#Also she has a thousand yard stare too like…

[lastnightonthecyclone]

I can’t forget how Perez said she didn’t believe Strahm could be an apprentice because never saw any signs of mental instability in him, meanwhile Strahm doing an interrogation is just like flipping tables, screaming, crying, throwing up, pointing a gun at his own head, and she was just like “yep normal behavior :)”

[illegiblewords]

Inquisitor Mahanon Lavellan + Warden Alim Surana

[evilminji]

You Know How There Are Those AU? Where SUPER Injured Ghosts Need To Retreat To Their Core?

No one seems to be USING that to its fullest potential! For SHENANIGANS! Because! Who?? Could POSSIBLY carry a Halfa's Core safely... but another Halfa?! A FULL ghost would KILL them. A human would be killed! What terribly precarious peril we find ourselves in! Oh nooooooo!

Well, no worry!

As much as Dani fuckin HATES this. That there is her brother. Her Template. Her Clone Daddy and Bestest of Bros. Like HECK she's gonna let him suffer for centuries and possibly DIE. She can take it, Doc! Pop him in! We'll go road tripping and-

What do you MEAN "No"?

Unstable??! Of course she's unstable! But the-.... Oh.

Turns OUT? Dani? Can hitch a ride in DANNY for Emergency Medical Aid... but NOT the other way around. Her body is too loosely held together. He would parasiticly consume her from within. Instead of feeding off her Ecto System like injured ghosts are supposed too, because she's a CLONE? AND an unstable one at that? His Core would just... see her body as free ectoplasm. All of it.

He'd eat her.

Which mean Frostbite can not and WILL NOT allow that.

But he's HURT! That big, off screen, cataclysmic Fight To Save Everybody From *cough cough mumbles* and settle us all in the DC universe, REALLY messed him up! What are we supposed to DO!? He can't STAY like this!!!

Enter-> My FAVORITE DCxDP Trash Ship! Vlad&Lex!!! *horrified screaming from the crowds, someone shouts "oh god, no! Please!"* Ha! There are no gods here, silly billys! Only two terrible, terrible HIGHLY Dramatic, self serving, incredibly damaged, gay peacocks. In Business Suits that cost more then your house is worth.

They're AWFUL~♡

And! Vlad was sent ahead to lay the ground work. Insure there would be no GIWs. Also because no one could stand him and his EXTENSIVE criminal record. But that's besides the point.

But!

You know what he found? A Business Nemesis. Who he routinely dates and/or Dramatically Hate Fu-*coughs* I mean, attempts a Corporate Take Over(tm) off. You know how it is. Business. He ALSO gets to make it no secret he's a "Meta", thanks to the INCOMPETENCE of one Jack Fenton, because that- *seething rant*

Yet? Dispite his STILL burning hatred for Jack? And his finally letting go of Maddie? You know what he STILL wants?

For Danny to be his Son.

*Gets a call from Frostbite*

...............soooooo........ what you're SAYING is..... I can be pregnant with Daniel.

You, Frostbite, need ME, Vladimir Masters, THE ONLY OTHER HALFA, to carry Daniel around inside my body, in what to all appearances resembles a pregnancy, in order to heal him. Because I am an Older And Stronger Halfa Upon Which He Relies.

:)

*instantly begins plotting*

Just? Imagine. Vlad is a FUCKIN LIAR. No one but him would even KNOW what was going on! He just? Rocks up one day, like? *falsely demure* "oh I couldn't POSSIBLY has any scotch, Lex! >:) I'm eating for Two~☆" and just? Deals the MAXIMUM amount of psychic damage he can.

Probably says it at their weekly, public, Veiled Threats Brunch.

It makes front page news. Luthor choked on his eggs. The paparazzi lost their SHIT. Vlad is doing the FULL Celebrity Mom Thing. The classes. The photo shoots. The Gucci sunglasses as he peruses high end strollers. All while HEAVILY suggesting that not only is "The Baby" Lex's.... but that he's going to withhold the child and deny Lex any access.

Danny isn't even aware. He's in a lovely lil medical coma. Dani is trying to find a good spot to plop down Amity. She just know Vlad is being... Vlad. Meh. He can handle it. Dan? He's not even IN the human realm and is not sure he wants to be.

But over in the LEAGUE? Everything's on fuckin FIRE.

Kon is losing his SHIT and Clark is thousand yard staring into the void. Kon's half brother is in the hands of a... Less Then Ideal... Meta that Batman is PRETTY sure is highly suspect. Might be a deliberate weapons experiment. Certainly is a hostage. And the DRAMA.

Lex has never been worse.

He might actually stab his...partner? Vlad. At the hospital. The SECOND the child is born. There are already long term kidnapping plans in the making. He's hiring lawyers. Getting VICIOUS. There have been talks with DEATHSTROKE. By BOTH OF THEM.

Clark wants to cry.

@hypewinter @ailithnight @nerdpoe @hdgnj @the-witchhunter @mutable-manifestation @babbling-babull

[potchi-fics]

Sundo | part two of 8 ball

⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

sundô. imagine being so tired from studying, from using your brain so much that you just feel like collapsing. but you remember that at the end of the day, someone's waiting-- waiting for you. a simple gesture yet it makes you feel so many things all at once: happiness, excitement, comfort... and wonder.

NOTE: sundo means to fetch someone from somewhere.

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨♡୧⋆ ˚｡⋆

Y/n leans back on the chair she has been sitting on for hours now. she checks her phone and she sees that it's 5:59 pm. she got too busy with academic work, she always wants to finish her projects as soon as possible because she doesn't like procrastinating.

she sighs through her nose, holding the bridge of her nose, she's so tired. even her ears hurt from the hours of wearing her headphones.

and of course, her friends are studying alongside with her... but they all fell asleep. thankfully, though, they got their work done.

"wake up," she gently shakes Aiki, who whined and shooed her away. she moved on to Monika who woke up with just a nudge. "Noze, it's almost time to go home."

"god," Noze cracks her back, "my whole body hurts. good thing we don't have any classes for two days."

"you're goddamn right about that. somebody wake Aiki up." Monika groans out in defeat.

Y/n tries again, "Aiks, c'mon, it's time to go home."

the three struggled to contain their laughter once they see Aiki's state: drool all over her cheek and table, and the thousand-yard stare.

"aw gross, wipe your face, Aiks." Noze hands her wet wipes.

Y/n struggled even more when Monika showed her the picture she took of Aiki when she woke her up. she looks like a toddler who just woke up.

"is it time to go home? what time is it?" Aiki groggily asks.

she was about to tell her when something caught her eye; a text message from Bada. it read:

"what time's ur dismissal?"

it was sent four minutes ago. she texts back:

"6:30, whyy?"

she didn't get to put down her phone because it buzzed. it's a reply from her:

"i'll come and fetch u. where r u?"

Y/n's weirdly excited about this? and also a tiny bit nervous? nevertheless, she replied:

"library with my friendsss."

and she waits. she can't even stay still, and the other notice it.

"jesus, can you stop with the pen clicking?" Monika complains.

Y/n mutters out a soft sorry.

Noze looks at her with a funny expression, "who were you texting?"

a beat passes before she says Bada's name.

the trio have their what-the-hell faces on. before she could defend herself, they already started teasing her relentlessly; saying things like she's excited to see Bada, or that they were gonna go on a date.

"guys," she starts, "it's not a date and why would i be nervous? it's Bada." she rolls her eyes. "i could squeeze that punk easily."

but she is nervous. she doesn't know why. is it because of what happened at that billiards place? why did she even do that in the first place.

time seems to really pass by because six-thirty comes and they start tidying their place. making silent conversation. they come out of the library and see someone squatted down.

it's her.

Y/n thinks-- god, she's so handsome and pretty, she's not even doing anything. she malfunctions because she did not just think that? that is so not Y/n coded of her, she adds.

her friend's loud voice caught their attention, "hey, Bada!"

"yo," Bada stands up, looking at Y/n. "are you guys done? can i steal her away from you now?"

Y/n could only roll her eyes, "what do you mean by steal me away? as if i would let myself be taken."

