#about those ships and crossing that bridge when we get there | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

middlingmay · 6 months ago

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Marge is Gale's Beard AU

I don't know what happened, but this was supposed to be a funny cute little scene of Bucky stumbling across Marge getting a little frisky with another guy, not knowing she's not actually Gale's girlfriend, and promptly losing his shit. Like 1K words, max

BUT OVER 6000 WORDS LATER AND HERE WE ARE.

I need to be stopped, jesus fucking christ.

Anyway, enjoy!

Warnings: violence, blood. Also period-typical attitudes towards monogamy.

Also, John doesn't look to good for part of this fic, but he is genuinely apologetic, and comes out the other side the John we all know and love. He's just going through some things!

Read under the cut!

Ostensibly, this little get together was a send off for Bucky who was being shipped off to Thorpe Abbotts in England thanks to his new and entirely unwanted position as Air Executive. But it was also a chance for the rest of the fellas to enjoy one more night of fun and frivolity with their loved ones before they left the States in a few weeks, some of them for the very first time. Maybe some of them for the last.

And for Buck, that meant none other than Marge.

They had been friends since they were kids. She was the first and remained the only girl he had ever brought home to his mother, and even father was on his best behaviour whenever she was around. Such was the power of Marjorie Spencer.

She was also the first and only girl he had ever kissed. They were teenagers, and even if Gale wasn’t as half-wild as his classmates about all the pretty girls, he was still a hormonal boy and one night, when he walked her home, he took her little face in his big hands and kissed her.

She’d pulled back frowning. “Gale. I don’t have brothers, but if I did I reckon that’s what it’d feel like to kiss ‘em.”

She wasn’t wrong. He’d heard the nasty locker room talk about boys sporting half a woody just at kissin’ a girl, and Gale hadn’t felt so much as a flicker.

Then, some while later, he’d felt the full fury of those teenage hormones when James ‘Jett’ Granger, school football star, had bowled him over and landed on top of him on the floor with a thud.

Jett had laughed and apologised and hauled Gale, who was not dainty by any stretch of the imagination, up like he was nothing with an apology on his lips. Like he hadn’t just upended Gale’s entire world.

When he told Marge, she’d cackled and leered like a locker room boy and said, “Did you…” and stuck her tongue between her teeth.

Gale spluttered and coughed on his spit and his blood pounded in his ears. But he couldn’t deny it, even as he scolded, “Marjorie Spencer!”

But once she got over her glee and teasing, she saw Gale work his lip like a well done steak and softened. “There ain’t nothin’ wrong with you.”

Gale scoffed. “We both know you’re the only one round here who thinks like that.”

Even Marge couldn’t stubborn her way out of that cold hard fact.

“Alright then,” she said with a set to her jaw. “Then you’ll be my fella, far as anyone knows. Least until you find one of your own.”

Gale’s heart flooded his body with warmth and he must have looked at Marge like she was a saint. “I can’t do that, Marge. What if you find a guy you really want to be your fella?”

But Marge looked highly sceptical. “Round here? You’re all I got.”

He smiled at the sentiment but he still wore worry on his brow and Marge darted forward to kiss at least a bit of it away. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

And they never had. Right up until Gale enlisted and was due to be shipped off to basic training, Marge kept assuring him every boy that came around was a knucklehead, and as little as Gale even let himself do so much as look, he couldn’t say he disagreed with her.

The night before he left, after an awkward near silent dinner with his folks that his mother had insisted on, he and Marge had laid a blanket out on an empty field and looked at the starts.

“I still can’t believe you’re going,” she said, voice thick.

Gale couldn’t say ‘sorry’, couldn’t say he wished he wasn’t going, because he wasn’t no liar. He’d wanted to be a pilot since he was a boy and he couldn’t wait to get started.

“I’m going to miss you like crazy.” But that there, that was the truth.

Marge snorted, true and ugly. “Yeah, right. You’re going to be surrounded by all the cute boys and I’m stuck here with the cream of the Caspar crop.”

Gale kicked her shoe. “Oh, yeah. No lookin’. No touchin’. Not unless I wanna come home with a crack in my skull and a blue ticket in my first. At the least.”

Because Gale wasn’t scared of the military. He wasn’t scared of leaving home or being surrounded by strangers. He wasn’t scared at the possibility of having to head into a fight. But being found out? That petrified him.

Marge clutched his hand with all the strength she possessed. “I’ll write you,” she vowed. “Every day if I have to. I’ll spritz the letters with perfume and kiss them and everything. No one will know, I promise.”

Marge’s promises were better than the word of God.

Until he met John Egan.

The long-limbed, freckled, moustached, larger and louder than life man had thrown himself into Gale’s life with very little input from the man himself. He given him his name and kept by his side, like he’d adopted a dog.

Despite himself, Gale had actively tried to dislike John, or Bucky, at first. He put up a cold front to his overt friendliness; threw off his wandering hands possessed with so much affection that he just couldn’t keep them still. Gale refused every single invitation for as long as he could. And yet.

Gale found himself looking for Bucky in whenever he entered a room. He listened carefully whenever he spoke during briefings, and chiming in until they were bouncing ideas of off each other, unaware of the secret smiles of their superior officers. When Gale struggled to sleep, he found himself asking Bucky any question he could think of just to hear him rattle on until he was finally lulled to rest.

He stopped rejecting and started anticipating John’s touch, even positioning himself so as to welcome it, necessitate it; an arm over the back of a chair set close to his; a tiny gap in a doorway or corridor that required a gentle touch to a guy’s waist or his back. And soon Bucky became one of the only men Gale ever touched comfortably beyond a squeeze of the shoulder or a pat on the arm.

One of the other boys had tried once, to swing an arm over Gale’s shoulder. Whether it was because he saw Bucky do it and wanted to emulate the two men so respected by the others, he wasn’t sure, but he hadn’t done it again. The less said about it, the better.

Marge noticed, of course.

He hadn’t been aware of how much Bucky had filtered into his letters, and Marge’s questions had seemed innocent at first. And Gale had been all to happy for the outlet. Then in one letter she had scribbled:

He sounds like a scream, Gale. I’m glad you’ve made such a fast friend. I can't wait to meet him, and make sure he’s good enough for my fella. Can’t have you taking up with a no good kinda man who’s just going to lead you into trouble.

He knew Marge better than he knew himself. He could read between the lines: make sure he’s no bigot before you go getting attached.

Which brought them to that night at the bar. The first thing John had done on being introduced to Marge was to sweep her off for a dance.

Springing away with Gale’s girl in tow, Bucky hollered over his shoulder, “I gotta make sure poor Marge gets to dance with someone, tonight, Buck!”

The boys had all jeered and Marge swatted John’s chest playfully, but soon she was just as swept up in the force of him as they all were, and laughed with flushed cheeks the whole time.

It warmed something healing in his heart to see the two people closest to him in the world get on like a house on fire.

At one point, when Bucky went to the bar, Marge slumped into his side.

“Oh, Gale. You never stood a chance against him, did you?”

Not a snowflake’s in hell.

But before Gale could get too despondent about that, she continued. “For what it’s worth, I think he’s a good man. I think he- I think you’re safe with him. Yeah?”

Gale nodded. Of course he was. It was Bucky.

Then she got that impish look on her face. “So I say, look your fill.”

Gale shushed her and looked around to see if anyone was paying closer attention than they should’ve. No one was, thankfully, and when his heart rate returned to normal, he remembered he could tease right back.

“Well," he said coyly into her ear, “speaking of looking your fill, that black-haired fella at the corner table at the back has been throwing you looks all night.”

Marge pretended to look unaffected and Gale leaned in even closer. “Don’t think I didn’t see you lookin’ back.”

Marge’s vicious little elbow checked his ribs just as Bucky came back with their drinks.

“Thank you, John,” she said primly. “But I have to visit the powder room.”

John toasted her off and looked at Buck, bemused. “Something I said?”

Gale nearly laughed. “Naw. She just likes to keep me in line.”

John shook his head. “And ain’t that a crying shame. I’m surprised she hasn’t upbraided me for trying to undo all her hard work.”

Later, Gale would blame the giddiness that came from John’s proximity for what he said next. “I only gotta behave with her. You can get me as riled up as you like.”

John inhaled too much of his drink and coughed until there were tears in his eyes. Gale flushed to his ears and kicked him under the table.

Giggling and breathless, John kicked him right back even harder. “Noted.”

“Ask Major Cleven! He’s great at calculations.”

“Sir? Sir!”

A few boys in the ground crew called Buck over, and John waved him off good naturedly. “Go awe the masses, Buck. I need a smoke anyway.”

It look less than five minutes for Marge to come barrelling towards him, a wild and furious and worried look him her eye.

“Gale, It’s John! You gotta get John!”

There was a door at the back of the bar that led to the dead end of an alley outside. When he just wanted a quiet smoke in the peace of the evening, John liked to head out there instead of the front with everyone else, where he could easily while away the better part of an hour talking to all and sundry.

And he was enjoying spending his evening Buck. And Marge.

She was a sweet little spitfire. She had the looks of spun glass and high class, but even after spending nothing more than a handful of hours with her, Bucky could tell she was no wall flower, no meek dame. And John didn’t think about it too closely, but he liked that the girl who Gale loved so much wasn’t so different from himself.

Where John liked the think of him and Buck as sides of the same coin - dark and light; steady and gregarious; push and pull - Marge and Buck were one of a kind, like the couples on the movie posters. Their love felt inevitable.

And, as John was learning about himself, he was apparently a possessive man, because between him and the cigarette in his mouth, he could acknowledge the bitter flash of jealousy he got when he looked at them too long.

He pushed open the back door, a box of matches in hand, and looked up on hearing two frightened gasps.

Marge. Her eyes were so wide, there was more white than blue. Her hair was a mess, clutched in the meaty hand of another man. A man who’s face was too close to the crook of her neck.

And both of them wore such fear in their eyes.

John’s cigarette finally gave up its precarious balance on John’s gaping lips and tumbled to the floor. The box of matches dove after it.

“John.” It was a tiny, panicked sound.

And it snapped John back to attention. With two strides of his long legs he had Marge tucked behind him and slammed the man into the brick wall of the alley hard, and smiled ugly with all teeth when he heard the meaty thunk of his head hit the wall.

“The fuck do you think you’re doing?” John snarled in the man’s face, low and incandescent with rage he didn’t even know how to begin to unleash.

“John-” Marge tugged at his back, urgent.

“Taking advantage of a girl after a few drinks-”

“No, John-!”

He grabbed two fistfuls of the guy’s shirt and rattled him until he heard teeth clack. “A girl who’s taken. By your superior officer!”

“It’s not like that!” Marge yanked at John’s ear and he was forced to turn away from the man, but he didn’t relinquish him.

He calmed himself as much as he could. “Marge. Are you alright?”

But Marge looked painfully, worryingly exacerbated. “For God’s sake, John! It’s not what it looks like!”

“It looked like he was forcing himself on ya!”

But the Marge clutching at his lapels didn’t look scared, not of the man behind him, anyway. She had a little bit of fear when she looked at him though, and John didn’t like that at all.

It’s not what it looks like.

And if it looked like she was forced…

John’s heart broke for Gale, before the red pricks of anger started to twitch at his muscles.

“Oh. It’s like that, huh?”

“No!”

“Are you with Gale or aren’t you?!”

Marge swallowed something down and almost reluctantly said, “Yes.”

The boy chose the wrong moment to pluck at the reserves of his bravado.

“There’s no harm, Major,” he panted. “It was just some harmless fun. It didn’t mean nothing. We all know Cleven’s too much of a gentleman-”

John snapped his fist into the man’s jaw and followed through. The wall was the only thing that kept him standing. So John pulled him upright and slammed a punch into the side of his face and he went tumbling down.

John followed him, straddling him as he grabbed a handful of the guy’s jacket. Blood was already smeared over his mouth and John rained down hell and hit his nose with a crack and blood came pouring outta that too.

He switched his grip to the guy’s hair to keep the lolling head upright as he leaned down and growled into his ear. “You think you’re going to make a fool out of either one of them, you got another thing coming.”

He pulled back to land one last hit, a good one to drive his point home, when a solid weight barrelled into him from behind, wrapped an arm around his waist and hauled him into the air. John spun around swinging, but another arm got a stranglehold around the back of his neck and he was wrapped up painfully tight and too close to do anything.

And the scent of Buck’s cologne penetrated his senses and the fight left him.

Because fuck. How was he going to explain this? How was he going to tell Buck he’d caught his woman in the arms of another man? Should he even tell him? If it was Bucky, he’d wanna know, but maybe if he spoke to Marge and she promised it was a drunken mistake (God knows he’d had plenty of those), and it would never happen again, he wouldn’t have to tank Buck’s perfect love story.

“John!” Buck shook him hard enough that Bucky knew he tried to get his attention more than once. “The heck were you thinking?! You outta your goddamn mind?!”

Bucky heard shuffling behind him and he managed to turn just enough in Buck’s unforgiving grip to see the man being led inside by some of their boys, who shot furtive, concerned glances at their Majors.

Then there was Marge, hanging back and looking at Buck with something awfully sorry. He felt Buck nod at her and she went to head back inside, but not before sending Bucky a scathing look and a roll of her eyes.

Now there was nothing to spare him from Buck.

Only now did Buck loosen his grip and let Bucky back a step, and only a step.

“You have done some damn foolish things since I met you, Bucky. But fightin’ with a subordinate?!”

“You don’t understand-” and Buck really wasn’t sure he wanted him to.

“I understand plenty. Marge told me everything.”

Buck couldn’t help but scoff. “Oh? And what did Marge say?”

“That you caught her neckin’ with some guy and went off the damn rails!”

Buck was shocked stupid. Not just that Marge had told the truth, but that Buck seemed more pissed at him that he was at her.

“Then why are you riding me for?! I was defending you - you should be thanking me!”

Buck tensed his jaw so hard, Bucky expected to hear a crack. “Thanking you? For nearly bringing down my whole house of cards?!”

By now Bucky felt he was missing some vital information, and he couldn’t think straight with Buck so close to him, radiating fury. He shrugged off Buck’s hands and shook his head.

“Hold on, hold on,” he held up his palms. “You’re pissed at me for socking the guy making it with your girl behind your back?”

Buck sighed harsh and annoyed like Bucky was the most exasperating thing in the world and Bucky was getting more offended by the second.

“No, y’dummy!”

“Dummy?”

“I’m mad because if Marge hadn’t kept her head and got me before anyone else saw you fighting, everyone might have found out she ain’t actually my girl!”

“I - what?!”

Buck gave a frustrated groan that didn’t quite get out of his throat and prayed for patience. And maybe a little bravery. He trusted John, vexing as he could me. But sometimes fear was instinctual. But he couldn’t let Bucky go on thinking he saw what he thought he saw. But Christ if the other man didn’t make it difficult.

“But - you and Marge - since high school. You said-”

“Well, I lied. Kind of.”

“Kind of? You kind of lied?”

Bucky huffed. “We’ve been tellin’ people we’ve been together since high school. So no one would know…about me…” he trailed off meaningfully.

For all but Bucky, apparently. “Know what?”

“That I…that…” God, why couldn’t he just say it? Bucky may be as straight as they come, but he wasn’t that kind of guy, and he was Buck's best friend to boot. He choked down his frustrations and finally managed to spit out, “That…Marge ain’t the only one who likes looking at cute boys.”

Buck blushed as he said it. He sounded like a stupid teenager. But Bucky just stuttered to a stop and gawped at him. Buck watched his mouth flap, trying and failing to utter a sound, like it too couldn’t believe John Egan had finally been rendered silent.

“I - you’re-?”

“Gay? Queer? A big ol’ blue ticket? Yeah.”

What he certainly hadn’t been expecting was for Bucky to near drop to his knees in a mix of relief and panic.

“Haah-fuck, Gale," John grimaced, breathing heavy over his knees, which looked to be the only thing supporting his weight. "They're gonna court martial me in the morning. Don’t get me wrong - I’m glad I didn’t have to break your heart, tellin’ you Marge was stepping out on you, but fuck. I punched out a subordinate. Fuck.”

Side-stepping the unintentional lie in what John said, Buck, mightily and heroically refrained from rolling his eyes. “Don't get hysterical, Bucky. It don't become you. Relax, I'll fix it.”

And really, the sheer force of the scepticism on Bucky's face was down right insulting.

“Yeah? And how you gonna do that?”

Buck's brain worked furiously for an excuse - the reason’s why men hit other men over women that weren’t jealousy. Protection being the main one, but he didn’t want to put Marge in the frame at all if possible. Then he remembered a story Bucky told him once about a boy that had taken a shine to Bucky’s much younger sister, and Bucky had followed him home one day after his sister had come home cryin' with red bruises round her wrists.

