#Engineering Drawings and Calculations

[bacchuschucklefuck]

[moo-mar]

schweepy schleepy eefo

[pallases]

okay guys i have calculated it all out and even if i get a big fat zero on this race i will still earn a b in the class assuming i get 100% on the other remaining three assignments two of which are a given for 100% and the last of which is like. even if we get a 75% on it (which i do not really see happening) i can still scrape by w a b-

[charliemwrites]

Just had a vivid image of being 141’s collective GBF but not in the toxic way. In the genuine, these are my best friends, my brothers, and we look out for each other - but they especially look out for you.

You don’t walk anywhere alone on base, esp at night. They scowl at men that even look at you too long, hands straying towards their weapons to make a point. You can spar with anyone on base but if you end up bloodied, your opponent has a 1 in for 4 chance of guessing who his next opponent will be.

Youre their precious little sister figure. Combat with ghost, engineering with soap, tactics and strategy with Gaz, sniper with Price. At any given time you can lean on one of them, steal things out of their belts, feed them from your own hand, knick food off their plates or sips from their cups.

You’ve never had your own place to stay because you bounce around to their apartments. Usually end up with Ghost, but if he’s away on a mission, you’re happy to sleepover with any of the boys.

You’ve all seen each other asleep, sick, naked, half-dead, highs and lows and everything in between. You’re a unit. And they look out for you as if you’re blood to each and every one of them.

Right? Right.

So imagine the alarms bells when you’re separated from them on a covert op. You’re still on the radio, voice low, but you curse and tell them you have to go dark - someone’s coming.

Imagine the dwindling nerves when you don’t come back on comms. When they reach exfil and wait one minute… two… seconds drawing out and window to stay undetected closing.

Ghost goes back in to find you because it’s ghost.

Imagine the heart in throat terror when he finds a KorTac operative pinning you in a dark, too-quiet corner. Ghost can hear you breathing loud and fast from meters away, can see the whites of your wide eyes.

He draws a knife and throws it without hesitation, but you’ve seen him, which has drawn the enemy’s attention as well. The knife hits the man’s shoulder instead of his neck, but the distraction is enough for you to slip away. A high-pitched squeak in the back of your throat as you flee to the safety of your LT, an uncharacteristic weakness in your spine.

“Wha’ ‘appened?” Ghost growls, grabbing your shoulders, looking you over for obvious injuries. When you just shake your head, hand white-knuckled in the straps of his vest, he snarls. “I’ll fuckin’ kill ‘im.”

“There’s no time, LT, we have to go,” and it’s true but you’re nearly pleading. This isn’t a retreat this is an escape. It’s all wrong wrong wrong.

But you dig your heels in and tug sharply when he shifts as if to lunge at the KorTac operator - now watching you both with head tilted, flat eyes calculating.

“Ghost,” you practically whine, “come on.”

He shakes his head as if to dispel the suspicious cloud of anger overtaking his thoughts and follows you out.

The KorTac operator stands right where he was left, plucking the knife from his shoulder to stare contemplatively at the blood dripping from it. Shame you didn’t take it with you, a souvenir to remember him by. Well, there’s always next time.

[livingdeadhorse]

idk what this is. i like robots. i’ll clean these up later. i think.

anyways while drawing these I started thinking abt like. idk does this count as an AU.

General shit:

I didn't make it clear, but the robots that have pupils were built without a hardcoded purpose. They've always been free to explore what they want to do. The robots with fully colored "scleras" were created with a purpose from the jump, so their creators didn't feel the need to make them appear more "human".

The more expensive a robot's parts are, the less clunky it is.

Right now, I'm going with "their human family built them" but that's liable to change.

The designs are also liable to change because uh. duh.

Celestia Ludenberg:

Viewed the robots with an imbued purpose as interesting and superior (something something humanity's advancement). She wants to be praised like that, so she emulates them

Her cat loves how much heat she radiates so it's always near her.

Most of her upgrades are cosmetic but if they aren't, they're stupid. She won't upgrade her CPU or her motherboard, but she'll load up with three 4090s that her other components can't even keep up with. Yes, she does it to flex.

She'll distract from bootleg, refurbished, or shoddily painted parts by turning on her RGB. It gets annoying.

She knows that she's fairly unsettling and she revels in it.

All things considered, her cable management is pretty good.

Her gambling skill is still just luck here, but she tells everyone it's because she has a never-seen-before GPU(& CPU) that does calculations at insane speeds.

Most don't believe her but have no way to disprove her lie.

Kiyotaka Ishimaru

I can't decide if he was built by his father or his grandfather.

Either way, he was built before Toranosuke's downfall, so his internals were all pretty expensive for the time. Luckily for him, that means he was slightly future-proof and has a viable upgrade path.

Unluckily for him, this means he's stuck with really old parts and his 8gb of RAM can barely keep up in a 32gb world sadge

His chassis is built from secondhand or scrap parts. It's why his joints are so ancient in comparison to the rest of him and why he has so much cabling that he can't seem to manage.

Shit chassis = shit airflow = he is always overheating

BUDDY IS YOUR CPU BURNING HOW IS THERE SMOKE

Older tech = LOUD AF. The class bought him new fans to avoid the loud ass whirring. It's not quiet but he used to sound like a jet engine.

He runs on Debian. It was originally going to be Arch since it's lightweight but Debian's whole "old but stable" reputation fits him more. I don't see him properly dealing with bleeding edge software anyways.

His room is filled with past HDDs that no longer have storage. He deems all educational material important so he refuses to delete any lessons. He doesn't have the money for SSDs.

Mukuro Ikusaba:

Is usually in reconnaissance mode, meaning she has a shit ton of hidden cameras in her chassis

This used to benefit Fenrir. Now it benefits Junko.

She can have her parts shifted around with no issue to make room for a better arsenal.

She’s durable in her reconnaissance mode but she’s nigh on untouchable in her combat mode. Her chassis gets 10x bulkier and she can split her attention to several different tasks on the battlefield.

Fenrir Mercenary Group doubles as a weapons company. Mukuro is the only model of her kind though.

They tried to give her reconnaissance model the look of a “normal girl” so she could gather info more efficiently. They failed real bad. They also didn’t account for the fact that Mukuro isn’t good at socializing.

She allocates a CPU core to a process dedicated to Junko. 24/7 365

She believes herself to be less capable of emotion than she actually is. She can’t seem to find the system process that triggers such painful emotions.

Chihiro Fujisaki

Each “fold” in her skirt doubles as a screen. Think of the skirt as having two layers: the top shell and the under shell. The top shell is what doubles as a screen.

Optimized her hardware to work on code as fast as possible (fingers, skirt, etc).

She tends to test out new software on herself regardless of their compatibility with her pre-existing shit. She constantly has to reinstall her OS, but it’s all fun for her.

Speaking of her OS, I was going to make her run on Gentoo but IDK cause of the compile times. It’d be faster if she used distcc but I can’t see her screwing over her classmates like that lol.

So I’m between Nix and Arch.

Insecure about the fact that she overhauled her original model so extensively. Got made fun of for being a ‘defective’ robot. Her father supports her modifications but she still feels bad about having ‘failed’ somehow.

Cue identity issues

She helps out her classmates when it comes to repairs.

Tendency to stay up programming leads to high uptimes. If her friends notice her lagging or crashing, they’ll try to get her to shut down. (In a computer sense lol, not an emotional shut down)

Do y’all remember the xz utils backdoor? Yeah that’s how extensively she combs through code.

Sayaka Maizono

I can’t decide if she was built to be an idol or was originally some other type of robot.

Loves to make kids smile, so she has a sort of candy mechanism in her arm.

Everything about her glows or spins. You will never get bored looking at her.

Her skirt isn’t actually see through I just didn’t feel like erasing the hip joints lmao.

If corpos give her manager enough money, she has to perform with literal ads on her.

State-of-the art facial recognition software. It makes her fans feel special to have their names remembered.

She has a regular sleep cycle due to how load-intensive her everyday life is. Has to shut down for a couple hours every week at least.

Her psychic ability is just her running a million calculations based on people’s behavior and sensing which one is most plausible. This feature is in place to avoid PR disasters during interviews or public appearances.

There really aren’t enough worker’s rights regulations in place for robots.

The company gets alerts whenever she freaks tf out, so she feels even more stifled and repressed. Chihiro helped remove this.

Kyoko Kirigiri

Can’t decide if she was built by her father or grandfather. Probably just built by Jin and he “left” her in Fuhito’s care.

Fuhito made her go through several modifications, hardcoding his own investigative skills into her system.

Her grandfather loves her but has fucked up ideas about her own autonomy.

The events of DR:K still happen. She chose not to replace her hands.

Fuhito doesn’t make much use of a backdoor in her system anymore. He used it a lot more when she was a child but he sees her as a viable heir of the Kirigiri clan now. Chihiro isolated the backdoor to a separate SSD anyhow.

Still complicated father-daughter issues

Everything about her (but her OS) is proprietary, probably commissioned from Towa Industries. Her OS is a fork of Mint. The Windows 7 UI is just because I imagine her grandfather is One of Those lmao.

Has way too many scanners and sensors. She can’t test any evidence herself but she can gather a fair bit of information. Has a vast database for cross-comparison anyways.

Same issues as Togami and Mukuro: sees herself as less capable of emotion than she actually is.

The ramen noodle incident called for actual repairs.

Byakuya Togami

His superiority complex is far worse because he was literally CREATED to be the perfect Togami. You can’t tell him shiiiiiiit.

Gold joints. Scoffs at those with unoptimized cable management or software.

He’s constantly streamlining his own processes. Brings up that he runs on his own OS when Nobody Asked.

Had a similar backdoor to Kyoko’s but Koji did check that one. Obsessively. Nobody would tell Byakuya but He Just Knew. The lack of privacy irritated him. Aloysius helped fix it once Togami finally took over.

Only trusts Aloysius with his repairs. Has a hard time admitting when he needs repairs in the first place so Aloysius hides it under “monthly maintenance”.

Does everything from the terminal even when he 1) shouldn’t and 2) can’t. Bragging rights. He has written a bunch of his own scripts though to speed things up.

Kernel and OS provided to him by Koji. (UNIX-based. Proprietary) Byakuya maintains and builds his own updates. Doesn’t trust cheapskate peasants to do it for him.

Anti-FOSS. For him at least.

Has glasses for the aesthetics. Doesn’t need them.

[sizzleissues]

Futures AU

Introducing — The Future heroes

Bringing back my au as it rises in the ranking in my brain. (I will do doing Paris special drawings too — Just gotta let the inner dust settle XD)

Bonus doodle comic and info below the cut

Flo (Florence) Lahiffe:

Recently moved back from American with her family, immediately thrust into being Paris’s new bug themed hero Ladybird. She uses her mathematical prowess and logical mind to reason her way through the unique challenges her lucky charms present her. She can calculate exact right force and what trajectory she must take to victory. Of course, sometimes her one track mind means she struggles to think of - more creative- solutions. If her formula doesn’t work she often struggles, similarly in her civilian life. Its her family and new friends that help her see there’s more than one solution to the problem.

She was a star track runner and was set to get into a top American uni for engineering if it weren’t for her family moving back to Paris. They left to escape the shadow of the miraculous and its with much chagrin that on the day of their return, the Butterfly made her comeback.

