#being a dad broke his sleep record

[writingsbymo-mo]

The one thing Ran will miss as a dad: sleep...any kind of sleep

He loves his kids...but also sleep....

Has Rindou watch them when he really needs that nap in on occasion and doesn't wake up for two days worrying the shit out of his little brother and the kids...he makes up for it in the end, spending all of his time with them and taking off work

Rindou had to explain to them the many times their dad would sleep for hours on end and the one time he slept for a whole day straight. Even the dreaded time he woke him up...

[tokkiwrites]

ㅤ𔓕ㅤㅤꪆৎㅤ𓈒ㅤ THREE'S A CROWD ＼ ㅤ♰ ㅤ⊹ㅤ ︵

Santiago 'Pope' Garcia x f!reader x Francisco 'Catfish' Morales

summary: your dad befriended some nice customers from his bar. fast-forward a year, they're all you can think about.

tags: pwp honestly, threesome mfm (YEEPPEEE) dbf! Santiago & Frankie, afab!reader w she/her pronouns, age gap, pet names (lots!!), Santiago has a thing with you being 'pure', virginity loss, reader is literally horny 24/7, doms! santi and frankie, sub! reader, rougher santi and softer frankie ig, dirty talk, slapping, spit (for like a sentence), choking, hair pulling, double penetration (in the same hole), head m receiving, voyeurism, unprotected p in v (wrap your dingaling!!), masturbating in the mirror for like a bit, lmk if i missed anything!!

ㅤ↪ㅤtokki's ۫ 𐑺 𝚜𝚞ׂ𝚐𝚊𝚛 ࣭ note ˑ ⌕ ࣭ ּ ➭ ive been on an oscar isaac rush for the past few weeks, and i had to. first time writing ab a threesome...sooo. im trying to write in different ways, so if it all seems jittery, apologies!!! this has like 3.6k words. its not proofread!! I TRIED MY BEST :( enjoy !!

'i need it.' was becoming like a mantra for you now. every day, needy for touches and attention, those dirty reflections that never left your mind.

of course, you've done things with boys. well, one boy, your boyfriend, and those things being your average makeout sessions and hand jobs, nothing more. you knew what sex was, of course, but the urge to experience the rougher side of it was overflowing by the day. and you know these wishes started appearing and consuming as soon as your dad befriended two customers from the bar you help him run, Santiago and Frankie. One year ago, you saw them only three times, maybe four in the span of 3 months, but their visits were more and more frequent and well, that's how their friendship started.

At first you were skeptical, unsure of their means, but you missed seeing your dad so happy and when you got to know them you realized they were good. What mattered was your dad being less lonely.

all though, that kind of changed eight months ago when, in the dead of july, you witnessed them helping your dad building a small summerhouse in your backyard. There's nothing wrong with that. Just seeing them both sweaty, with muscles bulging and hands dirty, woke something inside of you. and the fact that you broke up with your first boyfriend ever, that you were together with since 17, didn’t quite help.

So yeah, you were happy for your dad, but hated that you had to see them almost everyday and in turn sit hours on end with soaked panties on and, like a broken record, playing fantasies in your mind of these older men doing as they please with you. and you don't know why these thoughts plagued your mind just now, at the age of 21, but it was getting in the way of every aspect of your life, these wild things making you want to live inside your fantasy world and never wake up.

Today was no different: another late night at the bar. your dad went home early to catch some sleep since tomorrow he'll have to leave for three days to help his brother, your uncle, move into his new home. That's fine. What's getting you is him assigning his friends to 'keep an eye on you' like you're some sort of child. but, somehow, you can get over that. What you can't get over is how are you going to survive three whole days being just in their presence? when your dad's here, it's different. You don't need to spend that much time in their proximity, but this? you'll have to lock yourself in your room to keep those thoughts at bay.

you we're getting lost within your mind again.

what if you were to tell them about these thoughts? not that they're about them, just... you know, boy advice?

that's insane. and stupid.

would they accept should you propose you three entangled in some...activities? they'd for sure disagree- you were their friend's daughter, and whilst they didn't know you for that long it for sure didn't sound right.

what if they agree, though? one night. one night for all of your dreams to become reality..but you couldn't live after that knowing what you'd be missing forever. they'd leave after. what if you'd beg for them to stay, to have them do things even more carnal to you? if you begged maybe and gave your freedom to them.

These kinds of thoughts cloud your mind every day, and now, they are making you forget about the real world, where you were supposed to serve Santiago a glass of whiskey. as the sound of a low chuckle pulls you out of your trance, you feel liquid pooling around your palm that was settled on the bar. and when it finally awakes you, your eyes meet him again. your heart jolts, and it gets you lightheaded again.

"Oh, I'm- god, I'm so sorry Mr.Garcia...I don't know what happenedㅡ" You panic, wiping hurriedly the bar, prompting yet another laugh from the man. " 's fine, doll, don't worry. all though... your dad might turn into the reincarnation of Lucifer if he sees how much whiskey you wasted." he leans over for some tissues, wanting to help you.

"No, it's fine, I'll do it-" you smile shyly, placing your hand on top of his to stop him from moving, this in turn made him tilt his head up only a little, which awarded him with a quick glance at your barely exposed cleavage.

'untouched.' he thought to himself.

"I won't say anything if you don't." your ears pick up his voice, and for a moment, you forgot about what he was talking about. "Oh, yeah, I'm not gonna...say anything." Your lips curl into a shy smile. " Hurry and clean this up. I'm gonna take you home since you gotta close anyway."

oh, lord.

"no, that's fine. I can walk-"

"said I'll take you home." you breathe out a quiet 'oh, my god' because you're sure you've just had an orgasm from his voice only.

"See, I know you have manners ‘cause your dad taught you to listen to your elders, seems I just gotta get a little stern with you, huh?" you shake your head, not sure what to make of what he just said, but you finish up cleaning as the door opens to reveal Frankie. "why're you still here, man?" he inquired as he took off his baseball cap to arrange his perfectly curly hair better.

you can't possibly be serious.

"on duty." he laughs and points towards you. "Ah."

"You know... my dad hasn't left yet, so you're not 'on duty' as far as I know. Also, he said to keep an eye on me. Not be my bodyguards!" You try to scold them in a way. At the end of the day, you are an adult, right? "Easy miss." Frankie puts his hands up."I just arrived.”

"Yeah, well I am leaving. Alone! So please-" you move your hands as a signal for them to leave. "Excuse us for ever bothering you, miss. May we at least stay here until you close?” Santiago sarcastically banters. "I guess.." You shrug, finishing washing your hands and putting the glasses away.

you hate how much you like them. and how much you want them to ravage you. if possible, you'd let them both take you right there on the bar counter, whilst potential passers-by saw you get fucked into oblivion.

9AM, your dad left, and you can't seem to fall back asleep. the bar will be closed for these these days, so you have nothing to do except steep into your own boredom. You decide to make yourself a cup of coffee and grab a book from the shelf. With your coffee in hand, you head out to the backyard, where you settle into a comfortable chair. As you sip your coffee and immerse yourself in the pages of the book, you find solace in the gentle breeze and the sounds of nature around you, embracing the quiet moments of the morning.

this works for a while, but there's an inexplicable itch you want to scratch. with a loud whine that scares some little birds away, you head back inside to find other things to do. "Please, i can't keep on thinking about them. What is wrong with me?" You scream whisper at yourself whilst looking in the mirror places in your hallway, "like..genuinely!"

as you stare a bit more into the mirror, your hands make their way up your torso and to your breasts, nipping at your lower lip as you can't seem to ignore the warmth from between your thighs. you start imagining both of them having their way with you, forcing you to watch yourself in the mirror as they pumped your holes full of their come. touching yourself more, light fingers make their way under the shorts you were wearing, finally catching a feel of how wet you are. you moan, knees buckling as you picture both men marking you as theirs in all ways. "p-please.. Santi, Frankieㅡ"

"my, what do we have here, huh?" your eyes open wide, and still in your pants and palm still over your sensitive nipple, as two other reflections in the mirror stare back at you. "Mr.Garcia, Mr.Moralesㅡ"

"Cut the shit, doll. I think we're way past that." he motions loosely towards the indecent position you were in. "You're lucky it was us and not your dad. '' Frankie states. "I'm so sorry, I don't even..I can'tㅡ" you stutter and turn around slowly to face them, arms now falling to your sides.

"You want us?" Frankie asks you in the most serious tone you've heard him. "I- what? Huh?" you're left speechless by this sudden interrogation.

"Do you want us to fuck you, doll?" Santiago reiterated. But you stayed quiet, head low, too embarrassed to admit your true intentions. was it wrong? certainly. but was it the only thing you've dreamed about since you first saw them? Of course.

"Why don't you answer? You act like a little slut and yetㅡ" He steps closer and Frankie soon follows. "You're too shy all of a sudden? We were the ones who walked in on you, you know? touching yourself in front of the mirror like a dirty whore, huh? what would your dad say, baby?" he taunts you whilst Frankie reaches his strong grip and tilts your head up to look them in the eyes. "You didn't answer the question, sweet girl."

it takes a few seconds, but you muster up a hushed 'yes', causing them to smirk. "Show us, baby. C'mon, tell us how bad you want it." Dizzy and drunk on arousal, you succumbed to their touch, kneeling at their feet and looking up, pleading with tearful eyes in a silent entreaty to do as they please with you. but they don't budge. They wait patiently for you to show them how desperate you can get. it all overflows you, the cold floor in contact with your knees, their scent, your rugged breaths. "Please, I want- need it. I need you...so bad. need you toㅡ use me" you rub your thighs together. "Please..?"

"for how long, baby, hm? since we first met? 'cause i know I've wanted to bend you over from the first moment I laid my eyes on the pretty thing you are." Frankie admits. " knew you had nothing else in this pretty head of yours, sweetheart. " Santiago laughs as he shoves your head lightly with his finger, causing you to whimper. "just wanna be fucked stupid, right? be our stupid, little fuck doll? that what you want?" and you nod in response, it takes you all of your power to not cry from how bad you want to feel them right now. "Ever done something like this?" and you shake your head no. "Shit. You poor little thing." he was right about you. He can feel his dick twitching at the thought of having you all splayed out, so innocent and untouched.

"We'll take care of you. But...we can't promise to be too gentle. All though I don't think “gentle” is what you want." Your eyes glimmer, and your head spins. Did you hear that right? Is this really happening, or are you having the most beautiful dream, and when you wake up, you'll be sorrowful for days?

They instruct you to get undressed, clothes falling to the floor as they force you to crawl onto the couch all whilst they watch, fully clothed. getting closer to you, their calloused hands explore each part of your warm body as trails of kisses leave you hanging onto them. "gonna ruin you, baby, you know that, yeah?" of course you know. you've been yearning for this moment for almost a year.

they proceed to get naked, Santiago positioning himself in front of you and Frankie a little to your side. You couldn't believe it. This was so much more than you imagined; they were both long and girthy, with Frankie being a little more veiny than Santiagoㅡ a sight that made you drool. this will forever be imprinted into your brain.

"You look like a dumb puppy staring like that." Frankie snorts. "Haven't seen a cock before?" he's getting cockier with his remarks, as he urges you to respond. "Yes, but.. n-ot soㅡ big.." your cheeks grow red as you see Santiago's dick jump from your words. "Stroking my ego like that baby... how 'bout you stroke my cock instead, hm? can you do that for me?" anything. you were willing to do it all for them, make them so proud, they'd never want to leave.

your shaky hands wrap, barely, around both their lengths, as you stare up at them whilst standing straight so your boobs are on full display for them to eat up with their hungry eyes. you do it slow, unsure if you're doing it good, licking some of the precum from their slits from time to time, swirling your tongue around eachㅡ putting on a show. "You've done your homework, huh? Do it a little too well for a virgin."

"c'mon, hands and knees, I wanna fuck this pretty mouth of yours." Santiago pushes you back as Frankie strokes himself. "Pretty thing" he says as two digits trail down your back and help you position yourself better onto the couch. Frankie finally places himself behind you, teasingly playing with your folds, letting out a soft 'fuck' whilst feeling how wet you were. "Stretched yourself out for use before we came, right, sweet girl? You want me to help you out a little moreㅡ?"

"Noㅡ! Please.." you eagerly interrupt. "You cockslut. Haven't had an eager little thing like you since I was in college." He laughs as he positions his length in line with your hot entrance, leaving kisses down your back he slips inside slowly, and you choke out a cry, eyes brimming with tears as a sting pangs through your whole body. "sh, sh..I know, baby. I know." Whispering gently, Santiago pulls himself down and cups your face, leaning in to kiss you. As your lips finally met, time stood still, the world faded away, and all that remained was the electrifying sensation of something within you igniting. It was a moment painted with the hues of passion and longing, a symphony of emotions echoing through your soul.

He breaks the kiss and smiles down at you as the pain slowly fades away and is replaced by pure pleasure. pulling away, he levels himself and taps on your chin for you to open your mouth. Santiago hisses, tugging harder at your hair as a response to your warm tongue enveloping the tip of his dick. "shit, baby, open up for meㅡ thaat's it. good girl."

shuddering in anticipation, you part your lips further, allowing him to push deeper inside. you were already a mess- drool dripping down your chin as he fucked your mouth like there was no tomorrow, tears that stained your cheeks as he pushed your head lower; muffled moans, how you were gagging around his length, pure music for both of them to listen to.

"look so pretty, baby, mouth stuffed with cock.." you stare up at him through wet lashes as he lands a slap to your right cheek.

At your other end, Frankie was cautiously moving back and forth, not wanting to succumb to the tightness of your wet cunt that almost sent him over the edge just as he put the tip in. "so fuckin' tight, baby. fuuck-" he groans as he hits a few hard strokes, your back arching against him and fingers digging into Santiago's hips. "you hear that?" Frankie asks, moving himself deep into your hot core, letting you catch the lewd and wet noises your cunt made wrapped around him. "she's so wet for us, isn't she? poor pussy.." you pathetically whine, as Santiago pulls your head back by your hair, making you stare straight into his darkened eyes. "don't go shy on us now, doll." he laughs, delivering another sharp slap to your already heated cheek. "you wanted to be a little slut and we're gonna treat you like one, soㅡ" he tuts, thrusting into your throat before he continues, "so, really, you should thank us." Santiago pulls away, leaving your needy mouth wide open, as if asking for his shaft in a desperate plea. Frankie firmly places his rough palms onto your ass before taking his length out and you cry at the sudden lack of them inside of you. "Go ahead," he adds. "Thank us, baby, c'mon."

you lick your lips, feeling yourself dripping down onto the mattress under you, too cock drunk and embarrassed to say anything. Santiago sighs, giving your cheek a few light slaps as his other palm slides down to wrap around your throat. you gasp, the feeling so new yet it felt like something you'd been missing for so long. "i didn't take you as the ungrateful type, little angel." he coos, as Frankie reaches under to cup your breasts into his hands. "are you an ungrateful little whore?" taunting you. " 'm n-ot.." you gasp, the lack of blood flow to your brain keeping you on the edge. "you're sure acting like one." the one at the forefront proceeds, running the tip of his leaking length along your puffy lips. "and here we were..-" he stops to slap it onto your left cheek "ready to reward you, hm?" they look at each other and chuckle, as if they weren't mocking you and the pitiful mess you were. "please, I'm-" you swallow. "I'm sorry, please. Thank you so muchㅡ ! just- please, please..."

"you sweet thing." Santiago intoned "sweet filthy thing."

"I say we fuck her like she wants us to." Frankie hums from behind you, his cock rubbing against your leaking entrance. "that's what you want, right baby? want us both inside your little pussy. stretch her out and ruin you for others.." and you whimper as your cunt pulses around nothing. "Yeah, she likes that. dirty fucking girl." It was raw and intense— how their command over you ignited an unyielding desire to please them, to make them proud.

they both pull away, and in no time, your body is squished between theirs, strong arms holding you down as if you're to run away. Santiago harshly cups your face, forcing your mouth open; He gathers some spit into his mouth, for him to promptly spit it down onto your tongue. He watches proudly as you swallow it all, his thumb running across your bottom lip. Frankie was biting your shoulder, sucking at your sensitive skin as he held you by your throat in a way that's sure to leave marks.

"lift your hips for us." Santiago commands, and you do as you're told. He tangles his hand around in your hair as his other one reaches down to his cock, aligning it with your entrance. He eases in, making you throw your head back onto Frankie, his fingers now massaging your sensitive clit. "Fuckingㅡ look at her, swallowing me in one go. pretty girl.." he coos, pulling your head back by the hair to face him. From behind you, Frankie slowly lifts you up with his knees and slips inside of you, both men moaning into your ears. Tears slip past your eyes again and you cry from the pain and pleasure as your mouth falls open, unsure if you're still conscious or not. "feels good, baby? us splitting you open right here where anyone from the street can see... you like that?" Frankie was right, all it took was for a taller person to stare a bit over the fence and they'd have front row seats at this show.

" 'course she does. little whores like her get off to that. bet she'd let us fuck her in front of her dad. let him see the slut his daughter actually is." With that, Santiago finally starts to move, his eyes rolling back as Frankie pushes down onto your lower belly, as he moves his hips. "So fucking deep, shitㅡ feel that?" he laughs "want us to come this deep, huh? have you all filled up till you can't hold anything inside of you.."