“You ain't gonna like it.”

“Solid start.”

Buck nearly cuffed him round the ear like an insolent, child. “Hush. Now, you uh, ever planning on introducing your sisters to the boys?”

Bucky balked. “Absolutely not. What does that-”

“Listen. That man inside, bleeding - he looked a lot like a fella who left your sister a little worse for wear. Let the boys take that however they see fit.”

“The hell you tryna say about my sister?!”

“Nothing, idjit! Listen!”

Bucky shut his trap with visible effort.

“He looked almost exactly like that man, and when you saw him near Marge - near her and nothing else, you understand? You lost it. Alright? You’d had too much to drink, you weren’t thinking clear, and you were seeing you baby sister, not Marge. Right?”

Bucky pinched the bridge of his nose and the gesture was so typically Gale’s that it stole his breath to see it on the other man.

But he had to press on. “Right?”

Bucky capitulated. “Alright, alright. But Jeannie ever finds out about this, we’re both dead.”

Buck eyed Bucky then, waiting for the other show to fall. “Is that all you gotta say to me?”

Bucky's face fell and cleared in realisation and Buck's stomach bubbled with a flare of anxiety about what he might say.

“Ah, fuck. Sorry, yeah. I’ve got to apologise to Marge, don’t I?”

Buck’s eye twitched, because Bucky had to be playing so damn dumb on purpose.

But, he wasn’t wrong.

“Well, yeah. She liked that boy. And you gon’ scared him off.”

Bucky scoffed though, waving a dismissive hand. “If you’re her fake fella, Buck. Marge has got to raise her standards for her real one. Don’t worry, I’ll find her a nice guy; a real prince to your pauper, so to speak.”

“That is not how the story goes.”

But then something occurred to Buck. He’d seen Bucky charm plenty of women, a lot of them blondes. Now that Bucky knew Marge was technically single…

“You mean someone like you?”

Bucky smirked and stepped toe to toe with Buck. He let his large hands smooth out the wrinkles Buck had worked into his own uniform wrangling Bucky earlier. His fingers slipped to his crooked tie and slowly knotted it back into place.

“You callin’ me a prince, Buck Cleven?”

Buck wanted to brush it off, to turn it into a joke, say anything to break the tension. But his tongue felt thick and useless in his mouth. All his brain could process was the proximity of Bucky, the smell of Bucky, and heat of his fingers at Buck’s collar.

Bucky leaned closer, like a he had a secret to share. “That make you my princess?”

And that should not have crackled a hot, thrilling tremor to life that sent him rocking infinitesimally closer to Bucky, a gasp somehow escaping the clutch his teeth had on his lips.

Bucky’s eyes darkened, but before he could say or do anything, the backdoor to the pub opened again and Marge’s golden head popped out.

“If you two are quite done?” she sounded like a teacher scolding the class clowns. “I am fending off almost an entire bomb group in there by myself and they’re like a pack of wild dogs. Some help, if you’d be so kind.”

Buck coughed and stepped back and trotted dutifully to Marge’s side. “Sorry, darlin’,” he said and dropped a kiss to her cheek.

Bucky was left with Marjorie Spencer staring at him, hands on her hips.

“Well?” she said expectantly.

Sheepishly, Bucky rubbed the back of his neck. “In my defence, you could do better?”

He saw murder in her eyes and quickly backtracked. Now was not the time for jokes. Evidently Marge did not appreciate them the way Buck did.

Bucky dropped his arms by his sides and looked her in the eye. “I am sorry. I shouldn’t have reacted like that, no matter what I thought. I’m not - God, Marge, I’m not a violent man. Bit of a motor mouth sure, and I’ll stand up for any of my boys, but I don’t usually…”

Marge let him stew in the silence for a bit. But eventually, “No you shouldn’t have. I might be thankful that Gale has you looking out for him, but you can’t be such a hot head, John Egan. I don’t appreciate it and Gale don’t like it.”

Gently, Bucky took one of Marge’s hands, tiny in one of his, and raised it to his lips to place a sorry kiss there with a rueful smile “I will never lay hands on someone like that again, unless it's for a very good reason. I promise. But Buck’s pretty good at keeping me in check.”

Marge blessed him with a knowing smile. “I’m sure he is.”

And then Bucky was back in full force. “But seriously, Marge, you’ve got to at least date sideways. You can’t date down. Anyone less than Buck ain’t good enough for you.”

She rolled her eyes and pointed him back inside, letting him offer his arm. “Well when you find him, you let me know. Because I’m shit outta luck.”

They re-entered the pub laughing and any remaining tension in the room seemed to release. As Bucky took Marge for another spin round the dancefloor, he felt Buck’s eyes on them and risked a glance. And what a risk. Gale stared, blue eyes pinned on him over the smooth rim of his glass, tracking Bucky’s every move and licking the moisture off his lips.

Bucky threw him a wink and mouthed, Later, princess.

Colonel Huglin did not appreciate having to consider disciplinary action at six am. Yet having a man like Major John Egan under his command meant Huglin’s dreams didn’t count for much.

He watched this respected, no, revered man stand before him, clasp and unclasp his hands, purse his lips, and shift his legs like he was fighting the urge to rock on his heels. Like a misbehaving school boy. If Huglin had never met him, and someone had asked him to pick out the best pilot (on par with Major Cleven), the quickest thinker, an excellent strategist and the man almost single-handedly responsible for morale on base, Huglin wouldn't even have spared John a glance.

And yet.

“I haven’t seen him yet, but I’d bet my commission that the young fella you thrashed good and sound yesterday looks real pretty this morning.”

John grimaced. And, surprisingly enough it was not the wince of one awaiting an unwanted scolding, but one that actually looked like regret. John, who never ever failed to look a man in the eye, looked down at his shoes, lips twisting, and just nodded.

Major Cleven had come to him even earlier, at 5.20am, before Huglin had even had his coffee, and filled him in on what happened last night.

“You know Major Egan, Sir. I know you don’t always see eye to eye but he’s not a violent man, not like that. But,” and Gale and leaned forward in his chair, concern creasing his brow and wringing his hands together, “his sister, before he left, she had some…awful kind of trouble. With a fella. That looked just like the man from last night, John said. You know how much he looks after the men, and he loves his sisters. It drives him crazy he’s not there to look after ‘em with their dad not being around anymore… Sorry Sir, I’m rambling.” He was, and it was unlike Cleven who was a man of few words. Surely, a testament to his worry over his friend and brother-in-arms. “I just mean to say, John thought - John saw -"

And Huglin had cut Cleven off with a wave of his hand. He understood. He’d seen countless men wide eyed, crying or screaming at something or someone who wasn’t really there. It didn’t mean Egan could get entirely off the hook, but he understood.

“You have anything to say for yourself?”

“Can I see him?”

Huglin hadn't been expecting that. “What?”

“The…guy. God I don’t even know his name. But I’d like to apologise, if he’ll let me. He deserves that at least, and I’d like to settle it before I go.”

He wasn’t due to fly to Thorpe Abbots until mid-morning. There was plenty of time. “Evans. Airman First Class Evans. And I’ll ask his superior officer and let you know.”

Bucky released a breath and nodded, more to himself, Huglin thought, before he squared his shoulders at the Colonel.

“I just want to apologise, Sir. What I did yesterday was not becoming of a Major of the US Airforce. I know that. It’s not the kind of man I am or how I want my men to see me. I’m…” John swallowed. “I embarrassed the uniform. And I hurt someone who didn’t deserve it. I’m sorry, Sir.”

Huglin needed a moment to collect himself. He wasn’t stupid. He knew part of the reason the men admired Egan so was because he never backed down from the higher ups, always spoke his mind and said his piece - but Huglin couldn’t think of one time it wasn’t on their behalf. To get them what they needed or give them the best odds, or even distract them on days the base just became too heavy. But this was a side of John that Huglin had never seen: the human man underneath the military man.

And Huglin had sisters, too. He could empathise.

“I’m glad to hear that, Major. Normally, there’d be a disciplinary hearing, and we’d decide what was to be done with you.”

John bit his cheek but nodded, accepting.

“But, I think in this case, I can smooth things over. If, you apologise to Evans and his CO, and goddamn cool it on the liquor, John. I mean it. There might even be a mandatory anger management session with the doc in your future, and if so I won't hear a damn single word of complaint from you, understood?”

John reared back looking stunned, and Huglin let himself enjoy it. “Don’t look so surprised. Your buddy Cleven was by here and told me everything. And be glad he did. Otherwise I’d be tempted to ground you the rest of this damn war.”

John said nothing.

“Alright, get out of here. You’ve got a trip to prepare for. And an apology, too.”

“Yes, sir,. John turned smartly on his heels and headed for the door.

When he reached the jam, Huglin called out,. "And John? Give my best wishes to your sister, will you? If they need anything, you let me know.”

John made a funny noise in his throat and nodded before he all but fled the room.

Buck was waiting for him outside. He leapt to his feet when he saw Bucky emerge looking frazzled.

“Well? How’d it go?”

Bucky fell into step next to him, and out of the corner of his mouth said, “What on earth did you tell Huglin? Because whatever it was, I almost got out of there scot-free.”

And Buck didn't fail to notice that Bucky didn’t sound happy about it. He new in the sober light of day, and with the clarity sleep brings, John would be beating himself up something fierce for attacking that boy. Which he should, by rights, but John did take self-flagellation to extremes sometimes. Gale wondered if it was the Catholic in him, lapsed or not.

“You’re still Air Exec?”

“Yeah?”

Buck nudged him. “Sounds like a punishment to me.”

Bucky rolled his eyes and came to a halt at the mouth of the building, staring out onto the tarmac.

“I want to apologise to the boys,” he said, hands on his hips and head hanging low. “I just, can’t stop thinking about them seeing me like that. I don’t…”

Standing where they were, Buck couldn't do much but clasp his shoulder and lean down to look Bucky in the eye. “Then let’s go find ‘em.”

The boys, as it turned out, were just finishing getting dressed. They didn’t notice the Majors enter the bunk house at first.

“-wonder what happened?”

“None of your business, that’s what happened,” said DeMarco.

“It shouldn’t have happened.” Brady. Bucky flinched.

“Ay,” Curtis dove into the conversation. “You don’t know shit. If he got a bit banged up, then he deserved it. Don’t go thinking anything else.”

And despite himself, Bucky let himself crack a smile at Curt’s friendship and loyalty.

“It shouldn’t have happened,” Brady insisted, stubborn and louder. “John’s our leader. He’s a Major. I’m his co-pilot for crying out loud. He should be setting an example, and starting bar fights isn’t it. I don’t know about you, but I want to head into war with the John Egan who has your back, and keeps his head in the air so good he solves problems before half the crew even notice they’re there. Not the John who’ll flip at a switch. I don’t like that John.”

Several of the boys protested and booed Brady and started yelling and cursing, and they knew a more serious argument was about the break out with Brady bearing the brunt of it if they didn’t step in.

Buck let Bucky go when he stepped further into the room.

“Brady’s right,” he called, and the men snapped to attention and Brady dropped the shoe he’d been polishing and stumbled to his feet.

Buck walked up steady behind Bucky, a solid presence at his shoulder. “At ease, gentlemen.”

Bucky stood tall and true. “Last night, I acted in a way that was unfit for a man of the US Airforce, rank be damned. It should never have happened, and it will never happen again. I just wanted you to know that.” He surveyed the boys and they looked on silent. “We all make mistakes, and things get heated sometimes. This one is my mistake, and I’ll own that. So don’t you boys go thinking that starting fights with your fellow airmen to blow of some steam is acceptable. It’s not. You can all learn that lesson from me. That’s part of my job - teaching you how to avoid making the same mistakes I have.”

And in true Bucky fashion he flipped the solemn mood of the room with a switch and a turn of his lips and he gave them a sincere Bucky grin.

“Like that time I wandered into the Colonel’s quarters by mistake and got stuck on latrine duty for a week.” The boys relaxed into their laughter. “Remember that?” He pointed at Curt. “You made me sleep out in that abandoned storage hut until I was done.”

“You stank!”

“Or that time I yanked Ham back from the shaky step heading into the mess hall?”

Ham howled from his bunk. “Because you’d tripped a week or so before it, and sent your scrambled eggs all down a Red Cross dame. That handprint on your cheek didn’t disappear for a whole day!”

Buck just stood back and marvelled at Bucky's ability to work a room.

“So if me or Buck here ain’t around to give you the benefit of our experience,” he reached out and clasped the back of Brady’s head and scrubbed it playfully, “be damn sure you listen to Brady. Best co-pilot there is.”

The men all hollered and scrambled to rib at Brady, rubbing his head like Bucky did or punching him playfully in the arm or chucking his chin.

But Bucky wasn’t finished. “Because we’re the 100th. The best damn bomb squad there is. And we’ll damn well act like it. Do you hear me?”

“Yes sir!”

Bucky shouted louder. “I said do you hear me?!”

“SIR, YES SIR!”

“Because who are we?!”

“The 100th!”

“Who are we?!!”

“THE 100TH!”

“Then get your gear on, get out there, and show ‘em how it’s done!”

Making a thunderous racket, the boys gathered the last of their things and rushed out the door, Brady the last of the group, shooting Bucky a small, pleased, and proud smile before he disappeared.

The silence they left behind was a stark contrast. Until Buck couldn’t take it anymore.

He snorted and cackled and John threw his hands in the air. “Really, Buck?”

Buck cleared his throat and got himself under control. Adopting the highest voice he could, in something that could barely pass as Bucky's odd not-quite Wisconsin accent, he teased him, “My name’s John Egan, and I’m a terrible leader on the ground!”

Bucky shoved him hard, but yanked him back with a firm arm around his bicep and pulled him in close, so the buckles of their belts gave a soft clack in greeting.

They were alone.

“I’ll be flying at at 10.30 sharp,” Bucky mumbled up close.

Buck nodded. “I know. I’ll see you off, if that’s what you’re askin’.”

“Mm, with a handshake in front of the boys.”

Buck gave him a firm look. “Of course. Don’t you go thinking otherwise.”

Bucky smiled and leaned in closer, and Buck was surprised that he even could. “But the boys aren’t here, now.”

“Oh, that’s what you’re lookin’ for, huh? A little send of?”

Bucky's hands bravely slipped down to his waist and squeezed, and Buck resolutely did not think about how his waist fit all nice in John’s stupidly large hands. He was not a small man - he was tall; he worked hard all his life, and despite a less than stellar childhood, always had enough to eat. But John was just so damn big.

“Just a kiss, Buck. For luck. To tide me over till you get over the pond.”

Buck grinned, a rare one showing his teeth and leaned in until he felt the softness of Bucky's lips skim the edges of his own. He kept it there, just not quite touching until he heard Bucky's breath hitch and his hands tried their hardest not to wander some more.

And against that mouth he’d dreamed about in his sleep, he’d fantasised about in his waking hours, he murmured, playful and sweet, “No.”

He turned sharp in his heels and escaped Bucky's grasp and threw a pleased grin over his shoulder at Bucky gaping in his wake.

“Buck!”

“You’ll just have to wait for me, Johnny!” And Gale ducked out of the bunk house and left Bucky behind, to attend his duties.

And John stood there wondering what on earth he was in for, taking up with a tease like Buck Cleven. But he couldn’t wait to find out.

#clegan #buck x bucky #john egan #gale cleven #mota #masters of the air #fic

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raconteur-wanpi · 27 days ago

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One Piece 1130

Here comes another review / reaction!

Starting with the Yamato cover stories again, it seems whoever is the suspicious kidnapper is also trying to steal Yamato's katana! Or at least, I'm assuming it's the same person. I feel like this means we're going to find out who it is rather soon. Is my bet on Perospero going to be completely and utterly debunked? We'll just wait and see.

Franky and the rest of the strawhats remaining on the giants' ship seem to have decided to call off the search! It's certainly the right decision, because as we'll see later, the rest of the crew is indeed already on Elbaf. It's interesting to see Franky specifically showcasing determination and speaking out the decision, I kinda love it. You have to remember he was the leader of the Franky Family for a long while, nice seeing that element of his again.

The rest of the New Giant Pirates are starting to show up! I remember both Gerd and Goldberg, but getting more dialogue from them is nice, they seem like genuinely charming characters and I love both their designs. They even showed up in Vegapunk's flashback, helping out Saul pick up all the books in Ohara. They seem to not like Rodo very much, which is kinda funny but makes total sense. It's also worth mentioning that apparently, according to Linlin's childhood flashback, Loki, Rodo and Goldberg were all born on the same day, or at least very close to each other! (From chapter 866)

The strawhats unfortunately don't recognize these two, who are certainly their allies, so instead they hide away from them.

