#SORRY THIS GOT AWAY FROM ME I JUST LOVE VIROLOGY OKAY

[artemis-pendragon]

Okay so I have this weird thing where I fully support the wearing of masks and community care and everything on a moral level but there’s this part of me that’s like, afraid of it? Like, in this hypothetical world where everyone did the right thing and masked all the time, would it then become taboo to see someone’s face? It’s not masking itself I hate but I do hate the idea of never smiling at someone again. I know this sounds stupid but its an existential dread I have. Also, if big gatherings and dining out is bad, how will we have fun? I love comeradery and the energy of other people and I don’t want to not have that in the future. Do you think there will ever be a permanent covid cure and even a permanent cold cure so we don’t have to do it anymore and everyone’s still safe? What about effective transparent masks? Will we ever see those? If there were transparent masks I probably wouldn’t be so scared…

This is a totally rational and normal fear in my opinion!! We're social creatures that heavily rely on body language for communication despite advanced linguistic ability, and the thought of not having access to half of a person's face while interacting is intimidating and sad for sure!

Masking, for me, is now something I do when in close-quarter spaces, large enclosed inside public spaces, especially with little to no ventilation, and when attending large and crowded outdoor events like concerts! When outside in smaller groups, dining out at restaurants or other smaller public places, I'm comfortable removing my mask to eat and see others' faces during conversation. This is partially because viral load (how much virus you are exposed to when initially infected) can have an effect on how sick you get. If you are only exposed briefly to a small amount of virus, it will take longer to spread and give your immune system longer to gear up and deal with it.

Outdoors, unless in a super crowded area, I'm comfortable going mask-less but just keep a mask with me in case someone vulnerable needs the extra protection or I unexpectedly need to enter a higher-risk area. I don't keep up the standard I did when COVID was an untreatable virus with no vaccine, because it has become more domesticated (lol can't think of a better term but I hope you know what I mean) and less overtly dangerous than the original wild strain. This is a very common phenomenon in spillover viral events; the original strain of COVID didn't mean to get into humans, and killed us when it actually would make more evolutionary sense for the virus to keep us alive both as a current spreader and future repeat host. Therefore, future strains that survived were more likely to be less deadly. That's part of why SARS was so easily suppressed compared to COVID! it was too deadly, and didn't spread from asymptomatic or pre-symtomatic people like COVID.

ANYWAY, all that is to say that COVID is still a major threat, but it has acclimatized to us more and likely will remain a common human disease for the forseeable future. We will continue our eternal arms race against viruses, coming up with better treatments until something new emerges. After all, there are likely descendant strains of the mega-deadly 1918 influenza still in circulation today, but they've lost their original zoonotic fangs and gotten used to living in and with us rather than wiping us out.

Which brings me to emergent zoonotic viruses. Another important reason for wearing masks is that, in the 100% likelihood of another viral spillover event (humans continue to displace animals we previously had very little contact with, bringing with them new viruses like Ebola, Marburg, SARS, COVID, MERS, Nipah, bird flu, and Hendra) that turns into an epidemic or pandemic in our global world, if everyone already has masks on-hand and are used to masking up, we'll already be one step ahead in the next viral arms race.

I love the idea of clear face masks, by the way!! I've also always loved the idea of cyberpunk-style digital masks that display expressions or play by play transcriptions of a speaker's words, which would double as an accessibility aid for HOH and Deaf people, as well as people with audio processing issues (like yours truly lol).

Lastly, the biggest reason we haven't cured the common cold is because the common cold is actually a wide range of different viruses! Rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, and coronaviruses (the classification, not specifically COVID, which is one of many) are responsible for "cold symptoms", and getting rid of all of them isn't something we can or should do! Allowing our immune systems the chance to stay active and healthy by fighting less severe viruses (unless they are severely compromised, such as in the case of HIV AIDS--another zoonotic disease from the 20th century!) allows them to stay strong and flexible in recognizing more dangerous strains. For example, someone who has been vaccinated for Mpox (2-10% fatality rate without treatment) has some immunity to Smallpox (up to 30% fatality rate without treatmeant), even though they aren't the same virus! In fact, the first vaccine was made by exposing people intentionally to Cowpox, which makes cows sick but not humans. They figured out that people on dairy farms were having waaaay fewer severe cases of Smallpox, and exposure to a less severe but related virus was the reason! We need less potent viruses to practice and keep our immune systems active and flexible when the next Big One comes along.

I know this turned into a fucking PhD dissertation and I'm sorry for not being more concise in my wording but virology is endlessly fascinating and I love talking about public health and epidemiology, especially concerning zoonotic and emerging viruses. It's fascinating as well as scary, and the more prepared we are, the better!

TLDR; not everyone needs to mask all the time, but there are increasing risks caused by expanding population and crowding, as well as global crowding, global warming, and habitat destruction, that more diseases will jump into humans. COVID isn't the first, and won't be the last. Keeping that thang (your mask) on your person and on your face, especially in really big crowded or indoor public spaces, is a great habit to stay in! We can keep our social desire to see faces intact, and occasionally sacrifice seeing a stranger's smile to keep another stranger alive.

Hope this wasn't annoyingly and frustratingly long Anon, and maybe some of you fucking nerds out there will enjoy reading this!

Love you all, and hope you stay healthy and safe! ❤️

[nahimjustfeelingit-writes]

Imagine: PRT THREE.

Reader gets a surprise visit from nasty Erik.

This was requested for another part. May be the final part because I didn’t plan for this lol. Wrote this today.

Part One. Part Two.

You had a certain pep in your step that didn’t go unnoticed. Heading towards your Micro Biology classs, books in hand and a blush on your face, you try and discreetly enter the classroom only to find eyes on you. Head down, you pull your hoodie further over your head, sitting down slowly so you wouldn’t gain anymore attention.l

Erik put it on your pussy last night. You ended up spending the night and fucking another two times after the first. After each hard fuck this man’s fat dick would just plump up and harden with the tiniest look in your direction. He loved the way you looked dressed in his large t shirt with your curly hair pulled back from your face. He would kiss your cheeks and stroke it with his thumb lightly, causing you to bite your lip and blush profusely.

He knew what he was doing to you. He was your new addiction and it had only been one night of him. As you open your laptop to begin typing, the vision of him burrowing deep inside of you with your legs over his shoulders had you rubbing your hands over your face. Your shoulders begin to bounce with excitement as you laugh, still perplexed that you even opened your legs and gave your tight pussy away to a 30 year old man.

A hung, freaky, pro of an older man.

“Miss Y/N?”

You hadn’t noticed that your Professor had been calling you the entire time.

“Your research paper, please?”

Your heart sank.

Fuck. You forgot to grab your written paper from your desk within your dorm this morning when you came back around 6:00 am. Brandy, your room mate and close friend, was knocked out on her bed, snoring and all. Brandy didn’t have an 8:00 am class like you did. And to top it all off your paper was also on a flash drive you forgot to bring to class.

“I’m so so sorry, I-“ you shake your head with disappointment in yourself. So much for a 100%

“I forgot to grab it from my desk this morning. I didn’t wake up to the alarm.”

Your professor nodded his head slowly, “Okay, you know how I feel about late assignments, correct? That will be a five point deduction from your grade, Miss Y/N.”

Your professor left it at that, returning back to the discussion about virology and parasitology.

“You know, this shit ain’t really like you, Y/N.”

