#Great A'Tuin II

[satureja13]

Sai just returned to his and Jeb's quarters after his shift - when Jeb stepped out of the bathroom... Uh...

And since the Romantium is permeating the atmosphere in the ship, attraction pulled them towards each other. Like the opposite poles of a (very strong) magnet.

And even though Sai has connection to all the internets and games in the galaxy now, he's still reading a lot of gay romance books. He tasted blood and he wants more. He really wants to finally - fully - get claimed by Jeb. And it's time to tell him. Sai, breathless from kissing Jeb breathless: "Jeb - claim me. Please. Let's finally do it."

But Jeb retreated. Keeping him an armlength away. Jeb: "Vanië. I can't hurt you. I told you. The... the others told you too." Sai: "But what does that even mean? We are never going to woohoo? They said it doesn't hurt." Jeb: "Not them. Vlad isn't that... big..." Sai: "But Kiyoshi is." Jeb: "Jack is a werewolf and the Super Soldier. He can take... eh - him. But you..."

Sai: "I will never loose my virginity then?" Jeb: "There... there is a way. If you'd top me." Sai: "What are you even saying?! No way! You are the pestle to my mortar! You are supposed to claim me! I'm not that fragile!" (More in -> this post, under the cut. And -> here)

The Romantium is really giving it's best here, but it seems its labours are lost in space with these two right now. Ever since Sai heard that Jeb does not want to hurt him, he thought that just was some romantic statement - and not some cruicial issues...

Jeb: "Vanië. It's not that I don't want to - I can't. When I wasn't able to rescue - the kids, I was devastated. So broken and ashamed that I hid under that bag for two years. And... and when I heard it was you - you and Jack *Jeb tears up* I swore I'd never let you get hurt again. When I think of - eh 'claiming you', hurting you - he just goes..." Sai was staring at Jeb. This can't be real.

Well, that definitely blew the poor AC's fuses and it coughed out a last puff of Romantium... There's only so much it can do and Jeb and Sai brought it to its utter limits.

It's physical? Psychosomatic? Jeb is so traumatized, he really can't claim Sai... isn't physically able to? Even if he wanted? And Sai can't even tell Jeb how much he hurt him with these words. It would only break him further. They always say, in space, no one hears you scream...

(I know we have other issues atm, but here you can see how huge Great A'Tuin II is.)

But...

Sai's heart is broken. All hope is gone. Jeb suggested they could do anything else then, just like before. But Sai still just stared unbelievingly at him. Then Jeb cried. And said he was sorry. So, so sorry. He even said Sai should look for someone else, someone who would make him happy. But how can he do that? He loves Jeb. There will never be anyone else than Jeb for Sai. Dammit. Even Jack got laid - JACK! And Sai will never know how it is to see the stars. Like in the books he loves to read.

'The scars of your love remind me of us They keep me thinkin' that we almost had it all The scars of your love, they leave me breathless I can't help feeling We could've had it all Rolling in the deep You had my heart inside of your hand And you played it to the beat'

Rolling in the Deep - Adele I've always loved this song but just right now I saw the MV for the first time and it's incredible! A piece of art. Totally worth a watch.

Outtakes

Poor Sai, still in shock.

And, as promised, Jack fetching ingredients for the Ambrosia from the fancy fridge in the captain's quarters ^^'

Sai didn't even wanted to ask but any distraction from his misery is welcome right now: "What are you doing here?"

Jack: "Just fetching ingredients for the Ambrosia from the fancy fridge." Sai: "..."

TMI: While we already know how tall they are, maybe you wondered about their size? We learned that Jeb has the biggest, followed by Kiyoshi, who's is not that much shorter. Then, surprisingly (or not, since he's the Super Soldier, after all ^^') Jack. Then Vlad, Saiwa and Ji Ho. But even though Ji Ho's is the shortest, they all agree he has the most beautiful of them all. Followed by Sai's :3

🍆

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[bracketsoffear]

Vast Poll II Round 1

Olivier Song vs. Zaheer

Rocky Rickaby vs. Icarus

Kaladin Stormblessed vs. Holman Hardt

Lightning Dust vs. Rowan Chow

Galactus vs. Reapers

Wanderer vs. King of All Cosmos

Major Tom vs. David Eiffel

John Hunger vs. Dr. William Weir

Captain Nemo vs. Euron Greyjoy

Moana vs. Fjord

SCP 1128 vs. Ghost Leviathan

Moby Dick vs. the Kraken

Great A'Tuin vs. Unicron

Bill & Heather vs. Satoru Gojo

The Spot vs. Timekeeper Cookie

Joy Wang vs. Jadis

[bibliotekr]

PaulKidby "Turtles are amazing, and elephants are quite astonishing. But the fact that there's a big turtle is far less amazing than the fact that there is a turtle anywhere.” Happy #WorldTurtleDay Here I am painting Great A'Tuin II in 2013. #discworld #illustration #terrypratchett https://t.co/WxaOc6DNUB https://t.co/WxaOc6DNUB

[reaperneko]

"Turtles are amazing, and elephants are quite astonishing. But the fact that there's a big turtle is far less amazing than the fact that there is a turtle anywhere.” Happy #WorldTurtleDay Here I am painting Great A'Tuin II in 2013.#discworld #illustration #terrypratchett pic.twitter.com/WxaOc6DNUB

— Paul Kidby (@PaulKidby) May 23, 2020

[readbookywooks]