This panel of all of them making their escape from Rodo's weird creepy dungeon is pretty cute, I always love seeing the strawhats casually interact. Sanji saying he used to cross a rope bridge like this is very interesting to me, surely there was one in Germa, right?

* Edit: oops, turns out that's Chopper saying it! Big thanks for the corrections in the replies. It's really hard to tell, but that makes more sense, we do see that in Drum Island.

Anyway, Luffy seems to spot something that catches his interest during this walk-away.

Meanwhile, back on the ship with the Giant Warrior Pirates....

Dorry and Broggy have been framed for the Egghead incident by Morgans also! Well, they did go against the government, so it's to be expected. Their bounties increasing to such numbers seems to actually align with real life inflation rates, Oda did his research.

Aaaandd here it is, one of the biggest things in this chapter. Vivi left a message to the strawhats!!!!!!! Being with Morgans, she was obviously able to draw the marking on the photo before it started getting reproduced for publishing. Everyone predicting Vivi joining the strawhats this arc is probably correct, hopefully! Please let it happen. Go get your girl kids!!!!!!

OK, this is the other huge (pun unintended) thing revealed this chapter. More information on Loki and, well.... the revelation Harjudin might be his brother!? They're both the King's sons, right? They both get referred to as princes here, aren't they!?

King Harold is referred to as Loki's father here, so it's safe to assume he was Harjudin's father also. If this is the case, Harjudin going after the Flame Flame Fruit in Dressrosa makes more sense.

Hmm, this narrative is pretty interesting, Loki getting called things like "cursed", "the shame of Elbaf" "not right in the head" etc, it feels like pretty cruel words. Even if he is indeed a horrible and dangerous person, something tells me we're meant to be wary of people being spoken about that way, so it might be a case of the people of Elbaf taking their measures against this guy too far and pushing him into what he eventually turned into.

One Piece loves this narrative, when you have things like Wano's unjust treatment of the Kurozumi Clan or Doflamingo's treatment when he was a child. Yes, Orochi and Doffy did turn out into terrible, horrible people, but the implication of those narratives is that it's the systems that failed them that created those monsters. It's not to feel sympathy towards them or anything, they really don't deserve that at this point, but rather to understand how they were created, and that the people who unwittingly turned them into such dangers were in many ways in the wrong as well. After all, Tama is also a Kurozumi, for example, and Wano needed to get over their treatment of entire clans for the crimes of a few. We even see that with Yamato being hazed for his father being Kaidou in the cover stories, only for Denjiro to scold the younger generation for this behavior. Not to mention, "the shame of Elbaf" does immediately make me think of "the failure of Germa" and such similar things. In fact, if we wanna push that parallel further, Loki being almost married off to the Charlottes' in a similar way, might have in fact been an attempt at "getting rid of the failure" and letting someone else deal with him, rather than an attempt at making amends with Linlin. I do think it's most likely that Loki will be a bad guy, but I think there will also be a narrative on how cruelty breeds more cruelty. Oda's favorite!

And here he is, the "accursed prince". Wow, what a panel! This is such a good drawing in sense of scale and danger. Incredible artistic work. Immediately leaves such a strong impression on who this character is, it's quite the introduction!

#one piece #one piece 1130 #one piece spoilers #1130 spoilers #elbaf arc #prince loki one piece #loki one piece #one piece meta #talltales

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akookminsupporter · 20 days ago

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Hi Rosie! How are you? I just wanted to share. Apparently, a popular jikook fanfic writer's account was hacked on ao3 by a member of the cult. Do you know what they did? Changed JM's name on the fic to Tae's. Not just one fic, a couple. Plus, unregistered users from the cult left hateful comments on the author's stories.

I know they're fucking insane and disconnected from real life. But this? These people are gone. Nobody can ever convince them. They're so desperate because what they want and fantasize about is not translating irl, that even in the world of fiction, they go and separate Jikook in fucking ao3 fics and make them about tkk? Man, the past year and a half pushed them to the brink. They know and see how different Jimin and Jungkook are compared to the lies and manipulations they were fed.

I'm scared of what they'll do once Jikook are back, especially how they're serving together in a camp that's higher-risk and more isolated. In Psychology, a shared experience like that usually forms an even deeper level of bond.

It's honestly scary how far gone they are. I can't believe someone would fucking do this. Side note, there was another person who asked another Jikook author a couple of months ago if they could use their story and change it into a tkk one (author was not happy, but declined in a civil manner). I was already weired out by that, like why make a jikook story to a tkk one, just by changing names? Why not write one yourself? Just when I thought I'd seen it all.

Tkkrs are the very examples of JOBLESS. Because wdym they just hack into someone's ao3 account and change the names???? like who has so much time in this world

To the second anon, unfortunately, the tweet you sent is no longer available, which is why I didn’t post it.

I have to admit that when I read both ASKs, I actually laughed. That was my first reaction, and then I facepalmed myself because just when you think that subgroup couldn’t sink any lower, they go and prove you wrong. At this rate, I think they’re already making deals with the devil.

It’s just incredibly pathetic, embarrassing, and stupid. And any other synonym you can think of for all those words.

Anon 1, I get your worry about how they’ll react or behave once Jimin and Jungkook are discharged from the army, and Tae as well, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there, even though things aren’t looking great.

The other thing I take from this is that they can see that Jikook is different, even in fiction, and they want that for their ship. It’s sad, pathetic, ironic, and therefore funny all at once. I genuinely wonder if they realise that by doing things like this, they’re just validating Jikook and Jikookers in every way. It’s as if they’re confirming they want what Jikook has for their own ship and what Jikookers have as fans. Even imagination.

#anon #ask #the vecinas #the subgroup #jikookphobics #toxic shippers #jkkrs opinion #preg 990

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t0ast-ghost · 6 months ago

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S3 EP20 (The Way To Eden) Space hippies? I love an episode where someone slightly annoying is on board

Yippee kyack or whatever:

- What. The costume designs here are. I’m not even sure

- Purple hair? I bet they have pronouns too

- CHEKOV LORE?!?

- Time to ask: What the fuck is happening (edit: record time)

- Where did Spock even come from? Kirk was talking to the group and he just walks over to Spock like Spock is just always there. When did he appear???

- Spock picking up on their behaviour and copying it in a way that will get them to respond positively

- The writers created a myth about a planet. And named the planet Eden. C’mon.

- when they just start chanting Herbet it’s like Kirk becomes instantly uncool. I think if a bunch of middle schoolers just started chanting a random name at me I’d cry

- “One of those… was in the academy?” What the fuck Kirk

- I can’t tell if this episode is going to be very against the group (like Kirk is right now) or if their side of the argument will be validated to some extent (I have a feeling they might be validated cause Spock understands them and also stated that they were academic) (edit: it was a secret third option)

- idk I like this photo

- The singing sounds so off from the images, it was most likely added in post production

- “Gonna crack my knuckles and jump for joy, I got a clean bill of health from Dr. McCoy.” Goes kinda hard tbh

- NURSE CHAPEL YEAHHHHHHH. Hiiiiii

- That redshirt who looks at Chekov in the hallway is such a bitch for that look

- Kirk’s tits McCoy cracking the case. Good job👍

- Oh hi Sulu! Don’t join a cult !

- *sits down in chair and crosses leg over knee*

- Spock is so pretty ☺️☺️☺️

- Spock keeping his promise and finding Eden for the others even if the leader is a selfish prick

- We get to see Spock’s room again, I love Spock’s room, like why is there a stone statue water fountain in there? What is that?

- Chekov don’t tell her how the ship works. Do not divulge important information

- This is like the Star Trek tos musical episode, isn’t it?

- SPOCK Yes! Please play please please please please llssezz

- I like when it switches to the redshirts on the bridge just straight up jamming

- C’mon man. LOOK AT HIM

- HES JAMMING OMG SPOCKS JAMMING

- I need McCoy and Kirk to witness this

- Spock is done at the function. He leaves.

- “Adam, you know I reach you. I believe in what you seek. But there is a tragic difference between what you want and what he wants.” Spock really connects with them and it’s upsetting to see him have to witness them being misled

- At this point that guy is gonna blow up the ship

- Kirk doesn’t fuck around. If the door is locked Scotty’s gonna phaser through that fucker

- I can’t with Kirk’s faces rn

- I love the singing playing through the ship with everyone passed out, it’s such a perfect amount of eerie

- Kirk checking on Bones 🥹🥹🥹

- hiii McCoy hiiii

- I never noticed that the scanner could be uncapped and used as a healing device?

- Adam ate a pear lol

- I did NOT want to see that foot shot

- I like that Spock has such a soft side for the younger people in the show. Like he always has a sense of pride towards Chekov and cared so much about everyone in the group this episode

Thoughts are: Spock is good with kids, Kirk is terrible with kids, and McCoy is just himself always so there’s a reason he’s not a paediatrician but he’s still good with kids

Masterpost

Teleplay by Arthur Heinemann

Story by Michael Richards & Arthur Heinemann

#star trek #star trek tos #star trek the original series #spock #s'chn t'gai spock #tos spock #leonard bones mccoy #tos bones #tos mccoy #captain james kirk #james t kirk #tos kirk #pavel chekov #tos chekov

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self-indulgent-paw-patrol · 7 months ago

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Watched the first Paw Patrol movie with my dad, this time entirely in Brazilian dub (first time I watched was entirely in English), in the early hours past midnight today. Have the best of his reactions. Honestly, most were the same as mine when I watched the movie for the first time too, so let's go XD

"How did he SEE that tiny turtle up ahead???? Oh geez, there goes the bridge."

"I decree this trucker as the only sane person in the entire movie and the movie didn't even start for real yet." "Dad, he spilled his ice tea or whatever was that on himself." "It was the road's fault." "........ Ok you got a point."

"Lary, pause." "They look cute sleeping, right?" "They look like us after we eat. Post-dish depression." (It's our personal pun with "post-birth depression") "Tag yourself, I'm Marshall." "I'm Chase. Your brother is... What's this one's name again?" "Zuma? LMFAO YES HE IS"

"When did he have time to get this thing built?" "Who knows. I always joke that he's out there spawning stuff at will." "Are his parents like millionaire or something?" "No one knows about his parents or family, not even the official website gives any info on that." "HOW DOES HE PAY FOR ALL THIS--" *Cue Skye asking the same thing and Ryder responding* *Dad chokes on nothing and I have to pause so he can cough it out and drink some water*

"Oh fuck. He's-- He's lighting up all the fireworks." *Stops what he was doing in the living room to pay full attention* "THIS IS GONNA BE GOOD."

"Sure, block the roads to launch the cars. This is so HotWheels. They have THEIR OWN LANE."

"WELCOME TO THE BIG CITY, PUPS. WE HAVE LARGE ROADS AND WE STILL HAVE TRAFFIC JAM. YOU'LL LOVE IT."

"Isn't-- Isn't Chase their POLICE dog?" "Yeah" "Chase why are you ALLOWING this, how many traffic laws did they JUST BREAK"

"Sweet Jesus, don't mess with Marshall. He's got a mean cannon and he's LOVING it."

"Wait, Liberty's a street dog?" "Yup" "I thought she had an owner. So she's like one of those lovely strays who make friends with just about everyone they cross paths with." "YUP"

"... What the actual fuck is wrong with Humdinger?" *Shrugs* "He shouldn't be allowed to run for elections on anything."

"Oh no, Chase froze. Looks like those panic attacks you used to have." "........ You remember those too, huh" "Yeah. You made me freeze a lot too. I didn't know what to do with you so I'd freeze like that too." "Oh."

"There goes Marshall saving the day again. I see why you like him too." "He's cute." "I like his fire truck. Are you going to buy his toy too?" "You bet it." "Nice. As you should."

"Okay now I'm afraid of Liberty." "Why?" "Did you see how sure she was about her bait plan?" "Yeah?" "SHE'S GONNA HAVE THE TIME OF HER LIFE MESSING UP WITH HUMDINGER I'M CALLING IT"

"YUP I CALLED IT"

*Liberty calls Delores a toilet brush* "OUCH THAT WAS BRUTAL I LOVE HER EVEN MORE NOW"

"Literal prison BREAK. Nice." *Thumbs up to the TV*

"Aw that was cute. Ryder is a good boy."

"That thing is sucking way too many clouds."

"THAT THING IS SUCKING WAY TOO MANY CLOUDS."

"THIS IS GONNA CAUSE A STORM, RIGHT?"

"YUP CALLED IT."

"Omg she's so excited HER FACE IS SO CUTE! Repeat this entire scene please."

"GODDAMMIT RYDER YOU'RE SO MEAN LAUNCHING HER LIKE THAT ASUASHAUSHAUSHAUSHAU"

"Why is her number 22?" "Ryder numbers the vehicles, not the pups." "So they have 21 vehicles before hers." "Yup." "How many are there?" "Last I checked, last one was an Aircraft Carrier ship, number 25." "Wow."

"Did-- Did Zuma just BREAK his-- Oh, it's a boat too. Two-in-one. Ryder DOES really think of everything, huh?"

"Okay that was nice, I thought we wouldn't get to see Zuma doing anything in this entire movie at all." "Aquatic rescue dog in the big city, right?" "Yeah it's not exactly his natural habitat." "I feel him." "... I forgot you were a beach kid." "In my heart I still am."

"PULL THE LEVER, KRONK!!!!!" *Hysterical laughter* "OKAY HE DESERVED THAT."

"Chase KNOWS how to drift-- MOTORCYCLE???-- DRIVING UP THE WALL???????" *Slowly clapping for the entire scene*

"Is he afraid of heights? He didn't seem to be when he rescued the trucker and I see him doing a lot of stuff in the show." "I think it's not the height itself, it's mostly the panic remembering the times he failed at these tasks." "Trauma, then." "Yeah."

"Is he gonna-- Yup. Spirit jump. Of course." (For reference, the leap of faith scene from the movie "Spirit, Stallion of the Cimarron")

"Okay now I'm afraid of Skye too-- Did the clouds just went POOF." "Yeah they did." "Damn, we just had such a badass scene, it killed the badassery."

"Ouch the helicopter-- DAMMIT ROCKY AHAHAHAHAHA"

"Awwww Liberty! That's my girl. Nice." "That's literally the name of the song that was playing when she was riding her new scooter for the first time." "Perfection. So she officially joined the team?" "Yeah I didn't get there yet but she's in the show after the movie came out too." "Did they do that because there was only one female pup in the show?" "Actually there's Everest too, that Husky Siberian! But she doesn't live with Ryder and his pups, she was adopted by the guy who lives in the mountain. In the main team, yeah, it's only Skye." "Still too few girls, they need more." "Tell me about it..."

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lightwise · 7 months ago

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TBB S3 E12 Reaction

Alright, this was the last episode that was truly represented in the trailer. I can’t wait to see Hunter kick some Juggernaut butt (why does that sound so bad lol)

- Hemlock wipe that damn smirk off your face

- Again with the shoulder shoves dude

- No why is CX-2 just walking away? We need to follow him and find out who he is!! *low-key screaming in frustration* lol

- I love how Hemlock is so arrogantly confident and uncaring that he comes across as almost respectful in how he takes the time to explain things to other people

- Come on Emerie, you’ve come so far! Don’t keep playing into Hemlock’s hand! You know Omega isn’t safe here and neither are you

- Lol he’s too busy to even wait for the test results. Bitch

- I do wish they had given us Crosshair telling Hunter and Wrecker about Omega. BUT I was very much correct that Hunter would not waste time being angry

- Every time Crosshair says something more about Tantiss it just keeps getting worse and worse 🥺🥺 don’t make that man go back there! Dee’s vocal inflections and the way he talks about Nala Se and Tipoca City is so regretful

- The trust and vulnerability he’s willing to show though with his hand shaking and admitting he doesn’t want to go back he’s so traumatized 😭💔

- No WAY they are bringing back Admiral Rampart! Kudos to those who called that one

- PHEEEE and AZZZZ

- Cross goes from pointing his rifle in Phee’s face to straight up telling her they’re taking her ship 🤣

- Okay, it finally happened. I finally teared up. Phee and Crosshair immediately sass each other, then she drops the fact that she and Tech were close and talked a lot and he TOLD HER ABOUT CROSSHAIR (and in a good light) and we got a BROWN EYES 👁️ 👄 👁️. I was in a puddle on the floor 🥹🥹🥹

- The way she treats all of them like family and helps them and puts her life on the line for them. It is just so satisfying to see her relationship with the Batch continue to develop like this. Truly family to all of them.

