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chelseeebe · 1 month ago

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guilty as sin

18+. mdni. smut, mentions of alcohol and drugs. harrington!reader x eddie;)

eddie shouldn’t even be entertaining his best friends sister, but when one thing leads to another.. he can’t help himself.

um hello! i hope you all had a good christmas and new year!!! i’m terribly sorry for not posting but christmas is always a crazy time and writing becomes the least of my worries.. but i’m back (hopefully)!!! got some steddie x reader brewing that i genuinely really like

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eddie fucking hates these parties.

he hates the smug girls that only look at him when they want something. he hates the boys and their fake leather jackets.

but he doesn’t hate coming out of said parties a couple hundred dollars richer.

he skirted around the edges, taking their cash and leaving before things ever got too much. everyone had heard what happens at a billy hargrove party and eddie wasn’t keen on sticking around long enough to witness it.

he lurks in the hall, a line of supercilious kids await his party favours, girls that would definitely fuck him for half a gram of his finest white powder.

eddie wasn’t like that, he preferred a flush of president jackson’s in his pocket instead.

he glances up at the empty hall and that’s when he spots a familiar skulking face.

steve would kill you for ever stepping foot in this hellscape, eddie’s astounded you’d even try.

billy didn’t like steve, or eddie really, for that matter. he just tolerated his presence for his assets. there’s no telling how he’d react to steve’s younger sister floating around his party.

“what’re you doing here?” he steps over, deciding to take over the overprotective position for steve tonight.

your eyes look guilty, and then narrow, as if to question his audacity to even ask.

“i’m partying, what’re you doing here?”

“selling weed to schmucks like billy hargrove,” nodding towards the testosterone filled man, hovering around like he was something special, “you should go home.”

“you should fuck off,” scoffing at his efforts, as pitiful they were. “i’m not a kid anymore eddie,” taking an elongated sip from the red cup your grasped.

“yeah i can see that,” glancing at your rather revealing outfit, letting his gaze slip to your cleavage just once.

he wasn’t going to pretend you weren’t attractive, he’d made enough lewd, only half-joking comments about you to steve before.

“you should get a life eddie,” snide and weirdly endearing, slipping past him to filter into the party, and away from his prying eyes.

he should go home. he’s made enough money for tonight, and this is all due to start getting weird any minute now.

and yet, he just can’t, in good conscience leave you here. especially not after watching billy sneak his arm around your shoulder, his lips dangerously close to your soft cheek.

eddie could’ve sworn he only looked away for a minute, dealing with some bonehead looking to short him, but it had all erupted in the millisecond he wasn’t watching you.

“don’t fucking touch me!” a piercing shriek comes from behind him, alerting the entire party to the altercation.

it’s you, billy trailing behind not long after. he’d say he’s never seen you so furious but that would be a lie, he had, many a times seen you like this. mostly when steve ate something you’d wanted or that time he’d told your dad about you sneaking out of your window.

“oh c’mon,” billy squawks, tommy hagan peering out of the door like the loser he was, “i wasn’t even touching you, not yet anyway,” his smug grin taking over his face.

“and you never will!” disgust rippling through your voice, arms crossed tight over your chest.

“don’t be so frigid,” sneering his upper lip, “from what i’ve heard, it doesn’t seem to run in the family,” a wisecrack about steve’s community dick no doubt.

“oh yeah, i’m sure you know all about my brother, freak.”

“yeah yeah, get the fuck out of here, dumb bitch,” storming back inside the house and past eddie who had carefully positioned himself just beside the doorway.

eddie feels he has some moral duty to fulfil, traipsing outside after billy had pushed his way back past, “what’d i tell you?”

“oh great!” you exclaim, “not you too, didn’t i tell you to fuck off?”

he takes it on the chin, your words meant very little, after all he’d become accustomed to them having been caught in the crossfire of yours and steve’s arguments plenty of times.

“c’mon,” practically ordering you around, “i’ll take you home,” walking backwards while beckoning for you to follow him to his van.

you stare stern faced for a second, realising that eddie was your best bet to get back across town.

“fine,” huffing as you oblige, glaring back at the roaring party one last time before slipping inside.

it’s no doubt that someone will feed all of tonight’s happenings back to steve, especially where billy hargrove and his little sister were involved.

“why’d you even go?” eddie starts when you’re on the road, deciding that you can’t jump out while he’s driving.

“because i wanted to party, is that okay with you?” scooting as far away as possible, pressed against the door.

“right.. sure,” deciding to no longer entertain the conversation. he wasn’t steve and he had no intention of ever becoming him either.

the rest of the drive is mostly on silence, up until he reaches the end of your street; “do you wanna come in?”

he risks a glance over, your features settled and friendly once more.

“what?”

steve was out, presumably all night, with christina, his new plaything. eddie had helped him pick out a shirt, only for his choice to go completely ignored.

“do you want to come inside? it’s pretty simple,” staring back expectantly, like he was the one suddenly trying to form a friendship after you’d shunned him.

“isn’t anyone home?”

“no, no one’s home, they’re never home,” pouting slightly. eddie knew all too well how often you and steve were left to fend for yourselves, they’d taken advantage of your empty house enough as teenagers.

he hesitates for far too long, “-or don’t, i’m just being polite eddie,” getting out of his van in a huff. you were just like steve, a real child when things didn’t go your way. the signature harrington move, and it exhausted him no end.

“jesus fucking christ,” he exclaims to the empty van, ambling up the long drive right beside you, “you can’t tell steve about any of this,”

your eyes roll back, glaring into the cracked window, “as if.”

ouch.

he exhales, cruising into the empty parking space before hopping out. he has this rumbling gut feeling that something bad is about to happen and yet, he can’t help but follow you into the house.

flicking the light on to illuminate the sad, lonely building, heading straight for upstairs. you had invited him to just leave him here, questioning his life choices.

“help yourself, i know you know where everything is,” striding up the stairs to your bedroom, reminding him of many nights he and steve helped themselves to your dad’s whiskey, throwing the empty bottles over the fence in a bid to hide the evidence.

what else do you know about? you and steve were close but surely not that close. but he knows his friend and he knows how much of a gossip he is.

you probably knew everything, how he fumbled chrissy and have been sorely single ever since, how his band are taking time apart to figure things out, steve was just the type of guy to tell you it all.

eddie does help himself, getting two glasses from the shelf and whatever bottle he reckons your dad won’t miss too much before walking over to the gigantic, and honestly, uncomfortable couch.

this felt wrong, like he was doing something naughty and deceitful. maybe he was, come to think of it. steve wouldn’t exactly be thrilled to walk into whatever this is, he’s sure.

you reemerge, changing from your revealing outfit into some equally as revealing pajamas. huh.

he can’t figure you out. maybe you were just tricking him, a stupid joke steve had put you up to.

“how much did you make?” coming to sit on the far side of the couch, grabbing the other glass he’d carefully poured.

eddie buffers, debating whether telling you was the right or worst thing he could do. he supposes you’ve got enough money, so you wouldn’t want that. steve too.

“couple hundred,” shrugging nonchalantly, as if it wasn’t some of the best he’s had in months, “trick is to always undersell them,” tapping his temple, “they’re too stupid to tell the difference.”

“so, what you’re trying to say is that you’re a scam artist?” sipping haughtily on the bitter whiskey, crossing your leg in some sort of power play.

“no- no, i mean, it’s billy-,” stopping only when you reach over and place your hand on his arm.

“i’m joking eddie.”

his eyes fall to your hand, he can’t recall if you’ve ever touched him before. why does it feel like that? like he wants your hand to shift further over and grab his thigh instead.

“yeah, i know that,” opting to clear his throat instead of letting his thoughts tumble out of his mouth.

“good,” smiling with the corner of your mouth, giving his arm a squeeze for good measure.

“so.. what were you doing with billy anyway?” tipping his head back to allow the rest of the liquor to slip easily down his throat, “didn’t think you were into guys like that?”

keep it fucking cool eddie.

jesus christ.

he’s trying, and subsequently failing, to keep his head straight.

you’re unrelenting, keeping your eyes trained on his and the your fingers wrapped around the glass.

cruel.

inexplicably cruel.

“billy’s not really my type,” sliding your finger around the rim of your glass, “i like them to be friends with my brother at least,” shrugging, completely smug behind your glass.

eddie’s eyebrows knit together, he thinks he’s picking up what you’re putting down but he can’t be sure.

you look up from your half-drunk whisky, eyes low and hooded, charged with a little something that definitely shouldn’t be there right now.

“oh,” his lips curating the perfect ‘o’.

this was a cruel prank, a master plan you’d thought up from the minute you’d seen him earlier.

exhaling softly when he doesn’t immediately make a move, back to the petulant child act he despised so much.

the couch dips, eddie’s eyes watch your legs march past him, displeased that he hadn’t leapt at the chance to ruin his friendship.

“are you gonna come with me or are you just gonna sit there all night?” poised on the bottom step, knowing full well that you’d already won.

eddie looks up, hoping for some guidance from whoever it was that resided up there, only to be met with the stark white ceiling. it’s grounding almost, only almost, because he swears he can make out the faintest yes in the cascading shadows. if there were ever a sign from above, this must be it.

ah fuck.

his feet make the decision for him, climbing up the staircase with far too much enthusiasm. this was a bad, horrendously stupid decision.

he knows which room is yours, the door ajar, inviting him in, tempting him to waters he definitely shouldn’t even ponder treading in.

eddie takes a moment to really consider whether this was the right choice, whether being balls deep in steve’s younger sister was truly worth the shit that would inevitably follow.

yes, yes it was.

he pushes the door open, you stand on the other side, no longer fully clothed, your silhouette projected onto the wall behind. there’s an attempt to move forward but his knees fail him, turning to jelly at the sight of you.

“jesus christ,” exhaling deep into his palm, flashing images of steve’s fist pummelling into his face flash before his eyes, only for a brief second. not long enough to have any consequence on what he’s about to do.

“stop staring and do something.”

he takes his time, stepping closer and closer until he’s about to touch you, a force or maybe his own self-doubt stopping him in his tracks.

“am i gonna regret this?”

“probably,” nodding innocently.

eddie nudges his forehead against yours, letting a sigh slip past his lips. this would go one of two ways; steve would never find out and you’d all live in blissful ignorance for the rest of your lives or, steve would find out and he’d bury eddie in the woods behind your house.

fuck it.

eddie’s prepared to take that risk, barrelling forward to connect your lips, almost knocking you off of your feet.

your arms interlock around his neck almost immediately, closing the distance between your bodies as you press against his torso. stumbling over one another’s feet to get to the bed, a rushed, hungry ordeal.

because now he’s done it, now he’s done the one thing he should’ve never have done, he’s raring to go. hard as fuck with a guilty conscience which feels anything but right.

you’re sprawled back onto the mattress, pulling him down over your body before he can even think to pull away.

you’re intoxicating, moving carefully against him, every next move more calculated than the last. like when your lips move from his to graze against his ear, sucking and nibbling your way down the length of his neck. it’s masterful, and slightly evil.

god fucking damn it.

he’s not supposed to like this. he’s not supposed to think about this for the rest of his pathetic little life but he knows he will be, certain he’ll be craving this forever.

your fingers work at the button on his jeans, grazing purposefully over his erection, drawing obscenities from his gasping lips.

his jeans are off and onto the floor alongside your panties in a hasty rush, the feel of your pillowy thighs slide over his ribcage, allowing him in closer, much closer.

“steve’s definitely not coming back tonight, right?” just needing to make sure one last time. even if you said yes, he’s not sure he’s be able to pull himself away at this point.

“can you stop talking about my brother while you’re about to fuck me?”

immediately understood. pressing another fiery kiss to your wetted lips, to both shut you and himself up.

you sigh into his mouth, intertwining your hands at the nape of his neck, thighs hugging his waist as your head lols back against the pillow.

eddie slides his hand from your waist to your hip, he wants to say it feels unnatural and weird but it really doesn’t. it feels as if his calloused fingers were made to hold you against the mattress, like his lips slotted perfectly against yours.

you shudder when he places his tip at your glistening entrance, keening your hips to ensure he really couldn’t go back.

“jesusfuckingchrist,” heaving all of his words out in one as slides inside, fingernails using your skin as leverage, keeping him on this earth.

“ohh.. wow,” you breathe, pulling on the roots of his wild hair, your thighs squeezing him in closer.

if this was so wrong, why did it feel so good?

he’s not exactly the playboy your brother is but he’s got some idea about how otherworldly this felt.

the gentle slap of his balls against your soaked cunt feel criminal to hear in this room, a whirlwind of gasps and mutterings of expletives fill his ears.

your hair frames your face like some sort of halo, though you were the furthest thing from an angel. your gaze keeping him in this realm, heavy though your eyes flutter with every thrust, every nudge of his cock against your cervix.

“fuck- sl-slower eddie,” panting softly into his ear, delicate fingers tracing his scalp.

his strokes grow weary, slowing down as you ask, though much too close to climax to really notice.

leaving behind fingerprint shaped bruises on your hip from his ironclad grip, cock stretching your pretty cunt. eddie can’t decide between looking at your face or the space between you, enamoured by the slight buck of your hips, the ways your lips mime unintelligible babble.

“l-like this?” he asks, flickering back to your face. your nod of approval was all he needed to keep going, placing a hasty, messy kiss to the side of your mouth, making out with your puffy bottom lip as you whine against him.

“feel so good.. shit- ’m gonna cum sweet girl,” stumbling through his words, a mess of bleary eyes and nonsensical thoughts.

your mewls grow louder, echoing around the empty house, no long meeting his gaze, too overwhelmed with your own climax to care.

