#bro his mustache just makes me cringe | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

immortalcoelacanth · 5 years ago

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HLVRAI Oneshot: Chalk

My muse continues to be a stuggle, Snowcon followers I am sorry XD

Word count: 2687

Summary: Kids were easy to be around. Their minds were simple, focused on entertaining themselves and being happy. It was something Benrey could relate to. But sometimes they could be so damn observant…

“You love dad, don’t you?”

“uhhh, sounds kinda cringe bro.”

The warm, summer winds blew through the surprisingly quiet neighborhood. Faint sounds of children laughing could be heard, most likely in the park not too far away, and the scent of smoke wafted off the barbeque Gordon was currently cooking food on.

All and all, a pleasantly calm day. It was one that he could enjoy with his son-

“hey, hey, you wanna play some tic tac toe?”

And Benrey.

The duo were both seated on the pavement not too far away, drawing on the ground with pieces of chalk that were all sorts of colours. Benrey was wearing a rather large hoodie with some game logos and stickers plastered across it, and his security helmet of course. From his position, Gordon could see that Joshua had drawn several stars, a rainbow, and several other miscellaneous drawings. Benrey had, after being scolded several times to not eat the chalk, drawn what appeared to be colourful smears across the ground, mixing and blending them together.

It sort of reminded Gordon of Benrey’s sweet voice, the blues that were present and the general colour gradient. He was glad to see everything was calm, nothing bad had happened, but still felt the urge to check.

“You two still holding up good?”

“Yeah dad!”

“we’re just doodlin’ passports over here, bro. josh dude gave himself a neat stache.”

“It’s a rainbow mustache that’s extra swirly.” The young boy sagely nodded. “Benrey says it needs glitter though to look super nice.”

“gotta make it sparkly like your personality, little dude.”

Joshua grinned and started laughing while Gordon could not stop himself from smiling at the rather wholesome sight. While Benrey was his typical somewhat apathetic self, his words were far more cohesive, and he sounded less… flustered when speaking. His words were less frantic, far calmer.

Like he was truly relaxed.

“Alright.” Gordon nodded as he turned his attention back to the barbeque, not wanting the veggies to burn while he was not paying attention. “Benrey just… keep not eating the chalk, please.”

He did not notice the wink that the ex-security guard sent Joshua, nor did he witness Benrey pull out half a piece of blue chalk from his pocket and carefully crunch into it.

Blue tasted the best, it was like gatorade.

The young boy laughed once more before returning to his doodling. Benrey looked at it for a moment, noticing the blue, orange, and yellow pieces of chalk that were clearly intended for whatever it was he was drawing, but Benrey decided not to question it at the moment.

Joshua would more than likely ramble about it at some point, the kid was full of all sorts of words and tended to ramble to whoever was nearby. It was pretty amusing to listen to and gave him all sorts of insight on both Gordon and what the pair’s home life had been like before he crashed into it.

Literally.

Breaking into someone’s apartment at around three in the morning was not the best of plans, especially since it ended with Gordon bringing a bat down on the top of his helmet. Not that Benrey had been hurt of course.

Seeing Gordon’s dismay and shock as the bat snapped in half and flew off to the side, shattering one of the windows, was hilarious.

Had that been Benrey’s fault?

Maaaaybeeee.

Either way, months had passed since that point. Months spent working on building up Gordon’s trust in him, learning how to do human things like buy groceries that were not just soda.

A shame since Benrey loved that gamer fuel.

Getting to know Joshua had been… nice, too. The young boy never had the same anxieties that his father felt, never worried about whether Benrey would hurt him or not. He had been happy to make a new friend who was willing to listen to him ramble and play games with him. Of course, Gordon had not been happy with the developing friendship between the two, but as the months passed…

Gordon had gone from constantly hovering over them, to occasionally checking in on them, and then finally to trusting Benrey.

Trusting him to watch over his son and not hurt him.

The first time Benrey had noticed this change and realized what it meant; it had been impossible to stop the bright pink orbs that left his mouth. Fortunately, Gordon had not noticed the sweet voice, but Joshua had.

Joshua, who had later told him how pretty the “glowing balls” looked and how it resembled a very nice, peachy pink.

Kids could be so blunt sometimes, but Benrey appreciated it. He appreciated how simple and straightforward their minds could be and while curiosity was a constant factor when dealing with a kid, it was an enjoyable part of talking to them.

Like making a baking soda volcano on the ceiling of Gordon’s apartment.

Fun times, especially with the bout of strangely quietly screaming he had gotten in response.

Benrey didn’t know Gordon’s face could turn that red.

He let out an amused chuckle and drew some loops on the ground with his mostly eaten piece of chalk. He loved getting Gordon so riled up, hearing the insults that were thrown his way and how the agitated man would run his hands through his hair, ruffling it up.

Loved watching his face flush with anger, how his eyes shined with rage…

Unnoticed to Benrey, several pink orbs floated out of his mouth as he sighed wistfully. When he realized what he had done, clamping a hand over his mouth to prevent any more from appearing, he noticed that Joshua was staring at him, grinning.

Shit, one of the things he was actually scared of.

“heyyyyy little joshie buddy, what’s with that look? kinda… kinda looks like a schemin’ look.”

Joshua’s smile grew a bit wider. “Maaaybe.”

“... kid you’re scarin’ me.”

The only response he got to that was a giggling laugh that was part cackle, which left him feeling no less concerned than he had previously been. Benrey sighed and refocused on his random doodling. Yep, just going to let this topic drop-

“You love dad, don’t you?”

Shit.

Benrey looked up and pretended he could not feel the sweat running down his face. Everything was totally fine, he was cool as a cucumber, kid couldn’t suspect a thing…

“uhhh, sounds pretty cringe, bro.” He shrugged. “and gay.”

“Dad likes all sorts of people!” Joshua huffed. “He likes gay!”

“... that wasn’t-uh... never mind.” Oh fuck, was he blushing? He hoped not. “still cringe, not a pro gamer move.”

“You blushing when dad says something nice about you isn’t cringe.” Joshua bluntly stated. “It’s cute, and grandpa Coomer says gay stuff is cute! Grandpa Coomer’s super smart so it’s gotta be true!”

“we-well it’s… uh…” Shit, he had no response to that.

“Dad makes you happy.” Joshua continued to say, now refocusing on his doodle on the ground and Benrey could now see that it was a family of three people. One blue, one orange, and the smallest one was yellow. “Even if you’re weird sometimes, and pour milk in the cereal box before you eat it-”

“fruit loops get super dusty and i wanted to make soup.”

“Cereal isn’t soup!”

“it is if you’re brave enough.” The change in topic was helping Benrey relax, tension leaving his shoulders as his absent-minded smile returned to his face. Nothing to stress over, everything was chill and-

“So when are you and dad going to go out on a date?”

Nope no more chill nope nope nope-

A date? Benrey had no clue how dates worked, or how they were supposed to work. Besides, his attempts at “flirting” were rarely successful and only seemed to wind Gordon up and, as much as he enjoyed watching the results, sometimes Gordon’s remarks would… sting.

They would make him hurt, cause him to cringe and recoil from the conversation. Not that such a thing had happened recently, but Benrey knew how unpredictable Gordon’s mood and temperament could be at times.

“sounds super cringe.” Was the response Joshua got, combined with a tense shrug. “like-like over nine thousand level cringer-”

“That’s an oooooooold reference.” The young boy said as he stuck his tongue out at Benrey. “And you’re changing topics again!”

Oh god, there were now hearts scribbled around the doodles that were clearly supposed to be him and Gordon. What could he say, what was he supposed to say? That he was terrified of fucking up the “Good Ending” he had finally achieved? That he did not want to risk destroying the relationship he currently had with Gordon?

The months of hard work he had put into fixing the damage that had been done because of that stupid, stupid game-

He felt the chalk in his grip crumble and break apart due to how tightly he was holding it, but the thing that snapped him out of his reverie was the sensation of a smaller hand grabbing onto his.

Joshua?

Indeed, Joshua had scooted over and reached out to hold onto his hand. He looked up at Benrey with a warm smile on his face.

A smile he had seen many times from the boy��s father…

“If it’s hard to say it, why don’t you show you!” He suggested, still smiling that same smile. “Dad’ll understand! He gets my drawings all the time!”

Benrey felt his lips quirk up into the faintest hint of a grin at the suggestion, the tips of sharp teeth glinting in the sunlight. “you sure that’s a pro gamer move?”

“Yup! It’s super pro gamer!”

“well, guess i’ve got no choice.” Benrey joked while rolling his tense shoulders. “joshie, toss me that orange one.”

“And blue?”

“you know it.”

As the sun started to descend from its zenith, shadows beginning to stretch across the pavement in front of the apartment building, Gordon finished up his cooking. Everything was stacked on plates and brought over to his, thankfully, ground level room and placed inside. Once that was taken care of, he went about cleaning everything up and putting his barbeque away.

He was so focused on cleaning everything up that he did not notice the large drawing that was progressively covering the pavement thanks to Benrey. It was only after all signs of his cooking had been neatly cleaned up or put away that he turned his attention to Joshua and his… “roommate”.

If he could call Benrey that.

“Time to head inside!” Gordon called out as he walked towards the duo. His walking slowed down as he noticed that Benrey was crouched in front of a large piece of chalk art. His eyes narrowed in confusion.

Huh, he had not expected Benrey to be the artistic type, aside from spitting balls into the air.

Joshua jumped up and rushed to his side, grabbing onto his arm, and tugging him towards Benrey.

“C’mon dad, look! It’s so cool!”

“Alright, slow down there Joshie.” Gordon chuckled as he allowed his son to pull him towards the art. “It wouldn’t be good if… I… tripped….”

His words slowed and eventually stopped entirely as he finally took in the sight of what Benrey had created and it was…

Beautiful.

Very abstract in nature, a swirl of colours that seemed to form shapes. Light blues and yellows and greens all circling and intermingling with a core that consisted of a darker, richer blue and orange.

Swirls and lines that worked together to create faces. His own and Benrey’s. He could also make out what appeared to be Coomer and Bubby in the background, green and light blue seeming to dance together like the pair would, and that warm yellow that encircled them all, Tommy, uniting them.

What…

As he leaned closer, Gordon noticed smaller details. How Benrey had drawn his hair to be similar to what it truly looked like despite the effort it must have taken. The dark shadows that had been scratched under the ex-guard’s eyes, the white and yellow that mixed together, an attempt to recreate his glowing irises.

How monstrous he looked overall and yet there was a softness in the lines, and the trail of bubbles that left the drawing’s mouth.

All a familiar pink.

Benrey was not as slick as he thought he was, Gordon had noticed the colourful orbs on multiple occasions before he had successfully stopped them. He had never pushed the boundary and asked what they meant since Benrey always seemed so embarrassed, but now…

“What’s pink translate to?” He asked, crouching down beside Benrey and bumping his shoulder against the other man.

Benrey was silent, contemplating what to say and how to say it, before he finally mumbled out the answer. “.... s’makes me think.”

“... Pink means you think?”

“yeah,” Benrey shifted and looked up at Gordon, eyes still cast in shadow. “think of you.”

Gordon’s mind drew a blank at that answer, uncertain of how to respond, but before he could even attempt to get the words out the other man took his chance.

He leaned towards Gordon and pressed a gentle kiss against his lips.

The gesture did not linger, but as Benrey leaned back Gordon could still feel the warmth of the kiss. He reached up and pressed his fingers against his lips and quietly wondered if he was dreaming.

Benrey sighed, a stream of pink sweet voice floating into the air and waited for Gordon to speak. It felt like an eternity had passed before the other man finally responded to the gesture, voice cracking.

“Y-You… really? Me? What? But… but you and I-”

“had problems?” Benrey interrupted, eyes fixating on the ground as he squeezed his hands. “no shit. feetman, if-if you don’t wanna-”

“Who said I didn’t?” At that, he looked up and stared at Gordon in surprise. “I was just surprised since you hadn’t said anything about that.”

“i joked about putting our minecraft beds together, bro.” Benrey bluntly stated, causing Gordon to flail as he struggled to explain himself.

“WELL YEAH! But… but I thought you were joking and shit-”

“Dollar for the swear jar!” Joshua cheerfully interrupted, making his dad groan.

“Okay, dollar later, but first,” He focused his attention back on Benrey, noticing how the other man’s cheeks had darkened and how he kept fidgeting. “... You sure?”

“wouldn’t have asked if i wasn’t.” Benrey quietly commented, now finally looking back at Gordon. “psh, pretty cringe doubting me-”

But he was cut off when Gordon leaned forward and returned the kiss. Joshua cheered and Benrey, completely caught off guard, fell backwards which caused a chain reaction of Gordon stumbling, fumbling, and nearly landing on top of him.

Gordon’s hands rested on the pavement beside Benrey’s shoulders as Gordon stared into the other man’s eyes. Both were blushing at this point, and a constant stream of pink sweet voice was leaking into the air.

“U-Uh-”

“dude, you gonna-”

“Are you guys gonna kiss again?” Joshua’s innocent question snapped the pair out of their stupor and they scrambled to get back up.

“W-Well, probably-”

“later, joshie bro.” That casual smile was back on Benrey’s face, an attempt at trying to look calm despite how much he was blushing. “we gotta… uh… get the meats’n stuff-”

“Yeah, like Arby’s!” Gordon nervously added. “But first…”

He quickly snapped several photos of the drawing Benrey had done on the pavement, also making sure to get several of Joshua’s in the process. Hey, he wanted to be able to look back on it in the future, plus he was certain some asshole would wash it off the pavement soon enough.

Besides, there was no way in hell he wanted Benrey’s hard work, one of the few examples of hard work, to go to waste.

“Okay, now we can get the meats.”

Joshua cheered and raced over to the apartment while Benrey joined his side, an arm brushing against him. In response, Gordon linked an arm with his and smiled at the other man.

“wow, that… that’s pretty gay, bro. You gayman now?”

“Totally.” Gordon rolled his eyes as he walked arm and arm back to the apartment with Benrey.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I continue to be on my bullshit while my muse demands domestic fluff for these two. I suppose it’s a good thing for my followers who are in this fandom XD

I hope you guys enjoyed reading!

- ImmortalCoelacanth

#my story #fanfiction #hlvrai #hlvrai gordon #hlvrai benrey #hlvrai joshua #wholesome fluff #domestic #benrey is artistic af

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deanky · 5 years ago

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#Riddlerpost

Cringe this may be btu I will make it anyways OK? In discorp I said I coudl make a whole post about random specific thigns I would want in my ideal interpretation of the Riddler and I’m a man of my word sometimes so I am going to do it. Including both major things and icnredibly dumb minor details. Putting this under cut because I seriously did not realize how long this would get LOL

His original name WAS Edward Nashton and he changed it to Nygma both because of da riddle love and to distance himself from horrible family which he does have, and I think it specifically should be spelled Nygma because he would value the extra .2 seconds it would take for someone to notice that being a pun. However even if it makes it more obvious when said in conjunction with last name he actually does NOT hate being called Eddie specifically. He loves it because it makes it so there’s 2 different ways to do the enigma thing.

He had pretty awful childhood, like realistically awful. Horrible parents bad marriage etc his mom treated him better than his dad but the difference became more narrow over time probably. :( He did not to well in school, he hoped that doing somethign really well would help & entered contest thing. I think he did cheat and feels like he deserved further horrible family thigns due to it but did not he was only a lad!

hated school. Did not go to college. Intelligent but not emotionally... he DOES have OCD and it is like compulsive to turn eveyrhting into funny puzzles and games and of course riddles, but it doesn’t stop him from doing ones on purpose of course, and he does like to tell really dumb jokes liek all the ones in the 60s show (BTW he should always and forever do the funny Frank Gorshin laugh). And he is fully autistic. He is so autistic. Believe this. Believe me. He gets along with other villains his like constant compulsive insertion of riddles into things that don’t or shouldn’t have them can cause strife but like everyone in Batman is TWISTED they get it they’re a jolly group terrorizing the town together. United Underworld baby. U.U. should be in every piece of Batman media BTW, unrelated.

The important thign though is! He is a tragic guy deep down he has a sad story behind him all but he is silly. Whatever the ‘present’ is like aroudn the time any actual Batman comics happen, he should be silly. All these thigns should not stop him from being silly. He is egotistical for sure but not USUALLY to the point of like, being Arkham levels of rude. But it can happen. He mostly just like... He does his FUNNYCRIMES to prove himself as being smart, but there usually isn’t even all that malice involved unless it’s like, the one BTAS episode he really wants to get revenge on a specific person. IdealRiddler not as suave as BTAS Riddler though. he most resembles him in that one scene where all the girls are like ‘ahhh so smart bro’ and he’s like “well heh guess you say that to all the geniuses!”

I don’t think he’d ever really intentionally kill anyone. He’s like - he’s not ineffective at the thigns he does but he’s not an incredibly harmful villain. That said he can put together whole insane mastermind plots but they probably won’t be things he really puts into effect a lot because he doesn’t really want or need to. He’s definitely like When is a Door-type Riddler in my head, he doesn’t know where it all went wrong he just wants to have fun and do incredibly silly crimes and it scares him so bad to see everyone else actually killing people even if the Joker was probably already doing it forever

And BTW he is fully gay he is fully homosexual and in a relationship with the Penguin. But this is important - he is completely chaste. He definitely needs to be incredibly gay that’s an integral part of his character. To me. And he does have 1 billion different increasingly silly and flashy Riddler suits like Jim Carrey style you know it and loves funny campy silyl stuff and he definitely has a huge collection of big novelty objects used in ads and like carnivals and stuff. And he is like 5′3 at most. BTW. He is short. He needs to be short OK? He needs ot be an incredibly small man. *Looking at you pleadingly as I say this*

He used to have long hair when he was young but by the time he actually is da Riddler it;s short and he is balding. he tries to hide it under his hat but you can tell you can always tell. He is not like fully shaved bald and tattooed or anything like that, but he is balding. Sometimes he has a mustache I think the only Riddler that’s had a mustache was when he was briefly portrayed by John Astin for part of Batman 1966. But I like to imagine him with a mustache. I think it works and BTW I’m insane.

