#and by fandomable i mean all of us smashing the dolls together

[karuframe]

Karu the things you get away with 😭 DE really be hiring the people ever

DE gave them these conversations I'm just a vessel !!!

[you-can-be-what-you-want-to-be]

People aren't mad because John/Arthur aren't canon, people are mad because the creator made fun of the fans that ship them in the Christmas special

I see… the post has been deleted

I’m just very used to being in bad fandoms where something as small as “I don’t ship them personally” is taken as a homophobic statement, and people have been saying forever if it’s not canon it’ll be queer bait, so I assumed which I maybe shouldn’t have done but with it coinciding with the “John is a child episode” it just made sense

now, I do have to say though, that while I don’t know a whole lot because I’m not on the Patreon, I was for awhile. Again take this with a HEAPING load of salt for that reason since I clearly don’t know the specific situation. Everything I’m going to say I will try to say from an objective viewpoint since I don’t know the situation and will only focus on the facts I do know.

But how is this new? For the karaoke creep special they keep calling it weird to call each other romantic terms. And when Arthur died by not sacrificing the little guy last season Harlan was ROUGH. He said anyone who voted to not sacrifice were children smashing dolls together, that they forgot the story they were in and hopefully this punishment would remind them that actions have consequences. He basically said this is your fault for being stupid. He ended up having to post a semi apology saying it’s eldritch horror story, it’s supposed to be about harshness and not knowing the consequences before hand, and that he teases his audience and that if they don’t like that this isn’t the right show for them. His phobia play through he did a bit as Arthur and John where he was like “and we are NOT doing anything in the shower no matter what the fan fictions say” “let them dream John”

I also would like to mention that word of god should be ignored in these stories and that Harlan does NOT have a PR team. Again I don’t know the situation. I don’t know if he was ad libing live, in which case he should be given more Lee way as self editing in the moment is hard, I don’t know how if he said the most vile stuff alive, or if he said something a little mean but harmless like the “no we are not doing this” “let them dream” or what. Maybe it is bad and he deserves to be roasted, idk.But making jokes about a non canon thing can be a normal thing, especially if it’s a thing people keep bugging you about.

I do know that fandom as a whole has a problem attacking people over though, being someone who frequently got called homophobic for headcanoning single characters as aro, this one specifically has already harassed him about this ship which I’m sure gets annoying, and that he has explicitly said he will poke fun on the Patreon, and that he has said Jarthur won’t happen, and that he is one guy without the means to sort through hate mail removed from situations and doesn’t have a PR team to tell him “hey this off the cuff joke is a bad idea”

all that being said, again I do not know what he said specifically. I think either way a lot of people need to reassess if this is the fandom for them. I’ve seen a lot of people only get into the show for shipping and then get mad when there’s eldritch horror and the attitudes of eldritch horror in the eldritch horror podcast. If he said something that bad then maybe consider getting out since he writes about delicate subjects and it will only get worse. If what he said wasn’t that bad and people are getting mad about being lightly teased but it wasn’t confrontational or homophobic, they might want to leave because that’s just what Harlan does, tease people, and it’s not new and will continue, especially about non canon stuff in his own work. And if you got into and are only staying for the shipping…. Yeah. If that’s the only thing you want maybe it’s time to move on.

and if you decide to stay, know that. Know and be warned ahead of time that you will be teased so it isn’t a surprise next time

edit: so I did get the full context quote and it’s literally just “we want to hang out together alone for Christmas” “platonically, as in canon” “oh of course of course.” This. This isn’t bullying. It’s a little tongue in cheek sure but the whole thing is just saying it isn’t canon. I’ve heard complaints on comments on this post about other stuff he’s done, which I don’t know much about but is also applicable. I did my best to say “either way, this is stuff related.” As someone who writes and has written things before where every single chapter people kept pushing for something I wasn’t going to write I get it. I’m not saying anything he might have done is right but I think it’s understandable at the very least, for a writer to be upset about his stuff being constantly misinterpreted and having fans try to push it where he doesn’t want it.

him reminding people it won’t happen is fine, especially when people keep accusing him of queer baiting. I still think what I said earlier stands even hearing other opinions, because although I can’t say either way, it seems like everyone who is upset says this is a repeated behavior, and if you stay you can’t be surprised by it every time. If it’s going to bug you you have to either be prepared for it to keep happening or leave.

That isn’t to say no one can be upset about anything else but this specific thing I don’t think is worthy of that. All he did was jokingly repeat canon in character (which is much better than like. Someone who keeps hinting at something and never giving it) in a teasing manner. He didn’t say anything negative about shippers, or anything homophobic, just said “hey remember kids, we aren’t into each other like that.” Which is. Fine. It’s annoying but it isn’t malicious.

If the issue is mods or his interactions with people say that. Don’t make it about him light heartedly going “don’t accuse me of queerbaiting.” it makes it so when actual issues like what people are talking about in the comments (if they’re legit, again I try to stay only in the actual content part and abstain from knowing about creators) come up no one takes them seriously because so many molehills were mountained.

If you’re pissed about how he talks to his fans say that, don’t make it about a lack of queer rep when he said day one there wouldn’t be any. Make it about the issue itself. You don’t mention that someone’s a domestic abuser for example after you say “and they have NO CHEESE in their house thats MONSTROUS who does that.” If you want to be taken seriously about a problem you focus on the thing that matters which is. Hurting people.

I guess at the end of the day I’m no one’s boss, but I am tired of not knowing what to believe or not when someone saying something like “no comment” on if characters they wrote are together is homophobia, or a character who’s been Described as a dick acting like one and then the creator gets accused of being shitty (random examples not to do with this specific fandom). If everything is a big deal that makes someone the worst when the subject is not actually hurting anyone… it’s exhausting. Idk anything about Harlan. At the end of the day I’m here for my little horror stories. But I will say definitively that I don’t think it’s bullying to say a ship is not canon and that to act like it is makes it impossible for people who actually care about morals and what someone is doing to keep the energy to stay that way without becoming part of a mob just taking people at their word.

If it upset you I’m sorry, it’s always disappointing when our take on media is dismissed, especially by the creator. And it’s fine to be disappointed. I get that. But don’t blow it out of proportion, and don’t make it about something it isn’t. If you’re upset about the quote say that it’s disappointing without saying it’s punching down. The author is dead and it’s one of the biggest podcast ships out there. If you’re upset about anything else make a post about that issue without tying it to this fun bonus non canon episode. You are allowed to be upset just and if it is about shipping: stop making someone disagreeing with you about a ship a big controversy. You can ship whatever you want regardless of canon and no one is trying to stop jarthur shippers, and if it isn’t about that stop making things about shipping if that’s not what it’s actually about.

[scoops404]

Saltburn fandom pretty great and fantastic actually it's not even really a fandom we all just are smashing dolls together til smth sticks

I have to confess…. Okay… you know how sometimes you see somebody and you’re like electrified with attraction for them? (This is very rare for me but like the “love at first sight” thing is what I mean) I have that, but like the complete opposite for Barry what’s his name. Like I’m so sorry he hasn’t done anything wrong to me but I am so disturbed by his face so I can’t even watch the movie because I can’t watch Barry

My best friend sends me memes of him but she crosses out his face for me first and the only tag I have blocked on tumblr is “scoops avert your eyes” and she uses it so I don’t have to see posts of him that she reblogs

I’m sorry 😭😭 Jacob eldori is so cute though

[bookscandlesnbts]

Ik you may excuse this as 'it's his job excuse' BUT after chosing army over Tae he sang thing. Before chosing Army over RM he grunted and took some time to think. But when it was Jimin.. without even a second thought he said YOU. This might not be big for shippers but for us these things are VERY telling, just like 993838778 other times which it was clear Jimin out of all is not his partner. And no, it's not us being delulu thinking he'll chose us lol. But just a clue about what and who are his priorities. And it's NOT jimin.. I can't believe even Tae and RM has a bigger chance than Jimin to be his priority.

I got another ask that was completely unhinged and thought it couldn’t get worse and then you send me this shit 🤣🤣🤣🤣

So this is the hill you are dying on huh? This is the moment that you are taking 100% seriously? Over all the other things JK has done and shown over the years to show who is priorities are both Jimin and BTS. Army is the fandom. It’s also part of BTS. So him “choosing” us over a member in a silly balance game where he was also getting some very odd choices, doesn’t mean shit to me. You are the highest level of delulu if you actually think Jungkook would choose you over any of his bandmates who have been with him through thick and thin over the course of ten years.

I’ll humor you, but you didn’t even come with all the facts. How are you going to make a comparison about him choosing Tae and Joon over Jimin and not mention the little giggle after he chose Army over Jimin. He didn’t giggle after he chose Army over Tae or Joon. He only did that when he didn’t choose Jimin. Pretty cheeky if you ask me. He was fibbing and he might hear about it later from a certain blondie.

Y’all really pick the corniest things to fixate on. I don’t want Jungkook to choose me. He doesn’t know me and I couldn’t even have a proper conversation with him due to the language barrier. I know he would choose his members. And let’s be clear the ONLY member that is even a possibility of being a romantic partner for JK is Jimin. This moment wasn’t “big” for shippers because he was entertaining the fandom and playing a game. And I’m not a shipper. I didn’t look at Jungkook and Jimin like two Barbie dolls and says “I want you to be together now kiss!” And smash their faces together. I’ve watched a TON of BTS content since I joined the fandom in 2020 and picked up on consistent patterns of behavior. I suggest you do the same.

[aprillikesthings]

I couldn't remember why I like, 99% avoided the spop fandom at the time it was airing/right after it aired. It wasn't *just* that it wasn't my hyperfixation--it was that I mostly avoided the fandom in general. I had enough friends from other things in the spop fandom that I was able to see some great art on twitter/tumblr, but I didn't go looking for new friends in that fandom, the way I often do.

And I mean yeah I was far more into k/da when spop started airing, but by mid-2020??

Anyway, while digging around looking for old art and meta, along with some GREAT stuff, I find a lot of just dumb, terrible shit. Like: long unreadable posts about why Catra Is The Worst And If You Like Her You Are Also The Worst (she was the main antagonist for four seasons???? that's how that works??????). Or I'm just painfully reminded that a bunch of the worst people from SU fandom were in spop fandom (especially early on).

And I know I've talked about this before, but I remember realizing that the reason I'd been so into k/da was because it was, in fact, very stupid. All the good stuff (outside of the actual songs/videos), the fandom basically made up on our own. The fandom around spop was just SO SERIOUS because, like SU, the show itself was trying to do big things--good things!! around telling stories about queer people and talking about the effects of childhood trauma. (It also, like SU, attracted an audience of mostly young, traumatized queer people.)

But also, just like with SU, it made parts of the fandom insufferable. Because everything is EXTREMELY SERIOUS, YOU KNOW.

I can appreciate all that stuff, but god damn, I am just here to smash my dolls together.

It was just way more fun and relaxing to play around in the sandbox of a media that didn't even expect us to be there and didn't care about us--just try to watch the pop/stars video and tell me it was aimed at sapphics, lolol. To the extent that it appeals to us, it was probably by accident. (I blame Fortiche.) We could have all the fun we wanted, because who gave a shit? Vast majority of people who read/wrote fic for k/da never played League of Legends. We were never their intended audience!

So yeah. I'm four years late to the spop party, sure. But most of the worst people have moved on to other fandoms. Thank God. I can scribble my angst and porn in the corner while muttering under my breath, and only the people who made it through all that shit and stuck around are the people who will bother reading my stuff. Whew.

[metaphysicpareidolic]

OPINION TIME because i need to know i'm not the only one who feels this way:

i'm gonna be perfectly honest and many of you might hate me for this but. i. did not like good omens season 2. so if you don't want to read, i'll just write my essay under the break dlsjfdh

OKAY.

i mean i understand why people like it, the two (mostly) male-presenting characters that everyone has been smashing together like barbie dolls for decades finally get a canon kiss, great. yeah, as a trans gay guy, i can't deny that i love seeing any kind of queer representation, especially from such a popular show, from such an influential author. but this? did not. feel good to watch. and it's not just because of the soul-destroying cliffhanger ending.

i lived and breathed good omens when the show first came out, it was one of the most intense hyperfixations of my life, i was completely obsessed with it and i recommended it to everyone i knew, both the show and the book. it's the entire reason i got tumblr in the first place and the first fandom i actually participated in. quite a good portion of my waking thoughts were consumed by the ineffable husbands and all the other characters. i was a young teenager at the time and this story shaped my view of the world for over a year, and i will always love it. but even then, i hoped to god (ha) that they wouldn't make a second season. but inevitably, they did.

i went into the first episode hoping i was wrong, and i finished it just feeling disappointed. i kept watching and got through the whole thing, hoping it would get better as the season went on, but it just got worse and worse. granted, i did enjoy the little historical throwbacks (i think the entire second season should have just been aziraphale and crowley through the centuries with michael and david improvising the whole thing like that one post) but the actual plot was bland, the characters had lost all their depth, and on top of that the budget was obviously cut by a lot so the rich visuals that were so captivating in the first season were gone, as well. that and issues with sound, which probably were more noticeable cause i was wearing headphones, but this is one of the most popular and profitable shows on a leading streaming service owned by one of the biggest fucking companies in the world. shouldn't they be putting money into it?

i'm not upset that beelzebub was recast. i'm upset that their entire character and personality was forgotten in favour of a romantic side plot, which exists, why? again?? to somehow emphasize a point already made by the other rushed romantic side plot?? that has barely anything to do with the actual story other than being accidentally dragged into it by aziraphale, whose entire character development from the first season has been entirely pushed aside because we need a third season, because we want more money! hehe they are kissing, gay people kissing ooh look, give us your money and attention so you can see them kiss consensually this time! i could continue but i will spare you the entirety of my spiel because i could write. PAGES. about how much this season hurt my soul not because Oh No They Broke Up but because i believed in this world and i believed in these characters and i don't like seeing them like this, wrung out and milked for cash and fanservice. everything that made the first season good is dampened by the knowledge that i now have to consider this fucking thing canon, that this is what the story turns into.

neil gaiman i love you but for the love of god get off of tumblr. he just wrote a fucking fanfiction of his and terry pratchett's work because he knew he would get money from it. and we are eating it up, because we love the story, we love the characters, and we love the author and we always want more. if you want more, draw fanart. write fanfiction. create your own version of a story. please, don't give your money to a company just because it's Officially Legit Canon when you could create a much better, more compelling, and more satisfying ending for yourself, for free. i lied earlier, i don't understand the appeal of this season. i don't understand why people like it. it feels fake. it feels wrong. it feels like an entirely different universe than the first season, and the book, and that wouldn't necessarily even be a bad thing if it was at least done with some level of concern for quality and consistency.

i know not everyone wants to be critical of their favourite show and would prefer to just enjoy it for what it is. i understand that, at least. i don't want to ruin anyone's fun. if you enjoyed this season, good. i'm glad you did and i love seeing all the fanart and fanfictions happening everywhere. i just really wanted to talk about this and maybe spark a little discussion if anyone's interested. anyways if you read all of this, thank you.

tl;dr: i hate capitalism, i hate streaming services

[insomniamamma]

Thank you so much for the tag @agirllovespancakes!!!! I love getting the chance to scream about my stories! I'm going to pop my answers under a readmore, and i will try to include links to stories when necessary!