The last wisps of magic, now somewhat slowed, were disappearing into the ceiling. 'To the Great Hall!' The stairs were much wider here, and better lit. Panting and pineapple-flavoured, the fitter wizards got to the top by the time the fireball had reached the middle of the huge draughty chamber that was the University's main hall. It hung motionless, except for the occasional small prominence that arched and spluttered across its surface. Wizards smoke, as everyone knows. That probably explained the chorus of coffin coughs and sawtooth wheezes that erupted behind Galder as he stood appraising the situation and wondering if he dare look for somewhere to hide. He grabbed a frightened student. 'Get me seers, farseers, scryers and withinlookmen!' he barked. 'I want this studied!' Something was taking shape inside the fireball. Galder shielded his eyes and peered at the shape forming in front of him. There was no mistaking it. It was the universe. He was quite sure of this, because he had a model of it in his study and it was generally agreed to be far more impressive than the real thing. Faced with the possibilities offered by seed pearls and silver filigree, the Creator had been at a complete loss. But the tiny universe inside the fireball was uncannily – well, real. The only thing missing was colour. It was all in translucent misty white. There was Great A'Tuin, and the four elephants, and the Disc itself. From this angle Galder couldn't see the surface very well, but he knew with cold certainty that it would be absolutely accurately modelled. He could, though, just make out a miniature replica of Cori Celesti, upon whose utter peak the world's quarrelsome and somewhat bourgeois gods lived in a palace of marble, alabaster and uncut moquette three-piece suites they had chosen to call Dunmanifestin. It was always a considerable annoyance to any Disc citizen with pretensions to culture that they were ruled by gods whose idea of an uplifting artistic experience was a musical doorbell. The little embryo universe began to move slowly, tilting . . . Galder tried to shout, but his voice refused to come out. Gently, but with the unstoppable force of an explosion, the shape expanded. He watched in horror, and then in astonishment, as it passed through him as lightly as a thought. He held out a hand and watched the pale ghosts of rock strata stream through his fingers in busy silence. Great A'Tuin had already sunk peacefully below floor level, larger than a house. The wizards behind Galder were waist deep in seas. A boat smaller than a thimble caught Galder's eye for a oment before the rush carried it through the walls and away. To the roof!' he managed, pointing a shaking finger skywards. Those wizards with enough marbles left to think with and enough breath to run followed him, running through continents that sleeted smoothly through the solid stone. It was a still night, tinted with the promise of dawn. A crescent moon was just setting. Ankh-Morpork, largest city in the lands around the Circle Sea, slept. That statement is not really true. On the one hand, those parts of the city which normally concerned themselves with, for example, selling vegetables, shoeing horses, carving exquisite small jade ornaments, changing money and making tables, on the whole, slept. Unless they had insomnia. Or had got up in the night. as it might be, to go to the lavatory. On the other hand, many of the less law-abiding citizens were wide awake and, for instance, climbing through windows that didn't, t belong to them, slitting throats, mugging one another, listening to loud music in smoky cellars and gener,erally having a lot more fun. But most of the animals were asleep, except for the rats. And the bats, too, of course. As far as the insects were concerned . . . The point is that descriptive writing is very rarely entireliy accurate and during the reign of Olaf Quimby II is Patrician of Ankh some legislation was passed in a determined attempt to put a stop to this sort of thing and introduce some honesty into reporting. Thus, if a legend said of a notable hero that 'all men spoke of his prowess' any bard who valued his life would add hastily 'except for a couple of people in his home village who thought he was a liar, and quite a lot of other people who had never really heard of him.' Poetic simile was strictly limited to statements like 'his mighty steed was as fleet as the wind n a fairly calm day, say about Force Three,' and any loose talk about a beloved having a face that launched a thousand ships would have to be backed by evidence that the object of desire did indeed look like a bottle of champagne. Quimby was eventually killed by a disgruntled poet during an experiment conducted in the palace grounds to prove the disputed accuracy of the proverb The pen is mightier than the sword,' and in his memory it was amended to include the phrase 'only if the sword is very small and the pen is very sharp.' So. Approximately sixty-seven, maybe sixty-eight per cent, of the city slept. Not that the other citizens creeping about on their generally unlawful occasions noticed the pale tide streaming through the streets. Only the wizards, used to seeing the invisible, watched it foam across the distant fields. The Disc, being flat, has no real horizon. Any adventurous sailors who got funny ideas from staring at eggs and oranges for too long and set out for the antipodes soon learned that the reason why distant ships sometimes looked as though they were disappearing over the edge of the world was that they were disappearing over the edge of the world. But there was still a limit even to Galder's vision in the mist-swirled, dust-filled air. He looked up. Looming high over the University was the grim and ancient Tower of Art, said to be the oldest building on the Disc, with its famous spiral staircase of eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty-eight steps. From its crenelated roof, the haunt of ravens and disconcertingly alert gargoyles, a wizard might see to the very edge of the Disc. After spending ten minutes or so coughing horribly, of course. 'Sod that,' he muttered. 'What's the good of being a wizard, after all? Avyento, thessalousl I would fly! To me, spirits of air and darkness!' He spread a gnarled hand and pointed to a piece of crumbling parapet. Octarine fire sprouted from under his nicotine-stained nails and burst against the otting stone far above. It fell. By a finely calculated exchange of velocities Ga.cer rose, nightshirt flapping around his bony legs. Higher and higher he soared, hurtling through the pale night like a, like a – all right, like an elderly but powerful wizard being propelled upwards by an expertly judged thumb on the scales of the universe. He landed in a litter of old nests, caught his balance, and stared down at the vertiginous view of a Disc dawn. At this time of the long year the Circle Sea was almost on the sunset side of Cori Celesti, and as the daylight sloshed down into the lands around Ankh-Morpork the shadow of the mountain scythed across the landscape like the gnomon of God's sundial. But nightwards, racing the slow light towards the edge of the world, a line of white mist surged on. There was a crackling of dry twigs behind him. He turned to see Ymper Trymon, second in command of the Order, who had been the only other wizard able to keep up. Galder ignored him for the moment, taking care only to keep a firm grip on the stonework and strengthen his personal spells of protection. Promotion was slow in a profession that traditionally bestowed long life, and it was accepted that younger wizards would frequently seek advancement via dead men's curly shoes, having previosly emptied them of their occupants. Besides, there was something disquieting about young Trymon. He didn't smoke, only drank boiled water, and Galder had the nasty suspicion that he was clever. He didn't smile often enough, and he liked figures and the sort of organisation charts that show lots of squares with arrows pointing :o other squares. In short, he was the sort of man who could use the word 'personnel' and mean it. The whole of the visible Disc was now covered with a shmmering white skin that fitted it perfectly. Galder looked down at his own hands and saw them covered with a pale network of shining threads that ollowed every movement. He recognised this kind of spell. He'd used them himself. But his had been smaller – much smaller. 'It's a Change spell,' said Trymon. The whole world is being changed.' Some people, thought Galder grimly, would have had the decency to put an exclamation mark on the end of a statement like that. There was the faintest of pure sounds, high and sharp, like the breaking of a mouse's heart. 'What was that?' he said. Trymon cocked his head. 'C sharp, I think,' he said. Galder said nothing. The white shimmer had vanished, and the.first sounds of the waking city began to filter up to the two wizards. Everything seemed exactly the same as it had before. All that, just to make things stay the same? He patted his nightshirt pockets distractedly and finally found what he was looking for lodged behind his ear. He put the soggy dogend in his mouth, called up mystical fire from between his fingers, and dragged hard on the wretched rollup until little blue lights flashed in front of his eyes. He coughed once or twice. He was thinking very hard indeed. He was trying to remember if any gods owed him any favours. In fact the Gods were as puzzled by all this as the wizards were, but they were powerless to do anything and in any case were engaged in an eons-old battle with the Ice Giants, who had refused to return the lawnmower. But some clue as to what actually had happened might be found in the fact that Rincewind, whose past life had just got up to a quite interesting bit when he was fifteen, suddenly found himself not dying after all but hanging upside down in a pine tree. He got down easily by dropping uncontrollably from branch to branch until he landed on his head in a pile of pine needles, where he lay gasping for breath and wishing he d been a better person. Somewhere, he knew, there had to be a perfectly logical connection. One minute one happens to be dying, having dropped off the rim of the world, and the next one is upside down in a tree. As always happened at times like this, the Spell rose up in his mind. Rincewind had been generally reckoned by his tutors to be a natural wizard in the same way that fish are natural mountaineers. He probably would have been thrown out of Unseen University anyway – he couldn't remember spells and smoking made him feel ill – but what had really caused trouble was all that stupid business about sneaking into the room where the Octavo was chained and opening it. And what made the trouble even worse was that no-one could figure out why all the locks had temporarily become unlocked. The spell wasn|t;sa demanding lodger. It just sat there like an old toad at the bottom of a pond. But whenever Rincewind was feeling really tired or very afraid it tried to get itself said. No-one:knew what would happen if one of the Eight Great Spells was said by itself, but the general Agreement was that the best place from which to watch the effects would be the next universe. It was a weird thought to have, lying on a heap of pine needles after just falling off the edge of the world, but Rincewind had a feeling that the spell wanted to keep him alive. 'Suits me,' he thought. He sat up and looked at the trees. Rincewind was a city wizard and, although he was aware that there were various differences among types of tree by which their nearest and dearest could tell them apart, the only thing he knew for certain was that the end without the leaves on fitted nto the ground. There were far too many of them, arranged with absolutely no sense of order. The place hadn't been swept for ages.