"p-pleaseㅡ"

"i could fuck this tight cunt forever, god." the other in front of you grunts, the hand from your hair now focused on your nipples and one placed firmly onto your hips. Frankie had one hand on your stomach and one onto your face, two of his fingers stretching your mouth open. You let yourself be taken over by them. it felt like you were flying so high and intoxicated by them, you weren't sure how you'd recover.

"thank you, thank youㅡ" you babble incoherently.

Santiago quickened his pace, causing Frankie to do the same, and with a few more strokes, they both bury themselves deep inside your core, white warm ropes painting your velvety walls. The sudden warmth and full feeling sends you completely over the edge, having you shake and pulse around them as you reach your orgasm.

you all sit there, them deep inside of you, you between them, breathing heavily as they planted kisses upon your skin. After you came down, you realized what happened, and worse, that it was over, a thought which made you let out a pathetic sob and clench around them out of desperation. "easy girl, we still have two days left." Frankie breaks the silence. "It was you who said you wanted us to use you, no? you who wanted to be our cum doll forever.." Santiago follows.

You're right where you want to be.

[dearstvckyx]

“That when a heart breaks, it ain't broken forever” - MV1

Pairing : Sierra Verstappen x Max Verstappen (Main) , Sierra Verstappen x Victoria Verstappen (Mentioned) , Sierra Verstappem x Blue Jaye Verstappen (Mentioned) , Sierra Verstappen x Sophie Kumpen (Mentioned)

Genre : angst , sad , emotional, just get the tissues okay

Mentions : drg use, addiction, death, character death, oc death

about oc : Sierra Verstappen ~~is~~ was the oldest sibling of the Verstappen Three (Her, Max and Victoria). Was a singer/rapper.

about : After her death due to an OD, Max is cleaning her house out and he finds tucked away in her office and cd holder with unreleased songs, one being Temporary.

Max sits at desk that used to alway occupy his older sister warmth and scent, staring down at the disc with his and Vics name he decides to put it into Sierra’s computer. The video begins with the camera low to the ground filming someone’s feet and Max, being the observer he is, notices it’s Sierra shoes. And as the camera pans up to familiar older girl with dyed dark blue hair and the blue eyes, he starts to get emotional seeing her face once more. And finally, He hears that voice that used to sing him to sleep, that used to stand up for him in school, the voice that would calm his anxiety down after a bad race or a fight with their father.

A lot of people ask me, am I afraid of death? - The truth is, I think what scares me the most - Is not being able to say all the things I wanna say to you - When I'm no longer here - So this song is for Maxie for when that day comes

Hearing not just her voice but calling him Maxie, the one who started that nicknamed, made Max tear up a bit. The video fake glitches, to a video of Sierra and Max when Max was a kid,

Where's Maxie? Where's he at?This ain't Maxie! Who is it? It's a monster (ahh)

Max laughed at the video from childhood, Sierra was the only one who could get Max into a video

I've been waiting all night for the sunrise - To take away the dark sky - You're the dad monster and them are the baby monsters and - I'm the mom monster - Oh - All it takes is a new day sometimes - To get me in a better state of mind - Give me a kiss, monster, give me a kiss - Love you (I love you)

Max takes notice that this part is talking about their family's dynamics and the hope that each new day brings healing. The video glitches once more to Max still pretending to be a “monster”. And hearing that ‘I Love You’ once more broke Max’s heart. Once the chorus is over, Verse 2 begins playing, the video cuts back to Sierra sitting in front of at TV that’s playing all and everything of the Verstappen Three (Sierra, Max & Victoria)

Yeah, so Maxie Emil, I wrote you this song - To help you cope with life now that I'm gone - How should I start? Just wanna say - Look after Vicky, Bluey, and Mommy dear - And, sweetie, be strong, I know I was your rock - And I still am, saying goodbye is just not - Ever easy, but why you crying? Just stop - Max, baby, dry your eye, this is not - Forever

Max hears the chorus began again before hearing,

Sissy - What? - When I used to have this when I was a little kid - Baby, are you okay?

Max was surprised to hear their mother's voice, but he was happy to hear it

Yeah, and you will get over me and move on - You can play me on repeat on a song - But don't you dare shed a tear, what'd I tell you? - "Straighten up, little soldier, " them times when I held you - Emilian, it'll be okay, baby, I'm here, Max - I'm watchin' you right now, baby boy, I vow - I will protect you, your guardian angel - As hard as this may feel, us parting is painful - And, darling, the rain will drive you insane still - You will remain strong, Maxie, just hang on - It won't be too long, I need you to move on - And remember, it will get better - 'Cause times heals and when a

Max realizes that, yes he can listen to her music but he wants to hear it person then a recording. Max remembers his fathers rage after a bad race of Maxs, which resulted in Max running away and sitting somewhere by himself crying before he felt the warmth and inhaled the strawberry scented perfume, he had relized his older sister was hugging him and talking him down from this panic attack. Max remembers the words “straight up little soldier. you did great and im still so proud of you.” That one word was one he really only heard from Sierra.

I know this big boy - And he’s really handsome - You know what his name is? - Maxie! - Maxie, how did you know?

Max laughs at his younger confident self,

Yeah, and if there's days where you wanna lock yourself in your room and cry - Just think about how when you were little, how you and I back and forth to the studio, we used to drive - You strapped in the backseat 'cause you were my little sidekick, yeah, sweetie, I know this hurts - Bean, I'm wishing your pain away - Remember this, Maxie Emil - There’s gonna be rainy days - I promise you'll get through 'em and make it regardless - Fuck it, Emilian, I'll be honest - I knew that you was gonna take this the hardest - Sweetie, get up, I know that is is breaking your heart, it's the hardest thing I ever wrote (daddy)Hailie, sweetheart, it's okay for you to let me go - Baby, I promise you that when a-

Max knows and remembers what his sister is talking about. Growing up if Sierra noticed Max was upset, stressed or tired, or just needing a break from karting or dealing with their father, she would take Max with her to the recording studio, Max was almost nearly the first one to hear her music before it was released.

And hearing that nickname Bean, The one Sierra created because Max hated green beans that he would throw them across the room. This part makes Max laugh once more, something he hasn't done in 3 weeks. And once again his bigger sister was right, Max is taking Sierras death harder then anyone, then their younger siblings, their father, their mother and the world.

What's your favorite song? My favorite song right now - Mine and your favorite song, - but I like this part, that's your favorite part, sis?

You're taping me, bitch - I got you on tape cussin' - Can you hear? -Yeah - No, bitch - No what? - No, I said, I said, no, bitch - Okay, no cussin'

Max laughs at this part, Sierra was more of a parent than Jos was to Max. Making him food before and after school, taking him to school, helping him with school work, going to any parent - teacher conferences. With this parental role Sierra had taken on she made sure Max did have some rules one was: No cussing. And Max remembers faking his sister out by saying words that sound close to the swears.

Max leans back, tears in his, and thinks for a moment before grabbing his sister’s phone and getting her managers number off it. Calling her, Max mentions he found the song and wants to see if they can release it, and they do. Max is happy for once these past couple weeks, he knows that she wanted him to find that song, to listen to it, to fight for it to be released. And Max knows Sierra is standing next to him smiling proud once more.

liked by landonorris everythingsierrav and others

maxverstappen1 i am surprised the new outlet haven’t said it before us, our sister Sierra Eliza Verstappen has passed away, today marks 5 weeks of her being gone and it’s something i’m not used to. i miss hearing her voice and her nicknames for me. i got in touched with her manager and label to release this song i heard when cleaning out her house, it’s called “Temporary” and in the words of my older sister, “i hope you enjoy, this masterpiece.” - Max Maxie

charles_leclerc she was a lovely person max ❤️

landonorris the big sister of the paddock

f1 the verstappen three !

victoriaverstappen she was proud of Max, of everything you have done and will do

sophiekumpen im so glad you fought for them to release this song son, you can tell Sierra meant every word

lewishamilton replaying this so many times

- comments haven’t been limited -

liked by sabrinacarpenter lewishamilton oscarpiastri and others

billboard Temporary by Sierra Verstappen sill stands at number one for the 34 week in a row, looks like being number one is a Verstappen sibling thing - Keep Streaming

- Comments Have Been Turned Off -

[lvrcpid]

young, dumb and broke - modern!au

includes : reader is gn! use of they/them pronouns. DAD TSU’TEY AGENDA!! most of the kids are 17 with lo’ak being 16 (i had to keep the age gap), i STRUGGLED writing for 14-15 year old freshman. sfw!!

high school with modern!avatar headcannons

lo’ak:

— rizz master

— only messes with tsireya though

— we love a loyal king don’t we ladies

— since y/n can drive, he’s constantly asking them for rides

— “PLEASE Y/N NETEYAM SAID NO-“

— “shut up and get in the car.”

— definitely on the basketball team

— points to tsireya and says “this one’s for you baby” AND MISSES 🤭

— he probably has good grades just is a big class clown. like no seriously his jokes are hilarious even the teachers laugh.

— speaking of teachers all of his teachers love him. he’s really respectful (THANK YOU JAKEY POOH!!)

— he’s so trifling

— def would go around quoting “GIRL WHERE YOU GOING- MMMMWAH!!!”

neteyam:

— tries to be mysterious but fails miserably

— probably one of the popular kids but he’s not a jerk about it

— FOOTBALL CAPTAIN. NO MORE CHITCHAT.

— def makes y/n wear his jersey at his games

— gets sad when you can’t come

— “what do you mean you’re busy 🥺”

— homeboy is SMART im talking straight A’s type smart.

— definitely plans on going D1

— has a smalllllllll (BIG) crush on y/n but he’s too punk to tell them

kiri :

— actually mysterious

— keeps to herself

— definitely has one friend group

— science is definitely her favorite topic

— hates hates HATES school lunch. she gives it away each time

— crystal necklaces all day

— def has a job and bought those expensive ass sony headphones

— her converse game is strong. i’m talking every single color for every single outfit

— hangs in the bathroom with her friends

— along with her brothers, her teachers love her

ao’nung:

— RIZZ MASTER.

— seriously his rizz with y/n makes them fold all the time.

— basketball captain anyone??

— probably drives to school

— C average in his classes , he’s just lazy

— “y/n are you coming to my game?”

— “WHAT DO YOU MEAN NETEYAM HAS A GAME- FUCK HIM-“

— as you can see he also gets upset when you can’t come to his games

— probably has a few fights on his record

— always messing with your hair in class

— you look at him like this 😡 while he’s over there like 😈

— always leaving campus to get food (he gets you some so it’s no biggie)

— brags to neteyam that you came to his practice

— “HAHA THEY CAME TO MINE AND NOT YOURS”

— also has a big crush on y/n and it’s obvious, you just choose to play dumb

tsireya :

— class president. argue with the wall.

— Y/N’S BEST FRIENDDDDD

— her brothers wingwoman fr

— probably is in a dance club after school

— tutors people in her free time (side hustle queen)

— probably also drives to school but just rides with her brother to save gas

— probably wears outfits inspired by clueless

— hands lo’ak his water bottle after practice

— she’s such a sweetheart

— she invites a girl who was alone at a table to sit with her and her friends

y/n:

— Y2K KING/QUEEN

— no literally your style is to die for

— definitely sleeping all the time but still manages to get good grades

— your dad is apart of the pta. along with tonowari and jake. PTA DADS!!

— you probably wear lots of bracelets.

— you give them away as your way of flirting

— (neteyam and ao’nung definitely have a few of them on their wrists)

— chilling with kiri and tsireya in the bathrooms

— going home and immediately going to sleep.

— probably getting written up a few times for walking out of class

— your parents weren’t happy about this :/

bonus!

tuk:

— our girl definitely rocks the newest light up sneakers

— “my mommy got me these” *stomps foot on the playground*

— gets her teachers gifts for holidays

— has a fruit by the foot for lunch all the time

— her lunch box is definitely all sparkling

— MONKEY BARS MASTER.

— probably went to the nurse a few times cause her pride got the best of her and she fell

— definitely not the type to fake sick. she loves seeing her friends

— she’s the leader of her friend group but she’s not mean (neteyam DUPE!!)

— neytiri could send her to school with her hair one way and itll come back looking a MESS.

— at least she had fun!!

TAGLIST: @zatarias-pandora

[powderblueblood]

YES, NURSE RATCHED - a hellfire & ice retelling of chapter eight's most pivotal moment, from eddie's pov

a special treat for my love @deadlynightshade-and-hyacinth eddie munson x f!reader, reader is nicknamed lacy, reader's last name is also mentioned, this is lore-filled and handsy so if that's not your thing keep it truckin, minors dni i do not like you go away warning for strong language, smut inthe form of public fingeringgggg, drug usage, extremely bad parenting (al munson klaxon), evoking the feeling of a comedown, billy hargrove gets his shit rocked, excuse all typos it's redacted o'clock and i'm a little buzzed word count: 2.6k

The first thing you should know about the following occurrences is that they are preluded by a whole lot of next thing Eddie knows. Things snapping his attention to the left, to the right, knocking him over the head, rearing up on him with little to no warning.

Number one? His dad showing up at Reefer Rick’s, eyes bloodshot and sleep deprived and frantic, putting on a pantomime of being so psyched to see his boy! Rick snapping to attention and falling into his role of affable associate of Munson Senior immediately, despite the apology he’d tried to press against Eddie right when Al crunched the gravel of his driveway. What followed was a bender that Eddie couldn’t help but give into. Al has that effect on people, even him, even Eddie in his angry, angsty resoluteness that he should know better. 

You try knowing better when you're all bewitched, bothered and bewildered and shit.

Cue cut lines and records blaring until daylight broke over Lover's Lake– then Eddie, rising at noon but barely landed from his previous (ill-advised and bad-parentally-supervised) high, got it in his head that he ought to show up for school. At least for a little bit. 

Because they’d tossed your last name around a little last night, Al and Rick. Doevski this, Doevski that, in weird, vague terms that Eddie didn’t all the way understand. And the more weed he smoked and the more Jim Beam that got passed around, the less he remembered.

Which, dumb, right?

You’d tell him that was dumb.

You’d tell him he should have stayed sharp, listened up, gathered information.

He passed out on Rick’s sagging couch, mind searing with nothing but thoughts of you nagging him for intel.

Eddie woke up cotton-mouthed with your name on his lips. 

He needed to see you.

To catch one of your avoidant, barely-there glances as you flit through the hallway or maybe even spy you smoking a cigarette on the outdoor bleachers, reading in silence with Ronnie or Wheeler.

He’d think of what to say to you in the moment; probably spurned on by the sneer you’d give him– which he’d totally have earned, for having the nerve to ignore you for so long. 

Forgive me, he'd say, hands held aloft in Christlike composure, I just couldn't look you in the eye knowing you were getting willingly boinked by some Ivy League sweater monkey.

And then you'd have to admit your little bullshit college boyfriend wasn't Ivy League, and he'd prod you with that for a while, and things would eventually ebb back to whatever shade of normal you two were pretending to be. So? Okay!

But.

Next thing Eddie knows, he’s peeling into the parking lot and the first thing that he sees, bada bing, is you. All however many feet of you, steel true and planted on the hood of Billy Hargrove’s fucking Camaro, wielding a baseball bat like a sword.  

Eddie’s heart stops for the full entirety of a what fresh hell is this filter-focused second before he skids the van to a halt and launches himself from it. 

He advances this helluva scene just in time to hear you holler out, right in front of God and everyone,

“One thing you can say for Eddie Munson, is at least the motherfucker can get hard!” 

Eddie’s tread stutters and he wonders if this is what people mean when they use the expression taken out at the knees. Can he get a fucking encore, please? 

But then there’s the issue of the rabies-ridden Hargrove, the kid who’s snorted so much of Eddie’s dubiously cut supply that it’s no wonder that word has gotten around that he can’t keep his johnson rigid. There’s a thread dangling somewhere that makes Eddie wonder how familiar you are with that concept but. Alas. Digression. 

Hargrove calls you a cunt, and Eddie’s vision is replaced with a swathe of red. 

How ‘bout you try playing it cool, hearing someone talk to your girl like that, after a night of fun family drug-taking? 

Wait. His what? Hold on--

Next thing Eddie knows, he’s side-swiping Hargrove like a dirty bumper car, yak yaks something kind of funny (he hopes) and does not turn to look at you standing backlit like a holy fucking statue. Because he knows you’ll look beautiful up there, white hot with rage, holding a weapon poised for minor automotive destruction. He can’t handle beauty, not right now. Because of that thing from before with his knees. 

“...now her snooty ass is spreading it for half of Hawkins! Desperate! Stringin’ you along like the dumb piece of shortbus shit you a–”

It’s impossible to say whose hair trigger that tugged first, yours or Eddie’s. That’s like chicken vs egg. That’s like Han vs Greedo. That’s like, irrelevant. 

That baseball bat clatters to the pavement, a hearty overture to Eddie’s surge of empowerment, of rage, of insisting that she isn’t, I’m not, she isn’t, I’m not, nobody talks about her like that–

Next thing Eddie knows, he’s sitting beside you. Outside the principal’s office. Hand split open and aching, nose backed up and a little bleeding, coming down like the fucking Hindenberg. Reckoning with the fact that he wouldn’t need to be a little morning-after zipped on coke to throw a punch for you, if it came down to it. If it came down to it, he would have tried caving in Billy Hargrove’s other eye socket. He would have made him look like the Elephant Man if you needed him to. 

He liked that Eraserhead movie you made him watch. 

“He needs an ice pack…”

The soft mumble from you makes Eddie take this breath that makes his chest feel like it might concave. You, you. Reckless, unbuttoned, unlaced, off-kilter you, that still had time to snap at him after he’d tried to freeze you out, that still had eyes that asked him did it hurt? 