How many works do you have on ao3? I do not use AO3 to post fic only to read. I’ve considered cross posting but the amount of work involved gives me The Fear. On this hellsite i have about 65 fics. I’ve been lazy about updating my masterlist. So there may be stuff floating around that i have not properly accounted for.

What's your total ao3 word count? I don’t use Ao3, but from what I can tell my fics tend to range from 3 to 6k.

What fandoms do you write for? Mostly the Pedro Pascal Cinematic Universe. And Star Wars.

Top 5 fics by kudos Vanilla, In The Light They Both Look The Same, Over Easy, Safe, About What We Want

Do you respond to comments? Are you shitting me? When people take the time to comment on my fics I vibrate at a frequency that would shatter glass. I tend to write paragraphs long replies to comments which i worry might put people off from commenting. I’m harmless, I swear.

What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? About What We Want.

What is the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? This is a hard question because I don’t really write multi-chapter fics. AUs just kind of happen like dandelions popping up. Most of them don’t really have a clear end or beginning. I just keep adding pages. That being said, I think Seasonal is the most joyous thing I’ve written.

Do you get hate on fics? I have not. My blog is a fart in the air conditioning. Which means I mostly fly beneath the haters’ radar.

Do you write smut? Very occasionally. I have to be the right headspace for it, or else it comes out reading like stereo instructions.

Craziest crossover? I’ve never got more that a couple paragraphs in, but I’ve toyed with the idea of an Ezra x Captain Jack Harkness crossover.

Have you ever had a fic stolen? Not to my knowledge.

Have you ever had a fic translated? Again not to my knowledge.

Have you co-written a fic before? No. The idea both intrigues and scares me.

All time favorite ship? I can’t pick just one so I’m going to give you three. Kara Thrace x Leoben Connoy (Battlestar Galactica) Jack O’Neil x Samantha Carter (Stargate SG1) Chrisjen Avasarala x Bobbie Draper (The Expanse). And there’s so many more. If two characters so much as look at each other some part of me is smashing their faces together like barbie dolls.

What's a WIP you want to finish but doubt you will I started writing a Mandalorian AU based on The Mist by Stephen King. I still really like the idea, but I don’t know if I’ll ever get back to it.

What are your writing strengths? World-building. I can world build so hard that I never end up writing the damn story.

What are your writing weaknesses? Smut. I suck at it. I have to be in such specific place to do it and feel okay about it that it doesn’t happen very often.

Thoughts on dialogue in another language I struggle with this one. Because several of the characters I write for speak Spanish in canon and I took Latin in high school like a dumbass. I usually use google translate but then copy paste and search the result and see if it means what I think it means. So far no one has confronted me about it. Also, I write for Prospect, but I could find absolutely no information about Vayok, which Mikken and Inumon speak. I’ve written Cee cursing in Vayok and I just made up sounds. If Vayok is an actual conlang I haven’t been able to find any real info on it.

First fandom you wrote for I tried to write for Farscape and Torchwood, but none of that ever amounted to anything. Prospect was the first fandom I ever wrote for where I actually shared with the class.

Favorite fic you've written Persistence. The inspiration was a writer Wednesday prompt of a phone booth in the dark, and i thought that is a phone that you get a call from a dead person on. And then the whole story just happened. It was more like excavating something that had always been there than making something new. I don’t know how to explain it, and I’ve never felt that way writing before or since.

Again, thank you so much for the tag, Pancake ❤️

NP tagging @grogusmum @oonajaeadira @writeforfandoms @honestly-shite @artemiseamoon @fromthedeskoftheraven

and anyone else who sees this and wants to scream about their fic!

| 20 questions for fic writers

Thank you for tagging me @made-ofmemories 🫶🏻 I added the questions and answers beneath a readmore otherwise the post becomes so long!

1. How many works do you have on ao3?

35 of which 15 are for the volturi guards. I try to post everything that is over 1K words over on AO3 as well to make sure it doesn’t get lost.

2. What's your total ao3 word count?

112,435. I am secretly hoping to write a novel someday with such a wordcount!

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Currently only for the volturi guards but I might be open to writing for the kings or other characters as well. Just need to be brave :)

4. Top 5 fics by kudos

See you around - 97 A different morning - 96 The pancakes - 42 Sketchbooks - 42 Mångata - 33 I honestly wish to delete a few of these because they are, imo, really badly written. I was much younger and less experienced in writing but I notice people still love them so it's hard to decide what to do with them.

5. Do you respond to comments?

Always! I love getting comments ❤️ They inspire me to write more.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I think the creepy season stories I wrote for the guards end most angstiest? I don't really like to write angsty endings.

7. What is the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

All my stories end happy but "Turn me now that I love you" has a special place in my heart because I have written two epilogues about how they live happily together after she was turned.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Never happened so far but sometimes I get strange comments and then I don't know what I should reply.

9. Do you write smut?

Yes and it still intimidates me sometimes haha.

10. Craziest crossover?

I don't want to talk about it...

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

No, I fortunately never had to experience such a horrible situation.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

No, neither am I interested in it I believe.

13. Have you co-written a fic before?

Several times with several people. Most of these fics aren't published anymore or have gotten lost over the years but it was a lot of fun. I hope the people I worked with are happy wherever they may be.

14. All time favorite ship?

I have been in several fandoms so I don't have an all time favorite ship. I do adore the ships in this fandom though!

15. What's a WIP you want to finish but doubt you will

It's called "The Painter". I wrote it for Marcus Pike back in the day but never finished. Then I turned it into an original story with oc's but I have never finished it and most likely never will.

16. What are your writing strengths?

If I go based on what other people tend to comment on it's describing scenery, the surroundings and describing the way people touch each other in my stories. I hope it's true!

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

I tend to describe situations so much sometimes that I forget to add action I think. It's something I challenged myself with, with the creepy season stories and I hope to strengthen this weakness more the coming years. I just have a hard time writing action scenes.

18. Thoughts on dialogue in another language

I tried this for "The Painter" adding dialogue in my own language because the story was based in Holland. I hated it and it made it feel clumsy. It's different when you add pet names or just add a random word in someone's first language. I like it when people do that.

19. First fandom you wrote for

I tried to write a story for Vikings when I was eighteen. I remember presenting it to a very popular writer in that fandom asking her for feedback. She was very kind and told me to work on my writing as much as possible and gave me very good feedback. I had never written a story in english before if I remember correctly. Then I didn't add more stories but I was motivated to practice writing. I started posting stories for Sons of Anarchy/Triple Frontier in 2020.

20. Favorite fic you've written

It used to be mångata when I was younger and wrote that series. Right now it's "Turn me now that I love you". I really feel like I wrote a full story with that one. And it's very dear to my heart, I even printed my moodboard to put it in my journal and such.

Tagging mutuals ❤️

@xxx-wounded-angel-xxx @alecvolturiswifeforever @cregan-starks @volterran-wine @moonlight-prose

@grogusmum @insomniamamma @songsformonkeys

[fandomdancer]

Too Far

(Trying to be braver and posting work here on Tumblr.

Fandom: The Flash (Arrowverse)

Work in progress. Name edit: Roslyn's friend is named Gilbert (was originally Garrick). May change again.

Summary: Roslyn is having a fight with her best friend Gilbert. The topic is Eobard Thawne. Roslyn can't figure out why Gilbert is so focused on him. Gilbert can't believe Roslyn doesn't see what's right in front of her. And what happens when Gilbert's insulting of Eobard goes too far?)

______________________________________

(c. Fall 2168, Central City High School)

“He’s not the kinda guy you should be wastin’ time with.”

Gilbert stood close enough to her that the hairs on her body stood up and she could smell the detergent his clothes had been washed in. Normally, being cornered by Gilbert Haustveld was something most girls Roslyn’s age would enjoy. But she had the advantage of being his best friend for several years, and so his pouty lips and striking blue eyes did nothing to fuzz her brain or make her forget the argument they were currently having.

She ducked under him and grabbed his arm, dragging him away from the pillar and the group of curious students…a group that included the topic of their current conversation…listening in on them. “I don’t care,” she whispered, “who you think I should hang out with. I’m not part of any group or clique that has preexisting expectations.”

“He makes you look bad,” Gilbert pushed, not bothering to lower his voice.

“Oh please,” she scoffed. “Like anyone at this school cares about the image I portray. I’m a tree-hugger, remember? I don’t influence anyone.”

“He does,” Gilbert said. “He’s influencing you and you don’t even see it.”

Roslyn threw up her hands. "This is going beyond a friendly warning, Gilbert . What's your problem with him, really?"

"His parents had him genetically engineered." The words dripped with disdain as Gilbert spat them out, still uncaring of his volume. Roslyn tried to drag him further away, but he planted his feet. She swore softly and glared at him.

"Who cares?"

"Come on, Rosie, don't be thick. The technology's new enough that most of the plain Janes and Johns can't even consider it. Those that scrape together enough do it to stop their kids from being born brain deficient or from getting sick later on life. But the Thawnes? They not only gave 2.0 over there enhanced intelligence to make sure he wasn't average, but they added a specific look!! They literally engineered their heir to the empire, right down to the color of his hair and that cleft in his chin! You can't tell me that isn't disgusting."

Roslyn struggled not to look in Eobard's direction. "You mean to tell me that your parents, if given the opportunity, wouldn't do the same thing to you?"

"Please! My parents are human. They realize they have to take the responsibility of raising a son to respect and learn their business. They're not going to spend ridiculous amounts of money manufacturing a lifeless Ken doll with the right I.Q. so they don't have to be concerned about the harder parts of being a parent."

"Perhaps they should." Eobard's velvety voice broke into the conversation, making both of them jump and turn, Roslyn with a mortified look on her face and Gilbert with a smirk. "It's highly improbable that someone with your deficiencies will live up to anyone's expectations, parental or romantic."

Roslyn flinched as Gilbert's smug smirk vanished. The students around them 'ooooh'ed, making others turn to look.

"Just what is that supposed to mean, Bardo?" Gilbert sneered.

Eobard stepped gracefully up next to Roslyn, and she felt the heat of his hand hovering near the small of her back. It sent a strange tingle through her body, and she bit the inside of her cheek to keep from shivering as her skin warmed. A strange look crossed Gilbert’s face, horror and betrayal and anger all mixed into a few micro-expressions that flashed by almost too fast to be seen. It was enough to bring Roslyn’s eyebrows together into a confused furrow. What just happened?

"My I.Q. far outstrips yours, so I'll be sure to use small words," Eobard said softly. "You. Are. A. Moron."

Gilbert swung. Eobard moved swiftly, shoving Roslyn backwards as the boy’s fist flew right past where she had been. It looked as though Eobard’s cheekbone was about to feel the full force of the punch, but the slender boy ducked smoothly, slipping around Gilbert’s other side. When he came back up, his haughty, smug expression had faded to a bone-chilling glare, his eyes sparking with an awakened power and his clenched jaw showing the beginning of bared teeth. Whooping erupted around them as the students circled up, eagerly anticipating the fight.

"Face me!" Eobard still managed to speak in a purr, but now the fury in his voice made the air crackle around them. "You'll see, Haustveld, that I am anything but...lifeless."

Gilbert didn’t hesitate, lunging forward. Eobard braced, his lips pulling apart into a mad grin that sent chills down Roslyn’s spine. She opened her mouth to scream at Gilbert to stop, but in the next instant Eobard had shifted his weight and was twisting sideways as Gilbert barreled straight through where he had been a moment before. The students dodged wildly in every direction to get out of his way, and in the blink of an eye Eobard was beside Roslyn again, his hand now very boldly on the small of her back and his lips by her ear, whispering. “We need to go.”

The feel of his breath on her skin sent a paralyzing wave of goosebumps over her, and when she looked up, his face was much too close to make sense. She pushed her words through, determined to defend Gilbert no matter how deserving he was of Eobard’s insult. “My friend isn’t a moron, Eo. He’s wrong about you but he isn’t---”

The impact cut off her words, Gilbert’s shoulder slamming into her and shoving her aside as he tackled Eobard. Roslyn tried to shift her weight to keep her balance, but her foot came down on a rock and her ankle twisted wildly. With a cry of pain, she fell to the ground, her mind briefly blanking out from the shock and surprise.

Heavy thumps and thuds filled the air nearby, punctuated by grunts and groans of pain. The two boys were tussling only a few feet from her, Gilbert pinning Eobard to the ground and raining blows onto the boy’s chest and head. The students cheered them on, with a few of them shooting Roslyn sympathetic, concerned looks. She struggled to sit up, her ankle throbbing harder with the motion, and she put her hands around it, wishing she could stop the pain.

“How dare you?” Eobard suddenly roared. Roslyn looked over to see both of them looking at her, Eobard with growing rage and Gilbert with a dawning expression of horror.

