#Am I crazy am I reaching am I grasping at straws. Hello. Hello.

[twomystdunstans]

Okay also the other thing. Debbie calls in during sweet dreams & flying machines, the episode they get Emily back? And she's talking about being in the Void and what it's like inside.

She talks about how her and the others trapped in the Void seem to cycle through scenes of real life and their memories(?), and how she's been tracking the Book through these memories/rooms.

And the way she calls in is that she ends up finding the book in an empty radio studio .

She does not specify that it's the KFAM studio.

Is it fucking. Is it a memory from Jack about his and Sammy and Lily's old studio . Hello. Can anyone hear me. Am I making any sense at all.

[karlnapity]

Rejoice, Rejoice, God’s Ears are Stitches

“Drop your things in the hole,” Tommy says, and Dream feels his stomach drop. He slowly undoes the clasps on his chest plate while his eyes scour the crowd, from Punz’s fierce expression to Puffy’s tear-streaked face. Something deep and dark jolts in his chest, but he casts it aside same as his chest plate. It makes a clang! as it hits the bottom of the hole, and Tommy jumps satisfyingly.

He takes his time removing his armor, relishing in the way the crowd shuffles uncomfortably. Eventually Tommy lets out an indignant “hurry up!” and he can barely keep himself from chuckling.

Once he’s finished, they stand there in a tense silence for a few seconds before Tommy says, “All your armor, Dream.”

He tilts his head to the side. “What d’you mean?”

He has a sneaking suspicion that lets tendrils of something akin to nerves creep up his spine. They only solidify when Tommy points his sword at Dream’s face.

“Your mask. Put it in the hole.”

For a second, he considers refusing. But he imagines being held down, the mask forced off his face, and he shivers. He reaches to the clasp, hand stuttering. When was the last time he’d taken it off?

Tommy huffs. He undoes the clasp.

The mask shatters as it hits the helmet still resting on the top of the pile. He watches the shards bounce.

The audience has gone very silent. He refuses to look at them. Out of the corner of his eye, he watches Tommy scrutinize his face. He does not look at him.

“You’re an ugly motherfucker, you know that?” There’s little bite in Tommy’s words. He may have the upper hand right now, but he’s still only grasping at straws against Dream. He is. Dream still sneers. Low blow, to poke at the various scars littering his face, hardly leaving an unmarred spot. He opens and closes his fist where he’d usually be grasping a weapon.

Sam and Punz step forward, each of them grabbing an arm. He’s led to the elevator as he listens to the sounds of the crowd celebrating. He does not look at them. He won’t give them the satisfaction.

As the elevator rises, Sam’s hand only tightens around his arm. He wonders why, at first, but it becomes obvious as he starts to ache.

Mining fatigue. Fuck.

He focuses his attention on simply remaining upright. The bruises and cuts and the knee Tommy had almost knocked out of its socket suddenly make themselves known, and with a vengeance. He shuffles, trying to keep his legs from giving out.

Punz coughs a laugh from beside him. Dream can’t stop his eyes from straying, but it doesn’t help. He can’t read his expression.

“It’s weird being able to see what you’re thinking,” Punz says quietly. Dream quickly schools his expression. He does not respond.

The fatigue becomes almost overwhelming as they come to a stop. The two lead him out of the elevator and through the prison. He passes by more walls, doors, than he can remember. He tries to catalog information as it comes, but his mind is just as tired as his body, and black spots dance in his vision. He will not let these people see him weak, though, so he keeps his attention on keeping his expression neutral, keep his legs moving.

He watches the lava part, and his heart stutters to a stop in his chest. This is it.

He does not look at the two as he’s left alone.

>

He jolts awake, his breath catching. As he gasps on the floor he notices the heavy air, the way his hair is stuck to his face. The heat is almost scalding, and as he sits up he feels woozy. He almost laughs at himself. He’s only on his first day (or is it?) of his imprisonment and he’s already falling apart. He lets out a chuckle, coughing from dehydration.

His stomach churns from a combination of the overwhelming mining fatigue and the heat from the lava. He brushes back his hair as best as he can, ties it up, suddenly glad Sam had only let him keep a t-shirt.

He examines the cell, still dizzy but acclimating as best he can. Thankfully there’s what seems to be a dispenser in a corner, leaving him with a bottle of water and a raw potato. Not the best food, and it doesn’t help replenish any health, but he takes what he can get. He stops himself from chugging the water as much as he wants to. He doesn’t know when Sam will next leave him food, and he needs to, at the very least, stay conscious. Dying from dehydration won’t do him any good.

The clock on the wall ticks loudly, and for a second he considers crushing it. He wonders, if he does, if Sam will come replace it.

He can’t risk it. The noise is loud in his ears, the only other thing in this godforsaken place aside from the sound of the lava bubbling.

