#and i did way too much research on fire pink

[underfiends]

Watch Me Breathe

Posting an actual story for the first time in months. The muses and I have been engaging in extreme combat and we have finally begun peace talks. Next we will band together to torment my friends with more angst. For now, have a fluff fic of yet another batch of D&D characters. Ramal is mine, Val is @hannrenn, and the DM for these two lovely dumpster fires is @peppermintpinklemonade. Hope y'all enjoy!

There’s a chill in the air; the softest of nips on an otherwise gentle breeze. A cloud shifts, golden light chasing away those cold touches, dappling ashen grey skin with a rare brush of colour. Oranges and reds bloom in the dark of closed eyelids, so much softer than the brilliant burn of flame.

A breath in, lungs filled to burst. A breath out, and with it goes a lingering tension through corded muscle. Fingers of warmth run over dark skin and chase the breeze through even darker hair. A puff of hot air against a pointed ear; a soft tap on one arm, then the other; an echo of laughter meant only for one person, only for them, just here in this moment of calm.

When their eyes open, there is only red. A red mirrored by the petals of scarlet catchfly scattered about, bundles of leaves and flowers growing on cracked boulders at the base of a rocky cliff. The hot breath and warm fingers turn into the press of hands on their shoulders, a constant companion showing that she is still here.

The wind picks up, whistling through the trees that have grown and thrived in this deep ravine between two mountains. The cold is more apparent now, raising goosebumps on their arms. They could don their leather armour, cover up to trap the heat against their skin, but it is peaceful here. The presence of an armoured warrior is not needed among the vibrant greens and browns of maple trees and buckthorn. There is no danger beneath the strangling vines twisting over wet earth.

Red eyes drift back to red petals. There is one patch of flowers close enough to touch, close enough to see the sticky hairs all up the stem. A memory floats to the surface, of a roughened voice one hot summer day.

“See those hairs, kid? They’ll sting you if you touch them, and your hand will hurt for days.” They remember Magnus had been crouched down next to a shallow riverbed, the heels of his boots dug firmly into the rocky ground as he pointed out the vibrant red flowers. Then, as if summoned through sheer outrage, a hand had smacked him upside the head.

“You idiot! That’s stinging nettle. They’re completely different, how could you have fucked that up?” Rhetta glared down at the man now rubbing his head, hands posted sharply upon her hips. Suddenly, like the flip of a switch, she looked over at them with soft eyes and a kind smile. She folded herself to hover at their height with her eyes trained on the flower. “This is a fire pink, Ramalek. Also known as a scarlet catchfly. Don’t worry, it’s safe to touch, however the stem is a bit sticky. That’s why people call it ‘catchfly’, because it catches flies on its stem and leaves to protect its nectar.” She reached out to brush against a petal, pulling it back just enough for them to see the sheen of liquid hidden in the flower. Then Magnus had said something–the words lost to time–that had left her sputtering indignantly, and the two bickered all the way back to Magnus’s tavern.

That had been years ago, back before they’d taken their new names by the blood of the slain. Before a ghost from their past had resurfaced, had turned out to be alive. Just the thought has them feeling winded and wrong-footed; as though the world is going to slip from underneath them and they’ll wake up to find it was all a dream. Panic begins to swirl just below their skin, prickling their mind. Their fingers twitch, and then a warm hand intertwines with their own, and heat presses all up their side.

A breath in, until lungs are fit to burst. A breath out, and with it the wave of panic settles.

They know where their travel companion is; the one who is a miracle. When they return, red eyes will fight off a swell of tears. The creature of dark grey skin and black hair will don their leather armour and settle back into the role of a savage beast. But for now, Valentine is off in the distance, crouched beside a small pool of algae-choked water, touching the surface every minute or so to watch the tiny tadpoles scurry away. Ramalavikfeng can stay where they are, and their armour can stay on the ground beside them.

There is no place for anything other than peace and calm here, among the green and brown and red. At the base of a cliff, backed by a forest growing in the ravine between two mountains, looking at a brilliant red flower that is close enough to touch with a sticky stem and leaves. Here, where the wind has eased back down to a gentle breeze.

There is a nip in the air. Summer is fading, and autumn is on its way. Perhaps Valentine would be willing to visit Magnus and Rhetta.

[kit-williams]

It's just a dream... right?

You had wished your Thousand Son Ari a good night. He was pretty happy with your collection of occult books and the fact there was a shop nearby. You had done so much research into trying to take care of a Thousand Son but none of them showed interest until Ari did. You relaxed into your comfortable bed and drifted off.

Ari got up and started to watch you sleep... and the warp slowly fills the room as he mutters and whispers his spells. Your eyes start to dart under your eyelids as your dream shifts and contorts into something distorted... people having too many eyes... to many mouths... and suddenly everything turns into like Barbie threw up.

The bruised color purple and pinks filled your vision as you were thrown around like you were in the ocean. You went under? a current of this miasma and you could feel your body pull apart and put itself back together as you land on a polished floor. Large pyramids of white and gold are in the distance and you walk closer. You are passed by other Thousand Sons and Rubriks.

"Ari?" You chirp out not noticing the Sorcerers stopping and looking around as if they heard something. You continue to move closer and closer to the pyramids as you continue to call out to Ari.

"Hello little one." A smooth voice speaks to you and you stop and looked up at the horned helmet with the brightest glowing blue eyes. His head tilted slightly as you maintained eye contact with him. You couldn't feel the way the warp was bleeding out of your eyes, nose, and mouth. But with this sorcerer around warp started to bleed from nearly every orifice and pore. "Are you looking for something or someone?"

"My Thousand Son... Ari have you seen him? Though this is funny... normally we can't understand you." You laugh softly as the sorcerer hums.

"Perhaps Father could help with your search." He says starting to corral you towards the pyramids.

"What can my dad do to help?"

"No child... my Father... Ari's Father... the genesire." He explained gently.

You feel a wrongness in your gut as you try to move away, "No... no I'm good."

"No child you are not good." His eyes flashed brightly and you nodded as you realized you weren't good.

"Please," You whimpered softly, "I need to find Ari... I'm scared. I don't like it here." The feeling of wrongness grows as you see those weird fire like symbols on others.

"Of course child." He cooed, "I am Ahzek Ahriman." He said as you were now approaching the pyramid and your mind told you to not go inside but that fear left you when Ahriman touched your back and you walked with him.

Your eyes widened at the endless library that seems to spiral up but also down. You felt sick and dizzy as it looked like it was moving you backed away holding your head. Before you hear a chuckle behind you. You look over your shoulder and your eyes widen again as you must be dreaming as there is a red man with a mane of red hair and a single glowing blue eye. Horns on his head and digigrade legs but he was impossibly tall with big wings that were a gradient from dark blue at the tips to red at the base. But he was so big.

"Hmmm too much for you little one?" He smiled... it was so charming looking as he snapped his fingers and suddenly he was people sized. Not Ari sized but just a normal man sized... built like a brick shithouse mind you and still with large wings but people sized. "Better dear?"

"Y-yeah. Alright dream bird-" You say before Ahriman interrupts.

"His name is Magnus."

"Okay Magnus... I'm looking for my Ari."

"Your Ari...." He says before walking closer and touching your face. Normally you wouldn't let a man touch you like this but it was a dream and you sighed into the touch, closing your eyes. When you open them again you scream as that weird miasma poured out of his eye and mouth, you could feel it wash over you. "Oh there they are.... Thank you my dear... you should wake up."

Your eyes snap open as you scream and sob. Ari is by your side right away and you hug him tightly. "Ari... my Ari... you're okay." He says something as he rubs your back pleased with himself.

[cassiefromhell]

Bats and Fire 03

"Hell"

read part one here or part two here

a/n: its back, bitches! also my requests are open now that im back at it, read my pinned for deets :)

warnings: blood, vomiting

wc: 3.6k

Ah, yes, the biannual cycle. It leaves females across the globe in agony… and you are no exception. However, it’s only five months into knowing your mates, and none of them have seen you during your period before. But that just changed!

Being the least busy out of your five mates, Lucien was the first to notice, when you didn’t come to the Autumn palace to say goodbye before your mission…

You’re curled in a ball, having not left your little townhouse by the shore, though you were supposed to leave four hours ago. The plan was to stop by Autumn, pick up travel food and a new weapon, say goodbye to Lucien and Eris, then head out to find a selkie and research it. The trip was to take two days, then you’d return to the Night Court and spend a few days there.

But you hadn’t left. You had seen the few dots of red in your underwear last night, but had felt nothing and convinced yourself it wouldn’t be too bad this time. This morning, the blood had soaked through the fabric stuffed into your underwear, through the sheets, and had left a pink stain on the mattress Rhys had just bought you.

You had managed to get up and clean yourself up, puking not once, but twice from the earth-shattering cramps ravaging your core, and gotten yourself settled in a comfortable chair with a bucket — just in case — and three blankets and a cup of pain relief tea.

So you are in pain, bleeding, hormonal, craving a shit ton of chocolate chip muffins, and a little bit high from the tea.

One of Azriel’s shadows lurks by the foot of the sofa. It looks like it’s begging to run back to its master and report your condition, but you give it a look. 

“If you so much as try to leave, I will step on you and I will ban Az from sending any of your little friends my way ever again,” you warn, eyes narrowing into a sharp glare.

The shadow curls up and admits defeat.

At least, it looks like that’s what’s happening.

But then a voice calls down the bond — Lucien. Lovely? Are you alright? Did you forget to come by? I’m sitting here with that new dagger you commissioned.

You consider your options. Tell him, and have him come here, to which he’ll either: freak out and call the others, panic and dote on you like an overbearing mother, or somehow, maybe be totally calm and cool and collected and helpful.

For Lucien… the man who you saw gag when you cleaned out a papercut… you doubt the last one would be plausible.

I’m fine, you lie, suppressing the feelings of suffering that try to creep down the bond as a cramp rocks your abdomen. I’m sore from training with Cassian yesterday. 

A two-minute pause, and then Cassian speaks down the bond. I didn’t train with you yesterday. Why did I just get a note from Lucien asking why I overdid it with you?

Tell him you trained with me. 

Too late, Cassian replies, with a mental shrug.

You sigh, groaning as Lucien re-enters the bond. 

Okay… so you lied. No big deal. But where are you, and are you okay?

Perfectly fine. I’m in my little townhouse in Dawn. Just needed a day of rest.

The Dawn townhouse is only used for a few situations. It’s a neutral zone between the two courts of Autumn and Night, so it’s perfect for when you’re either mad at a minimum of one mate in either court, or when you need a place to silently recover after being injured. They’ve caught you there before, stitching your own massive gashes and wounds with no help… so, naturally, mention of the Dawn townhouse is bound to raise suspicion. You curse yourself for mentioning it, because Lucien shortly responds.

On my way.

No need!

But then Lucien’s scent floods your nose, and footsteps come from down the hall. 

You take three more sips of your drugged brew, then call out softly. “Lucien, do not open that door.”

He whimpers softly, and there’s a little thud. “What did I do wrong? Are you mad at me? I haven’t heard anything from the cave bats, so why are you here?” 

“First of all, do not call them cave bats. Secondly, I am not mad at you. Nor am I injured. Just resting.”

“So why can‘t I come in?”

“Because you might not like what you see.”

Lucien pauses, and then the doorknob moves slightly. “You’re concerning me, I’m coming in.”

“Knock yourself out,” you grumble, tucking your blanket under your chin.

The door opens slowly, and Lucien peers in, immediately spotting you on the couch, all tucked in. “Oh, dear. Are you sick, kitten?”

But then he takes two more steps in, and inhales. He halts in his tracks, the tops of his pointed ears going bright red.

“Told you.”

“Oh— oh, uhm… uhm… okay… I see now,” he stops a few yards away, resting his hand on his hips and biting his lip. “I… uhm, well, it’s all natural, so—”

“I’m very aware of that, Lucie,” you reply, wincing as another cramp rips through you. You grip your abdomen, forcing down two more sips of tea.

He immediately is at your side (though he did fail to hide his gag at the scent of the blood) and cups your face in his hands. “What can I do? How can I, uhm, help? What do I do?” It’s hard to miss the obvious anxious tone he speaks with, eyes flicking around.

“Lucien, I’m okay on my own—” You’re interrupted by pain shooting up your spine, and have to stop your sentence or risk screaming.