Like, every single job that he’s been portrayed as having before is something he’d gone through before being da riddler, he’s worked at a carnival he’s worked on video games he’s done it all. He definitely collected all the carnival stuff. I think specifically though aside from probably having bad boss like in BTAS his V.G. work went unappreciated because it was all like, incredibly obscure thigns on ZX Spectrum or FMV games or somehting and he didn’t get to contribute that much to them because he always ended up coming up with extremely ambitious plans for developign them that would be like impossible for a game at the time. He would definitely run a really weird looking web page with all the little weird easter eggs he put into stuff showcased. OK. That’s all I can think of right now. I might add more. But for now I’m just going to smile sweetly

#q:what killed the dinosaurs a:the ice age #batman #riddler

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splattershotsundae · 6 years ago

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Ink is Thicker Than Water –- Chapter 12: Masking Intentions

“Baaaato… Wake up, it’s almost time for you to go!”

Bato blinked awake, Hachi poking his arm intermittently. “I… didn’t even know I’d fallen asleep.” He murmured.

“You sure you don’t want me to go in your place?” Hachi asked. He could easily tell she was worried, as much as she was playing it off as a joke.

“I’m sure.” He said. “I’ve got this under control. Did you get the mask finished?”

"Should work." She held up the mask, which looked a bit rough around the edges now, but not near as much as the one she was wearing herself. "We just need you to send a message to me to make sure the one I’m wearing is connected. I sort of fucked it up pretty bad."

“Alright, can do.” He said, then rather gingerly put on the mask, unable to keep from thinking about the first time he’d worn one and it had momentarily blinded him. However Hachi knew what she was doing, and he was allowed in almost immediately. "I'm in.”

"Good. You remember how the messaging System works, right?" She asked.

"I think so." He said, then thought hard at the bottom of his vision until a window popped up. There we go, communications panel. He locked onto her mask, and paused a moment, thinking about what to type.

B: Test

He wasn’t feeling particularly creative today.

8: We're good.

"Now you have to turn on the cloak." Hachi said. "You want to try to figure it out on your own, or you need my help?"

"Wouldn't mind the help." He admitted, minimizing the communications panel.

"Ok, it should be under 'functions', listed as holographic projector."

"Functions... holographic... got it." He murmured, blinking as a graph filled up his vision. “Ack, um, Hachi, do I have to understand what this actually says?”

“No, I’ll walk you through everything, don’t worry.” She said. “Go to the disguises tab, hit ‘create new’, and leave it blank.”

Bato nodded a bit, locating the tab and doing as instructed.

[All slots full. Delete or edit existing setting]

"It's saying all slots are full."

"Oh. Ok... first... Pick a random one."

"Okay..." Bato looked through the slots, then picked one and activated it.

"Now hit the-" Hachi stopped dead, then burst out laughing, doubling over.

"What? What is it?" He asked, a small smile starting to creep onto his face. He liked the sound of her laugh.

She looked up, gasping for air before sending him a picture of his face. The cloak had given him a round nose with a fake mustache of twitching tentacles, and finally the biggest, nerdiest glasses he’d ever seen."What!?" He asked, his laughter beginning to rival her intensity. “Why!?”

"Please. PLEASE keep that one." Hachi said between giggles. “I should have… mentioned you need to hold down on your choice to get the options to show up.”

"Alright, alright." Bato said, still chuckling, he picked a second random disguise and deleted it without looking at what it was. The last thing he needed right now was to decide between several goofy costumes to find out which one to delete. "There we go." He murmured, then hit ‘create new’ and left the settings at default. “Okay, did it work?”

“Yeah, that looks good.” She said. “Now, there’s some things you should know about the mask.”

“Alright.” Bato said, sitting at attention.

“Masks run off your own energy.” She said. “It takes some… getting used to. I didn’t tell you to worry about this in the domes because… we didn’t have time, but now? Well… if you wear this too long without acclimating you could pass out, or worse. I don’t want you to get hurt, please be careful. You might want to take it off until you leave.”

"Noted." Bato replied, reaching up and carefully taking the mask off. “Thank you Hachi, this is going to be very helpful. It lets me see in the dark too, right?”

“Yeah.” She confirmed. “And you can zoom, take pictures, everything.”

“I might have to take this with me for every mission.” He smiled.

“Well not that one, remember I’m going to make you one of you own! I just… have to get the materials first.” She said. “But… on a more immediate note, did I wake you up in time?”

He paused, then checked the time on his phone."3 said I should be there early, to look for somewhere good to hide, but… I do have a bit of time before I have to go.”

She paused, then pulled him into a hug, tentacles wrapping around his shoulders.

"I'll be careful. I promise." He whispered, then after a second he added. "... Sis."

She gave a long pause, then sniffled, gripping him tighter, one of her tentacles wrapping around one of his tiny back tentacles. "And I’ll rescue you if something goes wrong... Bro."

Bato smiled, then made a small face as he tried to use his tentacle to hug hers back, but all he succeeded in doing was twitch it.

“Is that really all your tentacles can do?” Hachi asked, sounding like she was holding back a laugh.

"Oh shush." He said jokingly, then pulled out of the hug and let down his long tentacles. "But they're not as dexterous as yours are, nobody really uses them for much in daily life."

Hachi looked them over, frowning slightly. "I guess you could... Hit someone in the face with them? They're sort of like clubs attached to your head."

He chuckled a bit. "Maybe. Still not that great for say, cleaning the dishes." He began to move his tentacles experimentally, though he cringed as they cramped up. “Oof, yeah, haven’t… actually used them in a while.”

“It hurts to move them?” She asked, looking concerned.

“Well, I imagine it wouldn’t if I actually used them more.” He chuckled, then noticed that Hachi’s tentacles were mimicking every motion his own made. Did she know she was doing that? He smiled, then slowly reached his tentacle forward to hold hers, chuckling some more as hers wrapped around his and left her seeming off guard.

She began to laugh once she realized what happened, her grip tightening. “You goof!”

“What?” He teased, flashing her a smile.

“You’re trying to connect with me in ways I understand!” She said, sounding pretty touched.

“I want to understand my sister’s culture.” He said. “… Though really I just wanted to see your reaction.”

She laughed harder. “Okay now you’re a goof.”

“I’m not arguing.”

They lingered for a moment before Hachi spoke again. "I'd say I can't imagine a life where I can't use my tentacles for anything... But I've sort of been there, done that."

He cringed, giving her a sad look. “I’m sorry that happened to you.”

"... That's not really going to be able to be a punishment up here, is it?” She asked.

He shook his head. "No, it's not."

She gave a sigh of relief, her tentacles getting pale and twitchy. “Good...”

“You don’t have to think about it if you don’t want to.” He said. “It was horrible but… You have other things to worry about right now. You can come back to it later.”

Hachi met his gaze, then booped his nose. “Like you.”

He chuckled. “Don’t worry too much though, I’ll be okay.”

She took a deep breath. "What do you need to do before you go?"

He thought for a second. "I'll have to get the vest and shoes on. And probably let 3 know I'm leaving. Other then that I’m pretty open."

"… You should show me how to make a cup of tea up here." She said. “I’m probably going to need it”

He smiled a bit and nodded. "Alright, I can do that.” He said, then let go of her tentacle and began to tie back up his ponytail while leading her to the kitchen. "We do have a kettle you can put on the stove to heat the water, if you prefer to do it that way." He said over his shoulder. "But using the microwave is usually a little faster."

"Teach me to use the microwave, so I can do both." She replied.

"Alright." He said, passing his moms on their way to bed as he walked through the dining room. He gave them a brief wave and continued to walk, he didn’t want to make people worry any more than they already were going to. “You know where the cups are by now, right?"

"Yeah. They're over here." She said, taking out a mug, then filling it with water. She paused momentarily once she’d turned on the tap, letting there be a pause before she filled up the mug.

“Why do you wait like that?” He asked.

“Oh… um, back home we’d have to wait to make sure the water wasn’t contaminated with rust or dirt.” She explained. “Old habits die hard.”

“Ah.” He nodded. “Makes sense. You won’t need that much water in the cup though, we need to have room to put in the tea bag.” He added as he opened the microwave.

She paused, then tipped a bit of the water back out and put the mug in the microwave.

He nodded. "Alright, I usually put it in for about a minute; so, hit one, zero, zero, and start."

"One. Zero.. Zero... Start." Her tentacles twitched a bit as the microwave's sound started up, but then she was once again mesmerized by the spinning of the machine.

He held back the urge to chuckle as he turned to another cabinet and opened it up. "We keep the tea up here." He said, pulling down a small box filled with different kinds of tea. "This is the kind you had the.. Other day." He said, taking out a box of 'green tea blend'. "But there are other kinds in here too if you want to try something different."

She watched and nodded a little bit. “That one sounds fine...”

He opened up the box, pulling out one of the tea bags. "This is a tea bag," He said, carefully unwrapping the string from around the bag. "Once the water's done, you just put this in the cup and let it sit for a minute or so."

She nodded again. "Right... I'm going to need to get better at telling time..." The microwave beeped and she opened it up, pulling back a little as she touched the handle of the mug.

"Careful," He said, too late.

"I'm okay." She waited another second, then carefully took the cup out and set it on the counter and then put the bag in, leaving the string out of the cup. "Like that?"

"Exactly like that." He nodded and smiled.

She sort of stood there and stared at the cup. "... I need to figure out how clocks work so I can put them on masks."

He smiled a little, starting to put the tea away. "There's a clock on the microwave you can use for now, or there's the one on the oven too. The two numbers to the right of the column are the minutes; they go up normally until they reach 60, when the hour goes up one and the minutes reset to 0."

"Right. The same goes for Seconds. Only up to sixty. Makes for weird math..."

He chuckled a bit, "Tell me about it; I've grown up with this system all my life and it still confuses me sometimes."

"And then, you'd think it would continue with days, but it doesn't! There's only twenty hours in a day! Who came up with this anyway?" He tentacles curled in a sort of 'why' gesture, accompanied by her hands.

"Ah.. twenty-four, actually." He corrected her.

"That's even more confusing!" She said.

"I know." He said with a gentle smile. "You get used to it."

"Will I? I've got so many other things to get used to..." She said, then took the tea bag out of the cup. “That was about a minute, right?”

“I would guess so.” He replied. “You can always put the bag back in if it wasn’t strong enough.”

“That’s incredibly unlikely.” She said. “It might be too strong already.”

“Right...” He murmured, he’d forgotten for a moment she was sensitive to taste.

She took a sip, then nodded, giving him a smile. “A little bit too long, but it’s still good.”

He smiled back. “Happy to help.”

“You know, I love when you have just as much trouble with Octoling things as I have with Inkling things.” She said, leaning back against the counter. “I need to find something you guys don't have up here and then find one and give it to you with vague instructions."

He chuckled. "Oh boy, I’m looking forward to it and dreading it at the same time."

“I’ll surprise you with it.” She decided. “You’ll have no idea what to do.”

“No, I’ll know what to do; I’d ask you.” He replied.

She smiled, then took another sip of tea, her face wrinkling up a bit. “Yep, has a little bit of that edge I don’t like.”

"... Y'know, if you wanted to experiment sometime, some people put milk and/or sugar in their tea too." He suggested.

"... I'm not surprised about the sugar part. You make everything sweet. But... Milk?" She asked, skeptical.

He shrugged. "It helps to cool it down a bit, and it adds a different flavor to it... Though, you do have a point; I guess not many people put it in green tea."

"Mm..." She sipped a bit more tea, falling quiet.

After a moment, he sighed. "I should probably get suited up..."

Her grip visibly tightened on he mug. "I set the mask to keep alerting me until I answer if you message me, so even if I fall asleep I'll still help as soon as possible."

He nodded, then added; "Try not to stay up all night, okay? Get some sleep at least."

She paused, then nodded a little. “I’ll try, but don’t blame me if I can’t fall asleep, okay?”

“I won’t, but I’ll be ‘very disappointed’.” He joked. “… Meet me by the front door to say good bye once you’re done with your tea?”

“Yeah.” She said. “Yeah I can do that.”

He nodded, then headed to his room, changing as fast as he dared into his shoes and vest before slinging his ink tank onto his back. He made sure he had everything he needed, his phone (on silent mode), his agent com, his brush, and the newly hacked mask. Once he’d checked, and then double checked that he had everything he ran his hands over his tentacles, realizing he was trying to buy time before he had to leave. As much as he tried to play it cool around Hachi… this mission worried him.

What if Orvokki had set up some sort of trap? What if this was just to get him out of his house? What if she’d found some way to become water since this afternoon? There were so many unknowns, and he had to ignore all of them. Well, not ignore their existence, but for sure ignore the fear he felt of them.

He took a deep breath, then made his way to the entryway, finding Hachi there hugging herself and leaning against the wall. “Hey.” He said, then carefully slipped on the octoling mask.

“Hey… good, you did remember it.” She said.

He smiled a little. "Of course I did." He said, then activated the cloak. “It means so much that you worked this hard to protect me if something does go wrong.”

"Well… don't let her touch you if you can help it..." She said, hunching her shoulders. “Then she’ll be able to tell it’s… a disguise.”

He nodded. "Understood, I'll do my best to keep her from getting that close." He said, then after a beat gave her a quick smile. "I'll see you when I get back."

At that, she pushed herself off the wall and wrapped her arms around him, squeezing him tightly.

He hugged her back, holding her close for a long moment. "... It'll be alright. I'll be back before you know it.”

She nodded a little, sounding slightly choked up. "... What's that thing they always say? Stay fresh?"

He smiled. “Yeah. Stay fresh."

"... Then you stay the freshest of all." She said with a little nod.

"I will." He assured, then slowly pulled away from her and gave her one last smile before heading out the front door.

The door closed behind him with a small click, and he let out a breath he hadn’t known he was holding. Telling himself that wouldn’t be the last time he saw Hachi, he pulled out his phone to send Stacey a quick text while he got on the elevator.

B: On my way to the meetup location now.

3: K oo

He frowned, Hachi might not be the only one low on sleep. He stuck the phone back in his pocket and got out of the elevator, and then headed outside into the dark. He had a long walk ahead of him.

The park looked so different at night. Instead of bright dapples of sunlight and welcoming splotches of shade, lampposts stood and ineffectively kept the darkness at bay. He still had half an hour until the meetup, and so he walked up to the great turf war memorial statue. Small spotlights shone upward toward the chiseled dramatic faces, and left the conquered octolings mostly in shadow. It was stomach churning in daylight, but at night is was downright haunting. Who would have designed a piece like this? Glorifying the death of thousands, perhaps millions. He gently reached out and stroked the cheek of an octarian, vowing not to let himself forget. Vowing to make sure the world did better this time.

He lingered a moment, then sent Stacey a message to let her know he was there, and then silenced it and put it away. The last thing he wanted was to be given away by his phone… Of course, that begged the bigger question of why did Ovokki want him to hide if she knew he was coming? She could already be here herself, watching him... He took a deep breath of the cold refreshing air to calm himself and looked for somewhere to hide, which wouldn’t be easy when he was as brightly colored as a highlighter marker.

After some deliberation he decided on a set of bushes next to the path. They’d be cramped, but the multitude of branches and the fact that the leaves hadn’t yet begun to turn gave him ample cover at the cost of comfort and mobility. He briefly considered transforming, but he might need his mask to take some pictures or other recordings. Instead it was all he could do to adjust himself so there were as few sticks jabbing him as possible. It wouldn’t be hard to stay awake at least. Now all that was left to do was stay low, stay quiet, and wait.

It was rather uneventful until a well dressed man, perhaps in his late thirties, early forties, walked down the path. What was someone as well dressed as him doing out so late? He walked up to the statue and looked up at it, hands clasped behind his back. Bato frowned as he took a picture of him, noting his distinctly inkling tentacles and ears. If he turned out to be innocent, he could just delete these pictures once he was home… but… the way this man stuck around and kept checking the time… the more he began to wonder if he was involved somehow. And the longer he watched him… the odder he seemed. His back tentacles split so early on his head, leaving thin stripes of scalp showing between them. Perhaps this was some fashion trend he didn’t know about? But his ears also were curved upward and back, as if they wanted to run up around his head. Was he judging too harshly on appearances? Likely, but there wasn’t much else to do as he waited.

Finally a clock tolled midnight, and he heard soft footsteps walk up the path. He didn’t dare turn his head, in case a branch moved, and so he waited for this newcomer to come into sight.

"You're punctual, aren't you?" The man asked, turning and straightening a sleeve.

“It was hard to get out without waking her up.” He saw a figure wearing a hoodie pass his hiding spot, that voice… they sounded familiar, but also like they were trying to deepen their pitch to hide their identity. He snapped a few more pictures as the events continued on. “This had better be everything you promised. I need answers.” They said, stopping a short ways away from the other person. "Who is he, another victim?"

"His name is Alfred." The man said, taking a deep breath. "He is a volunteer, not a victim. Unlike you. Why are you even speaking like that? I'm just trying to have pleasant conversation... Unless you want to--” He raised his hand, but then the hooded figure slapped it away.

"Once was enough." She said, in a tone which Bato had to bite his tongue to avoid gasping at. No. It couldn’t be. She lowered her hood, long white tentacles with green tips falling past her shoulders; Marie of the squid sisters stood with utmost caution and grace. What was she doing here!? He took another picture, even as he thought through what had just been said. 'A volunteer, not a victim. Unlike you.' Was she meeting with.. Onella of all people!?