That deep voice made you laugh. Your assigned partner and school friend, Lakeith, has to have something to say about everything you do.

“Lakeith, mind your business for once, please.” You sass in a hushed tone.

“I would if I wasn’t enjoying the fall of a supposed future Nurse Practitioner.”

With a death glare, you turn to him, his chestnut eyes always a hypnotic thing for you. Then he decides to smile, showing off his dimples.

They weren’t deep like Erik’s but they were still something.

“I got my shit on lock, Sir, worry about scoring higher than me on the TEAS, Mr. Future RN.”

“Baby girl,” he chuckles low, “My shit always on lock. Coming up in here like you just left a dick appointment.”

Your heart flutters. Was it that obvious? I mean, the dick appointment was hours ago but damn it was still written all over your face. You decided not to respond to that portion. He didn’t need to know.

“So, somebody hitting that and you down played every chance I offered? Wow.” He laughs to himself, leaning in towards you, practically all up in your grill.

“You getting some dick, Y/N?” He smiles, his shiny teeth almost blinding. Damn him for being this fine.

“Why are you checking for me so much?” You roll your eyes into your head.

“I’ve been checking for you. Don’t act brand new because you let some other nigga wow you.”

He smelled like cinnamon. Lakeith always smelled good.

But Erik smells like sandalwood and citrus.

Even Erik’s sweat smelled like cologne. The thought of him had you shivering down the spine, you focus your attention back on your typing.

“Yeah, you got a noticeable arch in your back that wasn’t there before.”

You heard a chuckle from Lakeith’s partner in crime, Marvin. Both of them, two Kappa brothers that joked like teenagers.

“Fuck you.” You fire back, flipping him off, “sit on it and spin, nigga.”

“Yeah, okay,” He puts a base in his voice, “I’ll have your little ass sitting and spinning on something if you keep playing with me, big headed ass.”

“You started with me!” You argue back, trying your best to keep your voice low.

“Whatever,” he shoves your head, “do some damn work.”

Kissing your teeth, you throw your led pencil at his head, watching him scrunch his face with discomfort, rubbing the spot that stung.

“Bitch ass,” you end the argument there, cracking your knuckles to get back into the grind. Lakeith wasn’t about to fuck up your A average.

How about Erik and his big Daddy dick fucking you? Remember, he said you can come see Daddy anytime you wanted some dick.

You press down over a series of keys, typing out something like dmcbcdjendh.

———————————-

“And again, this tutoring shit will not help me get through Calculus I. I don’t need some student tryna teach me.”

You ball up the flyer that your calculus teacher gave you for tutoring help. Tossing it in the recycle can, you march out of her office, fuming with fists balled and cheeks puffed out. Yes, you were a straight A student but the last calculus exam you took you received a 79 on it. That had you crying into a bowl of cookies and cream ice cream. Now, she was offering you tutoring yet again. The students who tutored acted so self righteous. She didn’t need for any them laughing at her behind her back or hounding her because they had the upper hand at the moment.

“Y/N!” Your young, chipper, Calculus teacher called out to you. She reminded you of Daria but less moody and socially awkward.

“Yes?” The annoyance in your voice was clear.

“Would you like another referral? There is a guy on campus who is here as a Graduate Student receiving his Doctorate. I graduated with him and he’s basically a genius. If you want, I can set you up over the next few weeks to meet with him during library time.”

Another teacher? Maybe this would help. She lectured crappy and it had you zoning out every few seconds. You had to result in teaching yourself.

“What’s his name?”

She motions for you to re enter her office. Closing the door behind her, you take your once vacated seat, staring at her accomplishments from M.I.T.

“His name is Erik Stevens. He is back getting his Doctorate in Engineering.”

Your Calculus professor handed you his business card. It was laminated, perfect watermark and everything. She didn’t understand the pure shock on your face. How could you forget that name after you moaned it and imprinted it within the hippocampus of your brain.

“Is there something wrong?” She asked with a slight smirk on her face. You must have looked crazy.

“No!!” You take the card, placing it in your hoodie pocket, “No, I just thought of something out of nowhere. You know how that happens sometimes.”

“Yeah,” she laughs it off awkwardly, “Give him a shot, Y/N. He’s really good at what he does.”

“Mhm,” you felt a sudden wetness in your panties. He sure as hell is good at what he does. Even your own teacher recommending him to you had you horny as a bitch.

This fucking man.

“I’ll give him a call today.” You look up at your teacher one last time before grabbing your bag, exiting her office.

//////////////

Erik: Call me and put that pussy on the phone, lol. I wanna hear her talk to me cuz I know she wet as a motherfucker.

You bite on your thumbnail while sitting in one of the study rooms within the Library. You were surrounded by Lakeith and a few other Micro Biology class mates to study for the next exam. You didn’t inform Erik about him tutoring you yet because you wanted to drive over to his apartment and tell him in person.

Y/N: It is wet, but I’m in study group right now I can’t show you. 😩

You were NEVER this damn bold with a guy.

“Y/N, you’re supposed to be the one writing on the white board what the fuck you doing?” Lakeith startles you from your sexting.

“Shit, my bad,” you stand up, grabbing your phone and expo marker. The group began telling you information to write out, your mind in tune with education. After applying the top to your marker, you hear a soft knock on the door as if knuckles were tapping it. Craning your neck, you make out the outline of a guy around 6’3, new balance on his feet and a navy blue Champions sweatshirt with matching pants. He had a black North Face beanie on his head, with an artistic pair of gold rimmed glasses on.

At first glance you didn’t recognize him but the moment you stepped closer to the door to open it, a deep pleasure ran through your veins like lava. With a sly smirk on his face, he leans into the door further, staring down at you while curling a single finger for you to come here. He bit down on his bottom lip the moment you were staring at him face to face, the only barrier between you both was the door. He jiggles the door knob, motioning with a tilt of his head for you to open it before he did. Sighing nervously, you open the door, his body smelling like testosterone and patchouli. The thought of the pheromones he produced after sex had you buckling at the knees.

“You in here studying?” He asks with a whisper.

You knew eyes were on you at that door.

“Yes, Biology.” You respond, but not with a whisper. You didn’t need any of them wondering why you were being secretive.

“What kind?” He asks with a tilt of his head, his finger discreetly stroking your hand. You pause to breathe, shifting on your feet.

“Micro.” You meet his gaze, blinking away as soon as you saw the heavy lust there. Why did he have to bring his fine ass over here? Clearly he was in the library the entire time. He did say he’d been watching you around campus and he wanted your thick ass for a long while. So maybe he was watching you study with friends?

“Were you keeping an eye on me, Erik?” You smirk.

“That’s all I can keep on you for now, ma. Ain’t like I can keep this dick on you while you in front of your friends.”

Erik looks over your shoulder. His eyes fell on Lakeiths. He knew from that moment that homeboy wanted you. It was all over that niggas face.

“Let me help I know a lot about Micro Biology.”

Erik wasn’t asking really because he pushes past you, fully within the room. You shutter slightly before closing the door, taking in calming breaths.

“Can we help you?” Lakeith speaks for the group like he was the leader.

“Nah, looks like y’all need it though,” Erik takes it upon himself to spread your notes out on the desk, craning his eyes behind his glasses to read what you had. He takes his other hand, stroking his gotee before turning to the white board.