“No, no, you’re not okay,” he stands, pacing the room, once, twice, and then looks back to you. “You need to be taken care of. I’m going to get Eris.”

You whine, sipping your tea and running a hand over your hair. “If you call Eris, then before you know it everyone will be here. I do not want to be coddled, do you understand me?”

“But I want to coddle—”

“Lucien.”

You don’t think you’ve called Lucien by his given name this many times in one day before. But your hormones are raging and you just can’t scrounge up the pet names you’d usually call him.

He frowns, but then shakes his head. “I’ll get Eris, and that’ll be it, okay? We’ll take care of you. If the cave bats—”

“LUCIEN.”

“—…If the Night Court brothers find out, it won’t be due to a lack of us trying.”

And you have no time to argue your case, because he’s already vanished.

Not even twenty minutes later, you pick up Lucien’s scent again, but this time it’s accompanied by Eris’s. They don’t enter your room immediately, because there’s an urgent conversation to be had…

“Lucien,” you pick up Eris’s voice, and there are no footsteps. “I’m sure you already know how a female’s period works?”

“What?” Lucien retorts, and there’s a scoff. “Of course I do.”

“So why did you wrinkle your damn nose when you entered this house?”

“Because the blood has a smell—”

“Lucien. It’s natural. It is going to happen to her every six months. You’re going to need to get used to this.”

You sigh, sinking deeper into your seat and sipping your now-cold tea. This is what you were afraid of. You know how squeamish Lucien can be.

“I know—”

“Don’t you sass me.”

“I am not sassing you, what are you on about?”

Taking the last sip of your tea, you place the mug on the ground. But without the drink by your face, a new scent fills your nose, and you gag.

“Quit fighting,” you call out. “The testosterone is going to make me puke.”

The two males fall silent for a moment, then Eris calls up. “We’ll be up in a moment, sweetheart.”

Then his voice drops into a murmur, and you really can’t make out what he’s saying. Nor do you care. You’ve really gotta drink this tea more often, because it does an excellent job at muting your care factor.

The door opens, and in comes the Autumn court brothers. Eris looks like he was called straight from a meeting, his hair combed back and all dressed up in a nice uniform. He’s in front of you in an instant, crouching in front of the sofa and taking one of your hands, kissing your knuckles.

“How are you feeling, little flame?” He coos, running his fingers along your jaw.

“Fan-fucking-tastic,” you reply, drily.

Eris narrows his eyes, and pulls on the skin of your temple slightly. “Are you… are you high?”

“It’s the tea. It’s drugged.”

His eyes widen, and he picks up the empty mug, giving it a sniff. He coughs immediately, plugging his nose. “How did you even get this?”

You shrug, offering a lazy smile. “Mor. It’s common practice in Vallahan, she says.”

Lucien comes over, taking the mug from Eris. He also gives it a sniff, winces, and then heads off towards the kitchen to dispose of it.

Eris sighs, getting up off the floor. “Scooch. Let me see if I can act as a source of heat. It’s good for—”

“Eris, I know what heat is good for.”

He slides onto the couch beside you, pulling you to his chest and placing his warm hands on your abdomen, his warmth seeping into your skin.

It immediately starts to relieve the cramping pain of your period, your body singing with delight at the sensation. With a soft sigh, your eyes start to droop, after having woken up criminally early.

“Rest for me, little flame,” Eris murmurs against your hair, tucking your head against his neck.  

Just as you start to drift off, the edges of the world blurring, Lucien re-enters the room, and his scent mixed with lavender and honey fills the room. 

“I brought more tea,” he says, stepping closer.

But your stomach suddenly churns at the mix of scents, and just then, a breeze comes through the partly opened window, and there’s another smell of just male and—

And it’s over for you.

Eris holds the bucket in front of you just in time, and you upheave the contents of your stomach.

“Take the tea away,” Eris scolds, all while holding back your hair and rubbing your back. “S’alright, love. I’m here, you’re okay.”

As soon as you’re sure you’re finished, you lean back against Eris once more, returning to basking in his endless warmth.

The High Lord makes his younger brother take the vomit bucket away, and you’re finally, finally, able to start drifting off again…

Cassian slips in through the window, his wing getting caught on the frame once, twice, and then he unlatches. 

He sniffs the air, and frowns, getting hit with the scent of blood and faintly, vomit. He’s smelled it on Mor far too many times, and scowls when he realizes that you’re not alone.

You and Eris haven’t moved an inch, and you’re nestled in his arms, both fast asleep, cuddled up on the sofa. Lucien lounges on the floor beside you two, awake but looking like he hasn’t slept in years. He glances at the clock as Cassian enters, frowning.

“The fuck are you doing here at six in the morning?” Lucien hisses, baring his teeth at the Illyrian.

“I’m no idiot. I know that I didn’t train with her the other day, and you asked me why she was so sore,” Cassian scowls, walking in and heading straight for you.

“If you wake her, so help me—”

But it’s too late. Your eyes slide open, and you look around, eyes landing on Cassian. “Mm… what are you doing here?”

Cassian pushes Lucien to the side, and kneels in front of you. “Well, I knew something was wrong, and Rhys and Az didn’t know, and these two bozos weren’t responding to my notes, so—”

“Would you let her sleep?” Eris grumbles, now having been awoken from his own slumber.

Cassian frowns. “She woke up on her own.”

“That’s not true,” Lucien chimes in.

“She doesn’t want you here.”

“What? Of course she wants me here,” Cassian snarls, turning to look at you again. “I’ll take care of you better than they can. I’ll get my brothers, and—”

“No,” you and Lucien say at the same time, and then you continue alone. “I don’t want a crowd. I feel sick enough as it is. It’ll get worse with you five bickering and emitting scents and shit.”

Cassian pouts, his wings dropping a little. “I can’t keep this from them. They need to know you’re unwell.”

“Could take you to Autumn,” Eris murmurs to you, brushing hair out of your face. “Then they’ll have to request a visit. And I’ll deny them.”

“Don’t you go spewing that bullshit—”

“Keep your voice down—”

“Well she’s already fucking awake—”

“Because of you!”

You sigh, closing your eyes and trying to tune out the bickering of the three. You quickly fail, and wince as another cramp makes your abdomen tense up. 

“Muffins,” you say, and the fighting instantly stops.

“What was that, kitten?” Lucien asks, reaching up to run a warm hand over your knee, under the blanket.

“I want muffins. Chocolate chip. Cassian, you’re on muffin duty.”

Cassian brightens a little, like a bored puppy being given a task, and is out the window in seconds.

“Lucien, you get me more drugged tea.”

Lucien frowns, opening his mouth to protest, but you’re not having it.

“It’s good for the pain. Go.”

Pouting, he vanishes into a cloud of winnow smoke.

Eris looks at you expectantly, but you shake your head. “You stay. You’re on heating pad duty, and I need a hot bath.”

He grins, kissing your cheek gently and standing up, taking you and your blanket with him. “That, that I can do.”

Cassian can’t keep a fucking secret. Not when he is consistently in close proximity of a spymaster and a daemati…

You were laying with Lucien, reading while he acted as a source of heat, when it came. Eris was attending to his High Lord duties, and Cassian was out searching for a specific kind of bread you were craving.

But a second shadow came, creeping over to you and prodding at your ankle, then your calf, wrapping around you. It was checking you.

“Fuck,” you swore, narrowing your eyes. 

“Hmm?” Lucien hummed, then spotted the thing. “Is that…”

“Yes. Yes, it is,” you sighed, reaching down and letting the shadow dance up your arm. “Did your master send you here? Does he know?”

The shadow tightened around your bicep, stroked your neck, and then slunk back into a dark corner.

“How long do we have?” Lucien asked, running a hand over your hair.

“Not long,” you grumbled.

And so here you are, sitting alone after having sent Lucien out on a book run, waiting for your other two mates to arrive. 

Because you know they’re coming.

And they do. The scents of jasmine and cedar hit your nose at the same time, followed by the creaking of your squeaky front door opening.

A muffled voice drifts up from downstairs. “One day, you need to oil that door. I’ll distract her while you do it.” Rhysand’s cool tone sounds, followed by a deep chuckle.

“But she says it ‘adds to the old times atmosphere’,” Azriel responds, just as their footsteps on the stairs start to reach you.

You straighten up, neatly put a lovely research book in your lap, and act like your organs aren’t being ripped to shreds by a million invisible claws.

A knock comes on your door, and you sigh softly.

“I knew I wouldn’t get away with it for long,” you say softly, admitting your defeat. But hey, two days was impressive.

Your door cracks open, and a violet eye peers in, followed by your two mates entering.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Rhysand pouts immediately, coming to your bedside and taking your hand to kiss it.

“I didn’t want the chaos of five mates here,” you grumble, pouting right back.

Azriel wordlessly slips into your bed beside you, lifting the covers off of you. Within moments, you are practically encased in shadows.

“Are you seriously—”

“They’re just checking that you’re okay.”

“It’s a period for the Mother’s sake—”

“Which leaves you here bleeding and in pain,” Rhysand coos, reaching over to stroke your hair, your head being the only part of you not encased in shadows.

“I am perfectly fine.”

“Of course you’re not,” Azriel scowls, his shadows retreating — except for a few that prefer to stay curled in your lap like a cat. “You’re in pain. I can feel it in the bond, now that you’re nearby.”

Rhysand’s pout deepens into a frown, and he gives you a short peck on the lips. “I’ve called for Madja, she’ll be here tomorrow morning. She should have something for this.”

You shrug, but go with it. Meanwhile, Azriel gets to work on rubbing your feet, and Rhysand sits behind you, letting his starlight escape a little and wrap around your abdomen. It’s not hot like Eris or Lucien are, but it’s not cold either. It does help a bit, however.

You accept your fate of being doted on, leaning back and settling down with a soft sigh.

All of your mates insist on being there when Madja comes.

It starts with the night court trio wanting to be there, because they know her, but then Lucien and Eris have the urge to be there because they don’t know her. Great times…

You may be a little nervous for your visit with a new healer, who you’re not even sure why you’re seeing, but at least you’re being treated like a queen.

Eris has resumed his heating pad duties, so he sits behind you with a pile of paper at his side, using magic to make a pen write his thoughts to get his High Lord paperwork done.

Lucien sits to the left of you, sipping a mug of coffee and reading something, a hand resting on your thigh. He’s been put on food duty today, making sure your cravings are being fulfilled. And also keeping a bucket nearby. On your other side is Cassian, who has his head resting on your knees, half asleep from a reportedly ‘very intense’ training session at the crack of dawn that morning.

Rhysand sits down by your feet, massaging swelling away from your ankles. Azriel sits at the other end of the bed to Rhysand’s left, reading a book. His shadows are all over you this morning. One is currently acting as a hair tie to keep your locks high up in a bun.

Rhys straightens up a little, and his eyes go vacant. Then he smiles softly. “Madja is here.”

Moments later, the older female is by your side, a wrinkled hand resting on your abdomen. Although your mates were forced to all abdicate the bed, they’re all watching from varying distances… Eris being the closest, Cassian the farthest. And the sleepiest.

“Hmm, I can certainly sense your pain. Does your body always react this way?”

You wince as she puts pressure on your stomach. “Yes. This time around it’s a little more painful, though. More nausea.”

“It’s likely because of the bonds.”

Eris’s brows shoot up. “The bonds? Why would we have anything to do with this?”

Madja sighs, and reaches into her briefcase, pulling out a small velvet pouch. “Her body is overwhelmed with the new strings, and it’s affecting her cycle. Simple as that.”

She reaches into the pouch, and her fingers come back shimmering with something golden, and she reaches for your arm. 

You pull back instinctively. “What is that? Is that—”

“Give me your arm,” Madja frowns, gesturing for you to hold it out.

You edge away more. “What the fuck is the shimmery shit?”

Madja grabs your arm, but Eris is there faster, gripping the older woman’s wrist within seconds. “What is the powder,” His voice comes out as more of a command than anything else.

“Oh, would you calm down,” Rhys hisses.

Madja sighs, holding up the gold powder. “It’s just Nevermore, it’ll help with the pain—“

But you can practically feel the snap go off in your head, because Nevermore is a fucking drug and you do not want to be fucking drugged and who is this lady and why the fuck are you so ANGRY—

“Out.”

That one word, combined with the sharp tone of your voice and the anger seeping into your bonds, has Eris and Lucien getting Madja out.

“Dear,” Azriel starts, coming to your side quickly. “What’s wrong?”