AND

Emma Dupain-Cheng:

I’ve already talked a bit about her but she lives to roller skate and stan the old heroes. It’s at her birthday party at a roller rink, her best friend is akumatised and she watches her father suddenly become almost heroic. It’s when he locks her in a room for her safety that she finds the cat miraculous and becomes Kitty Bell. It’s the thing she dreamt of most.

But things don’t live up to her expectations. More on that to come.

Anyway she’s like bestest of friend’s with Adrien and they cosplay and go to Hero Cons together and neither of them know their both old and new identities and it starts to tear them apart.

[reachartwork]

HOW TO SMELL AN ENTIRE APPLE: A SHORT STORY

Inspired by this post by @thatnordicguy and @anphivenas

Step #0 - Input the molecular formula for apple scent into the chemosynthesizer. Check against standard atmospheric regulations.

Step #1 - Inhale from the olfactory vent.

Step #2 - Step away in dissatisfaction, shake your head, put your hands on your hips. Purse your lips a little bit. Document discrepancy against memory file.

Step #3 - Ask Arto why he thinks real apples smell different. Listen to him talk about dirt while he mops, even though hydroponics hasn't used soil in sixty years.

Step #4 - Adjust temperature to match hydroponic bay specifications. Modify humidity levels to Earth-standard apple growing conditions. Calculate optimal dispersal timing.

Step #5 - Spend three months adjusting the ratio of esters while the Father AI logs your overtime as "personal research."

Step #6 - Request access to historical apple cultivation records. Compare against current hydroponic yields that you keep insisting aren't quite right.

Step #7 - Accept illegal thermos coffee from Arto while explaining why you're trying to simulate apple stem rot. Ignore his comment about how your genetic mother used to sneak him fresh apples during maintenance shifts.

Step #8 - Visit the hydroponic bay during off-hours. Stare at perfectly engineered apple trees while holding your latest formula.

Step #9 - Get caught by Arto in the hydroponic bay. Pretend you're doing official atmospheric maintenance.

Step #10 - File your three thousandth chemical variation attempt while children from the education deck eat fresh apples during their biology lesson.

Step #11 - Listen to Arto's story about his great-grandmother's apple trees on Earth while pretending to calibrate environmental controls. Make detailed notes about soil composition that aren't relevant to hydroponics. Make a note to yourself to request synthetic dirt.

Step #12 - Run formula past the station's other atmospheric engineers. Ignore their suggestions that the hydroponic apples are chemically identical to your synthesis.

Step #13 - Request video logs from the hydroponics bay from 14 years ago. Watch your own face.

Step #14 - Realize you're no longer sure what real apples smell like. Spend a week comparing your formula against hydroponic samples (to get back to square one) while Arto watches silently.

Step #15 - Submit research proposal for expanded apple volatiles study. Receive approval with note: "Recreational research permitted within standard atmospheric duties."

Step #16 - Calculate that you've spent more time perfecting this formula than an Earth apple tree takes to mature. Continue adjustments.

Step #17 - Watch Arto retire from maintenance duties. Inherit his illegal thermos and refuse to acknowledge why you keep it.

Step #18 - Access archived footage of the education deck from your childhood. Focus on analyzing environmental conditions instead of your own face.

Step #19 - Visit Arto in the elder care deck. Bring him hydroponic apples that you both agree aren't quite right.

Step #20 - Find Arto's old maintenance logs with notes about the original hydroponic bay installation. Ignore the drawings in margins made by children who are now atmospheric engineers themselves.

Step #21 - Input your final formula into the chemosynthesizer. Tell yourself it's for the sake of documentation.

Step #22 - Inhale from the olfactory vent while holding a fresh apple from the hydroponic bay. Compare the two. Bite an apple. Chew. Swallow. Inhale.

Step #23 - Step away in satisfaction, shake your head, put your hands on your hips. Smile a little bit. File formula in public database under "standard atmospheric maintenance". Take a seat in your motorchair, satisfied. Rub your achey legs.

Step #24 - Watch new generation of children eat apples during their biology lesson.

Step #25 - Die.

[aspenmissing]

ᴀɴ ᴀʀᴛɪꜱᴛꜱ ʜᴏᴘᴇ

��ᴀʏᴠɪᴋ x ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ || ꜰʟᴜꜰꜰ/ᴀɴɢꜱᴛ || 2119 ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ

ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢꜱ: ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ, ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴᴇᴅ ꜱᴜɪᴄɪᴅᴇ

ꜱᴜᴍᴍᴀʀʏ: ᴀɴ ᴀʀᴛɪꜱᴛ ʙʀᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴊᴀʏᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴠɪᴋᴛᴏʀ’ꜱ ʟᴀʙ ᴄᴀᴘᴛᴜʀᴇꜱ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍꜱ ᴏɴ ᴄᴀɴᴠᴀꜱ, ʟᴇᴀᴠɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ᴀʀᴛ ɪɴᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇ—ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ᴛʀᴀɢᴇᴅʏ ʀᴇꜱʜᴀᴘᴇꜱ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ. ʏᴇᴀʀꜱ ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ, ᴀ ᴍʏꜱᴛᴇʀɪᴏᴜꜱ ᴇɴᴄᴏᴜɴᴛᴇʀ ʀᴇᴠᴇᴀʟꜱ ᴀ ᴛɪᴍᴇʟᴇꜱꜱ ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ, ʜɪᴅᴅᴇɴ ᴡɪᴛʜɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ᴏɴᴇ ꜰɪɴɪꜱʜᴇᴅ ᴘᴀɪɴᴛɪɴɢ.

ʙᴀꜱᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʀᴛ ᴅʀᴀᴡɴ ʙʏ 'ᴏɪᴅɪɴɢᴜꜱ_ᴀʀᴛ' ᴏɴ ᴛɪᴋᴛᴏᴋ

ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ | ᴊᴀʏᴄᴇ | ᴠɪᴋᴛᴏʀ

The name of the artist was known throughout Piltover. Not for her completed works—because she had none—but for her brilliance in leaving her art just shy of whole. Every piece she created stirred something indescribable, the incomplete strokes telling stories of longing, imperfection, and possibility. She thrived in the mystery of absence, and it made her a celebrated enigma.

When Professor Heimerdinger extended the invitation, she hesitated. Engineering was hardly her forte, but the professor believed her talent for visualizing ideas could assist in translating the ambitious designs of Jayce Talis and Viktor into something practical, something revolutionary.

Jayce was sceptical at first. Viktor, however, saw the potential in having her involved. “Sometimes,” he said in his lilting accent, “a fresh perspective reveals what we’re blind to.” And so, she became a part of their peculiar little team.

Her role was clear: to refine their chaotic scribbles into elegant schematics. Jayce’s bold visions and Viktor’s intricate calculations often clashed on paper, but she found harmony in their contradictions, drawing plans that balanced ambition with practicality. The three worked tirelessly, the laboratory becoming a second home.

Yet when she wasn’t assisting with Hextech, her easel stood by the massive arched window of the lab. There, she painted the room as she saw it—the grand glass framing Piltover’s ever-bustling skyline, Jayce’s hammer leaning against the wall, Viktor’s cane perched beside his chair. She captured the glow of Hextech crystals bathing the workspace in ethereal light and the cluttered brilliance of their desks below. Her brush strokes immortalized the laughter, the debates, and the quiet moments of thoughtfulness they shared.

Still, the painting remained unfinished.

The events that unraveled Piltover began as whispers, rumors of unrest in Zaun. But soon, the city shook under the weight of its own ambition. Hextech, once a beacon of hope, became a tool of power. Jayce grew more burdened with responsibility, his ideals tested at every turn. Viktor’s determination to overcome his failing health drove him down darker paths, paths she feared would consume him.

“You can’t stop painting us,” Viktor said one evening, his voice soft as he leaned on his cane beside her easel. His once-bright eyes now seemed dim, his frame thinner than ever. “Not now.”

“I’m not stopping,” she assured him, though her hands trembled as she worked. She was no longer sure if her art could capture the fractures forming between them.

Jayce’s visits to the lab grew less frequent, his duties pulling him elsewhere. When he did return, his presence was heavier, his laughter scarce. “Things will get better,” he told her once, his hand brushing against hers. “We’ll finish everything we started. Together.”

But as the days passed, her painting became a reflection of their reality. The colours darkened. The vibrant glow of the Hextech core faded into muted shades. And still, it was incomplete.

She had been in the council room when it exploded, the world around her fracturing in a storm of fire and rubble. Jayce had been the one to pull her from the wreckage, his face pale but determined. She had been there when he brought Viktor back using the Hexcore, desperation overriding caution. She had stood beside them when Viktor awoke, his frail body surging with new strength, and had watched helplessly as he walked away, leaving her and Jayce behind in silence.

Time passed, and Jayce disappeared. Viktor, burdened by his own choices, would occasionally return to the lab, seeking solace in the ruins. She was always there, sitting amidst the debris, her easel standing like a lone sentinel. He never said much, just stood quietly, his gaze fixed on the painting that captured a world they could no longer reach.

“Why do you stay here?” Viktor had asked her once, his voice hollow.

She didn’t have an answer. Or perhaps she did, but the words never came.

When Jayce returned, it was as though no time had passed. He found her staring at the unfinished painting, the brush resting idly in her hand. The colors had faded, the outlines softened by dust, but it remained as haunting as the day it had been started.

“You still haven’t finished it?” he asked, his voice laced with both wonder and confusion.

She turned to him, her eyes heavy with something he couldn’t name. “Some things aren’t meant to be finished,” she said softly. “Completion means an end, and I don’t think I’m ready to let go yet.”

He didn’t press her. He simply sat down beside her, the weight of their shared memories hanging between them like a fragile thread.

And then the news came. Jayce and Viktor—together again, just as they always should have been—had sacrificed themselves to save the world. She hadn’t been there, hadn’t seen their final moments, but the weight of their choice crushed her all the same.

Now, the lab was silent. She stood amidst the wreckage, dust settling over the shattered remains of a dream. Her easel had somehow survived, the canvas untouched. She sank to the ground before it, staring at the painting that captured their world before it fell apart.

The window, intact in the painting, now gaped open in the ruins. The desks were no longer cluttered but splintered. The chairs they had sat in together were overturned, broken. Her hand reached for the brush, but it faltered. There was no one left to finish this with her.

She stared at the painting, her chest tight with grief. Something was still missing.

But now she understood. It wasn’t that the painting was incomplete because it couldn’t be finished—it was that she wasn’t ready yet. The story—their story—hadn’t ended in her heart, even if they were no longer here to tell it. But one day, when the weight of their absence wasn’t so heavy, when the memories of what they built together felt less like loss and more like legacy, she would pick up the brush again.

She would finish it.

For now, the painting would remain as it was, a testament to the hope that lingered in every unfinished stroke, and a promise that the story they began together would find its ending in time.

The museum was quiet except for the rhythmic tapping of a cane against the marble floor. A group of people followed their guide, his worn name badge reading “Viktor.” Despite his frail frame, he carried himself with quiet dignity, his voice steady as he described each piece of art with the utmost respect and love for the artist.

“Y/N’s work is renowned not just for its beauty, but for its elusiveness,” Viktor said, his accent lilting gently. “She had a gift for capturing moments that felt eternal, even though she rarely completed her pieces.”