- More Andor vibes with this labor camp

- Of course Rampart is still a dramatic bitchy asshole. Prison hasn’t changed him AT ALL (except for the beard. Sorry guys but I’m just not seeing it 😆)

- Aw Wrecker giving Mel a little pat. He’s so sweet

- “Oh relax. I expect you to know a stealth approach when you see one” 🤩🤩 TECH you need to come back and marry this woman RIGHT FREAKING NOW

- Gosh they were so made for each other 😭

- That entire maneuver was insane and incredible

- Hunter’s helmet float 😄 at least one of them was having fun

- As others have pointed out I also really appreciate that they animated Phee with so much aging and tiredness and lines and wrinkles showing on her face. She’s a real woman who’s seen and done a lot of things and she’s incredibly gorgeous and badass and caring and intelligent and she doesn’t need perfect skin or a youthful glow to be completely amazing

- When are we getting the “day in the life of a storm trooper” workplace comedy? I need it Star Wars!

- It’s so good to see the boys working together like this

- The textures and lighting in this episode are just so real looking

- Wow Wrecker really just sucker punched that guy

- And he actually remembers plan 55 😁 so proud of him

- The music when they saunter in 😂 and we got a “how touching” too?!

- Rampart’s face is in the dictionary next to the word offended

- “Hunter, they’re sealing off the bridge!” Hunter: drives faster

- And he was giving Phee a hard time for her flying?? Boy is approaching Evel Knievel levels!!

- I need to see Hunter in a dirt bike rally now 😧

- Pretty sure Hunter is firmly in his Joel Miller Era. He does not care what he has to do or who he has to kill at this point

- “Not exactly a stealth exit boys” such a great line

- “We’re all in this together” sure Rampart sure let’s see how chipper you are about that next episode

- Emerie and Omega’s glances at each other 🥺

- “This is your new home” yeahhh I don’t think so

#the bad batch #tbb #tbb spoilers #the bad batch spoilers #star wars

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marcynomercy · 8 months ago

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Fate written in blood

I have a doubt, do you think the narrative is running? Something very shallow? Please tell me that I will improve the writing.

Thank you @tragedybunny for beta-reading.

Summary: The blood has always been her way until the day that fate changed, After being kidnapped by mind flayers and the fall of the Nautiloid Calamity had a new opportunity for freedom and strangely her fate crossed with that of Astarion when the elf put that dagger around her neck.

Their fate until now was written by others, but now they would write with their own hands in blood.

Warnings: Violence, blood, game events, mentions of trauma, distress/comfort, mention of abuse, flashback of torture. (That’s it for now)

Ship: Astarion and Calamity (Tav), Shadowheart and Carniex (Tav), mentions of other characters.

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3.

Chapter 2 - Pleasant cold

They got up early and left the camp to continue their search, Calamity had previously planned their actions and done it in a way that they could readjust quickly if something during the day changed the plans. It was something she learned in her work. Never rely on a single plan, always have options and anticipate possible setbacks.

So first she decided to go behind the place that had the letter she found in that hidden Kagha chest. The Grove didn’t seem to be a bad place to have as a "resource" and it was a safe place, so it would be very bad if it was closed because of that ritual of thorns. Doing so earned them a fight with some guardians, but that was no big deal as the answers were worth it.

"Oh, apparently Kagha was really getting involved with who shouldn’t be." Calamity hummed with a satisfied smile on her lips.

"So... what are you planning?" Astarion asked, annoyed.

"Something that benefits us in the long term until we find this Halsin." She replies holding onto the letter. "Now let’s continue and take a look at the temple that was infested by goblins. It would be good to take a look to make sure what we will face when the time comes."

They were relatively close to the site so it wasn’t a problem, just before entering the ruined village they found the group of adventurers who were in the Grove before whose leader was the same guy that Calamity had punched. After a little dialogue with him and getting the information about a reward for a treasure called "Night Song" they made their way to that temple. The first time she used the tadpole’s powers was in the entryway with the goblins by reading one of their minds and using that to get in smoothly.Then in a few steps before crossing a bridge they fell to the ground being crushed by a terrible power and a voice that oppressed them demanding obedience. They managed to get rid of it thanks to the artifact that Shadowheart carried.

Shadowheart was revealed to be a follower of Shar at this point Being honest, Calamity didn’t really care much for it, only worried about the artifact. What was he? Why did Shar want him? Because he could protect them? Who were those people in the vision they had? What did it all mean? Without these answers she could only rely on the cleric oath to keep this artifact safe even if it cost her life.

They passed through the party and the guards, the temple desecrated with the goddess statues broken and destroyed, that yielded depressive and sarcastic comments from Shadowheart now that she felt more free to express her beliefs. A goblin was branding the followers with hot iron and turned to them with a certain enthusiasm. She called them "True Soul" and offered the brand - something that was immediately denied. Then a familiar sensation, darkness seems to swallow the temple, leaving them with a vision of the goblin priestess, receiving instruction from a handsome young man. One of the Chosen… The vision dissolves away. They stand before the goblin priestess in the temple once again, Calamity severed the connection abruptly, now she knew that this goblin also carried the parasite.

She said something about shadows in her mind and offered to help.

"That’s a bit particular..." Calamity replied.

"Of course we go to my chapel, where it is private, we don’t let others interfere in the dealings between us True Souls."

They followed her to the place, the door was closed and the priestess called them closer.

"Ready to clear your mind?"

Until that moment everyone thought that Calamity would make the stupid decision to trust this goblin, Astarion himself was rolling his eyes at the situation.

"Actually, I changed my mind..." Calamity smiled sweetly saying these words calmly and in the blink of an eye her hand moved and the goblin’s throat was cut. "I’m gonna kill you now."

The priestess fell to the ground,blood gushed, and everyone was staring at the atrocious scene. And when she pulled that blade? The most disturbing was the smile she kept on her lips, a sweet and innocent smile that became disturbing in this situation. Astarion was perplexed by the way she hid her murderous intent, none of them realized, HE did not notice.

"True Souls, they’re infected like us but think they’re thinking talking to a god." she commented, rifling through the goblin’s body.

"Was this the intended destination for us? Blessed in ignorance to think we could talk to a God? What joke of bad taste..." He mocked angry in the end.

When the priestess tadpole abandoned her body everyone was disgusted, but this power... her body moved on its own from the influence of the tadpole. Calamity just accepted it and kept the tadpole for now. She knew she should not trust this, should not accept, but at the same time, something within her wanted this power and desired more. Unfortunately they could not go very far after finding the secret passage, they began to feel some symptoms and preferred to take a rest at the camp. The heavy air, the sweat and the sore fingertips.

That was not good.

Lae'zel attacked Calamity by putting a dagger around her neck saying they were transforming. Everyone told her to put down the blade and stop it. Tempers began to flare, mixed with pain, fear, despair and distrust. Calamity’s head hurt again... she hated this atmosphere, this feeling. She was drowned in the same for many years and now everything could end up that way. No, she wouldn’t let me.

She used the tadpole to spy on Lae'zel’s mind and felt the uncertainty and disgust. She used it to convince her that it was just a fever and that it would pass with a rest.

"Gah, I don’t trust my own mind. So I think I should trust yours. I will wait. But know this I will be watching. If the sickness does not pass, come dawn... I will end us all."

That threat was a beautiful knot in the stomach for everyone and that night was difficult. But then a figure appeared in her dreams... with the face of her brother.

The dream visitor was wearing his face and said he was protecting her, this was a very low blow to her as she only trusted him briefly because of the face he was wearing. He promised that when she woke up she would be better and... really he did not lie. More questions hit her mind and when talking to all her companions the stories hit, same dream same message.

Unmasking Kagha was easy and quick, getting rid of the shadow druids was simple and with that they ensured the Grove as a safe point. Calamity talked to the druids about Halsin who had not yet found him, but did not believe he was dead . Her suspicions were that he would be stuck somewhere in that lair since if they had killed a druid who could turn into a bear the least they could do was have his head was stuck on a spear and displayed as a trophy.

Astarion remembered the scene from the previous day, the way she kept that same pleasant and calm expression while slicing the goblin’s throat. The slight smile drawn on her lips, the smile she was now using to be friendly to the druids and the tieflings... he was impressed how vile she could be and still maintain the appearance of "good girl".

"We chose a wolf in sheep’s clothing as leader." He commented.

"I don’t think it’s bad, I even like this side of her is practical and makes people lower their guard easily." Shadowheart argued, watching her too. "And she doesn’t really seem like a bad person."

"No?" Astarion questioned.

"Look at her well." Gale said watching her talking to the children. "She saved that girl from Kagha, that boy from the harpies and was being kind to the others Look into her eyes, see the compassion reflected in her and that’s something you can’t fake Astarion."

Astarion said nothing more, really she had this compassionate look at that moment while interacting with the children and he became even more confused. How could a killer like her have such a side? Be so ruthless and at the same time so kind.

The village seemed to have good resources and while exploring ordinary conversations became natural.

"So Calamity, do you have some love waiting for you in the city?" Shadowheart asked humorously.

"I don’t have time for romance." It was an anticlimactic response for the group.

"Really? So who were you looking for?" Astarion asked curious. "It was impossible not to notice you scouring the rubble of the fall."

"I was looking for my twin brother, we separated before I was kidnapped, and maybe he was taken too, but after not finding him I think he was lucky not to have been taken."

"Or in the worst case, he is one of those ignorant people we meet." Astarion replied, hardly interested.

"Hope that’s not the case." Calamity warned. " My brother is as skilled as I am and much more brutal. Even I would have trouble facing him in a fight... and I would hate that." Her voice became a weaker tone and had a lot of regret, her feelings were clear.

"It’s understandable, twin ties are often very strong I can only imagine how painful it must be for you to be in that position." Gale laid his hand on her shoulder and even though it was barely noticeable, Astarion saw the way she trembled even for a second in aversion to touch.

"Thank you, Gale, well let’s hope he’s had better luck."

Unfortunately not everything was quiet after all. A devil appeared, playing his game with rhymes of a poem and dragging them to a banquet hall.

"Great now I have a devil in my pocket? Continue with your rhymes and offerings, I will never accept." Calamity was firm in her words.

"Still, I’ve a feeling you’ll change your mind before it’s changed for you. Try to cure yourself. Shop around - beg, borrow, and steal. Exhaust every possibility util none are left. And when hope has been whittled down to the very marrow of despair - that’s when you’ll come knocking on my door. Hope. Hahaha! Such a tease."

"Keep dreaming about it, no matter how much despair I’m in, even if it’s death before me, I’ll NEVER make a pact with you." The certainty she had in her words and in her eyes made everyone be impressed, even Raphael.

"Hahahaha, I’ve heard those words before and only one was true to them... hum." He approached her and held her chin to better see her face.

The way Raphael looked at her, that he looked in the back of his eyes as if he were spying on his soul. Calamity pushed him in disgust.

"What an interesting twist."

"Are you done with your silly little game?" she mocked.

"I believe your words, but what if it was to save someone else? Your brother perhaps?" Calamity was losing patience to the point of moving her hand to pull her sword.

Astarion was faster and held her wrist.

"Are you crazy?! Think well before you act." He warned as he received an angry look from her.

" What a sad situation perhaps I should do a little favor."

"Leave him out of this devil! You made your offer and I denied it!"

"For now." Raphael, with a gesture, teleported them back to the village and the group looked in.

Calamity was very upset, that devil quoted her brother and he was right... If it were for him, she would make a pact without hesitation.

"Now there’s a bloody devil trailing after us? This gets better and better." Astarion commented angrily.

I think he wants something from us. Badly. " Gale commented thoughtfully and worried.

"Sure he does, but apparently he’s devoted special attention to our dear Calamity."

"No matter. We’ve dealt with every other oddity thrown at us lately - we can handle this one too. Now, as for this “Raphael”... He knows our secret, he claims he can help… what do you make of him?" Shadowheart asked.

"We don’t trust him, simple!" Calamity responded adamantly.

"No doubts at all? Good. That’s what I wanted to hear. He’s clever, my order uses the same tactic when dealing with enemies of Shar. You don’t need a scourge or a rack to break people. Fear and self-doubt are sufficient. When actual pain comes, the victim’s already done the heavy lifting for their torturer. There were no right answers with that devil. He was toying with his food - us."

"I didn’t realise you were so… well-versed in mental and emotional torment. It’s a good thing to know."

"And it seems that you are very familiar with this, did not doubt and did not hesitate even though you lost the line by having your brother cited."

"What can I say, part of the trade. I just... Never mind, we need to focus on the current goal and prepare to kick a devil’s ass if we have to."

Back at the camp after an exhausting day, Raphael returned to Calamity’s mind. Her concern was turned to her brother but maybe Raphael is the least of the problems, two days... she had been missing for two days. What would they be doing with him now?

Were they torturing him? Or worse?

The best chance is he’s chained up in his room... Shadowheart is right, fear and doubt is sufficient. She was too thoughtful even now in front of the fire listening to the conversation of her companions, her attention was not really there.

"So we’ve all talked a little bit about ourselves at least enough for this group to work." Astarion said looking at Calamity. "But our leader hasn’t said much yet Sorry darling, but I think it won’t hurt to say a little bit."

She stared at him but without any hostility and sighed.

"Well, what can I say? I’m an assassin in Baldur’s Gate... I’m part of the Assassin’s Guild, being more specific."

Astarion raised a puzzled eyebrow.

"Are you referring to the Assassin’s Guild of underworld city? The one that clashes with the Thieves Guild over business?"

She agreed with a nod.

"Me and my brother... well they called us Black Dogs."

Silence.

Astarion stared at her in shock, even he had heard of them. A pair of terrible assassins who accept any job, the nickname came on account of their unwavering loyalty to the Guild Masters. Without question, without hesitation, they did the work, and it was always so bloody that even the cultists of Bhaal were impressed.

"You are very different than I imagined." Astarion broke the silence.

"I don’t appear to be someone with blind loyalty? Of course not, I was bound to be so. They recruited us when we were very young, we had no other option to survive and they took advantage of that. They trained us, tortured us, they no longer wanted subordinates with ambitions and opinions of their own." She laughed. "No... They wanted dogs that would obey any order without complaining or hesitating. And that would be happy with it, well that last part we learned to pretend very well. Funny, it was thanks to all this confusion I finally managed to think more clearly for myself after years... I ruined the night apparently, I’m going back to my tent." She got up and left.

It was dark, she was back in that place, chained to the wall. She was facing the floor... what are they going to do with her?

"Hello little girl." A dark-haired elf entered the room and stood in front of her. " Look at me!" He ordered and she obeyed. "Much better, you know you’re going to be punished for letting that child escape, right?"

Right, they were ordered to kill a noble family of the city... all of them without exception, but when she saw that crying child cowering in a corner felt pity and guilt, she helped that child escape.

"Can we get started?" A Drow entered the room dragging her twin brother with her.

"B-Brother? Wait! I WAS THE ONE WHO MADE THE MISTAKE! I SHOULD BE PUNISHED! PLEASE LEAVE MY BROTHER ALONE!" She pleaded, begged in tears.

"Oh my dear doll..." the elf bent down and held her face. "It wouldn’t be an effective punishment if I just beat you or tortured you, no... it hurts you much more if he suffers." She was trembling in despair.

The Drow chained the half-elf boy facing Calamity so that she would be able to see his face perfectly while he was tortured in her place.

"Caly, don’t worry, it’s okay." Her brother tried to comfort her, but then he screamed in pain as he felt the flesh of his back being torn by Drow’s blade.

The first cut was made slow and very precise.

"NO!" She fought, pulling the chains that bound her arms. "LEAVE HIM ALONE!"

It did not help, the Drow continued cutting him slowly and agonizing. He screamed at every cut scratching his back while his sister was forced to watch and see his face in pain.

"See? Your brother is suffering because YOU made a mistake! You are to blame for his suffering, every cut of his back is your fault!" The elf grabbed and pulled her hair, forcing her to keep her eyes on the scene.

"Brother... Carnifex... Carn... forgive me..." She cried his name as she watched the torture. "FORGIVE ME PLEASE!"

Calamity woke up with a suffocating a scream. It was just a nightmare... a nightmare and a memory.

She wiped the sweat from her face and sighed heavily... hell. He may be suffering again that same way alone now, and it’s her fault... it’s always gonna be her fault.

"Carnifex my brother... You forgive me, don’t you?"

She got up and left the tent. Looking around, it seemed that everyone was still sleeping. She walked quietly to the river near the camp and felt that near the shore, the water reflecting the night sky was a calm sight for a disturbed mind.

After that day that she watched her brother being tortured she never dared to have mercy on anyone... even if it was a child.