[satureja13]

From the Little Ones! 🎃

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Current Chapter: 'Piglets in Space' ▶️ here Last Chapter: 'Here comes the Sun' from the beginning ▶️ here

📚 Previous Chapters: Chapters: 1-6 ~ 7-12 ~ 13-16 ~ 23-29

[satureja13]

It's Samhain 🎃 The Boys don't have much time to prepare or decorate. They don't even have time to sleep in these busy times here in space. But at least Jack and Jeb are placing some grass mats for the goats, so they don't have to live on the sad gray metal floor 🐐

Sai and Kiyoshi are unboxing the cooler Rubyn had packed for them for their first days. Sai: "I could swear this plate wasn't empty when I checked just a few hours ago..." Kiyoshi: "Maybe Jack couldn't wait for dinner?" Sai: "He's always hungry ^^' " Kiyoshi: "It's still enough for everyone, let's set the table."

Since the bridge needs to be staffed at any time, they chose to celebrate right here, so no one is left out. Jack thought it would be 'nice' to watch a horror movie on the big screen ö.ö

Sai doesn't think this is a good idea. Jack barely can sleep alone after they'd been kidnapped and tortured years ago: "Yeah - and like always you'll toss and turn and you won't be able sleep then - because you're so afraid..." he hissed. Jack just laughed: "No one is as scary as our Captain ^^' But don't you worry, my mate here will take good care of me. I sleep so much better when he's by my side." Sai: "Did you just take a photo of me hissing?" Jack: "For our Halloween greeting card!"

