#Milk scanner

[imarkt001]

EKOMILK ULTRA-MB MILK ANALYSER - i-markt

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[electroniconlinestorebog]

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[paintpaintpaintman]

Got too much wool... their mom was a VERY wooly sheep (think equivalent of a baby doll) and although they inherited about half as much, it still is a hassle to deal with. Not exactly sexy, but it does give 70s Workout Clothes vibes!

Goat version here!

[helpmysoultheeggladsarecoming]

Excuse the fake blood - it was an experiment in giving my sketchbook bleedable skin that got out of hand but i think it finishes it off quite nicely

anyway I went on a cronenberg binge and decided to draw some desaturated men that suffer horrors

[captain-hawks]

roommate!kuroo’s reaction when he realizes that he’s much more down bad than he thought he was, as soon as he starts craving for even the smallest moments of domesticity with reader😭

kuroo's standing in the middle of the grocery store at 8:34 pm on a thursday night when it hits him.

you skip down the aisle toward where he's waiting with the cart, clad in his red flannel shirt as you wave a box of cereal in his direction, eyes bright beneath sterile fluorescent lights. his heart thumps hard against his ribcage—a resounding knock that leaves him rooted to the spot.

he realizes you hadn't even asked him to come grocery shopping with you. he just followed you out the door when you said you were going. as if he's your boyfriend, not your roommate.

and he realizes a lot in that moment—the way he automatically makes breakfast for two now without even thinking twice, how he rarely catches up on his favorite shows unless you're home and on the couch beside him. he thinks about the flush that creeps up the back of his neck every time your mom asks to say hello to your "cute roommate" whenever you're walking around the apartment video chatting with her.

his knees feel weak.

he thinks about picking you up from work in his car on rainy days even when you insist the walk home is short. he thinks about your shampoo bottle beside his body wash and how he just drinks oat milk now because there's no point in buying two. he thinks about the way you look when you first wake up—how it makes his chest ache.

he thinks about how much he—

the jarring beep of the scanner at the self-check out sends him reeling from his thoughts, and he glances over to find you grinning at him, fingers hovering a box of chocolate bars that sits on display near the register.

"wanna go home and make s'mores on the stove?"

—he thinks about how goddamn in love with you he is.

[thornypucks]

cappuccino | lena oberdorf

synopsis who needs a fancy coffee machine when a cute barista can make your coffee instead?

warnings a teeny tiny bit of swearing and a teeny tiny bit suggestive - English isn't my first language so bear with me - oh and also idk if this counts as a warning but Lena's injury just doesn't exist in this (for the plot and my inner peace)

words 7869

“Hi, could I have a cappuccino?” Lena asks without looking up from her phone. She knows it’s rude not to look at the person in front of her while ordering, but she still hasn’t figured out how to get to the training grounds. And being late on the first day of the job wasn’t necessarily something Lena wanted to do. She was a pretty laid-back person, but at the end of the day, she was still German, and that meant being on time was important. She usually would have made coffee at home, but her coffee maker, which she treasured, was still in one of the many unpacked boxes. So getting a coffee from a little coffee shop on her way to the subway seemed like a better idea than searching for a coffee maker in her new apartment.

“Sure. That would be €4.50. Do you want it to go?”

Your voice made Lena look up from her phone, where Google Maps was still open, being no help at all. She was about to answer you, but the words died in her throat. You were pretty. Like, really fucking pretty. The morning sun was shining through the windows, illuminating the whole room, including you. You had a gentle smile on your lips, your eyes trained onto hers. Lena didn’t even realize that she had been staring at you, with her mouth slightly open, until you raised one of your eyebrows.

“Um, yeah, of course. Yes, to go. Please. And I’ll pay with my card. Please.” Your smile spread a little wider, and you nodded before typing something into the screen in front of you. The card scanner lit up, and Lena held her phone against it, her eyes never leaving you. You had surprised her. The patient smile on your face, even when Lena hadn’t been particularly polite. The way your skin was glowing from the light that was streaming in. The way you wore your hair, the rings on your fingers, and the cap on your head. Everything about you had caught Lena's attention, and she couldn't look away.

“Coming right up.” You were smiling at her again, and Lena could only nod. She took a step to the side and looked down at her phone without really looking at it. You had started making her coffee, and Lena kept stealing discreet glances at you.

The girl's glances were anything but discreet. After her slightly awkward order, you caught her looking at you multiple times. One time you were certain she had been staring at your ass right before you turned around, her eyes quickly moving up to yours and then back to her phone. Her cheeks now dusted in a light pink. She was cute. Like really cute. Her hair was up in a very messy bun. She was wearing a big shirt, sweatpants and a bunch of jewelry. The necklaces around her neck, her earrings and rings had immediately caught your attention. She had been a little awkward with you but something about her still seemed confident. Like she was certain in herself. You also kept stealing glances at her, hoping that yours were a little more discreet, while finishing her coffee. She kept looking at her phone and then back at you.

Once you had poured the foamed milk on top, you slid the cup onto the counter, next to the sugar and the lids. “There you go.” You said, smiling at her as she looked up from her phone again. She smiled back and mumbled a little “Thanks”. You noted how she didn't put any sugar, only picking up one of the lids and putting it onto the cup.

She looked like she was about to turn around when she seemed to change her mind. “Sorry if I'm being annoying. But could you help me real quick? I’m new here and cannot, for the life of me, figure out which subway I have to take to get to the Bayern Campus?” Her admission made you giggle, and you leaned a little forward, arms on the counter. She also stepped a little closer and tipped her phone towards you so you could see the subway lines on it. “It’s no problem. You’re not being annoying. I’m pretty sure it’s easier to get there by bus. But” you leaned a little further onto the counter, pointing to a red line on her phone. “If you take this one to that station” you moved your finger over her screen, showing her where to go. “ Then you're in a pretty good walking distance. I’ve never walked it myself, but I’m guessing it’s like 15 to 20 minutes?” “Ah thanks, you’re a lifesaver.” She looked at you, your faces surprisingly close to each other. That realization stopped you both in your tracks for a second, just looking at each other until Lena cleared her throat and looked away. “Um, yeah, so thanks for the description and the coffee. Have a good day. Bye” She mumbled, and was out of the shop before you could answer, but her perfume lingered for quite a while, leaving a small smile on your face for the rest of the day.

“I’m telling you, they make really good coffee.” “Lena, I’ve been living here for like four years. What makes you think you know better coffee places than I do?” Lena just rolled her eyes and kept dragging Lea towards the little coffee shop. With your help, she had been able to find the campus last week, she had even been five minutes early. And while the new place, the new people and the practice had been exciting, the only thing on her mind had been you. She almost told Lea about you, but she ended up being too embarrassed. She instead opted for dragging her to the little shop, hoping to see you again. The weather had changed quite a bit, heavy clouds hanging over Munich.

Lena opened the door to the café and let Lea step in first. Her eyes immediately searched the place until they found you. You were standing behind the counter, just like yesterday, talking to a customer. You weren't wearing a cap today, but paired with the moody weather, you looked very cozy in your hoodie, making Lena smile slightly. It was ridiculous how enthralled she was by you, only seeing you for the second time, but she couldn't help herself. Something about you had captivated her. She only realized then that Lea was already standing in line at the counter, looking a little confused at Lena, who was still frozen in place by the door. Lena quickly caught up to her friend, looking down to hide the light blush on her cheeks.

“Hi, what can I get for you?” Your voice chimed in, making Lena look up again. Your eyes met and, to Lena's satisfaction, your smile seemed to deepen. “Hello again.” You basically beamed at her, and Lena felt like she had grown a couple of inches. “Hi,” she smiled back, the one word the only thing she was capable of saying. “Another cappuccino, or would you like something else today?” Your smile didn't falter, and Lena tried really hard not to let the fact that you had remembered her coffee order get to her head. “Yes, another cappuccino, please.” At that, she remembered that she had brought Lea and quickly whipped her head toward her friend. Lea was already looking at her, a knowing smile on her lips. “What do you want?” Lena asked, already mentally preparing for the teasing that was about to ensue. Maybe bringing Lea hadn't been a good idea. Lea turned her head toward you and ordered herself a latte. Lena told you that they wanted to drink their coffee in the shop and paid with her phone. “I’ll bring the drinks to your table.” You told them before turning around and starting on their orders,

Lena suppressed her need to watch you and followed Lea into a cute sitting corner in the back of the café. “Barely a week in Munich, and you already have a crush. Working fast, Obi.” Lea teased before Lena even had the chance to sit down. Lena's head turned bright red, her cheeks heating up. “Stop, dude.” she grumbled, falling into the chair opposite Lea. “I mean, I get it. She's cute.” Lea sent an exaggerated wink. Lena groaned and dropped her forehead onto the table. Lea laughed. “Come on, I’m just teasing you.” Lena raised her head back up. “It is a little embarrassing, though. I’ve literally seen her twice now, and I acted like a fool both times. That's ridiculous, Lea.” Lea just kept grinning and shrugged her shoulders. “I don't know Obi. I’m kind of here for it. Usually you're tho one people lose their minds over you. It's kind of nice seeing you flustered.” Lena just groaned at that and was about to drop her head again when your voice chimed in.

“A Latte and a Cappuccino for the two of you.” You said as you put the beverages down in front of them. It was the first time that Lena could see your whole body. She wasn't standing, but she was sure that you were a bit smaller than her. You were wearing Birkenstocks, which made Lena grin. They weirdly fit you and your vibe a lot. “Thank you.” Lea said, and Lena realized only then that she had been staring at you. Again. “Lena told me we had to come here.” There was a short moment of silence as Lena looked at her friend with big eyes. “For the coffee, of course.” Lea pushed out after, only making Lena more uncomfortable. “Of course.” You responded, and Lena didn't miss the teasing tone in your voice. “Well, I hope you enjoy it then.” You chirped as you turned around to walk back to the front of the store. Lea was now beaming at her again, and Lena dropped her head back to the table right next to her cappuccino should have known that bringing one of her best friends here was a horrible idea. Next time, she would come alone.

