#Red hair is so cool I can't believe it's real

[teaboot]

How did we end up shitting on redheads so hard can you BELIEVE how cool it is that some humans just HAVE red hair?? Like a group really saw the irl equivalent of a shiny pokemon and collectively went "I'm gonna bully that" and everyone went along with it for a hundred years. Like WHAT

[blue-devil-of-the-lord]

How do you feel about writing more Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler? After watching X Men 97, I forgot how charismatic this elf man can be. If possible, I need an introverted reader with barely any social skills who starts to malfunction whenever a certain blue is around. When confronted, reader is basically 'you're too pretty' and almost dies of embarrassment.

Social System Error

Kurt Wagner x reader Words: 1.9K A/N: I changed it a little bit to fit the scenario, but I hope it's still up to your expectations :)

You wished that the ground would swallow you up. Who knows, maybe you would find a mutant who could grant you that wish, as long as you looked hard enough. Clasping your hands to your face, you felt your cheeks grow hot and slid down the door of the room before sitting on the floor.

Why couldn't you be normal for once? Talk to him normally for once, make small talk and say goodbye elegantly? But you weren't allowed to do that. Instead, you had to run into the next door just because Kurt waved at you and gave you one of his most charming laughs. Instead, you spilled your coffee all over the table just because he entered the room. I

nstead, you couldn't get a word out when he came your way, you just turned around on the spot. It was horrible.

The fact that you had developed a crush on the blue mutant was really no secret and the fact that he hadn't noticed was a real miracle. Or maybe he had found out and just decided not to do anything. You didn't know which option was worse.

So far, you had really done your best to avoid him as much as possible so that he wouldn't think of talking to you, but you could always at least catch a glimpse of the blue mutant out of the corner of your eye. You just couldn't help it, Kurt was wonderful. He was funny, charming, polite, intelligent and incredibly attractive. One look at his face with a beaming smile was enough to make your legs go weak.

And today you had really blown it.

Rogue had finally managed to convince her brother to stay at the school and he had decided to teach some of the classes. You were both thrilled and devastated at the prospect of seeing this wonderful man every day, and probably embarrassing yourself every day after you'd already ogled him more than once.

However, when you had entered the staff room at lunchtime and seen Kurt sitting next to Ro on the sofa in his shirt, suit trousers and loose tie, you had immediately stormed out of the room with a bright red face and gone to the staff bathroom, where no one had been at the time. In hindsight, you really should have locked that door.

You energetically threw another handful of cold water onto your face and rubbed your cheeks several times to be on the safe side, hoping to drive out the redness. "Oh God, oh God, oh God," you mumbled and leaned against the edge of the sink, head bent forward. "How am I supposed to survive this. God, I bet Rogue recommended these clothes to him. Lord help me."

Nervously, you began to pace up and down, ruffling your hair. "Why does he have to look so good? Can't he be ... normal attractive? Not inhumanly, divinely attractive?" You'd embarrass yourself, really embarrass yourself, and he'd never talk to you again. Or worse, think you're pathetic and talk to you out of pity.

You came to a halt in front of the mirror again and looked at your reflection. "No, no." You couldn't bear the thought. "Okay." You exhaled and leaned against the edge of the sink again. "It can't be that difficult. Just be normal. Or whatever," you mumbled. "Just be cool. Kurt's just another teacher, he probably doesn't even know you exist. You just go up to him and start a conversation, that's all."

You exhaled. "You can do this, take it easy." You looked up, meeting your gaze in the mirror, and put on your most believable smile. "'Hi Kurt, how ya doing?' No, no, that's too casual." You paused for a moment and thought. "'Good afternoon, Mr. Wagner, how are you today?' Oh God, far too formal."

You wipe your face in frustration. "Come on, it's just a conversation, nothing more. You can talk to students all day. What's the difference? Apart from the fact that Kurt is a lot more attractive and wonderful and that you have a crush?" You gave a somewhat exasperated and forced laugh. "Nothing more than that. Gambit would laugh at you if he saw you like that." Your fingers drummed on the porcelain of the basin.

"'Hi Kurt, I just wanted to take a minute to say that I really admire you and think you're wonderful and funny and...um I've seen you around here quite a bit and..." Groaning, you threw your hands up in the air. "God, I sound like a crazy person! Or a stalker! Or both! This is way too much too soon. Just... keep it casual. 'Hey, you're Kurt, aren't you? I'm glad you've decided to stay with us'."

You nod and run your fingers through your hair again. "That works, doesn't it? It's not too casual but not too formal and I don't sound like a crazy stalker who's way too obsessed with a stranger. Okay, good, you can do it. Just relax and stay cool. Who knows, maybe he won't even notice you and you won't have to talk-“ As you turn around mid-motion, you freeze in place, your heart skipping a beat. "-with him," you added meekly, your eyes widening in panic as you realize who’s been silently listening to your pep talk. Across from you, leaning against one of the toilet stalls, is Kurt, his arms crossed in front of his chest and an amused smile playing on his lips. His tail whips lightly through the air, as he slowly releases his arms from their twist.

You had to admit that your next move wasn't particularly brave. All the self-confidence you had been trying to build up over the last five minutes had disappeared and you did what was the only logical thing to do: you dashed past Kurt out of the bathroom, sprinting down the corridor, feeling incredibly grateful that you didn't have any more lessons today, meaning that you could hide in your room in the hope that you would never have to face him again.

Just the thought of it made your face flush with shame and you threw yourself onto your bed to release frustrated screams into your pillow. You weren't quite sure how long you'd been lying there, but a knock on your door brought you out of your racing thoughts. You didn't really feel the need to talk right now, but you heaved yourself out of bed anyway when there was a second knock.

You were pretty sure you must look horrible, clothes and hair out of place from the bed, but usually only Gambit or Jean came by and both had seen you in some worse circumstances. Sighing, you opened the door. "Listen, I'm not-" You broke off mid-sentence, looking up wide-eyed at the person in front of you, who was definitely not Gambit or Jean.

"Hello, am I interrupting?" Kurt looked down at you, his lips curled into a sweet smile and your heart instantly beat in your throat as the heat rose in your cheeks. You could only shake your head, causing Kurt to smile even wider. "Wonderful." He stepped slightly towards you, leaning against your doorframe, and you were pretty sure you were going to explode instantly.

"Can I...I help you?" Your voice was barely audible and shaky and you tried your best to avoid eye contact, but it was so incredibly difficult. Kurt's eyes were bright and shining and so attractive that she found it hard to look anywhere else.

"Indeed yes." His smile became more mischievous and you were pretty sure your legs wouldn't be able to hold you up for much longer, they were so weak. "I saw you storming out of the staffroom earlier and I was worried. What if you're ill? Or something is wrong? So I thought I should follow you to make sure you were okay."

It was pure torture. You wanted to sink into the ground, get struck by lightning, anything just to avoid having to have this conversation. Kurt, however, seemed quite determined to do so.

"But when I got to the bathroom, something was revealed to me that I could never have guessed." Ashamed, you turned away, your hands over your face. "I'm so incredibly sorry Kurt, I really am... I'm so unbelievably embarrassed right now. Please, forget I said that."

He raised an eyebrow and looked slightly amused. "You called me wonderful and funny. That's a little hard to forget." You groaned. "God, kill me."

"Ah, ah, ah, let's not start with that," he admonished, raising a finger. His smile softened and he gently stroked a finger over your hand, which was still covering your face. "You have nothing to be ashamed of. There's nothing wrong with it. Even if I don't quite understand why." At that moment, you decided that it couldn't get much worse and that if you were going to be embarrassed, you could at least get it all out at once. That way you would have limited the most embarrassing moment of your life to a few hours and not a period of weeks or months.

"Because I like you and you're incredibly attractive and perfect, but I'm not brave enough to tell you that and so I become a walking mess around you every time and I'm only telling you this so I can get it over with and you only have to reject me once and not twice."

You had spoken quickly and quietly and were pretty sure he wouldn't have been able to understand you, however he seemed to do so as he stepped towards you and slowly stroked your cheek again, this time more tenderly and with a sugary sweet smile on his face.

"Actually, that hadn't quite been the plan, my dear," he murmurs, a gentle lilt to his voice. His tail emerges from behind him, swaying lightly as if adding to the suspense. With widening eyes, you realize he's holding a bouquet of flowers wrapped with it.

Perplexed yet touched by his gesture, you accept the bouquet, feeling the soft petals under your fingertips. His smile broadens, his eyes twinkling with anticipation. "Can I take you out to dinner? Tonight?"

Your eyes widened, cheeks burning with a mix of surprise and excitement. "What?" you stammered, caught off guard by his unexpected invitation. He chuckled lightly, tapping your chin, which had dropped in astonishment.

"I'm asking you out," he repeated with a playful grin. You were at a loss for words, your mind racing as you tried to process the whirlwind of emotions flooding through you. When you finally managed to utter a "yes," your voice came out as no more than a soft squeak, barely audible over the pounding of your heart.

Kurt smiled contentedly, took your hand and pressed a kiss to the back of your hand. "Tomorrow night, eight o'clock. I'll pick you up." With a wink and a slight bounce in his step, he disappeared down the hall, leaving you standing there, bouquet in hand, still trying to comprehend what had just happened.

As the realization sunk in, you hurriedly set the bouquet down on your table and dashed down the corridor to Gambit's room.

You had a date with Kurt Wagner, and the sudden rush of excitement left you with one pressing question: What on earth were you going to wear?

Part 2 (in work)

[kafka-ish]

I want to be Art’s dealer when he needs an eighth after one of his games. I want him to get my number from Patrick because he’s new to this & doesn’t know anyone or anywhere else to get it. Hey, u got any weed? He texts him.

Not on me.

Shit.

I know I’ve been going crazy

Do u know anyone?

The next message is your number. No name. No address. Nothing. But Art’s desperate for a cool down that doesn’t include a tub of ice or a communal sauna. He’s going out on a limb here—hitting send as soon as Patrick relays the message. Nothing too suspicious. You’re at home when you receive a text from an unknown sender.

Maybe Art: Hey, Patrick gave me ur number. This is Art

Come by around 9

You tell him which dorm.

Maybe Art: Okay

He’s at your door at nine sharp, still in his tennis uniform. He’s sweaty from practice, nervously gripping his racket bag and wondering if he should knock or text. Obviously he’s never done this.

He knocks. Doesn’t expect to be met with a girl half his size on the other side. Maybe you’re just the dude’s girlfriend and you happen to be over and end up answering. And in that case he really shouldn’t be looking but he can’t help it. Your hair is wet like you just got done showering. Your shorts ride up, or maybe he’s just imagining things. But he’s not imagining your shirt that’s see-through and barely covers your abdomen. He introduces himself, “Hi, I’m Art.” Maybe that’ll clear up the confusion.

“Yeah you texted me earlier. Come on in.” You leave the door open. You also leave Art dumbfounded.

Art makes sure to shut the door behind him but he doesn’t sit down. Stands awkwardly by the entrance, wondering what he should do with his bag, thumbing the strap.

“So Patrick sent you, huh?” Your voice comes from the kitchen and Art nods even though you can’t see him. He realizes this and dumbly says yes. You look up from the counter, sandwich bag in hand, and you smile at Art who’s fiddling his thumbs by the doorway. “You can sit down. Make yourself at home.”

"Cool." He settles down on your couch, looking around the place, trying not to be obvious even though it is. You smile, wanting to relax him. That's what he's here for, isn't it? His tennis bag is at his feet and he rests his hands on his knees, trying to take up as little space as possible.

"I won't bite, you know," you say, sitting next to him. You place a scale on the coffee table next to a tray of weed that's already been ground. About an ounce, though Art's never seen that much weed at one time. The only time he smokes is with Patrick every once in a while.

"Yeah, I know. I just--"

"What? Is this your first time or something?"

"No! I--I mean. Buying yes." His cheeks are red.

"Okay well don't worry. It's real easy." Art nods. Believes this. "Well."

"Well what?"

"Now I know why Patrick sent you to me."

"Sometimes it's easy." You laugh. Like an inside joke you have but only with yourself. "Sorry I shouldn't have said that."

"No it's fine." And Art gives you this look. Like it is fine. Keep going. Explain everything to me. He wants to know the basics, the hard stuff and everything in between. You just shake your head. Ask how much he needs. "How much do people usually get?"

"Depends on the person." You shrug.

"How much does Patrick get?"

"Like an ounce. Half if he's short on cash." Art raises his eyebrow, shocked he didn't know that about his friend.

"So I should get an ounce," Art says. More of a question than a statement. He's testing the waters. Putting himself out there.

"How much do you smoke?" You push back. You want him to be careful. You also can't risk putting a super hot new customer in danger.

"Honestly? Only with Patrick." He's bashful when he admits this. You probably think he's lame now and totally off your radar. You're never gonna let him step foot into this apartment let alone sell to him again.

"Yeah you don't need an ounce," you say smiling, thinking of how he came in all politely with his tennis racket just like a puppy, tail tucked nervously between its legs, not knowing if he should stand or sit, silently observing your things. He has a good head on his shoulder with a future ahead of him and here you are selling him weed. Who are you to take advantage of such a thing just because Patrick sent him?

"So what do I need?"

"Probably some melatonin and a really good massage. But I'll give you an eighth and pretend like this never happened." This is the first time you've felt bad about selling. You take a jar from a drawer. There's even more weed in it than on the table, but in clumps. Green wads with streaks of purple. You set each on the scale in individuals first before packaging his pile in the bag you grabbed from earlier. "Here."

"How much?"

"On me this time. Think of it as a sample. You got a grinder or you smoking with Patrick?" Art's at a loss for words. He wants to pay you. He has cash too. He'll take you out to dinner. Instead he just says

"No, I, uh. Don't."

"Want me to roll you a joint?"

But before he can say anything you already find yourself folding a zig-zag with the filter, scooping the weed you have out with your fake nail into the paper. Art watches your hands. An expert at work. He thinks how everyone has their own niche and this is yours, just like how he has the tennis court.

When you walk him out you tell him to be safe. You're still smiling. You've never been this happy to not get money. He's about to leave but says, "I can pay, you know. I want this to be an honest transaction and everything."

"Art, I'm a drug dealer."

"Yeah, well--"

"Bye, Artie."

[bubsmiraculousau]

These are my OT5 brainstorm pages. Elaborations on how I got to these below! I reference concept pages so if you see any pictures you don't recognize that's why. <3

First up is Cat Noir who I think is already perfect lmao. For my version though I wanted to lean closer to his PV design because I love it, like his larger triangle nose (you can't really see it at the angle in my drawing but it's there I swear!), the bigger bell, the more elaborate belt, etc.... so basically everything ... just in my style instead.

With my designs I think that whenever someone transforms into their miraculous persona it's based on what they think a hero looks like or what they think is cool. I think Adrien reads a lot of comic books and is a fan of characters like Batman (relatable for him LOL), Catwoman, and Nightwing, so his suit reflects that kind of vibe.

Extra: I decided that Ladybug and Cat Noir's masks go all the way up their foreheads because it looks nicer in my 2D style with their bangs haha.

Next up is the one and only Ladybug! Unpopular opinion but I actually like the all red suit! My hypothetical series would be a webcomic, and I feel like in action scenes the red differentiates her from Cat Noir esp at a distance, and more red style keeps their color ratios even.