She was tired, but didn’t feel like sleeping anymore, so she just took off her boots and put her feet in the water, it was cold but pleasant. Calamity hugged her knees and took advantage of the calm and cold sensation of the water against her skin.

"Oh... I didn’t expect you to be awake." It was Astarion’s voice, but she didn’t move.

Astarion had gone hunting and decided to come down to the river to wipe his face that could be stained with blood. But he did not expect to find Calamity huddled by the river.

Honestly, he didn’t know what to think about her, but he had thought a little about what she said. She was shaped to be someone without opinions or ambitions of her own, practically an object so to speak... it irritated him. Now seeing her shrunk there without saying anything, out of curiosity he approached her and saw her eyes full of tears.

"Are you crying...?" he asked, surprised.

"Me? Crying?" She hadn’t even noticed the tears running from her eyes. "Oh... It’s been years since I’ve cried."

Shit... she looked so helpless.

The expression so sweet and sad, but her eyes were empty and cold as a doll... it could drive someone crazy.

"Astarion... Are you a vampire?" He froze.

"Why the question, dear?" He was sweating cold.

"Well... I don’t see your reflection." She replied tone innocent, as she pointed to the water.

Unbelievable, he was caught by such an oversight because he lowered his guard to this vulnerable face?! He had to agree with Shadowheart, Calamity had a knack for keeping people off guard.

"Don’t worry, I won’t kill you." She declared at last.

"Excuse me?" he continued, perplexed.

"I have no intention of killing you, Astarion." She stated again with the same empty look and innocent expression.

He just laughed it off.

"Hahahaha, gods... you really are a figure, dear Calamity." He sat next to her. "What will you have in return?"

"Pardon?" she tilted her confused head.

"Well, you’ll lie secret in exchange for what?"

"Nothing." She answered automatically.

Shock again, impossible! She wanted something, everyone always wanted something!

"Don’t be shy, darling, I know you want something." He insisted.

"I don’t want anything." She replied again.

He looked into her eyes and saw nothing, ulterior motives, malice, lies... nothing but emptiness.

"You..." He held her face and kept looking into her eyes.

Was that it? She was broken?

"Do you really not want anything? Even after being free?"

"I want to remain free, and I want my brother to be free too, I want nothing more than that." This could not even be seen as ambition.

"Gods below... I really thought you’d have some ambition, apparently I’ll have to teach you to be a little more ambitious." Her eyes lit up with these words.

She looked like an innocent puppy.

Calamity leaned back a little from his touch and wet her hands in the water and then wiped his face.

"Your face was a little bloody." She explained quickly, and then she held his face gently. "I like the touch of your skin, it’s cold and pleasant like river water."

Was she serious? Few would say that the skin of an undead is something pleasant, but her words were so genuine and innocent. What was that feeling? For some reason he wanted to take care of her, why?

Well that’s it! Thank you for reading the second chapter.

@spacebarbarianweird @spacesquidlings@thechaoticdruid @vixstarria

Who wants to be tagged in the next chapters please tell me in the comments.

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toothpastecanyon · 1 month ago

Text

Return, to the Scene of the Crime - Chapter 3

Playing human again, Alcor makes it longer than he usually does. He's in college now, juggling classes, family, a curious vampire, and a strange, increasingly sinister web of mysteries weaving themselves around him. Without his omniscience to guide the way, he'll have to work hard to get to the bottom of this before it spirals out of control.

See most updated version on Archive of Our Own.

______________________________________________________________

“Now, class, can anyone tell me what year the Dinner Crew was founded? Anyone?”

One hand went up, and a wave of snickers spread through the lecture hall. The professor pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Can anyone other than Lucy Ann put their hand up, please? Okay, Dipper?”

“Um, I’m confused. Is it 2048 when Hank moved to Portland, or 2049 when the first Dinner Crew charter was signed?”

“Uh...”

“Definitely 2048.” Lucy Ann sat back in her chair. “That’s when I joined.”

The professor tried for his politest smile. “Oh-kay, uh, Lucy Ann?”

“Yeah?”

“It’s, um, really an honour to have you sitting in on History of Early Transcendence-”

“Hey, no problem.”

“But! Hah, but, um, the problem is you’re not actually registered as one of our students? So if you could maybe refrain from answering questions…?”

“Oh, sure.” She picked her teeth. “No problem.”

“Thanks, I’m glad you understand. Class, obviously, we’re going by the date of the official charter, so on your test it’ll be 2049.” He changed slides. “Now, can anyone tell me who the first leader of the Dinner Crew was?”

No hands, this time. All the students had craned their heads around to look at Lucy Ann.

“Anybody?” He looked around the room with a frozen grin, wringing his hands. “Uh, hah, come on guys, let’s wake up! Oh! Yes, uh… Okay, Dipper. Again.”

“Hank Pines?” Dipper blinked as Lucy Ann whispered in his ear. “And his middle name was- wait, you’re messing with me, there’s no way he was called Forrest Pines!”

“Oh, you’d better believe it.” She chucked to herself. “Also, you know, Hank was the founder, but it was really a cooperative effort back in those days. Plus people always leave out Vivienne – ticks me off, honestly. I mean, if I had to pick a leader, I might even say it was her!”

The professor gazed out at the sea of students nodding along and taking notes with all the airs of a captain looking at his sinking ship.

Later the class ended, and Dipper was packing up his magi-orb as everyone in the room was filing out. Lucy Ann glanced over at him.

“What’s the next one?”

“Uhh, Russian, in like an hour.”

“Oh, yeah, your Russian class. Am I still-”

“Oh, yeah, you’re still very banned.”

“Well, nobody told me they tweaked the alphabet since I learned it! I was like, ‘why’s she leaving out so many letters?”

Dipper rose to his feet with a chuckle. “Yeah, we all heard.”

“Yeah, yeah, извини. ” Arms crossed, she followed him out. “So, we got an hour, huh? Wanna get something to eat?”

“Ehhh, it’s like a twenty minute walk across campus. There’s nothing really around there.”

“Oh.”

He glanced back. “But we can do something if you want! I’m sure we can-”

“Oh, no, no. Don’t worry about it – heh, believe me, I can entertain myself.” They were going outside; Lucy Ann split off and waved at him. “I’ll see you back at the dorms, alright!”

“O-oh, uh, alright!” Dipper stood there for a second, a little surprised at how abruptly she excused herself, but then he shrugged to himself. “Alright.”

It was always annoying to walk to his Russian class, but on a day like this, he didn’t mind too much. The sun was shining high overhead, a little too hot but not bad in the shade of the trees lining the path. He crossed a green, and saw groups of students hanging out on the grass, gentle laughter drifting his way like the lazy breeze tousling his hair. It was the kind of image he always pictured when he thought of college, him and Mal and their friends talking about their classes, studying together – and he’d never finish his sentence before Mal’d give him a shove and say something like, “Me? Studying? Do you even know me?”

He gave a little chuckle under his breath… one that ended in a sigh. Oh, Mal. He couldn’t believe she’d had to drop out. She was always the one talking about how exciting it’d be to move out; ugh, it wasn’t fair. It was… it just… he wished he could do something about it, you know?

Ugh… maybe he’d give her a call.

Digging in his pocket, he drew out his phone, and scrolled to her contact. The phone rang a good few times; he thought she wasn’t gonna answer, but at the last second it went through - and it sounded like a factory.

“Mal?” He cringed and held the phone a little away from his ear. “Hey, uh, Mal, you there? If you’re talking, I can’t hear you! Mal?”

He thought he heard a mumbling sound through the roar, and then suddenly it dropped to a background sound. Her voice came through in a crackle. “…stupid - oh, there we go. Dipper?”

“Hey, Mal! Where are you?”

“Sorry, I’m just next to the cremation machine. You know how loud that thing is - the noise wards are working now, right?”

“Yeah, yeah, I can hear you.”

“Cool. So what do you need?”

“What do I-?” Dipper blinked. “Oh, uh, nothing! Just thought I’d, you know, call.”

“Oh!”

“I-I guess you’re busy, though? Sorry, I didn’t mean to-“

“No, no, that’s… thanks! I just wasn’t expecting it - one sec.” There were some fumbling noises, and then her voice sounded a little clearer. “Just put on some headphones - you can still hear me, right?”

“Yeah!”

“Cool.”

“Yeah, cool…” Dipper said, and cleared his throat. “So! Uh, how are you?”

“Oh, you know. Working. Just uh-“ There was a faint slamming sound. “Getting ready for this cremation. Guy’s got a pacemaker, so I gotta take it out before it explodes in the machine, haha!”

“Oh, haha. Cool.”

“Well, I dunno if I’d call it cool, but it does make me feel a bit like a surgeon, so that’s a little fun. Sometimes I say, ‘We’re losing him!’, that’s,” she laughed to herself. “That’s my little joke.”

Dipper snorted. “Hah! I like that.”

“Oh, finally, someone laughs! You know, it’s usually a tough crowd in here, eh?”

“Well, I’d be more worried if they did laugh!”

“Hah! You’re not wrong there!”

They both chuckled to themselves for a moment. Mallory cleared her throat.

“But yeah, other than that, uh, nothing new. Dad’s doing okay.” A pause. “How’s your life?”

His life. Dipper looked around at the beautiful sunny day, and cringed. “Oh, yeah, it’s, it’s alright. I’m, uh, still at college, doing… college stuff.”

Mal was icily silent, and Dipper gave himself a mental smack on the head; why were these the words his brain was choosing to say? He gave a nervous laugh.

“B-but, uh, haha, I didn’t call just to talk about me! So you’re doing cremations now, huh? That’s cool! That’s great, I-“

“Dipper.”

Dipper swallowed. “Yeah?”

She paused, seeming to think over her words, and then she sighed. “Look, I… I'm sorry. I didn’t mean to bite your head off the other day. It was really nice to see you again, it’s just, stressful, right now, you know?”

“No, no, I get it. With Dad and the funeral home.”

A snort. “Yeah, amongst other things… but hey. You know I’m proud of you, right? My little brother, getting into honors college!”

Dipper grinned. “Little brother? We’re the same age!”

“My little baby brother,” she said, and they both laughed. “So hey. I wanna hear how your day is, okay?”

“Okay.” He nodded. “Okay!”

“So! Dipper! How is your day going?”

He smiled. “Well, it’s going good. I just got out of Early Transcendence History… walking to my Russian class. It’s - heh, it’s way on the other side of campus, and you get out right at lunchtime but there’s like nothing around!”

“Oh, boo.”

“Right? You walk like twenty minutes over there, and then you gotta walk twenty minutes back to get something to eat!”

“You can’t just drive there?”

“I mean, technically, yeah, but there’s no parking close by. You just end up walking again.”

“Sounds like a real nightmare.” A pause. “Oh, come on!”

“What?”

“Some blood just squirted on my shirt - ugh, I really gotta remember to put on the stupid apron.” He could hear her trying to brush her shirt. “But, uh, yeah, what else? Made any cool new friends?”

“Friends? Uh, well…” he heard Mal snickering, and rolled his eyes. “No, no, I’ve made friends! There’s this guy Darren down the hall from me, and…”

And Lucy Ann, he thought, but god, she was such a strange development he still didn’t know how to bring her up. Mallory cut in.

“Okay, so Darren down the hall, that’s one more than I thought you’d have by now.”

“Oh, and I guess I talked to - Marsh!”

“March?”

“I almost forgot, I do have news! You know how I always wanted to start my own ghosthunting show?”

“Whaaat?” She said in mock surprise. “I’ve never heard that before.”

��Hah, well, you know, I think I’m kind of starting to get known for hunting ghosts around here.” He grinned. “Some person called Marsh called me out to her apartment yesterday. We had a look, scanned around for ghosts…”

“Cool! Did’ja find any?”

He deflated. “Uh, well…”

“Sounds promising.”

He tried for a laugh, but then he shook his head. “Yeahhh, I mean… we decided it probably wasn’t a ghost.”

“Probably?”

“I mean, your necklace didn’t light up at all. And you know how sensitive it is, right?”

“Yeah, you kept getting headaches with the old versions. I had to drop the blocking threshold riiight to the floor.”

“Right!” He nodded. “And even weak ghosts put out a lot of magic, so there couldn’t have been a ghost in that apartment. There couldn’t have been.”

A pause. “Okay.”

“And I mean it could’ve just been… a series of coincidences, you know? It’s an old apartment, maybe it’s no big deal if the toilet flushes by itself, the TV turns on… she said the fridge kept opening…”

“Well, maybe it’s not a ghost.”

“Huh?”

"So let me get this straight. The toilet flushes by itself, the fridge opens by itself, and you think that’s a haunting?”

Dipper blinked. “What do you mean?”

“You’re really not seeing it? Who’s the real family genius here, huh?” She chuckled to herself. “I mean, I know you love the preternatural stuff, but that doesn’t sound like a ghost to me. That sounds like she’s got an extra roommate.”

“What, you mean, like… there’s someone else living with her?”

“I dunno, do ghosts go to the toilet? Do they use the fridge?”

“Wh- but-“

“Do they watch TV?” She snorted. “I mean, maybe I’m wrong, but I’m just saying.”

“But that… doesn’t make any sense! Marsh said nothing was stolen, a-and she didn’t see anyone in her house! How could someone just hide away like that? And why would they be hiding? Why would they-“

And then he stopped. Dead.

His eyes went wide. His stomach dropped.

“I dunno,” Mal was saying, and her words just washed over him. “That’s just my theory. Maybe…”

“The jewelry store.”

“What?”

“It’s the jewelry store,” he breathed, and then the gravity of it caught up with him. “Oh, my stars, Mal, the jewelry store robbery! What if it’s him?”

“Wh- jewelry store heist? What are you talking about?”

“Somebody robbed a jewelry store a few blocks from campus - really close to Marsh’s apartment!” Oh my stars, he thought, they drove right past it on the way over! “What if it’s him hiding there! What if - oh, shit, Marsh!”

“Don’t be ridiculous, what are you talking about?”

“It’s-“ He turned around and took off running. “Oh, I can’t explain now, she could be in trouble!”

“Nobody’s in trouble! Dipper, nobody’s in trouble, don’t-“

“I gotta go!”

“No, Dipper! Dipper, don’t-“

He hung up, and dashed back across campus as fast as his legs could take him, his backpack bouncing on his shoulders. He struggled to tap Lucy Ann’s contact; he was nearly to the parking lot by the time he managed to call her.

“Y’ello-“

“Lucy Ann!” He gasped. “Marsh - apartment! Gotta - whoo, gotta get there!”

“What? Wait, what’s going on?”

“I… figureditout!” He stumbled to his car door, almost too out of breath to talk. “Go - go there! I’ll explain!”

“Marsh? What’s wrong? Are you in-“

“I gotta go!”

Then he hung up, and struggled to call Marsh as he pulled out of the parking lot. Shit, she wasn’t picking up; he tried again, and groaned when it rang out. She didn’t even have a voicemail!

Then his phone started buzzing, and he quickly made to answer it - but wait, oh, it was just his sister. She was probably really confused why he hung up… but he didn’t have time, he had to get there now!

He’d explain later.

______________________________________________________________

As panicked as he was, Dipper couldn’t help but park neatly before shutting off his car. He stared up at the apartment for a moment, took a breath, and got out. He took the stairs up two at a time, sprinted for her door, and started knocking on it.

“Marsh! Marsh! Are you in there? Marsh!”

At first he thought she wasn’t home, but just as he thought of stopping he heard footsteps. Footsteps… Dipper suddenly thought of who else might be in there, but before he could do much more than step back the door was opening.

“Wh- you again?” Marsh rubbed her eyes as she glared at him. “Dude, I’m working tonight. You can’t just-“

“You’re in-!” He stopped himself, and leaned in close to whisper. “I think you’re in danger.”

“What?”

“Just come outside for a second,” he said, and led her a little ways from the door. “You remember when I came to find the ghost?”

“Yeah, that happened yesterday. What about it?”

“I think I figured out where it is… and what it is, I…” he thought for a moment. “Can I look in your roommate’s room?”

“Uh, sure? But what’s so dangerous about it?”

“I - I need to make sure. Just… stay back for a second, okay?”

“Uh, okay.” She frowned in concern. “Be careful, dude.”

Be careful - Dipper was opening the door when those words hit him. This was… this was actually pretty dangerous, wasn’t it?

Maybe he should call the police? But no, how would he explain this to them? And what if they didn’t find anything - he’d look like an idiot! Suddenly all the cracks in this theory were starting to show, but he was in too deep now.

No, he just needed to play it cool, find proof, and then he’d be out. Easy!

“Uh, okay, Marsh!” Dipper said, loudly. “I’m just here to look for ghosts again, like we agreed!”