Lena stopped by the café almost every day, and you found yourself looking forward to it. Aside from that one time, she had always been on her own. Most weekdays, she would pop in around 8 o'clock and order her cappuccino. You would exchange a few words while you made up her order. You figured out rather quickly that she had signed for Bayern this season and has just moved here from Wolfsburg. She told you about her family, her dog and most importantly, the upcoming Olympics, so you would know why she wouldn't show for a couple of weeks. In return, you told her about your roommate, the book you were currently reading, and your working hours, so she would know when you weren't there. Talking to her almost every day had made you not only get used to her presence but also crave it. Her laugh was intoxicating, always raising your mood. You spend your mornings staring at the door, waiting for her to walk through it, and your evenings thinking about her and all the things you still didn't know about her but desperately wanted to.

The few weeks Lena spent at the Olympics had turned out to be a little torturous. For the first time in your life, you were watching soccer. Only the German games, of course. Some of them took place while you had work, so you turned them on the TV you had in your café. Some customers and your employee Ben had been confused about the change from either music videos or baby animals to soccer, but you just brushed the comments off. You had to know how Lena was doing, and you didn't have her number, so the games and her interviews were the only thing you had. Watching her interviews in the evening had turned into a slightly concerning obsession. You missed her presence in the café and missed talking to her. The interviews could, of course, not fill that void, but they made up for it a little. Around a month after you had seen her for the first time, you jumped off your couch as Ann-Kathrin Berger saved the penalty, making Germany bronze medalists. Your roommate had been watching with you, clearly amused by your reaction, but you didn't really care. Not only had Lena won a bronze medal, but she was also finally going to come back to Munich. Back to your café.

You had to be patient for almost another week before Lena finally showed up again. Her skin was slightly darker than it had been before she left, and your eyes met the second she set foot into your store. You couldn't help the wide smile on your face, or the way your heartbeat picked up when she returned it. “Welcome back, superstar.” You grinned as she stepped up to your counter. Her cheeks blushed, and her smile turned a little sheepish. “Um, yeah, thanks.” She scratched the back of her neck before her confident smile, which you had grown used to, returned. “So that means you’ve watched the games, huh?” Now it was your turn to blush. You didn't really know how to respond, so you just nodded and quickly turned around to start making her coffee. And because it was just your Luck, your employee Ben had overheard the conversation, and since he was a little shit he decided to chime in.

“Oh, you’re Lena Oberdorf, right? The soccer play? Well, now I get why there has been soccer on our TV for the past few weeks instead of baby penguins or hippos.” Your blush deepened, and you made a point of not looking at Lena as you responded. “Moo Deng and Pesto still got their time to shine. I would never disrespect them like that.” Ben raised his hands defensively. “Sure, thing boss” He smirked, returning to the order he had been making. You finished Lena's Coffee before you faced her again. The confident smile on her face had only deepened, and you had to hold back a groan at it. Her ego had just grown like 10 inches, and it was all Ben's fault. “Your cappuccino.” You said, hoping to just pretend that that conversation had never happened. “It's on the house.” you threw in quickly as she raised her phone to pay. Somehow, her smile got even bigger, and your knees started feeling a little wobbly. “Guess I'll have to win another medal to get coffee from my favorite barista.” She threw you an exaggerated wink as she took the coffee. “Thanks tho. Guess I’ll have to return the favor by gifting a jersey to my new fan.” You rolled your eyes at that, and Lena just laughed. Maybe hiring Ben had been a horrible idea after all.

Over four months after you had met Lena for the first time, she brought a second person to the café. You had been standing behind the counter, busy making another order for one of your regulars, so you didn't see her walking in. That also meant that you were completely oblivious to the conversation Lena and Jule were having while looking at the back of your head.

“So that's her, huh?” Jule teased the second they made it through the door. “The reason you’ve barely touched your fancy coffee maker, that cost more than my first car, since you moved here?” Lena's cheeks started burning up immediately, and she tried hiding them in the scarf around her neck. It had gotten cold in Germany, and Lena couldn't help but smile at the state of the store. It was mid-November, but the café had been in full Christmas swing for a week now.

Lena had walked in on you, humming along to jingle bells, on the first of November. You were wearing the coziest sweater Lena had ever seen, and both of your hands were full of string lights, ready to light the place up. Your excitement about the holiday had been intoxicating, and Lena wanted nothing more than to jump over the counter and kiss you under the mistletoe you had hung up there. She hadn't, of course, but that didn't stop her from fantasizing about it. Her mood was only slightly tainted when she remembered how your employee, Jack or something, had winked at you as he had also walked into the store and noticed the mistletoe. “You could’ve just asked Boss.” He said with a wink before disappearing into the back room. Your only reaction had been an eye roll, but Lena could feel frustration and a little jealousy rise inside her. She felt like you enjoyed her flirting and flirted back, but she didn't even know if you were into women at all, much less into her. She had left the store feeling kind of grumpy with her coffee cup in hand.

You had finished up with the customer, and Jule started pulling Lena towards the counter, tearing her out of her daydream. You smiled up at the two of them and were about to greet them when Jule started talking. “Hi, I’m Jule It's nice to meet you.” Lena suppressed a groan but couldn't hold back from rolling her eyes. “You must be Y/N, I’ve heard a lot about you.” Jule basically beamed at you, and Lena wondered why she had ever thought that bringing Jule here was a good Idea. “Really well, that's nice to hear.” You grinned toward Lena. “Well, I had to tell her about my biggest fan, didn’t I?” Lena quickly threw back, hoping to hide her embarrassment. “Of course you did.” You responded. “But you're playing a dangerous game by introducing me to more soccer players, Oberdorf. Maybe I’ll wear a different jersey soon.”

Lena was momentarily stunned. Not only by your quick remark, but also by surprise over how that made her feel. The little green monster that had shown its fangs just days ago seemed to grow bigger in her chest, and Lena's smile turned slightly uncomfortable. You didn't seem to catch onto that as you winked at her and then turned to Jule to ask her what she wanted to drink. She ordered some weird, complicated festive drink that Lena had forgotten the name of the second the words had left Jules mouth. Lena watched you as you nodded and typed stuff into the screen in front of you before your attention finally returned to her. Your eyes met and Lena's heart jumped just a tiny bit. “A cappuccino as usual?” You asked, grinning up at her, teeth on full display. “Yeah, as usual.” “I really thought I could infect you with my festive spirit. Come on, try something Christmasy. Maybe just a splash of cinnamon syrup or some gingerbread spice?” Lena's grin returned. “Nope, thanks, I'm good.” You rolled your eyes slightly with a smile and typed in her order as well. Lena paid for the drinks and you started making them. Lena thought she had survived Jule meeting you for the first time when the taller woman started talking again.

“So, Y/N, do you own the store?” She asked, even though she already knew the answer. Lena had told her weeks ago over the phone. You turned your head slightly, still focused on your task at the coffee maker. “Yes, I do. I used to work here as a part-timer, but then the old owner retired and asked me if I wanted to take over. It’s been mine ever since.” “So you run it all by yourself?” Jule kept asking, and Lena frowned. Jule knew the answer to all of these questions, so what was she on about? “Oh no, I have one employee, Ben, who works half-time, and during the summer and sometimes Christmas I get some holiday workers.” “So is Ben like just an employee, ooor?”

Ah, that's what Jule was getting at. Lena would have been annoyed at her if that question hadn't tortured her for the past week. You turned around, slightly surprised. “Oh no, he’s just an employee.” Lena could physically feel the tension leave her shoulders. “And, well, a friend. We swing in…opposite directions, if you know what I mean.” With that, you turned back around to finish Jules order, and Lena had to restrain herself from hugging Jule or letting out an excited scream. That had quite literally been the most ideal outcome. Not only were you not dating that Ben/Jack guy, you were also gay, and so was he. Phenomenal. Lena felt like she could just float away happily on a little cloud as you put Jules order in front of her.

“Yeah, well, I’m just happy that I found a café that plays soccer games on the big screen. I bet the old owner didn't,” Lena piped in, using every chance she could get to tease you. When she found out that you had actually watched her games, Lena felt like she was on cloud 9, kind of similar to how she felt now. She laughed when you turned around and stuck your tongue out toward her. She was being a little shit and enjoyed every second of it. You were now working on Lena's order with your back still angled towards them. That way, you didn't see the smile that spread onto Jules face or the mischievous glint in her eyes. Lena did, and her heart race started picking up.

“Well, I don't know how much you know about soccer, but I play for the club Lena used to play for, and we actually go against each other tomorrow. Why don’t you come?” Jule asked, and your movements stilled. Lena sucked in a breath. She liked you. A lot. But so far, all of your interactions had taken place in the small café. It had turned into a little bubble for the two of you. And while Lena would have liked to spend more time with you - it felt like a massive step. You turned around slowly, a shy smile on your face that made Lena's heart jump again. “I’d like that.” You answered quietly while looking at Lena - trying to gauge her reaction. “I mean, if you want me there?” Lena was a little surprised but tried to hide that behind an encouraging smile while Jule clapped her hands together. “Of course she does. Yeah, no, that's awesome. We’ll get you a ticket. Well, Lena will. Oh, and it starts at 6:30 pm, so maybe be there a little earlier. Maybe we can get you in the friends and family section; that would be nice, no? And we’re going to a bar or something afterward, so you definitely have to come with us.” Lena could see in your face that you were getting overwhelmed by Jules rambling. Your eyes kept getting bigger, and you stood frozen with Lena's cappuccino in your hands, your eyes switching between her and Jule. She couldn't help but grin as she reached out and put her hands on Jules shoulder to slow her down. She sounded a lot more confident than she felt when she asked you, “Maybe you can just give me your number, and I’ll text you all the details?” You nodded quickly, seemingly unfreezing from your stance, putting the cup on the counter. There was a light tint on your cheeks when you took the phone out of Lena's Hand and started typing into it before returning it. You didn't see the wide, proud smile on Jules face that made Lena roll her eyes again. She really had to stop bringing her friends into this café.