“whe- where?” losing his train of thought as you come undone around him, husky growls that deaden his pathetic pleas.

you don’t respond with words, only shaking your head to indicate anywhere but inside. having sex with you was one thing, getting you pregnant would be an entirely different feat.

eddie pulls out, thankfully, painting your heaving stomach with his release, only to collapse in a heap beside you. the weight of what he had just done had not yet hit him but knows it’s about to.

your breathing slows, turning your head in his direction, without a single word spoken you sit up, leaving him to recover.

“sh-should i go?” eddie proceeds with caution, this was already too far, he didn’t want to overstep and assume you’d like to spend the night with him too.

“no eddie, you should sleep here,” you sigh, swinging your legs from the bed, “steve won’t be back before i’m awake,” padding over to the door, flashing him a smile before disappearing.

he lays there, staring at the shadows on the ceiling, making shapes out of the illumination of your fairy lights. he can’t get over the stark contrast between your room and steve’s, and how damn clean your bed smelt.

you come back, smelling vaguely of mint as you slip back under the covers, twisting your body to face him.

“i can trust you, can’t i?” lashes cascading over your cheeks with every blink.

eddie can only nod, held captive by your glossy gaze and slight pout, a puppet really. he wouldn’t tell steve, not ever.

he falls asleep with one hand on your hip, tracing vague patterns onto the skin, dreaming of a future where this wouldn’t ultimately get him killed, one where he could have this, have you whenever he wanted.

eddie wakes to an empty bed, surrounded by decorative cushions and stuffies. he’d only ever seen the inside of your room a handful of times and now he’d slept here.

he’s terrified to get up, too afraid he’ll bump into steve in the hallway and have to awkwardly explain why he’s coming out of your room. or why he’s even here at all, come to think of it.

it’s a slow, groaning descent out of bed and down to the kitchen where he thinks he can hear you tinkering around, getting redressed in the process, petrified that it was steve or even your dad instead.

he peaks around the corner, holding his breath just in case, only to find you at the island, coffee and toast laid out in front.

“oh.. steve’s still not back?” proceeding with great caution. you’d cleared the glasses from the table and replaced the whiskey, making sure there were no signs of any foul play.

“nope,” looking from your book, same glint in your eye, “you can relax.. you stayed in the guest room, you were too fucked up to drive and i said you could crash here… remember?”

eddie nods instinctively, he’d do anything you asked, he fears.

as if on cue, the front door swings open and you share one last glance before steve inevitably steam rolls into the kitchen and demands to know why eddie’s van is parked in his drive.

your brother looks.. disheveled, peaking around into the kitchen with the same shirt he had worn last night and his jacket over his shoulder.

“now what the fuck are you doing here?” immediately pointing fingers, walking into the kitchen with the air of a man who had just gotten laid.

and well, he wasn’t the only one with a bounce in his step this morning.

eddie seizes up, staring at steve with widened eyes. he’d fallen at the first, measly hurdle.

“-i said he could stay,” you interject, saving the day, “he showed up thinking you’d be back, way way too fucked up to drive,” rolling your eyes, the final nail in the coffin to really sell this shit.

a professional.

touché.

“oh,” steve nods, still floating on his high to pay too much attention, “what’ve i told you about smoking on your own supply?” clapping his hand on eddie’s shoulder, jolting him out of his frozen state.

eddie chuckles along, he could keep up with this lie easily, it wasn’t exactly a rare occurrence for him.

“where were you last night anyway?” expertly changing the subject, using a snide sip of coffee to hide your smirk.

“if you must know,” clicking his tongue against the backs of his teeth, “i was with christina,” a twinkle in his eye and a tone that only came after getting his dick wet.

eddie’d sure he’d be the same if he could even muster the courage to speak, too terrified of the truth to even dare usher a word.

“you stay in my room?” nudging eddie’s elbow, “don’t tell me i gotta change my sheets too,” much too jokey to have any inclination of the truth.

“i set him up in the guest room, no fucking way would i step foot in your room,” snarling your upper lip, putting on a real performance.

“wow,” steve remarks, taking the other slice of toast from your plate to immediately shove into his mouth, “you did all that for eddie?” spraying his crumbs over the counter.

“yeah, i take care of him steve, don’t worry,” and you do, or did. because it can never happen again, there was no way he’d allow himself to commit such sins again.

#eddie munson #eddie munson smut #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x you #eddie munson fic #eddie munson stranger things

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daddyhausen · 2 years ago

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{ y’all brought this upon yourselves istg. this is your fault @pxnkgirlie }

• heat — demon balor •

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{ masterlist } | { wwe masterlist } | { finn balor masterlist }

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{ summary } — balor was in heat needed his frustrations dealt with, he set his sights on the first little bunny he saw, that being you

{ warnings } — 18 + { minors do not interact }, a/b/o { kinda?? it’s mostly balor being in heat }, cnc, breeding kink, home invasion, monster fucking, restraints, rough sex, somnophilia, male orgasm, vaginal sex, penetrative sex, unprotected sex, internal cumshots, vaginal creampie

{ word count } — 867

{ pairing } — fem!reader x demon balor

{ genre } — smut

.*•…………………..•⊹•…………………..•*.

{ taglist } — @stxrrlightwrites13 @boutmachines @thewrestlingbitch @omg-im-such-a-masochist @baysexuality @legit9thlunaticwarrior @slut4kennyomega @wardlow @alexisquinnlee-bc @sammiejane22 @im-just-a-mississippi-girl @omegasluvbot @melissahausen @writtingrose @drummergrl1310 @unoficialy-married-to-ace-austin @baybay-boom @bonehead-playz @cherrytheeredheadmamaclaymore @crowleysqueenofhell @romanreigns-supreme @janetreader @thenerdybaker523 @sunshinevirus @nicoleveno14 @rubyred1980

{ comment if you want to be added to the taglist }

.*•…………………..•⊹•…………………..•*.

it was that time again. where the heat warmed his loins, he became insatiable, desperate, where he crawled about his hands and knees like a wild animal in search of a hole to fill. the moon’s glow rained down across his skin, painting the patches of flesh exposed to it in silver-grey stripes, despite enjoying the night he kept close to the shadows so as to not alert anyone in such a peaceful suburbia, one he would very much disrupt with his mere presence.

a scent had carried him here, unbenounced to him as he seemingly snapped out of his animalistic trance, finally coming to in order to observe his surroundings for a moment. the houses all looked the same, a mere copy and paste of white and beige, the same pristine picket fence lined their front yards, the lack of individuality made balor’s stomach curl with disdain. the scent had picked up again, a brisk wind had elevated it, it was sweeter, richer than the last. balor twitched with excitement, the vine-like tendrils protruding from his back fluttered softly along with the breeze, his cock grew hard between his exposed thighs. the scent was close, maybe two or three houses over. he had never experienced such a sweet scent, he had sampled a few that could run in close second but by god that held nothing on this sweetness

he followed slowly, his knuckles leading his strides, carefully weaving through bushes and other shrubbery, making sure to keep himself hidden, sticking as close to the walls and the floor. soft grunts caught in his chest, his cock throbbing with such dispair, his seed already glossing the tip, slowly beginning to leak down his shaft. balor was beside himself, his heat had never been this bad, he’s never gotten off this quickly just by a scent. maybe he was losing his mind, or what was left of it at least. balor stuck up his nose, inhaling deeply as the scent grew more prominent. he found himself in front of the house it was permeating from. balor licked his lips feverishly, tongue hanging out past it has he scaled the side wall of the house, realising the origin of the sweetness was coming from the second floor. he peeked through the window, squinting his eyes to gain a clearer vision, he noticed a sleeping figure, sprawled out across the bed, the same scent radiating from between your thighs.

the warm summer air proved fruitful for balor as he noticed your body void of any clothing, such a welcoming invitation. balor’s cock leaked with anticipation, finally his frustrations were going to be dealt with. slowly, he pried open the latch of the window, slipping inside without so much as a word. he crawled over to the foot of your bed, admiring how wet your cunt was. you must have been touching yourself, it would explain why your scent was so strong.

his weight made a slight dip in the mattress, one that made you stir in your sleep in a minor way. balor was quick to act, the tendrils had a mind of their own, two wrapping around your ankles tightly, prying your legs apart, balor inhaled your scent deeply before the tendrils mimicked the same actions as before, wrapping tightly around your wrists this time securing them behind your back balor’s cock was flushed with arousal, teasing your dripping folds with the tip, surprised slightly at how slick your little pussy was. his breath became heavy, growls catching in his parched throat as he slowly filled you up, adoring the way your confused whimpers sounded as he stretched your walls.

“shhh, little bunny…” balor reached around, stuffing your mouth with your ruined panties which you’d discarded by your side previously.

“balor needs to breed you…” your soft whines flooded his senses, feeling like he was drowning in arousal as he gave the first, rough thrust. he had been waiting days for this, he definitely was not going to waste it by going easy on you. he bottomed out, remaining deep inside as he watched your hips squirm back against his cock, completely unaware you were being taken advantage of, nor that it was by a being that was otherworldly. still, your cunt continued to slick his cock with your wetness.

he began to move, rough and fast as he pounded into you. he was feral, unhinged, just so enthralled to finally bury his cock deep in a cunt. spit began to gather around the corners of your mouth, dripping down your chin, staining your sheets, continuing to remain blissfully unaware of your situation. balor became even more frantic, his cock twitched inside your warmth. he could feel the clench of your sweet pussy around his size, god…even as you were so unaware, your cunt dripped for him. balor did not hesitate to fill you up, pumping you with rope after rope of his hot seed, breeding your fertile hole in the process. he’s even caught you whimpering at the sensation.

he pulled out, admiring the sight of his cum leaking from between your thighs. he knew he would need to fill you up more than once

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#{ my fics : 🤍 }#finn balor #finn balor x reader #finn balor smut #finn balor imagine #finn balor fanfic #wwe x reader #wwe fics #wwe imagine #wwe smut #wrestling imagine #wrestling smut

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mechformers · 2 years ago

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Ma Miles - Ch. 17

9.5k words

Chapter warning: Oh gosh, where do I even start... Wound cleaning and dressing, "sponge bath", grief, panic attack, Mo'at should be a warning in and of herself lol, what did I even write??? I am not responsible for anything that happens in chapter 17 alright! Oh, boner alert... Come to think of it - I guess Quaritch's horrible flirting should be a warning too

So... this got a bit longer and later than I had intended lol I would absolutely love any and all comments you would want to give me, be it a clean "neat" or an unintelligible long ramble!

(If you want to be tagged with the updated chapters, please leave your @ myusername in the comments! )

Previous chapter | Masterpost | Chapter 18

The sea gently laps against the roots below your kelku, the sound soothing as you sit cross-legged in your nest, staring down at your sleeping son while you run your fingers over your songcord, the new beads bringing deep sorrow to your heart. Pressing your voice through your lips, the sound fills the kelku as you sing, remembering each bead as you go. Spider smiles in his sleep and it makes your heart soar within your chest. Your son was safe once more, removed from the dangers that had surrounded you for far too long. Finishing your songcord, you’re surprised to see Jake Sully standing in the doorway, a conflicted expression on his bruised face. Smiling gently at him, you welcome him to sit by your nest with a nod of your head.

“Are they -” Jake tries, his voice breaking as he tries to reel in the conflict raging within him, “The addition was beautiful, I’m sorry I listened in on it without your permission,”

“Who they were with us meant something to me, Jake Sully,” You hum as you look down at the bead between your fingers that represents the recom unit.

“Just call me Jake, Y/n. We have known each other long enough by now,” Jake offers, his voice gentle as he watches you turn the bead between your fingers once more. “How is he?”

“The demon has not moved,” You growl pathetically as your ears flatten against your skull and your tail trashes angrily behind you.

“Yeah, he had that effect on people,” Jake chuckles softly even though he looks uncomfortable.

“What effect?” You huff out a little harsher than you had intended to.

“The anger and frustration that you’re feeling, I don’t think there’s anyone he’s ever crossed paths with who hasn’t felt the same,” The words are meant to bring you comfort, yet, as the realization sets in, it only brings you immense sadness.

Had the demon really been like this to everyone he ever met? Had he really had no one by his side that he could have been himself with? He must have… He managed to create Spider with a mate, after all. The thought sours your mood even more as your tail thrashes behind you. His unit seemed fond of him too, so he couldn’t have been completely alone.

“Tell me about him,” You hear yourself saying, your desperation to know more, to grab and hold onto anything that would point somewhere in the direction that all of this was just one big misunderstanding, clear in your voice.

“About the Colonel?” Jake does a double take, his eyes widening.

“Yes, tell me about him,” You confirm, turning your hopeful eyes to him, “Please,”

“Um… I don’t know what there is to say. You obviously know the important details,” Jake starts, his eyebrows furrowing with unease.

“That is not the important details. Who was he when he was not this Colonel?” You plead with him, the passion in your voice obviously enough to sway him.

“I didn’t know him for very long, but in the time before our relationship turned sour, he was a decent enough guy. Typical bonehead Marine, stern, direct, but behind all of that, he took care of his own,” Jake starts before taking a deep sigh. You smile at the way you recognize what Jake is describing.

“He would always go that extra mile for his people - for his family. But there was always this thing looming over him, a pressure that always had him moving forward, never quite standing still. If he wasn’t training the troops, giving safety briefings, or being in meetings, he was cooped up in his office doing paperwork until late at night.” The way Jake describes him makes the same sad feeling from before drape over you again. What Jake was describing was not a life…

“When he wasn’t at the base, he was always on the move. You see, Quaritch led from the frontline, always taking the first step to pave the path for his people, to make sure that it was the right line of motion.” Jake huffed before immediately freezing, the fond memory obviously not one he expected to have.

