#I like to imagine there's a “So you were made by Shockwave” group chat

[welcometomybraincomics]

Shockwave, Father of Decepticons

Not bc he started the faction, but bc he is the father of many, many Decepticons

[ramp-it-up]

We Are Young

Pairing: Lin-Manuel Miranda x Reader

Word Count: 3.2k

Warnings: Minors DNI, Explicit language, explicit casual sex, drinking, a bowling alley, bathroom sex.

A/N: This is from an old smut prompt which requested sex with stranger Lin at a bar. Changed it just a little. Maybe I’m jaded because it’s not so filthy to me. It’s like, smut light?.

I stole @ivycomet ‘s pic and gif because this is her fault. There will be a part two very soon.

——-

2011

You couldn't decide what to do with your weave.

You fussed with in the mirror, frustrated because up would mean comfort in the 88-degree heat and down would just look fly as you were having a bomb hair day.

Even though it was after 8 pm, it was still hot as hell in NYC.

You were having serious second thoughts about this. You usually worked your life away, but brushed the qualms out of your mind as you settled for a pony tail.

You smoothed the white bandeau top stretched across your breasts and turned around to check the back zipper on the cute high waisted navy blue polka dot shorts you were wearing; the perfect outfit for the 4th of July.

You didn't usually show so much skin but it was beyond time to turn up.

After you were dressed, you straightened the mess you’d made in the bedroom of the Harlem apartment you shared with your bestie Mayra, which you really only used to sleep, a place to lay your head between busy.

It was the perfect setup for you and her. You had a decent place to live and you didn't cramp her style.

She was always constantly trying to get you to go out and have fun, but the life of an editor could be all consuming, if you were trying to climb manuscripts to the top. Which you were.

“There is no excuse not to get loose tonight.” Mayra told you over the phone earlier. “We're going to have fun, you will relax, and maybe meet someone interesting."

——

“Tell me again why we are at a bowling alley?'" You were ready to go home. You looked up at the sign on the building.

"This is NOT what's up."

"Shut the fuck up and go inside. Damn. Always got to be so difficult. I liked it better when you didn't talk in the 6th grade."

When you walked in, it was so different than the outside. It was almost like a club, the lighting, the lounge behind the bowling lanes, and the scantily clad waitresses.

A huge dude was standing just inside the door. A bouncer.

"Derek! What up!" Mayra greeted the bouncer with a hug.

She introduced him to you.

"We met when I first started coming here a few months ago. He's cool people.”

Mayra leaned in and Derek nodded toward the far side of the alley. She grinned.

"Thanks." She started walking further into the alley. "Let's go to the bar."

You were nonplussed.

You followed Mayra and plopped down on a stool, taking out your phone and started to answer emails when Your friend grabbed your phone and put it on the counter, handing you a drink.

“Get your ass off your shoulders and out of your phone. We’re here to have fun!”

You just shook your head, but you took the drink and sipped. It was Real McCoy and Coke.

"NIceeee." you grinned, liking the way the drink felt going down.

"Hey. Slow down." Mayra was cracking up. "Don’t get wasted. You’re a lightweight.”

You flipped her off as you drank up. “Fuck you.”

But you knew it was true. But you just wanted to have some fun tonight.

-----

You and Mayra went to get a locker and shoes and then went toward the lane that Mayra’s friends had reserved.

"Who the fuck knew that bowling alleys had VIP sections?"

You and Mayra toasted your glasses, You were getting a buzz that made you feel warm and happy inside. Kinda like chocolate.

You found yourself among a group of people that kept getting larger.

"Hmph. Look at those guys over there..." Mayra was checking out the guys at the next lane.

You were sitting down putting on your bowling shoes, shaking your head that apparently Mayra was into guys tonight.

You looked over and caught a smedium height carmel-colored guy checking you out. He looked a little familiar, but you didn't think you knew him.

You smiled at him, but kept your eyes moving so as not to encourage him. The flash of his watch caught your eye and suddenly you went back to his eyes again.

He raised his drink with the offending arm to his very nice lips and stared at you.

You flushed and looked away, taking a sip of your own drink.

“That’s Lin-Manuel.” Mayra had been watching you. “And he’s cute. But he’s also a really dope person.”

“Cool.”

You tried to play it off and tied your other shoe. Someone tapped you on the shoulder and you looked up, expecting to see Mayra. But it was carmel dude.

You moved to stand up beside him. Your head spun with the sudden motion and the alcohol.

You looked at him shyly; he was so familiar. You smiled at him, cocking your head to the side.

Lin felt like the world shifted and he had to plant his feet. That smile was everything. He had to be careful not to check you out too hard.

The way you were looking him straight in the eye, like you knew his soul, confirmed to him that he should get to know you better.

He had to stay cool. "I'm Lin."

He reached his hand out toward you. You looked around and Mayra was nowhere to be found.

Something about that smile, that mouth. You reached out your hand to him. You shook and Lin kept your hand in his.

You two just looked at each other until you realized you were staring. Then you looked down at your bowling shoes.

You looking away gave Lin the chance to check you out. That body. Yes. He had to get to next to you.

But his game was usually wack. He couldn’t fuck it up. He decided to just be himself. He needed to make you laugh.

Before he could speak, everyone from the other lane came over and mingled. There was a taller cute bald headed dude named Chris, another guy named Bill, another dark handsome guy that told you to call him UTK.

More people with weird names were introduced to you, Two-Touch, Jelly Donut, Shockwave, and Arthur the Geniuses who was very nerdy but strangely attractive to you.

You started talking to him, but you felt Lin’s eyes on you the whole time the group was chatting and mingling.

You went to check your phone and realized it wasn't there. You looked down at the seat where you had been sitting and began to panic.

“Oh no, my phone!” You exclaimed while looking around.

Lin's voice was very near your ear.

"Looking for this?"

A shiver ran through you. You looked down at his hand and saw your phone.

“I found it on the bar, I was going to see if it was anyone’s over here…”

A flood of relief washed over you, and you went to grab it. You pulled your hand back at the spark that surged through your fingers when they made contact with Lin's skin.

"Whoa. Must be static." Lin felt it, too.

Your eyes locked for a split second and Lin saw another universe. He tried to shake it off. This was crazy.

You looked up into his chocolate brown eyes and his long ass lashes. Okay. You could get lost here.

He handed the phone to you and smiled in response to your happiness at getting it back. You looked up and smiled back at him.

There was a little awkward silence as you both looked at each other and imagined the possibilities. Wild thoughts. But only for two seconds.

You were imagining his lips on you in places that had not been seen or touched by another human in many moons.

Lin was thinking about having your brown legs wrapped around him as he tried to get real deep with you. The shorts you were wearing were everything. He couldn’t think about the top or else his eyes would be glued there the rest of the night.

You were shocked at how your thoughts were so explicit about this man you just met.

Lin was thinking of a way to make his daydream come true.

You looked away at Chris who was setting up the bowling order and at UTK and Mayra who were looking deep into one another’s eyes. Your eyes came back to Lin. It was inevitable.

"Thank you."

There was another awkward silence. This was getting dangerous, you thought. You needed some space before you said or did something reckless.

“I’m… going to get another drink…”

“Let me buy it for you.”

The way he was smirking at you made you feel some kinda way. It was like he knew exactly what it would take to get you to cum. Fuck.

“Oh. Ok.”

Lin’s was looking over his shoulder and smirking. When you checked you saw Chris shaking his head and smiling.

-----

An hour later, you were getting moist at Lin’s intelligence. He gave the greatest literary conversation you’d ever had. Nerds turned you the fuck on.

Your conversation was so dope. You listened to how Lin was going to burn the world up with his brilliance and you let him know how you were a success at being innovative in breaking down.

The more you drank, the more you wanted to fuck his brains out. You had to try to chill.

“So what was that all about when we left the alley area? You and your homeboy playing games?”

“Me and Chris?” Lin laughed. “Nah. Chris is like my big brother. He laughs at me for pursuing women who are out of my league.”

You took a sip of your drink, set it down and smiled at him.

“So, are you pursuing me?”

That smile. And was he blushing? Awww. How fuckably cute. You chuckled and Lin brightened up a little.

“I’d be an idiot not to. I mean, damn. You’re gorgeous.”

What was it about this nerd dude that was turning you on so much? Those eyes? Nah, that mouth. And his cute pink tongue that darted out and cleaned up his mouth after a drink.

‘I have something he can clean up,’ you thought, as you crossed your legs to calm your clit down.

Lin took in your legs in the shorts and had to recall lines of Shakespeare to calm his threatening woodie. He decided to go for it.

“The guys have already started a game; they haven’t missed us and they won't.”

He looked down and you noticed his long lashes again. Then he looked up at you again with those eyes and you almost fell off your stool.

“You wanna get out of here?”

“Hell yeah.”

It was out before you knew it. Lin laughed and told the bartender to put your drinks on Christopher Jackson’s tab.

You texted Mayra where that you were leaving with Lin.

“Get it! I’m so glad that I dragged your ass out of the house.”

“Shut up.”

You almost forgot that you were still wearing bowling shoes.

“We can’t go out in New York City in stolen bowling shoes. It’s 25 to life.”

Lin looked down and laughed.

“You’re right!”

You made your way over to the locker area, which was in a corner of the bowling alley. Lin sat down and started taking off his shoes.

You sauntered over, put your foot up on the bench and showed off your leg and your back arch as you slowly took off yours and replaced them with your high heeled sandals.

Yes. You were officially on your bullshit.

Lin stopped what he was doing to watch you.

“Holy fuck!” he thought.

You looked over at him. “What’s wrong?”

“Oh shit? Did I say that out loud? Sometimes I get over excited, shoot off at the mouth…”

He was outright staring at you with his mouth open, the look on his face so fucking hot to you.

He cleared his throat. “Ummmm. I just have to say, you are gorgeous and I am very attracted to…” he motioned to your body. “All that.”

You laughed heartily.

“Really? Thanks. I am attracted to you as well, Lin.” You put your other leg up and took off your other shoe in the same manner as before.

This time however, you leaned toward him so that he could see down your top. Then, you stood up and smoothed it with your hands, making sure your fingers lingered over your nipples.

You could hear Lin’s soft moan as you did that.

“You make me want to do things, Lin.”

You walked over to where he was and stood before him, placing your legs on either side of his.

Lin was eye level with your crotch, gave a mischievous smirk and looked up as he placed his hands on your thigh.

You sat on his lap and his hands moved up to cup your ass as he let you on, widening his legs so that you were positioned right over his cock.

Feeling the sizeable hard on, you started moving. Yes. You would let Lin’s huge cock ruin you after knowing him for two hours. You only live once.

When you finally kissed after all the flirting and teasing, it was like a door to sin opened up.

You tried as hard as you could to put your tongue down his throat, and Lin stood up with your ass in his hands and slammed your back against the lockers behind you.

He started grinding into you through your clothes and your wetness began to drip onto your already moist panties.

When you came up for air, you both realized where you were. You slowly slid down his body and you separated a bit, but neither of you were satisfied. You looked at his jeans and how excited he was.

“That must be uncomfortable.” You reached out and brushed your fingers against his hard cock. He whimpered a bit and replied.

“It is.” His eyes held yours. You nodded to the left.

“Well, let’s take care of that.”

You took his hand and led him to the single use bathroom that was actually pretty decent. Clean, modern amenities. You breathed a sigh of relief when you saw a small basket of assorted condoms on the vanity. You were in love with this place.

You locked the door behind you.

Lin leaned against the sink, palming himself over his jeans.

“I’d like to see it?”

Lin smirked and reached for his belt buckle. You bit your lip as you watched. That sound of the belt buckle clanking got you even wetter, and as Lin showed you his black boxer briefs, then his caramel colored cock, it was game over.

You literally started to drip as he stroked his cock for you.

“Oh shit. I like that.”

It was a good size and so smooth and beautiful. You moved closer and put your hand on it. You took over stroking and felt his firm warm manhood in your hand, leaning forward and kissing him as he closed his eyes.

It would have been a nice, innocent kiss if you weren’t pumping pre-cum out of him in a bowling room bathroom.

“Fuck, what are you doing to me?”

Lin opened his eyes and they blazed warm fire at you. He put his hands on your waist, feeling the bare skin there and then suddenly, spun you around so that he was behind you and you were facing the mirror.

He ran his hands up your waist to your bandeau top, searching for and finding your nipples as he went. His fingers curled into the top and pulled it down, freeing your breasts into his waiting hands.

“So fucking beautiful. I was thinking of doing this since I first saw you.”

He grabbed them and toyed with your nipples with his fingers and thumbs. You arched your back, feeling his warm hardness there.

Lin trailed one of his hands up to your neck and grabbed it, making you moan because that is what you’d wanted from him all night. His hands on you aggressively.

Then, he took your chin and moved it toward his mouth, lewdly kissing you as he felt you up and squeezed your neck.

Next, his hand went from you neck to the waist band of your shorts and inside. You squirmed, as he was now twisting your nipple and searching your pussy inside your shorts.

When he found your wet, bare folds, you moaned your appreciation against his mouth as he rubbed up and down your slick lips.

“You like that?” Lin asked as he pulled away to catch his breath.

You just moaned again. His fingers were skimming along your clit as they rubbed up and down. It felt oh so good, but didn’t give you any satisfaction.

“Yeah, you like that, look how wet you are. Fuck, you feel so tight and wet!” He exclaimed as his long fingers found and breached your hole.

You couldn’t take it anymore as you pulled away and unbuttoned your shorts, pulling them and your panties down as Lin pulled his pants down too. He grabbed a condom and put it on as you leaned against the sink and panted.

When it was on, Lin took you by the waist and turned you around again, taking his dick and rubbing it against you from behind as you put your leg up on the vanity and he positioned himself at your opening.