This was a horrible idea. You had somehow made it to the stadium and then found your way into the family and friends section. If it hadn't been for Lena's very precise instructions, you would've probably drowned in a sea of bright green and red shirts. You had made it safely, but now you were standing in a crowd of people that all seemed to know each other - and then there was you. You had never felt so out of place, and the feeling of not belonging crawled up your neck and made you shiver in your thick jacket.

Not only that, but you had really struggled with what to wear. Lena had kept her promise and gifted you a jersey -signed, of course. But it was the pink one for Germany, not a Bayern Munich jersey. You had spent hours thinking about it until you realized that it was cold as fuck outside and that you would have to wear a jacket the entire time anyway. In the end, you had opted for a dark red turtleneck that did slightly poke out of the collar of your jacket. The excitement you had felt just 24 hours ago had vanished into thin air. You had spent the entire last day daydreaming about Lena. It had seriously become a problem that even Ben, your employee, had caught on to - turning into an endless string of teasing from the student. You had swapped orders, given the wrong change and dropped a whole carton of milk, which, of course, had been open and milk seemed to seep into every corner of your little café. But you just couldn't get her out of your head. You had only ever seen her in the café, and on television, but from the first moment on, you had felt a weird sense of comfort around her. Her voice was strong and confident but so soothing, and her tone was always interested. In you. She’d asked you countless questions about your life, family and interests, and just thinking about it made you feel a bit warmer in the cold Munich air.

You jumped a little when somebody gently touched your shoulder from behind. “Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to startle you.” The woman gave you an apologetic smile as you turned around. She was slightly taller than you, her brown hair was up in a ponytail, and she was completely dressed in Bayern gear. You smiled back at her. “It’s fine, I wasn't paying attention.” “You’re Y/N, right ?” Your eyes widened, surprised at her question, which deepened her smile. “Lena told me to find you. I'm Kathi, one of her teammates. She told me you didn't know anybody and that I should keep an eye on you.” Her smile just kept growing bigger, and your cheeks started burning. Lena was really looking out for you. “Oh, that's really sweet. But you don't have to. I don't want to bother you.” You tried to decline. Feeling out of place was a horrible feeling, but spending your time with people because they felt like they had to didn't really sound nice either. Even though Lena had obviously meant well. But Kathi just raised her hand in a throwaway motion and gestured for you to follow her. “It’s perfectly fine. It's always nice to see a fresh face. Come on, I’ll introduce you to some more people, and then we can watch the game together.” You hesitated for a second before thanking her and following her, feeling a lot warmer than you had just a few seconds ago.

Lena was jumping up and down on the spot, still feeling nervous and pumped full of adrenalin. The game had finished almost an hour ago, with Bayern securing a close 3:2 win, but Lena couldn't calm down. After the game, she felt the desire to run straight towards you. But she of course had to give a quick interview where the reporter asked many annoying and borderline boring questions about her playing her old club, and then she was pulled to the showers. Which was probably a good idea - she did play for the whole 90 minutes. Now she was clean, dressed in jeans, a sweatshirt and a bayern jacket. Her hair was still slightly damp as she waited with the others for you, Kathi and a couple other players and family members. Both teams had agreed to go to a bar or club together, and Lena was mostly excited because you were coming. It was nice seeing her old teammates, but they just couldn't beat you.

She was still nervously bouncing up and down when somebody wrapped their arm around her shoulders. “You have to relax, girl.” Alex Popp mumbled in her ear, and Lena could hear her old captain's grin without even looking at her. She was about to answer something, but the words got stuck in her throat. You were walking onto the parking lot, laughing at something Kathi had said, and Lena needed a second to comprehend the situation. She knew you were gorgeous and that she had a big, fat crush on you. But seeing you outside the coffee shop in a big Jacket that seemed to swallow you was a whole different deal. “Holy shit” she muttered to herself, but Poppi heard, of course, and started giggling. “You really have it bad Obi, huh?” She pushed her forward lightly “Go get her.”

Lena barely registered the words as she walked towards you. Kathi saw her first, giving Lena the same knowing smile she had gotten from pretty much everybody all day long. You turned your head, finally looking at her. Lena's heart jumped as your face split into a big smile. It only took a couple more steps, and you were in Lena's arms. You reached up to wrap yours around her neck, while she wrapped hers around your waist, pulling you close and then slightly picking you off the ground. She felt your breath against her ear as you started giggling. “Hi Lena.” You mumbled out, laying your chin on her shoulder. All she could do was whisper a quiet “Hi” Back while holding you as close as both of your jackets would let her. Lena lowered you slowly onto the ground, not letting go yet. Having you out of your coffee shop felt like a huge accomplishment, and she was scared you were just going to disappear into thin air if she let you go. You started giggling again rubbing your arms up and down her body.

“I won't disappear, you know?” You said like you had heard her thoughts, and Lena slowly released her hold while still keeping her hands on your jacket clad waist. “I'm just proud that I got you out of that coffee shop of yours.” She repeated her thoughts out loud.

“Well technically Jule did.”

“Oh so you came here for her?”

“Well, I didn't say that, but she asked me, didn’t she? I also don’t have a Bayern jersey yet, but I was thinking that I might look better in green”

“Oh, I don’t know, I think the red turtleneck looks rather nice on you.”

Lena felt a strange rush of confidence when she leaned closer and mumbled, “And my last name will surely look better on you than anybody else's.” Your banter was interrupted before you had a chance to react. Jule was standing behind you, looking rather impatient. “I know you're happy to see each other, but we're all freezing our asses off, so how about you continue this conversation in a nice, warm bar?” You both nodded, and Lena let her hands drop from your waist.

She was about to walk towards the other when you pulled her back by her sleeve. You didn't wait for Lena to react as you got on your tiptoes and put your hat, that had been on your head just seconds ago, onto hers. You made sure it was sitting nicely on her head before you dropped back down onto your soles. Lena couldn't help but stare at you and your blushing cheeks as you mumbled something about “Wet hair” and “flu season” and brushed past her to the group of people waiting for you.

Your cheeks were flushed, and you were still sweating, even though you had left the bar at least five minutes ago. It was around three in the morning, and the November air in Munich was quite chilly. It had been really hot in the bar, and it would have been a lie to say that alcohol and Lena's presence didn't also factor into your current state.

She hadn't left the spot next to you, basically the entire night. Only getting up twice because you had to use the restroom. Her constant presence didn't stop her teammates - former and current - from telling embarrassing stories and throwing jabs at Lena. Jule had video or photo evidence for pretty much all of Lena's embarrassing moments and didn't hesitant to show them. At first, you had been scared that Lena would feel uncomfortable, but she seemed to enjoy having you with her in the chaos. You were surprised at how comfortable you felt surrounded by all the strangers, but they and especially Lena, of course, had made it easy.

You talked with Jule for quite a while before she decided that it was time for some karaoke. Then you started chatting with Georgia, one of Lena's teammates from England, and lastly with Magda and Pernille. All with Lena by your side, ordering drinks for you, but also making sure you had the occasional Water. She was drinking beer the entire night, and by the end of it, she had her arm wrapped around your shoulders, her thigh pressed against yours, while talking to one of her old teammates about soccer stuff you didn't understand.

Time had rushed by and people had left slowly one by one until only You, Lena, Jule, Lea - the other friend she had brought to the café - Magda, Pernille and Lynn were left.

Jule swayed towards you, Lea and Lena, a huge mischievous smile on her face as she straight up walked into Lena. Lena didn't drink as much and could thankfully hold both of their weights instead of just falling over. “Soo my dear friend -” She slurred into Lena's jacket. “I’ve decided that I’m gonna stay at Leas place tonight, so this lovely lady-” She turned around surprisingly fast with her finger pointed towards you, almost poking your eye out. “- can go home with you. If you know what I mean. Wink-Wonk.” She actually managed to wink in sync with her words, and you could see Lena and Lea cringing at their friend's actions. You - also pretty drunk at this point - started laughing at both of their faces.

Lea pulled Jule away from Lena, her face still looking slightly disturbed, leaving you to only laugh harder. “Alright, that's enough; let's go, Jule. Good night, you two.” Lea said quickly and walked away, half carrying Jule before she could say anything else. Your laughter slowly died down as you turned back to Lena. "I can’t believe she just actually said ‘wink-wonk’ out loud.” Lena was shaking her head, her face looking just as disturbed as Leas. That only made you laugh again, and Lena started shaking her head, amused at your clearly drunk state.

The other players also bid their goodbyes and disappeared in different directions. “Come on, let's get you home.” Lena started putting your jacket on, even zipping it up as you kept giggling, your breath blowing clouds into the night air. Once Lena was satisfied with your jacket, she put the hat you had previously put on her back on your head. “There we go.” She mumbled more to herself as she intertwined your fingers with hers before pulling you in one direction. You followed her dutiful.

“Your home or my home?” you asked after a couple of steps. Lena didn't look at you and kept walking. “Well, if you want to go home, you're gonna have to tell me where you live. But-” She broke off the sentence, the clear insinuation floating in between you. She cleared her throat and finished her sentence. “But you’re more than welcome to stay with me - if you like, of course.”