Huh, this movie is really scary ö.ö Jack is glad that Kiyoshi will stay by his side tonight... Same for Kioyshi, as it seems ^^'

Aouwww - they finished and decorated the Little Goats' meadow before dinner! And there is even Malfoy and Sai's bunny friend! All summoned by the Little Goats.

Skully prepared a halloween playlist and it starts with The Time Warp:

'It's astounding Time is fleeting Madness takes its toll But listen closely Not for very much longer I've got to keep control

I remember doing the Time Warp Drinking those moments when The blackness would hit me And the void would be calling

Let's do the Time Warp again Let's do the Time Warp again'

And the Little Goats were jumping to the left and then they took a step to the ri - hi - hi - hi -hi -ight... Since they aren't able to put their hooves to their hips, they just jumped and bounced around a little more ^^'

After the party, Jack and Kiyoshi went to their quarters. And look who's already waiting: Skully! (Jack hadn't even noticed him in the cargo bay before...) Jack: "Oh no..." Skully: "Right, you forgot me! I would still sit sad and alone beyond the Veil if my little friends hadn't taken me with them!" Just that Jack didn't 'forget' Skully. He left him behind on purpose...

And, besides Jack's menagerie, there is also the magic guitar of Toru, which witnessed Jack and Kiyoshi's first kiss, and the first woohoos of Kiyoshi and Jack and Ji Ho and Vlad!

Kiyoshi and Jack are checking out the quarters they are going to share for the upcoming weeks. It's a long time ago since only the two of them had shared a room (except for the nights after they decided to be mates, just mates). They had to keep their relationship a secret so they couldn't openly sleep together. (The only times I remember were at the Tandoori Palace, the one night they shared at Tartosa and when Jack stayed at the Temple at Mount Komorebi after Vlad's death.)

Kiyoshi: "Hm, I sense something familiar - but I can't quite put my finger on it... Can't you sense it too?" Jack, who can definitely smell better - since he's a werewolf and the Super Soldier - but really sucks at paying attention when he's distracted (and he's distracted a lot!): "Uh, not really?" Jack is much too exited about being here in his quarters - on a spaceship at that! And he wouldn't admit that be he's also excited that Kiyoshi is here - alone with him. An odd feeling for being just mates...

Seems that the Romantium is slowly starting to spread across the ship through the AC units. One of them is right behind Jack.

Skully: "Good night! Don't you do anything I wouldn't do!" Jack: "Would you throw an annoying, endless babbling skull into the trash compactor if he wouldn't shut up already? I totally would!" Skully: "Eh..."

Usually it isn't Kiyoshi's sleeping time yet, but Jack asked him to accompany him. Kiyoshi: "I'm not here because you can't sleep alone after that scary movie, ain't I?" Jack: "What? No! Of course not. I'm the Super Soldier and a scary werewolf, after all." Kiyoshi: "Right, how could I forget."

Jack, whispering after some time of tossing and turning around on his side of the bed: "Kiyoshi? ... Are you sleeping?" Kiyoshi, grumbling: "How am I supposed to sleep with you jostling and kicking me all the time?" Jack: "I would - maybe - stop if you'd hold me?" Kiyoshi laughed: "Ah right, my bad. Come 'ere" And Kiyoshi held Jack tight. And Jack held still. For a while.

And then Jack wanted to be honest with Kiyoshi about his feelings. He told him that he wanted to be together with Kiyoshi again. That he felt more for him. That he wanted more from him. But also how scared he was. And that his heart wanted more, but his head couldn't let go of the things that happened in the past. Jack: "What am I supposed to do, Kiyoshi?"

Kioyshi: "Don't do anything. We can't force it anyway, hm? Fate had a plan by mating us. Give it time. It will all be well." Kiyoshi has faith for the two of them. As always. Jack: "And what do you want?" Kiyoshi: "I already have more than I ever could have asked for. ... And I will gladly cherish anything you are willing to give me." Kiyoshi doesn't want to push Jack. He missed him so much, he can't loose him again. (It was Halloween last year when Kiyoshi left his heart - and Jack -behind and went back into the tree again. For years that seemed endless.)

Outtakes

Skully's playlist just started to blare out Jump by Van Halen. It's one of Little Goats favourite songs!

'Ah, can't you see me standin' here? I've got my back against the record machine I ain't the worst that you've seen Ah, can't you see what I mean?

Ah, might as well jump (jump) Might as well jump Go ahead and jump (jump) Go ahead and jump Hello, hey you Who said that? Baby, how you been? You say you don't know You won't know until you begin'

Little Goat: 'What a party!'

From the Beginning 🔱 Underwater Love 🔱 Latest

Current Chapter: starts ▶️ here Last Chapter: 'Here comes the Sun' from the beginning ▶️ here

📚 Previous Chapters: Chapters: 1-6 ~ 7-12 ~ 13-16 ~ 23-29

[satureja13]

Sai called Kiyoshi for duty on the bridge. They are all overtired, but Kiyoshi and Sai don't need that much sleep. Sai is also grumpy. He's about to modify the ship's computer to track down Tiny Can. And while doing that, he found the extraterrestrial gaming platforms. Where the Therapy Game is also very popular... The other devastating thought circling around in his head is, that he sooner went to space rather than loosing his virginity...

Before going to sleep - to be fit for their next watch on the bridge - Jeb and Jack are barricading the two entrances to the transporter chambers.

Jeb and Jack will be busy as engineer officers, to alter the ship to their needs - and for their security ö.Ö'

This should do. Jack even decorated for halloween ^^'

And they placed the goats before going to bed. They were already stirring in the Boys' inventory - eager to explore the ship! Little Goat: 'They are gone - let's unbox the Romantium!'