"Well, how do you expect us to exchange information?" ‘Albert’ replied. "I know of no way faster and more accurate."

Marie pulled a tightly folded piece of paper out of her pocket. "I'm sure you know where I currently live... If I'm lying to you, you know where to find me.”

The man sighed and pulled a USB stick out of his pocket. "Fine. let's do this the old fashioned way."

Marie hesitated, taking a small step back. “… Can’t we just… both set these down, and trade?”

"Are we chickening out?" He asked. "You don't want us to tell her you were here, do you?"

“No!” Marie yelped, then attempted to regain her composure. “Callie… Agent 3… they can’t know I’m here.”

“Do you want the information or not?”

She lingered even longer, leaving Bato wishing and hoping she’d back down. Whatever she was giving up… it had to be important.

“Promise me.” Marie said finally. “Promise me you won’t hurt either of them, especially not 3, she’s innocent, she’s just trying to make a living.”

"It's not my intention to hurt anyone, but I can't promise she won't get in the way." He said. “Now, hand it over, and we can both go back to our normal lives, a burden lifted from our shoulders.”

Marie took a deep breath, visibly attempting to stop shaking, then stepped forward again and reached for the drive.

The moment their hands touched a jet of water shot up into Marie’s arm, and she cried out in pain, dropping the note she’d so carefully folded. It all happened so quickly Bato found himself unable to get a picture of Onella the moment she switched bodies. He instinctively reached back to try and gab his brush, accidentally snapping a branch in the process. He froze and prayed that nobody heard that, feeling helpless as Onella left Marie, and she collapsed into a shaking and coughing heap on the ground.

“I don’t trust paper.” Onella said once she got resettled into her host. "Catch."

Marie glanced up just in time to catch the USB drive, turning it over a few times in her hands before clasping it tightly in her grip.

"Enjoy. That's everything you've been searching for." Onella said confidently.

Marie slowly looked up, looking like she was holding back tears. “It better be, or else I’ll--”

“You’ll what?” Onella asked. “You’ll take all of us on alone? You’ll ask Callie for help? You’re in no position to do anything of the sort. Take the drive, it’s more than enough information to help you see why we’re right.”

Silence fell for a long moment before she continued. “Better run along before someone notices you’re gone.”

Another lingering moment, then Marie let out a sob and ran off into the night. Bato’s hearts felt heavy with what he’d just seen. Marie’d betrayed them, all of them… and for what? Why did Orvokki want him to see this? He tensed as Albert began to walk down the path and watched him begin to pass, only notice, too late, as he raised his hand over the bush he was currently hiding in.

He glanced up, then cried out as a glob of water fell onto his face and sunk into his flesh tortuously painfully. You shouldn't be here. Those words echoed around his mind. She was here. It was so different from the last time, when they’d gotten Orvokki out of Toda’s mind, this time all kindness was gone, leaving malice in its wake. He tried to scramble out of the bushes to get a better foothold and felt the octoling mask get snagged and yanked off his face. What are you going to do? What was on that drive? He demanded.

His cry was answered only by pain and a force compelling him to fall onto the ground. An impulse that he found he couldn’t resist as he laid down on the ground and put his hands behind his back, which were then held in place by a firm foot. “GET OUT!” He wasn’t sure if he’d said it mentally or screamed, but either way it did nothing to relieve the pain he felt, it did nothing to force back the feelings of betrayal.

We'll get everything we can out of you later.

And then Onella slipped from his head and transformed, looking down at him with a smile of a cruel happiness. It turned out she wasn’t all that different from her sister.

He felt Alfred reach around him then and shove something into his mouth, he tasted the same sweet scent that had knocked him unconscious back in the domes and struggled to hold onto the world around him, even as his vision began to blur.

"Let's get him back to HQ."

Bato is Knitter’s character.

Hachi, Orvokki and Onella are Shuckle’s characters.

Splatoon and the squid sisters belong to Nintendo.

Please consider liking or reblogging if you enjoyed, it’s nice to know we’re doing things right.

Shuckle has a patreon if you would like to provide additional support!

[<PREV] [INDEX] [NEXT>] (coming soon)

#Splatoon #Nintendo #splatoon fanfiction #Inkling #Octoling #SS Bato #Octo Hachi #Octo Ovokki

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bitten1ce · 7 years ago

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Thanksgiving in Ego Alley

You might know that @wholesome-pasta proposed an idea regarding a place that the various YouTuber egos could live & make their own.

You might even know that this spawned a Discord server where a few of us role play as those egos. (Contact @cosmiplier if you’re interested.)

With that in mind, have a fic inspired by the characters in that server. It’s a few days late, but Happy Thanksgiving!

@softbludemon @true-channel-star-jim @pleaseletthisjimbetaken @the-asexual-reaper @snowelfxx @hawkeye221b y’all are pretty much my usual tag list.

@egosurveillance I think this fits your November “Dinner Party” challenge, even if I’m getting it in just under the wire. :)

The manor was almost ready for Christmas, never mind that Thanksgiving hadn’t even come yet. The outer walls were simply covered with twinkling lights, festive wreaths hung from the doors (front and back), and there were...pink reindeer? on the roof. Wilford was putting the finishing touches on the Santa Clause (carefully crafted to look like Warfstache himself, complete with pink beard and mustache), when Darkiplier came home for the day.

“Wil, we talked about this!” Dark called to the fluffy faced pink man (not Santa). “Christmas comes AFTER Thanksgiving!”

“But, Darky dear, I had a hankering for decorations, and turkeys are so dull,” Wilford poofed himself down from the roof so he could properly make his case.

“So use flamingos instead,” Dark said the words flippantly and mentally kicked himself. He’d given Wil another idea and it was only a matter of time before -

“Flamingos!” Wil cooed. “Why didn’t I think of that? You’re a genius, Darkipoo.” Wil gave the other man a sloppy kiss on the cheek before turning back to the manor. A quick wave of his hands and playful twitch of his mustache, and the manor was bedecked in gold, red, and pink leaves. Flamingos covered the roof, and there were what looked to be pink glittery squashes decoratively placed around the door.

Dark sighed to himself. At least Google Yellow (aka Oliver) was in charge of the cooking.

Oliver was frantic. Thanksgiving dinner was his responsibility, and it was important to get everything right. He’d watched, re-watched, and watched again all of the Good Eats episodes on Thanksgiving. He had three turkeys: one spatchcocked, one fried, and one roasting in the oven now. He’d made sure to use all the right ingredients in the brines, although butterflying the dry turkey had been a chore & one he didn’t want to repeat.

Everything else was nearly ready. He was making mashed potatoes, gravy, two different kinds of dressing, and a cranberry dipping sauce. He’d already finished the green bean casserole, four different kinds of rolls, and a variety of pies for dessert.

“Dan, how are the drinks coming along?” He turned to watch the silent ego respond.

‘Doing great,’ Dan signed. ‘Almost done with the punch, and I have the cider mulling in your,’ he twitched his mustache in amusement, ‘slow cooker.’ He’d been so excited to see the new things they had available.

“Perfect. I think everything’s ready, but I just need to get the table set.” Oliver searched around for the plates & utensils. He didn’t see them anywhere, and started to panic. “D-d-dan, have you see-ee-een the plates-s?”

Dan looked around blankly. ‘They were here a moment ago.’

“I’ve got them,” Rory called from the dining room. “You seemed like you were doing plenty,” he appeared in the doorway, forks and spoons filling his hands.

“Hey, I’m helping, too, dude,” came Bing’s indignant voice. “I’m doing the plates, those are totally harder.”

“The silverware has specific placements depending on formal vs informal settings,” Rory called back over his shoulder. “It’s more complex, and therefore, more difficult.”

“Ok, Google,” Bing responded flippantly. Rory was so uptight sometimes.

Rory and Oliver both froze, waiting for the next command. Poor Dan had no idea what to do; this had never happened before. He ran into the room, tugging on Bing’s arm to bring him into the kitchen.

“Suh, dude? I’m not done yet, bro,” Bing was too heavy for Dan to drag him anywhere, and he gave up on that tactic quickly. Dan motioned for Bing to follow him, but Bing wasn’t going anywhere until all the plates were laid out. He was finally going to finish a task before Google.

Dan moved through the house, looking for someone who could understand him. Oliver usually translated for him, but Oliver was stuck. Maybe it was something about androids that happened when they cooked large meals? Whatever the case, he needed someone to fix it; he didn’t want his friends frozen forever.

“Danny boy, there y’are!” Shawn spotted him from across the living room. His voice sounded chipper. Maybe it was because he’d finally finished the commission for the dining table Dark and Wil had wanted for the holiday gatherings. They said their table hadn’t been big enough, Shawn told him privately, and they wanted to ensure everyone would feel welcome.

‘Shawn,’ Dan signed frantically, “Something’s wrong with the Googles!”

“Where are they?” Shawn asked, hurrying over to him.

‘The kitchen, please hurry!’ Dan replied, his hands flying so fast he had to repeat himself.

Dan and Shawn rushed into the kitchen, bumping into Bing on the way. Bing staggered against the wall with an indignant, “Hey!” They ignored him and kept going. Bing was curious about why they were running through the house and followed.

Both Googles were still frozen, waiting for a command. Bing stared at them in confusion. This was totally the wrong time to be playing a prank on everyone. He looked at the stove as the pot of potatoes boiled over, the water hissing as it landed on the hot surface.

“Woah, super uncool,” he muttered and turned off the burner. He didn’t know anything about cooking, but the sound was scary. “Hey Googs, what gives?”

Neither Google responded, which puzzled all three of the other men. Shawn and Dan turned to Bing, wholly unfamiliar with most of the newfangled technology that surrounded them each day.

“Maybe it’s just a glitch?” Bing shrugged, he had no clue what kind of problems the Google IRL models had.

“Ye called?” Anti’s form pixelated into view.

“Anti,” Shawn sounded relieved. “Dan says th’ Googles froze up an’ he can’t get ‘em unstuck.”

Anti walked around them quickly, asking questions about what they’d been doing, saying, and seeing before it happened. Dan answered them, but nothing seemed to explain it.

“Welp, guess ‘m gonna hafta check ‘em from the inside,” he said finally. “Stan’ back, this migh’ get messy.”

The other three backed away as Anti glitched into Oliver. The yellow android had been the friendliest to him, and his security programs probably wouldn’t be as nasty.

“Google Yellow, hold for your next command. Google Yellow, hold for your next command.” The sound was ringing everywhere in Oliver’s mind, and Anti mentally cringed. This had to be hurting the poor android.

“Oli?” he called, unsure where to start his search.

“Anti?” he heard Oliver’s internal systems whisper. “Anti, can you hear me?”

Anti followed the thread of sound as it flowed along the various circuits. He ended in Oliver’s core, where the droid’s personality matrix was housed.

“‘M here, Oli,’ he said. “What c’n I do?”

“We need someone to cancel the command,” Oliver’s voice was thready and full of pain. “It’s a new feature...they didn’t tell us about it.”

“Gotcha covered, Little Bit,” Anti replied. “I’ll have ya loose in a jiffy.” He popped himself back out, materializing into a sitting position on the counter.”Cancel that, Google.”

Both droids slumped a little in relief. Neither of them liked this new feature and they disabled it immediately.

“Thank you, Anti,” Oliver said, walking over to hug him quickly. “The food,” he gasped and rushed back to the stove. Fortunately, nothing had burned & the potatoes were done.

“How c’n we help?” Shawn stepped in, worried that the Googles might be working too hard. It was clear that Oliver had been busy, the tables and counters were heaped with food already.

“Um, well, the potatoes need mashed?” Oliver wasn’t sure Shawn would be able to work the digital thermometer to check on the last turkey.

“Mashed, I c’n do that,” Shawn nodded and moved the pot of potatoes to the counter before picking up a masher. He went to work and the potatoes were mashed in no time.

Meanwhile, Rory and Bing finished setting the table, and Oliver pulled the finished turkey from the oven. The rest of the foods were almost done, and they five of them managed to work together and get it all out & onto the table.

As everyone sat down to eat, the Jims wiggled and squirmed their way into the room.

“We are live, on the scene of the massacre, of the, turkeys. Jim, you can see, there are, many bodies. The only question left, is who, will be, carving?” Reporter Jim spoke into his microphone. Camera Jim stayed with him, tracking from Reporter Jim to the table.

At those words, everyone glanced around the table. Tension filled the air as Yandere, Wilford, and Anti stared at one another. Anti’s form wavered and suddenly Yandere was on his feet, katana in hand. Wilford was already in motion, knives moving to take him out.

“Stop!” Oliver yelled. All of them turned to look at him in shock. Neither of the Googles ever raised their voices. “There are three turkeys for a reason,” he explained calmly. “Each of you gets to carve one.”

The three looked at each other, Yandere’s swordpoint at Wilford’s stomach and Anti’s knife at Yandere’s throat. They nodded carefully and backed down. The blades flashed as they turned to the table and the turkeys were quickly carved into slices.

“The Host quietly spoke from his corner of the table, reminding everyone that it was traditional to offer a quick statement describing what they were thankful for during a Thanksgiving meal,” the Host said from his corner of the table.

Everyone looked at each other. Who would go first?

Dark stood from his place at the head of the table. “I suppose I can speak first. I am thankful that you have all set aside your differences for this meal.” He glared at Markiplier, who’d already started stuffing his face. Mark stopped with a forkful of mashed potatoes in his mouth and muttered a quiet, “Sorry.”

One by one, the egos began to call out things they were thankful for. Some were heartfelt: “I’m thankful for my new brothers,” was Amy’s; some were humorous: “I’m thankful for Dan’s whiskey,” said the Author; and some were odd: “I’m thankful for the music of the spheres and the void that lingers within,” was Corroded Crank’s contribution.

As they all finished and began to eat, Dark and Wilford exchanged a look. The town that had started as a random idea - almost a joke, really - had become a haven for them all, and they hoped it would continue to be that way for years to come.

#markiplier #darkiplier #bingiplier #wilford warfstache #yandereplier #the author #the host #google yellow #google blue #jacksepticeye #dapper dan #antisepticeye #shawn flynn #bitten's creations #unedited #hope you all enjoy anyway

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concussed-to-pieces · 7 years ago

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ESC

Fandom: WWE

Pairing: Baron Corbin/Female Reader

Rating: Holy shit M.

AN: I don't know what I'm doing with my life anymore, but I know I ain't apologizin' for nothin'. Tagging @toxiicpop, @oraclegazes and OF COURSE @hardcorewwetrash. Enjoy!

[!TRIGGER WARNING!: This installment contains brief mentions of ticks and scabies, as well as human muzzling of a non-BDSM variety and allusions to previous abuse.]

Heyman’s Delights was, at its heart, a traveling circus. There were tents, a few acrobats and strongmen, fire-breathers. Paul had been trying for ages to get his hands on something a little more exciting, and it seemed like he’d finally managed it.

For one reason or another, there were people in the world deemed unfit for regular society. Usually displaying extreme aggression or overly predatory tendencies at an early age, they would put an incredible strain on loving parents and concerned siblings until tensions snapped. All roads tended to lead to Heyman’s Delights or other such traveling shows for these individuals.

The thing that boiled your blood was the fact that they were nowhere close to as inhuman as they were made out to be. Most of them could easily be suffering from hormonal imbalances or other undiagnosed issues. But due in part to the media hysteria (there had been an incident involving one such ‘feral’ child getting their friends to remove their school-mandatory muzzle so they could spook the teacher) and also in part to what you could only assume was parents that didn’t want or couldn’t afford another child, people were clamoring left and right to surrender their ‘feral’ children to various state-funded programs.

And if the government wouldn’t take them…might as well make a buck or two getting rid of your problem. If you could live with yourself afterwards.

“Bought them off of another one of those local shows. According to their owner Wolf was nineteen when he came into their possession, government releases them when they’re legal adults and no parent wants their kid back when they're like that. He’s unsure on Beast.” Paul Heyman sighed, a little heavier than you expected. “Vince threw Wolf in for free, said he didn’t need one without the other. But he hasn’t been trained as much as I was led to believe at first and he’s past thirty. This bleeding-heart altruism is punching holes in my pockets faster than I can line them.” He rubbed his temples. “We’ll just have to see what we can do, I suppose.” Recognizing the dismissal, you nodded and stood with the rest of your coworkers.

You had seen the photos of Beast, he appeared to come with a set of fine cauliflower ears. It wasn’t rare to stumble upon underground bare-knuckle rings where the dregs of society would bet money on the so-called ‘ferals’. Common belief was that they were subhuman, more resilient to pain, stronger, stupid. Hyper-aggressive outbursts tended to be calmed via distraction, dangled food or cattle prods the only two options you'd witnessed in person. Thousands of videos existed on the internet of 'ferals' silently devouring cheap microwave burritos or gas station hot dogs, fresh blood still dripping off their faces. Even more videos were shaky camera footage of the abuse, the prods or beatings.

No one seemed to make the connection that since most of them were sold off or surrendered young, they never got the chance to develop like normal children. Instead they were used as amusements, poked and prodded through the bars until a reaction was obtained. Then, John Q. Public would move on to the next thing, heart rate up and laughing with his friends about how he “wasn’t scared at all!”

You had signed on with Heyman a few years back, literally running away to join the circus. You were sick of being in one place, a stuffy room sandwiched between other stuffy rooms in a building that seemed all but abandoned by your landlord. Paul warned you that the work would be hard, the pay would be garbage and that you would more than likely have to sleep in a tent. You’d just nodded and signed your name, happy to accept all those shortcomings in exchange for the variety of a traveling life.