He feels tears mounting in his eyes and pushes them down. No. He won’t, can’t be weak. That would mean accepting defeat, and he will leave this place. He will win.

He doesn’t feel particularly victorious with his hands over his ears, trying to block out the ticking sound of the clock.

>

It’s impossible to tell how long he’s been here, and he can feel it already prying at his mind. The clock tells him whether it’s day or night, but not much more than that, and it doesn’t make much difference to him when the only light he gets is from the lava.

He started trembling a few days ago, and he’s not even sure where it comes from. It makes it hard to do much of anything, and it’s not even like there’s much to do. He alternates dunking his head in the cauldron of water in a pitiful attempt to cool himself off, struggling to write in the books he’s been given, and laying on the floor and listening to the clock.

He’s too tired from the mining fatigue to be able to do much writing at all. His hands shake too much to hold the quill correctly, and his brain moves at a snail’s pace that annoys even him. So, instead, he lays on the floor, listens to the clock, and stares at the lava. His back hurts from the hard stone, and it holds the heat, but it’s not like he has much other choice.

Has it been a week? Two? He’s not sure. He hasn’t seen Sam since he was imprisoned. He hasn’t tried to escape. He hasn’t done anything but eat raw fucking potatoes and try not to get heatstroke. Sleeping is really the only agreeable possibility, and even then he wakes up choking on hot air.

His communicator buzzes, and he sits up so fast his head swims. All avenues have been cut off except Sam, so he knows it’s him immediately.

< You have a visitor today. >

He clambers to his feet. He hates the way his heart races at the thought. He shouldn’t be this excited for one of them to visit him. It was inevitable that, eventually, someone would. They wouldn’t be able to forget him. They need his help.

(It’s the only reason he’s alive.)

(He shakes that thought away.)

For the first time in over a week he tries to pull himself together. He fixes his ponytail, makes it as neat as possible, downs the rest of his water to try to garner some sort of energy. He’s already exhausted just from the excitement. Jesus Christ, what has this place done to him?

He sits on the lectern as he waits. Who will it be? One of his old friends? Punz? Tommy?

Soon enough, the lava starts to lower.

He makes direct eye contact with Tommy. The boy looks petrified. Good.

What will Tommy want? Will he want him to stay put together? Will he want him to be pitiful?

(Tommy will want a friend. Tommy will want soft.)

He’s not used to regulating his facial expressions. He’s had to time adjust to the lack of cover, the familiar feeling of it sitting on his skin lacking, but it’s new, having to looking people in the eye, having to appeal to them in this way. It frustrates him.

Soon enough, Tommy is facing him and the lava is already rising. He looks uncomfortable, pulling at his collar and shoving his hands in his pockets.

He looks better than Dream has seen him in a while. He looks happy enough, certainly healthier than he’s been. He wonders how pathetic he looks.

“Hey,” Tommy says, making the first move. Dream avoids his eyes.

“Hello.”

“What’ve you been up to?” Tommy asks, awkward as ever.

(Tommy will want a friend. Tommy will want him to be sorry.)

“I like watching the clock,” he answers, genuine. He keeps his voice quiet. “I’ve been going crazy in here.”

“Everyone hates you, you know?” Tommy says. That confuses him.

“Well, I’m in prison, now, so there’s no reason for anyone to hate me,” he refutes, frustration rising. That makes no sense. Why would they hate him now?

They beat him. Why would they hate him now?

“Hey, Dream, are you getting all sad? Watch this: I am your best friend, Dream, I am your friend, and I will come and visit you every day!” Tommy’s voice rises as he takes his clock off the wall, throws it in the water, turns back to him, angry as hell. “Does this remind you of anything?”

Dream stays quiet. What can he say to that?

“It’s just sad! You’ve been exiled, bitch! You’ve been imprisoned!” Tommy looks so satisfied, like he deserves this, like he’s proving a point.

It’s hard to take a deep breath when the air’s so heavy, but he has to. He clenches his hands in fists, turns around so Tommy can’t see his expression. Remember.

(Be Tommy’s friend. Be sorry.)

“Maybe I’ll be better, and then you’ll let me out,” he tries. Makes his voice as meek as possible. Makes himself smaller.

Tommy laughs. He tries harder.

“What if it’s a long time and I’m better?”

Tommy just looks at him. For the first time, his expression is unreadable. He looks stronger, now. He doesn’t look like a kid anymore.

“Tommy, I’m sorry.”

(It’s what he’s supposed to say.)

“Really?” Tommy looks genuinely taken aback, genuinely surprised. Something in his expression hurts, but he ignores it. “For what?”

He ransacks his brain for the right thing to say. He can’t think, he’s so tired.

(He wants Tommy to leave. He wants Tommy to stay.)