Eddie eavesdrops on as much of your grilling with Higgins and the hot guidance counsellor as his damaged eardrums will allow. Temporary insanity. Disgusting prank. He wonders what that’s about… and again, didn’t even think to question what brought you onto the hood of Hargrove’s car. He just saw you. He just acted.

He just keeps doing that. 

And then he hears. College. Application deadlines are within touching distance. 

“I can turn this around.”

Of course. Eddie hadn’t even thought about that, because he’s him. And it was something you were probably worrying yourself sick over, because you’re you– you wanted out of here. To get up, go, be someone great.

“New York, ideally,” you’d said to him once, tightrope walking across the broken bleachers outside; you’d been waiting around for him to give you a ride home, but he had a deal to make first. You were weirdly patient, weirdly pensive that day. “Someplace I can go and burrow in and absorb everything and grow out of a crack in the sidewalk, new.” 

Eddie’d held your hand, helping you step over a gap in the bench, “Not taking Manhattan by storm? Hurricane Lacy?” 

You–and he remembered this–had held onto his hand for a few more minutes, a cigarette dwindling in the other. Your fingers were cold; they clutched at his a little tighter when you spoke again. 

“No. Not Manhattan, not midtown, not big business. I have precipitated a change in my weathervane.”

“What does that mean?”

“Means that someone taught me the difference between being important and being significant.” 

Back in the room. Eddie drawls out some stupid crack to Higgins, who he’s still supplying with enough benzos to take out Jonestown a second time, which is the only reason he hasn’t been booted out of Hawkins High for absolute and final good. And then you’re alone again, the two of you. Together. 

“Wanna get out of here?”

Next thing Eddie knows, he’s spending the last of his energy like it’s burning a hole in his pocket, horsing around on the nurse’s saddle stool while you rifle through her office. You are all edgy and commanding because you have no idea how to say sorry you got wailed on by Hargrove for me.

Good. He likes you better like this, at least for right now. Likes to watch you attempt to pirouette on the razor’s edge of your relationship to one another, mostly because your attempt is more graceful and easier to watch than his is. And he likes to watch you. Watch you do anything, really. 

Watch you snap at him to get on the bed. Fuck. 

Watch you tear and dab at his busted knuckles. Fuckfuck. 

Watch you talk about Cat People and press his hand to his chest and tell him he’s injured and wrong and watch you watch searing, singing alcohol on his split lip dry up. Eddie watches your eyes brighten and darken with curious affection, like those twinkle lights that fade in and out, steady as breathing. His breathing is anything but steady. His knees have come apart, letting you stand between them.

You dab and he lets this broken sound loose from him, because the proximity of your body to his feels like a fresh fucking spring breeze and god, god, the way you’re touching him with such gentle, measured movements, like you’ve choreographed every one–

You’re so exact. You’re so organized. He wants to unexact you.

Eddie uses his good hand, not that either of them are really any good, and presses as much of you into him as he can. The flush of your front, the flush of your mouth, he even has to stop those shorn denim-sheathed legs of his from wrapping around your hips. Eddie’s grip, it travels, hitching tweed up the curve of your ass. 

You don’t push him away like he figured you might, you don’t indignantly demand what is going on?! You don’t. You weave your hand up the line of his thigh, to the hard edge of his crotch where he is straining, a rigidity that’s been building since you went all Nurse Ratched on him. 

A rigidity that’s hard to keep down around you, badum-tsssss. 

Fuck.

Eddie almost knocks the word loose with a low groan that’s pressed into the supple flesh of your cheek, your lovely blushing fucking cheek, a cheek he goes to kiss or bite or something but misses by a hair because you’re straining your neck back. To look at him. Not soberly, he hopes. 

Someone down there is wishing him death by dick.

Not the wettest, wildest, filthiest dreams that he’s had about you (and categorically, there have been many) could have prepared Eddie Munson from the earth-shattering consequences of this tiny gesture. Your tongue, perfect and pink, darts to his lip, stinging and sore and comes away with the tiniest drop of ruby-red blood sitting on its tip. 

And you suck his bottom lip between yours, eyes fluttering closed.

Eddie’s cock jumps as his heart does, not a second out of time, as you clamber up, into his lap– so completely un-Lacylike, so totally… unexact. How, in all the vastness of Heaven and earth and Middle Earth and Hell and the Bookstore and the closet and his bedroom and the van could he be so fucking stupid?

“Just friends, right?” Eddie is deaf to how pained it comes out sounding.

His good hand travels. He finds your thighs, the softness there giving way to easy indents for his fingers and he knows, he knows that this is where his hands should be–unless, higher could be good? Higher, high up past those offending, incriminating lace top stockings that drilled through Eddie’s mind like an ice pick, giving him whatever the opposite of a lobotomy is. Haunting him with a fervour, begging him to snap them, but there’s no fucking time for that, god it hurts but there’s no fucking time for that because you. Two. Are. In. The fucking. Nurse’s. Office. 

But the world has ceased turning. 

Eddie’s mouth opens in a silent attempt at a moan as his fingers push past to the beating, radiating core of you that the throbbing, radiating core of him longs for. 

You’re so wet, and soft and lush and it rings through is head like a fucking hallelujah, you’re wet, you’re wet for him.

More than anything, he needs your encouragement–he needs to know that you want him to keep going. That you want him, that you want him, that–

You nod, frantic and undone, and Eddie kisses you for it just before he realizes he has no idea what he’s doing. But nothing in his body tells him to zoom out–in fact, the only thing he wants is more in. More you, more of you wrapped around him. He moves his hands with a clumsiness usually uncharacteristic of him, fucking guitar guy, fucking painting miniatures and shit guy. But it works, according to you and the way you keen against him with your beautiful, spit-shining lips parted and pulling against his. 

These little noises, chirps and swallowed moans of yours– it’s like music. He wants to choke on them.

Eddie’s voice kind of cracks open again, letting a little air and a touch of begging out. He strains, pained, cock aching against the hitch of denim. “Does he do this? Does anyone do this for you, Lacy?”

Because you’re lonely, and Eddie knows that, with his fingers stroking you deep. You’re lonely, or would be, were it not for him. And it feels like now, in the heady swirl of these few moments that are stretched into an infinity, that he’s using it against you, but he’s not. He should be the one doing this for you, he should be the one making you feel this way, making you tremble even as he clumsily thumbs at your clit, because he thinks knows you and he thinks you want it unmeasured and unshackled and washing over you in a wave of sheer blind devotion and that’s why his tongue is all over your neck. 

That’s why his knuckles are split. 

That’s why there’s no malice in Eddie’s voice when he croaks, “Just friends? Lacy?” as you rock and spasm, hands clutching him around the shoulder and whimpers barely deadened against his lips. He can feel the texture of your pinched brow against his own. 

He wants to clutch you as close as he possibly can, but he’s got one good arm and it’s between your legs.

Between your legs. Jesus fucking Christ. 

Sobriety hits like a tidal wave as your breath returns to its normal rhythm; Eddie’s doesn’t quite have the same rebound. He’s still huffing a little, out of exertion or out of nerves, as he slips his hand out from under you, brushing what was off on his jeans. A small patch of his own bodily fluid collected there too, making sure he’s wearing the both of you like Hester Prynne’s scarlet letter as he walks around for the rest of the day. 

Eddie, throat starting to tighten up, pulls you in for one kiss, to give you one last taste of where he’d been split open for you. Melodrama dances around it; shades of we shouldn’t have, but we did, but we can’t, but now I have to fucking live with the fact I cracked open this Pandora’s box and I’m sorry. 

Or something to that effect. 

And you see right through him, because you always do. Hair in a muss, lips flushed, adjusting your skirt, re-exacting yourself, you clean up any evidence that this had ever happened. At least, on a surface level. 

Eddie dares to look at you once more, and you dare to look back at him. And thank god he’s sitting down, because that look shoots him right through the fucking aorta. You, wide-eyed and small-looking, pupils darting and unsure, are asking him why. Pleading with him, why. Why do this. Why now. Why at all, ever, why did you have to. Even though you know. 

“I–”

“No, I know. I know. I certainly know.”

Because you’re Lacy. You know everything. 

Eddie does think about going after you for a second, after your curt nod and dash through the door but he knows that it’s a zero-sum game. He has nothing good to say. It’s not even you that’s rendered him speechless– funny thing, you usually do the opposite. You always give him something to say. He just has nothing good to say. Nothing worthy of you. 

So he sits there, on the examination table, waiting for the mythical Nurse Lydia to tend to his wounds. 

First he’ll will himself soft, then he’ll will himself sane. 

Famous last words.

[mrsevans90]

Puppy Love

Captain Syverson x OFC Emma Miller Part 8

Summary: Austin Syverson has returned to Texas after retiring from the military and starts his own contracting business. Syverson is used to being alone and thinks he prefers it that way. While at work he stumbles upon an injured and abused puppy. When he meets the new veterinarian in town, Emma Miller, he is immediately smitten with her. It turns out Emma has some baggage of her own. Will they be able to make it work? Or is it just a case of fleeting puppy love?

Pairing: Henry Cavill as Captain Austin Syverson x OFC Emma Miller 

Warnings: Smut, Sy overthinking, PTSD, meeting the grandparents (Nana is a warning herself 😜) language.

MINORS DNI! Must be 18+

I do not authorize any copying/pasting, stealing of my work, or using my words as your own. 

This story is not beta’d. All mistakes are my own.

A/N: I am an imperfect person who makes mistakes. All that I ask is to please be kind and if you enjoy it then please comment and REPOST! I appreciate any love, comments, and reposts more than you could know. Thank you for reading! 

Part 7

We head to bed later that night and I start removing my clothes.

“I normally sleep naked. I can put some boxers on if you want me too.” I say. I don’t know why it feels awkward but getting naked in front of each other just to go to sleep feels a little embarrassing all of the sudden. I’m reminded that we really haven’t known each other for more than a few days and even though I feel things for her that I haven’t felt in years this is moving awfully fast. I’m used to one-night stands that I don’t see again after we’ve had sex and I dip out.

Emma chuckles at my sudden hesitation. “Bear, I’m more than fine with you sleeping naked. Can I borrow that shirt I wore this morning to sleep in so I won’t get cold?” She asks and I immediately hand her my red DILLIGAF shirt. She has no idea how much I wore that shirt while deployed after Mark and Jenn sent it to me for my birthday one year. It’s easily my favorite and typically I’d never let a woman wear it for fear of not getting it back, but Emma looks sensational in it and I love seeing it. She removes her clothes before sliding it on and going to the bathroom to brush her teeth. The edge of the shirt rides up when she spits out her toothpaste and I’m instantly horny again. Gosh, she’s perfect. I’m feeling more confident tonight after sleeping so well with her next to me last night and hope I don’t have any nightmares. We climb into bed and she immediately snuggles against my chest while intertwining our legs together. I start playing with strands of her hair as the dogs settle in their beds on the floor.

“I’m going to have to tell my parents about Colin tomorrow. They’re going to freak. Especially my dad.”

“Why’s that? He’s arrested, won’t they feel better about him being in custody?”

“Maybe for the next day or so. When he got out of it the first time, he was angrier than he had been the night he broke in. He was going around town starting rumors about me and telling people that I was going to pay for giving him a criminal record. Unfortunately, he didn’t say it to me directly so it wasn’t considered a threat by law enforcement. My dad basically begged me to move home so that I wasn’t alone but I wasn’t going to do that. I’m a thirty-two-year-old woman with a successful job and can take care of myself. If I moved back home, the fear would overtake me and I don’t think I’d ever fully move on. I’d just be stuck there in the town that constantly gossiped and I just couldn’t live like that, you know?”

“Makes sense. Ya gotta move forward.”

“Exactly. Dad always worried that I was running away from my problems, rather than seeing it as a new beginning for me to live the life that I want too. I just worry that he’ll panic and try to convince me that moving back is the only way I’ll be safe from Colin.”

“I’ve never been a parent so I certainly can’t say what I would do in his shoes, but he loves you and just wants to protect you. Sometimes parents think sheltering us like they did when we were kids is the only way to protect us. He’ll come to the realization that you’re a grown woman who wants to make her own decisions and live the way she chooses. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to give up control over someone you’ve cared for their whole life, but I’m sure he’ll come around in time. Has he been out here to visit?”

“He came with me the week I bought the house. I had toured it the same week I applied for the veterinarian position and loved it so I brought him back before closing. We stayed at the hotel in town and basically toured the town for three days before he headed back. He wanted to help me move but I wouldn’t allow him. He’s got a bad back and I don’t need him injuring himself. I can fortunately afford movers so that’s what I did. I promised my parents they could come visit in a few weeks once I got the guest bedroom in working order. I still need to go buy a bed for that room, come to think of it.”

“Mmm, that’s real nice darlin’. I’m sure you’ll love having them come visit ya.” 

“It’ll be nice but I’m sure I’ll get an earful about Colin showing up. I still can’t figure out how he found me.” 

“I don’t know, but we’ve done all the necessary measures to keep you safe and secure. You can always call me if you’re worried and I’ll be there in ten minutes or less. Just promise me you won’t confront him again without me or police there alright?” 

“Oh, I have no plans to confront him at all, but I promise.” She says with a sleepy smile. 

“Let’s go to sleep, Sugar. It’s been a hell of a day.” 

“Mmm… Goodnight Sy.”

“Night beautiful.”

After another great night of sleep, I wake around five am and see Emma sprawled out on the bed beside me. The sky is starting to get lighter which casts just enough ambient light on to her sleeping form. Emma lays on her stomach with her arms tucked under the pillow. My navy-blue sheet is draped delicately across her bare bottom and her flawless back is exposed. At some point in her sleep, she has rucked my red t-shirt up so high that I can see the sides of her breasts poking out of it against the mattress. Her long hair is sprawled out beside her on the pillow and her lips are parted with delicate breaths escaping her soft mouth. She looks so youthful and relaxed. She is an absolute art form. This is truly the type of muse that artists create masterpieces about and I have it right here in my bed. Me, just a good old military boy who does construction for a living. I don’t feel like I even belong in her presence at times. She’s so intelligent and articulated, while I fear I sometimes sound like a hick next to her. Yet, she still looks at me as if I hung the stars and I truly don’t know how I can keep from messing this up. I want to pause this moment of pure bliss, and prolong it because I know from experience that all good things must come to an end. In my life, love is fleeting and I don’t want her to be a distant memory. I lay there staring at her and silently chuckle as I watch her scowl and scrunch her nose at what must be an unsatisfying dream. Everything she does is so endearing. I guess that’s how it’s supposed to be early on in a relationship, however, I’ve never experienced someone this perfect in my whole life. Even with my past relationships, there were little signs or red flags that I simply overlooked or placated because everyone has annoying habits. I swear, this girl could slap me in the face and I’d probably ask her to do it again. Pussy whipped. That’s what I’ve become. If only the boys could see me now, they’d never let me hear then end of it. Their no bull-shit Captain head over heels in love…LOVE!? Surely, I can’t be in love. I barely know her. It’s too soon, too fast and we each have too much baggage for things to go this smoothly. I’m just not used to spending so much time with a particular woman. Now, I guess I just enjoy my time with her until the other shoe drops. Hopefully, I won’t be completely crushed in the end. God, what was I thinking inviting her to Nana’s house? It’ll crush the ole’ folks when this goes sour.

I lay there as my mind continues to race knowing that I won’t go back to sleep. This is when I usually wake up and I’ve been more than lucky to have slept two nights in a row without having nightmares. I’d be tempting fate to try and push for anymore. My brain continues to spiral as I lay there watching her sleep. She’s so peaceful and I smirk when she suddenly flips onto her back and her arms stretch out in search for something while her eyes remain closed. Her nose scrunches once again and I realize it’s me that she’s looking for when her hand caresses my chest and goes limp again. I gaze at that sexy little belly ring and then my thoughts go further away from my worries about how much I am or will screw this up and get a bit dirtier. My arm rests behind my head as I gently turn to my side and take in her form. Her face is turned away from me now, but her breasts are just barely concealed in my shirt. Once again, I wish I was an artist because I would find a way to capture this image forever. My phone is across the room on my dresser, and I’m not sure how she would feel about me taking a photo of her so exposed. Technically, she’s covered but only barely. I’ll have to settle to committing this image to memory. Her skin looks so soft and smooth and I have to force myself not to touch her. By seven am, I’ve decided that the perfect way to wake her up and start my morning is by licking on her sweet little peach. I slowly descend under the sheet which is quite a feat for a man of my size. Luckily, her legs are naturally spread but not quite enough to accommodate my large shoulder width. I gently spread them wider thinking she’ll wake but she doesn’t. I lay on my stomach like a sniper with half of my body hanging off of the bed and gently like a stripe up her center. She doesn’t move. How can she sleep so deeply? I spread her lips with my fingers and start softly making out with her petals. Suddenly, she starts to squirm and when my lips close around her little pearl and suck, her eyes fly open and down at me. Her hands quickly reach for my head and she moans loudly.

“OH FUCK! Austin! Holy shit!” I smile against her as I continue my assault on her body. I slide my middle finger into her tight channel and she mewls as I curl it inside her. 

“Oh my god, oh my god!” She praises as her hips buck in rhythm to the pace my now two fingers have set inside her. 

“Mmm. You taste so good. Best pussy I’ve ever had.” I speak against her sensitive skin.