“Come at me all you want!” Eobard growled before pulling his fist back and smashing it into the side of Gilbert’s face. “But. Don’t. Touch. Her.” Each word was punctuated by a fist, pounding the words home, until Gilbert was scrambling to get off of him and Eobard was rolling and springing to his feet. Before Gilbert could regain his balance Eobard had tackled him, knocking him flat on his back. The smaller boy straddled him, and then brought his fists down. He didn’t punch Gilbert’s face, but rather his stomach, his solar plexus, and his neck. He even boxed his ears, turning the boy beneath him into a choking, writhing mess, too stunned to fight back.

Teachers were now fighting to get between the students, some of whom were too engrossed in the action to register that authorities had arrived. Others started yelling: “Teacher, teacher!” and ran.

“Thawne! Haustveld! Break it up!” Mr. Corio had no hesitation about grabbing Eobard and bodily hauling him off of the coughing Gilbert. Ms. Steinway ran to Roslyn, helping her up. Roslyn allowed the world to sink into a cacophony of sound and swirling images as she tried to master the agony slicing through her ankle up her leg. She managed to look over at Gilbert, who was restrained by Mr. Langley. He was still wheezing for breath, his fists weakly swinging at the air, his brain unwilling to accept that the fight was over. Mr. Corio was restraining Eobard, who was favoring his right foot as blood dripped from his nose and mouth. One of his eyes was beginning to swell closed and a bruise was darkening his cheekbone. But his good eye was locked on Gilbert, and the hatred burning in it was palpable.

“This isn’t over!” he snarled.

“K…kill…you!” Gilbert shouted back, choking on the words.

“Enough!” Mr. Corio yelled, shaking Eobard and making him groan in pain. “Both of you, cool it, now!”

“He sta….-started….started…”

“You started it!” Roslyn shouted, cutting Gilbert off, outraged by his feeble attempt to shift the blame. “You tried to hit me!”

“Not….you! Him!”

“Everyone quiet!” Mr. Langley interjected, his soft voice a surprising entry into the conversation. “We will sort all of this out. Right now, all three of you are going to the nurse’s office and if any of you try anything, all three of you will be suspended. Am I clear?”

“Yes, Mr. Langley,” Roslyn murmured.

“Yeah,” Gilbert breathed.

“Sure,” Eobard said.

[you-can-be-what-you-want-to-be]

ugh.

so that person who screenshotted my thing now has like. Half their posts (at least since then) clowning on me and other people like me so for the record

the issue isn’t headcanons or having fun. Those are great. The issue is that the majority of people are repeatedly going out of their way to ignore everything canon (which like. Why are you watching the show if you don’t enjoy what’s there. Adding is fine but why are you straight up replacing) make their headcanons and then criticize and harass anyone who just talks about the text of the show! And then says their view is canon!

I don’t even disagree with their beliefs all I said was while he’s likely attracted to men he’s def for sure attracted to women because he was interested in other women than his wife!

This happened to when I expressed displeasure at 90% of the fandom not knowing that walking across country to see Hawkeye again was about him fulfilling the promise to see each other in goodbye farewell amen and that it would’ve not been as wonderful as they thought (Mike Farrells words! Not mine!) because all anyone talked about was how gay it was. Like 90% of people shouldn’t have to actively be kept on the dark to make your specific idea for how to ship it (Not even shipping it at all! Just using that specific thing to do it that is canonically about them falling out of touch! Why would you want that as your gay rep!) work.

like is it really that hard to not directly contradict canon and then whole heartedly say “no this is real in show stuff and to disagree is homophobic” (again! Not even saying he can’t like men or fuck them silly or anything! Just to stop erasing canonical stuff for it!) and to maybe use the word bi instead of gay. Is me being frustrated that the only kind of queer that counts to people is gay upsetting to you and wrong of me? Or is it alright to go let’s not erase canon attraction and let this guy still be into men.

Or even to realize I’m talking about text and meta stuff and go “oh it’s not playing silly right now like it sometimes does” and then just ignore me? I talk about bi repressed Bj sometimes, but you guys make it really hard to keep doing it because the community is making me sick. My issue isn’t queer readings or smashing characters together like dolls to kiss, it’s going “no I am serious and correct about this stuff and will harass people over not erasing 50% of the originals themes motifs and meanings to further support this idea they already might believe in five specific spots.” That’s the issue. That’s my problem. It’s embarrassing to be around that and say I agree with anything those people say. It’s hard to look for content knowing half of it will be out of character on PURPOSE.

I’m sorry that I came to the dramedy about traumatized war doctors for the drama of traumatized war doctors instead of for the shipping culture and that I know reading things with a queer lens doesn’t mean forcing things into a hole that doesn’t fit and shaving half of the substance away to jam it in but is instead looking at the existing text and going “oh this as is can be read as queer”

like guys. I’m so tired. Maybe just think for two seconds before responding on if this is a serious post on my love for a show and my frustration with the disservice done to it or if this is a place to try and debate with me (who already shipped hunnihawk) on the merits of your ship (which I wasn’t attacking and said multiple times I ship.)

[chipchopclipclop]

Any ships for the Witcher?

I GOT ALOT

this WAS under a readmore BC TUMBLR LIKES TO BREAK WHEN YOU EDIT ASKS I GUESS bc it started to get embarrassingly long but im pretty much a multi shipper in any fandom or thing im into but also especially with geralt if hes involved bc i like to hc him as being in love with like…80 percent of the people he knows and is a hashtag #openrelationship king bc the way this game treats him being weirdly exclusive annoys the fuck out of me we, live in our city now.

geralt is involved

Geralt/Dandelion - ouch my dick ouch my balls the original brain dick pounding. I pretty much like any iteration of them with each other but no show geralt bc game geralt is superior in every way 2 me (PERSONAL PREF PLS NO FLAME (him with no beard is fucked up also)) i usually dont like the pair though if people depict dandy as some… naive pure waif or some such…. this man is a hoe and stupid through and through dont overlook this. its important.

I am also actually am a sucker for geralt singing his praises quietly fr no goddamn reason aside from hes infatuated with him and getting weirdly defensive about him and everyone else around him is just like. Christ. this is influenced by me never being able to pick the bully options when i was playing w3 ( i am whipped)

Geralt/Eskel/Lambert - soon as i knew they were more wolf witchers my brain entered a state of superflux. which means i followed them around making mooney eyes constantly, Im more fond of Geralt/Eskel leg of this ot3 bc they have such. old married couple energy and i am in love with Eskel but i love and respect our king lambert as well and he deserves a good ramming, DONT WE ALL? I REST MY CASE.

i also like to think like geralt, the two are pretty open relationship wise by nature tho i could say this about any of these characters bc i like poly hawhaw but something about witchers being seen as unemotional and unfeeling but these guys just having alot of love to give to each other and with others…poetry 😔

Geralt/Yennefer - i have complicated feelings on this pairing bc the show confounded me in how it happened and then it felt so faking weird in w3 bc of all the weird jealousy love triangle stuff i was forced to sit through as well as yen p much just calling me a dumbass donkey every hour before being like alright. time to fuck randomly. and it was executed bad. i didn’t like it and it was bad.

BUT. the potential here is still good and i like a cagey yennefer who finds it hard to trust opening up more slowly to geralt bc hes just like. straightforward…. i think their convo on the boat was kind of cute too… i think i just am really not into the THEY’RE TIED BY DESTINY TO EACH OTHER. LIKE. LITERALLY. aspect of their relationship especially when they seem to clash to hard against it. when she broke the wish with the djinn though and they were acting sweet with each other it made me kinda 🥺 uhu…. my goth wife….

i also dont mind these two deciding they work better together platonically as well though and being like, chummy exes lolol the ribbing that would entail…

Geralt/Yennefer/Dandelion - i think aqua gave me the idea for this but i am tickled by the thought of Dandelion landing himself TWO powerful beau’s who will step in to defend him from the stupid shite he gets himself into 24/7. Yennefer walking in front of him while he gets cussed out by someone just saying “Is there a problem?” smiling menacingly… does that not fuck…. i say it does !

i think her and dandelion’s relationship is just…..very funny and not dramatic so its very fun to think about even romantically. and also geralt is there and plays the beleaguered straight man.

Geralt/Regis - i am putting this here even if i have not finished blood and wine yet bc oh my godddddddddddddddddddddddddddd [smacks head with rock] also my first interaction with w3 was watching a friend play one of his quests with another friend and and all three of us go mad bc we were like IS THIS MEANT TO BE DRIPPING WITH SEXUAL TENSION AND INNUENDO. WHAT IS GOING ON. ARE WE LOSING IT. HELLO. we all deserve a big word speaking vampire boyfriend

Keira/Geralt - they are cute…. i dont need to defend myself….her being so pompous around him is so funny 2 me

Geralt/Zoltan - i like zoltan okay, actually these two have similar retired dad energy but zoltan is the one who makes them go out for date night still

Geralt/Zoltan/Dandelion - i am thinking about it i am thinking about it

edit: Yennefer/Eskel/Geralt/Lambert - poki put this idea in my head just now GEE YENNEFER HOW COME YOUR MOM LETS YOU SMASH THREE WITCHERS?

not geralt centric

Triss/Yennefer - oh my god they were schoolmates.png and yenn calling triss her best friend made me go hmmmghhh 🥺 also im sick of this series being like oh no my best friend slept with my boyfriend, DRAMA! they are also dating okay shut up #lovewins, i need to intake more witcher content to further solidify these two as a pair in my head but its on the agenda. i am looking. i am watching. WAITING.

Eskel/Dandelion - take my faves and smack them together like barbie dolls also dandelion having a type thats just - witcher is comedy gold on top of that? eskel being flattered a pretty dude like this is into him…cute

Ciri/That One Readhead Girl Whose Name I Forgot - you know in the quest where ciri asks you to come around with her in novigrad and help thank the people who helped her and one was the cute barmaid with freckles, they were so cute what the fuck it lasted all of 5 minutes and i cant stop thinking about it, ciri’s government assigned girlfriend (i am the government)

Regis/Dandelion - when i was walking around his sick basement in w3 he had a book that dandelion has written about him in there… and all it said was nice things… and regis kept it in clear view? much to consider… thinking on this….

Priscilla/Dandelion - these two…surprisingly wholesome… also god i love bards. i dont think about the end of the quest where she gets owned for no reason they’re just faking chilling in novigrad making bank. ALSO i still cant believe these two dont come with you when you’re forming the avengers crew to defend kaer morhen how r they gonna write about it if they arent there !!!!!!! let them sit in the rafters and throw bombs conspiratorially !!!!! smh !!!!!

Priscilla/Yennefer - think pris having a hero crush on yennefer is very cute… she meets her for the first time and her thoughts r just oh god shes even prettier than the song said she was [brain explodes into mush] also her singing about her when geralt rocks up dare i say gay activity ?

Keira/Lambert - find it very funny w3 was like ‘and then keira decided to pick up lambert to roam around with her like he’s some weird fucking stray cat whos hair she likes to fuss over’ also lambert being forced to behave around her scholarly friends lmfao

Dandelion/Everyone okay - this man be fucking

[pestercide]

HI I hope y'all don't mind me butting in here to say a few things /gen /notneg

I genuinely enjoyed reading these because it kinda gave me a deeper understanding of certain things!! But also allowed me to further understand the fandoms hypocrisy with certain topics (like being fine with one ship over the other).

This also got me thinking about certain other things that I've come up with or other people have come up with relating to shipping discourse in the fandom.

I think discourse is overall kinda stupid and I've grown past caring for it, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy discussing certain things (and that feels kinda silly to say considering this is a topic that's literally about smashing two characters together Barbie doll style to make them kiss pff)

But yeah!! I first kinda started being curious about this after having a conversation with a mutual on Twitter over the shipping discourse in the fandom that was brought on by Holydemon, and a point that I brought up was the ship vs the artist's intention/interpretation with said ship.

Because a lot of the time, it turned out Batmeat was used/interpreted by artists in the fandom that were genuinely problematic and wanted to use it to fetishise abuse and imbalanced power dynamics in relationships. Which I concluded left a bad taste in people's mouths regarding the ship. Not to mention the characters included are both insanely popular and a lot of people are attached to them, so putting a character (Streber) in a relationship with another character (Bob) considering the canonical scenario that happened between them (one severely injuring and traumatising the other) made people uncomfortable.

And I think people don't feel that way about Holydemon, for example, because both characters involved are nowhere near as popular, plus the ship popped up as a joke between the team that later became a ship people began genuinely enjoying. I will say that the moment I saw the Holydemon content from the team I assumed the fandom would be in an uproar the same way they would have been with Batmeat. But,, people were surprisingly calm and even playing along. That's not to say there weren't people who were upset though, because people did see the ship as weird or problematic but not on the same level as Batmeat.

And it was that conclusion that kinda brought me here. That the perceived popularity of the characters and the intentions behind the ships including them is what makes people hate them/uncomfortable with them. I sometimes wonder if Batmeat were treated as a joke ship between the SM team would people still hate it to the degree they do? Or would it get the Holydemon treatment? It's not really something that can be answered because I feel like the bias towards it is too strong so I can't really make a fair and accurate judgement.

Oh, and as an extra sidenote. I remember someone mentioning that Batmeat was likely hated because we know what Bob did to Streber, which was arguably worse than what Gregor did to Moloch. And I was like 'yeah that makes sense!' at least until I saw one of my mutuals pitch the idea of Moloch x Michelle (no hate or shade to said mutual they're chill and I enjoyed the idea they had). We know that Moloch tricked Michelle and killed her in an extremely brutal manner (I mean we saw the blood splattered across the walls of the morgue...) then later impersonated her and her son to try and trick Gregor. And the thing is, people on Twitter were eating up the idea of Moloch x Michelle because of the dynamic that was presented between them (if I remember correctly, it was something along the lines of 'Moloch learning to love because of Michelle, but simultaneously trying to hide the fact he's the reason her son is dead'). I thought people would take that idea poorly, but people ended up loving it (myself included). And now that I know that Moloch not only killed but ate Michelle and Dexter, it just made the situation that happened in the episode all the more gutwrenching. Yet again, people don't really see a ship like Michelle x Moloch as bad or problematic because of the intention behind it and the popularity (or lack of popularity) of the characters.