"so grumpy," Bada tease, "careful now, you look like that one angry bird."

"well, in that case, i'm a pretty angry bird." she retaliates.

her enemy pats her head, "sure, sure.. let's go. bye guys!"

the trio shakes their head, even walking, the two seems to fight. they witness how Bada tries to carry Y/n's things but she wouldn't let her. however, eventually, Y/n gives in and gives Bada her things.

bada opens her car door for Y/n, receiving a soft thank you from the girl. she puts the things in the backseat and finally enters the drivers seat.

"you hungry?" she asks.

Y/n nods, too tired to talk. she closes her eyes and feel the car start up, she assumes that Bada knows a place.

during the car ride, comfortable silence envelops the pair. it continues that way not until she feels a hand on her thigh. Y/n opens her eyes and her gaze fell on the hand that is on her thigh.

Bada couldn't resist-- she caresses her thigh, rubbing circles on it, even slightly moving it up. she notices that the girl's breath is uneven. she thinks about removing it when a hand stops her.

the tension, even before what happened at the pool table, got so much thicker. it's so thick that they feel like suffocating.

sadly, they arrive at the place they're gonna eat at.

"c'mon, we're here." Bada parks the car.

they both thought the same thing: pussy blocker.

they go in the restaurant and order, wherein Bada insists that she treats her. of course, Y/n tries to pay for her own food but Bada is stubborn gal.

they take a sit once they get their order and start eating. surprisingly, their conversation is easy-going.

"so, what made you fetch me today? missed me that much?" Y/n asks with her mouth full of food.

Bada chuckles at the cute sight, "you're delusional. i just wanted to annoy you."

"oh, trust me," she answers in a grumble, "you're annoying me so much."

"is that why we're enemies?" Bada cackles out. "'cus i'm annoying? you didn't find me annoying back in middle school, though."

yes. they're childhood friends- err, childhood enemies. they're one of those typical rivals where they grew up together. they just haven't told anyone, but not because they don't want to, but because it wasn't just brought up until now.

she pouts out, "i wouldn't say enemies.. but yeah."

a loud laughs emits from the person in front of her again, can't believe the reason.

"stop laughing," Y/n gigges, "it's not funny. i'm just glad i don't have any classes, i'm so tired. and hungry."

Bada watches her with a smile, even though the girl in front of her is stuffing her face with food-- Bada still thinks that she's beautiful.

"stop ogling at me, i know i'm pretty and all," she flutters her eyelashes at her, "are you falling in love with me?"

"you sound so stupid." this time, it was Bada's turn to roll her eyes. "say, you wanna come over to my house after this?"

Y/n makes a playful shock face, "oh my? and you say you're not falling in love with me? but yes."

Bada feels like she's on cloud nine. what is wrong with her?

they finish their meal and she checks the time. it's seven-forty. they exit the place and Y/n complains about being so bloated now. to which Bada teased her by saying that she's always bloated.

banter ensues, even all the way to Bada's house, they're still bickering like children.

time check: eight-twenty-three.

ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻ੈ✩‧₊˚

should i make the next part smut? or continue with fluff

૮₍ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ₎ა

[its2am-andimsad]

Been living up to my handle lately- anyways!!!

I like to think that Leander has a crush on MC but is too shy/cowardly to say anything about it and also he's like a loser compared to badass MC who's over here going on quests and fighting ppl. Like don't get me wrong, I adore Sebastian and Ominis.. but like MC x Leander....

Also she's not blind like ominis lol I realize it looks like it- she's just got that thousand yard stare hehehe

ALSO ALSO Leander actually talks to us!!!!??? I know sebby's playing hard to get but like sksksk Lee's out here complimenting and trying to get our attention <3

Anyways Imma sleep now thanks for listening to my blabbing

[cosmichorrorsarestillnicerthanme]

Could you do Cammy, Elena, and Karin's reactions to being caught going down on them S/O by their friends? (I am so sorry!!!)

Like I said when you accidentally sent this outside of Anon, Anon. It's fine and don't worry about it! Also, I had a blast writing this.

NSFW: MDNI

Now! Your wish is my command!

Decapre awoke to the sound of loud banging in the night, like someone was slamming and tossing things around a room.

Almost like a fight.

In an instant, Decapre bolted out of the room her and her sisters shared and towards the source of the noise.

Cammy’s room.

Panic seized Decapre’s heart.

Sure, her and Cammy didn’t get along all of the time.

Sure, she had tried to kill Cammy on more than one occasion.

But Cammy saved her and welcomed her and the others with open arms.

And she would be damned if anything happened to her while she could do something about it.

Decapre bounded up the stairs, leaping from the ground floor to the second where Cammy’s room sat with her enhanced strength and agility, flipping over the railing and onto her feet before sprinting full speed at the door, barreling through it and almost knocking it off its hinges.

And the room looked like a tornado had torn through it, though that was far from Decapre’s chief concern.

That honor belonged to Cammy.

Speaking of Cammy, she was on her bed, or more specifically, on top of you, completely nude, her entire body glistening with sweat and her hair a mess while you were laying on the bed in a similar state.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Cammy stared at Decapre.

Decapre stared at Cammy.

A profound silence hung between the three people in the room.

Decapre said absolutely nothing as her face grew more and more red, the realization of what was occuring hitting her at full force.

Cammy looked like the single most frazzled person in existence at this moment.

Then, without hesitation, Cammy snatched her boot off the bed and threw it full force at Decapre who immediately slammed the door to block the shoe with its toe piercing clean through.

Instantly following this, Cammy put her face in her hands, and made the single most embarrassed and borderline pathetic noise known to man.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

When morning rolled around, Decapre had a thousand yard stare that bored through the wall and an awkward silence hung between You, Cammy, and Decapre.

“Ahhh… that’s some good tea. It has a wonderful, and balanced aroma.” Julia stated before her best friend, Juni finished her thought by asking “Now, Decapre, what happened last night to have you looking so shell shocked?”

Instantly Cammy tensed up and you readied for an all too common event in the household filled with highly trained killers and assassins that treated each other like sisters.

Catfights.

“I walked in on-” Decapre began before her sister, Cammy, launched at her from across the table.

And like that, the first scrap of the day began.

Makoto raised her hands high into the air, stretching as she walked through the door and a yawn escaping her after a long day at the Dojo.

“*YAAAAAWN* I wonder what Elena is-” Makoto began to mutter before hearing a loud moan and a familiar voice cursing in one of the many, many languages that the person the voice belonged to knew.

“What the hell?” Makoto muttered in confusion, a sense of concern for her friend rising.

Readying herself for a fight, Makoto walked forwards through the hall and to the guest room where Elena was staying while she was in town.

Makato took a breath, and then threw the door open.

In the room was Elena, her muscles flexing and quivering as she rolled her hips atop your own, her face the picture of pleasure before she let out another cry of ecstasy that left her breathless and bracing herself on your shoulders.

“Wha- Elena!?” Makoto exclaimed in shock, her face turning blood red in an instant.

In tandem Elena and you whipped your heads towards Makato, the blushes on your faces spreading much further now that the two of you realized what both of you had been caught doing.

“U-u-uh… hey there Makoto…” Elena shyly greeted, fully aware of the state both of you were in and the lack of clothes involved in said state.

In response to this, Makoto fainted dead away into a heap on the floor.

This was gonna be fun to talk about when Makoto woke up in a few hours.

Sakura stretched as she walked out of the arcade, her shift finally over.

“Now! Time for the weekly bout with Karin! Oooh! I’m so excited! I can’t wait to show off the new moves I’ve been working on!” Sakura exclaimed with joy before setting off at top speed.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

“Heya Birdie!” Sakura exclaimed in greeting to Karin’s part time guard as she ran through the gate, not even hearing his “KID! WAIT! WHAT ARE YA DOING HERE A DAY EARLY!?”

Sakura shot through the estate like it was a second home to her, barreling towards the room of her best friend and rival.

“Heh! Heh! I’ve been waiting all week for this all week! Time to wipe that smug grin off Karin’s face!” Sakura exclaimed in her head as she arrived at her destination before kicking open the door.