“That feels so good! I’m… ahhh! I’m gonna cum!” She admonishes and moments later she comes with a squeal and flourish of arousal against my face. 

I continue to softly lick her and kiss her core and her thighs as she regains control of her breathing.

“I��ve never been woken up before like that. God, that was incredible.” Emma says as. I caress my way up her body.

“You were sleeping so hard, I worried you were going to sleep through it. I hope it was okay that I did that.” I tell her starting to second guess myself.

“That was more than okay. Thank you, baby. It was incredible.” She assures me and caresses my jaw. I kiss her softly and soon our kisses become heated and rough. I groan when Emma pushes against my chest and straddles me. Her core is leaking wet arousal against my abdomen as her hands roam around my body. Emma pushes her pussy against my stiff cock and begins sliding it through her folds. I swear I could come just from this. She leans back and removes my shirt from her so that I can see her entire body in the sunlight that peaks from behind the curtains and it is the most amazing view. I reach forward and stroke her full breasts in each hand and push them together so that I can bring them towards my awaiting mouth. While sucking on her perfect tits, Emma lifts herself up, takes ahold of my dick and presses it into the opening of her pussy. We both moan aloud as she inches her way down my shaft. 

“Fuck, darlin’! You’re sucking me in so good.” I grunt. When I’m buried to the hilt, I still for only a second before she is lifting off of me and slamming back down. This is going to be rough and reckless. I concede control (something I rarely do) so that I can take in the captivating image of Emma taking over and chasing her pleasure. The way the sunlight shines above and through her hair make her look ethereal and angelic. Watching her suck her bottom lip into her mouth and softly whimper as she works herself on my rod is something I never want to forget. 

“Damn, you look so perfect riding me, Sugar.” 

“You’re the best ride I’ve ever been on, Captain Syverson.” She smirks. I notice her slowing and seemingly getting frustrated that she can’t move as fast as she wants with how wide her legs are spread to accommodate me in between them, so I decide to help her out. I trail my hands from her breasts down to her hips and hold tightly before pumping myself up into her.

“Oh!” She startles and smiles as I do it again. I slam into her from underneath and she grips onto my biceps as she hangs on for the ride. I stretch my large hands and while still holding onto her hips, I thumb her clit and she keens.

“Mmm, baby! That feels so good! You fuck me so good!” She screams and I feel her cunt flutter around me and know she’s close. I use my other hand to grab ahold of her hair and bring her down for a filthy kiss that I continue when her orgasm explodes around me. I flip her over so that I’m on top and take advantage of the absolute vice grip that she has me in to chase my own release. After maybe ten more thrusts, I’m seeing stars as I pump my load into her womb. I gently relax my weight against her, not allowing myself to fully relax so I don’t crush her and lay there for a moment to catch my breath. Emma’s fingers scratch across my back and I’m tempted to fall asleep like this. I pull out of her and flip to my back and she cuddles up against me. Before I realize it, my eyes are closed and I’m drifting off.

I wake up to the smell of coffee and… bacon? I glance and see that the side of the bed next to me is empty and my red DILLIGAF shirt is missing. I’m still laid out on top of the covers completely nude where I must’ve fallen back asleep. Damn, this woman is a magician at getting me to sleep. I shouldn’t tell her that, because I’m sure it would come out wrong and be considered an insult but I’ve never slept this well with a woman. Emma’s bag is still sitting on the chair in my bedroom. I yawn as I get up and shove on some boxers and running shorts. I notice both dogs are no longer in my bedroom so she must have them with her. I take care of my needs in the bathroom and brush my teeth before checking my phone on the dresser. It’s after nine am. I ease my way down the stairs where I find Emma wearing nothing but my t-shirt, singing softly, hands covered in flour as she uses a drinking glass to cut biscuits out of dough and lays them on a pan. The dogs are patiently begging for scraps and could care less about my arrival to the entrance of the kitchen.

“Well, ain’t this a feast for the eyes.” I say to Emma and she immediately looks up and smirks. Her hair is pulled back in one of those messy buns and tendrils are still scattered around her face and damn, if I wasn’t imagining a life with her right now. Fuck me, she is something else entirely.

“Mmm.. good morning sleepy head. I figured you’d earned yourself a nap so I’d get started making breakfast. You know that snack bag I brought last night had all the ingredients needed for my homemade biscuits. Hope you’re okay with those, with some jam or honey, bacon, and scrambled eggs. I figured I could make yourself a bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich with the leftovers for tomorrow. I also hope you don’t mind that I took over your kitchen.” She says a little embarrassed as she gestures with her hands and looks at the flour coated counter.

“Sugar, ain’t nothing you do is going to bother me. This is quite the treat, so thank ya. How can I help?” 

“Nothing for you to do. Just get yourself a cup of coffee and relax. I’m finding my way around just fine. I do need to take you to the store sometime and buy you some kitchen utensils. How in the world do you not have a whisk anywhere in this kitchen?”

“Not much for straying outside of the ten or twelve meals I’m good at cooking. Never needed one.” I tell her as I go to get my coffee. I lean down and place a kiss on her lips followed by a smack to her cute little ass that’s covered by my shirt.

“Shirt looks real good on you, Princess.” 

“Oh, Princess is new. I like that but not as much as Sugar or Darlin’.” She giggles.

“I thought you said Sugar made you feel like Mrs. Clayton’s yorkie?” I arch my brow at her.

“Not anymore. All it makes me think of now is you and your perfect eyes looking at me.” I smile at her over my cup of coffee.

I’m obsessed with every moment of this domestic bliss. I watch Emma perfectly at home in my kitchen, cooking for me and I swear I feel something akin to butterflies in my stomach. 

We eat her breakfast and I easily concede that her biscuits are the best I’ve ever tasted and I make her swear not to tell my Nana that I said that. Southern woman can be real protective of their cooking and there ain’t no sense in starting a feud. We spend the rest of the morning cuddling on the couch watching a movie.

Midday, we get ourselves ready, the dogs loaded up, and head on over to my grandparent’s house for lunch at one in the afternoon. This has become a tradition about two years ago to spend Sunday lunch at their house after they get home and settled from church. 

I typically wear my athletic lounge clothes to these lunches but Emma insists on wearing a sundress to make a good impression so I clean up a bit as well. I smile at the thought of her wanting to impress my grandparents.

We make our way up to the porch and I head on inside the unlocked door without knocking.

“Nana? PawPaw?” I holler as we enter the foyer of their home. Aika immediately heads straight for the kitchen since she knows Nana is a pushover for treats and Mills follows enthusiastically.

“Kitchen!” My PawPaw answers.

“I hope it’s alright that I brought company.” I announce as we round the corner into the entryway of the kitchen which memories fill my childhood.

“Oh my god! I’m so glad you brought her! The date must’ve gone better than you told me!” My Nana immediately begins to chirp and I brought my hand over my face as Emma giggles. 

“Hi, I’m Emma. I hope it’s okay that Austin brought me; I’ve heard so many good things about you both.” She says as she extends a hand to my PawPaw and then is forced into a hug by my overzealous grandmother.

“Oh, sweetheart! I’m so glad you’re here. Austin told me you were beautiful but you are just stunning!” Nana flutters and I shake my head in laughable exasperation.

“Nice to see you too, Nana.” I say and she puts her hands on her hips and gives me a look like she’ll scold me in front of everyone. 

“Well get over here and give me a hug then, Grumpy Butt!” I roll my eyes but then give my Nana a hug and then one to my PawPaw who discreetly smacks my shoulder and congratulates me for landing such a beautiful woman. 

“This is Mills.” I say as I scoop up the little garbage disposal who is searching desperately for any crumbs by my grandmother’s stove.

“Aren’t you just a sweetie! Now look at me little fella, here are the rules. No pottying inside the house, and no chewing on my furniture. Oh and don’t go chasing my chickens in the yard. Got that little man?” She asks as if he’ll answer and then reaches for the dog treat container she keeps on her counter for Aika.

“Nana, he’s a puppy. He’s definitely going to at least chase the chickens. Let him have a little fun.” I coax as Mills squirms in my arms in an attempt to get closer to the little grey-haired woman holding up a bacon flavored dog bone. 

“Not after I bribe him with treats! Isn’t that right, angel baby?” She coos as she gives him the treat and one to Aika who barely even chews it. I set Mills down on the floor and quickly realize I might not reach the top three favorite people for Mills after my grandparents and Emma are through with him.

“It smells delicious in here, could you use any help?” Emma offers while gesturing to the food my grandmother has been preparing for us. 

“Oh, honey that would be delightful. Would you mind setting the table? The place settings are there and the plates are in this cabinet here. Austin, why don’t you and PawPaw go take the pups out for a bathroom break before we eat?” Nana essentially shoos us out the door. I give Emma a look that says, ‘I’m sorry for her’ before I follow PawPaw out. Emma giggles and gets started setting the table as I hear Nana already telling Emma to call them Nana and PawPaw before beginning her round of twenty questions. This is going to be a long lunch.

After we make it back inside and I ensure Emma is relatively unscathed from Nana’s well-meaning yet intrusive interrogation, we sit down and relish an enjoyable meal getting to know Emma and catching up about everyone’s week. After we eat, Emma offers to help clean up the kitchen but is kindly denied by my grandmother who insists I take her on a tour of the farm.

“How bad was it?” I ask.

“It wasn’t bad! I’m kind of in love with your grandparents. Your Nana is hilarious.” Oh god, Nana must’ve not filtered herself at all. I love that about her but there is no telling what came out of that woman’s mouth.

“How embarrassed should I be then?” 

“Not at all. Unless you count the story where she told me about you ripping the butt of your new pants while helping your PawPaw repair the cow fence and she stitched them back together while you were still in them.”Jesus Christ.

“Okay, in my defense, I was ten and they didn’t have any clothes here that would fit for me to wear while she fixed them. PawPaw needed help before the rain came in that next day.” Emma laughs and grabs my hand while intertwining our fingers.

“I think it’s cute. I love how much time you spent here as a kid. Both of my grandparents passed away when I was eight, so my memories with them, while still loving and wonderful, are few.”

“Did she beg you to marry me and have my babies before I die old and alone?” I ask somewhat joking but turn serious when I look at Emma’s face.

“Not exactly. She did say that she thought we were perfect together and would make beautiful babies.” She declares with a pink tint to her cheeks.

“Can’t say I’d disagree with that, but I’m so sorry if she made you uncomfortable.” We stop at the edge of one of the fences and look out at the cows and I decide to hug her from behind. She relaxes in my embrace as I take a whiff of her floral scent.

“She didn’t. It’s clear how much she adores you and I love that she was so welcoming and kind to me.” 

“Thanks for coming with me today.” I kiss her temple.

“Thank you for inviting me… and for everything this weekend. It’s been amazing. I’m almost sad for it to end.” She whispers.

“Me too, Sugar. I’m not going anywhere though.” She nods and looks out at the cow pasture.

When we head back inside, Emma excuses herself to the restroom where Nana ambushes me. 

“Oh, Austin. We love her! She is just smitten with you and I’m so glad you both met. She didn’t tell me much about her past, but I can tell that girl has been heartbroken before but she is falling for you. The way she looked at you during lunch just made my heart flutter. Even PawPaw noticed.” She says while pointing to my very taciturn grandfather who didn’t say much even on his most talkative days.

“Don’t scare her away with all of that, Nana. It’s only been a weekend. I do like her and plan to see her again though.” 

“Well praise Jesus!” Nana says with her arms thrown dramatically in the air. I glance at PawPaw who just wears his signature smirk at her dramatics and gives me a wink. Emma returns and after we eat a slice of apple pie that Nana made, we start making our way to the front door. 

“Now Emma dear, you come back here and visit anytime. Even if my grandson doesn’t offer, you come back and have some dinner with us one day, ya hear?” Emma giggles and I can’t help but chuckle at Nana.

“Yes ma’am, I’d love that. Thank you so much for graciously welcoming me. The food was amazing and the company was even better.” Emma says with a smile and hugs Nana. I’m a bit surprised when I see PawPaw extend his arms open for a hug as he’s usually a much more reserved man and gently hugged Emma goodbye. I have no doubts this woman could turn a grizzly into a teddy bear. After hugging my grandparent’s goodbye and leaving with a doggy bag of leftovers for each of us, we load the dogs and ourselves up in my truck and head back to my house.

It’s the middle of the afternoon and Emma told me she needed to run to the grocery store and do some meal prepping for the week, so she gathered up her bag and after she kissed the dogs about four times each, we get back in my truck so I could take her home. Why am I dreading this? I usually enjoy my alone time and crave it but the thought of getting in an empty bed tonight feels strange. We get inside and I offer to carry her bag into the house for her. Mainly, I just want to look around and make sure everything is secure for my own peace of mind. I take her bag all the way to her bedroom and set it on the bench she has at the end of her bed.

“You gonna be alright this week? Feel comfortable staying here alone?” I ask her.

“Mmhmm.” She replies as she wraps her arms around my neck. 

“What do you say we have dinner again on Friday?” 

“That sounds amazing. I’d love too.” She replies with a smile.

“Alright, Sugar. Well I won’t keep you any longer but I’ll text you or call you later tonight if you’d like.”

“Yes please. Now kiss me before you leave.” Emma demands.

“Yes ma’am.” I smirk as I lean down and capture her lips with my own. We make out for a minute or two before Emma leans back to catch her breath. 

“Walk me to the door?” I ask her and she nods while holding my hand. It feels like we are both trying to prolong our time together.

“Got a lot of jobs lined up for the week?” She asks as we walk down the hallway.

“Well, we’re going to finish up the chimney and siding area of that house we were working on last week and should be done by Tuesday afternoon. Tomorrow morning, I’m going to assess some work and give out quotes on three different sites so that should be good. I’m also going to put up a privacy fence at a house a few streets over from here this week. I’ll be busy but nothing too crazy.” I tell her and she nods. Time to go, I remind myself.

“Have a good night darlin’ and be safe out running your errands.” “You too, Sy. Talk to you in a bit.” She says and kisses me before I head out to my truck and drive off. I see her wave goodbye at the door and know that I’m not going to be able to wait until Friday to see her again. 

Part 9

Taglist: Taglist: @shellyshellshell, @henryownsme, @caramariehurst, @beck07990, @mollymal, @kingliam2019, @syversonswife, @identity2212, @starfirewildheart, @hannah9921, @wa-ni, @kneelforloki, @cutedoxie, @enchantedbytomandhenry, @foxyjwls007, @geralts-yenn, @courtlynwriter, @corrie1013, @squeezyvalkyrie, @summersong69, @livisss, @mayloma, @uunotheangel, @warriormirkwood

[softichill]

The Sounds of Nightmares unofficial transcript

Chapter 1 - The Workers in the Walls

------------

[Click]

[Shifting, Otto clears his throat]

Otto: Yesterday evening marked my first true session with the girl. Signs of significant disorder are greater than I initially thought. Her imagination is… vast. But one phrase in particular has become an earworm of sorts. 

[Click, this time of a tape being inserted]

Recording of Noone: “He was right in front of me breathing hard… That’s what I remember most. The awful smell, like when sausage goes bad.”

[Click, the tape stops]

Otto: Scent while dreaming is a rarity. An indication of sensory transcendence. She may be a fine candidate for a neurological study… but her health must come first. [Sigh] There are undoubtedly other details I missed in her recount. 

Otto: [Deep breath] From the top, then. [The tape begins to rewind] Sleep be damned tonight. 

[Intro plays]

[Click]

Otto: This is the Counselor. Herein are my preliminary case notes for tape #54, session #1, patient #1220… [mumbling] referring to children by numbers… [deep breath, normal] Our relationship goes beyond mere ethics, so I can leave that practice to the heartless quacks on the upper floors. But to remain professional, I’ll use a moniker the girl has given herself… Noone. (A/N: pronounced like noon)

[quiet tapping as a drink is poured]

Otto: Noone has been in CPI care for a fortnight. Given her rather remarkable medical history, her mental state seems relatively unremarkable. [stirring his drink] She finds herself in my ward due to worsening, though not recurring, nightly afflictions. Parasomnia isn’t uncommon among patients; not to imply she’s unworthy of treatment, only that there are others worse off. 

[Otto shifts in his seat and sips his drink before setting it down]

Otto: Noone also displays signs of mild trauma. As such, Nightmare Disorder is possible. Given her diffidence, the focus for this session is to build rapport. I’m hopeful Noone will open up and we’ll learn what lies inside that little head. 

[Ceramic clicking, Otto says “Oh!” at the sound of papers being knocked over. More ceramic, the audio cuts]

[A door closes]

Otto: Take the big chair, Noone. Sit, lie, saddle it like a horse, whatever you please. 

[Otto pulls out paper as Noone sits down. The chair creaks]

[quiet jazz starts to play]

Otto: How’s that?

Noone: …fine I guess. 

Otto: [Walking to his chair] That look on your face says there’s more on your mind. 

Noone: It’s… it’s like the music I used to hear through the walls. In our old apartment. Before we moved into the fancy house. 

Otto: Would you like to talk about that? Your old apartment?

Noone: No, counselor. 

Otto: Alright. An easier question to start. How are you feeling today?

Noone: …Bit sad. 

Otto: For any reason in particular?

Noone: …Um… the red flower… mum and dad left. It went all wrinkled. I tried lifting a petal and… it broke off. But, then I saw why- little crawlies, everywhere underneath the dirt. 

Otto: Aphids? How unpleasant. [shift] Must be hard, here all alone. That wasn’t just a flower to you, was it?