(Also here's proof of that whole Moloch ate Michelle and Dexter's bodies in case anyone wanted it)

So like,, imagine a scenario where Bob and Streber aren't as popular, and one day a random artist is like 'Bob x Streber but Bob spares Streber because he admires his love for Halloween and his dedication to what he does' (again, this is just a hypothetical situation). Like would Batmeat still get shit or would people think it's a cute concept?

BEFORE I ASK AND BEFORE YOU CONTINUE

PLEASE remember I am asking this question because I want to know Tumblr's consensus on this ship vs the Twitter side of the fandom which is much more vocal about their thoughts.

I am simply asking out of pure curiosity and nothing else. And please don't assume any less of me just because I am curious. I don't want ppl to assume I'm this horrible person or anything qwq

Anyways onto the question:

What are your thoughts on Batmeat (Bob x Streber?)

Feel free to reblog with additional thoughts!!

[forlornmelody]

Take Your Girlfriend To Work Day

Rating: E (it’s smut with a little bit of plot thrown in)

Fandom: Mass Effect Andromeda

Ship: Sara Ryder/Suvi Anwar

Summary:   Sara Ryder has Concerns™ about taking Suvi with her on a mission. But she's always wanted to show her the badlands of Kadara. What could go wrong?

Linkage: clicky

Note: Written for FallingOverSideways over at @spectre-requisitions-exchange. Now that reveals have happened, I can finally share this all with you!

-*-*-*

Sara would give Suvi the entire galaxy right now. The way she stretches across the tangled sheets, the light of a distant sun making her hair glow like fire. How the light glistens on her sated body, and catches in her eyes like the pools on Kadara. It’s probably why Sara sticks her foot in her mouth while her breaths are still ragged.

“I wish you had been there with me.”

Suvi’s smile vanishes and Sara feels it like a pain in her gut. “Sorry?”

Shit. “I’m not mad.” Sara swallows, pushing an errant lock out of Suvi’s eyes. “It just would’ve been nice to have you on Kadara with me, before the vaults went online.”

“When the water was toxic with sulfuric acid?” Sufi’s brow wrinkles like it did when she poured over the Scourge data, looking for solutions to a big-ass problem. 

Just keep digging your grave and lie in it, Sara. “I mean. I loved the look on your face when you looked over the data I gathered.” Sara traces the line of Suvi’s swollen lips, smug knowing their romp made them that way. “It would have been even better for you to see it in person.”

Suvi’s lips twist as she bites the inside of them in thought. “I’m sure there’s still useful data for us. Maybe we could go together next time?”

“I would love that!” Sara rolls them so that her hands are braced on either side of Suvi’s pillow, and she peppers her face with kisses, imagining them swimming together in a hot spring, or a cold one, with bikinis on, or not. Drying off on a ridiculously large beach towel and licking that now potable water right off her--

“You’re going tomorrow, right? Maybe I could come with you.”

Sara’s lips freeze on the hollow where her neck meets her shoulder, and Suvi giggles at the slack-jawed expression she gives her. “Tomorrow?”

“Aren’t you going to Ditaeon to talk with Tate about trade?”

“...Yes.” Christmas Tate’s not what sets the Pathfinder's heart racing. It’s not his colony, either. It’s all the mayhem around it. Sara can all too easily imagine an eiroch crushing her girlfriend against a boulder or rylkor whipping her off a cliff with its tail. She needs to find a reason for Suvi to stay behind. Maybe she needs more arms training? Or they could wait until they fit her with some armor? Watch some training vids? 

“Why don’t I go with you?” Suvi trails her fingertips down Sara’s spine, and suddenly she’s spineless. 

“Sure!” Sara says brightly. This is a bad idea, isn’t it? 

----

Turns out Cora’s not much different in height or build than Suvi, so the human commando loans her a set of armor, and a manual on how to care for it. Suvi walks around in it stiffly, and Sara would find it comical were it not for how the components accentuate some of Suvi’s best features. As much as she shouldn’t, not right now, Sara can’t help but imagine removing it piece by piece as she kisses her senseless. 

“Worried about me, Ryder?” Suvi says as they make their landing. 

The airlock disengages, and Sara looks around for any sign of danger. “Just don’t lick any rocks,” she says wryly. 

“But--”

“No, Suvi.” Both her and Vetra say it together.

“Fiiine.”

-----

Suvi loves Kadara. Or maybe she loves being on the ground for a change. Either way, Dr. Suvi Anwar sits on her knees, scanning a small rock, and Sara Ryder can’t look away. The sun catches in Suvi’s flame-colored hair, making Ryder wish she had brought her here sooner. She aches at the soft smile on her face, the warm glow in her blue eyes. Ryder’s in the middle of pulling out her omni tool to take a picture when--

Sara. There are weapons warming up behind you. It appears they are aiming for you, Vetra Nix, and Dr. Anwar. I suggest-- 

“Got it, Sam.” Sara Ryder says nothing to Suvi, only dropping her in a tackle and ruining the picture-perfect moment. Actually, whatever exiles who were shooting at them ruined the moment, and the thought makes Sara’s blood boil. 

Suvi squeaks from underneath her, but she doesn’t protest, especially after the first rounds hit the rocks behind them, and their shields shimmer with the ricochets. “Pathfinder?” she whispers cautiously.

“Exiles,” Sara growls under her breath. This is not how she pictured pinning Suvi on Kadara. 

“I thought--”

“They’re still around. Still wanting to shoot us, apparently.” Sara shoves Suvi behind a bolder, and squats next to her, pulling out her pistol, and deploying her combat drone. It dashes over, firing beams at their assailants, the cool evening air warming in its wake. 

Vetra looks at Sara sideways. “Really, Ryder? A drone?”

“What? Peebee showed me how to use it last night.”

Suvi glances between them, her eyes widening. “Sara?”

“It’ll be fiiiine.” On cue, the drone crumbles to the ground. Peebee will kill her later. “Well, shit.”

“We’re doomed.” Vetra sighs, powering up her assault rifle. 

“Oh ye of little faith.” Sara switches to her shotgun, firing off shots while her biotics cool down. 

Suvi giggles, and Vetra groans. “At least one of us is having a good time.”

Ryder really shouldn’t have brought Suvi with them. A little skirmish like this rarely fazes her anymore--more like target practice than a fight worth worrying about. Waste of ammo, really. But her heart thuds in her chest and her neck and shoulders tighten up at the thought of a bullet hitting the scientist next to her. Suvi’s so gentle, and kind. She’s not made for violence like this. Sweat gathers beneath Sara’s hard suit and her under armor, and itches around her joints. Her arm aches and her temples start to throb. Just a little bit longer---

There.

One exile remains, a sharpshooter with a sniper rifle that tries to pick them off like drops of water torture. Ryder ducks back behind their bolder, counting the seconds between shots. One Andromeda...Two Andromeda...Three--

Sara Ryder charges full force into her enemy, smashing him with a nova that sends his innards flying every which way. Turning with an adrenaline-fueled, shit-eating grin on her face, Sara looks at the boulder, craning to see the look on Suvi’s face. “Not bad, huh?”

“RYDER!  MOVE!” 

The ground rumbles beneath Sara’s feet, throwing her off balance. Enemy Krogan. 

“Shit!” Ryder screams as the berserker hauls her up in the air. Blood rushing to her head, Sara looks down at the battered Krogan growling up at her. “I thought I put you down already.”

“RAAAAH.” 

“Shit’s right! I’m out of ammo.” Vetra glowers, letting out a litany of Turian words SAM can’t translate. 

Don’t panic. Just grab your pistol and--One problem. It must have fell from her holster when she left the ground. The Krogan swings her back like a wet towel. 

Don’t panic. Don’t panic. 

Her biotics won’t fire--still cooling down. Ryder’s neck and temples still flare with heat. 

Sorry, Suvi. I--

A shot rings out, and Ryder sucks in a breath, bracing for a bullet wound. 

The Krogan drops her, and Sara rolls out before his body falls on top of her. What the hell??

Her eyes meet “SUVI??”

Nudging the Krogan’s body with her toe, Suvi blows the steam off the barrel of her pistol, and holsters it. She glances down at Ryder, a shy smile on her face. “You alright, Sara?” Suvi reaches out with her hand to help her up. 

“Damn, Anwar. Didn’t know you had it in you.” Vetra comes out from behind the boulder, brushing herself off. 

Sara doesn’t take her hand, too busy doing the math in her head. “Who taught you how to shoot?”

“Drack. He took me out on Elaaden. Said it would help my skills as a geologist if I learned how to shoot rocks.”

“Of course he did.” Ryder groans as she stands, checking herself for injuries. Her shoulder throbs from being yanked around like a rag doll, but other than that. “Anything I should see Lexi about, SAM?”

My scans indicate nothing but some swelling and inflammation. Though a visit would--

“I’ll see her later, SAM.” Sara has an idea. “Hey, Vetra. I think the Nomad needs an oil change.” She walks over, rummaging through the storage compartment for a very conspicuous picnic basket. 

“The Nomad doesn’t even...oh. Yeah. I’ll get right on that.” Turians don’t roll their eyes, but the way her mandibles twitch, Ryder bets Vetra would be right now if she did. Swinging into the driver’s seat, she starts the engine, and Sara scrambles to get the storage compartment shut in time. 

“Catch ya later!”

-----

“Do you ever miss them?” Their picnic long over, Sara and Suvi stretch out on the blanket, watching the sun set. 

“My parents?”

“Yeah.”

“All the time.” Suvi stares out across the lake, and Sara gets the feeling she’s not watching the clouds change color. 

“How did you find the strength to leave them?”

Suvi says nothing, and Sara wonders if she went too far as she listens to birds call in her silence. When she finally does speak Sara strains to hear her over the lap of the shoreline. “I couldn’t stay behind when there was a whole galaxy out there to explore.” She looks at Ryder, sorrowful, but without regret in her eyes. “I was miserable when I considered staying behind. My parents could tell. I was making them miserable with me.” A small laugh escapes her mouth. “It was them who told me to go. Told me they’d miss me if I left, but they’d miss me even more if I stayed with them.” Her smile slips away, and Sara would give anything to bring it back.

Think, Ryder, think. “Nice shooting earlier. You saved my life.” Sara runs her fingers down Suvi’s cheek, holding her breath as she waits for her face to change.

The smile doesn’t come back. Suvi pulls away, looking off towards Kadara Port. “Sara, I don’t think violence suits me.”

Sara drops her hand. “Oh.”

Suvi immediately draws it back to her cheek. “Don’t get me wrong. I admire what you do--the risks you take, the hard decisions you make.” She closes her eyes, taking a settling breath. “But I’d rather make my hard decisions in a lab, not with a gun.”

“I understand.”

Biting her lip, Suvi dares to search her eyes. “You do?”

“Yeah. We’re different. I’m better out in the field kicking ass, and you’re better in the lab…. doing...sciency stuff.”

Suvi’s laugh spills from her mouth like a bubbling brook. “Ryder.”

“I mean it.” Sara takes her chin. “I don’t want you to change who you are just to please me.” She’s already nose to nose with her before Suvi realizes she’s being kissed. And Sara wouldn’t have it any other way. 

While Suvi’s usually slow to kiss back, when she does, she makes up for lost time, always. She presses in, already reaching for Sara’s hair tie, pulling her hair out of that perky ponytail and winding her fingers through her hair. The motion pulls Sara closer, tighter against her mouth and she can’t help but part Suvi’s lips with her tongue, grabbing the collar of her uniform in her fist, and holding her close. 

Their hands and mouths move like binary stars, so close, but never close enough. Sara groans in frustration as her fingers roam across Suvi’s lab coat, searching for that elusive zipper. Suvi giggles, taking her hand and guiding the zipper down with her, her eyes dark with want. As the uniform falls from Suvi’s shoulders, Sara traces her tongue across her now bare skin, smiling at her goosebumps and drinking in her sharp breaths. Each freckle pattern forms new constellations, and Sara writes the racy mythologies to go with them. 

In Suvi’s sighs and goose-bumped skin, Sara finds a paradise better than the Initiative could have ever hoped for. She unhooks her bra, and finds the path between her breaths, scanning the terrain with her eyes and making contact with her hands. Suvi arches into her touch, and Sara smiles against her skin. “You mean the world to me, you know that?”

Suvi opens her mouth, but her sweet nothing is lost in her moan as Sara’s lips close around her tit. She should really take her time. They have little to interrupt them here, with the Tempest far away and Sam scanning the perimeter for trouble. But it’s been days since Sara had the chance to make love to the center of her universe, and so she dives headfirst into the gravity well, pulling the rest of Suvi’s uniform down with her. 

“I’ve missed you,” Sara whispers, trailing her lips down Suvi’s stomach. 

“Ryder. You see me every day.” 

“Not the same thing, and you know it.” Sara gives her a pointed look, and she can’t help but smile at Suvi’s parted lips. She sits up, running her fingertips up and down Suvi’s thighs, outside and inside, gently nudging them apart. 

Suvi sucks in her breath, and Sara pats her skin as she leans down. “Breathe, Suvi. I swear the air here is safe.” 

“Shh, you.” Suvi chuckles. 

Sara breathes in the scent of her pubis mons, grinning wickedly. “Make me.”

Suvi’s eyes widen, and for a moment Sara wonders if she should apologize, but then Suvi’s fingers grip her by her ponytail, pressing her between her legs and it is glorious. Holy shit holy shit holy shiiiiiiit. She never took Suvi for a dominant one, but Sara definitely want to explore more of this side of her. Tasting her, Sara gives her folds those nice long licks that Suvi loves so much. Her pushup routine comes in handy as her lover writhes beneath her. Just as Suvi starts to moan louder, Sara pulls back to wet her finger.

“Is this too much?” Suvi asks breathlessly. 

