#THROWING PEOPLE INTO VORTEXES NOW

[lizalfosrise]

Finally, it's time for Lonetrail! Ehehehehe, second pull under watchful eye of catalyst she arrived!

[justalittlebluetiefling]

Tonight I convinced my party that we had to take one course of action and upon finding out that we could instead try and Teleport to save this person who risked their lives to get us out of the last city we were in before demons and devils took over, convinced them to totally change the plan and Teleport into the middle of the woods with the headmistress of the top magic university in the world and the top researcher at its sister facility instead. All while there's a chance that the person we're trying to save is possessed by a Nightmare. Oh, and we rolled just below what we needed to get to the place in the woods where the headmistress scryed (scried?), so we could be anywhere up to 350 miles away from our intended target right now. Oh, and an ancient green dragon lives in these woods and there's a 200000 gold bounty out for them.

But bright side: we hit level 8 today and I took the Sentinel feat!

[kittyfrisk9]

IdeaDpxDc: A nice moment with a sleep demon.

Note: Sorry, I don't know English, so please use a translator. I apologize if you don't get the idea.

Dead On Main.

---

Danny accidentally absorbed some of Nocturn's powers (like in the Vortex episode), and now, with these new temporary abilities, why not take advantage of them? Like a kid with a new toy, Danny (or should I say Phantom: with a new design) has fun every night going from dream to dream.

The dream world is so strange! Without the constant threat of a dream entity trying to take over the world and all that. Now he has fun exploring the most unusual parts of his classmates' subconscious, or anyone's in general.

Even though he knows he shouldn't be doing this (after all, he's a responsible adult now), spying on other people's dreams isn't exactly something a mature person would do.

On the other hand, Danny is the responsible adult; Phantom is the one who uses his new powers recklessly. Plus, no one in Gotham knows who Phantom is, and at the end of the day, he's not hurting anyone. Point in his favor!

It was all fun and games… until he felt it: the unpleasant taste of a nightmare, distressing and desperate. Phantom knows he has to intervene, because, unlike Nocturn, he does not delight in the suffering of others.

So he goes. And what he sees shocks him.

Resonant laughter of a psychopath, the constant pain of flesh being beaten, and the devastating reminder that no one came to help. Phantom doesn't just see it, he feels it. Gross. What is this? Why would anyone be hurting a child? Then he understands: this is not just a nightmare, it's a memory, and someone is suffering from reliving it.

He absolutely will not allow this nightmare to continue.

...

Jason hasn't been having good days lately, mostly because instead of going to therapy, he's chosen to sweep his trauma under the rug and aggressively throw himself into crime-fighting. He's not good at dealing with his emotions, especially when he's been tormented by the same damn nightmare over and over again.

He knows the script by heart, he knows how it will end, but he still feels the same fear as the first time.

His head hurts.

"No, not again," he thinks in terror. Once again, he's tied up, unable to move or call for help. It's colder than he remembers. The walls have a grotesque tint, with laughter written in every corner. But the worst thing is the silence… until the sound of clashing metal begins to resonate.

Everything is a thousand times worse. He's sure the original scenario wasn't like this, but his terrified mind refuses to accept it.

The metallic sound resonates louder, each crash rumbling in Jason's chest. His breathing quickens, and then he hears it: that laugh.

A deep, distorted echo of laughter that seems to come from every direction. The laughter snakes around the grotesque walls, filled with the same letters that repeat his agony. “Ha… ha… ha…” fills the air, louder with each invisible step that approaches.

Then, he appears.

It’s not the Joker he remembers from that fateful night. This one is worse. Bigger, more deformed, with a smile that seems to tear at his own face. The colors of his suit are darker, more twisted. It’s as if his mind has amplified him, made him more monstrous.

“My, my, how little Robin has grown? But… something remains the same, doesn’t it? No matter how many times you live it, it always ends the same way. And to think that you were my greatest work of art!”

His voice is mocking, but behind the mockery is pure cruelty, a wicked amusement that lights up in those crazy eyes.

The Joker leans towards Jason, his face invading the small distance between them. The sound of metal continues to echo, and Jason knows what's coming next.

"Oh, I almost forgot…" he says, pulling out of nowhere an iron crowbar that gleams in the dim light of the nightmare. "It wouldn't be a good memory without this, would it?"

That's when the pain begins. Jason doesn't want to scream, and he won't. Even though that abominable creature is just a representation of his killer, he won't give him the luxury of listening to him suffer. The blows continue, and Jason bites his tongue. It's just a nightmare, it's not real… it's not real.

It's not real.

It's not real.

It's not-

"Hey… Are you okay?" he hears him ask. His shocked gaze turns to where the clown should be and discovers that he's gone. In his place, there's a handsome young man: short, slightly messy black hair, expressive purple eyes, and a body almost completely shrouded in dark shadows.

The mysterious man had a cosmic air about him, surrounded by a mix of special effects of stars and galaxies. Something magical.

And new.

Jason honestly doesn't know what he's seeing, or why he's seeing it. "What?" he says, unable to find another word to describe his situation.

The entity laughs at his stunned state, a reassuring echo very different from the joker's laughter. Then he snaps his fingers, and suddenly he's no longer in that ugly room. He's now in a field of flowers, beautiful and vibrant, looking out at a starry sky.

Okay, this is the part where he asks his brain how he went from being in a nightmare to being with a handsome guy under the stars, hands free and untethered.

"Relax, you're not crazy," the being says as he lies back in the grass. “You were in pain, and I didn’t like it, so I got you out of there. Don’t worry, that abomination won’t bother you again.”

Jason blinks twice, bewildered, not understanding anything. “You… saved me?”

“You could say yes.”

“Why?” He shakes his head. “No, wait, that’s not the question. Who…?” Looking back at the being, he decides to change his question: “What are you?”

He seems to have taken the being by surprise.

It clasps its hands together as it looks up at the sky, trying to act normal. Jason narrows his eyes. “You can call me Void.”

“Did you just make up that name?”

The being looks away, seemingly embarrassed at being found out. “Yeah…” And suddenly exclaims, “Ah, ancients! I'm not supposed to be doing this, much less with one of the bats."

That last sentence had given away more than it should have.

"Hey, how about we admire the night view and then pretend this never happened?" Void suggested with a hopeful smile, turning to Jason.

Maybe it was the soft scent of the flowers, the calm atmosphere, or just the tiredness after so many nights of endless nightmares, but Jason, without thinking too much about it, walked over, lay down next to Void on the grass, and said, "No."

He needed a break.

...

And that's how Jason befriended a dream demon. And how Danny pretended to be a dream demon until Nocturn's powers wore off. He couldn't let the bats find out his identity.

After that, they spent more time together, fell in love, there was drama and there was closure. In the middle of all that, Danny started having tea with Alfred in the dream world, and at other times, he had fun bothering the other bats in their dreams.

But that's another story.

---

Note: Sorry, I don't know English, so please use a translator. I apologize if you don't get the idea.

Part 2

[inkspiredwriting]

Love, Hate, and the Hargreeves

Five Hargreeves x Fem!reader

Warnings: none

Five Hargreeves had always been known for his sharp mind and sharper tongue. Y/N, his girlfriend, was no different. Their relationship was a fiery mix of love and playful antagonism, a dynamic that often left the rest of the Hargreeves family in stitches. Today was no exception.

The siblings had gathered in the living room of the Umbrella Academy, the air filled with the scent of popcorn and the sound of laughter. Klaus had found an old box of family videos and insisted on a movie night, much to everyone’s amusement.

Y/N and Five sat on the couch, bickering over which movie to watch.

“I’m telling you, Five, ‘The Princess Bride’ is a classic!” Y/N argued, holding the DVD case up for emphasis.

“And I’m telling you, Y/N, if I have to hear ‘As you wish’ one more time, I might throw myself into a time vortex,” Five retorted, rolling his eyes.

Diego snickered from his spot on the floor. “Ah, the sweet sound of true love.”

“Viktor,” Y/N pleaded, turning to him for support. “Back me up here. ‘The Princess Bride’ is timeless, right?”

Viktor smiled, enjoying the show. “It is, but watching you two argue is better entertainment.”

Luther, munching on a handful of popcorn, chimed in. “You know, Five, for a guy who’s been through the apocalypse, you’re surprisingly bad at picking battles.”

Five shot him a glare. “And for a guy who’s part gorilla, you’re surprisingly bad at shutting up.”

Klaus, sprawled out on the other couch, giggled. “Oh, leave them alone, Luther. This is their foreplay.”

Y/N and Five both turned a shade of red, but neither was willing to back down.

“Fine,” Five said, crossing his arms. “We’ll watch ‘The Princess Bride’. But if I start quoting it sarcastically, you have only yourself to blame.”

Y/N grinned triumphantly. “Deal. And for the record, if you don’t cry when Inigo Montoya gets his revenge, you’re heartless.”

Five smirked. “Oh, don’t worry. My heart’s in perfect working order. Unlike some people’s taste in movies.”

As the opening credits rolled, the siblings settled in, occasionally glancing at Five and Y/N, who were now sitting unusually close, sharing a bowl of popcorn. The movie played on, and true to his word, Five couldn’t resist a few sarcastic comments.

“‘My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.’ Classic line,” Five deadpanned. “Really hits you in the feels.”

Y/N nudged him playfully. “Shut up and watch, smartass.”

Halfway through the movie, during the iconic fire swamp scene, Klaus leaned over to Diego, whispering loudly enough for everyone to hear, “Do you think they’re actually fighting, or is this some weird foreplay we don’t understand?”

Diego chuckled. “Given how they are, it’s probably both.”

Y/N threw a piece of popcorn at Klaus. “We can hear you, you know!”

Klaus caught it and popped it into his mouth. “Just saying, you two have the sexual tension of a rom-com.”

Five rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide a smirk. “And you have the brain of a goldfish, but we still keep you around.”

Laughter erupted, and even Y/N couldn’t help but join in. The teasing was relentless, but it was also filled with affection. The Hargreeves were a dysfunctional family, but they were a family nonetheless.

As the movie reached its climax, Five found himself genuinely engrossed. He glanced at Y/N, who was watching with a look of pure joy on her face. Despite their constant bickering, he loved seeing her happy.

The final scene played out, and as the credits rolled, Viktor turned to them, grinning. “So, how was it, Five? Are you a ‘Princess Bride’ fan now?”

Five shrugged, trying to look nonchalant. “It wasn’t the worst thing I’ve ever seen.”

Y/N beamed. “I’ll take that as a win.”

Klaus jumped up, stretching dramatically. “Well, this was fun. Let’s do it again sometime. Preferably with more popcorn and less bickering.”

Diego smirked. “Less bickering? With these two? Not a chance.”

Five stood, pulling Y/N up with him. “Come on, Y/N. Let’s leave these amateurs to their popcorn.”

Y/N laughed, following him out of the room. “As you wish.”

The siblings burst into laughter again, and Five couldn’t help but smile. Their love/hate relationship might be a source of endless teasing, but it was also what made them, well, them.

As they walked down the hallway, Y/N slipped her hand into Five’s. “Thanks for watching the movie with me, Five.”

He squeezed her hand, his usual sarcasm softened by genuine affection. “Anytime, Y/N. Just don’t expect me to quote it back to you.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it,” she teased.

And with that, they continued down the hall, ready for whatever adventures and arguments lay ahead, knowing that as long as they had each other—and the Hargreeves’ relentless teasing—they could handle anything.