Heyman quickly seemed to realize that you were no quitter. Despite everything he threw at you, you carried on doggedly unloading and loading the trucks town after town. Your persistence had been a thorn in your side at every other job you’d had, but here it appeared to finally be useful. Paul would go to you for tasks that needed to be completed and you saw to it, simple as that.

His new acquisitions needed new housing so you, English and Gotch spent a good portion of the day putting together a sturdy cage for them. According to Heyman, they were currently kept in wooden crates with the barest slats in them for viewing. “I want my beasts to be able to stretch and move!” He instructed the three of you. Gotch just nodded, letting English gush about the genius of Paul Heyman while handing you a scrap of lumber to cover the bars. Aiden English was a kiss-ass through and through but he was also a classically-trained thespian, able to easily adopt any role pushed upon him. Not to mention the singing. Simon Gotch was very much the classic circus strongman. Like something straight from P.T. Barnum’s era, he had the mustache, the one-strap singlet, and the boisterous laugh of a man out of time.

You sat astride the bars of the roof, silently staring at the beams of lumber. “Hey, I was uh…I was thinking, maybe instead of wood, we should have a cloth roof? I mean, the two of them will be boxed up when we travel.” You suggested. “It would let in a little more light for them, and it’s not like we can’t just put a piece of plywood over it if it rains.”

“What, like a sheet?” Paul squinted at the roof for a minute. “I don’t see the harm in it. Saves me from buying another box of screws. The bars are still there.”

From your perch on the roof, you caught sight of a dingy van trundling along the road towards your campsite. There was a small trailer attached to the van. “And here comes the cavalry.” English muttered to Gotch, who nodded grimly. You studiously avoided looking up while Heyman moved to greet the van’s driver and gather up his new prizes. English tossed an old, tattered blue tablecloth to you and you wove it in between the bars of the cage, carefully smoothing out the wrinkles so it would lay flat.

You were in the middle of securing the sheet down to the sides of the cage when there was a loud, high-pitched roar from the trailer. An angry snarl followed, the two ‘ferals’ obviously not pleased with their surroundings. You swallowed hard as the full gravity of your predicament hit you. The whole caravan was being put to the test by the new acquisitions. If either of them got loose or something to that effect...

You squared your shoulders after a minute. You weren’t about to be scared off by a little noise. You had done your research, determined to see them as the people that they were and not the monsters they were always made into.

“Come over here and meet your new charges, boys! You too, sweetheart!” You rolled your eyes at Paul but obediently swung down from the cage and dusted yourself off, following the other two men to stand by Heyman. “This is Mr. Vince McMahon, he’s the gentleman parting with these fine specimens.” Paul continued, flattering the old man who appeared to have the leathery skin of an alligator.

You extended a hand to Mr. McMahon, cringing inwardly when he scooped your palm up and pressed it to his lips. “Enchanté.” His voice reminded you of an alligator as well, raspy. French was obviously not a familiar language to him. He released your hand after what felt like an eternity and you resisted the urge to wipe it off on your dirty overalls while he shook hands with Gotch and English. “It pains me to see these boys go.” He patted the side of the tiny trailer and then flinched back when the whole thing rocked. There was a thud like something had fallen over. “Whups, sounds like they’re roughhousing again. Guess I’d better uh…” Vince fumbled around under the front seat of the van before tugging out a cattle prod. “They were shock-trained, of course.”

“Of course.” Heyman echoed. You caught English and Gotch's worried looks at one another out of the corner of your eye. At least you weren’t the only one sure Paul was in over his head here.

“Sir, if we could…maybe not rile them up just yet?” You said quietly. “My associates and I would like to see the size of them, make sure our enclosure will be sufficient.” That was a bold-faced lie of course, and you felt more than saw English staring at you incredulously.

There was a loud whiffle of breath from the trailer. One of them was scenting the air. You wondered how terrifying this must be for them, trapped in a tight, dark space that moved and rattled uneasily. “Of course, they’re all yours. They’re secured and separated by a wall, naturally.” Vince unlocked the back of the trailer and swing the doors out. “Never know what they might do.” He chuckled, his laughter quickly dying off as the inside of the trailer was revealed.

It appeared that the separating wall had buckled or shifted during the transit. Or was pulled down. The hulking blond Beast barreled towards the open doors from the rear of the trailer. You didn’t even have time to think, body frozen on the spot.

A colorfully-marked arm abruptly hitched around Beast’s midsection, halting him in his tracks bare inches away from you and giving you an up-close look at the blond's strangely-phallic chest tattoo. “Shit, Beast!” Vince shouted, sounding more irritated than scared. “Knock it off!” The blond snapped and thrashed, struggling against the one you could only assume was Wolf. “You want to get zapped again, you piss-poor freak? Get back!” Vince brandished the cattle prod, making Beast snarl loudly in reply. “That’s right, you know what this does! So cool it!”

Wolf took Beast back a step, but then Beast lashed out with a vicious elbow and broke free. You dimly noticed the loose end of his chain trailing along behind him on the floor before Beast sent you crashing to the ground, the back of your head slamming into the dirt with a vicious impact. Your vision swam with reflex tears and you grimaced in pain, scared stiff as Beast pinned you with his body weight and screamed in Vince's direction over your head.

Something suddenly plowed into Beast’s side, throwing the blond off of you. Vince caught Beast in the ribs with the cattle prod, continuing to holler abuse. Wolf stared down at you and you stared back up, wishing you could stop shaking. His hair was matted and overgrown, hanging in his face. All you could make out was a pair of brown eyes studying you warily. You swallowed after a minute and his eyes tracked the motion, watching the way your throat moved before snapping back up to your face. “Hello?” You tried, flinching when a smile flashed through that thick hair.

“H-Hi.” He sounded almost shy, his voice deep and a little shaky. Definitely not what you’d been expecting. He tilted his head and then retreated cautiously back into the trailer, sitting at the edge and watching as Beast ate a few more volts.

You sat up slowly and English was instantly at your side, looking panicked. “Oh my goodness, how are you still conscious?!” He sputtered.

“Just my rotten luck, I guess.” You grunted, rubbing the back of your head. “Jesus.”

“There you are, see? Gentle as a lamb.” Vince panted, standing over the cowering Beast. “Now I’ve got to be going, so if we could move this process along…”

…

Paul had definitely bitten off more than he could chew. All Wolf seemed to want to do was sleep, and Beast delighted in tormenting the other man through the bars of their cage. The original plan had been to display them to the public in an enclosure they could interact with each other in, but Beast ceaselessly savaged Wolf until Paul put a sturdy divider in their cage.

Beast quickly became Heyman’s favorite, due to how he paced and scared off the bravest of souls by screaming and lunging to the bars at the most random of times. He was the picture of crazed animal, all froth and fury. Paul loved it.

Wolf would wake up out of his sleep at mealtimes, usually offering you a grunt, sometimes a “hi” if he was in a generous mood. You stayed to talk at he and Beast as they ate, Beast snarling into his food. You had lost most of your fear from Beast knocking you down, understanding that he had probably just gone for the first shot at freedom that he saw and it was unfortunate circumstance that you stood in his way. You had jokingly appointed yourself as head of feral nutrition, knowing that if you avoided Beast because he had scared you, you would never get past the incident mentally. It helped that there hadn't really been any competition for the position either.

“Hey, I’m sorry about what happened the day you came to be with us, Beast.” You said hesitantly one night. It wasn’t fair that they were kept in tiny cages, even if Beast seemed like the mauling type. You didn't think your own sanity or temper would hold up well under the duress of constant captivity, especially if you were crammed into a sardine can with someone you didn't like.

Wolf looked up at you curiously when you began talking, 'hmm'ing in his throat and then returning to his food.

“Just like everyone else.” Beast had never spoken before. You hadn’t been sure that he could. Tiny blue eyes narrowed at you over his plate. You knew that staring only made the person doing it look stupid, but you couldn’t help it. “You think you’re the first one to sit here an’ fuckin’ talk to me like this? Fuck you.” He muttered. “Fuck your boss too.”

“Brock-” Wolf sounded like he was about to protest but Beast stuck a hand through the bars between them, grabbed a fistful of matted hair and yanked.

“Shut the hell up, freak.”

“Hey, stop it! Why do you always push him around?” You asked indignantly, getting to your feet.

Beast mimicked your motion inside the enclosure, gripping the bars until his knuckles whitened. “He’s weak, that’s why.” He spat. “That’s the only reason I need, asshole.”

“I think I preferred when you were doing your strong-silent act.” You retorted.

“I could have ripped you apart and escaped. But this-” Beast’s face reddened angrily as he searched for the word. “-dumbshit just had to play hero. What, were you worried?” He asked Wolf mockingly.

“Don’t like getting prodded.” Wolf mumbled. “The lightning hurts like tch-zark!” He clicked his teeth and tongue in a weird imitation of a lightning strike. “Scares you too, dick.”

“Fuck you.”

“They don’t use the prods. I…I know you’re not happy, m’ not happy either but at least they’re not hurting us.” Wolf pointed out. “I’ll hurt people if they let me go, that’s what everyone always said. So I’m being good.”

Beast gritted his teeth. “Don’t give a shit what you do, idiot.”

Wolf rolled his eyes and then fixed his attention on you. “Dumb request.” He began slowly. “Need a bath. A-Ask Heyman, maybe we can work something out? A hose, tub?”

You nodded. “Absolutely, I’ll do what I can.”

Wolf smiled briefly. “Thank you. Don’t listen to him.” Beast clocked him upside the head and Wolf grunted. “You talk to us like people. It’s nice.” He continued after shaking off the blow.

“Why wouldn’t I talk to you like…you are people.” You pointed out.

“You know what I mean.” Wolf looked sad and Beast stormed off to the other end of his enclosure, clearly done with the conversation. “Most people act like we’re dumb or like we can’t understand them.”

“I don’t understand any of this garbage.” You tugged at your hair, a little frustrated. “We get told when we're young that if you’re a ‘feral’, it’s obvious because you’re bigger and dumber than the other kids. Like that’s an actual diagnosis, you’re just a crazy, hyper-aggressive child. You’ll try to bite or lash out, your parents will have to give you up because you’re a danger to society. But you guys...” You gestured at Beast. “He sounds almost totally normal. Obviously the whole wild thing is a sulky charade for him.”

“My parents surrendered me when I was six. I tore a piece off the doorframe and then I tried to bite my dad because he came at me with a knife.” Wolf said haltingly. “S’why I don’t talk so good. Nobody outside the complex I was in cared all that much about what we were doing. What mattered was we were away from them.” His voice grew more sure as he spoke. “Sometimes the older guys, y’know, kids that had actually been to school, would teach us. There was this huge kid we called Hacksaw because the story went that he’d ripped clean out of every single thing his parents had secured him in and they’d had no choice but to give him up. He was the teacher most of the time, he had a loud voice and he was bigger.” Wolf grinned. “Dumb as hell though.”

“Was Beast with you there?” You asked, getting an angry huff of ‘no’ out of the pacing blond.

Wolf shook his head. “Met Brock for the first time in McMahon’s pony show.” He glanced over at the other man. “He’s not that bad, except for most of the time. Vince enjoyed having him bust me open when I was misbehaving. I acted like I would bite, started laughing. Vince didn't like that.”

“It was business, dumbshit.” Brock grumbled. “If I went after you, McMahon would ease up.”

“There used to be more at Vince’s. A smaller guy named Neville. Big ears. Then there was Moxley. He'd get the rages. And Samson, played the guitar sometimes. They all escaped one night. Dunno’ what happened to them, they just up and vanished.” Wolf seemed to be sinking back into a funk, slumping down against the bars of his prison.

“Hey, easy. Look, I'll go talk with Paul and get your bath squared away, okay?” You patted his hand through the cage.

“M' name is Baron. What my parents called me, anyhow.” Wolf raised his eyes to yours. “I can't forget that. Please.”

“Okay. Baron.” You said softly.

…

When he was soaking wet Baron appeared decidedly less threatening. “It just grows so fast.” He had mumbled through the muzzle Paul insisted he needed to wear, wincing every time he found another tangle with the old comb. You had given him a trim to the best of your abilities once he was finished washing up and he looked miles better when you were done.

“You have a nose! And it's a nice one, too!” You had said in mock surprise, getting a snort out of Brock while you unbuckled the muzzle and pulled it back through the bars.

Baron had worked his jaw for a minute then graced you with a real smile. “Thanks.”

As you laid in your sleeping bag late that night, your thoughts kept returning to the young man in his cage. His parents had surrendered him at six. Your heart ached. What would it be like to go through most of your life being told over and over that you were the problem?

You were startled out of your musings by a rustling noise and you sat up in your tent when the flap slid open. It was just Adrian, one of the acrobats. He pressed a finger to his lips and you nodded, a little confused as he crowded into your tent. “Had t' talk with you.” His normally cool British accent sounded more clipped for some reason. “I've seen ya' spending time with the ferals.”

“I talk with Brock and Baron, yes.” You winced. “Mostly Baron, Brock isn't much one for conversation.”

“He never was.” Adrian muttered cryptically. “Listen, I don't have a lot of time. I'm not sure how they'd react to seeing me. But if at some point you could maybe...ah, I dunno', let it slip into a conversation that everyone still cares, I'd greatly appreciate it.” Adrian touched your shoulder, his eyes searching your own. “They don't deserve this life. You and I both know this. Can I trust you to deliver the message?”

“Adrian, what...”

“Hey, this is important. They're people, not fucking attractions. You have to promise me.” Adrian pleaded. “Get the message to Baron. Tell him that, tell him three days.”

“Everyone still cares, three days. Got it.” You repeated, raising an eyebrow. “What the heck does that even mean?”

“He'll know.” Adrian hugged you tightly. “I have to go. Don't want Gotch to talk.” He joked, his body language much more tense than you would care for.

Sleep didn’t come easily after Adrian left. You stared up at the ceiling of your tent, thinking. Everyone still cares, three days. It must be some kind of code, you reasoned. What does it mean, though? Why can’t Adrian tell them himself? You scooted down further in your sleeping bag.

When daylight finally began creeping through the fabric of your tent, you quietly eased the zipper open and slunk across the camp to Brock and Baron’s cage.

“Early for breakfast.” Brock commented idly when you were within earshot. You ignored him, moving to Baron and shaking him awake through the bars. Baron grunted and rolled over, yawning widely.

“Hey, listen to me.” You said, keeping your voice soft. Baron nodded sleepily. “Somebody wanted me to tell you this: Everyone still cares, three days.”

Brock’s fingers were around your throat before you realized he was moving, the large man dragging you in to knock your head against the bars of their enclosure. “Brock!” Baron cried. You gasped for breath as Baron tugged and pulled at Brock’s arm. But Brock didn’t even seem to notice. He looked purple with rage.

“Who told you that?” He hissed.

“Brock stop it, you’re gonna’ get us prodded! They can’t breathe!” Baron said frantically. “You have to let them go before something bad happens again!” You made a choking noise and it seemed to whip Baron into a higher frenzy, his fingers clawing at Brock’s arm hard enough to draw blood. “Wolf will bite!” He snapped his teeth loudly, like a warning shot.

Brock just scoffed at him. “Wolf, my ass!”

“Wolf bite!” Baron sank his teeth into Brock’s thigh and jerked his head to the side, making Brock scream angrily and swat at him.

“Hey!” Heyman’s sharp yell interrupted the scuffle. Brock quickly released you and you stumbled back from the cage, wheezing as air flooded your lungs. “What the hell is going on here?!” Baron hadn’t stopped chewing on Brock’s thigh, ignoring the blows that rained down on his head. Brock started slamming his leg against the bars, cracking the metal into the back of Baron’s busy jaw.

You reached back into the cage and touched Baron’s hair. “Baron.” You said shakily. “Hey, Baron. Baron shh, you can stop. It’s okay.”

Baron snarled into Brock’s skin but you kept petting his hair, kept whispering and he finally eased off enough for Brock to pull away. Baron’s chest heaved, blood trickling from the side of his mouth. He still seemed furious, his brows drawn into a tight scowl as he panted for breath and jittered restlessly under your touch.

Heyman approached cautiously once it appeared you had Baron under control. “You mind explaining to me what just happened?” He blustered.

“Heard…heard something. Woke me up.” You lied quickly. “They were fighting so I tried to…tried to stop them.”

“You’re crazy, getting between two ferals?!” Paul was practically shrieking at this point, jabbing a finger at Baron. “Look what he did to Beast! You're wearing a muzzle for the foreseeable future, Wolf!” Baron flung himself against the wall of the cage, yelling nonsense and trying his hardest to get a hold of Heyman. His long arms fell just short though and he finally collapsed in a heap, curling up in the corner. “Now that that's over with.” Paul huffed, looking somewhat shaken.

“Mr. Heyman, please-” You began to protest but Paul carried on over you.

“No, I'm firm on this one! He's a menace and I want him fully muzzled. Liquid diet.” Heyman insisted, smoothing out the remainder of his hair. “That's an order!”

Baron just huddled tighter, flinching away when Brock reached through the bars to harass him.

English and Gotch ended up muzzling him. You couldn't do it.

You loaded the truck by yourself as a trade-off, hefting rolled tents and wheeling boxes up the ramp with a dolly. When it came time to board up the walls of the enclosure for travel Baron didn't so much as look at you, wrapping himself in a hole-riddled blanket.

“Three days.” Brock muttered, bumping his forehead against the planks. “Three fucking days, Baron.”

“Dun' care.” Baron slurred through the muzzle. Gotch had strapped it too tightly around his jaw but he wouldn't let you fix it. “All I do'shurt. Destherve thith.”

