#Delta Contact Number

[traveller-explorer]

How to contact Delta-phone number, Email and live chat

Not sure how to contact delta airlines for help with flight bookings? Check our guide to know about the best ways to get in touch with Delta

[noisydelusionlove]

Chapter 9: Night Out

Pairings: Poly141xOriginal Character, GazxOriginal character, SoapxOriginal Character

Warnings: Medical inaccuracies, military inaccuracies, Alpha/Beta/Delta/Omega Dynamics, Alcohol, Kissing, Dancing, Drunk characters and questionable decisions

Not edited or Beta Read

A/N: Kind of a little ‘let loose’ chapter for the Betas and our little Omega

Aurora smiles as she walks through the halls with Kyle, his linen and spearmint scent filling her lungs, causing her to relax naturally. She is surprised at how much she missed his scent. As they approach the rec room the smell of rain and citrus hits her nose, the unmistakable scent of Johnny. As they enter the room she sees Johnny relaxing on the couch. His hair is wet, freshly showered it seems, and he’s in casual clothes, a black t-shirt that looks a few sizes too tight, and a pair of jeans whose size is also questionable on him. He beams when he sees Aurora walk in, taking a deep breath in her scent as he rises to his feet. “Missed me, Bonnie?” He says as Aurora reacts by instinct, her Omega drawn to the Beta scent. She walks over and wraps him in a hug that he quickly returns. “Maybe I should have left on a mission sooner.” Johnny jokes as he hugs her back, letting her go when she pulls away.

”I’m going to shower and get ready, had to stop and grab my favorite medic beforehand.” Kyle jokes as he walks out of the room. Aurora raises an eyebrow as she looks at Johnny. “Get ready?” she says curiously as Johnny smirks. “Yeah, we just got back from a mission so we are all heading to the bar just off base. I wanted to ask you to join us since you’re a part of this pack now.” He smiles as Aurora looks up at him for a moment, considering if she should mix any amount of alcohol and the men in this pack. After a moment she sighs. “Fine, let me go get ready.” she laughs as Johnny practically jumps for joy as she turns and heads to her room to change.

Thirty minutes later Aurora is dressed in her casual clothes, a pair of black flare-leg pants, a cropped band t, and her Converse, never having been one for heels. Her hair is down in its naturally wavy state and she even threw on a bit of eyeliner and mascara. She grabs her phone, making sure her credit card, military ID, and regular ID are in place as she steps out of her room and heads back to the rec room to meet the boys. When she walks in she notices everyone in casual clothes, mostly jeans and too-tight t-shirts, but John has on a button-up, and Ghost has on a black hoodie with a black surgical mask covering the lower half of his face. They all stop chattering when she enters and Aurora can't help but feel slightly uncomfortable at all the eyes on her.

Kyle walks up to her and holds his hand out. “Phone please ma’am.” He smiles as Aurora hands him her phone curiously. “Why?” she asks as he asks her to unlock it. She watches as he programs a few numbers into her phone before pulling out his phone and sending a text. She hears her phone go off and when she looks she sees a new group chat with all of the 141 members, including her. “Soap tends to get drunk and wander off so I want to make sure everyone can contact each other tonight.” He smiles as Aurora nods. John heads to the door holding keys as he calls out “Alright let's go ya muppets the sooner we leave the sooner I'm dragging a drunk Soap and Gaz home.” Aurora laughs as she follows behind him with Kyle walking next to her. “He’s always the designated driver, Ghost rides shotgun so that means it's a sergeant club in the backseat.” Kyle jokes as Aurora shakes her head.

They head outside and pile into a black SUV. Aurora sits in the backseat between Kyle and Johnny. She’s thankful that the SUV is roomy or else she would be squished between the two walls of muscle on either side of her. “Rules, since Sargeant Lee is new to our nights out,” John calls out as he drives. “You can drink whatever, but if me or Ghost cuts you off you’re done. You do not leave with anyone that you don’t know, if they want to meet you back at the barracks and they have clearance to get on base that’s fine.” John says, Ghost tries to hide his growl at the idea of Aurora bringing someone back to her room. “Try to not get into any brawls unless you want the night to end abruptly. If you’re made uncomfortable by some drunk Alpha or even Beta find one of us and we will handle it. Just be safe and try to not get too stupid. Also, do not throw up in this vehicle or you will be scrubbing it.” John finishes as Johnny and Kyle say “Yes sir.” With Aurora echoing right behind them.

”We honestly just get a table and drink, maybe play some pool, and if I can get Johnny drunk enough we dance. Do you dance?” Kyle says as he leans over to talk to Aurora. “Hmm, after a few drinks, I might.” She jokes as she gives a playful wink causing Kyle to let out a laugh. The car stops and Aurora sees that they’ve arrived at the bar, it was right off base it seems. The group piles out of the SUV and Aurora follows behind the group as they head inside. John heads to find a table to accommodate the group. He finds a corner booth and motions for Aurora to slide in “middle” he mumbles as Aurora slides into the middle of the seat. Kyle slides in to her right with John next to him, and Johnny to her left with Ghost next to him. John stands after everyone is seated. “I already know the orders for all of them, Aurora what would you like?” He asks as she looks at him. She glances around at the others, debating on trying to fit in with a hardened military crowd and go for Whiskey or go for what she wants, a more fruity cocktail.

”Get whatever you want, we won’t judge.” Johnny whispers as he notices her slight unease. She turns and smiles at him “Just a vodka cranberry for now.” She says and he smiles. Kyle smirks as he looks at him. “Shots?” He asks which causes John to groan as Kyle puts on his best puppy dog eyes. John grunts before walking away. Aurora laughs as she shakes her head at him. After a moment John returns with a tray of glasses. He sits Aurora’s drink down in front of her before placing a bourbon in front of Ghost, a bourbon for him, beers in front of Johnny and Kyle, and 6 clear shots in the middle of the table. Aurora raises an eyebrow “Six?” she asks curiously. Kyle smirks as he laughs. “Price and Ghost won’t be doing them, so it’s two for each of us, for now.” He says which causes Aurora to roll her eyes as she sips her drink.

”So, how are you enjoying your first week?” Johnny asks as he drinks his beer. Aurora smiles as she angles her body slightly towards him to answer. “It’s been fun. I worked some shifts at the hospital while you were on your mission.” She says with a smile. Half an hour later John and the boys are playing pool while Aurora sits on a bar stool watching. She is on her third drink, Johnny and Kyle have each finished three beers, and the three of them have each taken three shots. Aurora is feeling a good buzz and is smiling as she watches the boys banter and argue over the game of pool. After a moment she feels a hand on her hip and an unfamiliar scent hits her nose. She turns and looks at who is touching her and sees a blonde man she thinks she’s seen a few times in the mess hall.

”Hi there I’m Grayson.” The man says, he reeks of alcohol and his scent is not pleasing on Aurora’s nose at all. “Let me buy you a drink.” He says, either ignoring the scent of annoyance rolling off of the Omega, or not caring. Aurora lets out a small warning growl. “I’ll let you keep that hand if you remove it right this second.” She snaps. Grayson’s eyes widen slightly, shocked that an Omega wouldn’t be charmed by an Alpha flirting with them. “I’m just trying to get to know you princess.” He purrs out, trying to push his scent out to impress her. Aurora lets out a louder growl, this time the team hears and all four members of the 141 have turned their attention to the Alpha currently flirting with her. Aurora sighs as she reaches down and grabs the hand on her wrist, digging in with her nails slightly. “I’m warning you.” She says as she snarls slightly. The Alpha looks at his hand before scoffing and pulling away. “Whatever.” He grumbles as he walks off, mumbling under his breath, Aurora is sure he’s calling her names that she can’t hear over the music. Ghost goes to follow him but is stopped by John placing a hand on his chest and shaking his head.

Aurora is still slightly fuming when another scent hits her, spearmint and linen, Kyle. She smiles as she looks at Kyle approaching her. As he stops in front of her he pushes his scent out, it calms her as she smiles at him. “Come on, you’ve had a few drinks, lets go get that dance in.” He says as he grabs her hand. Aurora laughs as he leads her to the dance floor. After a few moments of awkwardness, she finally allows herself to fall into rhythm with Kyle. They’re facing each other and dancing, her hands around his neck and his hands on her hips as they move.

After a few minutes, the scent of rain and citrus hits her as she feels a presence behind her and hands on her waist. She glances behind her to see Johnny smiling as he moves in time with her and Kyle’s dancing. The alcohol has taken full effect on the three of them by now as they dance to the music booming through the speakers. A blush creeps up Aurora’s cheeks as she realizes how close the three of them have gotten, with practically no space between her front and Kyle’s and her back and Johnny’s front. They continue to dance as the music plays.

At the booth Ghost and John are sipping their drinks as they watch their Betas and the Omega dance together. Ghost’s eyes are locked on where Johnny’s and Aurora’s bodies touch, with almost no space between them as she grinds back against him. The air around him thickens with the smell of his arousal as he watches them. After a moment John jokingly fans the air. “Jesus Simon, if you keep that up you’ll suffocate everyone here.” John jokes causing Ghost to let out a grunt in response.

The trio on the dance floor continue to dance together, the air around them thickening as arousal and alcohol sets into their system. Aurora lets out a gasp as she feels Johnny place a kiss on her shoulder, moving closer to her neck as he hums against her skin. Her body is buzzing as she wonders if she should stop him if they’re crossing a line, but the alcohol makes her mind slightly fuzzy. Her eyes droop closed as she continues to dance between the two Betas. Her eyes open as she feels a hand on her jaw. She looks into Kyle’s eyes as he smiles at her before slowly leaning down to connect their lips. As their lips connect she feels like her body is on fire. Their lips move together and she’s shocked by how the spearmint in his scent comes through in his taste. Johnny mouths at her neck from behind as Kyle and her breakaway, Johnny’s hand coming up to turn her to face him so he can connect his lips to hers in a kiss just as passionate. When they break apart she feels slightly dizzy from the influx of hormones.

John notices the trio on the dance floor sharing kisses and laughs as he stands up. “time to get them home.” He says. Ghost growls out a yes as he follows John to the dancefloor to help wrangle in the Betas and Omega. John grabs Kyle’s shoulder who lets out a whine as he realizes they’re being made to leave. “Come on pups let's get back to the base,” John calls as he pulls Kyle along. Kyle grabs Aurora’s hand, and she grabs Johnny’s as they walk out of the bar. John shakes his head as he corrals the three into the backseat. Once everyone is inside the SUV John rolls the windows down, the mixture of Beta arousal, Omega arousal, and Alpha arousal becomes so thick it’s almost choking.

Aurora giggles as she leans against Johnny’s shoulder in the backseat with Kyle’s hand in her lap. She glances up and her blood feels like it's on fire as she notices Ghost’s eyes in the rearview mirror staring right at her, his pupils dark and blown making his eyes almost appear black. They arrive back at the base and John parks, ushering everyone inside. He makes sure Aurora goes to her room before he heads to his own, with Kyle following behind him. Johnny and Ghost head to Ghost’s room next door to Aurora’s.

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[demxters]

—LOVING YOU IS ENOUGH

frat!jake seresin x f!reader

dagger squad college!au

summary: a week after the fight that tore you apart, jake finds out about the accident. (part 2 of a losing game)

wc: 9.3k 

warning(s): 18+, fem!reader, no y/n (reader goes by nickname ace), recommended to read a losing game first, angst galore, swearing, mentions of alcohol, drunk driving (don't do it), bad parental relationships, academic pressure, hospitals, description of injuries 

part of the loving you universe || find it on ao3 here

𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊, 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒, 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐑𝐄𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃!

Jake Seresin used to think he had no regrets in his life. Every time he was close to feeling as if that were so, the universe found a way to turn it around and prove to him that he made the right choice. Choosing to go to USC for instance, instead of staying in his home state of Texas, he thought was the biggest mistake he had made in his life. Then USC led him to Delta Chi where he made lifelong friends, and ultimately he met you. So no, Jake Seresin had no regrets in life. Yet as he sat under the fluorescent white lights of the sterile hospital waiting room, Jake was able to think of one. 

All the days passed by in a blur, with Jake finding himself in a robotic routine that helped him get through the day:

Wake up 

Go to class

Eat 

Do not think about Ace 

Nap 

Eat 

Do not think about Ace 

(attempt to) Sleep

It wasn’t the healthiest of routines, but it was enough to keep him surviving. At least until he began receiving your texts. Your apologies and declarations of love made him weak, making it much harder for him to stand his ground and give himself the space that he told himself he needed. With each passing day, he found it harder to convince himself that space is what he actually wanted. So he silenced your notifications. The bright red badge continued to grow in number and it took all of his power to not give in and click your contact. 

By the fifth day, Jake thought he was actually doing pretty well. He was even studying for his finals and going to every single one of his study groups that you had suggested he try. Even as one thing or another always led back to a reminder of you, his self control was much more restrained and he felt just a little bit lighter. 

Jake missed you like hell, that was for sure. But maybe this fight was a sign for him to work on himself. To be better not just for you, but for himself as well. 

So he did what he thought was best by pulling a page from your book and choosing to throw himself into his work. He shut everyone out, refusing to go to any outings with Javy and the gang. He didn’t answer his phone and barely left his room other than to go to classes or use the bathroom. Jake ignored the fact that in doing so, he was neglecting his physical and mental health. In turn, making this coping strategy of his more harmful than good. While he thought his obsession with his isolation and studying was “making himself better,” he didn’t realize that the only thing he was really doing was actively avoiding the problem at hand. 

But as day seven rolled around, Jake’s fake it till you make it attitude came crashing down. Upon returning back to his and Javy’s shared room in the Frat House after his final exam, Jake fell onto his bed and finally let himself feel. 

Jake Seresin has never felt so alone. After days of avoiding, he gave himself permission to think about you–to miss you. Remembering the last time he saw you and the last moment you shared, he could feel the tears that began to gather on his lash line. Too tired to hold it in, he let his emotions go. He let the sobs and cries for help he has been burying in his chest break free. He was tired, so damn tired, of pretending like everything was okay. Like he was okay. 

He wanted someone to notice that something was off with him, that something happened to make him feel absolutely miserable in his own skin. However, everyone was too caught up in their own whirlwinds of final exams, studying, and relationships to notice that Jake was struggling to stay afloat without his life preserver–without you. 

His heart ached and longed for you. Your voice, your touch, your love. If he could take it all back he would. He would’ve come back to you without a second thought. Jake would have gathered you in his arms and sat with you all night long until the two of you could work it out. Because he wasn’t Hangman anymore. He wouldn’t leave you out to dry. Yet somehow he managed to do exactly that. 

With the only thing on his mind being you, he finally mustered up the courage to read all of the texts you had sent him days prior. The first few made his heart ache, reading your heartfelt apologies and declarations of love was enough to make him start crying all over again. Teary eyed smiles graced his features at your small anecdotes and pictures of things that reminded you of him. 

He could hear your voice and see your mannerisms in his head at each text he reads through. 

Jake’s euphoria is interrupted by the fifth call he has received from Natasha. He rolls his eyes before immediately declining her call. Nat probably finally talked to you about what happened and he figured she was calling to rip him a new one. He definitely wasn’t in the mood for that right now. 

His smile grows as he scrolls through his phone, especially at the photo of a golden retriever you saw on campus that “looked like him.” A playful scoff leaves him at that as he imagines the way you would’ve jumped up and down on the tips of your toes, clutching onto his arm, as you justified how he was a golden retriever in human form. This was the closest he felt to you in days and he wished for it to never end. 

Jake continued on, savoring every good night and “I love you” text, every apology, and every good luck you wished him on his exams. Though one series of texts was enough to have the fullness in Jake’s heart flushed empty. He reads them over and over again, praying that he read them wrong. 

I failed my exams, Jake. I don’t know what to do. 

His heart skips a beat. 

I can’t go home this summer. I won’t. I can’t face my parents, they’ll hate me forever. 

But the worst of them all, the one he begs was a prank being played on him by the universe read: I’m taking your silence as a sign that I’ve fucked us up beyond repair. I love you, Jake Seresin, even if you no longer love me.

He’s going to be sick. Sure he was mad, but he never wanted you to ever think that he didn’t love you anymore. That was just a statement that could never be true. Jake was done wallowing. He was done making you both suffer because he wasn’t man enough to confront you. Swallowing his fears and his pride, he begins formulating a text to ask you to meet him at The Hard Deck–somewhere familiar, though not too intimate just yet. 

He’s about to press send when a phone call from Javy interrupts his screen. Jake instantly presses decline, however, he barely has another second before Javy’s name pops up again. 

With an agitated sigh, Jake finally answers the phone, swearing up and down that whatever he was calling for better be something good. “The hell you want, Javy?” 

“Jake–” he starts. 

“Look, I’ve been getting calls from Nat all day and I’m assuming that’s why you’re calling me right now,” Jake vents. “But I really, really don’t have time for a lecture from either of you right now, man.” 

“Jake.” Javy’s voice shifts into something more somber, more serious. “Ace’s been in an accident.” 

It’s as if his feet have processed the information long before his brain did. Jake blacks out, barely recognizing the actions in which he’s pulling on his shoes and rushing out of his room and into the common living area. 