“KARIN KANZUKI!!! IT IS TIME FOR A- a- a- a-” Sakura began with a shout before stuttering to a stop due to what she saw before her.

Karin Kanzuki, the beautiful heiress who always looked nothing short of perfect in her practically trademarked red outfit and perfectly styled blonde hair with an air of austere dignity around her.

In this moment however, Karin Kanzuki was baring all to the world, every article of her clothes from her red jacket to the tight black short shorts she wore under her skirt tossed haphazardly around the room, a sheen across her skin from the exertion of the act she had been caught in the middle of, her hair a mess of curls and tangles and her body atop yours in a position that could only ever be seen as one thing.

In this moment, silence took the room as Sakura continued to stutter, her face turning a deep red.

Karin was mortified.

You were terrified.

And Sakura was traumatized.

Then after almost a solid half minute silence, Karin shouted “GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT!” with tears in her eyes as she tossed a pillow at Sakura, with such force that she slid back a few steps and was knocked out of her stupor, sending her running for the hill as she cried out a thousand apologies.

[sapphicdib]

NO GODS NO MASTERS // IM MY OWN DISASTER!!!

(ˡᵒʳᵉ ᵈᵘᵐᵖ ᵇᵉˡᵒʷ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜᵘᵗ)

This is from an au where Sig n Pebbles purposefully give themselves the rot while their citizens are still alive! >:D

Basically, imagine if Pebbles didn’t turn all his anger inwards towards himself and instead externalized it. Although Pebbles and Sig don’t get along all that well, Pebbles realized she was going to be the only one who could help him pull this off, since he is one of the local group’s best bioengineers…and also easy to convince to do stupid shit for the bit. So they make a virus that can rewrite their code, specifically removing the “cant harm your citizens” restriction, but they also got rid of any other taboos that they found tedious or annoying lmfao. Originally Pebbles was going to be the only one who gets infected, but after Sig works on it with him for like 1000 cycles, he’s like “I might as well reap the benefits of this!” and gives himself the rot too.

MOON AND SUNS FREAK OUT <3 Their citizens, once they realize what’s going on, ALSO freak out, and this causes a fracture in ancient society as a whole, with one camp claiming they should shut the iterators down completely and kill them, and the others immediately grovelling at their god’s feet, hoping they don’t choose to infect themselves as well. Sig n Pebbs are trying to get Moon n Suns to join them, but it’s not working very well. Between the growing fear that both their own citizens AND their friends are becoming threats to them, they are not having a good time :) Sig n Pebbs are tho hehe. Ironically they become better friends as time goes on because the rot creates a sort of hive mind effect between the two of them PFFT.

To sum it up:

Pebbles: Someone will die.

NSH: Of fun!

NSH: …someones still gonna die, though ~

and to leave you with a silly little horrifying detail: sig breaks his neck in a physical fight with suns and by the point this happens the rot has essentially destroyed his body’s ability to heal, so for the rest of the story her head just. dangles slightly to the side held up only by the cushion of her scarf LOL combined with the thousand yard stare she looks a mess

Hope you like it PFFT I’ve written a couple drabbles for it but imma shut up now ^_^ feel free to send me asks n stuff if you want!!!!!!

[apomaro-mellow]

S1E09: Open Wide

S1E08

Eddie hacked up a cough so hard it was like he was trying to win a daytime television award. He was laid out in bed, covers pulled up to his chin and balled up tissues all over the place. Steve walked into his room, wearing a sexy nurse’s outfit and a stethoscope. 

“Is my patient ready for his sponge bath?”

“Lord have mercy”, Eddie warbled.

“What?” The mirage of Steve had turned into Dustin, looking confused.

“Where’s my sexy nurse?”, Eddie asked, delirious.

“Uhh, pretty sure it’s just been you and your uncle. I just came by to see if you were really too sick to play today and yeah. Anyway, I’m taking this”, Dustin said as he swiped a comic off the dresser and left.

“....I can’t believe I got robbed by a talking gerbil…”

-----------

“Remind me again why I’m taking Will to his dentist appointment?”, Steve asked.

“Because I have a broken leg”, Jonathan pointed to it, currently in a cast as it laid propped on pillows on his couch.

“I kinda meant like, me, specifically.”

“Because you lost another bet”, Jonathan reminded him, then he cast a look down the hall where Will’s room was and lowered his voice. “I gotta warn you though, Will’s kind of…afraid of the dentist.”

“Still? Isn’t he too old for that?”

“What can I say? He just is. So be like, I don’t know, gentle with him”, Jonathan urged.

“Yeah, yeah”, Steve waved it off dismissively just as Will came out of his room, looking just the same as usual.

Steve didn’t know what Jonathan was worried about then. But it became more apparent when they actually got to the waiting room and Steve checked Will in. The younger boy got this thousand yard stare and seemed to get paler with time. Then Will’s name was called and he bolted from his seat and out the door.

“Goddammit”, Steve sighed, following after.

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

Jonathan was lying on the couch, reading the TV Guide while flipping through the channels. Then he heard the door open and checked his watch. Will and his mom shouldn’t be back just yet. 

“Have no fear, for we are here!”, Dustin announced himself and El.

“Uh hi”, Jonathan waved limply. “Why?”

“Okay so, your mom’s abandoned you.”

“Gone to work”, Jonathan amended.

“And Will has also forsaken you.”

“Dentist appointment.”

“So me and El will be your nursemaids until one of them gets back”, Dustin beamed.

“And again, I ask why?”

“Is it not enough to want to care for our friend’s big brother?”

Jonathan looked skeptical. Dustin was known for having ulterior motives. It was only El’s presence that kept him from being completely cynical. And he said so.

“Dustin probably wants a favor but I know you El, are here for purely innocent intentions.”

El smiled wide, showing all her teeth. “Actually…”

“Oh god no”, Jonathan’s head fell back against the couch.

“Don’t worry about what we want!”, Dustin rushed to say. “Just sit back, relax, and treat us as the best butlers you’ve ever had.”

“Sure, what could go wrong?”, Jonathan sighed, resigning himself.

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

“Will! You. Have. To. Go!”, Steve yelled, each word punctuated with him attempting to pull Will into the operating room.

Who knew this kid had the grip strength of an Olympic athlete? Will clung to the door, uncaring that Dr. Lee was waiting for them inside, watching it all play out.

“It’s perfectly normal to be nervous at the dentist”, she said. “But it’s just your average check up, Will. One that we’ve done before.”

Will didn’t say a word, only shook his head fearfully. With a groan, Steve let go, hands going to his hips. “Kid, you’re way too old for this. You’re acting like they torture you in here. She’s just gonna touch your teeth a little and you get a lollipop at the end. Which actually sounds counterintuitive now that I say it out loud.”

“If it’s so easy, why don’t you do it?”, Will challenged.

“That’s a good idea”, Dr. Lee smiled brightly. “Come take a seat.”

Steve raised a brow. He hadn’t been expecting to have his teeth looked at today. But then he saw just how terrified Will looked and gave a heavy sigh and stepped towards the chair. Will was the least annoying of his sister’s friends. He could do this for him. And he had perfect teeth. What could go wrong?

“Alright doc, do your worst.”

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

Dustin fluffed the pillow at Jonathan’s back, placed the serving tray on his lap and took the dome off, revealing three triple decker sandwiches with the works. Jonathan’s eyes got wide. 

“Um, when I said you could make lunch, I didn’t think you’d give me the Scooby Doo treatment.”

“I know what they do in the back of the Mystery Machine”, Dustin said knowingly. “And I know what you and Steve get up to in the back of his car.”

Jonathan’s head whipped so hard it could’ve fallen off. “Are you-”

“Blackmailing you. Nah, I’m saving that for Steve.”

El came in, milkshake in hand and placed it on a coaster on the coffee table. “It’s chocolate. Everyone’s favorite.”

“Thanks”, Jonathan said, although he was afraid to see the state of the kitchen after this.

“Anything else we can do for you?”, she asked.

“Back rub, run your bath, do a little run and get some”, Dustin mimed smoking, “for you?”