One guest frowned and raised their hand. “Why are all of her paintings incomplete?”

Viktor paused, his gaze lingering on a half-finished canvas. A faint smile touched his lips. “It is believed she never liked endings,” he said. “To her, the world was in constant motion, and to end a piece would mean to confine it. Perhaps she wanted her art to remain as alive as the moments she captured.”

They moved on, Viktor leading them into a smaller, dimly lit room. At its centre hung a painting, larger than the others, bathed in soft light. The group leaned closer, their eyes widening at the masterpiece before them. It was a depiction of a lab, vibrant and warm, filled with life and detail. Two figures sat in their respective chairs, their backs to the viewer. One tall and broad-shouldered, the other slender and hunched slightly, their shared presence radiating quiet camaraderie.

Viktor’s voice softened. “This is the only painting she ever completed. It is called ‘Her Hope’”

“Why did she complete this one but not the others?” someone asked.

Viktor’s gaze didn’t waver from the painting. “It is believed that this was her way of saying goodbye. To the lab, to the dreams they shared, and to the people she loved most.”

Another guest, curiosity etched across their face, asked, “What happened to her after this? Why didn’t she create any more art?”

Viktor’s expression grew sombre. “After this painting was completed, Y/N disappeared. Some say she died not long after, perhaps from illness or heartbreak. Others believe she took her own life, unable to bear the weight of her loneliness.”

A hush fell over the group. Then, one guest spoke hesitantly. “What do you think happened to her?”

For a long moment, Viktor was silent. His grip tightened on his cane as he stared at the painting, his voice barely above a whisper. “I do not know what became of her. But what I do know is that she found them again. In her own way, wherever she went, she found her peace.”

The group lingered a moment longer, the weight of Viktor’s words settling over them. As they left the room, Viktor remained, his hand brushing the edge of the painting, a faint smile gracing his lips.

“Viktor!” a voice called out from behind him. He turned, his smile widening as Jayce walked in, his confident stride faltering only slightly as he reached Viktor. Without a word, Jayce leaned down, pressing a soft peck to Viktor’s lips. They turned together to face the painting once more, the moment shared in quiet understanding.

Jayce tilted his head, studying the figures in the painting. “You know,” he murmured, “those two look a little like us.”

Viktor’s smile turned secretive, his tone light. “Pure coincidence, I am sure.”

Jayce’s laugh was soft, the kind shared only between those who have weathered years together. But their moment was interrupted by the faint sound of shuffling. Both turned to see a woman seated on a small bench facing the painting. She was hunched over a journal, sketching with quiet intensity.

Curiosity drew them closer. Viktor’s cane tapped lightly against the floor as they approached, their footsteps careful not to disturb her. Peering over her shoulder, they caught a glimpse of her work—a detailed, delicate rendition of “Her Hope,” the lines almost breathing with life. Her skill was undeniable, her strokes imbued with a familiarity that neither man could ignore.

Jayce’s voice was gentle, threaded with curiosity. “Hello,” he said, the single word carrying an unexpected warmth. The woman looked up, her gaze meeting theirs, and for a moment, the air between them seemed to hold its breath.

Her eyes flickered with recognition, or perhaps it was something deeper—a spark of familiarity that neither Viktor nor Jayce could place. Silence stretched, heavy with unspoken possibilities. Then, she smiled, a small curve of her lips that felt like the echo of something long forgotten.

“Good afternoon,” she said softly, her voice lilting like the first notes of a melody. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”

“Not at all,” Viktor replied, his tone careful but kind, his cane tapping lightly as he shifted closer. “You draw beautifully. May we?”

She nodded, and as they stepped nearer, Jayce’s eyes fell to the sketch in her lap. The lines were graceful yet precise, the image forming was unmistakable—the painting of the lab, rendered anew through her hand. Each stroke seemed alive, imbued with an understanding that tugged at the edges of memory.

“That’s remarkable,” Jayce said, his admiration genuine. “You must have spent time studying it.”

“I have,” she admitted, her gaze flitting between them. “It speaks to me, this painting. The lives it captured… it’s as if I know them.”

“We’ve spent a great deal of time with it ourselves,” Viktor offered, his words tinged with something wistful. “I am Viktor, and this is Jayce.”

“A pleasure,” she said, inclining her head. “I am Y/N.”

The introduction lingered in the air, the exchange of names feeling oddly significant, as though they had been spoken before in a time neither could recall. Yet, there was no certainty, only the strange pull of connection.

“Your work,” Viktor began, gesturing to her journal, “it captures something… familiar. As though you have been here before.”

She hesitated, her fingers brushing over the edge of the sketch. “Perhaps,” she said, her voice quiet. “Or perhaps it’s simply the way some places, some moments, leave an imprint on the soul.”

They stood in silence for a moment, the three of them drawn together before the painting. The weight of years seemed to melt into the stillness, the past and present converging in the shared space of art and memory. Whatever had been lost, or forgotten, didn’t matter. In that fleeting moment, it felt as if they had found each other again—even if they didn’t quite know it yet.

[dasketcherz]

people who thought varian having fellow scientists for friends was a bad idea because "it takes away his uniqueness of being one" is a pretty shallow and flat criticism

because if we're being for real, surely he is not the only scientist/alchemist that ever exists in the tangled universe, that would just be plain goofy. a group of people can indulge under the same umbrella of interest and still be distinct from each other at the same time. a great example i can think of is having a group of artist friends: fundamentally youre all good at drawing sure—but one maybe is better at rendering, one is a master at perspective, one is a pro at composition, one is a beast in color theory etc not to mention every one in the group having their own art style different from one another

the same can be said for team radical—yong is skilled in pyrotechnics and kinematics, you can count on him to estimate complicated physics. nuru is a pro in astronomy and mathematics, straight up the fastest calculator alive and the team can rely on her to make sure their equations are as accurate as possible before performing it in application. varian and hugo may both be capable of alchemy and engineering but they divide specialty on that front—varian is the better expert at alchemy and chemistry while hugo thrives at being the better mechanical engineer and thaumaturgy.

one of the endearing storyline in vat7k thats so relatable is finding your people, finding your tribe, your peers, individuals that you can connect with because of common interests. so varian having a group of people who are just like him tagging along on the road trip is a great idea. it doesnt take away his identity as a scientist, if anything, it offers so much more room for him to grow, to learn, to expand his knowledge, and to finally have people to share knowledge with.

but this is just my opinion and the former is theirs.

[tf2heritageposts]

engineer would be a vindictive little bastard but he’s too self absorbed in the fact he’s such a mechanical and scientific genius that his threats to you would be written in a fuckton of equations and when you put them in a graphing calculator it’s a photorealistic drawing of a winchester rifle

[starleska]

Are you gonna give us that Jack Frost/Reader we know you wanna write?? 😆

oh god yes yes YES PLEASE I WOULD LOVE TO 😳💖 there is an absolutely tragic lack of x Reader fanworks for this man, which is devastating given how much he craves attention...i think he needs a little love to warm him right up 😉

Jack Frost x Reader headcanons 💙❄️

❄️ when You first meet Jack, he flatters You like you're the only person in the world who matters. he presses earnest kisses to the backs of your palms and showers You with compliments. you're taken in by his glittering smile, and the ease with which Jack makes You feel ever so special. but with time, You notice Jack's long game. there's a shallow affect behind those attentive eyes which clues You in; he's not only always watching You for any glimmer of approval, but watching everyone else too, all of the time. every phrase is perfectly engineered to give him the response he wants, and what he wants is attention. so, You decide to turn the tables on him. You make it your life's goal to make Jack Frost melt. ❄️ when You confront Jack on his scheming behaviour, his persona cracks like ice. his smile drops instantly and he takes on a mocking, scathing tone. "You think you've figured it all out?" he scoffs. "Please. Your gullibility would give the April Fool a field day. Why don't you scootle along now, before you get yourself hurt?" but You see it: the hurt flickering behind those frost-blue eyes. You step closer to him, and don't miss the way he flinches. "Aren't you tired of all this, Jack?" You ask quietly. "Always calculating. Always trying to get on top. You're trying so hard to make people like you...you can't see it when they actually do." Jack's hands are ice-cold when You slip your fingers through his own. he blusters in protest, tripping over his words as he tries to formulate a witty retort...but a light dusting of pink blooms along his cheekbones.

❄️ sincere affection is a foreign notion to Jack, and he skitters around it like a deer on a frozen lake. years of hypervigilance and rejection have him distrustful of your motivations, even when You speak your mind. "Surely this is some elaborate trick," Jack tells You once afternoon, when the pair of you are bundled up together under one ultra-long, snowflake-patterned scarf. "I'm still waiting for the big reveal, and I'm sure it'll be a showstopper." yet you're used to the pitfalls of Jack's paranoid mind, and You ask him, "What if the big reveal is that I think you look really cute when you're flustered?" without waiting for an answer, You capture his lips in a kiss. Jack is immediately reactive and whines softly into you, but You slide your arms over his shoulders and lock your fingers behind his back: reassuring him. keeping him safe. telling him it's okay to be vulnerable here. ❄️ nothing could have prepared you for what Jack's real love looks like. remarkably, Jack is restrained when he's being insincere: the actual depths of adoration he has for You are astonishing. he's physically clingy: always having a hand rest on your shoulder, or brushing his thigh against yours under the table. when you're alone he loves to envelop You, whether that's by drawing You in for an impromptu hug or falling asleep cuddling You like you're a teddy bear. his kisses (frequent and soft) leave small trails of ice crystals along your bare skin, and he always grins when You shiver. "Oh dear, are you cold, darling?" Jack asks with a wink. "It would appear my efforts to warm you up have been in vain. However...there's no harm if I keep trying, is there~?" ❄️ although he's freezing cold in the extremities, Jack isn't frozen all the way through. a gentle warmth exudes from Jack's chest, and You often spend your evenings intertwined with your head resting there, listening to the curious flutter of his trapped, searing heart. You murmur gentle words of affirmation into his neck, and delight in how he keens beneath You. when You look up at him, You adore the way his eyes sparkle. Jack is beautiful in the way only a snowflake can be: wholly unique, with hidden complexities even a lifetime wouldn't allow You to observe. Jack is wonderful. and Jack is yours.

[djarincore]

The Name of Love

SUMMARY: You knew him by three names: Mando, Din, and finally, riduur.

PAIRING: din djarin x gn!reader

WORD COUNT: 6.9k

WARNINGS: fluff, angst, canon typical violence, blood, hypothermia, happy ending

A/N: a repost from my previous blog! i've only written 2 full din fics so far but this is def my favorite one <3 thanks again to @xiadeptus for beta reading this

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

You first knew him as the Mandalorian, the stoic and aloof bounty hunter that drifted in and out of Tatooine looking for work or ship repairs. The glinting armor was hard not to notice under the scorching twin suns, along with his infamous reputation that followed in whispers—whispers which mainly revolved around the strange, green child he carried around in a bag and the fact that he never showed his face. 

When you first got the job at Peli’s garage, thanks to the favor she owed your mother, the sight of the Mandalorian descending the ramp of his beaten-up Razor Crest had you slipping behind a couple of stacked crates with the rest of the quivering pit droids. He strode down the ramp toward your boss who was already reaching for the green child trailing after him. 