“Y’all sure y’all know how to study for this?” He asks with a joking tone. Lakeith and Marvin share a look before turning back to Erik.

“Yeah, we got this, bruh. You looking at the top students in the class.”

Erik nods his head slowly, “How about you, Y/N? He speaking for you like he know you smart.”

Lakeith laughs, “we work close together all the time. I know she got it going on.”

Erik lifts a single brow, taking your notes to stack neatly, “Y/N, this nigga always speak for you?”

You bit the inside of your cheek, staring from Erik to Lakeith. There was clearly a weighing of dicks in this room but Erik would come out on top for sure, gold metal and all.

“Not always, but he has a habit to sometimes,” you hide your smile, focusing back to the white board.

“Y/N,” Erik calls for you. He had the right to do that you felt. He opened your pussy up and ate your pussy like a bowl of ice cream, licking his fingers and all. He could call you and you would answer.

“Yes?” You turn to him, giving him your undivided attention.

“You want me to help you study? I can do that right now I got time before my evening class starts,” he places his hands in his pants pockets, waiting for your answer. You both knew you would say yes, and you didn’t hesitate either. This could lead to what you needed.

“Okay, sure,” you try and pack your things but Erik was already on it, zipping up your back pack and throwing it over his shoulder. He walks to the door, opening it for you to leave first.

“You not gonna say goodbye to your little friends?” He says with a smirk before licking his lips.

“Bye y’all, see you this Wednesday,” you step out of the study room, Erik’s arm around your shoulder. Before you could leave the library, Erik pulls you in between an aisle full of history books, slamming you against the shelf. He pauses, trying to keep the solitude of the library at bay.

“Who is that little nigga?” He asks you with a calm that had you squirming.

“His name is Lakeith.” You respond with a whisper.

His eyes look from your toes and back up to your face. Erik takes off your hood, your messy curly bun frizzy from wearing it all day.

“Damn, you ain’t even fix this after I was all in yo’ shit last night.” He laughs with a deep raspy tone.

“I didn’t have time,” you whine, pouting like a baby.

“Why the fuck are you so cute? He had a slight tendrill of anger building up, you could tell from how his brows furrowed, “why you so damn cute, lil mama? Out here having these weak dick niggas craving you.“

You swallow spit, shrugging your shoulders nervously, “I don’t know.”

“What I tell you about that I don’t know shit?”

You forgot he didn’t like for you to tell him that.

“Sorry.”

“All you gonna do is say the shit again. But it’s cool, I know you remember how this strong dick nigga had you crying.” He was even closer now, breath on your cheek.

“I mean, to be honest, aint like you can do much about being the cutest bitch on campus. Cutest bitch with the tightest pussy.”

You could feel him grabbing your breasts with no restraint. Anybody could spot the both of you. You watch as he unzips your hoodie, the thin t shirt you wore underneath giving him a clear view of your big ass nipples.

“Y/N....shit,” he takes both, pinching your nipples and playfully slapping them.

“Big ass titties.” He kisses your neck on both sides with a little tongue.

“Erik,” you moan out with a shiver.

“I’m the only one allowed to put it on you, you hear me?” He whispers. Erik pulls you from the shelf by the collar of your shirt, palming your ass hard before slapping it.

“Daddy is gon’ be all in your shit girl, you wait and see,” he bit your ear, taking you by your hips to make you grind on him from the front. It was the wildest shit ever. You never did anything like this in public. For the most part it was kissing and ass grabbing but not this.

Erik pulls one of your legs up, his hands on the shelf while he dry humped your crotch.

“Damn, babygirl, that leg all the way up there, huh?” He pulls you with three quick pumps over his clothed and now fully hard dick. You could feel it against your leg and it was long as hell. He had you so open last time...Damn, he was gonna do that shit again.

“Let me stop before I have a big ass nut,” he chuckles, lowering your leg but never moving his hand away from your ass, “girl, when we get back to my place, I swear to God your ass is mine.”

————————————

“You’re so hard, I can feel all of that big dick, Daddy.”

You moan while grinding on his crotch, wet pussy wrapped around his bare dick. The minute you stepped out of his car and entered his apartment, he started undressing you without a word. Now here you were, fully naked and coating his dick with that good sticky shit. Erik has his fingers on your clit, rubbing in a slow circle while he instructed you to keep wetting his dick down to his balls.

Erik places his fingers within his mouth before grabbing your waist, angling you and making you bounce on his dick in rhythm with his grinding. It was an erotic sight to see, legs spread wide, pussy wet, hard dick all slick.

“Fuck, Y/N, got me ready to buss a fucking nut, damn girl!” He slaps your ass, “You ain’t all sweet, your little ass a fucking devil. What kinda sweet girl put a pussy like this on a nigga? Ain’t never heard of that.”

Erik grabs his dick, smacking your pussy with it, “Get on your fucking knees. Go on, ma, get down there.”

You were on your knees now, grabbing his dick with one hand, licking yourself off of him.

Damn this girl.

“Y/N, don’t be shy girl, c’mon, lil mama,” Erik motions for you to take him more, “open up...yesss, just like that. Mhm, good girllll.”

You gag on him. He was just so big. You had to stop and look at his dick like it was from another world. He laughs at your tear stained face and swollen lips. The spit on your chin he had a lot of fun with it seems, smearing it in with his fingers.

“I ain’t say you were done,” he jerks his dick, smacking you in the chin, “let’s go, ma, dick ain’t gonna suck itself.”

You grab him up, sucking him again. This time, he was fatter than before. What the hell was this! Your pussy was leaking, no lie. You could feel it on your thighs. Fuck if you weren’t sucking his dick. Erik rolled his eyes, head falling back when your tongue snaked up his dick.

“And you was tryna play scared?! Shit,” he shakes his head, “scared of what Y/N? You ain’t afraid of all this big dick.”

Erik grabs your hair, fucking into your mouth. You grab his thighs, eyes on him while he fucks your mouth.

“Damn, I’m balls deep in your mouth.” He grunts, pushing one final time before releasing your mouth, a thick stream of spit caught on your lips.

“Sloppy mouth bitch.” He slaps you with his dick. You were so astonished. He just hit you with his dick.

“Fuck. Me,” he looked from his dick to your wet face, “Come ride Daddy.”

You climb up, watching him apply a condom again. You pout with sadness, looking down at him roll the condom over all that spit on his dick. The vision was covered and it had you rolling your eyes.

“Fuck you doing all that for?” He caught that shit.

“If you fuck me raw I won’t act like this,” you speak in a timid tone. Erik licks his lips leaning back to admire you.

“You want some raw dick?”

You nod yes.

“Ard...take the condom off then.”

Quickly, you snatch it off, throwing it to the ground.

“Like I said, a slut for this dick,” he pulls you over him, “Get up here and fuck me since you want it raw. Fuck this dick like you tryna mold my shit in that little kitty.”

You squat over him on your tip toes, rubbing his dick over your clit a bit before lowering over him. He slaps your ass extremely hard, the connection complete and your lips in a full pout now.

“Yeah, thats my fucking girl, such a good little girl. Making that face I like, that dumb struck face with all this dick in you balls deep, fuck.”

You start bouncing, hands on his shoulders and head thrown back.

“Ohmygodddd ohmygoddddd.”

He was really hitting different. It was so much pressure you were sure to squirt. The dick was knocking on your walls for a squirt in return. Damn, his big dick was all the way in there. Shit didn’t make no sense.