The air is knocked out of his lungs, forcing him to grasp for leverage on the edge of the table. Jake can hear Bradley asking what’s wrong but all he can focus on is Javy’s breathing, the sound of people rushing around in the background. The phone slips from his hand and he feels like his entire rib cage is caving in on itself, crushing his heart. Black spots swim on his vision and there’s a hand on his chest telling him to breathe.

“Come on, Seresin,” Bradley’s voice comes through. “Breathe.” 

A heavy exhale escapes him as he desperately tries to catch his breath. He’s muttering an incoherent string of words, stumbling his way through the room and trying to get to the front door. 

Bradley is right on his tail, yanking on his own pair of shoes and grabbing the phone that Jake haphazardly dropped on the floor in the middle of his attack. “You gotta tell me what’s going on, man, you’re scaring me.” 

Jake abruptly stops at the front door, turning to look at Bradley over his shoulder with something worse than heartbreak in his eyes. He doesn’t say anything more other than, “Ace. It’s Ace.” 

That’s all Bradley needs to hear before he’s grabbing the car keys from Jake’s hands and dialing Javy’s number back into Jake’s phone. 

Jake could hardly remember when he got to the hospital, let alone how he was able to navigate himself to get to the ER without help when the only thing on his mind was you. He couldn’t even recall what Javy had said about the extent of your injuries, just that you were still unconscious from the car accident. 

Upon reaching the ER Jake saw Nat sitting in the waiting room with her head in her hands while Javy sat beside her and gently rubbed a comforting hand up and down her back. 

Bradley and Jake’s heavy footsteps alert the couple. Nat’s head shoots up, her red rimmed and teary eyes locking on Jake’s. She’s storming over in seconds, pushing at his chest angrily. 

“Why the hell didn’t you pick up your phone?” 

“Nat–” he starts, only to be silenced with another harsh shove. He takes the brunt of the hit, knowing he deserved every single one and worse. “I’m sorry.” Jake winces at how pathetic he sounds. 

Natasha shakes her head with disappointment clouding her features. “Sorry isn’t gonna fix this.” 

Javy joins the group, nodding at Bradley as he gestures for him to sit down. He places a hand on Jake’s shoulder asking him to do the same. He only brushes Javy’s hand off, taking a step closer to Nat. 

“Is she…is she okay?” He braces himself for the worst. Jake’s heart beats so fast against his ribcage that he swears he could feel the muscle begin to ache. 

Natasha inhales shakily before collapsing into the nearest seat. “I don’t know.” 

“What do you mean you don’t know?” The fear in his veins begins to mix with annoyance and fury. The rational side of him knew he shouldn’t be mad at Nat, but the only thing occupying his thoughts was the idea of you not being okay. Having to hear that you were in the hospital was already bad enough. He doesn’t think he could take anything more. 

“I mean, I don’t know!” Nat’s voice rises with that same frustration and fear. “All the lady on the phone said was that she was in a car accident with four other people from our school. From what I understand, the others made it out okay, but the car that t-boned them…” Her voice wavers, recalling the words she heard earlier that evening and imagining the worst. “The other car hit Ace’s side head on. She took most of the impact. The other four made it out okay with barely any scratches.” 

Jake’s hands are shaking as he braces them on his knees, desperate to catch his breath. He didn’t realize his knees had hit the floor until he felt the sting from the solid ground. But he didn’t have it in him to care about anything other than you right now. Jake desperately tries to piece everything together from your texts from the night before but nothing was making sense. Everything he was trying to understand came out between shallow breaths. “Where did she go? Why was she out so late? Who was she with? Why weren’t any of you with her?” 

“Jake,” Bradley interferes, squeezing his shoulder as a gentle reminder to breathe. 

Jake catches the way Javy clenches his jaw from the corner of his eye which has him demanding answers. “Javy.” There was something his friends weren’t telling him, making the searing hot anger in his blood begin to boil. 

Nat saves her boyfriend by giving up the information for him. “Before you get upset, you need to understand that she didn’t tell any of us where she was going. None of us had really seen her lately and just assumed she was stressed out from finals. We didn’t think things were this bad.” 

“What aren’t you guys telling me?” 

“Jake,” Javy starts cautiously. He kneels down beside his friend, speaking nice and slow, almost like he was conversing with a child. “If we tell you, you have to promise to stay calm.” 

He scoffs in disbelief, rolling his eyes at his best friend. “How do you think I’ll be able to stay calm? I just found out my girlfriend has been in an accident and no one wants to tell me what the hell is going on!” 

“Javy, just tell him. He deserves to know,” Bradley sighs. 

“Damn right, I deserve to know. I’m her boyfriend!” Jake’s seething as he gets up and starts pacing back and forth. People are beginning to stare but he doesn’t give a damn. 

It’s Nat’s turn to grow agitated. “Really? Because last I heard the two of you were on a break.” 

“Wait, what?” Javy looks at his best friend in bewilderment. 

Nat shoots him a look that says, I’ll explain it all later. 

“Doesn’t matter if we were on a break or not. She’s still my girl and I need to know what happened.” 

The conviction in his tone and the strength on his face are enough to make Javy and Nat cave. Hiding this from him would only make things worse than they already were. 

Nat doesn’t dare to meet Jake’s eye as she says, “She was with some Alpha Sigs and their girlfriends. Everyone in the car was intoxicated. Even the guy at the wheel. They were coming from the Alpha Sig house. I don’t know what the hell they were doing in a car like that but I know the Sigs are in interrogation with the police right now.” 

Bradley clenches his fist. “Those bastards.” 

“Ace was the only one whose condition was critical.” The word critical falls short on her tongue, being whispered into the tense atmosphere. 

Jake’s silence is unnerving. They were expecting an outburst of some sort. Some screaming, maybe even some physical aggression yet not of it came. The sound that fell from Jake’s lips was worse than anything they could’ve imagined. 

It was as if everyone in the room heard his heartbreak as he was unable to control the tears that fell from his eyes. The feeling of overwhelming guilt rushed over him at the realization that he should have been there. That this was all his fault. You would have never humored the idea of an Alpha Sig party in the first place if the two of you had just talked everything out. But you weren’t thinking straight, and neither was he, leading the both of you towards the path of least resistance. Instead, Jake had to be stubborn and sensitive. He couldn’t just man up and admit that you were more important than his ego and pride. 

Nothing matters to him anymore upon his epiphany other than needing to see you. You were the only one that could help him. 

“I need to see her,” he says through nasally breaths. 

During Jake’s spiral, Nat had let tears of her own fall. “They’re not letting any of us see her right now. Just family.” The last part tastes like acid on her tongue. 

“We’re her family. They need to let me see her,” he begs. Jake remembers you telling him that he and your friends were truly the only family you have ever known. 

“Biological, Jake. We can’t. Not until her parents get here.” She doesn’t even try to hide the scowl on her face. 

“Well, where the hell are they?” Jake questions. 

“Bora Bora? Or was it Barbados? I have no fucking clue. The nurse said it sounded like they were more upset about their vacation being cut short than their own daughter being in the hospital.” 

Jake hates that he wasn’t too surprised to hear that. How ironic that the real people you considered family were here and yet they wouldn’t even let them see you. 

Jake swallows, trying his best to ignore the stickiness of his throat. “Then I guess I’m staying here until then.” 

Javy, Natasha, and Bradley share a look of uncertainty at his words. Certainly, it wasn’t healthy for him to be there all day and all night waiting for your parents to get there. It was Jake’s determined look and sureness that also let them know that there was no talking him out of this. The three make a silent, unspoken pact to watch over the boy until then. 

Jake wasn’t giving up. Not now, not ever. Leaving you was the biggest mistake he has ever made. He was never going to let that happen again. 

Seventy-two hours later and Jake was still left in the dark about your condition. He desperately wanted to sneak into your room and see you. He was close to lying to the nurses and saying he was your cousin if that was what he needed to do. But the rest of his friends convinced him to be patient. Though it hurt, the pain lessened with them around. 

Like clockwork, the group would come to the hospital to wait for any news and to take care of Jake. The mornings would consist of Javy and Natasha bringing Jake a new change of clothes and breakfast. His afternoons were spent with Bradley dragging him back home to take a quick shower while Bob stayed at the hospital until they returned. The first day was like pulling teeth with Jake. The scene would have been quite amusing, if not for the seriousness of their situation. Bradley looked like he was dragging a child through the hospital with how stubborn Jake was being. A quick phone call to Javy had him fixing his attitude. 

“You don’t want the first impression Ace gets of you after so long to be that you stink, do you?” he had said. 

So he reluctantly obliged, returning back to the hospital freshly bathed under 45 minutes flat. 

Jake’s evenings were spent with Mickey and Reuben force feeding him dinner and trying to distract him with mediocre board games. 

The next day, the cycle would repeat. Then again on the next. Their distractions were welcomed and he appreciated how they have been there for the both of you through everything. When night fell and the waiting room emptied, Jake stayed right where he was. 

He would bury himself into the neck of his sweatshirt and try to get as much sleep as he could. Sleep didn’t come easy to Jake. All of the “what if’s” and the fear of missing the moment you’d wake clouded his thoughts to the point where sleep just seemed absolutely impossible. 

The only ones left in the waiting room were the few straggling family members waiting for their loved ones and the nurses who passed by every now and then. The dim lighting and eerie silence, bar the sound of heart monitors and the occasional code call, were more than enough to have the voices in Jake’s head amplify in volume. 

It was his own voice, berating him for not checking up on him sooner. For being hard headed and too full of pride to approach you first. It was Javy’s, telling him that you got into an accident. It was your last I love you. No, not last. He won’t entertain that idea. 

No matter how much he willed himself not to, he couldn’t help but think to the last time the both of you spoke. Jake hated himself for not saying those three words back to you. He never thought that one choice would lead to the possibility of never hearing your voice again, touching your soft skin, or seeing your bright eyes full of life. Of never loving you again. What hurt him the most though, was the possibility that your last thought of him may be that he didn’t love you anymore. That was far from the truth. 

He loved you more than he thought he was capable of loving someone. Jake has had his fair share of girlfriends and flings, but not one of them made him feel the way you did with something as simple as a look in his direction. That’s all it took with you. One look and Jake knew you were it for him. Nothing else mattered. 

Jake hated himself for making you doubt that. Jake hated himself for leaving that night and most of all he hated himself for not saying it back. Now, all he wanted to do was shower you in love and reassure you that despite the sting of your words, he never stopped loving you. He can’t imagine what he would’ve done if he was in your shoes. Right now, he wished he was. If he could be in your place and take your pain, he would. 

But he can’t and if something worse were to happen to you, Jake would be the one to live with that pain and burden. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if it came to that. 

It’s funny to think that three years ago, Jake would have rolled his eyes and scoffed at the image of himself being hopelessly in love. Now you were his everything–the thing he couldn’t imagine his life without. 

It was a miracle that he was able to fall asleep that night with no nightmares. The exhaustion must have finally caught up to him because his sleep was so deep that he woke up to Javy frantically shaking his shoulders to get him to wake. 

His eyes snapped open as he came to. His senses readjusted to the environment around him before remembering where he was and why he was there. 

Javy sounded like he was underwater as Jake shook himself awake. His vision finally clears and he sees the rest of his friends already there in the room. A quick glance outside was enough to tell him he slept through breakfast and probably lunchtime too. 

Jake, still feeling groggy, was completely disregarding everything his best friend was saying. He assumed he was being given the same spiel he’s heard for the past three days about needing to eat and take care of himself. 

Then Javy says something that has Jake snapping wide awake. 

He barely gives him another chance to repeat himself before Jake is scrambling to his feet with bleary eyes and disheveled hair. He had no other cares in the world right now other than to confirm that what Javy had said is true. 

The sweet nurse who Jake had familiarized himself with during his stay gently caught him by the wrist and tugged him towards the hall. 

“Her parents got here an hour ago, but since she woke she’s only been asking for you,” Nurse Donna informed him. 

A small flutter works its way around Jake’s rib cage and down to his stomach upon hearing her words. He can no longer contain the nerves that flood through his system as he continues to clumsily follow Donna, tripping over his own feet in the process. 

When Donna finally lets go of his wrist, he stops outside the door marked with your last name for just a moment. Hesitation and fear cloud his mind. Maybe Donna was mistaken. What if you weren’t actually asking for him? What if she had misheard? What if–

“It’s okay, honey. Go see your girl.” Donna urges him with an encouraging smile. 

His girl. God, he missed hearing that. He gives her a small nod of gratitude and exhales softly. Jake’s shaky hand reaches for the silver knob. Giving it a forceful push, he makes his way through the door frame. His feet skid to stop at the threshold and his breath hitches in his throat as he’s met with the sight of those beautiful eyes he’s been praying to see for days on end. 

Two Years Ago 

Jake didn’t understand why you were so cold towards him. You were even able to warm up to his frat brothers Javy and Reuben. He was dying for it to be his turn. It got to the point where Jake would just breathe while standing beside you and you’d let out a loud groan and move beside Bradley. 

Jake hated to admit that he was jealous of Bradley’s ability to get along with you so easily. After your little moment in the library, he thought things between the two of you would be easier, lighter. Instead, it became the absolute opposite and Jake was close to doing something stupid just so you would pay attention to him again. He doesn’t know why, but ever since that day in the library, he found himself desperate for your attention. He was filled with the satisfaction he used to get when flirting with sorority girls. He hasn’t been able to feel that since you. 

He doesn’t know what he did to make you dislike him so much. If only he knew, then maybe he could do something to rectify your predetermined notions of him. 

Even now as he attempted to butter up an Alpha Phi girl, his green eyes were constantly drawn back to your figure on the other side of the aisle. The high pitched voice of the girl in front of him turned into white noise as Jake zeroed in on you. Suddenly, getting this girl to come to the party tonight was the last thing on his mind. 

You hadn’t noticed him yet. If you had, you probably would’ve made a B-line toward the exit already. You were standing on your tiptoes with your tongue slightly poking out from the corner of your mouth. Brows furrowed in concentration, you desperately tried to grab a book on the top shelf. After a lousy first attempt, you try a second time. This time, you rock back on your heels for momentum before launching yourself upwards. Your second try is just as unsuccessful as your first. 

Jake shakes his head with amusement as he watches you try for a third time. Your third attempt was just as successful as the last two, leaving you standing empty handed. 

“Hey, Becky? Why don’t we finish this conversation another time, yeah?” He gently pats the girl on the arm, all while keeping his gaze trained on you. Jake barely waits for the girl’s response, missing her disgruntled correction of, My name’s Brittany! that falls from her lips. 

You’re staring heatedly at the book on the top shelf. He strides over to you, patiently waiting for you to notice him. He stands beside you, also looking up intently at the book, with his arms crossed over his chest. His lips quirk up at the corners as he notes the way your body tenses upon sensing his presence. 

All you do is roll back your shoulders as if preparing for one last jump. Jake stops you before you can even make your attempt. 

“Sit tight, Ace, your savior’s here.” His left hand hovers over the small of your back while he extends his right arm to reach the book you were looking for. An over dramatic sigh leaves his lips as he brings his arm down and hands the book out to you. His green eyes twinkle with delight as you cross your arms in annoyance. 

You turn to meet his gaze, your own stare burning into his. 

Jake’s stomach does the strangest thing upon catching your eye. He suddenly finds himself mesmerized by their beautiful color. The intensity of your stare makes him feel like you can see right through him, all the way into the depths of the most hidden parts of his soul. He could get lost in them if you let him. 

Breaking eye contact at the intensity of his gaze, you scoff, snatching the book from his hands. Swiftly turning on your heels, you make your way toward the end of the aisle. You stop right at the end and pause before turning over your shoulder to see Jake still eyeing you in bewilderment. “Careful on your way out, Seresin. Your head’s getting so big I’m afraid it might be a bit of a tight squeeze.” 

For once, his brain seems to have shut off and he’s unable to think up a cocky or witty remark. He watches you go with intrigue and admiration. His stomach does another somersault as he recalls the exact shade of your eyes and the sway of your hips.

 You are going to be the death of him. 

“Jake?” 

Just like that, he can finally breathe again. Tears gather in his eyes faster than his feet can bring him to the edge of the bed. Jake’s sweeping your hand that’s not hooked up to the IV in his and he lets out a breath of relief at the feeling of your skin on his. A feeling that he was afraid he’d never get to have again. 

“Jake,” you sigh, the moment his hand is in yours. You breathe his name like it was your first full breath of fresh air. It falls from your lips like a prayer. Soft, sweet, and full of conviction. 

He gives himself a moment to scan your body. Jake’s heart fractures even more than he thought was possible given everything he’s been through this past week. Upon seeing the state you were in, anguish crashes down onto his body. His shoulders feel heavy and his knees are weak at the sight of your pretty face all battered and bruised from various hits you took. There’s a nasty gash on your forehead that was barely holding itself together with the bandage that was placed there. Your right arm was in a cast and your left knee was propped up and wrapped up in a bandage of its own. He hopes that this was the worst of your injuries, but he knows that the extent of them goes deeper than what he can see with his naked eye. Your skin was adorned in a variety of scrapes and scratches, all of which Jake desperately wished he could kiss away. 