[motthe]

I know probably everyone has asked tis but- how about a smoll blurb on S2 Viktor and reader in the lumen au? Maybe reader also tries to bury themselves by helping Jayce or Mel (I’m more inclined to Mel in particular)

thank you so much for requesting! (the inbox is currently empty so you’re the first to request!!! how exciting~)

SPOILERS FROM ARCANE S2 ARC 1

Days went by, each longer than the last. Neither you nor Jayce had anything to show for it besides the lab left in ruins and dark circles weighing your eyes down.

You two had never been particularly close, always busy running in different circles, but you shared the same important people in your lives. What Mel was to him, Viktor was to you and vice versa. Mel was your confidant and Viktor was his—truly it would make more sense for you and Jayce to be closer. Then again, Viktor hadn’t been all that interested in befriending Mel either.

Not all circles merged, it seemed.

“How is he?” Jayce asked every morning, hovering by the cot you’d taken in the corner of the room. You stopped responding on the third, holding Viktor’s lumen out from where you kept it cradled to your chest.

In the wake of Jayce’s last ditch effort to save him, all that was left of Viktor’s soul was a wispy bronze overtaken by that violaceous magic that had swirled within the hexcore. Where it had been the size of your palm, now it barely filled the center, a few millimeters bigger than the hex tech gemstones.

It was brighter than it had ever been, but that tawny gold that had dulled to a muddied brown in the rise of his illness—that lumen you would know blind—had been stripped away.

He was still alive. That pulsing block encasing him had left his face bare, his breath stable. But whatever it was doing to his body was blurred. You could see the outline of his arms and legs, thin but prominent.

Whatever was going on in there reflected on his lumen, as it barely remained conscious. He couldn’t fly. Where he loved to sit between your neck and shoulder had become cold as he didn’t have the strength to hold on. The warmth of him remained, and some days he managed to move, always wiggling deeper into your palm.

Your heart kept breaking. If someone took a stethoscope to your chest they might only hear the crunch of glass with each breath. It might soon be dust if nothing changed.

Your name brought you out of an empty sleep, a warm hand brushing back hair in desperate need of a wash. The cold metal of a ring had tears filling your eyes.

“Mel,” you whispered, opening your eyes to her gentle features.

“Oh, dearest,” she murmured, throwing her arm around you as you curled tighter, shoulders shaking. It took so much energy to cry, you wish you wouldn’t.

“Where’s their lumen?” You were drifting as you watched Mel turn from Viktor’s prison. “Was it—?”

“No. It’s there.” He gestured to a metal birdcage he’d taken from one of the academy classrooms. Your lumen was inside, pressed against the side facing Viktor. “I put it as close to him as I could.”

“Jayce,” she said, words hardened. “Take it out of that. Now.”

“I can’t!” he breathed, running his hand through his hair. “It keeps trying to go to him and whatever the hexcore did could end up absorbing their lumen, too. This was the best I could do!”

“Put them in a cage?!”

“Mel,” you murmured from your corner. She turned, eyes brought with fury. “It’s okay.”

“It’s not!” Her nostrils flared, her hands waving towards you. “Look at you! You’re sick.”

“I’m heartbroken,” you said, holding Viktor’s lumen impossibly closer.

“They’re injured,” Jayce explained, guiding Mel to the other side of the birdcage. The council woman choked on a gasp as she lowered, taking in the vein-like strips of purple worming out from your lumen. “It tried to take it in. I managed to pull it out of the vortex before the hexcore did that to Viktor.”

Mel rushed back to you, looking you over. You smiled weakly, lifting your shirt where that same injury pulsed under your ribcage.

“It doesn’t hurt as bad anymore,” you promised.

“But it’s not healing,” Jayce pointed out, “and Viktor hasn’t shown any signs of waking up.”

“Heimerdinger?” Mel asked, running her fingers through your hair again. Your eyes closed, tension ebbing away just a bit.

“Missing,” whispered Jayce. “I can’t find him anywhere.”

Their voices strung together, tones bleeding into one persistent hum. You were exhausted. Everything took so much out of you, even breathing. It was as if you could sense each trickle of energy as if left. All the while, that stain on your side grew hotter.

So tired, you thought and fell back into an empty slumber filled with the distant sound of something gurgling.

.

Viktor woke abruptly, his name echoing somewhere just out of reach. Every movement was hindered, the sensation too uncomfortable to stay in as he struggled to freedom. His hands emerged first, his first step bringing him to his knees. He was used to that.

But not this. Not these limbs, deadened and stripped to muscles trickling with the color that stained the black behind his eyes. The metal of his back brace had combined with the flesh, just as the one on his leg had done with the hexcore experiment. His palms and knees scraped the ground like prongs on porcelain.

He stared at his hands, finding his breath and processing the sensations. Retracing his steps had him in the council room—votes entering the air, Jayce’s hope-filled smile as he turned to Miss Medara and that refraction of light as glass shattered.

Viktor stared at his hands, not anything like they were, when they shielded your lumen from the onslaught of something. An explosion?

Where are you? he thought and passed that ethereal purring in his head, something rattled.

His head turned and blearily, he made out a cage just shy of his foot. Your lumen, flushed against the bars, flashed in worried little increments.

He groaned, pushing back into his calves as he reached, dragging the cage to him. The simple lock flicked open and the small hinges nearly broke as you burst out, burying into his cheek. The cage lied abandoned as he held you, a new strength in him as he spied his cane and Jayce out-cold on the desk nearby.

Your lumen slid from his cheek. He just managed to catch it before it dropped from the air and it’s then he saw the new color bleeding out, purple veins trailing from a spot at your center.

Viktor…

He swiveled, eyes widening at the body curled on a cot against the wall. Even under a blanket he knew your outline, your hair falling off the edge of the cheap bed. Your face was tucked into your chest, one hand outstretched towards his prison, fingers brushing the floor.

Grabbing his cane, he didn’t bother to watch as it elongated under his touch. Now a staff, it brought him to you, dead to the world as he tilted your head back, brushing the hair from your sickly colored skin.

A light drew his attention to the cover over you. Peeking out from beneath was his lumen, changed and pressed against your skin where your shirt had ridden up. The same scar on your lumen pierced your side, the color of the veins flashing as he brought his hand closer to observe.

The memory of Sky cut into him. Those colors pulling at her face as she disintegrated into dust.

The hexcore had attempted to take you.

“Vik…tor?” Your eyes fluttered, breathing mere puffs as you tried to focus on him.

“Be still,” he murmured, the voice strange in his ears. “I must fix this.”

His palm smoothed over the stain, his other hand holding your lumen as white wisps curled around them. He took a breath, fingers quivering. A blinding light flashed through his eyes. Your back arched as if pained, your weak cry echoing.

Jayce’s voice called for you as you dropped onto the cot, panting.

“Viktor?”

He ignored him, taking in the silver scared lines left behind on your side and lumen. It floated from his palm, twirling as if shaking off the excess energy.

You sat up with a gasp, crumbling off the cot into him. He wrapped his arms around you, a memorized response. The warmth he knew from you was the same and yet it did not seep into him as it once did. The sensations were all distant.

“Viktor,” you whispered into his neck, clutching him. He stared down your back at his arms. Holding a hand up.

“What…am I?” he questioned.

“You’re alive!” shouted Jayce, kneeling next to him with a hand on his shoulder.

Viktor wasn’t sure if that was the answer he needed, but as you pulled back and looked up at him, there was a…charge. Familiar, yet new.

Whatever he was, if he could still be with you, perhaps it wasn’t all that bad.

[sleep-i-ness]

Disillusioned 3 (Tenth Doctor x reader)

Synopsis: You're back.

PREVIOUS PART | DOCTOR WHO MASTERLIST | GENERAL MASTERLIST

A hand brushed your cheek, caressing you back to consciousness, and you groaned, tilting your head into the touch. Revelling in the sweet moments of half-sleep and warmth before you inevitably had to deal with whatever shit you’d gotten yourself into. The soft mattress enveloped you, dipping slightly to your side for whoever was next to you. You doubted that you’d remember their name once you had to open your eyes.

“Y/N,” the figure beside you murmured, a soft rumble like a purr along your side. It was familiar, the voice, you knew it, but you couldn’t quite put your finger on it. Oh, God, you better not have slept with another friend. It always made things so awkward.

“Y/N.” The voice was more insistent, and you grumbled, rubbing at your eyes and dragging your hands over your face as you struggled to open your eyes to the brightness of the room. Who turned the bloody lights on?

You blinked the blurriness from your vision and froze as you came face to face with the Doctor. You yanked the covers up to your chin, scooting away from him, as your eyes remained wide. The last thing you remembered, you’d been with Jack, you’d gotten away from here.

“…What am I doing here?” Your voice trembled, even as you tried to steady yourself.

“You just teleported back in.”

You scoffed. “Just teleported? I don’t just teleport, you did something.”

“Woah, woah,” the Doctor mirrored your position, sitting up next to you, and you realised with a jolt that he was still in his three-piece suit. “I didn’t do anything.”

Grimacing, you swung your legs out of bed, noting with relief that you were still entirely dressed; in the stupid hospital gown, but dressed nonetheless. You rolled your shoulders back, tilting your head from side to side with a crack and stood up. “Right, well, I’m off then.”

You whacked your hand on your vortex, ready for the familiar giddy whoosh to sweep you straight back to Jack. But nothing happened. You frowned and pressed it again. And again. And again.

The Doctor just watched you, expression unreadable bar a slight downturn to his lips. You sneered at him. “What the hell have you done?”

“Give it to me.”

You glared, unclasping it from your wrist and throwing it over to him. He caught it without blinking and you rolled your eyes. Stupid Time Lords and their stupid reflexes.

The screwdriver buzzed as he ran it over the device, flipping it over to scan the back as well, and he shook his head. “It’s fried. Nothing more than a nice bracelet now.”

Oh God. You slumped back down onto the bed, next to the Doctor. Letting out a shuddery gasp, you covered your face with your hands and tried to fight back the desperate tears crawling up. But it didn’t work, and a choking gasp made its way out of you. You sobbed open-mouthed as the tears were wrenched out of you, no longer caring the Doctor was watching. Nothing mattered anymore. You were trapped, stuck in the monotony of chronology.

Because the Doctor sure as hell wouldn’t keep you around. He’d made that perfectly clear.

“Fix it,” you begged. “Fix it, please, Doctor.”

“I can’t.” He reached out a tentative hand to your shoulder, and you flinched away from his touch. What good was he if he couldn’t even help you? You were just going to get abandoned, probably back on Earth, and forced to live each day in and out like normal people. Yet without ever dying. Oh God.

You crawled back under the covers, pulling them high over your head, and squeezed your eyes shut. Maybe if you just fell back asleep, you’d wake up and everything would be okay again. You’d be back at Torchwood, back with Jack and people you trusted, and this would all be one bad dream.

Light broke into your cozy escape (if you could call it that) and you cracked open one eye, glaring as you saw the Doctor’s head popping under to look at you.

“Can I join you?”

You shrugged, sniffling slightly as your bottom lip wobbled.

The Doctor shuffled down underneath the duvet with you, staring up at the woven pattern of the sheet above and sneaking a glance at you every now and then. As if you didn’t notice.

“You could stay here,” he murmured.

And you froze. You whispered, “what do you mean stay here?”

“Stay. With me.”

You laughed bitterly. “I thought you didn’t want me around anymore.”

“I never said that.”