Little Goat: 'In which of the quarters shall we put it first? Sai and Jeb's, Jack and Kiyoshi's or Vlad and Ji Ho's?' Little Goat: 'I think I have an idea!'

The Little Goats pushed and shoved the Romantium ore over to the farest corner of the engine room. This ship runs a water and air reprocessing unit. And the clever Little Goats placed the ore right below one of the openings of the main pipe that sucks in all the air. Then it gets reprocessed and blown out again - all over the ship...

A while later, Ji Ho woke up. And he feels good! Just as promised, Great A'Tuin II moves so slow and gently through space, Ji Ho does not get travel sick. Awesome! Leaves the shuttle problem.

Seems there is a second bed in Ji Ho and Vlad's quarters. He was hoping they'd share a bed... Which looks like this in Ji Ho's imagination:

Vlad sensed that Ji Ho was awake and felt better. That's a relief! He didn't sleep very deep anyway and got up too. Ji Ho was a bit angry Vlad stayed with him and missed the tour and the start of their journey - and made him feel guilty. Ji Ho: "You should have left. The Bond would have told you if I hadn't been ok." Vlad: "The ship won't run away." Ji Ho: "Me neither."

'Cause people, they come together People, they fall apart And no one can stop us now 'Cause we are all made of stars

Efforts of lovers Left in my mind I sing in the reaches We'll see what we find'

We are all made of Stars - Moby

From the Beginning 🔱 Underwater Love 🔱 Latest

Current Chapter: starts ▶️ here Last Chapter: 'Here comes the Sun' from the beginning ▶️ here

📚 Previous Chapters: Chapters: 1-6 ~ 7-12 ~ 13-16 ~ 23-29

[satureja13]

Kiyoshi and Jeb enjoy the view on the Carina Nebula 🌌

[satureja13]

Since two of them always have to be on duty at the bridge and the other two are currently sleeping, it's upon Jack and Kiyoshi again to help the Grim Reaper out.

They had to host a social event and since they couldn't invite anyone to the ship and the others are not available, they ended up with a date. So they went over to the crew mess to eat together. And found another sad location. The empty chairs of B.D's kids (B.D's full name is 'Black Diamond', just in case you wonder about the name in the tooltip in the pic below ^^') and the cereal squares he made for them.

This was breaking their hearts again and they had to leave to eat. (They really did this. Grabbed their plates and left.)

A sad date that was. Because they chose to sit right next to the kids abandoned playground... But Jack wouldn't be Jack if he weren't able to change the gloomy mood with his never-failing puppy energy. (I don't remember if I ever saw Kiyoshi laughing? Looks so cute <3 )

Jack just can't see his mate sad. And so he dragged him over to Moogie's. Upstairs, to the bar's gaming room. Because the event plan wanted them to play games... It was impossible to be gloomy in a bright room like this ^^' And so their evening - or whatever time of the 'day' it was in this endless darkness the ship was floating through - got significantly better.

Time for the Ambrosia Society Newsletter. There is no mailman in space and it took them a while to find their mail on this giant ship. It was in the Security Office. Probably to make sure there weren't any threats hidden inside the letters and parcels ö.ö A very cool workplace for Jack and Jeb who are also designated as security officers. There are even brigs! Guarded by fancy force fields! Jack: "Awesome! I wonder if we are ever going to contain anyone here?" Kiyoshi, who doesn't even want to think about anyone trying to harm his mate or his friends here: "Hopefully not! ö.ö "

The Romantium was already looping through the ship's air circulation. And a super huge AC was installed in the security office, right next to Jack and Kiyoshi. Blowing out the irresistable and intoxicating particles that makes one want only one thing - to be as close as possible to your loved one... And so Jack moved closer to Kiyoshi and Kiyoshi closer to Jack. Each of them looking at the others plump and totally kissable lips. The sweet and promising lips they'd already tasted before. Far, far too long ago... And right behind Kiyoshi was the latest box from 'Ye Olde Magick Shoppe'. With all the spicy toys for lovers. Demanding to be unboxed by curious couples to bring them joy and bliss...

But Jack and Kiyoshi aren't a curious couple! They are mates, just mates! It was almost impossible to resist the Romantium. But they remembered how bad they felt after woohooing - twice... They love each other too much to bring even more misery among them. Kiyoshi: "What are we supposed to do now?" Jack: "I don't know! I - I'm not ready for more!"

After a while. Vlad: "Are you sober again? Can I let you out? I need to start my duty on the bridge..." Jack: "Sure. Thanks, pal." Vlad just sighed, opened the force fields of the brigs Jack and Kiyoshi had locked themselves in to keep their distance, and left. What is this now again? ...

Jack and Kiyoshi cooled down enough to manage the last quest for the Grim Reaper (until the event broke again -.-) Make Ambrosia! Jack decided the fridge in the crew mess wasn't fancy enough for this special meal, so he went upstairs to fetch the ingredients from the captain's quarters... (Really. More in a future post ^^')

Jack and Kiyoshi are utterly in awe with this futuristic kitchen! They've never seen anything like this before.

Tadaaa! Well done, Boys!

I don't know if we are going to continue this event, should it be fixed. There are only three rewards left (two potions and a Death Flower, if I remember right) so we could just skip it.