“Ah!” you exclaimed as he breached you and bottomed out inside you.

Lin held on to your waist as you braced your leg and arm against the vanity as he pumped into you. He felt amazing stretching you out so much that you couldn’t help but keep lubricating you both.

“Feels so fucking good!”

You threw it down on him as he pumped upward, as fast as you both could until you started seeing stars.

He started pumping sloppily and you could hear your bodies slapping together as he started losing it.

His grunts were in time with the thrusts. When his hand went to your clit and your breast again, that was the invitation for your body to explode.

It was quick and good and took the edge off for a bit. You were not sorry as you held eye contact with him as he got dressed.

“I- I don’t want the night to be over.”

He was so cute, that you couldn’t help but give him a peck on the lips.

“Me neither.”

Lin blushed a little. “I’ll give you some privacy.”

He quickly shuffled out the door and left you to clean up.

He sat on the bench and noticed his shoes weren’t tied. He chuckled at himself and his feeble nerd game. He didn’t know that’s what got him in.

You were out five minutes later, looking slightly less recently-fucked. You smiled when you saw Lin waiting for you.

“You ready to set the world on fire?”

You were hopeful, more than in a long while.

“Sure. Or maybe we can find new ways to fall apart?”

You took his hand and went out into the July night.

——-

Read the next part: Some Nights

Tagging: @theatrenerd86 @sebastianabucknettastan @imatyoursurrvicesurr @riiyy @lonelydance @jbrizzywrites @sillyteecup @ohsoverykeri  @theselilwonders @curtainremote @honeysucklechocolatedrippin @delaber

[sanababes]

Golden Child (II)

= twiceblackvelvet x fem!reader

(a/n: YES!! after 6 months of waiting LMAO im finally updating golden child which some of you really liked it uwuwuwu~ enjoy hihi! even though i know it's not that great-)

------

"Since we have a new student today, I'm planning to carry out a Battle Trial for all of you."

Mr. Ok announced with a pleasing smile on his face. The class started to shout and cheer loudly which made your eyebrows furrow as you never know how the sudden event works. On the other hand, Sana was also happy at your adviser's news but seeing your reaction, she had a hunch that you probably had no idea what it was about.

"Uhm, if you're wondering what a Battle Trial is, it's like a test? We'll be grouped into different numbers of teams and that's how the combat will begin!" the girl said with enthusiasm.

You just nodded and thanked the latter before turning your eyes away from her captivating aura, it was something too much you can handle. Nevertheless, you decided to just relax until a harsh ball of wind smacks your head abruptly. You almost fell off your chair but luckily Sana had caught your arm on time, and if she didn't, you would probably be known as a newcomer who lets herself plummet down the floor of her classroom. Don't forget, you're the renowned 'Golden Child' too... Imagine how embarrassing that could be.

"Lalisa Manoban, you little bitc–"

Before you could curse the hell out of her, Mr. Ok had spoken up once again, "It seems like we're all ready… Shall we head to the Gym Gamma?"

The class answered 'yes' in unison before they made a beeline outside of the room. You could hear Lisa snickering behind your back which made you grumble under your breath, you faced the latter quickly and guided your right hand over her wrists. You created an ice chain around it before smirking playfully.

"Get lost."

---

After arriving at the said training area, Mr. Ok immediately ushers all of you to change into your own training suits. Sana never left your side too as you and your classmates walked to the large cemented stadium. 

Then the boys and girls were divided at the moment, each of them changing from their uniforms into their own training outfits. You went ahead to the lockers nearby and scanned through the assigned names of each compartment just to find yours. After a while, you finally saw it by the farthest end and immediately pushed the password in. A blue tracksuit was provided inside the compartment and there's a few hygiene supplies in a small pouch. You shrugged your shoulders nonchalantly before grabbing the suit and undoing the first few buttons of your blouse.

"I would appreciate it if you would like to show off your body, Kang." you recognized your cousin's voice. 

"But do it when we're alone, okay?" 

You chuckled at her tone as you faced Dahyun who was already dressed in her own suit. You gave her a pat on the cheek before whispering, "Got it, Miss Kim."

She pushed you playfully into one of the partitions which successfully got you to start changing your clothes, decently.

Dahyun waited for you, and after a few minutes, you finally got out and thanked the latter. She puts her arm around your shoulder before pulling you out of the dressing room. 

"So~ How have you been doing lately?" she beams while the two of you regrouped with the other students.

"Hmm, I'm doing great," you replied. "Still sulking about this whole school and shit…"

She chuckled at your sudden change of mood, "You know how mischievous your sister is, and you wouldn't even realize it. And maybe… you can even learn more about your mother if you study here."

You just nodded languidly.

'Right... I should know more about the Mistress.'

"Everyone! Please gather around the center please!" Mr. Ok yells with excitement as he clasps his hands together.

All of the students followed their adviser's order as they stood in the middle of the stadium. You slipped your hands inside the pockets of your suit before glancing at Lisa who's currently chatting with a certain brunette.

You watched them closely, noticing the cat-like eyes of the other girl which looks significantly familiar. Nevertheless, you huffed out a sigh before moving your attention away from the two.

"Before officially starting our Battle Trial, I would like to call out our dear Class Representative," the studly man stated, then a girl immediately struts beside Mr. Ok. which made your eyebrow raise with interest.

"Sassy…" you muttered under your breath which earned a hit on your shoulder from the pale skinned girl by your side.

"For the one who's new, Im Nayeon is the name." the girl remarked as she gave you a look that you couldn't comprehend.

You bowed your head slightly and gave her a fake smile, the latter dismissed it quickly by continuing what she was tasked to say.

"Our class will be grouped to Mr. Ok's choices of teams and the fight will begin as soon as possible," Nayeon said eloquently. "Your team's main goal is just to avoid being knocked out or you could be the one who will knock your enemies out. That's all, and I wish you guys to do your best."

Your classmates started to holler around, giving the Class Rep an earnest attention. The certain latter just grins arrogantly before folding her arms onto her chest.

"Okay, moving on! Shall I start picking all of the teams?"

Mr. Ok's mouth curves in a slightest hint of smirk. But that alone, makes chills run down on your spine.

'Ahh shit, just what the hell is this fine man planning…'

"Starting off with--" teams were started to be formed, ranging from solos, duos, and trios. Coincidentally, you were grouped with that cat-eyed girl from earlier and a boy whom you never met before. They stood awkwardly, clearly keeping an obvious distance from your alluring frame. This made you chuckle quietly as you decided to greet them politely, "Uhm, hello. I'm Y/n and please, make yourselves comfortable."

Both of their eyes widen as the boy scrambles to acknowledge your sudden greetings. Meanwhile, the girl pulls herself together and just gives you a simple smile, "You can call me Jennie. By the way, I heard a lot about you from Lisa."

"Ahh, I see. That weirdo must have told you some unnecessary things as well so I would like to apologize in advance." your statement made Jennie laugh softly before she lifts one of her hands and waves it dismissively. "Don't worry, those things would be exclusive between the three of us only."

You just nodded sheepishly and changed the topic, "And you are–"

"Oh! Right, how rude of me. I'm Chan and I hope we'll be good friends from now on, mate." you gave him a passive smile and gladly accepted his friendly aspiration.

The three of you started to chat smoothly after that short introduction with each other. You learned that Jennie's quirk is Perfect Aim while Chan's quirk is Vibrate. Jennie further explained that her quirk allows her to use any weapon with accuracy in an agile manner, then Chan also explained that his quirk allows him to generate vibration or shockwaves through any kind of medium.

You instantly try to analyze their weaknesses whilst formulating a strategy in your head that could helpfully put your team at an advantage. Then, you proceeded to explain your quirk to them, the two of them were secretly doubting your power as you never showed it to the public. Nevertheless, they have no choice but to trust you in this round of the Battle Trial.

---

"Calling the next contenders!" Mr. Ok calls out. "Jennie, Y/n, and Chan versus Nayeon, Ten, and Gahyeon."

The six of you immediately walked inside the cemented platform. You glanced at your teammates and thankfully, they seemed pumped up which made you feel a little at ease. Your other classmates began to murmur as they were in awe due to the incoming line-up of contenders, with Nayeon being one of the top 5 students of Leidenschaft Univeristy, with you being the 'Golden Child', and the rest being one of the best students in Class 1-A. 

You reached down to your waist and unclipped your beloved metal mask from one of the hooks of your training pants. It was an essential equipment that you need while full-on using your quirk as it regulates your respiration, this was recommended for you to use because you often have a hard time breathing when utilizing your abilities without using your mask.

"Please prepare your stance," Mr. Ok said as he slips the whistle between his lips. "The round will begin  in 3…"

"2…" you exhaled heavily before heightening your senses.

"1…" a smirk started to form in the corner of your lips.

"START!"

A growl of thunder erupted from outside of the stadium, then you quickly picked up the change of color in Nayeon's eyes. Her orbs shined in yellow as she blasted a large charge of lightning towards your direction. You barely blocked her attack, instantly forming a shield of glaciers from the weight of your right foot. 

You hoisted yourself sideways and began blasting ice balls towards the latter. One of them successfully hit her leg which gave you a chance to check on Jennie and Chan's situation. They were doing quite fine as Gahyeon and Jennie were against each other while that goes the same with Ten and Chan.

"Hey! I'm the one you're fighting with right now, you know," Nayeon taunted as she forms a makeshift lightning sword and swiftly jabbed it to your chest. 

You groaned at the buzzing sensation spreading throughout your body, nevertheless, it didn't last long which made the spectators by the side gasp in surprise. Nayeon was strong as hell, and no one could last from her electrocution if she applied it thoroughly.

"Nice try, Nayeon-ssi." you grinned smugly before grabbing her forearm and freezing her whole dominant arm. "But I don't think charging such low strength can bring me down just like how you think it is," you crossed your left feet into her right ankle and quickly pushed her over.

The shocked bunny-like girl was caught off guard which resulted in the two of you toppling down to the ground. In the spur of the moment, your left hand held the back of her head so it wouldn't hurt Nayeon so much since the fall itself was pretty rough.

FWEET!!!

The sound of Mr. Ok's whistle resonated loudly but it didn't make you or Nayeon budge from the intense gaze that the two of you are sharing. Her piercing glare sent shivers down your spine but you didn't let her take over, your eyes reflected a nonchalant and unbothered look which triggered the latter's growing anger more.

"Ehem… Uhh, are you guys planning to stay in that position for the whole time?" your adviser teasingly said which put the rest of the class into a fit of laughter.

Nayeon immediately pushes your hand and body away before storming off to the changing room. You just chuckled lightly at her bratty attitude before lifting yourself up.

Meanwhile, Jennie and Chan shared a meaningful look with each other, making sure that they'll never let you go and will start to bug you about the 'tension' between you and Miss Class Representative.

"Moving on!" Mr. Ok clapped his hands for a few times which fortunately got the attention of the whole class.

"We got Jennie, Chan, and Y/n as the winner of this round! The three of you will get full marks for today," he announced shortly before scribbling something into his pad of notes.

"And don't worry Ten and Gahyeon, the two of you did great too… that applies to Nayeon as well."

The man continued his statement before letting the five of you out of the platform, instantly commencing the next fight with a new line-up of students. 

You distanced yourself away from anyone before heating your body up due to your almost-freezing skin from your previous ministrations. Heaving a sigh of relief, you removed your metal mask and let it hang around your neck as fog of your breaths came out of your mouth.

"Y/n!" 

It was Chan and Jennie, they gave you a nudge with a grin on their own faces which you would gladly smack off if you were given the chance.

"What?" you knitted your eyebrows together at their sudden disturbance.

"I think someone has taken a liking towards Nayeon~" the cat-eyed girl remarks which made you scoff as you rolled your eyes at the same time.

"You wish," you playfully pushed her shoulder. "Anyways, you guys did a great job earlier. Although, I was too pre-occupied due to Miss 'Sassy Ass Bitch' that I couldn't watch you guys fight at all."

The two just chuckled and gave you a pat on the back, "Don't worry, we actually enjoyed the show-off between you and Nayeon."

"Yeah, right," you shrugged them off and as you were about to leave, Jennie grabs your arm then leans incredibly close to your face.

"I know you're holding out," she whispered in sultry laced tone. "And that's pretty disappointing for someone like you," you can feel her pushing a finger against your chest.

"You're scared to loose control, aren't you? Especially with that flames of yours…"

You were utterly confused at her vast knowledge, but your blood started to boil as your mind started to be flooded with memories that you despise the most. A sharp pain suddenly shoots through your temple which made you wince as you closed your eyes in silent agony.

'No... Please stop...'

Those memories, it was all tainted with hatred, violence, and unpleasant recollection of your upbringing. It was a whole, opposite side that no one knows except you and him.

"How did you..." a few students nearby began to shudder as you unconsciously began to emit your dark aura.

Jennie immediately noticed this.

The girl caressed your cheek then just left a kiss on it before strutting away to her other friends. You continued to grit your teeth in silence which didn't went unnoticed by Chan.

"She can be feisty at times," he gives you a comforting rub on the back to make you calm down.

"Just don't let her get into your nerves, that would make her more gutsy." he showed you a soft smile as his gaze averted to something, or someone behind you.

"Y/n?"

-

-

-

~to be continued~

[jpegjade]

When the Party’s Over - Spencer

WHY IS THIS THE LONGEST THING IVE WRITTEN???? probably bc drunk me is wordy. i do talk a lot when i’m drunk and it gets on people’s nerves. i just really love you guys. i was sad when i wrote this, really sad, and it’s the first “smut”???? ive ever written. so here we go frens and ferns. 

warnings: uuuhhhh smut???