You were quiet for a couple of seconds. That had less to do with hesitation and more to do with the fact that you were drunk and Lena was touching you. Both of these factors seemed to slow your brain's functionality immensely. Her hand was a little rougher and bigger than yours. Her fingers were intertwined with yours, and she wasn't squeezing your hand, but still holding on tight. You relished in the feeling of her warm hand against yours for a couple of seconds before you realized that you already knew the answer, but you actually had to tell Lena as well.

“I live above the café.” You answered her question and if you had been any less drunk you would have probably caught onto her shoulders dropping slightly. “But I would like staying with you.” You finished your sentence. “Yeah?” Lena was now finally looking at you, her brown eyes twinkling. You nodded as confirmation.

So the two of you kept walking through the quiet city, a comfortable silence growing between you as well. You could feel yourself getting a little sober with every step, slowly starting to grow cold in your jacket. Lena of course noticed and pulled you a little closer. “We’re almost there” She murmured towards you, leading you around another corner and pointing at a building down the street. “ Right there. We’ve almost made it, love” Your now less drunk head caught up with the nickname. You could get used to that.

Lena led you the last couple of steps before halting in front of a door and getting a key out of her pocket. She let go of your hand, and you could have sworn the temperature dropped at least 5 degrees in that second. But Lena quickly ushered you inside, even the staircase feeling a little warmer than what it was outside. She led you up two flights of stairs before stopping at the next door. You silently grinned at the amount of shoes that were stacked up in front of her apartment as Lena unlocked that door as well.

Her apartment was pretty big and modern. The outside had looked like an old building, but it was clear that this had been renovated not too long ago. You were frozen in her entryway, looking at her apartment. All the walls were white. From where you were standing, you could see right into the living room and the kitchen, a door that probably led to a balcony, and two more doors probably leading into the bedroom and bathroom.

Lena poked you in the side. “You need help?” She asked in an amused tone, making you turn around to her. She had already taken her shoes and jacket off. You were definitely sober enough to take off your clothes, but where was the fun in that. So you just nodded quietly, and Lena took your hat off and started unzipping your jacket. She gently helped you out of it and reached for a hanger right behind you. She hung your jacket neatly up before returning her attention to you. You were closer to each other than you had been before. You could smell her shampoo from where you were standing. Her eyes looking right into yours. Lena brought a hand up to your face and tucked a strand of hair behind your right ear. “I really want to kiss you.” She almost whispered into the quiet room. “But you're drunk and-”

“ I'm not that drunk.” You interrupted her quickly. You had been thinking about kissing her for, like, the past three months. Glee twinkled in her eyes. “No?” She asked. Her hand was now on your neck, her thumb gently stroking along your jawline. Warmth spread through your entire body. “ You seemed pretty drunk when you laughed about Jule saying ‘Wink-wonk’ for five minutes.” You couldn't help the chuckle that escaped you at that memory. “That was pretty funny, though.” You responded. “And that was like at least thirty minutes ago, so I'm way more sober and way less drunk now, and I really, really want to kiss you as well.”

Your patience ran out, pretty much immediately after the words had left your mouth. One of your hands snaked its way around her waist, and the other found its way into Lena's hair at the back of her head as you pulled her down towards you. Her lips smashed into yours a little less gently than you had planned, but it didn't really matter. Her mouth was finally on yours. Lena let out a tiny moan, and a shiver went through your entire body. Her right hand stayed on your neck, pulling you close, her other hand made its way to your lower back as you opened her mouth. You got lost in each other for, god knows, how long. The only noise in the apartment was panting and little moans and groans from the both of you until Lena pulled away to get some air.

She breathed heavily for a couple of seconds while staring into your eyes. Then she murmured a tiny “Fuck” before pulling your mouth back onto hers. You had lost any sense of time when you pushed back slightly again, both gasping for air. Lena's eyes were blown wide open, and they had a certain glint in them that you hadn't seen before. “We still have to take off your shoes?” Lena said between gasps, but the words didn't really register until she spoke your name, pulling your eyes away from Lena's lips. She quietly directed you towards a small bench you hadn't even realized was there and made you sit on it. You didn't even have time to take off your shoes, because Lena was faster. She kneeled in front of you, taking off your shoes and then slipping sliders onto your feet.

“I think we should get you into a bed, huh?” She asked, still on her knees in front of you. Another thing you could get used to. “To do Wink-Wonk?” You asked, trying to look innocent. Lena laughed as she stood back up and then pulled you back up onto your feet as well.

“Not tonight, love.”

“ So, another night.”

“ All the nights you want.”

“ All of them? That's a bold promise to make Oberdorf.”

She pressed a quick peck on your lips, catching you by surprise.

“One I intend to keep.”

You were too stunned to respond. You liked this version of Lena. So far, you’ve liked every version of Lena you've seen, but a slightly horny one was definitely in the top 5. “Now.” Lena tried again. “Let's get you into bed.”

Lena woke up to the noises of her coffee machine running. It took her a second to get oriented before she remembered last night. A smile spread across her face when she realized that you hadn't only stayed the night, but that you were up and seemingly making coffee. For a second, she was a bit sad that she hadn't gotten the chance to wake up next to you. But for now, she was satisfied that she at least got to fall asleep next to you.

She had somehow managed to get you into the bathroom to brush your teeth and wash your face before leading you into her bedroom. You had taken off your clothes and pulled on one of Lena's shirts without complaining before cuddling up to her in bed.

Lena quickly slipped out of her bed and couldn't help but glance in the mirror to make sure she didn't look entirely crazy after just waking up. Her eyes looked tired from the late night, but all in all, it could have been worse. She quietly made her way out of the bedroom into the open kitchen and living space.

She immediately spotted you in the kitchen. Your hair was down, the only thing you were wearing was the big shirt Lena had given you last night, and you were quietly humming along to a Christmas song while making coffee. Lena stopped in her tracks and admired you for a few seconds. The sight of you in her kitchen was really nice, and she was also a little surprised that you didn't seem to be hungover at all.

She was pretty sure that she had had that dream before. You, half naked in her kitchen. All the pining and teasing had been well worth it. Lena felt a strong sense of belonging wash over her. She wanted you in her life. Half naked in her kitchen, sitting in the stands at her games, waiting for her in the coffee shop and in her bed, maybe with even fewer clothes next time. That was probably a lot of emotion so early in the morning, so Lena decided to move that serious conversation to a later time when you were both fully awake.

She made her way towards you around her couch and the kitchen island until she could reach you, wrapping her arms around your waist and pulling you into her. Your body stiffened for a split second before melting into her, holding the cup that already had a finished cappuccino - no sugar - securely in your hand. Lena mumbled “Morning” into the skin of your neck before pressing a little kiss there. She smiled when she felt your pulse quicken underneath her lips. “Morning,” you mumbled back, reaching forward to put the milk carton down. You turned in her arms, wrapping yours around her neck to give her a proper good morning kiss. Lena couldn't help but sigh into it, pulling a satisfying shiver out of you. You split after a few seconds, both of your faces spread with dopey smiles. “You know what?” You leaned forward again, pressing a little kiss close to her ear.

“You have a very nice coffee maker for somebody who gets coffee every morning”

[roseglazedlens]

⦑ 𝐛𝐨𝐛𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 ⦒✶.*

pairing(s): leon kennedy x gn! reader synopsis: leon tries bubble tea for the first time, much to his reluctance (he likes it!) content: fluff, established relationship, rebecca chambers & chris redfield mentioned. « 1.4 k words┇masterlist┇ao3┇reblogs appreciated! »

“How far is this place?” Leon lets out a heavy grunt, sight unbearable as the sharp sunrays glaring onto the scorching asphalt. Heat so nauseating it permeates through his clothing to form sweat at areas less desirable.

Leon would rather cuddle next to you at home right now, under the lulling breeze of the air conditioning. But you insisted– no matter the heat nor the distance, you must have your hands on this drink in this thickened fog of heat. It’s perplexing how you find space in your belly after such a hearty lunch today.

You loop both arms around his open elbow – propping up just for you to hold – as you flush your front onto his sides. Partial bribery, partial gratitude for joining you on this conquest despite the harsh weather conditions.

Leon lands his gaze on you – your lashes flutter, body fidget closer. There is no way he can deny you now. That you know and took full advantage of every single time. He groans in defeat, tilting his torso back as if to heave the weight of his well-satiated belly.

“What is this bubble tea? And why do you like it so much?” You call it a bubble tea, but he calls this concoction a monstrosity. Leon will never understand how one can make a drink already perfect imperfect?

“Oh, Leon. I’m about to show you a whole new world.” You spin your heels, skipping a little in the firm grip of his arms.

“I’m surprised you still have an appetite.” Leon’s tone sounds faintly like a jab.

“There’s always room for bubble tea.” He suspects you say this motto often with the way the words uttered so instantly.

Leon grumbles Rebecca’s name underneath his breath. Since you discovered it from Rebecca’s introduction, this supposed ‘habit’ soon evolved closer to an obsession. Replacing your usual coffee order with a tall plastic cup of milk tea. With how Rebecca sweetens her coffee, whatever she recommends can’t be good for you.

“I don’t think I want bubbles in my tea.” Leon tightens his lips.

“It’s not real bubbles, Lee.” You chuckle as you run your hands along his arms. “You’ll love it, trust me!”

Hand in hand with yours, Leon follows your footsteps into a slender laneway, shying away from rows of corporate office on the main street. Red lanterns hang high, adorn by banners of words you can’t read. You find familiar merchants chant a series of today’s sales across the street, hubbub of both young and old, nesting the air in this hidden away part of town. Even during a weekday, Chinatown is busy – endearingly so.