“Um. For everything I did to you.”

He says all the right things: I have no reason to lie. I’m glad you visited me. I’m sad.

Tommy gives him homework, and he complies obediently.

He lets Tommy make fun of him all he wants, lets Tommy laugh at him, and he doesn’t get angry.

Tommy promises he’ll be back. Dream can’t tell if he’s genuine.

“I lost my friends, and all my stuff, and my server. And you.”

He doesn’t mean to say it. It’s not part of the routine. But it works: Tommy seems genuinely interested, then, doesn’t seem to take it as manipulation as much as everything else. He tries to pull himself together, but he’s so tired. His act is falling apart.

“Who do you miss the most?” Tommy asks.

Anger flares.

“I think you should go, Tommy.”

Tommy asks again, and Dream can’t do anything but yell for Sam. Tommy just keeps asking, and Dream just wants him to leave. He drives his fingernails into his palm and he doesn't look at him.

The clock is especially loud, that day.

[soobrat]

fraud || Soobin

𝕤𝕞𝕦𝕥 '𝕟 𝕗𝕝𝕦𝕗𝕗,

t o  s k i p  s t r 8  t o  t h e  s m u t  l o c a t e  t h i s  d i v i d e r:

★ 𝔹𝕖 𝕎𝕒𝕣𝕪 ★:

female reader AGAIN (ELECTRIC 👏 CHAIR 👏)

kinda graphic (but romantic) smut

virgin!reader & Soobin

teensy choking moment

the tiniest bit of angst

“So when is this going to happen? Are you just going to keep avoiding him?” Yeji cocked her head to the side, directing a puzzled gaze towards you as you rubbed your temples. She waited another moment, breaking off another piece of her croissant before popping it into her mouth.

“He’s going to know you’re avoiding him and it’s going to ruin your relationship.” Her eyes lingered on you, awaiting your response. Jisu stayed quiet, just looking between the two of you. You inhaled deeply, very much aware of the two pairs of eyes boring into you at this circular table in Jisu’s apartment.

“It’s just complicated, I don’t wanna ruin our friendship. I think I’m fine with just keeping him company as a friend.” You avoided both of their eyes, stirring your frappuccino with your straw.

“You’re saying that now but it will drive you crazy eventually. Everyone goes through this, just put your dignity on the line and take the risk.” Jisu finally shrugged, looking down at her salad before taking a bite. Yeji looked around, confused.

“Am I the only one missing something?? Did we forget that we’re talking about ____ ____, ultimate seductress? The one who’s had dozens of guys lining up to see just how true the rumors are since NINTH GRADE (which is really weird and concerning looking back). All Soobin needs is one night with you and he’ll be in love.” Yeji exclaimed too enthusiastically for comfort.

You and Jisu look at each other. Maybe today’s the day Yeji will be in on your biggest secret? You were always a big talker. Some say it made you fun to hang out with, others say it made you a bad person and a liar. Either way, it made you feel better about yourself and got you a lot of friends. Especially after your biggest lie. When you discovered porn in ninth grade (admittedly very late), you knew exactly how to impress everyone. So from that day on, you were where people went for terrible advice. You were also the person guys kept coming to for sex but you always turned them down. You hoped they understood the reason was that you weren’t interested, which was half true. The other half was not wanting them to find out you were lying.

The rumor stuck, especially since you went to college in your hometown. It transferred which was mostly a curse. So far Jisu was the only person you’d told. Jisu AND Yeji were both your friends since middle school, but Yeji wasn’t good at keeping secrets. It’s not like you didn’t want to tell her, she was just too excitable.

“Yeji… that’s not how love works. Plus, the process of getting him to bed is also difficult.”

“Hello? You’re ___-”

“I don’t want Soobin to think he’s just a number on my body count, okay? If I do it, I want this to be special. Especially since it’s my first time-” You paused, eyes wide at Yeji, who was indifferent. Similarly to how Jisu was.

“I- m-my first time making love, that is. All I do is fuck men, you know?” You laughed nervously, trying to distract from your slip up.

Soobin’s hugs always ignited your senses. He does it every time he greets you and it makes you fall for him more each time.

“I haven’t hugged you in a while. Have you been avoiding me?” He was joking but he didn’t know it was true. You chuckled nervously, remaining in his embrace. He smelled so nice, it was intoxicating. That and being in his room for the first time excited you to no end.

“Of course not.” You say, finally pulling away. You smiled up at him and you felt the tension. He didn’t take his gaze off yours. You felt numb as you pressed your lips to his. Everything was moving so fast. He wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling you closer. And that’s when you realized, he was responding. Responding positively. You tilted your head backward, deepening the kiss. Your face felt hot. You were glad at this moment that you had experience in at least kissing.