“You hear all that?” He speaks to you but you were dickmatized, “you are splashing on me, girl! What the fuck!” You sure were. You could hear it loud and clear.

“Yes I am, oh my Godddd,” you gasp.

“Yes I am, Daddy. I’m so wet, Daddy.”

“You taking this big dick girl, it’s okay for me to keep fucking you like this? Fuck, Y/N this pretty pussy so wet.”

His hands were everywhere. He was low on the couch, hips pumping up into you with his eyes low and on your face. You were in an eye lock with him and it made the moment even better.

“Never thought you would be bouncing on this dick did you?” You both shake your heads at the same time, “I already know I just wanted you to agree with me, sexy bitch.”

You watch as he presses his hand into your back, lifting your leg with the other hand, pounding into you, beating your shit in.

“Damn, ma, I got you looking possessed,” he says all of this while fucking you deeper, flesh smacking louder, “mhmmm, this cool? Huh? Daddy hitting that spot, right?”

You were in no shape to speak. This man had a tight grip on your leg while he beat the brakes off your pussy.

“Shit better than the first time? You getting all of me girl ain’t no holding back. You want this raw dick you taking it like a big girl.” He slows down, making you feel every inch. It was literal murder.

“You a big girl,” he looks down at the way his dick was fucking you, “big girl when you getting this pussy fucked.”

“Fuck, yes.” You moan out. You’d be a big girl and take anything. This man had you wide open.

Damn, hold up, shit,” Erik slips out, arching you over the couch now. He used your shoulders, pushing you down so your face was pressed into the cushions. Your ass was pointed so far up, pussy spread wide for him to slip inside with ease. Your pussy was already wet anyway so he would be in that shit with no problem real soon.

“Throw this phat ass back on me.”

You move with as much energy as you could force. He had you tired. You move your hips seductively while throwing it back, your eyes on him to watch his every reaction. You watched him take in a deep breath, several to be exact, trying his best to control the urge to cum.

“This little pussy finna make me buss.”

You were about to buss from the way his head stroked your sweet spot.

“Ahh, I’m about to cum, Daddy,” you grab the back of the couch, legs shaking and cum spilling out like warm sugar.

“Pussy so sweet, Y/N,” he grabs your hips, taking control now while drilling you. The change of pace had your mouth wide open and eyes glossy from the pressure.

“Damn, you really in there!” You yell, back muscles flexing from the intense feeling. This man was stirring your guts around like a bowl of noodles.

“You putting it on me Daddy I don’t wanna stop!!!” You yell with literal tears in your eyes. You were being completely honest. You didn’t want him to ever stop. You wanted him to keep going and going.

“Putting it on this tight pussy?” He asks with a smirk, “This my tight pussy, you hear me? My tight pussy, little mama.”

“Yes, it’s for you!” You couldn’t believe it, you were cumming again, “DADDY MY PUSSY!!!”

The way you reacted to him had his balls tight and dick rippling, ready to cum.

“Best believe little girl I’m taking. this. SHIT.” He started fucking then stoping, fucking then stopping, like a pattern of torture. Your body would jerk forward in surprise, and then he would stop for about three seconds leaving your clit a throbbing mess. Each time he started back up you would gasp, the surprise of it leaving you motionless and breathless.

“Mhm,” he stops, slapping your ass, “Mhm.”

You reach back, hoping for him to grab your wrists. When he does, you prepare for the pounding of your life. Arching more, you feel him increase momentum, eyes growing lower and lower each time. He had you hooked. That’s it. You were fucking Erik Stevens from now on.

“How you feel about me bussing this pussy open?” He says in a breathless tone.

“I feel so good, Daddy.”

/////////////////////

You watch as he sucks on your nipples, your shirt lifted over your head. You just got out of the shower, your legs weak. He had you against his front door, wet hair all over your face and chest arched forward into his mouth. You cry and do it loudly like a whiny brat, his tongue flicking your nipples in the best way.

“Daddy...stop...” you push at him weakly.

He starts sucking like a damn baby and you extend your head back, hitting the door with a loud thud.

“Chill out,” you say between breathless moans. He was a damn animal for you.

“Daddy, what the fuck,” you rub your thighs together, “ooo...stop,”

He doesn’t say a word as he tongues and sucks on your titties. Nipple play never aroused you this much. Erik was a man of firsts for you. How was it that you could feel your pussy throb and drip from this? His eyes meet yours while he flicks his tongue over your right nipple. Damn, he was a fine motherfucker with a mouth you wanted to sit on. Imagine having a tongue like that slipping from front to back and side to side in your slit.

“Daddy eat my pussy,” you ask with no regard.

“Suck on that pussy?” He lifts with spit on his chin, “If I eat it you ain’t going no where for the night cuz im only gonna fuck you again.”

“So?” You sass, “plus, I’m gonna be here more often anyway. My calculus teacher recommended me to you for tutoring.”

He looks at you with dark eyes of lust while twirling your nipples, “Damn, forreal?”

“Yeah, I figured you could reward me with more dick if I do well.”

“Yeah, I can do that. But that means you gotta do well though.”

You kiss your teeth, “Okay, I’ll do my best.”

“Put that bag down and undress. Squat over the couch with that pussy sitting over the edge, okay?” He said it so casually, his naked chest looking edible.

“Okay,” you put your bag down, undressing again. You know you looked a mess but he didn’t care about that shit. Walking to the couch, you watch him as he takes a hit from his blunt. You get into position, arching with your legs wide and pussy sitting for his mouth. Erik admires you while blowing smoke from his lips, walking over to you and getting on his knees.

“You gon pop that ass and pussy while I eat your juicy shit from the back?”

“I’ll do whatever you want me to.”

“Good.”

You could feel him turning around, his arms up and on your ass, spreading you wide. You feel his lips kissing your pussy, eyes closing with bliss. He tongues your folds apart, his tongue dancing with your nectar. He slobs, then slurps, slobs, then slurps, a continuous pattern. Each time you would flinch, your clit jumping each time he did it. Fuck if you would get your pussy ate from someone else. He knew your pussy like the back of his hand. His tongue started flicking upward, only the tip of it teasing your clit and inner folds. It moved all over, Erik working that thing. You claw at the couch, turning your head no matter how painful to try and watch how he did that. This man was full of surprises.

“Daddy, how you doing that?” You ask with a sweet tone. He responds with a sloppy kiss to your clit. You fall against him, giving in to his dance.

“Fuck, Daddy.” You start popping your ass, the feeling of his gold slugs making you shiver. Shit, he was making you cum. Already this man was making you squirt. You were overwhelmed.

“SHIT,” you shake, pussy squirting in his mouth. He applauds you with a slap to the ass before going back to work. Now your clit was overworked and sensitive. The more he slobs the more you cum. And just like that, you were creaming.

“Oh, fuck yeahhhhh.” You talk into the couch cushion beneath you.

“My dick hard again. I told you.” He stands, dick ready to rip through his sweats.

You could hear your phone ringing, sure that it was Brandy but all that didn’t matter, Erik had you up in the air. You could see yourself in his mirrors that he had on his living room wall over his TV. You were so small compared to him. He’s taller, extremely taller, and so toned and cut, not one part of his body was covered with fat. He looked into that mirror too, eyes on you at times but also on the way he held you up like you were as light as an infant, bringing you down over his dick. Each time you both connected he would look back at you to catch your reaction. It didn’t matter how this man fucked you, it was great each time.