________________

When the night started, you were at Rossi’s house, getting drunk with the team. It was right after a hard case, difficult on everyone’s psyche so Rossi invited everyone over to relax in the usual way. After pasta and drinks, most of the team was still there while Spencer offered to drive you home since you were not in the shape to drive and he was the only one who opted for water instead of alcohol. He was beat but he wasn’t in the mood to drink tonight. 

Spencer was being a good friend but he had his motives. He wanted to talk to you in the car. You weren’t so drunk that you wouldn’t remember the conversation but your inhibitions were lowered enough to be truly and completely honest with him so you were the slightest bit tipsy but not drunk. You were 100% lucid and could think for yourself but you took the excuse to drink some of the smirnoff you brought and keep going. 

He wasn’t planning for it to happen like this but you were being very outspoken to everyone at the party so he figured it was time to get you home before you were out of a job after calling Hotch, “Hotchner the Grouch.” They found it funny but Spencer knew that you could go wrong easily. 

“Spencer Reid.” You said, staring at him. “I’m going to ask you something and I want you to be as honest as I’m being right now.” 

“Okay. I promise to be honest.” Spencer said, a little nervous. He chuckled anyway because you were so adamant that he answered honestly. 

“Do you like me?” You asked, suddenly very serious. 

“Y/n, you’re my best friend. Of course I like you.” Spencer tried to give you an answer that wouldn’t expose his real thoughts. 

For the past few months, Spencer thought about you a lot. It caused him to avoid you a little bit but you wouldn’t let him stray too far away from you. You kept texting him outside of the team group chat. You continued inviting him over for dinner. You never relented on checking in with his mental health. You never gave up on your relationship with him. 

 You were so focused on his jawline that your hand worked by itself, poking his face. He smiled and made the turn into your apartment complex’s parking lot and parked. 

“While I appreciate the validation of our friendship, that’s not what I mean and you know it.” You said, very serious. 

Spencer looked over at you, nervous to answer. He swallowed and took a shaky breath. 

“Y/n, is it really important?” Spencer tried to avoid the conversation. 

He opened the door and got out, walking quickly around to your side of the car to open the door. He didn’t have to but he wanted to. It’s always what he did. 

“Yes, it’s important, Spencer. I want to know.” You bumped shoulders with him as the two of you walked to your apartment on the third floor. 

Spencer sighed. 

“Yes, I like you. A lot…” You and Spencer arrived at your door, handing you your keys. 

You just stood there, staring up at Spencer. You reached up to touch his hair. It was so soft… You wrapped your fingers around one of the curls and smiled. Spencer stood there, nose ghosting over yours. 

“Do you want to come in?” It was barely audible but it was there. 

“I shouldn’t. You’re not sober. Unless you just want to hang out.” He said, looking at his wing tip shoes. 

“Spencer, get in here. I have literally been waiting almost a whole year for you to say that.” You pulled him to you by his tie and kissed him. 

*****

It was tentative at first. It tasted like spearmint gum. Spencer wasn’t chewing any at the moment so you guessed that he had been chewing it earlier. You liked that. It was refreshing. Slowly, Spencer got more comfortable with the kiss and relaxed and got more involved. It was sweet and gentle and soft. You felt his hands in your hair and felt the gentle pull and you released an involuntary moan. You could feel Spencer smile, the two of you momentarily breaking apart. 

Breaking apart left you speechless and in a daze. It was almost like you were in a fog but your head was clear. You were more than ready to do what you had been thinking about with Spencer for the past year. Some part of you needed this release while the other part of you needed him. 

“So inside?” You said. “The apartment, I mean.” 

“Yeah.” Spencer said, just as dazed.

Getting in the door was a task by itself. You and Spencer tried to go in at the same time and it was quite awkward but he let you go in first. 

You closed the door behind you, pressing your back to the cold surface. Scanning Spencer’s face, you saw that he was staring at your lips. 

“Do you want to continue here or should we...” He asked, looking back up at your eyes. 

“You tell me. I’ll let you take control tonight.” You said, smirking. 

Spencer clenched and unclenched his jaw nervously before licking his lips. You always liked when he did that. He wore chapstick but he never did it for anything other than a sign that he was thinking. 

“I haven’t been in your apartment before.” He said, gingerly. He smiled as you took his hand, guiding him to your bedroom. 

You grabbed your cat off the bed, putting it outside the bedroom and shooing it away. The cat sauntered around to find somewhere else to sleep. 

“Are we really about to do this?” Spencer asked, looking at you on the bed. 

Laying back on the bed, half of you held up by your elbows, you marveled at Spencer. The light from your hallway illuminated his silhouette very nicely. You could see the curves of his arms and his slender frame very clearly. 

“Do you want to do it?” You said, tilting your head a little bit. 

“Yeah, a lot.” Spencer said, shifting his weight from one leg to the other. 

He had dreamed about this moment, literally, but he didn’t know he would be so nervous. He didn’t think it would ever happen. He never imagined you’d be laying in front of him like this. 

“Then drop the pants and I’ll drop to my knees,” You smirked. 

“Do you mind if we skip that part?” Spencer said not really in the mood for a blow job. 

It wasn’t that he was opposed to it, it’s just that he didn’t want to think of you like that yet. He felt like those experiences were for days where there wasn’t much time. Tonight, you had all the time in the world.

“You’re telling me you don't want my mouth on your dick?” You said, confused. 

You stood up, getting close to Spencer. You started unbuckling his belt and he audibly swallowed. He was nervous, not because of you but because he wanted this to go right. There was pressure when it came to something so intimate for the first time with someone. He felt your hands on his hips once you got his belt undone. 

“Shoes on or off?” He asked. 

“I’m taking my shoes off, obviously.” You said, already flipping them off. “Oh, you mean you. Well depends on what you want to do. You can bend me over the side of the bed, fuck me from behind, and call it a night. Or, if you want to draw it out, you can climb on top of me and fuck me in the bed. Oh, there’s also shower sex if you feel gross. Wouldn’t recommend it because it’s slippery and counterproductive to me getting wet.” You were rambling off some of the many fantasies and logistics that you’d thought about over the past year. You had thought about it a lot. 

Spencer kissed you. He just wanted you to take a breath because the more you talked about what you thought about, the more he thought about it. And the more he thought about all the ways he wanted to make love to you, the more he just wanted to get started. 

“Spencer, please pick somewhere because I’m literally struggling to keep it together.” You said in a low tone. 

“Clothes off, on the bed, legs open. I’ve got you tonight, baby.” Spencer said with a little more confidence. 

“Yes, sir.” You said, getting undressed. 

Spencer watched you but at the same time, he got dressed down to his boxers. Staring at you, he wondered how you were able to stay so calm on the outside right now. He didn’t usually have the sex drive as high as this moment. His body was on fire with desire and excitement but he was trying so hard to contain it. 

You laid down in the bed, just like Spencer told you to. He flipped on the light and you protested lightly with a groan and covered your face with both hands. 

“I want to watch you come all over me and lose complete control of your body. I can’t do that in the dark.” He said, walking over to the bed. 

“Well damn. Look at you, Spence. Actually showing some confidence. About damn time.” You said, smiling. You loved confident Spencer in all aspects of life, not just here. There was something about him that made you...want to be laid out in front of him, completely naked like you were now. 

“I honestly don’t know where I want to start…” Spencer said. Climbing onto the bed, he did the first thing that came to mind. 

“What’s your line?” He said, kissing your inner thigh, right above your knee. 

“Fuck, uh…” You never really thought of it in relation to Spencer. “Just don’t kill me.” You nervously chuckled. 

More thigh kisses. You wanted to grab your phone and put on some background music but it was just out of reach and Spencer’s arms looped through your legs and pinned your waist down to the bed. His grip was pretty firm. 

“Spence, can we…” A deep moan cut you off and slipped out your mouth when you felt his mouth finally where you wanted him. 

“Hmm?” Spencer looked up at you while his mouth went to work. The vibrations sent shockwaves up your body. 

“Holy shit. More.” You said. More was what he gave you, slipping in two fingers that matched the tempo that his mouth set. 

You were almost there, Spencer’s hair firmly in your hand and his name tumbling from your lips like a prayer, when Spencer slowed down and all together stopped. 

“I swear to god the room better be of fire.” You said, gritting your teeth. You were so, so close and he was being a tease. 

“You’re being a brat, baby. I promise I’ll give you exactly what you’re looking for.” Spencer said, looking for a towel.

“Don’t be a wuss. Kiss me.” You said, drawing his attention away from his towel search. He was nervous that you wouldn’t want to kiss him after he just went down on you. Crawling on top of you, he just stared at your features before you wrapped your arms around his shoulders, pulling him down to you. 

You hated breaking apart from kissing him, you really did. It left you in a daze, making the light seem a little too bright for your eyes. He rushed over to his satchel, digging in its contents to find the condom Morgan gave him for emergency purposes as a joke one day. Who knew it would come in handy. 

“Are you ready?” You asked Spencer. He chuckled. 

“I was just about to ask if you were ready.” Spencer went back to being a little awkward. He was nervous that he wouldn’t be able to keep up with you. 

“Spencer are you sure you don’t want me to help you out?” You asked, watching him shift as he got rid of his underwear. 

“I think I’m okay.” He said, blushing. 

“Okay well let me know if… Spencer, what the fuck?” You asked, looking down, between the two of you. “And you expect me to take all of that?” 

“Is it bad? I know I’m not like other guys but…” Spencer grew a little shy. 

“No, just work your magic because you’re different than most guys. Spence, just be confident because you are very special.” You said, hoping it helped him come back out of his shell. 

“Breathe, okay? It might be a little… Much.” Spencer said, lining himself up with you. 

“I’m fi…” You were cut off as he gently pushed into you. “Holy shit!” Was all you could breathe out while you tried to catch your breath. Much was an understatement with what you felt from Spencer just barely being inside of you.

He paused to let you adjust but it was tough. You could feel yourself stretching when he started moving a little more to help you relax. He took your leg and hitched it around his waist, making you gasp in shock. That was a completely new sensation that sped up your heart rate even faster, your head getting slightly dizzy. 

“Stay with me, darling, okay?” He whispered in your ear. 

If you weren’t all in with Spencer before, your feelings were definitely there now. 

The pace he set was slow and gentle, soft and delicate like he didn’t want to break you. It was just like you imagined it. Your hands intertwined with Spencer’s as he treated you so kindly. You felt pressure just below your stomach and it was like you couldn’t do anything but shut your eyes and let your body feel it. 

“Just keep breathing, okay? It makes it last longer.” Spencer said, trying to stay focused. His brain was going through the female anatomy but he wanted to stay focused. He opened his eyes as he continued pushing himself in and out of you. He wanted to make sure you were comfortable, taking his right hand and moving his thumb over your cheek. You looked so soft under him. 

“Faster.” You whimpered, the only thing you could manage. 

Everything felt nice, it felt comfortable. You were comfortable with Spencer. You thought it would be hotter, more dramatic when you would imagine it. You imagined him grabbing your hips and plunging himself into you until your body was exhausted and used. But that’s not how it worked. 

“Are you okay?” Spencer asked, quietly. He was going faster and a bit harder, making it very hard for you to concentrate. 

“I’m…” You couldn’t think of the answer. You couldn’t think at all right then.

“You’re doing such a good job, love. Just relax, I’ve got you.” Spencer kissed you on the forehead before shifting your leg a bit higher on his hip. That ignited something inside of you that was hard to turn off. 

Your body was on pins and needles. You felt your body shaking as you held onto Spencer’s hand. He kissed you, soft and slightly frenzied. He was chasing his own release so quickly. Everything moved so smoothly between the two of you. 

Spencer’s body rolled into yours like the ocean, and you were the beach. His waves rushed into your shore over and over, filling you with pleasure you couldn’t find on your own. He was kissing your neck, marking you with sweet mumbles of, “I’m all yours.” 

“Spence…” Another instance of being unable to think or speak clearly. 

“I know, I know. And I want you to let it go for me. Be good for me and let go, y/n. I’m right here.” He said, kissing you deeply. 

Spencer pushed into you a little sloppier, trying to stay composed but it was a challenge. He wanted to make sure you rode out your high, which you were definitely doing. Your body was shaking and you were out of it a little bit as you came down. Spencer finished in the condom and kissed you so many times that you lost count. Your cheeks, your neck, your lips, forehead, nose, lips again. 

“Spencer, that was… That was nice.” You said, opening your eyes. He was smiling over you, shaking a little bit. You weren’t sure if his arms were tired or if he felt like you did. You hoped to god that he felt like you did. It worked out so well up to this point. 

He rolled off of you, standing up to get that towel to clean you up. He saw the bathroom door cracked open so he slipped the condom off and put his star trek underwear back on as he went into the bathroom and warmed up a small towel and grabbed a big towel. 

“I got aftercare towels.” He said, walking back into the room. 

You had curled up into yourself, laying down on your side, as you fell asleep slowly. You heard him come back into the room and smiled as he cleaned you up and helped you put a t-shirt on. Putting the towels in your wastebasket, he flipped the overhead light off and came back around to the opposite side of the bed and gently nudged you to let him hold you. 

“How do you feel?” Spencer asked, nuzzling his head into the crook between your shoulder and your neck. 

He felt so warm on your back like that, holding you tight. You felt safe and secure. 

“Spence, I love you.” You mumbled, just loud enough for him to hear. 

“I love you too, y/n,” Spencer said, falling asleep himself.

________________

taglist: 

@i-love-you-green

[heliosthegriffin]

The Tarasque

On the night before the finals of the Vytal Festival, we find Jaune Arc. He leaned over the railing of the roof where he trained with Pyrrha, they hadn’t trained tonight, she needed to be in top shape for tomorrow.