“Quaritch made a lot of horrible decisions as head of security for the RDA, but he always looked for the right path to take, the one that would lead to the smallest amount of casualties on both sides. You see, in basic training, you're taught to make quick decisions under fire. To view everything through the pinhole of surviving the moment.” Jake got a far-off look in his eyes and you got the feeling that there was more to the words than what you were talking about right now.

“When none of your choices are good, you make the best of the bad ones. There's no room for second-guessing. No time for regret.” Jake continues before meeting your eyes head-on, ”That comes later. A luxury for the living, so to say."

“Quaritch was no exception. I could see it in his eyes after a bad mission. It was in the way he snapped at people or avoided the big bosses at all possible costs. He would try his best to hide it, but it was in everything he did for many days after.” The words felt hollow as Jake spoke them. Although you understand them, you can't quite wrap your head around the action behind them.

“Why did he not refuse to do these missions?” You can’t help but ask, immediately noticing how Jake shakes his head as he huffs a humorless chuckle.

“It didn’t - doesn’t - work like that, Y/n.” He quickly corrects himself and you get the dawning feeling that he’s speaking from experience. “Once you got a job that paid well enough, you needed to dig your claws in to keep it. Earth, the planet we were from, has become hostile, our Great Mother brutally murdered by the greed of the few, and the desperation to simply just survive of the many. If you were lucky enough to get a job on Pandora, you made sure to keep it. Besides, he didn’t have much choice in the matter. Everyone is replaceable for the RDA - if Quaritch had refused, another, possibly worse, person would have simply just taken his place and done it anyway,”

What Jake says is disturbing, sending chills down your spine. Did the sky people really treasure life that poorly? Did they really just replace each other if someone refused to do what was obviously wrong? You stare back at Jake with big eyes as the silence stretches on.

“You know, I hadn’t really thought about it that way before,” Jake starts, another conflicted look crossing his face. “Quaritch valued loyalty above all else, didn’t matter who you were or who you had been. When he accepted you into his unit, that was a clean slate for you, a new chance at life for when you rotated back home.”

“His values do not excuse his actions,” Mo’at grounds from behind you, making the both of you turn your heads in her direction, only to see Tonowari standing by her side with his arms crossed.

“Tsahìk,” You greet Mo’at, before looking at Tonowari, “Olo’eyktan, I see you,”

“How is your son?” Tonowari asks, his uncertain eyes looking at Spider’s sleeping form.

“Spider is doing well, Olo’eyktan,” Your little kelku feels crowded with the five of you inside, but it means little when Mo’at huffs and presses past Tonowari.

“Spider is going to be a great hunter, a mighty warrior. You do not need to worry about him,” Your Tsahìk looks so proud as she speaks about your son, her head held high as she walks over to the supplies she left the day before. “Y/n, we have lessons to get to,”

“Yes, Tsahìk,” You mumble as you hurry over to her side, bending your head as you pass Tonowari.

“I guess that is our cue to leave,” Jake chuckles as he gets to his own feet.

“I specifically remember giving you an order to be with your family today, to not let me see you moving around,” Tonowari rumbles as he crosses his massive arms over his equally massive chest while pinning Jake with a harsh stare.

“What can I say, my friend…” Jake grins as he spreads his arms, palms up.

“How Neytiri deals with you is beyond me,” Tonowari chuckles, rolling his eyes as he shakes his head. Wrapping an arm around Jake’s shoulders, the bigger man steers Jake’s smaller body out of the marui pod.

“How has his rest been?” Mo’at asks while laying supplies on a woven mat before her.

“His rest has been sure, Tsahìk,” You reply before sitting down beside her, taking the mortar she has offered you.

“And yours?” Mo’at’s knowing eyes pierce through you as you sigh deeply.

“Troubled,” You eventually respond honestly, knowing that the older woman would know whether you replied or not.

“If you are to heal the demon, you will need to be rested. I do not share my lessons with just anyone, Y/n” Mo’at’s voice leaves no room for argument.

If you were being honest with yourself, you felt gratitude for getting the chance to learn from the Tsahìk herself. With no particular skills of your own, you had been shuffled around to where there was a need for extra hands, your whole life. It wasn’t as if you were untalented, you just hadn’t found the right path for you. But maybe going through tsakarem, for however long it would be taught to you, would be the missing link in your life, finally offering you a chance to be useful to your clan.

For the following week, Mo’at teaches you how to crush ingredients into different textures, teaches you what herbs would help with healing wounds specific to the demon’s injuries, and how to assess his condition throughout the day as he lay unconscious. It’s incredibly hard work, but somehow, you make it work. Spider is gone most of the day anyway, so instead of sitting alone in the kelku to watch over the demon, you welcome the older woman’s guidance.

“You have done well,” Mo’at hums one afternoon after you cleaned and redressed the demon’s wounds.

Whatever Mo’at was feeding him sure kick-started his weight gain. As if you hadn’t been struggling before, the demon grew heavier and heavier with each day that went by, making cleaning his body extremely difficult. The awkward positions you had found yourself in while buckling under his weight would have you blushing for years to come. Mo’at’s voice still rings clear in your ears when she commented that modesty had no room in a Tsahìk’s life. Sighing deeply, you had powered through, but with his growing deadweight, it had taken longer and longer to complete the task.

“Wait, was that an actual compliment I heard?” Jake’s voice calls from the doorway, his grin spreading lazily across his face as he looks at Mo’at.

The older woman huffs fondly, the smallest of smiles pulling on her lips while she tries to ignore her daughter’s mate. Jake chuckles as he walks further inside, his long legs swaying lazily as he comes to a crouch before you.

“Do you need help with him?” He smiles down at you as you struggle to lift the demon into place.

“She must need to learn how to do this alone,” Mo’at hums as she walks around your kelku, her eyes sharp following your every move as you struggle to get the demon back in his makeshift nest.

“I’m fine, Jake,” You smile up at him as you shift your hold on the demon, “Thank you,”

“Alright,” Jake just chuckles as he looks up at Mo’at.

“Can you take Y/n to the cove of ancestors?” Mo’at asks, making both of your heads snap to her position by the seaside opening of the marui pod.

“Y-yeah, sure,” Jake replies, his voice breaking a little. Curiosity is written all over his face, but he knows better than to ask by now, something you do not.

“The cove of ancestors?” You repeat questioningly, watching as Mo’at turns to you, her all-seeing eyes pinning you to the woven mat you’re kneeling on.

“You will know when you arrive, Eywa will show you the way,” The reply doesn’t make sense at all, but when Mo’at motions for you to get up to your feet, you do.

“When you have found what you’re looking for, spend the rest of your day with your son. I will watch over the demon,” You’re not about to be told twice, so as your ears twitch excitedly, you get to your feet, and with one last look back at the den, you leave your kelku behind for the first time since you arrived.

Walking beside Jake, you let your eyes fall on the beautiful marui pods that make the village. They’re decorated in beautifully vibrant colors, with shells, stones, and everything else the sea would willingly offer the Metkayina. The sand is warm and wet when you step down from the woven mats that made the bridges between each marui pod. You can’t help but dig your toes into it, grinning childishly as you chuckle.

“You’ve probably never ridden an ilu before, so we’ll take my skimwing. She will get us there quicker.” Jake grins over at you, so obviously knowing something that you don’t.

“I have seen the ilu outside of our kelku, but I have never ridden one,” You confirm, only making Jake grin wider.

“You will love the skimwing then,” This childishly excited side of Jake is new to you, one you have never seen before while he served your people as the Olo’eyktan. You decide then and there that you like this side of him.

You do not, however, like the skimwing. Clutching onto Jake’s middle, he howls with laughter as the skimwing quickly takes you in and out of the water as she flies. It’s quick, it’s challenging and it’s absolutely nothing like riding an ikran. At that moment as you’re plastered to Toruk Makto, you wish you had called for Hawnu instead. When you eventually come to a stop though, the scenery takes your breath away. The last time you had been here, Hawnu had flown low with the small ship behind him while you desperately clutched onto Neteyam’s body, and the time before…

“It’s beautiful,” You whisper in awe as Jake greets a small family as they swim past you on their ilus.

“Isn’t it?” Jake hums back, leaning back now that the skimwing slows down. “The first time I was here, we held a funeral without a body,”

Your gasp comes involuntarily. Clutching his shoulder, you don’t know what to say to him as you move further into the cove, the floating rocks paving way for the beauty that lay within. Letting your eyes roam the huge cove, you realize that it looks so much different than you remembered. Like Jake, you had held your own funeral without the bodies needed to connect with the Great Mother.

“Come on,” Jake turns back and smiles gently at you before breaking tsaheylu with his skimwing.

“When we get down there, I’ll give you a txampaysye, it will help you breathe underwater. Make tsaheylu with it and it will breathe for you,” Jake explains, a gentle smile on his face.

“I will not need one, Jake. I have already been down there nine times before. I will not struggle with the journey,” Swallowing audibly, Jake’s eyebrows furrow before he reaches out to squeeze your knee.

“Alright, come on then,” Nodding, you slide off of the skimwing, taking deep breaths before you let yourself sink beneath the water's surface.

Following Jake’s lead, you swim down until you reach the glowing spirit tree. It’s just as beautiful as you remembered it to be, but this time, you have the chance to really look at its surroundings. Letting your eyes roam around the gorgeous area, you notice how Jake has already connected to Ranteng Utralti. You wonder who it is he’s visiting, perhaps a friend lost in a battøe that should have never been. Tsu’tey’s name comes to mind as you make your way over to one of its vines. The two had become brothers before the final battle and through the years, you knew that both Jake and Neytiri missed him.

Connecting to Ranteng Utralti, you’re immediately brought back to a place you knew all too well. Grinning, you let yourself walk forward as you approach the childish group of recoms currently splashing water at each other in the pond. Z-Dog and Brown balance on the log bobbing in the water as Lopez, and Prager float in the water below them. They’re all grinning and laughing as they try to be something called a “king of the mountain”.

Turning back, you’re prepared to see the rest of the unit lounging on the bank, but to your surprise, only Seanfike stares back at you, the man sitting cross-legged as his tail slaps happily behind him. Narrowing your eyes, you can’t help the way your ears pin back flat against your skull. Something wasn’t right…

“What’s wrong?” Seanfike immediately asks, noticing your worried face.

“Where are the others?” You ask him, seeing how his own face furrows in confusion.

“What do you mean? They’re right behind you,” Seanfike points to the recom’s playing in the pond behind you.

“No, where is Lyle?” You start, but a grin spreads across Seanfike’s face as he chuckles at something behind you.

“Seanfike, please listen,” You press, desperation clutching your chest, “Where are Mansk, Ja, and Lyle?”

“I dunno, they’re probably around here somewhere. Haven’t really seen them in a while,” He eventually replies, confusion deeply etched into his face. “Why?”

A heavy feeling grows inside of you as you realize that they hadn’t been accepted by the Great Mother. Your attempt at putting their souls to rest failed as their bodies had never been united with Eywa. Your chest hurts as you feel tears pressing from your eyes. There’s a wail building in your chest, but below water, as you were, your mouth only fills with water. Distressed, Seanfike clutches your shoulders as Brown’s head comes to rest on your shoulder. All around you, the recom unit, what was left of them crowded you, wrapping their arms around you to hold you close.

“Breathe,” Brown whispers, his gentle voice stinging like a blade against your skin.

You’re roughly pulled from the vine you’re attached to, Jake’s scared eyes pulling at your body to take you up again, but you pull away from him. Struggling underwater, Jake suddenly freezes as he looks behind you, his eyebrows furrowing at something. Turning, your eyes go wide at what you see. From the glowing golden tendrils of Ranteng Utralti, four songcords flat upward, as if presented as something sacred.

To you, they were…

Kicking your legs, you reach for the rejected songcords as you glide through the water. Clutching them to your chest, you curl in on yourself as sorrow overtakes you. Eywa had accepted them, had held them within her warmth until you came and ruined everything. Distantly, you realize that you’re being pulled to the surface, but it isn’t before you’re hauled onto a rock and your lungs desperately gasp for air that you register it.

Coughing and gasping, you wail mournfully as you’re gathered up into warm arms. A hand smooths your wet hair back from your face as you’re rocked, but all you can think about is the songcords clenched tightly in your hands. Other Metkayina gathers around you with sympathetic looks on their faces as they ask Jake what they can do to help, or if they can get the Olo’eyktan. But Jake just shakes his head as he holds you through your heartache.

By the time eclipse arrives, Jake has managed to get you back to the village, his gentle hand leading you out of the water where Spider and Tonowari stand waiting for you. Your son meets you before you’ve managed to emerge fully, his small hand clutching onto the leather of your tweng. Shifting the songcords to one hand, you offer the free one to Spider, feeling how he immediately takes it in his. Although your heart is heavy, you find comfort in his small, warm hand as he clings to yours.

The communal meal goes by in a blur, your son’s worried eyes following your every move. You know that he wants to ask about the songcords still clutched tightly in your hand, but like you, he waits until you’re ready to talk, giving you the time you need to collect your thoughts. Jake and Tonowari keep sending you worried looks, even Ronal looks your way once, her knowing eyes lingering on you before turning away again. It feels like a relief when Spider eventually finishes his meal and you’re able to excuse yourselves from the clan.

Walking hand in hand, you slowly lead Spider down the woven bridges to your kelku, the flickering lights from inside greeting you as you let your son enter first. Taking a deep breath, you follow through, closing the flap behind you. Mo’at, of course, takes one look at you and immediately knows. You want to be angry at her knowledge, but you find that you’re grateful for her understanding when she nods minutely before getting up to leave you alone.