You throw your arms around his neck, skin melting against his. You felt the urge to get as close to him as humanly possible. You felt his fingertips push underneath your top. You flinch at the cold skin making contact with your hot waist. He giggled at your reaction before pulling away.

“For someone so notoriously naughty, you’re extremely adorable.” The corner of Soobin’s mouth quirked up, his dimple flickering. He was staring into your eyes. You couldn’t take the tension, darting your eyes away from his. This action only strengthens his discovery.

“I’m glad I got to know you. Everyone knows you as this sex guru…” He placed his right hand on your shoulder, sliding it over your collarbone, and your breath hitched when it went over your throat. His thumb glided over the mid-line of your throat very slowly. It was as if he were aware of the positive effect his hand on your neck had on you. However, he kept his eyes trained on wherever his hand touched. His eyes flickered up towards your face every so often to gauge your reaction. These actions almost seemed like this was his first time being intimate, too. Like he was exploring unknown grounds. When his hand finally made it’s way up to your jaw, cradling your head in his hand, he continued,

“…but I can’t shake this image of you being this innocent, cuddly teddy bear.” He chuckled again. His words were so lovely and endearing, but his voice only made you titillated. You leaned into his hand, shutting your eyes.

“You’re not saying much, and something tells me this is going there… So listen up sex guru.” He brings his left hand up to the other side of your face. You open your eyes and look up him. He smiled at your doe-like stare.

“This’ll be my first time, so please take it easy… on me…” He kept trailing off, getting distracted by your eyes and your lips. Your eyes got wider, your observation was right. He’s a virgin just like you are. He was about to speak again but you cut him off.

“S-Soobin I… I just want you to know that I’m not doing this because I see you as just a body or a number. This means a lot to me. You mean a lot to me.” You blurted out, removing his hands from your face to hold them. He just returns them there, however, and eagerly latches his lips on yours. This kiss is more ravenous. Both of your hands raking all over each other. You felt your body ignite when Soobin took your bottom lip in between his teeth. He released it before looking into your eyes. He was like a different person. His pupils were dark and swimming in lust. He laced his fingers into your nape, lightly tugging on your hair. You couldn’t hold back the tiny moan from escaping your lips. He crashed his lips to yours once more, this time slipping his tongue into your mouth. Your wet muscles wrestled together. He tasted so damn good. Your face got even hotter, you really really wanted him. You wanted him so bad.

He walked the two of you backward until the back of your knees hit his bed. You fall from his embrace, behind hitting the mattress. You looked up at him from your sitting position. You clench your thighs tightly, excited by his tall frame towering over you. He tugged his shirt off before climbing over you. He kissed you once before pulling back and looking at your face. He does it a second, third, and fourth time. He then takes his knee and parts your legs. He leans closer ‘til your chests are flush and his leg is pressing right into your sweet spot. You buck up into it unconsciously, the sweet friction causing you to screw your eyes shut. You felt completely intoxicated at this point. You were blindly humping his leg, profanities and sinful noises falling from your lips. You gasped when Soobin wrapped his hand loosely around your throat.

“You’re driving me crazy… I’m so hard already…” He commented breathlessly. His words directed your attention to the bulge in his sweats. You clamped your legs around his thigh, you really wanted to feel it. So you told him.

“Say it louder.”

“Please… I want to feel it inside of me Soobin.”

You felt prideful after Soobin’s eyes fluttered shut. Your words were doing that to him. He untied the drawstring of his sweatpants before pushing his underwear and pants to the floor. You instinctively reached up and grasp it. Soobin threw his head back, earning you a sweet moan. His response egged you on. You tightened your grip, stroking languidly up and down his shaft. His breath started picking up and his face twisted in pleasure.

“That feels so good, but I wanna have you right now.” He leans back over and hooks his fingers under your bottoms. He exposed your bottom half and you unclenched your thighs. This was the first time you felt so sure you wanted someone. You didn’t take your eyes off of each other as he removed your bottoms and underwear. His eyes flickered, taking in your appearance.

“For over a year now I’ve been looking at you…” He stroked your cheek with his thumb,

“And you only get more beautiful. Give me permission to take you, please.” His voice was airy.

Your breath was caught in your throat. All you could do was nod. You inhaled sharply as his tip brushed against your saturated lips. You gripped onto his biceps, desperate for him to just take you already.

“Soobin please I want to feel you.” Your voice was barely audible.

“Then give me permission. I need to hear you say it.” Soobin looked serious as he stared into your eyes.

“I give you permission, please take all of me-”

Soobin was already thrusting forward before you could punctuate your sentence. You yelped out, as he’d missed with the first thrust. Once he was inside he was anxiously making sure you were okay.

“I’m okay, just please don’t stop.” You felt your eyes sting, tears welling. The stretch was pleasantly painful. You wrapped your legs around him, craving more. A strangled moan came from you as he pulled his hips back. His hard member gliding against your slick walls wasn’t anything short of euphoria.