The shallow movements of your chest and the pained whimper that leaves your lips have him carefully running his other hand over the side of your head, softly soothing you. He bends down to gently rest his forehead against yours and the second his skin makes contact with yours, he’s unable to stop the tears that begin to fall. Jake’s eyes squeeze shut and the heaviness that has been pushing on his chest since the moment he walked away from you finally subsides. His grip on your hand tightens ever so slightly as if to tell himself you’re here, you’re alive, you’re okay. The same words leave him in a hushed whisper that he shares between the two of you. Though they were more of a reassurance for himself. 

A shaky exhale escapes you at his words and the way you’re gasping for air signifies that you’ve started crying as well. Part of it was from the tight pain in your chest and the other from the utter disbelief that this was real–that Jake was really here. 

The first thing you thought of the second you woke was Jake. You were positive that he wasn’t going to be there, but you desperately begged for him anyway. The shock on your parents' faces that clouded your vision quickly turned to disgust as you refused to listen to their words. Your mother had tried to reach out to you, but you thrashed in her touch and frantically shook your head as you cried out for Jake. 

You were in near hysterics and your parents were staring at you in shock and horror but you didn’t care. You didn’t care that they were there when all you wanted was Jake. 

Your mother begged Nurse Donna to sedate you. The sour look on Donna’s face was missed by your mother as she left the room. She thought that Donna had gone to grab the sedative. However, when she returned without a syringe and with a boy, your mother almost fainted. 

You, on the other hand, thought you were dreaming when you saw him walk through that door. You just couldn’t believe that even after everything, Jake was there. Then he touched you and you broke down. His scent invaded you. His touch that you’ve craved like a drug for days on end was finally yours again. The reality that he was there was more than enough to have you breaking down again. 

“I’m sorry,” you slur, still slightly drowsy from the medications. “I’m sorry,” you mutter over and over again as he places his forehead on yours. 

You feel him pull you closer and shush you gently as tears of his own run down his face. You did this. You made him cry. If your limbs weren’t so heavy and numb you would’ve brushed away all the tears that ran down his perfect face until his eyes were finally dry. 

Jake’s elation shatters at your words. You had absolutely nothing to be sorry for right now. If anything, he should be the one on his knees begging for your forgiveness. He opens his mouth to speak before getting cut off by someone in the corner of the room clearing their throat. 

Jake’s attention was so focused on you that he hadn’t noticed your parents standing there this entire time. Hot, white fury fuels him at the sight of them looking more bothered than worried for their daughter. 

“You didn’t tell us you had a boyfriend,” your mother practically sneers at him. 

Jake wills himself to pull it together, for your sake. 

“Mom–” you start. 

“How does that make you feel, son? Knowing your girlfriend didn’t tell her own parents about you?” This time, it’s your father who speaks up, eyeing Jake up and down. “Insignificant, I would say.” 

“Dad! Stop it!” 

The stress in your voice is evident and the spike of your heart monitor grabs Jake’s attention. 

You barely had enough strength to defend Jake against their venomous words. He looks at you with wide eyes, asking for your permission to speak to them. Had this been under different circumstances, Jake wouldn’t need to think twice about biting his tongue. He probably would have snapped back at them too if he didn’t notice the unnecessary stress this entire situation was putting on your shoulders. 

You shake your head at him before glancing toward your parents. “Please. Please leave.” You didn’t want them here right now. You didn’t need anyone but Jake right now. 

Offended, your mother scoffs. “You’re choosing a boy over your own parents?” 

This time, Jake decides to jump to your defense. “I believe she asked you to leave.” He looks over his shoulder, narrowing his gaze at your parents who stand unbothered across the room. 

“Why should we listen to you?” Your mother fights back. 

You start feeling lightheaded from the entire situation and you lay your head back, sliding out of Jake’s hold slightly. “Please,” you ask with the little strength you have. 

Noticing the warmth of your skin leaving him, Jake gently follows the movement of your head and cradles it while helping you lower your head to the pillow. His full attention is back on you as he scans you for any more distress. Jake was getting angrier by the minute. Couldn’t your parents see how much stress they were causing you? Why wouldn’t they just leave? He was close to yelling at them now but was saved by Donna entering the room. 

“Your daughter asked you to leave,” she tells them sternly. “Now I suggest you listen before I call security to have you both dragged out of here.” 

Your mother’s jaw drops and your father shakes his head with a scowl. Putting his hands up in surrender, your father is the first to leave. 

Your mother, however, lingers for just a moment more. “I can’t believe we left the Bahamas for this.” She always had to have the last word. 

Once the room is free of their presence you heavily exhale, looking at Donna with a grateful smile.

 She nods with a small smile of her own. “I’ll let you kids have a moment. Oh, and don’t worry, I’ll be right outside in case your parents try to come back.” 

“Thanks, Donna,” Jake sighs, his eyes never leaving yours. 

She winks at the both of you before softly closing the door on her way out. 

“Are you–” the both of you say at the same time. 

You avert your gaze with a nervous chuckle and Jake smiles, urging you to go first. 

You take a moment to observe the boy in front of you. This Jake was not the one you saw the last time. This Jake was tired and worn out. If the dullness of his green eyes and the dark circles that surrounded them weren’t a telltale sign of his exhaustion, it was the paleness of his skin and his sullen cheeks. 

“Are you okay?” You ask timidly. For the first time since you started dating, you find yourself feeling incredibly anxious about him. You were the reason why he looked like this, so empty and void of life. You didn’t even deserve for him to be here right now. 

Jake shakes his head with a sad smile playing on his lips. “You’re the one in a hospital gown and you’re asking if I’m okay?” 

He presses a sweet kiss to your forehead and you almost cry from the contact. 

“That’s my Ace, always worrying about me.” So much fondness shines in his eyes, causing you to finally break. 

The tears start flowing again, scaring Jake just a little bit. 

“Your Ace?” You sob. Somehow, you knew he had already forgiven you, but you still didn’t think you deserved it. “How can you even stand being here with me after everything I did? I hurt you, Jake. I hurt you and I am so, so sorry.” 

“Hey,” he whispers, softly stroking your hair. “It’s okay.” 

“No, no it’s not okay. Nothing about this is okay!” You hiccup and hiss at the sting it causes in your rib cage. 

“Ace, breathe for me sweetheart, come on.” He gently coaxes you with teary eyes of his own. He needs to hold it together for your sake. He needs to be strong for both of you. 

“It’s not okay,” you sniffle. 

“Shh…” Jake sees how much of a toll this entire thing has taken on you. 

Your eyelids are drooping heavily, but you will to keep them open. You’re afraid that once you close them, you’ll wake up to find that this was all just a dream. That Jake was never really here to begin with and that you were all alone. 

Jake pulls the empty chair that was beneath your bed closer to him and takes a seat. He encapsulates your hand between both of his and brings them to his lips. “It’s okay, Ace. Sleep,” he guides. 

“No.” You tiredly fight against the exhaustion that is threatening to take over. “No.” 

“Sleep,” Jake requests again. “I’ll still be here when you wake up.” 

“You promise?” You whimper. 

“I promise.” He gives your hand another kiss for safe measure, already seeing that your eyes have already begun to close. With his lips still pressed against your skin, he swears, “I’ll be here, Ace. I promise I’m never leaving you again. I love you. So fucking much.” 

Jake doesn’t miss the faint smile that ghosts your lips as sleep finally takes control of your body. 

Two Years Ago 

He finds you lying on the dewy lawn of the Delta Chi house splayed out like a starfish. “What in the…” he mutters to himself as he makes his way towards you. 

Jake stands over you, coming into your vision upside down causing you to giggle. 

“Ace?” 

“Hangman!” You exclaim with a dopey smile on your lips. 

He rolls his eyes at the name and crouches down above you. “What are you doing out here all alone?” 

You sigh dreamily. “Stargazing.” 

Jake catches the scent of cheap beer and jungle juice on your lips, letting him know you were currently far from sober. That makes him worry just a little bit. Last he heard you didn’t drink. You despised it actually. 

“How much have you had to drink?” He asks for safe measures. 

Another giggle erupts from your lips as you hold up all ten of your fingers and even your feet, wiggling your toes in your sandals. “This many.” 

That’s all Jake needs to confirm that you are long gone. “Where’s the rest of your friends?” He glances around looking for any sign of your roommates. All he sees are drunk couples making out on the front porch and the occasional flash of disco lights that escapes through the front windows and open door. 

“Dunno,” is all you say with a lazy shrug. 

Jake sighs, finding himself caught in a dilemma. He had a smoking hot blonde waiting for him to come back inside and bring her upstairs. So why did he feel so guilty about the thought of leaving you out here to fend for yourself? The two of you were hardly even friends, acquaintances at most. He only saw you after your group project because his friends mingled with your circle of friends after miraculously getting along upon meeting each other. 

Yet as he looked down at you staring awe struck up at the sky, he knew he couldn’t just leave you out here alone. Pushing himself off his knees, he groans. “Mind if I join you?” 

You shrug. “Mi casa es tu casa. Or no, wait. Tu casa es mi casa. Get it? Cause this is your house?” You laugh at your own joke. 

Your laughter is infectious, plaguing Jake with a few chuckles of his own. He lays on the damp ground beside you, resting his arms behind his head. “Not really my house, darling. It’s the fraternity’s.” 

“Same thing,” you wave him off. 

The two of you lay there in comfortable silence, watching the night sky. Jake had to admit, this was the most fun he has probably had all night even if you were doing nothing but looking at the sky. 

Out here with you, Jake felt like he could let his guard down. His cocky, playboy, frat boy persona disappeared. When around everyone else, he felt like he was expected to act a certain way but being out here with you, he knew you expected nothing of the sort. 

That was one of the first things that caught him completely off guard when he met you. All it took was one look at him and you were picking him apart, dissecting all of the fronts he put up around others. That’s why you bothered him so much. He barely knew anything about you and somehow, it was like you knew everything about him. You saw through his charms and arrogance, leaving no room for any funny business. 

Jake’s shoulders fall from his ears and he lets himself relax. 

Hearing you shift beside him, he wants to ask you what was on your mind. His curiosity never failed to make itself known when you were around. Again, he knew that you didn’t drink, so why were you absolutely wasted right now? 

The question is on the tip of his tongue, begging to be asked, but he exhales gratefully when you speak up first. 

“My parents are assholes who care about nothing but my grades and their image.” 

He’s not sure if he was meant to hear what you just said or if you realize it’s him that you’re talking to. So he stays quiet and patiently waits for you to continue. 

“It’s parents’ weekend next week and they don’t even bother to answer any of my calls or texts about it. And when I do hear back from them it’s a halfhearted apology that they can’t make because they’re off on the other side of the world.” A dry laugh escapes you. “I don’t know what I was thinking when I invited them. I knew they weren’t going to show up, whether they were actually here or not. I mean… is it too much to ask for them to just show up and be proud of me?” 

Jake sits up with a frown on his lips upon hearing your voice crack. He hesitates, unsure of what to say. He was never good at the whole comfort thing, especially when it came to crying girls. He used to try to comfort his sisters when they would cry, but he always just seemed to make things worse. He didn’t want to make you feel worse than you already did. “I’m sure they’re proud of you, Ace. They’d be idiots not to be.” 

You scoff, seemingly sobering up just enough to push yourself to sit up beside him. “I guess they’re idiots then.” 

Jake’s mouth runs faster than his brain can manage to keep up.“Hey, at least you have parents. I mean...look at Bradley.” 

That pulls a snort and a teary laugh from you. “Oh my god! Jesus, Seresin…” You’re laughing. You feel bad that you are, but the delivery of Jake’s words was so nonchalant that you couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “You’re insane.” 

He joins in your laughter, glad that he was able to pull your attention from your inner turmoil even if it was just for a minute. “What? Am I wrong?” 

“You’re not, but come on. That was so uncalled for,” you shake your head in amusement. 

Jake sends you a toothy grin, captivated by the way your smile grows. 

“Jake!” The sound of another feminine voice catches both of your attention. The blonde he left inside earlier was running down the porch steps and in their direction. “There you are,” the girl exclaims, throwing her arms around him as she joins him on the ground. She presses an obnoxiously loud kiss to his neck with a smile. “I’ve been waiting for you, Cowboy.” 

As if suddenly realizing where you were and who you were with, you tuck your chin to your sternum and avoid his gaze. He grimaces in the other girl’s hold.“Ace–”

You go to stand, still wobbling from the alcohol but you’re coherent enough to know where you were going. “Looks like duty calls, Hangman.”

The girl gives you a cheeky smile as she moves her lips from his neck to the side of his face.  

He doesn’t miss the somber note of your tone. Jake watches you sway on your feet as you make your way back inside. He wants to reach out to you, beg you to stay but he holds himself back. With a sigh, he pulls the girl who’s clinging to his side up to her feet and flashes her a halfhearted grin. 

Even with his newfound company, Jake couldn’t get you out of his head. 

True to his word, Jake never left your side since you woke up. If the doctor’s needed to personally evaluate your condition, he would step outside but immediately come back in once the doctor gave him the okay. 

Your parents haven’t made another appearance since that first day and you were relieved. Your friends have been in and out of your hospital room once you were moved to the regular hospital floor from Urgent Care. 

Your body was still pretty weak due to the severity of your injuries but you felt stronger than you have in weeks. Being surrounded by your friends, your family, gave you some of that strength back. Most important of all, being with Jake had you feeling invincible. 

The doctors were thrilled with your rate of recovery and predicted you would be discharged in the next couple of days. 

Though Jake kept his promise to you, you still had a sliver of doubt about where the two of you stood relationship wise. You tried to bring it up a couple of times, but Jake would only respond with a shake of his before telling you not to worry about it now. 

You were just a bit afraid that this was his way of letting you down easily. That this was his way of telling you that he loved you, but he just couldn’t be in a relationship with you anymore. 

But then he’d do something as small as brushing your hair gently from your face as you ate or held your hand before you fell asleep at night and that little bit of worry would subside, if only for a moment. 

You’re laughing at Reuben’s lame attempt to sink Nat’s battleship when Jake gives you a quick kiss on the cheek muttering a soft, “I’ll be right back,” into your ear. 

You shoot him a soft smile and nod, before returning your attention to your friends’ antics. 

Meanwhile, Jake makes a quick run to the coffee machine down the hall. He barely makes it five steps there when he runs into someone right outside your door. 

He looks up and almost spews out an apology before realizing exactly who he ran into. 

The look of distaste that falls upon his face is anything but subtle. 

Your mother shares a look with your father, who sneers at the sight of him. 

Being born and raised by his southern gentleman of a father and kind hearted mother, he knew he still had to show some respect towards your parents despite his dislike for them. 

He gives them a nod as a form of greeting and silently prays that they let him slip past them. 

“You should leave now before it gets worse,” your mother speaks up. 

Jake knew he should probably ignore it. Leave your mother without the satisfaction of getting under his skin. But he couldn’t. He stops in his tracks. Glaring at them from over his shoulder, he hissed, “Excuse me?” 

Your mother only shrugs, pulling her handbag tighter over her shoulder. “She’s not worth your time or the trouble. Trust us. As her parents, we would know. How does it make you feel? Knowing you must mean so little to her that she didn’t even mention your existence to her parents.”

Jake was finally tired of biting his tongue. No one, not even your own parents, talked about you like that. Not if he could help it. “With all due respect, I know she didn’t tell you about me and frankly, I don’t blame her considering the way you treat your daughter. Besides, how would either of you know anything? You’re never here so you’d never know just how worth it your daughter is. I would walk through hell for her. Something I know neither of you would ever do.

So no, you don’t know. You don't know just how thoughtful and sweet and caring she is. You don’t know just how incredibly smart she is. Most of all, you would never understand that she is worth everything.” 

Jake is breathless at the end of his speech. His chest heaves as he catches his breath and harshly swallows from his passionate spiel. You were everything and the idea that anyone would think otherwise astonished him. 

Your mother barely bats an eye. “Well, I guess you wouldn’t mind completely taking her off our hands then. Considering she moved so far away from us for college, you can tell my daughter to not even bother coming back home to visit us because apparently, we’re never here for her anyway.” She storms past Jake in suppressed fury, muttering to herself, “The Bahamas!” 

Your father, on the other hand, pauses for a moment. He opens his mouth like he wants to say something and glances through the doorway before looking back at Jake and clearing his throat. “Just, um, just tell her the hospital bill will be taken care of once it comes in the mail.” He gives one last look at your hospital room before scurrying in the same direction your mother had gone. 

A sigh of relief escapes Jake’s lips from the encounter, diminishing his prior craving for caffeine. 

He makes his way back into the room to see three pairs of eyes settled on him. Jake’s a bit unnerved at all the attention he’s receiving and he’s slightly confused by the way Nat, Reuben, and you were all staring at him. 

He nervously chuckles, running a hand down the back of his neck. 

Reuben suddenly stands up, grabbing his battleship board. “I think we should continue this outside, right Nat?” 

She nods with a smile grabbing her board as well. “Yeah, let’s. We’ll give you two a minute.” Natasha squeezes your hand as she ushers out of the room. 

Jake shifts back and forth on his feet, feeling a heat of embarrassment flow through him. “You heard all of that, didn’t you?” 