Moving about your kelku, you watch as Spider washes his feet in the little bowl on the other side, his little nighttime routine before going to sleep. Slowly, he settles down in your nest, the blankets nestled tightly around him as he cuddles up. Walking up to sit beside him, you listen as he lets out a deep, sleepy sigh. Closing your eyes, you part your lips as the first words leave your mouth.

“I couldn’t find their bodies,” You whisper, knowing that your son is listening intently. “So I made these songcords for them, hoping that the Great Mother would show them mercy and accept the offering,”

The silence feels cold inside of your kelku, the soft sound from Spider’s exopack the only noise besides the water below your marui pod. It should have been calming, but as your heart clenches painfully in your chest, you’re unable to find any real comfort in it. Turning your head to look at Spider, you see the shimmering in his beautiful brown eyes. Cupping his face in your free hand, you smile sadly at him before getting up to lie down beside him.

“Here, I will sing their cords for you,” You hum as you pull your son closer to your chest.

Sleep finds you shortly after you have finished recounting their milestones, your son’s face as he turns in your arms, surprisingly happy as he closes his beautiful eyes. Cupping the back of his head, you let your eyes drift to the songcords still clutched in the hand below Spider’s head. Closing your eyes, you don't even notice when you drift off, leaving the stress and heartache of the day behind.

It’s another early morning when you wake up the next day. Your body feels heavy as you roll Spider to the side to step out of your nest, the warm glow of the sun greeting you through the cracks as you approach the flaps. Opening them, you let the fresh, salty air clean away the heaviness of sleep from your kelku. Looking down at the songcords in your hand, you sigh deeply. The Great Mother’s will was not without reason, you had to trust that.

Turning to stare at the demon, you find his songcord in your hand, turning your bead between your fingers as you make up your mind. If he could be here before you, alive and real, then Lyle, Mansk, and Ja had to be alive somewhere too. Closing your eyes, you take a deep breath as you settle your resolve. Walking over to your nest, you dig until you reach the bottom of the corner that saw little use. Looking at the songcords in your hands one last time, you hide them at the bottom before arranging the nest back to how it was.

Working through your own morning routine, you gather fresh water into bowls before starting on fresh salves and pastes for the demon’s first change. For once, the demon doesn’t seem quite as heavy when you move him while cleaning his body, making your work that much easier. When Spider wakes, you’ve already finished up, the last lingering feeling of despair leaving you as your son sends a cheeky grin your way. He’s telling you about the plans he has for the day when there’s a knock on your kelku, Jake, Neteyam, and Lo’ak smiling gently at you from the outside.

“Thought some fresh food would be good,” Jake offers as you gesture for them to come inside.

Of course, Spider rushes through his breakfast before the soles of the boys feet are the only thing Jake and you see as they hightail out of your kelku, leaving only the fleeting sound of their snickering as they poke fun at something Neteyam said. The kelku falls into a comfortable silence before Jake eventually breaks it with small talk. You sit, chatting like that until it’s time to change the demon again.

Preparing what you needed, you continue to talk with Jake as you start what was now routine for you. Mixing a freshly smelling surly leaf into the water, you dip a clean cloth into it before starting to clean the demon’s arms. Jake leans back on the wall behind him as you go about cleaning the demon, changing to a new clean cloth when it’s time for his face.

“And then she looked at me as if I had grown a second set of ears,” Jake chuckles, his grin wide as he retells the story about how Neytiri had taught him the way of the people all those years ago.

“And then, what did you do?” With a grin of your own, you chuckle as you wipe the demon’s brow, letting your hand linger as you look over at Jake.

“Am I dreaming, Princess?” The demon rumbles lazily, a sappy smile forming on his lips as he lifts his hand to caress your cheek.

Snapping your head back down to look at him, your grin slips into a frown as you slap his hand away as if it burnt you. Hiss furiously at him, you get up to your feet while you drop the wet cloth in your hand. The demon was asleep just moments ago, his sleeping draft given that morning assured that. Had you managed to mess up the mixture somehow? It must be the only explanation as to why the demon was now awake. You watch as his smiling face morphs into something a little sad as his ears droop, but all you can think about is what you did wrong as your wide, scared eyes lift up to meet Jake’s equally surprised ones.

“Aww… What did I do this time, sweetheart?” The demon’s lazy rumble turns charming as he smirks up at you, a cocky grin on his face.

“Quiet your tongue, demon,” You refuse to use his English as you hiss furiously again, noting how his sad, droopy ears pin back flat against his skull instead.

“Yes, ma’am,” He hums, a fond kind of smile spreading across his lips as he closes his eyes and breaches contently.

“How are you feeling, Quaritch?” Jake asks, his voice is low, gentle even, but the reaction is still instantaneous in the demon.

His eyes pop open with both alarm and fear, and it makes something clench painfully in your chest. The demon tries to jump to his feet to get into a defensive position, the move no doubt second nature to him, but with his muscles weak from disuse and his body still exhausted from trying to heal itself, he wobbles under his weight. Still, the demon fights to get into a defensive position, swaying and stumbling as he takes a protective stand before you, pushing you behind him.

“I’m not here to fight, Quaritch,” Jake states quickly, even though anger steadily becomes evident on his face.

“Like hell, you aren’t,” The demon sneers back, his ears flat against his skull as his tail whips anxiously behind him, smacking you with every back-and-forth motion.

From behind, you can recognize how good he looks in a normal tweng, how the soft leather hugs his narrow hips, or how strong the base of his tail is. But at that moment you find that you’re done with his bullshit and the situation his presence has forced you to be in. Grabbing the base of his kuru, you kick his legs out from under him, wrestling his slightly weaker body into the makeshift nest he’s been resting in.

“You stay and you be silent,” You hiss at him furiously, the English command registering immediately as his ears lower submissively. To your surprise, the demon looks almost ashamed, the fight leaving his much bigger body as he stares up at you with big eyes, his tail twitching anxiously beside your hip.

“Yes, Ma’am,” The demon mumbles, his voice rough with disuse as he looks away, unable to meet your eyes any longer.

“Answer him,” You demand, your voice leaving no room for argument.

There’s a tense silence spreading over your kelku as the demon refuses to do anything - as if a petulant child. He’s not meeting your eyes, not even looking in Jake’s direction. He’s clutching the ribs on his right side and you get the grueling feeling that all your hard work has just been wasted on the demon. Hissing, you step over him on your way to leave when his hand desperately grabs your tail.

“Wait!” He croaks and there’s an urgency in his voice, as if he’s genuinely afraid, that has you turning around to look down at him.

The demon is still laying in his makeshift bed where you put him, only having moved enough to grab your tail. Reluctantly, he slowly lets go of your tail, as if he’s testing if you’ll flee or not. Only when you’ve stood still for what he deems long enough does he roll all the way over to his back again. There’s a battle going on within him, one that looks painful enough that you want to reach out to him, to help soothe his troubles as much as possible, but you don’t. Eventually, his conflicted eyes meet yours, as if looking for strength before they close on a deep, rugged sigh.

“I’m peachy,” The demon bites, eyes opening to stare directly at Jake.

“Skxawng,” You scold with a click of your tongue while crossing your arms over your chest.

“Alright, alright, relax already,” He grumbles, reminding you of Spider the few times you’ve had disagreements. “I’m sore, alright. Ribs hurting like shit,”

The admission seems to pain him as his face darkens with embarrassment. He still scowls at Jake in the corner of your kelku, but your immediate worry is the pain that he’s apparently in. Stepping over the demon, you grab the ingredients for the salve that would help with his pain. Sitting down beside him, you cross your legs as you start to grind the ingredients into the bowl. There’s an uncomfortable silence in the marui pod, until it’s disturbed by Spider running into your kelku, laughter in his beautiful voice as he smiles at you.

“Mom,” Spider grins, his happiness all but blinding you as you look up, just in time to see your son’s smile dropping from his face as he freezes, only for Neteyam to run into him from behind.

“Yo, what’s up, bro?” Neteyam snickers as he sidesteps Spider, only to stop dead in his tracks. “D-dad…”

Jake reaches out for his oldest son, offering support when he recognizes fear in his voice. Neteyam grabs his father’s hand before quickly stepping closer to him, but the demon doesn’t care. His initial reaction was a slight widening of his eyes, but just as quickly as his eyes shifted to Neteyam, they’re back on your son again.

“Spider,” The demon croaks, voice pleading. He doesn’t dare to move, but his ears rotate, open and alert, to your son as he stares.

“Come,” You tell him, looking at the spot beside you while still crushing the ingredients into a smooth salve. “Sit,”

“We will be fine, Jake,” You look up at Toruk Makto, noting how his chest has puffed out, his legs spread wide as he covers his son protectively.

“You sure? It’s no trouble staying, Y/n,” Jake assures you, and even though you know he would like to take his son anywhere but here, you know that if you needed him to stay, he would.

“There are words that need to be said between us,” You sigh, feeling the emotional turmoil that this is taking on you weighing heavily on your shoulders as you come to the conclusion that maybe your son shouldn’t be here for this conversation after all. “Will you take Spider with you?”

Nodding, Jake gently leads Neteyam and Spider through the doors, spearing one last look at the demon before disappearing from view. You have no doubt in his mind that he will be back soon, if only under the disguise of having forgotten something. Sighing, you continue the grind, watching as the paste turns creamy and then, finally, a smooth light green salve.

“Point to where the pain is,” You snap quickly at the demon, breaking the silence that once more had spread across your kelku.

“Slower,” The demon rumbles, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

“Pain. Point,” You growl, your impatience bleeding over into annoyance when he sighs.

“Here,” He points to his right side, just below his nipple, “And here,”

Nodding your head, you crouch over him, spreading your legs over his hips before sitting down on the meat of his thighs. To feel the demon’s warm skin against the inside of your sensitive thighs brings a lump to your throat, but shortly after, you’re pulled out of your thoughts when the demon growls.

“The hell?” The growl is dangerously deep as he gets up to his elbows, wincing at the pressure it gives his ribs. “The fuck are my clothes, woman?”

The sharpness of his yellow eyes sends butterflies through your stomach, but you refuse to make it excite you. The demon had made his nest, now he needed to lay in it.

“Gone.” You huff down at him, narrowing your eyes.

“What do you mean gone?” He bites back just as quickly, his own eyes narrowing.

“When I found you, you had soiled yourself. Your tweng could not be saved,” He doesn’t understand what you’re saying, his face all twisted as he tries to make sense of it.

“My twe- The hell you saying, woman?” The demon tries to sit up, but you easily push him back down again, noticing how the motion brings him pain.

“Like a baby, you dirty your tweng,” You repeat, this time in English so that he’ll understand.

You don’t have to wait long for him to do so. Almost immediately, his eyes go wide as his face turns dark, his eyebrows narrowing while he clenches his jaw shut. He doesn’t meet your eyes, instead deciding to stare at something else on your face.

“You mean to say that you undressed me while I was out like a light?” His voice is dangerously even when he speaks and had you still feared him, you would have probably backed off of him.

“I do not know this meaning,” You huff back at him, holding your ground.

“You fucking took my clothes off and dressed me in this shit,” The demon raises his voice as he sneers at you from below, his ears slicked back against his skull.

“Would you have preferred to wear soiled armor?” The deadpan comeback makes the demon growl angrily.

“Wha- in English, woman!” The demon huffs, his frustration only growing.

“Should I take you here with a dirty tweng?” The reaction is, once more, immediate. The demon growls furiously, his despair so easy to read as he cups his hands over his tweng.

Huffing at his ridiculous modesty, you lower your body once more, sitting down on the meat of his thighs. Slapping his hands away from his tweng, you watch as he immediately covers it with his hands again. You do not understand what it is he’s doing, so you slap his hands away again, only for the demon to cover his tweng again, his face growing an even darker shade. Grabbing his wrists, you tear them away from the front of his tweng, pinning them to the makeshift nest below him, only for the demon to snap them right back again.

“Stop it,” You hiss at him, your ears folding back in annoyance.

“You stop it!” The demon’s voice is high, almost childish as he looks up at you. He’s still not able to meet your eyes.

“You are like a child,” Grabbing his wrists once more, you tear them away while he fights you. In the end, his weakened state makes him lose the battle. “Do not move, demon.”

Huffing, the demon turns his head to look away from you. It finally gives you the space you need to work. Leaning over him, you spread your hands over the demon’s pectorals, fanning your fingers until your thumbs meet in the middle. You try to feel if his lungs expand equally, but the demon only takes shallow breaths, as if he’s consciously fighting you every step of the way.

“Deep breaths,” You tell him and to your utter surprise, he follows your command without complaining.

Guiding him through the examination Mo’at had taught you, you’re surprised that he doesn’t fight you. He states motionless as you press your fingers down his sternum, checking for tenderness in and around his chest wall. With a finger between each of his ribs, you percuss while listening for hyperresonant sounds. The demon hisses when you reach his right side, but otherwise stays quiet. It’s only when you scoot back to put your ear to his chest that he freezes.

“What are you doing?” He drawls, his head finally moving back to look down at you.

“Be silent and breathe regularly,” You hum back as you press your ear to his warm skin.

His heart beats loudly in his chest, almost too loud, and his breathing is too fast, but you’re still able to listen to his lungs. Moving your head further down to the bottom of his ribcage, you feel his stomach tighten against your cheek as his breath stutters.

“Oh, sweet mother,” You can hear him whisper above you, but then he manages to breathe carefully, somewhat close to what his breathing was while he was asleep.