Electricity shot up your legs and butterflies erupted in your abdomen. You didn’t know how to cope with the extensive amounts of pleasure you were receiving. Your moans were constant and guttural, eyes shut tightly as you raked Soobin’s back.

“A-am I hurting you?” He asked, eyes trained on you as he hummed with bliss.

“N-no! It feels so good. Please don’t stop.” You squirmed underneath him, hips bucking up towards him. He took your response as a sign to bury his head in your neck and thrust deeper. You whimpered, wondering just how much farther he could go. His rhythmic, whiny moans in your ear gave you goosebumps. You moved on hand up to his hair, curling a handful into your fist.

His thrusts were starting to build pressure in your abdomen. You felt your legs getting weaker around his hips, your moans growing in pitch and volume.

“Does that mean you’re close?” He sounded breathless and he was losing the rhythm in his thrusts. The words to respond with seemingly left your brain. Your eyes rolled to the back of your head as your hips and legs twitched. Warm liquids covered Soobin’s member as your orgasm washed over you. You sang a few more high pitched moans as Soobin chased his high. He pulled out, releasing ribbons of white onto your stomach. You flinched as the hot liquid hit your skin. He threw his head back, milking himself dry.

“Sorry, we completely forgot about condoms. How irresponsible of you, sex guru.” Soobin chuckled before leaning forward onto your body. He rested his head in the nook of your neck again. The two of you laid there silently for a while, Soobin pecking your jaw and neck here and there. It felt like an eternity in the best of ways. You felt fuzzy and warm. With his chest against yours, it was almost as if your heartbeats were in sync. Then he finally spoke up.

“Don’t you have something to tell me?” He asked, head remaining where it sat. You hummed quizzically, not sure what he meant. He finally sat up a bit, looking down at you.

“Jisu is also best friends with my sister…” He trailed off again, this time distracted his finger tracing shapes on your shoulder.

“It must’ve slipped or Jisu really trusted my sister, a big mistake but whatever. I know you’re a virgin, ____.” He tore his attention away from his finger to look down at you with a sweet smile. You looked like a deer caught in headlights. You were a stuttering, flushed mess. He placed his index finger on your lips.

“That was a month ago. Since then word got around.”

You felt embarrassed. People knew you were a fraud this whole time? You must’ve looked like an idiot keeping up the act. Did Jisu know that people knew? You must’ve looked concerned because of what Soobin said next.

“Hey, I’m only telling you this because I want you to know that no one cares. No one thinks you’re dumb or a liar. Especially not me. I mean, I barely believed it when people told me in the first place but it makes no difference.” He cradled your face again with both his hands. You could tell this would be a habit of his that would be a favorite of yours.

“Without that rumor, you’re not any less interesting or worth getting to know. That’s not what makes you so amazing. It’s your true colors, your beautiful personality. All these people who adore you stick around for you, not some dumb rumor.”

You flip the two of your around and bury your head in his chest. You let out an exaggerated whine that was muffled by his skin.

“Those words, what you said… they mean so much to me. You’re too good of a person.” You plant kisses all over his bare chest. But you suddenly shot your head up.

“By why didn’t you let me know beforehand?? And you were mocking me weren’t you! I take back what I said about you being a good person!” You playfully smack his chest, causing him to snicker.

“I was planning on it! But I had too much fun teasing you, and things got intimate so fast.”

Thinking back, that made more sense why he was so communicative and careful. You smiled reminiscing of the scene that happened only moments prior.

“I’m glad you were my first, Soobin.”

His smile was warm as he leaned over to kiss your forehead.

“I’m glad you were mine too.”

……

“But Soobin… I’d love to stay here longer but there’s sticky semen on me and now you-”

[catboythanatos]

hello i am HERE for cecilos week... ive had a helluva day so everyone say thank you last week me for writing most of this bc i could not have written anything today omg. im SO excited to do this prompt week and to see all of the great content everyone’s gonna make!!!!

Day 1: Fashion/Science!

Cecil Palmer was … an interesting character. Carlos had only been in Night Vale for about a week now, and he was avoiding the radio host like the plague. The embarrassment and surprise of hearing his name on the radio so much had scared him away, and while he was a little intrigued, he would just rather avoid that problem entirely until Cecil inevitably forgot about him and moved on.

He had only formally met Cecil once, and he had been in the middle of some ... very important science at the time. Carlos would probably describe Cecil as a man who was not tall nor short, not thin nor fat, but that's about as far as he could go, since he did not make eye contact once during their entire encounter, out of the nervousness of never knowing which eye to look at, which was heightened by the fact that Cecil seemed to have three.