I like the ladybug designs with a bunch of black sections they're very cute! Just not for my au. (I think it's just me but I find drawing the ladybug designs with inverted red dots to feel sacrilegious in a way,,, just my neurodivergent brain lol)

And I am a long ribbons truther, I love them and they can be very expressive. Also I knew I wanted Marinette to have a more vertical circular eye shape because her shape vibe is definitely a circle (Adrien's is triangle) and it reminded me of the eyes for the main girl in princess jellyfish (I've never seen it, love the style tho)

Her hair is a more bright blue to contrast her hair against her suit, and make her look more cartoonish. I imagine her idea of a superhero comes from kids shows and some magical girl anime. So her hair has a plastic shiny texture to it because when she thinks 'superhero' she thinks of kids toys. Also I just like color! The blue kinda gives comic spiderman vibes imo (the version with the light blue instead of the navy)

Queen Bee definitely changed the most throughout the design process. I really like her in-show design so I just tweaked it to be more my vibe. Adding a crown because she's a Queen.

Something that I've noticed is that Alya and Chloe actually share a lot of traits (There's even some old concept notes where I believe Alya and Chloe either switch names or roles at some point?? The miraculous concept info rabbit hole is real y'all) and I think this comes through in their final designs.

Like they both share a middle part, which bothers me for some reason, so I decided to give Chloe a little Ariana Grande side part into a ponytail.

I wanted each character to have a cool little piece on their costume, so I tried these little hip things to make her more commanding and girlboss, but currently her weapon is similar to ladybug's (but more like one of those hair ties w the little disco balls on them) and it would sit on her hip and would clash w her hip thingies, so I just decided to make her weapon the hip things instead, combining the two.

Something else that bothered me a lot was that Rena was the only one with white on her costume. Everyone has black but she's the only one with white... my brain says that this cannot be. So I tried to give Bee some fun white fuzzy bits but the texture just was too different...

And then I had the mega-brain idea to make her hair white to tie in the white from Rena. Her and Cat Noir both having blonde hair irked me as well LOL so this hit two birds with one stone. I wanted her hair to be sharper and more aggressively drill shaped because of her abrasive personality haha.

After that, is Carapace. I had an idea for him from the start because I felt like his in-show design just doesn't match his personality... I couldn't make his outfit all loose because I wanted to stick generally to the miraculous suit formula, but I feel like 'skin tight suit' just isn't his vibe. So he has a kind of hammer pants situation.

I think they capture Carapace's b-boy ninja turtle vibe while still looking like a miraculous outfit. Though I decided later that I wanted the pants to be a lighter color for contrast and the visor to be white (to tie in that Rena Rouge white).

Lastly is Miss Rena! Something that bothered me (back on the similarities to Chloe) was that they both have ponytails (yes I know I'm crazy). Even though they have very different textures I just wanted each of them to be distinct from each other. So I put her hair down and just dramatized her regular hairstyle.

Also her and Queen Bee both have black gloves to their upper arms, which, you guessed it, bothered me. So I shortened Rena's to just reach her elbow.

I wanted her to look like a magic-man, her illusion powers evoke a showmanship energy to me. I imagine her and Cat Noir are quite the dramatic theater kid-esque duo.

So, for drama I tried some flowy arm bits, which I think ended up just looking a little strange, so I'll pocket that idea for something else. Then, I tried to add her coattail from the show, but it ended up looking a little frumpy, not the drama I wanted.

I ended up making her coat more triangular in the front, to give off the vibe of a magician's vest, and changed it to solider red/orange double coattails, which I think makes her more magic-man-ish. And I think the white ends made it too busy.

So those are my hero designs! I'm still working out Hawkmoth and Mayura, esp Hawkmoth because I am not good at drawing masculine older men...

If y'all want LESS of the artistic process let a girl know lol! I know some ppl like it but this is very long,,, all my drawings will not have text this long! thx for reading if you did tho xx

[game-set-canet]

hey could you make one where the reader is also a tennis player and carlos and she are mixed doubles rivals 🫶🏻

It's Even

Pairing: Carlos Alcaraz x f!reader

category: fluff

warnings: none

Author’s Note: ok, this turned out way different than I intended 🙈 but i hope you like it, lovely anon 🤍

* Y/N = your name * Y/L/N = your last name

MY MASTERLIST

(via Instagram @ carlitosalcarazz)

♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦

"Well...?", you look up from your phone, confused, as Grigor plops down on a chair next to you.

"Good morning, Grigor! What do you mean by 'well...'?"

"What do you think about the draw?", Grigor grins mischievously.

You raise an eyebrow, sceptical:  "What about the draw?"

The Bulgarian leans back, his grin widening: "So, you haven't seen who we're playing in the first round yet?"

Now your curiosity is piqued and you put your phone aside: "No, Dimitrov, enlighten me!"

Grigor leans in conspiratorially and shrugs nonchalantly: "Why don't you ask your boyfriend... and while you're at it, ask him what tactic he and Cristina plan to use for the match."

You feel a gentle blush spreading across your cheeks. Hearing the word "boyfriend" in connection with Carlos gives you butterflies.

You brush a strand of hair from your face and try to play it cool: "We're playing against Carlitos and Cristina?"

"Mhm...", Grigor nods slowly and meaningfully, "And don't you dare get those heart eyes again! Yesterday's practise was enough for me!", Grigor starts laughing, “As soon as Carlos started practising on the court next to ours, you couldn't hit a single serve!"

The gentle blush deepens into a rich tomato red and you shake your head vigorously: "That was because of the wind! And you know it!"

"Of course! The wind!", Grigor leaves no doubt that he doesn't believe a word you say, "Just make sure that doesn't happen during the match, whether your better half is on the other side of the net or not."

*** *** ***

"I can hardly wait for our match tomorrow!", Carlos has one arm around you while your head rests on his chest. You're both lying in the big hotel bed, eyes on the TV.

You smile and lift your head to look at your boyfriend: "You’re really excited about it, aren't you?"

Carlos beams at you and nods: "Of course! It's going to be our first time playing against each other!"

At that moment, you recall a tweet you saw during the rain delay: »Sometimes Carlitos is just like a golden retriever puppy« and the author of that tweet was obviously right.

You grin, furrowing your brow and your hand absentmindedly strokes Carlos' left side up: "But we play against each other all the time?"

"Practise doesn't count! A real match is something entirely different!", his eyes shine with excitement and you feel that special flutter in your stomach, you love him so much.

"Oh yeah, and why's that?"

Carlos makes a grand gesture with the arm that's not around your shoulders: "Because it's going to be something special! Imagine the atmosphere!"

Now you can't hold back a laugh and poke him in the chest: "Carlitos, it's a first-round match, not the Roland Garros final!"

"For me, it has the same importance!", Carlitos matches your grin and you know he's at least partially serious.

You slide away from him a bit and sit up, looking down at him: "So, to you, the Roland Garros final is the same as our first-round match?"

Carlos' grin widens: "Absolutely! Because I'm playing against you!"

"True, and that's why you should be ready for something you've never experienced in a Slam final: you're going to lose."

Your expression is triumphant as you see Carlitos clutch his chest dramatically: "Ouch! What makes you so sure?"

"Grigor and I have already won a title together, and Cristina and you are playing together for the first time."

Carlos just shrugs, the grin returning to his face: "I've achieved a lot of things that seemed unlikely."

You ignore the slight increase in your heart rate at seeing that dazzling grin and toss your hair over your shoulder: "True. But not this time. This time, you’re going to lose."

Carlos doesn't say anything in response, he just pulls you close and gives you a long kiss.

*** *** ***

"Can I give you a tactical tip?" Grigor leans over, a bit out of breath, while you take a long sip from your water bottle, "If you’d stop staring at him, maybe you could actually play tennis."

You nearly choke on your drink and throw an annoyed look at your doubles partner: "And if you’d stop making double faults, maybe we could actually win."

Grigor makes a face and nods slowly before grabbing his tennis racket again: "Well, at least he’s staring at you the whole time too, so I guess it’s even."

Thankfully, it's very hot today, so no one notices your ears turning red. The match has been pretty even so far, but definitely not a highlight reel. Internally, you have to agree with Grigor: your level today is far from outstanding - the same goes for Carlitos. Surprisingly, the stands were almost full, and the crowd is cheering loudly.

"Why do I keep playing with you?", you mutter as you get ready to head back to the court.

Grigor grins widely: "Because you can’t play with Carlos: you two would just stare at each other’s butts the whole time and instead of high-fives after winning a point, it would be a five-minute make-out session."

You have to resist the temptation to throw a tennis ball at his head.

*** *** ***

In the third set, the match finally picks up and Carlitos starts showing why he’s called the golden boy. You also begin to play up to your second-place WTA ranking. Especially the tiebreak is a hard fight, lasting almost 20 minutes.

"Game, set, match, Dimitrov and Y/L/N!"

You hear Grigor sigh in relief next to you: "I thought this match would never end!"

You start laughing as you hug each other enthusiastically.

At the net, you first shake hands with Cristina and then with Carlos.

"I told you you’d lose.", you tease and Carlos laughs softly.

"It’s okay.", he still holds your hand in his and your eyes move from your interlaced hands to his face.

"Even though you claimed yesterday that today's match was just as important as a Slam final for you?"

"I don’t mind losing to you because I’m always so proud of you when you win!"

There it is again: his beautiful smile and your heart skips a beat.

Carlos leans over the net and kisses you.

The crowd cheers.

♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦ - ♦

tagging: @bluetackbaby @lxndonorris @fedalev @purplecloudarcade

[ultimate-shipper-trash-blog]

The Epilogue

It starts off on a simple hot sunny day at the lake.

The kids are giggling and splashing water in each other's faces.

Dustin and Steve are off to the side getting the sandwiches ready. Steve is watching Eddie flip the boys into the water.

"I'm so glad we're all like this together. I never thought I'd even get you an Eddie into the same room."

"Well he's really changed a lot. Definitely since we were kids. I like being his friend, I think we're better for it." He finishes wrapping up the sandwich he's working on and ignores Dustin's eyes piercing into his skull. Behind him he hears another splash and some screaming.

"What."

"I didn't know you used to be friends."

"Friends? It's been a long time since I've been regarded as one of those."

"Be for real I didn't know you and Eddie used to hang out."

"Yeah we used to hang out all the time." Steve looks off into the distance wistfully.

"So what happened?"

"Well, we grew up. I grew up and Eddie grew up and we both grew into different people and Eddie didn't like how different we ended up being. It happens all the time. We didn't have monsters to bond us like you guys."

"Well that sucks, maybe you guys will reconnect as strong as you used to be."

Steve rustles Dustin's hair much to his complaint.

"We'll be fine champ, we're doing well now aren't we?"

"Yeah Stevie we are." They both spin around at the sound of Eddie's voice. He's giving them a confused look. Squinting his eyes at Steve like he doesn't know how to feel.

---

A long time ago

"Do you want to be friends?"

"Why?"

"I think you're cool."

"No you don't you just think I'm cool cause I'm in 4th grade and you're only in the baby 3rd grade class."

"Am not!"

"You are!"

"UGH...I'm Steve by the way."

"Eddie."

Middle school

"Steve there's something wrong with me."

"Don't be ridiculous Eddie, whatever it is we'll fix it."

"This can't be fixed."

"Dude just spit it out I won't get mad!"

"Ok...I have a crush...on a boy."

Eddie's eyes are welling up with tears.

"Hey it's ok Eds." Steve walks closer to him, slowly, like approaching a wounded animal.

"I won't judge you."

"Really?"

"Yeah! So what if you like boys I'll kick anyone's ass who says anything bad. You're still my best friend that's never going to change." He wraps Eddie up in the tightest hug he can muster.

"I love you Steve."

"I love you too Eds."

Before high school

"I just don't know why you're being like this!"

"What Steve? You can't believe I'm mad at you for blowing me off for your other friends?!"

"I wasn't blowing you off! I had basketball practice! Tommy's mom just drove me home dude it's not as crazy as you think it is."

"Oh really?!"

"Yeah! If anything you're being crazy!"

"Oh! If that's how it's gonna be then we don't need to be friends anymore."

Eddie's stomps off. So angry he doesn't hear Steve calling back out to him. The next time they interact, Tommy is pushing Eddie into a locker.

When Steve called Jonathan Byers a queer he remembers the promise he made to Eddie and promptly throws up afterwards.

When Robin comes out to Steve on the bathroom floor he thinks he has a second chance to prove himself. When she ends up being better than he imagines he is so thankful.

God he misses Eddie.

---

"Me and Stevie boy can pack up the car don't worry munchkins."

The two try to pick everything up but Eddie gets progressively angrier by the second. Steve is trying to figure out why he has personal beef with a cooler.

When they reach the car Eddie tries to shove everything in the trunk but it all falls apart.

"What's wrong."

"Me? Nothing, why?" he hastily folds the towels again, shoving them back in.

"Well...you're all huffy."

He spins around, his face getting closer, red with anger.

"You wanna know what my problem is?! I can't believe you told him that like I was the one to break things off, like you ever missed me, like you never hated me!"

"That's ridiculous! I've never hated you! You hated me!"

"No! You're the one who changed. You made the final decision!"

"Yeah because you pushed me away."

"You didn't fight me on it."

"I fought you everyday. Everyday I thought of you. Everyday with the name calling and the lockers, I was trying to get your attention."

"You think I wasn't? You think I stand on tables for fun?!"

"...it's all been a misunderstanding?"

The two stare at each other not even daring to blink.

"We wasted so much time, we could fix that, that is if you still want me"

"I never went a day without thinking of you."

he gets shy, his face darker than his sunburn.

"I know you've changed, I've dealt with that but a part of me still thinks you hate me. For what I am. What you'll hold against me. I don't know if I can handle being friends with you with that fear in my heart."

"I'd never. Ever. Do anything. Besides," Steve flicks his hair back. "Birds of a feather and all that." The blush on his cheeks is high and getting darker by the second.

"The what?"

"I'm uh kind of bisexual."

"Kind of?"

"Definitely. Definitely bisexual."

"Oh."

"Right um...so you won't have any problems from me. I hope that won't be a problem for you."

"No! Never! I'm just...surprised."

"Yeah you would be," Steve grumbles.

"What?"

"Nothing!"

----

Steve is sleeping in his bed when he feels something wrong. His eyes shoot open and he spots a figure standing over his body.

"Jesus Christ!" He shoots out of bed and is ready to grab his weapon when he registers who's in front of him.

"Eddie?" He says softly. "What're you doing here? You had a gig tonight, how did you get in my house? Why are you in my room-"

"Steve." Eddie's face is golden. The moon is reflecting into his eyes, shining so bright. He looks so happy, like he's going to cry. His smile is so bright.

"Steve. I got it."

"You go it?"

"The record deal. I got it."

Steve runs at him and Eddie catches him. Of course he did. He always will.

"Oh my god oh my god," he mutters into his shoulder. Eddie's arms are squeezing his waist tighter. "I'm so proud of you oh my god."

"Steve. I have to tell you something, that's what I came here to say."

"What's going on Eds? You never sound this serious." Eddie lets go of him and sits him down on the edge of the bed. Eddie lingers closer to the door like he's ready to make an exit.

"The recording studio is in Chicago."

"Oh."

"I leave in a week."