“Nevermore is strong enough to fucking stupefy me, that’s what’s wrong!” You shout, unable to contain the sharp growing anger. “You can’t just drug a female!” 

And now you’re crying. And the anger dissipates and you’re left sobbing in the middle of your bed, because you’re a bitch who kicked an old lady out.

Before you can even register it, all five mates are around you, stroking your hair and wiping away your tears and snuggling you.

You end up completely entangled in all of them by the time you calm down, tired and puffy-eyed.

And as you sit there, you soak in all the different scents, and the warmth, and you’re able to forget a little bit of the pain, a little bit of the misery.

Because you are loved.

And love overpowers all.

But also you’re still in hell. 

And you still hurt like hell.

So it’s like, a 50/50 fix for ya.

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[monarchtonone]

@restart-the-cycle @keeper-of-magic @angeliteonfridgeduty (Since you seem to be curious about this now . . . )

Lucky spent the last few cycles with me, trying to uncover all the secrets of this butchering chart we found. The results are . . . morbid, to say the least.

- - - - - - - -

-WHITE LIZARD-

Eye - Inedible

Head - Edible, though not worth effort of breaking the skull; Very rich in protein, however

Claws - Generally Inedible

Leg - Little meat, but sweet and somewhat fatty

Chuck - Tender, meaty, and better cooked than raw; Very full flavor

Rib - Full, hearty, meaty flavor that strikes the tongue, despite how little fat is marbled in

Loin - Lean and tender, but bland; Do not eat alone

Tail - Very long strips of mostly fat; What little meat there is tastes wonderful

Spines, etc - Inedible

Tongue - Very rubbery and sticky, but with unrivaled flavor

Organs - None are very appealing, save for the heart, which has a nice gamey taste

RATING: 3/5

Too little meat for a lizard. Overall, though, a sweeter and leaner choice to Pink.

- - - - - - - -

(OOC: There was originally an image to accompany this, but I'm still fighting drawing it and wanted to get this posted because tomorrow is the big reveal lol.

I will post it once I finish it.)

This confirms it. He's eating them. He's dissecting and eating creatures . . . but why?! Why do this, then still have the nerve to lie?

I have to thank Lucky for all this, he confronted Drops about it shortly after. The transcript is below.

-Begin Transcript-

LE: Drops, we need to talk.

NDI: Is it about the dissections? The way I talked to Pages? Ungrateful spoiled little rat, is what she is.

LE: None of that. Look, I swiped one of your notes-

NDI: How DARE you!

LE: Shut up or we'll find out if you're a mobile model as well. Now, look, I swiped one of your notes and you're clearly butchering creatures. You even have the way they taste!

NDI: . . .

LE: Drops. Tell me why.

NDI: . . .

LE: Tell me why or you'll get a fire egg shoved down that bloody maw of yours.

NDI: I was curious. My ancients always wanted me to reflect on their own odd personalities. I never understood it. One day, they gave me a mouth, and it was like something inside of me awoke.

NDI: A part of me I wouldn't trade for the Triple Affirmative, even.

LE: Weird flex but okay.

NDI: They wanted to see me go savage. They wanted to watch me break down into nothing more than the beasts on the ground below.

NDI: But I'm a little more sophisticated than that. Instead I began dissecting out of curiosity. But of course, then I had to dispose of the bodies, and, well, I have a mouth, so-

LE: So you ate them.

NDI: Yes. You all have no idea how good meat tastes. Particularly red lizards, they're all muscle and absolutely amazing. Cooked or raw, I like-

LE: You're getting sidetracked.

NDI: Right, um, of course. So, my ancients started coming down themselves. And, I had enough of it, so I did some research and . . .

LE: And?

NDI: I won't explain how I did it. But I disabled their ID drones so I could hurt them. As much as I wanted.

LE: For fuck's sake, Drops, don't tell me you-

NDI: It's a possibility.

LE: Well, that settles that.

NDI: They got suspicious, even though I only ate about a third who crossed my path. So they all ascended and left me behind. Alone. Hungry.

NDI: Creatures have been slow coming in. I started to feel weak without their blood. I fear my system as become reliant on it, just as necessary as water.

LE: So . . . why.

NDI: Why what?

LE: Why the fake water call.

NDI: Well I needed something to eat! I doubt anyone would respond to a sudden call for blood, so I did the next best thing!

LE: Yeah, next time, don't.

NDI: Lesson learned, lesson learned. Look, if I had known something like that actually happened I wouldn't have done it! I would have said something else, like . . . like I needed creatures for an experiment or I needed creatures to fight off something in my ecosystem.

LE: Be glad I'm not mad at you. The others . . .

NDI: Is there another annoying messenger on it's way-

LE: . . . You'll . . . you'll see. Monarch hinted at something called a Scrapper.

NDI: FOR FUCK'S SAKE, TELL THEM TO STOP IT!

LE: You deserve it. Anyway, now I'm curious. What do some creatures taste like?

-End Transcript-

Technically there's more Lucky wrote, but it's all just Drops talking about the way different creatures taste and I am not reading all of that. There is one good thing:

Lucky convinced him to open his communications in a few cycles.

Now, with all this out of the way, who wants to go topple a superstructure with me?

[bellafragolina]

Can I get some soulmateless? Ingo and Emmet shiny hunting as the hopeless romantics they are?

you can absolutely get that ye

🍓🍓🍓

Opelucid City is like a second home to the twin Masters of the Unova Subway System. Uncle Drayden lives there, and while Ingo and Emmet both love visiting him, they're on a mission. Outside of Opelucid are Route 11 and the Village Bridge. The only places in Unova that have Zangooses.

It's a fat chance, and the twins know it. But they've been doing this since they were strong enough to battle in the area, scouring the grass for hints of blue and white fur.

The universe hadn't been kind enough to write the name of their soulmate on their skin. The pair didn't see in black and white, nor did they have any marks to indicate someone else coming to form a two-car (or even a three-car) train with them.

Either there's a Zangoose out there waiting to chase them into their soulmate's arms, or the twins are soulmateless. And the latter is too much to bear.

So they hunt.

"There must be a better way than this." Ingo reasons, pushing thick grass aside at the slightest catch of blue. The Karrablast blinks up at him owlishly, fleeing when Chandelure gives a warning chime. "We must be more efficient! There are ways to increase our chances out here, there must be!"

"Shiny Pokémon are verrrrrrry rare." Emmet drawls, tromping through the darker patches of grass. Galvantula clings to his back as Archeops races ahead of him. "They are less rare when you breed Pokémon. We need a Zangoose to breed, and another to breed too."

"You can only choose one type of Pokémon to breed." Ingo replies sternly. "I will stand the Joltiks. I will not stand a hoard of Zangooses."

"Not even to see your soulmate?" Emmet fires back. Ingo turns away, cheeks pink. "I have heard that there is research being done in breeding. If you breed a Pokémon with one of a foreign region, your chances of getting a shiny are higher."

Ingo huffs, conducting Chandelure to use Shadow Ball on a Marill. "And how will we get a foreign Zangoose?"

"I have connections."

"Uncle Drayden is going to another dragon-type convention in Sinnoh?"

"Shush."

Ingo snorts, but makes a mental note to ask their uncle about it later at dinner. "Perhaps we can-"

"INGO!"

Ingo whips around, watching Emmet dive at a blue Zangoose darting across the brush. He commands Chandelure to use Hypnosis, but it misses, as does Galvantula's attempt at Thunder Wave.

So Ingo lunges too. Soft fur fills his hands, PokéBalls hammering into the side of his body as Emmet struggles to aim at the Zangoose and not him.

The Zangoose slams its head into his own, twisting to aim for the center forehead. Ingo flops back, blinded by stars and bright light. He sees Emmet standing over him, eyes wide and wild and two more PokéBalls at the ready.

Ingo scrambles to stand, readying his own balls.

The ball at their feet wiggles, jerks, jumps. And breaks open into another flash.

And the battle begins

🍓🍓🍓

whatever the outcome, they return to drayden bruised as hell and utterly reinvigorated

~Renee

[bibiwrld]

SIMILAR!|Miguel O’Hara

★ Miguel O’Hara x Black fem anti-hero! [OC]

★ Before reading: I don’t speak Spanish, sorry for any mistakes made.

—Synopsis: A new face suddenly arrives at Nueva York, working at Alchemax, catching Miguel O’Hara’s eye and helping the Spider Society with catching villains and anomalies..well sort of.

–one.

THIRD PERSON POV

Alchemax was better, much better than what it used to be. They were actually helping the city, not stealing and hiding things from the citizens.

Miguel O’Hara, Alchemax’s best geneticist sat behind his desk, typing up data from his last experiment. He couldn’t lie, this was stressing him out. A mysterious virus was infecting Nueva York like wild fire, and he’s spent sleepless nights looking for a cure. He even had to put Jessica in charge of the Spider Society because of how dedicated he was to his work.

He groaned, sitting back in his seat, eyeing the computer screen with intensity.

A knock on his door broke the stare. “Come in.”

“And this is Miguel O’Hara.” A male geneticist opened the door, revealing himself and a woman Miguel was not familiar with.

She stood at 5’5”, but her heels made her 5’10”. Her skin was deep brown, with a golden glow, her hair was long, black and coily, with a small streak of white in the center of her head, almost like a skunk.

She was attractive, very attractive.

“He’s who you’ll be working with. He’s head of the the Genetics Department.”

The woman took small steps into the lab, looking around with a smirk on her face.

Miguel had no idea what was going on, darting his tired eyes between the unknown woman and his colleague.

He saw Miguel’s confusion. “Didn’t you hear Miguel? We’ve provided you with a partner.”

Partner? He didn’t need a partner.

“Wrenley Myers.” She stood on the other side of his desk, her skirt hiking up underneath her long lab coat.

Her skirt was way too short and that top was rather thin.

Miguel’s eyes loomed over her.

“Pharmacologist, but I’m very skilled in other sciences.” Her voice was smooth. “Maybe better than you, but I hope we can get along.”

Who did she think she was?

Miguel didn’t respond, adjusting his glasses and continued typing on his computer.

She scoffed and strutted off. Who did he think he was?

Wrenley, now situated at her desk, that Miguel had no part in helping with, watched him running an experiment.

He didn’t ask for help, not once.

She got up, strutting towards him, heels clicking in a fast rhythm. Her eyes carefully watched what he was doing, then loomed over to papers he had on the table.

They were very important papers— every single experiment he’s ever done was on those papers.

She picked them up, scanning through them with a smirk on her face.

“Can you put those down?” Miguel asked calmly, inserting a substance into the petri dish.

She ignored him, flipping through the pages and chuckling.

Miguel grew irritated. He removed his goggles and whipped his head towards her. “What’s so funny?”

She rested his papers back down and look up at him with a cocky grin. “If you needed my help, you should’ve just asked, O’Hara. Everything on that paper is pure rubbish, clever, but rubbish.”

And with that, she looked at her watch, then strutted to her desk for her handbag, then walked pass Miguel, but not without saying something smart to him.

“It seems that I’m not needed here, it’s time to go home and I’ll take my leave first. Good luck in your research, O’ Hara.” Her pink plump lips gave him a taunting smile, and her fox like eyes squinted at him, before she left the lab.

Miguel clenched his jaw.

Who the fuck did she think she was?

“Miguel, your heart rating is spiking.” Lyla, his AI, appeared by his shoulder.

“Notify Jessica that I’ll be at HQ in 20 minutes.” Miguel walked to his desk.

“Okay.” She responded. “You know, she’s pretty.”

He shut down his computer. “Who?”

“Wrenley, your new partner.”

Miguel groaned. “She’s not my partner, she’s just a cocky little shit who bullshitted her way here.”

Lyla laughed. “You sound jealous.”

“I’m not jealous.”

“Whatever Miguel.” Her eyes rolled. “I counted 3 beauty spots on her face, on her chin, under her left and on her right cheek.”

Miguel looked at her oddly.

“She has a scar on the left side of her forehead, it doesn’t look self inflicted, and that white hair is a birthmar–”

“Can you stop talking about her?” He switched the lights off.

Lyla frowned, teleporting to Miguel’s side as he moved. “Why? You were looking at her a lot, I thought you liked h–”

“I do not like her, now stop.”

“You’re no fun.”

Next part: –two.