“There’s my little guy!” She exclaimed, scooping him up and cradling him in her arms. The child cooed and clasped her finger in his three-fingered grasp. His keeper watched on with hands on his hips; the helmet remained solely focused on the child. 

“We need a repair,” he said, the rasp in his voice still remaining despite the modulator. 

“Sure thing but, just so you know, it’ll cost you a little extra this time. Got a new hire.” She jerked her thumb in your direction. 

You took it as your cue to reveal yourself, noting the way his helmet turned, carefully looking you up and down, and his hand slowly moved toward the blaster at his waist, like he wasn’t above shooting the harmless mechanic’s assistant and a couple of droids. You lifted both hands, stained with oil, as a show of goodwill.  

“Aw, relax, Mando,” Peli drawled, swatting the air with her nonchalant attitude. “They’re not a droid.” 

His hand slipped off the handle, but remained at his side, ready to draw if necessary. 

You sent him a friendly half-smile and his gloved fingers twitched. 

“Fine.”

The remainder of the day was spent repairing the left wing and engine of his ship, which looked like it had seen the losing side of a gunfight, and you couldn’t help but wonder how he managed to limp down to Tatooine without crashing and burning once he broke through the atmosphere. 

The job would have been faster if you had some assistance from the droids, but Peli made it clear they weren’t allowed anywhere near the ship or the Mandalorian, making his disdain for them abundantly clear. You wondered the whole day what a droid could have done to make him hate even the smallest of droids. The theories you built in your head ran wild, ranging from a nasty betrayal by a trusted ally to tripping him in a crowded cantina, embarrassing him so badly he vowed to never show his face ever again.

You leaned against the rope of the swing suspending you off the ground, taking a break from welding metal back together, and watched the Mandalorian move below your feet. He walked with purpose, something a fearsome bounty hunter with a widespread reputation was expected to do; every step was carefully calculated like a predator hunting prey. Behind him was the child clumsily waddling, as fast as his legs could carry him, after the man. 

Your lips curved into a soft smile while observing the dichotomy of the two. It warmed your heart to see how attached the child was to his guardian. More questions formed in your mind about their relationship; the rumors didn’t contain the exact details of how the two came to be together. 

Maybe the child is his biological son and beneath all the armor is green, wrinkly skin and comically large ears tucked into the helmet, you joked to yourself. 

You pressed one of the buttons on the side of your swing to lower yourself to the ground. Your feet touched the floor, but you didn’t get up. 

“Your ship should be up and running in no time.” 

“Thank you for your help.” 

“No pro- Oh!” You exclaimed when something poked at your leg. A three-fingered hand was tapping your leg; large black eyes gazed up at you. You cooed, “Hello there, little guy.” 

He tugged at the cuff of your pants, waving his arms in the air. You waved back, fighting back the urge to smooth your fingers over his floppy ears.

“He wants you to hold him.” 

“Ah,” you chuckled, cheeks warming. You didn’t have much experience with children; in fact, you didn’t know the first thing about caring for one. They had so many needs, so many different ways of communicating them too. The pressure to mold them into upstanding beings—it was just too much. But, you could definitely hold a child, especially one as cute as him. 

You pulled him into your arms and he immediately found the strings of your shirt vastly entertaining.

“I think he likes me,” you quipped. 

The child’s babble sounded like a positive response. 

“Me too,” the Mandalorian said, leaning against a crate and watching the two of you. 

There were multiple rotations between their visits. Each visit brought a new scratch, ding, or completely wrecked engine that made you look on in disbelief, but you were eager to see the two nonetheless. They brought stories of their adventures, bounties, and new people they met. 

You would be the first to greet them, standing at the base of the ship’s ramp with a wide grin and many questions budding on the tip of your tongue. 

“Hey.” 

The modulated voice made you snap out of your thoughts. 

“Yes, sir?” 

You could hear him huff behind the modulator. He said to just call him Mando the first time you called him sir, but you never picked it up, finding it too entertaining to hear his exasperated sighs. 

“Want to get off this planet? I’ve got a job proposition.” 

Your goodbyes were easy—a hug for Peli, head pats for each droid—and suddenly, you found yourself sitting in the cockpit of the ship you had been repairing for the past few rotations. 

You quickly learned space was cold and you were not prepared. The thin clothes you were used to on Tatooine wouldn’t cut it anymore and it left you shivering in the passenger seat. 

You sunk down your seat, wrapping your arms around yourself to find a semblance of warmth. 

You weren’t sure what your purpose was in the time between ports, but even if you knew, you were frozen to your seat and unable to move without feeling stiff. 

Soon, you fell asleep, lulled by the stars and the sound of beeps and hollow groans of an old ship.

You woke to fabric being draped over your body and a glimmer of beskar. 

The hands over the fabric paused; the Mandalorian stepped back, hands returning to his side, flexing at his waist. “Should have told me you were cold.”

You gripped the fabric and realized it was one of his thick, woolen capes which smelled of caf beans and leather. You resisted the urge to nestle your cheek against the wool and savor the comfort it offered.

“I didn’t want to be a bother.” 

“You’re a part of my crew now,” he said firmly. “We take care of each other.” 

Your heart stuttered, fingers curled tighter around his cape, and you muttered a pathetic, “Yeah.” 

From the kindness he offered, you made a silent promise at that moment; as long as the three of you were together, you would do anything to protect them. 

It wouldn’t be long before you realized he felt the same. 

—

Then, you learned his name, his real name—Din Djarin. It had been a while into your partnership. You learned far more about the two than your theories could have imagined—his Creed, his force-wielding child. 

The three of you had a good routine. He would scout out bounties while you either worked on the ship or found other mechanic work elsewhere if the ship was (miraculously) undamaged. Grogu would be passed between the two of you. If Mando’s bounty was too dangerous for him to follow you’d take him for the day, letting him pass you random tools and praising him for helping. And at the end of the day, the three of you reconvened with separate checks that would go toward supplies and other basic necessities. If it was a particularly rough day, you would be forcing him onto a crate and checking his wounds. 

“I’m fine,” he would insist, attempting to push your wandering hands aside. But, you could see the unsteady shake of his hand and the sliver of skin and blood showing on his waist where he was cut. 

It was a simple routine, but it worked. You had no complaints… 

…Well, just one.

“ Kriff, we’re gonna crash!” You cried, shutting your eyes to avoid seeing your imminent doom that took the form of two towering cliffs of ice far too close together for the ship to slip through. The two tailing bounty hunter ships had followed you from Nevaro, after accusing Mando of stealing a bounty from them, which he rightfully caught. 

You knew working for a bounty hunter wasn’t going to be easy, comfortable, or safe—but, you trusted him. He was good at what he did and you never doubted it. 

The ship turned on its side, jerking your entire body to the right, and left you at the mercy of the belt across your body to keep you in your seat. You could hear the scrape of ice across the bottom of the ship and cringed, knowing you’d have to repair that (if you even made it out of this alive). 

When the ship slipped free from the narrow gap and straightened. you let out a breath and opened your eyes. Snow, miles, and miles of it, touched everything your eyes could see. 

He glanced at you over his shoulder. If you could see his face, you’d guess it was smug. 

You were getting better at reading your faceless partner. He didn’t say much but his body did with every head tilt and shrug. And you would catch yourself spending a lot of time just observing him. 

“You’ve gotta stop piloting like that,” you huffed, cradling your head when you feel the slightest throb. “You’re gonna kill me one of these days.”

“Don’t plan on it,” came his monotone response. 

The ship cruised, his helmet scanning the horizon, and kept low in the meantime. There was no sign of the other two ships. 

You unbuckled your seatbelt and stood; a wave of dizziness had you staggering. When your hand flew out to catch on to something, you found his, already reaching out to steady you in his strong grasp. The brush of his thumb over your knuckles made your breath catch.

“I have to lie down.” To stop your heart from racing at his subtle touches. 

You thought you had gotten used to it by now—the way he made you feel safe. Whether it was his hand hovering over the base of your spine as he guided you through a crowded market or how he would always position himself between you and whatever shady character he had dealings with. The small gestures piled up and toyed with your mind. You understood the signs—heart racing, nervous tension in your chest—the budding symptoms of love. 

“We’re not in the clear yet.” 

You brushed the heat crawling over your neck off and said, “Can’t we land somewhere and wait them out a while? I’m gonna be sick if you start flying upside down.”

The beginning of his argument was cut off by the cockpit door opening. You slipped out and down the ladder into the cargo hold. Some crates shifted to the right of the ship as a result of the sharp turn. You weren’t concerned with them as much as you were with your makeshift bed space, a flimsy sleeping bag and some blankets, which were also flung off to the side. One of your blankets was stuck under a crate, too heavy for you to lift by yourself. 

You groaned, weakly tugging at the fabric peeking out beneath. You were cold, tired, and sick—you already hated this planet. 

You heard a curse from above and Mando shouted, “Hold onto something!” 

You didn’t have time to react before the ship was nose-diving, throwing you against the wall. You clung to the ladder as the ship's sporadic movements jostled your entire body. It continued for a few more seconds before settling and the engines cut out. Everything was finally still, except your heart. 

You heard the creaks of ice settling beneath the ship, then cracks. It wasn’t long before the ice gave way to the weight, shattering into a cavern below and dragging the ship with it. 

You don’t remember hitting your head, just the scream that came before it. But, when you finally came to, numb and confused, Mando was rattling your shoulders with a panicked voice.

“Wake up.” 

You could have sworn in your daze there was a desperate ‘please’ added at the end. 

You groaned, peeling your eyes open, “Mando?” 

He sighed like a massive weight was lifted off of him. “Yeah,” he said, there was a hint of a smile in his voice. He carefully slipped his arms behind your shoulders and knees. “It’s me. I’ve got you.”

You were half aware of him lifting you, too dazed by the cold settling under your skin and making a home deep in your bones.  

The hull was dusted with snow and frost. You spotted a large hole in the side of the ship, crudely covered with a tarp and some crates. 

“Got t’ fix,” you mumbled, leaning your head against his shoulder pauldron. You didn’t even know where to start with something that large on this barren planet. If you weren’t so cold, the dread would have set in, realizing you were stranded on a barren planet with little resources to dig yourselves up from a cold grave. 

“Not right now,” he grunted, kicking your toolbox aside—the one he gifted you on Nevaro after you eyed it at a stall for too long. He approached the small corner beside his bunk, which was caved in, where there was little snow piled. He set you down, supporting the back of your head with his hand as he laid you against the wall. “I’ll be right back.” 

You could’ve protested if your mouth or eyes didn’t feel frozen shut; all you wanted to do was drift off.

“Hey, hey,” he said. He ripped a glove off and pressed his warm hand to your cheek. “Don’t fall asleep.”

You moaned, pushing closer to the warmth, and tried to focus on his visor. 

“There you go. Good.” 

With your thoughts slowly catching up, you glanced around his shoulders, not seeing a floating pram anywhere. You wanted to get up and rush around him in search of the child, but all you could muster was a sharp turn of your head that still sent pain down your neck. “Where’s-”

Mando brought your face back to him. His steady voice pulled you out of your panic. “He’s fine. He’s up in the cockpit; I’ll bring him down after I get you some blankets.” 

“Okay.” You rested your head against the wall and watched as he untied his cape and slipped it over your shoulders, tucking it close around your body. 