"Oh."

"I want you to go with me."

"What?"

Steve feels confusion run through him but he's not complaining. He'd follow Eddie anywhere.

"Yes! Ok! Let's go!"

Eddie smiles but it looks like it's causing him pain.

"There's a condition to you coming with me." He comes closer to Steve but still keeps his distance. "You need to know the truth before you agree to leave everything behind."

"What's going on Eds?"

"Ever since we were kids I've been in love with you. Big. Gay. Feelings. I want to hold you and kiss you and start a life with you. I know you're bi but that doesn't mean you'd be into me, especially considering our history. I was going to keep it a secret, never tell you, but it's not fair for you to be with me and not know my true intentions. I understand if you don't want to speak to me anymore but I'll do anything to keep our friendship. I've tried to forget you but have you met you? You're unforgettable. You're too damn loveable." He chuckles at that, eyes darting at every corner of the room.

"Eddie..."

"I understand-"

"Come here please."

"Um...no."

"Edddiiie," Steve whines. He stands and grabs Eddie's hands and drags him back to his bed laying him down. He crawls on top of him and tucks his head into Eddie's neck.

"I am very confused right now Steve."

"Thank you for telling me, I understand how scary that can be to share your feelings. The only thing is I can't believe you don't see how I feel!" He props his head up until their noses are touching. "I love you you idiot. I've been in love with you since forever. Of course I want to start a life with you and whatever else you wanted-"

"Kissing. I wanted kissing."

"And you'll get it."

Steve giggles into his mouth and the two kiss for what feels like forever. They finally break apart and keep their foreheads touching.

"So...Chicago?"

"Chicago."

-----

Eddie's suit jacket is grabbed and he's thrown into a bathroom stall.

"Oh my god I can't believe you did that."

"Steve how did you even get back here? Bribed a guard. He knew who I was anyway, congratulated me on having such a loving partner." He ends the sentence smashing their lips together shoving Eddie against the wall.

"Mmm well," Eddie pulls away. "I didn't know the next time I'd win a Grammy I wanted to make it count."

"Eddie you confessed your love for me and came out in your speech that was something...something so special. God all I wanted was to see you, be near you. I couldn't go another second not being by your side."

"A bathroom stall was the closest you could get huh?" He smirks.

Steve smirks, sinking to his knees. "What? It's not good enough for you?"

"Nope! It's perfect! Absolutely perfect sweetheart no complaints here.

----

"You want to marry...me?"

"Yeah baby why wouldn't I?"

"I- I...yes! Ok! Yes!"

----

It ends on a simple hot sunny day

seventy years later

"Hello everyone, my husband lived a long successful life. You may know him as the lead guitarist for the many bands he's been apart of during his long career. You knew him as Eddie Munson rockstar but I knew him as much more. I knew him as my love. My husband. An uncle to our little gremlins little gremlins. A friend to all. A supporter of all. He passed away yesterday from natural causes. I was asked by his Manger how I wanted to handle this and I knew I had to do it."

There are tears in his eyes as he stares down the camera but a small smile on his lips.

"He lives on through our friends and family. Through those who have watched him grow. Through his awards and his fans. Through his charity work. Most importantly he lives through his love. He loved so much. So hard. Everthing had meaning to him. Everything had purpose." He wipes a stray tear away.

"I'll see you soon my love."

The final epilougue is the next day, for the sweethearts could not live long without the other. They had already been making up for the time they did not know each other, for they time they spent ignoring each other. They couldn't spend another minute apart.

[prttykittes]

INCEST w/ genshin wo/men

cw. Incest, Blowjob, Handjob, Oral sex(fe/male), cheating, Dad(mom)/child(gender neutral term not a little kid💀), Brother(sister)/slibing, afab reader in Diluc’s section, pregnancy in Diluc's, Diluc’s backstory is mentioned, twincest in Childe’s section

notes: btw, incest is not cool in real life and there's a difference between real life and fiction, anyways I hope you enjoy this :33

DILUC [afab reader, brother x sibling]

He was alone, well he felt alone after his father had died and since Kaeya left the same day, but he wasn't alone because you were there with him. His sweet darling, sibling who he loved so much. His arms are wrapped around as his dick pumps in and out of you. His red hair falling in front of your face, he lets out weak moans. He holds you close, he doesn't want you to leave him, he keeps you in his arms so tightly it kinda hurts. He whines and tears go down his face, he loves how tight and warm your pussy is, he kisses your shoulders as your nails dig into his skin. Your legs wrapped around him, your sweet loving moans and your pretty face! He pulls out and then slams into you, his dick pulling his seed into your womb, he doesn't care if it's wrong. He just wants a family again and you to stay with him. A few days later, he made you try a pregnancy test and it came out positive, oh how his dream came true.

LISA [gn!reader, Mother/Child(reader is not a little kid just gender neutral term]

Your mother has you in her lap, just like how you were a child before. You smiled as you remember you were such a small little kid, but now you're not. With her, you feel small and feel so comfortable and safe around her. Your mother rubs at your stomach before her hand taps at your crotch, you jump as your face turns into a darker shade. You let out a quiet moan, her hand goes in your pants and into your underwear, you let out a pant as you feel her warm hand touching your skin. She kisses your cheek as she grabs a hold of your sex. She begins to rub it up and down, her gloved hand feels nice on your sex. Her fingers go to your hole as she rubs it, she laughs and begins to play with your sex, her hand gives pleasure to your sex. Your mind is racing and so is your heart, you can't believe that your mother is touching you! You let out a loud moan as she presses her hand down on your sex as you cum, your chest going up and down. She takes out her hand as she sucks your cum off her gloved hand. You bite your lip as she kisses your cheek.

SCARAMOUCHE [gn!reader, brother/Sibling]

Your brother looks down at you, his cold glare. It runs shivers down your spine as he smirks and grabs your chin, making you look at him. You whimper and he grins, he leans more down as his tongue licks at your mouth, you gasp as he pinches your skin on your hip, his tongue slips into your mouth. His tongue flicks at yours, he grabs the back of your head, he brings to spit saliva with you. He softly slaps your face, he pats you cheek as he kisses your nose. He looks at you with a soft look before he pushes you on ground, his mouth goes on your neck. He sucks on your skin, leaving hickies on your neck, he rubs his hard clothed dick against your leg. He lets out a groan, he can feel a wet spot forming on his underwear. He goes down you, his mouth on your inner thigh, he sucks on your thigh. His mouth goes near your sex, he pulls down your underwear as he licks his lips and he begins to tongue-fuck your hole. After minutes, his tongue grows tired but he can't stop playing with his sibling, he moans when your cum lands on him, he feels himself cumming.

BAIZHU [gn!reader, dad/child(reader is not a little kid duh]

Your dad sighs as he kisses your forehead, he rubs your leg and smiles at you. He sighs as he hears your mother’s voice, he rubs at your arm as he gently comforts you. He gently lifts you up, holding your hand as he brings you into your room, her voice goes lower as you can't hear her voice. Baizhu smiles and you smile, you kneel down infront of him, he lets out a small gasp. He tells you that you don't have to please him, he wants to please you. You smile as you get up and tell him to lay down, he smiles as he take soff his glasses. You smile as he lays down, you get on top of him as you pull down his pants and underwear. His dad springs up, his cock hits your face, You take off your lower clothing and your underwear, you smile as he rubs at your legs. You lower your head down and he lowers your lower half down, your sex is in his mouth, he begins to suck and lick at your sex as you work on his dick. Your tongue twirls around the base, you moan as some pre-cum hits your tongue. You move your hips against his mouth, you can feel his dick twitching, you gag slightly as he cums in your mouth which makes you cum in his mouth. You smile as your mouth comes off his dick with a POP!

CHILDE [gn!reader, twincest]

You fix his hair as he fucks you, your body moving with his movements. Your hands grip his hair as your ginger hair moves around. You let out a loud moan and you move your other hand on his shoulder. You dig your nails into his shoulder as he hits spots inside of you, your orange hair bounces away and so does his. Your toe curls as you bite your lower lip, you look up at twin, Childe…no Ajax. You grab his face as you bring his face lower, you make him kiss you, you open-mouth kiss him. His saliva mixes with yours, he rubs your sex with hand as his tip still continues to poke your special spots in you. You let out pants and he lets out grunts, he lifts your upper half up, holding you close to your body and he rocks his hips against you. He kisses your shoulder, he rubs your back and he pushes you fully down on him. His dick twitches and you throw your head back, you can feel him filling you up, his white sticky liquid fills your hole. You let out a sigh as he laughs and kisses your cheek, he pulls out and some cum leaks out of you.

[anonymous-dentist]

The following story is inspired by actual documented accounts.

-

I was first introduced to Agent Cellbit upon the request of Agent Elena....

-

"How aware are you of Agent Cellbit?"

The office is dead silent. There's the clock on Elena's desk, stopped. There's Elena's breathing, and Roier's.

It's... awkward.

But Roier shrugs and answers with an easy smile on his face: "I've heard of him. He's some kind of genius, right? He's solved, like, all of your cases for you since you recruited him. He's the Enigma Guy."

Elena's left eye twitches slightly. The man with the cigarette turns towards the window.

"You're right," Elena says. "But, recently, he's gone... weird."

"He's always been kind of weird, though, right?" Roier asks.

"Yes, but now he's." She lets out a breath, clasps her hands in front of her on her desk, looks Roier in the eyes. "What do you know about the X-Files, Agent Roier?"

Roier blinks, confused. "They're cases the Federation doesn't want to deal with because they're too weird. Aliens and stuff, right?"

Elena nods. "The unexplained and impossible. But they're what Agent Cellbit has become obsessed with, and now he won't work on any actual cases. We would like you to complete a psychological profile of him and determine whether or not he's still fit for duty."

It's Roier's turn to nod. Of course, right. He's the psychologist... technically. He does more crime-fighting than psychoanalyzing these days, but he can do both. He's great at multitasking.

The man with the cigarette doesn't turn away from the window. His hair, pure white, shines in the sunlight.

Roier stares at him. Who is this guy?

Elena clears her throat, says, "We would prefer it if you didn't let Agent Cellbit know that he's being monitored."

"Of course," Roier responds. No shit.

He isn't an amateur. He's a FBI agent! He's got this!

-

Agent Cellbit is in the basement along with the X-Files themselves. He has his own office, and he's never interrupted. He doesn't have a partner, unlike most other agents, and he's become so reclusive recently that people are starting to think that he's dead.

But, no, he's alive.

"I can't believe that they think I'm crazy," Cellbit scoffs.

He's alive, and he's short. He's about at the same height as Roier's chin, but he more than makes up for it with how freaking cool his hair is. The white streak in his bangs goes down through his eyebrow, eyelashes, and his facial hair. And his eyes, they're so blue that he can probably see into another dimension. (Not that those are real.)

He's dressed neatly, at least: he's following bureau policy save for the lack of a tie and a pair of hiking boots where a pair of standard loafers should be. He has a pair of reading glasses pushed up in his hair, and he looks exhausted, and he's exactly who Roier had been picturing through all the rumors.

Cellbit isn't looking at Roier. He's rummaging through a bunch of papers on his mess of a desk, instead. He's pissed, and for good reason! His bosses think he's nuts!

Roier doesn't argue. He didn't mean for Cellbit to see through his lie of being his new partner, but he didn't not expect it; Agent Cellbit is a genius, everybody knows it.

"I'm not crazy," Cellbit says. He turns and points a finger at Roier. "Don't put that in your report. Crazy people always say that they aren't."

He goes back to his desk before Roier can say anything.

Roier rolls his eyes. Wow, rude!

He looks around the office. There are posters plastered across every inch of every wall, each one with something absolutely insane on it: aliens, UFOs, werewolves, vampires. There's even something that looks like the Loch Ness Monster that Cellbit has labeled 'MERMAID?????' in big red letters.

"Since you're here," Cellbit sighs, finally finding what he wanted on his desk and grabbing it, "can I get your opinion on something? Psychology really isn't my thing anymore."

Okay, that's a lie, Roier read Cellbit's profile before heading to the basement. Prior to becoming a Federation employee, Cellbit was a detective specializing in violent crime. He was, and debatably still is, an expert in criminal psychology. He can just get into killers' heads and figure them out, and, honestly? Roier's jealous. Just a little.

Just a little.

Reaching over and poking at his laptop's track pad, Cellbit opens a PowerPoint presentation that projects itself onto the wall behind Roier.

Roier turns to look at it. And he's immediately met with a photo of a dead girl in a pile of leaves. Blood is streaking down her nose, and her eyes are shut. She's in her pajamas.

"Elisangela Neide," says Cellbit, "the fourth person to die in this exact way, in this exact location."

He taps to the next slide. This photo is (presumably) of the victim's back, and two raised bumps next to each other on it.

"But," Cellbit continues, "she is the first to have been discovered with these marks on her lower back."

"Mosquito bites," Roier immediately says. "Look at the forest she's in, it's gotta be full of mosquitos."

"Sure, but they aren't mosquito bites." (Cellbit clicks to the next slide.) "See this? It's the chemical formula for the compound found around the marks."

The formula is... weird. Roier didn't pass chemistry on his first try, but he knows something organic when he sees it. This is organic, definitely, but-

"And," Cellbit continues, "we might already have the killer on record."

He clicks to the next slide and moves to stand next to Roier. The file in his hands is open and showing the same mugshot that's on the presentation: a young man with blank eyes staring at the camera.

Roier shudders. Creepy.

"Here's why this case is with the X-Files," Cellbit explains. "The killer claims to have been working under the orders of aliens."

Roier gives Cellbit a look. "Aliens aren't real. We'd know if they were."

"Unless the government was hiding them from us, but, sure, keep believing that."

"Whatever. If we know the killer, why is the case still open?"

"Because he was in a coma when the four murders happened. Despite that, his fingerprints were found on three of the four bodies, and he's gone to the police in his city almost daily since waking up from his coma saying that he's the killer."

...Huh.

Roier takes another look at the file in Cellbit's hands. Missa Muerto, what a fucking name. Was in a coma for four years after a car accident, has been awake for two weeks, woke up the day after the discovery of Elisangela Neide's body. Fingerprints were not found on her body, but were found on the previous three victims'.

"Weird," Roier comments. He looks back up at Cellbit, meeting his eyes and smiling. "So, are we going?"

Cellbit frowns and backs away slightly, pulling the file close to his chest.

"You aren't actually my partner, you know," he says.

"No, I am. I'm just also here to make sure you're doing your job."

"And psychoanalyzing me."

"Maybe, maybe not. But that isn't important. What is important," Roier says, gesturing towards Missa's projected mugshot, "is bringing the actual killer to justice. Whether it's this guy or not, we need to figure out what's going on."

"...You still think he's the killer?"

"I won't know until I get to interview him myself. Soooo... let's go?"

Cellbit stares at him for a second before turning away with a small huff of laughter. "You really are a psychologist."

And Roier chooses to take it as a compliment. Finally, he's getting some appreciation!

-

Missa Muerto is currently being held in custody in a psychiatric facility in his home city, and so that's where Roier makes Cellbit take him first.

But, before they get to the hospital, their car stops right in the middle of the road.

Roier, driving, groans and slams his foot against the gas pedal a few times. "Come on!"

Cellbit's eyes are wide, and his reading glasses are on, and the case file is in his lap.