“Nope! No, none of that.” His days would be numbered if Jim found out he let his daughter go out on a pot run.

“You know what I think he needs?”, Dustin asked rhetorically. “A leg massage. It’s gotta be killing you in that cast.”

Without waiting for Jonathan to answer, Dustin went right for it. El did too, both too eager and Jonathan let out a yelp as they pushed too hard, the sandwiches flying and his other leg kicking up the milkshake. In the wake of the mess, lettuce, cheese, and ham in his hair, Jonathan glared at Dustin.

“I figured out what you can do for me.”

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

Steve took a deep breath as he lied back and stared at the ceiling. It had been about a year since his last check up, so technically he was due. And he knew how it’d go. The way it usually did like with his old dentist, Dr. Brown. Brown had been an old man but with sure hands. He was the silent type. Kept quiet throughout most of it until it was time to tell Steve to watch out for his molars but good job on the regular flossing.

Dr. Lee was not Dr. Brown.

She wasn’t as old for one. She looked no older than forty, and that was pushing it. Her hair fell in beautiful waves and was only pinned back slightly by her temples. Steve wanted to ask if she should pull more of her hair back but her gloved hands were already in his mouth.

“Mmm”, she hummed softly. “This is a pretty nice set you’ve got here. I’m almost jealous.”

“Uh-huh”, was all Steve could say with his jaw wide.

“Let’s get you a little more open”, she urged, voice going a little lower

Steve did so, ignoring the odd tingle in him right now. But then Dr. Lee leaned in even more and her fingers went deeper.

“There’s a good boy.”

What the hell?

It was then that Steve noticed Will had suddenly appeared by his side and it was only Dr. Lee’s hold on his jaw that kept him from jolting in place. Will was staring at his face like he was seeing right through him. Steve shifted a little, trying to fix himself in his pants but it was already too late.

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

“Alright. All cleaned up”, Dustin announced.

“Pretty sure there’s still mayo in my cast”, Jonathan deadpanned.

“Don’t be a spoiled patient”, Dustin reprimanded.

Jonathan looked around, suddenly realizing that El was nowhere to be found after saying she was going to get the milkshake out of her hair. 

“Hey uh, where’s El?”

“Jonathan, I got these for you!”, Ell said happily, coming from his room, which already filled him with a sense of dread.

It all happened in slow motion as she came to the couch, stack of magazines in hand, slowly revealing the cover of one with a woman in a bikini. Dustin’s lips parted in a wide grin and Jonathan’s face went into his hands.

“I do not understand why you like to look at women’s swimsuits. Does it help with your photography?”, El asked as she held the stack out to him.

“Well now I have to blackmail you”, Dustin grinned.

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

Steve and Will got back in the car, both of them silent, both with lollipops in hand.

“I’m going to take you to Benny’s. I’m going to let you get whatever you want, you can even undo all that dental work with a triple decker sundae. Just don’t ever speak of what happened in there again.”

“Not even the-”

“Nope!”

“I can’t even tell-”

“Do you want the sundae or not?!”

“....Deal.”

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

Jonathan perked up as he heard the front door opening. It had been hours.

“There you guys are, what happened?”, he asked when Will and Steve came in.

“Nothing!”, both of them said.

Will avoided more questions by going to the kitchen but just got more confused when he saw the mess left there. “What happened in here?”

“Also nothing!”, Jonathan said quickly.

Part 10

[the-way-astray]

Stria continued to walk down the street. She was trying to get back to her house. It was getting late in the day, and she wanted to be home before dark.

However, she wasn't paying attention as to where she was going. She only dazed out of lala land when she accid ran into somebody.

She was about to apologize, but the words died on her tongue when she saw who she ran into. He had tousled blonde hair and ice of almost ice.

Blush ran across her cheeks.

"Sorry," the guy whispered.

"Oh, no," she insisted. "I'm sorry. I wasn't looking."

She studied him further. He looked like he hadn't slept. He had his voice low when he spoke to her. Was everything alright?

She held out her hand. "I'm Stria," she introduced herself.

The boy returned the handshake. "Keefe." His voice was still soft.

After a moment of hesitation, she finally asked, "Is everything alright? You look worried about something."

Keefe shrugged. "Just... hectic right now. I'm having a hard time finding somewhere to stay."

"Oh."

What was she supposed to do? Leave him there.

"Follow me," she told him. "You can crash on my couch."

Part 2? 👀

this is so wattpad-onian. why.

"Stria continued to walk down the street. She was trying to get back to her house. It was getting late in the day, and she wanted to be home before dark."

clearly this is a snippet of a greater work, because i am "continu[ing]" to walk down the street. i'm intrigued. where am i walking from?

"However, she wasn't paying attention as to where she was going. She only dazed out of lala land when she accid ran into somebody."

okay this part is pretty accurate to me. i'm the sort of person to get stuck in my own head when i'm walking between familiar places. i think this is why people accuse me of having a thousand yard dead-looking stare.

"She was about to apologize, but the words died on her tongue when she saw who she ran into. He had tousled blonde hair and ice of almost ice."

not accurate to real life me! my apologies are instantaneous when i run into someone. like pressing a button (running into someone) that causes an immediate reaction (saying sorry). i also put my hand up like a stop sign in apology. also i'm horrible with not only eye contact, but also even looking at a person's top half in general. i'm a knee-starer. true story: i once worked with a woman almost everyday and six months in i couldn't tell you her hair or eye color. it's that bad. so it's very likely i wouldn't even notice how hot keefe is, unless he has some spectacularly good-looking knees. this is where the y/n-ness officially begins. also i'm not sophie who can tell us the fucking hex code of everyone's eyes. i would literally just notice his eyes were blue and that's it (if i looked into them, which i would not). also i don't really use the word "tousled". "messy" is more accurate.

"Blush ran across her cheeks."

i don't blush. okay, actually that's not true. i don't let my blush show up on my face (yay for brown skin!). and i'm very good at controlling my facial features to keep a blush from showing up that way, too. keefe would not be able to tell in this scenario if i was blushing. but i guess this gets a pass, since you didn't say he did.

"Sorry," the guy whispered. "Oh, no," she insisted. "I'm sorry. I wasn't looking."

i don't talk like this. i'm very awkward. it would be more like "sorry . . . i. i didn't. wasn't. run- uh, looking where i was . . . " *trails off out of embarrassment* this happens regardless of who i'm talking to, but mostly with authority figures and strangers. inaccurate once again! also i don't use "oh, no" like this.

"She studied him further. He looked like he hadn't slept. He had his voice low when he spoke to her. Was everything alright?"

i don't know how to identify whether someone has slept or not. i'm terrible at judging people based on appearances in general. and i wouldn't think it was weird that he had his voice low when he talked. i would just think he was awkward, like me. i tend to do that when i feel particularly awkward. and seeing as how i am a stranger to him, it makes sense.

"She held out her hand. "I'm Stria," she introduced herself. The boy returned the handshake. "Keefe." His voice was still soft."

i don't shake hands unless the other person initiates, nor do i offer my name to random strangers without being prompted. this entire interaction would be me running into him, apologizing, and being on my way, realistically speaking.

"After a moment of hesitation, she finally asked, "Is everything alright? You look worried about something." Keefe shrugged. "Just... hectic right now. I'm having a hard time finding somewhere to stay.""

if i had noticed that keefe looked out of the ordinary somehow, i would not make conversation about it. i would be trying to get out of this situation with a stranger as fast as possible. i'm terrible at asking people what they want/using pleasantries/going out of my way to make sure people are okay (trying to be better about it, but yeah). and if i did decide to make conversation about it, i would be so incredibly awkward with that sentence. it would be more like "hey are you like. uh. i mean. are you okay? you look kinda . . . like not weird. i mean. like. worried. you look worried- uh i mean . . . " *trails off as i realize i'm being nosy and also that i don't actually care about this total stranger's life* also why is keefe willing to tell a complete stranger that he's having a hard time finding a place to stay?