You rolled away from him, turning your back on him. He could rewrite history in his mind as much as he wanted, but you remembered. You remembered how much it hurt when he discarded you for the newer, bouncier, blonder model; old news now that he had some bright-eyed young thing around. You’d tried to talk to him about it, you really had, but you’d just been waved off because Rose had something to talk to him about.

And then came the fateful day, when he’d decided that you’d become too jaded to keep on hand and told you in the heat of an argument that you’d better run off to Jack.

“I thought I wasn’t welcome in the TARDIS anymore.”

The Doctor sighed. “I’m sorry.”

You frowned. Since when did the Doctor ever apologise?

“I’m genuinely sorry. I’ve regretted that day ever since. You are always welcome on the TARDIS.”

“Sure,” you snorted. “Now that you’ve lost Rose, you’ve come back for the second best.”

You turned back round again to face him, part of you tickled by the silly motion of shuffling yourself over. But you kept your scowl locked onto your face. The Doctor blinked at you, eyebrows furrowed, downturn to his lips etched slightly deeper.

“That’s never been the case. You,” he paused and pursed his lips. “The TARDIS, if you want it to be, if you can put up with me, will always be your home.”

You laughed, tears welling up in your eyes. “Do you know how long I’ve wanted to hear you say that? How many times you’ve disappointed me?”

He just stared at you, lips pressed together, forehead wrinkled. He opened his mouth and then shut it again. “Stay?”

You wrinkled your nose, twisting your mouth to one side.

“Please.”

You sighed. “...Fine. One last try.”

[passionateseadruid]

Snake Kings Bride 10

Fenrir

It’s been a few weeks since the “incident” as your coining it. Lucifer seems rather unaffected by it. He’s been love bombing you as usual. Making you food every day, buying you new gifts, tight hugs that were practically suffocating you, and he took you out for "dates" every weekend. This weekend he's taking you to the gluttony ring to look at how the hell hounds are treated.

You dressed in a pastel yellow shirt with a duck on it (of course) and flared jeans embroidered with apples on the sides (again, of course). You walked out of the room to find Lucifer waiting for you.

He squealed “You look so cute!” He hugged you and snuggled into your form.

“Stop. Touching. Me.”

He pouted, giving you puppy dog eyes. “I don’t wanna, doll!”

“I am not you doll.” You tried to push him away, but you just ended up stumbling back. “Let’s just get going to the gluttony ring.” You picked yourself up and walked towards the limo.

…

About an hour later you, Lucifer, and Beelzebub (or bee)

were sitting in a lounge overlooking a chaotic Hellhound part Bee was throwing. It was admittedly a bit uncomfortable. Lucifer and Bee were getting drunk on “honey” and you were sitting trying not to look out the window of the overhead lounge because you’d probably see people making out and/or grinding on each other.

“Hey… I’m gonna head out for some fresh air okay?” You told Lucifer.

He hugged you arm nuzzling it for a few seconds before letting you go. “Come back soon okay! I’ll find you wherever you off to!”

You stepped outside the club and checked some text messages.

“Tough night?” Someone asked from behind you. You turned around and saw a tall Hellhound with a broad muscular figure.

“You probably shouldn’t be talking to me.” You warned. His fur was black and he had a scar over his left eye.

“Okay, that’s kinda rude.” 

You roll your eyes. “It’s for your own safety. My “Fiancé” is possessive and probably wouldn’t like me talking to anyone guy.”

“You’re Lucifer’s girl aren’t you? Nice to meat you candy apple.” He smiled.

“Candy apple?” You tilted your head in confusion.

“Your jeans.” He pointed out. “Anyway I’m Vortex. Why are you out here all alone?”

“Lucifer and Bee were getting hammered and I just didn’t want to deal with that. I came out here to get away from all the noise.” You explained, just wanting to be alone right now.

“Sorry about that. Bee can get kinda rowdy at times. So you’re just out here to relax?” He asked not getting the hint.

“Yeah. It’s the only time I’ve gotten to be away from Lucifer in days. It was supposed to be alone time for me.” You said passive aggressively. Before he could respond you got the call you’ve been waiting for for months! “Sorry I have to take this!” Vortex nodded and left you to the phone call. “Hello?” You asked hesitantly.

“Hey is this Luci’s new bitch?!” The guy on the other end of the phone asked. He was loud and brash, and you remember him from your one day out doing whatever you wanted in exchange for going on a date with Lucifer.

“Yes that’s me. Did you find him, Mr. Blitz?” You asked hopeful of the outcome.

“Don’t get your panties in a twist honey, we got the guy.” He said so nonchalantly. 

“Great! Unfortunately I can’t come pick up the information about him right now. I’m… out of town on a work trip and I won’t be back until later tonight.” You explained sheepishly. 

“Yeah yeah, just come pick it up when you get the chance. I will say that it’s quite odd to have you request we track this guy down, but money is money and I’m not complaining.” You heard the squeaking of a chair in the background of the call.

“Thank you for your time Mr. Blitz.” You smiled so grateful for this.

“Thank YOU for your money.” He hung up and you went back inside to find the sins.

You were trying not to trip over limbs or bump into people. The whole place looked more like an orgy than Ozzie’s did. (But then again you weren’t exactly on the floor at Ozzie’s. There were fountains of honey, crazy ring statues, hexagonal shaped furniture, and music blaring from every corner of the place.

You made your way back up to the lounge and had to pretend like everything was normal.

Once you got there you saw a terrifying sight. A very, very drunk Lucifer whining on the couch. Once you entered his head shot up and he smiled at you. He flopped off the couch and ran to you. He leaned against you at a weird angle to press his face against your chest. His drunken rambling made no sense. He pulled you away from the door and pinned you against the wall.

“Your ssssoooo pretty~” He giggled as he slurred his words. “Fuck.” His voice came out in a whisper. “I wanna kiss you so badly!” He whined.

“You need to sober up.” You tried to get away as he held you close.

This seemed to be a running trend in your “relationship with the king of hell huh? He’d do something awful and make you super uncomfortable. Then he would apologize and love-bomb you with presents as an apology, promising to change and be better. But he never has, he never will.

“You’re so perfect! You’ll never go away~” He said sloppily. He giggled at you as you looked dully at him.

Maybe there was no escaping him, but that didn’t mean you couldn’t, wouldn’t, and shouldn’t try. There was nothing that bounded you to him. Renesmee and Nina were lovely to hang out with and be around but Styx and Pluto weren’t exactly the most welcoming of people to be around. It was suffocating.

“We need to get you some water.” You tried to step away again he he just held you in place against the wall and kissed you.

“No! I don’t want any water when I have the sweetest taste I could ever have here in my hands. You’re lips are like ambrosia, Darling. I need to taste them over and over. I need your kisses more than I need to breath!”

You wanted to cry. In any other context this would have been so sweet and romantic. If only he hadn’t taken you and violated you with his wants and desires every chance he got. He would have been such a sweetheart and a hopeless romantic if you two had met under normal circumstances. But instead he is forcing you to be his wife.

“We’re leaving.” You said as you grabbed his arm.

“I don’t wanna go!” He whined and struggled as you dragged him outside and away from the rest of the party.

“You need to sober up before you get a hangover tomorrow and become even more needy and “affectionate”. If you can even call it that.” People cheered as they saw you two leaving. You wondered if they actually thought he was a good king or if they were just kissing up to him. If it was the first option then why? He profited from a system that was built to keep them down. 

You threw him in the back seat of the car and climbed in after him. Eventually the car drove off and you were making your way back to the Pride ring. The car ride was silent as you stared out the window and Lucifer slept with his head on your lap.

Eventually you saw something that shocked and disturbed you.

A small Samoyed hell hound was being held down and muzzled… “Stop the car!” The driver stopped at your command.

You ran out and ran towards the small creature. You gently scooped the pup into your arms and glared at the bigger Hell hounds trying to take this poor creature away.

“WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?” You yelled in rage.

“None of your business! Now step aside!” One of them yelled. You held your ground and refused to let go of the poor little creature.

“It’s okay little one. Nothing is going to harm you while I’m here.”

“While we’re here…” Lucifer came out from the car unexpectedly. “I may have a killer headache but I know when my girls in danger. You come at my wife you fuck with me. And I don’t like getting fucked…” he spoke in a menacing tone as his horns grew out of head, with the new addition of a big black spot on his horns that weren’t originally there. His wings sprouted from his back. “Go to the car doll.”

“No.”

“Doll…”

You grabbed his hand and pulled both him and the puppy to to car. “Call up Bee and tell her we’re adopting this Hellhound. What’s your name little one?” You pulled them both into the limo.

“I don’t have one.” The sweet Samoyed revealed as Lucifer called Beelzebub.

“Are you a boy or a girl?”

“I’m a boy…”

“I’m gonna name you Guinefort after the folk hero! I’ll call you Guinea for short! You’re like a cute little guinea pig!” You smiled and booped his nose.

“What’s a guinea pig?” He tilted his head.

“Not important right now. How do you feel about your name?” He cringed at it. “Not a fan huh? How about… Gelert! No? Shippeitaro? Samara? Raiju?” You thought for a moment longer. “…hm. Fenrir?”

“That one!” He clapped.

You smiled. “That’s a beautiful name.” You kissed him forehead.

Yes, earlier you we’re talking about how you had nothing to tie you down to hell but… what were you supposed to do? Let him die? Or whatever they would’ve done to him? No… one step at a time you were going to start to change hell while you could. Even if you wouldn’t stick around to see the improvement it would make for its citizens.

“I promise Fenrir, as long as I’m with you nothing bad will ever happen to you again.

[briceterry]

Time for my autistic ass to gush about the Second Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024) trailer!

First, we get more footage of the Chao in that restaurant that Team Sonic was in, and we now know the name of it, Chao Garden. In reference the Chao Garden in Sonic Adventure 1 and 2, the people ask Tails if he's detective Pikachu and Knuckles says that he looks like a Pokémon. Now I want fan art of Movie Tails in a Pikachu onesie. But all of the banter is closed because Robotnik's badniks found them in Japan and start to cause havoc!

So it seems like Robotnik and Gerald aren't fully teaming up with the hedgehog and his friends, which was a thing I was worried about because a sequel of a video game movie from one of my favorite franchise left a very sour taste in my mouth... I can go on why The Angry Birds Movie 2 ruined that damn franchise along with other things that Rovio done to make Angry Birds go downhill, but this isn't what were talking about. Were talking about about a fast blue hedgehog who eats chili dogs and stops a evil doctor.

We get more looks at shadow, and he looks sick and he still sounds awesome from we heard from the ultimate life form. I'm still waiting for a "Whoa..." To come out of your mouth, Mr. Reeves!

Next we see a gadget that made the vortex in the first place from the first trailer that tried to suck Team Sonic into. Also we get to see the Knuckles' strength by biting onto what seems to look like a wire so Sonic can throw a ring in time so they can get back to their parents house.

These three are literally the best brothers who get into messes, I swear to god I'm gonna be giggling like a man baby and I'm gonna get kicked out of the movie theater for being a fanboy.

More shots of Sonic and his team of brothers. You can't call them friends, they're just brothers and I love that the Sonic movie fandom made it sorta cannon.

Now we get a new look at Robotnik's brand new design, and I'm loving this. And...

He's pissing on the moon with the Space colony ARK.