Jaune didn’t though, and Jaune had come up to think dressed in his baby blue onesie. Smoking a cigarette in hand and breathing out the smoke into the clear night sky.

Taking a long drag of his cigarette, letting the warm smoke fill his longs, holding it till it lost it’s warmth and expelled it. He spoke out into the night sky, “I’m really going to miss this place again, aren’t I?” There was no one to hear him question.

In his unoccupied hand was his scroll, a message ready to be sent to a group chat. Jaune looked at the scroll his expression mixed, his finger hovering over the send button. One press would be what it takes to summon his friends, they’d deserve an explanation at the very least before he left. He still hesitated before pressing the button, then he signed. “It’s never going to be any easier, is it?” Silence was his answer.

Several minutes passed before Pyrrha showed up, her normal, fake, smile still up, something was bothering the girl. He knew what Orville the poor child to due, and it only added to the list of grievance he had with the man.

“Jaune? Why are you calling everybody?” Pyrrha asked, her face full of worry. 

Her mind obviously wondering he could no longer take the guilt anymore, he’d nip that in the bud now.

“I’ll tell you when the rest get here. It’s more than what you think it is.”

The tone of his voice got her attention, but she nodded.

She had yet to notice the cigarette in his hand.

The rest came in the pair of Ren and Nora, and then the Team RWBY who came out in a dogpile on the roof. He snickered, he would indeed miss their antics.

The seven of them formed a semi-circle around him seeming to wonder what Jaune had to say. Jaune said nothing for a long second, taking one last long drag of the cigarette before exhaling.

That got Weiss’s attention, “Since when did you start such a repugnant habit, Arc?“ She asked with disgust.

Nora before Jaune could answer, “Oh, oh, oh, can you blow smoke rings Jauney, and hey wait, when you start smoking? I never smelled any  on you before?”

That got a small murmur going through the group of teens, bring a smile to his face.

Yang broke the silence, “So, what’s up VB? Come to have us look at you model your onesie?” She said with a snicker.

A sad looking smile came to Jaune’s face, he let the bud drop to the roof where he ground it under his slippers.

“I’m leaving Beacon, tonight.”

Any words that were about to come out froze in the seven teens mouths, not one had been expecting him to say that.

A series of ‘Whats?!” ‘Why’ ‘Are you for real?’ and so on and so forth, it all blended together to white noise.

It hurt him see his friends look so pained and shocked, but he needed to do what he needed to do. They were weights.

He clapped his hands, infusing his hands and arms to strength them, and then further empowered the shockwave as it left the hands causing a explosion of noise.

They all jumped up in shock, but Ren’s eyes narrowed at him, clearly noticing the aura trick he did.

He smiled softly at him, then at all of them. “I just want to say, thank you, thank you all, you’ve made the last hellish nine months in this place actually pleasant.”

Blakes eyes narrowed at his choice of words.

“I have had more fun here in my time with you seven, than I have had in the last couple centuries.”

NPR and RWBY’s eyes shot open, and before their eyes Jaune disappeared.

“I suppose you’re all curious what that means, but, I don’t have time to explain it all to you, I’m on a schedule you see, and you’re better off not knowing too. You seven have too bright future together, to change the world, to be dragged down into a shadowy conflict. Focus on your life and goals, not the mysterys in the dark. It’s been a pleasure, Ruby, Weiss, Yang, Blake, Pyrrha, Nora, and Ren.”

Crocea Mors in hand, Jaune grabbed it by the sheath and handle pulling it with speed that not even the eyes of hunters in training could follow hitting Ruby in the back of the head before her aura went up.

Ruby hit the floor with a nary a sound, looking for the world like she just fainted.

Weiss and Yang stood to either side of Ruby, with Blake at the end of the semi circle next to Yang. Ren stood to Weiss’s side, Nora to Ren’s side, and Pyrrha at the other end of the circle.

Crocea Mors sheath didn’t stop moving after Ruby went down, Jaune turned the strike so the flat of the blade hit Weiss’s temple, eyes went wide and then rolled up into her skull, her aura failing to come up at speed to block the strike.

In all under a second Jaune had incapacitated Ruby and Weiss, in the next ten second the other fives fell to the ground knocked out, not a scratch on the boy, and in the next second Jaune let his expression fall, and suddenly Jaune didn’t look so young and weak anymore, his face going from soft to sharp looking, still young but closer to his mid-twenties than his late teens, but his eye’s held a weight and age to them that could not be measured. It was like looking at the difference between a puppy and a alpha beowolf.

Jaune looked tiredly at his former friends, and took out his scroll and hit another message to each of his former friends, a video personalized for each one, on how to improve their fighting style, semblance, and training, along with a personalized apology.

Then Jaune hit a app on his scroll, then any trace of Jaune Arc ever existing on paper was deleted, being replaced by John Ark who tragically died in a bullhead flight tonight.

The scroll was then broken like cheap plastic and tossed away. Jaune brought up a burner scroll, and called. “I’m ready, are the pieces in place?”

Ozpin’s voice could be heard on the other end. “Yes. Are you in position?”

“No, but I will be within five minutes, tell them to be ready sooner, if all goes as planned the infiltrators will be captured and brought to the vault in less than a half hour, if not, be ready to send them in to capture or kill them.”

“Roger, message sent, I will be waiting below.”

In a blur of speed the onesie was gone revealing briefly too things, a body that was covered in scars of all kinds, burns, pock marks, slashes, bruises, acid burns, a catalogue of wounds that if saw on a normal man would cause a doctor to question how they were alive.

The second was on Jaune’s back, a large Tattoo, one of a fearsome monster that stared off of Jaunes back.

In another Blur of speed Jaune was dressed in dark blues, and blacks, Crocea Mors at his side.

“Tonight the Tarasque hunts again.”

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

Jaune stood outside of the dark hall way following the aura signature to a visiting students dorm, he could feel the Fall Maiden’s power inside. He was right on the money that it was the transfer student. She was far too old to be playing pretend... Or not old enough.

He sensed the Ace Ops patrols the outside and roof, Goodwitch down the hall, The Branwan skin-changed and waiting outside the window.

Jaune focused on the aura signatures in the room, four, all sleeping.

He took out a key and opened the door, and slipped in.

They never even noticed him stalking up to the fall maiden, and grabbing her by the throat, to her credit her eyes shot open immediately, but Jaune took the handle of Crocea Mors to her head.

Her aura blocked it, but she was clearly dazed, and could barely choke out a “H-help.” In a blur of speed and force he brought the handle to her temple again and again till her aura broke and her eyes rolled up, a dark bruise forming with a blood dripping down the side of her head.

He felt the movement behind him, and the attempt of an illusion to cloud his mind. He feigned falling for it, and let her sneak up with the blades. Just as the girl swung he backhanded her in the throat, she wasn’t expecting it and her aura wasn’t up, so she went out like light.

That’s two.

The half-legs and the woman-girl stirred. He took Crocea Mor’s to their heads, a trickle of blood all the proof he needed.

He went over to the window and opened it, letting the Branwen in.

He pointed at the half-legs and woman-girl, “Grab em’“

The Branwan knew better to argue with him.

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

The elevator opened with a ding, showing Jaune and Qrow with two unconcious bodies over their shoulders.

“Is that the culprit?” Ozpin asked with a thin frown.

Jaune nodded.

“Good, put her in the machine.” “No, Orville. I got a better way to do this.” Jaune said.

Ozpin raised a eyebrow, and Qrow looked intrigued. “What’s that Jaune?”

“This,” Jaune said raising his hand, it briefly lighting up the room before dimming revealing a pearlesque white hand.

Ozpin took step back in fear and surprise. “You completed it?!”

Qrow looked nonplussed, and raised his eyebrows. “What exactly is this ‘it’?” He asked with air quote.

“The highest form of aura manipulation I’ve achieve,” He shot a look at Ozpin. “When you have centuries of time on your hands, you either get good at what you do, or make plans for the future... I know what I’ve chosen.”

Ozpin let out a huff. “Well one of us has to make sure the world doesn’t explode.”

“Whatever,” Jaune said with a smirk, and then plunged his pearly white hand into Cinder’s chest.

Cinder awoke with a blood-chilling scream, her hands going to her chest, but then her body started thrashing like she was having a seizure.

“Yeah, I imagine having your soul invaded and having a piece ripped out isn’t very fun is it, yeah, well guess what?” Jaune said to a terrified Cinder. “Turn about is fair play, Amber was a good friend of mine, and you’re gonna pay.”

- Several bloody hours later. -

Ozpin looked mildly disturbed, while Qrow vomited in the corner.

“Dust, dust that was horrifying.” “Yeah, but I got the Maiden powers.”

“Are you going to do the same to Amber?”

Jaune nodded darkly. “Yes, but I’ll be much gentler with her.” “That does inspire much confidence.” “Well, excuse me if soul surgery isn’t exactly a very well explored field!” Jaune said to Qrow, then shot a look at Ozpin. “It would be much farther along if somebody gave me those prisoners, instead of sending me to kill super-heavy class grimm.”

“I find the survival of frontier villages and cities a more pressing matter.” Jaune shrugs. “Fair.” He then walks over to Amber’s stasis pod, a glowing orange ball in Jaune’s pearly hand.

It open and Jaune rams the orb into her, Amber’s eyes jumping open in pain.

It takes several screaming hour before Jaune is done.

“Well, she might be fine now.” “Might be?” “Very poorly explored field.”

Qrow looks over to the three accomplices, who woke during the soul surgeries, now looking very terrified.

“What about them?” “What about them? Their your problem now, as far as I’m concerned the only thing that’s my problem now is Amber, you two chucklefuck deal with the brats.”

Ozpin looked at the two children and Neo, “Soooo, anybody want some coffee.”

Edit: Forgot the Author’s note that would explain somethings, I kinda lost passion towards the end.

AN: This an AU where around a thousand years ago Ozma decided to do a mass aura awakening to see if it would bare fruit. Jaune seemed like he didn’t have semblance after couple years of training. But, come 80 years later, Ozma hears rumors of a lmmortal blonde... Jaune’s semblance is eternal youth.

[raediggitydog]

Blast From the Past

The start of a mini-series!

-Chapter 1/7-

The blast from town center sent a shockwave across the whole world, sending the hermits into a frenzy. Almost instantly, the group chat was flooded with messages, and hermits flew from all corners to the scene.

A large crater had appeared in the shopping district, in front of the statues of Tango and Cub. The smoke was still clearing as everyone peered over the edges of the hole.

Xisuma, feeling confident his armor could protect him from possible foreign substances, slid down the sides of the pit, hopping over rocks as he made his way to the center. The smoke began clearing, and a figure could be seen lying in the rubble.

"Hello?" X called cautiously. "Are you alive?"

"I'm real knackered..." The figure sat up slowly, revealing himself to the onlooking group. He sported a big black moustache, with messy back hair that brushed the tops of his ears. His shirt evidently used to be blue, but wasn't anymore, and his jeans weren't much better. His shoes looked nearly worn through on the soles. With wide eyes, he observed the large group watching, and then turned to X. "Where did- how- who are you?"

"My name is Xisuma, what's yours? Where do you hail from?"

"Name's MJ. I think I got too buzzed, this is a wild fever dream..." He glanced at the group peering over the side of the hole, and examined X's armor with skepticism. "You'd think I was a swigger, the things I'm imagining..."

"You aren't imagining anything. This is Hermitcraft! We all live together and have fun. Shall we climb out of this hole, then?"

The pair made their way out of the crater, where Joe met them with a glint in his eye, but a worried expression. "Howdy MJ. It sounds like you're from the 1950's, am I right?"

"Yeah, '51. Ya make it sound like it isn't '51?" MJ wrung his hands.

"No, it's 2019. How bizarre..." X mused.

MJ ran jittery fingers through his hair. "Man, this blows. I don't- and there's- colors everywhere, and- and you're all just like me-"

"I mean, I don't exactly look like you," Doc chuckled.

"Nah, you don't get it. Where I'm from, I'm it. Sometimes ya run into a pig- a creeper if you're unlucky, but that's it. The whole world is grass and trees, as far as the Farlands. It's quiet, being the only one... aware." MJ went quiet, rubbing his arm.

"So you live in a Classic world... How interesting..." X began pacing unconsciously.

"Are you sure it's Classic? He knows creepers, weren't they added in Indev?" Joe quizzed.

"Nope, Classic. Depends on the version, but he probably knows pigs, sheep, zombies, skeletons, spiders and creepers."

MJ nodded at the only words he understood in their conversation. He was still fairly certain he was dreaming.

"Also, he's using 1950's American slang in a British accent- that error was removed in early Indev."

X nodded quickly. "You're right, I forgot about that."

"Can we all get to bed? We don't want phantoms killing MJ, who knows where he would respawn." Scar pulled out a couple beds, which hermits promptly hopped into.

"Phantoms? Why we gotta sleep? Are The Phantoms a gang?" MJ asked quickly as the rest of the hermits led him to the Stax-4-Stax Tavern.

"The longer you go without sleep, the more phantoms spawn, and they're deadly." Grian explained. "When was the last time you slept?"

"....never?" MJ watched the dark sky anxiously.

"Oh yeah... Let's get inside, quick!" Grian shoved him inside. The phantoms screeched, making Grian chuckle and MJ shudder.

—

The next morning, MJ was full of chaos and concern. Now fully rested for the first time in his life, he began to realize his situation. He anxiously danced around the small room of sleeping hermits for a few minutes, before he mustered enough courage to creep out the front door.

There was so much color in this strange world- even the grass looked different from what he knew. His head spun on a swivel as he took in everything he possibly could.

He started low, running his fingers through the long grass and smelling the colorful flowers scattered across the ground in front of the building. A chicken wandered across his path, so he decided to follow it wherever it went.