“Oh please, you ain't never had a set of balls before. Then they show up and all of a sudden it's 'Wolf bite!'” Brock taunted, slapping his shorts over the bandaged area. “You went for paydirt, you cocksucker.”

“Were gonna' hur'them n' we'd ge' zapped.” Baron shuddered, gripping the blanket tighter and staring at his knees. “S'bad.”

“Brock, stop bothering him, please.” You said softly. Brock snorted but sat down in the opposite corner, tilting his head back and watching while you slid the roof boards into place.

“Three days.”

The trek to the new fairground was a long one. When the group stopped for dinner, you went to remove Baron's muzzle so he could eat. But he flinched away. “Mr. He’m’n said I gotta' wear'it, 'member?” He grunted.

“I don't want you to wear it.” You replied angrily. “You didn't do anything wrong, it's not like you were trying to strangle me!” You raised your voice so Brock would hear you, narrowing your eyes in his direction.

“Dun' wanna' get in trouble.” Drool trickled out of the bottom of the muzzle. “Tha' smells good though. S'it fries? I lo' fries. Oh...shit, ugh, stop.” He tried to wipe off his chin with the bottom of his ragged shirt. “Nooo, c'mon, s'gross.” He groaned.

“Yes it's fries. A burger, too. You want it?” You waved the wrapper in front of his face and watched his pupils dilate. “Gotta' take that off if you want to eat the probably-meat.” You sang.

Baron whined, tugging at the bottom of the muzzle. “Wanna’.”

You reached out and weaseled the buckle loose, quickly pulling the muzzle down over his chin. Baron glanced fearfully over at Brock, who rolled his eyes. “Are you even serious right now? Just eat the fucking burger, idiot.” He grunted, already well on his way through his second sandwich.

You tore chunks off the burger and handed them to Baron. He had a habit of bolting his food if you gave it to him all at once. Brock started watching you feed the other man, his brow furrowed like he was thinking hard. You ignored him and continued to slip one fry at a time through the bars, Baron humming quietly as he ate.

“Why?” Brock muttered finally. You looked up at him. “Why the fuck didn't you say something about me? I know the idiot is your favorite. You could have told your boss I went after you first. Don't tell me you didn't want to get me in trouble or some bullshit.”

“I knew how that would have ended.” You replied simply. “Mr. Heyman is incredibly emotional. He would have flown off the handle. Just like everyone else on this damn planet, he's fine as long as you two are ripping each other apart. But as soon as a 'regular' person gets involved?” You shook your head. “There was no good way to resolve that. So I lied.”

“But-”

“Look, out of all the people I might owe an explanation for something, you are the absolute last on that list.” You snapped, getting to your feet. “If anything, I think you owe me an explanation for losing your mind over some dumb thing that I was told to say. Haven't you ever heard of 'don't shoot the messenger'?”

“Sounds dumb.”

You threw your hands up in exasperation. “Fuck you too, buddy.” Brock just chuckled.

Baron, seeming a bit more at ease now that his stomach was full, waited patiently while you re-buckled his muzzle (correctly this time). He bumped the metal mesh into your forehead, his sleepy smile doing odd things to your stomach. “Thanks for keeping us from getting prodded. This isn't too bad. Sorry I was such a baby about it this morning.”

You felt tears well up in your eyes. “It's not right. I don't want you to wear it, but I don't want you to get in trouble either. I don't know what to do, Baron.” You whispered.

“It's okay.” Baron reached through the bars and awkwardly patted your shoulder. “Don't worry about me. Three days, y'know.”

“What does that even mean, what’s three days?”

“Nothing.” Brock said sharply, shooting Baron a fierce look.

…

You found out what it meant three nights later, when you were woken out of a deep slumber by someone tripping over one of the guy lines on your tent. The muffled swear that followed startled you to fully alert because it was a voice you didn't recognize. Who...? Curiosity won over self-preservation and once the footsteps faded away you quickly slipped out of your tent.

A flash of light from over by Brock and Baron's enclosure caught your attention. There was a quiet clatter, the sound of metal on metal. “Easy now, cool it Brock.” That was Adrian's voice. “Don't botch this, big guy.”

“Great job, getting hired as a fuckin' acrobat.” That voice belonged to the person who had tripped over your tent. “You always were the flexible one, Nev.”

“We'll have plenty of time for you to pat him on the back once I'm free.” Brock growled.

“I can't leave.” Baron mumbled. You had to strain your ears to hear him even as you snuck closer.

“Bar we don't...look man, I know everyone says you're a danger. We got a guy to help with that now. I promise, we're going to get you to some people who can make you safe.” You caught sight of a thinner man with a mop of light, curly hair, shimmying in place beside the cage door. Next to him was Adrian, who had a pack slung over his shoulder. Further off in the shadows you could barely make out a third figure.

Brock slid out through the cage door, taking a deep breath of air. “I'm not waiting around for you to sass Moxley and Mighty Mouse.” He snapped at Baron. You had to snort at the apt nickname for Adrian.

“Fine, go with Samson, Brock.” The man who you assumed was Moxley jerked his chin in the direction of the man on the edge of the parking lot. “We'll catch up.” Brock didn't wait around, bolting for the trees. “Great to see that confinement has only improved his shit attitude.” Moxley grumbled.

“Bar, you can't stay here. Paul will think you had something to do with it.” Adrian pointed out gently.

Baron hung his head. “You remember what I did, Nev. I deserve-”

Moxley undid his muzzle and pulled it off, chucking it to one side. “What any of us woulda' done, stop beatin' y'self up about it.” He scolded.

Baron tugged the cage door half-closed. “No, I'm staying. I can take it.”

“Baron?” You quietly called his name, taking a step forward.

Moxley whirled, his whole body alert. Adrian relaxed when he realized who you were, patting Moxley on the shoulder. “Easy. They're a friend.”

“Skulkin' son'uva, Jesus.” Moxley put a hand on his chest.

“Why won't you go with them?” You asked Baron, who refused to meet your eyes. “Hey...” You pushed the cage door open a little wider so you could enter the cage. “Baron?”

“You don't get it, I'm dangerous.” Baron mumbled. “I'll hurt people.”

“Yeah?” You circled around him, scoffing. “Like when you ripped me to pieces right out of your trailer? Oh yeah, that didn't happen. Like you did when I was cutting your hair? Oh that's right, you didn't. Earlier this week, when I hand-fed you and you graciously let me keep my fingers?” You crossed your arms over your chest. “You're pretty bad at hurting people.”

“You-! You're different, alright?” Baron exploded. “You talked to me, talked to Brock. Even if we didn't talk back. You weren't scared. I wasn't an animal to you.”

“If you go with your friends you don't have to be an animal ever again.” You reasoned with him, a plan coming together in your mind when he shook his head stubbornly. “Listen, I'm at least going to give you a hug, okay? Seeing as how I'm not allowed to be in here with you and Mr. Heyman probably won't be too keen on keeping you around when he wakes up to his Beast gone.” You hugged Baron tightly and he stood there, stock-still like he didn’t know what to do. “Run.” You whispered, and when you pulled away you shoved him backwards with all your strength. He stumbled out of the cage and you quickly shut the door behind him, hearing the lock click with a sound of finality.

“No!” Baron grabbed the bars and shook them in a futile effort. “What the hell are you doing?!” Baron asked incredulously, brushing Neville’s hand off when the smaller man tugged at his shoulder.

“It’s alright, Baron. Go on.” You mustered up a brave smile. “I’m sure I’ll see you again, okay?”

“I’m not leaving you like this.” Baron rested his forehead on the bars. “I don't want to.” His voice cracked.

“You have'ta. There isn’t another option.” Moxley whispered. It seemed the commotion hadn’t gone unnoticed, lights clicking on in the various tents and cars. “We gotta' go, Baron. I toldja', there’s people that can help you where we’re going. If we don’t leave now, the rest of the crew will be caught and I know you don’t want that shit on your conscience.”

You took Baron’s hands and brought them to your lips for a moment, then gently pushed him away. “Go on.” You urged. “I’ll buy you guys some time.”

“We won’t forget this kindness.” Adrian murmured, squeezing your hand while Baron grimaced. “C’mon Bar, we have to move.”

You sank into a crouch as flashlight beams began to crisscross the parking lot. Adrian melted into the shadows with Baron and Moxley in tow. You listened to their retreating footsteps, fighting back the urge to cry. You heard Heyman and Gotch hollering to each other and you squared your shoulders, exhaling in a bracing burst. Any extra seconds you could give the little group to escape would probably be beneficial.

Time to see if you could hold up under stress. If Paul wanted an angry feral, he'd sure as hell get one.

A flashlight shone in your eyes and you snapped your teeth, sticking an arm through the bars to swipe at whoever was holding it. “Whoa! Easy, what the fuck?” Simon backed up out of reach and then shone the light over your head, his face going pale as he took in the lack of residents in the cage. “Oh no. Oh no.” He breathed. You managed to grab his leg and he yelled in fear, flailing and falling over in his effort to escape your grasp. “Help! Help! English they’ve gone feral!”

You continued to snarl and paw at his leg. The longer you kept his attention, the more likely it was that someone else would help him instead of running off into the woods.

“Simon!” Aiden cried, ever the drama king as he valiantly pulled the other man out of reach of your deadly fingers. “What's wrong with you?! Mr. Heyman, come quick!”

…

You hadn't realized how much the muzzle would cut into your jaw if you moved wrong, but you were finding out pretty quickly. You hadn't realized how small the enclosure truly was. You hadn't realized how drastic the emotional and physical toll of being labeled an attraction was. Now you understood why Baron slept all the time, or why Brock would play up to the crowd.

If you didn't scare people away they would mob and heckle until you had to lash out, just to get five minutes of peace. No one wanted to see a 'feral' that looked like it was about to burst into tears. No one wanted to feel sympathy for something like what you were pretending to be.

It was worth it, you thought as you paced and did your best at imitating Brock's infuriated screaming. Their safety depended on you keeping up the act. Paul hadn't been too upset at losing the two 'ferals' or Adrian, quickly realizing that you were a hell of a lot easier to feed and transport than Brock and Baron. Not to mention he could market you as the first 'turned feral', like you'd been transformed into a crazed beast from too much time spent alone with the 'ferals'.

It took a little work, of course. You didn't have the added 'benefits' of rapid hair growth or other such issues to depend on so you ended up improvising with more noises and rumpled hair. You ripped the sheet covering the roof to pieces, scattering it around the cage to give the place a den-like appearance. Your collar was Baron's old one so it was enormous, jingling around your neck when you darted to the bars and swiped viciously at the people who got too close. You didn't talk, flat-out refused honestly, and Paul gave up questioning you after a few tries.

English usually brought your food, pushing it within reach with a stick and then fleeing quickly. Gotch was the one in charge of boarding up the enclosure when the caravan set out and he did it all while watching you nervously.

A weird feeling of loneliness slowly crept in as time marched on. No one attempted to talk to you after Heyman, your days were spent either in the darkness of travel or in the wild hysteria of being a freak. It took its toll on you as fall chilled the air and the leaves changed colors.

Sleep became your solace. In your dreams you were no longer caged; you slept in a soft, comfortable bed instead of a pile of tattered blankets. Baron would come to you, all big brown eyes and gentle noises in his throat as he held you close and kept you warm. Waking up was the worst part of your day. You always woke up tense now, wary and shivering while your breath frosted in the air.

It was hard not to listen to the things people said. The insults they hurled or terrible jokes they made more often than not added a little real fury to your act. It was bad enough that they would say those things to you. You could only imagine what Baron and Brock might have heard in their time as attractions.

Then there was the day where a young man dumped his soda on you. It was already cold out and now you were wet and sticky, on top of everything else. You grabbed him and slammed his head against the bars, screaming in his face like the beast you were supposed to be. You got grim satisfaction from seeing him cry, a grown man reduced to a sniveling mess. But all the satisfaction in the world couldn’t dry you off or make you less sticky.

There was no dinner for you that night because you had acted out. You curled up in your ragged bundle of thin blankets once Simon clumsily muzzled you and tried to ignore the rumbling of your stomach, feeling disgusting and lower than you’d ever been. Tears welled up in your eyes and you cried for the first time in ages, shivering and hiccupping pitifully.

“This ain’t exactly what I had in mind for a darin’ rescue.” Moxley’s rough voice by your head startled you and you barely kept from screaming in surprise. You bolted to the side of the cage and were greeted by the sight of Moxley and Baron.

Baron looked distraught, his fists clenched tight. “Who has the keys?” He asked, his tone harsh. You made a noise in your throat, reaching out desperately to touch him. Baron leaned closer, letting you cup his jaw. “What the hell did they do to you?” He whispered, his own fingers tracing the twisted-up straps of your muzzle.

“Get them out of that fuckin’ shit Corbin. We need the keys.” Moxley said curtly.

Baron slowly loosened the straps around your head, trying not to catch your hair in the process. The leather dragged against the scraped areas on the back of your jaw and you groaned in pain. Large hands ghosted over the abraded skin. “Shit, you’re raw. I’m sorry, would have been more careful.” Baron apologized.

“Heyman.” You rasped, your voice dry from disuse. “Heyman has keys.”

“Well fuck him.” Moxley shrugged, picking something off the bottom of his boot. “What do you think, Baron?”

“He’s mine.” Baron snarled, pushing away from the cage.

Moxley winked at you once Baron had stormed off. “He’s been an absolute wreck since we got word of a ‘turned feral’. Guy was chompin’ at the bit, we all figured it was you but he was losing his damn mind. Should have brought Nev for the door, he didn’t wanna’ wait. Now we gotta’ do this the old-fashioned way.”

You were totally overwhelmed by what was going on, sinking into a kneeling position.

Moxley made a noise of sympathy, petting your sticky hair. “It’s alright. You’re gonna’ be safe now.” He assured you. “We won’t leave you here. He won’t leave you here.” You whimpered and rested your forehead against the bars, barely able to comprehend it. He came back. Moxley seemed to understand your reaction, continuing to just pat your head. “I can’t believe that you’ve been in this cage the whole time. You’ve lived regular, you ain’t like us where you grew up in that shit. How did you even handle it?”

“If I couldn’t talk, they couldn’t ask me questions.” You mumbled. Keys jangled loudly and you turned around, confused at first when you saw Heyman at the cage door. You squinted and realized Baron had a firm grip on his arm, standing behind him in the shadows.

“Open it, fucker.” Baron snarled. Paul looked a little worse for the wear, his striped pajamas mussed and missing a few buttons. You got the feeling Baron hadn’t woken him up gently. “You have three seconds.”

“This is illegal, I’ll have you know.” Paul blustered. “Intimidating a-”

“No, what’s illegal is what I’ll fucking do to you if you don’t open the fucking cage.” Baron interrupted him, his grip tightening. “They’re not a feral, you’ve been keeping them locked up like a damn animal. I fail to see how the fucking law is going to be on your side here. Now open. The. Door.”

“Y-You’re not…” Paul trailed off when you shook your head.

“So if you let them go, we’ll just take them and be on our way. No muss, no fuss.” Moxley made his presence known, ambling to stand by Heyman. “Or…we can do this the hard way.” He had a wicked smile on his face. “Your choice.”

“N-No, I don’t want any trouble. I’ll j-just--” Paul dropped the keys twice in his haste to obey, finally unlocking the cage. “If I had known-”

“-You would have gotten everything you could out of them and then thrown them to the goddamn wolves. Get back into bed.” Baron shoved Heyman in the direction of his trailer. “You never saw us. Breathe a word and we’ll find you.” He threatened.

The night suddenly seemed brighter, the fall air crisp and clean in your lungs. “Can you walk? We have to move.” Moxley said hurriedly. You nodded jerkily, scrubbing your hands over your face to wake yourself up a bit. “Samson is in the next town over, we have shortcuts. Let’s go.”

Fingers twined through your own and you looked down at Baron’s hand, confused. “So we don’t lose you in the woods.” The large man explained, tugging you along behind him.

“Oh.” You hadn’t realized you were crying with relief until your breath hitched in your chest.

Baron grunted when he felt you shiver, quickly stripping off his hoodie and bundling you into it. “Better?” He asked worriedly, tying the hood strings so they held snugly beneath your chin. You nodded, letting him wipe your eyes with one of the sleeves. Baron’s smile still made that odd feeling flare up in your stomach. “Cool.”

“You talk more.” You pointed out as the three of you slipped through the foliage.

“Elias makes me sing with him so I can sound normal.” Baron grumbled while Moxley snickered. “Stupid Samson, forcing me to sing ‘Country Roads’.”

“I bet you sound good.”

“Better than him, anyhow.” Baron pointed to Moxley, who immediately stopped snickering. “Roadkill sings better than him.”

“Damn Corb, why you gotta’ smack-talk the roadkill?”

“Good thing we weren’t going for stealth, idiots.” Said a new voice through the trees.

“Elias! Shit, I must be sprinting, I thought we were still a ways off from the road.” Moxley apologized, pulling bushes to one side so Baron could haul you up an embankment to the road.

“How many times you done this?” The bearded man scolded, pulling open the sliding door of a van parked on the side of the road. “We’re lucky, man. Get in before something dumb happens.”

Baron easily lifted you into the vehicle, climbing in behind you. “Sit down.” He muttered, grunting when you wrapped your arms around him instead. “Oh. What?” He asked curiously, patting your back carefully. “Shh, there there. That’s the thing, right?”

“Yeah, you’re a natural buddy.” Elias laughed from the driver’s seat. “Christ.”

“I thought-”

“Don’t listen to him, man. You’re doing fine. Rub little circles. They’re…it’s--uh, anxiety. Yeah. They need contact right now.” Moxley bluffed, winking at you before strapping on his seat belt.