Another example of their brotherly bond. It just comes to show how much Sonic evolved in the movies. In the first movie, he was forced to hide which made him lonely, but by the end of that movie Tom and Maddie adopt him as their son, though he doesn't see it yet until the second movie, where he meets Tails and Knuckles who he befriends at the beginning of the film when Robotnik gets sent back to earth, and Knuckles when he finds out about Robotnik tricking him.

All of the heart warming stuff ends because Shadow has a mother fucking gun again after 16 years with Shadow the Hedgehog (2005) and the trailer end with the mystery that Sonic fans are gonna be debating just like the film Die Hard... Is Sonic the hedgehog 3 (2024) a Christmas movie? I don't know, that's up for you to decide. In all honesty that scene with Robotnik and Gerald had me laughing. They. Are. COOKING!

[writinghotchner]

the infinite amount of times you saved yourself, and the one time you didn't have to

Pairing: aaron hotchner/reader Rating: M (sfw) Warning: talks of self harm & depression (nothing too descriptive)

----

i really don't know why this came into my brain, but i couldn't shake it so...here we go. please mind the warnings and take care of yourselves <3

----

you have a small moment of wanting to relapse after being clean for so long and aaron finds you in the bathroom

you've dealt with self harm since you could remember. it started with hitting yourself as a child and then progressed into scratching, and then eventually when you got a little older, you got your hands on a pack of brand new razor blades. and then it became a problem. it stemmed from lack of control, a therapist once told you, so any time you felt like you were in a situation you couldn't control - or felt the need to control - you'd immediately take it out on yourself. the only thing you could control was the pain. and, as sad as it is, it always made you feel better. it stopped the spiraling and the crying and the heaving of breathe that you could never fully suck into your lungs.

you're not entirely sure how you got here in this moment. in your underwear and bra on the bathroom floor of the apartment you share with your boyfriend. he works for the fbi, travels a lot, never really seems to be home...but it still works. you've never been in such a healthy, loving relationship before, despite the distance. so maybe that's why you feel the tinge of guilt sitting on top of the unbearable sadness that rumbles in your chest like a brewing hurricane.

you're happy. for maybe the first time in your life. you have a great, albeit, stressful job, a handful of good friends and you're potentially with the love of your life...so...how did you get here? on the floor of the bathroom in the apartment that you share with your boyfriend. who is, unfortunately, or fortunately, still at work. he wasn't out of town, thankfully, but his attention was still needed in quantico. he could potentially show up at any moment. and that sends a bizarre lightening strike of adrenaline down your spine. if you're going to do it, now's the time. before he comes home and sees the mess you've made, yet again, and leaves. like almost everyone else has done before.

you know this is a pattern. you'd been stuck in a depression vortex for most of your life, so when good things start happening your brain immediately throws you ten steps backwards, and you wind up like that scared, lonely teenager, clutching something sharp and willing yourself to either do it...or don't.

you'd never really been good with talking yourself out of it. and now is no different. you can do it, and hide it for as long as you can. put on the facade that everything is and has always been great. and then he'll see the fresh marks, and you'll immediately fall back into being that scared, lonely child begging people to not leave you.

you'd done this so many times that it's almost comical that you keep hoping that this is the one time you can talk yourself out of it. but then, what else can you brag about, if not that your are your own hero. always the one to save yourself. not that anyone's ever really stuck around long enough to even try to be the hero.

but still, you picture aaron charging through the bathroom door, his short hair suddenly long and flowing in some magical wind and lifting you into his big, strong arms and hauling you off to some beautiful place where you can breathe.

you close your eyes and sigh. your legs are starting to go numb from how your sitting on the tile floor. now or never the pathetic little voice floats around your brain.

you take a deep breath, straighten out your left arm and grip the razor blade tighter....

just as your about to zip the blade through your flesh, you hear the front door open and then close. you hear aaron shuffling around calling out for you.

"honey?" he says loudly, walking into the bedroom, where the bathroom your in is attached to.

for some reason, that's what breaks you. you let the blade fall out of your hand and choke on a sob that has been threatening to come out since you got home.

you can hear him on the other side of the door, jiggling the handle. "honey, are you in here?" the door is locked and you don't know if you have it in you to get up and let him in. funnily enough, you're not sure you want him to come him - despite the little hero fantasy you had moments ago.

you suck in a deep breath and you try to calm your voice. "hey, yeah, i'll be out in a second. just getting out of the shower."

you wince at your lie and you can immediately tell that he doesn't believe you. he's a professionally trained human reader, of course he was going to see right through that. maybe you kinda wanted him to.

"sweetheart," he says softly. "i can hear it in your voice. please open the door."

your lip quivers as this unknown fear settles deep inside of you. you've never been so scared of someone seeing this side of you.

another sob escapes you before you even realize it was there, and you know it was loud enough for him to hear. he doesn't wait for you to open the door, instead he throws the side of his hip into it and it cracks open, a piece of small metal clanking around on the ground from the handle.

you can't even look up at him. you've crumbled in on yourself, legs crossed and elbows on your thighs, head in your hands as you finally just let it all out.

"hey," he says softly, and you can suddenly feel his big warm hand on your bare back. "are you hurt? what's going on?"

he moves his hand off your back and puts it softly around your wrist, pulling it away from your face. he uses his other hand to turn your face to him, his eyes immediately scanning for any blood or wounds.

"y/n, i need you to say something, i'm thinking the worst here," he whispers, his eyes never leaving yours. the hand that he used to move your face is now cupping your cheek, his thumb wiping away the falling tears.

you still don't say anything, if anything the embarrassment of it all has your tongue. so instead you sit up and fall into his chest where he immediately circles his arms around your shoulders, hugging you to him securely. your heart thuds in your chest as you realize at this position, he can see the fallen razor blade that was to the side of you, hidden by your legs before. you know he's going to see it, he sees everything.

sure enough, you can tell when he spots it. because he pushes your body way from him his, just far enough to where he can look down at your entire body, looking for any signs of blood or bandaging.

"i didn't-" you rasp out. he runs his hands up your arms and uses both hands to cup your cheeks. you can't place the expression on his face, but you know it isn't good. it's never good to make someone you love so much worry so much about you. you feel stupid and even more embarrassed now. a vicious cycle.

"were you going to?" he asks. the concern in his voice loud enough to knock you over.

more tears fall, you want to curl in on yourself and hide away under the rug, but he doesn't let you move your head.

"i think so."

"honey.." his voice is so sad and so concerned. it breaks you even more. you fall back into his chest and he lets you, his arms once again coming around to hug you to him.

"is this something you've done before?"

you take in a deep breath. being in his arms like this always makes you feel better, and the fact that he can't see your face right now makes this conversation a tiny bit easier.

"since i was a kid," you blow out a steady stream of air, willing the hurricane in your chest to go with it. "i stopped for a long time. it felt kinda childish to keep doing it well into adulthood, so i replaced it with other things...." you trail off and he squeezes you tighter and kisses your shoulder.

"and then, y'know, you get older, you get a job, you learn how to distract your brain from the self destructive cycle. but i think i locked the beast away for too long, because tonight i just...couldn't..."

you feel him take in a deep breath. he pulls away from you and runs his hands down your arms and holds your hands.

"i'm glad you didn't. is there anything i can do to help? can we maybe make a plan for the future so it doesn't come down to this again?"

you nod. "i've...never had anyone offer that before. most people just...leave."

he pulls you into a small, soft kiss. his hands are back on your cheeks, and he pushes your hair out of your face. "it'll take a lot more than this to make me leave, honey. we can get through this together. whatever you need."

and for the first time in your entire life, you didn't care about having bragging rights to being your own savior. for once, you can't wait to tell someone how you met the love of your life and how he stood by your side and helped you through the unimaginable. and never gave up on you.

[moonchild701]

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Blue Bonfire

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Summary: Demon Dabi is summoned

Pairing: Demon!Dabi & Gen Reader

Content Warning: Drinking, Implied Death, SFW

Word Count: 666

Disclaimer: Character belongs to Kohei Horikoshi

A/N: Yes I did make it 666 words on purpose :D

This is for a Halloween Challenge in one of the communities here on Tumblr. I used four prompts from the challenge, plus my own for funsies, so I'll be posting every Thursday up to and including Halloween.

Prompt: Demon & Bonfire

Happy Halloween and Enjoy!💕

My Masterlist

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The cold, dark night is made bright and warm from the bonfire in the middle of the clearing, the crackles of the orange flames joining the laughter and chatter of you and your friends in the otherwise silent woods.

As a bit of R&R, you all decided to go camping out here, and what better way to enjoy camping than sitting around the bonfire telling ghost stories, drinking and being stupid. And being stupid, you all decide to play games.

Someone brings up the tale of if you're in front of a big open flame like the bonfire, and you say a demon's name three times while throwing salt into the flames, it will appear. You may feel a presence.

Some of you call bullshit, some of you refuse to participate, some of you beg them not to do it.

They do it anyway.

The one who brought it up in the first place is the one to do it. He's of course cocky about it, because well, it's just a stupid story made up to scare people. It's not like it's actually going to work.

"Dabi" he says, all drunken confidence, with a hint of playfulness, dashing salt into the flame. "Dabi." Another dash, "Dabi.", and another.

At first, nothing happens other than the flame turning slightly more yellow. The guy laughs drunkenly, swaying on his feet.

Just as someone says, "See? Bullshit.", the entire fire extinguishes, all at once, all on it's own. You all gasp and squeak and curse, and then the fire suddenly roars to life again, bigger, brighter and a brilliant blue.

You all scream.

Among the panic, someone hears something, shushing you all.

"You guys hear that?" Her voice trembles as she hopes it was just her imagination.

But now you can hear it.

A quiet but incessant clanging of metal in the silence, gradually getting louder, faster, closer.

Until it abruptly stops.

The wind howls, the flames dance wildly, slowly forming a swirling vortex in the shape of a tornado, licks of fire lashing around it. Within it, a silhouette forms, seeming to flicker; the fire seeming to burn brighter, hotter, crackling louder. You skin twinges with the heat, beads of sweat trickle down your face and neck.

And then the fire vanishes, and in its place, there stands.....something.

With the moonlight now as your only source of light, the only things visible of your new addition are the shape of long horns curved to the sky and what seems to be staples in its face glinting in the low light of the moon,

You're all petrified. Completely unable to move with the pure terror saturating your very bones.

And then you hear a laugh.

Low and deep and dark.

Sinister.

It turns your heart to ice, your lungs to ash, your brain to slush.

You feel the blood drain from your face, the tremble of your limbs, the dryness of your mouth.

This thing is very obviously not human.

As if hearing your thoughts, it's eyes snap open, and you hear one of your friends choke on a gasp.

Blue, blue, blue.

The bright azure of his eyes are gorgeous, like looking into gems, into the fire that blazed moments ago, as they seem to glow.

That terrifying gaze traces over you all oh so slowly, slitted pupils making it that more piercing, before finally landing on you.

A flicker of that pretty blue flame comes to life again in his palm, and it illuminates his features hellishly.

The light reflects off of his staples like glitter, swaths of discolored skin contrasting against the pale, unblemished skin.

Of course, the most terrifying thing, is his smile, though it seems like a stretch to even call it that, seeming more like a baring of teeth.

Wide to the point of pulling at the staples, rows of sharp teeth on display.

It's the last thing you see before all you know is heat and pain and silence.

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[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

I've been dreaming of the King of the Underworld.

Praise be to the King of the Underworld, lonely at the top of his rotting domain.

Before he can save their souls, he must first save himself.

How does a moment last forever? How can a story never die?

This world is a one great big lie.