A look he can’t fully decipher on your face. “Yeah, I did.” 

“I am so sorry if I crossed a line I just—“

“I love you.” You cut him off teary eyed. 

“What?” He breathes, the wideness of his growing smile no longer contained. 

You give him a smile of your own that matches the look of love and pure happiness that lights up his features. “I said I love you. I heard you, that first night you stayed over but I was too afraid to say it back. Just in case you didn’t mean it the way I did anymore. But then you…” 

Jake cups your face in his hands, nodding to encourage you to take your time. 

“But then I heard what you said to my parents and no one has ever stood up for me that way.” 

His thumbs begin to trace gentle patterns onto the apples of your cheeks. 

“I guess what I’m trying to say is that I love you and I’m sorry if I ever made you feel otherwise.” A tear finally escapes from the corner of your eye that gets gently pressed away by Jake’s lips. 

“Oh, sweetheart. I’m sorry if I ever made you doubt my love.” 

You shake your head, desperately hoping he understands that none of that matters now. “You’re here now. That’s what matters. I love you, Jake Seresin.” 

Finally, after days of waiting, he kisses you softly on the lips. It’s not rough or hungry, despite how long he’s been waiting for this moment. It’s soft, delicate, and full of love. It’s passionate and heartwarming. It’s the kind that you could feel all the way to the tips of your toes. Just like the first time. 

“I love you, Ace. You’ll never have to doubt that again.” 

Your relationship, just like your body, wasn’t one hundred percent healed. There were still many things the two of you had to talk about. 

However, knowing that Jake loved you didn’t make the unspoken parts so scary. Having him, loving him, is enough. 

a/n: a super duper, huge thank you to @blue-aconite for beta reading and being just the best support system through this entire journey <3 she even swayed my original plans for this so you should thank her for jake and ace getting back together sooner that anticipated lol as usual, reblogs, feedback, and comments are all greatly appreciated and the inbox is always open

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[awkward-tension-art]

Darkness on Umbara Chp.9 (Rex x Reader)

Chapter 8. Chapter 10.

Plans and Arguments

cw: Rex x Reader, Reader is a medic, incorrect military procedure, graphic descriptions of injuries, blood, swearing, death and battle, Spoilers for the Umbara Arc, Pong Krell is an asshole, reader insert, names of non-canon dead clones, Mentions of breakdowns, reader is gender neutral, no use of (Y/N), if i miss a tag LMK

Minors DNI

“Those missiles have a 100 megaton yield!”

Fives was exasperated at the new plan Krell had thrown at Rex, “We won’t even make it to the delta!”

“What can I do?” The captain met the ARC troopers eyes steadily, “I’ve tried to reason with him. Those are the orders.” 

March on the capital despite the massive missiles that rained from the sky. Fucking brilliant. 

Jesse sighed, “Great, another suicide mission.” he continued to inspect the console, typing on the screen, “The capital is too well armed.”

“Why does it seem like he has it out for clones?” Tup chimed in from where he continued to study the mechanics of the starships.

“Are we sure Krell isn’t, you know, fucking insane?” You mumbled, continuing to look at the data of the anomaly you saw earlier.

Dogma scoffed, “I think you're all overreacting,” He was steadfast in his belief in the general, “Obviously General Krell knows what he's doing. do you really think he doesn't care if he loses men?” 

Yes. you nearly responded, but opted to remain quiet. 

Jesse crossed his arms, “I’m not saying that,” He kept his voice steady, doing well at remaining calm, “But I do think his desire for victory has blinded him to the fact that there are lives at stake.”

You nodded, “Field doctors keep in contact with one another, and several doctors I knew have been killed under his command, not to mention the number of troopers,” Your hands were still as you focused on the conversation, “I’ve never seen such a high number of casualties from a single general.”

“He’s out of control!” Fives snapped, “He is not acting like the other jedi. He has no respect for us.”

I don’t think he has respect for anyone but himself. You thought bitterly. 

Rex stepped forward, trying to calm the ARC troopers ire, “Listen, I don’t agree with him either, but I don’t have a better plan.”

“What about using these starfighters to destroy the supply ship?” Fives continued, motioning to the ships that were in different stages of maintenance. 

“Our fleet has been trying, The Umbarans have it as protected as the capital.” The 501st captain rubbed his temple, clearly reaching his own limit. 

“But we've got their access codes and their own hardware,” Fives stepped up next to Jesse, looking confident. 

Rex, on the other hand, looked more surprised and hopeful, “You were able to crack it?”

“Mhm!” the ARC trooper gave a friendly punch to Jesse’s shoulder, earning a smile and a head shake from the other trooper, “We can sneak right past their blockade, get to where our ships can’t.” He clasped his hands in front of him, as if begging. 

The captain looked down and rubbed his chin, he remained silent, mentally planning and strategizing with this new information. 

Fives’ continued, as if trying to convince him, “If we take out that supply ship, then we cut off arms to the capital.”

Rex smiled, looking up and meeting his friend's eye, “This is why you’re an ARC trooper,” He put a hand on his hip, now with a proud smirk, “I’ll talk to Krell, see what we can do.” 

Fives practically cheered, and you laughed at his joyful display. The ARC troopers' energy and good mood always amazed you. 

The captain shook his head and gave a soft laugh before turning and walking out of the hangar. You, however, got up and followed him, “Captain, I don’t know where the barracks are.” you stated, with a small grin, “Can you walk me to them?” 

“Mesh’la,” he rolled his eyes but he matched your smile, “Of course.” 

Now that you two had semi-privacy, “Are you ok?” you asked him quietly. 

“Once this campaign is done, I will be.” He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, “General Krell is…a challenging General to work with.”

You brushed your hand against his as a small sign of affection, “You’re doing the best you can given the circumstances.” 

He gave you a grateful, yet exhausted look. 

In the far distance, potentially a mile away, Umbaran missiles slammed down, exploding into a bright green and orange light. Despite how far the strike was, you could still feel the vibrations in the ground. 

“Damnit, they never give up.” Rex sighed, “This won’t stop until that supply ship is taken care of.”

“Hopefully Krell will listen,” You said as the doors to another section, the living quarters, of the airbase opened. 

“He hasn’t so far.” your lover led you through the halls before pressing a button next to a door. They slide open, revealing Rex’s temporary quarters and office. To the Umbarans, the private room must’ve belonged to the leader of the airbase. Once the doors closed, he held your face in his gloved hands.

“I want you to rest, mesh’la,” He murmured, kissing your forehead tenderly, “Don’t think I haven’t noticed your exhaustion.”

“I can handle it.” you put your hands over his, “You and the others have been-.”

“We are built for this,” He interrupted you, “We’re clones, we can handle days without rest.”

You stared into his beautiful brown eyes, “Rex…”

“Please, mesh’la,” He whispered, “I can’t…I don’t think I can handle it if you're hurt again. Or worse.” He was pleading with you, gaze filled with an emotional desperation. It was rare to see him so unsteady. So unsure and even…afraid.

Your lovely captain was in despair. Yes, you’ve lost soldiers, but Rex has lost brothers. 

You moved your hand and stroked his cheek, “Ok…” your words were soft, “Alright Rex, I’ll get some rest.” 

He let out a small, relieved breath before kissing your forehead again, “Thank you.” 

As promised, you allowed yourself to sleep once he was gone again. It was comical how as soon as you laid down on the stiff bed, you were completely out. It felt like your brain just turned off. You didn’t even dream, so exhausted your consciousness just faded out of existence. 

When you awoke, it was due to yelling.

“Where is the honor in marching blindly to our deaths?!”

Fives.

You groggily sat up, rubbing your face in your hands with a pounding headache. You could hear Rex respond, but his voice was quieter and much calmer. It was hard to make out the words. 

However, you heard Fives loud and clear through the door, “I'm sorry. I cannot just follow orders when I know they're wrong! Especially when lives are at stake!”

Your lover answered him, and again, he was quiet. 

“I do support it. I do!” Fives was angry and frustrated, that much was clear, “But I am not just another number! None of us are!”

You admired the ARC trooper for his independence. He was a powerhouse on the battlefield and never backed down. Your friend was a very rebellious, free thinker, but intelligent enough to know when to fall in line. 

He was a good friend who you loved dearly. 

Surprisingly, you heard Rex’s voice, “Fives, where are you going?”

The ARC trooper responded with something, but you couldn’t hear him clearly that time. 

You sighed and stood, stretching your arms over your head. How long has it been…?

With a quick check of the time, it had only been a few hours. Everything was sore and you were still tired. It would take more than a nap to help, apparently…

The door to the captains quarters opened and Rex seemed surprised to see you, “You should still be asleep.” He approached to kiss your cheek. 

“I heard yelling. Is everything ok?” You asked, leaning into the peck. 

“The march on the capital will continue as originally planned.” He sighed, “the men are understandably against it.”

“You are too.” You pointed out. 

He nodded, looking downright tired, “I am, and if we had the time and the training, I’d go along with Fives’ plan. I know General Skywalker would with no question. But Krell has orders.”

You pet your lover’s cheek, “Rex, would you really follow every single order Krell gives?” 

“I am duty bound to follow.” He responded.

“Even if you know they’re wrong?” 

“I…” the captain sighed, “I believe in the Republic. I would fight and die for it without question.”

He’s avoiding the question. Pushing too hard might stress him further. You leaned forward and kissed his forehead, “You're a good soldier, Rex. but you're also a man with your own thoughts and feelings.”

He melted under your touch, “Without you, I’d probably have gone insane by now.” he mumbled, earning a small giggle from you. 

“You’re doing the best you can,” Your words were tender and filled with love, “I need to check on the med bay, but I want you to get some sleep. Even if it's just a nap.” before he could argue, you booped his nose gently with your finger. 

Rex let out a small chuckle, “Alright mesh’la, I’ll get some rest.” He pecked your cheek before you walked out of his private quarters. Getting to the med bay was quick and easy, and as soon as Kix saw you, he nodded in greeting. 

Back to work. You were the 501st field doctor, you had a job to do, “What supplies do we have?” 

Your medic friend listed everything you had. 

Bandages, tourniquets, laser cauterizers, laser scalpel, bacta, patches, emergency suture kits

It was better than before taking the airbase, but the amount of such items was the real concern. Perhaps in a standard battle you’d be able to help everyone, but with Krell’s overwhelming need to kill as many soldiers as possible, It would be difficult. 

You swallowed, taking in the low numbers. Triage would be crucial. Managing pain wouldn’t be the priority. Save bacta for critical wounds. Sutures and bandages for anything else. 

“I’m going to talk to Krell.” You informed Kix, “I’ll be right back.”

“Don’t get killed.” He called to you as you left. 

Your steps took you up to the tower. Were you nervous? Potentially. If he took a step out of line, you might end up snapping and laying a fist in his face. Your anxiety came from your lack of faith in your own restraint. You’ve hit your limit, and if the damn Jedi pushed you too far, you might break. 

Once the doors opened, you were met with Appo and Hick typing at a console while Krell looked over the Umbaran holomap. 

“Doctor,” He greeted you rather…politely, “I didn’t call for you.”

“I have concerns, General.” You stepped inside, “I am aware of the impending march on the capital, but Kix and I do not have the supplies to keep everyone alive.” 

Pong Krell looked up at you, eyes looking down right uninterested in what you have to say, “You have an extreme lack of faith in your skills, Doctor.”

“I am not doubting my skills,” You responded, tone becoming icy, “I am limited by the supplies I don’t have. I can save lives, but if I don't have the medical supplies to do so…”

The General pressed a button and the map changed. He went back to ignoring you, “And what do you propose I do about your misuse of much needed medical equipment?”

Misuse!?

You swallowed, “Respectfully, General, I think for the sake of the men, you should work with Captain Rex and think of another strategy to take the capital.”

“We do not have time!” he slammed his fist down, causing you and the other soldiers around to jump, “Every moment we waste, we are getting that much further away from taking Umbara for the Republic! Now I know your judgment is clouded by your useless feelings surrounding these clones, but winning this war is the priority!” 

“Respectfully, General,” You backed down. All that bravado you told yourself earlier melted away. He had the power to court martial you, or worse, “My…feelings are concern for my patients. I am a doctor first, before I am a soldier.”

“Is it duty you feel, or something else?” He raised his head, “You spend an awful lot of time with the Captain, don’t you.” 

Your blood ran cold. 

He knew.

Your throat ran dry. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Appo look up from his console. 

Back track. Now. 

“Captain Rex and I have known eachother since the beginning of the war,” you explained, “We are friends, and I trust him with my life.”

“Just friends?” He rubbed his chin, “Your judgment is indeed clouded, Doctor. Your bias is hindering your view of the reality of this war.” The volume of his voice picked up until he was damn near shouting at you, “You can’t have friends on the battlefield! If you worry about those clones, you’ll never achieve victory!” 

Wrath burned under your skin. You wanted to shout back, but you didn’t have Fives’ courage, “I understand General, but these men, not just Rex, have protected me. Saved my life on the battlefield. In turn I do my best to keep them alive. It’s my duty to care for them. Because of this, I am able to view things objectively during battle.”

Krell was silent for a moment before he gave a slimy smirk, “Rex, huh?” 

Shit.

“Captain Rex, sir.” you cleared your throat and you caught Hick pausing in his typing on the console, “Since we are not currently on the battlefield, It’s easy for me to forget rank and titles. Forgive me, General.”

“I suppose you call General Skywalker by his name as well,” He turned to face the window, indicating he was done with you, “I am a General, Doctor. You will do well not to make that mistake with me. You’re dismissed.”

You saluted and turned, leaving the tower as quickly as possible.

Once on the ground, you spotted Fives and Hardcase walking to the hangar where the starships were being kept. With a glance back up to the tower, you followed the troopers. 

Oh what trouble were they about to get into?

[paingoes]

Rubies - Snowstorm

not really nsfw but pretty intimate i guess???

this is set a bit further into delta’s recovery!!

(Content: caretaker POV, recovery, fever, nonsexual nudity, sickfic, platonic intimacy, past trauma, discussion of past abuse, crying, brief discussion of noncon, vampire caretaker???, brief discussion of self harm)

~

The white mountains went on for miles in every direction. In the past weeks, they’d been broken up only intermittently by the wildfire smoke, but today the sky was clear and bright. Even in the dead of night, the atmosphere had a brightness about it. The surrounding woods would darken, but overhead the clouds remained luminous. Still, they hoped not to take so long on the trek that they’d be forced to travel by it.

They were making good time, all things considered. The rebel group was only thirteen strong — it was a lucky number. Large enough to function as a single organism at times, but not so much as to become unwieldy. Two dogs jet back and forth between the party members — only one of the hounds had been brought on purpose, the other had simply found them and tagged along. 

Apollo once again scanned the frozen landscape — all bitterly cold and pristine, made to destroy things like him. But he was not immune to its beauty, and he could not help but be mesmerized by it. After all, there was little else to focus on.

Galatea stretched its medics thin. This time was no exception. Again, he was the only one to the group. They were protective of him for that. It was mutual, pleasant. It felt nice to be needed. He never balked from it.

Delta moved a few meters to his right, skirting the edge of the canyon, the abyss below. Apollo clicked his tongue a bit, beckoning him closer. Delta came away from the border and did not seem to resent the summons.

One hand against the nape of his neck proved he was freezing, but he always ran cold. Apollo replaced the scarf around him, relinquishing the contact. Delta peered up curiously, much of his face still obscured within the fabric. 

He didn’t need to be here. The only reason he’d tagged along was because he’d asked. If Levon had his way, Delta would never leave the fortress. All the time, he’d been making himself invaluable there, in a way Apollo could ungenerously describe as calculated. All the same, he understood the impulse.

“Are you cold?” Apollo asked. It’s a dumb question, but he liked that Delta indulged him with it.

“Nah,” he answered back anyway. “I like it more like this. The lake isn’t frozen through all the way, even though it should be by now. There’s vents at the bottom. We’re on a volcano.”

There was a soft gravel to his voice that immediately caught Apollo’s attention. He was getting sick. He might not have even realized it yet.

“Do you think that���s what’s been causing the smoke on the horizon? Volcanic activity?” Apollo asked. 

Delta considered this.

“No.” He said finally. “I think that’s just because of the bombs.”

Apollo nodded in understanding.

~

It seemed to really hit him just as soon as they’d reached the safe house. To be sure, there were places for it to have hit him. But there were also places much, much better.

Delta struggled valiantly through it anyway. The arrival was when the hivemind really seemed to kick in — and each of them present moved like one consciousness, unpacking, drudging water and electricity up from the ancient system. Apollo caught sight of Delta amidst a mess of wires, willing the radio to work. He was tireless. All of it was up and running by the time the pale moon was directly overhead. It was only then he’d let himself be tended to.

Delta coughed terribly, the congestion in his chest now fully audible. Apollo listened closely, in search of something worse.

“You picked an awful time to do it,” he tsked in mock disapproval. “Going to need Balto to carry it all the way up the mountain.”

“Who’s Balto?” Delta asked blearily.

“Nevermind,” Apollo shook his head. “You’re going to be fine. Bacterial, though. It’ll put you out for a couple of days.”

