldn’t have been able to hear it if they weren’t in complete silence, just the two of them.

“i stand by the east gate, closest to you, ubbe, who stands by the north gate, hvitserk has the west, and ivar is in the center, when the saxons breech the gates, we all guide them towards ivars direction and meet there”.

ubbe nods, waving his hand about, urging her to continue.

“once there, hvitserk and i will release the archers and close the gates, keeping them trapped with us”.

“good. good” ubbe says, smiling at her.

she collects her things, ready to leave again.

“what’s got you all in a hurry?” hvitserk asks, chuckling as she bustles about like a frantic woman.

she hesitates, looking from both of them with a blank stare, trying to come up with something to tell them.

“i........”.

“you?.....”ubbe asks, he and hvitserk having arising smirks.

“i’m going to have my sword and axe cleaned and prepared for tomorrow, make sure i have everything ready”.

ubbe and hvitserk share a look before turning back to their young sister.

“ah, yes, of course” ubbe says, and hvitserk bites his fist, preventing his smile from showing.

“are you sure there isn’t a man involved in this sword cleaning?”.

hvitserk snorts at ubbes question, and (y/n)’s face reddens and her eyes go wide.

they didn’t know it was ivar of course, but just the sheer thought of them knowing who it could be was troubling her by the second under their stares.

“i’ll speak to you both tomorrow” she says curtly, turning and leaving the room, ignoring their laughter as she did so.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(y/n) has a small smile on her face, so excited to see ivar.

she runs her palms along her dress skirts, fixing her hair, making sure she didn’t look like a fool as she walked along the empty corridor to meet him in the throne room.

she goes to call his name, but a sudden females voice cuts her off, coming from the room she was to meet ivar in.

“i will do anything you ask me to do”

she doesn’t know what hurts her more, hearing the pure and utter lust behind the females words, or ivars voice replying to her.

“then take off your clothes”.