He disappeared up the ladder. You heard his faint footsteps, scouring the upper level. He returned soon, a few blankets slung over his shoulder and Grogu tucked in his other arm. 

He set Grogu down and moved you forward just enough for him to sling more blankets over your shoulders.

If you could feel your face, maybe you’d laugh at how ridiculous you looked and felt, like a small child being coddled by a worried parent. But, he wasn’t a worried parent, he was your employer—your incredibly kind and caring employer, who you often dreamt of as more than an employer, more than a friend. 

“Aren’t y-you,” you chattered, “cold, too?” 

You worried about him under all that shining armor; he could be hiding an injury like he always did, pretending he was fine and limping off somewhere else to lick his wounds alone. You wished he wouldn’t be so stubborn all the time. 

Grogu crawled into your lap, playing with the tips of your frozen fingers. Mando said something about his armor keeping him warm, but you didn’t register any of it when his hands enveloped yours—calloused and warm.  

“Try to keep your arms and legs moving,” he said, massaging the palm of your hands. Then he directed his attention to Grogu. “Okay, kid, keep your buir warm. I’m going to repair the ship.” 

“Hm?” You cocked your head at the word. Sure, he liked sneaking Mando’a words into his sentences from time to time—sometimes calling you mesh’la or cyar’ika, which made you blush because of how sincere he sounded—but you just assumed they were nicknames. You assumed buir meant babysitter or something along those lines, too. “Stealing my job, Mando?” you quipped instead. 

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

When his hands slipped from yours, your fingers twitched, almost asking him not to go. You would warm up faster if he were with you.

He slipped past the tarp, into the cavern of snow. Grogu’s babble drew your attention; his arms were raised.

You apologized, “Sorry, kid, I’d lift you up, but my arms are a bit sore right now.”

He continued to babble as he found comfort nestled in your lap instead. You rested your head against the wall and stared at the opening where Mando left, still feeling the ghost of his warmth on your hand. 

The minutes you spent slowly flexing your hands and feet paid off; your strength was slowly returning. Grogu crawled off of your lap and watched as you, with the grace of a newborn calf, pushed yourself onto unsteady feet.

“Okay, kid, let’s go help your dad.” You scooped him up and braced yourself with Mando’s cape, making sure the two of you were snug beneath the fabric before pushing aside the tarp and stepping outside into the frigid weather. 

The cold winds were the first to greet you; already, your cheeks were growing numb. Grogu let out a disapproving grunt, clearly not favoring the cold either. 

You stayed close to the side of the ship in case your legs gave out and rounded the tail end before finding Mando, with frost coating his armor and hands on his hip, staring at a jumble of wires hanging from an open panel. 

Upon seeing his father, Grogu cheered in your arms, alerting the Mandalorian whose head snapped in your direction. 

He was already approaching you before declaring, “You need to rest.” 

“I can’t cozy up in there while you’re out here all by yourself. Look at you.” You drew a line in the frost coating his chest plate. “You must be freezing under all that.” 

“I said I’m-”

“Fine,” you finished. “I know, I know—you’re always fine, Mando.” 

You were growing tired of his stubborn attitude concerning his well-being and of standing for so long. You were beginning to sway without realizing it, but Mando’s quick hand on your shoulder steadied you. 

“I got you,” he murmured. He took Grogu from you and moved to your side. He wrapped an arm around your shoulders, silently guiding you back into the ship’s hull and onto the spot where the blankets were piled. 

Once you were settled, you expected him to wander back out but, to your surprise, he began detaching pieces of his armor. 

You watched, mouth agape, as one by one the shining beskar revealed a dark flight suit that molded with the contours of his body. The helmet, of course, stayed.

He eased himself onto the floor beside you and wrapped the three of you beneath the blankets. Your eyes widened when his arm pressed against yours. You dared to rest your head against his shoulder; you relished in the comfort of his presence, finally feeling warmer than ever. His body began to relax gradually with your head on his shoulder and his chest rose and fell in an even rhythm. 

With Grogu resting in your lap it almost felt like the three of you were a family, settling in after a long day. 

“You’re always protecting everyone,” you said, exhaustion beginning to creep over you once again. “We’re a crew, right? Let me take care of you too.” 

You knew the irony in saying that while he was taking care of you, but you hoped he would remember it. 

He slipped his gloves off to flex the stiff muscles. “I’m,” he started, “just not used to this.” 

“Having a crew?” You guessed. 

“Having someone care.”

Your mouth dropped open with a response dying on your tongue. Instead, you resolved to take his hand and curl your fingers through his. They were stiff from the cold, but relaxed once your thumb ran over the ridges of his knuckles. 

“You’re a good man and I trust you with my life. Don’t think for a second I don’t care about you, Mando. I-” You cut yourself off.

You what? Loved him? Kriff. He just started opening up to you. Telling him you were in love with him right after would surely make him run in the other direction. You doubted he felt the same. You could read him, but not that well. 

“Din.”

You snapped out of your thoughts, relieved he didn’t attempt to figure out what you were going to say. “What?” 

“My name’s Din.” 

He was looking at you now. Maybe if you squinted hard enough you could catch a glimpse of his eyes behind his darkened visor, but you wouldn’t disrespect his Creed and you didn’t think you could handle seeing his strong gaze, boring into you. 

So, you turned your eyes down toward your intertwined hands; you tested his name on your tongue and smiled. 

Getting off the ice planet took work—a mix of frustration and determination—and you swore to get a nice vacation on some far, far away planet, preferably with a warm, sunny beach. 

But, the ship needed heavier repairs, forcing the three of you to find the nearest planet, Trask, for maintenance. A dock worker was quick to offer his services, charging more than necessary, once you landed. 

You frowned when Din agreed without hesitation, dropping the credits into his slimy hands. You could have rolled up your sleeves and got to work yourself with better equipment at hand, but Din insisted on the three of you getting some real rest after the stress of the past three days. 

The place was seedy, smelled of fish, and you couldn’t shake the feeling of unwanted eyes stalking the three of you as you passed through the quiet harbor. You and Din walked on either side of Grogu’s floating pram. 

You, with a scowl glued to your face, pulled your cape, one of Din’s, tighter around yourself. The toolbox Din gifted you was clasped in your hand, deemed too precious to leave behind while strangers fixed the ship. You leaned into Din and whispered, “We should just go back to Tatooine for the repairs; I can do it.”

“I know you can, but the ship’s too damaged and you know it.”

You huffed. 

Grogu mimicked your huff, putting on his best grouchy face, and your frown lightened into a smile, pointing at the boy. “See—even he agrees with me.”

Din let out an amused hum. “When did the two of you decide to team up against me?” 

“We hold secret meetings when you’re out and conspire against you.” 

“Guess I should watch my back,” he deadpanned. 

Night fell quickly on Trask and before you knew it, the streets were oddly quiet, only lit by dim street lights in rounded sections. 

Din’s stride grew cautious; his helmet subtly turned to scan the area. 

You also took caution, straining your ears for anything out of place, but all you heard was the nearby tide pulling in and out. 

There was a shift in the gravel behind you. Din’s hand shot out to shove aside Grogu’s pram, sending him off to a nearby stack of crates, and he could only brush your shoulder before turning and deflecting a blaster shot with his vambrace. The heat from the blast radiated in the air around you. 

“Run!” He barked, ripping his blaster from its holder and firing off a shot into the dark. 

Your feet hesitated and your heart stuttered when another blast hit his chest plate, forcing a grunt from him. But, the sound of worried coos snapped you out of it. You turned and ran toward Grogu who watched the fight with large eyes.  

Three figures emerged from the darkness, dressed like pirates, and armed with unrelenting blasters all aimed at Din.  

“Give up the armor, Mando.” One of them demanded.

“It’s time to hide, okay?” You said, tucking Grogu into the pram. Your thumb brushed over the mythosaur necklace he always wore like a lucky charm and you were praying it would work. You pressed the button on the outside of his pram to shut it. 

The fight was coming to a close by the time you turned back, much to your relief. Two were knocked out cold, sprawled across the floor while the remaining one continued to fight. Both of them resorted to hand-to-hand combat after they managed to disarm one another. 

Just when you thought you could relax, the remaining pirate pulled out a blade and took a swipe at Din, plunging it deep into his side and back out. Your breathing stopped when Din staggered and fell to his knees. 

The pirate grabbed him by his cowl, pressing the bloodied blade to his throat, and sneered, “Give up.” 

Your hands shook. Not like this, you thought. You couldn’t— wouldn’t —lose him. You dropped your toolbox and fell to your knees, wrenching it open to look for anything that would help. You pulled the largest item free, the hammer, and ran. Adrenaline pushed your feet toward the two and, putting all your weight into it, you swung at the pirate's head, sending him stumbling back.

Only dazed, the pirate sent you a menacing glare, lips pulled back into a snarl, and spat out curses, promising you’d regret it. 

Your hand clenched the hammer, heart racing, ready to swing again as he prepared to lunge at you. Not even fear or the promise of death would stop you from saving Din.  

Then, something ignited, cold and droning like echoes of the abyss, behind the pirate. 

You smelt the smoke before the nauseating burnt flesh. It made your stomach roll.

A haunting glow emitted from the pirate's chest before it was sliced clean through. He fell—lifeless—with a thud, crimson leaking from the gash and pooling around him. 

Din stood over him—one hand clutching his waist and the other holding the darksaber. His chest rose and fell; his helmet was fixated on the body. You could hear the leather of his gloves cry as his hand tightened around the hilt of the saber.  

You never saw him use it before. It looked more like an accessory on him rather than a weapon. He once explained its bloody history and how he came to acquire it. The weight of its importance haunted him, a burden he never wished to bear. 

“Oh, Maker,” you cried, rushing toward him. The darksaber unignighted; the heavy atmosphere disappeared along with it and time continued. You dropped the hammer and pressed your hand to his wound. Blood seeped through his fingers and onto yours. 

He grunted, “I’m…” 

Your wavering voice saying his name made him pause. 

“Let’s get out of the street,” he said instead. He waved Grogu’s pram forward with the controls on his vambrace. It opened, revealing the whimpering child. 

The three of you limped all the way to an inn. When the innkeeper sent you a weary look, you demanded the first room available and a medical kit—whatever the price. After slapping the credits on the counter, you snatched up the kit and dragged Din toward the room, not caring about the drops of blood staining the hallway.  

The room was small and gray; a single bed set in the middle of the room, a nightstand on either side, and a fresher. You eased him onto the bed, where he slumped and groaned.

The medical kit was meager; a suture kit, antiseptic wipes, and a few bacta patches, but it would do. You dashed to the fresher to wash your hands. You scrubbed them viciously, watching his blood run down the sink. Tears blurred your vision. The red wouldn’t stop running. 

When you emerged from the fresher, his shirt was already rolled up and he was attempting to clean his wound. Grogu was asleep in his pram, wiped out from all the excitement. 

You released a tired sigh. “Let me.” 

You moved to take the cloth from him, kneeling at his feet and wiping around the area of the wound gently.

“Don’t do that again,” he rasped.

“Save your life?” The playful tone you attempted fell flat. As much as you wanted to be amused, the fear of losing him still suffocated you. He was safe, your thoughts repeated.