""Oh." What was she supposed to do? Leave him there. "Follow me," she told him. "You can crash on my couch.""

if keefe did tell me he's having a hard time finding a place to stay, i cannot even begin to describe the levels of awkward i would reach. personal details from strangers make me a unique sort of uncomfortable, because like, what are you even supposed to say? i would see him as like. subtly asking for a place to stay with me, or feel guilty that i have a place to stay and he doesn't, or think that he hates me because i'm in a better situation than him. and then that would affect the way i spoke to him for the rest of the conversation. and i would try to find a way to politely end this conversation as soon as possible and get away. the last thing i would do is offer my place to a complete and utter stranger. what if he kills me? you guys don't understand the amount of paranoid i am when it comes to stranger danger.

and the terrible grammar/puncuation/spelling/diction/word choice is topping this off for me. so, so wattpad. idk if it was intentional (i assume it was) but. it's so . . . y/n. it oozes bad fanfiction. i assume that was your goal. but also like. why. if you make a part two it might kill me. just so you know.

in conclusion: dni fanfic writers

[peppermintquartz]

Eddie arrives earlier now and leaves later for his shifts, and he is focused at work. He doesn't smile as often, but he does smile - usually at Buck explaining something he's recently found out - and he still teases his colleagues, he's still focused, he's still working together with Buck to protect Chimney, Hen and Ravi from Gerrard as much as possible.

(Ostensibly, they're not on Gerrard's hit list: Gerrard doesn't know them well enough to try to target their weaknesses. Buck has even brought out the clipboard, except it's now wielded as a shield: the two of them triple check everything to make sure that no fault can be found.)

It's Hen who first notices the thousand-yard stare when Eddie's alone at the weight bench or when he's seated at the table. Like he's waiting for something that he can't name. She's seen that look before, in the mirror, when she was much younger and the future seemed to run right into a wall. She's felt it recently too, when she and Karen return home and they're in bed and the lights are out, and the emptiness spills out in an aching silence. (Karen tries, how she tries, but it isn't her and her decisions that led to Mara being taken from them.) She shares some of her pain with Eddie, and he shares a little of his, and they find time to have brunch or lunch together on their days off.

Chimney isn't the most perceptive regarding Eddie, but after seeing Hen reach out, he also makes the effort to invite Eddie over for meals more often. It's easy to cook for one more hungry firefighter, and Eddie likes teaching Jee some basic Spanish. Sometimes they play ball at the station before their shift begins, and Chimney sees how it helps Eddie to lose the tension in his shoulders to have that time to unwind. If it keeps Eddie from getting stuck in his head, that's good for the team. Chimney tries really hard not to be too obvious about his checking in, but Eddie pats his shoulder one day and says that he'll take care of himself, he has a duty to stay safe.

Maddie has a way of getting Eddie to open up about Christopher whenever they play with Jee, while Chimney manages the older kids. One time Eddie accepts the offer to sleep over, and even told a bedtime story to Jee in Spanish. Later that night, Maddie and Chimney listened to Eddie talk about reading to Chris, how the best sound in the world was Chris' laughter. Maddie held his hand and squeezed his fingers, and told him that it would be very good of him to let his son know all of that in a written letter, so that Chris would be able to keep Eddie's words with him in a physical form, that even apart, the love could still be felt.

Buck and Tommy do their best to include him. In fact, they gang up on him: if Tommy's available for basketball or muay thai or karaoke night, he grabs Eddie along; if Tommy's working but both Buck and Eddie are free, Buck enlists Eddie's help in furniture shopping or recipe tasting. They even start a movie night thing at Eddie's place. They show up with beer and snacks, and they have a jar with a selection of titles to pick from that they each contribute to. Eddie puts his foot down on them cuddling on his couch, however.

Bobby visits Eddie, a couple of times, "just to catch up on news". He asks about the prayer book, and guides Eddie through a couple of devotionals that helped Bobby through his darkest patch. "I'm not saying that you must return to practicing religion," he tells Eddie sincerely, because he wants this promising young man to keep out of the mire, to become a light for others. "But you and I know that sometimes, when we're stuck at the very lowest, it takes a bit of faith to begin climbing out again."

"A bit of faith?"

"A bit, as small as a mustard seed."

[inkinmyheartandonthepage]

Haunted House

Day 25 (!) of Flufftober and the prompt is Haunted House! You can read it here on Ao3.

“This house wins The Haunted House category,” Hen said, tone dry.

As Eddie Diaz stared up at the house they had been called too, he had to agree. It was Halloween and this was the fifth Haunted House that the 118 had been called out to. Three had been called out to fair grounds in the city and the other two had been to residential homes that had been turned into Haunted Houses.

Their current called was called out to a residential home, but it was unclear if anyone was actually living there. The front yard had been turned into a mock-graveyard. Fog floated eerily through the graveyard, swirls of mist billowing up at random points. A dark figure drifted back and forth in the between the graves. What only added to the eeriness was how rundown the outside looked. It could have been an effect, but Eddie got the distinct impression that it had been weathered from the years of misuse.

“Why does it have to be another Haunted House?” Chimney asked with a snap of his gum.

“This is wicked,” Buck said with a bright grin. “I am definitely coming back here after shift. Ed’s don’t you think this is cool?”

“Of course you are,” Hen chuckled while Eddie rolled his eyes fondly. He tried to hide his smile as he looked at Buck, but it was hard when Buck looked so eager. He looked so happy that it made Eddie’s heart thump in his chest. Because Buck was beautiful when he was happy, and Eddie just wanted him to be that way forever.

“Dispatch said that the building has been reported empty for a while,” Bobby said, gaze sweeping over the building “It’s unclear as to who has set this up. But we are looking for a young female caught in a bear trap.”

“A real bear trap?” Eddie asked, stomach churning at the thought.

Bobby paused. “That it also unclear.”

“This is why I hate Haunted Houses,” Chimney said as the four of them made their way up the path to the house.

Eddie had to agree. “Who thinks putting a bear trap in a Haunted House is a good idea?”

“Better than a cross bow,” Buck chuckled, bounding up the stairs like the eager golden retriever he was.  

Eddie stared at Buck’s back as he climbed up after him, the wood creaking under his feet. “You don’t mean real crossbows, right?”

“Yeah,” Buck said. “This guy had rigged them up with a sensor so when you passed, it shot real arrows. It was great right up until someone got hit in the arm.”

“Where was this?” Eddie demanded.

“And please tell me it wasn’t you who got shot,” Bobby added, shooting Buck a look.

Buck pushed open the door with a groaning creak. He stopped, turning to look at Eddie and Bobby as he held the door open. “It was when I was in Virginia. I worked at the Haunted House for a season.”

Eddie, Bobby, Chimney and Hen all stopped and looked at Buck.

“What?” Buck frowned, gaze flickering between them all.

“You really have lived a thousand lives, haven’t you?” Hen mused, giving Buck an affectionate pat to the arm as she slipped past him.

“Let me guess,” Chimney said as he followed after Hen. “You gave jump scares to people.”

“Wait – is that a bad thing?” Buck asked, looking to Bobby as he followed Chimney into the house. Buck’s gaze landed on Eddie. “Ed’s, is that bad?”

Eddie lets his fingers brush over Buck’s arm as he passed, his fingers pulsing at the touch of Buck’s skin. “No, not a bad thing.” And it wasn’t, but it made Eddie sad to think of all the jobs that Buck had filtered through, looking for a place to belong. He would be forever grateful that he had found the 118. Buck was born so save people and he had found himself a family with the 118.

The entrance to the home looked much like it did on the outside. Eddie’s body tensed as he scanned the area. There was nobody else in the foyer, only adding to the eeriness that seemed to encompass the whole house. Eddie had been to a war zone, but nothing had sent shivers down  his spine like this house did.

“Where did they say the victim was?” Chimney asked slowly.

“Second floor,” Bobby answered, looking at the degraded staircase. “Third room on the left.”

Nobody moved as they all stared at the staircase, taking in the rotting wood, the way the house creaked and groaned with movement somewhere deeper in the house.

Except Buck. He bounded towards the staircase in his usual eager manor.

“He would definitely die first in a horror movie,” Chimney commented as they watched Buck head up the stairs.