From the Beginning 🔱 Underwater Love 🔱 Latest

Current Chapter: starts ▶️ here Last Chapter: 'Here comes the Sun' from the beginning ▶️ here

📚 Previous Chapters: Chapters: 1-6 ~ 7-12 ~ 13-16 ~ 23-29

[satureja13]

After transshipping their luggage and stuff, Rubyn had to leave. Sai and Jack went to the bridge to start the engines to finally begin their journey - to rescue B.D and hunt down Tiny Can. First destination is Batuu (the real Batuu, not the themepark ^^'), where they are supposed to gather more information about B.D's whereabouts - hopefully.

Sai and Jack are on duty at the bridge - nothing could keep Jack from witnessing the beginning of their very own space travel as a bridge crew! Jack: "Can I say it? Please?!" Sai is nervous as hell and he has no idea what Jack is even talking about: "Say what?"

Jack jumped out of his seat: "Oh, I've wanted to say this forever! Get prepared!"

The tension became almost unbearable... Sai: "Say it already!" Jack: "Wait for it..."

... until he finally said it: "ENGAGE!"

Sai: "That's it?" Jack: "Exactly!"

And just like her name giver, the giant star turtle, Great A'Tuin II started to float through space - slowly and gently. Carrying the Boys and the Little Goats - and whatever else - with her.

Meanwhile in Tomarang, Arturo and Chánh are maintaining the Temple.

It's a while ago since they've had the Boys here to help them...

Chánh can sense that Arturo worries if they are ok: "The Master, who watches us from above, takes good care of them."

Arturo: "I'm sure he does."

And he does. Though, the Master could only take a short glance, they are busy to finally barricade those malfunctioning transporter chambers ö.Ö'

(TMI: Kiyoshi and Jack were looking at the Carina Nebula)

'Ground Control to Major Tom Ground Control to Major Tom Take your protein pills and put your helmet on Ground Control to Major Tom (ten, nine, eight, seven, six) Commencing countdown, engines on (five, four, three, two) Check ignition and may God's love be with you (one, lift off)'

Space Oddity - David Bowie

I wonder why there are only four of each gear in the emergency section. Let's hope they are never going to need it... Ö.ö

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[satureja13]

There she is. Albaleyh's ship. Great A'Tuin II And while poor Ji Ho explores how intergalactic travel sickness feels with his new - so much more intense - feelings, the others are in utter awe. Even Vlad turned away from Ji Ho for a second to look at her. Jack: "Wow." Vlad, who reads a lot: "She really looks a bit like a turtle." Jeb is a bit worried: "And she is huge! Look at the X-Wing in comparison! Are you sure we can handle her, Rubyn?" Rubyn: "You prepared thoroughly. Take your time to get used to her. It'll be just awesome once you'd adjusted and she moves, you'll see." They are still talking about the ship, aren't they? Sai can't wait for the huge ship to finally move!

Rubyn docked the Falcon and the Boys went aboard. They just stepped into the ginormous cargo bay when poor Ji Ho collapsed. So sudden that Vlad, who was just a step behind his Bonded, failed to catch his fall: "Gods, Ji Ho!"

Usual plan was to take a short round to explore the ship so Rubyn could show the Boys the main attractions of Great A'Tuin II before she has to leave...

Rubyn: "Vlad, take Ji Ho across the bay. This is where you'll find your quarters. Stay with him and let him rest. The others can show you around later, hm?" Ji Ho scrambled up. No way he is keeping Vlad from taking a look at the first spaceship he's ever been on! (Minus the Millenium Falcon that had brought them here ^^') Ji Ho: "I'm fine!" But even if Vlad wouldn't sense through their Bond how awful Ji Ho felt - he could see how pale he was. And the cold sweat on his forehead. Rubyn, as the highest-ranking officer on board: "This is an order." And so they left. Ji Ho only reluctantly. He felt even more awful now...

And the first thing Ji Ho explored on the first* spaceship he's ever been on, was the talking toilet 'Potty Mouth 2.0'... Potty Mouth 2.0: 'You must feel awful. Don't worry. I'm happy to clean up, sanitize and spray the scent of the wild flowers of Vergon 6 after you left. I hope you'll have a quick recovery.' Ji Ho: "Eh - why, thank you..."

Before Ji Ho could slip into their bed, Vlad had to help him to get rid of his sweaty uniform and wash up. Well, that was not what Ji Ho was wishing for yesterday when he wanted Vlad to be with him under the shower... No one wants his loved one to see him like this...

Ah finally, the bed! Ji Ho could barely keep his eyes open: "I'm fine now. Quick, go and join the others for the tour." Vlad: "I'm not going to leave you alone. We are going to explore everything together. Once you feel better." Vlad is still talking about the tour, is he?

Vlad feels Ji Ho's inner turmoil through their Bond and he knows exactly what Ji Ho was thinking. He's worrying he's going to ruin this whole journey for Vlad. Whenever they'll have to use the shuttle to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations - make small steps for a Boy but giant leaps for mankind - he's going to be sick. And Vlad would want to care for him. And miss it. But Vlad doesn't care - he only cares for Ji Ho. Vlad reassured him and Ji Ho felt his sincerity: "This is a slow ship and we have a long way to go. Means, we have a lot of time until we reach our first destination. I'll talk to Jeb and Kiyoshi and we'll figure out a cure. Don't worry." 'Don't worry'. That's what Potty Mouth 2.0 said too... Ji Ho closed his eyes. Too exhausted to argue. Since they all didn't sleep last night to prepare for the tests, Ji Ho is so, so tired. Soon he fell into a deep sleep. And Vlad stayed by his side. It will help Ji Ho to recover faster when his Bonded is close to him.