Her own mouth feels dry, and Sara reaches over to gulp some water from her cannister. “Not at all. Keep going.” She blushes at her own words. 

Suvi pushes her hands away, sitting up. Sara blinks, watching her go. “Actually, I have new experiment I want to run by you.” Grabbing Sara’s shoulders, Suvi presses her onto her back. 

Laughing, Sara replies. “Oh? What’s your hypothesis?”

“That you’ll love me sitting on your face.” Suvi’s cheeks redden as much as her hair. 

“Mm, that’s hard to quantify.” Sara smudges her lips together playfully. “But we can try it.”

Suvi crawls over her, and Sara groans as her scent overwhelms her senses. She whispers her name into her folds, sliding one finger, then two into her warmth. Gasping, Suvi grinds against her, gripping the top of her head. Sara fingers faster and harder, sucking on her clit until Suvi’s nails dig into her scalp and she calls out her name. 

The sun’s far too bright when Suvi rolls off her. “Holy shit. Holy shit,” Sara swears breathlessly. 

“Mmhm.” Suvi kisses her sloppily, running her hand down Sara’s side. “And what are...mm... our findings? 

Sara laughs into the crook of her neck. “I think your hypothesis may be right. But further tests are needed.”

“Mm.” Suvi presses a finger to her lips, looking up at the clouds as if the answer might be found there. “Perhaps we should increase our sample size?”

That notion jolts Sara off her back. “You mean like a threesome?”

“No!” Suvi laughs so loudly Sara swears the whole valley can hear them. “I meant you. Sitting on mine.” 

“Oh.” Sara stretches. “Maybe next time.” She kisses the pout right off Suvi’s lips. “Right now, I want to kiss you while you…” She grasps Suvi’s hand, guiding it between her legs. “While you…. demonstrate your expertise on the subject.”

“Sara!” Suvi shakes her head in mock humility. “I’m hardly an expert.”

Sara leans over, stealing another heated kiss. “Then maybe you should…” She can’t help her laugh. “....do a more in-depth study?” Their laughs sink into moans as Suvi trace and probes between Sara’s legs, putting just the right amount of pressure to make her beg. 

Suvi grins against her mouth, teasing her long and light, until Sara’s gripping her so hard, she swears she’ll leave bruises. Thank the stars Suvi wears long sleeves. “You like it rough, Sara?”

“Yes, please. Please.” 

Suvi’s teeth graze the skin of her neck in reply, hooking her fingers inside her and beckoning her to come undone. 

Maybe it’s minutes, maybe it’s hours later, when Sara’s always pushing Suvi’s bangs out of her eyes just to watch them fall again. “Y’know. I definitely learned something today.”

“What’s that?”

“I should bring you planetside more often.”

[the--sad--hatter]

Operation Little Cupcake (Bucky x reader)

Sequel to - The Cupcake Hostage Situation and The Cupcake Hostage Situation: Phase Two

FANDOM - MARVEL MCU, DEADPOOL & X-MEN

WARNINGS - Smut, Pregnancy, Swearing

“I think I might be pregnant.”

 It shouldn’t have been scary, it should have been exciting. You were in a stable relationship after all. It had been over a year since Bucky had made his feelings clear, you were his girl, his and nobody else’s. It had been a year of stolen shirts and stolen kisses. You had kept the relationship a secret from the team as long as you could, not knowing that they all already knew.

That first night, when Bucky had hauled you through the corridors, Tony had sent the security footage to everyone. But the team liked to see you both sweat, sniggering everytime the two of you slipped into a closet thinking you hadn’t been noticed. Sam flirted relentlessly, even Steve got in on it.

 ~~~~~~~~~~One Year Ago~~~~~~~~~~

 “So hows the heat in your room? It working ok?” Steve leaned on the kitchen counter to ask you, smiling sweetly.

 “Yeah, you fixed it up nicely for me. Thanks Steve.” You said, biting down on a smirk.

 “Funny thing is, it shouldn’t have been broken in the first place. Friday runs all that.” He said coyly.

 “Huh, how about that?” You mumbled.

 “You know doll, if you wanted to spend time with me, you could have just asked.” Steve said, winking at you.

 You choked on your coffee, flustered and shocked by the sudden brazenness of The Captain.

 “What?” You squeaked.

 “Yeah, what?” Bucky asked, looking up from his newspaper.

 “Pretty dame asks you to fix her radiator… Even I can’t miss a signal like that.” Steve told him, smiling warmly at you.

 “I uhh, well, um…” You stammered.

 “So, can I take you out to dinner tonight?” Steve asked you.

 “No!” Bucky snarled.

 “She can answer for herself Buck.”

 “She doesn’t have to. I’m answering for her. No.” Bucky snapped.

 “Why does she need your permission all of a sudden” Steve demanded.

 “She… doesn’t. She can go, I just don’t think teammates should date, that’s all.” Bucky tried to cover.

 “He’s right Steve, I mean, your already so worried about us all when we’re on a mission. I wouldn’t want to distract you.” You agreed.

 “What makes you think you’re not already distracting me?” He shot back, smirking.

 You hadn’t even know that Steve was capable of giving an intentionally sexy smirk, usually he was unaware of his sexiness. It was always accidental, natural, not weaponized.

 “Oh god help us all.” You whispered in horror.

 “So tonight?” Steve pressed.

 “Hmm?” You asked distractedly.

 “She’s busy tonight! She promised to help me with something, it’s a therapy thing.” Bucky said smoothly, so smoothly in fact that you found yourself wracking your brain and trying to remember what you were supposed to be helping him with.

 “Well, some other time the.” Steve said disappointedly.

 “Sure Cap.” You agreed without thinking.

 As soon as Steve left the kitchen Bucky descended on you, pushing you against the wall.

 “Why did you agree  to that, you’re dating me.” He growled.

 “I like having options. Why’d you ruin my chances with Captain America??” You asked indignantly.

 He narrowed his eyes at you.

 “You know, I’ve been asked out a few times over the last few weeks, and then cancelled on….” You told him.

 “Is that so?” He said sarcastically.

 “I know you’re the one who’d been sabotaging all my dates, what I can’t figure out is why.” You huffed.

 “Because you are mine. You don’t go on dates with anyone else. Just me.” He dictated.

 “Oh, are we going steady now?” You laughed.

 “Damn straight.” He said firmly.

 “We should probably stop hiding it from everyone then?” You suggested.

 “Doll, they already know.” Bucky said, looking at you like you’d just asked him what 2 plus 2 was.

 “I know, why else would Steve ask me out.” You giggled.

 “So you went along with it why?” He asked lowly.

 You answered with an innocent smile and batted your eyelashes at him.

 “Minx.” He growled, pressing his body to yours.

 He kissed you breathless, right there in the kitchen.

 “Hey, we eat in here!” Sam objected from the doorway.

  ~~~~~~~~~~Today~~~~~~~~~~

 As happy and steady as you and Bucky were, you had always kind of conveniently skipped over the whole baby talk. You were Avengers, you were busy and in danger all the time. Children just didn’t fit into the whole saving the world gig.

 Except Clint managed it. So why couldn’t you?

 First though, you needed to know if it was true.

 “Ok Miss…. Stevie Barnes?” The doctor said, raising his eyebrows at the fake name.

 “That’s me.” You said coldly, daring him to question it.

 “Well Miss Barnes, let’s do a quick little test, see what we’re working with here.” He said, smiling calmly at you.