“No doubt about it,” Hen agreed.

“Come on,” Eddie said as he stepped forward to follow Buck. If Buck were to die first in a horror movie, then Eddie would be the second because no way was Eddie going through a whole movie (or life) without Buck by his side.

“Let’s go,” Bobby said from behind Eddie, and he heard them following him up the stairs.

They found the room easily, Eddie ignoring the cobwebs and layer of dust that coated the hallway. As soon as they pushed open the door, the eeriness swept away, and it was as if the room had come to life.

The room was crowded, people pressing in close as they surrounded the figure in the middle of the room. Their murmured chatter could hardly be heard over the chaos in the middle of the room. Dispatch had been right; it was a young female, and her foot was indeed caught in a bear trap. She was crying hysterically, a young man by her side trying to sooth her.

“Finally!” a man yelled from his position on the ground. “Get over here and get this thing off my girlfriend!”

“Everyone back up,” Bobby called as he moved closer to observe the situation. “Back up. Whose Haunted House is this?”

“That would be mine,” a gravelled voice drawled from an older man who was leaning against the wall, casual as could be. He turned to face Bobby, bringing a cigarette to his lips and took a drag. “Mikes.”

“You set this bear trap up in here?” Bobby demanded as Hen and Chimney kneeled beside the sobbing girl.

“What’s your name?” Hen asked, voice gentle as she snapped on some gloves.

“Her name is Hannah,” the boy answered for the sobbing girl. “I’m her boyfriend, Dylan.”

“Okay, Hannah. We’re going to take a look now,” Chimney said, his own gloves on as he shifted to get a better look at her leg.

“Get – it – off – me,” Hannah sobbed around a scream.

“Like I told these nit-wits. It’s not a real bear trap,” Mikes said around the smoke spilling from his lips. “It’s a prop.”

“She’s in agony!” Dylan snapped, whipping his head around to glare at Mikes. “You set a bear trap you freak!”

“It’s a prop,” Buck repeated, pointing to the girl’s leg. “She’s not even bleeding.”

Eddie peered over Chimney’s shoulder to take a closer look and he blinked. Buck was right. If this were a real bear trap, blood would have been soaking the girls’ jeans. But there wasn’t a hint of blood anywhere.

“Like I said,” Mikes drawled. “Nothing but a prop.”

“Here,” Buck said. He crouched down, fingers dancing over the prop. He fiddled with something and then the trap opened with a snap, releasing the girls leg. Buck shifted the trap away from the girl’s leg before standing back up, trap in his hand.

Eddie hissed when Buck placed his palm over the sharp teeth of the trap and pressed hard. To Eddie’s surprise, the teeth retracted with the pressure, disappearing, and then springing back up when Buck released them.  

“My leg!” Hannah sobbed. “Am I going to lose my leg?”

“You’re going to be fine,” Hen said as she helped the girl sit up.

“Not even a scratch,” Chimney said dryly.

The crowd around them almost sagged with disappointment that it was nothing more than a trick. 

“See.” Mikes took a drag from his cigarette. “That blue eyed devil did exactly what I would have done had that nit-wit let me.”

Eddie bristled at the name Mikes had given Buck. Before he could open his mouth to defend Buck, Bobby was speaking.  

“Buck, Eddie, get everyone out of here,” Bobby instructed with an expression that Eddie knew he was on the end of his patience. Looked like Eddie wasn’t the only one offended on Buck’s behalf.

“Okay everyone, let’s move out. The Haunted House is now closed for business,” Buck said loudly, directing everyone towards the exit.

Eddie took up the rear, making sure that nobody tried to slip away and together the two of them got everyone outside. They directed them down the path and sent them in the direction of where a team of police had shown up.

“They’ll want to take your statement,” Eddie said to the group. “They’ll give you the all clear to leave.”

As the group headed over to the police, Athena Grant strode up the path, looking unimpressed.

“A bear trap,” she said dryly.

Buck held it up in his hand. “Just a prop. A good one too. High quality.”

“And what do you know about fake bear traps?” Athena asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Buck used to work at a Haunted House,” Eddie supplied.

Buck grinned. “I helped set them up and they used a prop like this.”

“Good work, Buckaroo,” Athena said, patting him on the arm as she walked past. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a squatter to arrest.”

“Wait,” Buck said, and Athena paused. He looked at Athena pleadingly. “Can’t you arrest him after? This has to be the best Haunted House I’ve seen in years.” He glanced at Eddie before looking back to Athena.

Athena rolled her eyes fondly. “Find another one, Buckaroo.”

Buck pouted as Athena strode up the path and into the house.

Eddie clapped Buck on the shoulder. “Better luck next time, bud.”

Buck sighed loudly, shoulders drooping.

“You really wanted to go,” Eddie stated, looking at Buck with a frown. While everyone else had been dreading this shift, knowing just how crazy Halloween could be, Buck had been excited. Since their first call out, Buck had been asking Eddie about his Halloween traditions and if he and Chris were doing anything.

“Yeah,” Buck sighed. “Guess it doesn’t matter now.”

Eddie frowned at the disappointment that was coming off Buck. It seemed more than just missing out on a Haunted House. “Buck? What’s going on.”

Buck cheeks went pink. “Nothing, Ed’s. It’s fine. I’m just being silly.”

Eddie frowned and gently gripped Buck’s elbow. “It’s not silly. What’s going on? Why do you want to go to the haunted house so badly.”

Buck groaned, ducking his head as the flush spread down his neck, disappearing into the collar of his shirt. “I wanted you to come with me.” Buck lifted his head, chewing on his bottom lip. “Like – like on a date.”

Eddie’s heart tripped in his chest. “What?”

Buck huffed. “I wanted to take you on a date.”

“To a haunted house?” Eddie clarified.

“I was sticking to the season,” Buck huffed. “And I thought it would be a less pressurized first date activity.”

A smile spread across Eddie’s face. “You’ve been thinking about this a lot?”

Buck’s eyes flittered across Eddie’s face and Eddie could practically see his thoughts churning over his expression. Buck licked his lips, gaze turning hopeful. “All I can think about, if I’m honest.”

Eddie’ stomach fluttered at the admission. “Yeah?”

Buck nodded shifting closer to Eddie. “Yeah, Ed’s. I – I can’t stop thinking about you.”

“Then I guess,” Eddie said, voice low and smooth even as nerves fluttered under his skin. But this was Buck, and he had never been so sure about anyone in his entire life. “We should do something about that.”

“Ye- yeah?” Buck blinked, a smile pulling at his lips.

“Yeah,” Eddie grinned back. “Ask me.”

“Ed’s,” Buck said, shifting even closer. “Can I take you out on a date?”

“Yes,” Eddie said, the words coming out more breathless than he intended. “But Buck?”

“What?” Buck asked, worry flashing across his face.

“We are not going to a Haunted House,” Eddie said firmly.

Buck barked a laugh, a sheepish grin crossing his face. “Yeah, okay. I’ll – I’ll think of something better.”

Eddie leaned forward, pressing a kiss to Buck’s cheek. “I look forward to it.” He pulled back, grinning at the way Buck’s cheeks flushed darker. He couldn’t wait to, (hopefully and if he got his way) have his first last date ever.

[sisterspooky1013]

Red-Handed, Chapter 28

Rated G | 1015 words | Read it here on AO3

“Please have a seat, agents.”

Scully throws Mulder a wary glance before they slide into their designated chairs across from Skinner’s desk. Their boss is characteristically stoic, but there’s something else there, too, that makes Scully nervous. She folds her hands neatly in her lap to avoid fidgeting and arranges her face into a neutral expression. 

“This is going to be an uncomfortable conversation,” Skinner begins, and her belly tightens. “My hope is that we get it over with as quickly as possible so we can all move on with our day.”

His eyes are on his desk, on the door behind them, on the arm of her chair—anywhere but directly on either her or Mulder, who himself looks more curious than worried. 

“What is it, sir?” she asks, and Skinner flashes his eyes up to her for barely a split second before they are back on the paperwork littering the surface of his desk.