Once the wound was cleaned you pulled the needle from the kit. You were in over your head and a bit nauseous. Cleaning wounds was easy, but stitching them up was something else. 

You’ve seen him cauterize his own wounds and pinched your nose when the smell became too much. He didn’t deserve the scars they left behind and this was your opportunity to finally take care of him. 

You willed your hands not to tremble as you notched the needle through his skin, apologizing when he sucked in a sharp breath or flinched.

“I told you to run.”

Your voice was finally firm when you said, “I’m not going to leave you.” 

He was your partner, through and through, and you cared for him. 

When you were finished, you unwrapped a bacta patch and laid it over the suture. You smoothed over the patch and withdrew your hands. 

He was already sitting up taller, no longer hunched over or wheezing. You knew it was a good sign but you still trembled all over.

You raised your head, but your eyes were stuck on his cowl where a sliver of his blood was left from the blade. The tears were returning, flooding your bottom lashes. 

Would that pirate have killed him right there on the street, stripped him of his armor, and left him like trash? You would have had to drag his body back to the ship—would have to tell Grogu his father was dead. 

“Cyar’ika, look at me,” he said, finding your cheek with his palm. “Just breathe.” 

You didn’t realize you were gasping for breath, tears running down your cheeks until your eyes finally connected with his visor. 

“I just can’t lose you, Din,” you cried. “I can’t .”

There was so much you wanted to say—so much he needed to know. You were so close to losing him and losing the chance to admit how you’d grown to feel over the course of your partnership.

He guided you onto the bed and held you until the tears stopped and subsided into sniffles. Your face was buried in his cowl and your arms were thrown around his shoulder. 

“I can’t lose you either,” he admitted, a waver in his voice. You were so close you could almost hear the sound of his real voice. His words were tender and sincere. 

Your breath hitched and a realization washed over you. 

He pulled back and you pulled yourself out of his neck with wide eyes. Cold metal met your forehead. 

“You mean far too much to me.” 

For a man of few words, he still said so much. Your hand brushed below the rim of his helmet. “I love you, Din,” you confessed.

Your heart pounded as you waited for his response—for even the sharpest intake of breath. But, it was silent—all but your heart remained still as he processed your words. Your hand slipped away, back to the safety of your personal bubble, which was beginning to shrink as the silence became an oppressive weight on your shoulders. 

Say something, you wanted to shout. Did you read his words wrong? Was it just appreciation for his… employee? 

“Close the curtains and turn off the light.”

Your brows furrowed and you cocked your head to the side. “What?”

“Please.”

You stood with a frown and shuffled to shut the curtains, then made your way to the light switch. You took one last glance over your shoulder, before flipping the switch and submerging the room in darkness. You could hardly see his silhouette as you shuffled back to the bed with your hands out in front.

A calloused hand found your wandering ones, carefully pulling you down to sit beside him once again, not letting go. Then, you heard a click and a hiss, like he was detaching his—

Your eyes widened when you realized what he was doing and you tried pulling away. Even in the darkness, where shadows fell across the silhouette of his body, you couldn’t risk seeing him—no matter how curious. 

“Din, no-” 

“It’s alright,” he reassured. The low rasp of his voice was no longer modified by his helmet. He chased after you in the dark; his hand moved to the back of your neck, drawing your face closer to his. You could feel the warmth of his breath brushing across your lips. 

The smell of caf and leather drew you closer you and you fell into its embrace. It was your safety, your haven—the home you found in him, along with his son and his beaten-down ship. 

“ Ni kar’tayl gar darasuum, ner cyar’ika, ” he whispered into the darkness, gentle devotion laced in his words. “ I love you .” 

When he kissed you, it was slow, a tender meeting of lips which you both relaxed into. The weight off your shoulders disappeared and all you could do was smile against his lips and draw him closer. 

That night you traced his features in the dark, committing every outline and curve to memory, with a content smile and full heart while he held you close. You didn’t need to see his face to love him; it could wait—forever if it meant you’d still have him.

“You know,” he said in the darkness with you tucked close under his arm, “you wield a hammer well. It reminds me of someone I know.”

“Really? Who?”

It was nearly a full cycle before you met the Armorer, the mysterious figure Din would mention from time to time, a woman he seemed to respect. 

You were nervous. Though he never said it directly, she was like a maternal figure and you wanted to make a good impression. 

Ever since Trask, the two of you were closer than ever. He had no reservations when it came to you. His hand would lay firmly against your lower back as he crowded around you, guiding you through busy markets, pulling you close whenever someone bumped into you. You no longer slept alone, trading out your flimsy sleeping bag for a cozy spot in his bed. At night when the lights were out, you’d finally get to kiss him and share dreams. 

The covert was located on a barren planet. You wouldn’t have guessed there was any life if it weren’t for the scattered Mandalorian sparing at the mouth of a cave. 

By the time you landed near the lake, only two Mandalorians emerged to greet you. 

“It’s been a while.” A large, blue man said upon approaching, greeting the three of you with a simple nod. He towered over everyone, a mass of muscle and armor that radiated intimidation. 

As he approached, your foot slid back as you bent your neck to meet his visor and you bumped into Din. He rested a hand on your shoulder. “This is Paz, my brother.” 

“It’s nice to meet you,” you said, sticking a hand out. 

The hand that takes yours is firm; he shook once and let go. The hand on your shoulder squeezed. 

“It seems your clan has grown.” The figure to Paz’s right spoke, her visor trained on the hand over your shoulder. You needed no introduction for her. It was obvious in the way she spoke, authoritative and clear, that she was the Armorer. 

Your lips quirked. A clan, huh? 

She welcomed you briefly and Din requested a private audience in her forge. When Din handed Grogu off to you, he said, “Stay with Paz, cyar’ika.”

“Cyar’ika?” The Armorer paused. “Have you claimed them as your riduur?”

You cast Din a curious glance. Riduur?

“I… haven’t,” he said carefully.

“I see.” She resumed her pace and disappeared into the cave.  

Din followed, not before pressing his forehead to yours. It was like a kiss, he explained once. You were fine with it. You knew as soon as the day was over, he’d make up for all the kisses you’d missed out on.

“He seems to like you.”

“I would hope so,” you quipped, turning to Paz once Din was out of sight. “He loves me, after all.”

You finally got your well-deserved vacation—on a planet called Pabu, with bright blue skies and a sparkling blue ocean—and more than you could have ever wished for. 

Gentle waves lapped at your bare feet as you leaned back against the palm of your hands to soak in the last of the dying sun. 

Relaxing like this felt rare and fleeting; part of you was worried some other danger would rear its ugly head and ruin the tranquility. But, a quick glance toward Grogu, who was splashing in the water, and Din, standing watch to make sure he didn’t snatch up any crabs as a snack, dispelled any worry and replaced it with a warmth that spread through your chest like the sun's rays. 

You cracked a smile at the Mandalorian who was barefoot as well, after you convinced him to step into the waves, with his pants rolled up to the bottom of his knees. 

“Stop that,” came Din’s chastising demand. Grogu was levitating a poor crab toward his mouth before letting it fall back into the water with a grumble, his ears pulled back as he looked up at his father with a pout. “You’ll ruin your dinner,” he reasoned, reaching down to scoop the fussing child from the water. 

You stood, wiping away sand clinging to your thighs, and walked over to the pair. Din’s helmet followed you as you approached, his shoulders were far more relaxed than you’d ever seen them. 

Even when you stood in front of them, finger brushing along Grogu’s ear as he cooed, his gaze did not stray. You just thought it was your bathing suit; it showed off more skin than usual. Which, you admit, you hoped would catch his attention.  

“Problem?” You teased, looking at him with a sly smile. 

He shook his head slowly. He was uncharacteristically quiet, more so than usual. Ever since his private chat with the Armorer, he’d been distracted. Staring more than usual—at you, the controls of the ship, the floor—like he was lost deep in thought. 

You looked out at the sunset, a wash of orange and gold against a glittering sea. You let out a wistful sigh. “I could spend forever here with you two.”

“You mean that?” 

“Nothing would make me happier.”

His hand drifted toward the pouch on his belt, fingering the hem. A nervous habit, you assumed, he picked up after visiting the Armorer. 

You rested your hand on his and asked, “Are you sure there’s no problem?” 

“Marry me.”

You froze, mouth agape.

“M-marry you?”

“I wish for more days like today, too—safe, peaceful days together with our son.” He opened his pouch and pulled out a silver ring that glittered against the setting sun, reminding you of his armor. 

Your hand slipped from his to your mouth, covering up the shock written across your face. Your watering eyes moved between the two who’ve grown so close to your heart. They were your life, your home, and you’d spend forever with them. You knew your answer—you’ve always known, ever since he asked you to join them. In your heart it was always—

“Yes,” you cried, throwing your arms around the two of them. “Yes, absolutely!” 

You stayed tucked in his arms with Grogu nestled between the two of you. And, in the foreground of a golden sky, he asked if you would cite the Mandalorian vows. 

Riduur, he said, you would be mine, and I you. Our hearts will be written together in song.

“Mhi solus tome, mhi solus dar'tome, mhi me'dinui an, mhi ba'juri verde.”

“We are one when together, we are one when parted, we share all, we will raise warriors.”

Finally, he was no longer just the Mandalorian or Din, he was your riduur. 

[carolperkinsexgirlfriend]

Steddie Upside-Down AU Part 66

Part 1 Part 65

They’re all sent off to school with a command to “act normal” from Hopper so they don’t draw any more attention to themselves while he investigates. As if any of them can even tell what normal means anymore. Still, they go, taking Steve’s car since Eddie’s is still out on unwilling loan.

Steve doesn’t protest when Eddie slides into the driver’s seat.

There’s nothing playing in the tape deck, just silence past the smooth sound of Steve’s engine rumbling beneath them. Every time Eddie glances toward the passenger seat, Steve is staring blankly out his window. Even Eddie reaching over to squeeze his knee garners no reaction.

He keeps his hand there, regardless, hoping the warmth will seep into him while he drifts and keep him warm no matter where his mind is.

Once parked in front of the school, Eddie jumps out of the car like normal. Steve doesn’t. So, he walks around the front of the car to open the door, bowing lowly with a flourish of his hand, playing the part of his gracious valet. Or enthusiastic date.

There’s a ghost of a smile as Steve finally unbuckles his belt and climbs out, elbowing Eddie in the ribs as he passes.

He doesn’t grab his bag, so Eddie does, swinging it onto his shoulders, slamming the passenger door and sprinting after Steve where he’s somehow already halfway across the parking lot.

The smile’s already dropped by the time he catches up and matches his pace. He’s staring ahead vacantly enough that Eddie briefly worries he’s no longer on this plane at all, but he’s walking normally, and he nods at the few classmates who call out to him as they pass.

Popularity isn’t something that can be entirely shrugged off like an ill-fitting jacket. It dogs Steve’s footsteps still, sticking to him even after he’d quit all sports teams, had faded out entirely from the high school party scene. Had started to stick to Eddie’s side like they’re tied together by the wrist.

Steve never even seems to notice the way girls still light up around him, and sometimes jocks will wander up to talk about their sportsball games like Steve had still been out there with them scoring the winning goal. Steve always smiles affably, slaps them on the back, shoots the shit, and then he’s on his way.

Like it’s all still normal to him. Expected, even.

But now, the barest nod is all anyone else gets. Except Eddie.