Idia recognizes it now, clenched in the gaping jaws of the Underworld. Phantoms squirm around him, moaning as their distended limbs claw at the air, seeking out the final shreds of hope in their hellish pit called home. They are prisoners, trapped in Tartarus, and he, a prisoner of his own mind.

He forces himself against the bars that keep him in and violently rattles them. The ceiling above--he's filled with a visceral need to smash it, cracking it wide open.

If he is a beast, then so be it.

He will let them--let himself--out.

A dark power courses through his bloodstream. It soars, sings, uplifting him in his sorrows. It is ignorant of the tears of ink that trail down his pale cheeks and drips onto his armor. Sapphire flames, tattered fabric, and midnight ink swirl around him in a hypnotizing vortex.

He knows this form, this dizzying, addictive strength.

Overblot.

He floats, untouchable, above the masses, and above his staggering opponent. A giant, hulking figure cloaked in a flowing black toga, fire wreathing the glass bottle of its head. It bleeds ink, this being that he has knocked down.

But it is still his inner demon, this Phantom.

It is still Ortho.

It is how he is in real life, and how he appears in his nightmares. A frail soul consumed by the shadows.

Idia throws his head back, letting out a stuttering, panting, mad laugh. He gasps, rasps, chokes, heaves for air. It hurts to breathe, to try and contain his cynical grin in the face of the circumstances.

It’s fake. None of it is real.

That memory…

"Shroud. It's good of you to join us for the Opening Ceremony. Here, take my hand. We can attend the event together."

And that memory…

"That was a fun match 🎵 We completely destroyed the opposing team. Let's go for another round, Gloomy Samurai!"

All of my memories are…!!

"I need to go--my dorm leader's calling--but I'll talk to you later, Nii-chan. Tell me all about your first day of third year, okay? That's a promise!"

His senses spiral, scrambling to make sense of the revelations. They come, one after another, rapid-fire and blinding. A blitz of truths, each a punch to the gut.

He never attended the ceremony, he was holed up in his bedroom. Crimson Muscle is abandoning all of his accounts. And Ortho is... Ortho is...!!

Ortho is dead.

He isn't coming back, ever.

You lost one brother and gained another.

The happy illusion at last cracks. Its pieces fall away, revealing the ugliness beneath the splintered fantasy.

That's right. I'm always being saved by my little brothers.... What a pathetic big brother I turned out to be.

How stupid. How stupid...! Wasn't I... Wasn't I supposed to be the one to save them?

He clenches his fists.

"... Sorry, Ortho. I can't stay." Idia lifts his head, staring intently at the ceiling's closed gates. "I have to go. People are waiting for me."

"Ahahah..." The Phantom shudders, a quiet chuckle reverberating from its glass bottle cranium. No eyes, no lips--but Idia can tell he must be smiling sadly. "That's my big bro."

"Are you going to try and stop me again?" Idia tenses, and his power pulsates at the tips of his fingers, waiting for the command to be given.

"No, I understand. Besides, there's no point! You already beat the Final Boss--I don't have a second form," Ortho replies cheerily. "You just shine way too brightly to be stuck down here and shunned."

"Shine?"

The word gives him pause. Idia has never thought of himself as someone that radiates light. He imagines Cater and Kalim and Rook, tries to place himself beside them.

Him, in his blot-stained armor and gloomy disposition.

He doesn't fit.

"Me?" Idia squeaks. "LMAO. Nice bait there, Ortho. I could never be a part of that world."

"Okay, maybe not that shiny." Ortho bobs his head. "But you get it now, right? This is a strength only you have. You can go and share that amazing strength with everyone."

His curse, a blessing.

His pitiful fortune, reversed.

One last tear slides down his face.

"... Yeah. Yeah, I do,” Idia whispers. “I can.”

I can do this.

Magic pools before him, forming a single sphere of light that cuts through the depths of Tartarus. The Phantoms below vocalize louder and louder, as if in awe, in reverence, even as they balk away from the incredible shine.

"Game, set match. Gate to the Underworld."

At his incantation, a low groan rolls through the pit. Not from the monsters that inhabit it, but from the earth itself. There's a screech, a lurch, and then--

The gates above slowly pry open, letting light seep in.

"It's open. You can leave." Ortho rights himself, offering a large hand to Idia. "Here, hop on. I'll give you a boost!"

"Kk, thnx."

Idia boards--and the difference in scale between him and his "little" brother shocks him. Once, Ortho was two thirds of his height. Now Idia fits in his palm.

"Hang on tight! Keep all hands and feet inside the vehicle, we're outta here!"

The Phantom rises. Higher, higher, higher... to that single spot of light, the thread of hope in hell.

Soon, Idia will be out.

And Ortho will be no more once again.

"... You know, I really liked this," Idia muttered, a hand on Ortho's thumb. "The dream. It was fun while it lasted."

"It was," Ortho agrees, "but dreams can't last forever, can they?"

"No," Idia replies curtly, resolution in his voice, "they can't."

As the word leaves his mouth, Ortho comes to a stop. They've arrived at the cusp, at the border between this place and beyond.

Idia's grip on Ortho's thumb tightens.

"... It's alright, Nii-chan," the Phantom says quietly. "The whole universe is waiting for you."

He fights back a sob.

"Ortho... Of course. Just leave it to your big bro."

“Shoot for glory among the stars and soar like a comet," Ortho recites, poking him in the chest. "Go and get'm--and make many new memories for me, 'kay?"

“Shoot for glory among the stars and soar like a comet," Idia repeats, letting go and leaping into the air.

He blasts off in a blaze of glory, like a hero in the comics and video games. Some gallant figure, off to save the his home, his people.

"Safe travels, Nii-chan!" Ortho's voice calls after him. It's strong at first, but grows weaker as the distance between them grows.

"Good-bye!

"Good-bye...!

"Good... bye..."

"Good-bye, Ortho."

And hello, world.

[risswirly]

Frayed Edges

SYNOPSIS: The plan was to attend a vortex party to get your mind off the argument you'd had with Warren, but things take a turn when he unexpectedly shows up, begging to talk to you GENRE: Angst and fluff NOTE: It's a bit out of character I can't lie but I just rlly wanted to write something with a bit more conflict T^T (Song inspo: No. 1 Party Anthem, Arctic Monkeys) WORD COUNT: 3.4k

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Typically, this would be the last place you'd want to be. The smell of alcohol, weed and impulse hangs thick in the air as blasting music numbs your eardrums. You'd only gone to a few Vortex club parties in the past and it seemed they never got any less wild. Somehow, your friends' promises of "it'll be fun", "it'll make you feel better", and reassurance to stick with you the whole night successfully got you to come, although, after only a few drinks, she was now nowhere in sight.

You make your way into the kitchen, deciding that if you had to be stuck here until she reappeared, you would at least spend that time drunk. Grabbing and filling a red plastic cup, you gulp down a glass of punch. You wince at the unexpectedly strong concentration of vodka, which you probably should've seen coming.

Perhaps this party wouldn't be so bad, you reconsidered, filling your cup again. Just a few more drinks and you could actually see yourself having a good time, dancing to the music, catching up with people, and.. maybe even meeting someone?

You immediately feel your heart grow heavy as you remind yourself why your friend had thought it would be a good idea for you to come. You chug down another cup.

It had been about two weeks since you last spoke to Warren, no calls, no texts and most certainly no face-to-face interactions, simply spotting him in the hall was enough to make you feel sick to the stomach. It was nauseating how quickly someone you once needed to breathe could make you feel like you were suffocating. The worst part was you really did miss him. His smile, his corny references you didn't understand half the time, his hand on the gear shift in his car, the feeling of his fingertips tracing your-

You shut your eyes tight and knock back your head, letting the alcohol fill your system. What was this, your 5th drink? If it could make you forget for just one night, it was good enough, was all you thought as you stumble to refill the cup. For the first night in two weeks, you wouldn't question your self-worth, you decided tonight would be your night.

You crush the plastic cup in your hands and throw it into the bin with a newfound determination coursing through your veins as you make your way toward the music. The living room is swimming with people, music blaring from a makeshift DJ booth at the front of the room, and coloured lights flicker and illuminate the blurry crowd of dancing students.

You make your way to the dance floor and begin to move along to the music. Although you start a little awkwardly, over the next hour you gradually feel the warmth and haziness from the alcohol engulf you, feeling the thudding of the bass sync with your heart as you become more and more confident.

In your dancing you suddenly notice the empty coffee table that's situated in the middle of the room right next to you. In a moment of impulsivity, you hoist yourself up on top. You wobble a little at the sudden movement, but looking out over the crowd, the world feels like your oyster. You giggle to yourself as you sway your hips drunkenly, trailing your hands over your body and through your hair, showing off, even winking at a cute guy in the crowd, feeling like the hottest girl alive.

You close your eyes as you dance, and the room feels electric, everyone staring at you, cheering, dancing along to your rhythm, their cameras flashing as you feel the best you have in two weeks. You reopen your eyes and feel your breath hitch in your throat, in the corner of the room, standing with a drink, you spot Warren, his gaze fixated on the same thing as everyone else's: you.

You feel your heart begin to pound, now wanting nothing more than to disappear. You quickly try to step off the table, but the crowd of tightly packed bodies gives you no room to escape. You feel as if you're about to throw up and try your best not to panic, looking for an exit from being the centre of attention.

Among the sea of faceless people, you see a hand extending toward you. You look and see it's the guy you had winked at before reaching to help you. You grab his hand and sigh in relief as he pulls you down from the table, holding you steady as you stumble out of the crowd. You look back to try and spot Warren but can't see him through the dancing mass of students. "Woah, you are totally gone", he chuckles as he leads you away from the lounge room. "Yeah, that was the idea", you mumble, holding your head in your palm as he brings you back towards the kitchen.

You lean against the counter and contemplate every decision you've ever made. Why the fuck was he here? Warren never came to these kinds of events, so why, of all nights, did he come here? Tonight? You groan into your hands and feel like crying. "Hey, this might help" You feel a hand on your back and, upon uncovering your face, are greeted with a glass of water. "Thanks", you mutter before taking a sip. Now in the better-lit kitchen you could get a decent look at this guy. It would be a lie to say he wasn't good-looking and he had been considerate enough to help you out, but the thought of Warren just a few rooms away gnawed at you.

He leans his hip on the counter, facing you with crossed arms. "I, uh, saw you wink at me during your little moment" he grins coyly. You bury your face in your palms once again as you remember, "Fuck. I did, didn't I?" You groan, questioning if Warren had seen that or not. "Yeah, you seem pretty wasted" " he chuckles before unashamedly looking you up and down, "How 'bout we ditch this place huh?" he suggests, an eagerness lacing his voice. You shut your eyes and curse your previous spark of confidence under your breath, now being faced with the chore of turning this guy down. "Like you said, I'm pretty drunk and I'm actually waiting for my friend so.." you manage to stammer as you slowly take a step back. "Oh come on. We'll be done before she even realises you're gone," He insists with a smirk, taking a step toward you.

You try taking another step back, but something blocks you. You let out a small gasp and your body shudders as you feel a hand trail its way from your lower back to your hip. You don't even need to turn around to know who the hand belongs to. "She's with me." Warren's voice is sombre and harsh as he glares at the boy who uncrosses his arms and laughs, "Excuse me?" he asks, raising an eyebrow. "I said she's with me, so back the fuck off", Warren repeats, tightening his grip on your waist, pulling you closer to him.