The first - and most important - halt on the tour are the transporter chambers. Rubyn: "Don't you ever go near them - let alone enter. This is where the crew vanished in - and what eventually lead to B.D's imprisonment. I tried to turn them off but somehow they're still malfunctioning..." Saiwa gulped: "Understood." First thing under his command will be to block the entries to these horror chambers ö.Ö' No member of his crew is going to vanish here under his watch!

And when they turned around, they saw where B.D's kids must have had their playground... Rubyn let out a short sob: "Albaleyh couldn't bare to come back after B.D had been arrested. I hope you don't mind she didn't clear the kids' stuff away."

Saiwa, determined: "We are going to do everything in our powers to bring him back to his family!" The others nodded grimly. This is so sad.

They continued their tour. Rubyn - now full of pride: "And this is the bridge - connected with the engine room!" Jack: "Whoa!" Oh, Jack can't wait to show Vlad around. This is going to be so awesome!

And there is Moogie's, the bar!

'Starlight, star bright, falling star that I'm seein' tonight

Time is rollin' on and I, I'm the one who's wrong I'm the one should be movin' on, oh babe A heart can only stand so much It needs to touch someone, someone

So, it's up to you, do you love me too? I get so confused when you throw excuses my way, oh baby I need your love to hang on Please tell me that love ain't gone forever

Where is my rainbow, where is my sunny day? (There's a star for everyone who's lost) Where is the fantasy, who took the dream away? (There's a star for everyone) Where is my star, who took the dream away?'

There's a Star for Everyone - Aretha Franklin This song would have totally fit to be on one of the 'Awesome Mix' tapes from the Guardians of the Galaxy movies :3

Outtakes Vlad, who startled Ji Ho when he started to wash him: "Forgive me."

Ji Ho: "It just was a bit unexpected ö.Ö' "

Ji Ho: "Em - keep ...keep going?" Vlad: "Sure?" Ji Ho: "Yes." Vlad: "O - Ok..." Now that was what Ji Ho was wishing for yesterday!

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[satureja13]

Jack dragged Sai over to his and Kiyoshi's quarters to distract him from his misery - with some games. Skully: "Yes! Slay them into bloody pieces!" And he began to sing growl 'Swing of the Axe' by Power Trip... 'Go on and look at you - today's your lucky day The executioner's here And he's ready to make you pay

Swing of the axe, Swing of the axe Cry all you want, but the blade soars today Swing of the axe, Swing of the axe' "

Sai: "That's a bowling game, Skully..." Skully: "Then put some more effort in it!" Saiwa sighed. But everything is better than mulling over Jeb and their doomed sex life. Even hanging out with Skully. Where does he get those songs from anyway? ö.ö

And then Noxee called! Jack's eyes lit up. He loves Noxee since he first laid eyes on her. And he might have told her how much he's worried about Sai. Sai was so happy to see her. She surely would have some good tips for him. Noxee tamed Greg. She's the Queen of giving relationship advice.

Noxee looked at broken Sai: "Oh honey. That's not how I know you. I didn't raise you like that." Sai just wanted to start rambling about Jeb's revelation and how he's never going to lose his virginity, when Noxee interrupted. Noxee: "Babies. I'd love to chat with you but I have to take Greg to the hospital wing." Sai: "Gods! Did he get into a fight again? Is he severely hurt?" Noxee: "No, no he isn't. Just a physical inspection. A little strip search. A thorough body check. If you know what I mean? *She winked twice - and Greg, in the background, was just standing there, grinning stupidly in anticipation* And then some physiotherapy for this hardened muscle. A proper roleplay never hurt anyone ^^' Love you - bye!"

Well that was disappointing. As always... Sai grumbled: "Noxee didn't raise us at all." Jack: "Oh, I think she has. You don't have to be around someone for years to get an impact from them. And I think she did also gave us some valueable advice." Sai: "How so? She didn't say anything about me and Jeb." Jack: "Just you wait and see. She already showed us that a relationship can work, even under worst conditions, hm?" And Jack tugged Sai along - over to the Security Office, where the latest subscription box from 'Ye Olde Magick Shoppe' waited to be unboxed by curious creatures. Sai: "I don't think Noxee said anything about this?"

Jack: "You are just too deep in your despair to interpret it right. Noxee mentioned role play. And with what do you play with? With toys!" Sai: "I don't think Jeb will let me use them. He'll think they'd hurt me too..." Jack: "That's when her second advice falls in. The pysiotherapy. We've been practising yoga, meditation and tantra for so many months now, it's about time to yield the large crop! And get some profits from it." Sai: "Omg Jack! You and your wild brain. I don't think this was was Noxee had in mind." Jack, who hates Greg: "The only thing she has in mind is that mangily werewolf! We have to work with what we've got." Sai: "But how is that even supposed to help me getting woohooed by Jeb?" Jack: "That's easy. You are starting to play with those toys, some of them look exactly Jeb's size. And you also still have the wand from Kiyoshi. Just go slow and use lots of polish. Simultaneously, you start your one-on-one tantra practise with Jeb. Both of you should leave your ego - and everything else - behind and just focus on the moment - and your bliss. And after a few days - in the right moment - take the toy out and Jeb in - and it won't hurt a bit. And yes, you can thank me later, when you've seen the stars - all of them." And poor Sai is desperate enough to not chase Jack around the ship but to listen to his mad theories. Yes, things already have come this far.