The chicken, followed by an intent MJ, meandered to the shore by the ocean, which MJ noted, was filled with seaweed and assorted swimming creatures.

As they wandered further inland, MJ drifted away from his chicken guide, stunned by the variety of blocks in the buildings towering around him. He poked his head into a red striped building, but ducked out just as quickly when he couldn't name the shiny blue rocks or cylinders in the wooden boxes.

As he stepped out, however, something shot over his head with a loud explosion, sending him to the floor in a panic. The creepers were in the air, too?

"Heya! Enjoying my store?" A man fell out of the sky holding one of the striped cylinders. His hair was golden and shimmered in the light, along with his bright red eyes. His ears and teeth were pointy, and his combat boots completed the intimidating look. "What are you doing on the ground?"

MJ glanced around carefully, motioning the man to crouch down next to him. "There are creepers flying around here!"

The man gave him a blank stare, then laughed, standing up again. "Oh man, that's priceless! You mean me? Using a rocket to fly?" He pulled out a so-called rocket, and it exploded in his face, sending MJ into another fit of shakes. "It's okay, they're harmless!"

"You can fly?" MJ asked cautiously, afraid the answer might include more explosions.

"Let me show you!" The man crouched down, preparing another rocket, but stopped when he saw MJ's petrified expression. "Well, maybe we should start smaller. How about the Cherry Store?"

The man, who MJ learned was named Tango, lead him patiently to another store, this one made of wood. Wood was more familiar to MJ, although this wood looked entirely different to what he was used to.

"Look, this stuff is called redstone," Tango explained, displaying a nicely packaged bag of redstone, ready to be purchased. "You can make lots of hardware with it, which you can use to make machines!"

MJ opened the bag, running his finger through the red dust. Some of it sparked, glowing slightly. "What can you make with the parts?"

"Well, you can start small with an automatic fish farm, or you can build an iron titan, or you can make something like Sahara! Let me show you, it's super cool!"

Excited again, Tango led the way to Sahara, a large building in the side of the hill. After showing MJ the interface, they staircased up to the second level to get a look at the modules.

"Iskall made all of these himself- crazy, right? Grian tried to help, but he's definitely the builder of the Architechs," Tango laughed.

MJ walked down an aisle, marveling at the large machines. They were made of small parts MJ couldn't name, but he knew they were made of redstone. It was all incredible, but MJ didn't understand a bit of it- he considered himself more of a builder anyway.

"Oi! Trespassers!" Grian, as MJ remembered from yesterday, soared through a broken window. He smoothed his wild sandy-blond hair, a wide grin across his face.

"Don't mind us! I'm just showing MJ around!" Tango waved.

"Oh! You should come see my base, MJ! It's super cool!" Grian bounced excitedly. He had a lot of energy, MJ gave him that. Not usually his cup of tea in friendships, but beggars can't be choosers.

"I'll leave you two to it then! Xisuma wanted me to work on some code with him today anyway. See ya!" Tango flew away with another explosion, causing MJ to jump.

"Hm, I suppose you're not much of a flyer, huh?" Grian observed. MJ simply shook his head. "Guess we'll boat over!"

MJ carefully stepped into the boat Grian made, with Grian clambering in after him. They rowed out into the bay, MJ watching as the shore faded into a shimmer at the horizon. "Here we are!"

MJ turned around and was stunned by the white building towering over them. Grian hopped out of the boat onto a glass bridge, motioning MJ to follow. He carefully did so, being sure his shoes were dry enough that he wouldn't slip.

"This is my base! Sorry it's kind of a mess, I have a chest monster problem," Grian giggled and soared down into the center of the tower. He rifled through a couple of the chests (as MJ had just learned they were called) and flew back to MJ with arms full of mysterious items. "Here's a starter kit!"

Grian tossed the items on the floor and sorted through them, giving MJ a run-down. "So that's full iron tools and armor, a stack of golden carrots, a stack of torches, and an elytra with rockets to get you started! Does that look alright to you?"

MJ nodded, entranced by the items- especially the strange golden carrots.

"...You don't talk much, do you?" Grian stared into his eyes. Despite his brown eyes being almost black, they sparkled with love and innocence.

MJ cleared his throat. "Ah, I guess I'm still feeling a lil buzzed from... however I got here." He shrugged, carefully picking up the gifted items.

Grian opened and closed his mouth several times, and then settled with a confused smile. It looked strange on his usually-energetic face. "Feel free to set up your base anywhere that's open. If you have any questions, don't be afraid to text anyone." He handed a small black box to MJ, which he held with reverence. "It's a phone- just press the name of who ever you wanna talk to."

"Thanks," MJ hesitated. "By chance are you a greaser? You don't have any beef, do ya?"

Grian cocked an eyebrow. "Maybe? You won't need any beef though, the golden carrots are way better for your health."

"...are you booted, dog?"

Grian blinked. "I think you have different slang in Classic, because I don't know what that means..."

"My bad. Just, nevermind. I'll leave ya to it. Thanks for the setup!" MJ, embarrassed, hopped in his boat and paddled off, avoiding eye contact with Grian. The guy was weird to say the least- MJ wondered if that was why he lived in the ocean alone. Hopefully he hadn't killed his reputation by talking to Grian, and he could find a more helpful person tomorrow...

[rinusagitora]

All very ghoulish (2/10)

Fandom: Bleach

Characters: Karin Kurosaki, Ichigo Kurosaki, Rukia Kuchiki, Kisuke Urahara, Momo Hinamori, Izuru Kira, Tessai Tsukabishi, Ururu Tsumugiya, Tier Harribel, Kenpachi Zaraki, Genryuusai Yamamoto, Toushirou Hitsugaya, Masaki Kurosaki, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Nemu Kurotsuchi, Yuzu Kurosaki

Pairings: minor KiraHina

Words: 6,100+

Summary: Monster!AU collab w/ @back-in-a-bit. SFW version;  Chaos overtakes London, and Karin undergoes a strange procedure.

AO3: works/16307414/chapters/49021901#workskin (NSFW)

Momo Hinamori felt like she rode roller coasters more often than not.

For the last four decades, she was Sousuke Aizen's loyal wife, and then only two years ago, he was incarcerated for being one evil son of a bitch, and she hadn't gotten back on her feet since then. Her nightmares persisted. Her ribs still hurt, even though she healed months ago. It was very much like he leached on her bones.

Momo Hinamori was once a monster with serrated teeth and a fire in her core. Presently, she was just embers, coddled in her new husband's mink coat and bottle-fed with packs and packs of cigarettes.

Thankfully, strip clubs allowed indoor smoking. She was never caught without something made of nicotine and ordinarily poisonous chemicals between her lips. Their invoices came in clean like linen and were filed strongly smelling like tobacco.

Still, Shinji pet her hair like a cat, or his child, even though she stank and looked at him like he was a cannibal.

“You should go home tonight, sweetie,” he said. “You’ve done more than enough for the girls tonight. Go back home to your husband.”

She smiled. “Okay. Thank you, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Momo gathered her purse and coat, headed outside, and she hailed a taxi on the street. "Caridge Park Apartments, please," she said.

"Caridge Park," the driver copied. "Care if I listen to the radio?"

"Go ahead."

Momo's head laid against the glass. A news station turned on. Momo didn't care much for the news, so she tuned it out and instead fiddled with her phone.

She received a text message over Kik from a family friend, Nemu Kurotsuchi. Gin Ichimaru had critically injured her husband Izuru when they defected and attempted to destroy the Seireitei coven. Nemu used her magic to heal him. Izuru and Nemu were good friends ever since, almost like father and daughter. Momo was fond of Nemu as well. While they only spoke in private, Nemu was a brilliant, sweet young woman, and it wasn't uncommon for them to text back and forth.

Nemu's text worried Momo, however. Nemu had only sent and apology.

The sun was just over the horizon. The speaker mentioned an explosion at a call center, the call center her dear brother worked at, and it felt like her guts dislodged. It felt like her teeth were knocked out all over again.

"I-I'm sorry, can you turn that off? I need to make a call," Momo said.

"Sure thing."

Momo quickly dialed Toushirou and it immediately went to voicemail. Momo swore time stopped. Her and Toushirou weren't close, not like when they were kids, but she loved him enough to think about him every day. She called her husband next. She didn't even bother with salutations. "My brother's workplace just blew up," she croaked.

"Oh my God," Izuru said over the receiver. "Momo, where are you?"

"I need you to call Rangiku for me. Tell her to get in touch with Akon right away. I'll call you when I'm done. I love you."

Momo crushed her phone in her hand. With the speed of a viper, she slammed the metal shards in the driver's face, and forced heat into her hands. The cab swerved into a phone tower. The horn blared.

Momo was completely unaffected. She calmly kicked off her heels and stepped into the glass-ridden street, where she molted her human skin. Her arms, four, to be exact, pushed down her skin to her ankles, where she emerged with cloven hooves. The tips of her inward fire licked the open lesions across her chest and shoulders, which cast a discordant light onto her face. She pulled her mink coat over her body, ignored the smell of singed fur, and vanished with a spark.

The explosion was no accident. Momo had questions for Nemu.

---

Toushirou's life normally amounted to nothing less than a circus, but between his strange dreams and sleep deprivation, it felt like he was on acid in a funhouse, jabbed and taunted by various spooks as he stumbled across the simplest entrapments. His body protested but Toushirou intended for his pain to be kept under lock and key.

He rolled his shoulders. They ground in their sockets, a sound much like when the bones of shapeshifters shifted into place. It never failed to make his stomach churn.

He was sick. At the same time, he refused to treat the symptoms. It was a demonic thing. Any indication of weakness was a recipe for cannibalism. After Sousuke Aizen, Gin Ichimaru, Tousen Kaname couped and killed at least a dozen of their coven members, Toushirou didn’t dare test his luck. He remembered all too well he wasn’t the only thing which lurked in the darkness, as ironic as it was.

Toushirou distracted himself from such miserable thoughts. The coven group chat displayed several new messages. Juushirou was abuzz about Mayuri's latest disappearance, as if that oddball didn't have a new act every weekend. Toushirou made sure to let Juushirou know not to worry about that clown privately. Toushirou was one of the newest members of their coven, after his former coven was incorporated into Seireitei due to their small number's inability to handle the increase of ghoul attacks, and since he was so new and youthful, he was still leered at. He knew it was necessary to make friends. Juushirou, a handsome and ancient fae, was amiable and liked by almost everyone. He was a great in for Toushirou.

He glanced at himself in the mirror by the door one last time. His suit was starched, his bedhead handsome. Telecommunications wasn't his favorite occupation, but it was better than his managerial position at McDonalds. It wasn't like his demonic pride was intact in the first place.

At five in the morning, traffic was a blur of barren red lights until the intersection a block away from the call center where he was employed. Brittany Coschtz pulled up in her little Prius, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, with her shiny pink hair pulled back into a messy bun, and her smile wide as the Amazon River. She was pretty. Toushirou let himself go in recent years when he compared himself to her. His neck sinews smoothed out, his chest was undefined. Nonetheless, he couldn't help but imagine sexual exchanges.

Brittany pulled ahead of him once the light turned green. His wood shrank. Toushirou missed the flat expanse of his groin.

In the parking lot, Toushirou paused when he came upon the security guard in the middle of a heated argument with an older woman.

Seconds later, Toushirou disregarded the encounter. It wasn't the first time someone trespassed and was warded off by security. His job was to train entry-level phone staff. It wasn't his concern.

"Good morning class," Toushirou said when he finally arrived to the training room. "Cell phones away, it's not like there's service down here anyways."

Phones were tucked away before he confiscated them. He began to boot up his desktop. "We're starting with escalations today. Bring up the curriculum and select the first hyperlink under escalations."

"Toushirou, did you see the chick outside?"

He rolled his eyes. Of course they wouldn't share his apathy to the subject. "Yes. I walked right past her and Dwight talking. He's got it covered. Don't worry about it."

"I saw Brittnay pull in earlier, but I didn't see her come in. Is she okay?"

"Everything is fine. Let's just get to work. Dwight has been working security here for sixteen years. He's more than capable of taking care of trespassers."

"Yeah, but like... did you see her teeth? She had like giant fangs. Are they fake?"

That did concern Toushirou. He hadn't picked up any ghoulish malevolence, though. Who knew what it was.

All said and done, Toushirou was disconcerted. What if they were to be attacked within the hour? Toushirou worked so long to preserve the life he crafted for himself. It took years to reach a comfortable job, to blend into humanity. He wasn't sure he had the patience to completely change his identity in the event he had to protect himself.

"Alright, everyone open the curriculum and go to week three and start on Situational Calls Overview. We'll go over it as a class in half an hour. If you forgot to clock in, make sure to send me a time card correction now so I can fix it."

Not a second later, the sound of crushed rocks ripped through the room. The force of the shockwave sent Toushirou into the opposite wall. He was covered in brick dust, it tasted like ash.

Toushirou became livid.

He grew a webbed crown and serrated teeth from his head. His fingers and toes lengthened and tapered off, crystalline scales sprout from his pores. His tailbone grew like a new spine into a thick tail like a lizard's.

He snarled at the two wretched ghouls. They fucking stank. It made his sinuses buzz from the irritant. His claws itched to fucking gut them.

He lunged with an open hand wound back to take out its head. His claws tore through the ghoul's side. He spun and slammed his heel into the gut of the other ghoul. Alas, the severe internal damage to both monsters unfazed them.

"Stubborn cunts!" Toushirou bellowed. He kicked one of them square in the ribs an he used it as a springboard to kick its partner with his razor-sharp toes.

He was pushed off his perch. His chest heaved like he was hyperventilating. Toushirou with his ancient tongues struggled to articulate something that described the feeling. Mechanically, he pushed himself up, and he slipped in a pool of oil. His blood.