You look up at him and your heart stops as you realise how close his face is to yours. You notice the definition in his jaw as he clenches his teeth, eyes narrowed as he shoots daggers into the guy standing in front of you both. Warren was far from intimidating, but in this moment, all traces of his unserious and lighthearted self disappeared. The boy chuckles and brings his gaze back to you, a sceptical look on his face as if to say, 'no way he's serious'. You let out a shaky breath and reluctantly nod your head, facing Warren would be better than leaving with this guy. He scoffs and looks over your one last time before putting his hands up in surrender with a shrug, "Whatever, bitch", he mutters as he turns and leaves.

You let out a sigh and take an unsteady step away from Warren, his hand slipping from your waist. You now stand before him, barely able to look him in the eyes, "What the fuck was that?" you ask, your voice laced with more anger than intended. Warren shakes his head confused "Excuse me? That was me helping you", he states as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Oh, thank you Warren, my night in shining armour. Please. do you want a medal?" You snap back. His eyes fill with hurt as you mock him, he takes a shaky breath, "(Y/n) please, I just want to talk. I want to fix this" he pleads. Your throat tightens hearing the ache in his voice and you immediately regret drinking so much earlier, wishing you weren't so intoxicated right now. You sigh, "I'm still here aren't I?" You roll your eyes. You see his gaze soften as you agree to talk but the anxious look in his eyes quickly returns, "Not here", he insists as he looks around at the other people in the room.

Before you can say anything, he takes your hand and begins leading you through the house, taking you upstairs and into a bathroom far from the main action of the party, although you can still hear the music and chattering faintly. The two of you stand alone in the dim light, thoughts racing and hearts pounding, the millions of things you've wanted to say and yell and ask him over the past 2 weeks seem to escape your mind. His eyes gaze over you, taking in every feature and curve of your face as he stands in front of you, breathless. You take a small step back and he snaps back to reality, "S-sorry. I just.. haven't seen you in so long", he mutters apologetically. "Well, you wanted to talk? So talk" You murmur, your tone not so harsh now that it's just the two of you.

He anxiously rubs the back of his neck, clearly nervous, "I don't even know where to start", he whispers quietly. "What you said to me two weeks ago might be a good start" " you reply, a tang of bitterness still in your tone. He places a palm on his forehead, "That stupid argument", he groans painfully.

Your brows furrow, "Stupid?" you echo his words, the anger in your voice raising with your temper. He shakes his head "No- no, that's not what I meant" he tries to correct himself, clearly frustrated.

You turn your back to him trying to hide the pain in your face, "I gave you my ALL, Warren. Every part of me and you just.. it didn't mean anything to you. Do you know how much that hurts? But no, you're right, it's just stupid" You spit back, the alcohol from earlier making it hard to control the shake in your voice.

He takes a hesitant step toward you, wanting nothing more than to reach out and comfort you, but he refrains. "(y/n).. You know that's not what I meant-" he pleads. "Really? Do I know? I thought I knew two weeks ago too, but clearly, I was wrong" Your scolding sounds more like a sob as your emotions bubble over. "I never meant to hurt you", He whispers just loud enough for you to hear.

You take a shaky breath trying with all your might to stop the tears that sting your eyes. You turn and face him, "No, Warren, you don't get to play the intention card. I asked you what we were, what I meant to you and you couldn't even give me an answer. Months of sneaking around and keeping things a secret, I couldn't take it anymore. I want more, Warren. I want us. I want real, genuine love, not this friends-with-benefits bullshit!" You step toward him and point a finger into his chest, "You knew how I felt, and you knew you didn't feel the same. You knew how this would end, but you kept leading me on.. and you wanna say you 'didn't mean to hurt me'?" You sob, feeling the tears roll down your cheeks and onto the cold tile.

He stands with his mouth agape, unbreathing, still and completely silent as he takes in what you said. He inhales shakily before speaking. "Is that what you thought I meant?" he breaths. His question is genuine. You hear the anguish and guilt in his voice as his face melts into despair. Seeing you cry, his hesitancy instinctively disappears, and he begins to comfort you, with one hand, he softly holds your shoulder, placing the other on your cheek, gently wiping your tears with his thumb. "No, no, (y/n)... You can't seriously think that's how I felt, please.." His begs, utterly crushed.

You continue to cry, giving up on holding it in anymore, "'I don't know', that's the only answer you could give me Warren. Do you know how much it hurts to hear someone you've loved for so long tell you they don't know what you are to them ?" You break down into tears, taking his wrists and weakly trying to pull his hands away as you sob. He continues to wipe your cheeks despite your protest "I couldn't even think straight that day. I was scared out of my mind-" You cut him off, "You think I wasn't scared?" You cry, pushing his hand away forcefully

He shakes his head in distress, "No (y/n), that's not what I meant! You have it all wrong!" His retorts back exasperated. His voice is raised, not by a lot, but just enough to get you to stop interrupting him and hear what he has to say.

"God. I feel like everything I say is being misunderstood or comes out wrong!" He holds his head in his hands, taking a step back to breathe. "You think I don't also want more? I want to be so much more. I want to be more than just friends with benefits, I want to be more than just casual hookups, I want to be more than whatever the fuck we were before. That day, in your room, when you asked me what you meant to me, I froze, okay? My brain shut down and I went into panic mode and all I could say was 'I don't know' over and over because in all honesty, I don't know how to even begin explaining just how much you mean to me."

He goes quiet as he calms down and takes a deep breath before continuing, "That day, I was scared if I told you how I really felt you'd get freaked out and I'd end up fucking it all up and losing you. But I lost you anyways.. and on top of that I ended up hurting you."

He rubs the nape of his neck nervously leaning his head back as he finally confronts his feelings, "I've never felt this way about anyone and I don't know how to deal with it. Every time I see you I feel like I'm going insane. You have no idea how much of an effect you have on me."

He rubs his hands across his face restlessly, "These past two weeks without you have been absolute torture- I only came to this stupid party because I hoped that by some miracle you'd also be here and I'd see you. I knew I had to fix this because.. I'd never forgive myself for being stupid enough to lose the person that means the most to me." His breathing is fast as his heart beats out of his chest as he finally opens up to you about how he truly feels, something he's been too afraid to face for so long.

He places both his hands on your shoulders and looks deep into your soul, his eyes filled with longing and need, " I want us more than I've wanted anything else in my whole life.. Please"

You stand in shock, unable to speak. You look at him, instead of the heartless villain you'd convinced yourself he was, you see the boy you'd fallen in love with, vulnerable and honest, giving you his heart. You realise that all this time you'd let your anxieties manifest and cloud your vision, that all along you were just two teenagers in love too scared to admit what you felt. You see the desperation in Warren's eyes as he tries to fix the mistakes he's made, and you feel yourself melt from the inside out. You nod softly as you lean into him.

He wraps his arms around you, holding you close as he gently pats your head, letting you cry into his shoulder. He buries his face in your hair, breathing you in as he squeezes you tighter. You feel him exhale shakily as he holds you, the tension and anxiety slowly dissolving from his body as he grasps the fact you're in his arms again. "I really thought I'd lost you", he quietly whispers into your neck, you hear the tears in his voice as he brings you closer.

You grasp the fabric of his shirt tightly as you finally embrace him after weeks apart. "I missed you so much" " you mutter as you close your eyes and feel his warmth blanket you. He caresses your head softly, "I'm not going anywhere", he reassures you.

You pull away slightly and look him in his eyes. You see his cheeks are wet from his tears and he looks away embarrassed. You softly cup his jaw, pulling him to face you again and begin to gently wipe his cheeks dry. He looks at you through heavy eyelids as he leans into your touch. He places his hand over yours, "I want to be official this time." he says nervously. He pauses and takes a deep breath as he swallows his fears, "(y/n) would you.. be my girlfriend?" his words are quiet and nervous as the questions hangs in the silence between you.

Time stops as you hear the words leave his mouth and you feel his heart pounding through his chest. Your mouth falls open, and your eyes widen as you feel your own heart explode. As the words register in your mind your eyes soften and you smile back at him softly, "I'd love nothing more" you whisper just loud enough for him to hear. You watch as the worry leaves his face as he takes a deep breath and he smiles back at you tenderly.

He slowly brings a hand to your jaw and leans in as you close your eyes you stand on your toes. He erases the gap between you, kissing you gently. He breathes you in, missing every part of you as he's reminded of how addicting you are. "No more secrecy, no more hiding" He continues kissing you as he talks "I want everyone in this town to know I'm yours" " he mutters into your lips, his words muffled by his kisses. You giggle at his eagerness as you kiss him back, "I like the sound of that".

As you laugh you suddenly hear a familiar voice from outside "(Y/n) are you in there?!" you hear your friend call drunkenly from outside the door. You and Warren both become paralysed, your attention snaps toward the world outside the bathroom as you hear her open the door without warning. "(Y/n)! Guess what! Apparently Warren is here tonight an-" she freezes in her tracks, eyes wide and jaw on the floor seeing the two of you in a heated embrace, his hands on your lower back and your fingers in his hair. She blinks in shock before speaking, "Oh, hi Warren..." She says awkwardly, glancing at you with a look that screams 1000 words before she begins to back away. "Okay, I'm just gonna..." she trails off as she closes the door, leaving the two of you alone again.

You stand in silence for a moment, still looking at the door before you burst out into laughter. "Oh my god, I have so much explaining to do", you groan as you lean your head on Warrens chest. He chuckles at your embarrassment, "It'll be okay",  he reassures you as he pats your back, still holding you tenderly. You look up at him, "Yeah, it'll be okay", you echo back. He looks at you, eyes filled with warmth and affection. He was right, it would be okay, because right now in his warm embrace, nothing had ever felt more right.

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[unicorn-academy-brainrot]

Okay I was gonna wait until I had a more finished drawing of her unicorn but fuck it I never finish any of my drawings anyways…. Im a dirty WIP poster and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon lmaoooo

So this is my OC Stella that I first introduced here and her unicorn Braydee!! Braydee is the polar opposite of Stella for better or for worse. Braydee is a spirited unicorn who loves parties and being around people. Stella is actually her very first rider! (Also please pretend Braydee has really pretty braids in her mane and also ribbon markings on her side, I will try a full body drawing of Braydee… uhhhh… eventually…..) She is super outgoing and fun and a little pinch mischievous, and she has ribbon magic!

What is ribbon magic you ask? Sounds lame right? Well Stella thinks so at first as well (RIP) but ribbon magic is for a lot more than pretty bows and decorations, ribbon magic can be used like magic ropes that can create super strong bonds. For example a tree is about to fall on someone, ribbon magic is strong enough to tie the tree back, to catch someone while they fall, to trap a villain, etc etc. But it takes time for Stella to understand that, like her, you shouldn’t judge things right away because they appear frivolous to you at first. I was also thinking that the upgraded power of ribbon magic would be like a swirling ribbon vortex, kinda like how bonding magic looks, but dialed up to the max, which functions like a force field. And force fields are super great for protecting people, but they also happen to be great at keeping people out, which is a theme that the two of them are going to explore together LOL.

Anyways back to Braydee! Braydee occasionally gets impatient with Stella and doesn’t always recognize when Stella is about to have a panic attack, but ultimately Braydee learns how to connect with Stella in quieter gentler ways, which allows Stella to eventually come out of her shell and be able to connect with her other dorm mates. Braydee shows Stella how to loosen up and have fun, and Stella shows Braydee how to appreciate quiet intimate moments and connect on a deeper level.