He leaves his glasses and the file behind and clambers out of the car, ignoring Roier's questioning noises.

Rolling his eyes, Roier gets out and follows Cellbit around to the trunk of the car. He watches as Cellbit opens the trunk, digs around a little, and pulls out a shiny orange can of spray paint.

Cellbit takes three big steps backwards, nearly trips on his own shoelace, turns around, and paints a big orange 'X' over the road.

"Electronic interference is a classic sign of alien activity," he explains.

"Yeah, or we just have a shitty car," Roier snorts. "Come on, help me push this thing."

Just as he turns around, the car starts back up again. All by itself.

"See? Aliens," Cellbit insists. "Missa is right."

He heads back to the car, but Roier lingers just for a moment. He stares at the car, and then he looks up at the sky.

Nothing.

-

They finally manage to meet with Missa, and the first thing Missa does is insist that Roier and Cellbit both prove that they don't have anything shoved up their noses.

Cellbit chooses to blow his nose as proof. He shows Missa the empty tissue; Missa considers, sighs, and nods his approval.

Roier takes a slightly different approach.

"Come and check for yourself," he tells Missa. He pulls his phone out of his pocket and turns the flashlight on and holds it out. "Here."

"Roier..." Cellbit warns.

But Missa just snatches the phone up and holds it to his chest, the flashlight shining right into Roier's eyes.

"You know what you're looking for, right?" Roier asks, squinting through the light.

Missa nods, hesitant.

More hesitant, he takes a step closer. And then another step. And another.

"It's small," he mumbles, his feet and his words both unsure. "Metal. Kind of shaped like a piece of candy. They put one up me and I can't get it out."

Roier generously tips his head back so Missa can inspect his nostrils properly.

"Nobody believes me," Missa breathes. "But it's real! It's right here!"

He taps the side of his nose vigorously. Now that he's closer, Roier can see blood crusted around the rim of Missa's right nostril. Nosebleed, or he was trying to get the... thing out himself.

"Has anybody done an x-ray?" Cellbit kindly asks.

Missa nods, shining the flashlight right up Roier's nose. "They didn't see anything, but that's impossible! Because it's there! I can feel it!"

He peers into Roier's nose, entirely too close for Roier's comfort. But, really, it's fine. Roier's own dad does weird shit with flashlights all the time, this is fine.

"The aliens put it there?" Cellbit asks.

Missa freezes. "Them."

His hand starts to shake. So do his knees.

Suddenly, he drops Roier's phone and grabs him by the shirt with both hands in a white-knuckled grip.

"Please," he pleads, face twisted up in desperation, "you have to stop me! They say that I have one more to bring them, but I can't! I don't want to!"

Cellbit makes a move closer, but Roier gives him a Look (capital-'L'), and he stops.

Gently, Roier raises his hands and wraps them around Missa's wrists. Loose, easy to break out of.

"Have you ever tried just... telling them 'no'?" Roier asks.

Missa pauses. "Uh. Well..."

Roier takes the opportunity to pull Missa off of him.

"To me, it sounds like you're in a toxic relationship with them," he says. "You're doing good by asking for help. That's step one. Step two is taking accountability."

"But I am taking accountability!" Missa shouts. "I confessed to the murders!"

"And that's good! That's step one-and-a-half. But now you need to do step two, which is you taking accountability for yourself. You need to cut them off."

"How?!" Missa cries.

And then he screams, collapsing to the floor and curling into a ball.

His hands, of course, fly to his nose.

Roier immediately drops to his knees next to Missa. Cellbit kneels on Missa's other side. Neither of them move as a squad of nurses and orderlies rush into the room and start trying to help Missa off of the floor.

"Another!" Missa screams. He thrashes in the nurses' grips, blood leaking out from between his hands. "I can't do it! I won't! I can't! No!"

Roier watches as Missa is taken away. He frowns.

"I think he broke my phone," he say, not looking at his phone, still on the floor. "What the fuck was that?"

He looks to Cellbit, who's just smiling.

He's smiling.

"Well, Doctor Roier?" he asks, turning his head to smile creepily in Roier's direction. "What's your diagnosis?"

Roier absently scratches his nose, avoiding Cellibt's gaze.

"I think that he needs help," Roier says.

"That's fair. I think that we need to redo Elisangela Neide's autopsy and check her nasal cavity."

"What, you think Missa was right?"

"I think that you need to expand your horizons. Sure, he might be crazy, but his nose basically exploded as soon as you told him to stop listening to the aliens. They're listening. Who's to say that he's the only one they're listening to?"

-

The autopsy is done again. Cellbit stays and watches. Roier doesn't. (He hates the smell of dead people, yuck!)

After a few hours, Cellbit comes out of the morgue with a little glass vial held triumphantly in his hand.

"I knew it!" he crows, wiggling the tube around like a chemist.

Roier snatches the vial as soon as it's within reach, and he almost immediately drops it.

"What the fuck?" he wheezes. "Why is it heavy!"

He manages to catch it, but just barely.

And then he sees it: a dull metallic object vaguely shaped like a pill. Little wires poke out of cracks in its... shell? Its shell.

Slowly, Roier looks up at a giddy Cellbit.

"Try explaining this in your report," Cellbit taunts. "If I'm crazy for seeing this, then so is the medical examiner. And so are you."

...Fuck, Roier's report!

Sliding the vial into his coat pocket, Roier stands and meets Cellbit's gaze.

"This isn't about the report," he lies. "This is about the truth. Like I said back at the office, this isn't about me proving that you're crazy. It's about finding out who's actually killing people out here."

"Right," Cellbit dryly responds. "And who do you think is 'actually killing people out here'?"

"You're gonna say it's aliens, but I think it's something way simpler. Like a cult. That's the 'them' that Missa is so scared of. They convinced him to kill Elisangela Neide, and they convinced him that he killed the other three victims. Obviously."

Cellbit looks frustrated. Good, Roier feels frustrated.

"A cult," Cellbit flatly says. "Right. A cult is sticking metal tracking devices up people's noses and sending them psychic messages."

Again, frustrated, Roier throws his arms in the air and shouts, "I don't know, man! This is weird!"

"Exactly! Now you know why I have to be the one handling these cases. I'm the only one taking them seriously!"

Roier is ready to start a proper argument, report be damned, but he's stopped by Cellbit's phone ringing in his pocket.

Cellbit takes his phone out and answers the call: "Hello?"

He frowns: "Who is this?"

He pales: "Oh. He- what?"

He sighs: "We're on it."

The call ends. He puts his phone away, scrubs at his face with his hand, sighs again.

He then looks at Roier and explains, "That was the hospital. Missa escaped. The last thing he told the nurses was that he was going to 'take accountability'."

Roier's blood freezes.

Ah. Shit.

-

"Aren't you supposed to be a psychologist?" Cellbit demands as they run through the forest outside of the hospital.

Roier puffs out his cheeks in annoyance. "I'm a psychologist, not a therapist! I'm not trained to actually deal with patients!"

"Are you even trained at all?"

Roier trips over an exposed root and nearly falls, but he narrowly manages to catch himself on a tree.

Leaning against the tree, he shoots Cellbit a dirty look.

"What were you doing, eh?" he snaps. "You were just standing there!"

He takes off again after Cellbit, who hadn't slowed down or stopped to wait. Asshole.

"I was observing," Cellbit huffs. "Keep an eye out for Missa."

"Well, yeah."

"And listen for any strange noises."

"Like what?"

They both skid to a stop as a sudden high-pitched whine fills the air around them, like metallic fingernails scraping down a chalkboard.

Cellbit claps his hands over his ears. "Like that!"

He looks up at the sky. Roier doesn't. Why should he?

"What is that?" he asks.

And then there's a familiar-sounding scream from deeper in the woods.

"Missa!" Roier yells. "Hold on! Don't do anything stupid!"

Ignoring Cellbit's protests, he pulls his gun out and bolts in the direction the scream came from.

"I'm done with you!" Missa shouts. "Leave me alone! Find someone else to bring them to you!"

Leaves crunch and skid under Roier's feet. Twigs snap in his face, leaves pull at his hair.

The noise continues, and it only grows louder the closer Roier gets to Missa.

"First it was Alexandre," Missa rants, barely able to be heard above the noise, "and then it was Reyna, and then it was Casper, and now it's Elisangela! You say you need one more, well! Fuck you, aliens!"

Gasping for breath, Cellbit manages to catch up to Roier. He's pulled his own gun out, and did Elena really let the supposed security risk leave the office with a firearm? What the fuck?

"He was scared of them this morning," Cellbit wheezes. "What the fuck happened?"

"Maybe I am good with patients after all!" Roier suggests.

"That was terrible advice!"

"I'm not a relationship counselor!"

"I can tell!"

Missa continues ranting and shouting even as the noise grows louder and louder. He's unintelligible at this point, speaking in a language that Roier can't understand. (What is it, French?)

The trees are starting to thin out around Roier. A clearing? Gotta be. That's where Missa has to be.

And, Roier realizes as he approaches the tree line, it's where Missa's four victims were found dead.

Missa stands in the middle of a field of leaves and blood staring up at the sky. Wind whips around him, twisting his hair into knots and ruffling his hospital gown so hard that it's starting to tear. His nose is bleeding again.

Roier skids to a stop and aims his gun towards Missa's knee. Just in case he tries to run, that's all.

"Missa, look at me," he carefully says. "Don't listen to them."

Missa doesn't look at him. Missa doesn't look at anything.

His eyes, Roier notices, are a pure black color. They almost seem to be oozing black gunk. It's like he's crying.

"Missa!" Roier calls. "Look at me! Whatever they're telling you is wrong! You're better than them, you know that!"

Next to him, Cellbit quietly says, "Roier. Look up."

He's looking up.

And so Roier does as well.

He looks up, and he sees a bright light, and-

-

Agent Cellbit is fit for duty, but that he needs someone to keep an eye on him. He's invested in his cases, but that means that he needs a partner willing to both act as the skeptic and entertain his wild theories. Otherwise, there is a small possibility of him going rogue. Agent Cellbit appears to be psychologically sound, but further study is needed to make a sound conclusion. I, Agent Roier Brown, submit this report to the committee of sound mind.

Elena doesn't look too impressed.

"You do realize how ridiculous this sounds, right?" she asks, closing the file and placing it on her desk. "A UFO? Really?"

"Maybe a UFO," Roier corrects. "I didn't get a good look at it. It was... really bright."

"Right."

Elena pinches the bridge of her nose. The man with the cigarette is still facing the window.

"Do you, at least, still have the 'metallic object' the medical examiner retrieved from the victim's nose?" Elena asks.

Roier nods and smiles and reaches into his pocket. "Yep! Right here."

He pulls the vial out and places it on Elena's desk.

The man with the cigarette turns around. His suit is white, and so is his cigarette smoke.

Elena's eyes widen slightly. She picks up the vial, turns it around, holds it up to the light. Holds it out for the man with the cigarette to take.

"I see," she awkwardly says.

She coughs even more awkwardly and adds, "As per your report, I'm going to be permanently assigning you to the X-Files unit with Agent Cellbit. Keep an eye on him. If he starts to go AWOL, contact me immediately."

Roier nods again, slightly less smiley. "Got it."

It's her turn to nod. "That will be all, Agent Roier."

Roier nods one last time.

He stands.

He leaves.

He scratches his nose once he's out the door.

Cellbit is outside waiting for him with a new file in his hand.

"They still haven't found Missa's body," he says.

Roier rolls his eyes. "What happened to 'hello'?"

"And the local file for the deaths he caused has vanished. I called, and they told me that there was a fire. Every file was found intact except for Missa's."

Roier thinks back to the light in the sky and the figure within it. Its hand was extended downwards, and Missa's hand was extended up.

"The only copy left is the X-File," Roier supposes.

Cellbit nods. "I won't let him be erased."

That's what the X-Files are for, Roier realizes. They aren't about aliens or monsters or whatever-the-fuck.

They're about remembering those who would otherwise be forgotten. Those that are meant to be forgotten.

Maybe Cellbit isn't that crazy, after all.

(But Roier volunteered to help him for the foreseeable future, so what does that say about him?)

-

[For Spiderbit Week Day Three: Sci-Fi | First Meetings]

[spikesbunny]

♥︎ THE GHOST OF YOU ♥︎

+ warnings: mentions of death of a character, wlw relationship

+ ft: ghost!beidou x pirate!fem reader

+ wc: 0.9k

+ for @edgeray's halloween event <3

+ note: this is kinda angsty, but i couldn't help it y'all. dead captain beidou gets to your feelings for reallll.

men dni!!

the sea was silent.

it had felt that way since she died. her hearty laugh was gone, the slaps against your back whenever she got a bit too excited and drunk.

and most importantly, her in general. her chapped lips against yours, her firm hands running across your body, embracing you when the storms were heavy.

she had been your captain, but she was also your love. she was your everything.

and that damn pirate had to kill her.

after that, you had taken your leave from her crew. you couldn't stay, it hurt too much to see the jolly roger the two of you had designed as children. those days had been rough, the two of you working for whatever scraps, but you were happy.

you didn't know how you could even be out on the sea right now. everything about it brought her flooding into your mind, from the smell of the salty sea, so the feeling of sand on your feet when landing on a shore. it all still stung.

you lay in your empty bed on the small ship, tossing and turning endlessly. a small wind had picked up, lanterns banging against wood disturbing that former silence. it helped, just a bit, to take your mind off her. but it would never fully soothe the pain.

a wailing sound soon joined the mix. it sounded like some lost soul, crying out for whoever.

fortunately for you, you didn't believe in ghost stories. davy jones, dead crewmates coming back to find you, it was all pirate bullshit meant to scare away youngins, right?

then why did it sound like your name being wailed? as if you were being summoned.

you open the door from your chambers, stepping out onto the deck. oddly, everything went silent again. you shake your head, thinking you must have had bad booze, or the food had gone bad.

as you turn to walk back to your room, a cold hand touches your shoulder. quickly, you turn around, hand on the holster of your gun.

and there she stood.

your lover, in all her glory. black hair cascading down those broad shoulders, the red satin covering one eye still clinging to her face. the scars, running down her body, decorating her tanned thighs and arms.

"i-it can't be" is all you can whisper, all you can mutter. there's no way its her.

and there it is. that laugh, the one from deep within her belly, the one you'd kill a man for. "i told ya, sweetheart, not even death could take me from you."

you reach out, slowly taking her calloused hand into yours. it was cool, and a shiver traveled down her spine. "h-how is this possible?"

"i told ya! those ghost stories were real." she chuckles again, bringing you closer to her cold, translucent body, hugging you tightly. "why'd ya abandon our ship though?" beidou ask.

"i-i couldn't bare it, my love. you were everywhere, it made me sick, it made me mad... besides, didn't we start out on this very tiny ship?" you ask, letting her cup your cheek.

"we did, didn't we?" beidou admires the ship she stands on with you. "i-i didn't think i'd ever see ya again," she quietly confess, a change in her usually loud and proud demeanor.

"i didn't either." you confess back.

the two of you stand in silence, holding each other dearly, not daring to speak again. finally, you open your mouth, a single question racking your mind:

"can you stay?"

beidou meets your eyes, a somber look creeping across her face. "'m afraid not, my little seal. but i promise to visit from time to time, mkay?"

her promise fills your heart with a tiny bit of hope, knowing that she wasn't gone forever, just not always by your side. "i'm gonna hold ya to that, beidou."