Delta looked up at him pleadingly, as if this was a sentence that he could adjust.

“Gonna be fine,” Apollo repeated, petting his hair. Delta nudged his hand back, leaning into the touch, though he still looked resoundingly unhappy with this verdict. He still let himself be led into the quarantined bedroom, collapsing down onto the cot the first second he was able to.

~

One night later, Delta half-stumbled out of the doorframe. He shivered, visibly, little pinpricks forming all up and down his bare arms. Bare arms, even in the cold climate, because he’d been tucked beneath the blankets and too many layers would make him feel trapped. When he got like this, his eyes turned to sea glass, all soft and cloudy.

“Do you want me to help you?” Apollo asked. Before he could answer, he’d already moved to steady him. He placed one hand against the soft cotton of the tea shirt, feeling at the fragile shoulder bone beneath. Delta let himself be leaned back against the wall. The offer had not been merely to steady him.

Delta nodded yes. He had gotten so much better about receiving it.

They both sat on their knees against the cool tile of the bathroom as the old clawfoot tub gradually filled with mountain water. Delta rested his forehead against the edge of the porcelain. He had a migraine, on top of everything else. When he got anything, the migraine tended to come with it.

Apollo dipped one hand tentatively beneath the surface. It was colder than he would’ve liked, but he knew he was an abnormality in that regard. Delta voiced that it was perfect. He said “perfect”. He was always more agreeable with Apollo, more insistent, strategic to counter the other’s nervous fussing.

It was a pleasant surprise to find that the old house still held the soap for a bubble bath. Apollo had taken liberties with it in the interest of privacy, and because the lavender scent had made him nostalgic. A family had lived here, once upon a time. He felt a soft twinge of sadness as his attention turned back to Delta, who still lay oblivious with his head down against the ledge. It would not mean to him what it meant to Apollo.

The issue of privacy turned out to be of little concern. He’d have offered to turn away, but Delta had already placidly stripped the shirt from his back, then all the rest. Used to it, he’d said the first time, and Apollo’s heart had sunk all the way into his stomach until he’d clarified. There’d been maids. His dignity had been denied to him constantly, or it had never even been considered, but at the very least it had not come to that. Nevertheless, Apollo remained cautious and tentative as he moved to touch the bare skin.

Delta only leaned into it. Apollo had wondered once how much of it was trust and how much of it was simply obedience. He did not wonder so much anymore. All of his movements were slow and controlled, still doing his best now to startle him. He poured the plastic cup carefully over his head, letting a gentle stream of water pour down over the black locks. His hair was longer now. Not as long as it had been, but getting there. It had grown back fast.

He felt the way Delta tensed when his hands brushed over his scalp. The touch was soft. It was the placement. He uncurled his fingers, undoing the hold of his hair.

“Still okay?” Apollo asked quietly. 

“Mm,” Delta agreed at the same decibel. 

He had tensed, though. And his eyes now seemed to study only the surface of the water.

“…You know he tried to drown me?” he said. By the end of the sentence, all the words were only mouthed shapes. No sound came out.

Apollo’s hands froze, given way to still shock. He didn’t know why it surprised him. He’d seen what they were capable of. Nothing should have surprised him anymore. 

“One of the last nights,” Delta added quietly. “It’s why I had to leave.”

He’d wondered all the time what the last straw had been for him. 

“Do you want to get out?” Apollo retracted his hands back to the ledge, lowering his body slightly as if it might make him less intimidating. 

But Delta didn’t look scared, really. His eyes hadn’t left the surface of the water, but they were all half-lidded. He was just sad, in the way he tended to be. He shook his head slowly, slightly.

“No,” he said. “I know you’re not going to. I was just…”

He sunk further into the water without bothering to finish the thought. Apollo cautiously resumed washing the shampoo out from his hair, extra careful not to run his fingers through it too hard. Extra careful so as not to pour the water into his face, so as not to obstruct his breathing. He moved his hands through his hair dutifully, working the conditioner and jojoba oil through the ends. 

When he looked up, he was surprised to see that Delta had started crying. With all the water, he could not be sure if they were really teardrops. Delta’s expression was more or less unchanged. There were no other tells. He wiped his eyes as if he nothing had happened, but his shoulder blades cinched together in a silent sob at the same instant.

“Sorry,” Delta said first, sensing the way his eyes had fallen upon him, “It’s not…”

Again, he didn’t bother to finish the thought. Apollo frowned. He ran his knuckles back up by Delta’s scalp, moving them in soft circles. He leaned into the touch, the crying seeming to slow for a moment.

“I love you,” Delta said.

A small, discontented noise. Apollo sighed as he drew him in a bit closer, kissing him gently on his temple.

~

Though it was deep into the night, the living room was still alive when they emerged into it. It still glowed with the warm orange light. One of the dogs snored atop of the rug just by the fireplace. The scout sat cross-legged next to it, headphones on as she played with her weighted carry-on computer. In the kitchen, the voices were indistinct, but pleasant all the same. 

Delta followed him readily onto the couch, curling up at his end of it. His hair was still wet at the edges. After a moment, he brushed it away, tilting his head to the side to expose the skin.

Apollo stared at him, unsure of what he was seeing. As the silence endured without any movement from Delta, he knew it was what it looked like.

“What’s this?” Apollo’s tone was gentle. “Are you baring your neck for me?”

A soft blush rose up in Delta’s cheeks, not just flushed with fever. Apollo shook his head. Delta straightened his neck back out and — blessedly — did not seem too distraught over the denial.

“Why don’t you?” Delta asked. He let his hair shield his skin again, but leaned closer, pressing his head to Apollo’s shoulder. “Can’t you?”

“I can,” Apollo answered, though for a second he really thought about lying. “But I don’t need it.”

“Lun does,” Delta pointed out. “They need it. If you don’t need it, what does it feel like for you?”

“…Heady.” Apollo admitted. He brushed his nails along the side of the boy’s head. There was too much heat there.

“It gets you loaded?” Delta asked incredulously.

“Not quite,” Apollo said, mostly because he sensed the alarm in the other’s voice. “Just dazed. I don’t like the feeling.”

Delta frowned anyway, but he did not question further. He rearranged himself, asking if he could place the pillow down in Apollo’s lap. He did so. He did not take the blanket and he did not need it. The fever was startling. It would peak tonight.

“You like me more when I’m like this. You just want a patient.” Delta accused, but the tone was teasing.