Moving to the other side, you do the same. Sitting up again, confusion strikes you as you find the demon has screwed his eyes shut, his jaw tightly clenched as his hands have created tight fists by his side. Reaching over to take one of his hands in yours, you open the fist to hold his hand, sliding your smaller hand into his bigger one.

“Tell me, where does it hurt?” You ask him gently, only to receive a snort and a smirk in return.

“Trust me, sweetheart, you don’t want to know,” He mumbles, his drawls so thick that you struggle to understand the words. “I’m just fine, darling,”

Letting go of his hand, you move further up on the met of his thighs to get a better position. After asking him to take deep breaths, you press your fingers over his vital organs, starting under his ribs. With each exhale, you feel for any enlargements, for any tenderness. Moving further down you do the same, watching him closely just in case he wouldn’t say anything about the pain. It’s not until you put your hands on each side of the top of his hip bones that he tenses.

“Do this hurt?” You ask him as you gently make the organ move between your hands.

You only receive a gasp in return as the demon closes his eyes, his lips slightly parted and his breath becomes ragged. There’s something wrong, but he doesn’t want to tell you what it is. Moving over to the other side brings forth the same reaction. You’re about to demand he tells you where the pain is from when your hand brushes against something it should not have. Looking between your wide-spread thighs a huge bulge stares back at you from beneath the demon’s tweng. With wide eyes, your head snaps up to meet the dangerously sharp ones of the demon. His lips have parted more, the tips of his fangs visible from the plumpness of his lips. You can feel your irises dilate as the warm scent of the demon reaches your nose.

“Maybe you did want to know after all, mama,” The demon’s husky voice has dropped several octaves, the deep rumble all but rattling through your ribcage as your own core responds to his scent.

Until his words register in your suddenly foggy mind. Hissing, you jump off of him as if burned. The disappointment is clear as day when the demon flops his head down on his makeshift nest again. Stomping around your kelku, you grab your blade before walking to the door.

“Use the salve in the bowl on your pain, and drink water,” You growl before stepping outside. The fresh, salty air greets you as its warm winds caress your heated skin. It feels great.

“Trouble in paradise?” Jake chuckles softly, making you jump.

“What?” You’re caught so off guard that you don’t know what to say.

“You seem distressed, Y/n,” Jake squeezes your shoulder gently as he bends to look into your eyes.

“Would you not be distressed if you had to live with him after everything he has done?” Your words come out much harsher than you had intended to, but you find that they ring no less true than what you feel.

The demon had taken everything that you had. He had snatched every breath from your lungs, had made you feel, had made you care only to turn his back to you at the first opportunity he got. He had taken everything you taught him and used it against you. Still, when his body lay beaten and broken at death’s door, you had stood by his side. You had cleaned his body and healed his wounds while he rested. You had kept him alive when all he deserved was to be washed out in the sand, a dark moment in Na’vi history. Jake just looks at you with knowing eyes. You can no more help the sigh that leaves you than you can keep your shoulders from sagging under the weight of Jake’s hand.

By the time you get Spider, the demon has been asleep for many hours, but you still make a mental note to up the sleeping draft you mix with his water. Sighing, you watch as Spider curls into your nest, his smaller body tired after yet another day filled with new and exciting adventures. Smiling to yourself, you step over to the demon, pulling the blanket off of him. Sitting down, you start the cleaning routine, removing leaves on the deeper wounds while cleaning old salve from shallower cuts. By the time you had finished, you felt the weight of the day in your tired eyes. Curling up beside Spider, you’re happy to see that his beautiful brown eyes glitter as he stares at you. Smiling, he bumps his masked forehead to yours as he sighs happily. It doesn’t take long before you’re asleep, warm and tired as your son’s heartbeat plays the most beautiful rhythm you have ever heard in your life.

Which is why you’re so confused when you wake up to the rumbled growls of a much darker character. Turning your head, you’re met with the demon’s sharp eyes as he huffs with frustration. He hasn’t moved from his makeshift nest apart from sitting up, the blanket tightly wrapped around him. Groaning, you rub the sleep from your face as you yawn. This would apparently be another day when the demon would be awake. Annoyed, you start to plan a way to slip him more of the sleeping draft. Maybe, if you were lucky, he would drink the entire bowl and choke on -

“Woman, stop ignoring me,” The demon growls, his voice annoying in the silence of the early morning. “Where are my weapons?”

“Where I found you,” You respond lazily as you sit up in your nest to stare at him.

“The hell you mean by that, darling?" He sneers, the anger blazing in his sharp eyes.

“I left everything when I took your armor off,” You sigh, pinching the broad bridge of your nose as you pray to Eywa to give you strength.

“Now why in the ever-loving hell would you do that, sweetheart?” His voice cuts deep like a blade through the soft underbelly of a beast as his eyes narrow.

“You have no need of them,” You start, watching as his chest puffs while his face contorts into one big frown, ready to spit angrily. “But I took your blade with us. It’s in Cupcake’s bag.”

“Cupcake?” At the mention of his ikran, the demon halts, his eyes turning from angry to hopeful in a matter of seconds. “Is she alright?”

The demon’s voice is gentle when he asks, yet, the urgency behind his question shines through. He cares deeply for his ikran. The knowledge warms something deep within you, making your own annoyance bleed away.

“She is safe with Hawnu,” You confirm, offering what you hope is a comforting smile.

The demon takes a deep breath, wincing slightly before he lets out a sigh. In your own stressed state, you have failed to realize that he must have his own set of stress going on in his life. Something must have triggered his sudden change of heart. The man you had come to know, the man behind this… this unrecognizable mask, something drastic would have had to happen for him to leave all reason and just act. In the back of your mind, Jake’s words ring loud and clear. ‘When none of your choices are good, you make the best of the bad ones.’

“Thanks,” The demon mumbles, his voice calm and relieved.

You’re about to ask what happened when Spider yawns beside you. Looking down at your son you smile as his beautiful brown eyes open to greet you. Reaching forward, you brush the hair from his forehead, chuckling lightly as he swats at your hand before brushing the rest of his hair away by himself. Sitting up in your nest, his easy smile drops to one of uncertainty as he notices the demon. Looking up, you notice how the demon furrows his brows before taking a deep breath.

“Good morning, Spider,” He drawls, his voice warm and heavy, like a blanket during thunderstorms.

Spider doesn’t reply though, and although you want to tut at him for being rude, you don’t. His father had broken something sacred, something only he could make right again. The only thing you could do was to offer your son the support and safety he needed when he needed it. Getting to your feet, you offer Spider a fruit for breakfast, smiling gently at him when he slices the fruit in two and offers you the first dice of meat. Reaching forward, you cup the back of his messy head before leaning down to place a kiss on the top of his head, letting your lips linger for a moment too long before pulling back. Looking up at you, the conflict on your son’s face makes you smile sadly down at him. You wish more than anything that you could take this hardship away from him, that you could make his life as joyful as he has made yours. When he sighs and looks over to his father though, pride explodes within you at the strength you see in his small form.

But as Spider opens his mouth, no doubt to offer his father food, Neytiri and Jake enter your kelku, the older woman’s smile slipping from her face when sharp eyes meet hers. Before you’re able to react, the demon is up on his feet, staggering unsteadily as he pushes Spider and you behind him as he takes a defensive stand before you. The way he hisses sends a chill down your spine and makes the tip of your tail twitch with unease. When the deep growl leaves the cavity of his chest, an immediate biological reaction course through you, forcing you to reach out for safety while clutching your so to your side. Your heart beats wildly as you hold onto the demon’s tail, your hand gripping so hard that your fingers grow cold. Distantly, you can hear Jake tell you that everything is alright, that you’re safe, but the demon’s furious growls want nothing to do with the Toruk Makto’s words. It’s only then that your frozen body thaws, your fear bleeding out of you as Jake’s words reach your mind. Taking in the situation before you, Neytiri hisses and snarls, her blade drawn and pointing at the demon, while her mate desperately tries to calm the situation behind her.

“Get your batshit crazy wife away from my family, Corporal,” The demon sneers, his tail whipping furiously beneath your hand.

Letting go of the demon’s tail, you slap the back of his head, having understood what he just said, knowing it was not nice words.

“If you come near my son again, I will skin you alive, woman,” You have never heard him sound this venomous before, his fury sending dread through your body.

As Jake hisses in response to the threat to his mate's life, the feeling that something is wrong settles heavily in the pit of your stomach once more. Pushing Spider further behind you, you try to sidestep the demon, but his long arms keep pushing you back as he shifts his defensive stand with each move you make.

“Be nice,” You scold him, holding his arm still as you finally step out from behind him.

“You don’t know, do you?” He huffs a flat chuckle, but there’s no humor in it as his dangerously sharp eyes meet yours.

“What do I not know?” You ask confused, a heavy stone dropping in your stomach as the unease doubles up.

“How she held our son at knifepoint, how she ran her blade across his chest, drawing blood before going in for the killing blow,” The demon’s words are spat so venomously, with such pure hatred, that it leaves no room for questioning.

Yet, you can’t help the gasp from leaving your lips as another, much colder chill runs down your spine. Looking down at the long, crusting wound across your son’s chest, you walk through your belief that he had hurt himself during his escape, like with the other cuts and bruises. But now that you really look at the wound, as you look beyond the healing flesh, you realize that the wound is too clean to have happened by accident.

“Quaritch was holding Kiri at knifepoint too, threatening to kill her if I didn’t surrender. Y/n he took our children just to draw me out. We thought we had just lost Neteyam by Quaritch’s demand,” Jake hurried to say, his voice pleading with you.

But all you can hear is that Neytiri ran her blade across your innocent son’s chest, drawing his blood before going in for the killing blow to end his life. Turning to Neytiri you see how her blade has lowered, her hands slack by her sides as she stares ahead, her expression empty behind her eyes.

“A son for a son, wasn’t that what you said?” The demon sneers and his fury with Neytiri all but drips from the sound.

“Oh, shit,” You can hear Jake whisper, but your ears start ringing as the words sink in and you understand what has been said.

“Is this true, sister?” You turn to Neytiri, praying to the Great Mother that it wasn’t so, that this was just one of the demon’s and Jake's many lies.

“Yes,” Neytiri doesn’t even deny it, but the older woman doesn’t look proud about it either.

A wounded sound leaves your throat as your mind goes blank with pain. Distantly, you feel tears start to roll down your face at the betrayal of your sister’s actions. You’re screaming, but you can’t hear it, unable to stop it as sobs rush through your body. Strong arms wrap around you and before you know it you’re going down, the warm body behind you following you down as your knees hit the woven ground of your kelku. You’re wailing, but all you can hear is Neytiri’s ‘Yes’ ringing through your mind.

The demon tries to comfort you, his big hand holding your head against his chest as you cry. Spider steps closer too, his small arms wrapping around your shoulders as he presses his head to your back. It doesn’t help. Reaching out for your son, you clasp your hand around his, noting how his hand is so small where it’s held by yours, and suddenly, the image of Neytiri holding a blade to your son’s small body flashes before your mind. In the end, rage is the only thing left inside of your empty heart.

“We’re supposed to protect the children,” You whisper morseso to yourself, your voice almost inaudible. But you know they've heard you by the way they all flinch at your words.

“We’re supposed to protect the children,” You say louder as you push away from the demon’s embrace, slapping at his arms and chest to get away when he reaches for you when you turn to face Neytiri again.

“We’re supposed to protect the children!” You scream at her, but she won’t meet your eyes. Stepping away from the demon, you stare at both of them, truly seeing them for the first time in your life before continuing. “And you use them to hurt each other,”

You watch as both of them flinch, their ears pinned back so close to their skulls that had you not known they were there, you would have missed them. Their tails have curled protectively around their legs, their heads lowered in shame, but somehow, they still have the audacity to meet your eyes when you stare at them.

“I saved your son while desperately searching for my own and this is how you repay me,” Your words fall like stones in the silent marui pod.

Behind them, Tonowari stands tall, his warriors no doubt calling him to the marui pod for him to see what the wailing and shouting is about. His eyes are wide as he stands behind the Sullys, ears flat against his mighty hair, while his tail thrashes behind him.

“You are both unworthy to call yourselves parents in the presence of Eywa.” You sneer at them, your fury making your skin grow cold, threatening to make your teeth clatter against each other.

“You do not deserve them,” Your voice is surprisingly calm when you speak, making their ears twitch with the change, as if the defeat in your voice was somehow worse than the rage.

Wrapping your hand around Spider’s arm, you walk out of your kelku without looking back. You needed to find Hawnu, needed to feel the wind through your hair, needed to take your son to a place where you knew he would be safe, where you knew he would be protected. When you had calmed down enough, you had a whole cave full of things you would need to talk to him about, but for right now, you just needed to feel safe, if only for a little while. With your heart broken and bleeding in your chest, you call for Hawnu, your ikran immediately responding with his own screech, Cupcake’s complimentary screech following just behind.

“Do you have space for one more?” Mo’at’s voice asks gently from behind and you’re too tired to argue with the older woman, so instead, you just nod as the tears roll down your face. Maybe she would know why the Great Mother had turned her back on you…

Chapter 16 | Masterpost | Chapter 18

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simslegacy5083 · 5 months ago

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Not So Berry (Straud Descendants) Gen 9

Today's (9/13/2024) Episode: Mission Interruptus

As Noemi and Luigi approached the leader of the local rebel faction about their next mission, they were surprised to see her throw her spanner to the ground and let loose with a string of forbidden words. She jumped as she noticed the pair. “Forgive me! You must be our hard-working new recruits. I have some good news and some bad news for you. The good news is that if I can’t fix my ship, then we can’t be shot down.”