Erik walks over to the mirror while he still bounced you, turning sideways now, those full lips of his pouty and his eyes low and hazy.

“Creaming on me something serious,” he rewards you for that buy fucking up into you quickly. Your toes curl, hands around the back of his neck squeezing.

“Y/N, damn,” he scrunches his face, hands palming your ass to keep you up and open for him, “Baby girl, look at me.”

You look at him, moans stuck in your throat.

“Why you letting me take this pussy like this? You not afraid to fall for a nigga?”

You were already falling. It was only day two. He knew what he was doing. He played the game well.

“You not afraid to fall for me?” You catch your breath, “you’re not afraid to get pussy whipped by a girl like me? A little mama?”

“Nah, ma,” Erik shakes his head with a smirk, “not at all.”

You blush, your pussy gushing further over him. He may be your fuck buddy now but the thought of him being more excited you. He made you forget about your ex. Erik was the man of your dreams now a reality.

“Shit, I’m about to have a big fuck nut!!!” You watch as he fucks you at full throttle, body bouncing, wet pussy sliding, moans and groans loud for the entire apartment complex to hear.

“Fuck, girl!!!!” Erik slips out, resting you on the floor while cumming on your face and titties. You catch as much as you could and scrape up the rest to put on your tongue. Erik watched you with primal eyes, his sweat dripping on you. The sweat that smelled like citrus and patchouli. While you tasted and swallowed his cum you wished he would cum in you. You know why but damn his dick was good that’s where you wanted it next! You could only beg for it honestly.

“Ard, ma, time to get up we got some studying to do.” He picks you up, throwing you over his shoulder. You watch him pick up your back pack Erik walking you back to his bedroom. How were you going to study and get through the semester with Erik’s dick in you at any given opportunity? This was going to be tough. Erik drops you on the bed, your body bouncing. As you sit up and fold your legs, Erik opens you bag while his blunt rested between his lips, pulling all of your things out that you needed.

“I’m serious about this studying, shorty. Education is important. You want me to help you out you gotta pay attention to everything I tell your little ass, Aight?”

“Okay, whatever you say, Erik.” You pull your hair up into a top knot bun.

“Gotta work hard for what you want,” he looks at you, a smirk growing on his face, “you hear me talking to you?”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“Daddy Erik when I’m in that puss, professor Erik when we hitting these books,” he takes a puff of his weed, “you smoke?”

You take the blunt without answering, smoking a little.

“Aight, what you get on your calculus exam?”

You felt embarrassed to say. You knew he would frown at you if you told him what it was.

“I’m an A average student, Erik.” You try and ease away from answering his question. His eyes were on you like he was ready to fuck you yet again.

“Ma,” he shakes his head, “just tell me. What you get?”

“A fucking 79.”

“You can do better but that’s better than shit I’ve seen. Stop beating yourself up, Y/N.”

His words had you dripping on his bed. You bounce, titties jumping and a seductive smile on your face. Your eyes focus on him, his still hard dick pointed to your mouth. He bites the corner of his lip, eyes peeking at the way your big ass titties looked bouncing. With a shake of his head and closed eyes, Erik grabs you by the chin, making you look up at him. He opens his eyes real slow, trapping you.

“Just suck my dick again, ma. You did that shit right the first time. I like the way you look chocking on my stick.”

Yep, this was going to be difficult.

@dameshaemonique @sheisexcellent1 @blktinkerbell

[ahiddenpath]

hey hidden. I hope this question isn't weird but your job is very cool to me, so I was wondering: what exactly did you need for education to get into it, and what's it like for you?

Are-  Are you-  Are you asking me to nerd out?

THE NERDING WILL COMMENCE BELOW THE CUT!

EDIT:  Trigger warning for discussion of cancer treatments/research.

SO I am a molecular biologist.  I am currently researching immunotherapies for a biotech company.  

One thing I should emphasize is that this stuff takes an enormous team working together for years.  I don’t want anyone to think that I’m, like...  Personally producing cancer medicines.  I’m part of a team of about 400 people, working together with 20 ish years of data produced by our company and the companies we partner with.  And my boss tells me what I’m going to work on!  I design the experiment, run the experiment, and consider the data from there, but I’m not the “mastermind” for anything.  It’s usually the upper level career scientists with pHDs doing that.

Another disclaimer is that, sadly, we as humans aren’t at the “defeat cancer forever” stage.  Like, it’s not... near.  The best defense continues to be frequent screening so it can be caught and treated early (which is bad news in the states, where people can’t afford the screening because we don’t have universal health care, or they can afford it but don’t go because they have three part time jobs, none of which give benefits-  But I digress).

Oh!  And one more thing I want to tell all future science dorks, something I was super lucky to learn at age 19: follow the money.

When I was 19, I was culturing and chemically processing algae, then assessing the data.  My company at the time wanted to create biodiesel from algae, and my whole world was rocked when they told me: WE ALREADY CAN MAKE VIABLE FUEL FROM ALGAE.  The problem is that it costs about $4.50 per gallon, so it can’t compete with normal diesel (at the time, this was like 12 years ago).  

So what they wanted was algae that had the correct chemical profile for use in biodiesel, that could also be grown at tropical temperatures.  Why?  Because the algae was to be grown in sugar cane processing centers, where it’s tropical, and most of the production costs came from cooling the incubators and instruments that would grow the algae.  So they needed algae that could make diesel, but also grow in hot weather, which apparently isn’t common.

ALWAYS FOLLOW THE MONEY!  It’s often not even about “can we do it,” but “can we do it at x cost, considering conditions hundreds of miles away.”  Crazy!

Ah, but you asked how to get into biotech!  It’s not that hard, thankfully!  I have a BS in biology.  I made sure to get good grades and all of that, and if you’re serious about biotech, you want to take classes in things like immunology, virology, any science class that can return to human health and biotech.  I will say that, while I’ve always naturally excelled at biology, I had to take more chemistry than bio!  Plus, you need math and physics...  

But here’s my best advice for biotech-interested young people:

-If you’re looking at universities while in high school, PLEASE check out what AP classes will get you out of undergrad labs.  The WORST PART about being a science kid is the labs.  For example, every bio and chem class has a lab.  The class itself usually consists of three 50 minute lectures (150 min/week), and you get 3 credits.  The lab is 170 min per week, and you only get 1 credit.  If you don’t place out of some classes with labs attached with AP credit, YOUR ASS WILL BE SITTING IN LABS FOR AT LEAST 340 MINUTES A WEEK!  AND YOU ONLY GET 2 CREDITS FOR THAT!!!!  It’s utter bullshit.

So, if you’re in high school and really serious about pursuing a science degree, check out which AP scores get you out of labs at your favorite universities, and really commit to getting 5s in those.

I was able to place out of 3 labs this way, and it played an enormous role in maintaining my sanity.

-Everyone in biotech knows EVERYONE in biotech.  It’s absolutely astounding.  But it’s a small field, centered around a few hot spots, and lots of these people have been at it for 40+ years.

Here are some of the hot spots in America (you might have to live in one of these areas to find biotech jobs, so be sure you’re down for that).

Anyway, like I said, I worked as an undergrad at a biotech.  I was so fortunate, because they paid me, I was already doing actual-factual research, and I got to know people.  And when I graduated, people went, “Oh you worked for Bob?  Let me give him a call.”  And then they did.  And then Bob said, “Oh yeah, she’s a hard worker, hire her.”