 You took a deep breath. You could do this. No matter what the result was, you could handle it.

 ~~~~~~~~~~

 He hadn’t seen you all day, he’d searched the whole damn compound for you but nothing.  It was unlike you to just disappear like this and he was starting to get anxious. He was minutes away from calling Steve and assembling the team when you finally walked into bedroom, ignoring him and flopping facedown on the mattress.

 “Where the hell have you been?” He snapped.

 “Out.”

 “Out where? I was worried!” He said indignantly.

 “Why? Because I was out from under your supervision for a couple of hours?” You said sarcastically.

 “Yes, that’s exactly why.” He said equally as sarcastically.

 “I was having an orgy at a biker bar in Hells Kitchen.” You said, rolling your eyes.

 “You think that’s funny?” He snarled.

 “Yes, actually I think it’s hilarious. That’s why I said it.”

 “What’s wrong with you today? You’re not usually like this.” He sighed, sitting down on the edge of the bed next to you.

 “I… Bucky, where are we going? What are we doing?” You asked, rolling onto your back to look at him.

 “Going? Did you want to go somewhere?” He frowned.

 “I mean us, as a couple. This thing… is there a point to it?” You asked.

 “What kind of point? Doll, we’re together. We’re happy. You make me happy, that’s the point.” He said, smiling down at you.

 “I do?”

 “Yes. I didn’t think I would be this happy in my life but I am. You and me, we’re perfect. I wouldn’t want to change a damn thing.” He said seriously.

 “Oh.”

 “Oh? Do.. do you want to change it?” He asked, swallowing the sudden lump in his throat.

 “No, it’s just… I was at the doctors today.” You admitted.

 “Why? What’s wrong?” He demanded, suddenly on alert.

 His hands were poking and prodding at you gently, like he could figure out what was wrong himself.

 “Nothing, stop poking me you weirdo. I thought I was pregnant.” You said abruptly, shoving his hands away.

 He froze, all the colour draining from him.

 “Pregnant? He repeated.

 “Thought. I was wrong.” You clarified.

 “But, what, how?” He spluttered.

 “Well, remember last month when we let Steve cook that weird stew and it made me sick? I threw up right after I took the pill and I dunno how these things work I sort of just trust the doctors when they say it’ll keep me baby free but I’ve been feeling run down for the last few days and I remembered that and I started thinking, what if? So I went to a doctor and he did a test and I’m not pregnant thankfully but it still freaked me out and I just kept thinking about how much you were going to freak out, even though I was the one who was freaking out and why are you looking at me like that?” You rambled, noticing the wounded look on his face.

 “You thought you might be pregnant and you went to find out, without me?” He asked.

 “Well… Did I mention I was freaking out?” You repeated.

 “I should have been there.” He insisted.

 “Hindsight is a hell of a thing Barnes. I should have maybe mentioned it, yes. But… freaking out!” You exclaimed, gesturing to yourself.

 “I get it. Just, if something like this happens again, tell me?” He asked softly.

 “Scouts honour.” You said.

 “So… you’re not pregnant?” He confirmed.

 “Well I wasn’t when I left the doctors surgery but after my day with the bikers, who knows?” You snorted.

 “You’re still not funny.” He informed you.

 “Well now, you’re a liar.” You pouted.

 “You are however adorable.” He conceded.

 “Yes, I suppose I am. Well noticed.” You said haughtily.

 “You still feeling under the weather?” He asked in concern.

 “No, I think I was just tired. I’m fine now.” You assured him.

 “Good.” He growled lowly, a dark glint in his eye.

 He made sure you paid thoroughly for your jokes about the bikers.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Your pregnancy scare seemed to have awoken something in Bucky, something that was starting to concern you. It started with constant furtive glances at your stomach, when he thought you weren’t looking. Whenever he was stood behind you his hands would snake around your waist, folding over your stomach while he rested his chin on your shoulder. You woke up one night to find him spooning you, thumbs rubbing soothing circles into your abdomen. He tried to act smooth about it, like there was nothing strange going on. When you walked into the kitchen and found him cradling a watermelon in the crook of his arm he panicked and flung it behind him, smashing it against the wall. You watched the red insides drip down the wall with a deadpan expression.

 “I think you killed it…” You told him, shaking your head in exasperation and walking back out of the room.

 When he started spending a strangely large amount of time in the reception, talking to Shelley the receptionist, you weren’t worried. You knew exactly why he was doing it.

 “Hey Shelley, how’s baby Mark?” You called, wandering over.

 Bucky looked shifty as you approached.

 “Oh he’s wonderful, I was just showing Sergeant Barnes here the photo’s I took this morning. Do you want to see them?” Shelley asked brightly, proudly showing her phone to you.

 You cooed over the photo’s of the little pink blob with it’s little tuft of hair and Bucky perked up, watching you curiously. His eyes narrowed and you could almost hear the gears in his head turning.

 It took three more weeks before he finally made a move.

 “Doll.” He whispered, shaking you awake.

 “Bucky, it’s 3am… Unless we’re being invaded again, kindly go away.” You mumbled into the pillow.

 “Doll, I want to have a baby.” He announced.

 “No shit Sherlock.” You grumbled.

 “What?”

 “Bucky, I love you but you’re about as subtle as Mjolnir to the face.” You said, sitting up and switching on the bedside lamp.

 “You knew?” He asked softly.

 “I figured it out about the time you started asking Clint how he came up with baby names.” You said, rolling your eyes fondly at him.

 “So what do you think?” He pushed.

 “Well, it’s a big decision. You have to be sure about this.” You told him.

 “I’m sure.” He said quickly.

 “It’ll take a lot of work, a lot of planning. You need to decide who you want to have a baby with first, I mean what gal are you gonna knock up?”

 “What?! You! I want to have your baby, I mean I want you to have my baby.” He protested, not noticing the shit-eating smirk on your face until after he’d spoken.

 “You’re cruel.” He muttered.

 “And yet you still want me to contribute 50% of my DNA to your spawn.” You said sweetly.

 “I do, god doll, I really do.” He said emphatically.

 “Are you sure Buck?” You asked seriously.

 “Completely.”

 “Ok, good!” You chirped happily, leaning down to fetch a huge binder from under the bed.

 “What. The. Hell?” He asked as you dumped it on his lap.

 “Well, I did some research. Everything from future home’s, to birthing methods. If we’re going to do this, we’ve got to do it right.” You said.

 He looked amazed, gaze flicking between you and the binder.

 “I love you.” He whispered.

 “I love you too.” You whispered back.

 He shoved the binder aside and pulled you onto his lap instead.

 “My baby’s having a baby.” He said, his whole face shining with joy.

 “Well, first you gotta put a baby in me, Sarge.” You snickered.

 “Oh, I can do that…” He smirked, nuzzling into your neck and nipping at the skin with his teeth.

 “But you haven’t read my research on fertilization!” You laughed.

 “I’m more of a hands on learner.” He told you.

 “I’m not even off the pill yet!” You shrieked as he rolled over so you were on your back, pinned underneath him.

 “Lets call these practice runs then.”

A/N - I’m feeling a lil broody, and this idea fit in with the Cupcake series and fufills a few requests... So, let’s get pregnant!!!

[lily-blue]

CODE Z3RO | CODE 04

characters: BTS & Red Velvet genre: thriller, futuristic au warning: blood, death summary: The twelve most ambitious and promising university students are welcomed in Choego, the world’s first entirely artificial intelligence-driven city, to compete for five job contracts that could change their life. But what if something goes wrong? What if they get trapped? What if the city suddenly turns against them? Can they find a way out before the countdown reaches zero? words: 4,7K tagged: @philosopher-of-fandoms​

➼ Chapter Index

The corridor was dreadfully quiet as if Jung Hoseok had walked down on an abandoned graveyard full of long forgotten souls. Honestly, he hated every damn minute of this impossible trial that the researchers had forced upon their group of twelve, but at least his rivals weren’t too much to bear except for Taehyung whom he hoped would have disappeared along with or rather instead of daddy’s little princess. At least, Sooyoung had been a weaker link than him, a brainless doll dressed in gold and glitter. Considering the dynamic of their miniature society, she had meant no harm, meanwhile Taehyung seemed to be one of those guys who would have given you the last drop of drinking water just to poison you in a deserted island. He was ambitious and Hoseok knew that people like him would have done anything to get what they wanted.

Taking a sharp right turn, the Sociology major pushed the canteen’s double door open and walked towards their group that was eating in the corner, putting his arms on the edge of an ugly, plastic chair’s backrest. For a few minutes, he listened to their quiet chatter about neutral topics in silence, rolling his eyes when one of the girls changed the subject from a television show to the weather. It was a natural reaction for the chaotic situation they were in, complete ignorance, but the fact that he had known that it was something he should have expected didn’t mean that it didn’t rub him in the wrong way.

He cleared his throat to gain everyone’s attention. Looking at the empty lunch boxes and the dirty cellophane in front of Seokjin, he couldn’t wait to leave this creepy hospital behind, finding useful clues in the researchers’ headquarter, earning some good points for his neatness from their supervisors. He had always been good at finding links between reasons and consequences until the equation hadn’t expanded with risky variables such as haunted buildings, axe murderers and walking zombies. Would have it been possible that the researchers had made a complex trial for them, getting their inspiration from stupid, American survival shows and lame books for young adults? Shit! How much he hated their sick society and the masterminds behind the contemporary entertainment industry.

‘Did anyone see our Korean Richie Rich or that scary IT guy with the eerie look?’ he asked before he could have overthought their situation even more, his long fingers already shaking under the imaginary weight on his shoulders. Staying composed in an ambiguous situation had already taken a lot of energy out of his body and was harder that he had first thought. 

‘Did you check the toilets?’ the grumpy guy with lilac hair asked, chewing on the last bites of his sandwich in an obviously annoyed pace and Hoseok wondered whether Taehyung had hated people in general or it was him whom he had an actual problem with.

‘Well, obviously. I’m coming from there,’ he answered and patted the front side of his jeans with a wide grin, satisfied that he had finally found a toilet after he had failed so during his first attempt, half an hour prior when they had stepped into this eerie labyrinth with dozens of empty rooms and abandoned beds. Although a part of him did find rationality behind the absence of people - Choego was still under construction and was waiting for its wealthy inhabitants after all -, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy whenever he thought about the silence that surrounded them 24/7.

His gaze never leaving the boy deep in his own thoughts, Taehyung rolled his eyes at Hoseok’s stupidity, saving his energy as he swallowed a cocky comment on the inevitability of having more than one toilet in a huge building like this one with at least six floors. Humming, he honestly started to doubt the company’s management, considering that they had indeed thought of idiots like Hoseok as valuable candidates. From his point of view, even his three-year-old little sister was smarter than a significant part of their group of so-called prodigies. The thought of teaming up with a bunch of losers was utterly ridiculous yet he couldn’t disobey the researchers’ orders.

They all finished the remains of their food in utter silence except for Wendy who hushed her boyfriend when he tried to break the unpleasant atmosphere with a joke about two cartons of milk talking in the desert that only Seokjin could appreciated. Said boy stood up not long after the carefree laughter left his mouth and looked around with a pinch of worry in his eyes as the peace finally settled between the lovebirds on his right.

‘So now that we all finished our breakfast and Joohyun also got her insulin, I suggest to go and find the others. Any objections?’ he asked in a firm tone as he took the lead voluntarily. After all, when it came to measuring their possible strengths and weaknesses, he was far the most qualified for the job since he’d already had experience in disastrous situations thanks to his degree in Crisis Management. He’d served his required volunteer service in Nepal where a massive earthquake had killed more than eight thousand people in 2015. He was certain that he could handle the researchers’ tough simulation just as smoothly as he’d helped to rebuild hundreds of buildings for those who had lost not just their homes but their loved ones, too, from one day to another. Although back then, he hadn’t had to deal with disrespectful youngsters like Taehyung.

‘You bet! Could you explain, why are they so freakin’ important?’ he asked as he stood up just the same, his itching palms resting on the top of the table, voice heavy because of the boiling anger in his veins. He looked at his rivals, annoyed, then smashed the wooden furniture, fingers curling into pulsing fists as he stretched his back and faced with the eldest challengingly. ‘I mean, we’ve already left that crazy bitch behind - thank goodness -, so why are they any different? Is it because of his money?’ he came up with the first thing that seemed rational enough to waste their time for losers when Seokjin’s sharp glance rendered him speechless. The lilac-haired boy gulped but didn’t blink, holding onto his pride with tooth and nail regardless of the others’ disapproval snorts. 

‘It’s because we’re in the same team, Taehyung, and we won’t betray another fellow. Not until I’m here,’ Seokjin claimed earning a few smiles mostly from the girls. When he took the first step towards the double door, no one stayed behind. They all followed him to the hallway, leaving their bags and luggages casually in the corner, close to Jimin’s belongings. 

As if the obvious disagreement between Taehyung and Seokjin had forced everyone’s mouth shut, the incomplete group walked down the hallways without exchanging small talks, only Joohyun’s heavy breathing emerging from the background noise of their firm steps. Unlike his caring girlfriend who simply couldn’t hold herself back from glancing at her roommate’s direction, Namjoon looked more than bothered because of her current state.  But he chose not to confront the redhead more than once within a single hour and fixed his gaze on the strange duo right in front of him. Seeing Taehyung’s clenched fists and crimson ears, the mechanical engineer had some serious doubts whether Joohyun was the only one they should have been worried about. 

‘Did you see the Saw?’ Hoseok asked completely out of the blue as his gaze glided from the light green tiles to the boy on his left with an arched brow floating slowly yet challengingly to the middle of his forehead. He seemed nervous, Namjoon could tell, as his trembling hand ruffled his messy locks unintentionally, his hair already resembling to a bird’s nest because of his ugly cap that now peaked out of his jeans’ huge back pocket.

Namjoon narrowed his eyes, waiting anxiously when the lilac-haired boy’s annoyed voice reached his ears with a harsh ‘What?’

The older boy had always thought of himself as someone who rather avoided conflicts than raising his voice on the verge of an upcoming storm yet he couldn’t stop his shoulders from becoming naturally tense as he observed his childish teammates. He didn’t understand why any of them or anyone in general would have made an anxious sphere even more uncomfortable on purpose and if not on purpose then how came that they didn’t notice the obvious, the negative effect of their debate on the remaining people in their group. For him, it was enough to shoot a quick glance at Wendy’s creased forehead and he knew that something was definitely off with the situation.

‘In the sixth movie, although I’m not sure, there was this horrific game in which all the victims had to work together…’ Hoseok went on, trying to take a further discussion on the subject that seemingly made the whole situation worse as Taehyung’s fingers curled up in a slightly shaking fist.

‘Jeez! Just shut up already, would you? You’re such a headache,’ he snapped and speeded up his hasty steps to get as far from the Sociology major as possible considering his limited options. In the end, he slowed down next to Seulgi and walked by her side in silence as if she hadn’t been there in the first place. Not that the girl would have minded the momentary peace, Taehyung’s rejecting attitude was better than listening to their whining.

‘Asshole,’ Hoseok murmured under his nose, darting his tongue out at the younger’s back when he thought that no one was watching. But his resentful comment didn’t slip Namjoon’s attention as the engineer stepped behind him and watched her girlfriend as she checked on Joohyun when she was finally left alone. Her genuine eagerness to help others in need never failed to amaze the ever so rational boy therefore the fond smile that played in the corner of his mouth was rather proud than annoyed.

‘I saw that movie, man. It was the fifth actually,’ he answered the question Taehyung refused to and even patted Hoseok’s shoulder a few times to soothe his nerves, encouraging to follow the others who were already a few steps ahead of them. ‘A bit disgusting, if you ask me, but genius.’

They changed their opinions on the mentioned movie in which there had been a group of people who had to work together in exchange for their freedom. Yet, they failed miserably as they couldn’t stop sacrificing each other, not caring about anything but their own lives. Every single task in the survival game was designed to emphasize the importance of teamwork hiding it behind selfishness and the players only realized it when it was too late. At the final challenge, they had to fill an enormous object with their own blood and considering that by the time they had reached the last room only two of them survived, they almost bled out and died inches away from their redemption. If they hadn’t been killing one another so carelessly, a few ounces of blood would have been enough from each one of them. It was mind-blowing, one of the most amazing plot twists in the history of horror for sure.