And while Jack stuffs Sai's poor, suffering brain with his nonsense, Vlad and Ji Ho admire the new cargo bay. Jeb and Jack had turned it into a little green paradise for the Little Ones and for themselves. It will be nice and calming to hang out here. Since they aren't able to just walk around in the open air as long as they travel through space.

Ji Ho: "Let's pick our food and eat on the blanket?" Vlad, who'd promised Jack to be more approachable: "Eh - sure."

Jack told them just a few minutes ago he'd already set the table for them with their meals in the Crew Mess. But when they entered, their plates were empty. Someone ate their food. And it even looks like the plates had been licked clean. What the hell?

A little later, when Jeb and Kiyoshi finished their shift at the bridge, they built a - hopefully - secure container for the meteorites. The glow effects even intesified with time... They weren't able to measure any harmful radiants, so they just hope it's safe enough until they have time to research further. After they'd finished, it was upon Kiyoshi to distract poor Jeb from his misery. Well, Kiyoshi has decades of experience in not woohooing Jack...

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Outtakes

Meteorites going crazy

[satureja13]

Kiyoshi figured out the Sickbay and called Ji Ho in to find a cure for his travel sickness. They were just starting with some tests and it isn't necessary for Vlad to be here. But they couldn't bring him to leave Ji Ho. So vulnerable and exposed to Kiyoshi and Jeb.

Since Jeb is a healer too, and designated as engineer, he joined them to operate the unknown devices. The Bond was raging and Ji Ho shot glances over to Vlad. Trying to reassure him over their connection.

But Vlad couldn't be calmed, he can't even look at Ji Ho. Even though he knows there is never anything going to happen between them. Does he, though? He'll never forget how wildly fascinated Ji Ho was by Kiyoshi in the beginning. And the glances he often shares with Jeb... And Vlad also didn't forget how intimate Jeb and Ji Ho had been when Jeb entered Ji Ho with his magic to find out more about that spell. So Ji Ho just hoped this would be over soon. He planned to spend some couple time with Vlad later. To show him he's his and his alone.

Meanwhile at the Bridge. Jack and Sai are on duty. (And the bots seem to plot something down in the engine room? ö.Ö') Sai completely snapped out after Jeb's revelations and is getting lost in his books. Not willing to think about his crooked real life... He lately discovered the stories from Cora Rose and he got addicted. At least the MC's in the books are able to overcome their hardships and have a happy ever after together. And he can feel the love between the characters. Ah, dammit. Now he cries again... He loves Jeb more than anything. Why can't they just be happy together, woohooing themselves into oblivion? Why???

Jack is worried about his oldest friend. Usually Sai explodes, gets angry, screams, chases him until he's breathless and his anger eventually subsides. He can't stand seeing him so broken, sad and hopeless. Sai doesn't even want to talk about it. As soon as Jack scratches the topic, Sai just furtively wipes his eyes and says he's going to be fine, putting his nose in his book again... Lifting it up to his face so Jack doesn't see the tears rolling down his cheeks.

After their appointment in the Sickbay, Vlad and Ji Ho picked up their belongings from the cargo bay. Including their meteorites. Just to find out that they started to glow. But not like before at the Invisible Farm. It's different. They used these meteorites to teleport and they even opened portals to the otherworld. So the fear arises they would suddenly bring them somewhere else ö.ö Vlad: "There's never time to breathe, is there?" Ji Ho: "Let's bring them to the lab. Jeb and Jack could build a container or something. To keep them from - eh ... whatever they are doing right now."

Ji Ho was just about to ask Vlad on a date after they got rid of the meteorites, when Sai entered their quarters. His eyes still wet - but smiling manically... Sai: "Mind if I crash here? I... I can't ... And I don't want to... You know?" They know Sai and Jeb well enough and of course they know what happened, even if they don't know what Sai exactly was babbling about. So Vlad just said: "Eh - sure."

Ji Ho: "I'll care for him and you get those meteorites locked away?" Vlad sighed and just said: "Sure." Sai, in fake cheerfulness: "Don't mind me. I'm fine." That was it with their date. But of course they won't leave Sai alone in his misery. Ji Ho: "I'll make it up to you." And Vlad got a little nervous about the prospect.

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Current Chapter: starts ▶️ here Last Chapter: 'Here comes the Sun' from the beginning ▶️ here

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[satureja13]

Poor Father Winter. That wasn't what he expected when he was ordered to bring presents to a spaceship...

[bracketsoffear]

The Great A'Tuin (Discworld) "The Disc stands on the back of four elephants, and the elephants stand on the back of A'Tuin, the great turtle that swims through space. Although A'Tuin herself is not malevolent -- indeed, she seems to pay little attention to the creatures that live and grow on the Disc. On one occasion, however, she caused apocalyptic fear by traveling toward a red sun, which the inhabitants of the Disc had no way to escape. While this jaunt concluded with the hatching o eight baby Chelys galactica, it struck fear into the hearts of everyone on the Disc -- an unnerving reminder that they are all at the mercy of A'Tuin's whims."

Joy Wang/Jobu Tupaki (Everything Everywhere All At Once) "Jobu is able to comprehend the entire scale of humanity in every corner of the multiverse, and it's all… Meaningless. You see when you put literally everything on a bagel when you're bored one day - every report card, every breed of dog, every ad on Craigslist, every grain of salt or seed - it collapses in on itself and you realize… We are all so small and insignificant that nothing we do matters. And when nothing matters, all of the pain and guilt you feel at your life going nowhere just goes away. It's sucked into a bagel.

A cult is formed around this bagel - all the other people that Jobu has shown the truth to - but what she really wants is her mother to understand how empty she really feels."