SO you need to make connections ASAP, and strive to show people your hard-working, curious, problem-solving, good-attitude-having self.  Sadly, there’s an element of luck there, for sure.  But you need to be ready to try to work in professional labs in college, which means juggling your difficult courses and school labs with work.  Hooray!

...Did I say this wasn’t hard?  I’m full of shit, aren’t I.  Looking back, all I can see is how lucky I was, and how I “only” needed a 4 year degree, but...  It really takes a lot to get here.

As for what it’s like...

I love it, it’s great, but like any job, it...  Well, it’s rough.

Here’s what I think you need to thrive in biotech, assuming you’re not put off by the stuff I’ve already covered:

-Organization, time management, and focus.  Honestly, being a lab researcher isn’t about being smart, it’s about juggling a lot of things simultaneously.  Lots of folks describe the job as “hurry up and wait,” because you rush to mix the experimental ingredients together so they can incubate for two hours before you do the next step.  And while that’s incubating, you do x, which has a few 15 minute incubations.  In those 15 minutes, you generate graphs with yesterday’s data, make records for you lab notebook, order items for next week’s experiment, print labels, or...  Any number of things.  There are ALWAYS tons of balls in the air, so organization and time management are 90% of the job.

And you need to focus, because most of the time it looks like you’re adding a single droplet of water to other droplets of water.  Almost everything you work with is a clear liquid, so you can’t go spacing out and forgetting what you’ve already added to the mix.

A typical day is to arrive at work, sit down for a while to plan out how to best use the incubation times to do other things, head into the lab, hope for incubation periods for toilet/water/food breaks, and scramble to get data processing in there somewhere.  Deadlines are usually tight, because it’s always a race to patent a medicine before one of the other 5,000 companies trying to do it can.  We all work from the shared published scientific knowledge, so there’s no...  Developing something in secret.

I’d say my job is challenging, but rewarding, especially as we come closer to generating medicines for what we call “patients with unmet needs.”  Remember how I said “follow the money?”  Sadly, often, um...  Okay I’m gonna do a really quick and loose explanation.  People have different versions of the same genes, right?  And sometimes, there are “cancer” genes- this is a really sloppy explanation, sorry.  So medicines get created for the most common mutated cancer gene first.  So say 70% of cancer patients have this mutated gene, 20% have that mutated gene, and 10% have a third mutated gene.  Guess who gets medicine made for them first?

If you guessed the largest group, you’re right!  The trouble is that big companies will then move on to the largest group for another cancer/gene group, leaving people with more rare genetic issues without treatment options beyond chemo, which many elderly or immunocompromised patients simply can’t tolerate.

My company specifically aims to help these people with no help in sight.  On the one hand, follow the money- we are doing it because we will have a market, and we can’t compete with big companies yet.  On the other, we are helping people who have no options.  I’m so grateful to use my gifts (organization, planning, focus, problem solving, and natural curiosity) to play a small, small role in hopefully helping people.  It means something to me.

On the other hand, it can be a grind, no lie.  And any high-pressure job will have colleagues who are also under pressure, and might lash out or try to throw other people under the bus when problems arise.  A certain level of emotional maturity and strength is required, and frankly, I needed therapy to get there.

Also, if you’re a female-presenting human, some people will give you shit in biotech.  Luckily, I’ve only ever had one coworker be blatantly sexist and ask me (multiple times) if I was sure I belonged here.  Unfortunately, you’re more likely to see more discrete sexism, like folks asking you to organize parties for pregnant or engaged coworkers because “you seem like you’d be good at it,” ie “you’re female and I am throwing social tasks at you so I can focus on my science, which you also have to do.”  I’ve had a lot of coworkers try so hard to corner me into doing emotional work for them.  But...  Honestly, most of this is just existing as a woman, and isn’t specific to biotech.

So yeah!  You’re gonna have to work hard, but if you have an interest in science, great organization skills, and want to play a little role in helping people who are suffering in a way that doesn’t involve direct social interaction with the hurting people...  It’s great!

Sorry for the absolute wall of text, I hope this helps!  I’m always happy to talk about this, so please ask away if you’d like.  Thanks for the ask!

[wordscorrupt]

5 times Peter passed out in front of Tony + 1 time he passed out alone: Chapter 2

once again your girl here this time with a virology quiz in 30 mins and instead of studying decided to dish this out instead. pray for me.

Chapter 2

“You trust me, don’t you, Peter?” Bruce asked, putting on a pair of gloves, giving the teen a reassuring smile.

 “Um, not when you’re holding a needle, sir,” Peter replied, voice shaking, warily eyeing the needle in the older man’s hand.

 Peter heard Tony scoff from behind him and he swiveled around in his chair to glare at his mentor. Tony returned to the look with a raised eyebrow before reaching over and ruffling the kid’s hair. Peter swatted his hand away before looking back at the scientist.

 This is not what he had in mind when coming over to the compound today to hang out in the lab with Mr. Stark and Dr. Banner. Apparently, the medical staff was offering flu shots today and Tony kindly offered up Peter to Bruce the second he walked in.

 “But I’ve already had mine!” Peter tried in vain to argue, but that was shot down quickly by Tony who had confirmed with May beforehand.  

 “But, Mr. Stark!” Peter had then begged as the older man all but dragged him over to the chair he was currently sitting on.

 “No more butts, other than yours in that chair, kiddo. Neither May or I want a sniffling spider-baby on our hands, so let Bruce do his job and there might be a lollipop in this equation afterward. Do you want me to hold my hand?”

“No!” Peter balked. He wasn’t a baby. He might not be the biggest fan of needles, but he was not about to get his hand held like a child, by none other than Mr. Stark himself.

 Mr. Stark smirked before nodding over to Bruce and then looking back at Peter, “Then be a good spider-kid and let Bruce do his job.”

 And here they were now.

 Tony watched from a few feet away as Bruce helped Peter roll up the sleeve of his right arm, before wiping away a patch of skin with alcohol. He felt a tug at his heart as the kid started to tense but he kept his distance for Peter’s sake, not wanting to crowd him. In a few short seconds, Bruce instructed the teen to take a deep breath before jabbing him with the needle.

 Peter elicited a small cry and not a moment afterward, Bruce took the needle out, safely disposing of it and placed a small bandage on the puncture site.

 “All done, Peter. Nothing to it,” Bruce murmured, giving the kid a proud grin.

 “Yeah, I guess. Thanks, Dr. Banner,” Peter replied as he pulled his sleeve down, wincing as it trailed over the sore spot.

And that’s when similar to everything else that happened in Tony’s life, things turned sour.

 Peter got out of his seat, took a step and promptly, uneventfully crashed down onto the ground.

 “Holy shit!” Tony exclaimed before running over to the kid. Bruce was already kneeling down, placing two fingers against the kid’s wrist.

 “It’s okay, he’s okay, Tony,” Bruce reassured the frantic man as he fell down beside the teen.

 Tony gave him a bewildered look before focusing back on Peter.

 “How in the world is he okay, Bruce? He just collapsed!” Tony gently lifted Peter’s head with one hand, cushioning it, while the other gently swept over his face and hair.

 “It’s common for people to pass out after getting a shot, Tony. Give him a few moments and he’ll be back with us,” Bruce reasoned. Tony give him another baffled look.