Shit, he just realised something about himself: he was a terrible actor. Dipper waited for a response from the house, but it was silent. Was he not here, or…?

He thought for a moment, then an idea struck him. Putting his backpack down on the couch, he started rifling through it; come on, he didn’t put it away, right? It had to be- aha!

Drawing out the Ouija board, Dipper held it in front of him, and pretended to stare at it very intently. He moved it this way and that, and then acted like he was picking something up.

He walked down the hall, steps echoing in the silence. His breath felt too loud; his heartbeat sounded like a drumbeat in his ears. He took a look in the bathroom, then approached the ever-ajar door to the bedroom like he was sneaking up on a rattlesnake - a cautious shuffle forwards, a head peeking through the door, looking around for-

Ding!

With a little scream he dropped the board and jumped back, only to realise - it was his phone! Oh, just his phone, just his phone. He reached in his pocket to silence it, and gave a little laugh.

“Uh, whoops!” He tried for a grin. “D-dropped it, haha…”

Oh, this was such a bad idea. He gathered up the board with shaking hands, and held it out in front of him like a shield as he stepped through the door. The floor was warped in here, the floorboards uneven and shrieking under his weight. He cringed as he took another squeaky step forwards, and looked around.

No one was here… but the dresser across the room was closed. Swallowing hard, he crossed the floor, grasped the handle, and opened it up.

Just clothes, he saw, and let out a breath. Okay - okay okay okay. If this guy was really hiding here, he must be out at the moment.

Thank the stars… but now what? He could be gone forever - Dipper cringed at that. Maybe he spooked him off yesterday… or maybe he thought he had them fooled, which means he’d come back. And if he was coming back, he’d want to leave some stuff behind here, right? So it’d be hidden somewhere.

A grimace. That made sense… at least, it sounded like it did. So if he could only find a stash, that was evidence!

But where would it be? He looked around the room, took another peek in the closet, and frowned. Hmmm… maybe the posters? Oh, yeah, maybe he put them in a hole behind them!

He took a step towards the poster, and a loud creak echoed through the room.

He paused, there. Leaned from one foot to another - creaaaaak . He could feel the floorboards shift a little under his feet, and when he took another step, this one was even looser. Huh.

There was a rug right by the bed. Dipper stepped towards it, put the Ouija board down, and grasped it by the corner. He gently slid it away, and he could see it immediately; one floorboard was so loose it came out of place just by the movement of the rug.

Dipper rushed to kneel in front of it. Quickly he took out his phone, and shone it down; it was dusty down there, and he thought he could make out something… but it was covered by another floorboard. He pulled up that one as well, shone it down again, and gasped.

There was a small, dusty backpack under the floorboards, and when he reached for it, he felt the weight - it was much heavier than it looked, and there was a tantalising clinking sound that sent his heart right into his throat. With shaking fingers he reached down to open it; he grasped the zipper, dragged it slowly down the side, opened the bag, and gasped as he saw-

Creaaak.

A sound behind him. Before Dipper could move, something cold and metal shoved itself against his temple.

A voice, low and hard and seething.

“You think I’m fucking stupid, don’t you?”

Dipper glanced back - glanced, then felt the gun shove itself harder against him. But he’d seen it: there was no one behind him. “Wha- what, I-I-“

“Fucking around with this ghost shit, pretending you didn’t know I was here the whole fucking time - she set you up to this, didn’t she! She wants to cut me out of the fucking deal!”

His voice was the scariest thing Dipper had ever heard. He felt himself trembling all over. “I-I don’t- I-I don’t know what you’re- I’m sorry, I didn’t-“

“Don’t you fucking play dumb! You think you can make a fool of me?” A hand grabbed his shoulder like a vice. “You think I don’t know what’s going on? She wants to get rid of me! I had a feeling right from the start, and now here you are like clockwork, ready to take it away from me!”

“I-I don’t-“ He shook his head. “Please, man. Please. I-I’m sorry! I’m sorry, okay?”

“Oh, you’re going to be sorry, Dipper.”

“Please d-don’t kill me, please don’t- Please. Please, I-“

The front door. They both froze as it swung open hard, as a familiar voice shouted into the apartment:

“Dipper!”

Lucy Ann. Dipper heard the man curse under his breath. “Shit… okay, you gotta make her leave. Get up.”

“What-“

“Get. Up.”

The gun shoved itself against his ear, and Dipper struggled to his feet. Stars, his legs were shaking-

“Dipper! You in here?”

“Uh…” he felt the man push him forwards, and made his way to the door. “I-I’m here! Everything’s… everything’s fine!”

“Dipper?” He came face to face with her in the hallway. “Oh, thank the stars. What was that call, man? Scared me half to death!”

Dipper gave a loud laugh. “Hahahaha! Yeah, um, it was… nothing!”

“Nothing?”

“Y-yeah, I looked and… and found nothing!” He moved to block her as she looked into the room.

“What?”

“I said, I found nothing.” He looked her right in the eye. “I found nothing, okay? So let’s go.”

Lucy Ann opened her mouth, but then she seemed to take him in; the sweat on his face, the tension in his body, the way his head was leaning oddly forward. There was a flicker of something across her face, but it was quickly swallowed up with a convincing scowl.

“Oh,” she said, and then she gave him a punch in the shoulder. “Then screw you, man! You scared me half to death!”

“Ow, hey-!”

She grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him down to her level. “Don’t you ever do that to me again, okay? Or you’re going to be sorry!”

Then he was shoved into the living room, and he stumbled to keep his footing. He blinked several times, and opened his mouth- but Lucy Ann was already gone.

There was a shout from the bedroom, a hard thump, a yell of pain. Eyes widening, Dipper raced to the door just in time to hear a-

BANG!

The sound was painfully, deafeningly loud; he recoiled and covered his ringing ears, and almost immediately someone knocked him to the floor. Squeezing open his eyes, he saw a figure he’d never seen before, a tall, scruffy, bleeding man with the backpack on, yelling and pointing a pistol into the bedroom.

“…what you get!” He was bellowing, but it was hardly louder than the ringing. “That’s… you fucking get!”

Then he grabbed some car keys from the counter and ran for the door; Marsh came rushing in, only to shriek and duck away from the sight of his pistol.

Dipper struggled to get to his feet. He felt like the world had gone sideways, but someone grabbed his shoulder - Marsh grabbed his shoulder, and helped him up.

She was saying something, but he could only see her lips were moving. He shook his head, leaned over and caught himself on the doorway - no, no, he had to see, he had to get to… Lucy Ann!

For one horrible moment, he thought she was dead. She lay against the bed, cradling her eye; his heart dropped when he saw dark blood leaking from between her fingers… but he also saw she was cradling it, letting Marsh help her up, and shaking her head when she tried to pry her hand away. I’m okay, he could see her saying. I’m okay.

She was okay. He was okay. Everyone… was okay.

Dipper let himself bask in that for a moment, let the sheer relief wash over him, and bring him to his knees. He caught himself on his hands, and immediately felt something sharp. Lifting his palms - and resisting gentle arms trying to help him up - he saw blood on them, saw little shards of something slip off and fall back to the ground.

There was something on the floor, subtle shimmers and sparks that caught his eye. He managed to feel out a bigger piece, brought it closer to his face, and that was when he realised what it was - it looked like a shard of multicoloured glass. Broken etching wards sputtered on the surface, flickering it in and out of existence, and when he looked at the floor again, he could see the ripped-off chain of a necklace.

Oh, he thought, and the voice in his head sounded a million miles away.

An invisibility charm.

So that’s how he got out of the jewelry store. He figured it out.

How about that.

It wasn’t funny, but Dipper found himself laughing, laughing harder than he’d ever laughed in his life. He was sure he was screaming, but he couldn’t stop, couldn’t hear anything over that godawful incessant unending ringing.

How about that, huh? HOW ABOUT THAT!

How about that.

#transcendence au #toothwrites #alcor the dreambender #lucy ann #mystery #gnome spot my advanced russian skills #return rewind rewrite

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sabo-has-my-heart · 1 year ago

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hey!! would you take a request for law / other op doctors dealing with stuff like toothaches? like a s/o who hates hates hates dentists and most medical things, but they end up with a cavity / toothache and what law would do in that situation?? idk i have this lil hc that he sees dentistry as a medical side quest of sorts lol, plus who else would the crew mates go to for toothaches and stuff u know??? idk dw if not i just thought it could be a sweet idea

So I actually had a bit of a harder time with this one so if you don't like it I deeply apologize. Ironically, I have a dentist appointment of my own on Monday, lol.

Warnings: dentists

Word Count: 980

Law crossed his arms as he gave you a hard look. You’d been avoiding him again, or rather, you’d been avoiding his check-ups again. As a doctor, he did the entire ship’s medical check-ups, because of his medical background, he’d briefly looked into other types of doctor work such as optometry and dentistry in his free time or on those nights where he couldn’t sleep and was up all night. While dentistry wasn’t exactly his favorite area of work, he refused to let the crew’s health suffer, even if it was oral health. You, however, hated the dentist, well, you hated most things that involved a doctor, but dentists were the worst. The constant scraping of your teeth, feeling the metal picks stab at your gums, the taste of iron in your mouth when they bled. The taste of the polish or whatever it was that they put on your teeth towards the end, that water in your mouth that was always suctioned out because they told you not to swallow it. Everything about dentists sucked in your opinion, so you avoided it as much as possible. You’d go in for your yearly medical check ups if you absolutely had to. You’d go in if you had an injury bad enough to need more than a bandaid, but you’d avoid your dentist check ups like the plague. It was why you brushed so well and took such good care of your teeth, so that you wouldn’t have to see him for dental work. That being said, some things couldn’t be avoided completely. Sometimes, no matter how well you brushed, you would get toothaches or cavities, this was one such moment. Now you’d been avoiding Law as much as possible because you knew he’d notice, you knew he’d figure out what was wrong; though it seemed as if he’d figured it out anyway. Sighing, he pinched the bridge of his nose.

“I keep telling you, you need-” “but I brush really well! You know that! The last check up, you said my teeth looked great!” you whined, cutting him off, not wanting to hear him lecturing you.

“That doesn’t mean that you won’t have complications from time to time. It’s the same reason I give yearly check ups, to catch this early, so this doesn’t happen.” he said, lecturing you anyway. You looked away, crossing your arms as you did so. Part of you knew he was right, but that didn’t mean you had to like it.

“Come on, let’s get a look before it gets worse. I don’t want to have to sedate you and surgically remove the entire tooth.” he said, gesturing for you to follow him, something you did rather reluctantly. Sitting in the chair, you fidgeted as Law got things ready, setting out the various instruments that he’d need. Staring at the various metal pieces, you couldn’t help but cringe at the sight of the sharp metal pick that you knew you’d be feeling against your teeth. The scraping that you swore you could feel up into your brain, that felt like was scratching against your very mind.

After what felt like an eternity of Law scraping, sighing, and shaking his head, the normally stoic doctor pulled away, giving you another look. One that told you all you needed to know. He was going to tell you something was wrong, followed by another lecture.

“Can… can we skip the lecture this time? I get it, I should have asked you to do this sooner, I’ll be… I’ll try to be better next time.” you pleaded, making the man sigh for probably the millionth time in the last hour.

“Fine, but if this happens again, I make your yearly check ups madatory.” Law threatened, giving you a very serious, very hard look. At the moment, it was mostly something he suggested, something he preferred the crew to keep up on, but he didn’t enforce it. Meaning he was serious about this. Getting out the things he’d need, you cringed, you recognized what he was grabbing, you had a cavity. Despite your best efforts, you had a cavity.

“Don’t give me that look, Y/n. It’s just one, you’re fine.” he said as he had you open your mouth again. You swore you could feel him filing the cavity in the same way you could feel the scraping, the sensation making you want to squirm. You knew if you did, Law would scold you and tell you to sit still, but that didn’t really help, finding the whole process to be highly uncomfortable. Finally, finally, the man finished, setting his tools down and sitting upright.

“There, you’re done.” Law said, pulling his mask down. You almost jumped out of the chair, moving your jaw as you tried to get the sensation of the dental tools out of your brain. As always, your mouth felt strange, but your teeth no longer hurt and you could escape, which was all that mattered to you right now as you started heading towards the door only to be stopped once more by Law, his hand around your wrist.

“I mean it, Y/n. Don’t wait so long next time. I don’t like it when your health suffers when it can be easily avoided.” he said softly. You gave him a soft smile and nodded, he hated seeing you in pain or discomfort, especially when he was able to do something to fix it. Law placed a soft kiss to the top of your head, happy that you were feeling better. You couldn’t help but love moments like this, moments where it was just the two of you, moments where Law would show you how sweet he was. Even if the moment was being shared after the ‘torture’ of getting your teeth taken care of and standing next to all the dental instruments.

#one piece #one piece law #op law #trafalgar one piece #one piece trafalgar law #trafalgar law #trafalgar d water law #trafalgar d water law x reader #trafalgar d law x reader #trafalgar law x reader #law x reader

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dominimoonbeam · 9 months ago

Text

To The Edge - 6

This work is mine and I do not give consent for my works to be used, copied, published, or posted without my permission. I am sharing chapters as I work on this story but it is copyrighted material that I plan to rework and publish when completed.

story tags: scifi romance, hijinks in space, rogues learning to trust, violence, blood, guns, death, explicit language, so much kidnapping,

Works organized and easily found over on the patreon. <3

TO THE EDGE - CHAPTER 6.

Rory woke up slowly, disoriented and achy with a prevailing sense of being in danger flagging in the back of his foggy mind. Still…not the worst way he’d ever woken up.

“What…” he coughed, swallowed, and blinked at the room around him. His bridge. His ship. And his bounty standing there with their back to the stars, watching him. “Oh shit.”

He tried to get up from his seat, legs spasming and boots kicking at the floor, but he stayed seated. “Did you…Did you duct tape me?” He looked down at himself, squirming against the thick straps of silver. “Stardust, this is like an entire roll of tape. You couldn’t just cuff me or—”

“You could get out of them, but you probably don’t have a trick for getting out of duct tape,” they said simply.

“You’re really making me regret showing you how to get out of those cuffs. Really, I regret ever taking them off of you. I should have sedated you and strapped you to a damn cot until we—”

“Too late for that,” they interrupted. “But that’s not a bad idea… Any chance you’ll—”

“What? No. I’m not telling you where the sedatives are.” He wriggled in his seat again, getting nowhere. At least his side didn’t hurt anymore. He was sure he’d be waking up to that sharp burning pain from the stun gun. Really, he should be… “Did… Stardust, did you put the burn gel on my taser burn?”

They took a step closer, a flash of worry on their previously amused expression. “Does it still hurt?”

Rory sighed, shaking his head. “No offense, but you clearly have no idea what you’re doing. What’s your plan? Where are we going?”

Stardust perked up and flashed him a smile. He hated how impossible it was not to reflect that joy. “I’m getting away,” they announced.

He laughed. This was definitely the strangest kidnap rescue he’d ever dealt with. “Away where?”

Stardust shrugged.

“Is this a rich kid running away from home situation?” he asked, still trying to twist a hand free of the tape. They’d really done a good job taping him into place. “If you wanted attention, you already got it.” The bounty their family had put out for them was substantial. Every hunter, mercenary, and pirate would be looking for this Primer. “Don’t scowl at me like that, I’m the one taped to the fucking seat here. I saved you from pirates—”

Stardust snorted. “Like you did it out of the goodness of your heart?”

“Okay, yes, I did it for a paycheck, but I still did it!”

They crossed their arms and raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.

“How about you let me take you to the drop off, collect my bounty, and then you can steal a ship from one of your cousins. Hell, you can blow up your cousins for all I care, just leave me out of it.”

They turned and looked down at the control panel, checking something. He seriously hoped they didn’t break anything… “I should have taped your mouth,” Stardust mumbled.

“Hm… This is your first time kidnapping someone, isn’t it?” he asked and saw their smile from the side of their mouth.

“Knowing as much about my family as you do, that could be a great story, right? You can tell everyone else out here the story of how a Solinoh kidnapped you.” They turned toward him, sharing that smile. “Are you honored, Cosmic?”

Rory laughed darkly, shaking his head. “No, I am not honored to be your first.”

Stardust shrugged, smile shrinking but not completely gone. “I’m saving your life. You should at least be grateful.”

“Saving my life?” the question burst from him. “I’m sorry, but that’s not coming across. Did the pirates scramble your brain? Is this a Stockholm thing?”

“Fuck you.”

“Oh, there’s that classy mouth again…”

They rolled their eyes and walked past him, out of sight.