“It’s been brought to my attention that there was a questionable charge on Agent Mulder’s corporate credit card from a motel in Grand Rapids, Michigan a few weeks ago,” he says. 

Scully waits for Mulder to reply, but when a beat passes in silence she looks over at him and finds his face to be completely expressionless, which immediately makes her panic. 

“Yes, Agent Mulder and I were in Grand Rapids for a few days recently,” she says, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. “I believe you signed our 302, sir.”

“Yes, I did,” Skinner says. “It was the amount of the charge that prompted Accounting to flag it, not the charge itself.”

She looks at Mulder again, intending to request (by way of a very dirty look) that he be the one to speak on this given that she has no context, but he’s still sporting that same emotionless thousand-yard stare, almost like he’s not even listening. 

“I’m sorry, sir, I’m not following,” she admits. 

“This might help,” Skinner says, avoiding eye contact as he leans forward and hands her a rumpled sheet of paper from a dot matrix printer with the perforated strips down the sides still attached. 

Scully quickly scans the page, which appears to be an invoice from their motel. Advanced mattress cleaning fee, eight missing towels, fitted and flat sheet replacement. She feels her face get hot and a wave of nausea rolls through her as she remembers a hard day in the field followed by a drunken evening, and Mulder assuring her that she needn’t worry about the mess they made. That he would take care of it. 

Scully clears her throat and tries to imagine what she could possibly say with a beet red face that wouldn’t give them away. Perhaps Skinner could be convinced that they procured a family-sized portion of chili and spilled it all over the bed. 

“That was my room, sir. Agent Scully has nothing to do with this,” Mulder blurts out suddenly, the first words he’s spoken since they entered the room. He snatches the page out of her hands and sets it back on Skinner’s desk, only the expanded whites of his eyes giving away his terror. 

Skinner sighs and sits back in his seat, his elbows on the armrests and his hands steepled. 

“Unfortunately,” he says evenly, “the investigation into the charge also revealed that only one of the two rooms reserved for you was checked into.”

Scully slowly pulls in a deep breath through her nose and lets it out through her mouth, then glances to the door leading to Kimberly’s office to verify that the resident trash can is still stationed beside it, just in case. Her heart is pounding against her ears, and she grips the arms of her chair so hard her knuckles blanch. Here it comes—the jig is up. It happened much more quickly than she’d anticipated. 

“There’s an explanation for that—” Mulder starts, but Skinner holds up a hand to quiet him. 

“Look,” he says, leaning forward on his desk and giving them each a pointed look. “I’m not an idiot, nor am I naïve. The only thing I find surprising about this is that you were stupid enough to only use one room and then try to get the Bureau to cover the cleaning fee. I’d expect better from both of you.” Scully’s cheeks are on fire, and she does her best not to sink down in her seat. “Policy aside,” he continues, “so long as you don’t bring personal issues into the workplace, what you do off the clock is none of my concern. But if word gets out that the rumors about you two are true, and there’s evidence that I was aware of it and took no action, it’ll be my career and reputation on the line, not just yours.”

“I apologize, sir,” Scully says meekly. Now she’s the one who can’t bring herself to look at him.   

“It won’t happen again, sir,” Mulder adds.

“It better fucking not,” Skinner grumbles. “I was able to bullshit my way out of this one, but next time you’re on your own. If you run into Angela from Accounting and she asks how you’re feeling, just tell her you’re doing much better.”

“Thank you, sir,” Scully says in a near whisper. 

“That’s all, you’re dismissed,” Skinner says with a wave of his hand. 

Scully stands slowly on unsteady legs and heads for the door. Mulder is beside her immediately, though the warmth of his hand on her back is anything but a comfort. He tries to catch her eye but she refuses to look at him, too sick with anger and embarrassment to trust herself not to scream. 

“Agents?” Skinner says, just as she’s reaching for the doorknob. 

The hairs on the back of her neck shoot up, and she and Mulder both slowly turn around. 

“Yes, sir?” Mulder asks. 

Skinner looks at them for a beat with a confusingly wistful expression.

“It’s about damn time,” he says, then turns away from them quickly, but not before Scully sees him lose the fight to keep the smile off his mouth. 

Tagging @today-in-fic

[keyh0use]

do u think wheezie, rafe and Sarahs mom is actually dead ? How?

Short answer: Yes, I do and (supposed) suicide.

If she's alive, we'll have another Big John situation on our hands where—unless she's locked up in some facility—the show won't be able to justify her absence in a fulfilling way. Where was she when two of her children were homeless? Evading a murder charge? On the run? After daddy attacked them?

She's never once been mentioned, not even in passing.

I think she developed postpartum psychosis and was gone within a year of Wheezie's birth.

And it was embarrassing, no matter how much Ward may have loved her, to be the focus of so much ill gossip about his crazy wife. To have to take time off work to trail after her because she was forgetful and hallucinating, to be screamed at for things he wasn't actually doing. The Northside isn't that big, word travels fast and suddenly he has to fire the gardener and the maid and the chef because somebody is leaving Tanneyhill with all their secrets and spilling them all over Kildare.

When she died...it was the worst day of Ward's life. It was also a relief.

Anyway I think this theory works for a few reasons:

One, it would explain why they detest Rose so much. Maybe an unpopular opinion but I think Ward and Rose's relationship is genuine, but it probably happened too soon. (I've seen people say maybe Ward cheated with Rose, and yeah, maybe that too.) And of course anytime would be too soon for the kids but it felt like one day they had a small funeral to bury their mother and the next Ward was announcing his engagement, Rose was moving in and redecorating and, while possibly unintentional, replacing their mother. Especially from Rafe's perspective, which the younger siblings grew up under and adopted.

Two, why Ward had a hard time bonding with Wheezie. Rafe was distraught, unable to process what happened and Sarah happened to be at an age where she could remember her mom in passing memories but clung to her father in the aftermath, strengthening their relationship as the others fell apart or barely formed.

Photos came down because they were upsetting to everyone. Her name became a taboo in the household. Anyone who mentioned her around the country club was on Wards shitlist. He just wanted to move on in the public eye, he'd grieve in private.

Three, why Ward (seemingly) doesn't want to help Rafe combat mental illness, even when directly asked for help; it triggers him. The rambling, the thousand yard stare and way drugs make him stagger around, unable to hold his head up and the way he gets angry and lashes out. It reminds him too much of his first wife, not that that's a reasonable excuse.

[skaruresonic]

Wait are you really comparing drawing kids in nsfw art to be the same situation as putting kid characters in despair and distress? Is Sonic idw the only comic or media you consume? Have you never watched grave of the fireflies? Lord of the flies? Now and then, here and there? Hell Avatar the last airbender puts minors in more stressfull situations then sonic idw ever did. Do yourself a favor and watch Land before Time and an American Tail . I get disliking Sonic idw but to conpare minors in danger situations to tell a story as the same thing as sexualized art just comes of as you dont understand the point of stories at all. I'm just shocked.

Okay there, Lily Orchard.

I'm not gonna let you turn this into a debate on my media consumption habits just yet - which, frankly, you'd twist into something they're not anyway. If I said, "I aometimes read Japanese lit, actually, as in novels written by Japanese authors translated into English," you'd just be like "So you're a weeabo who wants everything to be slice-of-life"?

No. Not gonna play that game with you today.

(P.S. Grave of the Fireflies is based on an account of real events the author suffered following the firebombing of his hometown.)

(Show some respect. Don't compare it to fucking cartoons just to win an internet debate.)

You haven't answered my question of why, exactly, sexuality is uniquely worse than violence, especially since the latter is more normalized in mainstream media aimed at children than the former, IDW included.

---

I get disliking Sonic idw but to conpare minors in danger situations to tell a story as the same thing as sexualized art just comes of as you dont understand the point of stories at all. I'm just shocked.

I swear to God if I have to hear "you don't understand storytelling" one more time. Didn't realize I was still stuck in English class at the ripe old age of nunna-your-business.

I understand that stories need conflict. I just disagree that the conflict being presented in IDW is anything more substantial than a series of stupid-ass contrivances and blatant attempts at emotional manipulation.