The ghouls descended. He shrieked and flailed.

Toushirou would not let himself die at the hands of some fucking byproduct.

His bloodied palms slapped against his chest. From his back grew wings, and with a single thrust he launched himself into the air.

---

The train stopped every-fucking-where in the UK, and when Karin, Ichigo, and Rukia realized that, they collectively agreed to take a nap. Karin had trouble sleeping, however.

Rukia was a petite woman who met them at the station. Her and Ichigo were good friends. Strangely enough, Karin was never told about Rukia, but Ichigo was absent-minded and forgot about a lot of things, especially things which kept them in the loop.

Like the one time he and some friends he had in high school were exploring a storm drain when it suddenly flooded. Ichigo was pummeled by debris and forgot to tell his family about it. Subsequently, he constantly forgot to change his bandages, and about a month and a half after the flood when Karin realized he was injured, she helped redress his wounds and happened upon an exponentially worse wound. Of course, he chalked up the pain to bruising. Karin's brother was a dumbass.

As tired as Karin was, she was nervous to meet Kisuke Urahara. She replayed her earlier conversation with Rukia once again.

"Rukia, are you from Seireitei?" Karin asked as they were led into a private carriage.

"Of course I am. You won't find any other covens where we're going. Our leader doesn't tolerate the division of power. Yamamoto's power is absolute, and he's become more iron-fisted with this ghoul infestation."

"Infestation?"

"I know it's getting bad back in Karakura, but in London, I can't go anywhere outside of an armored, insulated car. The ghouls are so great in number that they swarm upon catching our scent."

"And we have to go there in order to meet Urahara?" Karin asked.

"Yes. Although, I'm not sure why he needs you, Karin," Rukia replied.

"He asked for the strongest of us. Karin is in heat," Ichigo said.

"Oh, that explains the smell, at least," Rukia replied. Karin wasn't one to be ashamed over her base needs, but she wished Ichigo wasn't so open about her maturation. It felt like there was a revolving door into her sex life. For someone like Karin, who preferred all facets of her life neatly compartmentalized, the overlap was absolute hell.

Ichigo quickly changed the subject. "Any guesses why Urahara wants the strongest of us?"

"Honestly? Sacrifice," Rukia postulated. Karin never came into contact with a full-blooded demon in the past, and especially not when she needed something from them. Uryuu told her how demons adored bloodshed and debt though. They loved it even more than a starved vampire loved blood.

"Cheerful today, aren't you?" Ichigo mumbled.

"You asked."

"I really hope they haven't asked for the strongest to send on a mission or some shit. Those ghouls are getting nastier. I don't want to get caught up in that alone," Karin confessed. She was rarely scared, never for herself, but Karin feared the unknown above all else.

Like when her mother passed away. Karin vividly remembered Masaki's funeral, where she refused to cry because if she started, she wasn't sure she could stop. Her father obsessed over the bills for awhile, and because of that, Karin lost a lot of sleep over the thought of homelessness, and then her grades dropped. She was so scared to unbottle her fear that the only way she kept from bursting like a hot dog over an open flame was to hurt hersel. There was still a scar on her stomach.

Rukia reached between them and held her hands like her big sister Yuzu did. "You won't be alone," Rukia assured Karin, "I promise."

Karin, unsure how to respond to sincere and earnest affection, changed the subject. "So who is this Urahara guy?"

"He's a demon exiled from the Seireitei coven. He's largely hailed as a genius though, so we had no choice but to reach out to him about the ghoul infestation. Here we are now," Rukia explained.

"How bad is it in London, then?" Karin asked.

"Martial Law is being discussed by Parliament."

"You've gotta be shitting me.... It's gotten that bad already?" Ichigo said. "Oh god, I thought we had it bad."

"It's torture, honestly. I haven't been able to go to work since I almost always end up getting ambushed whenever I leave my flat. If I don't apply medicated lotion, which I happen to be allergic to, I can't even go outside because they catch my scent." Rukia pulled up her sleeve and showed her bright red hives. Karin swallowed a thick lump in her throat.

"Jesus Christ," Ichigo said. "Rukia, why didn't you tell me? We have fae in our coven. They'll certainly have something for you to alleviate some pain."

"I consulted one of our own fae, Juushirou Ukitake. Even with undiluted blood, he couldn't help me. Our witches allied with our coven can't even help."

"Look, let me talk to Orihime. She has considerable healing powers. We'll see what we can do for you."

"This is sweet and all," Karin said, "but how're we gonna meet up with this Urahara guy?"

"There will be an armored truck for us at the station," Rukia said. "The driver knows where to take us."

"This isn't sketchy or anything…" Karin grumbled.

Four and a half hours after that, Karin was still nervous like the conversation was fresh. When they pulled to a stop in London, and Karin saw a windowless van outside her window, she felt sick.

---

Tessai Tsukabishi and Kisuke Urahara were in the kitchen when Toushirou Hitsugaya crashed through the ceiling onto Tessai.

"Fuck," Kisuke cursed. Tessai very coolly laid Toushirou on his back. The boy's lips were an unearthly green from hypovolemia. "Get the kids. Let them know we'll be having guests. Remind them to use the incense while they're waiting," he said. "I'll fix this kid up in the meantime."

"Alright, dear, holler if you need anything."

Kisuke opened his shirt. His insides crawled towards Toushirou.

---

Karin's head collided with the truck's interior and she cursed at the top of her lungs. "Careful up there! You're gonna bash my fucking brains in!"

"Karin… calm down," Ichigo told her. She spun towards him, her nostrils flared, and he looked away.

"That's what I fucking thought," she grumbled.

"We shouldn't be much longer," Rukia assured them.

Sure enough, the truck came to a stop, and the engine was killed. Karin, Rukia, and Ichigo happily crawled out of the back of the truck. A chill went down Karin’s spine. A reanimated corpse certainly explained the haphazard driving. If Kisuke Urahara wasn't above reanimation, though, what did he have in mind for her?

"This way," Rukia said. They entered through the back door of a green, two-story house, closed off with a warped wooden fence even taller than her brother. Someone the smell of mosquito repellent permeated from the very ground itself.

They followed Rukia down a bare concrete staircase to a dimly-lit, half-finished basement. There were six other people crammed together around a short poker table and covered in a fog of incense.

"Welcome. I'm glad you could make it," said a young woman, around Karin's age, with dark hair and ice-blue eyes. "My name is Ururu Tsumugiya. I'm one of Kisuke's children. He had a last minute patient come in so he had to take care of that first. He should be done shortly, however. In the meantime, have a seat."

Rukia pulled up a chair, but Ichigo and Karin shared a look that told them both the other one was more comfortable standing.

"No offense, but the tension is thick as hell here," Ichigo announced.

"That's because Toushirou Hitsugaya was attacked by ghouls this morning at his place of employment," said a youthful woman, with blond hair and rows of jagged teeth. "He's here now. Kisuke Urahara is patching him up."

Ichigo and Rukia became visibly disturbed. "Tier… this can't be true," Rukia said. "What happened?"

"That's all we know so far," Tier said.

"If you ask me, if he kicks the bucket, it's his own fault for not being able to defend himself," said a giant, black-haired man.

"Karin… these are Genryuusai Yamamoto, Kenpachi Zaraki, Yachiru Kusajishi, Ururu, Tier Harribel, and Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez," Rukia quickly explained to Karin. "This can't be true, though. Hitsugaya is one of our strongest entities! He couldn't have been overpowered by ghouls."

"He's not going to die," Tier said coolly, "But it's the truth."

"We're in quite a dire situation," Genryuusai said. He was certainly as intense as Rukia made him out to be. Even when he lamented, Karin felt like he was angry with her specifically. She decided she didn't like Genryuusai Yamamoto. Karin figured he was under a lot of stress, but he was also inconsiderate enough to not reign in his malevolence.

"Is this really your strongest, Ichigo? I'm surprised," Kenpachi Zaraki said. "I was under the impression you were the strongest."

"She's in heat," Ichigo said.

"Hey, I am right here, people. Instead of bringing it up to my brother, bring it up to me," Karin snapped.

"She's right," Tier said with a nasty glare aimed at Kenpachi, "if you have questions concerning Karin, ask her." He uncomfortably shifted in his seat.

"I'm sure she'd be much more comfortable if you stopped bringing up her maturation, Ichigo."

Karin, and most the other table, leapt to action at the sudden intrusion. Ururu was suddenly in front of them. The hollow barrel of a gun obscured Karin's vision.

"Alright, everyone calm down. I didn't mean to startle everyone…" Kisuke said. Slowly, weapons were lowered.

"These are certainly trying times, if every single one of you are on edge," Kisuke said as he took a seat. "I'm glad to announce I've found a way to eradicate this problem, however."

"And how is that?" Genryuusai asked.

"If you let him speak, he would tell you," Tier quipped.

"This… isn't going to be to your liking. Tier, Kenpachi, and Karin. You three are the strongest from your current covens. We are going to combine your powers, essentially."

"That's it?" Kenpachi asked.

"Well… no. This is an extremely experimental procedure, so I have no idea how it works to begin with, and I have no idea how the three of you will come out."

"These extreme measures for… for a ghoul infestation?" Ichigo exclaimed. "Absolutely not! I'm not letting my sister go through this thing without knowing what the hell she's gonna come out like."

"There's more to this infestation than he's letting on," Yamamoto announced.

Kisuke interlaced his fingers and laid his chin on them. "Unfortunately…. This hasn't been proven yet, but I believe there is a certain individual within our ranks responsible for the increased ghoul activity."

"You mean someone had begun puppeteering them?" Rukia said.

"Aye."

"Well, who is it?" Yamamoto spat.

"I'm not sure…. It could be Sousuke Aizen, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, and Shuutara Senjumaru. They are the only individuals with the means to achieve this caliber of invasion. I have no clues to which one it might be. But all of them are shrewd and powerful. We need extra firepower to take down the villainous one."

And if they didn't, they would all be attacked, one by one, until they were all annihilated.

"I'm in," Karin said. "I don't care what you think, Ichigo. We have to do this."

Ichigo stood stiller than a statue, stunned by Karin's resolution. It hurt her to see him that way. As much as Karin loved her family, there were problems bigger than them to begin with.

Tier sighed. "I suppose I'm obligated to protect my people, as well."

"I'm just down for a good fight," Kenpachi said.

"Then let's get the three of you ready."

---

Momo crashed into Nemu's family room. Mayuri Kurotsuchi was instantly neutralized by a ball of fire. It wasn't enough to kill him. All Momo wanted was to question Nemu why she apologized right before Toushirou blew up.

For the time being, at least.

Nemu cowered beneath a desk as Momo stormed over. Normally, the sight would have made Momo's heart quiver, because she knew what that kind of terror felt like, the icy terror of angry loved ones who you adored with every bit of soul. But family didn't murder their loved ones. Momo was no saint in that department, but she hadn't killed anyone knowing their innocence.

"What the fuck do you know about my brother?" Momo bellowed as she grabbed Nemu and lifted her into the air. "If I don't think you're being honest, I'll hurt you."

"I'm sorry," Nemu wept. "I tried talking him out of it. I know how much Toushirou means to you, but Mayuri refused to listen to me. He said Toushirou is too much of a threat."

"For what?"

"He wants to take over London, and then Europe from there. He's making ghouls for an army. He says making the strongest of the Seireitei into ghouls will increase his manpower several fold."

"You're lying!" Momo snapped. "Demons cannot be made into ghouls. They're a mindless byproduct of our feeding on humans."

"He's a genius. He found a way to splice DNA or something. I got so scared I couldn't hear anymore." Nemu attempted to pry Momo's hand off her neck. "You know what it's like. You know he'll kill me if I try to run away."

"So you fucking killed my family?" In her fit, Momo threw Nemu across the room. She readied a ball of fire. "You never told us a thing. You know Izuru and I would have done anything for you! But you never said anything."

"I'm sorry," Nemu cried. "I didn't want him to hurt me."

Momo faltered. She understood, better than anyone else. She understood, because Sousuke was the same.

"I hate myself for siccing ghouls on Toushirou, but I didn't have any other choice." Nemu stood and hugged Momo. "I love you so much, Momo. I didn't know what to do."

Momo picked Nemu up. She tenderly held her. "I forgive you," she said. "Let's get you out of here, honey. We'll get you help, okay?"

Suddenly, Momo's head exploded with a monumental headache. Blood flowed down their faces. The two toppled to the floor, where Momo saw Mayuri loom over them.

"Get up, Nemu," he ordered, "that's not going to keep her down long."

Nemu stood. Momo may as well have cried with Nemu as they dragged her down a flight of stairs. Momo knew she was bound to be turned into a ghoul like Toushirou, so she wailed, despite how her ears rang.

"Help me," she pleaded. Nemu only cried and apologized between her hyperventilations.

"Help me," Momo pleaded, as they threw her battered body onto a steel gurney. "Please, help me."

Nemu escaped to a chair by the door. Momo's head lolled to the side to watch Mayuri flick a hypodermic needle with his freakish manicure. Inside, a green mass, green like watered grass, swam. Momo could only beg to be let go as he approached with that awful serum.

When he stuck Momo's arm, her entire world crashed around her for the second time in her life.

Momo was murdered and her body enslaved by a sick motherfucker. First her soul, then her body followed. She hoped death would be total that time around as her arm rot at the injection site.

"Come, Nemu, we have other work that needs to be done," Mayuri said. Momo was left with a heavy sense of dread.

And anger. Again, Momo was betrayed by someone who was supposed to love her, it made her a fool, but she was tired of her compassion misused by cruel, selfish bastards.

"Burn," she growled. They all could burn for all she cared.

"Burn." She gushed fire, like a geyer.