[sugareey-makes-stuff]

For the end of year asks I have. So many:

2, 3, 10, 25, and 30!!! 💛💛💛💛💛

Hiya friend! Hell yeah, gimme all the q's! Here's what I've got after putting some thought into it for 2023:

2. How many fics did you work on this year? (They don’t have to be finished or published!) Oh my God. I don't even know?!! I'm an artist at heart, but 2023 became a BIG writing year for me vs. art or craft making. Not by choice, since Adulting was really hard and everything was basically on fire, so I think I took up writing as a way to journal and cope tbh. My guesstimate between finished works AND WIPs together: I must have been working on at least 20 writing works. Which is kinda crazy...especially trying to do that for 2 fandoms. 😁

3. What’s something you learned about yourself as a writer? I'm actually good at writing and extract Feelings when I'm given a limited word count. Like, I can somehow make the story work if I carefully choose my words and/or sentences since that word count makes sure I get to the point and I don't ramble on for too long. I've definitely been more aware of how I write depending on what it's for. Also, those short word counts have taught me to be cleaner or punchier. Which is always a good thing! I started writing microfics in 2022, and in 2023, I started writing more drabbles. When I signed up for a couple of fic exchanges, I graduated to writing short fics that were 2k or less. So, I think if I generally set some kind of word count for myself, that gives me a framework to determine how big the thing will end up being.

10. What fic made you feel the happiest to work on? OOO, that is a tough one! Okay, I honestly love Pink Lemonade (Sterek, T, 600 words with art) because it's a ficlet with art, and the whole creative process just flowed when I made this whole thing! I wanted to play more with silhouettes for art (which I think we'll see more of for 2024). And then I already had this little story planned out in my head, so I threw those words down. I think this was probably one of the easier works I've put together because everything cooperated. Also, soft boys! ♥️

25. What did you use to write? (e.g. writing programs, paper & pen, etc.) Scrivener! That program has changed the way I write, and I swear by it every day! The features are awesome (hello to color coding and snapshots), but I absolutely love that I have the ability to link to internal and external links. Lifesaver for a geeky researcher. I feel like I can actually organize my drafts AND my notes without being a trash goblin, so I've definitely been willing to write more because of that. When I had a recent power outage though, I did actually do some paper and pen writing, which was pretty neat. It makes the idea more concrete, and you bet that's going to become a fic soon. It's about...well, being stuck in a power outage...surprise! 😂

30. What’s something that you want to write in 2024? I technically want to write sooo many things but I will narrow it down to a couple. The first one would be another installment out for Where do we go from here? I miss making things for Perciver, but 2023 really didn't let me give them the TLC they deserve. I looked back at my fic doc the other day, and I'm glad past!Krissy wrote drafts for 2 possible installments. They've got legs, so it would be amazing to get both of them out! I also want to see if I can get at least one of my longer Sterek fics posted up as well. Maybe it comes down to taking the baby steps to see which one I can finish first...the 50k 10-11 chaptered Beast that I started a year ago, or the 10-15k 5 + 1 Things fic that I started a month ago. We'll find out, I'm sure!

Thanks so much for the asks!

__ Previously asked: 15 and 17 Want to ask me more writer q's? Let me know via the 2023 in review fic writer asks!

[littleladymab]

FebruarOC - Calanthe

My field researcher druid, Calanthe! She premiered in the prequel session we played for Sagas, "Dishonored Guests", which was my first time playing Pathfinder! And HEY, wow perFECT TIMING I SWEAR I DIDN'T PLAN THIS, you can now check out @sagasofthesunlessreach where you can find our brand new personalized podcast feed! There's a lot of excitement in this paragraph!!

Anyway. 

For the Sagas one-shot, she was part of a group tasked to investigate a location called Grandelodge where there are some suspicious Goings On. I'm not going to spoil it, because y'all should go listen to it, but she does end up starting her frog collection here. She works out of the major university as largely a research specialist instead of a professor/teacher and her specialty is: poisonous plants! She loves them. They are her babies. She has probably eaten nightshade, for science (shoutouts to Dianne, this one's for you). 

She adds poisonous frogs to the mix, but that's just a hobby not part of her actual research. 

She has a leshy familiar which is a strand of bougainvillea that twines around her arm. It's got a single bud, with bright pink bract and two little flowers that are its eyes, if you were to give it a face. His name is Reginald. 

When I get back to doing Mutiny project, the thing I want to do with her is use it as a chance to expand on granular world building in my own way. In game the crew only came across one noticeable plant (I was using bits from Tomb of Annihilation at that time because we were still in DND) and actually now that I think about it, Calanthe would love to get her hands on that flower... she'd just become another version of the scientist who developed the poison. The world truly isn't ready for her. But I digress. 

Mutiny (the world is called Assalia) is my favorite sandbox, as it is the world I have the grandest and clearest scope of that I have created. So, naturally, it would make sense that I can just go hog wild on world building details and create flora for all the different regions. Do I need to? Absolutely not. Do I want to? Hell fuckin yeah!! I blame Dianne! I'm just going to make it worse by also getting Calanthe a geologist rival. Does this mean I have to start learning things about science so i can properly utilize these characters? Hmmm.... consequences of my actions. 

As she was created for a one-shot, I don't have much figured out about who Calanthe is as a person just yet. The bulk of her character in this setting is just... researcher at the university. Who occasionally goes out into the world to cause problems (not on purpose) (okay sometimes maybe rarely on purpose but she has friends that are SO much better at that than she is i'm looking RIGHT AT YOU APRICUS "SET SEVERAL PEOPLE ON FIRE" THE LUMINARY). Whenever I sit down to write her field journal for Mutiny, I'll work on fleshing her out a lot more. Does anyone have any good solo journaling games that have to do with being a field botanist? No? Is that too specific a subject? Hmm. 

You can see the art that Buddy did for me! and the pin board I made to give Buddy inspo is here :) 

If you want to see what her character sheet looks like, it is over on my patreon!

[reptilia0freptiles]

Blood-stained CherryBlossoms

- Oc Fic (Cerise) -

TW: Death, Arson

~Prologue~

The ground at her feet shook violently as an explosion rocked the earth. Ducking, the stickman covered her head until the trembling stopped and looked up to see neon-green flakes drifting from above. She looked up and saw what seemed to be... a red shooting star? With a flash, it dropped down in front of her. It turned out to be a black wristband, thickly outlined with a bright red. She picked it up and stretched it over her head. Weirdly elastic... but what harm could it do?

~End Prologue~

Vivid Cerise knew Shamrock disliked her.

It wasn't much of a secret anyway (although... Sepia seemed oblivious to that).

She didn't know why though.

Actually, Cerise... probably did.

Their first encounter didn't go very well after all... but it wasn't her fault she was part of the local bandit group!

Not really at least...

Cerise lived with Nile Blue, her roommate and girlfriend, and they were happy as they were, thank you very much. The only thing that she would've changed were the super-powered attacks getting more and more frequent. Just recently a shower of green sparks flew down from a nearby mountain... that used to be there. When it was investigated, all that was found was a wreck. Once a beautiful lake scene, was now an off-limits research area. So it was safe to say that no one really liked superpowers anymore after that.

It was a brilliant, sunny day and the sky was bluer then the sea. Cerise and Nile were getting ready for a date at the park. Cerise was putting on her shoes when a soft, silken cloth was draped around her shoulders. "Hey hon~" cooed Nile, "I decided to get your scarf for you!" Cerise smiled, "Thanks, I think we're both ready to go then?" "Ready when you are!" replied the blue stick, as she held the door open for Cerise. "Then let's go!"

Since it was a clear day, it was pretty surprising that there weren't many families around. One or two scattered around the park, yes, having nice picnics under the shade of a tree, however, still not too much activity. "More space for us!" laughed Cerise as she looked around the empty park. "It is a shame that no one's enjoying the sun though" Nile observed. The pink stick figure only rolled her eyes, saying "Come on, lighten up! It's everyone else's fault if they miss out on a nice day." which caused Nile to smile.

This date was meant to be perfect. Just a lovely stroll through the park. So when the couple noticed a blazing fire, it was safe to say that they were more than a little alarmed. “Cerise! We should probably head back!” Nile called out, further alarmed when Cerise started walking towards it. There was someone just there, not doing a single thing as they stood in front of the house burning down. It was obvious they were the cause.

“CERISE-” She broke into a run as Nile tried to keep up, tackling the culprit to the ground. It quickly escalated into a tussle and Cerise was thrown off the other stick. Nile, having finally caught up, helped her to her feet, loudly whispering with concern. “Are you crazy?! You do not want to fight this person!” The stick figure in question was a deep maroon, with black wristbands, their eyes void black. “Nile, you’re very sweet but this stick here is burning down a house.” With that, she lunged at the dark red stick figure once more.

She wasn’t expecting the crackling ball of energy that came flying towards her. Ducking down at the last minute, Cerise narrowly dodged it, making it zoom over her head and reduce a tree to ash. “What the hell-” she barely had time to speak before another one went her way. Nile grabbed her and dragged them out of the way. “We’re getting out of here!” She yelled, weaving through a few more. But of course, one just had to hit it’s mark.

“NILE!” A ball of crackling energy caught Nile and flung her into the smouldering building, Cerise barely dodging it herself. A gasp grabbed her attention, and she saw that- that monster with their hand clamped over their mouth. Their eyes had soften into a lighter tint of reddish-gray as they tried to say something, before giving up and flying away from the scene. Cerise didn't have the energy to chase her, even if she could.

So. Cerise was in big trouble. Nile always brings brought the apartment keys, and now, without them, she couldn't get back in. Worse, she left her phone in there, so she couldn't call a locksmith either. The front desk wouldn't give her the keys without any "proof that she owned it", so Cerise was sort of stuck. She desperately needed a break from this.

A break. That's it. Just her and her thoughts in the woods. Yeah this was fine. Cerise's mind drifted a bit and before long, a couple hours had gone by. "Oh... better get back I suppose..." she muttered to no one in particular. She turned around and came face to face with a masked bandit. A whole crew of them actually.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" the thief in front of her took a step back. Dang, he was enormous. "A poor, lost lady, huh?" He jeered. The others cackled at her as well, and Cerise just couldn't deal with this right now. She took a step back, closed her eyes and sighed. Just sighed. "Can I have a single moment of peace today?! I feel like being locked out of my own house because my girlfriend got murdered by an arsonist should be enough, universe!" The rogues looked at each other in confusion.

Apparently, she'd piqued the curiosity of the bandits enough so they won't kill her. Somehow, tragic story or whatever. Well, in their words she "couldn't go lose" so instead they made her join their group. "What in the name of cursors-" the camp was huge, but hidden under the canopy of the trees, camouflaged tents scattered around area. She herself was assigned her own tent and time to "take a break". Huh. Out of anyone who'd give Cerise a break, she definitely did not expect them to be bandits. Maybe this group was more than just a bunch of rag-tag criminals.

Well, these people were chill. They gave Cerise time to grieve, and taught her some basic stuff about the things they do. She still wasn't a fan of stealing and was reluctant to do so. After all that, it was time for her first "mission", the scouts had spied a lone, brown stickfigure walking to town with no identified weapons.

She was gonna be an easy target. Right?

[primevein]

The Prime of the Youth: Book II: The Quest for Fire: Ch03: The Fellowship

Sirenia landed outside the archives. She opened her doors and June climbed out. The two then walked in. Amalthea stepped up to them. "How can I help you?"

"I can find my way." Sirenia stated, and turned down to look at June, her hand on June's back, "She could use your help."

"I was looking for information on the effects of Energon on organics." June stated. "It can probably help with Knockout's research."

* * *

The Battle Sister was surprised when she found her legs wrapped up with Jack's whip sword and lightly shocked. Enough for her to be knocked down into the grass without losing consciousness. Another femme. pink with red highlights, was driving up on her two wheels. She paused, unsure of what to do. Jack pulled his whipsword to the side, and it collapsed to a longsword. The Battle Sister struggled to get to her feet.

"Can we help you?" Arcee asked the newcomer, and she transformed.

Her saddlebags turned into a backpack, and she ended up with peplos that flowed about. She nervously looked at the recovering Battle Sister, "I am the medic that Sirenia recruited for your quest. Is she alright?"

"Just a little wobbly." the Battle Sister replied. "His shock whip-sword is just... a little... disorienting." She steeled herself to regain her balance. She then turned to Jack and Arcee, "This is Roxana."

Roxana gave them a weak wave, before looking back as the Battle Sister still wobbled. "You're sure you're alright?"