Opening every single unlocked door and walking into every damn toilet and janitor’s room, they searched for Yoongi and Jimin literally everywhere in vain as if the Earth had suddenly opened its mouth and swallowed both of them up in whole. It made everyone uneasy.

They were on the ground floor in the eastern wing when Seokjin finally stopped and they all could take a short break from this insane hide and seek. Though, not everyone was so keen to rest as Jungkook and Taehyung markedly walked back and forth, not knowing what to do with their energy. But while the grumpy boy kicked into the wall here and there lightly, testing his strength, Jungkook observed the remaining doors on the current level one by one.

‘I really don’t think that they’ll be there,’ Namjoon stated when the youngster pushed the door with the basement sign on it open and peeked inside, turning his head left and right.

‘Maybe,’ he hummed, not really paying attention to the fellow engineer’s presence as he stepped on the first step behind the door instead. He had questions and he was more than willing to leave their group behind for a few hours at most if it was really necessary to find the desired answers. What was the whole point of this simulation beside the obvious, that the researchers were curious about their problem-solving abilities in an artificial catastrophe? What happened with those who had left the group? What if they all managed to pass the trial? Why had they lied to them about their schedule for the rest of the day when they clearly had other plans for their candidates? What kind of skills were required to get a contract? Creativity, cooperation, critical thinking? ‘But I’d like to check the whole facility in case they hid some clues on one of their computers,’ he explained, grabbing the handrail as he looked at Namjoon from above his shoulder. ‘You don’t have to follow me, though.’

The older boy furrowed his brows and opened his mouth, ready to protest but the voice that filled the air was definitely more high-pitched and less raspy than what his vocal chord could have ever maintained. Both Jungkook’s and Namjoon’s head turned towards the petite girl, standing right behind the latter, watching her acting all embarrassed because of the faint ‘I’d like to. Sounds like a good idea even if I won’t be much help,’ that had left her mouth. Yerim brushed a tiny mop of hair behind her ear over and over again, unable to stand the younger’s piercing gaze for more than an ephemeral moment. And everything became much worse when Taehyung decided to join their company.

‘Hah! Of course, she thinks that. After all, it’s his idea,’ the lilac-haired boy blurted out, his deep voice heavy with ill will and mockery. The Marketing major’s loud presumption and malicious smile turned the girl into a blushing mess within a blink of an eye and seeing her frightened look, anyone could have told that she wished nothing but to dissolve into thin air.

‘Is there something you want to say?’ Seokjin joined the conversation as well and stepped between Taehyung and Yerim like a human shield as if his presence could have protected the girl from everything that the grumpy boy had been so ready to throw at her face.

Taehyung snorted. Ridiculous. 

‘Sure. Your sister isn’t any better than Sooyoung was,’ he claimed, tilting his head to Yerim’s direction as the others walked closer, their figures forming a lame, irregular circle around the epicentrum of their debate. ‘Now that Gangnam girl’s gone, she’s the weakest link,’ Taehyung scoffed matter-of-factly, earning a few deadly glances from their teammates although no one protested, not even Seokjin. The eldest just stood there with tense shoulders and clenched fists, breathing shallow and worried. He hated that the Marketing major wasn’t that far from the truth - considering their abilities in an emergency situation, Joohyun, Hoseok and Yerim seemed to be the less useful members of their group. While the older girl panicked in stressful situations and Hoseok got easily scared even of his own shadow, his sister usually froze when everyone around her was loud and pressing. He had still remembered the first fire alarm test they’d had in primary school since Yerim’s homeroom teacher had made sure, it remained unforgettable as he’d freaked out in front of everyone when he had failed to find the little girl. But it didn’t mean that they couldn’t have surprised them with unexpected, innovative solutions. They had plenty of time to prove Taehyung wrong and Seokjin hoped they would. After all, without Yerim, they would have slept through and have failed the first part of the simulation.

Turning towards Jungkook, Seokjin relaxed his stiff muscles and spoke up in a rather calm voice.

‘Actually, we have plenty of time. Let’s go and check the area,’ he said, encouraging the younger with a firm nod as he took the first steps towards the door. To Taehyung’s dissatisfaction, everyone followed them thus he was the only one who remained in the hallway.

‘It’s useless. It’s not that we’ll find some nasty skeletons in their basement,’ he shouted like a sulky child and his annoyed statement forced Namjoon to stop on the first stair, head snapping at his direction. He looked at Taehyung, confused, lips in a firm line, white like virgin snow. Truth to tell, he didn’t like him - especially not his destructive attitude - but he was a part of their group, just as much as anyone else, and teamwork was the keypoint of their task. The researchers wanted them to work together, in unison, and Namjoon wasn’t that stupid to disobey their will because of Taehyung’s ill-wishing behaviour. He didn’t plan to shut him out since he didn’t plan to lose his chance to get a contract because of him either.

‘Don’t be a dick, man! I’m sure, you don’t want to be their enemy,’ he said, calling for him with a simple wave of his hand. ‘Let’s go!’

A few seconds later, the hallway was as empty as it had been before they would have crossed the threshold of the abandoned hospital - eerie and silent, lack of human souls.

Kim Seokjin was an excellent team player until his little sister wasn’t a part of the said group because then she became more important to him than anything or anybody else and preferences inevitably destroyed the collaboration. It wasn’t his fault though, their parents had raised him to be like this, they had literally planted the protectiveness in his nature from the moment Yerim had been born.

‘Are you okay?’ he asked in a voice so quiet, it was barely above a whisper although he did it out of goodwill rather than being ashamed of the fact that his sister wasn’t as fierce and independent as their mother who had been a zealous activist in Yerim’s age. She and their father had met on a protest against the educational system and its clearly disadvantageous and sometimes sexist rules such as the unsaid privileges that the wealthy students had gotten and the must of mini skirts even in winter. Well, back then they had been on different sides and that was what had made their love a groundbreaking story. Seokjin found it endearing and inspiring at the very same time. 

Shaking his head, he put his palm on his sister’s shoulder and squeezed it lightly. His caring touch earned an equally light sigh in return. 

‘Yeah. It’s not that I suddenly become useless just because he said so,’ Yerim replied and even though her voice was faint, both her eyes were shining with a reassuring glint, her lips curling up all the way to her ears. She didn’t want her brother to worry to no end nor was willing to give the satisfaction to Taehyung by letting him see her fall apart. So she strengthened her heart and didn’t let anxiety consume her soul.

‘That’s my girl,’ Seokjin smiled and patted the top of his sister’s head, staying by her side as they followed Jungkook who seemed unbothered by the fact that Yerim couldn’t take her eyes off of his back and could have easily burnt a hole in the middle of his bladebone if one had been beared with superpowers. Ah! He would have given everything to be able to turn simple object to gold.

At some point when the first closed door appeared on the hallway, Seokjin started to make mental notes and different theories based on their surroundings and all those things that had happened to them since they had arrived to the artificial city. Although it looked logical that the city was empty considering that it didn’t have any citizens and the food supply in the canteen was also rational, the lack of instructions bugged him as if something had been off, as if the simulation hadn’t gone as planned. They should have found at least a video or audio file by now that could have help them step on the appointed path, shouldn’t have they?

Sharply turning right, Seokjin was so immersed in his own thoughts that he didn’t notice that Jungkook’s firm body stopped dead in front of a glass wall that separated them from a well-equipped laboratory full of huge, white cabinets and tables, papers laying in piles on their titanium surface. 

‘Look! There’s a computer,’ Jungkook spoke up, his index-finger pointing at the electrical device in the left corner of the room. He didn’t hesitate, not even for a moment, as he lifted his bracelet in front of the small control panel on the right side of the door with a victorious smile on his face, demanding entrance which he got after a few seconds of complete silence. ‘Cool.’

When the boy stepped inside the lab, Seokjin grabbed his sister’s wrist, looking deep into her eyes, searching for some kind of confirmation in them that she knew what she was doing and she wasn’t so impatient to follow the raven-haired boy inside the room because she was indeed attracted to him as Taehyung had suggested approximately ten minutes ago. Not that he had problems with Jungkook as a person because he seemed like a really nice guy but the fact that he had let Sooyoung stuck inside their dormitory didn’t make him the most reliable fellow. He didn’t want Yerim to be used by some guy who was mostly alluring because of his distant behaviour. He was familiar with young adult books, he knew that these kind of boys always got the shy girl in town. 

Yerim pulled her arm out of Seokjin’s grab and walked inside the laboratory soon followed by the rest of the team except Taehyung who refused to play by Jungkook or anyone else’s rules. He leaned against the glass wall from the outside and shot an ill-wishing smile at the eldest when he gave in to her sister’s wishes and crossed the threshold as well.

Since her steps came to a halt a few inches from Jungkook’s back, Seokjin walked to the computer, too, while the others opened the cabinets and the hidden drawers that they couldn’t have seen from the hallway. Joohyun and Namjoon made themselves busy with the printed papers on the tables.

‘Honey, could you take a look at these reports? It’s absolutely Chinese for me but you might be familiar with the ingredients in the right corner. They sound pretty medicine-like,’ he mused, looking at the said girl from above his shoulder, watching her as she put a tiny phial filled with some blue fluid back to its container.

‘Just a sec,’ she replied and slid the glass door back to its frame, paying close attention not to break anything inside.

As she step behind her boyfriend and took the paper out of his hand, Seokjin’s gaze glided back to the computer’s screen. Honestly, he didn’t understand a single thing but Jungkook’s clicks were so firm and confident that he put his trust in his knowledge without thinking. He opened then closed some folders, pushed the keys on the keyboard, furrowed his brows and started everything all over again until a stubborn window blocked him from further investigation and after a careless right click, everything went black.

‘What happened?’ Yerim asked, curious, leaning a tad bit closer to the blank screen and so to Jungkook without thinking twice. As her nostrils got filled with the boy’s characteristic scent that was definitely stronger and manlier than she would have thought, her whole face turned ruby red and she stepped backwards so hastily that she bumped into her brother’s shoulder. Seokjin rolled his eyes but didn’t make a comment on her obviously awkward behaviour. No, he turned towards Jungkook instead, waiting for his reply.

But that answer had never come as the door that allowed them to leave the room started to move, fast. 

‘Everyone! Get out of this room! Now!’ Seokjin shouted as soon as he caught a glimpse of the closing exit, waving with his hands towards its direction as if his exaggerated gestures could have fasten everyone’s speed. But it couldn’t. 

Since Joohyun couldn’t handle stress and Wendy cared too much, Namjoon couldn’t pull them out of the room on his own because dealing with a mild panic attack and his stubborn girlfriend was simply overwhelming. He needed help and Seokjin was the only one who was willing to give them that extra hand. He ran towards his frozen teammates and grabbed Joohyun by her wrist. The eldest threw her arm over his shoulder casually then lifted her petite figure as he carried her out of the lab, letting Namjoon show him the way.

‘What the…,’ he heard Jungkook swearing as he accidentally crashed his shoulder into the glass wall, trying really hard not to collide with Seulgi who got to the door the same moment as he did. Seokjin rolled his eyes, panting, before he put the girl in his arms down.

‘Where is Yerim?’ he asked when he caught his breath and looked around, anxiety growing in his chest due to the absence of his little sister.

‘Inside,’ Taehyung stated with a flat face while he pointed at the girl who had seemingly frozen a few steps from the blank screen. Her gaze were cloudy, lips slightly parted with fear.

‘I left her with you. You should have grabbed her hand and pull her out, you selfish bastard,’ Seokjin snapped, screaming like a wild animal and the only thing that kept him back from slapping Jungkook’s face was the clinking sound of the closing door. It was already through halfway but he couldn’t stay still.

The boy ran back inside the lab and wrapped his long fingers around his sister’s wrist, pulling her towards the hallway like crazy but Yerim fell into her knees because of the sudden force and hit her head into the table, feeling the bitter taste of her own vomit in the back of her throat. She didn’t move until her brother helped her find her balance and pushed her towards the door. Three. Yerim finally took her first steps on her own, running. Two. Seokjin was so happy that his sister managed to reach the hallway in time that he didn’t notice the report that had slipped out of Wendy’s hand on the floor. One. Glass collided with glass at the same time, the young man’s butt crashed to the floor. Shocked, no one dared to say a word.

The relieved smile soon froze onto Yerim’s lips as she realized what had happened. Her whole body was a shaking mess as she turned on her heels and looked at her brother, stuck inside the lab. She put her palms onto the wall, tears blurring her vision.

‘No,’ she whispered over and over again while her spirit slowly gave up, knees fitting close to the ground. ‘We’ll get you out, don’t worry, okay?’ she promised, not knowing that the room was actually soundproof and all Seokjin could see was her sadness and guilt. So he smiled, crawling to the wall in his own pace. He didn’t have to be fast anymore, there was no need to rush.

Meanwhile Hoseok stepped to the control panel and lifted his own bracelet in front of it in vain. It didn’t work, in fact, it rejected his request more dramatically than he would have ever thought. It shifted red and turned on the security system.

Seokjin’s shoulders tensed as the ventilation system markedly stopped working and the air became heavy with an unfamiliar chemical product, something transparent with no scent yet with something that burnt his veins. He shook his head, leaning his sweaty forehead against the glass, and took a few swallow breathers as if it could have magically solved his breathing problems. It hurt like hell, moving his limbs, keeping his eyes open hence he stayed still, gaze fixed on his clearly panicking sister. She was worried, he knew it. She must have been already screaming for a while, making silly promises that she couldn’t keep. It would have been so typical of her. He laughed and his raspy voice echoed in the sphere as the world turned red.

Red walls, red people, red tears. Even the last memory that popped up in his mind between confusing, fading pictures was red, cherry lips sealing his mellow ones with the untrue promise of infinity.  

➼  chapter V.

[petaldancing]

fic: for all the times i can’t reverse

fandom: pokespe characters: sapphire, ruby summary: ten years later, they strike a new deal read: on AO3 or below

notes: for gret, who gave me the prompt: "don't ignore me" P.S. i haven't finished the ORAS arc, so not sure if this is canon-compliant, P.P.S. for pokemon nicknames, i use chuang yi's translations cause that's what i grew up reading

have i come a long way from 50 frantic ways? *shrug* but i’m still a sucker for these two a literal decade on

----

Over the years, Sapphire has attempted all manner of confession: face-to-face under torrential rain, hand in hand standing before the possible end of the world, foolishly through Gold, a bit more gently through Crys, yelling mid-argument, and then, softly, when there is no one else around but them.

Likewise, Ruby has mastered all tactics of avoidance: pushing her off Pilo’s back, using imminent disaster as distraction, pretending not to hear her, feigning ignorance, keeping his big mouth shut for once .

She does not know when she grows out of this back and forth and stops trying. Maybe it is when she is sixteen or eighteen. She’s twenty-one now, and looking back at the last few years, her friendship with Ruby has improved. They still argue, but it’s less these days. (Emerald would be proud of ‘em, if he bothered to step out of his lab to notice.) Their fights are no longer about unrequited feelings or ten-year old love confessions. It’s more like: which way to go when they’ve gotten lost, or how her new clothes aren’t colour-coordinated, stuff that they can laugh about, stuff that can be either ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. You can’t really do that with feelings.

Part of why they fight less is because they talk less too. The Petalburg Gym is always expecting new challengers and she hasn’t had a break since she took over Norman three years ago. Having this job takes her mind off nagging thoughts, pushes her to keep training, adapting to new trainers and their partner pokemon visiting from regions she’s never had the luxury to travel to. On the rare afternoons she can afford to leave the gym early, she treks through the lush forests encircling the city, retracing the steps of her childhood backyard.