It was a zombie apocalypse. Cream watched her mother die, and the art of her with a thousand-yard stare heavily implied she was traumatized by this.

If the book had been competently written, she'd suffer lingering aftereffects from her trauma. Note that I am NOT saying she should be suffering full-blown flashbacks, but it would have gone a long way to establish emotional continuity if she displayed, for instance, a certain degree of clinginess toward her mother.

...But the book is not competently-written, and she's completely fine by the next arc. And if you asked them, IDW staff would simply blame Sega for upholding the "status quo" instead of their own incompetence.

The point remains is that we see Cream being traumatized when she absolutely didn't have to be. She didn't need to show up in this arc at all! I'm sure we would have been able to infer that she, too, isn't having the best time just fine without being shown her 'nam stare over and over again. After a certain point, the insistence becomes gratuitous.

Also, I deeply press X to doubt that Cream's trauma was ever intended to be anything other than an indication that Shit's Getting Real, especially since she doesn't change after this. She gets her shit emotionally kicked in not to further the plot, but in an exploitative manner. Not to facilitate character development that IDW staff has admitted is not "allowed" to stick, whatever that means, but to convey to the audience that the metal virus is srs bsns.

That's the only possible thing Cream's trauma could be in service of. Not Cream herself. The plot. In a comic book marketed at children, sold for cash money.

In short, the story is jerking itself off over how Deep and Dark it is by having Cream and Tails, the most emotionally vulnerable of the lot, be reduced to mere husks of themselves.

Did you forget that the metal virus made Tails regress into doing the exact same thing people rake Forces over the coals for?

At least NSFW artists don't pretend the gratuitousness of their art makes it Better Than The Games.

My question to you, therefore, is why do you not rail against IDW for exploiting Cream's trauma in an officially-sanctioned comic marketed to children as (supposedly) the target audience just as hard as you rail against NSFW art made for adults by nobodies in their spare time?

Because sexual violence is repulsive to you in a way non-sexual violence isn't. American puritanism has taught you that sexuality is a unique evil compared to all the other evils in this world. And so you believe, whether you know it or not, that violence is just a natural part and parcel of storytelling.

You've really told on yourself through the wording of your ask. You characterize violence and trauma as simply "dangerous" or "stressful" situations, not as things that can alter lives in and of themselves.

I could go on and say this worldview is part of the reason why I fundamentally, philosophically, and ethically disagree with the concept of anyone "deserving" any type of fate, good or bad, but that's another rabbit hole I don't have time to tumble down.

Trauma inflicted via non-sexual violence is not as remarkable or impactful as trauma inflicted by sexual violence... Worse, you appear to assume that harm is not harmful due to the violence, but due to the sexual aspect.

Furthermore, you seem to think we should expect to see depictions of violence in any given story in order for that story to have a decent plot. Which is also bullshit.

[unfilteredaj]

My Idea for the Modern Comedy-Horror version of the Universal Classic Monster Universe:

• We already have some Familiar Faces behind some REALLY GOOD Base Adaptations of a couple of the films. And they actually help lay some pretty solid groundwork for a huge monster mash up movie.

• Bring Back Kathryn Newton as Lisa Swallows, now the undead Doctor Lisa Frankenstein. And her Groom, Cole Sprouse. They are the basic Undead Mad Scientist/Monster pairing. And FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS UNIVERSAL, make them look just a SMIDGE more like their counterparts? Even just adding Bolts to their necks and making Lisa even MORE Bride of Frankenstein meets Dr. Frankenstein. Maybe give her a cool new Lab Coat and more pronounced Alburn and White hair. But I really do think she could Lead this new generation of Monsters with a BIT of kooky Mad Scientist charm.

• Bring Back Nic Cage and Nicholas Hoult as Dracula and Renfield. And PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE lets cast Drac’s three Wives and make the ‘Dracula and his Three Weed Smoking Girlfriends’ joke a Reality. Nic Cage could have some HILARIOUS banter with some ‘High as Balls’ Actresses and I really think it could be a fun way to soften Drac’s heart a bit.

• Bring back Benicio Del Toro from the 2010 Wolfman remake as Lawrence Talbot . He was really a very good casting choice! Maybe as a reference to Frankenstein meets The Wolf Man, they could have Lawrence coming to Lisa asking her for a way to make him die. And that could lead to them having a heart to heart about life, death, and the acceptance of BOTH.

Or if they want to recast, I think Kyle Gallner has the Potential to play Lawrence Talbot as a Man in a more MODERN setting. He has that really sad thousand yard stare that the character NEEDS. Throughout the film, it could be setting up for the Full Moon, and he could slowly devolve into Madness, which Kyle Gallner is EXTREMELY good at. He does have a more grunge look but honestly slap the man in a tie and slick his hair back and he’s good. (Also I would really love to see him Hitting People with his Wolf’s head cane. Because I think his version of Lawrence would be absolutely UNHINGED.)

• They should add Imhotep/The Mummy, but just for the gag of it all. Like maybe a cameo. Maybe Lisa or one of the other monsters opens a Sarcophagus just for Imhotep to cuss them all out in perfect Ancient Egyptian and then he just goes back to sleep. Lisa just shrugs because ‘It’s a big Lab. I haven’t even seen everything yet.’

•Jekyll/Hyde could be a colleague of Lisa’s. Perhaps maybe Taffy even grows up to marry a Henry Jekyll and becomes a Scientist herself like her sister Lisa… and maybe something goes wrong… TAFFY IS JEKYLL AND HYDE. PLEASE DOES ANYONE ELSE GET THE VISION HERE?

…

All of the recent réadaptations of these Classic Monsters are so so good! I just need them to fill out the Roster more and HAVE THEM CROSS OVER. The castings for Lisa Frankenstein and Renfield alone were TOO GOOD TO JUST BE ONE OFFS.

[emdure]

How much do you think members of the band like scary movies? Do they have any favorites they watch around Halloween? (Who gets to cover Graham's eyes when it gets too scary?)

knocking out asks slowly<3 feel free to send more !!

the band + camila horror movie hcs ,

trigger warnings: none

daisy,

she didn’t exactly grow up watching films. so when she goes to watch a horror one with the others — she’s startled. and she HATES THAT about herself. of course she wouldn’t show it. she would also try to tell herself she wasn’t scared. just picture daisy having the thousand yard stare at the television

billy,

he’s not a movie watcher, but he will indulge in them from time to time. when he does, he usually finds himself enjoying them. yet does not watch another for a while. the cycle will continue repeatedly. he’s okay with horror movies, he always tells himself they aren’t real. though he really likes them when he can be a brother and bully graham with them

camila,

mixed opinions with camila. it really has to depend on what mood she is in. this girl is so expressive, no matter what she cannot conceal her reactions. she finds it oddly fun to scream and jump at jump scares? she’ll always look to others to see what they’re doing. she’s the one who ends up comforting graham, karen can’t

karen,

and why can’t karen? she’s too busy laughing at him, or whatever is happening in the movie. she does not bother to hide her laughter, and then that spreads to camila. it becomes one big ordeal. but karen does not mind horror movies. she finds them interesting, but in no way is she a usual movie watcher. she’ll probably end up with nightmares even if they don’t scare her?? she doesn’t understand how it works. karma from graham?

eddie,

oh he loves them. he’s one who will wait for a tense moment, then grab whoever is close to him to scare them. he is such a MENACE and no one ever wants to watch these movies with him. eddie definitely watches horror movies repeatedly to memorize certain jump scares and he still doesn’t get tired of them. it’s all fun until warren starts to do it back to him

warren,

and he is relentless. eddie and warren constantly try to scare each other. the idea of horror movies are so interesting to warren. why would someone want to watch them? you’re putting yourself through torture, in a way. but it’s quite the experience for him when he watches them high. so yeah, guess you could say he enjoys them then

graham,

absolutely TERRIFIED. HATES THEM. he felt required to watch one with the rest of the group, for he knew their teasings would be even worse if he avoided entirely. he regrets it, but he’s so determined to appear composed. especially with karen right there. spoilers not so spoilers — he fails miserably xx