 Bruce got up from the floor before walking over to the couch set up near a corner of the lab and motioned Tony to bring Peter over.

 “Come on, kiddo,” Tony whispered then hoisted the small teen up and into his arms. Peter’s head flopped back and the man took a few moments to get Peter situated comfortably in his arms. Tony nuzzled his cheek against the boy’s soft curls as he walked over to where Bruce was standing next to the couch and carefully put Peter down. Bruce made sure that Peter’s feet were elevated on a few pillows before allowing Tony to take over. He pulled one of the blankets off the back off the couch and tucked it around the boy before kneeling down next to the couch.

 “Time to wake up, kiddo. Come on, buddy, you’ve had enough time to rest” Tony begged, running his fingers through the boy’s soft curls.

 Bruce left and came back with his medical bag, explaining to Tony he wanted to do a quick once-over. He shined a flashlight into the teen’s eyes, felt for any bumps on his curly-haired head, measured his blood pressure and pulse and lastly took a quick listen to his chest.

 Tony never left his spot, at times making Bruce practically step over the man.

 Bruce finished with his exam and was tucking the blanket back around Peter when the boy’s eyes started to flutter open. Tony all but pushed Bruce out of the way and gently grabbed a hold of Peter’s face.

 “That’s it. Open your eyes for me, kiddo,” Tony guided.

 Peter, in one of the rare times, listened to the older man and opened his eyes.

 “Mis’er S’ark?” Peter mumbled, dazed eyes looking up at his mentor.

 “In the flesh,” Tony replied with a grin, moving one his hands from Peter’s face to caress his cheek with his knuckles instead.

 Peter groaned, shutting his eyes and then tried to get up from the couch but Tony stopped him instantly.

 “Nuh-uh. You’re on bed rest for the rest of day, kiddo. Doctor’s orders. It’s what happens when you have no self-preservation skills at all,” Tony declared and Peter shot him an offended look.

 “Don’t look at me like that, young man. You’re the one that decided to give Sleeping Beauty a run for her money,”

 “M’not sleepin’ beau’y,” Peter grumbled choosing not argue with the man about his lack of self-preservation but decided to lay back down at least.

 “Of course not. You’re much more beautiful.”

 “Mis’er S’ark!”

 “Oops, sorry, I meant handsome.”

 Peter’s groans resonated throughout the lab.  

Requested Tags:

@ebonyheartnet @thistrashissoextra @i-blame-my-love-of-whump-on-ryan

[decorous-biohazart]

Background Log #4: “The Gift Of Life”

Background log for Phoenix Nest head of virology research Megan Phoenix. 

The camera flicked on as it wrestled in unsteady hands attempting to focus the lens. Two half-gloved hands passed through the camera’s field of vision as a voice grunted with frustration. 

 “How do you work this stupid thing?” A voice asked. A female voice, Cell’s voice. Eventually she was able to get the camera into focus on a pristine white door with a rectangular window. She was in the science building on camp, but the door gave no details on possibly why she was there with a video camera. 

“Well, here we are in the building of research and science-whatever it is they do here. I decided that it would be best to get an honest reaction out of Megan if she did her log the same way we did: without knowing it was coming. So I snuck in her room, grabbed her camera, and here we are! Let’s see what she’s up to.” 

The half-gloved hand reached into the shot and pushed the door open and walked into the room. Immediately she saw lines of counters with observation tools, beakers, tubes, and an assortment of other strange devices. The camera panned to the left to find a desk not far away with a woman sitting in the rotating chair. She sat with her blonde hair tied up in a loose bun short of her bangs hanging at either side of her face. Her glasses rested on the bridge of her nose above a soft smile as she bobbed her head to the music playing in her ear buds. She wore a white lab coat with a sweater beneath it along with some stained tight jeans and athletic shoes to assist her with the long amounts of time she spent on her feet in the lab.  

Cell’s hand inched into the shot, her fingers flexing as she slowly approached the unsuspecting scientist to avoid being detected before tapping her on the shoulder. The woman immediately stopped what she was typing and jumped with squeak of fear. She turned to meet the new arrival, quickly pulling out one ear phone, her cheeks red with embarrassment. Her shoulders relaxed when she registered who had intruded on her lab before smiling a bit as she removed her other earphone. 

 “You scared me, Cell, I didn’t think you were coming for a visit today!” Megan explained. Cell laughed before responding, clearly proud of her successful infiltration.

 “Ah y’know, just seemed like it would be better to sneak up on you like you did to us since that’s all part of the theme for the logs.” Cell responded, the sound of another chair rolling across the tile floor clattered off camera before the camera’s height of view lowered as Cell took a seat. 

 “Oh! You’re here for that!” Megan exclaimed, clearly not prepared for such an interview, “Well I’m not sure what I would say, I didn’t really have any time to prepare myself or anything.” She admitted, tapping the tips of two of her fingers together. Cell waved a hand in the shot as she responded, 

 “Hey that’s the whole point, you don’t have to worry about not being prepared. This is your project, you know just what to say! Go for it, tell us about you, Megan. The world’s dying to know how you got to this point.” Megan blushed a bit as she laced her fingers together in her lap, 

 “Well, I’m not THAT special; I kinda just did my job that’s all. You guys had all the cool stories, my life was pretty normal. I grew up with a pretty normal and happy family in a nice house in a nice neighborhood. I was the youngest of three sisters and an older brother, but we all got along pretty well. My mom was a total sweetheart school teacher and my dad was a man with a big heart who worked with the Red Cross relief force, but he was definitely not someone you wanted to mess with! I went to school, but I honestly didn’t do that well. I struggled quite a bit and had a hard time grasping a lot of concepts. I felt like I was motivated enough to do well, but I guess I just never really took off. Then I met someone really special.” Her eyes moved down and away from the camera as Megan seemed to reminisce back to another time, 

“Her name was Cassia, and she was the best friend I ever had. She had beautiful brown hair and green eyes, and she was the nicest girl I ever met, just as tough and sweet as her name too! We met in middle school and ended up being bff’s through high school. 

Cassie was my rock, she gave me a lot of the motivation I needed to get things rolling and start doing well. She used to call me Ash, because my middle name is Ashlynn. I never really liked the name that much because my last name is Phoenix, and that always felt like some kind of pun. She thought it was cute, though, so it was her special nickname for me.” Her gaze came back to the camera, a gentle smile on her face for a moment before it sank away and Megan’s gaze wandered away again. 

 “We were going to go to college together… But she got sick. We thought she just had a bad case of the flu or something, because it only lasted about a week before she started to shake it off. But just when we thought she was getting better, she got even worse. I got a call from her parents one night that Cass was coughing blood and was taken to the hospital. I couldn’t have gotten there any faster, I almost ran a couple of people off the highway. When I got there, I was taken to a waiting room where her mom was waiting for me. I asked her what was happening, but all she did was get up and hug me.” 

Megan now had her arms wrapped over her chest, holding both of her upper arms as if she was holding herself before she dropped her hands back into her lap again. 

 “She said Cassie was going in for some tests because the doctors weren’t sure what was wrong. She had tears in her eyes, but she was smiling. She said ‘Cassia is strong, she’ll be just fine’. But something in my stomach didn’t feel right. I was bugging the doctors constantly asking if I could see my friend, but they kept turning me away. Eventually I was sent home and told I would have to come back tomorrow after the tests processed. I didn’t sleep that night, I just prayed that my friend would be okay. I went through some of our old scrapbooks, read some old stories we wrote together, or just laid there, but I didn’t sleep. I couldn’t. 