“Is there anything we can do to help?” Noemi asked, since that seemed to be the obvious path forward here.

“Well, I can always use more hands to rustle up possible replacement parts, but I’d most appreciate help avoiding that “shoot us down” thing. I hear you’re pretty handy with a data spike. If you can use this to scramble the First Order’s tracking system, our odds of surviving our trip go way up.”

Luigi wanted to try the hacking minigame on this mission. They traveled to the First Order main control tower and found an access panel tucked out of the way. He inserted the data spike and asked Noemi to watch his back as he worked to penetrate the layers of protection.

“Don’t worry” she replied, “if I see any sign of a patrol, I’ll alert you. Just watch out for the countermeasure programs, this one looks tougher.”

Luigi smiled nervously as he began the process of rewriting the code. Logically he knew it was all pretend, but the park did their job well and just like the day before it felt very real. He was almost done when Noemi called out “You might want to hurry it up, I see a Storm Trooper headed this way”.

He fumbled a sequence in his haste and was shocked, literally, when the screen flashed red and arced with “harmless” static electric defenses.

That famous special effect was supposed to be safe, but suddenly Luigi’s mousing hand went completely numb. He started dropping forbidden words left and right as he massaged a hand that felt like dead wood. Noemi rushed over, roleplaying forgotten as she asked what was wrong.

“My hand… I can’t feel my hand” he gasped out “I made a mistake, got shocked. It’s supposed to be immersive, but this doesn’t feel OK at all!”

Noemi did her best to comfort him. “Hang in there, we’ll figure this out.” She paused then, asking quietly “Could this have anything to do with your Carpel Tunnel? I know that makes your hand “fall asleep” sometimes, but they should have accounted for that if it was going to be a problem when they programmed your data pad. Did you put that on the medical form they gave us to fill out at check-in?”

Luigi hung his head “No. I didn’t see what difference it could make.” He didn’t add that he hadn’t wanted to be restricted from any missions, but he wasn’t fooling his spouse by leaving that out. Noemi sighed “I gotta be honest, that was a boneheaded move. Still, what’s done is done. Let’s find the first aid station, we need to get you looked at, and maybe they should check over that machine too.”

By the time they located the nearest first aid station and got checked in Luigi was feeling relatively better. The pins and needles were uncomfortable, but at least he could feel something and just then that was a vast improvement.

The medic confirmed that the shock had likely inflamed Luigi’s Carpel Tunnel. After a stern reminder to list all medical conditions on the waiver for his own safety she reprogrammed his datapad to prevent future shock effects. “You can try the mission again, but you’ll be at a disadvantage if you don’t wait to recover full use of that hand first.”

Exiting the clinic Noemi asked “OK, so we’ve got some time to kill. What do you want to do?”

“Honestly” Luigi replied, “After that what I need is a stiff drink!”

Goal in mind, their path turned once more to their favorite attraction: The Cantina. Luigi got his stiff drink, but he’d forgotten just how stiff some of them could be!

The Dagobah Slug Slinger was low in sugar because its juices had been converted into high-octane punch. He was also much older than the last time he’d had this particular “park exclusive”, and his tolerance had fallen off with his drinking habits, now that his diet excluded his favorite cocktails.

Noemi fought hard to hold back a laugh when she realized her spouse was literally reeling. “Come on champ” she said, “It’s time to get you to bed.”

“But the miz-shon…” Luigi slurred plaintively. “Can wait until morning” she replied.

Gathering him under her arm Noemi helped her tipsy boy towards the door, asking on the way “How’s your hand?”

“Ach’y” he said with a big sigh “Itz not fair!” “No, its not fair” she agreed, kissing him lightly on the cheek “and I’m sorry, but I’ll make sure to grab an ice pack on the way to our room for you.”

“I wuv you” he blubbered “I know” she replied with a chuckle as she led them both slowly down the path towards some much-needed rest.

View The Full Story of My Not So Berry Challenge Here

#sims 4 challenge #sims 4 #sims 4 legacy #sims4 #sims 4 nsb #sims 4 not so berry #sims4nsbstraud #sims 4 let's play #sims 4 gameplay #sims 4 lets play

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redstringraven · 1 year ago

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#someone meta about don and raph and their non verbal communication for me (@isitdonproof, on this post)

i'll take a swing at it from the context of this moment specifically, mostly because 1) i think we can agree that all the boys communicate with each other non-verbally to varying extents AND do it differently depending on the bro-combination, and 2) if i start combing through the series for more examples, this'll devolve into a much longer post. it's already gotten long, so forgive me.

uuh, this'll also be pulling a lot from my previous enneagram discussion, but i'll do my best to be to-the-point, so you can follow along without reading my other nonsense.

i checked the episode just in case and the gifset doesn't show it, but don looks down at raph first. then raph tilts his head back to look up at him. this kiiind of disrupts the immediate concept that came to my head, but i'm gonna follow through with it anyway. disclaimer that their enneagram placements are headcanons of mine because that's of course not officially listed anywhere, feel free to disagree, etcetera.

raph's an 8; 8s are very alert to where the 'power' in the room is, because their own power/autonomy/sense of control is integral to them. they also want the truth and don't appreciate it when information is withheld "for their protection", because if they don't have all the details how can they hope to control the situation?

don is a 5; 5s are very objective and capable of responding to problems rather than reacting to them (whereas the other three tend to be reactive types). they will look at a situation and shoot straight with you whether it hurts your feelings or not.

raph and don are connected on the enneagram web, because an 8's stress number is a 5 and a 5's security number is an 8. i'm not gonna dive into that again here, just know that it means they're capable of sharing behaviors and traits; it's one of the reasons i'm not too fond of the idea that don and raph are "opposites". they're on different wavelengths, yes, but not opposing ones. and as i mentioned in don's enneagram post, i think it's the 5's ability to be objective that makes raph much more receptive to being 'called out' by don rather than leo or mikey; he knows don will be straightforward and not tap-dance around things, which is something an 8 values.

returning to the gifset, this interaction takes place a minute or so before leo's lowest moment in the series. splinter says "for months now, you have been brooding, surly, and stubborn" but it's when leo says "yeah. right." that raph and don actually pause and look up. the following exchanged glance, in my opinion, is don and raph checking with each other.

splinter is trying to get through to leo, and leo is pushing back. but he's not just pushing back, he's being outright disrespectful--he tells splinter that his lesson 'stinks' and his overall tone is aggressive. there's a power shift happening in the room.

up to this point in the season, raph's been growing increasingly hostile toward leo's change in behavior. at first he found it amusing (s4ep1), but in the prior episode, samurai tourist, he said leo was "going mental". in that same episode mikey came to leo's defense and pushed back on that statement; after that it seems raph backs off leo's case a little (through what dialogue we get). don, on the other hand, has been distant and avoidant when it comes to addressing leo and his *vague gesturing* everything.

since this moment comes after mikey's push-back, this feels to me like raph sensing an upcoming explosion from leo, but maybe pausing to think "am i judging him too harshly again by expecting the worst?". so, he looks up at don as though to silently ask "am i being a bonehead and jumping the gun, or is something about to happen?" only to find don is looking back down at him. don's not shaking his head or signalling to raph that he's wrong to have this reaction. instead, he's maybe looking to see if leo's backtalk has warranted something more than a growl or an eye roll from raph--a sign that this is something to be alarmed of.

in that glance: raph's getting from don that his intuition is correct and it's not his frustration with leo triggering again, and don is getting from raph that there's been a power-shift and something beyond an argument is about to happen.

tl;dr: yo i'mma check his vibe... --bAD VIBE--

i hope this made sense HFJKDHSJKG.

#tmnt 2003 #;hannah's meta #;tmnt #;donatello #;raphael #[ i guess i should also link this as an addendum on their respective enneagram posts ]#[ sorry if this is a mess; my birds were screaming for half of it and my brain flew out the window e-e;; ]#[ *crawls back to trying to finish my comic pages before bed* ]

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trickstertox · 6 months ago

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Am I bad at coming up with names? No!

Am I bad at putting a lot of pressure on myself to come up with The Name because I refuse to rename a character unless there's a legitimate reason (such as idiocy with foreign names)? Absolutely.

I'll have characters for literal months completely unnamed because I just can't do it. At this point, I'm going to start slapping random words or names and seeing if it sticks. My characters range from Ender Leon to Rhodolite to Sunshine Lemoncake to Marina to Milk to Dean to Cappuccino to Immortal Firework 8 ... (eclipse included) to Oliver. It's a mix bag of normal names (Bex, Tommy, Freddy) to gems and plants (Amazonite, Ammolite, Cactus, Cotton) to food (Yakisoba, Patty Melt, Tea) to something kinda silly (Bappy, Alert, Bonehead) to all sorts of other themes like stars and constellations (Andromeda, Cepheus, Cassiopeia).

But maybe I need to be leaning into getting silly with it. Don't care souch, just slap a food or normal name and call it day.

#TricksterTox #Tox Talks

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herosneednotapply · 2 years ago

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Headcanon: Addie: Infinity War

I imagine that the day of the snap was really hard on telepaths. Because depending on the level of your ability you either suffered an irritating headache or pain on par with like a stroke. As literally billions of people and their minds and the noises that their minds make just cease to exist.

Addie is probably in her garden just toiling away before she just collapses in the dirt. I guess she's not an Omega-level mutant but she's literally toeing the line. Her body's not responding to her commands for the first time in her entire life. And her mind is racing trying to find her people. The people who mean the most to her in the world. And one after the other they are just not there. Her personal assistant, The shield-appointed handler, some of her biological family, and Fury even though she finds him to be an irritation are gone.

She's starting to panic and she's pushing her already fraying powers to the limit to try to reach out and just touch those boneheaded boys. Addie has known where they have been the entire time. She respects the secrecy that was needed in order for them to be free. But when she goes looking one of them is gone.

one of them is gone!

One of them is gone!

ONE OF THEM IS GONE!

Suddenly she is in 1944. And the tears don't come when she's reading the letter. Or when she is sitting at the funeral. They don't come until the dead of night and she's screaming like an animal. The same type of grief-stricken sound that crawls its way out of her throat in modern times and alerts what few neighbors she has left that something is wrong. She blacks out and wakes up days later to a smaller, sadder, and quieter world.

#headcanon #headcanons #ch:addie #tw grief #tw death

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market-spy · 11 months ago

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The Bone Zone: Navigating the Osteosynthesis Devices Market Rollercoaster

Introduction:

So, picture this: the global osteosynthesis devices market, valued at a cool USD 9.23 billion in 2022, is on a journey. From a humble start, it’s slated to skyrocket to a whopping USD 18.45 billion by 2031, growing at a chirpy 8% CAGR. But wait, what’s driving this bone-rattling growth? Let’s dissect, shall we?

The Bone-chilling Dynamics:

Drivers:

Growing Aging Population: As the world ages gracefully (or not so gracefully), fractures and orthopedic issues become the new norm. It’s a bone buffet out there!

Increasing Trauma and Fracture Incidences: Accidents happen. And when they do, they often lead to a rendezvous with orthopedic surgeons and their trusty osteosynthesis devices.

Rising Orthopedic Surgeries: From joint replacements to spinal procedures, surgeries are all the rage. And what’s a surgery without some snazzy osteosynthesis devices to stabilize things?

Restraints:

High Cost: Ouch! Implants, surgeries, and post-op care can bleed your wallet dry. It’s like bone insurance, but without the premiums.

Complications and Infections: Nothing puts a damper on bone healing like infections and complications. Cue the extra care, the extra expenses, and the extra sighs.

Regulatory Challenges: Ah, regulations. They’re like the gatekeepers of the bone world, making sure everything’s up to snuff before it hits the market. But boy, do they slow things down.

The Market Dance:

Segmental Analysis:

Material Matters: Degradable or nondegradable? It’s the ultimate showdown in the bone material world, with each vying for the top spot. Spoiler alert: they both have their fans.

Fracture Frenzy: From skulls to ankles, fractures come in all shapes and sizes. But hey, there’s an osteosynthesis device for every fracture, ensuring that bones heal straight and true.

Regional Insights:

North America: The Bone Boss: With a market share of 52.6%, North America reigns supreme. It’s like the bone capital of the world, with the U.S. leading the charge and securing a staggering 90% or more of the market share.

Asia Pacific: The Rising Star: Watch out, North America! Asia Pacific is hot on your heels, poised for remarkable growth. With countries like China, India, and Japan leading the charge, the bone game is about to get interesting.

For More Information: https://www.skyquestt.com/report/osteosynthesis-devices-market

The Bone-rattling Competition:

Top Player Profiles:

Stryker: The bone pioneers, unveiling their new line of resorbable osteosynthesis devices. It’s like magic, but for bones!

Medtronic: Bringing robotic-assisted surgery to the bone party. It’s like having a bone buddy who’s also a robot. What’s not to love?

Zimmer Biomet: Snapping up Orthofix like it’s nobody’s business. Talk about bone ambition!

Market Trends:

Personalized Medicine: Because why settle for off-the-shelf when you can have custom-made? It’s like bespoke tailoring, but for bones.

Biodegradable Implants: Saving the planet, one bone at a time. It’s like composting, but with implants.

Minimally Invasive Techniques: Less is more, especially when it comes to incisions. It’s like surgery, but with fewer scars and more high-fives.

Conclusion:

So there you have it, folks. The osteosynthesis devices market: where bones, business, and a dash of humor collide. From soaring growth to bone-rattling challenges, it’s a rollercoaster ride you won’t want to miss. So buckle up, boneheads, and let’s ride!