“I like you all the time,” Apollo said, though he didn’t deny it. Delta sighed discontentedly, exhausted. The skin of his neck was still bare then, unguarded. Apollo pressed two fingers to it, checking the pulse. Steady.

~~~

tags:

@catnykit @snakebites-and-ink @scoundrelwithboba @whatwhump

@pumpkin-spice-whump @deluxewhump @fuckass1000 @fuckcapitalismasshole @defire

@micechomper @writereleaserepeat @aloafofbreadwithanxiety @floral-comet-whump @littlebookworm69

@lordcatwich @human-123-person @paperprinxe @whomeidontknowthem @chiswhumpcorner

@bacillusinfection @ichortwine @whump-queen @lumpywhump

@jumpywhumpywriter

edit oops forgot taglist sorry

[msn-04iinightingale]

Contact

Helios

Langogne

0200 Hours

The SLDF hover APC thrummed along what passed for a road this far from civilization, the winter storm buffeting the hovercraft this way and that. 

Lt. Charles Strebeck watched the 3d tac map from his position in the troop section of the multi ton machine. He and his platoon of 25 troopers had been sent to the town of Langogne on orders from command. 

Apparently they had intercepted a high level tightbeam communication from Word of Blake Forces, directed out here. 

Why, they did not know, but that’s what he was supposed to find out. He had 25 men and women, a hover APC, and, thudding along beside them, an SLDF Kit Fox piloted by Corporal Irma Hoyle, serving as the recon group’s heavy punch.

Not that he expected anything needed that much of a punch. Langogne wasn’t so much of a town as it was a village, nestled away in the mountainous forests of Helios, along the River Coen. And yet, this was the location of the message’s endpoint. More specifically, after reckoning the town proper, an abandoned church outside of town. It had taken some doing getting that out of the locals. None of them seemed keen on talking to the armed soldiers about it. Most had remained silent, and those that spoke had crossed themselves in a curious, furtive manner, and even then spoke sparingly. Still, it was enough to key the hunting party to their destination.

“Coming up on the target now, Lt. Strebeck.” said the driver over the comms.

Charles nodded, and addressed the four squads of SLDF infantry.

“Alright boys and girls, ready up. Time to see what the Word thinks is so important way the hell out here that warrants a senior ROM commander level encryption.”

He was greeted by twenty five “Sir yes sir’s!” and all present prepping their kit for a quick deployment.

A grin creased his weathered face. He triggered the comms to their heavy metal escort.

“Hear that mech jock?”

“Roger that, PBI, I’ll try to watch my step.” came the teasing reply. Her voice carried that sultry hint that likely wooed a good number of men.

He liked Hoyle, she was a competent mechwarrior, and a bit of a flirt, if he was honest. The two had worked together more than once in this operation, ferreting out Blakist elements that went to ground in the wake of the invasion. 

“Just make sure we don’t have any unpleasant heavy metal surprises.”

He received the double click of affirmation in response. At the same time, he felt the hovercraft slow, timed perfectly with the message he received from the driver.

“We’re at the target now, Lt. Good hunting.”

Charles grunted in reply and keyed the squad comms as the troop compartment hatches popped open, the green light bathing the interior now an angry red.

“Alright people, let’s move like we got a purpose! Go, go, go!”

The soldiers filed out like a well oiled machine, each squad of five splitting off to cover each other. Charles followed, Mauser 960 to his shoulder, slotting into Delta squad in perfect unison. The target, was a church, stone and local wood, it looked largely abandoned. Even so, there were signs of occupation. For one, the snow had been cleared recently, and he spied several sets of hassle covered footprints being filled with that same snow. 

He’d have to follow those up, but first, secure the area.

“Squad Alpha and Bravo, move up, Charlie and Delta, cover.” he whispered into the comms, receiving the double non verbal click of confirmation. The Alpha and Bravo moved up, Charlie and Delta covering the woods and the entrance and small windows of the church. 

—

In the woods, Cpl. Hoyle took up position, her Kit Fox hunkering down into a crouch to lower its profile, scanning for any possible concealed armor and mechs that may have been left behind as a trap. Her sensors showed all clear, with some interference from the church. She keyed the squad comms.

“Head’s up, can’t see into the church, but the woods are clear.”

“Roger, stay frosty” came the reply from Lt. Strebeck.

Irma resumed her sensor sweeps. Overhead, a full moon peeped through the winter storm clouds, then was gone in an instant. 

She shivered slightly. Not from the cold, the cockpit of her Kit Fox was pleasantly warm, but from… something… something she couldn’t place. Her eyes scanned the woods through the cockpit canopy. She had the niggling feeling that something was out there. Like the feeling you get walking alone in the woods, of unseen eyes watching you from all around. 

She recalled once on her homeworld, she had ventured out into the family farm’s cornfield at night when she was small. It had been a stupid decision, looking back. She could have gotten lost, or, god forbid, one of the local predators could have been using the corn as a place to bed down. An unlikely event but still. Nothing came of the adventure, however. She had run back inside after less than five minutes. Of course, there had been nothing there with her in the corn, just the childish fears of the dark and the unknown.

Still…

Irma checked the sensors again. 

Still nothing.

“Ugh, this place gives me the creeps…” she said to herself, watching the dark woods.

—

They waited with the stillness and patience of the dead.

It had been two hours since they had been activated. By their estimates, based on the weather and the physical records of the personnel stationed at the outpost, the three allies had most likely made it to and possible, across the river by now. With some luck, they would be picked up by loyal forces and shepherded to safety.

They turned their attention back to the enemy contacts. Across the side of their vision, information began to scroll by as they begin to assess the situation, mechanical eyes taking in as much information as possible.

/INITIATE SCAN

/SCANNING

/TARGETS IDENTIFIED

/INFANTRY - 25

/APC - HOVER - 1

/OMIMECH - KIT FOX - PRIME - 1

/INFANTRY KIT SCANNING…

/MINIMAL CYBERNETIC ENHANCEMENTS

/CLAN COPPER BASED BODY ARMOR

/CLANTECH MILITARY COMMUNICATOR, IR GOGGLES, RANGEFINDER, NIGHT VISION, HC MICRO POWER PACK

/MAUSER 960 RIFLE VARIANT - 20

/DISPOSABLE SRM LAUNCHERS - 5

/GRENADE LAUNCHER - 40MM - DRUM MAGAZINE - ANTIPERSONNEL AND HE ROUNDS - 5

/ASSORTED SIDEARMS AND CQC WEAPONS

/ASSESSING OP-FOR THREAT LEVEL

/…

/…

/…

/THREAT LEVEL: MINIMAL

/ENGAGE AT OWN DISCRETION

They had their orders however. They would see them done.

They continued to wait, passive sensors tracking the infantry troops as they closed in on the church.

—

Lt. Strebeck pushed into the building along with Delta and Charlie, the squads sweeping the lifeless pews and alter expertly. The chapel lead off in two ways, one, looking to lead to living quarters fro whatever priest used to manage this place, and the other, down, into what he supposed was a crypt.

He motioned for two squads to search the other rooms, while he took his own and Charlie down below. The air was thick and heavy. It smelled old, with the scents of burnt plastic and metal present as well, growing stronger as they descended.

Above, he knew Alpha and Bravo were sweeping the rooms. If there were any hostiles, they would find them.

The Charlie and Delta defended the stairs, past a heavy duty blast door. Whoever had been here had neglected to close it, likely, because they left in a hurry. The room beyond held a great deal of equipment, most if not all of it wrecked. Extensive fire and thermal damage made it impossible to tell what any of it was at first glance.

“Guessing thermite charges, sir.” said the leader of Charlie, Sgt. Teijo Oda. “Scrap what they couldn’t take with them.”

“Aff, start checking the equipment, see if you can get an idea of what…all this was.” Strebeck said, gesturing to the smoldering equipment.

“Hai, Lt.” Teijo replied, ordering his squad to start checking the wreckage, not just for what it might be, but for any potential boobytraps the Word might have left behind. They’d almost lost good people to IED’s and other more “creative” devices.

Charles toggled the comms for Alpha and Bravo.

“Alpha and Bravo, this is Delta Actual, report-“ he began, wincing slightly at the squeal of static over the comm bead at his ear.

“Alpha Actual-….reading-….interference-….personnel quarters-….comm unit sma-….”

“Say again Alpha Actual, getting significant interference my end.”

Charles toyed with the frequency of his communicator.

“Alpha Actual here, having t-…reading you, getting some inter-…. our end, found personnel quarters, recently aband-….found comms unit smashed-…quick job, in a hurry my g-….” came the voice of Sgt. Justin Navarro. It was better, but still.

“Delta Actual, reading you, regroup in the chapel and secure the area.”

“Roger that.”

He looked around the crypt of ruined equipment. It didn’t look like much of anything. Not enough for any really important equipment that he knew of. But something here was worth a communication directly from Word HQ.

Charles felt a growing unease creep into his gut. Something was wrong. He toggled the platoon wide comms.

—

The squads had broken up, into two groups of two.

Smart, that way each group could cover and support the other, with the Omnimech outside to support if need be.

Not smart enough.

As the two squads searching the personnel quarters returned to the chapel, they at last, moved.

–

Sgt. Justin Navarro lead Alpha into the chapel, followed by Bravo behind them, again, sweeping the room. 

All clear. 

God this place was fucking weird. Since they had entered this damned church, he had felt his skin crawl. The sooner they were outside the better.

As Bravo moved in to secure the entrance to the chapel, and he directed Alpha to watch the way they came from, he paused. 

A noise, soft, barely audible, but it had been there.

It had come from…

Above.

He looked up, swinging his rifle up as he did. 

His eyes grew wide at what he saw.

“CONTACT!” was all he had time to yell before it was on them.

–

Charles’s head snapped around towards the stairs. 

He had heard Sgt. Navarro yell.

He also heard the distinctive whine and pulse of laser fire.

And screaming.

“Charlie and Delta, with me!” he shouted to the two squads he was with. Without question, they formed up and began charging up the stairs.

“Alpha and Bravo squads, report, what is the nature of the contact?!” he yelled over the comms. He only received the sounds of screaming and laser fire in return.

It only took a handful of seconds to mount the stairs back to the chapel. The scene that greeted them was straight out of a nightmare. 

Alpha was down. All of them. Blood, and parts of them, were everywhere. And Bravo was…

Something was killing his men. 

A shape, half shadow half something that flickered between church wall and stained glass, was in the middle of the squad. 

He watched as it effortlessly cut one of the soldiers trying to bring their rifle to bear in half, the distinct whine of a vibro blade audible from where he stood. It was so fast, the trooper didn’t seem to realize anything was wrong immediately until they fell in two. In the time it took for their body to hit the stone floor, the thing had lunged and grabbed another soldier, closing the distance and knocking their grenade launcher away with ease.

There was a crack, and the soldier was tossed aside, bent in half at the waist the wrong way.

Sgt. Lene Dalgaard, leader of Bravo, was firing full auto one handed at the thing as it turned to her. Her other hand was gone, still gripping the combat harness of a now headless soldier at her feet. 

The enemy seemed to flow this way and that, like smoke. If any of the laser pulses made contact it didn’t show.

An arm flicked out, and Lene died. She fell like a puppet with cut strings, a smoking hole in her forehead from the bright red laser pulse that shot from the arm.

The shape of the thing solidified. 

It was robbed in black that seemed to swallow what light there was in the room. And tall. Easily over 2 meters at it straighten up.

Then it turned to look at them.

Twin pinpoints of red light regarded them from the black eye sockets of the leering metal skull of a monstrous wolf. It tilted its head slightly.

‘Fire! Light the bastard up!” Charles forced out.

The men and women under his command obeyed, fingers depressing triggers to send a blizzard of green laser pulses through the air.

The air through where the enemy had just been standing. It had darted out of the way, seemingly at the same time as they had begun firing. It was just a blur now, as it jinked this way and that at inhuman speeds, scaling the walls and support pillars of the chapel as the lasers chased it this way and that.

“Grenades! Before it can close!” Charles shouted, as the thing landed in the middle of the butchered squads, before leaping back to a wall to escape the barrage again. 

It threw something at them before ducking behind a column. 

The upper half of one of Bravo’s soldiers collided with one of Charlie squad, knocking them down. Charles registered dimly that it was one of the soldiers assigned to support weapon duty. Mauser 960 rifle, and a disposable…

SRM

“Scatter! Enemy launcher!” he shouted, just as the thing darted out of cover, the bulky shape of a launcher over its shoulder. 

The cough of the launcher was lost in the roar of the missile impacting between Charlie and Delta, tossing men and woman around like rag dolls and sending stone and fire snickering through the room. 

Charles was knocked several meters through the air, landing heavily in the midst of ruined pews, knocking the air out of him. 

He blacked out. 

When he opened his eyes again, everything was spinning, smoke and fire, and ringing.

“….fuck…” he croaked, forcing himself up on his hands and knees. The Clan Copper of his armor and helmet had saved him from the worst, but he was still in a bad way. 

He felt the broken rib floating in his chest.

Shaking his head to clear it, he reached for his sidearm, his rifle last somewhere in the chaos.

Then he saw it. It was casually walking down the chapel towards him, skeletal face leering at him. It looked like it was grinning at him.

Bastard.

Charlie raised his pistol, intending on going down fighting.

Movement from behind it caught his eye. The stone dust and blood covered shape of Sgt. Oda lunged from the smoke, vibro-katana in hand, swinging the blade to decapitate the monster. Beside him, another soldier, one from Delta, ran at the thing with the vibro-bayonet of his rifle deployed. 

It spun, meeting both blades in a shower of sparks, multi segmented blades like those of some kind of insect deflecting the blows, the howl of vibro blades meeting echoing through the chapel.

“Sir! Get out of here!” shouted Teijo, blade clashing again and again with the thing’s own.

Charles blinked, before forcing his screaming body to its feet. A proper weapon, he needed-

There, he spotted one of the fallen Mauser rifles, and staggered over to it. He knew Tejio and the other soldier wouldn’t last long. Uncoordinated hands grabbed the weapon, checking the battery and grenade launcher load. The battery was gone, the feed mechanism warped, but the grenade…

Would have to do.

He spun in time to see Tejio die. He had been run through by the thing, twin blades piercing through his chest armor with ease. At its feet, the other soldier lay dead, rifle and body split cleanly in two.

Tejio snarled through bloodied teeth, and in a sudden movement, thrust his own blade forward towards the things torso. This last desperate act of defiance, was thwarted with a shower of sparks, as yet another arm lashed out from within the things robes, parrying the blade.

The thing cocked its head to the side, and flung its arms wide, letting the body of Tejio fall in a heap at its feet.

Charlie shouldered the rifle, and fired the underslung grenade launcher.

The grenade detonated at its feet, the resulting explosion kicking up obscuring clouds of smoke and stone dust.

Charles let himself sag slightly to his knees again. 

That was-

The smoke started to clear, a tall, dark shape began to resolve itself…twin points of red light stared out at him, followed by the grinning skull.

Charles sighed, heavily. Of course it wouldn’t be enough.

He switched comm lines, picking up his pistol and unsheathing his combat knife.

“Hoyle, mission is FUBAR…total platoon losses…” he said, calmly, watching the thing as it closed on him leisurely. “Need you to bring down the building”

“Wha-…Come again, you-“ she started

“Just do it Hoyle!” he barked at her.

He pried the helmet off his head, and tossed it away.

“…just…what the fuck are you?” he rasped at the thing that had butchered his people.

It cocked its head, as if considering the response.

Before it could respond, the world exploded in fire and noise.

–

Adept Marie Dufresne turned back the way they had came, pausing as she stepped from the small inflatable raft on the far bank of the River Coen. Acolyte Gilabert noticed her pause.

“Adept, is something wrong?” he asked, looking up at her from where he stood holding the raft in place. Acolyte Nistor sat on the bank, panting heavily. The crossing had not been easy, and they had all had to help man the small inflatable craft. It was lucky they made it at all.

“Listen” she replied.

Over the wind, came the sounds of mech scale weapons fire, back in the direction of Langogne.

–

Irma’s fingers held down the trigger on her controls, sending Autocannon shells, lasers, and SRMs into the building, 

She knew Charles, knew he wouldn’t make that call without good reason.

Still, it was hard to do it, as she watched the church crumble and burn.

“Jesus christ, what the hell Corporal?!” came th driver of the APC.

Something, a shape, darted from the building. Her targeting systems tried to track it, but slid from it, as if it refused to target it.

“What the-“

The shape was already to the APC by the time she opened the comms.

Before she spoke, she heard the driver speak again.

“What, what the- oh JESUS FUC-“ 

The voice devolved into a scream of panic and pain, which abruptly cut off.

What the fuck, what the fuck is going on?!

She turned her mech to face the hover APC, just as something…the thing from before, pulled itself out of the open hatch.

“Oh fuck, what the fuck?!” she blurted, toggling her weapons and swinging the mechs arms to fire. She opened up again, firing everything at the nightmare that had crawled out.

The APC detonated in a rumbling billowing fireball, unable to take the omnimech’s firepower.

Did she get it?

She had to have.

Nothing, not even Battle Armor could withstand that much punishment.

She tried to remember, she had seen it go up with the APC.

Right?

Something clanged against the closed hatch of her mech.

Oh no.

She threw the controls of her mech to the side, hoping to shake…whatever was out there off. She swung the arms of her mech down, trying to swat the thing from her mech before-

The hatch gave way with a shriek of metal.

It started to crawl inside.

She screamed, grabbing for something, anything, to stop the leering thing from getting too her. She grabbed the pistol at her hip, and started to fire.

The rounds sparked and flashed off the things metal skull. It grinned at her.

Her other hand found the ejection lever, as her sidearm clicked empty.

Irma yanked on the lever, the ejection system of her omnimech firing, explosive bolts of her canopy detonating and launching her through the disintegrating canopy.

She was still screaming as she hit the canopy of trees above the small mech, and the world went black.

–

0300 Hours

The villagers hid in their houses.

They had warned the soldiers not to go up to the old church.

They had heard the sounds, the shooting, the explosions.

Now they watched as the battlemech they had seen go with the soldiers, walk back through town, unhurried.

There had been a terrible evil there.

Now, it was free.

The Kit Fox headed off, back the way the soldiers had originally come.

Toward Coen. And the SLDF.

–

0630 Hours

The figure trudged through the snow, one foot infront of the other. 

Beaten and bloody, they walked on, empty pistol in a limp hand. Mechanically, they walked, numb to the cold, the world, to everything. 

One foot in front of the other.

It had taken the figure an hour to reach the outskirts of Langogne, ignoring the handful of villagers that had tried to help them.

All that mattered was one foot in front of the other.

[a-minke-whales-tale]

Whale Suit Thermal Considerations

One important consideration in the engineering of a whale suit which would allow me to swim is thermal management: how do we properly maintain temperature of the human body within the suit. If the heat flux is too high, then hypothermia is inevitable, too low, and overheating will occur.

First, how much heat energy do I produce? One thing to note is that metabolic activity is not constant throughout the day. Using METs (Metabolic Equivalent of Tank).

There is some dispute over the exact formula for METs, as well as if rest is 1 MET as defined, or is actually closer to 0,95. Using the equation kcal = weight * METs * time(hr), we can estimate roughly how many kilocalories are expended in a given timeframe. 'q' or heat flux is estimated using a Schlich Approximation of 1,7m2. When compared to other values this does produce a higher result at a rest than a RMR (resting metabolic rate) calculator, with a difference of around 10-20%. One thing to note is that the estimations of METs are guesses based off given data of walking humans. It is uncertain what amount of energy would actually be produced for a given swim speed, this will have to be measured at some point in the future, it is however likely the project would go through multiple full body suits before having one suitable.

Note that heat from the sun will be ignored for this as A) much of a whales time would be spent under water and so the amount of time in direct sunlight is minimal and B) even when surfaced the sun is going to do much more work heating up the water that nearly the whole body would be submerged in.

Second, what means do we have to remove heat? There are two realistically, the expulsion of air combined with evaporation of the tongue (this is how a dog cools down), or convection and conduction with the sea. Humans are not designed to cool via their tongue and the energy losses from heating of air is negligible (~1,5W). Taking this then the primary means of cooling is surface cooling. In order to cool at the surface the heat must first conduct from the body, through the silicone, and then convect into the surrounding water. In this case as the skin and the silicone are in direct contact with each other and so are the same temperature.

Using these sets of equations we can define the heat transfer in any part of the system.

In this system only a few things are really controllable: delta T (that is the temperature difference between the surface skin and the sea), the thickness of the skin, velocity, and conductivity. A sea temperature of 10 C (roughly the temperature captive Orca are kept at) was initially selected however this was later increased to 15 C as the resting skin temperature would become uncomfortably cold. This is, conveniently, a temperature more suited to Minke whales as will be seen at the end of this post.

Base silicone has a conductivity of roughly 0,16 W/mK and produces the following result.

Note that here the thickness is quite thin, roughly 16 millimetres. This thickness really is not suitable for making a human body into sufficiently whale shaped. Also take note that though heat transfer coefficient of convection (h) is much much larger than that of conduction (k). This means the value of U is almost entirely dominated solely by conduction such that speed is not a variable we can meaningfully use to control temperature.

Silicone can however have a number of fillers incorporated into it. Google will note that the maximum conduction of a filled silicone is 0,4 W/mK, however other papers using carbon nanoparticles not values of up to 8,4 W/mK. In this case a maximum value of 1 W/mK was selected. Significantly higher values can be achieved, however this will result in significantly thicker segments which would be harder to deform and the nanoparticles are likely to somewhat disrupt the elastomer structure creating essentially billions of tiny fractures in the system which could accelerate a fatigue failure.