I also think that at some point Stella is gonna get super frustrated with Braydee and throw a mini tantrum but Braydee, instead of getting upset, realizes that Stella is finally comfortable enough with her that she is allowing her true emotions to come through and the two of them ironically bond after that moment LOL. Probably not in the magical bonding way but just in an I-understand-you-better-now way.

Anyways I’m cooking up more ideas in my noggin but that’s all the coherent thoughts I have on them for now!!

[violetswritingg]

Thunderstruck

Tyler Owens x OFC!

Description: When cowgirl meets cowboy after a year of no-contact and chaos ensues during storm season!

Rating: M (Mentions of blood and death in Tornadoes and storms alike, angst and loss of loved ones, car accidents, Tornado aftermath, and injury to characters)

Want to read the other chapters?

click here

5

May, 2024

Oklahoma

"Well, at least we got data from inside the vortex, that's always fun." Sarah chirped from her curled up position inside the Warlock, the wing doors open as Riley was elbow deep in the engine. Oil and grime on her face as her hair started to fall from its ponytail. Bare fingers going through components and wires, yanking, pulling, and throwing over her shoulder. Grabbing the extra parts she needed from the paper plate set up on the corner of the open hood. "The doctors also said you need to take it easy!"

“I wouldn’t call ex-pre-med Sam who gave me my stitches a doctor, but okay, besides I am taking it easy!” She could feel the continued stares of every chaser in the lot, new or veteran. She knew what this vehicle meant not only to her but also to the community. The Warlock had been going since before she was born. She's replaced the engine and just about every part in it before at least twice. It was a money pit. It would be cheaper to just make a new one. Their grants would pay for it easily, but she couldn't let go of this one. She wouldn't.

She grunted as she leaned over a little farther, arm almost completely swallowed by the huge piece of machinery. She knew this vehicle like the back of her hand, and it showed. She pulled back and grabbed a wrench from an undergrad, muttering a 'thanks' under breath before tightening something and then putting her flashlight in her mouth to wrap some wires in electrical tape. Ripping out old ones and putting in new ones. She kicks the bumper and bangs the wrench against a component to the side. Leaning around side and wiping her hands off on a rag.

"Try it now Sarah!" Riley called, her head bowing down as her eyes closed. "Come on, come on, come on." She muttered under her breath.

When it roars to life her head snapped up and she fist pumped with a whoop, Sarah coming out to hug her. Swaying them back and forth.

"Not finished yet." Riley looked to Sarah and smirked, the brunette let the blonde go, allowing her to carefully climb into the front seat, flipping up the switch over the trigger for the spikes. "You filming this?" She called out, a little louder than normal, so Sarah could hear it.

"You bet your cute behind I am!" Was Sarah's response. And Riley chuckled inside the vehicle, shaking her head.

"Spikes deploying on 3!" Riley called out, knowing what was about to happen. "2!" The whole lot had joined in, the chorus of voices in the night one of the best sounds Riley had ever heard. "1!" It reminded her just how many people her dad had inspired or had loved him, that his memory lived on. Through her. "Deploy! Deploy! Deploy!"

The sound of the two foot long solid spikes striking through the asphalt sent a shock through the cab and Riley laughed raucously at the sensation. Next, she swung herself out of the vehicle with a huge smile, laughing some more when she felt arms around her and the next thing she knows she was on Daniels shoulders. The college junior grinning up at her with bright eyes, Riley looked back to the lot and took in all the chasers for a second. Feeling her eyes prickle a bit, her smile going wobbly for a second before she pulled it together.

"It lives!" Riley screamed to the parking lot, throwing up her left fist in the air in celebration.

"It lives!" Her hoard of undergrads echo, jumping and screaming together. Jenny, the only other theatre major on their team, who was corrupted by Sarah on her way out following it with the evilest witch cackle Riley had ever heard.

The parking lot erupted into cheers and Riley subtly wiped around her eyes as she was lowered to the ground. Small laughs still bubbling past her lips as she shared in a few more moments of pure joy with her team. The one she put together and chose, everyone really becoming like a family over the months of prep for this storm season making this moment all that much better. Because they believed in her, they thought she could do this, they supported her and drive. They would never dream of telling her to slow down, to give up on her dreams.

"Wonderful, now will you go shower? You are literally still covered in your own blood." Sarah winced and gestured to Riley and how she was still in her bloodied, cut up tank top, and dusty cargo pants from the chase earlier.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Riley swiped at her and Sarah dodged, her still damp hair just out of reach of Riley's oil stained skin. "I'm going, I'm going."

"Good, because you smell like storm and diesel and it's giving me a migraine." Sarah smiled and gestured to the staircase down the walkway from where they were able to get the Warlock. After it decided to stop running a mile before they got back to the motel. They had to have it hooked up to the tech van while pushing it with six of the biggest guys they had that last mile with Riley in the driver's seat steering it. It was horrible. "Also there's pizza on the table, eat something."

"Yes mom." Riley dragged out and turned while taking off, feeling higher than she had in months while covered in mud, grime, and blood. She had barely taken a couple steps before she ran into another body and her hand darted to her side as she hissed and took a couple steps back to steady herself.

"I'm so sorry-"

"It's fine Kate, I shoulda been watching better." Riley's accent came out a little heavier than she meant because of the stinging radiating through her ribs. But she still grinned, even if in pain, nothing could ruin her good mood right now.

"How are you, I saw you get hit, I thought-" Kate cut herself off, looking to the ground for a second, "I'm happy you're okay, looked pretty rough out there."

"Thanks." Riley went to lay a hand on Kate's shoulder but stopped herself, Kate saw the movement and chuckled. "I would but uh- I'm kind of dirty, sorry." Riley laughed, though her grin carried an awkward stress in the corners as she tried to keep smiling, wiping her palm down her thigh as if trying to clean it against the dusty fabric would actually do anything.

"You headed up?" Kate motioned to the staircase, resituating her backpack on her shoulder.

"Yeah, thanks." Riley started walking and Kate followed, side by side in easy silence. "Sorry if I made you uncomfortable earlier, with my questions. I tend to let myself get carried away when I get curious."

"Oh, it's fine." Kate waved her off but Riley pushed on.

"No. It's not. My daddy raised me better than to go snoopin' in someone else's business. So, I apologize. Please just take it." Riley chuckled tightly, she couldn't take any more guilt, even just this one thing.

"Thank you." Kate breathed after taking a moment, meeting Riley at the bottom of the stairs before they both started up.

"There is pizza in my room if your hungry," Riley started, "Unless you already-"

"I haven't but I'm okay. Thank you though."

"Yeah, of course." Riley breathed, trying to remember when it suddenly became so hard to make friends. Turning the corner at the landing and stopping dead in her tracks when her name was called out. Well, a name she hasn't been called in a while.

"Rocky!"

"Rocket!"

Kate stopped as well, looking to Riley with eyebrows drawn tight, head tilting to the side, "Rocket?"

"Just an old nickname. Uh Hey guys." Riley waved, her smile tense but softening when her eyes met Lily's, "Hey Lils." Her eyes darted around the whole group in greeting before landing on the one pair she had hoped to avoid. "Owens."

Tyler worked his jaw when Riley's grin dropped and his last name spit from her lips.

"Go east, she said, the west will choke each other out, she said." He quipped, sarcastic grin on his handsome face. Hands pausing their work on the spinning sensor on top of his truck. His eyes cut to Kate for a split second before drilling back into Riley, "Hey Storm Par."

Kate frowned at him, her eyebrows pulling down as she rolled her shoulders back. Riley stepped a little in front of her, leaning her elbows on the siding.

"Well, I still didn't manage to throw you off the scent, did I?" Riley grinned, her eyes glinting in the dim lighting of the parking lot, anger festering under the surface. "I must be losing my touch."

"I-I wouldn't say that." A voice she hadn't heard in person before piped up from beside Tyler, his pink cheeks, big brown eyes, and warm looking skin all very inviting. His smile wide and carefree, she was a little jealous. "I mean, that was great, with the Warlock. Just awesome..." Boone trialed off, holding up a finger as his face went through a couple different emotions, Riley's anger simmering as she allowed herself to enjoy the show. Enjoying the new character. "Have you ever thought about, and hear me out here, putting rocket launchers on the Warlock?" The man punctuated the words 'rocket' and 'launchers' with his hands before gesturing to the chasing vehicle with her small army surrounding it, only the older undergrads still lingering.

Riley can't stop the laugh that bubbles from her lips, "No, I have not." She shakes her head a bit as a more bitter thought filtered in and it showed on her face as she wet her lips, "I'm not exactly trying to run around firing fireworks up into tornadoes. You know you could have caused a fire like that? The sparks could have gotten carried into the dry wheat field. People could have gotten hurt."

Boone's smile dimmed a little and he looked back to Tyler when Riley's eyes shifted from his. Locking onto the blonde, her words cutting his soul. The look of disappointment flashing in her eyes was just the twist of the knife.

"Tyler knew that wouldn't happen, that's what makes him famous." Boone defended his friend, a small frown on his face as he looked up to Riley.

"On Youtube?" Kate piped up for the first time, head tilting to the side as she also stared down the blonde now. Stepping up to Riley's side, mimicking her position.

"Yeah!" Boone got excited again, missing Kate's sarcasm and other members of the crew confirmed over 1 million now. Riley was impressed, last season they were no where near that. That was a far far away dream. A tinge of pride streaked through her chest and she shared a more genuine smile with Lily.

"Riley St. James correct? Just in case I include you in my article." Riley looked down into the spectacle covered eyes of the British reporter that was following Tyler around. Riley grinned, genuinely, not like he had ever done anything to her. Tyler huffed, biting down on the inside of his cheek to temp the green eyed monster.

"That's correct. At your service, if you need anything or these chuckles are giving you a hard time let me know, I'll straighten them out for ya okay?" Riley chuckled when Ben smiled up at her, nodding at her before looking to Kate.

"And your name? For the same reason, if you don't mind." Ben was so polite. So different than the rough and tumble rag tag team Tyler had created for himself.

"Just Kate is fine. Not Storm Par." Some low whistles come from the group when Kate bared her claws. Riley looked to her with raised eyebrows, her grin easy.

"Don't be fooled Ben, Riley is a tricky one. I'd bet Kate here is too." Tyler comments and Riley does her best to ignore him.

"You made a good call, you know, earlier. The other storm looked stronger, but the cap never broke." Boone complimented and Riley nodded.

"I'm sorry, what's a 'cap'?" Ben asked, looking like a confused puppy and Riley took a breath. Her mouth opening at the same time Dexter went to answer.

"It's a temperature inversion-" They both started at the same time, Riley's voice much more enthusiastic and Dexter zipped his mouth shut grinning up at her before gesturing up to her. Riley grinned bashfully, tucking some stray strands of hair behind her ear.

"It's a temperature inversion inside the mid-part of the lower atmosphere. Inversion meaning that the temperature of the air get's hotter as it rises instead of cooling like normal. It creates a stable environment that can and will keep a storm from forming or from getting severe. Sometimes when it's really strong looking, you can't always trust what's there." Riley explained, "That make sense?" She checked and Ben thought about it for a second, Riley glanced at Kate and rolled her shoulders back before continuing, "If not I have some videos on my channel that go over it in better detail, they're pretty short and sweet, and explain it in a more non-meteorology way." The Brit sent her an appreciative grin before nodding and thanking her.