"Oh, yeah, fine." the Battle Sister replied, still a little wobbly.

"Because you're still wobbling, Stormwright." Roxana judgementally said to her.

"This is ridiculously effective." Stormwright said, as she finally seemed to find her balance. "We should look into getting more."

"I got it from Knockout in Las Vegas." Jack said.

Arcee then walked up to Roxana, "I don't suppose you're armed, are you?" she asked.

"What?" Roxana asked, "I'm a medic."

Arcee Tsked, "Alright, when things get harry, what do you?"

"Hide?" Roxana asked, "Unless someone is injured?"

Arcee leaned forward to look her deep in the eyes, "No." Roxana just stared at her, unsure of what to so. "You stay close so we can protect you. You do EXACTLY as we say, when we say it. And if someone is injured, and we're still fighting, you still have to keep - yourself - safe. Do you understand?"

Roxana ran over the information in her head, "Does this include interfacing with Jack?"

"What?" Arcee asked.

"Because, Sirenia said..." she voiced.

Arcee Tsked again, "Alright, if it happens, you have to promise until death do you part." Arcee stated, "And that's a big if."

"Copy." Roxana stated.

Arcee stepped back, "And maybe we can borrow Knockout's shock prod."

"But, I'm a medic?" she asked.

Arcee once again leaned towards her, "When you have an Insecticon gnashing in your face, you're going to want something to defend yourself with." She leaned back. "I don't suppose you have any actual combat experience?"

"When the war came to Caminus." Roxana stated.

"Alright." Arcee said, and felt Jack slap her on the butt.

"You done interrogating her?" he asked.

"I suppose she'll do." Arcee stated, "Sirenia did pick her."

"It's amazing how much sense it makes for Sirenia to be serving a Human." Roxana stated.

"To me too." Arcee stated, "I thought we could get her to do something. Give Jack someone to dote over." Her eyes then grew wide, "And now she's an indispendable part of the household. She's also getting along really well with June."

Roxana then turned to Jack, kneeling down. "Your mother, right?" she asked.

"Uh, yeah?" Jack asked.

"What's it like to have a mother?" Roxana asked.

"Since my dad died, my mother has spent pretty much her entire life taking care of me." Jack replied.

"Humans need taking care of." Arcee added, "For the first 16 years of their life, they can't really do anything on their own."

"Kind of." Jack stated, "But it's a lot of work."

"And in their later life, they need taking care of as well." Arcee added, "It's about 40 years worth of productive life."

"Depending, but yes." Jack said.

"Families must be very important to you?" Roxana.

"My mother is one of the most important things in my life." Jack simply replied.

"And June is one of the only things that can stop him." Arcee stated.

"She can stop a Prime?" Roxana whistfully asked.

"Yeah, no." Jack said, "You can't tell anyone about that."

"But everyone here already knows about it?" Roxana asked.

"Everyone - here." Arcee stated.

Jack then spoke up, "Arcelia has promised to keep everything quiet until..."

"Until?" Roxana asked.

"We succeed or fail." Arcee simply stated.

"You're not confident it's going to work?" Roxana asked.

"I honestly have no idea what's going to happen." Arcee replied, "I like Arcelia's response, that SOMETHING is going to happen. What? Who knows."

Roxana looked distant as she processed it. She saw a shadow approaching, and looked up to see Stormwright. She put her hand on the shoulder, "You're lucky. You'll get to accompany our last Prime on his journey."

"I'm trying hard to not show how excited I am for this." Roxana said. Barely moving, other than a subtle shaking.

Stormwright then turned to Arcee, "Sadly, he will have Windblade, a champion from the Great War, and a pair of Wreckers." She then looked back at Roxana. "You have skills he needs."

"How was the combat training?" Roxana asked.

"Even knowing he was a champion from the Great War, I still underestimated him."

"I wouldn't say champion." Jack simply stated, and then Stormwright looked back at him.

"But you were crucial to the victory?" Stormwright asked.

"Arcee might have embelished a bit." Jack stated.

"Or I just talked about how I feel about it." Arcee relied.

"But?.." Roxana asked, looking into the distance for a moment, "Arcelia... the records... from Optimus Prime himself, who was not just a Prime, but an archivist in Iacon?!"

"He helped us many times." Arcee stated, "But not as a warrior. There are a number of times that without him, we would have died, or lost something horrifying to the Decepticons. The Warrior thing came after. A way for Cybertron to recognize what he did. Jack could have easily pushed it to Exemplar, but, this is Jack."

"Is that why he did not tell us he was a Prime until the end of the assembly?" Roxana asked.

"Actually." Jack interjected, "The only reason I did is that it was in the records." Roxana gave him a confused look.

"It would have come out, anyways." Stormwright stated.

"So?" Roxana asked, "You would never have told us?"

"If I could have." Jack stated.

"Then why are you on this quest?" Roxana asked.

"Because she was right: I didn't try." Jack simply replied, "And... everyone seems to want some kind of closure to this. I'll pursue this to the depths of Cybertron if I have to."

"Well, we might need to come back for food." Arcee stated.

"We can pack for six months instead of three." Jack replied.

"Such a long time for someone so small." Roxana stated.

"He is in the prime of his youth." Stormwright stated.

* * *

They stood in a square with statues to the fallen of Caminus, most of which died when The War finally found it's way here. Collected was Jack and his mother, Arcee and Sirenia, Windblade, Arcelia, and Roxana. All eyes were on Jack, "For those who haven't met, I am Jack Darby."

"The Human Prime." Arcelia stated

"Which we're going to keep quiet about." Arcee said accusingly.

"Next is my mother, June Darby."

June raised her hand above her head to wave at those so much bigger than her, "Hi."

"I thought she was not going to accompany us?" Windblade harshly asked.

"You're just dropping me off at home." June said.

"We'll need to spend time on Terra to get the supplies we'll need." he paused, "The supplies me and Miko will need."

"Any transformer that can miniaturize can help with the cooking!" June excitedly stated.

"That's not..." Arcee stated.

"Then what do you call it?" Windblade quickly asked.

"I don't..." Arcee uttered.

"Micronization?" Sirenia asked.

"Uh?.." Arcee uttered.

"Miniforming?" Sirenia asked, and Arcee didn't say anything, "Cuddleforming?" Arcee glared at her without saying anything.

"She does it to hold hands." Jack said, and Arcee shot him a sharp glare. "Do it." Arcee glared at him for a moment before transforming into her motorcycle. She then transformed back, this time only 8 feet tall. Jack held out his hand, and she looked about nervously as she let him take it. Jack then pulled her in for a passionate kiss. When he let go she grew to 10ft.

"I'm still... uh... working on the stability. I think 8ft is the most I can push, but 10 seems to be a lot easier to hold."

"Waifuification?" Sirenia asked, and Jack glared at her.

"When did Miko have a chance to teach you that?" Jack asked, and Sirenia wanted to answer, but forced herself to not. "Tell me." he firmly said to her.

"It was Arcee."

Jack turned to glare at Arcee, whom nervously averted her gaze.

"Dollification?" Arcelia asked.

"Dollforming?" June asked.

Arcee turned to glare at her, but Jack could tell the look said she kind of liked the idea.

"Onaholification." Sirenia stated.

"I'm going to kill Miko." Jack uttered.

"That one I learned from the internet." Sirenia said, "Along with a good deal number of other words."

"I told you that internet was a bad idea." Arcee said to jack.

"Stepfordforming?" June asked, and then got a look of complete non-recognition from everyone but Sirenia. "Jack?" she asked, and nothing came forward. "I failed in raising you." she joked. "Although, to be honest, it really isn't that good of a movie."

"So, what are you going to call it?" Windblade neutrally asked, and looked at Jack.

He breathed in deep, trying to steel himself. "If I need to choose."

"You do." Windblade strongly stated.

"Dollform?" Jack nervously asked.

"Dollform it is." Windblade stated.

"Wait, seriously?" he asked.

"You are not just a Prime, but a representation of your Humans. I can see no one more qualified to decide on it." She then looked to Arcee, then Sirenia, then Arcelia and Roxana, "I will advise you to take into account the instability when using this form."

"Which is why I've never tried to sleep that way." Arcee stated.

"I'm sure it will help with your Human reproductive things." Windblade stated. "Not that we can even interface." As she said this, Arcee, Sirenia, and June developed nervous smiles. "You can't be serious, we can interface?"

"Afraid so." June tried to neutrally say.

"And it's incredible." Arcee said. Sirenia smiled brightly at this.

Roxana: Motorcycle

I was originally going to call her Red Light.

[lmanburgmcytcare]

Okay so I did some research, and here's what I believe the breads of my mcyts are!

Tommy is fairly obvious, thanks to the distinctive markings, ears, and tail - he's a Raccooninnit, a very mischievous bread of Tommys! He's a little thief, and he likes to eat mud which isn't great, but that's normal for the breed from what I've found.

Eret, as I've previously said, is a long-haired breed as far as I'm aware! I wasn’t able to find much information on the breed, and most of it seems to be conflicting information, but she seems to be friendly with the other mcyts, which is good.

Fundy is a more fox like breed, which I believe is referred to as an anthropomorphic Fundy? More commonly called a furry, from what I've seen. I believe he is also fairly young, as older Fundys tend to be more bitter towards the world when they're placed in a neglectful situation like what probably happened to these guys.

Wilbur is a mixed breed, as I was informed when I got him from the shelter! He's a mix between the much friendlier pre-smp variety and the Pogtopian variety, which is illegal to breed in my area since they're so much more prone to vilification. He's mostly pre-smp, but I have to take him to the vet fairly often to make sure there aren't any underlying issues developing thanks to his Pogtopian heritage. So far he's been fine, though, and I think having new friends around might help keep it that way!

The last three, I haven’t been able to come to a full conclusion on, but here's what I have so far!

For Tubbo, the pink markings on his face typically indicate either a Manberg, New L’Manberg, or Snowchester breed, depending on his coat markings. However, his coat markings indicate a pre-L'Manberg breed, as Manberg and New L’Manberg breeds have more formal coats, often compared to suits, and Snowchester Tubbos have a much thicker coat to keep warm in cold climates. This leaves an obvious conclusion of him being a mixed breed. However, based on what I already know about these guys, I'm a bit worried that the markings may not be natural. Unfortunately I can't really come to any conclusions without having the vets do tests that Tubbo isn't ready for right now, so I can't be sure of anything.

I believe Niki is also a mixed breed, though I'm not sure which ones. Her hair reminds me of a Syndicate breed, but they tend to be more hostile towards Tommys and Tubbos, and my Niki isn't really like that, though I suppose it could be a result of whatever happened to them to make them group up. I can't figure out what other breeds she may be, though.

Jack is the most confusing to figure out, as I can't really find any information on the different breeds of Jacks. I can tell that he isn't a L’Manburg breed since he doesn't have the uniform, and he isn't a Snowchester breed since his coat is too thin, but that's all I can figure out at the moment. Given his attraction to fire, I might say he's an origins breed, but I'm not really sure if that breed even joins up with L’Manburgian groups, so I can't really tell.

[luissbelt]

Up in Smoke

Hi hi <3 testing this all out by writing this- I love a good angst so I couldn’t help myself and I love Luis so why not give him some love? I adore this silly little guy in this silly little game. I hope to be writing some more about him after this in the future <3

TW: mentions of smoking and death

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The black smoke was in his sight long before he reached where it came from. It blocked the view of the stars above his head. It got brighter and brighter the closer he came to the familiar land of the village. Red and yellow engulfed the place he once called home. He had been gone a short time, but long enough it was too late. He could only stare with the fellow on lookers as his cabin slowly became ashes with his only parental figure left inside perishing from flames instead of illness. What else could he do? If he went in, he’d fall to the flames as well. He could feel the looks of others on him. He could feel the eyes studying his reaction. The flames reflecting off his eyes while he only paid mind to what was once his home and his life.

Despite not being in the fire, everything inside of him was ignited. Burning. He felt choked. The thick, smoky air weighing him down and challenging him for standing so close. The heat was caressing his now sweaty face. He didn’t move once to wipe it as he stood there for what felt like no time to see it all burn away so fast. The sky was becoming pink and orange while the sun slowly rose above the leftover smoke from the blaze. All that stood was crumbling wood and ashes. People finally slowly left and returned home. He couldn’t move his body. His heart was tight and his eyes stung with smoke filled tears. He shut them as tight as he could to avoid getting more smoke in them until it all stopped.