You approach a humble corner shop you often frequent. Walking up the front of the counter with one confident stride, only taking a step back at the realisation of your confused boyfriend.

Nudging at Leon’s elbow, you point at the signage that displays their extensive list of flavours, options and customisations. “Get the winter melon milk tea with extra boba.”

“Get your own.” He scoffs at your audacity.

“I want mango. But I also wanna try the winter melon tea.” You cling onto his arm, flushing your body onto his. Puffed cheeks, downturned eyebrows – you know he can’t say no. Leon can’t ever say no to you when you do that face.

“So I’m your experiment.” He sighs underneath his breath, but his countenance softens when he sees your toothy smile as the line moves forward. “What does winter melon taste like, anyway?”

“I dunno. That’s why you’re trying it for me.”

Before he can protest, it’s your turn to order. You face the register, shuffling out your membership card from your bag to beep it in front of the scanner.

“What would you two like to have?”

“One winter melon boba milk tea and one mango green tea...” Leon glances over the size options. “Medium, please.”

“Mini boba or standard boba?” The cashier fiddles with the system before them.

Leon pauses, contemplating out loud. “What does that mean?”

“What size boba do you want?” They repeat once more, gesturing to the list of toppings which puzzles him even more.

“Standard, thanks. Whatever it means.” A prompt nod, buttons are pressed. “Ice and sugar levels?”

“Standard everything.” Leon tries to sound calm, but the words escaped with a snapping edge.

Leon makes his payment, frustrated by the entire experience, but it all the more teases a giggle out of you to see the usual composed Leon fluster over ordering a simple drink. The barista calls out your number. You two occupy an empty table, drinks in hand.

The drink sits before Leon, black beads declining to the bottom, tall cup sealed with a plastic film – Leon has seen you do this a few times. He should know what to do. Leon lines the straw on top of the film, with a small burst, puncture the film through the pointy end. The other hand grips the cup a tad too firm, the impact splashing the tea from the puncture all over his hand.

Your laughter bursts at the sight – chuckling so hard that Leon is asking for napkins from the front counter, hands still a dripping mess. He hates you for it – just a little though – for not warning him.

“That went well.” He grumbles, wiping off the droplets from his fingers with the white napkin.

“It’s okay – I've been there, done that.” You repeat his motions, thrusting your straw in your drink with practiced ease before taking a generous sip. You rummage your phone out of your pocket, pointing the lens directly at him.

“What?” Leon fiddles with the straw, swirling the substance under his fingertips.

“Go on.” You tilt your head in encouragement. “Take a sip.”

“I can’t drink if you’re recording me like this.” He broods on the words slightly.

“Drink!” You demand out of impatience, waving your hands more exaggeratedly.

Leon gazes inside the straw, the thick pipe designed for easier travel of any toppings within. He is hesitant, especially with you watching intently at his every movement and reaction. He hopes you never send this video to Chris; Leon will never recover from the embarrassment if so.

“Here goes nothing.” With a deep breath, Leon sucks the liquid from the straw.

The liquid makes contact first: a blend of tea and sugary syrups complementing each other; the dew of wintermelon arousing a soft sweetness that is easy to consume and just as addictive. Flavourful, but not overwhelming so. Suddenly, something round and slimy enters his mouth through the pipe.

Leon winces, taken aback. Bites on it to find it chewy. Then swallows. Doesn’t taste like anything in particular.

“What are these made of?”

“Those are tapioca, it’s nice and chewy isn’t it?”

Leon nods, taking another sip, savouring the taste of all the flavours combined. With how invested he is sipping his drink, you can’t help but smile as the levels goes down steadily. He notices you staring.

“Do you… want to try?” He takes the straw out of his mouth, passing it over to you.

You light up, moving in so quickly it almost shove him aside. Sorry Leon, you should have known that your love for bubble tea is above your love for him.

“Is this what wintermelon tastes like? I love it!” You take a sip. Leon tries your drink, nodding in approval before moving your cup back to you. But you don’t, instead, with an almost guilty tone, said: “Do you wanna... swap?”

“Nice try – but no. You made your choice, stick with it.” Leon scoffs, removing his drink off your hands, which leads you to pout miserably.

After Leon's signal, you two leave the shop. Leon takes you to all the shops you want to visit – and you find your gaze trailing to his drink that is going down much faster than yours.

“So… what do you think about the tea?” You ask, hoping to get any kind of admittance on how this drink isn’t so bad after all.

“It’s okay… I don’t mind it.” Leon keeps his praise short, feigning playful stubbornness.

You see through him immediately, lighting up, before stealing another sip from his. “Back here again tomorrow?”

Leon’s lips upturned into a smile, but he lets you take another sip – which he will regret later, with how fast you’re consuming. His hand places gently on your head. Shaking his head in disbelief, fully aware that he is powerless against you – and you are likely to make a return trip together. Anything to make you happy.

“Get your self together, sugar addict.”

i was tempted to make reader chinese poc since i'm chinese myself, but didn't to make reader more relatable haha (missed opportunity tho)i'm sorry for making ur bf order at the counter (ordering bubble tea for the first time is so daunting) also! thank you @sporeghost for beta reading this & literally held my hand through a few sentences, especially 2nd last line, it's not mine!! thanks for reading! come check out my other works. ––yours truly, rose. tags: @valsthea @sporeghost @daydreamrot (pm me for tags)© roseglazedlens - please do not repost, plagiarise, or feed to ai.

[deathworlders-of-e24]

Liz, Biotechnician

Part 3

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Vending Machine whirred softly as it produced the 5th candy bar in a row. It’d been a week since the science division had turned into a chocolate factory, but Liz wasn’t that worried. Coco didn’t have a chemical makeup that could be affected by diabetic amounts of sugar. The opposite, in fact, the little Sprygan was doing better than ever, and wasn’t so little anymore. Just like plants on Earth, botanical lifeforms needed glucose to grow, and apparently when given daily supplements of the stuff, their growth rate accelerated at frightening speeds.

Liz walked back to the lab, with a hearty Halloween’s worth of candy bars in her hands and pockets. Some crewmen gave her odd looks as she passed, but she paid them little mind. The door to the lab opened with a quick hiss.

“So we got milk, dark, white with macadamia nuts, and… what are you doing?”

Coco was standing in the center of the room, their new fuller branches seemingly vibrating. Liz thought they looked excited. The same Coco, who at the time when the mission began, was at best maybe 3 feet tall, now stood almost 5 1/2 feet in height and had a significantly thicker trunk. They were about as big as Liz was herself now, with a thicker canopy in the beginnings of bloom. They leaned in Liz’s direction, vines trembling.

“I just got a message from the bridge. There’s a uncharted planetoid in this system with a moon that might have breathable atmosphere, and they want a full ecological report written up.”

“So we’re going down there?”

“Correct! It’ll take 2 cycles to get there, but then it’s all ours!”

Liz was overjoyed! Finally, some actual field work instead of editing someone else’s papers all day. A whole new ecosystem with god knows how many new species… if it had atmosphere, of course.

Can’t get too excited yet girl, Liz thought.

“Does the moon have water?” She asked.

“Indeed.”

That’s a real good sign though, she figured.

“Can I have my chocolate now please?” Coco asked.

“Oh right, yeah, here you go,” Liz said, setting the bars on the table. Coco’s vines reached out and snatched them, taking them back into their canopy to be the plant equivalent of ‘digested’. The usual humming started up as they enjoyed their snacks. Liz wasn’t sure, but she thought she could see bark physically forming on their trunk now, or perhaps it was simply a discoloration.

“You’re sure this much sugar is good for you hon?” Liz asked, concern slowly winning out over scientific curiosity.

“The thing you call cocoa seeds are not plentiful on my planet, so I’m unsure if any Sprygan has ever had this much in such a short period of time, but I’ve never had so much energy before. My growth rate is miraculous, I’m almost completely out of my juvenile sapling stage now.”

“And that’s a… good thing?”

“Very. Saplings on my planet are the easier targets for predators. With a harder outer layer I’ll be much safer now. I’ve been composing a paper on this for days, it’ll be of great significance to Spryga.” Coco continued humming, ‘munching’ away on her candy bars.

“Well alright then, so long as you’re okay,” Liz said. “So tell me more about this moon.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Deep in the Antares System, hidden from scanners by the solar radiation of the tertiary star, was a desolate little rock burnt to a crisp by stellar winds during a flare eons ago. Its moon, however, was protected from the fire while in the shadow of the planet. And so it continued to turn, with barely a few degrees changed, undisturbed.

Until now.

The Noah entered the system from WARP, keeping a safe distance from the tertiary star in case of solar flares, and settled into a comfortable orbit around the planetoid to scout the surface of the nearby moon, now being called MX13.

From the Bridge, Liz and Coco read the initial scans from various probes launched when they’d arrived.

“Gravity reads…damn, big moon,” Liz said, surprised, “9.1, just a little under galactic and Earth standard.”

“Gas spectrometer reads as breathable atmosphere to 70% of known intelligent lifeforms,” Coco read on, “but not humans. You’ll have to wear a mask Human Liz.”

“What’s the chemical makeup like?” Liz asked.

“95% methane… similar to what you call Titan in your Terran home system. Without a mask you’d have a few minutes at best before you suffocated.”

“So yeah, rebreathers are fashionable this time of year,” Liz laughed. Even the idea of suffocating in a potentially hostile ecosystem wasn’t enough to bring her spirits down. It had been ages since she’d set foot on extraterrestrial soil.

“Ahem,” grunted Skitch, as much as a bipedal bug man could go ‘ahem’ with mandibles.

“What does fashionable mean?” Coco asked quietly.