“Wait…Where are you going?” He struggled against the tape even though it was useless. “Don’t go back there. Stay out of my stuff!” He kicked and thrashed. “Fucking…duct tape!”

Rory forced himself to stop, closed his eyes, and dragged a deep breath. “Ship.”

The quiet hum of space and engines answered him.

“Ship, initiate audio commands. Code seven five nine delta three.”

Quiet.

Rory groaned through clenched teeth.

Stardust walked back onto the bridge, wearing a pair of his boots that were definitely too big.

“You disabled my codes?”

The Solinoh grinned, shoving hands into the pockets of those sweatpants he’d loaned them. He should have left them in their nasty blood-crusted clothes and locked them in the storage room until they reached the drop off. “You were out for a while. I had plenty of time to poke around, Rory Antilla. You should upgrade your security or have backups for this possibility.”

He was going to strangle them when he got loose. “Yeah… No, you’re right,” he said, sarcasm dripping off his words. “I really should have had audio enabled before you stole my ship from me. Live and learn, you know, assuming you don’t crash the ship and kill us both.”

They curled their lip at him, like he was the one being childish. “I told you. I’m saving you. You should be thanking me.”

Rory snapped a harsh laugh. “Saving me? This is you saving me? Fuck, Stardust, I’d hate to be on your bad side.”

A streak of bright light rolled across the window, spilling into the cockpit.

The ship’s automated voice chimed, ‘Docking protocols initiated.’

Rory strained his neck to try to get the right angle to see out the window. “What? Where are we docking? Stardust, there’s nothing out here but a couple of sketchy stations and criminal outposts. And just to be really damn clear, I don’t mean your family’s style of criminal element. This isn’t the luxury casinos and planetary resorts side of the galaxy.”

Stardust sighed, annoyed. “I think I’ll manage. I’ve heard about Styx. It’s an independent trading outpost.”

Rory swung his head the other way to stare at them. “Wait. Wait, wait. You can’t go on that station alone.”

“Yeah?” they asked, only half-paying attention now that their attention was focused on the console. “Why not?”

“Well, for one, you look like an escaped prisoner. Someone will probably scoop you up, thinking no one will miss you, and sell your ass to a skin ship.”

Stardust shot him an appalled look that he’d never seen on anyone born outside the Prime. “You’re gross.”

“I’m not being gross, Stardust, I’m being real!” panic was leaking into his voice now, fists curled and arms twisting at the duct tape bindings again. They were going to get themself killed.

“I’ll be okay,” Stardust pressed again, picking up one of his pistols off the console and waving it at him on their way past, toward the docking door, out of sight.

“Oh, you think my gun will be enough to keep you safe? You spoiled fucking shit! You’re going to get yourself killed and you know what, that’s fine! But you can’t leave me stuck to this damn chair. I’ll either starve to death here or, worse, someone much more competent than you will steal my ship and then it’ll be my sexy ass on a skin ship!”

They scoffed loudly, so he’d hear them over the whirring of the station umbilical connecting them to the dock. “You all think you know what you’re getting yourselves into. You and those fucking pirates… You see me and see a payday.”

“I don’t know you any better than the pirates? Star—”

The door opened and because they were barefoot he couldn’t hear them walking of the ship, but when the door whooshed shut again he knew they’d gone. “Fuck!”

Rory dragged a few breaths, fists still balled but arms going nowhere. “Ship,” he tried, voice even. “Ship, I know you can hear me.” Hear him, sure. But he also doubted it registered anything he said. Still, he had to try. “Ship, override command, return control, code… Oh shit. What was that code…”

#To The Edge #Defying Gravity #ride or die in space #audio script to chapters #adventures of stardust and cosmic #own work #clover down #dominimoonbeam

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the-delta-42 · 5 months ago

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Firsts Part 7

[First] [Previous] [Next]

Firsts Part 7

Valentines

“Nervous?” Sophie looked at Lilly, who was leaning against the doorframe.

“Kinda,” Shrugged Sophie, “I mean, Ericson’s has been…isolated for so long, I’m not sure how to get ready for it.”

“Just be glad you don’t have a permanent GPS tracking you.” Grumbled Minerva, walking past with a pair of screwdrivers.

“You and Violet got those after that truck incident.” Lilly reminded her, “Why’d you try and hotwire a truck anyway?”

Minerva didn’t give a clear answer, mumbling how movies made it look easy.

/*/

Louis scowled, listening to his father talking to that Carol woman, he refused to call her mom, he ignored his father when he said Louis was to blame for her leaving. He would put up with Sophia, but she mostly ignored him, and he refused to call Henry his brother.

“Hey, asshole,” Louis looked up at Sophia, “get up, the bus is here.”

/*/

Marlon grimaced as he saw his new school mates walking through the snow. He saw a girl wearing a disgusting hat shoving snow down the back of a tall guy’s shirt. Glancing back in the bus, he noted that most of the Ericson’s students were at the back of the bus.

“How long before we’re running the place?” Asked Mitch, looking over Marlon’s head.

“A week.”

A snort in front of them drew their attention.

“Ooh,” Winced a guy, “I can’t wait to see when you meet Clementine.”

“That blonde one looks more like a guy than you do.” Whispered Becca, leaning towards Duck.

Clementine covered her snort with a cough, she glanced at Gill, who’s mouth was screwed shut.

“Do you think Sarah and Gabe are enjoying playing tour guide?” Asked Clementine, as she saw Sarah’s face go slack, before the Latina took off her glasses, crossed her arms and pinched the bridge of her nose, “Ooh, someone’s said something stupid.”

Sarah walked over to them, her half of the new students following her, “I think there’s going to be a problem.”

“Oh?” Clementine straightened up, “Why?”

“One of them,” Sarah pointed at the group, “thinks there’s a murderer on the loose.”

“That’s stupid.” Scoffed Clementine, glancing around, “I would’ve noticed the competition.”

One of the students squeaked, before falling over in a dead faint. They kept their composure for the grand total of ten seconds, before Clementine, Becca, Duck and Gill we doubled over laughing.

“S-s-s-sor-r-ry-y-yy.” Laughed Clementine, gasping, “I couldn’t resist.”

The blonde that Becca had been talking to Duck about scowled, “You’re a bitch.”

Clementine ignored her, laughing as she walked away.

In History, Omid had them pair off with their new classmates and, just Clementine’s luck, she was stuck with the blonde that called her a bitch.

“Okay!” Omid clapped his hands together, “So, let’s start off with something easy.”

Clementine and the blonde, Violet, glared at each other.

“What ships were lost in the attack on Pearl Harbour in December 1941?”

/*/

Omid looked over the groups, Clementine and Violet were hunched over their sheet of paper, as Clementine screwed up their spare sheet into a ball, ready to throw it.

“1774 not 1747.” Whispered Clementine, pointing at an answer, “And the Civil War started in 1861.”

“Right.” Violet scribbled the information down.

Across the room, Minerva and Gill argued, “What do you mean you don’t know? What do you do in this class?”

“I sleep.” Muttered Gill, “Clem’s usually the one telling us to stay awake.”

Duck and Louis were arguing who got to write, while Sarah silently moaned as Mitch started playing with lighter fluid.

“Do you have to play with that?”

“Yes.”

The sound of someone being slapped drew everyone’s attention. Becca suddenly standing up drew Clementine’s attention, as Marlon rubbed his face.

“Everything okay?” Asked Clementine, getting up.

“It’s nothing.” Dismissed Marlon, prompting Clementine to walk over.

“That wasn’t directed at you.”

Marlon glared at her, as Omid cleared his throat, “Everyone back to their seats.” He fixed Clementine with a look, “Now.”

Giving Marlon a piercing look, Clementine walked back to her desk, while Becca sat back down, glaring at Marlon.

“What’s rat-head’s name?” Asked Clementine, getting a snort from Violet.

“Marlon.” Violet glanced at him, “He’s got a bit of a vindictive streak.”

“Oh, really?”

“What did you do?” Asked Minerva, frowning at Marlon.

“I just touched her arm.” Shrugged Marlon, as Mitch scoffed.

“Well,” Everyone looked at Louis, “When that girl with the hat,”

“Clementine.” Violet supplied.

“Clementine, got up, Duck started to get up as well.”

“Now that you mention it, I think I saw Gill and Sarah do the same thing.” Said Sophie, “And I’m sure I heard Gabe get up as well.”

“That’s a near miss.” The group looked at a black girl with dreads, “You’re lucky Mr Saul intervened when he did.”

“What do you mean?” Asked Minerva, glaring at the girl.

“Look, I told Gabe on his first day here,” The girl dropped into a seat, “if one of them gets into a fight, they all get into a fight. Sure, some of them just tussle, but Clementine? She knows how to fight. She once broke a footballer’s jaw, and that’s not going on her dead eye.”

“Dead eye?” Minerva crossed her arms.

“She once shot a coyote from the roof of a log cabin on school grounds, with a handgun.”

Marlon scoffed, “There’s no way she has a gun, she obviously lied to you.”

“I saw her shoot the coyote.” Countered the girl, “You’d be surprised terrifying Clementine can be.”

As she finished, three staff members ran past them.

“Ooh, this’ll be good.” The girl ran after the adults, with Marlon’s group following after her.

Entering a courtyard, they saw Clementine pummelling Justin, while her friends brawled with other students. A second later, Clementine was tackled by Alex, and she rolled a couple of feet, before she brought her knee up and slammed it against their head, before she twisted their arm until it let out a sickening crack.

By that point, Duck and Gabe had dealt with their respective opponents, as the grounds keeper grabbed Clementine and hoisted her off the ground. Her legs flailed, kicking Alex in the face.

After the fight was broken up, Clementine and her friends were escorted to the principal, while Alex, Justin and their friends were taken to the nurse.

“Whoa.” Whistled Louis, “That’s so cool.”

“They’ll be in detention for the next few weeks.” Said the girl, “But, that’s why you don’t fuck with Clem’s group.”

Marlon scowled, while Louis looked a little too interested.

“So, is she single?” Louis shrugged as everyone gave him an incredulous look.

“Nope, that guy in the beanie,” the girl leaned against a wall, “he’s her boyfriend.”

Louis looked a little put out, while Sophie had a mixed look on her face.

“Okay,” Marlon paced around the front room of the residential house they’d been put in, “What are we going to do?”

“What do you mean?” Asked Aasim, looking up from his book.

“They attacked Justin.” Argued Marlon, “We can’t let this slide.”

“Oh no,” Said Violet, sarcastically, “Justin tried to grope someone, and they beat his ass.”

“Clementine did break Alex’s arm.” Said Ruby, from her place by the window, “It does seem a bit harsh.”

“But Alex did tackle her.” Said Violet, her arms crossed, “I’m more inclined to listen to Michelle.”

“So,” Marlon glared at her, “we’re just gonna let this slide?”

“Um, yeah,” Stated Violet, “look, you can do whatever bullshit you want, but I’m ‘this’ close to getting a clean enough record that I can get rid of this.” Violet gestured to the ankle bracelet on her leg.

Marlon huffed, trying to think up how he was going to even the score.

“How have we moved on from shovelling shit,” Grunted Gill, as he carried a tyre, “to this?”

“Maybe they’re training us to replace Daryl.” Quipped Duck, as he slid out from under the car.

“Guys,” Clementine looked down at them, “that’s Daryl’s car, we’re working on it, so we can clear this, like we were told to.”

“Yeah, but you’ve got the easy job.” Countered Gill, getting an eyeroll from Clemetine.

“How good’s your aim?”

“Okay, point taken.” Conceded Gill, as Clementine went back looking at the wood line.

Sarah, Gabe and Becca returned with Daryl, as Clementine looked on from her place on the cabin’s roof.

“Do you live out here?” Asked Becca, glancing at Daryl.

“As good as.” Grunted the man, as a loud pop was heard from the roof, “Coyote?”

“I think it was a Mountain Lion.” Answered Clementine, “How come you get to keep my gun, but I can’t?”

“Do I really need to answer that?” Retorted Daryl, getting a huff from Clementine, “Get down here, I don’t think we’ll have any more visitors.”

Clementine hung down from the gutter, before slowly climbing down the side of the cabin.

“So, what caused the fight this time?” Asked Daryl, as Clementine joined them.

“Some perv tried to rip Sarah’s shirt off.” Said Becca, as the Latina flushed.

“I’m surprised you left him alive.” Remarked Daryl, as Duck got out from under the car.

“We’ve already got community service shit,” Dismissed Duck, “fortunately the school’s dealt with the more serious stuff.”

“Oh,” Everyone looked at Clementine, “the school’s hosting a party in the middle of March.”

“How do you know that?” Asked Sarah, frowning.

“Why do you know that?” Pressed Duck, also frowning at her.

“It was on Crawford’s desk.” Answered Clementine, “Do none of you use your eyes?”

“I mean,” Gill laughed, “Sarah does have to pay to see.”

Sarah gave him a flat look, “I have at least a hundred years’ worth of responses to that, all of them from before the civil rights movement.”

“See,” Exclaimed Gill, dramatically, “I am blessed with perfect vision, so she stoops to racist threats!”

Daryl cleared his throat, making all of them go silent, “We’re gonna be clearing one of the fields.”

“Why?” Asked Becca, frowning.

“Because of that damn party.” Answered Daryl, “The sooner we get this fixed, the sooner we can get started.”

“Is the field on school grounds?” Asked Sarah, getting a nod from Daryl, “We were told to clear here.”

“Yeah,” Daryl looked at her, “but you’re gonna be working there anyway.”

Duck toppled over when a Knut on the wheel gave way, “Why can’t we use power tools again?”

“Because Crawford hates us?” Snarked Clementine, frowning as she saw something move.

“Clem,” Said Daryl, stiffening, “d’ya still have your gun?”

Clementine nodded, aiming at the piece of brush that was shaking. After a tense few seconds, a rabbit popped out of the foliage. Sighing, Clementine lowered the gun, carefully disengaging it.

“Am I the only one who thought that mountain lion was gonna jump out?” Asked Duck, letting out a nervous laugh.

“Stay here.” Said Daryl, walking towards the bushes.

“He does know he can shit in the cabin, right?” Asked Becca, after a moment.

Clementine frowned, before slowly following Daryl, before the man returned, scowling at something.

“What was it?” Asked Clementine, making Daryl pause.

“Footprints.” Answered Daryl, “Someone was watchin’ us.”

“Do you think it was Chuck?” Asked Gabe, sliding the jack under the car, “He’s not been in his usual places.”

“Then, why did he run?” Asked Duck, as Clementine handed her gun back to Daryl.

“Maybe the gunshot startled him.” Suggested Sarah, as Gill rolled a tyre towards Duck and Gabe.

“He barely acknowledged a car exploding a foot away from him.” Dismissed Clementine, “A gunshot wouldn’t do shit.”

“Maybe,” Duck grunted as he twisted the nuts on the wheel, “it was one of those new guys.”

“They’re cleaning the gym.” Said Daryl, “Normally, they’d be with you, but since they’re new, they didn’t want them to get lost.”

Clementine frowned, before walking over to Duck, “I thought it was righty-tightie and lefty-loosie.”

Duck paused, before twisting in the opposite direction, “I need to get more sleep.”

“That was surprisingly easy.” Said Becca, looking over the clean field, “That didn’t take long at all.”

Clementine hummed, before looking at Gabe and jerking her head, “We’ll see you guys later.”

“Where’re you guys going?” Frowned Gill, as Duck helped Daryl load the tools into the car.

Clementine and Gabe glanced at each other, before Clementine answered, “On a date.”

“It’s valentine’s day.” Said Gabe, “Didn’t you guys know?”

“Kyle and I broke up.” Shrugged Gill.

“I’m not seeing anyone.” Answered Sarah.

“Duck and I are going to see that new horror movie.” Said Becca, getting everyone’s attention, “What?”

“It’s not a date.” Called Duck, “We’re going as friends.”

“And there’s a couples discount on food.” Supplied Becca, as Clementine bit the inside of her cheek.

“Just,” Clementine started to laugh, “just remember to use protection.”

Clementine had to dodge the clump of snow Duck threw at her, before she and Gabe took off running.

Clementine and Gabe slowed to a stop, both laughing.

“Ooh,” Laughed Clementine, leaning against a fence, “That was fun.”

“Yeah.” Gabe’s chuckles slowly stopped, “Ready?”

Clementine glanced up at the skate rink where she and Gabe had their first date, “Did I every tell you about the first time I went to one of these places?”

“No, I don’t think you did.” Answered Gabe, as they went through the door.

“I was taken by my babysitter,” Started Clementine, “her name was Molly…”

The pair continued their date, going into the rink.

Meanwhile, back at the school, Marlon smirked to himself when he found the file he’d been looking for.