Lily taking a sneaky picture of Tyler and how he was smiling a bit, catching him perfectly as he glanced up at the dirty blonde on the landing.

"So where did you all meet?" Kate gestured to Riley and the others, "Did you all study Meteorology at the U of A?" It was quiet for a second before the majority of the group was laughing. Riley doing her best to keep her amusement at bay. Kate looking to Riley confused, while Riley could only give the woman a kind grin.

"Yeah. No. None of us did. But Tyler did. He's a cowboy scientist. Got a natural feel for this kind of stuff." Boone threw an arm over Tyler's shoulders from his spot next to the blonde in the cab of the red truck.

"Him?" Kate asked immediately, her filter obviously failing in that moment. Riley barked out a laugh before clapping her hand over her mouth. Feeling her cheeks gone bright red. Kate looked to her with raised eyebrows.

"Nothin' uh, I'm in the PhD program right now. But uh, their crew isn't like yours, or even mine really." Riley started to explain before Tyler cut her off. She wanted to kill him.

"We don't need fancy PhD's and gadgets to do what we do." Tyler looked up from where he had previously been looking, in his head about something. His words struck a particularly soft spot and when his eyes cut to her, he could tell the effect his words had on Riley and he wanted to kick himself. But he pushed on, being the asshole she though he was, "I bet these guys have seen more tornadoes than anyone in this lot combined. Minus Riley, she's been doing this since she was 12, she doesn't count."

"Nice Tyler. Still the same I see."

"No need to fix what ain't broken." He grinned caustically and Riley frowned. Her mood officially ruined.

"We apparently have different definitions of broken." Riley grinned right back, eyes squinted in fury.

"Do you think we'll see another one tomorrow?" Ben asked, putting himself right in the firing line, poor guy. He couldn't tell they were all walking on the mine field created by Tyler and Riley issues.

"Oh absolutely!" Riley nodded a little too enthusiastically.

"It's an outbreak baby." Tyler answered over the top of her and Riley took a deep breath.

"Where are you chasing tomorrow?" Lily asked, "It'd be cool to see you out there again, it's been so long, almost felt like the good old days."

Riley softened again and was about to answer honestly before Tyler was kicking up dust again, "Oh no, we're not falling for that again. I mean, it may feel like she's back but she's not part of the crew anymore, we don't need her to navigate for us."

That was her limit.

"Fuck you, Tyler." Riley spit and stormed up the stairs, ignoring the calls of her name.

"Well, you know what they say, you can always trust a guy who puts his face on a t-shirt." Kate rolled her eyes and went up after Riley. The reaction of the chasing group below them dulled in Riley's ears, "Hey, you okay?" Kate called, getting to Riley's door just before she closed it.

Riley was obviously just putting on a brave face when she waved Kate off, and the slightly older blonde frowning but taking it. It's not like she had a right to dig. What was it Riley said earlier about not getting into other people's business?

But she had so many questions, specifically about the trailer of empty barrels and Dorothy on the back of them.

But that wasn't her business.

~~*~~

Riley's shower had been quick, used to hurrying through everything just in case a storm warning rolled through. It was something that Tyler always complained about, that she never allowed herself time to breathe, to rest. A workaholic who had no sense of self-preservation. Is how she believed he phrased it.

She did feel better though, now that her skin was clean, and her clothes weren't stiff with dried blood. Having changed into another tank top, this one a medium toned brown with a white embroidered cloud and a couple yellow stars on the chest, a pair of blue jeans, and her work boots. Which were just heavy-duty hiking boots really.

Padding to the table after she tied her shoes, pawing at the open pizza box, pulling out a slice of pepperoni, and taking a bite. Building her courage to head back down to the parking lot, there was still work to be done tonight. She had to prep the mixture all over again, as she was the only one who knew the measurements besides Sarah, and Sarah was already working on crunching the numbers for tomorrow's storm cells and the data they needed to get out asap. There were some data sets from inside a vortex, due to her, her dad, and her current team. There was no one else doing this kind of research right now and that's why grants kept coming their way.

And then she had to make sure the undergrads with responsibilities didn't shuck them off till the morning when they were planning an early start.

Making a checklist, she finished her pizza, tossing the rock-hard crust back into the box for Sarah who liked to knaw on it like a fucking dog to a bone. Riley was honestly too scared to ask about it, psycho behavior, truly.

Her hand hovered over the door nob and slowly opened it, locking it behind her and taking a breath as she approached the stairs. Ignoring Tyler's looks as she walked past the first landing without even a glance in his direction.

"You look better, than before. Less tired, less bloody." His voice stopped her in its tracks, the genuine concern she could hear. Picturing the way that he used to look at her. After she had gone down another research rabbit hole and hadn't slept in 48 hours, probably also hadn't eaten in that time either. Soft concern and gooey warmth dripping over her every frayed nerve as he would drag her to bed and make her comfortable before pulling up the covers around them and holding her so tight she thought there was never going to be a time it wouldn't be like that.

"Thanks." She whispered over her shoulder and darted down the rest of the way.

~~*~~

[ipkkndlovescenes]

Gadbad...or attraction/P3

Nothing will be the same...

Read Part 2 Here

“But the second she opened her eyes and looked at me, I knew. She was either going to be the death of me . . . or she was going to be the one who finally brought me back to life.”― Colleen Hoover

Arnav returns the dupatta to Khushi, and both are caught in an intense moment that heightened their intimate sense. . a true one which always gets alert in the vicinity of the opposite soul who is meant to be the reason for your existence and the tempo of your heartbeat. It sounds scientific that eye contact is the most intimacy two people can ever have — forget physical contact — because the optic nerve is technically an extension of the brain. When two people look into each other’s eyes, it’s brain-to-brain. Intimacy with another person deepens your closeness and connection with yourself. The person you share an intimate relationship with becomes a sort of mirror that reflects back to the elements of who you are that can’t be discovered without them.

Just remember, Arnav and Khushi have no relationship at this point, yet their souls seek what their hearts speak. The moment's heat and intensity could be felt through their eyes, her abrupt breathing, and his gulping down her actions slowly and mesmerizingly. He has to remove his jacket and reach for the water to gulp down to cool these burning thoughts. Dupatta proved a wanton layer to wrap them in a vortex of yearning, pinning them down with challenges, clashing with the needs of hearts, and a mixture of all turned the heat on within them, a very natural and smooth yet tremulous clash of intimacy between a woman and a man. His taking his jacket off symbolizes his removal from that vortex that was gulping him down. He reached the cooler where she was already there. Both get connected with their hands outstretched…

She withdraws her hand. He takes the water and drinks it first, provoking her further. He offers her water which she refuses "humain nahi chahiye!" I don't want it...

That piques his anger, and he glares at her… Seeing her audacity! Her provocative nature of self resilient. He still says nothing, trying to hold his anger and frustration, but Khushi had enough. It seems like water was not enough to put this fire off. Well, water always enrages fire first before bringing it down.

She provokes him further without looking at him, and dares him…

In return for his glare,Khushi, "aise kya deckh rahai hain aap, gussa aah raha hai to nikaal dijiye, jaise aap hamesha karte hain "tord dijiye kisi cheez ko jaise apne hamara phone torda tha'.laghe haaton ye darwaza bhi tord dijiye, kyun keh hum yahan se nikalna chahte hain, sab kucch tord dijiye!"

(Why are you looking at me like that,if you are angry the break something just like you broke my phone,and at the same time break this door too because I want to get away from here.) Khushi despises him in all matters today.

Oh, she wants him to get angry as his "Chup" is bothering her too because his softness is creating unbearable havoc inside her and she is way too scared of these raging emotions.

and that hits the bull's eye.

ASR BG score is on'ASR,and he moves like a hawk... "haan tord dunga (yes I'll break everything)" He flares at her by throwing the cup "Eik eik cheez tordta rahung taakeh har tootne wali cheez se tumhare kaan khulain, aur tum meri baat suno (I will keep breaking things so with each breaking thing your ears will open and you will be ready to listen to what I have to say)" .You can hear his agony and desolation in his voice regardless of his anger. Hats off to Barun...👏

Desperation and frustration at their peak on both sides, he has to make her listen to him, and she resists, yet tension with her heaving chest is so much visible. He moves forward, she moves backwards, and the air between them sizzles.

The argument is changing its course now with intensifying exchange of dialogues between both. Khushi, "hum kuchh suna nahin chahte, hamain bas yahan se bahaar nikkalna hai"(I don't want to hear anything .I want to get out of it)

Arnav, "Tum sunogi"(You will hear),He slams the box and makes her more scared, but he is frustrated within his heart too...this girl is damn doing things to him no one else dared yet...

Khushi, "humain bahar jana hai"'(I want to go out)

Arnav, "Mein keh raha hoon'"(I am saying')

Khushi, "humain bahar jana hai'"(I just want to go out)

Arnav, "Khushi mein tumse baat kar raha hoon, tum meri taraf..."( I am talking to you Khushi look at me)

Khushi, "Pahele aap darwaza khol dijiye"(First open the door).

Something snaps, he wants her to feel comfortable, he can read her distress, he can feel it ...He retreats, banging the box again and turns to break the door. After breaking that he turns with rage ,"Ab sunogi ( will you listen to me now)?"

****** He can't see her in distress, and he sees her in pain as the door is closed, to ease her pain he slams the door. Even in his anger, he has concerns for her which she can see too.************

When she asks him I want to get out of here ...yes, she is referring to getting out of his thoughts as these new rising emotions are making her so scared and suffocated. She can't take it anymore. She wants to get out of here, goes away from him, this place. She wasn't feeling the same and that was damn sure now...as she can feel it in her core, a very strange and unknown yet dangerous feeling that was making her weak every moment, damn weak in front of Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada...

[transingthoseformers]

I love the Combaticons and just thought of a very funny situation in which people who are Spark bonded also share pregnancy symptoms with their partner and Texaid have been sneaking around so Vortex is trying to be supportive and take on First Aid's worst nausea and aches since he can't be there in person–First Aid us being per on by his entire gestalt and all the Autobots–meanwhile Onslaught is on a warpath trying to figure out which of his "fragging idiots" got knocked up and Vortex was dragged in first as "most likely" and Onslaught grudingly let him go and is currently trying to push all the others into getting tested but Blast Off is off planet and his now horrified and convinced his and Blast Off's affair is going ro be discovered only to find he's also nlt pregnant.

So now the Decepticon base is blowing up with accusations and Onslaught trying to force Brawl and Swindle to confess which one of thoae "HUGE FUCKING MORONS" bonded someone while they were in a gestalt. Vortex is a little offended that he is apparently so "unplatable" that Onslaught didn't suspect him. Affairs are uncovered and Swindle is convinced he may have knocked someone up and desperately trying to get Lockdown to pick up. Onslaught is in the dog house because he implied Blast Off might have cheated. Vortex is sweating buckets of coolant while throwing up in a bucket and tecting First Aid (and Blades) a play-by-play of the revelations because apparently Brawl has game and has slept with half the Air Force so Starscream is acreaming and dragging them all to get checked up which reveals some surprises but none of them Brawl's.

Vortex eventually slips away to go get "captured" by the Autobots for a few months.

Ssgdgdg ohhh tex nooo, yes.

On has questions he needs answered NOW, and he blames Vortex (which he's kinda right kinda not, and wrong in thinking he's wrong)

The dramafest is spectacular, like. So manyyy affairs, and the Actually Pregnant First Aid just needs to know

Ah yes, a "suprise capture", delightful