When I got back the next day… The doctors told me that Cassie had something called Myeloma.” Megan stopped on the last word, her gaze resting on her lap as her eyes turned glassy. She wiped a tear as it escaped her eye as Cell reached forward from behind the camera and took hold of one of Megan’s hands. 

 “I didn’t… I didn’t know what it was at the time because I didn’t know a lot about sicknesses. The doctor said it was a type of blood cancer that affects how the body fights illness. The flu she had was even worse than before because she wasn’t able to fight the influenza virus like a normal person because of her blood, and this was an unusual case because the disorder didn’t normally just appear this late into a persons life. I demanded that I get to see her, I wanted to talk to her, whatever I would be allowed to do; but because she was so susceptible to sickness I wasn’t allowed to enter the room. 

Instead I had to use an observation room on the other side of where Cass was kept to talk to her. As soon as I got in I pressed myself up against the glass and called her name.” Megan let out a small laugh as she spoke the next few words, 

“Her first words when I got in there were ‘can you keep it down, Ash? I’m tryna get some rest in here.’ Even with how sick she was, she was still smiling, and that made me feel better. She told me not to worry, and she was going to be okay. Day after day I’d come visit her; I’d sit in the other room and speak to her, read to her, and laugh with her. We’d also listen to a lot of music I’d play since she wasn’t able to have her own in the room. We always loved music, it was a pivotal part of our lives and we always loved sharing it. She always told me how boring it was in there while I was away. She was a trooper, but I could tell she was in a lot of pain. 

As days went by we had less and less time to talk because she had to have higher doses of morphine to compensate for her pain. About a month after she was diagnosed, I got a text from her mom telling me to come to the hospital. My car battery died so I ran the entire five miles from my school to get there. I got stopped by a doctor when I got in the door, and I knew it was the one taking care of Cassie. He put a hand on my shoulder and led me to her room. My chest lifted because I thought she was getting discharged, that I got to go in and see her. But when I got in there she was still hooked up to her IV bags and monitors.” Megan paused for a moment, her watery gaze forcing itself to find its way back to the camera. 

“The doctors told me Cassie didn’t respond well to treatment, and her condition got a lot worse. They weren’t bringing me in to help my friend out of the hospital, they brought me there to say goodbye. 

“I felt like someone dropped an anvil on my lungs. I went pale, I couldn’t breathe, and I almost fell over. The doctor helped me into her room and into a chair next to Cassie’s bed. ‘Hey Ash, you look like hell’ she said to me, still smiling. She was that kind of girl, able to be a joker even when she knew she was dying. I couldn’t say anything, I just took her hand and she placed both of hers on mine. Her hands were really cold, but at the same time they felt warm to me. I told her I was sorry, sorry that there wasn’t anything I could do but just be there. She said that she couldn’t ask for anything more from me, and that I was the only one that she wanted to spend her last moments with. That made me smile, and I told her I loved her and things would be okay.” Megan exhaled through her nose, a gentle smile on her lips as tears streamed down her face and pattered onto her lap. 

 “A couple minutes later she flat lined, and doctors had to drag me from the room. I was a sweaty and crying mess of a woman trying to fight off the doctors like they were the ones that killed her, but looking back I knew they did all they could. After that I considered dropping out of school, I wanted to drop everything and just grieve. But I knew Cassie would never let me do that, she wouldn’t want me feeling sorry for her. So instead of cursing the world because I lost my best friend, I wanted to make it better so no one else would have to. 

“I went to medical school, got my masters, an internship and some on-the-job practice. Normally it would have taken someone about seven or more years to get theirs but I got mine in about four. Nothing was going to stop me from getting into the field. 

“I started researching viruses and other disorders in the body that targeted the immune system, looking for a cure. I was offered a job by N.O.V.A but I didn’t want it, this was my battle to fight, and I wanted to do it myself. I’m glad with what I know now I didn’t take that spot. I was so close to finding a job in the medical field and starting my own research, but then the Fall happened. I was lucky enough to end up in a sanctuary during the first couple days because I was studying natural stimuli for disorders such as fungi and molds and wasn’t near civilization. I wasn’t going to let even the end of the world stop me, so I continued my research. 

“I was appointed head of the medical science team at the base I was in and I was able to learn things I never thought I’d have the chance to. I got to save people, fix people, heal people and I knew I found my calling. There was so much more sickness and death in the world than before that we needed as many hands as we could get. So many were out killing in war, and I wanted to fight, too. But I wanted to give life instead of take it. 

“Before I knew it, I heard someone came to a camp named Phoenix Nest that had suffered from the Phantom virus and lived. I was sent there to study for a possible cure, little did I know they’d end up becoming one of my best friends.” 

Megan wiped her eyes with her sleeve before adjusting her glasses, her hand still firmly holding onto Cell’s as her smile returned, her gaze still set on the camera. 

“I got sent here and I met some of the best friends I could ask for. It was ironic because of my name that I was sent here, but I was willing to live with it for the sake of the people I got to meet. I met a girl, about yay high” she held up her other hand just above her head, about the high of Cell. “who had some serious spunk and an attitude that never quit.” Cell chuckled behind the camera, trying to keep the noise down so Megan could speak. 

 “She introduced me to the man in the mask along with a witty Australian and an adorable technician with not the best people skills and I fell in love with them. They changed my views on combat forever, that wars were fought on all fronts and not just in the Field. They taught me that what I was doing was just as much part of the fight, if not more, because I was fighting the virus itself. I wanted to save people, and save people I did, but in the end they saved me. I’ve treated more illnesses and infections than I can count but above all I’ve been able to keep researching a cure as I saw color come back to the world. This is my dream, and I wouldn’t trade my place in this camp for anything. I know Cassie is up there watching somewhere, cheering my name and saying ‘go get ‘em girl’. No one will ever replace her, but I met people that reminded me what it felt like to smile.” 

Megan closed her eyes with a bright smile as she placed both of her hands on Cell’s. “Now that I’m here, I’m going to keep studying and working hard so I can hopefully one day bring an end to this virus and many others. I have had one sickness take my friend, I won’t let this one take another. Decorous is an inspiration to me because he is still fighting even with as sick as he is, but I think he deserves to live too. I won’t rest until the Phantom virus is evicted from his body and the bodies of anyone else that catches it!” Megan exclaimed with a determined smile before her face relaxed into a more humble expression as she said, “I’ll never forget the people that got me this far, and I wanna keep these friends here along with saving the lives of the friends and families of others too so they never have to get that call to the hospital like I did. Because the most beautiful beat in life...” she gestured to her headphones, “...is a heartbeat.” 

Megan reached over to her desk, picking up a picture frame and holding it to the camera. It was a picture of a young girl with glasses and blonde hair tied in a ponytail, bangs hanging at the sides of her face, hugging a girl with straight brown hair and lively green eyes. Both of them were holding up diplomas and sporting graduation gowns, laughing together as their picture was taken. She stared at the photo for a moment with a gentle smile still on her face as she held it up to the camera and spoke with a spirited tone, 

“My name is Megan Ashlynn Phoenix and I always have been, and always will be, a Phoenix.”