“I’ll tell you later,” Liz whispered.

Captain Skitch had been waiting off to the side for a while now while they geeked out over the moon.

“Now then,” he said, arms behind his thorax stoically, “in six rels[?] [GAIL standard term: 1 rel approximately 1 earth hour(s)] we’re sending a shuttle down to the moon to conduct the requested ecological report. Our main objective is to see if there are any lifeforms, intelligent or otherwise, living there. If it is deemed uninhabited, we’re to declare whether or not it could become a potential colony for GAIL member races.”

Liz was almost painfully excited. Uncharted habitats, potentially establishing a colony, this is what she worked 6 years in the academy for, what she lived for.

“Sir, what are we supposed to do if we do come across any lifeforms down there?” She asked.

“You know the rules. On the off chance you come across anyone intelligent, you do not get involved, you do not get seen. We’re here to record the natural evolution of the universe, nothing more.”

“There’s very little chance of that,” Coco chimed in, “the first scans of the surface are being analyzed, there doesn’t seem to be any structure of any kind on the surface, so it’s unlikely we’ll come across any sentient species.”

“On the off chance you do have an encounter, I’m assigning commander Koatil to the landing party. She’ll be in charge of everything, and has my full authority to make any judgment call she sees fit.”

As if on cue, First officer Koatil made the bridge, her thermal suit fitted with extra armor for the expedition, hiding her powder blue fur. It seemed to Liz she’d freshly sharpened the horns on top of her head as well. She’d always figured they looked like rams horns, and thought how interesting it was that Doun women were the only ones with horns in their species.

“Good to meet you both,” Koatil said. “I’m sure this’ll go smoothly for all of us, just stick with the group and everything will be fine. Permission to depart, Captain?”

“Granted.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Noah’s shuttle bay was about the size of Liz’s old high school gymnasium, vaulted ceiling and wide open space, plenty of room for the three docked shuttles. Commander Koatil stood nearby, doing her final check as bay staff loaded the shuttle with cases of the scientific instruments they’d use to analyze the moon’s ecosystem.

Liz and Coco, along with the shuttle pilot and 2 other security personnel, stood ready to board at the commander’s say. She inspected the crew going down to the moon with them. The pilot seemed fine, even had two more arms to steer, so that was reassuring, but it was the security personnel that caught her attention. If Liz was seeing it right, the two were not on friendly terms with each other. The first one, an Indoprime, was standing at an awkward distance from the other guard, a Sed man. Neither spoke to the other, the Indoprime even slightly leaning away from the Sed, who stared straight ahead and said nothing. Both had plasma pistols on their belts, as well as upper armor over their uniforms. Liz was going to be severely disheartened if they messed up the ‘roadtrip’ she’d been waiting for.

Commander Koatil handed the pad to one of the crewmen and made her way to them at the shuttle.

“All aboard to MX13,” she said, resting her big paw on the pistol on her hip as she climbed in the door. The rest of them, Liz and Coco, the pilot, and the security personnel followed behind her. The door sealed shut behind them.

Liz took her seat, helping to secure Coco in theirs. The buckles weren’t well suited to thumbless species. She’d made sure the belts didn’t dislodge their own pistols from their holsters. Having a rogue plasma shot in here wouldn’t end well.

Buttons were pressed, dials turned, something that looked like a cup holder was pulled out of the dash, and the shuttle came to life.

“Shuttle Alpha, you are clear for departure.”

“Acknowledged,” replied the pilot.

The hangar doors opened, leaving behind the gas mesh, a thin blue wall of light to keep the air in the room from exploding into the void. Their shuttle passed through it easily, heading into open space.

“Haven’t seen this view for a while,” Liz said. Sure, of course there were windows on the ship, but it felt different in a shuttle. Like the void was just a hair’s width away from her now, waiting for her.

“My sensory receptors can’t make out anything but the shuttle,” Coco said, “could you describe it to me?” Coco’s leaves were shaking slightly, so Liz reached out and put a hand on their branch. The shaking calmed.

“Well first it’s just the sheer amount of stars,” Liz said quietly, “like a million points of light. There’s a nebula about 12,000 light years away off the port side that looks like butterfly wings if you squint… if you look at it right. Coco, I can’t express it right, the moon looks beautiful.”

“Human Liz, I’m jealous of you. Seeing in the visible spectrum must been so interesting.”

“Well what does the world around you look like? What do you perceive?”

“Well as you know, my branches have a sensory function to detect my surroundings, vibrations, light, even sensations in a way. But I don’t know how one would compare our two sensory experiences.”

“Your communicator is built into your brain isn’t it?” Liz asked. “Couldn’t it be adjusted to send sensory signals to your mind as well?”

“It’s possible, but the technology isn’t developed yet,” Coco explained. Liz looked at her a moment.

“Think we could fix that? I’d hate for my best friend to miss this view for their whole life.”

Coco didn’t say anything to that. She just listened as Liz described the universe around them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Boosters fired.

Air brakes deployed.

Shuttle Alpha landed safely on the moon MX13.

The landing party filed out, and except for Coco, everyone decided against the worst case scenario and wore respirators. It wasn’t as bulky as Liz first thought, just a face mask with a line to a small air cleaner on her belt. Coco was the only one who didn’t need to breathe, so they were totally fine.

Stepping off the shuttle onto the moon’s surface, Liz was surprised at the vegetation around them. Muddy purple grass bed the ground, surrounded by rocky patches across the valley where they’d landed. Off in the distance were what appeared to be trees, thick branchless trunks growing straight up, splitting into angular canopies. Liz brought her camera up and snapped a photo.

“Alright, spread out but try to stay in sight of the shuttle,” Koatil said over their radios. “I know we’re setting g sensors pretty far out, so if anyone gets into trouble out there, launch a flare and we’ll come get you. Grite! You’re with the science team, go with them.”

The Sed man, Grite, looked almost pained at the idea of tagging along with Liz and the Sprygan.

“Aye, commander.”

“Think you can help us carry the sensors?” Liz asked, hoping to break the ice. She already had 2 bags strapped to her back and another slung over her shoulder. Coco was too small to carry anything.

“You can carry your own supplies,” growled Grite, keeping his distance from them.

What a dick, Liz thought, shouldering another bag on her other arm. The sensors she was carrying were heavy, but she was still in high spirits. Field work! Hurray!

They must’ve walked for over a mile, planting sensors every few hundred feet in ‘places of interest’, namely places Liz and Coco thought looked cool or had neat vegetation or rock formations. They’d made their way into a swampy area, heading towards a line of hills in the distance.

Coco went off a ways to plant a sensor by a small marshy cove they’d detected. Grite followed behind Liz, glaring every time she looked back. She didn’t know what she’d done to annoy him so much, she’d just met the guy, but maybe she’d done something or said something offensive by alien standards.

Whatever, don’t need him for this, Liz thought. This is a brain mission, not a buff rock guy mission.

“Human Liz,” Coco called over the radio, “there’s a rocky area here, with a subterranean tunnel system.”

“Cool, moon caves,” Liz laughed. “I’ll be right there with the another sensor, just wait for me, okay?”

“There are these round stones here half buried in the soil, at the entrance,” they continued.

That made Liz pause a moment.

“Just one or two, or are they in a kind of a pile?”

Static.

“Coco? Talk to me hon, pile or no pile?”

Static still. A few pips and pops, followed by a squeal of feedback noise. Liz’s blood ran cold.

“-uman Liz-… predator-… help-…”

“Grite launch the flare now!” Liz yelled, dropping the bags to the ground before breaking out in a sprint. She stomped and lunged through a few hundred yards of marsh, quick as she could, hitting solid earth at a dead run. The Sed was either behind her or he wasn’t, Liz couldn’t think about that in the moment. She had a pistol herself, and while she may have been the science geek on the ship, her dad had made sure she knew how to use it.

She cleared the marsh and crested a small ridge line, following the trudging trail of the little Sprygan. There she saw the scene, Coco on their side, massive claw marks raked up their trunk, and what looked like a cross between a mountain lion and a gator, long snout and mouth with jagged teeth and a ‘feline’ body, muscled and lithe with a forked tail. The thing’s back was covered in ridged scales, while its limbs were bare, wrapped in fur and old battle scars.

FUCK, Liz thought. She pulled her pistol and shot energized plasma directly at its head, but it barely even burned it. Whatever this thing was made of, its skin was fire proof. Her translator crackled in her ear.

“-human Liz…-?”

Liz didn’t hesitate any further. She leapt from the ridge, landing on the creature’s back. She took the butt of her pistol and started slamming it on the back of the thing’s head, over and over again, before the creature bucked her off.

Liz fell hard, hitting her head and mask on the ground with a sickening crack. Gas started venting fast, there was an inch long crack in her visor now, a whole chuck of it missing, falling somewhere in the dirt. Somewhere above her hair line she must’ve been cut on the rocks, because blood was dripping down into her left eye.

Dimly she was aware that she was already dead, if her mask was broken then there was no way to get back to the shuttle before she suffocated. But that being said, she was going to fuck up this monster trying to eat her best friend before making her grand exit.

What a way to go, huh Liz? she imagined in her father’s voice. He’d be smiling in a situation like this. Liz grabbed the side of her broken mask and ripped it off, throwing it at the creature as it crouched in front of her. She took in a deep breath of ‘air’, filling her lungs, and screamed. Her legs bent into a crouch, her back tensed, she tasted blood in her mouth. Adrenaline poured into her veins, dulling the pain, giving her strength and funneling rage into the center of her brain. She had one job now.

“COME ON THEN YOU FUCKER, LETS FUCKING GO!”