Because when Eddie drops him off at his classroom, he walks in, shrugs off Steve’s backpack and drops it by the seat Steve’s in the middle of settling into. He bows again, and murmurs a quiet, “parting is such sweet sorrow,” while the few kids already in their own seats gawk at the spectacle he’s making.

Steve meets his eyes for the first time that morning, brown eyes fathomless but squinting at the corners as he smiles up at him. Beautiful in the way it’s finally reaching his eyes. “See you at lunch?” he asks, like that’s not a given.

Eddie looks around furtively at the circle of empty seats that still surround them, calculates the distance between them and the nearest warm body, and decides to risk it all.

“See you then, angel,” he says, keeping his gaze locked on Steve’s own until he looks down to dig a notebook and pen out of his bag, ears turning a light pink.

Eddie whistles all the way out the door and into his own homeroom, but the cheer dissipates quickly as Steve’s absence settles into his bones.

He can feel him from the other side of the school. Eddie wants to be with him so badly that it feels like Steve’s reeling him in, the pressure in his sternum almost too much to keep his ass in his assigned seat. It grows from first period to second, until he has to convince himself several times not to skip English to wait outside Steve’s own classroom door like an overeager basset hound.

Act Normal. Be Normal. As if Eddie knows how to do that.

Jeff keeps giving him sideways glances from across the room that Eddie easily avoids by keeping his eyes on the clock, urging the seconds to tick along faster, as if he’s Supergirl and not just a freak with separation anxiety.

Everything goes in one ear and out the other until lunch. He practically skips to the cafeteria, grabbing Steve’s lunch as well as his own because Steve always gets waylaid on the way.

He sits at the usual table, ignoring Jeff’s glare, and Doug’s pointed questions, and Gareth’s downright bitching while he stares at the cafeteria entrance, willing Steve’s bitchy little face to appear in its threshold.

Barb settles beside him, forcibly shoving Gareth down the table despite his protests. Eddie glances over at her to see the same dark bags under his own eyes.

“Tell me what’s going on,” she demands. “What did Owens sa—”

“Not here!” he hisses, looking around. Doug’s looking right at him with his stupid, judgmental face. “Do you want everyone all up in this?”

She scoffs, stealing a fry from his plate before he can bat her hand away. “No one was paying attention until you made a scene.” When Eddie just scowls at her, she rolls her eyes, but acquiesces, “You’re filling me in later.”

Eddie nods before dismissing her entirely to look back toward the threshold. Toward that insistent tug tug tug.

It’s been too long. He gets up, abandoning both of their lunches to follow the line. “Where are you going?” Barb demands, getting up to follow him with a dramatic huff. “Like a toddler, honestly.”

It’s moments like this when he can see how Barb and Nancy ended up friends. When she puts her nose in the air just so, he can almost picture them emulating each other as little girls, feeding off the little bitches they both are on the inside.

“Steve’s missing,” he says, walking fast enough that she’s got to do a little jog around a few students to catch up.

“He’s like ten minutes late to lunch, not lost in the—”

She cuts herself off, but Eddie knows what she was about to say. Not lost in the Upside-Down. Not taken, again. As if she has any idea at all.

“You didn’t see it,” Eddie mutters, walking faster, faster, faster.

Barb doesn’t reply, just quick-steps in time with his slightly longer legs.

She’s right, though. Steve’s not missing, not taken, not gone at all. He’s standing in the middle of the hallway, glaring at Perkins and Hagan like they’d just spit in his face. His fists are clenched, his cheeks are flushed. He looks alive.

Eddie and Barb stand at the corner, peering around it like half-assed sleuths. Steve’s gotta know they’re there. Or at least that Eddie is, but he doesn’t look their way.

“—think it’s a good idea to air my own private business out to him?” Steve demands, flicking his hand toward Hagan dismissively.

Perkins throws her hands in the air with an abortive scream of frustration. “Air what?” she asks. “You won’t even tell me what the hell’s going on!”

“And why should I,” Steve snarls, less as a question and more as a scoff. “So, you whisper everything I tell you into your boyfriend’s ear at night?”

“I wouldn’t—”

Hagan, ever the prize, barrels right over her with his own shit. “Steve just doesn’t want you to know how far he’s snapped, babe,” he says, smirking up at Steve as he takes a step closer, chest pumped out in the same way of primates posturing everywhere. “If he thinks he’s got magical traveling powers, who knows what else he’s hiding in that messed up head of his?”

In that moment, it becomes abundantly clear that Perkins had told Hagan everything she’d heard. Steve’s face blanches white, then splotches red. “How fucking dare you!” Steve demands, but he’s not looking at Hagan at all. He’s looking at Perkins. Only Eddie sees the way Hagan’s face falls at the dismissal before he paints that same jaunty grin back on his face. “You told him?” 

Perkins screeches, throwing her hands out with enough ferocity that one smacks Hagan in the chest hard enough to send him stumbling back a step. Still, no one looks his way. “What was I supposed to do?” she asks, voice warbling and high-pitched. “We’re worried!”

Hagan snorts and mutters, “you’re worried,” pointedly until Perkins elbows him hard in the ribs.

Eddie watches Steve’s face fall. Perkins and Hagan are too busy verbally brawling in the hallway, but they don’t know about the sky-blue teddy bear that still resides on their bed. They don’t know the way Steve’ll sometimes hug it to his chest before bed, curling into a ball around it as he holds it close to his chest.

They don’t know there’s anything to look for, or maybe they just don’t care. But it doesn’t matter, because by the time the pair’s turned back to Steve, he’s shorn up his facade, back to the look of haughty indifference he’d worn for years around this school. Eddie hasn’t missed it.

“Steve, please–” she says, and she sounds desperate. Like whatever she’s saying, she means it. But Steve’s closing down on all sides, and Eddie can’t stand a second more of this. 

 “Oh, Ms. Perkins, darling,” he calls, skipping down the hallway like he’s not seething. “I believe you have something of mine.”

It takes her a second to rip her gaze away from Steve’s shuttered expression. She stares blankly up at him before something sparks behind her eyes. She scowls up at him, digging his keys out of her pocket and tossing them his way with narry a thanks. 

“By your leave then, my lady,” he says, curtsying while Hagan rolls his eyes and Perkins gazes wistfully down the hall where Barb and Steve are almost out of sight.

Eddie jogs to catch up and reclaim his rightful spot at his Angel’s side. 

Part 67

Taglist: @deany-baby @estrellami-1 @altocumulustranslucidus @evillittleguy @carlprocastinator1000 @1-8oo-wtfbro @hallucinatedjosten @goodolefashionedloverboi @newtstabber @lunabyrd @cinnamon-mushroomabomination @manda-panda-monium @disrespectedgoatman @finntheehumaneater @ive-been-bamboozled @harringrieve @grimmfitzz @is-emily-real @dontstealmycake @angeldreamsoffanfic @a-couchpotato @5ammi90 @mac-attack19 @genderless-spoon @kas-eddie-munson @louismeds @imhereforthelolzdontyellatme @pansexuality-activated @ellietheasexylibrarian @nebulainajar @mightbeasleep @neonfruitbowl @beth--b @silenzioperso @best-selling-show @v3lv3tf0x @bookworm0690 @paintsplatteredandimperfect

[icequeenliafics]

Jayvik Highschool AU - Part2

Context: Vi and Jayce plan a surprise bd party for Cait and flop HARD. The whole gang helps. JAYVIK! Chaos!

Jayce parked his car in the open garage of Viktor's house. He pushed the horn twice to let his friend know he had arrived, before killing the engine.

He pushed open the door of his car with a giddy smile on his lips, that tingly sensation buzzing in his stomach again. He was about to see Viktor and his body knew it.

Jayce didn't bother to shut the door when he climbed out of the car, instead walking to the little side-door, connecting the garage to the kitchen.

"I'm here!", he called as he stepped inside.

"So, I figured", Viktor said, standing by the counter, back turned towards Jayce as he studied some papers. "Hello, Jayce."

Jayce's smile only grew as he walked towards his friend with quick steps.

Viktor didn't even flinch when Jayce wrapped his arms around him from behind, gently resting his chin on his shoulder. He made sure to only rest the weight of his head onto Viktor, the rest of his body was carried by Jayce's own legs to not strain his friend's bad leg.

"You're studying?"

"Always", Viktor said, placing one hand on Jayce's arm, leaning into him like it was second nature. "Finals."

He sounded concentrated, his eyes skimming the notes from their last math class.

"You know you're allowed to take a break now and then", Jayce said, also skimming Viktor's notes now.

"Not if I want to score highest in class." Vik turned the paper, revealing his scribbly equations.

Jayce smiled when he found little drawings scattered all over the page. Viktor always let him doodle on his notes when Jayce got bored in class.

"Think you're done soon?", Jayce asked, finger absentmindedly tracing the back of Viktor's hand.

"Two minutes", Vik muttered, not looking up once.

Jayce sighed in defeat. "'Kay", he muttered, settling more comfortably against Vik's shoulder. "Wake me."

"M-hm.

Jayce huffed out a smile and closed his eyes.

This was nice; standing in the warmth of the kitchen with Viktor settled against his chest, a comfortable weight against him.

Jayce could hear Viktor breathing, the rhythm soft and even, and smelling faintly of honey.

Vik was muttering under his breath, repeating the equations on the paper and explaining to himself how he came to the right solutions. Explaining your calculation method was necessary in a test, in order to avoid point deduction.

Jayce felt more than comfortable listening to his friend's soft voice, his stomach filled with raging butterflies. He kinda wished they could just stay here like this.

"I'm done", Viktor said, leaning further back against him. "Wake up now, you are quite heavy."

"Sorry", Jayce muttered, pulling away and settling against the counter to face Viktor. "Did I strain your leg?"

Viktor grabbed his cane, giving him the side eye.

Jayce smiled knowingly. "You're fine, I get it."

"Sharp observation", Viktor said, turning to leave the kitchen, one hand on his cane, the other holding his notes. "Follow me."

"Where?", Jayce asked, pushing off the counter.

"My room", Viktor answered.

"You forgot something?" Jayce paced his steps so they matched Viktor's.

"No, but you came here for the fireworks, did you not?"

"Mostly I came here for you", Jayce said before he could stop himself, ears burning up immediately. "But the fireworks too, sure."

Viktor looked at him with a soft frown, studying his face. Jayce could feel the blood shooting to his face. Why was he so flustered today?!

He quickly averted his eyes, fingers scratching at the back of his neck.

He heard Viktor's gentle chuckle next to him, like he was amused by his weird behavior. Jayce wished for the ground to swallow him up.

The door to Viktor's room stood open, revealing walls cluttered in formulas and all kinds of tinkerings hanging from the ceiling, some of them made by Viktor, but most of them gifts from his parents.

When they were kids, Jayce loved to visit Viktor's home, because it meant they could play with his cool toys. The perks of having toymaker parents.

"They are under the bed", Viktor said, lifting the throw blanket with his cane, revealing the space under the bed stuffed to the brim with firework batteries.

Jayce's eyes grew big. "You slept on those?"

Viktor frowned. "Yes."

"Why?", Jayce asked with an incredulous look on his face. "Why couldn't you just put them into the garage?"

Viktor let the blanket fall down in order to stand more comfortably.