The day of that encounter, he was teased by all of his coworkers when they heard about it on the radio, and he had not gone back to the radio station since.

But of course, you can only successfully avoid someone for so long…

Out at the Ralph's buying groceries, something caught Carlos’ eye. It wasn't polite or proper to stare, so Carlos refrained, but he glanced down the aisle a few times to catch glimpses.

The person was facing away from Carlos and into the aisle. The outfit they were wearing was eye-catching in almost every way imaginable. Their shirt, a red crop-top, had long, semi-transparent bell sleeves that stretched down almost to the floor, and their pants were a shiny metallic silver. From these two things alone, Carlos was given the impression of some sort of avant garde fashionista, but then there was more. To top the whole outfit off, they were wearing lime green crocs. Now, Carlos didn't know enough about fashion to really make any assumptions, but it certainly caught his eye, to say the least.

The person turned, and he quickly turned back at the macaroni and cheese on the shelf in front of him so he wouldn't be caught looking. He didn't realize that the person was walking towards him until he heard:

“Carlos! Hey!”

Carlos looked up, and was surprised as he met Cecil's eyes.

“O-oh,” he said. “Hi.”

“You shop here? Wow, that's so crazy, right?”

Carlos ignored the fact that this was the only grocery store in Night Vale, and the fact that Cecil was being awkward. He found himself staring at Cecil's exposed midriff.

“Carlos?”

“Uhm. Yeah.”

“How are you settling in?” Cecil shifted his weight from one foot to the other, and his wispy sleeves swayed across the floor.

“Fine,” said Carlos. “Um… It’s good. Everything is… good. You know, science… and whatnot.”

“I'm glad to hear it. Anyway, I, um, should finish on with my grocery shop here, and leave you to yours.”

Carlos nodded, turning to the mac n’ cheese again, wishing he was wearing a lighter jacket. It was hot in the Ralph's today.

“I do need some macaroni, though.”

Cecil reached for a box at the same time as Carlos did, and their fingers brushed up against each other. They each pulled away, laughing awkwardly.

“I’m sorry--”

“I--”

“No, you go ahead.”

Carlos didn't move. He looked from Cecil's hand, up to his face. His breath caught in his throat.

“Sure,” he choked finally, grabbing the box off the shelf without looking and dropping it into his cart. “Thanks.”

---

After that second encounter, Carlos was only more determined to avoid Cecil. Well, truthfully, he wanted to spend more time with him, but he was getting feelings he didn't know how to react to and thought it would be easier to pretend that he didn't exist. Of course, listening to Cecil detail their interaction over the radio certainly didn't help.

He was lucky to have been in the car, by himself at the time of hearing the broadcast, because his fellow scientists would definitely have teased him, both for the way he acted and the way Cecil talked about him.

The next time Carlos saw Cecil, he was wearing a polka-dotted button-up tucked into a high-waisted skirt, and the fuzziest looking jacket Carlos had ever seen. He wore round, purple sunglasses, which had a third lense that covered his forehead. Previously, Carlos had been sure that the eye on Cecil's head was just a tattoo or something, but this was mildly disturbing evidence to the contrary. Or he was just very committed to the aesthetic, which did not seem unlikely, given the rest of his outfit choices.

“Hi, Carlos!”

“Cecil, hi!”

Despite not wanting eye contact before, Carlos felt mildly intimidated suddenly that he wasn't able to see Cecil's eyes. It made him feel vulnerable, for some reason. It was Cecil's outfit in general that probably intimidated him, though.

Carlos looked down to the sand-strewn pavement beneath their feet. Cecil wore knee-high black boots with a heel too high for Carlos to even imagine walking in. It definitely made him appear tall, which normally, he was not.

“How's … science? Have you found anything particularly scientific recently?”

Carlos took a small breath and allowed himself to detach from the situation. Science was something he could always talk about, no matter the circumstance or situation.

“Lots of things,” said Carlos. “...Almost everything, actually. Your town is… incredible.”

Cecil laughed, and Carlos looked up to see him blushing, and also sweating. A lot.

Carlos was sweating too. He wasn't sure if it was for the same reason.

“Everything here is… strange,” Carlos continued. “And beautiful.”

Cecil’s breath audibly caught in his throat. Carlos realized what he had done a little bit too late to stop it.

“What kinds of things?”

Carlos was glad that he couldn't see Cecil's eyes at that moment, because he would definitely not have been able to handle the eye contact.

“E-everything.” He faltered. “Science things, I mean. Like, um, the materials. And the sunsets being out of time. And loud? The sunsets are also loud.”

“They can be quite loud,” Cecil agreed. “The materials, though. You mean the materials you found in my studio?”

Carlos blanched. There hadn't really been any materials. He had been there to meet Cecil that day, and he had gotten flustered and grasped at straws for an excuse. “Um… Yes…?”