As thickness and conduction are effectively fixed once a part is built, the only means to control rate of heat expulsion is to adjust the skin temperature. At a normal Minke travel speed of around 5kph this should produce a skin temperature in the range of 30-31 degrees in most places which should be comfortable. However at higher swimming speeds than 10kph it is likely I would overheat quite quickly without a good means to cool down. Fortunately the body is able to move blood around to allow for that variation of skin temperature, however it is likely that some places like the arms will want an increased conductivity over the standard q value to allow for the body to more effectively cool itself. Even so, without some sort of active cooling such as a variable geometry from ram pressure, any sustained high energy expenditure is likely to lead to overheating. This would be a significant problem if in the wild as I would be effectively unable to flee from Orca as chases generally last multiple hours at high speeds, though to be honest given my current body configuration, even in a hydrodynamic suit it is unlikely I would escape Orca regardless.

Out of curiosity I did plot out what a suitable migration pattern might look like for myself if indeed somehow I could survive in the sea, and do so for an extended period in which I would maintain in 15 degree water.

The blue dotted line would represent a more pelagic route, one realistically more likely to be taken by other whales. The purple is a more littoral route mainly that it would make navigation easier following the coast with fewer large sea crossings, though it is of course much longer and passes through much more crowded shipping areas. It would also be possible to go all the way to Norway however this would represent another large sea crossing, and it would likely significantly increase the energy expenditure of the trip nearly doubling the length of the migration and cutting time much more closely during the summer months.

This curiously maps very well to Minke migration patterns in both location and time.

The Spain to Scotland route is one of a number of possible migration solutions. There exist similar options in the west north Atlantic, as well as the north Pacific. However the Europe route generally offers the lowest temperature gradient in position and time reducing the likelihood of thermal problems. There are some Southern routes, however these generally have even greater gradients. There is one exception to this which is Tasmania for which the temperatures are regularly quite stable, however, [dwarf] Minke Whales are not commonly seen there. But there may be a resident group of Pygmy Right Whales, for which we have quite little information on, and in truth, though I depict myself as a North Atlantic Minke Whale, I do not honestly know if that is accurate owing to the lack of available information on Pygmy Right Whales (and for that matter Minke Whales).

In any likelihood my return to the water would not be to a sea, but to a tank. However seeing that, if indeed somehow I could survive out there, there are places with other whales I could go and be with, does bring to me some amount of comfort. It also more importantly confirms that it should be feasible to passively manage the heat in such a whalesuit and is a step further in being able to fix what was done to me, so that someday I may return to the water and swim forever.

~Kala

[erogenousmind]

Ray Gun

“I keep telling you, it’s not a ray gun. I don’t even know what a ray gun is. The elliptic dish is designed to focus the right frequency range of delta waves, but in general, once the network is trained, you don’t even need the dish. Due to the inverse square law for...you know what, never mind. Just sit for a few more minutes while it finishes collecting data.”

Dr. Gehirn looked every bit the mad scientist with his long white lab coat and disheveled hair. Charlotte, for her, part, made the perfect co-ed victim, her long blonde hair and ditzy smile belying her status as an honors student. Electrical engineering and computer science had never been her forte though, so she had been happily quizzing the doctor about his latest experiment even as she participated in it.

“Oh, that’s what these doohickeys are doing, right?” she pointed a manicured and painted fingernail up toward her temple and to one of the electrodes stuck to it with a dot of conducting gel. “That’s so you can read all my brainwaves and stuff, right?”

The doctor sighed. She would be worth it at least, even as tedious as this part was. Despite appearances, she was smart and capable, and, more importantly, trusting. Even if somehow it didn’t work, she would go on her way, none the wiser, not suspecting a thing. “That’s right, Charlotte. Although, they really just make it easier to record. Brainwaves can be picked up from quite a distance, particularly if you know what you are looking for. And in just another moment,” he glanced over to a monitor filled with various windows of numbers and wave forms. “we’ll know exactly what we are looking for.” Another torrent of numbers printed onto the screen. “There we are. The network has now been tuned to your particular brainwave spectrum.”

“Oh neat! So it can like, read my thoughts?” Charlotte bubbled.

“Something like that. But more interesting to my research is the inverse problem. It should actually be able to predict what causes your thoughts. It just needs to validate first. One moment.” The doctor typed furiously for a second, finishing with an overly dramatic stab at the enter key. “This might feel a little odd. You might even feel some strange emotions or feel like thoughts are popping into your head that have no place there. That’s okay. The network is still just learning.”

“So are you making an artificial intelligence thing or something? Oh, is it going to try to act like me or think like me or something? It’d be like I had a twin or something, only it’s a computer. That would be...woa...woah...that’s...um...” Charlotte rocked unsteadily in her seat, a look of concern crossing her face for the first time.

“It’s an artificial neural network, not AI. Everyone confuses them, but it really just a matter of multiplying...ugh, forget it. I’m sorry, my dear, if this is a little unpleasant. It’s just confirming that it can generate the right emotional or mental state based on an electromagnetic input, and it’s quickly cycling through several of them, which must be quite disconcerting. It will pass quickly, I promise.”

“I...I don’t know how I feel. I’m angry for a moment, then excited, then I feel like I want to laugh...it...I don’t think I like it. I think I want it to stop.” She started to reach up toward one of the wires dangling from her head.

“I told you, those are just sensors. The signal is being generated here. We probably don’t even need the contact probes anymore. But there, it all seems to be working correctly. Now the intensity check. How are you feeling right...now?”

Charlotte paused, her hand dangling in the air, looking lost in thought. “I feel...calm...really calm. Just relaxed.” Her hand slowly dropped back down to her side. “Like everything is fine. I thought I should be nervous because you keep messing with my thoughts and some of them felt...strange. But none of that matters right now. I feel happy...content...”

“Very good. And now?” he asked, tapping away at the keyboard.”

“I’m...scared. I’m more scared than I’ve ever been. I still feel so calm though. Passive...But you can mess with my head. You can make me feel what you want with that thing. You were giving me thoughts earlier...and now I’m feeling angry. I feel like you tricked me. You lured me here to mess with my head and I hate you for it. I feel like I want to hurt you...

“It’s so amazing that you were able to make a ray gun that can control my emotions like this. You are so incredibly brilliant. And it’s such an honor that you are testing it on me first. It was my mind you wanted to control first and that’s so exciting...that’s so...hot...mmm....those thoughts you were given me earlier. I don’t think I was supposed to notice them with everything else going on. But I could see myself...with you. I was on my knees looking up at you, and you were so...” Charlotte groaned as she rubbed her thighs together.

The doctor smiled at his subject. “You are doing so well. Thank you for talking through what you were thinking and feeling. You are very perceptive. This...ray gun...is able to control your feelings now. And it can give you thoughts. It knows your mind well enough to give exactly the stimulus to produce whatever response it wants with...” He took the mouse and flicked the scroll wheel over one of the many windows showing row after row of inscrutable numbers. “ 97.4% accuracy. That can probably get a little higher with some more data. But it is certainly good enough for our purposes today. Because you want this now, don’t you? You want me to control your thoughts. You want me to control you. It excites you, doesn’t it?”

The heat between Charlotte’s legs had been building the whole time he spoke. He seemed so powerful to her now. So intelligent and commanding and incredible. Who wouldn’t want to let him think for them? “Yes! More than anything. Use your ray gun on me. Decide what I think. Decide what I feel. Decide who I am. Take my mind! Use it! Or just tell me what to do. Tell me what to think. You don’t even need your invention. Control me. Take me! It makes me so hot. Make me yours. Own me forever!”

Dr. Gehirn chuckled softly. “Quite the response. I wonder how much of this is my doing and how much we just awakened something inside of you. No matter. There may be a small issue with the ‘forever’ you just mentioned. It will take much more research, but it isn’t clear at all that these effects last much longer than stimuli are being input into your delta band. Given some time, your brain will probably resume it’s original thought patterns with no more than a memory of how you behaved.”

Charlotte was heartbroken. She hadn’t known it 5 minutes ago, but it was so clear to her now that she wanted nothing more than to be this man’s slave. To give her mind and body to him. To be his plaything. His property. His toy. She felt like she could cry.

“Oh no, none of that. There is another possibility. You see, the longer your thoughts are entrained by the signal, the harder it gets to snap back. Little by little, you forget to think on your own. Left long enough, your mind would willingly think whatever it was told and forget it ever came up with any thoughts on its own. Then I could put whatever I wanted in that pretty little head of yours, and it would never occur to you to think anything different. How does that sound?”

Tears were beginning to well up in Charlotte’s eyes now. How did it sound? She couldn’t imagine anything making her happier. She was too emotional to speak. She nodded her head vigorously.

“Good girl.” He smiled the warmest smile at her and she felt herself melt on the spot. “This might feel a little like going to sleep. We are going to gradually withdraw the signal until your mind is doing nothing at all and then slowly and steadily begin putting thoughts into your head. They might feel like dreams but more vivid...more intense, more...permanent.” He clicked his mouse a few times and, pausing for a moment to look her up and down again, pressed a single key.

“And now your ray gun will work on me forever?” Charlotte asked, a smile growing and growing on her face. “You can control my thoughts for good?”

Doctor Gehirn nodded. “That’s right, Charlotte.” Her eyes slowly grew wider. Her mouth fell open. Another moment passed and her eyes rolled back, fluttering as new ideas and a new self were written into her mind. “And the first thing we are going to do is teach you the proper technical name for this device.”

Her legs fell open as her body relaxed more and the doctor noticed just how excited the experiment had made her. “Well...maybe the second thing.”

[mamuzzy]

MAMUZZY READS HARD CONTACT: CHAPTER 1.3

I took my sweet time to continue but here we are, the last segment of Chapter 1 where meet the another two members of the future Omega Squad, Niner and Fi!

Links to the previous posts

Prologue <- If you want to follow me through you can start here ^^

Chapter 1.1 Post-Geonosis Darman

Chapter 1.2 Etain Tur-Mukan

My other Repcomm Blurbs

What you will find here

- Brief mention of the similiarities between the Omega Squad, Nulls and Bad Batch

- First introduction of Niner and Fi

- Niner and Fi's survivor's guilt

Now with reaction gifs.

People are saying that the Bad Batch are based on Delta Squad, which can be true, given they are both Commando Squads, have specializations and there are a lot of similarities between Crosshair and Sev, but after reading the books, I can say, The Bad Batch was more likely got inspiration from Omega Squad + Null ARCs. The Batch are deviant compared to other clones, they don’t respect authority unless they like the person, they have special abilities (Nulls shared all, the Batch had these abilities divided between them), and most importantly: THE BLACK ARMOR.

Omega Squad is horribly underrated, and if you never read the books there is a chance that you will miss these wonderful boys in black, the actual guys who inspired the Bad Batch’s black armor. (mind that in the first book it's still white, and they will get the black one in Triple Zero.)

I forgot to mention in the Darman post that with the TCW, ARC Trooper lore was completely rewritten in the show, and the Clone Commandos were completely erased from canon UNTIL the reintroduction of Delta Squad as a small cameo in the Witches of the Mist episode. TCW then came up with their on original clone commando squad, the Foxtrot, tied to the 212th, and with it, we have our beloved Gregor too and the Bad Batch is also a Commando squad. Commandos remaining with the empire in The Bad Batch is also inspired by the entire Imperial Commando: 501st book which has never had continuation due to lore incompatibilities with the at-that-time airing TCW.

Okay~ LET’S GOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

We start with Niner - RC-1309 - and I will point out every occasions throughout this re-reading where he is cleaning his equipment, because when they are not on mission or in cryostasis, he usually cleans his gear. My poor anxious baby.

After the disastrous loss in the Commando ranks, reorganizing was needed, and lot of pods were merged to together to fill out the empty spaces - replace their dead comrades. Omega Squad are like this. While Niner, Fi and Darman were all trained under Kal Skirata, they were all in different pods, and because these four-people groups were so tight-knit, they didn’t form close connections to others.

So let’s just say, Niner and Fi’s first meeting wasn’t too friendly. They are both grieving, and they have to deal with the fact that their dead brothers are replaced with someone else, someone stranger.

You may know Fi as a jokester of the group but this entry scene weren’t funny at all. It was heartbreaking. Niner didn't accept the courtesy gesture of handshake.

BACK TO CLEANING.

Fi accomodates himself and Niner is constantly reminded that his podmates aren't here and never will be.

Niner had a podbrother, named Sev who is not the same as Delta Squad Sev. Choosing numbers as names are very common among the clones so there is a chance that you would meet with others with your own name.

Also I find this lore about the socialization of the CT-s compared to RC-s.

Meaning even if a CT lost someone important, comfort can be found in other familiar faces around him. When an RC lose his entire squad, he remains alone and completely alone. We saw how Darman was lost in the sea of strangers.

Niner lost a brother before, so loss for him is not something unfamiliar.

Commando cadets died during training.

Also I really loved this conversation between Niner and Fi.

Niner casually talking about how they weren’t used as they were intended. The total miscommunication between them, because Niner doesn’t want to say it out loud that he miss his squad and he blames the whole battle for losing his brothers. Niner is in pain, and want to talk about it, he just… can’t.

Also the revival Fi mentions is getting out of the cryostasis.

More about Niner’s cleaning “ritual”.

Another clashing between Fi and Niner.

They are so awkward with each other, I love them.

What finally broke the ice between them is when Fi started to sing the Dha Werda Verda. This song is from the OST of Republic Commando game and was played during Kachirho Bridge on Kashyyyk. The song along with the Vode An is mentioned and sang a lot throughout the books. ^^

A song they both now. The values they both know very well. A commond ground when nothing else works, when words fail, when you feel alone. Maybe they are not so different after all.

While singing, Niner’s survival guilt is manifesting.

Fi once again helds out a metaphorical hand to Niner. And Niner accept it.

And this concludes the whole Chapter 1.

I'm trying to make these blurbs shorter, and maybe doing the lore-detours in separate posts to not make it overwhelming.

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

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The year’s long-awaited Perseid meteor shower will be accompanied by a graceful planetary conjunction. It’s well worth staying up all night to watch.

The Perseid meteor shower, a celestial event eagerly awaited by millions of skywatchers around the world, is about to make its annual return to the night sky. The shower is predicted to reach its peak the morning of Monday, August 12th, but viewers should plan to start looking for meteors at nightfall on Sunday, August 11th. In a dark site away from light pollution, at the peak of the shower, observers might see one meteor per minute!

Light from the Moon, which will be just shy of first quarter, will somewhat affect viewing before midnight. “But as the Moon sets before midnight local time, the rest of the night is primed for perfect viewing circumstances,” says Diana Hannikainen, Sky & Telescope’s Observing Editor.

Begin watching for meteors soon after evening twilight ends on the evening of August 11th. By then the shower’s radiant — its perspective point of origin in the constellation Perseus — has risen above the northeastern horizon. The few Perseids that appear this early will be spectacularly long “earthgrazers” that skim along the top of the atmosphere. The higher the radiant, the more meteors you’ll see — so when Perseus climbs higher in the northeast, especially after midnight, more meteors should appear all over the sky.

Given the timing of the peak, you’ll have a second chance for observing on the evening of Monday, August 12th, and into the early morning of August 13th. In fact, the Perseids are a long-lived event, and you should see meteors — though fewer in number — for several nights before and after its predicted peak.

How to Watch

To enjoy the Perseids, you need no equipment but your eyes — binoculars and telescopes show too small an area of sky to be useful for meteor-watching. Find a dark spot away from bright lights with a wide-open view all around if possible.

You’ll want to make yourself comfortable to fully enjoy the show — craning your neck for many hours can ruin your experience. Bring a reclining lawn chair or picnic blanket so you can lie back. Bundle up in blankets or a sleeping bag, both for mosquito shielding and for warmth; clear nights can grow surprisingly chilly, even in August.

Once you’re comfortable, be patient and let your eyes adapt to the darkness. Give yourself at least 20 minutes before expecting to see multitudes of meteors. “And do resist looking at your phone during this time — or at any time during the night — because the harsh, bright light from the screen will wash away whatever dark adaptation you’ve built up,” says Hannikainen.

“Shooting stars” can appear anywhere and everywhere in the sky, so you don’t have to look toward the radiant to see them. The best direction to watch is wherever your sky is darkest, usually straight up. Faint Perseids appear as tiny, quick streaks. Occasional brighter ones might sail across the sky for several seconds and leave a brief train of glowing smoke.

When you see a meteor, trace its path back to its origin. If you eventually come to the constellation Perseus (see the accompanying sky chart), you’ve just witnessed a Perseid. Occasionally, you might spot an interloper. The weaker Delta Aquariid, Alpha Capricornid, and Kappa Cygnid showers are also active during Perseid season, and there are always a few random meteors too. All of these come from other parts of the sky. It’s a fun exercise to trace meteors back to their radiants: If the tracks don’t lead you to Perseus, they aren’t Perseids!

“The main thing that would hamper enjoyment of the spectacle would be clouds or light pollution,” Hannikainen cautions. Only the brightest meteors shine through light pollution (though usually not through clouds). But there’s good news for those in light-polluted areas: A NASA analysis of all-sky images taken from 2008 to 2013 shows that the Perseids deliver more bright meteors (those that outshine any star) than any other annual meteor shower.

How and Why

Meteors are caused by tiny, sandgrain- to pea-size bits of dusty debris striking the top of Earth’s atmosphere that burn up more than 50 miles (80 km) above the ground. The average Perseid zips in at 37 miles per second, glowing as it burns to soot and creating a quick, white-hot streak of superheated air. The nuggets in Grape Nuts cereal are a close match to the estimated size, color, and texture of typical meteor-shower particles.

The Perseid bits were shed long ago by Comet Swift-Tuttle and are distributed all along the comet’s orbital path around the Sun. Earth passes through this tenuous “river of rubble” every year in mid-August. The comet is so named because it was independently discovered by Lewis Swift and Horace Parnell Tuttle in July 1862.

Mars and Jupiter Meet in the Morning

The celestial spectacle doesn’t stop with the Perseids. In the early morning hours of Wednesday, August 14th, Jupiter and Mars will be really close on the sky — less than ½° apart. How close is that? Well, if you stretch your hand out to arm’s length, the apparent distance between the two planets would span less than half the width of your little finger. That’s close, and well worth staying up late or getting up early to see. (We should note, though, that even though the two will appear right next to each other on the sky, they’ll actually still be separated by more than 300 million miles, or 500 million km.)

The planets will still be very close in the mornings preceding and those following August 14th, so if you’re clouded out on the date of closest conjunction, it’s well worth the effort to catch this sight on one of the other mornings. The two planets will look slightly farther apart — a little more than twice the distance — on the morning of the peak of the Perseids. What better way to crown a night of meteor-watching than with the delightful sight of the conjunction of brilliant Jupiter and ruddy Mars!  

To take in this view, face east-northeast — that’s approximately in the direction where the Sun rises at this time of year at mid-northern latitudes. No equipment is required to enjoy this sight — in fact the unaided-eye view is the most pleasing, as the planetary duo nestles between the horns of Taurus, the celestial Bull, with the Pleiades star cluster not far to the upper right and orangey Aldebaran to their right. If you have a pair of binoculars lying around, pointing them at Jupiter will reveal the planet’s four largest moons.

No matter what sight you take in, between the Perseids and the planets there’ll be plenty to enjoy!

Read more on this year’s Perseids in the August 2024 issue of Sky & Telescope and on S&T's website.

[princesscolumbia]

So about the musical episode...

This is specifically geared to "Subspace Rhapsody," which if you haven't watched it shame on you go now and watch go go go go!!!

So by the end of the ep everything goes back to normal and it turns out the real musical ensemble was the friends we made along the way etc., but what if it didn't?!

Yes, there'd be immediate consequences; highly classified secrets getting out, relationships starting and ending, etc.

But humans adapt, and since the other species in the galaxy are the same kind of "fuck you, I'm surviving!" results of evolution, they'd all adapt, too.

First off, the big one: It'd be like that post where somehow Anakin and Obi-wan can hear the musical score an realize Palpatine is a sith lord; the bad guys would be outed, like, the SECOND their musical number started up. Khan would have been identified before the Enterprise even finished scanning the Botony Bay, the Prime Directive would have to get a big 'ol asterisk pointing to a clause describing the specific mathematical properties of different types of music the crew can expect to hear when approaching a potential first contact. Science experiments would be (metaphorically) killed on the spot because the "mad scientist" theme would start playing.

But a century on? Well, everyone would have adapted...

The Vulcans would have come up with an entirely new discipline; Rhythmic Logic. Rather akin to rap, it'd be syncopated speaking with periodic inflections to denote emphasis on certain points, and the passive aggressive sass levels would be off the CHARTS. Counterintuitive to most Vulcan training for centuries, to properly learn and master this new discipline, the Vulcans would need to induce moments of high emotion to properly initiate the musical triggering conditions, but once started their logic and ability to freestyle would then be put to use to focus and direct the song.