Noone: No, counselor. 

Otto: Y-Your parents only want you to feel like you again. And we’ll see to that! One day at a time. 

[Otto writes something]

Otto: Have you been sleeping?

Noone: Yes, counselor. 

Otto: Call me Otto. Sleeping well?

Noone: …Yes. 

Otto: Noone? This is a place of honesty. The truth, please. 

Noone: …Fine. Middle of the night, I keep waking. 

Otto: And are you perspiring?

Noone: …um…

Otto: Sweating?

Noone: Oh. Uh, yes. And, my heart beats like there’s a- pecking bird in my chest. 

Otto: Did these nightmares coincide with the onset of your sickness?

Noone: No. O-only after. 

Otto: And, do you remember your nightmares or do they disappear come morning?

Noone: I remember. Everything. 

Otto: [pause, shifting] …Would you be alright to tell me about them? Now, or, later?

Noone: Yes. Um… The one I had last night, it’s still here. The feeling. But, may I have some juice? My head’s light, and mum says it helps. 

Otto: (amused) I’m not sure that’s true. Regardless, you may. 

[audio cuts]

[audio resumes. Noone is sipping a juice box.]

Otto: I see you eyeing my painting. I’ve had it since I was a boy. “The Zahir’s Gaze”, it’s titled. 

Noone: Why is it so- blurry?

Otto: It’s a hidden image. The trick is to unfocus your eyes. Try it!

[short pause]

Otto: There! Can you make it out now?

Noone: …no. 

Otto: I’ve got an idea. Keep your eyes on the painting- let your mind wander. Meanwhile, you can tell me your dream! If you’ve finished your juice. 

Noone: [sipping] I have. 

Otto: From the beginning, then. 

[pause]

Noone: …It started when I woke up. Somewhere I didn’t belong. 

Otto: Describe this place, please. 

Noone: Everything was white. Only slowly I realized snow was falling on a field. The view was peaceful looking out from so high up. Like I was… one. With the cold. 

Otto: You felt this cold?

Noone: Not like the counties in winter, but, more like watching someone who is chilled. Around me, but not… in me. 

[the music quietly stops. Ambience for the dream begins]

Noone: I turned away from the window, which was only a hole in the stone wall of the curved passageway, that stretched on a long ways. This- odd feeling, told me to get up. But I couldn’t stand because the ceiling was so low. I crawled ahead and… if not for the tiniest bit of light I would have fallen. Another passageway appeared on the floor. Its edges throbbing in the dark. Suddenly I- I heard a clinking from below. 

Noone: That same feeling told me I was lost inside a giant. A huge one made out of stone, and the only way out was to keep going through its veins. I climbed into the pitch dark,

[Dream!Noone gasps, the sound of sliding plays]

Noone: And immediately began sliding down the icy wetness, going and going, faster and faster. I thought the slide would never end and just- and-

[Dream!Noone grunts as she hits the ground. The sliding stops]

Noone: It shot me out. 

Otto: …Did it hurt?

Noone: …Not like when you fall for real. 

[footsteps]

Noone: I can see what it is now! The painting! A-a tiger, and two moons. 

Otto: That’s not quite right. 

[Noone walks back]

Noone: (with interest) I’ve never seen a tiger before. 

Otto: Keep trying! Remember to unfocus. Continue, as you wish. 

[pause]

Noone: An orange glowing came from a candle. But the light didn’t reach the room’s corners. A tiny hole had been cut out of the stone beside me. “The snow,” I thought. “How nice it would be to watch fall again.” I look through, but there was no snow. [ambience picks up] Only a room, brimming with glass jars. Light danced through them, coming from a doorway on the opposite side. Until… a figure stepped through it. 

Noone: This HUGE man. Wore a long coat and fishing hat. His face kind of… dripped as he watched me. Then he was gone. W- He was an.... I-I can’t remember. It’s the only thing I can’t remember. 

Otto: Could it have been someone you know, your father perhaps?

Noone: (immediately) No. This man doesn’t belong to our world. 

Otto: I don’t quite follow. 

Noone: That’s just the feeling he gave. 

Otto: You keep mentioning this “feeling”. Can you try to explain?

Noone: You can’t understand! Not unless you were there- you just can’t!

Otto: It’s alright, Noone. We don’t have to talk about him. Relax. Breathe. 

[Noone takes 3 exaggerated, slow breaths]

[ambience gets slightly louder. It’s faint, clicking machinery]

Noone: Turning from the hole, I spotted an exit on the far wall. That’s where the clinking was the loudest. I started towards it, when a shadow ran out from the corner, that of a child. I shouted “Hey!”

[Dream!Noone: Hey! Where are we?]

Noone: “Where are we?” But, quiet as a mouse, he climbed through the pulsing exit. And carelessly I followed. 

[Dream!Noone grunts as she hops through the exit]

[Machinery gets louder]

Noone: The room over was bigger. And the child was gone. All over the walls and floors, were more pulsing passages. Like living ant tunnels. All kinds of springs laid about, and little oil cans and strange tools. 

[Dream!Noone gasps]

Noone: Suddenly, footsteps. Approaching, matching the rhythm of the clinking. [sound of a wooden crate] Knowing I didn’t belong I hid behind a wooden box. 

[a hoard of small footsteps alongside the machinery]

Noone: Peeking up, I saw other small shadows entering the room. They step by each other silently. Most passed into different doors, but two stayed behind, searching for the springs. They were not children. Not at all. Even in dim light they remain shadows. Things not quite there, as if forgotten, not wanting to be seen. 

[Things clicking, cracking, and moving around]

Noone: They held nasty tools and… their empty faces showed they weren’t very bright. Both stood, looked down a passageway… and jumped. 

[Dream!Noone gets up and follows them]

Noone: With nowhere to go I did the same, climbing to the platform below. 

[Dream!Noone lands. The machinery is even louder now]

Noone: I finally saw what was making all that noise. Golden, spinning wheels. Fat ones, small ones, skinny ones, and they went down so deep I couldn’t see the end! I didn’t know what they were until that faraway feeling came back and told me. 

Noone: They were gears. With- teeth which locked perfectly into one another, clicking on and on in a song that never stopped. There were a hundred-hundred of the dull little shadows, working to keep the mechanisms going. Felt… without their doing, the gears would surely stop. And the giant would break apart stone-by-stone... But as I leaned over the edge, distracted, my foot must’ve knocked a wrench. 

[a quick clink. Dream!Noone gasps]

[the wrench falls a long way down]

Noone: All the shadows stared up. And a few begin climbing my way. They move separately, but… as one. [Dream!Noone breathing quickly] I panicked and tucked between a set of levers, in the tight space my dress got caught [Dream!Noone grunts] on the tooth of a massive gear, pulled me up and around until my dress tore [tearing fabric, Dream!Noone yelping] shooting me onto a pipe below, where I lost my grip only to hit another platform. 

[Dream!Noone lands, breathing heavily]

Noone: The shadows stopped chasing me, working again as… the yank* took the piece of my dress, now stuck between two gears, causing all the others to slow. 

Noone: While they were bothered, I took the chance to escape. 

[Dream!Noone running, machinery fades out]

Noone: The wall in front of me went… went down and around, f-forever and ever. Along with the mechanisms. I grabbed onto a rod, sliding on, when a big creak [metal groan] groaned above, and the gears went right back to singing their song. 

[machinery starts again]

Noone: The ripped fabric floated down before me, passing by a tiny crack in the stone. Painful cries came through it. [faint echoey scream] I shouldn’t have wanted to know what was on the other side, but… I did. 

[more screaming]

Noone: A small room with chains covering the floor. And 3 identical nun-like dresses, freshly pressed, hanging by a bed. Then, the chains jangled [Chains jingling, man gasping], and my heart stopped. [Man groans] A frail body slumped against the wall, a chain around his neck. He was right in front of me breathing hard… That’s what I remember most. The awful smell, like when sausage goes bad. 

Otto: Hold on a minute, Noone. [Noone gasps. Ambience suddenly stops] You distinctly smelt his breath?

Noone: Not his breath. Him. So rotten, it still stings my nose now. 

Otto: How certain are you?

Noone: You told me to tell the truth, no? I am. 

[Otto quickly writing]

Noone: Do you still want to hear the rest of my nightmare?

[Otto still writing]

Noone: Otto?

Otto: Hm? O-oh. Apologies. My mind was divided, and that’s not fair to you. 

Noone: [quiet sigh] Anyways. 

Noone: Looking through that crack, I realized something. (whisper) I was inside the walls. Like a rat. On the other side was an entire world. (normal) And everything got… w-worse from there. 

[very quiet ticking]

Noone: Lower and lower I climbed until I had gone- down so deep, that there was nothing but steam and darkness. And louder ticking, back, and forth. Back, and forth. Wanting to give up I sat listening. 

[ticking is more noticeable] 

Noone: I’d nearly fallen asleep, when suddenly a small shape crawled out from inside the wall below. “Another Worker came for me,” I thought. But… when they looked up… I saw their eyes. A child. For certain, this time. And… their hair was covered in goo, which made it hard to tell if they were a boy or a girl. Still, I climbed down, full of energy. 

[Dream!Noone climbing down]

Noone: Nearly the amount I used to have. 

Noone: We stood in silence, a moment. Stuck in their hair was… black liquid moving like smoke. 

Noone: “What’s in your-” [Dream!Noone at the same time] I started, [child shushing] but they put a hand over my mouth. Not until they pointed at the wall, did I understand why. Its another crack, led to yet another chamber. 

[Dream!Noone and child walking over. Metallic hammering starts up]

Noone: It was a hideous workshop. All around were… half-made… projects? Built from wood and metal, with all kinds of straps and cranks. Their shapes made my chest tighten. A collection of… masks was- on the shelves with screws and spikes on them, positioned to fit perfectly into a mouth! 

Noone: A tall woman bent over a new project, [faint humming] wearing a familiar dress. Long heavy chains coming out under its tail. [Chains scraping, more humming] She moaned, enjoying herself. I could feel she’d been at it for hours. Her presence alone told that she was the keeper of this stone giant. Of the world beyond the walls. 

Noone: Turning to a pile of scraps… I saw her face. Equally… old and young, and her s-skin stretched back so tight that… only her eyes seemed human. I wanted so badly to know what she was building, and to scream all the same…

Noone: But before I could do either my new friend pulled me away. They pointed up. 

Noone: From between the planks, a shadow studied us. The child pulled my arm but it was already too late. The Worker leapt down besides me, inspecting my body like a tool, reaching out with its wrench. The child pushed me away, [the sound of burning] letting a sliver of light shine out from the workshop to hit the shadow. Faster than fast, it tucked back into darkness, [sound stops] desperate to keep hidden. 

[pause]

Otto: Noone, why have you stopped?

Noone: I’m thinking. …The next bit is hard to describe. The nightmare- it shifted. 

[ambience picks up, earlier sound of machinery]

Noone: Steam reached around us. And we came to a place at the bottom of the gears. Between the walls. 

[whoosh, tick]

[whoosh, tock]

[whoosh, tick]

Noone: In front of us, a long pendulum whooshed back and forth. 

[whoosh, tick]

[whoosh, tock]

Noone: My friend grabbed hold as it swung by. I let it go past one, [tick], two, [tock], three times before finding the courage to do the same. We climbed as the pendulum rocked left and right, making my head dizzy. “Just a little more,” I repeated to myself, until my friend reached out a hand to pull me up. 

[Both Dream!Noone and child grunt as she’s pulled up]

Noone: We’d made it. Finally, the center of the clock. The room was round with a spiral staircase, and a machine made of little metallic fingers, tapping a violent rhythm. 

Noone: The ceiling was a white- clock face, but… all the numbers were wrong. 

Noone: We immediately ran up the stairs [footsteps] and at the top, we stepped out into a courtyard. 

[Dream!Noone and child breathing, stepping on grass. Machinery and ticking fades out]

Noone: My body began shaking as I heard them. [Faint screaming] Shouts and shrieks of pain. All I could do was stare up at the circular walls, which I had just been inside. This was the true building. There were a million rooms like the second one I peered into, all the way up, with- hands and limbs reaching out from between the bars that kept them locked in. My heart pounded like one of them. A Prisoner, trying to get free. 

[Screaming and shrieking continues]

Noone: I shouted “Wait, please!”

[Dream!Noone: Wait! Please!]

Noone: But my friend was across the courtyard. Then, a jingling. The tall woman jumped down from above [jingling, thump] and with thumping steps, she went after my friend. A chain leapt out beneath her dress, like a snake. It caught their leg and the woman dragged the child through the snow, kicking and yelling. 

[child struggling]

Noone: My friend scared to tears [child: Help!] yelled for help, and the woman spotted me. She began plodding my way and fear froze my feet. Getting closer and closer and all I could think was “Who brought me here, and why was I made to know these secrets?!” [chains jangling] 

Noone: With skin so tight her mouth opened only a sliver with blackened teeth inside, hungry for something! …Something that swelled inside me. 

[all ambience cuts off]

Noone: …Then I woke up. 

Otto: …That’s… awful, Noone. I’m sorry. The woman in particular sounds… disturbing. 

Noone: Yes. But, she didn’t scare me most. Not after I woke up. It was the Workers. 

Otto: Hm… because they were mindless?

Noone: No. Because they were hidden. Nobody knew they existed… that’s how I feel sometimes. Since getting the water sickness, (increasing distress) as if things are in my body but instead of making me tick they’re killing me, like the bugs in the flower pot- Ugh, I can feel them in my head!!!

Otto: Noone. Listen to me. I’ll do everything within the limits of my command to help you, but there’s nothing bad inside you. Nothing. 

Noone: …um…alright. 

Otto: [pause] I have… one more question, and I think it’s enough for your first day, okay?

Noone: Okay. 

Otto: Noone, have you ever heard of mutual dreaming?

Noone: Mutual dreaming?

Otto: Sharing the… experience with another person. 

Noone: How could what’s in my head be in someone else’s head? And who would I share it with?

Otto: Questions that have hounded my outer colleagues for years. Your perception of temperature and smell while dreaming is sometimes thought to be an indicator of this transpersonal phenomenon. While I’m not convinced of its ontological validity, I’ve longed to study a case like yours. Unfortunately- I’ve only known one other person to exhibit this faculty, years ago-

Noone: Who? Were they like me?

Otto: …My… (quietly) beloved Cici**... uh- not quite. In any case, my ambitions fell off, I… I lost sight, of… many things. But you’ve stimulated a part of me nearly forgotten. 

Noone: Oh. I think I see it now, Otto. 

Otto: Yes! That’s right! We’re in this together. 

Noone: No. The painting. 

Otto: Oh. 

Noone: It’s a map. Of stars and two circles around it. 

Otto: Yes! Good! An astrolabe, in fact. 

Noone: Astrolabe?

Otto: An ancient instrument, used to locate positions in time and space. Now, surely, you’re exhausted-

Noone: I don’t want to go to my room. To sleep. Will… will you walk me back?

Otto: Of course! And we can’t forget your nightly confectionary. [the sound of wrappers] Here now, take your pick. 

[Wrapper crinkling]

Otto: Sweets for my sweet. 

[ceramic clinking]

[click]

[Outro plays]

------------

*It's a little hard to tell what word she says here

**I have no idea if this is how it's spelled

[shyalia]

I would like to introduce my new (accidental) OC! 

Meet Cordelia Hunt, aka "Cory"!! She is a lemur mutant in the TMNT AU world of The Day the World Broke by @saladmix. And in case you were wondering... yes, she's that lemur mutant.

Fun fact, the ring-tailed lemur is my favorite animal. Around 6 months-ish ago, I asked Saladmix if I may make a small request for a lemur mutant to appear in the story somewhere. Nothing specific or anything, even just a glimpse of one would suffice. To my delight, she had a spot in mind, yay! -fast forward 4-5 months to her debut-

Now, it wasn't intentional for her to become a fleshed-out character when she was added to the story. She was a no-name background character who served a purpose and that was to be the end of it. But, a couple of weeks ago after chapter 24 was posted, my brain wouldn't shut up about her. Cue all of the headcanons, personality, things she's accomplished in the past, what happened when the apocalypse hit, and how she got to where she was at that point in the story, etc etc etc. All at 2am when I should have been sleeping. (Because of course, when else would inspiration strike?) 

With Saladmix's permission, Cory now has her own story living inside my head that I may write someday. But in the meantime, here's some details on her:

She was adopted as a young girl, roughly age 2-3. Her adoptive dad was a dhole mutant, a humble man, and a hard worker. Made an honest living and did everything in his power to raise Cory well. It was just the two of them, and they were very close. She considered him her real dad, being with him for as long as she could remember.

She worked as a mechanic in her dad's auto shop in New York City. She had displayed an interest in her dad's work from a young age and he willingly taught her. She became quite skilled in working on vehicles and knowing how to repair them. 

Because of her auto repair knowledge, she was taken into the group she is a part of when we meet her in the story. Despite not agreeing with their actions, she joined this group fairly early in the apocalypse. It's more out of necessity for survival rather than desire.

She had a passion for geology and was saving up to go to school to study it. She had a big collection of rocks, minerals and fossils in her room, her most treasured one being the aventurine quartz.

When she was younger, her dad wouldn't let her bring an entire bucket of fancy-looking rocks home but allowed her to pick one "special" one to remember the day by. She kept that tradition ever since, always ensuring to bring home a special rock from each adventure. Every. Single. Time.