You flushed as Baron instantly pressed his whole body to your own, arms tightly enfolding you in an embrace. “I’ll help you.” He sounded so determined. “We’re gonna’ get you a shower. A real nice one, with hot water and soap. You’re all sticky, what happened?”

“Baron has volunteered to be your sponsor to help you readjust to normal life. We tried to explain that you weren’t like us but he was…very determined.” Elias said wryly. “So he’ll be sharing his bunk space with you.”

“Gonna’ take care of you like Mox and Nev took care of me.” Baron reassured you.

“Yeah, you’re uh…you’re in good hands.” Moxley seemed to be fighting off laughter. You had the feeling that you were in for a odd time of it, but you were so relieved to be free you couldn’t help giggling hysterically into Baron’s chest.

He came back.

…

Baron was disappointed when you didn’t let him shower with you, he had apparently become very fond of hot showers after years of nothing but sponge baths or dealing with communal bathing areas.

“Neville had to help me wash my hair, I don’t want you to miss anything.” He said worriedly, his shirt already pulled over his head.

You quickly assured him you would be fine. “I’ll let you look me over once I’m clean, deal?” He nodded seriously and proceeded to sit on the floor, inches from the raggedy shower curtain. You coughed. “Um, Baron, I kinda’ need to…”

“Oh!” He shut his eyes, covering them for good measure. “You’re safe. I won’t peek.”

“You’d better not.” You hurriedly peeled your dirty clothes off and got into the shower. As much as you’d like the company while you washed up, you weren’t sure how he viewed you. Were you just someone who had been kind to him? Or were you something more? Either way, it would hardly be fair for you to dump an emotional bombshell on him in the shower.

Your mind wandered, wondering what his hands would feel like on your skin as you scrubbed off the dried soda coating your arms and hair. There was no harm in thinking about it, was there?

Baron gave you your towel once you were done, waiting until you stepped out of the shower to get to his feet. He began carefully checking you over, clicking his tongue sympathetically at the raw-rubbed areas on your neck and behind your jaw. Baron then traced his fingers around your hairline. “Ticks.” He said by way of explanation when you gave him a confused look. “Because you’ve been sleeping outside.” Your whole body shuddered involuntarily. “Nev says to check the hairline, they hide behind the ears, armpits.” Baron paused for a minute. “Groin. Any um…any crevices, really.” He mumbled, taking a step back and clearing his throat. “So I’ll just…go. And get your…um…clothes, yeah, and you can give yourself a once-over. Moxley says I need to give you your privacy.”

You ripped the towel off once he’d left, panicking. You hadn’t noticed anything while you were showering, but you’d also been distracted. You ran your hands over your thighs, relieved when you felt no lurking intruders. You went up your stomach, checking your sides. You cupped your breasts and were about to move on, then…

In retrospect you realized that maybe screaming wasn’t the best course of action as it summoned Baron with alarming speed. “What?!” He took in the sight of you standing there naked, and carefully put down the bundle of clothes he’d been carrying. “You found one?” His voice was weirdly calm.

You just nodded, your lower lip starting to quiver.

“Hey, it’s okay.” He soothed. “Where is it?” You gestured at the side of your right breast, where the fiendish bloodsucker had taken up residence. Baron muttered something that sounded like of course, rolling his eyes up to the ceiling momentarily. “Alright, can I touch you? I’ve got one of those tick pullers on my keys.” He pulled your towel up and draped it over your shoulder, like he was attempting to preserve your modesty. “You don’t need to cry, s’okay. I’ll take it off and Regal can fix you up with meds if you get sick. Brock had a bunch of ticks on his butt, he got really sick but he’s fine now.”

You laughed through your tears at the mental image of Brock enduring someone pulling ticks off of his rear. You were incredibly embarrassed at your body’s response to Baron touching your chest, his motions all business as he carefully cupped your breast and held the skin tight so he could use the small tool. It still somehow stirred a reaction in your belly, even with you quietly freaking out about Lyme disease or a thousand other issues you could get from the little bastard embedded in your skin.

“Got it. Okay. You should wash that with soap and then get dressed. I’ll put this little fuck in a baggy, we’ll head to Regal.” Baron’s voice was still strangely calm, the low sound grounding you.

“Thank you. M’sorry.” You managed to hiccup. “So gross.”

Baron burst out laughing, surprising the hell out of you. “You had one tick-” He sputtered finally. “If you’ve got a strong stomach, you oughta’ ask Regal how many times they had to delouse me. He wanted to shave my head it was so bad.” Baron continued to snicker, making your indignant knee-jerk reaction peter out.

“Oh excuse me for not being graced by the scabies fairy.” You retorted while quickly pulling on your clothes.

“I’d cry if you’d had those.” Baron said bluntly. “Doc Regal gave us his monthly presentation for newbies on all the shit he’s seen and I about lost my lunch.”

…

“He’s quite smitten with you, you know.” William Regal said offhandedly as he counted medications and jotted something down on his notepad.

“Excuse me?” You asked, flustered.

The doctor (“How many times do I have to tell you Baron, I’m a pharmacist.”) looked up at you, one eyebrow raised. “Come now, you can’t be serious.” His tone was chiding. “You haven’t noticed?”

“W-Well-” You twiddled your fingers and Regal rolled his eyes.

“He was only here for a few days before he came to me about the odd dreams he had. You were a rather large part of them. He was having difficulty establishing a foothold in reality when it came to your place in his dreams.” Regal folded his hands, his face Bond-villain severe. “Baron grew very attached to you during his brief period with Heyman’s Delights. He says you were the only person who would even interact with he and Brock. He mentioned an incident when Brock lashed out at you and he bit Brock ‘with everything he had’ because you were in danger.”

“I just stroked his hair and tried to talk quiet to him. I didn’t want him to get hurt.” You recalled.

“It apparently made a lasting impression. His dreams, as with most so-called ‘ferals’ when they gain freedom, were of a sexual nature. But he mentioned the petting happened almost every time, like you were soothing him back to sleep. He found it calming but he had a difficult time waking from something like that.” William shrugged.

You wished you could vanish into the floor, your body hot and cold all at once. Baron chose that moment to make his appearance, knocking on the door before pushing it open. “Hey.” He greeted you warmly. “All set with the doc? I have your bunk made up.”

Regal exhaled a long-suffering sigh. “Baron-”

“Sorry, sorry! You all set with the pharmacist?” Baron rephrased his question. “I didn’t even know that was a word until last month, you’d think he would cut me some slack.” He stage-whispered to you as he ushered you out of the makeshift office. “So you’re gonna’ be in the bunk next to me in the orange trailer. Orange trailer is the one that’s mine. Neville said I could have it if I fixed the roof, and that wasn’t even a big deal.” Baron continued proudly, “Moxley says I’m great at fixing things, he comes to me with trailers all the time and I get them squared away.”

“You do upholstery too?” You teased.

“No, Mr. Styles is the sheriff around here. He upholds the law and a whole bunch of other things. I just fix stuff.” Baron didn’t seem to understand why you were laughing so hard, grinning uncertainly. “I um. I have a couple of documentaries we can watch, if you feel up to it. Not much in the way of entertainment around here but I guess that’s why we move so much.”

“Documentaries?”

“Yeah! Elias found me some old wolf ones. He says most of the information is inacc…in…uh, not right anymore, but I just like watching the wolves.”

The VCR made a terrifying noise when Baron fed it the tape later on, squealing and sputtering for a moment before the grainy footage began. You sat up and watched with Baron for a little while, his rapt expression one of the most adorable things you’d ever witnessed.

You reached out and began to stroke his hair. He didn’t even seem to notice at first, his attention entirely on the documentary. Little noises bubbled from his throat every time one of the wolves howled. You slipped behind him and tugged him back against you, Baron moving absently as he remained glued to the television. You dug your fingers into his scalp and that he noticed, if the whimper of “ah!” was any indicator. You continued your ministrations and his head lolled back on your shoulder “What are you doin’?” He asked thickly. “I love petting. Gonna' make me get hard.”

“Oh?” You dragged your fingers down through his hair, relishing the deep groan that came from his chest. “What would I have to do if I get you hard?”

Baron stared up at you, his brow furrowed. “Well, you wouldn't have to do anythin'.” He said finally. “If...I mean, if we're talking about what I'd want you to do, I'd...um, I'd like it if you'd...if you'd pet me. Below the belt.” His voice had dropped to an embarrassed mumble. “On my cock.”

You slid a hand down his torso and started playing with the zipper on his jeans.

Baron swallowed, covering your hand with his own after a second and rolling his cock up against your palm. “Do you feel me through that?” He asked, moaning softly when you nodded. “M' hard, you did that because you like me, right? Like how I like you. So you did what you know I like?” You nuzzled your face into his neck and pressed yourself tightly to his back, nodding shyly. Your fingers pulled down his zipper and Baron whined, muscles in his thighs flexing nervously. “Yes.” He gasped when you wrapped your hand around his cock. “Oh! Fuck--”

“Regal said you had dreams about me.” You whispered, loving the cute flush that quickly reddened his neck. “Good dreams.”

“Y-Yeah.” Baron admitted, cradling your face against his own while his cock twitched in your hand. “Just look at me. Want you, want to touch you all over. Make you happy.” He took a deep breath, seeming like he was gathering up his courage. “Sit on me and I can touch you if you want?” He said in a rush. “Please?” The begging note in his voice was what did it for you. You licked his ear playfully and he shivered, growling when you continued to mouth over the sensitive skin. “Ah, fuck, please-”

You slid out from behind him and he quickly grabbed you around the waist, easily settling you into his lap. His cock rubbed against the damp spot on your pajama pants and you blushed when Baron pressed two fingers to the area, teasing your clit.

“Like that?” He asked softly, “You feel good here, right?” His other hand slipped into your pajama bottoms to cup your ass, urging you to roll against his cock. “Here, right here. With me.” You dug your fingers into his hair again and pulled, making him snarl loudly. “Ah, can't do that, not fair. I'll fuck you sideways.” Baron warned, chuckling when you repeated the motion. “I'll do it. Better watch it.”

“Yeah yeah, big talk.” You stuck your tongue out at him and were surprised when he leaned in and captured it. Baron kissed with his teeth more than his lips, nipping at your tongue and licking hungrily into your mouth like he was devouring you. You grabbed at the neck of his shirt as he prodded his cock against you over and over, dry-humping you roughly. “B-Baron please--”

“Inside? Didn't know if you...” Baron paused as you stood up to drop your pajama bottoms and kick them over the side of his bunk. “I...Oh.”

“Please?” Now it was your turn to beg, sinking back into his lap and rubbing your soaking wet pussy over his cock.

Baron's eyes narrowing was the only warning you got before he lifted you bodily and pressed your back to the wall. “Yes.” His teeth snapped loudly at the end of the word, hard cock prodding up against you. “You're wet for me, you're wet for me and you're going to have me, you already do but now you can have all of me.” He said firmly, his forehead touching yours as he slowly entered you. “Told you I'd fuck you sideways.”

“I dunno' if this--counts as--sideways.” You managed to gasp.

Baron spread your legs a little wider, his pace erratic as he fucked you. He kept making sounds that went straight to your groin, helpless whimpers and growls pouring out of him when you pulled his hair and scratched down his back. “More.” It was a demand, it was a plea, gritted between his teeth as he thrust furiously into you. “Touch me, touch me, touch me God dammit-” He swore, words finally seeming to fail him as you swept his hair to the side and started nipping his shoulder.

The noises he carried on with wreaked havoc on your arousal, low-frequency rumbling in his chest seeming to roll through your whole body. You tensed up and Baron choked out a breath, obviously relishing the new sensation as he picked up his pace. “Coming-” You sobbed, gripping his shoulders tightly.

Baron's words came flooding back. “Yes do it do it want it-” He rambled, breaking his rhythm to sheathe his cock fully then move you back to his bunk. “No more sideways fucking, want you to come, want you to come.” He urged, smoothing the hair back from your face and pinning your hips down with his own. “Come for me come for me come for me-” You arched up beneath him as you came apart and Baron's forehead pressed to the hollow of your throat, your skin muffling his cry of “good!” when he came a second later. “Good.” He sighed again, his breath washing over your throat. “Good.”

You nodded tiredly in agreement, starting to comb through his hair with your fingers.

“Ugh, so good.” Baron groaned, nuzzling the thrumming pulse point beneath your ear. “Yes, yes.”

“Shh, I know.” You kissed his forehead, loving the way he stretched and preened over you before settling onto his side.

“Come here.” Baron demanded, pulling you back into his arms. You laid your cheek on the tattooed heart, feeling the lightning trip of his heartbeat slowly start to even back out. After a second Baron started stroking over your hair hesitantly, like he wasn't sure if you liked it or not. “You make me feel so good.” He said softly. “Not just this stuff. Always.”

“Yeah?” You tilted your head up to look at him and he nodded solemnly. “I'm glad, then.”

“I hope you'll stay. Y'know, with us. Me.” He mumbled when you were almost asleep, his thumb sliding over the raw patch behind your jaw. “Me an' Nev an' Mox an' 'Lias, we got a lot of work t' do...”

Part Two

#Baron Corbin #baron corbin smut #baron corbin/female reader #feral!Baron #thirst party saturday #this somehow got really long #wwe #wrestlers without the wrestling #Wrestle!AU: Feral Peril #behold all my weaknesses in one post #enjoy!#Baron's Bitches #(in case any of you were interested)

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rhetorical-ink · 7 years ago

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Rhetorical Ink Reviews: “Justice League”

**JUSTICE-filled Spoilers Below**

As a kid, I grew up with DC and Marvel Comics (mainly Sonic the Hedgehog via Archie but I digress). When “Marvel vs. DC” became a film rivalry, I was really surprised. Marvel, which had been filled with gritty, political series, was now more light-hearted and comic-book-y, and DC, which had been colorful and full of comic book cheesiness (with the exception of solely Batman), was now darker, grittier, and more serious and political.

So, anyway, going into this movie, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Thus, here are --

My Top Ten Thoughts on Justice League:

10. I want to start with some things I liked (one of which I will save towards the end): The Flash. Ezra Miller was one of my favorites parts of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and he shines in this so well! His awkward, quirky humor, and his innocent charm works so well in this! He stole all of the scenes he was in, and I will have Pet Semetary stuck in my head for a while now, thanks to his macabre humor. He’s easily my favorite addition to the cast.

9. Likewise, while it took a little time to get used to his character, I really liked Cyborg; the actor that played him did a great job of balancing the humanity still inherent within him and the Kryptonian technology controlling much of his body. Plus, that “booyah” towards the end of the film had my younger brother very happy. I was worried he’d be a throwaway character, but he had plenty of time to shine and his interactions especially with Wonder Woman were great!

8. Aquaman was hit or miss for me -- when we see Jason Mamoa being completely badass as his character -- I’m all in and all for it. The updates to Aqua Man are great and he’s CERTAINLY not cheesy here. I will admit, his “bro humor” came off as flat sometimes, but he was a nice shot of humor when we needed it (and the lasso of truth scene was funny). However, there was just way too much rushed for plot convenience in this movie with him. I feel we needed an entire movie with Aqua Man’s backstory, him meeting Bruce, explaining his culture. You know Wayne Enterprises could have gotten a sweet submarine built that would let Bruce go down to Atlantis! There’s an entire scene that is completely rushed through that basically just sets up some weird antagonist-behavior from Amber Heard’s character, and sets up that Jason Mamoa has a trident-like-weapon. He could have just showed up with the weapon and we wouldn’t have questioned where he got it from...because...well, he’s AquaMan! Also, play that scene below on repeat -- forever.

7. This leads to things I didn’t like about the film -- the biggest flaw being that everything is so. rushed. I felt like this film had the same issues as the latest Pirates of the Caribbean film -- instead of breaking this up into at least two movies of set up and pay off, this movie sets things up VERY quickly, and then the pay off happens right at the very end. I liked being introduced to these new characters, but the introductions weren’t long enough to answer all my questions nor to get invested in these characters. I just wanted the movie to take its time, especially since we aren’t getting a “setting up” group of films like the Marvel Universe has done -- DC just kind of skipped that and went straight to the main event!

6. It probably doesn’t help that Steppenwolf is a generic villain -- world conquest, blah blah blah -- he starts out with interesting concept about turning people into para-demons...but we never see it in action! Wouldn’t it have been more gut-wrenching to see Cyborg’s father turned into one of those? Or another friend/guard on our side against them? I feel that he was a wasted opportunity and he just became “generic villain of the month #4.” And that doesn’t help any movie at all.

5. Okay, getting into some real spoilers here, but I just...didn’t care for the way they handled bringing Superman back. I wondered how they were going to do it...it doesn’t quite make sense, though, because at the end of BvsS, we see dirt rise off of the grave site -- but what brings him back has nothing to do with that...so what was its purpose at the end of that film? And apparently bringing him back means he has no memory -- until Lois Lane dues ex machina’s her self right there! While there was part of the Superman return I liked -- listed below -- I just felt it was too rushed, again, and that his “dark” side for the time it was out there, was just too much for the movie -- even if corn fields can turn him back to normal.

4. A tiny note, but I do love Jeremy Irons as Alfred. I think he does a wonderful job -- you know who also does a wonderful job? Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, though she’s slimmed up since that movie, and I’m not quite as much of a fan of skinny Diane as opposed to more athletically built women.