As she walks with Toro, she thinks about new strategies, designs for the gym, what she’ll have for dinner, and on days she passes by her old Secret Base—Ruby. Unlike the past, when the thought of him would make her scowl, now it is more often accompanied by a sigh, maybe a sheepish grin if she is in a good mood. It’s not just because she’s mellowed a bit since her anxious teenage days. It’s because he’d spent a lot of effort on the old Secret Base, dolling it up and even adding a tent with pillows inside for her in case she spent a night in the forest. “Though I’ll never understand why anyone would want to,” he’d sneer, as if begging to start another fight.

Now, he’s always in Lilycove judging those Pokemon Contests. But once a month, she’ll receive a parcel from him with something fancy to clip in her hair and this particular brand of Pokemon food that Toro and the rest like to eat. It’s shipped in from Kanto, and Lilycove is the cheapest place to get it. Usually Ruby includes a hurried note like “Mimi’s gotten even prettier” or “I found the perfect fabric today” or “I’ll visit soon”, though the third time she receives this particular sign off, Sapphire takes it with a grain of salt.  

She hasn’t been to the old base in awhile, but today is special. She weaves through the twisty paths of the woods until the leaves open up to the entrance of the long abandoned Secret Base. The sound of dry leaves and twigs crunches under the soles of her boots. All the memories she and Ruby made here, it’d been before they got proper jobs and stopped hanging out, before they cleared out the entire base, before she gave up on him replying her confessions.

She remembers stumbling into the base after getting into a nasty fight with a group of territorial Mightyena, and how Ruby brandished a first aid kit and stitched the deepest cut up. And the other time, when he surprised her with a cake on her birthday and didn’t get too upset when she couldn’t resist smashing a slice into his face. And the time when they both fell asleep waiting for the rain to stop, and she dreamt that he’d touched her cheek and whispered something she couldn’t hear. And, the very first time they met—their 80-day bet. So many things changed in the span of those 80 days.

Sapphire double checks the date on her PokeNav. Ten years ago on this day, she swung from a vine and saved a helpless Ruby. Ten years ago, she reunited with the little, fierce boy who saved her when she’d been helpless.

In the middle of this tranquil forest, Sapphire shuts her eyes and feels the warm sunlight on her skin. How much has changed the past decade? She’s proven her worth as a gym leader, she’s met and learned from so many other Dex Holders and pokemon masters, she’s become a braver and wiser person. So what if the only thing that she hasn’t gotten better at is dealing with Ruby? So what if she can’t help but come back to this sentimental spot even though she should’ve grown up and moved on by now?

Just then, she hears a rustle from inside the Secret Base.

Toro readies its fists as Sapphire jumps back and lands on all fours. “Who’s there? Come out!” she growls at the darkness.

“Easy. It’s just me.”

Toro lowers its talons and squawks, immediately recognising the voice.

Ruby steps out into the light, a hand adjusting the frame of his spectacles. He’s stopped wearing his goofy hat, and looks a lot like his dad now. Except, his eyes are kinder. They’ve always been. Zuzu the Swampert appears beside him, greeting them with mild-mannered coos.

“What’re you doing here? You spooked me!” Sapphire asks as she stands upright, more surprised than angry. Zuzu and Toro are much more agreeable with one another, bounding off to play fight in a pile of leaves.

“Very nice to see you again too,” Ruby says with a dash of sarcasm, and inches back when she shoots him a dirty look. “Just thinking of redecorating, I suppose,” he relents, propping a hand on his chin. He examines the mouth of the cave with a measuring tape as Sapphire stands aside, jaw slack. “Remember how this used to look? I must admit it was one of my best interior design projects. I don’t think I gave myself a proper pat on the back for that. No matter, I’ve already got ideas for how to make Secret Base 2.0 even more fabulous!”

Sapphire doesn’t understand what’s happening. Trust Ruby to be the sort of person who you miss, and then immediately want gone when he’s actually around. “That was when we were kids! What… what’s the use of coming back here now? Don’t you have a job?”

Ruby glances over his shoulder mid-measurement and raises an eyebrow. “Pot calling kettle black, much?”

Sapphire sucks in a breath and stands her ground. “This is my neck of the woods! I can come here whenever I want!”

“You know how I never really liked spending time at that house with my dad around? This place is about the closest place I’d call home for me, at least in Hoenn. Lilycove is nice and clean and all, and I hate to admit it, but I was starting to miss this place.” Ruby does not turn around when he says this, but watching the firm line of his chin and the hand he runs along the cave wall, Sapphire can tell that he’s being serious.

“And today’s our anniversary, isn’t it? Of the day we met.” He spins on his heel to finally face her.

Sapphire wills herself not to blush like a thirteen-year old, and it is easy when she thinks about how Ruby shouldn’t be allowed to use that word.  

“Pfft. Anniversary? Ain’t that reserved for lovey-dovey couples? Who gave you permission to call it that?” Sapphire feels her heart sting at this, and hopes that it hurts Ruby too, even just a fraction.

The expression on his face shifts, from classic, nonchalant, above-it-all Ruby to a more neutral one. He presses his lips together and slowly winds the measuring tape around his knuckles, fidgeting with his hands.

“Will you help me rebuild the Secret Base, Sapph’?” he tries to change the topic.

“Why should I? I don’t come here anymore.”

“You’re here now, aren’t you?” Ruby points out.

Sapphire sputters. “That’s—argh! Look, maybe to you it’ll be a fun and easy project, something to getcha’ mind off the stress of work. Whatever. This place means a lot more to me than you, and I ain’t in the mood to be a part o’ your flights o’ fancy.”

“It means a lot to me too.” Ruby stares at her, his mouth curving into a frown.

The words burst from Sapphire before she can contain them: “Then why didn’t you come back sooner?”

Her emotions have gotten to him and he fires back without filtering his words either. “I didn’t know what to do! I didn’t know when would be a good time. I didn’t know how scary and disgusting the cave would be. I… I didn’t know how to tell you that I missed you, Sapph’.”

Hearing this from Ruby, the Ruby who is supposed to be selfish, the Ruby she hates, the Ruby she loves, Sapphire clenches her hand into a fist. She does not say a word, instead choosing to glare at him, daring him to continue.

To his credit, he does. “I know I’ve been a Gold-level jerk about it, but I’m not good with words. Running away? Making anything look pretty? All that’s easier than talking about feelings.” Ruby straightens his posture and removes his spectacles, so that he’s looking directly at her. “But Sapph’, all the times we’ve spent and all the times we’re going to spend—they’re important to me too. They’ve always been. I was too young and immature to face it. I’m trying to get better at it. Ten years is a long time to do nothing, and I don’t want to spend the next ten years not doing anything.”

Sapphire bites down on her lip, suppressing the urge to shout at the top of her lungs, to point and laugh at how their roles have reversed. To give him payback for all these years of chasing and dodging and convenient amnesia, hasn’t that been something she’s always wanted?

But Ruby’s words also cause her to think about everything she’s been through with him. She wouldn’t call it ‘doing nothing’. It’s everything but that. Haven’t they been through thick and thin together since their very first adventure? Haven’t they saved the world and held hands more times than she can count? Sure, they never talked about what they meant to each other, but at the end of the day, she knew that Ruby had her back. That he’d be there, always with a new set of clothes for whatever reason, and how she loved wearing the stuff he made even though she was too embarrassed to admit it.

Maybe she should have paid more attention to what Ruby did for her, instead of the stuff he refused to say. Maybe she’s been just as much of an immature brat as him.

“Don’t ignore me,” Ruby says in a soft voice. It is the voice of someone who is guilty, who knows that they don’t deserve a reply, not after what they’ve done, and not done.

For all the mistakes Ruby has made, Sapphire is sure she’s made some too. And Ruby, he never really left her alone, even when they had huge, ugly fights. Even when they were cities apart. He always found a way to show that he was still thinking of her, with sparkly hair clips she only wore on special occasions, and a bag of food that wasn’t meant for her.

Sapphire clears her throat and says, “I’ll help you rebuild the base, on one condition.”

Ruby visibly gulps. “What?”

“Take me out on a date.” She puts her hands on her hips.

He blinks a few times, as if he can’t quite process what she just said.

“Deal?” she asks with a chuckle. It’s funny, seeing Ruby caught off guard.

“Alright,” Ruby concedes at last. Instead of looking defeated, he smiles.

Sapphire lifts her hand up for a handshake. When Ruby takes her hand in his, it is a warm and familiar feeling. It reminds her of deep seas and heavy floods and relentless droughts and soaring through the skies. Of soft, blurry afternoons playing in the grass, childish laughter ringing in the air.

“It’s a deal.”

[flydotnet]

Everytime We Touch

Femslash February 2019 - Day 7: Disaster

Summary: They're all disaster sapphics, aren't they?

Fandom: Original Work Ships: Raphaëlle (Garionne)/Jeanne/Christiane

Wordcount: 1.6K words

Notes: AU where I fucking know what to do with my 2012-2013 original work/PDV era characters. It's very inspired by my high school years to a point it's unintentionally creepy. (this title is way too ironic not to hurt my 1998-born soul)

Event hosted by @femslashfeb

AO3 version available here.

Jeanne was, for once, the least disastrous of their friend group. It was a very rare occurrence, considering how much she didn’t know how to deal with literally anything that wasn’t coming up with conspiracy theories on the school or the History-Geography teacher.

“I tell you, she’s dating the French teach’, there’s no other way around! You’ve seen Jonquille and Leeht speak together?! There has to be something between these two, and if it isn’t love, I dunno what is!”

“Jeanne, they hate each other.”

“They totally are together and just pretend to bicker, and you know it.”

“Sure thing Jeanne.”

 Jeanne was, for once, the least disastrous of their friend group because she had known for a longer time what was going on. Of course, it could have been because she had been crushing on her childhood and best friend for literally a decade or so by now (wait, had they known each other since they were six? Well… they did, actually), and noticed there was something odd going. So, of course, she told her best adviser: her best friend, who didn’t know anything about love more than she did.

“Hey, bro, is it normal to love, like, two chicks at once?”

“I guess? Wasn’t there this guy of your class who loved every girl in there aside from you anyway?”

“Ludo? He’s gay, he’s just realized it. The guy was in denial all along.”

“Oh, okay. I guessed so, but since I’m not in the same school as you all nowadays…”

 Jeanne had always loved Raphaëlle more intensely than the others. Her lesbian awakening was her own childhood friend, and while she had hopes the crush was somehow mutual, she knew it had very little chances to be so. They had exchanged a few weird looks, blushed afterwards, but it may have just been her. It… must have been her since the very beginning, anyway, but one could hope, after all.

The issue was that she had developed a second crush, somehow, someway. Well, you didn’t have to look too far to find her, but it was odd anyway. She had only known Christiane and her very excited tendencies in middle school, and yet she didn’t see her not spending her life with the purple-loving, tall-nailed girl.

So, she had two crushes on two different girls, and both of them had showed interest in boys. This… wasn’t going to go well.

  Raphaëlle didn’t know how to deal with the disaster that had become her love life: even if she was single, she had, well, fallen in love with a girl. Actually, make that two: Jeanne was her first crush, perhaps in a cliché twist of life, but Christiane had strongly embedded herself in her thoughts too. Two flowers, and theoretically, she could only embrace her love for one of them. She obviously knew Jeanne was desperately in love with her from everything she could have ever said or done towards or about her: protective tendencies, blushing, prone to hugging (too much so, in fact, but she’d have lied if she said it bothered her in any way once she had told her not to do that in public). She could have simply asked her out, even if she was intimidated by anything riskier than walking down her quiet street in full daylight, and it’d have been just fine. She’d just have to hope her mother didn’t turn out to be a raging homophobe. She, after all, had never been a fan of how obviously lesbian Jeanne was.

 Christiane was a trickier case. You simply couldn’t find anyone who looked straighter than Christiane, to put it simply: she fangirled over pretty boys in manga, enjoyed screaming about boys’ love doujinshis, had dated boys and only boys before. Nobody could ever see her being attracted to any girl ever, and yet… And yet she also fangirled on Jeanne whenever the latter took the effort to put on nail polish and complimented Raphaëlle herself when she was all dolled up for a concert. Several times, in fact, if not always and anytime she had the occasion to. There was, simply, something that told her Christiane may have enjoyed being around the two of them a lot more than around other girls, Valentine coming to mind first.

 Her love life was a disaster, but a disaster she would deal with, she supposed.

  Perhaps Raphaëlle was a disaster bisexual girl, but she could always rely on Jeanne. And so they confessed to each other, one day. There was nothing fancy about it, albeit there was a sense of relief to it. This was, for now, a problem less to deal with, after all.

“I love you, Rapha.”

“I know. I love you too, Jeanne.”

“…That was kinda anticlimactic, wasn’t it?”

“It is, but… it’s fine enough, right?”

Jeanne enlaced her fingers with hers and looked to her right from the other side of the café table.

“Yeah. It’s fine enough.”

 But there was something wrong with it all, a lingering tension between them. Perhaps they knew that, deep inside, there was a third part to the triangle who was nowhere to be found…?

“…I thought you liked Christiane, though,” Jeanne told her with the upmost seriousness.

“I do. But, like… don’t you too?”

They sighed.

“Love’s bullshit. She’s straight as a broomstick.”

  Christiane had a very big disaster to deal with, right now.

She was in love with a girl, that was already a big deal on its own. Her brother would certainly tell their parents, and her parents already didn’t approve of her dating a guy, what would they think of her dating another girl? She had never thought of herself as a bi disaster, but that was a thing she was now, apparently. Before she knew it, she craved reading girls’ love manga and wanted to sleep in the same bed as Raphaëlle… and perhaps do more than sleeping in there. She wanted to hold hands and do girlfriend things with her, go on romantic dates, giving flowers and getting given flowers, making her nails and brushing her soft locks between her fingers… Yeah, she totally wanted to date Rapha, that much was sure.

 But then came in Jeanne.

She saw it coming: Jeanne and Rapha were obviously in love and meant to be, from her perspective, and she had no chance of ever dating Rapha would Jeanne remain in the picture. Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to hate Jeanne and push her away like a threat to her relationship with Rapha: instead, she surprised herself by wanting to date the blonde and the brunette at the same time, thinking to herself she had two hands, but… That was dumb, and kinda dirty to do. You can’t date two persons at the same time, especially if it’d essentially be smashing into two girlfriends’ relationship. What if she was a third wheel to them? What if any of the two was the third wheel to the two others?

That’d be a disaster, so she sulked in her room, alone, responding to text messages when she wasn’t too busy daydreaming about what could be.

  Christiane, as always, had slipped on her own clumsiness and confessed to her two best friends that she wanted to kiss them both passionately after getting jealous of both of them for dating the other… while getting kind of turned on by watching them peck each other in her back. The sense of secrecy and forbidden love was, she couldn’t deny that, a guilty pleasure of hers and she was totally down to be a side hoe when seeing this.

The stares Jeanne and Raphaëlle were giving her would have been priceless would she have not been on the receiving end of said stares. Instead, she just wanted to bury herself in a hole.

 The silence ensuing was thick, almost unbearable because of how much it smothered them all. The tension was real, and the atmosphere only suffered in consequence.

“Well, in a way,” Jeanne spoke up first, shortly after gulping, “that kinda solves all our issues.”

“How so?! Fuckin’ hell,” Christiane screamed on the top of her squeezed lungs, “now I feel like I’ve ruined our friendship and it’s gonna go to hell!”

“H-huh,” Raphaëlle didn’t dare speaking out too loud, “Jeanne’s right, please let us explain…”

Christiane instantly shut up and got all stiff. Oops, she had done goofed again.

 “When we say that, it’s because, well… I don’t think it was likely by any mean, but it seems like we’re all crushing on each other, and in the end this is all one giant fuckpile,” Jeanne sighed as she looked on the side.

“…oh.”

“Yeah, that’s kind of a stretch, but this is how things are,” Rapha continued. “Jeanne and I spoke about that before.”

“And, what do we do now?” Christiane asked with all the curiosity and anxiety in the world.

“We all date each other, I guess,” Jeanne deadpanned, shrugging.

“Wait, we can do that?!”

“Yeah, we can, it’s called a polyamory triad.”

 Christiane’s eyes started sparkling, but it was too good to be true.

“And, like, that’s allowed? It’s not, like, crashing into your couple and stuff?”

“Nah, as long as everyone consents, I don’t see the issue.”

“Oh. That’s great, then!”

 Jeanne gave the two other girls both her hands.

“Deal?”

Raphaëlle took the first one in hers.

“We were already there, it can’t be that different. Deal!”

Christiane followed through.

“Deal!!”

 As “Everytime We Touch” started playing in the background ambiance of the little café on Dunkirk Street, they all discovered they were disaster Sapphics, but at least, they were disaster Sapphics together. They could work this thing through, right?