Her favourite colour was green- close second being blue- as it reminded her of nature. A lot of her spare time was spent in Central Park, or outside of the city to go hiking.

She was part of her high school's track and field team, even if she would have preferred other extracurricular activities. She made the top record in the Triple Jump at a track and field meet in her freshman year, beating it again in her sophomore year and has been undefeated since. Some claimed she was cheating since her species is known for their nimbleness and leaping, but the school board accepted it nonetheless.

She was an unfortunate target for bullies during her younger years. They would often pull on her long tail and call her Zoboomafoo or King Julian, mocking her with "Move it move it". Lame insults (because bullies are lame and always go for the cheap shots). But she became self-conscious and when she was anxious, she always held onto her tail to protect herself and feel less vulnerable.

I've got more, but will save that for if/when I actually write her story! Let me know if that's something anyone would be interested in reading?

[shipandrunforit]

Dropping some Heartsteel head cannons I have bc these thoughts won’t leave me alone and I’m curious how much they are going to tie in magic with this (bc Kayn and Ezreal still have their powers)

Kayn and Rhaast

Was a street kid growing, something happened that lead to him being orphaned and living on the streets for a few years

Accidentally released rhaast while trying to steal things from a museum, Rhaasf was not happy about having the situation and tried to leave but Kayn didn’t let him go out of spite.

Two slowly grew to be friends but aren’t the healthiest of friends with Kayns ego feeding into Rhaast, especially when their on stage, and Rhaast has a tendency to voice and pressure kayn to follow through on intrusive thoughts or actions.

Rhaaat was the one who thought of them entering the music industry (wanted everyone’s eyes on him) and so they worked their ass off to get into the industry.

Rhaast also enjoys the dramatics, got very board sitting in the weapon for years and enjoys putting on a show and being a show off.

Ezreal

Was sort of like those Disney kids from the Mickey Mouse club, was how he got into the industry at such a young age. (Also could be why kayn calls him the pop star Prince, is bc he was everywhere for a while).

Is an orphan and is being raised by his uncle

Not sure how he got teleportation when he doesn’t seem to have the gauntlet but he very much loves using his abilities to jump around the city and do parkour.

Would probably also use it to sneak out at times either to hide from his old manager when he was in trouble

First time he did this in front of the boys was bc he was too lazy to walk to the kitchen and he scared the crap out of K’Sante, still make jokes about it.

The dog sleeps in his room, was also the one to name the dog.

Good af editing, especially on computers

Yone

Started out as a dj and went to music school and even taught his brother a few basics of being a dj as well.

Still had a falling out with his brother bc he saw how bad the industry was and didn’t want Yasuo to get involved. Led to them having a fight and haven’t really talked since

Is very into mythology and folklore (is why for his section of music video we see the azukana spirt. Is also partially bc I have no fucking clue how else to tie that part of his backstory into this).

Boys played a prank on him by switching his coffee once, long story short they all (including Rhaast) collectively agreed never to do this again bc of how terrifying the results of this prank where

Yone is one of the best drawers in the group besides Sett and the two talk about animations sometimes (Yone animated the fox in his section)

Has made the boys Dino nuggets at one point

Sett

Is a big fan of comics, animation, and pfp fighting games

Did the drawings for his section as well as the animations for the background (am referring to that scene in the end of the music video)

Dad was a boxer who left when Sett was young

Sett also knows how to box and worked as a boxer for a bit as well as a bouncer maybe. Rap was more of a hobby but when he got signed onto a record label he switched to doing it full time

Punched the paparazzi bc they were harassing his mom

Favorite anime’s include jojo’s bizar adventures and one punch man

Meet Apjelious before Heartsteel at a meuseum that showcasing a new planetarium exhibit. Two hit it off and are now dating.

Aphelios and Alune

He and his sister were involved in choir when they were younger

Alune went off to college to get her degree in business in management and aphelios went stayed home and did his music.

Aphelios lost his voice either due to medical reasons or because of an accident, Alune transferred to a closer college to be with her brother when the news broke out.

Aphelios had a hard time getting further in the industry, was often discredited or people wouldn’t want to work with him bc it was “too much of a hassle”.

Was nervous for his sister to meet Sett only to realize the two get along great and would 100% commit crimes together

Is also a gamer and will do dates with Sett that’s just them playing video games or Sett listening to him ramble on about movie or video game scores.

Aline was very chill with the boys breaking into the studio bjt did tell them not to break anything (spoilers, they did and she was not happy about it).

Alune is the older sibling and will tease her brother and the other boys and is not afraid to fight them if push comes to shove.

K’Sante

Has written and preformed a lot of songs before Heartsteel

Used to work on songs with his ex boyfriend but the two spit up due to the strain working together put on their relationship

Is the relationship expert in the group and will give the others advise or flirting or planning dates or anything else they need help with if they ask.

Loves going to the gym with Sett, might have been how the two of them meet in the first place. They got to talking about music at one point and when they found out the other was looking for someone to collaborate with they decided to work together.

Spot for one another when in the gym

Is the other mom friend of the group but a lot more chill, let’s them get away with more things then Yone would

Is good at filming and old school editing. He and Ezrael did most of the did for the music video and let the others scribble one what they compiled then approved it.

Was against the coffee incident and straight up left the building when it happened.

[kaunis-sielu]

Bad Cop

You live in a safe part of town. Being married to a cop Steve wasn’t about to put his family at risk if he could help it. He’s worked hard, you both had, but he’d made Captain in department record time and then you’d had Thomas.

Thomas’s favorite part of the day was when Daddy came home. Steve would come in, his uniform a little less crisp than it was when he left, his smile a little sadder and his eyes a little more exhausted. He’d scoop up Tommy, swing him over his head and pretend to eat his belly, much to a scream laughing Tommy’s delight. Then he’d look at you with those tired, eyes and curl an arm around your shoulders to pull you in for a kiss.

You tried not to worry about him while he was at work. You tried not to talk about his work unless he brought it up. But it wasn’t easy.

Steve is like clockwork, so when you hear someone at the door you’re confused. He shouldn’t be home, not yet. You pull up the camera and to your horror see a man in a black ball cap trying to see into your home.

You’re calling Steve before you even process what you’re doing.

“Hey Honey,”

“Someone is trying to break in.” You tell him sprinting up the stairs and to where Thomas is sleeping.

“What.”

“Someone is trying to break in!”

“Buck, my place. Now.” Steve says, “where are you Honey?”

“Thomas’ room. He’s still napping.” You whisper you can hear him sprinting.

“If you hear anything breaking get him and get in the closet okay? We’re already on our way. We don’t want the sirens on because we don’t want him to know where we are.”

“Okay.”

“Two minutes Honey.” You’ve never loved living in a small town more. Then you hear glass shatter.

“Oh no. Glass.”

“Get Thomas, and get in the closet. Do not come out until I come get you okay?”

“Okay.” You whisper, you know he can hear the fear in your voice as you make your way to the little bed that Tommy sleeps in now and scoop him up. Whoever is in your home must not realize you’re there, he’s not being quiet by any means. You hope that Thomas will go back to sleep but when you look over at him those bright blue eyes are looking right at you.

“Baby, we’ve gotta be super quiet okay? We’re playing hide and seek and we don’t want to get found okay?”

“Daddy?” He asks sleepily and you shush him gently.

“Soon. But we have to be so quiet.” How aren’t Steve and Bucky here yet? Your heart is in your throat as you listen to the feet come upstairs. “Steve. Upstairs.” You whisper into the phone holding Thomas tightly. Luckily your two year old seems to understand something isn’t okay.

“I can see the house Honey. I’m going to hang up because we’re coming in hot. I love you. Stay there.”

Nothing in your life has sounded worse that the disconnect tone.

You hear Thomas’ door open and feet come into the room but quickly leave. The only real valuable item in the room is the baby monitor. Then you hear it.

“Don’t you fucking move. Put your hands up! Put your fucking hands up!” Steve yells and Thomas looks at the door and squeals,

“Daddy!”

“You picked the wrong ass house man.” You hear Bucky say just before the closet door is pulled open and your husband yanks you to him.

“Oh thank god.” He breathes into your neck before kissing Thomas on top of his head. Then he presses a searing kiss to your lips.

“They okay Cap?” A third voice calls as two more officers come upstairs. Bucky hands off the man in the hat to the younger officer, Parker you think, and you give Sam a little smile.

“We’re okay.”

“I’m taking the rest of the day.” Steve tells Bucky who nods then heads out of the house.

“You don’t have to.”

“Honey, he broke a window in the house, I’m not leaving you here with a broken window.” Steve says kissing you again, “Also, I need this Honey. Never been so scared in my life.”

“Daddy,” Thomas reaches for Steve.

“Hey buddy, Dad’s gonna change first.” He doesn’t love holding Thomas for too long with all of his gear on, which you appreciate. “Come with me?” He asks you and you weave your fingers through his. Steve presses a kiss to the back of your hand and leads you out of the room. You go to your bedroom where his gun safe is, this one only opens with his fingerprints because you didn’t want little eyes watching and figuring out a code. Even if he couldn’t reach now that wouldn’t be the case forever. Steve puts his mace, taser and gun all in the case then changes quickly. You and Thomas sit on the bed, well you sit and Thomas practices his body slams on your pillows.

“Are you okay?” Steve asks looking over at you.

“Yea, I just can’t believe it happened.” You tell him. “I’m glad the station is so close.”

“Me too.”

“Did you recognize him?”

“No, why?”

“I’m just wondering if it was a targeted attack or if it was really just bad luck on his part.”

“Until we hear otherwise it was just bad luck okay?” He says making his way to the side of the bed. “You did everything right.” He tells you cupping your face in his hands, you didn’t realize how much you’d needed to hear that. Steve leans in to kiss you when Thomas realizes that his dad is fair game to play with now.

“Put your fucking hands up Daddy!” You both freeze a breath away from one another.

“Did he?” Steve murmurs,

“Yup.” You affirm and he groans softly. You press a quick kiss to his lips. “This one is all you Rogers.” You tease as Thomas yells, “Put your fucking hands up Daddy! You’re the bad guy!” Steve groans softly dropping his forehead to your shoulder and you have to bite back a laugh.

This should be interesting.

Tag list:

@foxyjwls007 @andahugaroundtheneck @also-fangirlinsweden @pagina16ps @annielr @princesssterek @valsworldofcreativity @dumblani @inkedaztec @loving-life-my-way @animegirlgeeky @shinycupcakebaker @eralen @sophham @gh0stgurl @patzammit @wonderlandfandomkingdom @abschaffer2 @capsiclesdoll @killcomet @sass-masterkittenmama

[gingergofastboatsmojito]

I'm only going to address this topic once to set the record straight

The 3 women this post above is referring to are not Ayo, Molly, and an unknown one. Leave Ayo out of it pls!

Let me explain.

They are:

His ex-wife, Addison Tomlin, whom he co-starred in Chasing You with while they were already engaged → https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7856598/

His ex-GF Emma Greenwell whom he worked with in Shameless and he dated for 2 years prior to starting dating his ex-wife and that he left because he started dating Addison → https://m.imdb.com/title/tt3570280/mediaviewer/rm818870273/

And his current GF, MG, whom he started "dating" after his divorce, while being single, unless we consider Rosalia something other than a long-distance situationship, that was never upgraded to a serious/committed relationship by either of them or their reps.

Pretty clean track record for someone who's being accused of being a "player", "womanizer", "manwhore", etc... right?

There is a rumor, never confirmed by anyone, that says that during the filming of S2 in Chicago, before his ex-wife filed for divorce, there were too many late-night dinners between Ayo and him and Chicagoans went crazy back then with speculation, hence:

but nothing ever happened or was verified by any source.

There were more rumors about Ayo and him earlier this year before baseball-gate, post-award season/Grand Slam, and those rumors not only were never confirmed either but shortly after a blind item came out saying there was a romance on set between JAW and a co-star, so everyone thought of Ayo back then (except me who immediately narrowed it down to both Ayo OR MG, thinking MG had better chances because Jayo seemed too good to be true and I had seen how she looked at him at the SAGs)

and a few days later (after the blind item of May 21st) JAW and MG went to Copenhagen and just now MG set the record straight on Cosmopolitan Magazine, saying they started feeling like "opposites attract" in June and started dating after that. June was when they were seen together in London at a Springsteen concert (where Ayo and Cooper Wehde were too) and a few weeks prior Deux Moi started spreading rumors with no visual material attached to confirm them, saying that MG and JAW were spotted together in LA.

All the while Ayo was always very open about "not dating coworkers".

This means that we have no hard evidence about Jayo. We never did. We can only go by "chemistry", which is undeniable but hardly enough, and maybe by wishful thinking, which is just that.

If we speculate, then we need to understand those are just speculations and that Ayo is not crazy about them as she said and demonstrated time and time again, and JAW clearly doesn't even GAF about them. So far all we know for sure is that evidence supports his clean track record in terms of "cheating". I won't walk through fire for him, but I will not deny the hard proof at hand either that shows his TL is quite overlapping-free, so making JAW wear a Scarlet Letter in 2024 for being messy while also being free as a bird and having the right to fuck, date, and dump without informing the media about any of this, whoever he wants, is at the very least OBSOLETE and preposterous at worst. So CHILL!

He's clearly not a guy who fucks around and has a collection of kids he doesn't even take care of, which would be the only reprimandable behavior in this day and age unless we feel entitled to have an opinion about other people's sex life, understanding by sex: any sexual, consensual and legit activity between adults. He's a very present dad and a very busy man who has every right to sleep around or not if he feels like it, and who doesn't owe anyone any explanation about it.

I'm not sure about Ayo because, unlike JAW, she hasn't talked about her love life or made any relationship official since she broke up with her ex-BF (Burgess last year), which I fully respect. This new guy she's with was never really introduced to anyone as anything other than her date to some events. She doesn't live with him and barely even hangs with him outside those PR events because he lives in NYC. I'm not sure if the label of BF is appropriate and won't call him that unless Ayo does first, is not my place to label the guys she's with if she doesn't do it either.

What I do know is that's how misinformation is spread, by making assumptions about other ppl's personal lives, that we can theorize about till the cows go home, I certainly do, but we actually have no certainty about it. We need to remember that.

That being said, I have made clear my "open-minded and slightly parasocial" personal preference regarding Jayo on the UTT podcast, meaning I'm all for it IF it ever happens (which I deem unlikely) but most importantly I just want them to be happy, either together or with other ppl, IDC. So far, looks like the only one who looks happy is Ayo, (which I love, ofc) while JAW is being punished for daring to fuck someone other than her. THAT I WILL NEVER STAND FOR. I miss happy JAW and I miss those times in which he was the internet's BF not the "rat face manwhore who cheated on Rosalia with a clout chaser" (not my words, ofc).

Last but most definitely not least:

I hope he finds with whomever he can, what he once had while he was in a long-distance situationship with Rosa, earlier this year because it was the last time I saw him genuinely happy in public.

[idontknowreallywhy]

Estera Ch 7 - Gull

(Prologue, Ch 1, Ch 2, Ch 3, Ch 4, Ch 5, Ch 6)

(Sofasurf’s Recrudescence which is the foundation for all of this)

Scott paces, Virgil paints, John panics…

Another little warning for things discussed but not actually happening here. Some of Scott’s pondering is based on either my own experience or that of friends… sorry if it therefore seems ‘out of voice’ for him, but it’s where I think he lands at this point in the story.

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

The Sunday morning sun peeked cautiously over the horizon and cast a burnt orange glow over the water as Scott paced the length of the balcony again and again. He barely noticed the changing light, his focus on wrestling his own mind into submission… with minimal success.

He wanted to run. Run until he was too exhausted to think. That would help him get out of this spiral. But he knew he’d never back get past the puppy pile he’d managed to sneak away from when he awoke suddenly desperate to see the sky. He paused and pressed his face against the glass to see them still peaceful, all in wildly different sleeping positions and, he smiled affectionately, probably making the full range of amusing sleep-noises between them.

He’d not get away with opening the door again, not now the dawn chorus had started, someone would wake. And they needed their sleep. Fine. He was trapped here for the time being.

Unless he climbed down…

He peered over the railing down at the pool deck.

No, he couldn’t run if he broke a leg. And his brothers would probably panic and assume he’d been trying something silly. Sillier than climbing down a cliff face merely because he needed to adrenaline-burn some thoughts from his mind without an audience.

Predictably they were very worried about that. John had asked him outright last night if there was any ideation - a form of words that sounded very much like Patricia in risk-management mode. Of course she’d probably had a word.

He knew why he was asking, but it was hard not to shrug it off as a non-issue. Sure, he could admit wasn’t in a great place right now… but as he told her at the start of every session when the question came - his protective factors were rock solid. And they were the brothers he was responsible for. He wasn’t ever going to deliberately do anything to hurt them, they’d suffered enough loss.

As much as he wished his family had been left with somebody more… well… Everything… Scott was what they were stuck with and despite the darker thoughts he knew logically that he was better than nothing. He knew he couldn’t knowingly leave them with all the burdens his father had left him with. One of the more frequent questions he’d yelled at the horizon from the privacy of the far side of the island was why on Earth Dad had saddled him with so much ADMIN?

A gull screeched at him in agreement.

A wry smile. He could sort the admin. He was good for something at least. And, for whatever reason, they did love him, he knew that. They kept going out of their way to demonstrate it.

And Dad had had flaws, hadn’t he? More apparent in retrospect… but Scott still loved and missed him… so it stood to reason the others might miss Scott if he was gone.