"Burn." Her flames touched the plaster ceiling and blackened golf ball sized spots.

"Burn."

Fire, white from rage, burst out of her body, whirled around the room like a typhoon, and blew apart Mayuri's house. Momo pushed rubble off her body. She stung from head to toe from her burns. Nonetheless, the cops were on their way. She had to go.

---

"Karin-chan?"

Masaki sat in front of Karin. In the mirror behind her mother, Karin saw herself as a child again, with short hair mussed from her baseball cap and a band-aid on her cheek and weird, gangly limbs and her adult fangs too big in her mouth.

"Are you okay, my dear?" Masaki asked.

Karin wanted to tell Masaki she died more than a decade ago. But it was like the day before her mother's death. Karin wanted to throw herself into her mother's arms and never let go.

"I'm okay," Karin said. The mirror and the walls bled kanji characters. Kill her, it read.

Karin's heart sank in her stomach.

"I'm gonna take a bath," Karin said.

"Leave the door unlocked," Masaki told her.

Karin dashed upstairs and turned on the bath water. She cursed quietly. What the hell was happening? Where the hell was she, if she was somewhere which demanded her mother's murder?

Was it part of Kisuke's ritual? If so, what the hell was she supposed to do? Was she supposed to kill her mother, or find another way to defeat her and abide by a secret moral of the quest?

Either way, Karin was nauseated. Obviously she wasn't a stranger to murder. She killed many ghouls, had some accidents when she was immature. It was different when it was someone close to her.

The stairs creaked. The back of Karin's neck bristled like an animal alerted to danger. She locked the bathroom door.

How the hell was she supposed to get out of there?

The walls bled murder again. The bathroom door rattled violently. "Karin-chan," it boomed with a perverted rendition of her mother's voice, "I told you not to lock the door! Open up this second!" Karin dug through the vanity. Whoever was on the other side of that door wasn't Karin's mother. Masaki passed away years ago. The Masaki beyond the door was only a nightmare.

Karin popped out the razor blades from one of the fresh razors. She fit them between the fingers of her right hand. Sweat beaded down her neck and stained her shirt.

Gingerly, she reached out to unlock the door, when it splintered. She screamed and backpedalled, only to be pounced on. Blearily, she saw Masaki's hair curtain her from the light above. Drool, foul to the nose, fell on her cheek, and despite the water in her eyes, she made out jagged laniary.

Karin slapped the beast. It reared back thanks to the cut she gave it. Karin rushed past it for the kitchen. She dropped the razors in the sink and picked up their largest knife from its seat in the knife block. The creature topped down the stairs with elongated limbs. Karin saw, with her eyes clear of wood, she doled significant damage to its face.Karin readied her knife as it charged. When it leapt into the air to tackle Karin, it fell onto the knife.

Karin let the beast down. Although winded, Karin cried fresh. Her mother's hair was beautiful.

She tossed the knife into the sink, wiped her hands on her pants, and exited through the front door.

---

Karin popped out of the membrane she floated in. She hoisted herself up, rolled her shoulders, squeezed out the excess fluid in her hair, and sighed.

She felt different. Hungrier.

Karin stumbled through the surreal landscape. Ichigo waited by the door. He wrapped her in a pink shroud.

“I’m so hungry,” Karin mumbled.

“Okay, let’s get you something to eat. Come with me. Let’s get you washed off and something in your stomach.”

Karin’s body felt ill fit. Karin scrubbed herself with all kinds of suds and soaps and perfumes but the feeling didn’t fade.

She stepped out, pressed a towel against her hair, and wrapped it around her torso. Ichigo was outside with sweats, boxers, and a sports bra. She dressed, and when Karin returned outside, he wrapped her waist in a gait belt.

“Kisuke says vertigo will be an issue until you eat. Otherwise, are you okay?” Ichigo asked.

“Yes,” Karin whispered.

“What was it like in there?”

"I don't want to talk about it."

“You had to be the worst of the worst, didn’t you?”

Karin nodded. Ichigo's eyes were straight ahead. He looked sad, and it didn't evoke the sympathy it did before.

“Come on, let’s get you some food.” Ichigo guided her by her gait belt. She did stumble once on their way to the kitchen up a flight of stairs, but otherwise, the trip wasn't anything noteworthy.

She was sat at the island counter in a dim, windowless kitchen. Ururu, Kisuke's daughter, entered a moment later.

"I was hoping you would be the one to make it out. God knows that derelict Kenpachi wouldn't have been very useful."

"I wouldn't say that. I can still feel him in me, his bloodlust," Karin said before Ichigo tossed her a disposable blood package. "He may not be the most cooperative to you, but he'll prove essential in the future."

Tier was quite rational and analytic. She was kind enough to have shared her experience with Karin.

"I've been wondering how exactly these ghouls are increasing in number so quickly. I can't think of any current events that would lead to such a flux of byproducts," Ururu said.

"Geez… you're right. Sousuke Aizen's experiments are almost all dead now. There hasn't been anyone capable of such destruction gone AWOL either," Ichigo chimed.

"Yet," Karin said. "I'm sure we have a mole in our ranks."

"Who do you think it is?" Ururu asked.

"I don't know. All I know is someone knew to sic a ghoul on Toushirou, and they knew exactly where to sic them. He smelled like he took great measures to blend in with humanity. He couldn't have been caught by surprise. And who else would know when and where are ride would come pick us up?"

"Holy shit," Ichigo cursed. "Does your dad know about this?"

"I'm sure he's figured it out."

"So he's using us to find evidence so he doesn't make claims that Yamamoto is gonna say are outlandish."

"That's where my money is, and whoever it is, Urahara knows we'll need something like you, Karin, to stop them," Ururu replied. Her phone vibrated in her shirt pocket. "Just a minute. Urahara and Company, this is Ururu."

Ururu's eyes widened. "Bring Momo here. We'll operate immediately. Thanks, Shuuhei." Ururu clapped her phone shut. "I have to prep the operating room. Looks like we have an unusual situation come up."

"Best of luck," Karin said.

---

Momo was not a happy fucking camper, especially when her body still regenerated. Her favorite fucking coat altogether evaporated too.

All she fucking wanted was to use someone's phone for two seconds to call Izuru.

"Drop your phone. If I have to tell you one more time, I'm gonna fucking burn you," she snarled.

It was a child. They cried like Nemu cried, like a scared kid. Momo had time for guilt after she killed Mayuri.

"Drop. Your phone. I will count to three. I will kill you if I don't have your phone."

The kid tried to run. She pounced and burnt hair filled her nostrils as she bent to pick up their fucking phone. Dumbass kid, she grumbled.

"Baby, I'm really fucked up. I blew myself to shit."

"Momo, oh my God you're alive! Where are you?"

"I don't know," she replied.

"Stay put, baby, we're looking for you. Keep an eye out of Shuuhei's dogs, okay?"

"Izuru, I'm really fucked up."

"Look, we found Toushirou. He's being treated by Urahara. We'll take you there to get fixed up, okay? Just hang in there. Talk to me."

"I didn't mean to worry you." Momo's legs gave out on the grass. "I just got so mad. Nemu sent me a text apologizing right after I heard Toushirou got blown the fuck up." She wept. "Izuru, her and Mayuri are behind the ghoul attacks. He spliced DNA or something. I think he tried to turn me into one. I would've been real fucked if I didn't blow up.”

"You did good, baby. You did so good. Just hang in there. You're gonna be okay. Baby, tell me about your day at work."

"She was crying when he stuck me, you know, with that stupid ghoul DNA. She doesn't know what else to do. Don't be mad with her." Momo's regeneration couldn't keep up. She would expire soon, so she had to make sure Izuru knew everything that happened. "Tell her we still love her."

"No, you have to tell her yourself. Stay awake for us, baby. Tell me about work."

Momo's face was licked by a dog. She stared into it's eight, sweet, soulful eyes. "The only good men are dogs. I missed you, Venom."

"Venom is there? Venom, take her to Kisuke Urahara! Flatworm, feed her a piece of you!"

Flatworm was a Labradoodle-flatworm-dog with the ability of high speed regeneration. If part of its tongue was eaten, the consumer would shave death off for a good hour, and Venom, a rottweiler-spider-shaped dog, coughed up silk and wrapped Momo in it upon Shuuhei's command. It was cool and soft. Momo hummed peacefully and let the darkness of sleep take her.

Momo gratefully swallowed a piece of Flatworm's tongue. She would live for another day.

Izuru and Shuuhei rolled her onto a makeshift gurney they threw together with a canvas drop and a dolly. Izuru held her hand in the back, pleaded with her to stay conscious a minute more. When Momo was rolled out of the truck, they were grey shapes that took her inside and put her beneath a bright light.

Yuzu choked. She futilely attempted to pry her attacker off.

"How cute. You're very cute, Yuzu Kurosaki. Even when you smell like fish, you’re cute."

Addie's body rest upon the stained and rank sheets of her bed. Yuzu couldn't bear to look at the carnage. Not then, not ever. It was as futile as her escape, though. The image was burned into her brain.

"Don't worry, cute little Yuzu. You won't be in pain for much longer."

He brandished a thick syringe. She kicked her legs. As if she could avoid her fate, a cynical part of her thought. Her diluted vampire blood left her defenseless. When it plunged into her neck, she went limp.

"It'll be over soon," he promised her.

It was euphoric and nightmarish. Her arms and her legs went numb, her vision tunneled.

Yuzu realized she was dying.

"I know it's scary, but you can now serve a greater purpose." Her mystery attacker told her as he pet her hair.

Yuzu looked to the young woman who stood silently in the corner. She silently begged to be helped.

The young woman didn't even flinch. She only whispered to herself.

"Nemu, pick her up and let's go," her captor said after he shoved a bag over her head. "We've got things to do."

[osmw1]

Crowbar Nurse  Chapter 6 — What Gives an Engineer Superhuman Strength?

—Why did my body feel so nimble?

Just exactly how did my body change…?

As I ran at the group of zombies, I questioned how impossibly agile I was, considering I had just finished working overtime.

It’s almost like I’m actually Sera Harvey.

I wasn’t able to leap over buildings or anything crazy like that, but it’s not like Sera was able to do so in the game either. Plus, the controls in DMC games are typical of most horror games in that the characters walk quite sluggishly. I suppose it’s more frightening this way. Being able to run like this is more than good enough for me. I prepared myself for the worst as I headed straight at the enemies. I knew this was already an uphill battle.

There’s only one way out… we’re going to do it and do it well! First, I’ve got to get the Tank to fire…!

The Tank fired a high-explosive shell as soon as I got within range. The shell traveled many times over the speed of sound and was heading directly at me. … however, the projectile impacted and detonated quite a distance away from where I was.

Perfect… it’s just like how it works in game!

With the Tank being a zombie, its slow lumbering movement did not help it track its target. The Tank is almost guaranteed to never accurately land its first shot. And muck like a real Tank, it would be unpleasant for anything standing immediately next to the gun, to say the least. The muzzle blast went straight into the surrounding zombies and they were all destroyed… the Minotaur took a huge hit as well. Everything is going just as I planned, save for one thing.

Augh! Don’t tell me I got caught too…!

A sharp pain shot through my body. I collapsed on the spot as the pain torn through me from the inside out. Before I had collapsed, the tank zombie fired another few shots… but I wouldn’t still be here if I had been hit by it. The situation was taking a turn for the worse.

“Gah… ugh…!”

Breathing was a lot harder than I remembered. … something must have happened to my lungs. My diaphragm and other muscles were functioning as they should, but I couldn’t breathe very well. The shockwave must have punctured my lungs.

I-I can’t move… crap. I can’t fight like this!

I thought the only tactic was to get the enemies to kill themselves, and honestly, that part worked alright… but I didn’t expect to receive this much damage either.

In the game, the blast radius is about 10 meters, but I’ve heard it’s much smaller compared to real life. Maybe I had misjudged my distance. I sure hope I didn’t receive a real Tank’s gun blast…

“Sera!”

Kiryū rushed over in fear. The Tank is still alive. It was dangerous for him to come over here… but I’m sure he knew that already. Just as I realized he had tossed me some recovery items, he turned to face the Tank with his crowbar.

Oh, that’s not a good idea. You can’t take down a Tank with a crowbar…

The pain seared through me again, leaving me unable to speak. I writhed in pain as the blood-soaked Kiryū came back with his blood-stained crowbar.

“Good thing it was pretty weak already… hey, use the healing items already! What, are you feeling too weak to use it yourself? Jeez… you okay? Do you recognize me?”

I faintly nodded at his question.

“Aw, jeez… I haven’t used any healing items in this game before, so I don’t quite know how to use ‘em… how about this bottle? Should I just sprinkle it over your body?”

I shook my head. That bottle… or rather, that vial in his hand has a rubber cap over the end of it. It’s so that you can’t open it by hand. You need a syringe to utilize it. For some reason, the protagonist spawns with a syringe—I did not. There’s a hospital section afterwards, so maybe I’ve gotta get one there.

“Hmm, how about these herbs then? What do I do with them? Can I just cram it in your mouth?” “…”

…

…

… hmm?

Umm, maybe?

I’ve never seen it being used in game before. In the game, you open the menu, select Items, select Medicinal Herbs, then select Yes when it asks Do you want to use this item?. Since it’s never shown how the protagonist uses the herb… I don’t have the slightest idea what to do with it. I’m not sure what Kiryū thought when he saw my expression, but he stuffed the whole plant in my mouth.

“Mm… ugh…”

A handsome youth ramming a handful of lawn clippings into a sweet, young girl’s mouth… this must’ve looked much worse than it actually was. Would this really heal my internal trauma?! Almost as if answering the question… a miracle occurred.

“Ugh…?!”