Liz charged the creature, firing bolts of burning plasma as she went, praying that dick Grite was somewhere nearby ready to get Coco out of there while it was busy mauling her to death.

The creature shrugged off the pistol fire, pouncing on her, pinning her to the rocky ground. Stones and the alien’s claws dug into her sides and back. It opened its jaws wide, and Liz realized it meant to eat her head. Fuck this thing.

“You hungry you big bastard?! EAT THIS!”

Liz worked her arm free, the one still holding a death grip on her plasma pistol, and shoved it down the creature’s throat. Its teeth tore into her arm, screaming pain ripped up her side, and Liz never stopped pulling the trigger. The smell of burning filled the air as the creature squealed and whined, its body going limp as bodily fluid poured out its mouth. She didn’t stop, emptying the clip into its blown out organs. Finally the thing was quiet.

Liz didn’t even bother trying to pull her arm out of the alien’s mouth, the thing was ruined, and she was dying anyway. Between blood loss and asphyxiation, her vision was already fading to little pin pricks. With the last shred of consciousness, she let out one more howl, screaming into the air, before everything went dark.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elizabeth Collins didn’t remember what happened after that. All she knew was she was sore all over and weirdly cold, which would make sense if she was just a corpse, but why did she hear… was that ABBA?

Please not an eternity of pop music, she thought sluggishly. Anything but that.

She struggled, oddly weightless, and tried to open her eyes but found they’d been bandaged shut.

Oh good, I’m alive, people hardly ever bandage dead people.

What about mummies?

Shut up, me.

She reached a hand out and touched something smooth and solid. She tried to tap her knuckles against it, but only got one good rap at it before her hand hurt too much. Thankfully it seemed that’s all she needed.

“Human Liz, are you conscious? How do you feel? Are you in discomfort?”

Oh good, Coco was alive too.

“Wait, no, don’t try to speak right now, you’re in the regeneration pod right now, in nano surgery. I’ll be right here when it’s over, return to being unconscious please.”

Oh, okay, sleep sounded good anyway. Night night, Coco.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“It’s gonna be twitchy for a few cycles until it adjusts to your neural pathways, but it should feel just like the old one soon.”

One of the other humans, a woman named Jane Shaw who worked in med bay, had sat down with her earlier that morning to go over her… condition.

“We had to replace the lining of your lungs with a prosthetic mesh to keep them working,” she’d said, “you were out in that methane air for a while. If it hadn’t been for your Sprygan friend feeding you oxygen from their branches, you never would’ve made it.”

“I don’t think even they knew they could do that,” Liz had forced a laugh, coughing a bit. “Now, about my arm?”

“Completely scrapped. Whatever stomach acid that creature had, it melted your arm down to the bone. Can’t repair what isn’t there, I’m afraid.”

“I understand. Thanks, Doc.”

Well ain’t that something? Liz was effectively 15, maybe 20, percent cybernetic now. She told herself she’d trick out her new arm with all sorts of cool gadgets, making every effort to distract herself from the fact that she lost her right fucking arm.

“On the plus side,” she said quietly to herself as she walked toward the lab, “got another new project too.”

The door hissed open. And there was Coco, still as a tree, which she guessed made sense. She could barely see the claw marks on their trunk now, but wished she couldn’t at all. She should’ve been faster.

“Human Liz?”

“What’s up hon, you miss me?”

It’d been three days since the landing party had come back with her bleeding out in the shuttle, three days since she’d gotten to relax in their shared lab. She tapped the new glass enclosure where the eggs they’d gathered were incubating, the sign on the side saying ‘these eggs cost an arm and a leg!’ Apparently Chief Ducane had gone down there to gather what equipment could be salvaged and decided they’d be worth something to the science team. Maybe he thought he was being funny, Liz didn’t know. She did chuckle a little. Just a little.

“Human Liz, you are… okay now, yes? The reconstruction…” Coco’s leaves were shaking.

“Come on Coco, you know me, I’m totally fine! See?” Liz held up her new chrome arm, the new metallic fingers twitching at odd angles.

“That’ll stop in a few cycles, Doctor Shaw said so.”

“Human Liz, why did you do that?” Coco stood stock still in the center of the lab.

“Do what hon?”

“Why did you risk your existence[?] [life] to help me? That is not what we do on Spryga.”

Liz blinked a few times.

“Well that sucks, you all just let people get knocked off there?”

“Yes, in order to maintain the bulk of the colony.”

“Well this isn’t Spryga, Coco, and you’re my friend, of course I was gonna come get you, you asked for my help!”

“I should not have!”

Liz sat down and took a breath. This would be weird and awkward for everyone in the room who wasn’t an egg.

“You asked for my help, and I’m sorry, but I give a shit about you, and yeah, it cost me an arm and some lungs, but I was going to save you. So can you relax about it now? I mean damn, you’re my best friend, I wasn’t gonna leave you out there!”

“I don’t know what that means!”

“Yeah you do. It means exactly what you think it does. That I’m coming to get you, whether you like it or not. We’ve only known each other three weeks on this boat, but you got yourself a very attached human who’ll make sure you live, got it?”

Coco was quiet a moment. Their branches started shaking again.

“I’m very very sorry you lost a branch[?] [limb] because of me,” they said quietly.

“It’s okay hon, I wasn’t mad at you about that. I’m just glad that Grite guy launched the flare so the shuttle could come get us.”

“Grite did not set off any flares,” Coco said, confused. “After you had killed the predator, I fired one into the sky before giving you oxygen from my leaves.”

Oh I’m gonna kill that guy with my new robo arm, Liz thought.

Back burner that for now.

“So yeah, hugs and kisses, make ups all around, love you too Coco,” Liz said, using her flesh hand to brush away the stale air between them. “You wanna help me trick out my arm? I was thinking a laser pointer and a universal remote control, what do you think?”

“I think you should be focused more on rehabilitation. From my research on lifeforms like humans, you require an extensive amount of time to recover from injuries this severe. It’s actually amazing, any other race would’ve been permanently incapacitated in similar situations.”

“Yeah, humans are weird huh? Perks of evolution on a deathworld like Earth.” She tried laughing again, dissolving into a coughing fit. Coco stood watching her. Liz could feel concern mixed with just a hint of judgment.

“Okay, yeah, I got rehab scheduled every other cycle after the shift is over,” Liz admitted.

“Good,” they said, content. “If my… best friend, is not functioning properly, I would be distressed.”

Liz smiled.

“And yes, I would most enjoy retrofitting your new branch[?] [limb]. We could make it… fashionable is the word, yes?”

[devoti]

𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐒𝐇𝐈 𝐒𝐀𝐄 | He forgot what his order was. Him, pro-footballer, a mysterious icon, sex symbol and all around demigod forgot that he wanted a matcha tea with oat milk instead of regular.

Perhaps that order sounded too stupid now that he thinks of it, and Itoshi Sae just stares at your face, wondering what to say next.

"Two matcha teas please, with oat milk instead of regular."

Sae hears his brother chirp from behind him, and a tidal wave of panic took over his lungs. You smiled pleasantly in response to the younger brother's casual smirk and informed the price, to which Sae sees in slow-motion as Rin waves his card in front of the scanner.

"Walk, dude." He felt a small push, and Sae stumbled to the nearest table, ears burning up as if hot iron was pressed against them.

"That ー was so lukewarm," Rin chuckles richly as he takes a seat right opposite him.

A pink, nearly boiled expression colors Sae's face as he blushes furiously, immediately shielding his eyes from his brother's playful tease.

"Shut up, idiot."

Maybe he'd bury himself alive. Or run across a field for five hours, or jump in a pool and swim until he arms could no longer move. Maybe he'd fly across the edge of the world ー anything to take his mind off you, the little grin you flashed him as you served his drinks, along with the number you scrawled with a tiny heart at the back of his warm, white cup.

[theshadowrealmitself]

Still thinking about “everyone thinks Peter is one bad day away au” and one thing I always like headcanoning Peter getting into whenever I try to think of amazing scientific feats he could do, is nutrition stuff

Cause not only is his diet fucked up because of the spider bite, but there’s probably a ton of mutates and mutants (and possibly aliens) everywhere not getting the nutrition they need because there’s no medical field studying that (because of the bias against mutants)

So Peter invents this machine that scans a person to find out exactly what vitamins and stuff they need, and then he has a ton of separate machines for making whatever they need

And back to the au, I’m imagining someone finding a box of abandoned really adorable kittens, and while everyone’s cooing over them and wondering exactly what the kittens need to eat and if they’ve been fed recently, Peter pulls out a terrifying looking ray gun (nutrition scanner) and points it at the defenseless kittens (he’s gonna science them up some milk <3)

[imarkt001]

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[electroniconlinestorebog]

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[ralfmaximus]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A company has installed computerized vending machines to sell ammunition in grocery stores in Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas, allowing patrons to pick up bullets along with a gallon of milk.

But don't worry! You gotta show the machine your ID & face in order to complete a transaction.

What could possibly go wrong?