A new smell of sanitation and chemicals weighed him down on top of the smoke that lingered with him. A clipboard was in his hand full of his own hand writing and quickly scribbled down notes on his studies. He was gone from that place, but why did the smoke follow him so closely? He slid a hand down into the pocket of the lab coat that now hung around his body and pulled out a cigarette. It was soon lit and he sat down in a chair while slowly inhaling further smoke. A scent that burned his being, yet he couldn’t bring himself to let go of.

More eyes pried the biologist as he stopped his research when he found what it was being used for. So much tragedy followed him, just like the smoke did. It hung in the air and suffocated him all over again. He couldn’t breathe. Over and over again he lit the lighter in his now damp palm while he stood outside in the late night. His other hand held some half done notes he was once working on. He gripped them tight as he once thought how just days ago he was proud of his breakthroughs and progress toward this field. Guilt was wrapped around him like a blanket while knowing his contribution led to more people suffering and he couldn’t do anything to take it back. He turned his back as the papers became consumed by flames, a cigarette now resting between his lips to provide the only sense of comfort he could rely on anymore.

Heavier and heavier he felt as he was weighed down when he knew what he allowed to become parasites. Corrupted hands seemed to wrap around his body and pull him back. The light at the tunnel seemed like it would never be in his reach. The choking smoke plagued his eyes from finding his way out. Over and over again he fell into a place he didn’t want to be when he just wanted to set out and finally give himself a life so his grandfather’s effort wasn’t wasted. He found himself drowning pack after pack of the dangerous comfort yet reminder of what it could take away.

When would he finally have a breath of fresh air?

He slowly sat up from the bed, head hung low and in his palm as the scenes slowly faded from his mind. His eyes stayed on the palm he rested on as his mind caught up to the present. His head felt so heavy. His own room felt unfamiliar and distant. This place was where he currently resided, but he hardly would describe it as a place he calls home. It was always as it has been when he came, yet he couldn’t see it as his. He ran a hand through his now damp hair from his distress in his own mind. His thumb and index finger slowly rubbed circles on his temples to help bring him back to reality. The memories always seemed like it’d plague him until the day he let out his final breath. He’d turn his head and peer at his dresser. A slightly open pack of cigarettes lay on it beside a lighter among the other mess atop it he never found the motivation to clean. He took the cold lighter in his hand and fiddled with it a moment as he flipped it open and watched the small flame flicker up. How could one small thing cause so much destruction and comfort in his life?

A deep sigh left his lips while he closed it and grabbed the pack and walked out to the fresh air of the late night. The sound of cicadas filled his ears while he pulled out a cigarette and placed it between his lips. He placed the pack into his pocket and lit the end with the now warm lighter. He kept the lighter in hand while his eyes lingered on the smoke that slowly danced from the cigarette. He could feel it linger in his throat as he inhaled the unhealthy habit. It was eating him up inside, just like it once did many years ago on a similar night.

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[dammitadolfnomorecake]

Rage Fire Institution

Building. 26.

Tatsumi kept his word and kept free of the lab up until evening. Maki had told him he didn’t need to be there when he did his next mental training with Poaw, yet he’d let himself get carried away coming up with concept designs for Maki’s mech. The legs had been printed, with the panels cut to standard dimensions for the students to pencil out their modifications on. Once the details were locked in, they’d be shaped to fit the mods then primed before going through the spray booth. Knowing he’d have to take the concept design before the research group, Tatsumi had printed them out. That way once Maki had made his choice, those choices could be laid out before the group and a final paint design agreed upon. He also knew that now mention of print design was brought up, everyone would have ideas on how the mech should look, but ultimately the final decision came down to Maki as he’d be piloting it. If he didn’t like the design, it’d reflect poorly on his synch rates.

Arriving an hour before Maki was due, Tatsumi dumped his backpack off on Poaw’s work bench, pulling out his designs and laying them out as if this were his lab. He’d worked hard on each design, yet when it boiled down to it, his favoured print was the one he’d told Maki about at the warehouse. An inky night black blue with the smallest hint of reflective particles in the mix. Simple was best. With the orange Rage Fire Insignia fitted, the sapphire at the top of the school crest would shimmer the same colour as the particles in the paint. Even if Maki didn’t choose that design, he still wanted the man to see what he’d seen when he’d first looked at the mech for him. Almost nervously he rearranged the print outs, trying to show the progression in design, though he knew Maki would first be drawn to the print out of their two joke designs. Out of fairness he’d included the submissions from their project chat, first separating them out, then deciding it was less nerve wracking to mix them in with his own in case Maki didn’t like any of his.

Seeing her work bench under threat, Poaw came over, leaving her team to finish calibrating the neural network for Maki’s training

“You’re not supposed to be here tonight. A little birdie told me you couldn’t make it. It looks like you’ve been busy”

“Maki called you?”

He knew he was banned from lab for the day, but Tatsumi didn’t think Maki would call ahead like this

“He’s got detention and may be half an hour late. He wanted to make sure he could still come tonight even if you wouldn’t be here”

Part of Tatsumi deflated. He’d been excited and now it seemed as if he were going to be lectured by the pushy alpha

“Cut a guy a break. I’m sure all will be forgiven when he chooses which paint job he wants”

Picking up the design Maki had submitted, Poaw held the picture up next to Tatsumi’s face

“Remind me again, you two are only friends, correct?”

“What’s that got to do with anything?”

“Just you might want to nip it in the bud if you’re leading the kid on. He can’t go piloting a mech that looks just like you”

“I’m not leading the kid on. How can you tell he designed that one?”

“Because the pink pandas simply screams you causing trouble. Well, how are you feeling? You look significantly better than Suzu described. And don’t think I haven’t noticed those new glasses and the way you practically skipped in here”

Tatsumi took offence. He was a grown man and he certainly hadn’t skipped

“You doctor types talk too much”

“Us doctor types have to worry about blockheaded pilots like you. Spill. How did the kid know you’re sick when you’ve been avoiding him?”

No secret or action was safe from the prying eyes of the research wing. Tatsumi taking the printout off the doctor and placing it careful where she’d taken it from

“Maki and Li needed homework help yesterday. He may have caught me feeling faint and overreacted”

Poaw quickly started picking up the print outs one by one, not hiding her curiosity

“He may have done you a favour. Soooo, tell me more”

“There’s nothing to tell. I fucked up, he realised, now I’m making up for it”

Poaw knew how he worked. She knew he struggled and she knew he saw a lot in Maki that others wouldn’t. That didn’t make her right. Maki wasn’t looking at him in any other way but a teacher who could get him what he wanted and Tatsumi wasn’t so deluded he’d believe otherwise. Even if they had gotten closer, Maki would probably quit associating with him once the competition was over. He didn’t begrudge being used, not when he’d brought it on himself, but he did struggle with the wavering line between them. Alone in his room he’d traced his scars, really taking in every detail of the mess. There had to be something missing in the alpha’s head to still want to associate with such a scarred omega.

Poaw placed down the design in her hands, it was the one Tatsumi hoped Maki would choose. Simple but not plain in a bad way. A mech that gave nothing away, much like the personality within Maki

“This one is the best. It suits him perfectly. Tatsumi, he’s a better kid than I thought he’d be. I may not know what Skylark thought about pairing you together, and other than that incident with the suppressants and overworking yourself, you seem better. But don’t push those feelings onto Maki if he doesn’t want to reciprocate them”

“I’m not. I was a shitty babysitter to him. I mean, he has what I can’t have and I pushed that onto him. He worked it out. I guess that’s why they still say alphas are the smart ones”

“So he knows you’re an omega?”

“I told him as much last night. I thought he’d take off running”

“You mean you wanted him to”

“Yeah. Instead he got on my case about resting. Banned me from coming here all day”

Poaw laughed softly, her gaze still on the night sky mech, her fingers tracing the outline as if she were planning how she’d mod it

“I’m glad you found a friend. Someone who will call you out and someone you’ll listen to”

“I kind of owe him at least that. I’m not the best babysitter and we both know I’m a lousy researcher”

“There’s nothing wrong with being better with your hands than your mind. He’s not blackmailing you, is he?”

Tatsumi supposed technically it could be called that given Maki had threatened to tell Skylark on him, but it wasn’t blackmail in the physical sense

“No. I want to see him succeed with my own eyes. And seeing I forced him into all of this, the least I can do is make sure he’s got the tools he needs to survive it”

Poaw sighed heavily at him

“You’re such an idiot. You don’t need to be this hard on yourself now that he knows. You seem to like him, I mean, talking with him. That’s not a bad thing. I can see you two are close from these stupid mech mock ups. The pair of you are far too similar humour wise, it makes me want to map your brains for similarities”

Tatsumi didn’t think the joke with the mech paint was that abnormal… yet as he imagined Maki trying to figure out if he was serious or not, a smile came to his lips

“It is when I find myself telling him shit with no control of my mouth. I knew he’d be mad over a pink mech so I couldn’t help myself. Seriously, I’ve shown him nothing but my bad sides. I want to show him that… that maybe coming back can be something alright?”

Smiling brightly, Poaw started rearranging Tatsumi’s carefully laid out print outs. He wanted to stop her, but the best he could do was wait then change the order back

“And now you’re trying hard to build this friendship. I won’t kick you out. Mental health is important too and I know from looking at these that you took your time to really think about his tastes. I’m thinking simple with the school emblem over the mechs chest where its heart would lay. And another thing, you are no good to him if you’re struggling. If you need more suppressants because he’s an alpha, that may be your body telling you it’s time to find someone. It doesn’t have to be Maki, but open your heart up a little more and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised”

Tatsumi didn’t know why he thought of Maki as Poaw told him to open his heart. He’d opened it enough of late, any more and he was likely to start haemorrhaging out his stupidity. He also didn’t know why his head didn’t like the idea of another alpha. Of being that vulnerable that they’d see his scars. Maki hadn’t run away.

“Tatsumi?”

Tatsumi drew himself together, smoothly lying to cover the ideas that Poaw had put in his head

“Sorry, I was thinking about the emblem now you’ve brought it up. The school may want the school colours on their seeing it’s a mech owned by the institution”

Poaw cast him a skeptical look, yet let the topic drop

“We could go with stripes or bands down the arm. Alternatively we can change the mech’s lighting. Orange and white will stand out against black no matter how we display them”

“Maybe we should put them on the bottom of the mech’s feet? They do think Maki likes to walk all over the school rules”

Poaw rolled her eyes, their banter would have continued if the lab door hadn’t slid open, a slightly red faced and sweaty Maki standing there. Tatsumi blurting out

“What happened to your detention?”

Maki shot a scowl their way, Tatsumi knowing it was entirely meant for him seeing he was somewhere he wasn’t meant to be. The alpha shooting back with

“What happened to you staying out the lab?”

Poaw laughed at the pair of them, earning a scowl from them both

“I’m sorry but he was too excited. Give him anything mech related and he still acts like a child. He rushed right over here to wait for you. He is right though, you did say you had detention”

“Halcial let me go early because of the competition. Tatsumi, you didn’t keep your word, grandpa”

Putting his hands together as if in prayer, Tatsumi gave a small bow

“Forgive me, grandson. This foolish grandpa has some finished mech ideas for you to see”

Maki seemed as if he wanted to be mad, but if he wanted to be mad, then he really shouldn’t have let his eyes light up

“So that’s why you weren’t replying, I didn’t think you’d actually stop altogether”

“I told you I wouldn’t while you were in class. Come have a look. These are all draft designs, naturally you’ll have the final say after the team presents their ideas and then I’ll take it to the principal for approval”

Coming over to join them, Maki groaned as his eyes landed on his joke design

“You can’t let this one go, can you?”

“Not when I’ve been informed the resemblance is canny. Personally, I don’t see what was so wrong with those pandas”

“Is this going to be the penguins all over again? Do I need to get Mina to send you her designs?”

Tatsumi sucked in his lips to stop from laughing. Mina had gushed and gushed over their penguin experience. They all knew it was virtual reality, but the aquarium had done a great job on their tech. The little girl able to pat penguins as much as she liked. Poaw raising an eyebrow

“Mina?”

Given it was Maki’s sister they were talking about, Tatsumi headed her off

“Don’t ask. I may have gotten carried away”

Maki raised his gaze

“More than that. I did some designs too, but… I like this one. I like the feel of it, but what’s with the glitter?”