Andorians would be less about the singing and more about choreography. Their troop movements would be works of martial art and their ability to synchronize with each other during operations (any operation, whether medical, business, black-ops, etc.) would be legendary throughout the galaxy. When xenoanthropologists start proposing theories, the truth is swiftly buried for the sanity of the galaxy; since the "musical universe" is based on human musicals, Andorian affinity for good choreography is rooted in figure skating.

Tellarites would unabashedly embrace Weird Al as a sort-of prophet/god once they figured out that parody is the sincerest form of insult. Whatever musical number you're performing, the Tellarites will ride on top of it and twist it in crass ways until the song they sing drowns out whatever they're parodying and is considered the superior work. This, amusingly, results in relations between Tellar and Earth to improve as "bards" of both races across every strata of society compete to see who can make the better parody.

Romulans would lean into the villain pieces, like, unironically. Go to a diplomatic party on Romulus and you're beset by a massive orchestral work of interweaving harmonies as a melody of every big number and quiet ballad are melded together in a symphony of intrigue, emotion, politics, and betrayal. Yes, there's good Romulans, but because their music is JUST as "villainous" as the heroes, it's nearly impossible to tell them apart. Somewhat ironically, it's That One Romulan who only sings spritely songs in a major key that turns out to be the baddest, most lethal Romulan of all.

Klingon society would fracture into new houses based on musical style. The "Old Guard" would be the Klingons who break out into Klingon Opera on the regular. K-pop would be known for being vicious berserkers. Shakespere may be beloved by the Klingons, but the Soviet Anthems would become THE way to unify the Klingons during the "cold war" era.

Once the effect stretched into the Delta Quadrant (nobody in the quadrant knows why they've suddenly started breaking into song, and it isn't until well after Voyager returns home that someone in a university history department is given access to the full history of the Borg's interaction with Starfleet that they realize that it was Q launching the Enterprise D into the Delta Quadrant that created the contact), the Hirogen would come to be known for their absolutely epic power-metal ballads. Their "hunting axes" would become some variety of electric guitar almost overnight.

Because Voyager's crew had grown up with the "random" musicals, Voyager has a leg up on the entire Delta Quadrant, further solidifying Janeway as an unmitigated badass when she uses her absolute mastery of the musical forms to kick ass in every genre.

Cultures that had been introduced to warp flight badly (turns out the Federation had the right idea with the Prime Directive, just not for reasons that anyone could have ever predicted) can always be identified as being...cut rate. It'd be like going from a Broadway Musical production of Hamilton to encountering that one "Christian" production where they butchered the lyrics and the "b-list" actors were the best they could get.

Cardasians would be all about the martial themes. Even their counterculture movements would be all about the percussion-heavy 4:4 musical numbers.

Bajorans would be split between Broadway Musical-style numbers that seem to take inspiration from plays like "West Side Story" and Epic Battle Hymns sung by every Bajoran involved in a given conflict that reach deep into your soul and make you feel simultaneously victorious and deeply sad for reasons you can't quite identify.

The Borg would be EDM for some reason. Nobody is quite sure why.

Even the species that sent the whale probe in the 23rd century wouldn't be spared. Dubstep...dubstep everywhere!

Section 31 and the Tal Shiar would be in a black-ops weapons race to see who can weaponize the musicals the most effectively.

Time travelers would have a blast. Turns out the big reason for the Temporal Cold War was to stop a massive Temporal Prime Directive violating wave of time tourists who just want to go back to a time before musicals were a fact of life. Mariner and Boimler wouldn't even realize they hadn't broken out into song once until they returned to the 24th century.

Humans would be driving everyone nuts. A species that had adapted to using Rent-style musical numbers to form social collectives that were so "in-crowd" that nobody else could even think of joining would suddenly find this one asshole human that picked up on it and was fitting in perfectly. Klingon slasher ballads would be met with children's cartoon bubbly pop music. Andorians would be simultaneously overjoyed at having companions that could work so perfectly with them and appalled that another species dared to get on the ice with them.

The only beings immune to the whole thing would be the Q. The reason Q was the one interacting with Picard? He's the only Q that can stand the whole universe turning into a musical! He's "the band nerd" in Q high school, the one that'll break into a situationally appropriate musical hit number from that one Broadway play when nobody wants to hear you singing Q! Q doesn't have to sing like the lesser species, but by golly he WANTS to and he's GONNA!

[featherxquill]

The real resolutions were the dogs and cats we met along the way...

So, this time last year, @eunyisadoran asked me if I had any New Year's Resolutions. I said no because I'm lazy and I don't really do that, at which point she asked me whether I'd ever thought of silly, light-hearted resolutions - like she once had a friend who resolved to buy and taste any unfamiliar fruit they came upon in a shop or market. When she said this, I immediately thought of one - how many dogs and cats could I meet in a year?

So I set myself some parameters and some goals. Parameters: I had to be meeting said dog or cat for the first time. 'Meet' included physical contact of some kind - a pat, a sniff, etc. Some sort of interaction. Goals: Because it was 2024, I decided that I waned to meet 24 dogs. Then I halved the number to 12 for cats (one per month), because cats are harder to meet (my own cats wouldn't want a bar of me if I wasn't me - they're terrified of strangers). I set up a list in my notes app so I could record each new dog or cat I met, and recorded names and breeds where I could. I also took photos where I could.

In the end, my stats were excellent! In 2024, I met 53 dogs and 17 cats, with my goal helped along by attending a few events on days out with my mum - a local event for me that was called 'Worst in Show' and was kind of like a joke dog show with cute/silly prizes for things like 'waggiest tail' and 'best lookalike dog + owner', and also the Sydney Cat Lovers Festival in August.

Also, yes, I took pictures! Where I could, anyway. I didn't want to be invasive and didn't always want to explain myself, so although it was harder to meet cats than dogs, it was actually easier to get pictures of cats because they're usually on their own (or you're at a cat lovers event where everyone is taking pictures).

But here is a selection of pictures that I took:

First, the cats:

Here are a few from the local boarding place that I booked mine in at twice last year. The resident cat (top left) is called Fluffy:

A few local residents I had the pleasure to meet. The boy top left is called Gavin, which is an objectively awesome person name for a cat, and the bottom two counted as 'meets' because I discovered that my local pet store (who periodically have cats available for adoption) has a cat enclosure with a tiny hole in the bottom right hand side, in which one can fit a finger, In both cases these kittens were very interested:

A couple of pictures I took at the Cat Lover's Festival. I think left is an American Curl, and right a Devon Rex:

Now, doggos! A selection from Worst in Show. I don't have names but I do remember that the Great Dane in top left had been decorated for halloween, and still had the faint outline of a pumpkin on her side:

And here's a few good boys and girls I met out and about. Bottom right is my dad's new companion, Delta, who he adopted mid-year after losing his two old boys:

Anyway, yeah. A++ new year's resolution, do reccommend!

This year, my resolution is to take a photo at each new place I visit (definition of 'place' is nebulous, but I'll try and stick to the spirit of it!)

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive (Daily updates!)

by Katherine Kahn

Since early in the COVID-19 pandemic, epidemiologic studiesopens in a new tab or window demonstrated that household transmission was a key driver in the spread of SARS-CoV-2. However, nearly 5 years later, less is known about more nuanced dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 viral transmission in households, particularly in the setting of evolving variants and pre-existing immunity.

Two studies presented at this year's IDWeek annual meetingopens in a new tab or window focused on leveraging genomic analysis to gain a better understanding of whether COVID infections in households represent transmission between household members or the introduction of new infections.

Household density, vaccine status of exposed household members, and individual immunologic factors are all associated with the spread of SARS-CoV-2 among households, said Kathryn Stephenson, MD, MPH, of Harvard Medical School in Boston, during a presentation.

During the Alpha wave, the secondary attack rate for household contacts -- the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 stemming from a household index infection -- was about 36%, dropping to approximately 30% during the Delta wave, but then rising to about 43% during the early Omicron period, as reported in a systematic review and meta-analysisopens in a new tab or window.

Stephenson and her colleagues conducted a small prospective study in the greater Boston area during 2022, enrolling 38 households with a positive SARS-CoV-2 index case, identified on either rapid diagnostic testing or PCR testing.

Over the next 2 weeks after enrollment, 58% of 38 households had a second case develop among household contacts, and, overall, 39% of 66 household contacts tested positive over that time period.

However, in a strict subanalysis in which researchers excluded index cases that were PCR-negative on day 1 or contacts that tested positive on day 1, the secondary attack rate fell to 22.5%.

Furthermore, after performing genomic analysis to identify SARS-CoV-2 lineages with different genetic makeup that could not be caused by infection from the index case, that percentage dropped to 18.4%.

The finding indicated that although the most common source of infection was the index case, there were multiple sources of infection in over half of individual households, Stephenson said. Other sources for those infections likely included new cases introduced from outside the household, shared initial exposures with the index case, and other already infected contacts within the home.

In the larger, ongoing prospective CASCADIA studyopens in a new tab or window, Amanda Casto, MD, PhD, of the University of Washington in Seattle, and colleagues also used genomic analysis to look at the frequency of simultaneous circulation of multiple viral strains in households.

The investigators analyzed genetic data from weekly nasal swabs from children and adults ages 6 to 49 years in households in Seattle and Portland, Oregon between 2022 and 2024.

Of 1,103 households, 67% had at least one SARS-CoV-2 case, and 24% of households had at least one episode in which two or more participants tested positive. Of these, 7% of episodes involved more than one viral lineage, suggesting multiple introduction events.

"Before the widespread availability of viral genome sequence data, chronologically clustered cases in households were often presumed to be all secondary to intra-household transmission," Casto commented. "Now that genetic data are being integrated into a number of epidemiologic studies, there have been a number of observations of the simultaneous circulation of multiple viral lineages in households within a short time."

Of note, Casto and her colleagues found no association with certain household characteristics, including number of children or people in the household, or household income, which were associated with intra-household transmission.

When more than one viral lineage was present, the investigators also found no association with the presence of any children or children under 5 years of age in the household or with children attending daycare. Nor was there any association with location (i.e., households in Oregon vs Washington), any previous household illness episodes, or households living in apartments versus single-family homes.

What can we take away from these two studies? Household contacts of a person newly diagnosed with COVID-19 are certainly at high risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection in the following weeks. However, this may not only be due to heightened risk of transmission between household members, but also -- perhaps not so surprisingly -- to an overall increase in SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the community where different strains may be circulating.

In other words, "infection within the household can serve as a proxy for broader risk for community transmission, emphasizing importance of public health measures inside and outside the home," Stephenson said.

Casto noted that "in the long run, [genomic data] will really help us refine our understanding of the conditions under which intra-household transmission of respiratory viruses occurs and does not occur."

Studies: jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/article-abstract/2774102 jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2791601 bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/7/e071446.long

[blade-that-was-broken]

For the question about what other peeps could be in JDs squad what about coopers parents Queen Essence or King Quincy I think they’re around jd and deltas age maybe about 5-6 or so years older. It would be that only one or them would be in jds squad because someone has to parent their kids but the other could definitely be military. Plus if Cooper is branches friend that adds to another level of angst in the separation and irony because jd probably stayed at coopers house before cause he stays with his squad mates during leave sometimes and it would be a case of so close yet so far cause jd would have no idea that cooper is branches friend and branch would have no idea that coopers parents friend/cooper’s uncle JD that gets mentioned sometimes is actually his missing older brother John.

Actually I already had a spot for them! They gave me the vibe of being older than JD so I kind of went with Quincy being in JD's squad when he joined when John was younger but over a few years, got promoted to a more managerial/overlooking position.

But Quincy has quite the soft spot for all of them. He keeps in contact with the squad and once in a while pulls some minor (non illegal) strings for John on occasion. He's probably the one who found Bruce's number and nudged the hospital in that direction (that one might be against the rules, using military resources like that or whatever but idc). He kind of keeps an eye on John, knowing his history and stuff. He's stationed somewhere now, but I'm not sure where yet.

Although the Branch angle... I kind of like that.

I suppose in this au, Cooper might have been kind of Branch's friend before Poppy's possibly? Hmmm... lemme think... okay. So, when Quincy was part of the squad, his family was in a place where Cooper and Branch went to school together. They were kinda friends but when Quincy got promoted, they moved to wherever he was being stationed at... which was not where Branch lived. Anyway, Cooper and Branch do stay in contact. They aren't super close or anything but talk casually, probably have an interest or two in common.

Branch probably complains about his brothers, Cooper probably talks about his family. Things get messy when Branch's mom dies and Coop is kind of the one he is there for him at the time, although idk if he is actually "there" physically. They probably play video games together on occasion. Branch has no idea about John anyways so when Cooper mentions his parent's friend, someone he knows as Uncle John/JD (idk which yet), Branch doesn't think anything of it and neither does Cooper. They aren't quite close enough that Cooper talks about Branch to JD, although if he does mention him, it might be a nickname.

Quincy and Essence are always quick to let John stay with them (granted, so are Dickory's parents and Delta's sister lol) and once in a while he does.

There may be a funny thing that if Quincy and his family go to see John after what happens, it might be at the same time that Branch is staying with him over the summer... possibly. So it would be funny cause Cooper might be like hey! I get to see my pseudo uncle again AND by coincidence, an old friend is ALSO on the SAME island/area!

And then find out Branch's newfound brother and Cooper's uncle is the same person.

Which would probably make Cooper ecstatic.

[ritothebookworm]

I adore of lore between ROR2 and Risk of Rain Returns especially when you look at them together as an idea of that the risk of rain returns and Risk of Rain 2 take place around the same time

Here is a example, here is the lore of Rallypoint Delta (The following is an extract copy form in game lore)

“Hey, if anyone can- My name is Malik Dhillon. I was aboard the Contact Light when, oh god- The ship crashed, marooning us here. I’ve never seen anything- I’ve never seen anything like this. Monsters, terrifying monsters, coming at us from all sides. We set up a base, to try and gather up numbers... But it didn’t matter. There’s, there’s too many of them! I don’t think we can last. If anyone gets this message, please, send help to these coordinates! They’re uh, they’re embedded in the message’s frequency. They should be... I don’t think we can last much-“

-Signal echoes, UES Contact Light

--

I adore how fucking horrifying this is, like picture you and your homie Jeremiah are vibing playing uno and next thing you know you hear a radio, a distress signal so you and your homie decide lock in and find out what is going and next thing you know you hear that. You hear the destruction, You hear the screams, you hear the fear and you know something. That while the signal when quiet. You know that whenever you get where they are asking for help, that you will not survive.

Then as you and Jeremiah look at the radio staring at each other with panic. Then you hear a *ping!* and you see a message that has been sent. You both look at it with fear. It's field notes? Then you read it.

"Who knew a pack rat could be so dangerous! This creature seems to be hoarding many of the items littered across this planet. I have seen no others of its kind. If it hadn't been so intent on slaying me I would have tried to gain this Scavenger as an ally...

Will I ever see a friendly face again, or will my last breaths be on this hostile planet?"

(Scavenger lore form Risk of Rain Returns)

Both of you now look at this all of this confused, what the hell is going on now, what is happening. Both of you are so confused. You know that the planet you about to head out will be extremely wack. Really really wack. Then you hear another recording, one that now made you really confused. A recording that need translation?? What the hell is this. Only one way to find out-

=======================================

==== MyBabel Machine Translator ====

==== [Version 12.45.1.009 ] ======

========================================

Training… <100000000 cycles>

Training… <100000000 cycles>

Training... <100000000 cycles>

Training... <102515 cycles>

Complete!

Display result? Y/N

Y

========================================

I watch the strange creatures from a distance.

What powerful things they use. I want them. But there’s too many of them. I’ve seen what they do to the others – they kill without mercy.

I’m a bit scared, but it’s okay.

My things bring me comfort.

My favorite thing is a little effigy, made of cloth and fluff. It’s a bit rough around the edges, but it’s okay.

Holding it close brings me comfort when I’m scared.

It helps me be brave, and sometimes I need to be brave to get the things I want.

The others say that these creatures came down from the sky, bringing so many things with them. They probably have so many things, back at their homes. I want those things. They don’t need all those things.

Now is the time to be brave.

(Scavenger lore form risk of rain 2)

Now you and Jeremiah are very smart people, you know that you are going to a planet that will fucking kill you. A place of no return. When you enter that planet will you be the same person when you leave? Will you leave. What will be both of your fates. Then Jeremiah looks at you and says "bro do you think that we can befriend that fucken rat they where talking about? The scavenger sound fucking awsome" and you look at them "Hell yeah brother"

Something Something, making fanfiction sounds like a fun idea

[lestappenforever]

So on the whole Fred thing, there is this article https://it.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-vasseur-ferrari-nuova-al-95-ma-non-sara-una-rivoluzione/10558537/ that covers some of the questions that Fred was asked in the annual lunch that the press attends. He was asked a lot of questions in regards to the contact extension of both drivers and the whole number 1 and number 2 driver and all of that.

These are some of the highlights from that:

Are there any updates on the status of the contract negotiations for the renewal of Charles and Carlos? Is the goal still to renew with both? “As you know, they are under contract with us until the end of 2024, which means we still have a few months ahead of us. Last year Mercedes renewed the contract for 2024 to both of its drivers at the end of August; so, I believe we still have weeks and months ahead of us. A year ago I told you that I would try to make a decision by the end of this year, but I have to admit that the last part of the season was very busy. We met and started discussions, but we are a little behind the initial plan. I don't think it's a problem at all, we'll make a decision soon.”

Do you think the renewal of the drivers will come before the start of the season? (!!) “It could be the goal.”

Do the renewals of the two pilots provide for the same duration in terms of years of contract or will there be different agreements for each of them? “I remember perfectly well that a year ago in this same room I was getting a lot of questions about the topic 'Charles number one and Carlos number two of the team'. We have shown on several occasions that we are guaranteeing our pilots more than equal treatment, I believe Singapore has been the best example.”

“Charles agreed to start the race with a set of soft tires to be able to get past Russell and control him, all to help Carlos. We have two drivers who are doing a good job, Carlos was very strong after the summer break with two great weekends in sequence in Monza and Singapore, and it was probably a stimulus to Charles, as we saw in the season finale.”

“We will continue in this direction, I don't want to have a good resource and another second level, we have two cars and two drivers of value, and I think one of the positive aspects of the season was the performance of Carlos and Charles. They guaranteed the team pretty much the same points, with a small delta of difference and we want to go on like this.”

(Just as a note, this article was written in Italian and this is its translation)

The fact that Fred has said that both are equal, despite what he said in Abu Dhabi about Charles being a leader, means that there’s something going on, because in less than a month you don’t change your narrative unless something happened.

Another thing is that he said that Charles agreed to jeopardize his race, which honestly I don’t believe it makes much sense, especially putting in the context of Charles helping Carlos, yet Carlos never did that, and Carlos did say that he won’t leave a gap or something like that unless it’s Lando or Fernando, so the whole Charles is helping and yet he doesn’t come out with a podium, I don’t know, it doesn’t make much sense.

But what could be said, is that there’s something, Fred is unable to talk about contracts, saying both drivers are equal, there’s something fishy going on in Maranello and as a Charles to RBR supporter (because of the drama and racing, not necessarily shipping) I’m sat.

Oh, anon brought the tea. ☕️

Although there is absolutely no way whatsoever any of us can know for sure what any of this means, one way or another, I definitely think this whole interview is suspicious as hell.

It's only been a few weeks since Abu Dhabi, and Fred suddenly having such a profound change of opinion just doesn’t add up.

Like I said, we have no way of knowing what — if anything — this means, but I am personally very excited to see how the Ferrari/Charles/Carlos saga will turn out in the end.

Thank you so much for this, anon! ❤️