[mychlapci]

HIII Orion Pax nun anon. I was steaming I mean. stewing on that throughout celibacy week. but I wasn't sure how long of asks you can send. CLARIFYING on. my happy ending no scandal YIPPEE idea as it's. A little bit more. Fetishy than implied. So what if Orion was checked for virginity after each session (in a non-invasive way, like an external scanner, to cause the innocent little nuns the least discomfort, as well as the least curiosity about their arrays). So when the inspector sees that endlessly devout Orion has lost his seal somehow, they have to actually open him up to confirm, as well as to take samples to have evidence of who has done this (obviously they suspect Megatronus, since he was the only one SUPPOSED to be in the room, but on the off chance someone cornered the poor thing in his private booth, they have to check). But there's no evidence any other mech has been there. Nobody has EVER heard of a mech taking their own virginity before (possibly they are coded to not insert anything while the seal is in place), SO. This has GOT to be the will of Primus. And the only reason Primus would unseal one of His holy virgin brides, is if He wants His bride to carry. And since Primus unsealed his bride during the ritual with Megatronus.. I'm torn between Megs knowing damn well Primus had nothing to do with it, and just going along, or Orion confessing it to him While they're making sparkling(s), because Orion can't stand his gladiator looking so guilty and nervous when he should be OBLITERATING HIS. I mean. Bringing new life to Cybertron. Idk if there should be actual Plot plot but it would be Pretty Cool if Megatronus still went on to lead the decepticons, but this time with his beautiful and Primus gifted baby mama, attracting the faithful to the cause and legitimizing them in the eyes of the senate. ..and maybe Orion is so used to providing for a whole church, that JUST having his husband suckle isn't enough while he's carrying. So he pumps his titties and (with permission) nurtures the new recruits with nutritious milk. Decepticon Army except the soldiers, and later generals, call Orion Mother Superior and miss being young and scrawny enough to get milk outside of special occasions. ALSO maybe starscream is a little pervert who purposely pisses megatronus off to get beaten the fuck up, but y'know he's SO important to the cause that he needs to get better ASAP, and what better way than sparkling grade energon? Also he's allergic to every material in breast pumps, totally definitely don't worry about checking his medical records. Just let him latch on, he's already SOOO skinny he can't stand to lose more weight. Orion knows what he's doing, but also he IS SO SKINNY.. and attention seeking behavior is usually indicative of deeper problems, so maybe with enough nurturing and care, Starscream will be the best mech he can be. (megatronus voice) STOP SUCKING MY WIFES TITS IN MY BERTH YOU LITTLE HARLOT. ORION GET OVER HERE (Orion voice) no the patient needs mommy milkies to live

AJShgjhdjh the patient needs mommy milkies to live.... Starscream just keeps trying to sneak off into Megatron's and Orion's berth to get a bit of that sweet, sweet milk. I mean, they have Cybertron's mother aboard, you can't expect him to not take advantage of the fact.

Megatron hates how lack-luster and gentle Orion is with his soldiers at times, but it's for the greater good - the decepticons in this one are extremely loyal and organized, because they cannot risk upsetting mother superior...

[mlm-writer]

Chocolate Milk (GN!Reader)

Pairing: Spock (AOS) x Gender Neutral Ensign Reader (platonic) Rating: General Audience Words: 1320 POV: Second Summary: Your childhood trauma left you near-emotionless. While most find it unsettling, there are some crew members appreciating you just the way you are. Note: Trauma not described, reader's physical traits also not described. I want to say ft. my OC, but he is deadass more present than Spock in this so ft. Spock I guess. Tags: mentioned trauma, platonic/professional appreciation, Ensign Michael Gabe the empath, alcohol mentions but no consumption, red alert and Kirk & Bones have a cameo

One moment the white hallways were too bright for the early hour and the next they were bathed in crimson. ‘Red Alert again?’ You wondered as you broke into a sprint. Red Alert happened at least once a month with captain Kirk looking for trouble left and right, but as far as times of crisis went, you had experienced far more distressing situations in your youth. At least, they felt more distressing as a child still figuring out who you are and why you were put into a world that was described as a utopia and yet so so full of suffering. 

You arrived at your station not a moment too soon. You were gasping for air, just like your colleagues at the stations adjacent to you. Michael’s fingers trembled with every jolt of the ship. “Ensign Gabe, we need a read on their defences. Any weak spot would be appreciated,” the captain urged the man next to you. His blond hair started sticking to his forehead as he calibrated the scanners to adjust for the shields. You focused on your own task, but from the corners of your vision, you could see Michael making mistakes that were uncharacteristic to his intelligence.

You placed a hand on his shoulder. “Michael, deep breaths. You got this.” You spoke softly to him, trying to make sure he was the only one hearing your reassurance. You felt him inhale deeply, holding the air for a few seconds and then releasing it evenly. You were aware the empath could feel everyone's distress. With the physical contact you hoped your calmness stood out in the ocean of unease. The blond muttered a brief expression of gratitude. You occasionally touched his shoulder again, trying to focus his gifts on you so he could stay level-headed. Sure, you could die today, but you knew your task like the back of your hand and you knew Michael did as well, in spite of his nerves giving the wrong idea and his abilities nearly crippling him. 

Things looked dire for a second, but hardly an hour later, you were at warp 4 en route to a space station for repairs. You stayed at your station monitoring repairs to the systems, while Michael left to get a ‘stiff drink’ as he called it. He could probably use it. You noticed how even lieutenant Chua seemed tense as he checked upon the injured on the bridge, calling over the CMO when he thought they might need a trip to sick bay. You watched how he carried the yeoman with a possible broken leg out to the turbolifts. “Ensign?” You realised you had been daydreaming a little. You whipped your head around, worried the SIC was about to scold you. 

“Yes, commander?” Spock was the ever-intimidating presence on the bridge. Very little scared you, but the idea of disappointing your superiors and commander Spock particularly “All repairs are going as expected. We will make it to Sindku station in three hours at our current velocity.” You added your status report after a short pause, hoping that was what commander Spock wanted to hear. 

He did not seem pleased with the answer. Some people would argue there was not a single expression to read on that half-Vulcan face, but you would disagree. You knew the subtle changes too well, have seen them in the mirror plenty of times to recognise them on another. You watched his thought progress, then breathed out a small sigh of relief when Spock seemed to have calculated his next words. “I am aware you have been called to duty during your leisure time. I will assign an on-duty officer to relieve you shortly.” You gave him a curt nod of comprehension. He then left. 

And just as foretold, on-duty officers arrived to relieve the bridge staff that had their leisure time interrupted by the red alert. You decided to check on Michael. He was in the lounge, as expected. You had expected him to be drinking alcohol, but spotted him with a big glass of chocolate milk. “Is that your stiff drink?” You greeted him with those words when you stood next to him. 

Michael looked up at you, a friendly smile plastered on his face. “What can I say? I prefer calories over alcohol.” He raised his half-empty glass as if he was toasting. “By the way, thanks for getting me through that red alert today. I…” he let out a breathy chuckle, “I really don’t get how you can always keep your cool, but I’m really glad to have someone like you around when all I am feeling from everyone else is the looming dread of death.” You gave him a nod and patted him on the back. 

What you wanted to say was ‘you’re welcome, it’s the trauma’, but those jokes have not been funny since the early 21st century, so you opted for a more modern response. “We all have our virtues.” Michael raised his glass again, as if saying ‘I’ll drink to that’. You decided to join him with a chocolate milk of your own. Michael always knew how to get the small talk going. He started off with the latest gossip, then asked your opinion on a personal or a ship matter and after some time, you always ended up talking mathematics. You seemed like total opposites at the bar, one person emoting like a cartoon character, the other virtually a statue. If Michael was not an empath, he would probably assume you never felt a thing in your life, just like everyone else.

The doors behind you slid open and you noticed the surprise on Michael’s face. He tried to hide it, but was doing a piss poor job at it. You turned to see what got him worked up, only to see commander Spock waltz in. The man was only here when he wished to speak to someone privately and he was heading straight for your chocolate milk hang out. Michael whispered he was worried Spock noticed his small panic today, but then you were the one requested to follow him to a less populated corner of the lounge. 

You had no idea what you did, but you left your chocolate milk at the bar and joined Spock near the windows. “I meant to say this on the bridge, but it seemed inappropriate with the company present,” Spock started. You hummed, eyes locked together like you were having a stare-down. “I would like to commemorate you for your attitude during crisis response, both on the bridge as we have seen today and in the field as we have seen last week on Unico IV. I will put in a request to have you promoted to lieutenant junior grade. Should you remain equally level headed with more responsibilities thrust upon you, I believe you will, in time, make an excellent captain.” 

You were quiet for a moment, trying to take in the unexpected compliments. “Thank you, sir.” It was all you could really say. Spock responded with a polite nod and then made his leave. You blinked as you stood there momentarily. When you were ready, you returned to Michael at the bar. He was chatting up one of the red shirts again, the ever sucker for muscular men. When he saw you though, he slipped off his seat, taking the two glasses with him. 

“What did he say?” Michael asked as soon as he was in front of you, handing you your leftover chocolate milk. You paraphrased Spock’s words, leaving Michael gasping and squealing. “That is so amazing! Slay mama!” He somehow managed to make air come out of your nose at a high velocity. You tapped your glasses together. He seemed happier than you, but you let him celebrate for you. Captain? You? You could hardly imagine it right now. Meanwhile Michael was already planning on being your SIC. 

—————

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[alita-blue]

Some more thoughts on Pony Express. There's a gun for the captain to use in case of mutiny. The dialogue made me think that the addition of the code scanner is a recent-ish addition to the freighters, and the crew has to constantly ask the captain for codes like a manager at a supermarket, which likely causes malcontent fast given that their deliveries take months to complete. A mutiny is very likely to happen on any of these ships. It made me think of how some excecs and investors will intentionally push a company into a death spiral once they can't milk ever rising profits, and Pony Express is mentioned to be one of the last manned couriers. It was likely intentionally made to fail to be replaced with AI and automation. The Tulpar crew was failed even before Jimmy joined them.

Another thought. In some other post someone said a solution to Jimmy was to put in in a cryo-pod for the remainder of the journey but how feasable is that plan? It requires Anya and Curly getting Swansea and Daisuke alone to explain how Jimmy assaulted Anya (and having the victim explain herself to others is already a big ask), have them believe Anya, and the necessity of pulling out the gun to drag Jimmy into the cryo-pod. And then live the next several months with one essential worker less.