“Did you learn anything new about them?”

Carlos shook his head. “N...no.”

Cecil scratched an itch on his leg, and his hand left an imprint on his velvet skirt. Carlos stared at it. “No…” he repeated absentmindedly. “I'll, um, I'll tell you if I find anything new,” he said, promptly fleeing.

Carlos wasn't sure if it was him, or Cecil, or what, but something about Cecil was overwhelming in an unprecedented way. He would never judge someone on what they wore, or their appearance, but something about Cecil and his outfits were just… distracting. He considered himself too busy with work to unpack the reasons and feelings behind that for a long time. An entire year, actually. Apart from chance encounters here and there, he would not see Cecil without strictly and explicitly stating scientific reasons. Not that he didn't appreciate Cecil's affections… he just didn't know how to deal with them. Luckily, that only lasted a year, and it only took one near death experience to open up his eyes.

On their first date, Carlos selected one of his most stylish lab coats, in an attempt to impress Cecil with his fashion sense. Cecil had looked so dashing in his tunic and furry pants.

Carlos later learned that avant garde high fashion was not exactly Cecil's grand inspiration. He was a lot lazier with how he dressed than Carlos had imagined. Sometimes he would even sleep in one of his over-the-top outfits and wear it again the next day. He did consider himself ‘spared from the sphere’ (a notion which terrified Carlos greatly) but he wore mostly whatever he found comfortable and suiting for the day. He didn't even own a mirror, which initially struck Carlos as peculiar. This wasn't to say that he put no effort in, of course not -- he definitely went over the top for aesthetic purposes frequently. But he didn't own a mirror. He just sort of looked down at his outfit and decided, ‘sure, this works.’ Or maybe he didn't even look at all. It fascinated Carlos -- who typically spent a lot of time fussing with his hair and clothing in the mirror every morning. Many things about Cecil fascinated Carlos. But his fashion sense… Carlos had different feelings towards it than just fascination.

Night Vale was incredibly scientifically fascinating, but Carlos’ interest in their fashion wasn't really scientific. It was one part awe and two parts envy. Carlos envied Cecil. He tended to dress in ‘scientific casual’, as he called it, but he had more of an affinity for fashion than he let on…. But he had never been able to express himself that way in the outside world. He already got made fun of enough for having pierced ears… he wouldn’t dare venture into clothing items considered ‘feminine’ by the world. In Night Vale, though… no one judged. Everyone was accepting. It still took him quite a while to build up the courage, to stop hiding behind the comfort of his jeans and flannel shirts and lab coats, but he eventually brought it up to Cecil, a few weeks into their relationship. Cecil was understanding, and more than happy to help.

The first time he went clothes shopping with Cecil, Carlos almost started crying right in the middle of the store. Crop tops, skirts, sequins, glitter, tights, stilettos -- anything you could dream of -- and it was all unisex. There were dresses made for men and dresses made for women. He could wear whatever the hell he wanted and nobody would question him. No one would shout expletives at him in the streets, no one would misgender him, he had no family here to judge him... Cecil, despite his total sense of normalcy with all of this, seemed to understand perfectly. He threaded his fingers through Carlos' at his side, and softly asked: “Anything you wanna try on?”

Carlos’ eyes gleamed. “So many things.”

---

When he walked into the lab for the first time in a dress, he was greeted with the first catcall he had heard in quite a while.

Carlos felt a little embarrassed, but he didnt feel threatened by wolf whistles coming from his coworkers.

“Damn, boss!”

He laughed. “Got it, Nils, I’m hot. But I'm here to do my job -- be professional. I'm also,” he said pointedly, snatching his lab coat and goggles off the desk, “taken.”

Nilanjana whooped. Another scientist rolled his eyes. “Trust me, we all listen to the radio. We know.”

Carlos didn't know what to say, so he just winked at them, giving a little twirl of his dress. Nilanjana shot him a smile. “On a serious note, though,” she whispered, “I'm glad to see you embracing Night Vale fashion. It suits you.”

Carlos looked down at the dress, grinning. He thought so too.

[kaitymccoy123]

Motivation Ficlets - Jim Kirk

Intro: So I wrote this little (yet probably not so little - I haven’t checked the word count yet) ficlet for @gryffindor9whovian who needed a little motivation and a Jim Kirk fluff fic, and I decided to make it into a little crew series thing.  

I know it is exam time for a lot of people, so I wanted to write some little pick-me-up fics to, well be a pick-me-up for these stressful times!  I am going to call these the Motivation Ficlets and do one for as many of the bridge crew as I can, starting with Jim, Bones and Spock, and probably adding a few more. 

Just little drabbles/ficlets to make you smile and give me something to do other than stats (UGH).  