3.Ben Affleck is okay as Batman here -- he’s still no Keaton, but he’s alright better than Christian Bale. I thought at times, his character seemed “off” and the “gay panic” moment between he and Batman was just cringe-worthy. Come on, we know you’re setting him and Wonder Woman up together. I mean... But honestly, my biggest problem in the movie besides pacing was:

2. CGI. There was too much of it in this movie. I knew from a previous spoiler that Henry Cavill had his mustache for Mission Impossible 6 digitally erased -- I mean, couldn’t he have just shaved? It was such a distraction, having known it. Also, at times Steppenwolf and his minions looked like a World of Warcraft cut scene -- and the CGI was SO obvious when it was CGI versions of our heroes -- I could just feel the movie being dated as I watched it. I was just so disappointed by it. At least the Deadpool 2 trailer made the CGI look okay and as if it wasn’t completely filmed in front of a green screen...seriously, DC, you have the budget. Real sets. Less CGI green screen.

1. Now, I told you all I would save something I liked for last -- this movie, oddly enough, reminded me again of the DC comic book era. Once Superman comes back and isn’t in an amnesiac state -- the entire film took on this almost-charming, old school comic book atmosphere, without being the cheesy Joel Schumaker mess. Superman actually felt like Superman! It was good to see that -- I just wished that the movie had been less CGI, more consistent in tone, had more time to develop character and story, and had less of a generic plot and villain.

Justice League isn’t as good as Wonder Woman, but better than Batman Vs. Superman -- so take that for what you will and go out and see it for yourself if you can!

#Justice League #rhetorical ink reviews #my top ten thoughts #Batman #Superman #Wonder Woman #Aqua Man #The Flash #Steppenwolf

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whyarethedolanssoattractive · 7 years ago

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Paint You Wings ~ Ethan Dolan {Part Ten}

Ethan’s POV

The front door swung open without warning. Averly and I sat up and smoothed our clothes out, trying our best to make it look like we weren't just making out. Of course, Grayson, Jack, and Aaron figured it out the second they stepped inside.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, we didn't mean to disrupt the baby-making process." Aaron joked and sat down beside me.

Averly and I laughed, then she leaned on my shoulder. "What are you guys doing here?" She asked and messed with my fingers.

Grayson went and got the cameras, then started setting them up in front of the couch. "We're gonna film a video for Jack's channel. You guys are in it." He declared.

Averly and I sighed, then she stood up. "I'm gonna go put on some war-paint then. I'll be back in ten." She bent down and kissed me quickly, then turned around and left.

The second the door shut, the guys all crowded around me. "Boy! How much action have you been getting lately?" Jack asked and laughed.

I shook my head and groaned. "You guys are pervs! We haven't done anything more than make-out yet." I shrugged and sat back on the couch. They all raised their eyebrows. "Honest!"

Grayson rolled his eyes. "Sure, buddy. Anyways, for the video we're doing a Try Not To Cringe thing, but we can only use stuff that we've got of each other, like, secretly. So do you have anything of Averly?"

I laughed when I thought about the video I got of her a few days ago when she was curling her hair and saw a spider, then dropped her curling iron on her foot and hobbled over to punch me for laughing.

"No, nothing."

Damn, I was a good boyfriend.

"Whatever, bro! Come on, it won't be as fun if we don't have any dirt on her!" Aaron groaned and tried to take my phone.

I shook my head again. "No! But we could do it where you can't laugh either, you know? Like you get a negative point if you make any expression, and we could call it The Poker-Face Challenge." I suggested.

The boys all nodded their heads and agreed. We started setting up more cameras and lights, then the microphones.

"I still don't believe that you don't have anything embarrassing of Averly, though." Aaron mentioned and sat back on the couch.

I shrugged. "I do. I mean, I guess there're a few embarrassing text conversations I can show." They weren't that bad, and Averly wasn't easily embarrassed anyways.

"That'll work." Jack laughed.

A few seconds later, Averly came in and sat beside me on the couch. We all had to squeeze so there was enough room, and Averly wound up half on my lap.

"What's up guys? I'm back, and this week I've got special guests Aaron Carpenter, Ethan and Grayson Dolan, and their neighbor-slash-Ethan's-girlfriend Averly." Jack pointed at all of us.

Averly and I looked at each other. I hadn't told the fans that we were dating yet, but I guess that I could post a picture of us tonight to reveal it before Jack posted the video. I would have to ask her first, though. Then Jack might have to re-film this part. I would figure it out later.

"So, today we're doing a challenge that we kind of came up with called The Poker-Face Challenge and basically, we're gonna show embarrassing texts, videos, pictures, etcetera of each other, and we all have to stay cool. You can't cringe, laugh, squeal, scream, get up and leave, anything like that. So, let's get started. Grayson, show us everything you have of all of us, starting with Ethan." He said and looked at Grayson. I took a deep breath because I knew Grayson would have a ton of shit on me.

He laughed and showed us all his phone. It was a picture of me mid-sneeze. I looked kind of like a two-hundred year old turtle, so I didn't make a face. Averly tucked her lips inside her mouth and her eyes got huge. I smacked her arm lightly and smiled at her. She wrapped her arms around me and got a closer look at the picture.

"Okay, next thing." He showed a video of me lip-syncing to A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton in my boxers and fluffy socks with star-shaped sunglasses and broom.

Jack and Aaron lost it, but Averly and Grayson kept their cool. Probably because they witnessed it in person.

Grayson shrugged. "I don't have anything else on E, so let's move on to Av." He grinned at us and showed us a picture of her laying on top of me sleeping while I stuck a french fry up her nose.

She gasped, then slapped my arm. "Oh my god!" She laughed and covered her face, then sighed. "You guys suck!" She declared.

I laughed and kissed her cheek. "We know."

The guys all groaned, then covered us with their hands. "Go to your room, Ethan!" Grayson ordered and pointed.

Averly and I looked at each other and wiggled our eyebrows. "Okay!"

Jack grabbed us and held us to the couch. "No! We've gotta film!" He laughed.

Grayson kept showing embarrassing things of the rest of us, then it was my turn. I started with a few photos of Gray, then a video of him dancing to Treasure by Bruno Mars. I showed Jack and Aaron after Grayson, then Averly last.

"Okay, this is my text conversation with Averly from this morning. She said, 'Hey come over here riiiight now! I have to show you something!' and I said, 'Babe, I'm sleeping' and she said, 'No, Ethan, it's really important!!' and I said, 'Tell me what it is then!' and she said, 'I just shaved my legs and they're really smooth and you need to feel them right now.'" I smiled at the conversation, but Jack and Aaron groaned.

"What. . . Why did you. . . I'm confused." Aaron laughed and looked at Averly.

She started rolling up her leggings. "They're still smooth, you guys wanna feel?" She laughed.

I pulled her leggings back down and held them to her leg. "They're not touching your legs." I shook my head and laughed.

She sighed and fake rolled her eyes, then got her phone out. "It's my turn, right? Well, I only have stuff on Ethan because I don't spend much time around the rest of you guys. Do enjoy a photo of him before he shaved last time and had a mini-mustache." She showed us all the picture.

Instantly, I cringed. It was honestly a horrible photo. "Oh, Babe, really?" I laughed.

She nodded her head. "I also have a picture of you from the other night when we went on our midnight McDonald's run. Should I show the world?" She asked and grinned.

I knew exactly what she was talking about and got sick to my stomach. My hair was pulled down in front of my face and I had a mullet sort of thing going on. I was goofing! "No, no, no!" I laughed and grabbed her phone. "Oh, God, I'll do anything!"

She laughed shook her head. "Fine, fine, I won't show it. Instead I'll show the video of you yesterday morning."

She pressed play and I instantly got chills. I was laying down next to her and singing Fall For You by Secondhand Serenade completely out of tune. They boys all choked down laughter, but had to cover their mouths.

I groaned when the video was over and hid my face in the crook of Averly's neck.

Jack and Aaron's videos were definitely the worst. They had stuff from a few years ago when we were cringe-worthy all the time. Grayson and I lost with a tie and had to go ask a random woman to tell us which one of us was more attractive. She slapped both of us, cursed at us in a foreign language, then stormed off.

We filmed a closing, then put away all the cameras and lights and stuff and hung out in the apartment. Averly and I sat on the couch, her legs on top of mine like always. I scrolled through our photos together to choose one to use to reveal our relationship to the fans. I came across my favorite picture of us - she had on her glasses and her hair was all messy, and I just looked tired. She sat behind me and her arms wrapped around my shoulders. We were both smiling the most sincere I'd seen in any picture.

"Hey, Babe, do you think it's time for me to tell the fans?" I asked and kissed her cheek.

She nodded. "It's up to you."

I smiled and gave her hand a quick squeeze. "Great. I'm gonna use this picture." I showed her my phone.

She smiled. "I love that one."

"Me too."

I went on Instagram and started writing the caption.

Hey everyone! So I've been keeping secret from you guys for a little while... you guys saw Averly in Tuesday's video, but we just called her our neighbor. At the time she was, but now I am very proud to say that she is my amazing girlfriend! She makes me incredibly happy and I couldn't ask for anyone better <3 @averlyy.dixonn

When I posted it, the comments flooded. Most of them were positive, but there were a few that were negative. I tried to overlook those, though. I mainly focused on the comments from my friends.

@rickydillon: OMG YOU GUYS ARE SO CUTE??? YOU BOTH HAVE TO BE ON MY CHANNEL

@jamescharles: Do I have to stop calling you daddy now?

@camdol: Why did I not know about this?

@graysondolan: Guys stop they aren't cute they're annoying

@averlyy.dixonn: I can share with you ;) @jamescharles

@averlyy.dixonn: you're the best<3

I laughed at most of them, then wrapped my arms around Averly and pushed her down on the couch so I was laying down mostly on top of her. "You're the best thing that's happened to me in a while, you know that?" I asked.

She laughed and kissed my cheek. "You're the best thing that's happened to me ever."

I was kind of honored, but also kind of scared. That was a lot of pressure on me and I didn't want to screw it up.

#Dolan Twins #Ethan Dolan #Grayson Dolan #ethan dolan fanfic #ethan dolan imagine #grayson dolan fanfic #grayson dolan imagine #Paint You Wings ~ Ethan Dolan {Part Ten}#Kenzie writes stuff

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balmerancrystalance · 8 years ago

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Of summer loves and other drugs.

klance food truck au inspired on the steven universe comic (x)

Summertime rolled around once again in the blink of an eye.

Golden sunshine sneaking throught to your window bathing the entire room with warmth and light, the raw earthy smell of freshly mowed grass silently inviting you to lay over it, being lulled into numbness by the foamy waves of the ocean till you got rinkled like a raisin, strangers’ smiles passing by with the weight of responsabilities lifted off their shoulders and turned into just desire of having a good time before going back to their routines.

Who wouldn’t love that, right?

Keith, that’s who.

Sun? The poor boy couldn’t spend one second in the open without at least three generous coats of factor one hundred sunscreen and not getting roasted like chicken, he learned that the hard way since he was a child, and let’s not even start with how easily he sweats. Grass? All it did for him was attract mosquitoes and other bugs, leaving him with bites in places very hard, not to mention embarrasing, to scratch. Another lesson learned the hard way and a experience he was definitely taking with him to his grave. Water? He didn’t knew how to swim and never bothered to learn how to do it, he somehow managed to function decently on land until this day and that was more than enough for him thank you very much. People? That was a straight down ugh for him.

Groaning loudly as he felt his pijama top stick to his body like a second skin, as if attempting to smother him in his sleep and almost succeeding if he was being honest, Keith rolled around under his sheets in desperately need for cool air, the blood running through his veins burning when his mullet held onto his neck, dripping with sweat.

Daring to finally open his eyes, blinded by the amount of sunlight for a few seconds, the boy stretched his arm to get a grip of his phone, unlocking it to read the time.

08:17. This was going to be a long day.

After a inner struggle between actually putting effort into getting out of bed and staying in what will become a pool of sweat if he stayed any longer, the first option winning by far when the familiar smell of eggs and bacons slowly filled the place, he threw his covers to the side, deciding to not wear his slippers since the floor was still chilly enough to enjoy barefoot, and walked down the hallway towards the kitchen.

“Morning.” Keith mumbled covering a yawn with his inner elbow, taking a seat in front of the counter, letting his feet dangle lazily.

“Keith, darling.” Allura’s wide smile fell as soon as she spotted the younger boy, suddenly concern written all over her features as she hurriedly pressed her palm against his forehead without any warning. “Are you coming down with something?”

A snort from behind them caught both of their attention, Shiro placing a plate of food between the two of them and wrapping an arm around his girlfriend’s waist.

“It’s just the heat.” His brother giggled and Keith would really like to stick his fork in his throat if he wasn’t busy devouring his breakfast like he hasn’t eaten in days. But you know like, don’t bite the hand that feeds you or something. Don’t impale them with cutlery either.

“Awe, the poor thing.” Allura cooed sweetly, combing his bangs away from his face as he ate, if she felt grossed out by his sticky skin she didn’t show. “That’s a shame, I was hopping you could join Shiro and I today.” She grinned sympathetically, as if on the inside persuasively hoping he would change his mind.

Oh hell no, those pretty blue eyes only worked their magic on his brother.

“Where are we going?” Shiro quirked a brow taking a seat next to Keith, wipping the foamy mustache above his mouth with the back of his hand, sliding a glass of juice to the boy next to him with his free one. The latter busy snickering to himself at the though of how his brother looked like his boss, Coran, for a second.

“To the beach!” Allura chirped excitedly waving her arms in the air, the sudden motion making her messy bun fall apart, letting her silver hair cascade down her back. Keith could swear he heard his brother’s heart grow three sizes. Gross.

“I wanted to spend the day with my two favorite boys,” She sighed wholeheartedly, resting her weight on the counter, head nestled between her hands as she looked at them. “but I guess we can do something else here inside instead.” Allura pouted straightening herself up and turning around to glance at the aparment. “It will be fun.” She smiled gently, like she always did, but both boys knew her long enough to distinct her tone betrayed her actions, blue eyes not longer shinning with mirth when she turned back to them once again.

“Keith doesn’t mind.” Shiro was the first one to talk between the brothers, words blurting out from his mouth before he had the time to stop them. Keith nearly choking on his breakfast at the suggestion and all that it implied, giving a sharp gaze in his direction, as if telling him to take it back immediatelly. Also, you just wait until I end swallowing the juice that almost went to my lungs and then you’ll be in serious trouble.

“Um,” Keith coughed roughly on his fist. “Keith does mind.” Realization hiting him only seconds later. Hey, in his defense it was too early for all this, okay? “I do mind.” He corrected himself, earning a kick in the shin as response from his brother under the counter.

Was it too much to ask for everyone in this house to let him eat in peace for a second?

“Awe, come on baby bro.” Shiro joked brightly, already getting under Keith’s damp with sweat skin. Nothing good usually came after he used that nickname and judging by the way his brother quickly got up to take his girlfriend by the waist, this time was going to be not any different. “Little sunblock here, little sun block there,” He went on cheerfully, pulling Allura close with one arm while streching the other across the counter and booping Keith’s nose. He was really having second thoughts about not biting the hand that fed you. “and you’ll be ready to go.” Then he turned to the expecting girl practically bouncing on her feet by now, smile fighting to strech her lips as she looked up at her boyfriend in anticipation. “It’ll be fun, yeah? I’m so glad you suggested it, love.” Shiro leaned down to kiss Allura’s forehead, letting out a muffled surprised sound when she broke away from their embrace to bend him over and kiss the living daylights out of him. Keith not flinching in the sighlest as Allura’s inhuman strength was no surprise for any of them the day she stepped a foot into the household, but actually letting out a groan at how whipped his brother could be sometimes.

As much as Keith would love to stay in the house and do absolutelly nothing, there was no way he could do that. You see, one of the many reasons why Keith hated summer break was because it meant he didn’t had to go to class, yeah he was a nerd but hear me out, the fact of having a schedule to follow everyday took the huge weight of finding something to entertain himself with off his shoulders. Sometimes even weekends were on the edge of driving him insane, being the star student he was having finished his homework back at school and not at home like everyone else. So, no, staying wasn’t an option.

Besides, he liked to think if he agreeded to third wheel with them he could use it against his brother when needed in the future.

“Let’s get ready then!” Allura hollered throwing her fist in the air, smacking Shiro’s ass on her way to their bedroom, leaving both brothers wide eyed. “I love you!” She called from the corridor, followed by a loud crash but they were sure she was okay. “You too, Keith!”

Shiro smiled sympathetically at him, ruffling his hair in a silent thank you, the younger’s hands too busy holding his knive and fork to swat his hand away, or attempt to cover his flushed cheeks.

“We love you too!” Keith called back, groaning internally when he saw his older brother smirk on his peripheral vision.

Despite all the lovey dovey issues, he really liked Allura. The golden hearted yet awfully quirky girl being the closest he ever had to a mother figure. Not that he would ever admit it out loud of course.

“Don’t.” Was all the younger could growl around his mouthful of food, sending a death glare in Shiro’s direction, his brother immediatelly rising his hands up in defense as if the other have threaten to stab him. Which, has already happened so can you actually blame him.

“I’ll get you all the ice cream you want.” Shiro was quick to follow Allura’s steps to their bedroom. “Today’s on me!”

Keith shook his head slowly while trying to fight back the smile that quirked his lips up, making him drop his utensils to scrub his hands down his face as he let out a frustrated sigh, frowning when he could feel the beads of sweat dripping from underneath his bangs.

This was going to be a long day, indeed.

Keith cringed at the thought of how much the entire dock reminded him of a cheap replica of a white girl’s pinterest board, plaged with small booths in formation selling the most scandalous swimsuits he has ever seen, tie dyed crop tops, ridiculous shaped lifesavers and last but not least the homemade popsicle with chunks of fruit in it already melting in his hand after only one bite.

He wondered how the entire place could look so different from the one he has been traveling across with his bike going to his first year of uni just weeks ago.