"i know ya will." she whispers, kissing your lips softly. her forehead presses against yours, and you suddenly forget everything: your anger, your hatred, your despise of that man. all that mattered was her, right now, in your arms.

"can ya stay the night?" you whisper, scared of what her answer might be.

"yes, my love, i can. and i will." beidou kisses your lips again, the tender action pulling at your broken heartstrings.

you wish she could stay forever, be by your side all over again. but this would do.

and so, you guide her back to the tiny bed, the one you two shared when you first began your trip as pirates. she holds you close the entire time, letting you tell her about your adventures, stealing a kiss every now and again.

finally, sleep washes over you, as you fall asleep in your lovers arms, your dreams finally sweet again.

but as you wake up, beidou is gone, all but a note that says 'i will return' in her messy handwriting. you hold dearly onto the letter, letting the tears stream down your cheeks.

you know she'll be back, but for now, and when she does, you'll find some way to keep her forever. for now, her little visits would have to suffice.

©2024 roronoaism - please do not repost or translate my works on other media sites ♡

[satancopilotsmytardis]

oral fixation?

Dabi has a bad habit of playing with the staples in his cheeks. Of all the ones all across his body, that set is the one that has gotten messed up the most, and it's entirely because he couldn't help biting at them all the time. But medicine is expensive, so he tries to kick the habit. Unfortunately, that meant that he started chewing on his nails, and that had gotten so bad that his fingers were bloody and also open for an infection. So he had picked up smoking just as something to keep his mouth occupied. That wasn't good enough either and was expensive. Chewing gum was less expensive, but that didn't give him the kind of satisfaction that he was looking for. Getting his tongue pierced had been the closest thing that he'd found to make that persistent need to have something in his mouth ebb slightly. And then he had gotten into a place he was desperate enough that he had started doing sex work to get by. Hand jobs in back alleys to make sure he had enough money to get food, blow jobs in bathrooms to get money for medicine, and whatever a client wanted in love hotels when he just couldn't manage anything else. He doesn't like the work for the most part, but his need to survive outweighs everything else, no matter how unpleasant. 

And, at least, he actually enjoys giving head. He likes having his mouth occupied and he likes that when he has a client wrapped up in a fruity condom that tastes like the worst gum on the planet, but keeps him from tasting their skin or smelling them in case they're not as clean as he would like, he can just float away. That's what he does for most of his clients. But he makes some special exceptions for his favorite. 

Tomura Shigaraki is lithely built man, probably a few years younger than him, with pale, cool skin, red eyes, and wavy blue hair cut into an unfortunate shaggy mess. He always wears gloves when he comes to see him, but he must not elsewhere because his neck is chewed up from his nails. He also has the biggest cock that Dabi's ever had the pleasure of having in his throat and might be angling more for the moniker of 'sugar daddy' more than 'client'. He always sends Dabi enough money for a hotel room and travel, tells him which location to book, the other man seems to go all over the country, and enough money that Dabi would have to be on his back for a month straight or burning down half of a province to make outside of their meetings. He never asked for that, and when he had sent it back once when he had been sick with the flu and unable to go, Shigaraki had sent the money right back, more than doubling it, and told him that this was not an IOU or a demand to reschedule, it was a gift and that he hoped he would use it to find somewhere safe to stay and get whatever medicine he needed so he could get better. Dabi is pretty sure if he wanted a real partner, Shigaraki could get one, and doesn't know why he bothers to spend so much time and money on him instead. But he is glad he does. The least selfish reason for that is because he likes to have Tomura's cock in his mouth.

He knows his knock and opens the door for him almost immediately, tangling his hand in the other's coat and pulling him inside. The other smiles, always smiles when he sees him, and Dabi presses in for a kiss that he's given happily, Shigaraki's hands catching his hips and pulling him closer as the door shuts behind him with a heavy thud. Tomura barely can murmur, "Missed you, firefly." Against his lips before Dabi is trying to swallow his words, his hands going down the other's body and hooking into his belt, unthreading the leather through the loops. 

"Missed having your cock in my mouth." He can't say that he missed anything else. It's a bad cliche both ways for a prostitute and client to fall in love. "Can I? Please, Sir?" 

Tomura gives him another kiss, "Of course you can, baby. You can have anything you want." He hates himself for almost believing that the other would deliver on that promise. But he doesn't have to think about that for long. He won't have to think about anything as he drops to his knees right there in the entryway to the hotel room, not when he has the heavy, perfect weight of Tomura's cock on his tongue. He smells like soap and the light, natural musk that starts to build even on clean skin. He washes up before he comes to see Dabi like he's going on a date. He had brought Dabi his clean STI test the first time he'd hired him like Dabi was a porn star and not a whore. He still brings them and will still wrap it whenever Dabi wants him to. He runs his hand along his thick, pretty cock and licks his lips, but he doesn't have to get him hard before he can fill his mouth. Tomura will always let him keep his mouth full for as long as he wants. 

Dabi is pretty sure that alone could have made him fall.

[piratefishmama]

For One Night Only | Part 2

Eddie remembered a lot about Steve Harrington, so to get this fresh new perspective on him… it was wild. He remembered a jock, the king of Hawkins High, the king of Hawkins in general, women wanted him, men wanted to be him, or in some cases men also wanted him. Rich, popular, kind of a jackass at times but never mean enough to warrant dislike. Would have never associated with Eddie’s kind, but yet there he was, comfortable on Eddie’s hotel bed, one long leg crossed over the other as they moved on from pleasantries to business.

Steve wasn’t there as a social call, no matter how fun it might have been to catch up. He had a job to do, and Steve was good at his job.

“Alright, considering our history, or what little of it we have, it might be a good idea to use it if asked on the carpet how we met, I can spin a story about us being secret high school sweethearts who recently reconnected as friends if you want, really big you up to the paps.”

“As lovely as that idea is since high school me would have been thrilled to have been your secret sweetheart” Steve grinned “shut up, I was a nerd with a crush leave me alone” the snigger that followed only made Eddie smile, it wasn’t a hurtful laugh, and Steve’s smile was just to radiant to be mad at. “I said shut up!”

“Shutting up” the smile stayed though as he mimed zipping his lips. Adorable bastard.

“Anyway, as lovely as that idea is, too many people knew us in high school, if the press got word that it was a lie from one of our mutual past acquaintances, eh it’s a hornets nest I don’t wanna poke. Too many what ifs, but we could say that we went to school together, it’s true, we could say that we reconnected recently and… y’know, hit it off…”

“We are hitting it off.” Steve mused, tapping his finger to his chin in thought. “I like it, easy, close to the truth, very little room for mistakes. So I’m to be your date, not just a friend joining you for the evening?” That was what the invite had requested but… Steve was clearly amusing himself by making Eddie squirm a little.

“Mmmhm, yep. Steve Harrington, my date, Can time travel just exist already?”

“Haha, why?”

“Teenage me could do with a visit right this second to tell him Steve Harrington is gonna be our date someday.”

Steve covered his mouth as he laughed so sweetly, the picture of perfection as always. His nose scrunching just a little as he laughed. “Were you always this cute, Eddie?”

“Mmhm, once upon a time, I was even cuter, I swear.”

“I’ll believe you.”

“You shouldn’t.”

“I know, thousands wouldn’t, but I’ve always been a sucker for cute brunettes with big ol Bambi eyes, can't help but believe everything they say.” Eddie hadn’t felt his cheeks warm in years and yet there he was, hiding behind his hair, his complexion turning as red as a fire hydrant, stupid pale skin.

Speaking of brunettes, and incredibly convenient subject changes for the safety of his own composure. “Wait, YOU’RE who Nancy knows!”

“You know Nance?”

“She’s our manager now, man, gets us all the best shit! I met her in a bar after she totally blew off the journalism thing, something about sexist work environments and bosses who wouldn’t know a real story if it slapped them directly in the face. They kept giving her fluff pieces.” Nancy Wheeler, a fluff writer, the audacity of anyone who ever made that assumption. “Now she’s the most badass manager in metal history. I swear to god she’s made many a producer pale in fear at the very mention of her name.” She read all the fine print, with a goddamn magnifying glass. She’d made a grown men cry multiple times, it was badass. “She’s the coolest.”

Steve’s smile was so fond Eddie could have swooned just having it aimed at him, even if the fondness wasn’t for him, it was beautiful enough for it to be swooned over anyway. “She is, cool. I’m glad she found her people.” Even if they no doubt made a funny looking group, little not so primp and proper Nancy Wheeler among a bunch of metalheads. It fitted, in a strange kind of way, she’d always wrangled Mike easy enough.

“How did you uhm… y’know… it’s probably none of my business and I keep changing subjects so stop me if I keep jumping around I’m still a little flabbergast from seeing you at my door but uh… how’d you—y’know… what’s this uh… the whole thing like?” Steve tilted his head like a confused puppy and Eddie just kind of wanted to melt into the floor. “The escort thing.” He added on, for clarification.

“Oh, uhm. Chrissy? Chrissy Cunningham, cheer captain of ’86?”

“I know her, she and Gareth have this—”

“Thing! Yes, she talks about him regularly with Robin.” Robin? He doesn’t think to ask, Steve and Robin, Robin… who would be associated with Steve a Robin whom Steve would just mention as if expecting him to know. He only knew one Robin from those days, and he didn’t even really know her.

Just kind of�� existed near her in band for a few months until his style of music pissed the teacher off enough to kick him out. Couldn’t be that Robin, right? Not important.

“Oh my god don’t tell me that and expect me to keep it a secret that’s brutal of you.”

“God, tell him, please, I didn't even know who he was but she keeps talking about him and waiting for him to ask her out. Eventually she’s just going to pin him against something and kiss him so—”

“Tell her to do that but god wait until I have a camera please!” Eddie Munson was not against begging, his grin wide and eyes shimmering with gleeful mischief. “It’s reciprocated, totally and completely one hundred percent reciprocated, he is so gone on that girl, it’s adorable.”

“I will let her know, at least now I know he's one of yours and a good guy." Gareth was the best guy in Eddie's opinion, like a brother to him, not that the others werent too, but... Gareth had known he was gay since Hawkins High. Just him and Uncle Wayne in the know, and he'd always been there to support him, Gareth was good. "Anyway… we ran into each other in this café that I’d gotten a part time gig at in Indy, she looked good, healthy…” he didn’t need to say that Chrissy had had a problem. But she had, and that problem began with ‘M’ and ended with ‘other,’ hers to be specific. “She was already doing it, loving it, I was dubious, asked if she was okay, if she needed help, but no she was loving it, thriving actually, and well… I like making people feel good, both emotionally and physically” oof that was a tone that went straight to a place it shouldn’t do “why do it for free, y’know? She got me set up and the rest is history.” He enjoyed himself.

He loved his job, his love language had always been acts of service, he liked making people feel good, liked making them feel wanted, feel loved, feel seen and heard. Eddie couldn’t help himself “ever do anything… y’know…?” He really wished he could help himself sometimes.

“Sex related?” The red in his cheeks only deepened, Steve didn’t seem offended, or upset, in fact his smile only warmed, eyes crinkling at the corners, gods above and below he was beautiful, how did anyone survive after a night with him, having to let him go? “Sure, like I said, if I’m good at something, why do it for free?”

“Even with…” Eddie motioned to himself

“You?”

“N-No! No, Men—wait sorry—that’s—that’s none of my business” he turned away to move, to pace, so much energy in his body suddenly there with nowhere to go “none of this is any of my business, I don’t usually ask these kinds of—I mean it’s really wrong of me to even ask this sort of—" Steve was just there so fast, hands on Eddie’s biceps, holding him in place, Eddie hoped he couldn’t feel him almost vibrating out of his skin.

“It’s okay, Bambi” Eddie’s eyes snapped up to meet Steve’s, his wide and unblinking, like a deer in headlights in the face of Steve’s so warm and understanding, Bambi really did suit him, Steve thought, his left hand lifting to rest on Eddie’s cheek as if to ground him, it worked. God it worked. “Ask all the questions you like, but maybe save some for later, we don’t have long before we have to go.”

“…Later you’ll be leaving though...” he didn’t want Steve to leave. He didn’t want his next time seeing Steve to be part of a lottery, would he come next time? Would someone else who Eddie didn’t recognise appear in his place?

“We’re hitting it off, remember? I’m sure there’s going to be an afterparty we can both be caught sneaking away from to hang out, right?” Eddie kind of felt like he was flying. He felt like a teenager again, a nerdy, virginial teenager. He refused to acknowledge that little goblin voice telling him that Steve was actually probably just doing his goddamn job, he was on the clock dammit. He just wanted to have this. “You can ask me questions then, I promise I’ll stay.” He didn’t have anywhere else he needed to be.

“…Yeah… if that’s okay with you.”

“More than. Now how about you introduce me to the rest of Corroded Coffin, we all need to be on the same page before we get there.” Work now, catch up later. “Sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can ditch the after party to hang out.” Eddie giggled, an honest to gods little giggle. He really did feel like a teenager again, only Steve was looking at him. Holding him. Grounding him. Steve Harrington was seeing him.

Teenager Eddie would have shit a brick.

“Alright, I’m warning you though, I think you let Tommy H. stuff Jeff into a locker once so don’t expect a warm welcome.” Steve grimaced a little but nodded. He was a different person now, but that wouldn’t erase the mistakes he’d made as a stupid teenager. Plenty of bridges to rebuild and apologies to give. Jeff wouldn’t be the first or the last.

“Bring it on, Bambi.” Eddie could only hide behind his hair again, bashful and flustered.

Part 4

[dragon-creates]

Five Times Jax and Pomni Share Dreams of Their Past Lives (And One Time Where They Remember)

Read on AO3

Read Part 2 Here

1/2/3/4/5/6

Jax and Pomni know that they can’t actually dream in this digital world, nor can they remember who they were before coming here. But after retiring to their sleeping quarters each night, they begin to have dreams of people who they have never seen before, not the circus themed cast of characters within this realm, but real people! Why do they seem do real? Why do these dreams feel more like memories? And why do these people remind them so much of each other?

I can't believe how much the silly circus show won me over, and how much brainrot these two have given me. I won't update for I while as I have other wips for different fandoms I'm working on but I wanted to get the first chapter up to help motivate me. Anyways I hope you like this and check out the rest of my tumblr to see what I get up to.

Also yes the chapter titles are Taylor Swift songs because I'm weak.

Fearless

The air was crisp and cool, though not to the point where people were shivering in their costumes, neon lights were in every corner anyone could see, flashing the paths with pinks, purples and green, different stalls and rides were up, ranging from candy apples and sweets stand to rollercoasters and Ferris wheels and every single person were dressed as either monsters, characters or whatever their imaginations would come up with. Truly, the festival had set the perfect atmosphere for Halloween…well, everyone except for Penny.

She was a short young woman, 23 years of age with long dark hair that reached her waste and curtain bangs along her forehead, with pale skin and a bony structure (she hated that part about herself).