Word Count: 993 (not as bad as I thought lol)

Pairing: Jim x reader

-Enjoy!-

“Ugh.” Was the first thing you said to Jim who who sat at the desk, his head bent over his work, and he lifted his head to give you the side-eye as you stalked into the room. 

“Hello to you too.” He called. 

“UGH.” You groaned again and threw yourself onto the bed, stuffing your face into the comforter, laying flat on your stomach. 

“Bad day?” Jim asked, and you heard the chair scrape back against the floor. 

You only mumbled incoherently against the comforter in response.  A hand smoothed along your back and the bed tipped as Jim’s weight was added. 

“I am dropping out of school and becoming a full-time goat herder who lives happily among their hundreds of goats and never has to study again, forever.” You spoke into the bed, your words muffled by the blanket. 

“I assume the test didn’t go well, than?”

You shook your head, rubbing your nose in the bed, tears perched on your eyes. 

“If you become a goat herder, am I allowed to visit?” Jim asked, his fingers trailing up around your neck, curling in your hair gently. 

“Nope.  I am going to be a recluse and you are going to be a captain.   You won’t deal with the likes of me, but that’s alright, I will have my goats to keep me company.” You explained. 

Jim hummed in response and continued to stroke your back, fingers playing near your waist, making you twitch because it tickled, and you suddenly tensed as you weren’t a stranger to his tickle attacks. 

“James Tiberius Kirk if you tickle me I swear to god I will cut your fingers off.” You threatened, your grimace hidden in the soft blanket.

Jim laughed above you, “You’re mean.”

You hummed in response and played with the comforter between your fingers in silence for a moment before you felt Jim move beside you.  You barely had time to process it before you felt his entire body press against your back, pinning you to the bed. He was lying on top of you. 

You groaned against the sudden weight and laughed as his face ended up near the back of your ear.  He wasn’t putting his whole weight on you, keeping it dispersed on his hands and feet a little, but it still made it a little hard to breathe. 

“Hey.” He whispered into the skin behind your ear. 

“You’re heavy.” You wheezed with a chuckle. 

“Good.” He blew into your ear, but you felt him pull off you a little. 

“Is there a reason that you are lying on top of me?”

“Let’s go do something.” Jim suggested, pressing kisses into you hair. 

“No, just let me stay here and wallow in my failure.” You were feeling defeated now, even though his nose nudging through your hair sent tingles down your spine. 

“You are not a failure.” Jim murmured, “And your hair smells so good.”

“Would you love me if I was a goat herder?” You asked. 

“Of course.  And I think you would look really good in overalls and a straw hat.”

You huffed a laugh and rubbed your face into the comforter, trying to dispel the tears, remembering the test and how bad it had gone. 

Suddenly the weight against your back was gone and you felt him stand on the bed, his feet on either side of you.  You barely had time to wonder what he was doing before he was jumping.  Jim Kirk was jumping on the bed, on either side of you and your body jerked up and down sporadically in response to his jumping. 

“Up, up, my love!  And see what this day has to offer!” Jim was yelling, “Screw that stupid test!  It doesn’t deserve for you to be sad about it!  You are amazing!” 

You were giggling now and you didn’t want to let him win so you grabbed a pillow and stuffed it over your head.  He continued his incessant jumping and yelling and you wondered if your neighbours could hear.  On a particularly big jump of his you had enough and flipped over, taking your pillow and hitting him as hard as you could, right in his stomach.  

“HEY!” He gasped, stumbling a little before he grabbed the pillow and yanked it out of your hands.  

You were scrambling to your feet before you could stop yourself and reached for the other pillow, turning on him and swinging wildly.  You connected with his head first, causing him to emit a gasp of mock horror and he swung the pillow back to you, hitting you across the side. 

After a few more swings Jim grabbed your pillow and pulled it out of your hands again, tossing both pillows across the room.  

“HEy-” You started but were cut off by his hands pulling you to him and kissing you, deeply and passionately, the sudden motion causing you to sway a little atop the bed, but he held you steady.  

Pulling away after a moment to gasp for air you grasped the sides of his head between your hands and stared up into his crystal blue eyes.  

“You are crazy.” You gasped, dragging your lips across his softly, teasingly, unable to help yourself. 

“Mhm-and you can do this, Y/N.  School is tough and life is even tougher, but you can do this.  And I’ll be right by your side the entire time, armed with tickle attacks and pillow fights and kisses for when it gets tough.” Jim breathed, his words warming something deep inside you. 

“I guess that wouldn’t be so bad.” You teased, and you thumbed the corner of his lips as they tilted into a smile.  

And when you couldn’t keep this feeling of warmth and love inside you any longer, you wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled his lips to yours, tilting off balance, and you both landed on the bed in a fit of giggles and kisses. 

-Thanks for reading!  I hope you enjoyed it!-

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