And remember, whether you’re a seasoned orthopedic surgeon or just a bone enthusiast, there’s always something new and exciting happening in the bone zone. Until next time, bone voyage!

About Us-

SkyQuest Technology Group is a Global Market Intelligence, Innovation Management & Commercialization organization that connects innovation to new markets, networks & collaborators for achieving Sustainable Development Goals.

SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

1 Apache Way,

Westford,

Massachusetts 01886

USA (+1) 617–230–0741

Email- [email protected]

Website: https://www.skyquestt.com

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sqinsights · 11 months ago

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The Bone Zone: Navigating the Osteosynthesis Devices Market Rollercoaster

Hey there bone enthusiasts and market mavens! Today, let’s dive deep into the world of osteosynthesis devices, where bones meet business in a symphony of growth, innovation, and, well, the occasional fracture.

Introduction:

The Bone-chilling Dynamics:

Drivers:

Growing Aging Population: As the world ages gracefully (or not so gracefully), fractures and orthopedic issues become the new norm. It’s a bone buffet out there!

Increasing Trauma and Fracture Incidences: Accidents happen. And when they do, they often lead to a rendezvous with orthopedic surgeons and their trusty osteosynthesis devices.

Rising Orthopedic Surgeries: From joint replacements to spinal procedures, surgeries are all the rage. And what’s a surgery without some snazzy osteosynthesis devices to stabilize things?

Restraints:

High Cost: Ouch! Implants, surgeries, and post-op care can bleed your wallet dry. It’s like bone insurance, but without the premiums.

Complications and Infections: Nothing puts a damper on bone healing like infections and complications. Cue the extra care, the extra expenses, and the extra sighs.

Regulatory Challenges: Ah, regulations. They’re like the gatekeepers of the bone world, making sure everything’s up to snuff before it hits the market. But boy, do they slow things down.

The Market Dance:

Segmental Analysis:

Material Matters: Degradable or nondegradable? It’s the ultimate showdown in the bone material world, with each vying for the top spot. Spoiler alert: they both have their fans.

Fracture Frenzy: From skulls to ankles, fractures come in all shapes and sizes. But hey, there’s an osteosynthesis device for every fracture, ensuring that bones heal straight and true.

Regional Insights:

For More Information: https://www.skyquestt.com/report/osteosynthesis-devices-market

The Bone-rattling Competition:

Top Player Profiles:

Stryker: The bone pioneers, unveiling their new line of resorbable osteosynthesis devices. It’s like magic, but for bones!

Medtronic: Bringing robotic-assisted surgery to the bone party. It’s like having a bone buddy who’s also a robot. What’s not to love?

Zimmer Biomet: Snapping up Orthofix like it’s nobody’s business. Talk about bone ambition!

Market Trends:

Personalized Medicine: Because why settle for off-the-shelf when you can have custom-made? It’s like bespoke tailoring, but for bones.

Biodegradable Implants: Saving the planet, one bone at a time. It’s like composting, but with implants.

Minimally Invasive Techniques: Less is more, especially when it comes to incisions. It’s like surgery, but with fewer scars and more high-fives.

Conclusion:

And remember, whether you’re a seasoned orthopedic surgeon or just a bone enthusiast, there’s always something new and exciting happening in the bone zone. Until next time, bone voyage!

About Us-

SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd.

1 Apache Way,

Westford,

Massachusetts 01886

USA (+1) 617–230–0741

Email- [email protected]

Website: https://www.skyquestt.com

0 notes

elitgenith · 1 year ago

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Play Google Snake Games: A Classic and Entertaining Experience

Google Snake is a nostalgic and basic internet game that has caught the hearts of players around the world. Whether you're new to gaming or only searching for a great redirection, Google Snake offers a straightforward yet engaging experience. In this complete aide, we'll investigate the universe of Google Snake, from its set of experiences and ongoing interaction mechanics to tips and deceives for dominating this exemplary game.

The most effective method to Play Google Snake

1. Getting to the Game

Playing Google Snake is unquestionably simple. This is the way you can get to it:

•Open an Internet Browser: Send off your favored internet browser and go to the Google web search tool.

•Type "Google Snake": In the pursuit bar, just sort "Google Snake" and press Enter.

•Click on the Game: The principal output ought to be the Snake game. Click on it to begin playing.

2. Game Controls

The controls for Google Snake are direct:

•Bolt Keys: Utilize the bolt keys on your console to control the heading of the snake — up, down, left, or right.

•Touchscreen: On the off chance that you're playing on a touchscreen gadget, swipe in the ideal heading to move the snake.

3. Interactivity Mechanics

The target of Google Snake is straightforward yet testing:

•Gather Spots: Explore your snake around the screen to gather specks (frequently looking like food). Each speck consumed causes your snake to develop longer.

•Keep away from Crash: Be careful not to slam into the walls of the game region or your snake's own tail. Crash closes the game.

•Development and Scoring: As your snake develops longer, your score increments. The more you can move the game along, the higher your score will be.

•Game Speed: The game bit by bit speeds up, making it seriously testing after some time.

Tips and Deceives for Dominating Google Snake

To accomplish high scores and become a Google Snake genius, think about these tips and deceives:

1. Plan Your Moves

•Think Ahead: Expect your snake's way a couple of pushes forward. This will assist you with trying not to cause circumstances where you can't move without slamming into yourself.

•Utilize the Walls: When your snake gets longer, embracing the external walls of the game region can be a protected system to make space for moving.

2. Practice Reflexes

•Remain Alert: As the game paces up, your reflexes become critical. Maintain your concentrate sharp to respond quickly to shifts in course.

3. Stay away from Excessively Forceful Play

•Try not to Pursue Dabs: Oppose the impulse to pursue each spot forcefully. It's smarter to miss a couple of specks than risk colliding with a wall or your tail.

4. Set Score Targets

•Challenge Yourself: Lay out private score focuses for each game. Progressively increment these objectives as you work on your abilities.

5. Gain from Missteps

•Investigate Interactivity: After each game, pause for a minute to ponder your presentation. Recognize regions where you committed errors and plan to work on in those region during your next game.

6. Partake in the Sentimentality

•Relish the Experience: Part of the appeal of Google Snake is its effortlessness and wistfulness. Embrace the game as a magnificent oldie but a goodie and partake in each snapshot of playing.

Varieties of Google Snake

Throughout the long term, Google has presented different themed adaptations of the Snake game to celebrate various events and occasions. A few remarkable varieties include:

1. Google Snake 2013 (Chinese New Year)

•In 2013, Google praised the Chinese New Year with a unique Snake game highlighting a snake decorated with a mythical beast's head.

2. Google Snake 2014 (World Cup)

•To harmonize with the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Google included a soccer-themed Snake game where the snake gathered soccer balls.

3. Google Snake 2018 (April Boneheads')

•On April Nitwits' Day in 2018, Google revealed a perky curve on Snake where you could direct a train all over the planet, getting travelers en route.

4. Google Snake 2020 (Remain and Play at Home)

•In 2020, Google sent off an extraordinary Stay and Play at Home version of Snake to urge individuals to remain inside during the Coronavirus pandemic. It included a snake gathering facial coverings.

5. Google Snake 2021 (Chinese New Year)

•For the Chinese New Year in 2021, Google presented one more themed Snake game with a snake wearing conventional Chinese clothing.

These varieties add tomfoolery and fervor to the exemplary ongoing interaction, furnishing players with novel difficulties and encounters.

Contending with Companions

Playing Google Snake can be much more agreeable when you challenge your companions. This is the way you can make it a cutthroat encounter:

•High Score Fights: Rival your companions to see who can accomplish the most elevated score in a brief time span or inside a particular number of turns.

•Multiplayer Mode: Some Snake games offer multiplayer choices, permitting you and your companions to play all the while on a similar screen.

•Cordial Bets: Consider setting well disposed bets, such as purchasing a nibble for the individual with the most reduced score or getting a treat on the off chance that you beat your own high score.

Google Snake is an immortal exemplary that keeps on enamoring players, everything being equal. Its straightforwardness, nostalgic allure, and habit-forming interactivity settle on it a phenomenal decision for a speedy gaming meeting or a cordial contest. By grasping the rudiments, rehearsing your abilities, and executing viable methodologies, you can dominate Google Snake and accomplish great high scores. Anyway, why pause? Open your internet browser, type "Google Snake," and leave on an excursion of tomfoolery and sentimentality. Prepare to direct your snake to triumph!

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ahogechef · 5 months ago

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She just laughs as she listens to these two. "Now, now, you two, it's alright! Long as Chi-kun finally understands how much love I put in that bento, it's fine... so I'll let him off the hook, juuust this once... only him being such a clueless bonehead, is exactly what I love about him. And you!"

A playful wink at the boys. That would probably sound like an insult to anyone else, but these two know that she means that in only the most loving way. They were her cool, but big loser boyfriends and she wouldn't have them any other way....

A playful roll of her eyes and occasionally telling these two to Be Nice as they continued bickering, she beams when they reach their destination. "Ohh! There they are...!" Her voice is a slight whisper, since she doesn't want to risk accidentally alerting the Omoraki before the boys can strike first. The funny way these demons were built, really did make the perfect ingredients to go together in a meal!

"Alllrighty, boys: time to nab some tasty ingredients~!"

"Hard to believe that guy is your boyfriend....And I thought I was clueless. But it explains why that bento was so overpowering-- You should be more appreciative, Chi."

Jeez... Who knew the potential god of creation was an idiot. At least Naoki was brave enough to admit he was kind of a dunce sometimes. Some self-awareness is needed! Those ingredients she listed down did sound pretty appetizing to the demon-- Far more better than the Magatama he was so used to eating. Heck, he was still human Naoki would've killed for a bento like that!

"Oh gimme a break... All that matters is that Kaede helped me! And it was my secret weapon to being you!"

Getting called clueless was nothing new. If Chihiro had one goal he was going to focus on it none stop; and that focus was to defeat Noaki! And he was going to use all the resources around him to achieve that. And Kaede was just one of his keys to success to beat the demi-fiend! Plus, he got a nice meal out of it too!

As their childish bickering continues as the traversed the streets of Minato they finally reach their first destination! A hoard of Omoraki were minding their owe business... And Chihiro wasn't wrong; they had chicken bodies and onion heads. Pretty convenient, huh? Not every day you get something paired with their own seasoning.

#ACTUAL KINDERGARTNERS!!! SILLY BOYS WITH THEIR SILLY BICKERING!!!!#DFJNFDKJ YES.... silly boyfriend Naoki who is at least aware he is clueless....#unlike Mr. Chihiro!!!!! but it's okay Kaede loves teasing him about it HEHEHE #her two loser dumbasses that she loves so much!!!#YES!!!!! EXACTLY WHAT SHE LOVE ABOUT THEM IN FACT TEE HEE~#azure-summoner

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dunkedon-moved-again · 6 years ago

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Woah is this actual sans undertale? sans deltarune that befriended my mom? JEBXJZ ok but fr ur sans is soso good. i can actually hear him in ur writing n ur writing in general is just?? amazing. would die for.

* shit how’d you find out

beep beep ! / @unfight

#this just in: amour is actually sans nut dealer and alert nude #HDFIUFHSD #IM GLAD U THINK SO!#i'm v proud of him and glad that;;; you can definitely hear the bonehead in my writing :")#and good. you WILL die for me.#unfight #* knock knock .#* it’s a dual act .#* you found something worthwhile . don’t break it .#* you told the punchline . it wasn’t very funny .

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mando-abs · 4 years ago

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The Nose Job (One-Shot)

Summary: You and Grogu try to pass away time by playing a few games. However, the inclusion of one particular mandalorian in with your fun throws a hitch in your plans.

Pairing: Din Djarin x reader (written by a female, but could very well be read with/without the inclusion of gender)

Rating: Teen (I guess??)

Word Count: 3.1K (my bad)

Warnings: some wrestling, few mentions of blood (nothing serious), mild cursing, but mostly just that good fluffy stuff :)

A/N: This takes place at some point before you learn Din's name (hence all the "Mando"s and "mandalorian"s. There is an established friendship. I looked over this to check for any errors, but tbh I'm tried of looking at this so there may be a few hiccups :). Baby's first one-shot. Constructive feedback is much appreciated | General Masterlist | Taglist

Every day you spent with the mandalorian and his son “foundling” presented itself with different challenges. On days when Mando reluctantly allowed you and the kid to join him on one of his hunts, the challenges were trying not to draw too much attention to yourselves, constantly staying alert, constantly being on the move, and being prepared to throw down on a couple of boneheaded bounties if need be. Those days, while usually easy enough thanks to Mando’s meticulous bounty hunting routines, were both mentally and physically exhausting.

Most days, however, were spent in and around the Crest, jumping from planet to planet and getting used to the swirling, quiet hum of hyperspace. Oh, but they were far from restful. Between the three of you, you could give a trash compactor a run for its credits if you and Mando spent a few days slacking on cleaning the ship. Having a little green gremlin on board always getting mysterious stains on himself doesn’t help keep things tidy either. Repairs to the pre-Imperial ship are constantly needed, too. Mando has claimed that the age of the Crest means that it wouldn’t show up on Republic registries.

“But if you're such a good bounty hunter, why would that matter?” you asked him one day while he worked under the control panel. “Sure, it helps, but with all of the credits being used for new parts, you could have already bought a state of the art ship that wouldn’t need repairs every return to Nevarro.” Mando slid out from under the panel, stared at you for a moment, slowly swapped the tools you held out for him, and shuffled back underneath, thus ending that conversation. The man’s dedicated, you thought, I’ll give him that.