No, no silliness.

Whether he’d ever be any real use again though…

He watched the bird wheel overhead and his heart sank. No flight for him for a while. If One was needed, Alan would pilot her. He’d made the decision before poor Virgil had been forced to. His brother had been through enough dealing with Scott’s mess and selfishness recently. He seemed exhausted, he felt a stabbing guilt, and John was little better.

The pacing recommenced.

In retrospect, switching off the comm for the flight home had been unwise. But he’d felt it best that the full range of military-schooled curse words he’d yelled into the void of One’s cockpit did not end up on the official record and could not be overheard by impressionable younger brothers. It had made sense at the time. But yeah, they’d assumed the worst and… he cringed… Virgil and John seemed to have been really freaked out by something else that he needed to get to the bottom of.

Yet another thing to fix. Typical Scott Tracy, number one impulsive idiot - why think it through beforehand when you can overthink it one hundred times after the event?

The seabird suddenly nosedived to plunge into the water. He stopped to watch. It emerged empty-beaked and Scott felt a twinge of sympathy. Better luck next time little friend. The gull seemed to shrug it off, flew out of sight and the useful distraction was lost.

His mind swerved unavoidably back to yesterday and the relentless back and forth began again.

She stared up at him, again, pale-faced and wide-eyed, clear as the fists he clenched in front of him, closer than his own skin.

It had to be her. He knew it was her and she’d known him. But what if it wasn’t? What if she had merely been one of the many other rescuees over the years? His reaction would have seemed so weird and inappropriate. There might be a complaint.

But what if it was her? That was worse? It was definitely worse. He felt sick as he realised he’d grabbed her by the shoulders in much that same way as that monster in the square had when… when…

Maybe it wasn’t her. Maybe he hadn’t recovered as well as he thought. He was just seeing her in the faces of random people. That had happened before, when he first got back he passed her on the street several times a day, she was serving behind every counter, brought the mail to their door…

Could it have been though?

It was. He knew it was as sure as he could be sure of anything. He’d seen her so many times, particularly recently when he’d been sick.

Before the sickness, he’d contained it all fairly well during waking hours. There were certain odd triggers he struggled to counter. The slightly blood-like scent of rusted iron for example, thankfully not a common building material these days, but when they encountered it at close range… for a few moments he’d be back there crouching behind the rubble, the fence pole in his hand resting slightly on the side of his face as he watched her defy the soldiers.

But the nights… So many nights he’d shouted again and again for her to run but the sound wouldn’t come out… or if it did, it was rasping and painful and too slow. Too slow. She had waited too long. He strained and struggled against the unrelenting arms holding him back as the thug with the combat knife barked an instruction, then turned and gave chase.

She hadn’t got far enough away, he’d known that truth for ten years.

He’d failed.

Then there’d been pain and darkness.

He’d regained consciousness in the tiny cell and the pain and darkness had only intensified… he squeezed his fists and eyes closed and sang the names of his brothers to himself under his breath. He didn’t need to go there.

That Place didn’t hold him anymore.

SHE did, though.

She was watching every time he failed to save another person. All the times he wasn’t quick enough or strong enough, he had apologised to the ghost of her over and over and over.

If she was alive…

If she WAS alive… it changed everything.

He had to know for sure.

He turned his back to the sun and gazed up at the fading morning star for a long moment. Then tapped his comm and whispered quietly “EOS? Can you do me a favour?”

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

It had been a quiet couple of days.

Alan and Kayo had completed one rescue in orbit and the rest of them had sat in the lounge assisting on comms. Scott had been a little quieter than usual, deferring to John on a couple of points where usually Virgil might have expected him to be more decisive, but it WAS a space rescue and that wasn’t entirely unheard of. Scott had never been space’s biggest fan.

Other than that they’d all done their own thing, mostly within reasonably close proximity to their oldest brother because, at least for Virgil, it was difficult to actually let him out of his sight. So he’d played piano, painted on the mezzanine, baked a couple of apple pies. Normal things he’d normally be in the communal area to do and not suspicious at all.

Scott himself was sorting some TI paperwork and, at one point, handwriting the little cards they tried to send to young rescuees within two weeks of the event in which they were involved. Many were drafted by a special department at TI, the actual Tracy involved usually just adding a signature or, in Virgil’s case, a tiny doodle. But Scott did like to make them more personal when he had the time so the only unusual thing was that it wasn’t being done at 2am the night before their posting deadline.

When a quick count had revealed 11 cards rather than 10 stood up to dry, Virgil had wandered past and casually queried it - they didn’t usually include the adults after all. Scott silently handed him the extra card which appeared to be addressed to “Alex’s Awesome Right Shoe” at which point the younger brother concluded that whatever the story was behind that, it could wait for when Scott was ready to tell.

Along with all the rest. Hopefully.

He’d even gone to bed at a reasonable hour which was rather more odd. Virgil felt slightly uncomfortable asking EOS to confirm he was actually in bed… like she was some kind of high tech baby monitor… but her assurance meant he felt able to retire to his studio to work on a project too messy for the lounge.

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

Shortly before midnight Virgil was clearing up in his studio when John popped up on the comm, looking serious but not in the usual way.

“Evening John, what’s up? Do we have a situation?”

His brother cleared his throat and appeared uncertain of what he was about to say.

“Virgil, Scott asked EOS to hack a couple of… databases.”

Virgil frowned and turned off the tap, spinning to face John’s hologram with paintbrushes still dripping, “What databases? Whose databases?”

John’s eye twitched. “The UK Home Office and the GDF War Archives.”

Virgil cursed as one of his more delicate brushes snapped in his fist.

“And… did she?”

“Of course she did, he’s the Commander. Honestly, Virgil, I’m beginning to think she listens to him more than to me. She’s certainly been chatting away on his direct line fairly frequently. Apparently he’s been answering some of her ‘modern historical and anthropological questions’” John’s use of air quotes somehow conveyed deep unease. “I have instructed her not to annoy him but he hasn’t complained. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she’d gone soft on him since he was sick.”

“Well it’s better that they get along, I suppose. But John, what are they up to? Why?!”

“She said she was instructed not to reveal the details but has interpreted that instruction to mean she can tell me the basics without detail. She’s quite proud of how quickly she got through their firewalls.”

John paused.

“Virgil, maybe you should put those down?”

He looked down at the expensive brushes he’d been mangling and flung them into the sink.

“When was this?”

“Yesterday morning, apparently. Has he been working on Tracy Industries material ALL day today?”

“Yes. At least… I assumed so? I try not to get involved unless it’s R&D. All I did was check in and remind him to go to bed at a sensible time. From what I could tell then it was mostly spreadsheets on screen. Didn’t he have a budget thing to approve?”

“No. That was last week. I’ll see if I can find out what documents he was looking at but...” John coughed awkwardly at this point and Virgil looked at him quizzically until he continued “I haven’t currently got EOS’s help because she’s powered herself down for what she called “essential self care and maintenance” so with one thing and another it might take me a little while. Could you go and check on him?”

Virgil wiped his hands on his jeans and sprinted from the room.

He paused and listened at his brothers’ door. Gentle snoring floated through the wood and Virgil’s frown deepened. His brother didn’t tend to snore unless he was sick? He pushed open the door and found himself unsurprised to find the room empty, his brothers’ comms unit carefully located in the centre of the un-slept-in bed and a sound effects track playing on loop. He swiped it off in frustration and was lifting his arm to call John when his brother popped up in a state of extreme agitation: “Tracy Two has just taken off. Comms are inactive.”

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

Chapter 8…

[helgafolk618]

ERIKAFOLK: Erika and the Wake-up Call

Safety Patrol is not yet on the roll as this oneshot fanfic aims to show the relationship between David's mom and her family in a sweet and sour moment, early in the morning.

***

Read fanfic...? Click/tap here! ⬇️

***

Erika groaned, her head pounding with a sharp pain that radiated from her temple. She opened her eyes, squinting against the morning light that filtered in through the curtains. A sense of disorientation washed over her as she reached for her glasses on the nightstand, only to find them missing. With a frown, she turned her head to the left, expecting to see her husband's peaceful sleeping face next to hers. Instead, she was met with an empty pillow and a crumpled sheet.

"Where's Andy?" she mumbled, feeling a twinge of disappointment at not being able to wake up to his warm smile and gentle kiss. She hoped he hadn't already gone outside to start his day.

Her gaze then shifted to the right, searching for her glasses once more. Through bleary eyes, she made out a blurry figure standing by the bedroom door, holding something on their shoulder. As they whispered quietly, Erika recognized the voice of her son, David.

"Dad, are you sure this is a good idea? What if Mom gets angry?"

"Trust me, son, she'll love it. She always records your achievements, right? It's only fair that we do the same for her."

A smile tugged at Erika's lips as she realized what they were up to. Playing along, she remained still and closed her eyes again, curious to see how they would pull it off.

She could hear their footsteps approaching the bed, trying to be stealthy. A slight breeze brushed against her as they lifted the sheets and crawled underneath them. She suppressed a giggle as she felt their warm bodies snuggle up against hers. David wrapped his arm around her waist while Andy gently brushed back her hair with his hand.

The sound of a click caught her attention as Andy turned on the video recorder, waving at the camera and nodding to David. In unison, they both shouted, "Good morning, Mom!"

Erika opened her eyes slowly, feigning surprise and confusion. She saw Andy's broad grin and David's nervous smile. Her gaze then fell upon the video recorder, pointed directly at her.

Pretending to be bewildered, she sat up and asked with wide eyes, "Wha-what's going on? What are you two doing?"

David giggled and handed her a calendar. As she took it from him, she saw that today's date was circled in bright red pen, next to a doodle of a horse with a smiley face. Underneath it read, "DAY OFF!"

"Happy day off, Mom!" David exclaimed. "We wanted to record this occasion for posterity. You know, like you did for me when I poured milk in my cereal for the first time."

Erika couldn't help but laugh as she hugged her son. "Oh, you silly boy. That's very sweet of you, but it's not that big of a deal. It's just a day off."

Andy wrapped his arms around his wife, joining them in a warm, tight hug. "It's a big deal, Erika," he said, his voice filled with pride. "You've been working tirelessly for the Safety Patrol, you deserve a break. And we're so proud of you for everything you do."

Erika felt a surge of warmth in her chest as she hugged her husband back and then leaned in to place a tender kiss on his cheek. As they broke the embrace, their attention turned to the calendar. Andy pointed out the messy scribbles and notes that covered almost every inch of it — reminders of Erika's busy schedule with the Safety Patrol. Amidst all the chaos was a reminder for their upcoming anniversary, overlapped and overshadowed by other obligations.

"Wow," Andy commented jokingly, "look at all these dates. You sure have a lot on your plate, honey. How do you manage to keep up with everything?"

Erika forced a laugh but inside she felt a pang of sadness. With a heavy sigh, she explained, "It's not easy, Andy. You know how dire things are in Trolberg right now. The wall is still not fully repaired and many areas are still in ruins. The Safety Patrol needs all hands on deck."

David furrowed his brow and shook his head in concern. "But Mom, that's too much for one person to handle. You're risking your life every day for them. And you're still working for Erik Ahlberg, the man who almost got us all killed during that time with the Mountain King. How can you still…?”

Erika felt a surge of frustration and tension at the mention of Ahlberg's name. She clenched her jaw and attempted to hide her nerves. She knew David was justified in his mistrust towards Ahlberg, but she also couldn't reveal the true extent of her involvement with him – not even to her own family.

Erika placed a gentle hand on David's shoulder, trying to soothe his frustration. "David," she said in a hushed tone, "I know you don't like Ahlberg. And neither do I. But he wasn't the reason I continued volunteering for Safety Patrol. I did it because of something that changed my life."

Her voice dropped even lower as she leaned in closer and whispered, "David, there was a child in one of the emergency vehicles during Amma's first stirring. He looked just like you - same hair, same eyes, same smile. He was bleeding and unconscious. I still don't know if he made it. But that could have been you. It could have been any of us. That's why I joined the Safety Patrol - to prevent another tragedy like that from happening."

David shuddered at the thought of himself in that situation. He squeezed his mother's hand tightly and said, "I'm sorry, Mom. I had no idea. That was really brave and selfless of you."

With tears in her eyes, Erika smiled and kissed his forehead. "You're welcome, sweetheart. I love you so much. And I'm sorry too - for being away so often. But I promise to make it up to you."

She grabbed their calendar and flipped ahead to next month. In big letters, she wrote "DAY OFF!" across the page and showed it to them with a proud grin. "See? I'm taking a whole month off from Safety Patrol. Just us time! We can do whatever we want - play board games, have tea parties, watch cartoons... everything!"

As she hugged them tightly, Erika couldn't help but notice their slightly overwhelmed expressions mixed with pure joy. She laughed and said, "Okay, maybe not literally everything. But we'll savor every moment of it, right?"

They both nodded eagerly, excited for their upcoming family time. They looked over at the camcorder that was still recording and waved at it, saying, "Happy day off, Erika!"

Feeling a weight lifted off her shoulders, Erika's heart swelled with love and gratitude for her family. She knew she had been sacrificing too much of their precious time together for her volunteer work, but now, she was determined to make up for it - even if it was just for one day.

***

[A/N] Hey there, thanks for reading! So, news for Erikafolk: it will be a series of fanfics with an overarching storyline centered on Erika trying to discredit the Ahlbergs (yes, that's plural!). There's still a LOT of workshopping to do, but I took the time to write this oneshot as a sort of "pilot" or prologue, I guess? I really need to work on pacing and dialogue, haha. Anyways, that's all for now, I hope you enjoyed it! ;)

***

[hazel-of-sodor]

Day 27-Thomas and the Rocket Sled

Traintober 2023

Other Stories

Day 27-Record Breaker

Thomas and the Rocket Sled

1979

The Island of Sodor was even busier than usual. It was the 150th anniversary of the Rain Hill Trials and a gala was being held on Sodor to celebrate.

Engines of all types from the mainland and all over the world were coming to visit. 

Thomas arrived at Tidmouth Harbor one morning to collect a unique piece of rolling stock. He had been enjoying the lead-up to the gala immensely. There were so many new and strange engines and cars to meet that at times his head spun. This might have been the strangest one yet. Sitting on a special flatbed was a heavy metal frame with a seat on it. Behind the seat sat something that reminded Thomas of the jet engines on the planes at Tidmouth airport.

"It's a Rocket sled," Nicole explained as the flatbed was coupled behind Thomas. "The Americans use it to test systems for their aircraft."

"It must be very fast then," Thomas said.

Samantha snorted, "Try faster than the speed of sound. "

Thomas gave a mischievous smirk, "No one tell the Gresley's."

The engineers in charge of the rocket sled were ensuring it was properly secured, so Nicole climbed back into the cab to drink her coffee while they waited.

***

The lead engineer looked dubiously at her coworker. "John prepared it? Are you sure it's okay?"

Her coworker rolled his eyes good-humoredly, "Relax Beth, John knows what he's doing."

Beth glared, "Is that why Jasmine is regrowing half her hair?"

"Everyone makes mistakes every once in a while?" He offered unconvincingly.

She snorted, "Paul, John makes weekly mistakes. If his dad wasn't an admiral..."

"He's not that bad," he protested with a laugh.

Beth rolled her eyes, "Yes he is, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if he forgot to drain the fuel."

"He didn't forget to drain the fuel, here watch."

Before Beth could stop him, "Hey Crane!" He yelled up at Cranky.

Cranky was not enjoying the preparation for the Gala. It seemed every day more ships arrived with heavy locomotives and carriages, and he was expected to unload them all. "What is it?" He snapped towards the annoying human beneath him.

"Can you flip that lever with your hook?"

Had Cranky been in a better mood, or had had more sleep, he would have questioned the wisdom of flipping a lever on an unknown machine.

As it was, he gave the equivalent of a shrug. "Sure."

The lever flipped and for a moment everything was quiet.

"See? He didn..."

Thrrrremmmmmm

***

Thomas was patiently waiting for the engineers to finish when he heard the rocket rumble to life

"Are they testing the rocket?" He asked curiously.

Nicole's head snapped around to see the glow of the rocket's exhaust as it powered on.

"Brakes!"  She shouted, but it was too late.

Thomas began rolling forward as the rocket pushed him, faster and faster.

Samantha slammed on the brakes, but they quickly proved no match for the rocket's power.

Thomas whistled in alarm to the signal mam as he was pushed out of the docks and onto the mainline.

The signal men quickly threw the points and set the signals at danger. He rang control, "Clear the Mainline, we have a runaway."

***

Beth, Paul, and Cranky stared as the tank engine and sled raced out of view. 

"Uh...oops?"

Paul winced as Beth slowly turned to glare at him.

***

Thomas shot through Tidmouth Station, whistling as loudly as he could, startling James and Henry who were waiting with their trains.

Samantha released his brakes, realizing they could do nothing against the rocket but wear out.

Nicole hung on desperately as Thomas rocketed around the bend through Lower Tidmouth.

"Ooooooohhhh Lady!" Thomas cried as his speedometer broke 100 miles per hour, suddenly very grateful that Crovan's Gate had fit him with roller bearings. He would have worn through his old ones!

***

Percy had having a nice quiet morning when he heard Thomas. He had been taking a drink from the water tower when he heard the frantic whistling, and behind it, a dull roar.

"What in the name of..."

Thomas blasted past, the flyers on the station board flying from the force of his passing.

Percy sat there a long moment.

"It's too early for this."

"It's nearly tea time," his driver said.