A refreshing tingling sensation rushed through my body as if I had been immersed in menthol. All the pain and breathing problems affecting me had disappeared instantaneously.

“… how does this world work…”

I spat the ball of herb out from my mouth.

“Those medicinal herbs worked as quickly as sublingual tablets…” “Let me know once you figure this world out…”

He heaved a sigh as I sat up from the ground. Kiryū, still sitting there, was dripping with blood… but none of it seemed to be his own—all of it was just splattered from the enemies.

“You took down the Minotaur and Tank without so much a scratch… that’s incredible, Kiryū.” “All I did was hit and run. You had weakened the Tank already and the Minotaur smoked itself with the gas turbine exhaust.”

He says it had gone so smoothly only because I charged in with all my courage.

“No, but still, you’re way too strong even with all things considered. … you’re probably the real one-man army here. Really, thank you so much for saving me… but I can’t help but feel like I’ve lost all my confidence.”

I forced a smile. Kiryū—a total beginner—had to save me. And I even boasted about how “I know this game like the back of my hand”.

“That was just a fluke. Don’t even get me started on how scary it was fighting enemies that could kill me in one hit…”

He urges us to hurry to a safe zone, to which I nodded with all my might. I was in absolute, 100% agreement. Since we’ve just taken down some special zombies, there shouldn’t be a mob for the next little while. Nevertheless, another Tank or Minotaur might show up if we were to take our sweet time. Drastic times call for drastic measures.

 Drastic measures.

 “… looks like we will have to grind for those levels after all.” “Hey, now. Did you forget you were at the brink of death, Sera? If we kill too many zombies and get too powerful, more of those special ones are going to spawn, right?” “I haven’t forgotten. That was… humiliating. If we were to avoid every single fight, there will be too many of them before we can react.” “I mean, I guess…” “Trust me.”

I’ve played this game so much, I can literally beat it with a plastic bottle as my only weapon. I’m a beast. Yet, I just showed Kiryū just how unreliable I was. It was absolutely shameful.

“We’ll make sure to be ready for next time. I’ll build us an unstoppable army from hell…”

I slowly stood up from the ground.

“… what’s that about an army?”

He seemed confused as he stood up with me.

“That’s right, an unstoppable army from hell. Even if I can’t level up in this game, there’s many other ways we can win. Don’t worry… I’ll turn these streets of downtown into a safe zone, like a garden that you can stroll through without a so much a care…” “I couldn’t care less about a garden. Let’s just calm down and plan our next moves.”

Kiryū, with a wry smile on his face, rolled his neck.

“That’s our destination, right?” “Ah, yes. We have almost reached the beginning of the stage. It’s my first time backtracking like this. It feels a little odd…”

As we twist and turn through the narrow alleyways, another new enemy creeped across our path.

—It was a Heart.

That wasn’t a metaphor for anything. The zombie was about four times the size of a yoga ball. Tentacles scrawl from the monster in the shape of a literal heart. I don’t remember what its actual name is. That’s how unimportant they are.

“Shit. We’ve used up all the herbs earlier…!” “We’ll be fine. That thing may look gross, but it is only ‘slightly stronger’ than the average zombie. We’ve got more than enough firepower to take it down…”

I walked in front of Kiryū. He looked anxious, but he seemed to calm down when we made eye contact.

“Could you please lend me your crowbar?” “It’s all sticky from the blood. You okay with that?” “I’ll be fine after wiping it with my skirt. This will be an easy fight… I used to kill a whole bunch of these things before my anatomy tests… so watch closely, okay?”

I took a few big swings with the crowbar.

“—Let do it. We’ve got to!”

    “Whew. That was a good workout! The heart is a complicated organ with lots of specific parts to remember. I couldn’t have passed my exams without the help of these guys!”

I listed out each artery by name as I bashed away with the crowbar before returning the crowbar to the blood-soaked Kiryū. I could imagine him thinking I’m some sort of psychopath giving a lecture on the human heart.

“Are all nurses like this…?”

I ignored his flabbergasted comment at me. Then, crossed the now navigable street and hurried to the Vital Watch.

“… let me just correct you that no, not all nurses are ‘like this’.”

“I don’t think you’ll find many female nurses who love blasting hellish monsters to giblets with a BFG.” “A BFG… don’t tell me you mean the Big Fucking Gun, the most powerful weapon from Doom…? I don’t think many people in Japan know what a BFG is… man, you’re hardcore.”

We finally reached the beginning of the game, even with us chatting. There were small two-story shops and the glass from their display windows lining the street. The alleys around here were a little wider, but many of them were blocked off by fallen utility poles and crumbled walls. Here was also where the army (though I don’t know which nation’s army, so it’s hard to make a joke here) faced off with the zombies.

“Oh, look, there are herbs over there. I’mma go grab ‘em.”

Kiryū walked from planter to planter to pluck the herbs from them.

There’s dirt falling out of his pockets…

The absolute beauty of a man contrasted his overflowing pockets like a bad joke. But those herbs saved my life earlier. I’m can’t exactly tell him to “cut it out because you look super lame” either.

Speaking of which, I’d like pockets of my own too. I’d like to have herbs readily accessible. Or at least a pocket big enough to fit my phone… too many dresses nowadays forgo pockets to focus on “showing off your perfect lines”. It’s honestly really inconvenient.

“… or maybe a drink would be nice too.”

Nothing beats a good drink after work.

“Hmm? A drink?”

Kiryū stood up as he looked at me. He must have heard my mumbling.

“Yes, I would love one. Ugh. You just need a frosty can of beer after working overtime. But instead, I was sent over here with no beer at all. Just my luck.” “That’s… unfortunate. I don’t think you’ll find any here. Once you we get back to our world, you can get your fill of booze.”

Scratching his cheek, he tepidly tried to console me, but I wasn’t about to give up so easily.

“No, I might get the chance. One of the healing items in this game is an alcoholic drink.” “Huh. If we find them, then yeah, that could happen.” “That’s exactly right. I wonder if there are any lying around… whoa, hey! Look!” “… that’s way too convenient…”

I ignored Kiryū as I filled my hands with alcohol and my heart with joy. I popped off the top and took a swig.

“Ahh, that hits the spot!” “You nurses sure love your drink… and are you sure about drinking something you picked up off the ground?”

He doubted me with a tilt of the neck, but I laughed in response.

“I’m sure. Absolutely sure. We picked up those herbs lying on the side of the street too, right? Same difference. And plus, I haven’t even finished working overtime and I was dragged into this adventure. I deserve this.” “… well, I guess so.” “Right?”

Down the gullet the liquor goes.

“There’s a real interesting part in this game too. You get a lot of health back from booze, but if you drink too much…” “What happens?” “… you puke it back out. Bleeeghhh!” “Oh, you’ve gotta be shitting me.”

■The back blast of gas turbine engines

Just a quick tidbit from the author. After weapons like rocket launchers and tanks guns fire, there will be a blast of extremely hot gas. Being within 30 meters of the back blast will guarantee injury if not death. The heat will roast you to a delicious crisp. So, if you ever see one in real life, try to keep distance. Now that’s a top tip that will ensure your chance of survival. (Not that you would normally have the chance to get up close to an operating tank in Japan anyway.)

contents: /ch001/ /ch002/ /ch003/ /ch004/ /ch005/ /ch006/ /next/

(leave me a tip on Patreon?)

[quentatan]

Peace or Death

You ever seen what a Kentucky Long Rifle does to a ship hull? I don’t mean the American Revolutionary-era weapon and I don’t mean a titanium freighter. I mean three metric tons of tungsten carbide and steel. I mean a foot of graphene. 

You’d think the graphene wins, right? I mean, it’s the strongest stuff we’ve ever made. You’d be wrong. See, that’s three megagrams of metal going a few kilometers a second. So around 10 million kilograms-meters per second of momentum. For anyone keeping score, that’s about 17 gigajoules of kinetic energy. Several million times as much muzzle energy as a typical rifle.

Not that the graphene doesn’t put up a good fight. It’s a hell of a lot of pressure it can withstand, but stopping that much metal going that fast in what amounts to an instant... well the titanium freighter briefly vaporizes. With a warship, the inane stuff vaporizes, the superstructure stays pretty though. Well, besides that neat hole the slug leaves.

Those aren’t even the coolest kills though. Pulsebeams are the fucking shit.

The way there’s this innocuous little tube one second. And the next there’s this superheated plasmoid zipping out around the speed of light. Whatever it’s aiming at is already superheating too from all the photons and positrons and electrons being thrown at it, but a few more seconds and it’s exploding. There’s this compressed little toroid of gods know what - it’s classified - slamming into the point at the center of the superheated whatever. Just as it does, there’s no more energy being pumped into it by the laser, so the electrical current in the thing just stops, so does its magnetic field.

And it dissipates explosively, but it’s still got all this forward momentum. So the entire surface it’s just struck goes in with it. Goes out too. Goes pretty much every direction. If there’s any air around all sorts of crazy shit goes down with that too. Induced currents and magnetic fields if there’s metal. Lightning arcs, and shockwaves.

I heard that’s why the coalies use so many bots to do their menial stuff. Organics caught on the business end of a contained laser round just get destroyed. The electrical arcs fry the nervous system, so everything hurts like hell and you convulse for the instant before it’s all burned away, literally vaporized. Supposedly, if your mouth is open, superheated air rushes into your lungs as you die, but as it passes your lips your teeth explode... they just pop like fucking corn or something.

Shit, I’m getting distracted. Look, my point is this: war is fucking terrible.

So you’re asking yourself, because you really don’t get it. Why is Viktr fucking Young saying this shit when he’s just won the greatest war in history? Oh, and why does he curse so fucking much? Look, I was 32 when this shit kicked off, born after the last war. But I remember when the Coalition hit Ramos and when New Folsom fell. I remember when a million rebels landed on Regus Secundus and didn’t leave until we sent back their ashes.

I remember when we set siege to Maradon. When twenty years later we finally landed on her. How they wouldn’t give up and set about dropping skyscrapers on us. But it wasn’t long until we were the ones leveling cities. A hundred million lives ended because they preferred to die fighting than live in peace.

You’ve probably heard about Massifax too. And we thought we knew what horror was. What a fucking joke. Half a million people left while six billion settled in for another Maradon. So we went in hard and fast. Three million Solars on the surface within half an hour, a dozen fleet cruisers providing direct fire support. Fucking shit up. That’s what you’d call it.

But then it’s early October, progress briefing with some brass on the surface. We’re sitting down to nice dinner with some Expeditioners when the horizon lights up like it just decided it’s no longer dusk. So that’s when we stopped taking prisoners and pulled all seven million troops off the surface. But they wouldn’t give up.

A few days later, a little after midnight local. I’m hanging out on Olympia’s observation deck with a few of my officers, while five destroyers turn the Allwell Mountains into rubble fifty miles below us. Squadrons of pickets zipping around, taking out random missiles being thrown up. Task groups are criss-crossing in high orbit, surveying the rubble below.

Things are comparatively calm. Commander Stanton and Captain Illsonne chat over a fresh pot of coffee. It’s almost peaceful. Peaceful until the lights go red and everything goes loud. I barely even hear Stanton drop her mug, she’s standing under a claxon when the alarm sounds.

All hands, all hands. Crimson crimson crimson. Surface launch. Seven zero zero tangos. All batteries hot.

Everyone knows what to do as the calls spread. Fighters are accelerating, getting back to vacuum. I slip my glasses on and the lenses flare. A thousand different pulsebeams are firing. Long hidden silos melt and the missile they just threw up burst like bubbles. On my left, Abernathy curses, something about retarded cunts and fucking babies. I just stare. In my eye, numbers and words flashing. Most of the fleet is pinging green, but a few picket groups aren’t pinging at all.

Then the Hastati below do the craziest fucking thing I’ve ever seen. Rear Admiral Icharus got a commendation for it, actually. All five hulls adjust course ever so slightly and begin accelerating toward each other. Stanton mutters a curse, she’s chief helm and figures it out a moment before the rest of us do. They miraculously fail to collide crossing over Preston Peak

There’s still fire coming up at them, but they aren’t returning. Engineer Ritter whispers something to Abernathy. Illsonne asks out loud if Radburn Icharus is  insane. My glasses are telling me what that crazy fuck is up to, so I tell everyone. Except Stanton already figured it out. It was her idea, back when she was writing her doctoral thesis. They hit lightspeed all at once, flitting back into high orbit in an instant. It’s the quickest atmospheric bangout ever.

Real quick, if you don’t know how translight works. Well, I leave the details to helm officers and engineers, but it has something to do with spacetime curvature. Everything gets crunched together, like digging a tunnel to get through a mountain, except your destination is across a continent so you squeezed the whole thing together to form the mountains in the first place. So you can’t have any matter too close by, unless you’re okay with that matter suddenly being different matter or it’s got its own spacetime bubble.

Back to my story, the entire mountain range just kind of implodes. It’s sucked in by the gravitational force one might expect from a black hole, only for an instant. You can probably imagine how it worked out. Just when I’m losing my goddamn mind, I realize my glasses are flashing some notification. We shot down a lot of missiles, and some got caught up in whatever the fuck just happened to those mountains. The rest detonated.

That’s why some of the pickets weren’t pinging back. A few frigates are reporting damage. Most of the fleet is adjusting after several hundred shockwaves. Below us all a planet just killed itself.

So that’s my point. We didn’t want to fight, but they made us. They refused terms, they refused surrender. They wouldn’t leave or lay down their arms, and now they’re all dead. We wouldn’t leave or lay down our arms either, but we also didn’t start this war. We ended it. We gave them a choice: peace or death. They chose the path of tragedy.

Hug your loved ones. Eat your favorite food. Watch your favorite shows. Sleep soundly. Speak your mind and defend your convictions. Choose peace.