It wasn’t that she was forced to come here – she had heartily accepted when her sister Riley and her girlfriend Winter asked – but now that she was here, she wasn’t so sure anymore. Penny wasn’t really the bravest person around, she flinched at the slightest sound, she dreaded talking to new people who would come her way and had relied on her older sister to help her out for most of her life, but that didn’t mean that she wasn’t trying to overcome any of it. After all it wasn’t like she could control her anxiety, it was something she struggled with ever since she was little. But tonight, she wanted to prove that she was able to enjoy Halloween outside the comfort of handing out candy to trick-or-treaters from the safety of her home. So far, she really did like it, she had fun buying sweets and going on rollercoasters, and though it could be overbearing and loud sometimes, Riley and Winter would take her to a nearby café to help Penny catch her breath before doing something else.

However, this was part of the night that she both desperately wanted and dreaded doing…the haunted funhouse. She knew what was in there, jump scares, clowns and nightmares to last for the next few nights to come, but she didn’t want to miss out, now when she heard about how much fun people have had in there. She just wanted to prove that she wasn’t this scared little nobody, that she was a person who wanted to have fun like everyone else, to enjoy the things that everyone else had fun with. So here she was, dressed in a hastily sewn purple rabbit onesie of her own making (she had made it in a time crunch when learning about the festival) into a terrifying funhouse that deep down, where she wasn’t lying to herself, she did not want to go in.

“Penny no,” she turned to see Riley, holding Winter’s hand as the other girl was texting someone on her phone, “You know what your anxiety’s like, you don’t have to go in there.”

Riley had quite a lean build with noticeable muscle on her arms, she had shoulder length dark red hair, brown eyes and pale skin. She was four years older than Penny, and while she did seem a bit intimidating, she was always soft and protective over her younger sister.

“He’s still not answering,” Winter murmured, shaking her head, “He was supposed to meet us an hour ago.” Winter was slightly taller than Riley, with dark black hair and eyes with a tanned complexion. The two women were dressed in a couple’s costume, Riley as Poison Ivy and Winter as Harley Quinn, they were also supposed to meet with Winter’s friend, but the mystery person still hadn’t shown up yet.

“Maybe he’ll show up while I’m in the funhouse?” Penny suggested as Riley sighed, “I’ll be quick in there, if I run then I’ll have less time to acknowledge the bad stuff in there!”

“Penny, I know you and I know that if you go in there, you’re gonna have a panic attack,” Riley took her little sister’s hand, offering her a pleading gaze, “Please just stay out here with us and we’ll meet up with Winter’s friend. We could go on the rollercoaster again; I know you really enjoyed that one.”

Penny smiled fainty, Riley looking out for her wasn’t anything new, but she didn’t want her sister to be burdened with her. It wasn’t right, Riley deserved to live her life, have fun with Winter and not worry about her scaredy-cat sister all the time, she deserved better than that.

When Riley turned to face Winter again, Penny pulled her hand out of her sister’s and ran into the funhouse, ignoring Riley calling her name the deeper she went in.

She took a few more deep breaths, she was doing! She was doing it and oh…oh she fucked up. There were multiple paintings of disfigured clowns peering down at her from the halls, the eerie sounds of deranged crying and laughing made her hairs stand on end, there were paths twisting and turning as they reminded her that she could get lost in this dreadful house and mirrors that not only showed her in different shapes and sizes, but also her terrified expression. Riley was right, this was too much for her, she didn’t even want to come in here in the first place why did she do this?!

A crazed laugh made her jump, looking carefully over her shoulder, she noticed a tall jester from down the hall, his yellow suit stained with red, and his mask had a twisted smile, hiding dark secrets that she didn’t want to find out. With a scream, she tore off down the hall, the jester chasing after her. She knew that were going to be actors, trained with scaring the guests, but it didn’t mean that she liked it! She really, really shouldn’t have come in here.

She skidded to a stop when she came to a dead end, her back pressing to the wall as the jester came closer and closer to her. She bit back a fearful yelp as he slammed a hand next to her head, peering down at her. She took a few more breaths, trying to keep calm. This isn’t real, this isn’t real, this isn’t real repeating the mantra in her head to help herself from screaming out…before fainting right into the jester’s arms.

.

.

.

“You have some nerve scaring her like that?! Aren’t you supposed to be trained with scenarios like this?!”

Penny groaned at the sound of a loud and angered voice, it sounded like it belonged to a woman and seemed very familiar.

“I am trained for your information!” A male voice retaliated, “I didn’t know she was going to faint!”

“Okay, Riley calm down, Jack be nice!” Another female voice entered the conversation, sharper and more direct than the other two, “What happened right now was an accident, we just need to wait and see if Penny wakes up before we call an ambulance, that was the procedure right Jack?”

“Yeah, yeah,” the male voice was quiet now, “I’m sorry again Winter, I genuinely didn’t know.”

Penny opened her eyes, squinting at the light as she sat up on what seemed to be a mattress. “Oh good you’re awake,” there was a woman she had never seen before beside her, wearing a white hoodie with a red cross on it, “My name is Lianne, I’m a paramedic for the funhouse in case something like this happens.”

“Penny! Oh thank God!” Riley rushed over to her, wrapping her arms around her younger sister and pressed a kiss at the side of her head, “You gave me a heart attack going into that house, and then hearing that you fainted?! Don’t ever do that again!”

Oh that’s right, she fainted, that explained why Riley sounded so angry when she woke up. God help which soul she was speaking to that suffered her wrath. “I’m okay Riley, you were right I shouldn’t have gone in,” Penny sighed, “I’m just tired of not being normal so I wanted to prove-”

“-You don’t have to prove shit,” Riley interrupted, “And you are normal, who the fuck made you think you had to go into a haunted house to prove that you’re a ‘normal person’?”

“Uh…myself?” Penny smiled awkwardly.

Riley shook her head and smiled, it was good to see that she wasn’t actually mad, just really worried, but to be fair worse had happened to Penny to make her sister go into ‘overprotective mode’. “Just don’t push yourself too hard again, okay?” she asked. Penny nodded again, Riley smiled one last time before her eyes furrowed and she turned away to face someone else, “And as for you!”

Penny looked up to see how her sister was talking to when her cheeks suddenly turned red from embarrassment. It was the jester from earlier! He was quite a tall man, with golden brown skin and eyes, with his hair in short dreads pulled up into a ponytail. His face with mixed with both frustration and shame, it wasn’t helping with Riley shouting at him.

“Don’t think you’re off the hook for scaring my little sister!” Riley growled, “I can’t believe you made her faint!”

“How did I make her faint?!” he retorted, “I’ve never had a reaction like hers before I didn’t know she was that scared!”

“That is enough!” Winter stepped in, grabbing them both painfully by the ear for a few seconds and then let them go, “Riley, go outside so I can talk with you, and Jack please apologize to Penny.”

Jack signed, turning to Penny as the girl flushed even more, she still couldn’t believe she fainted in front of him! “I’m sorry,” he said honestly.

“This is the friend I was taking about,” said Winter, “We were supposed to meet up, but he got called in since someone cancelled their shift last minute, but someone forgot to text us!”

“What are you taking about?” He reached into his pocket for his phone, “I sent you message before my…oh…I forgot to actually send it.”

Penny snorted, she tried to hold it in, but she burst out laughing instead, she couldn’t help it, the absurdity of the situation was just too much. She was so caught up in laughing that she didn’t catch the soft smile that Jack had at her reaction.

“Jesus Christ Jack,” Winter rubbed her temples, “What am I gonna do with you?”

“I have a few ideas,” Riley glared at him.

“Okay, you!” She grabbed Riley’s hand, “Come with me, Jack, keep Penny company while I have a chat with my girlfriend.”

“What?!” Penny and Jack said in unison, but Winter had already slammed the door.

“I should, um,” They whipped round to see that the paramedic was still here, having witnessed the entire interaction, “I should go tell my boss that there’s no need to call an ambulance.”

With that, she rushed out the door, leaving the two to stew awkwardly with one another. Penny’s rapidly beating heart wasn’t helping either, she really didn’t want to have another fainting episode again. It didn’t help that this Jack guy was really handsome. Huh? Why did I think that?

“So…” she spoke up, gulping as Jack turned to her, his eyes focused as though he were studying her, like a bug being examined, “What’s the jester like life? I mean! What's the jester life like?! Not the other one, forget about that. In fact don’t talk to me at all! Or do! Don’t let me tell you what to do, I mean, you’re not the one spouting out word vomit!” Jack raised an eyebrow at her, Penny shoved her reddening face into her hands.

It was then Jack’s turn to start laughing, messy chortles escaping his mouth at her bizarre sentence, leading Penny to pout at his reaction. “Sorry toots,” the laughter died down once he saw he face, “I thought you were funny, didn’t mean to offend you. And to answer your question, the jester life is pretty good.”

“You think I’m funny?” she asked. It wasn’t the first time someone laughed at her, but not because they found her humorous.

“Yeah, not everyone can ‘spout word vomit’ and make it cute,” he told her.

Penny blushed. Okay, first he found her funny and now he found her cute, she really hoped he couldn’t hear how loud and fast her heart was beating. “Um, sorry for fainting on you,” she murmured, “Surprisingly it was not the lowest moment of my life.”

“You’re sorry for fainting?” He raised a brow at her again.

“Well it led to my sister yelling out you,” she told him, “I’m sorry about that as well, Riley can get pretty overprotective over me or our mom.”

“Yeah, Winter warned me about that,” he replied, remembering the way he tried to not tremble at her fiery gaze. “If looks could kill.”

“Tell me about it,” Penny nodded, her eyes scanned the costume he was wearing, now having a face attached to it made it less frightening. The way the fabric was stitched and how the everything on the piece was placed, it looked less like something from a Halloween shop and more something homemade. “Did you make this?”

“Huh, oh this? I wish,” he said, “I actually had it commissioned, sure it cost a bit more, but I wanted it to feel a bit more real, you know, to scare people and that.”

“Yeah, well it definitely worked,” Penny giggled, “As someone who does commissions for others as well, its nice when someone reaches out for us to make something.”

“Us?” he titled his head.

“I’m a costume designer, well, studying a course in costume design at college,” Penny explained, “I noticed how your outfit was made and it instantly clicked in my brain.”

“Oh really? Did you also make that rabbit suit you’re wearing?” he asked as he pointed to her onesie.

Penny rolled her eyes, “Not my best work but I had limited time when Winter and Riley asked me if I wanted to come to the Halloween festival. But hey, its warm and cozy for the season!”

“I think it looks cute on you,” he smiled and winked at her. It was a friendly wink, nothing behind it, but it still made Penny’s toes curl. “How about we start over, I’m Jack.” He held his hand out to her.

Penny took it in her own and shook it, “I’m Penny. So, how do you know Winter?”

There was a nervous flicker in his eyes, but he blinked it away before Penny asked anything else, “We meet as freshmen in high school, she was a few months older than me, but she took me under her wing, and we’ve been friends ever since. I met Riley as well when they started dating but I have a feeling I might be on her bad side now.”

Before Penny could say anything else, there was a crash and a scream before Winter and Riley rushed back into the room, slamming the door behind them. “We forgot this was a haunted funhouse,” Winter trembled, her and Riley’s faces paling.

Penny and Jack shared a glance, stifling their laughter as the couple pulled themselves together. “Anyways,” Riley brushed herself off, “We should head home and tell Mom what happened.”

“Right,” Penny nodded before turning back to Jack, “Hopefully we’ll see each other again, but somewhere else cause with all due respect I’m never stepping foot in this funhouse again.”

Jack chuckled, “That’s understandable, and sorry for scaring you again.”

“That’s okay, at least we finally met,” Penny grinned.

“Alright, home time for you miss,” Riley pulled Penny up, giving a final glare towards Jack before leading her sister away.

“It was nice to meet you, Jack!” Penny called back to him.

“The pleasure’s all mine!” Jack called back, giving Winter a hug before she chased after the sisters.

In the car ride back home, Penny found herself smiling. Jack was nice, granted she wished it didn’t take fainting for them to meet but she was glad she did. “So,” Winter turned in the passenger seat to face Penny in the back, “Sorry that it was under these events how you met Jack, hopefully you were okay with him.”

“I’m not,” said Riley, focused on the road.

“Just keep driving mama bear,” Winter rolled her eyes before turning to Penny again.

“I was okay with him, we actually got on pretty well,” she admitted, “I’m glad I finally met him.”

Winter smiled and turned to Riley to smirk at her, “So, it looks like ‘big bad Jack’ won over your little sister.”

“Must you taunt me?” Riley groaned.

“But that why you love me so much,” Winter teased kissed her loudly on the cheek, “It was my taunting that drew you to me.”

Riley tried and failed to repress a lovesick grin. Penny chuckled at her older sister and turned to face out the window again, counting the stars that passed. Hopefully she would meet Jack again.

.

.

.

Pomni woke with a start. What on this digital earth was that?!

Ever since she arrived here, she never had actually dreams before. Whenever she ‘slept’ it felt like she was switching off, like a button on a computer game and blacked out before she was ‘switched on’ again.

But that dream, why did it feel so real? She remembered the concept of dreams, how anything random would happen and the little control you would have over them. Maybe she was a lucid dreamer in her past life and that’s why this one had more will power in it?

She thought back to that Penny girl, she acted so much like her, the nervousness, her fear of mostly everything and her reaction when she went into that funhouse. Although now, she would gladly take that funhouse over this ‘Amazing Digital Circus’.

Then there was Penny’s sister, Riley. Despite how threatening she was at first glance, the protectiveness she had with her sister and the loved-filled eyes for her girlfriend made her feel a bit safer than she ever felt here.

Did Pomni have a family before the circus, did she have an older sister that would protect with without a second thought? Did she have a family that worried about her, wondering what happened to her?

Then she thought of Jack. She thought about him interacting with Penny, how cheeky yet sweet he was with her. And the way he looked at Penny. She felt herself blushing. In a way, his laidback attitude and mischievous grin, he reminded her a little bit of Jax…

She shook her head, she was being ridiculous, regardless of what Ragatha said when she came here, this was just and only a dream. Besides, it probably wouldn’t happen again, and things would return to its usual format here, just switching on and off again.

She sighed and shoved off her bed sheets, mentally preparing herself for whatever sanity Caine had up his sleeves.

Its not like anyone else was having these types of dreams, right?

That would be the case…for anyone who wasn’t Jax.

The rabbit was currently at the breakfast table, he Gangle and Kinger waiting for everyone else to arrive.

Just when he thought we finally got used to this place, he had an actual dream last night, not the usual shut down he received every night. He remembered every detail from the lights of the festival to the noises supplied from the funhouse and that Jack guy in the jester costume.

There wasn’t much he got from the dream about him, just that was someone who worked to scare people and make money out of it, honestly it seemed the ideal career path he would take if he weren’t stuck here.

But what made that dream so memorable for him was that Penny girl. The way she would shyly peek through her hands, to her kind smile and her knowledge with costumes, and of course he couldn’t forget about her fainting spell. Talk about an unexpected surprise.

Although, she did seem sweet in a way, whoever this Jack guy was he hoped that he was smart enough to see her again. Jax sighed, what was he talking about? This was a dream, plain and simple, yet here he was acting as though he knew this Jack person.

Just leave it he thought bitterly its stupid anyway.

“I’m gonna check where the rest of them at,” he told Gangle and Kinger, “Zooble probably lost one of his arms again, so I might as well hide it if that’s the case.”