"It's too early for this."

***

Several miles down the track Bertie heard Thomas's whistle rapidly approaching in the distance. "Wanna race Thomas?" He called eagerly.

Thomas roared past, whistling furiously.

"Never mind," Bertie said quietly.

***

Gordon was racing towards Wellsworth with the express when the radio in his cab went off.

Rain answered it.

"There's a runaway on track 3," she called out to Gordon and Amanda, "They'll overtake us soon."

Amanda smirked, "oh will they?" She said as she opened Gordon's regulator.

Gordon chuckled and surged ahead, even since he had been rebuilt back into a 3-cylinder in 72, he had taken every chance he could to test his speed.

As Rain shoveled coal like a woman possessed, Amanda watched the Speedometer creep up, smirking when it broke 100 mph.

Gordon however, frowned as he heard the runaway's whistle in the distance.

"Is that...Thomas?"

Rain snorted, "Don't be silly."

But it was.

Thomas raced up alongside the express coaches, he was going so fast the express seemed to be standing still.

"Hi Gordon, Bye Gordon," he managed to whistle as he shot past.

Amanda and Rain stared in shock.

"There's no way we can catch him," Amanda said in disbelief.

"But we have to try," Gordon called. He forced himself even faster, charging after the runaway No.1.

***

Finally, mercifully, the rocket ran out of fuel. Every joint and rod on Thomas ached. Even though Crovans Gates were known for over-engineering their rebuilds, Thomas was never meant to break 100, and he had far exceeded that.

To make matters worse, it had run out on Gordon's hill. Thomas wasn't sure he could make it up the hill without further damaging his motion. He rolled to a stop, panting heavily.

"Owwww." He moaned quietly.

"Are you alright?" Samantha asked, carefully setting his brakes and climbing down.

"I can't tell," Thomas winced, "maybe once everything cools down it'll be alright."

A deep whistle was heard as Gordon pulled up behind, curious passengers leaning out the window to look.

"Are any of you hurt?" The Pacific asked with concern.

"Nicole and I are alright. We're not certain about Thomas though."

"Is he well enough for me to push him up the hill?"

Thomas shifted his motion, "Probably better than rolling down."

Gordon gently buffered up and pushed Thomas and the sled up the hill to Maron station at the top, going slowly to keep from aggravating Thomas's motion

Jinx was waiting for them with a flatbed for Thomas. Gordon set off with the express again, as Thomas was loaded onto the flatbed, eager to make up the lost time.

The rocket car was left in the Marom sidings as Jinx set off for the works with Thomas.

***

The next day Gordon visited Thomas at the works as he was inspected for damage.

"So how's the new record holder?" The pacific teased.

Thomas had been lifted off of his wheels while they were inspected for damage.

He sighed in exasperation, "Not you as well."

Gordon smirked, "I'm afraid it's official."

"The steam speed record is for speed achieved under your own power," Thomas said baffled.

"Which my cousin still officially holds," Gordon agreed, "but you now hold the new record for the fastest a steam engine has traveled by rail."

Thomas stared for a moment, then groaned, "I'll never get your family to stop trying to adopt me now."

Gordon chuckled," You could just accept."

Thomas just sighed despondently.

A/N: Did I just adapt Thomas and the Jet Engine for my AU? Yes, yes I did.

[ventisettestars]

DannyMay Day 4

Day 4: Fractals [ao3]

Summary: Danny’s Ectoplasm doesn’t look right under the microscope.

———————————————————————————————————–

Dinner was just about done when Maddie took a breath and said. “Danny. We need to discuss your connections to Phantom.” 

It took everything in Danny to not drop his visibility and fade away. “Ah, the ghost boy you and dad are always hunting?”

“You don’t need to play dumb, we know.”

“What, what's to know? I’m not-”

“We know you’ve been helping him for a while now.” 

“H-helping? What makes-”

“Your mother and I have known you’ve been giving him the thermoses and Fenton tools. Why do you think we’ve made them so easy for you to grab around the house?” 

“I- Okay, yeah that makes sense. I thought you were just careless, but yeah, Why?”

“Well, we figured it would be better to leave out the safe things for you to find and tinker around with rather than the more experimental stuff..” Hearing that they had worse things, didn’t really comfort Danny, but his mom didn’t seem to notice his nerves as she continued. “Regardless, we have a favor to ask of Phantom, and we're hoping that you’d ask him something for us. Either by being the inbetween, or setting up a meeting place so we can talk.”

Danny’s guard rose. “Depends, but I might be able to.” 

“We need a sample of his ectoplasm.” His dad was straight to the point.

“We’ve been examining a sample from a fight a few days ago, but the structure deteriorated too much to continue to be used.” 

Danny looked like he was going to be sick. Ectoplasm shouldn’t just deteriorate. What were they doing with it?  “Why do you need more if you already studied it?” 

“Well. It’s got a weird makeup. Different from other samples, to the point where if we didn’t know it was ectoplasm from a spook, we’d think him an entirely different species. You’re mother thinks it might be why his powers are so- well powerful.” His dad laughed. “See, son. You know what Fractals are right?”

Danny nodded. 

“Phantom’s ectoplasm contains an actual DNA sequence. Can you believe it? We were trying to get a better look, but the more we zoomed in, it kept repeating in a pattern, never actually getting any closer. It alternated between his ectosignature and what appears to be human DNA.”

“But as your father said, what is happening is when we get just close enough to the DNA to record it, the ectosignature comes into view and blocks our view. Then once making it through, it's as though we were reversing the magnification. Except it’s been magnified a great deal more. I’ve got this theory that the reason he is so powerful is because this fractal shift is creating a dense matrix of ectoplasm.”

Jack took over. “Sort of how batteries have different charges where size doesn’t really matter, his ectoplasm is like that. Super-charged and continuing to compound in on itself. How he keeps growing.”

“But we can’t look into it any further cause this matrix of his seems to deteriorate exponentially faster than normal Ectoplasm when disconnected from a Ectobeing. Most likely due to it relying on his core or something.”

Danny stared blankly. “So basically, you want another sample so you can figure out why he is so dense and what's up with the random threads of DNA?” 

“Yeah! So can you son?”

“I’ll see what I can do. What should I collect the sample in?”

“We’ve got vials!” Jack pulled out vials like ninja throwing stars, one for in between each finger.

“We probably only need one, maybe two? It would be a waste to collect more since we wouldn’t really be able to look at them all before it broke down.” 

“Okay. I’ll see what I can do.” Danny took two of the vials. 

-----

Danny snuck down to the lab after his parents went to sleep to take a look at what his parents described at dinner. Sure enough, the spiraling pattern of alternating ecto and human DNA spiraled as far down as the mid grade microscope could manage, looking to continue past that. 

It was fascinating and confusing. Out of dumb curiosity, he checked a blood sample, and sure enough, once getting far enough magnified, it switched to ectoplasm. 

It was fascinating the pattern the sequence made. It really was a Fractal. He wondered if it meant that it would continue to spiral in the perfect shape ever denser. Made him think about dense celestial bodies and shutter. Not from fear, but his core sang at the similarities to a star. 

“I wonder…” Danny looked to the portal and decided to experiment. He shot a text to the phantom group chat to let them know he was going to the Zone. 

Once there, he relaxed, trying to see if he could unwind the coil of his ectoplasm. When he did, all that happened was he went human. He tried it again and he went ghost. But both times it didn’t feel like he was changing like normal. It felt like he was changing backwards. Wiping away his transformation rather than transforming. 

Then it occurred to him. 

Each time he switched, was he actually just compressing another layer of ectoplasm over his other form. Like his rings were, what, applying another layer of ectoplasm or applying more of his human DNA to cover the ectoplasm? Danny didn’t know enough about this sort of thing. 

Looks like he was going to be giving his parents a sample to look at.

[wishingicouldfly]

Favorite Fics 2023

Happy 2024! I always have a hard time narrowing down my favorites. A few stats this year, I read 155 fics (according to my admittedly not 100% correct database), and it's low because I've been watching LGBTQ+ media and reading less. I had 50+ fics that I rated 5/5, so narrowing down to 14 was me cutting out shorts, holiday fics, and rereads. These are in no particular order.

All is now Harmed by Fondleeds

It's still that dreamy kind of dark, nothing seeming real, but he knows that it's time to go, to whistle for Pippa and eat whatever he's got left in the fridge and start the drive down to Molly's. He can't seem to open the door. Maybe he doesn't want to face it, this new thing. Having Louis here feels like a betrayal. Harry tries not to think about what his Dad would have to say if he saw the journo sleeping on their pull-out, here to shake a settled sheet and watch the dust fly again. - AU. Harry's a farmer, Louis writes for The Age, and it hasn't rained in the Bourke Shire for six years.

Why I Like It: This is Excellent, but after 123K words, it's a WIP. Unfinished since May 2022, but that said, the writing is gorgeous, and I think that alone makes it worth the read.

2. Angels Fly by LilyBlue28

Harry is a lonely omega in the North Western White River Pack who is uncharacteristically drawn to nature and his now outdated primal instincts. He fills his days with going through the motions and clinging to the one actual friendship he has in the omega Zayn, and when he gets a chance he sneaks away to the edge of their territory to sit with the trees and the wildlife and sketch his favorite part of the river. But what happens when one day he spots the pack alpha, Louis, having an intimate moment with something, or someone, unexpected? Suddenly his quiet, nearly invisible existence gets upended, and secrets he never wanted to know quite literally won't leave him alone, and even when he tries to stay away, he keeps being pulled back into Louis' turbulent orbit. A magical love story featuring a generations long grudge, a menacing curse, and secrets that keep pulling them apart. Will they be able to find a way back to one another through the dark?

Why I Like It: Really integrated plot, soul mates/wolf story. ABO, but more wolf than human. Very involved plot. Well done.

3. Be There by mission2feelike

Niall sits down dramatically, arms flopping to his side before he leans forward and looks right into Harry's eyes. "So, your ex-boyfriend, who broke your heart four years ago, is coming to stay at your house for six weeks? And his daughter, your daughter, is coming to stay tonight?"

Harry nods, worried if he speaks, he'll be yelled at again, but then Niall's face softens, his ever-present smile is back and Harry hears him breathe out a small chuckle. "Okay, for the record, I think this is the worst idea you've ever had, but how can we help?" or The one where their family has been torn apart and their hearts broken, but an accident, a snowstorm, cinnamon rolls, and the adorable Josie force Louis and Harry to finally face the truth, and each other.

Why I Like It: Harry and Louis take custody of Lottie's baby, but Louis breaks H's heart by sending him away. pining. kid fic. Harry is famous. Had some very lovely domestic moments, and some tear jerkers. Louis was a bit of a jerk at the beginning. Side of Ziam.

4. Butterfly Gun by Eravain - no link, this is off AO3, but DM me if you want me to share it with you, as I have a PDF.

Harry has never been much of a fighter, but—as always—where Louis Tomlinson is concerned, a lot of things stop being true. 1940's AU. Even after six years apart, they can't forget their shared wartime childhood.

Why I Like It: I loved this gem--childhood friends to lovers. Historical Fiction. Really well written.

5. Counterbalance by YesIsAWord

Harry Styles loves two things: teaching ballet and racing motorcycles. Those two worlds collide when his greatest rival on the track, Louis "Tommo" Tomlinson brings his tiny siblings to Harry's class.

Why I Like It: Pretty short but very effectively written story. Pacing was good. Loved the dichotomy of Harry as a ballerina and as a motorcycle driver. 

6. Danger I Can't Hide by CelticSky

"Don't," Tomlinson's voice was low, gravelled, hiding out in the night where only Styles could hear it. "Stop it. Calm down. You can't do anything." Styles' chest heaved. Tomlinson had him pinned against the wall, his forearm strong against his ribs. The night air crackled around them and all he could hear was the overlap of their breath, desperation, exquisite need and pain and desire and longing and lingering resistance. He couldn't take his eyes from Tomlinson's lips. The way they fell open to expel air against Harry's jaw. His tongue darting out to wet them between desperate words, making them glisten in what little light there was. His eyes were lidded and unseeing as he himself looked down to stare at Styles' mouth. ~~~ Flying Officer Styles and Sergeant Tomlinson would have likely never crossed paths in a time of peace, their ordinary lives laid out neatly, predictably before them. But then the world became unrecognisable. All too soon they grew accustomed to fear, surrounded by death and destruction, not even their very freedom a certainty anymore. Until they found each other. Comfort. Companionship. Understanding. Another person to lose.

Why I Like It: Amazing. Research into WW2 and what it was like to be queer and hiding a relationship. loved the love story, but also the human side of the war. Very well told.

7. Have Love, Will Travel by Kingsofeverything

Rather than spend the summer working at their desks, Louis and Harry are given the opportunity to crisscross the country together in a tiny camper, filming their adventures for a YouTube series. It soon becomes obvious to their viewers that there's something more than friendship between them. Eventually, they figure it out.

Why I Like It: super cute. Road Trip Larry. Lots of state parks, travel. Louis has a crush and of course they end up together.

8. Heading for Limbo by KingsofEverything

Childhood best friends who've fallen in and out of touch with each other since Louis' family moved away when they were thirteen, Harry and Louis find their paths crossing again and again. Each time, no matter how many miles apart or how many years it's been, it's as if no time has passed. They fall back into their easy friendship, until life intervenes and sends them on their separate ways once more. When Harry discovers some life-changing things about himself, Louis is there for him, however he needs. But it's all temporary because Louis has plans that will move his life from New York all the way to L.A. and the distance isn't the only thing between them. The pieces of their twice broken hearts are scattered from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Why I Like It: I really liked this one. Slow burn, friends to not-friends, to lovers, to exes, to lovers. Word of caution, H has a gf for part of it, but it's a really nice slow awakening of his sexuality. TW for some angst/pining.

9. Glass Closets and Greenhouses by TiredTiredTz

Charlton Athletic defender Louis Tomlinson and worldwide sex symbol Harry Styles are rumoured to be hooking up after a viral video filmed at Harry’s Wembley show was posted online by Tommo’s twin sisters. Sources close to the pair tell us the couple have been dating for a while, with rumours of house hunting, marriage and even kids on the cards! Styles, 29, is as well known for his whirlwind love life as his chart-topping music. Most recently linked to British fashion designer Alex Millet-Sloan, Harry has stayed tight-lipped on rumours of any romantic rendezvous between himself and footballer Tomlinson, 31, yet fans online are convinced that all evidence points to #Tomlinstyles being the real deal.

Why I Like It: Could have been longer. A bit over the top meet cute w/ the twins setting them up, but over all well done. 

10. It's Fine to Fake it 'Til You Make ('Til It's True) by Sunflouwerhabit

Harry dreads an impending visit to his hometown, where he’ll be forced to reunite with a newly engaged ex-boyfriend, a childhood best friend turned near stranger, and a family who never understood just how desperately he needed to leave. In the midst of it all, a ludicrous Twitter proposition brings him to Louis.

Why I Like It: I loved this one. Super cute characters, a little bit of miscommunication, lovely, lovely boys. 

11. Like an Endless Summer by objectlesson - no link, I have this as an epub

Louis is an riding instructor at a summer camp, and Harry is a fellow counselor wh he’s been successfully managing his crush on for the last two years. That is, until Harry shows up this year leveled up and lethal, and all Louis’ formerly perfected veneer of nonchalance melts like a popsicle in the sun.

Why I Like It: absolutely lovely. GREAT depiction of the uncertainty of a crush liking you. slow burn, but you see it coming the whole way. 

12. The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by KingsofEverything

Louis' life is steady and calm, moored by his marriage, and tied to his hometown, but after a chance encounter with another man, it'll never be the same.

Why I Like It: really liked this one. TW for cheating. Middle aged man in a loveless marriage realizes he's gay and falls in love with a co-worker. Could totally be a Hallmark movie.

13. Until the Pearls get Lost by LadyLondonderry

London, 1933. Harry Styles, alpha, elusive bachelor and happy third wheel to his coupled friends, receives a visit from one Liam Payne, begging for his help. Liam’s childhood friend Louis is about to become the talk of the city; left at the altar because the mating bond was rejected, Louis will spend the rest of his life in an institution unless Liam can find someone to take him in and care for him as he recovers. Most omegas with failed bonds are never the same again. With rumours swirling around about the reason for the rejected bond, Harry gives in to Liam’s pleas. He hasn’t the slightest idea how that decision will shape the rest of his life.

Why I Like It: This felt like a fairy tale. Great writing. A bit left to the imagination. Almost werewolf-y. 

14. Write This Down by Sunflouwerhabit

"And Louis responds by kissing him. He closes his eyes and presses their lips together and hopes it’s enough to distract from how those words cut and extracted critical pieces of his heart, his soul. Louis kisses Harry to avoid sobbing, yelling, pleading, begging him to never, ever use words like always or never or I promise, because they can’t. They don’t have an always. Nevers will forever remain a mere dream. Time has run out for commitments or oaths or pledges and if Louis is going to be okay- if he’s going to enjoy this time with Harry and then let him go and still feel whole- he can’t let himself start thinking long term. He can’t let this become emotional; something more than silliness and fun and sex. He can’t hear Harry say he’s proud of him when he doesn’t know if he’ll ever see him again after this week. 'I miss you,' Harry murmurs, his breaths warm and equally shaky. 'All the time.' Louis kisses him harder."

Why I Like It: I really loved this contemporary romance. Lots of angst, boys being stupid thinking they are protecting each other by not communicating. But ultimately a lovely story. New favorite.