Tatsumi’s chest grew warm as Maki picked up the design he’d secretly hoped the alpha would love

“It’s very tiny paint particles. The effect would be very slight until your in motion”

“So it’s not glitter?”

“Oh, no. It is in the sense you’re thinking, but it’ll serve to make you just a touch less scary”

“I want them to be terrified. I know I will be. Can we not have glitter?”

“We can paint a swatch of both then decide. Why don’t you show me your designs?”

Poaw cleared her throat to interrupt them

“You two obviously don’t need me butting in here. I’ll finish up calibrations while you two settle on a paint scheme. It might be a little wait as I expected you later”

Maki waved his hand dismissively, Poaw giving Tatsumi an amused look which he returned with a nod and a smile, then turned his attention back to Maki

“We were just saying that the school may wish for us to use the orange and white of the emblem”

Maki frowned at the suggestion, Tatsumi didn’t blame him. Orange always stood out in battle, he knew that already. The alpha asking

“I mean, we could… do you think we still look cool with the school colours? Is this what you saw when we were at the warehouse? You said an inky blue black?”

“Pretty much. I wasn’t sure what shade to go until I was using the simulator. I think we can both agree no boots or glasses”

“And no pink pandas?”

Tatsumi faked a pout. Mina would have loved the pandas. The girls in the crowds probably would have gone crazy for them. With his looks, skill, and a bright pink mech, Maki would have pissed off a hell of a lot of partners showing up like that

“But they suit you so well”

Slyly, Maki through a counter jab

“Says my grandpa, who should have been resting like I told him too”

“I did rest, oh great grandson of mine. Then I remembered I had nothing to do”

“You could have slept. What about your eyes? Too much screen time isn’t good for you”

Maki was making mountains out of molehills. There was only so much time a man could be left alone with his own thoughts

“I’ll have you know I have new glasses, they were delivered this morning, and that I didn’t bother getting dressed and ready for the day until after I had breakfast”

“Touché. Still, you spent so much time on this”

“Of course I did. We can’t have your mech going out with any old paint job. A paint job needs to suit the pilots taste, most have flares of the owners style on the battlefield”

“Did yours?”

Tatsumi thought of his mech in his lab. He definitely did… a special paint job forced on him by the team

“Yes. And I’d never swap it for anything. It was gifted on me as a joke, yet I’d rather die than see it erased”

“That’s some pretty heavy shit right there”

“It’s true. Plus, your synch rate will fall if you’re piloting a mech you dislike. You’ll find a lot of proud soldiers happy to talk about their paint jobs. It becomes part of your identity, and those around you will be able to recognise you straight away. That’s why the government is more lenient on paint jobs provided they aren’t overly gaudy and obnoxious”

“Damn, no glasses then. I don’t think I liked them all that much anyway. I do like this one. Can we try working out how to work in the school colours in case there’s an objection”

“Of course. We also need to consult the others about the choice, though I can’t see it being too much of a problem if you go for a darker look. It’ll be pretty bad arse”

Maki stared at him for a good moment before snorting

“You just reminded me how much older you are. I didn’t think you’d be saying something’s bad arse”

“Take pity on this grandpa, it’s hard being old and past my prime”

“You’re hardly past your prime. Your designs are better than mine”

Tatsumi wanted to beam with happiness, but he couldn’t. Maki would have worked on his own designs just as hard. He wouldn’t let him choose his without taking what the alpha had come up with and completing ignoring it

“You haven’t shown me yet, sit down and we’ll work on your mech together”

***

By the time he and Tatsumi had drafted up designs including the school colours, Maki was excited. He could see his mech clearly in his head, and Tatsumi could show him how it should look provided that they didn’t mod the mods any further. His mech was a beast. Inky black, with touches of sapphire blue in the paint. Sure, the school designs were passable, opting for the colours to be on the arms or legs rather than the bulk of the mech, but it was still the coolest looking mech he’d ever seen. Tatsumi had assured him that the paint job was completely customisable and he’d print those samples he’d mentioned, but Maki honestly didn’t care. His mech was beastly and sure to strike fear into those in the competition.

Lying on the examination bed, it was tilted up at a 45 degree angle. Wires and monitors lead from the helmet that would both map his brain and generate the world he’d find himself in. In his hands were the dummy controllers that’d give him a sense of actually being in a mech, and steps sat beneath his feet to project walking. For their own safety, Poaw, her team, and Tatsumi stood behind a glass shield. Yes, he was mad that Tatsumi had shown up after promising to rest, but the man had spent the whole day in his room working on designs, so he couldn’t be too mad about that.

“Maki, we’ll begin synchronisation now. Tell us immediately if you’re experiencing anything abnormal”

With his new mech’s badarse paint job officially decided upon, his mental training now was focusing on the vastly different feels between an Erebus and a TC. An Erebus had a far more sophisticated system which would only get harder once all the mods were in place

“Understood”

Taking several deep breaths, Maki opened his eyes to find himself in the projected cockpit. He didn’t like the lacking walls around him, it gave him too much space to breathe, and though he’d never thought he’d see the day, he kind of missed the smell of sweat seeing the cleanliness of the air was too pure.

“That’s good Maki. We’ll hold here for a minute before proceeding”

Poaw said that last time, Maki figured it was to simulate booting time in a real mech. On his screen numbers sat level, his synch rate sitting at 86 percent even though he thought it’d be higher. Remembering that Poaw had told him he had to confirm everything he heard, he replied

“Alright. Things seem fine”

“Good, good. Reading are good too. You’re doing great”

“Tell grandpa he better be sitting down by now. He’ll wear out those old legs of his”

Tatsumi’s voice came through the projected cockpit

“Focus on what you’re doing. This is serious now”

“Alright already, sheesh, you research times do like to nag”

“Says the man labelling himself as my grandson”

“How else was I going to get you to listen?”

“I always listen. Now focus, Poaw’s going to start increasing the loading. Keep your breathing calm”

Maki would have ducked his head if he could. Tatsumi was scolding him in front of everyone. He couldn’t rely on Tatsumi once he got into the competition arena. Focusing on breathing was boring, so instead he moved to use the mechs screen, looking for the input stats so he could watch the loading as it grew. He’d meant to do that the last time, but thought himself clever for remembering to do so this time given it was only his third time in.

“Don’t focus on your stats. We’ll be monitoring them”

Maki would have elbowed Tatsumi if he could have

“Stop talking, if I want to know my stats, I’ll look at them”

“Stats aren’t everything”

“Then you come sit in this contraption and tell me you’re not curious”

Vaguely he could hear Poaw telling Tatsumi to shut up, then her voice came through

“Right. Beginning mental loading in 30 seconds”

Maki watched the numbers climb then steady out. He truly felt as if he’d do better in a real mech, but everyone was acting cautiously and he supposed mechs were kind of expensive. Holding himself back was hard seeing he was so used to Andes making him move, and had grown used to facing Tatsumi where stopping to analyse led to action. As his numbers started to dip, Poaw’s voice came through, causing him to jump slightly

“We’ll end it here today. You achieved 76% loading, but you’re showing signs of distress in your vitals. We’ll start reducing the strain now. Don’t move until the projection ends”

Obediently waiting, Maki followed orders. Staying completely still until the screen went black and the headset was raised. The alpha didn’t realise he was panting for breath until Poaw was beside him, checking his vision with a light pen

“Good. You were doing good. Catch your breath. 35 minutes at 76 percent is good”

It hadn’t felt 35 minutes. It felt longer and shorter at the same time. Looking down, he realised he was sweating up a storm inside his pilot suit. Everything felt horribly hot and soggy, much like his brain from keeping control

“Maki? Are you with us?”

Maki nodded at Poaw’s question

“I don’t know how I made 35 minutes”

“You held steady for the first 25, before starting to dip. You initial synch rate did have us worried, yet you evened out so instead of raising it higher we kept it even to see how long you could maintain that level. When you get back to your dorm, ask your fellow students to monitor any symptoms. With the change in your suppressants your body is adjusting to a lot. Don’t be too disheartened”

Maki would not be asking them for help. He was sure it would end as disastrously as when he’d tried asking them for advice the previous night. The alpha felt disappointed in himself for not being able to take on a larger load, if he ignored the boot time, adjustment period, and the end time, he’d only lasted roughly 20 minutes. He needed better times if he wanted to win the competition

“I understand”

“Good, you can come off the bed now. I’ll check your vitals once you’ve calmed back down”

With legs of jelly, Maki wobbled his way across to sit next to Tatsumi who waited with a bottle of water and a towel, both appreciated in his state. With how Poaw had praised him, he felt embarrassed, especially when Tatsumi gave a small cough to indicate he had something to say

“What do you feel went wrong?”

No words of praise? Actually, Maki liked it better than Tatsumi hadn’t praised him

“It’s weird. Being exposed is nothing like being in a mech. Even the cocoons we use feel more like being in a mech than that does”

“So you think you’d do better in an actual mech?”

Maki opened his water, gulping down the contents as if he’d never had a drink before in his life. Draining the bottle, he accidentally slammed it down when he was done, explaining

“Basically. It doesn’t feel enough like a mech so I can’t keep focus as I should be, but I’m sure I’ll get it. I have to. I won’t let anyone down”

Reaching out, Tatsumi ruffled Maki’s sweat damp hair

“If you say you can do it, then I believe it. Your rate will always be messed up by unusual conditions. We had to keep the area free seeing your an alpha taking on such a large mental load. If you had lost control we have an easier time sedating you sitting up like that rather than trying to bring you down in a mech”

Taking Tatsumi by the wrist, Maki pulled him off him. He wasn’t sure if he wasn’t meant to be comforted by the fact the team didn’t want him being hurt inside a mech where he could seriously risk death, or upset that the team thought it might happen. Unable to stop himself, he snapped

“I told you I’d get it! It’s not like I’m not trying!”

Throwing back Tatsumi’s arm, Maki’s eyes widened in horror at what he’d done. Tatsumi keeping his balance and barely affected, but Maki was. He’d used enough force on the man that a normal person would have lost their balance. His words fell over each other as he asked

“Shit. Fuck. Are you okay? What the hell was that?”

Taking his wrist into his left hand, Tatsumi rubbed at it lightly

“No damage done. You’re agitated from the mental loading and I shouldn’t have touched an alpha so casually straight after”

That didn’t mean shit. He wasn’t meant to hurt people who didn’t deserve it and he didn’t get why he was so angry

“But you were trying to be nice. Like, what the hell?”

“Instincts. Those stupid traits still simmering in our blood. Your body feels stressed and your brain is still running hot. It didn’t hurt”

“It doesn’t matter if it did or didn’t. Maybe I do need sedating?”

“I wouldn’t have lived so long if a small incident like this meant anything. You’re fine. Wiped yourself down and focus your breathing. In through the nose slowly and out through your mouth”

“I know how to damn well breathe!”

Tatsumi had the nerve to smile, Maki giving a miserable groan. His mouth was going to get him into trouble and didn’t like it

“Don’t let it get to you. Young alphas are supposed to be broody and ill tempered”

The alpha didn’t want to hear it. Being an alpha was no excuse for being an arsehole

“I’m not that much younger than you and I went on suppressants to avoid this shit right here”

“It’s fine. Look, all this means is we should adjust training sooner rather than later. You became distressed because you felt restless. You felt restless because though submerged, you still couldn’t stop noticing the glaring fact you weren’t in a mech. These results aren’t bad, they just say we change method sooner than later”

Maki sighed heavily as he slumped back feeling disheartened. They didn’t want to put him in a mech but he couldn’t get his shit together enough not to be. He needed to be better than this, and in a hurry or he’d never be ready for the competition

“We don’t have time for this”

“We do if… if I show you something. Poaw, can I borrow Maki once you’re done with him?”

Poaw called back across the lab

“You can take him after I’ve given him another check. Make sure he goes back to his dorm room and rests”

That was all Maki wanted to do. He wanted to keep him and his bad mood to himself, not be dragged around and made to feel better about failing. Maki rejecting the offer

“Not tonight. I don’t think my pride can take anything else and I don’t want to say anything I can’t take back”

“Alright. I suppose it may be a bit too much for you right now. I’ll take you back once you’ve been tested again”

Despite being calm, Tatsumi seemed disappointed. He never knew what was going on in the fellow alpha’s head, or why he’d want to go cheering him up after probably giving the man a good laugh at how pathetic he was as a pilot. He’d been the one to say he could do this, and now they were all telling him he couldn’t. His pride was wounded. Sure, they all knew he was a second year student, but Tatsumi should have known better than to come at him with whatever it was

“Maki, it’s alright. This is only your third session”

“And how many more do you need to see me fail?!”