“Wouldn’t you rather help them find it?” Gangle whimpered.

Jax huffed out a laugh, “And where’s the fun in that?”

He got out from his chair, only to bump into another body, almost losing his balance, “Hey, watch where your-”

He looked down to see Pomni sitting on the ground, probably from him bumping into her, her red and blue eyes widening when she realised what she did.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” she burst out, “Usually I sit next to you whenever we eat, and I didn’t see you sitting up but I’m still really sorry either way I shouldn’t have done that-”

“-Not the other one, forget about that. In fact don’t talk to me at all! Or do! Don’t let me tell you what to do, I mean, you’re not the one spouting out word vomit!”

“I’m really sorry!”

Jax snapped out of his trance, looking down at Pomni again, her eyes looking both sad and apologetic. He signed, reaching down to pull her up by the end. “Relax pom-pom, it wasn’t like you planned to do that…unless?”

“What, no, of course not!” she yelped.

 Jax laughed, the newbie was easy to rile up.

“Shut up Jax,” Zooble moved past him to get to their spot, “Let’s just get breakfast over with before we need to deal with the headache Caine is gonna give us.”

“Whatever,” Jax slumped back into his seat, Pomni gently placing herself upon hers as Zooble and Ragatha did the same.

The way Pomni acted just then, the way she was quick to flush and stutter over her words, and the fact that she was so nervous about everything as well. It was all just like Penny.

No, don’t, don’t be stupid Jax. Jack isn’t real, Penny isn’t real, so don’t bother comparing her to Pomni.

With that, he let himself continue with his food.

But it wouldn’t be the last time he or Pomni would make these comparisons, and it definitely wouldn’t be the last time they had these ‘dreams.’

See you next time, let me know if I've written them well, this is the first time writing for this fandom. And who knows, perhaps next chapter the sillies might actually go on a date? 🤷

[butterflywannabefree]

Moodboards for @camhues

So, I've been getting a bit bored with my life lately and decided I needed to do something to get busy. My art skills are killing me and I'm trying to practice but I gave up for a while. Then I'm scrolling through Tumblr and admiring everyone's amazing OC's and I wish I could draw like them and some of them are underrated more than should be so...Why not just celebrate them ?! I can't for my own life draw anything good but what I can do is find good aesthetic choices and I love making moodboards and such for characters. So that's what I'm doing for OC's of people who need more attention ! Today we are starting with the beautiful and talented @camhues. If you don't know them, she is a artist of Tumblr mostly known for her LMK OC's and does a lot of doodles with them. And she makes only women and OH MY GOD, THESE ARE THE MOST GORGEOUS WOMEN IN MY LIFE AHH- Enough, I need to get on. She has a lot and I did one for all of them ! (Sheesh-) Or at least the ones I know. So Here's the Moodboards for them and a quick summary of what I think of them.

First off, Mama Jun. Her main OC from what I know and sort of a mother figure to MK and a reincarnation like Pigsy and Tang. Um, she's so gorgeous. I want that braid and the simplistic design works in her favor because there is something so simple and charming about her when I look at her. Also, her Mama-Son bond with MK is adorable-

Then there is Daiyu who from what I know is a Plant-Controller Demoness...or something ? Oh, and she's shipped with Red Son and their name is RedJade. Not as simplistic as Jun but it works in her favor here because she could step on me and I wouldn't be offended. Just let me smell the roses you grow, Daiyu !

Next here is Ling who is a Jade Maiden and is probably one of my current favorites. One of the simpler designs which I love and the lore behind her is also something I wanna find out. Her aesthetic was something I struggled with but it worked out. And as for who she is dating, it is unclear as Cam said she could be with one of three characters. Azure, Wukong or Macaque- I think she and Azure would be really cute-

Here we have Miss Suyin, secretary to the Spider Queen and Resident Mommy according to those who repost her- That's why I added that 'Mommy, sorry-' picture, I couldn't skip the joke. This woman is one of the many reasons I like women with glasses and she's a spider and her 4 eyes look cool-

Another one of my favorites, Baozhu. A Monkey Painter who is someone who I really wanna exist in real life so I can touch her fur and hair because it looks so fluffy ! I mean, look at this girlie ! She's FLOOFY ! I wanna touch the floof ! <333

And now we have domineering Lady in Ao Jiang who from that name I believe is somehow related to Ao Lie ? And is part of Mei's family ? I don't know that much yet but yeah, I love this one. Also, the little jewels hanging from her horns ? *Chef's kiss*

Space Lady Polaris who is giving me stars in my eyes for how cute she looks alone. She looks like someone who would be waiting in my dreams so I could just talk to her. I don't wanna burden her with my troubles though-

Brave Knight of the Falling Stars Asterius who I think might be related to Polaris in some way. They are both Space related in a way. I wonder if there is a connection ? But I love how she looks. She seems like a tomboy and I love tomboy characters :)

Lychee, Oh Lychee, how I tried to do justice for you ! But your aesthetic was something I couldn't nail down much. But at least I added real Lychee's for your sake and put some baking and wrestling into it. Please don't hit me...Or you can. You're gorgeous as you are friking intimidating. For a wrestler and a baker anyway.

Meihua who is honestly one of the most wholesome characters I have seen in a while. She gives me hopeless romantic vibes which I tried to add in here. The flowers for his florist work as well and mainly pink for this one because it matches her hair. Younger me would've loved her while current me thinks she's a lovable character who needs protection.

This woman, however, doesn't need protection as she can use her heels to murder her way through the crowd. Xin Yan, everyone. An evil woman who is gorgeous and she knows it. I heard she was a dancer and singer and the owner of a nightclub so that inspired this a lot. Xin Yan looks like she could kill me with a stare...and I would thank her for it.

Zhenzhu who I don't know much about but damn I really wanna give her a hug because she looks so sad in this picture. She's a handmaiden from what I know for the Empress of Heaven. HOW IS SHE A HANDMAIDEN WITH THE LOOKS OF A GODDESS ??

Chenguang is the ancestor of Jun who once went on the Journey to the West disguised as a man. Her aesthetic was hard to nail down but I eventually went for one that has themes of independence, journeys and outdoor backgrounds.

Ehuang who I thought was another version of Wyldfyre from Ninjago: Dragons Rising. If I didn't know she couldn't control fire, I would've thought fire would be her entire thing. That's why I added boiling water. Along with potions and lots of red.

And last of the OC'S, Chyou ! Who I really don't know much about except for the fact she is an Egret Celestial. So she's graceful as the bird itself and as beautiful as it as well. She is really lovely and the flowers in her hair are a nice touch <3 And that's all the OC's belonging to @camhues ! Or at least the ones I know. If I missed anything, I apologize and I'll make one for them on another day. But for now, have this. These were so much fun to make ! :)

Also, Cam, if you are looking at this, this is for you:

This moodboard is for you ! Don't take this the wrong way but you give me Chaotic Academia vibes- That's not an insult ! I'm sorry, your art is lovely and should be viewed by everyone ! Maybe I'll do this again but I don't know yet. I have to find time to do so. For now, have these gorgeous women ! And guys, please go and take a look as Cam's stuff. They are a very talented artist with a unique style and just a lot of women who you will grow to love ! For now, I'm Vee and I'll see you later when I can :D

All these beautiful characters belong to @camhues (Do not steal from her)

[spoilmesweetieforficssake]

Hey!!! first off I just wanted to say that ur fics make me go feral, like dude you have no idea they're just so soft and fluffy and awesomr and cool and yeah

I was also wondering if i could request something, prompt 10 "You broke somebody's nose for me?" "Of course, it was to defend your honor!" off the valentine's list, melissa asking reader and they're just al fluffy and cute nd yh

i have no idea if you're still doing these or taking requests, i couldn't find anything ab them being closed but if you're not that's totally cool

have an awesome day/night and thanks

There's that magic word again; feral. Honestly, I can't get enough of that reaction to my fic. *happy dance ensues*

This has taken a little longer to get out than I'd like, but I hope you like it. And please consider my requests/asks open unless I post otherwise...but please also be patient! It's not that I've forgotten about them, more life likes to get in the way.

Anyway, enough about me. More about you and your ask! I hope it ticks the cute and fluffy box and is at least in the direction of what you imagined.

~*~

You’re standing at the bar trying to catch the barman’s attention when you feel someone sidle up next to you.  

“So what does the M stand for?” 

It’s takes you a minute to realise they’re even talking to you until they reach out to touch the necklace you’ve been playing with. You startle at the unexpected touch and flinch back, only settling when familiar hands settle on your hips. 

“Mine,” smirks Melissa. 

You take a step further back from the random guy who’s now glaring at the red head. Ignoring him, you settle further back into her embrace as she wraps her arms around your waist, leaning her head on your shoulder.  

Catching the barman’s attention she orders both your drinks over your shoulder before pressing a kiss to your cheek. 

* 

Later that night, you’re sat at your table, waiting for Melissa to return from the bathroom, once again fiddling with your necklace. It’s a habit you’ve had for years, decades even. 

You smile as you recall how you came to have the little ‘M’ you now proudly wear. You had lost the one you used to always wear and had had since being a teenager. It was a simple pendant and not one of any monetary value, but it was familiar and comfortable. For days, you kept going to reach for it only for your fingers to brush empty skin and fall away in frustration. 

It had been movie night at Melissa’s and you had been cuddled up on the couch. They had become somewhat of a tradition for you both, taking turns about to pick the movie and the provide the snacks. Admittedly, the number of movies you actually watched together to the end were few and far between but you both enjoyed those nights all the same. Perhaps even enjoyed more. 

You hear the tinkling of her own necklaces as she toys with them but assume she’d just untangling them as she often does. It’s not until later in the movie that you feel her move your hair, securing a chain around your neck.  

Fingers finding the small charm settled against your chest you had lifted into your line of vision, smiling at the small ‘M’ dangling there. The subtle claim was not lost on you, nor was her nervous smile as you turned to press a kiss to her lips in thanks. 

You’re torn from your reverie by the same guy who approached you at the bar. He sidles up to your table, full of confidence and one too many drinks. 

“You want a real good night? How about you ditch grandma and come home with me?” 

“Excuse me?” you hiss, not quite believing he’s had the gall to say what he just did. “What did you call her?” 

“Oh, come on,” he says, flashing you a grin. “She’s not the worst looking, but she has years on you. There’s no way she can give you what you need.” 

That touches a sore spot. You know the age gap between you and Melissa plays on her minds at times. You hate that it does. Hate that she doubts herself for any reason. Hates that she sometimes doubts what you have together. “You need to stop,” you say, pushing yourself for her feet with the intention of collecting your bags and going to find Melissa and then a new place to drink. 

“Oh baby,” he grins. “I don’t stop, I don’t stop all. Night. Long,” he continues, stepping close and pressing himself against you. You’re not quite sure when you decide that the best response to that is bringing your fist to his face, or if there’s any real conscious decision to it at all. What you are quite sure of, however, is that the result it rather messy and has you escorted out by the bouncer.  

* 

Coming back from the bathroom Melissa finds herself thoroughly confused to find your table empty apart from the waitress cleaning up what looks like the rest of your drinks and...was that blood? She spots your coats and bags hanging still hanging off the back of your chairs, her frown only deepening. “What the hell happened?”  

“That idiot was talking trash about her girl, so she punched him,” came the no nonsense reply as the blonde nods in the direction of the guy from earlier. “Decent right hook too. Bouncer took her outside. Threw the wrong person out in my book.” 

The red head can’t help but smile as she grabs your things and heads outside where she finds you pleading with the bouncer to let you back in.  

“You broke somebody’s nose for me?” 

You turn away from the bouncer at Melissa’s voice and find her clutching your things, an odd expression on her face. “Of course,” you reply like it was obvious. It’s not like you consider violence the answer in many situations, but you’d do anything for the red head. “It was to defend your honour. And he was really pissing me off.” 

She smiles goofily at you. “You really punched someone for me?” 

“Yeah. My hand fucking hurts too,” you grumble, holding your injured hand gingerly. You’ve never punched someone in the face before. Never punched anyone anywhere before. You didn’t expect it to hurt so much.  

She pulls you in for a kiss, effectively halting any further complaints you have. “How about I go back in and get some ice for that then we can go home and I can thank you for defending my honour?” 

“You’re always full of good ideas,” you smile, enjoying the spark in her eyes as she drapes your jacket around your shoulders, careful of your injured hand.  

She chuckles, still wearing that same goofy smile. “Barb is never gonna believe it when I tell her it was you and not me that punched someone.” 

“You could just not tell her?” you suggest, already knowing you’re going to be in for a stern word or two if she does.  

“Oh sweetie,” says Melissa. “I hate to tell you but that hand is gonna bruise. She’s gonna know.” She gently lifts your injured hand and kisses you sore knuckles. 

“Yeah well,” you mumble. “At least she’ll know I stuck up for you.” 

“My hero,” she grins, pressing a sweet kiss to your lips. “I love you.” 

“Even if my cage fighting career is over before it’s even begun?” 

“Especially because of that,” she smirks. “I don’t want that hand out of commission for any longer than it has to be.” 

[blasphemous-lies-and-deceit]

From the touches ask game: 31. Hugging while straddling the partner. Gerry/anyone please!

Lucky you, I had this idea cooked already, just needed the time to write it.

"Jon," Gerry breathed quietly. He really didn't want to wake his Archivist, since it seemed like his nightmares were over and he was sleeping peacefully, but he could hear Basira or Melanie moving around in the other room, and he needed to get up. Unfortunately, the only way for him and Jon to both fit on the cot was for Jon to to sleep on top of him, which meant he couldn't get up unless Jon did. And Jon seemed rather resistant to the idea.

"Jon," Gerry said again, louder. "I need to get up."

"No," Jon grumbled under his breath, hitching his limbs in closer and hanging on tightly. "No. Stay."

"We can't stay in bed forever." Despite himself, Gerry was smiling, threading his fingers through Jon's coarse hair. He privately loved the mixture of silver and black, the length and slight curl to it, the way it felt against the bare skin of his chest. It felt so real, even when it was so hard to believe sometimes, that he could be so close to Jon, could touch him and hold him and give him comfort and whatever else he needed. "You gotta let me up at some point, you know."

"No, I don't," Jon countered stubbornly, raising his head to peer at Gerry with one unnaturally green eye, bright with mischief. "As your Archivist, I insist you stay right here. Where you belong."

As tempting as that was- as much as a rather large part of him was more than okay with following Jon's command- Gerry resolutely sat up, the slight weight of Jon not nearly enough to weigh him down. Jon made a disgruntled noise and shifted with him, arranging his legs around his hips while still pressed to his front. His arms cinched tight around his middle, fingers trailing possessively along his tattooed spine. "Clingy," Gerry chided, wrapping his arms around Jon's back and daring to press his lips to the top of his head.

"You're worth clinging to," Jon agreed, burying his face in the crook of his neck. His voice was sleep-rough and honest, and Gerry swallowed down a rush of emotion. After everything that had happened, after all the pain and loss they had suffered through, being the one that Jon could cling to felt like a gift he wasn't supposed to have. But he wouldn't give it up, not for anything. Not for the whole world.

The close intimacy of their positions was making his blood warm and thoughts wander, and his hips shifted involuntarily. "Jon, do you..." he trailed off, and Jon pulled back slightly, considering before he shook his head.