But, on rare occasions, everything on your and Mando’s chore list was done. The kid was clean, the ship was looking snazzy, and nothing was breaking. In between hunts on those days, there was nothing else better to do than to sit around and stare at each other. This was fine with Mando of course, spending most of his time in mental solitary confinement anyways. However, you and Grogu needed something more stimulating than wandering thoughts to prevent yourselves from losing it. And that meant playing off each other to keep yourselves entertained.

Neither of you could toss anything. The Crest was too cramped for that. All you could do was roll Grogu’s metal ball back and forth to each other, but that usually got old pretty quick. You two normally try arts and crafts time, but you’ve recently noticed the ever growing stack of scribble drawings beside Mando’s bunk and decided it was best to give that a rest for now.

Both of you were banned from playing hide and seek. It’s not like it was fair to begin with anyways. You couldn’t fit into as many crevices as the kid could, and you felt like he always cheated by sensing you with his mind powers. But, the ship of a professional hunter was not the safest place to play the game, and Grogu’s innocent enough hide in the carbonite freezing unit one day was enough for you and Mando to call it off.

And now, here you are, sitting in front of the bug-eyed baby on the floor in the hull of the ship, pulling out all of the stops you can think of just to get a few giggles out of him.

So far, you’ve tried your entire arsenal: rhythmic clapping games, pretending to munch on his ears (don’t ask), and blowing raspberries on your arms (that one is his favorite, gets him in the giggle fits every time). But now that he’s calmed down, it was time to try a trick that you haven’t used before…

“Hey Grogu,” you muse. Grogu’s head whips up to meet yours. You gently snip your fingers on his nose and quickly place your thumb in between index and middle finger, wiggling it furiously. You taunt him, “I got your nose!” A toothy grin spreads across Grogu’s face as he tries to grab your thumb. You tease him by bobbing your hand up and down, just away from his reach.

Once you finally let him take your fist to examine it, he looks at your thumb, curious at first, but then his smile disappears. Puzzled at this, you “reattach” his nose and show him your empty hand, signaling that everything is alright.

No reaction.

Huh. That’s weird.

You try the trick again with more exaggerated shocked expressions. “Look! I’ve got your nose again, Grogu! Oooooo!”

Nothing.

Your hands fall into your lap with a slap in defeat as your shoulders raise toward your ears. “What gives, kid?”

“In case you haven’t noticed, cyare,” a deeper voice calls from behind you, “your ‘nose’ isn’t exactly small and green.”

The mandalorian has been sitting on a crate across the hull, trying to keep himself busy by scribbling things down in his notebook all the while observing the two of you play. You would have forgotten he was there in the first place if it weren’t for the faint scraping of graphite coming from his corner.

The confusion wipes away from your face when you scrunch the bridge between your eyebrows together. You roll your eyes as you shift your body to face Mando.

“Alright, tinny. If it’s so easy, then why don’t you have a crack at it.”

But, the longer you jokingly glare at Mando, you realize that your solution is staring you in the face (at least, you think he is). The concealed visage

of the mandalorian gives you the perfect candidate to show off your nose-stealing magic to Grogu. You flash a wicked grin at the mandalorian.

“What is it…” he says as he turns his head inquisitively.

“Just, come over here.”

Mando’s head returns back to it’s upright state as if he’s trying to calculate the possible risks (or rather, humiliations) he might encounter. He must ultimately decide that it’s worth checking out as he bookmarks his place in his notebook. He mutters out a breathy “alright” and slowly strides over to the two of you. Of course. If I’m going to get him to participate, you think, he’s going to milk his return to us as long as possible. You pat the ground next to you as he finally approaches you both. You maintain the slightly devilish grin on your face as you take his gloved hand to help him sit on the floor. Mando gives Grogu a loose cheek pinch when he gets situated beside you and the kid. Grogu coos contentedly, obviously intrigued that his father is joining in on your games.

“What are we doing this time?”

“Well Mando, I’m so glad you asked. As you can see, our little green bundle of joy here’s palate of entertainment is too sophisticated for my simple nose trick.”

“Incredibly simple.”

“Well, what if I told you two that the previous trick was only a warm up to the main event?”

“I’d say we’d be pretty relieved.”

One of your eyebrows raises at Mando as the kid lets out a small chuckle at the snarky remark. Birds of a feather, you thought.

You close your eyes for a split moment as if to reset and get your mind back on the kid you’re trying to impress. “Because, for the main trick,” you widen your eyes and pause for dramatism to try to hype up Grogu, “I am going to capture your dad’s nose through his helmet and bring it out in the opening for your viewing pleasure.” Grogu’s ears perk up in all of their large glory. I’ve got him now.

The mandalorian glances at the kid and then back at you. “You’ve got our attention...Show us what you’ve got.”

You turn to fully face Mando as you both sit with your legs crossed in front of each other, the kid facing you two on your sides. You nod at Grogu as if to say “watch this.” As you look back at Mando, you slowly begin to reach toward his helmet, ready to swipe at his t-shaped visor. But before you get a centimeter closer, Mando lifts both of his leather gloved hands over the front of his helmet.

You recoil your hand back in confusion, afraid you’ve done something you shouldn’t have. “Mando? What’s wrong?”

He opens his hands like double doors to show his visor again. “Nothing.” He drops his hands back to his lap. “I told you I was ready.”

You furrow your brows, knowing exactly what angle Mando is playing at, but you let it slide. You raise your hand to try again, this time getting your fingers closer to his helmet than last time…..only to have your hand swiftly swatted away from the visor and the kid, who starts making small, short giggles again. You lean back and put your hands on your hips, getting a bit more irritated.

“Mando.”

“What?”

“Your nose.”

“And? I told you, you could have it.”

You glare at him in silence for a beat.

“Go on. Take it.”

You sigh and break out of your grumpy hip stance. You've come too far and are way too determined to show the kid you could pull off this trick (now fully out of spite because of the mandalorian’s tauntings, but you wouldn’t admit that to yourself, or to him for that matter). You falter a bit this time as you reach for his helmet, taking a moment to glance over your hand at the mandalorian. He nods at you to continue. You know better than to take his outward affirmations for granted this time and ready your other hand in case he decides to block your trick again.

...But Mando knows better, too…

This time he doesn’t reach anywhere near his helmet and lunges his entire torso at you. This catches you completely off guard much to the mandalorian’s advantage as he pushes you to the floor of the hull and locks his knees on both of your sides.

“What the hell, Mando?!” You try to gain some footing by arching your knees up a bit behind him and start trying to shove some of his weight off of you by lifting his shoulders. He acts as a dead weight. You scoff as you strain to get a few words out. “Get off of me!”

You were only doing what he expected you to do as your Mando-sized bench press leaves your chest and arms vulnerable. He bares down both of his palms on your chest allowing him to pull his right leg over your stomach. He shifts his weight on his right leg. This gives him the balance to hoist his left leg on your neck and nestle it under your chin (more as a placeholder than an act to suffocate you). In his final move, he grabs the arm closest to him and brings it down to the floor with the rest of his torso, completing his arm lock. You try resisting but your useless squirms only makes your arm more uncomfortable. You could practically feel the stupid grin radiating off of his visor.

“GIVE ME YOUR NOSE, YOU JERK!!!”

“Then. Take. It.”

“THEN GET ME OUT OF THIS ARM LOCK!”

“Then I guess you don’t want it bad enough.”

In the middle of your quarrel, shrill laughter fills the hull of the Crest. Both you and Mando freeze in place as Grogu begins the largest giggle fit the two of you have ever heard. The mandalorian turns his head to witness the spectacle while you try to look over leg, but you ultimately lay your head back on the floor in defeat. “You like that kid?” the mandalorian replies with a few breathy chuckles in between his words. “Just wait until I teach you all the locks I know, ad’ika.”

At some point in your admittance in defeat, your elbow causes Mando’s right foot to raise a bit off of the floor. And with the mandalorian currently distracted, you could finally get the upper hand. You smirk at the realization and swiftly break away your arm from his hold, clasp your hands together, and shimmy his left leg over your head. You then use that leg as a ramp to push your shoulder blades over it as you regain your footing. Finally, you twist yourself to face the mandalorian, your knees securely on the floor and Mando’s legs on your sides being firmly held by your arms. Just as Grogu’s giggling was starting to die down, he breaks out into a frenzy of laughter, pleasantly surprised by the turn of events.

You beam down at Mando for your success. “Ha HA! GOT YA!” You give yourself a moment to catch your breath while you stare at him. You cock your head sideways as your pride grows. “I think I’ll be taking that nose now, thank you very much.” As you reach for your well fought prize, you slip a little in your balance and hook your other hand at the edge of the mandalorian’s helmet. Almost as quick of a blink of your eye, Mando reflexively lands a blow square in your face, right on your nose.

You stagger back as one hand covers the center of your face. Mando catches your other hand with the same fist that punched you to prevent you from falling to the floor. Your eyes instinctively start to water. “Fuck, Mando!”

The mandalorian breaks away from your sides, sits up, and immediately starts reaching for your face. “Shit! I’m sorry. I didn-”

“Son of a nerf herder, you hit hard! Maker…” The kid’s laughter turns into mild hiccups, knowing something has gone wrong with both of your tricks.

“I know, so let me see it…”, he asks as he gently removes your hand away from your nose. You breathe through your teeth at the change in pressure. He lifts and tilts your head side to side in order to examine the damage he’s done. A slow line of blood begins to form from your nostril. At the sight of this, Mando keeps your head lifted as he reaches for the bottom of his cape. You put your hand back on your nose, pinching it this time. “Es ehit buhleed-ang?”

“Yes, but the good news,” he rips a thick strip from his cape and bunches it together, “is it isn’t broken. Here.” You take the balled-up cloth from him and press it against your nose. Mando rests one of his hands on your thigh and gives it a few reassuring pats before he stands up. “I’m going to get a medkit. Keep applying pressure. I’ll be right back.”

You sigh and groan as you try to stretch out your neck and readjust your hold on the cloth. I’m starting to feel why he’s a feared bounty hunter in the systems, you thought. I only got a lick of what he could do. Well, I guess it’s comforting that he is holding back at least a little bit for me. You feel a pair of claws on your side that have come to comfort you. Breaking your train of thought, you look down to see big brown eyes staring up at you and a large pair of green ears folded down to express their concern.

“Oh, it’s going to be okay, little bug.” You reach down with your free hand to trail your thumb in circles on top of his head to sooth Grogu. “I’m going to be just fine. And don’t you worry, dad didn’t mean to bop me on my nose like that.” You boop his nose with your index finger, and Grogu coos in response. You smile back at him but wince as the stretch of flesh reminds you of your injury on your face. Your voice slightly changes into a more firm tone to the kid. “But let this be a lesson, Grogu.” You dip your chin closer to your neck and raise your eyebrows. “No reaching under dad’s helmet, okay?” Grogu nods in affirmation.

Footsteps from the rungs of the cockpit ladder catch both of your attentions. You look back at Grogu. “Too many bad men have tried to remove dad’s helmet. And that helmet means a lot to him, doesn’t it?”, you say a bit softer this time. Grogu nods again, eyes wide with intent. Mando makes his way over to you two, medkit from the storage room in hand. You give a loose smile to the kid, and move your head as close to his as you can afford for the moment. “But we’re not bad, are we?” Grogu shakes his head and smiles up at you as he puts his hand toward his mouth. “I didn’t think so.”

The mandalorian crouches down in front of you and opens up the medkit. “Alright, let’s see what we can do…” You wait patiently as Mando fixes up a pack for your nose made out of cotton swabs, bandages, and gauze wrapped around the entirety of it. He gives the pack a few bacta sprays. “Okay, open up.” You remove the cloth from your nose. The mandalorian leans your head back and keeps a steady hand on your jawline as he inserts the pack into your nose. You flinch at the strain, and your eyes start watering again at the weird sensation.

“How is it? Are you good, cyare?” Mando asks as he tilts your head back to face him, keeping his hand on your jaw.

You stare at the slit in his visor where his eyes would be. “I think so...just uncomfortable, is all…”

The mandalorian sighs. “Listen, I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you...or ruin your trick. I was going to let you try at some point. There...there weren’t very many games growing up at the covert. Just sparing. So I thought…” He trails off. “But when you slipped and caught your fingers under my helmet, that was never my in…”

“It’s okay.” You bring your hand to his free arm and start rubbing it down to his vambrace. “I know… and I forgive you.” You look directly into his visor and smile, making sure that your intentions to him are never lost either.

You playfully shove at him, given that the tender moment was enough sappy-ness for both of you for now. “You still owe me though. BIG. TIME.”

The mandalorian gives a soft chuckle at the change in tone. He gives an exaggerated sigh. “Alright, alright...Let’s see...How about I worry about dinner and putting the kid to bed.”

“Hmmm…” You look down at Grogu still by your side. You both bring a hand to your chins, trying to see what you two could milk out of his forced generosity. You look back at Mando. “Throw in a couple of cups of your covert hot chocolate for me and the kid, and you’ve got yourself a deal.” The kid beams up at the mandalorian and quickly shuffles over to him. Mando scoops the kid up into his arms.

“Deal.”

A/N: You're still here?! Thank you for reading! This is honestly just a brain child, but something actually possessed me to write this word vomit down. If you want to be tagged in other one-shots in the possible future, just comment or ask :)

#the mandalorian #din djarin #din djarin x you #din djarin x reader #din dijarin fanfiction #din djarin fic #din djarin oneshot #mandalorian oneshot #mandalorian x reader #mandalorian x you #mandalorian x y/n #din djarin x y/n #star wars #my fanfic #my writing #yay #mando #mandalorian #star wars fanfiction

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