There went his temper again. Standing up, Tatsumi wrapped his arms around him

“It’s not a failure. You’d be dead if you failed, or even worse, in a vegetative state where all we could do was liquidate your organs. I’ll get your things ready, take a shower when you’re back at your dorm. It’ll still be within curfew”

“I can shower here, it’s all the same”

“The same for you, not for them. Your alpha’s showing more than you think. Go easy on us, will you?”

Maki didn’t get it until Tatsumi released him and he saw a noticeable outline in his crotch. There was being worked up, and “being worked up”, an absolutely ridiculous state for a trainee to be in front of everyone. Sliding the towel down, Tatsumi covered his lap before sitting back on his own stool, leaving Maki angry with the mortification of being sprung. His cheeks red as he hissed in a whisper

“Not a word”

“I wasn’t intending on it. Besides, you’re not the only one with one here. I do know how these things work, you know”

“And yet you’re still running your mouth. Piss off already, pervert”

Tatsumi snorted, making a show of turning away as he did, then getting back off the stool on the opposite side

“Right. You stay there, I’ll get your things together”

Maki had a right mind to smack the Professor one for being straight out embarrassing, but supposed technically he’d been spared being seen by Poaw this way thanks to the towel. His stupid dick had gone and betrayed him, and now that he thought about it, Tatsumi’s warmth hadn’t helped things down there. It’d been so long, probably too long, since he’d taken matters into his own hands and now his goddamn babysitter would know exactly what he was getting up to later that night. This was all Tatsumi’s fault.

[nicawlette]

RELATIONSHIP BUILDING

@nobully asked: the good kind of spam ⭐️☎🎼👋📱

Send ⭐️ (or multiple) for a headcanons about our muses.

Perhaps the only reason Nicolette still insists on putting up a front and telling unnecessary lies in Wang Yi's presence despite knowing how similar they are is not because she's afraid he'll reject her if he knows too much, but that he won't. She's spent her whole life believing there'd always be a space between her and ❛ regular people ❜ she couldn't cross because of the things she's done, that she's long given up actively trying. But here's this person who's similar to her in many ways and can clearly see past her bullshit, yet doesn't seem to give a shit one way or another. Nicolette has no idea how to handle the idea of being SEEN ( being KNOWN ), that it both terrifies her, and makes her a little desperate not to be left behind. No wonder she tries so hard to get under his skin still.

Jumping off your HC, Nicolette has a sneaking suspicion already that Wang Yi follows her accounts. She can't prove it because there's too many followers to go through and he doesn't use his name, but she just knows in her BONES. She's made it a point to include more pictures and posts involving the trio that sometimes they nearly overtake her usual content ( fashion, sexy selfies, makeup, cute animals, ya know ). Some of her followers are a little bitter wondering who these 2 guys she's hanging out with all the time are, but who cares! She's clearly having fun.

Send ☎ for your muse’s info in my muses phone (name, ringtone, picture, last text received/sent).

photo: At one point, it was a photo she took quite suddenly after intentionally goading him until he looked pissed off and flustered. But it has since been changed to a picture she took in secret on a complete whim while he and @archaictold were being nerds and discussing their research at the library as she hung out in thee background ( until they were ready to pay attention to her ). He's got this earnest, almost excited expression on his face— a more sincere look of happiness than she's sure he'd ever direct her way. She just couldn't resist capturing for herself. name: 🌊Yi-Yi🌸 ringtone: pink venom ( she rarely uses default ringtones. prefers music or memes as ringtones/texttones )

last texts received: [txt] what's with the missed call?? [txt] that voicemail was creepy too... [txt] nicolette what did you do? [txt] you know what. nevermind. i don't want to be involved.

last texts sent: [txt] are you in the right headspace to receive information that could possibly hurt you? [txt] lanlan said i should try speaking to you in a language ur familiar with [txt] so i found the perfect video to intellectually express my predicament [txt] (video link) [txt] translation: i found out. pls help

Send 🎼 for a song that reminds me of our muses.

Palm Reader » DREAMERS, Big Boi ft. UPSAHL

This Hell » Rina Sawayama

BlindLife » YDE

Send 👋 for three things that describe our muses relationship.

Sitting so close to a burning fire that the heat is nearly painful on your skin, but being unwilling to step back because the air around you is far too cold.

The fear of being alone and afraid of monsters that lurk in the dark paired with the unexplainable sense of safety and protection you feel once you're completely covered under the blanket. Like it's dangerous, but nothing can get you under there...

A funhouse mirror

Send📱for a voicemail my muse left yours.

1 Voicemail — Saturday, 3:25AM

There's a long pause after the beep followed by some aggressive shuffling and then an out of breath, ❝ Hello? Wangy? Can you— ❞ The voice suddenly cuts off with more shuffling and some muffled shouting in the background. The wind is loud, nearly blowing the speaker out as if the caller is running outside. ❝ Oh for the love of— ❞ The sound of a scuffle can be heard and a string of expletives before a loud crashing noise. Silence. And finally, ❝ Hey Wangy... can you come pick me up? ❞

[firedragon1321]

Based on the picture, I'm gonna assume you mean Movie 1 Mew. Though I will add factoids from other media that I find plausible for this Mew.

Dub Mew- as other people pointed out- is too cutesy and easily distracted. It is driven by the belief in strength and goodness. Which would make it naturally oppose Kira. But I'm not sure it would be able to make difficult choices if need be, such as killing him.

But in the uncut Japanese version, Mew is a monster.

(This propaganda gets long- I have a Pokemon obsession.)

The original Mew wanted Mewtwo's clones dead just for existing. It believed the original Pokemon would never lose to copies, asserting its superiority over Mewtwo itself. It was willing to fight to the death to support these views.

One interpretation of this clone discrimination is a belief that the natural world is superior. The deaths Kira inflicts are not natural. Right off the bat, Mew has a motive to fight Kira.

Ryuk might be able to see through these tricks, but there's a good chance he'd find Kira's defeat at the paws of a cute pink kitty too entertaining to interfere. I know little about Death Note, but I know Ryuk's primary motivation is lolz. I think Mew's outward appearance has that covered.

Mew only knows three moves- Teleport, Psychic and Barrier. None of them are useful for finding Kira. But Mew can also learn Transform to hide as other beings, including potentially humans as seen with the Ditto Five in Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon. As Mew's fourth move is not known, it could easily be this one.

Mew is also so elusive in general that it can be right outside a window and get ignored. This gives it the stealth required to hunt down Kira. It's only a matter of time.

But would Mew survive? In a face to face encounter, Mew could simply use Psychic a few times to kill Kira, or at least stun him to the point he can be easily arrested. Also- as previously mentioned- it will fight to the death for its beliefs.

It could also use Teleport to avoid conventional weapons, or Barrier to deflect them. Throwing a nearby knife at Mew is bound to end in failure. If it was angry enough, it could copy a strong Pokemon and use a move such as Fire Blast, leaving no body behind.

However, it would be easy for Kira to write Mew's name in the Death Note. In Japanese, it's only three simple characters.

But the real question would be "does Kira have access to Mew's name?". In crossover situations, I assume that the characters don't know each other by default. Mew solves its end of that conundrum simply via observation and overhearing rumors about Kira. But what about Kira himself?

Well, there are no references to Pokemon in Death Note in any form. I did not count parodies as Mew would have a different design and name. Since Pokemon does not exist in Death Note's universe, Kira has no innate way to figure out Mew's name.

From what quick research I did on Shinigami Eyes, that ability would be Kira's only hope. Assuming he has someone with that ability currently with him, such as Misa. But Mew's stealth, transformations, and small size mean it can easily encounter Kira when he is alone.

TL;DR- If the Shinigami Eyes are used, Kira has a chance, but he better write those three characters fast. In all other cases, he's pretty much screwed.

[vinnival]

*breaks into your inbox* DING DONG *clears throat*, so I had an reader insert idea for da madcom main trio boys. Their s/o uses quemical weapons against enemies, like gas bombs and poison bullets (much like Viper from Valorant), how would they react to them? Thx for reading, your writing is absolutely amazing! (sorry abt any english mistakes, it isn't my main language) ~🦉anon

CHEMICAL WEAPONS

yes

Hank

person's just tryna go about their day when bam! Whizz, whizz- two bullets fly by and leave their bandana tail ends whizzing by from the force

So of course they turn around, only to see you; the newest SQ recruit, still keeping an eye through your scope as your bullets pierced the enemies

Now normally they wouldn't care about who your shooting at as long as it isn't himself, but the particularly sharp, pained screams of the enemies piqued his interest, to say the least

You were pulling your head back with a satisfied smirk as Hank look back towards the two agents you shot easily, to see them writing on the ground and scratching at the bullet holes that held the bullets lodged in their body

Yes, poison bullets

They were screaming bloody murder, begging for the Maker to give them mercy, or screeching out how badly it burns

When they look back towards you, you brush past them in a wide berth- you still are cautious of Wimbleton, after all- and personally end their suffering with regular bullets now.

And needless to say, since then...

he was interested.

Ever since then, he tends to fall behind in group missions involving you just to see what weapons and attack methods you use each time

They think your creativity with the poisonous/chemical weapons is very unique, and a lot more creative than San or Dei's simple tactics.

You begin to notice their interest in you! And so you (foolishly) begin to fight relatively alongside Wimbleton. Really, reader? Why would you do that? Smh smh smh

Luckily they find you too interesting to kill so they let you off the hook with beign around them a lot more

There's a lot of unspoken communication between you two

Just uh don't get annoyed when they suddenly grab a weapon from your current inventory for their own usage

(It will happen a lot)

After enough time, you two exchange words here and there, idly chatting about your weapons, or discussing the next possible mission(s) that you two may get from 2B

As long as you don't like, purposefully try to get on their bad side, it's good, you'll be fine

Yknow after enough time they just fuckin realize they've fallen HARD for you, not just your method of kill

And gosh they are so impressed with you in general like. Yes this is another killing machine like me that I Respect. Hank Sticker Of Approval

Deimos

So, like, you know how certain gases n elements n shit can change the color of fire?

Oh yeah

Oh yeah babey

OH HELL YEAH

Teamwork 110%, Dei immediately befriends you, and cannot stop talking about how cool you are

"SO LIKE... how do fireworks happen? I NEED'A know, toots, this is URGENT-"

He will let you rant on n on about chemistry, chemicals, etc

He thinks the way you attack is cool! Especially when the mustard gas is a vibrant pink! Woaw

He like immediately asks you out after you two start going from simple sitting on the couch together to straight up cuddling like wh when did this happen huh whuh ohp

He's just straight up bragging about you like "YES this is my s/o my BELOVED they will KILL YOU with funny liquid"

deimos "have you ever heard of hydrochloric acid" ( he doesn't have a last name )

He so very much supports your fuckery with acids n stuff, and probably would do the obligatory mad scientist cackle when you make a new reaction that you've been researching

(remember kids do not mix chemicals you don't know the reaction of)

(you had to furiously convince dei out of doing this)

Why Do You Have Mercury Oh No

At least you keep it in a safe container and use it for desperate measures

You mightve maybe accidentally probably most likely.... made dissonance once?

You shut that down REAL quick tho dw lol

Needless to say it gave both you and Deimos a heart attack when you two accidentally spilled chemical X into the mixture or something and out poofed some fucking artificial grape juice shit

💀

💀

Sanford

Omg explosives likers 🤝

Needless to say San was definitely flirting with you right off the bat bc of your similar interests

You two work well a lot! I hc that Sanford is basically madcom MacGyver, able to make just about anything into a bomb of some sorts.

So, that, being paired with the chemical nerd you are?

🤝

He's very supportive of you <3 throws compliments whenever you decimate using a flashbang that spewed smoke to temporarily blind for even longer than before!

Plus more of course

Takes a lot of pride in how you know how to stand up for yourself

Not that he would be opposed to saving his joyfriend-in-distress B)

If you have a lab (probably do), he'd sit there with you as you work, and attentively listens as you explain the collision theory to him, how catalysts work, your favorite element in the periodic table, etc., etc..

He's honestly just happy you're so passionate about chemistry to the point of using it in battle; which is extremely unique! He loves it! And loves you <3

HELLO anon. you speak good english