"No, not now. Perhaps later." He shifted back even further, out of Gerry's lap, before he abruptly stopped, staring at his chest. "Ah. Your...Gerry, your tattoo is missing."

"...what?" Gerry asked blankly after failing to process what the fuck Jon had just said. Jon reached out and rested his cool fingers over his heart, and when he glanced down, Gerry could see no familiar ink on the only patch of skin that was free of burns. "What the fuck?"

"Hmm." Jon's eyes glowed, but whatever he was Seeing seemed to only confuse him more, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Its...it is something that the Eye initiated, but I don't quite...understand why."

"What about how?" Gerry demanded, raising both hands to check them. The tattoos there were unchanged, as faded and familiar as always. The eye over his heart was the oldest of the bunch, but that really didn't explain how it had just up and vanished.

"The Eye influenced your decision to get them," Jon explained slowly, lost in thought. "It gave them, and took them away. For..." he abruptly pulled back, face turning red before he ducked his head, pulling at his shirt. He yanked the neckline out and stared down at his own chest, eyes growing very wide. "Oh. It's. It's here."

"Excuse me?" Gerry lurched forward and caught the sides of Jon's shirt, quickly pulling it over his head before he could react. Jon yelped and tried to cover himself, but Gerry caught his wrists and held them away from his body, staring incredulously at the familiar ink that now decorated Jon's chest. "You stole my tattoo?"

"I-technically the Eye did," Jon protested. "I-I didn't have any hand in this, I promise you!"

The sudden alarmed desperation in his voice snapped Gerry out of his surprise. Shit. Jon probably thought he was angry, and his rough treatment wasn't helping. He quickly let go, pulling away from Jon before he could do anything else to him. "Fuck, no, Jon, I-I'm sorry. I believe you, I'm not mad at you, I swear. I'm so sorry."

Jon sighed and shook his head, shifting to close the distance between them. Gerry took the hint and wrapped his arms around him again, much gentler. "I understand," Jon whispered against his chest. "It is a...a shock."

"It's not your fault," Gerry insisted. "I'm sorry I freaked out at you. You didn't deserve that." Jon sighed and slumped even further into him, and Gerry wondered how badly he needed to hear that. "So why'd the Eye give you my tattoo?"

"Because we're connected," Jon admitted, muffled against his skin. "Because you're my Assistant, and I'm your Archivist. We're meant to be together, and this-" his hand rose to rest over his heart, over the eye that had once been Gerry's. "This is the physical representation of our bond. Tied together by the Eye."

"Fuck," Gerry whispered past the lump in his throat. He should feel upset, he should feel robbed and violated, they should resent the Eye for forcing such an obvious declaration onto their bodies when they could barely say it outloud. It should feel like another horrible thing in the long list of horrible things done to them, another sign of hopelessness against the awful forces corrupting their lives.

But it really didn't feel like that to him.

It felt...right.

"Glad it's you, at least," he managed to get out. That was really the least he could say, the barest amount of words that could encompass all that he felt. Jon chuckled brokenly, a noise both painful and affectionate. God, he was his, it was written right on his skin, he was Jon's and Jon was his, Archivist and Assistant and more, so much more. Gerry screwed his eyes closed, clutching Jon close.

If the Eye wanted them together, then they would be.

[love-in-the-time]

The Shrine: Fourteen/Donna

Title: The Shrine Author: love-in-the-time Rating: Harmless Summary: The Doctor takes Donna to the beautiful planet Mridula, for some vacation time. He discovers they've built something new.

The planet Mridula has two suns. Both of them are far away enough that the surface doesn't incinerate, so the weather is generally balmy and pleasant, and it's one of those clear blue days when the Doctor lands, with Donna in tow.

He steps out and holds a hand out to her, saying, "You should see this place." And Donna emerges into the sunlight the same way she always used to, and it took his breath away then and now. The streets around them are paved with pale stone, reflecting the heat of the sunlight away, and so the alleys and throughways are cool and comfortable. The sky arches overhead, a vibrant blue with not even a cloud to disrupt the sheer expanse. They are in the middle of a market.

The people of Mridula are bipedal, analogous to humans in many ways except for their faces, which have an extra third eye in the center of the forehead, and the greenish skin. "They have a magnificent museum, and a shrine district that has to be seen to be believed," the Doctor says. He leads her to a large sign, which turns out to be a directory. He scans it and then his eyes fall on something. "A Lady shrine," he murmurs, and looks to Donna. "You should see this place," he says again. "C'mon."

In an old, an ancient gesture of love and familiarity, they walk the streets hand-in-hand. The comfort of each others' presence warms them from inside. For now Donna has nothing to fear and nothing to worry about.

Down a long street flourishing with trees and all kinds of flowers, lined with beautiful buildings, the Doctor leads Donna into a specific temple, round and made of white stone decorated with paintings of flowers and animals, with a gold orb atop it. "You'll like this one," he says to her.

Donna steps inside, and comes face to face with a six-foot tall statue of a woman, dressed in majestic Mridulan ceremonial robes. She looks it over in awe and then suddenly she realizes.

"This looks like me," she says in disbelief, reaching out to touch the soft silk of the dress on the statue. "Look." The gown is made of pale green material with a delicate yellow underdress, covered in embroidered flowers, surrounding the statue as if it's a real woman. The stone is masterfully carved into a fall of magnificent red hair down her back and around her shoulders. It's painted to look like Donna, with traditional Mridulan goddess imagery of eyes lined in black and flowering red lips. Her hands are extended in a ritual pose of blessing, the left open palm up, the right with four fingers extended, palm out, and the thumb tucked. The statue is surrounded by flowers and fruits both real and stone.

"What is this?" Donna asks.

The Doctor, still a bit overwhelmed at the sight, just points to the brass sign embedded in the base of the statue. It simply says LADY PROTECT US.

"They've got you almost to the life," he says. "Not a patch on the real thing, of course, but there you are."

"Why?" she asks. "Who is this lady? She can't be me, not really."

"It's you," the Doctor says. "You and I fought off a few baddies for this galaxy, and so the Mridulans worship you as their protective goddess." He gets closer to the statue, and sees that her eyes are made of cleverly cast precious stones, so that they catch natural light and flame equally. "Look at all the offerings," the Doctor says. "Fruit and flowers and beautiful things."

"I'm a goddess to these people?" Donna asks.

"Many people. Remember Pompeii?" the Doctor asks.

"Never forget," Donna says, and the words have much more meaning now. "Couldn't."

"You know they added us to the pantheon of minor gods," the Doctor says. "I can show you carvings."

"Rubbish," Donna says, turning back to the statue. "I know you're telling me the truth, but... rubbish. Superstitious nonsense."

The Doctor laughs, and twines one hand with hers. "Take her in," he says. "Like I said, she's not as beautiful as you, but she's close."

"How did you know about this?" Donna asks.

"I didn't know about this one until we got here," the Doctor says. "But I know about Donna shrines." There's a little silence where he pulls her against his side, his arm winding around her hip. "These people love you. They know you as the fiercest protector of their lives, even if they've never seen you except as a statue. The stories are known."

"Where else are these shrines?" Donna asks. "Do they all look like this?"

"Oh, there are too many to count," the Doctor says. "The one on the Oodsphere is my favorite. It's the most beautiful."

"The Ood?" Donna asks. "Do I have all that spaghetti hanging out of my face?"

The Doctor laughs. "No. You look like... a goddess. A winter goddess. And there's even a little painting of me there too."

"Phwoar, you're a god too?" Donna asks. "They just hand out those godheads to anyone these days, eh?"

The Doctor grins at her. "Must be," he says. "D'you want to see it? The Ood shrine?"

Before she can answer, two people enter the shrine, and the Doctor and Donna move aside and into the shadows to give them their privacy. One of them is a woman, her face glowing in a beatific smile. She comes to the statue, arms full of blossoms. The other person, a man, is holding a basket of fruits. She puts the blossoms at the statue's feet, and opens her outer robe to reveal an infant securely wrapped against her chest. "Praise to the Lady," the woman says, with tears in her voice. "My daughter was born safely this morning."

"Praise to the Lady," the man repeats, and arranges the colorful fruits and flowers around the base of the statue. They kiss her outstretched hand. There is a small silence where they are clearly praying, and then they leave the shrine with a final bow before the statue.

"These shrines exist all over the universe," the Doctor says. "Don't you want to see them?"

In the shadows of the temple Donna doesn't answer immediately. "I..." she says. "I suppose I do."

"You sound diffident enough."

"Isn't it wrong?" Donna asks. "People praying to me? I'm just a person."

"Not to them," he says. "Not to so many. Not to me."

"Oh, don't tell me you're offering flowers and fruit too."

His smile is brief and bittersweet. "Before I... changed my face," he starts. "You know, after I lost you... I used to visit as many Donna shrines as I could. Just to feel like you were still around." He clears his throat and she realizes his eyes are wet with tears. "There are hymns they sing, you know," he says. "Songs about you."

"Have you heard them?"

"Many of them."

"Where else are these temples besides here and the Oodsphere?" Donna asks.

"There's a big one on Meridion Ten," the Doctor says. "Remember the bonfire city?"

"The bonfire city," Donna says simultaneously.

"They keep an eternal flame lit at your shrine," the Doctor says. "The idol is holding it." He masters himself and inhales deeply through his nose. "Right! Shall we go see it?"

* * * *

Donna is as openmouthed before the Meridion Ten idol as she had been on Mridula, the crackling of the eternal flame in the statue's hand perfumed with something sweet and sharp. The temple is clean and well-maintained, and no one disturbs them while they stand there.

The plaque set into the floor in front of the statue reads:

DONNA NOBLE, KEEPER OF THE FLAME OF MERIDION, BELOVED OF THE DOCTOR, PEACE BE TO HIM

"This one's lovely!" the Doctor says, smiling at her. "She looks like you too!"

"Yeah, fifteen years ago," Donna says. She reaches out to touch the black gown. "This is all stone," she adds. "How amazing." She looks back at him. "What did we do for them again?"

"The dying forest," he says. "Remember the rotting trees?"

"Oh yeah," Donna says, nodding. "Yes. We helped them fight off the parasite infecting the trees. Restored their atmosphere. Saved them all, really."

"Right."

"That was the night we danced on the beach in front of that huge fire," Donna says. The Doctor smiles; she can see the memory in his eyes. "I'd never seen four moons at once before."

"If they knew we were here there would be a massive celebration," the Doctor says. He inclines his head toward the TARDIS. "I can show you another?" he asks, his eyebrows raised.

"I thought you said this was a vacation," Donna teases him.

"Shall we go to the Balkean beaches and see their waterfront temple?"

"I'll take a beach," Donna says. "Let's go."

* * * *

The statue on Balkea is contained within the Sea God's Temple, the main house of worship for the Balkeans. She is adorned in a gown of blue and white, like water and foam, offering a blessing. Her face, however, is turned to the horizon, a wistful expression as if she is longing to sail away on the waves.

"She looks sad," Donna says. She reaches out to touch the hand of the statue. "I understand you," she says to the stone, as if it can hear her and will turn and look into its own face.

"There are some sad ones," the Doctor says. "There are a few paintings that would break your heart."

"Statues and paintings?"

"Donna, you have no idea the impact you made," he tells her.

"What are these paintings?"

"The most famous one is called The Rueful Fate of Donna Noble," he says. "It's an art piece in a museum. If you want to see it someday, I'll take you. It's a bit hard for me to look at." He looks up at the statue, her face serene even in sadness. "There's the Order of the Celestial Lovers we got on Amara, Queen Heli made a lovely statue there. There's the Celebration Goddess on Habara, but it's controversial if it's a representation of you or not. There's the fertility idols on Kataa Flo Ko, but those are a bit raunchy. So's the Karissan monument."

There is a little silence which the waves and the breeze fill for them. "I promised you a vacation," he says finally.

"Shall we?" Donna offers her hand.

The Doctor walks quietly beside her back out onto the sunset beach. He watches her contemplatively, gauging her reaction to the news of her godhead. She is quiet, her face pensive. "Isn't it strange," she says.

"Yeah," he agrees. "Isn't it all so fucking strange and wonderful."

Donna smiles, huffing a little laugh out her nose.

"Did you like those statues?"

"Well," Donna says. "I s'pose it's nice to be venerated for good reasons." She pulls him gently along the sand. "Can we see the Oodsphere one? One last one? Then I demand a vacation."

He grins at her. "One vacation, as you wish."

* * * *

The Oodsphere is as wind-whipped and snow-blinded as ever, a perpetual winter with planets spangling the sky. They land near a huge stone temple, adorned with the curling script of the Ood language, which the TARDIS helpfully translates.

THE SHRINE OF THE LADY OF THE LIBERATION

"The what?" Donna asks.

"The Ood venerate you for freeing them from slavery," the Doctor says. "And me, but more you. Come on. This one is my favorite."

"Oh, my god," Donna says in awe as they approach the enormous statue. She is clothed in a rich gown of brown fur, and Donna smiles, remembering her giant old coat. Underneath is a gown of night sky blue spangled with stars and constellations. At her feet are broken chains, representing the freedom of the Ood. In one hand she holds a heavy sledgehammer, carved with the words DONNA NOBLE in Oodscript. Above her other outstretched hand is a small TARDIS, floating just over her palm. The statue is standing on a snowy pedestal, her hair and clothes tossed by wind. At her feet is a plaque, inscribed with the words THE BELOVED COMPANION.

"The beloved companion," Donna reads. "They call me that?"

"They do," the Doctor says. "Because you are."

"And the Lady of the Liberation I suppose is self-explanatory," Donna adds. Then she smiles, a blossom across her face. "What the fuck," she says, for the millionth time. "How strange. And wonderful."

The Doctor steps forward and puts a hand on the statue's base. "I spent a lot of time here after," he says. "Missed you."

Donna comes to lean against him and wrap him up loosely, proprietarily. "How about we get to that vacation before we get too maudlin?" she asks softly.

"Ah," he says. "All right, I guess I'm done being sentimental being as you're not dead and all."

"Right!" Donna says. "Come on. It's cold here."

Back in the TARDIS she helps him get them in flight and leans on the railing, sure of her skill in a smooth takeoff. "There's no one like you," the Doctor tells her. "Quite literally."

Donna shrugs. "Good," she says. "Let's be one of a kind together on a beach somewhere with very intoxicating drinks." She gives him a cheeky look. "Something very hot about being the only two who know something no one else does."

"You won't feel left out?"

Donna dismisses that immediately. "Everyone else is who's left out," she says. "Not us. We are special."

He smiles. "Okay," he says. "Good answer."

"Yeah, good enough to deserve a vacation," she quips. "Where are we going?"

"A very lovely beach on an uninhabited island," the Doctor says. "Planet Melisan, the Cloud Island. No one around for kilometers."

"Why not?" Donna asks.

"It's private land," the Doctor says. "Owned by the Emperor Melisondo. He gifted it to me a long time ago."

"Fuck yes," Donna says. "Amazing. A private alien island." She helps guide the TARDIS to a gentle landing and steps back. "I'm getting changed," she announces. "Don't forget your slides, the sand will probably be hot."

He watches her hurry off, the same flight of red hair and enthusiasm. For a moment he thanks whatever is out there that she's back and he doesn't have to go stand at statues and miss her anymore.