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lords-of-mayhem · 7 months ago

Text

Lords Of Chaos Ships Playlist

A playlist of songs for various LOC ships. (Only one per ship this time <3)

Blackthorn x Varg // I Bet On Losing Dogs

I bet on losing dogs. I know they're losing and I pay for my place by the ring where I'll be looking in their eyes when they're down. I'll be there on their side, I'm losing by their side.

Dead x Euronymous // Heaven Iowa

I've unspooled on the floor, I feel so A Star Is Born. Kiss my cheek, baby, please. Would you read my eulogy? I will never ask you for anything except to dream sweet of me.

Tell me when the party ends, will you still love who I am? Scar crossed lovers, forever. I'm checking myself out forever. Save your breath, half your life you've been hooked on death.

Faust x Varg // Cigarette Daydreams

Did you stand there all alone? Oh, I cannot explain what's going down. You sigh, look away. I can see it clear as day. Close your eyes, so afraid, hide behind that baby face.

Funny how it seems like yesterday. As I recall, you were looking out of place. Cigarette daydream, you were only seventeen. Soft speak with a mean streak, nearly brought me to my knees.

Dead x Euronymous x Hellhammer x Necrobutcher // Remember When

You were the first, so was I. Made love and then you cried, remember when? We lived and learned, life threw curves. There was joy and there was hurt. Life was changed, disassembled, rearranged. We came together, fell apart, and broke each other's hearts.

Faust x Occultus // Francesca

Do you think I'd give up, that this might've shook the love from me? How could you think, darling, I'd scare so easily? If someone asked me at the end, I'd tell them put me back in.

I would do it again. If I could hold you for a minute, darling, I'd do it again. I could find you, darling, in any life.

Euronymous x Varg // Hum Hallelujah

I thought I loved you, it was just how you looked in the light. A teenage vow in a parking lot, 'til tonight do us part. I sing the blues and swallow them too.

My words are my faith, to hell with our good name. Remix of your guts, your insides x-rayed. And one day, we'll get nostalgic for disaster.

Blackthorn x Faust // We Fell In Love In October

Smoking cigarettes on the roof, you look so pretty and I love this view. We fell in love in October, that's why I love fall. Looking at the stars, admiring from afar.

Faust x Fenriz // Disloyal Order Of Water Buffaloes

Doc, that's a hole where something was. Put him in the back of a squad car, restrain that man. He needs his head put in a CAT scan. Oh, I'm a loose bolt of a complete machine.

What a match, I'm half-doomed and you're semi-sweet. Imperfect boys with their perfect ploys, nobody wants to hear you sing about tragedy.

Metalion x Ann-Marit // Apocalypse

You leapt from crumbling bridges, watching cityscapes turn to dust. Filming helicopters in the ocean from way above. Got the music in you, baby. Kisses on the foreheads of lovers, wrapped in your arms.

You've been hiding them in hollowed out pianos, left in the dark. Sharing all your secrets with each other since you were kids. Sleeping soundly with the locket that she gave you clutched in your fist.

Euronymous x Faust x Varg // I Love You Like An Alcoholic

Cast that first glance. Your smile, my veins at maximum capacity, blood pumping so fast. My girl, if looks gave heart attacks. Some handsome dark stranger, you were standing there on the corner.

Kissed that first night and then the rain opened up the sky. You had those compelling magnetized eyes you must've lost when you got older. You laughed, but seemed a little sad. One last kiss, I love you like an alcoholic.

#lords of chaos #playlist #rpf #eurodead #euronymous x dead #euronymous x varg #varg x blackthorn #varg x faust #varg x euronymous #dead x euronymous #faust x varg #faust x occultus #occultus x faust

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anonymousewrites · 4 months ago

Text

Logos and Pathos (AOS Edition) Chapter Twenty-One

AOS! Spock x Empath! Reader

Chapter Twenty-One: Departure from Yorktown

Summary: The Enterprise heads off an a mission, but even its beginning is full of trouble.

“Lieutenant (L/N), open a ship-wide channel,” said Kirk as he leaned back in the captain’s chair.

The Enterprise had already jumped to warp on its emergency rescue mission, and now Kirk was preparing to inform the crew of what they were embarking on.

“Yes, Captain,” said (Y/N), doing as he said.

“Attention, crew of the Enterprise,” said Kirk. “Our mission is straightforward—rescue a crew stranded on a planet in uncharted space. Our trajectory will take us through an unstable nebula, one which will disrupt all communications with Starfleet.”

(Y/N) wasn’t a fan of those conditions, but they had been in worse and gotten stuck in such situations during their three years in space. Truly, between crazy psychics, psychiatric facilities run by inmates, and body-switching people, (Y/N) had been through it all with their friends.

“We’re gonna be on our own,” continued Kirk. The ship began to traverse the nebula, and everyone watched with baited breath. “The Enterprise has something no other ship in the fleet has—you. And as we’ve come to understand, there is no such thing as the unknown, only the temporarily hidden. Kirk out.”

Lights flashed through the Bridge from the nebula, and Bones grumbled as they went. (Y/N) felt his apprehension at traveling to uncharted space, but it was typical, so they just shook their head in amusement.

“Reading indicate cloud density diminishing, sir,” said Chekov.

They were exiting the nebula safely. In front of them, reflecting the light of its own sun, a planet hung in space.

“This is Altamid. My ship is stranded here,” said the woman from the ship that had been stranded.

(Y/N) glanced at her and furrowed the brow. She hadn’t spoken yet, just watching anxiously. She was still nervous, which could be expected when it came to her people being stranded, but there was also something like…satisfaction? (Y/N) knew it could be from arriving to help her crew, but they didn’t trust it completely. Then again, (Y/N) was always wary until they knew people had good intentions. After all they had been through…they had to be cautious.

“Approaching Altamid. Class-M planet,” said Spock, checking his readings. “Massive subterranean development. But limited to no life forms on the surface.”

“Proximity alert, sir!” said Chekov suddenly. “We have an unknown ship heading right for us.”

“(L/N), hail them,” said Kirk.

“Right, Captain,” said (Y/N), opening up a channel. “No response. They’re jamming us.”

Kirk paled and tensed, and nervousness rushed through the bridge. (Y/N) turned to see what they were seeing. Their eyes widened.

From the blackness of space emerged a mass of metal. It was too far away to see properly, but Kirk stood and looked at Sulu.

“Magnify, Mr. Sulu,” he ordered.

The viewscreen zoomed it to show that the mass of metal was not one solid ship. No, it was hundreds—if not thousands—of tiny ships zipping towards them.

Like a swarm of bees, thought (Y/N), recalling the insects Bones complained about getting stung by on Earth when he was a kid.

“What is this?” said Kirk, his head snapping to the woman. She remained silent, but fear hadn’t crossed her emotions. Only nervousness. “Shields up! Red Alert!” ordered Kirk.

The alarm went off, and shields went up around the Enterprise protectively. The swarm of ships burst and exploded out towards the Enterprise.

“Fire at will,” said Kirk, recognizing an attack pattern.

Phasers fired, and a torpedo even zoomed towards the ships. But the swarm—tiny, one-man ships—dodged effortlessly, safe from the attacks due to numbers and agility.

“Sir, our phasers are having minimal effect and our torpedoes can’t track their movement!” said Chekov in alarm.

(Y/N) winced as fear crawled through the Bridge. Spock glanced at them and touched their shoulder to steady them. He knew how many emotions they carried on their shoulders.

“Fire everything we’ve got,” said Kirk gravely.

“Captain, we are not equipped for this manner of engagement,” said Spock.

The swarm hit them. Several smashed into the hull of the Enterprise, killing people and tearing holes in it. Like bees, they stung. Every hit was small, but put together, it was quite the attack. The entirety of the Enterprise shook.

“Shield frequencies have no effect, sir!” said Chekov, growing more alert.

“They took out the dish! Shields are inoperable!” said Sulu, trying to get them back up, but the devices creating them had literally been destroyed by the swarm.

“Warp us out of here, Mr. Sulu,” ordered Kirk.

“Yes, sir,” said Sulu, only too eager to get out of there. He pushed the lever forward.

Nothing.

“Why aren’t we moving?!” said Kirk.

“I can’t engage the warp drive, sir!” said Sulu.

The swarm was smashing through the connecting beams and passages between the warp drive and the nacelles—they were destroying their engines.

“Scotty, I need warp now!” said Kirk to Engineering.

“I cannae, sir!” said Scotty, panicked. “The nacelles, they’ve…they’ve gone!”

(Y/N)’s eyes widened, and fear swept through the Bridge once more. They were floating helplessly in space—no engines, no shields. They were sitting ducks to be killed.

Kirk gripped the arms of his chair tightly as he kept composed and took control as best he could. “Security, engage all emergency procedures. Activate Protocol 28, Code 1-Alpha-0. All personnel to alert stations.”

Bones and Spock moved towards the elevator, and Spock lifted his phaser. This was their job. They had to do their duty.

“Be careful, Spock,” said (Y/N), touching his hand as he went by them.

He touched their hand in return and gazed at them intently before the doors of the elevator shut. He wanted nothing more than to keep (Y/N) by his side, but his T’hy’la did their job on the bridge. He knew they were the best at what they did. Spock had to trust that, whatever happened, they’d complete their job well and survive. Unfortunately, Spock’s fear remained that they’d do something foolish and sacrifice themself for others once more.

He deeply hoped they wouldn’t do so. It had destroyed him last time. To truly lose them and see them dead once more would break his heart…

(Y/N) watched him go, and their heart sank. If this went badly, if the Enterprise didn’t survive and they lost Spock, they’d lose their heart. They knew he may be breaking up with them, which was terrible enough, but to lose him would be even worse. (Y/N) couldn’t. They just couldn’t.

Their only option was to focus on their job and trust Spock to survive. They knew he was willing to sacrifice himself for his crew, but (Y/N) didn’t want to think about that. They had to focus on him surviving, on him using his brilliant intelligence and finding a way out of any danger he found himself in.

“Sir, I have full breaches in levels 12 to 15,” said (Y/N) as distress calls came in. “6, 3, 9, 31, and 21.” More and more reports of injuries and hull breaches were coming in.

“Captain! There’s a chance I can reroute the energy reserves from the warp core to the impulse engines!” said Scotty across the comms. They were the only engines and energy left.

“If we can get back into the nebula, maybe we could lose them,” said Kirk. “Do whatever you have to, Scotty!”

Scotty didn’t even respond and just got to work.

Unfortunately, nothing seemed to be happening. More hull breaches came in, and now there were reports of armed enemies entering the ship with phasers. They were not just being attacked, they were being boarded and invaded.

“Bridge,” said Spock suddenly across the comms.

“Spock,” said (Y/N) worriedly, instantly listening in.

“I have identified the individual who appears to be leading the attacking party,” said Spock.

His voice was harried, but that was only due to him running. Phaser fire could be heard through his communicator, indicating he was in danger. (Y/N)’s heart clenched worriedly.

“He infiltrated the archive vault and removed the artifact from our mission on Teenax,” said Spock.

“Hold your distance until—”

Bzzt!

The sound of phaser fire grew louder, and the comms were cut off.

“Spock? Spock!” shouted Kirk, worried.

(Y/N)’s heart pounded, and they covered their mouth. They forced themself to only consider that the communicator had been shot, and not that Spock had been shot.

Kirk straightened and looked at two officers. “You two, with me. Sulu, you have the conn.”

“Yes, sir,” said Sulu, sitting in the captain’s chair.

“Captain—” began (Y/N), standing.

“Don’t even think about coming,” said Kirk. “Spock will actually kill me.”

He stepped into the elevator with two officers, and the doors closed. (Y/N) gritted their teeth in frustration, aching to run after Kirk to help Spock.

“Spock will survive,” said Uhura, looking at her friend. “He’ll be alright.”

“Right,” said (Y/N), trying to hold onto Uhura’s words. They couldn’t think of Spock as dead. They couldn’t.

“We’re at 100% impulse!” said Chekov in sudden relief as Scotty successfully got the impulse power to the engines.

“Great work, Mr. Scott,” said Sulu. “Maximum impulse towards the nebula.”

“Aye!” Chekov didn’t need to be told twice. He pushed the lever forward.

Fear continued to cling to the Bridge, even as they started to fly away from Altamid. The swarm followed and dove towards the final engine. Like a knife, they slit through the final hope of the Enterprise.

The entire ship was cut in half, and the wide, disk-shaped top floated listlessly as the situation set in—they were once again helpless. And now, they had no hope. No power for escape. No engines.

“Kirk to Bridge!” said Kirk’s voice, panting from exertion.

“We are losing inertial dampeners!” warned Chekov.

“Systems are failing ship-wide, Captain,” said Sulu. “Emergency bulkheads are sealing, but structural integrity is at eighteen percent and falling, sir!”

“Abandon ship, Mr. Sulu,” came the saddened, exhausted reply. Kirk knew it was the only option left.

“Sound the alarm,” said Sulu grimly.

(Y/N) set off the alarm, and their heart clenched. They hoped Spock had either already escaped or was going to. They needed him alive.

“We need to give those pods a chance to escape,” said Kirk. “Can you lead those ships away?”

“Impulse engines are still trying to draw power from the warp reserve, but it’s failing. But We cannot move until the saucer is fully separated,” said Sulu.

“I’ll handle it,” said Kirk.

“Aye-aye, sir,” said Sulu. He stood. “Everyone, gather towards escape pods.”

“Go, go,” said (Y/N), pushing people towards the elevator.

Uhura helped them urge people to go. Neither was willing to leave until their fellow crew members had escaped. Not to mention, they refused to leave Sulu and Chekov behind while they waited for the sauce to get free.

“The saucer should be free by now!” said Sulu in alarm.

“I know, Mr. Sulu! The Captain should be there,” said Chekov.

Uhura and (Y/N) exchanged a glance. If Kirk didn’t get there in time…no one would escape. Before Sulu could tell them off, (Y/N) and Uhura ran into the elevator to get to engineering.

(Y/N) and Uhura burst through the doors of engineering and found several enemy soldiers. The pair of opponents turned towards them, and Uhura darted forward. She blocked the first attacker before he shot them, and (Y/N) kicked the other back. He stumbled and swung back around, but (Y/N) ducked, grabbed his arm, and fired his phaser-gauntlet into the other’s head. He fell to the ground, and Uhura moved to (Y/N)’s side. They pushed the other opponent over the railing and to the ground far below.

Gravity swung violently, and Uhura lurched forward. (Y/N) grabbed onto her and braced themself on the railing. The pair held on before carefully making their way towards the machinery. They had no idea if Kirk was there (he was, but at a different area due to fighting and gravitational issues) but they were determined to separate the saucer to protect the escape pods of the crew.

Uhura fiddled with the machines while (Y/N) whirled as they felt more emotions. They found Kirk, who was grabbed by an enemy and slammed to the ground. This enemy wore no helmet, and he held the Teenax artifact in his hand. He was the leader of the enemies.

He moved towards (Y/N) and Uhura, and Uhura looked at (Y/N) in confirmation. If they separated from the saucer, they’d trap themselves with him. (Y/N) nodded. They understood the risks.

Uhura punched the button, and the barrier slammed through the corridor before Kirk could get to them. (Y/N) grabbed her hand as the man glared at them. Kirk stared in shock as the piece of the Enterprise fell away.

Once again, (Y/N) had put everyone else above themself and protected the crew as best they could by sacrificing themself. Uhura held onto (Y/N)’s hand as they backed away from the man. He opened the box holding the device from Teenax, and he froze. Anger swarmed in his aura, and (Y/N) spotted the empty box from where they stood.

The captain of their enemy turned towards them, and (Y/N) forced Uhura behind them. They stared back at him defiantly, even as he loomed over them.

“Your captain will regret trying to trick me,” he sneered.

Nearby, a crash sounded as an enemy ship embedded in the engineering section. (Y/N) and Uhura flinched as enemies walked in with phasers. The weapons were leveled at them.

“Krall, do you have the piece?” said one man.

“No,” spat Krall. “Take them in.” He stalked past (Y/N) and Uhura.

The two exchanged glances. Whatever Krall wanted with the artifact, it was clearly important. It was so important that he wasn’t killing them. He was taking them.

And (Y/N) and Uhura couldn’t do anything about it.

Taglist:

@a-ofzest

@grippleback-galaxy

@genderfluid-anime-goth

@groovy-lady

@im-making-an-effort

@unending-screaming

@h-l-vlovesvintage

@neenieweenie

@keylimeconstellation

@wormwig

@technikerin23

@ilyatan

@nthdarkqueen

@kyalov

@starlit-cass

@rookietrek

@gingertimelord

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