“Good idea”, he mused. “I could have just put the illegal fireworks into the garage, where my parents could have a good, long look at them.”

Jayce blinked. “But wouldn't your mom have seen them anyways? I mean, she was supposed to drive you today.”

Viktor pointed his cane at one corner of the room. “Open the wardrobe”, he said with a smirk.

Jayce frowned, doing as he was told. “What am I supposed to see?”, he asked when all he found inside were ironed shirts and sweaters.

“Behind the clothes”, Viktor said.

So, Jace brushed them aside, finding hidden away behind them almost a dozen rolls of wrapping paper.

He heard the familiar creak of Viktor's bed behind him as his friend sat down with a soft sigh.

“I originally planned to wrap up the batteries, so they would look like a present for Caitlyn”, Viktor explained.

Jayce turned around to look at him.

“What would you've told her if she asked what was inside?”

He didn't say it out loud, but a big present indicated a big price tag. Since Viktor's family wasn't too wealthy, it obviously would have raised questions.

Viktor shrugged, that attractive smirk still on his lips.

“That it was a present from you that you asked me to hide away, so Caitlyn would not find it at your place”, he said.

“That's … clever.”

Jayce's eyes wandered down to the throw blanket covering the fireworks. It made him nervous to know Viktor was sitting on them, but he restrained himself from making a fuss.

“And also kinda diabolical”, Jayce added. “Do you often lie to your parents?”

Viktor raised a brow at him and Jayce quickly lifted his hands. “Not judging, of course!”

Viktor let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. “It does not do them any harm in this case, does it?”

Jayce's eyes wandered down to the blanket again, and he squirmed at the thought of half a dozen illegal firework batteries resting right beneath his best friend's butt.

“I guess not?” He was still staring at the blanket, switching from one foot to another.

“Just as it does not hurt them when I keep quiet about your occasional nightly visits through my window, right?”, Viktor asked, causing Jayce to look back up at him.

There was that smirk again, the slight quirk of his brow. Jayce felt his ears burn up, his body tingling with heat.

“Right”, he rasped, quickly averting his eyes.

And then, because he really wanted to change the subject and it was the only other thing he could think of: “Could you please not sit there? You’re freaking me out.”

Viktor frowned. “I should not sit on my own bed because it freaks you out?”

“Fireworks”, Jayce added quickly. “The illegal batteries under your bed?”

Viktor looked at him like he was speaking a foreign language.

“What, are you afraid my butt could light them up?”

Jayce refrained from answering that Viktor indeed had a really hot behind, but he managed to do so barely, his brain firing neurons too quickly to keep up.

“Please?”, he asked instead.

Viktor still didn't seem too worried about the potential explosions beneath him, but with a roll of his eyes and a soft sigh, he heaved himself up onto his cane.

“There, happy?”

“Very”, Jayce said with a grin that hopefully didn't look as nervous as he felt.

He forced himself to get past himself, walking towards his friend.

“Now move, so I can put these into the - what are you doing?”

Jayce's confused frown turned into a blush very quickly when Viktor lifted a hand to his face.

“Hold still”, Vik said unnecessarily.

Jayce was frozen on the spot.

He felt heat shoot into his cheeks at the gentle touch of Viktor's fingers against his brow, pressing down ever so softly as if to wipe something away.

When he pulled back, he kept standing right there in front of Jayce - When had he come this close? - inspecting the purple smudge on the tip of his finger.

“What is it?”, Viktor asked, looking up at Jayce with his beautiful amber eyes.

Air. What was air?

“Cake frosting”, he rasped, his lungs denying him.

His heart - oh god, his heart! Jayce could feel it pounding against his ribcage. Could Viktor hear it too? Oh no, could he?

If yes, he didn't show it, simply looking back down at the frosting and then -

Jayce's mind blanked for the fracture of a second.

Why? Because he was a teenage boy and as such he was only so strong, okay?

He watched in slow motion as Viktor lifted his finger to his mouth, lips wrapping around its tip, cheeks hollowing out the slightest bit as he sucked off the frosting.

Jayce's ears were buzzing as his heart picked up its rhythm again, pumping blood through his system.

Somewhere in the back of his brain Jayce had the decency to feel ashamed. That still didn't keep him from staring when the tip of Viktor's tongue darted out to chase the taste off his lips.

“Blueberry?”

Viktor looked up at him and Jayce's brain came back online.

“Huh?”

“The cake”, Viktor said, one corner of his mouth wandering up. “Is it blueberry?”

Jayce swallowed, still very captured by his best friend's lips.

“M-hm.” He tore his eyes away with quite some force. “Cupcakes, actually.”

His voice sounded way too thin. Jayce cleared his throat, his heart still beating up to his chin.

“Well, they are quite tasty”, Viktor said, and there was still that smirk. “Now the question is, how did they get onto your face?”

Jayce forced himself to look him in the eyes, those burning amber eyes.

“Accident”, he said, his voice more firm this time. “You’ll see what I mean.”

Viktor raised a brow.

+

Part1

Another snippet of the Oneshot. Hope you had fun reading!✨

[reachartwork]

What is Super Danmaku Maker?

Yes, I really do have this many projects, I'm one of those people who procrastinates by starting new projects. Anyway.

Super Danmaku Maker is a danmaku (bullet hell) engine that I’m designing to be a flexible, multipurpose tool for creating any kind of shoot-'em-up (shmup) project. Whether it’s individual spell cards, full boss battles, levels, or even entire games, the goal is to provide an easy-to-use, node-based interface that caters to both beginners and experienced designers.

Computational Efficiency via Precomputation One of the primary architectural goals of Super Danmaku Maker is to make bullet patterns computationally cheap at runtime. This is achieved through precomputation: bullet patterns are calculated as compositions of mathematical transformations during the design phase using calculus. It turns out that it is useful, actually! Instead of simulating the motion of bullets or tracking them individually as objects, we turn bullet patterns into lookup tables.

Instead of performing complex calculations every frame for every bullet, the engine simply "looks up" where the bullet should be based on the precomputed data. This trades off some load time for designers and additional disk space for buttery-smooth performance during gameplay. With this approach, the engine can easily handle 20,000+ bullets onscreen at once at a stable 60+ fps during testing. For comparison, Touhou's bullet cap of 2000 bullets is easily broached and hard caps at my screen's refresh rate (144 fps).

A Spiritual Successor To An Extremely Obscure Freeware Game Super Danmaku Maker draws inspiration from Fraxy, an obscure tool for creating top-down shooter boss encounters I used to be obsessed with as a kid. While Fraxy focused primarily on designing Gradius/R-Type/Darius-style bosses, with other functions developed via some crazy hacker bullshit, Super Danmaku Maker expands the inbuilt scope significantly:

Design enemies, bosses, full levels, and entire games.

Create player characters and weapons, complete with custom behaviors and abilities.

Support for arbitrary keyboard and mouse input, making it possible to design unconventional control schemes.

The vision is for this engine to act as a highly specialized, high-level programming language (or in layman's terms - a game engine) built on top of C# for shmup creation. Beginners will find it accessible and intuitive, while power-users can push the boundaries of what’s possible with crazy wizard bullshit and advanced setups that even I can’t anticipate right now.

Node-Based Interface The core of Super Danmaku Maker is a node-based interface, similar to Blender’s Geometry Nodes. Instead of writing complex code, users will connect and configure nodes to:

Define bullet patterns.

Build complex behaviors for bosses, levels, and player characters.

Experiment with bullet path changes like speed changes, rotations, curling motions, and more.

Define bullet & entity behavior in response to arbitrary triggers (such as distance from an object, distance from the edge of the screen, timers, collision, etc.)

This visual, modular approach empowers creators to focus on the art of designing fun and challenging gameplay, without needing extensive programming knowledge.

Future Sharing and Online Play Although the exact details are TBD, the long-term goal is to enable designers to share their creations easily through an online portal. Players would be able to download and play these custom levels and games without needing to install additional tools.

Okay, that's all. Stay tuned!

[unstablenoodle]

Just graduated, and I’ve been dragging myself by my hair through the last 4 years. here’s advice if you’re new to college:

Basic advice:

Make friends in your lectures. You will know some of those people all four years, and some of them are better at this than you. You’re still capable, but there’s always a bigger fish and you should make that fish into a study buddy

Get a job at a food court/ campus restaurant. You get a free meal, which might be your only one for the day if you don’t have a meal plan. Work can also be a mental break from academics.

Abuse office hours. Annoy your TA. make them scared to see you. TA’s are tired grad students and you won’t have a formal relationship with them: they are students too.

Study advice:

Flash cards are for review and rote learning only. 15-30 minute power review sessions for things you already know. If you’re going over familiar shit, do it in short, repetitive bursts.

Be the bitch with annoying decorative notes. Make it a game, it’ll force you to look at the material more. I will say though, make sure you decorate with purpose.

Those friends you made in lecture? That’s where you get the big studying done. If you’re going for a higher 4 hour long study sesh, bring other people. They know things you don’t and vice versa, so you can fill in the gaps for each other. This type of studying is for unfamiliar or confusing material.

Big study sessions usually only happen a couple weeks out from exams at most. Before exams, your homework is your main means of studying.

Just go to the lecture. I don’t care if it’s at 7:30 am, go. Participation points could be the difference between a B and a C.

TI-84 graphing calculator

Pub chem

If a professor, for some ungodly reason, says you aren’t allowed to work on the homework with other people, fuck that guy.

Your $168.99 textbook is likely a free PDF online.

Date someone who fills in your gaps. I dated an engineer I met in a physics class and it worked beautifully.

Mental health (my advice on this is very specific):

Basic advice: drink water regularly, eat vegetables, exercise. You know all this.

Stay far, far away from any substance called a “study buddy” or something like that

Get a hobby. Actually. Something to do in your free time to keep you from going insane. I personally like knitting and drawing, but it can be anything. I’d say avoid something involving technology because it’s easy to fall into that for hours at a time. Do something that engages your hands and your brain. You might not be creative, but creativity is good for you. Your painting looks like shit? The benefits you have reaped from its creation are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Good job.

If you are having any kind of hallucination (visual, auditory, presence, etc.), seek professional help immediately. I have lived half my life with the feeling of eyes on me and the presence of people who aren’t actually there and never tried to fix it because I could “work around it.” Just go get help. Hallucinations can also be a symptom of neurological issues and physical illness.

OCD and disorders involving psychosis are aggravated by stress. Your classes will stress you out. Disorders like this are scary and debilitating, so you absolutely need to be in therapy, possibly on medication. They also tend to be episodic, so you may have periods of recovery where your life quality improves. Do NOT be fooled: you still need to be in therapy even if you feel good. Preventative measures are the best measures!!

Social:

Get a job. Work friends are funnier and way more entertaining than any other kind of friend

I recommend a group of 2-4 people you chill with regularly. Movie night with them once a week (barring exam weeks and extenuating circumstances)

Talk with your roommates at least occasionally. It’s no fun living with total strangers.

Do not start smoking cigarettes. A lot of people are repulsed by the smell and it clings to you.

Hygiene. Mainly you should smell good. You don’t have to go crazy with an expensive perfume/ cologne, but shower and always have a decent scent. Also try not to wear stained clothes.

Not sure how useful this is, but it’s the first thing I could think of. I’ll come back and edit if I think of more.