The frozen treat not waisting time to slide in between his fingers, falling to the wodden floor and pooling underneath his feet, leaving his hand now slick with both ice cream and sunscreen. The boy snorting wholeheartedly at the thought of how Shiro and Allura insisted to cover him from head to toe, not wanting to run any risk. After all, if they dragged him to the beach with them, they better take care of him. Any trace of smile quickly fading away at the memory of how the couple have left him as soon as they made it to the dock, completely lost in each other and the sunny summertime lansdcape.

Keith couldn’t blame them, after all they’ve been through this year, between Shiro’s new job as teacher at the prestigious Garrison University and Allura’s father passing away back in England few months ago, not to mention the two of them taking the younger boy under their roof, after convencing him for the millionth time he wasn’t a bother to their home of course, they deserved a break.

And if their happiness coasted sticky flipflops and sunburnt chicken skin, he decided it was worth it.

But first, he really needed to get real food.

Clicking his tongue as he turned on his heels, hands itching to comb his bangs out of his eyes but still dirty with ice cream, he started to vigorously bang his head to the side and waiting for the wind to colaborate with him, thanking the gods above he still had his headphones on so he could pretend to awkwardly dance where he was standing without looking like a crazy person. Much.

Once his hair was enough out of the way to actually let him see, he made his way to the parked food trucks they saw earlier, mouth watering at all the options he saw on the menus before Allura pulled him and Shiro for a entire photoshoot he was sure it would end up all over every social media possible.

He just prayed he looked midly decent on at least one picture, unlike his brother and his girlfriend who apparenlty looked flawless in every single one taken ever. Yeah, even highschool yearbooks. Keith liked to think there were only two explanations for it, either aliens or magic.

Making his way between the almost aggressively bright colored vans, neon signs twinkling to life above them as dusk fell over the dock, sun lining up perfectly between the sky and the water, the boy looked around until his eyes setled on a orange subway truck.

With hand fast on his pocket to grab the couple bucks Shiro gave him before disappearing and his stomach growling in anticipation, Keith walked towards the vehicle, a boy probably not older, but definitely bigger, than him with a playful smile and kind eyes behind the counter talking to a customer.

“I promised Pidge try this new game on friday,” He said grimaced sadly, scratching his neck as he looked into he girl’s direction, quickly being interrupted by a voice coming from somewhere inside the truck.

“Sorry, darling! He’s mine until dawn!”

The boy turning immediately to the side with a glare even tho he looked like he wouldn’t hurt a fly to save his life, his frown easing down when the girl giggled covering her mouth.

“It’s okay, Hunk.” The brunette said soflty taking a step closer, standing on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek lovingly. “Weekend, you’re mine.”

They reminded Keith of Shiro and Allura.

“Gross!” The same high pitched voice from before hollered once again, even tho you could actually hear them smile. “There are kids in here!”

Keith’s stiffled laugh hidden behind his sticky hand died down in his throat the moment other boy stepped into the window, making shooing motions.

The boy was tall, tan and handsome, way out Keith’s usual fantasies but more important, way out Keith’s league. Sun kissed cinnamon skin practically glowing underneath the last glimpse of sunshine, electric blue eyes that crinkled with every move of his cheeks and mile long limbs somehow managing to move inside the tiny space.

“Less smooching, more working.” A new and smooth voice said, a mischievous smirk on his lips as he separated the couple, the two of them blushing furiously.

“Lance!” Hunk muttered under his breath, giving him a I can’t believe you just said that face, not that it looked like the other cared much of course.

“Would you look what the tide brought.” The girl outside the truck joked, quircking an daring eyebrow in Lance’s direction, making him gasp with a hand over his chest, mocking hurt as he spoke again.

“You’re spending way too much time with Nyma, Shay.” He acussed outrageously while wagging with his pointer finger in the air, slouching himself over the slightly shorter boy’s shoulder. “She’s mean to me, do something.” Lance said with the smallest voice possible, pouting at his friend.

“Not the puppy eyes again!” Hunk groaned loudly, immediatelly looking away from Lance, swatting his face away when he tried to get closer as he tried to talk back to Shay, who thankfully was laughing hysterically by now. “I’ll call you later, yeah?” He smiled as sweetly as you can look while trying to smother your friend in the back of a truck, only letting go when she waved her hand, turning on her heels and walking away.

“Serioulsy, man,” Hunk sighed finally letting go of his friend with a loud thud agaisnt the floor, a maniacal laugh echoing in sync. Whoever was this Pidge person had a really weird relatioship with their friends. “you gotta stop embarrasing me in front of my girlfriend.”

“Aweee, you still blush when you call her your girlfriend!” The taller boy cooed completelly ignoring his friend’s complaint, playfully poking one of his now flustered cheeks only to get his hand violently swated away. “I’m just bored out of my mind,” Lance took off his cap, combing his short hair back with his fingers and putting it on again, resting his head between his hands, arms against the counter as he looked at the beach in the distance. “I want to get out of here as soon as possible and ride some waves.”

“The water is calling me.” Lance sighed dreamily, eyes sparkling in the dim light of the almost gone sunset, speckles of fuchsia and aquamarine from the neon sign above his head dancing all over his cheeks, sharpening his dainty features.

Keith suddenly felt the sudden urge to take pictures of him.

“I can hear it too.” What Keith supposed was Pidge, said from somewhere the inside truck, amusement lacing their voice so much till the point he took of his headphones off, paying his whole attention to the apparently speaking mother nature. “it says ‘You’re an idiot’.”

“Shut up, Pidge!” The boy growled, cheeks tinted with either anger, embarrasement or a mix of both, chucking the first things his slim fingers found to use as a weapon in their direction, which happened to be apparently Hunk’s cap. “And get to work, those fries are not going to fry themselves!”

“Relax, merman.” A blonde appeared next to him, their height letting Keith see only them adjusting their glasses. “It’s not like anyone else is gonna come anymore,” They gazed at the beach from side to side, watching the larger trucks making their way to the dock, bringing the big guns for dinnertime. “it’s almost closing time.”

“Then maybe today it’s our lucky day,” Hunk smiled brightly. “Can I help you?”

Keith was so immersed into their conversation it actually took him a few solid seconds to realize the other boy was refereing to him, suddenly three pair of eyes fixated on him, waiting for him to function like a normal human being and just answer the question. Shifting his weight from foot to foot anxiously, too dry mouth trying to form any coherent word and sticky hands now sweating furiorsly, he waited paciently for death to strike him right away.

But since faith never seemed to be on his side, you can guess nothing happened.

“Umm...” Keith smacked his lips together, knees going week as the taller boy’s gaze follwed closely the movement, placing gently a hand on Hunk’s chest and stepping fowards, closer to the counter and by extention, closer to Keith.

“I’ll take this, big guy.” Lance said somehow sounding a litttle breathless, fixing his uniform and clearing his throat.

“Hello, there.” He said smoothly, flasing the other boy a cheeky smile as he rested his weight on his elbows. “See something you like?”

Keith had to chew the inside of his cheek to not blurt out ‘you’.

The boy’s blue eyes widening and thin eyebrows flying up his hairline at his silence, a blush covering his cheeks as he started to gesture his hands wildely in the air. He seemed to do that a lot. “I meant on the menu!” Lance corrected himself, Hunk giggling behind his hand as he pretended to busy himself with something else and Pidge snorting loudly beside him not even making a weak attempt to hide it. “You know, food?” He tried once again a little louder as the boy outside the truck didn’t muttered a single word back. “As in what would you like to eat?”

Keith could only blink owlishly at him.

“Ugh, let me start again.” Lance scrubbed his hands down his face, groaning loudly in what sounded like both emarrasement and frustration, peeking in between his fingers to see expectantly if Keith was still standing there.

And since it seemed like his stupid flip flops were stuck with super glue to the ground, he was indeed still standind there.

Why was Lance so nervous? Hell, why was Keith so nervous?

Yeah, maybe he wasn’t much of a people person but he had never this much dificulty when it came to socialize with other strangers such as Allura’s family or Shiro’s co-workers before. Not even at the flower shop where he worked after uni with Coran.

So why was so hard for him to just talk to a pretty boy inside of food truck he was probably not going to see ever again but would probably dream about for the rest of the summer what could have been if he wasn’t so shy and just stepped foward and asked for his number so they could talk about nothing and everything until one of them falls asleep telling the other how much they love the them, adopt dogs together that would probably end up with silly names becase the other boy has a terrible sense of humor and he is only a human, grow old together and live happily ever after?

Okay so he might have an idea of what the problem was.

Looking down at his feet and then looking back up at Lance once again, Keith suddenly felt very aware of what the other boy was probably looking at right now. His tousled black hair sticking up in every direction, sunburnt pinkish skin that now he gave it a thought was starting to itch, body drenched in sweat thanks to the heat which possibly left his nipples, now erect product of the night cool breeze thank you very much, on display through his white tank top, red booty shorts Allura gave him as present last Christmas that left little to nothing to the imagination and of course last but not least, his flip flops.

Boy if he wasn’t the defenition of a hot mess, and not in the good way.

Very unlikely like the boy who was staring back at him.

Glancing back at Lance for what he told himself would be the last time, drinking in his vibrant blue eyes and thin cherry lips, Keith sighed loudly, turning around on his heels and starting to walk away not knowing where he was even going, but at the moment any point of the dock seemed a better place to be than there.

“I gotta go.” He mumbled weakly over his shoulder, not wanting to see the expressions on the trio’s faces. He knew it will be something remotely close to that bitter pity cashiers at the movie teather gave you after saying ‘enjoy your movie’ and answering ‘yo too’ out of pure reflex. And being Keith, you could tell he has been into that situation way too many times before, and only to make it worse, it just so happened it was always the same cashier.

Letting the hunger eat away the butterflies inside his stomach, he dragged his sticky flip flops right back from where he came, in hopes of finding a food truck without a boy who made him want to write songs about behind the counter.

Just a few steps away, still inside Lance and friends’ food truck radio, not that he ever paid enough attention to the actual name of the establishment in case you couldn’t tell, Keith swore he could hear someone calling out ‘wait!’ and if he was being completely honest he would bet it was Lance’s voice. Oh my God, he could already recognize Lance’s voice, this was bad. He needed to get out of there. Now.

Keith decided meatball sandwich were his new passion. Sorry, Lance who?

The boy smiled to himself, laying starfish like on the cold sand letting the soapy water wash him away from his ankles down and looking up at the stars. And if he was slowly pushing his stupid flip flops into the open sea, no one needed to know. Yeah, maybe the start of his day, and the six hours following that, weren’t that much pleasant, but he could definitely get used to this. A snort leaving his mouth at the thought of the faces Allura and Shiro would give him if he said he wanted to come back tomorrow.

A cold shiver ran up his spine in panic.

He hasn’t made contact with the couple since they made it to the beach.

Keith sat up straight immediatelly, digging his hand into the diminute pocket of his booty shorts fishing for his phone only to find out it was dead.

“You got to be kidding me.” He whined rolling his eyes to the back of his head, turning his upper body in direction of the dock, only whinning louder at the thought of having to leave the little sanctuary he built for himself and search for them like lost kid at the supermarket.

Its not that he didn’t knew his way back home, he was a big boy, is just that Shiro got a little paranoid sometimes. Don’t get him wrong tho, he appreciated at least someone looked out for him. He only didn’t wanted the older one to worry all the time. Knowing you were the reason why a good person like Shiro had white hairs and drank five mugs of coffee by day was a huge wight on anyone’s shoulders.

Washing out idly the sand off his hands into the water to push his hair back and out of the way, he let out a breathy chuckle at the sight of his own feet, toes wrinkled like little raisins.

Leaning fowrads to grab a hold of his shoes before they actualy floated far and away, lips quircking up at the freckled sky reflected like a mirror, something at the corner of his perpheral vision caught his attention.

Broad shoulders, narrow waist, pert ass and legs for days.

That was one hell of a attractive raisin.

Even surrounded by the ocean itself, Keith suddenly felt incredibly thirsty.

A slim silhouette was slowly making its way to the water a few feets from where he was sitting, quick to unbutton their jeans and pulling them down their skinny legs revealing blue swimming trunks, letting them pool around his ankles and gracefully spetting out of them, dainty fingers trailing their sides to ruck up the material of their shirt, pulling it over their head and letting it join their pants, and apparently a moss green jacket, bunddled up on the sand.

Spreading their arms open af if they were to take fly, they delved into the ocean in slow motion, immediatelly bursting into a fit of giggles as the waves washed them over soothingly.

Keith couldn’t helping but laugh along in no time even tho he didn’t quite understood what was all the fuzz about.

Dipping both hands into the water to splash it over his face, the man ran his hands through his now completely damp short hair, letting the droplets that didn’t caress his cheeks conect to the ones dripping down his neck and into his back, making the body half that wasn’t submerged glisten with tiny constelations underneath the moonligth.

Keith wanted to reach out and touch the stars with his bare hands.

Suddenly the man turned around and blue eyes were connected to his own.

Of course his bathed in stardust vision was no one else but Lance.

Has he not ridiculazed himself enough to be even with life?

That’s when Keith remembered he was still on his hands and knees, warmth tinting his cheeks and stirring up his belly, sitting back on his heels in one swift movement, the water under his thighs splashing loudly and widly.

Before he had the chance to say something, or grab his shoes and get out of there as soon as possible, which was the original plan in the first place, Lance smiled at him timidly, as if to let him know he recognized him as well but actually afraid he would ran away again at the same time. Maybe Keith was as trasnparent as his wet white tank top to the other boy. The mere thought making him clutch his flip flop close to his chest as he pouted looking down at it.

Keith only snapping back to reality when a gracious laugh broke through the silence, the sound very different from the floating numb conversations back at the dock and the lulling sea at this feet.

“Not trying to sound cheesy or anything,” Lance smirked knowingly in his direction. “but I didn’t catch your name.”

Maybe this won’t be such a bad summer after all.

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throwingideasatthewall · 4 years ago

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Clone Wars Episode 19

Storm over Ryloth

Inter- sting

I know (how ) this likely means ‘storm’ as into breach or, to take by force

But I can’t help thinking about space weather

It’s so fricking cool

But getting into the story;

[Quote; It is a rough road ahead, leads to the height of greatness

I’ve spoken about this before; You don’t need suffering or conflict to be great (Or to write a good story)

Productivity (and happiness) doesn’t require suffering

Someone might heck you over but that’s just a momentary inconvenience

When you’re chasing (and doing) your dream

And it won’t really matter after you’re done dealing with it

And in light of your actual goal

Now continuing on;

Droid army

I like how it’s “subjected,”

Like you know the adults can get out of this at any time

Same brain, Same abilities (Yes) ��Same in- tell-I gence

(Same Ability (To escape)

And are assholes if they dragged children into this

(Enablers if they didn’t (Directly)

Starving

Again, Fixable

Also, one blockade Screws You Over?

You can’t like self sustain

On your own planet?

That’s.. kinda cringe ,bro

Evil

Is anyone not in this circumstance?

Like not the children obviously...

Watt-ton-boar

Interesting

Name

Also please be more nuanced and put in more Thought than the colonizers episode

Please

(My head can’t stand that headache.)

.. .

“Iron fist,”

Well he is made out of iron

(Or at least a metal suit,)

Senate

Oh Palpatine cares!

(I know not really but run with me on this)

Grand army of the Republic

Mount a bold - offensive

Again the escalation of this goes from 10 to 1

It’sa amazing

Like last episode was biological warfare

(Now it’s a grand army)

And it’s just off the chart how this conflict works

Going from stabbing each other To throwing more paper airplanes at each other

(None of it done seriously)

And without any consideration to how terrifying that is with children... involved

Like it’s their game but their actual living nightmare That... they’ll be left to clean up, if it doesn’t kill them first

That’s terr- -fying

Also this is one planet (System?)

(But you showed...

Ergh

In- Consistent-ly

Asoka is already glaring

And more focus on her

Than Anakin

Aight

Really focusing on Ahsoka there movie

Anakin gets shifted by the holograms

Obi-wan’s Ground Assault

Seriously it’s one planet

Big Planet

Big Station-

Oh I thought Obi-Wan - was flirting with the villains again

Never mind it’s just some random Sergeant

(Good for him)

And like the Titanic he’s fecking jinxing it

“Un- destructible” Yeah I know a few people that said that

Tragic irony, get ‘em

Okay

Dude has mood lighting

Knows the Republic is going to attack

Let’s get the shitshow on the road

(The battle that’s likely going to unfold, not the story,)

Surprise

In-teresting

so good

so far

You

Re-public

Invade

Good for him

Get-ting assigned an important mi-ssion

Good

Into the Blue!

(Here we go)

Aight

Let’s See

Okay

Lots of build up for the admiral

Aight

Hey the clone actually talk to him in an accurate show of decent accountability

Good Job

I like the Admiral when he’s not micromanaging stuff

He looks practically adorable

- with his little mustache...

“Prepare for battle,”

Never mind it was ruined by logic that they should always be ready for battle

They are on a war ship after all

-still a nice moment

Raise the shields

- Fair order

Aight, two more

This... is Anakin’s command after all

Aight

Right

Okay

Good for them.

Okay

Ahsoka gets a starfighter Why?

Commanding a squadron

Wait they gave her a squadron?

I thought-

The character is a Mary Sue

There

DONE

[either that or Yoda’s an idiot]

Or, Anakin an unaccountable bastard

[They’re both un-accountable]

“Idiot,” is just short for an unaccountable at this point

[I can’t stand to correct it every time]

Any-way

Let’s make a good impression

That was almost a good child-like impression

Still a bit too much emotion and not stunted enough

But fine...

As is...

—-

“ of course I’m not nervous,”

Never- mind there it went with all the goodwill towards the character

- Who shouldn’t be capable of nervousness

Shit show on the road

[”Snips,”

First Command

Nervous

All the things wrong with that conversation with a child

Good Job

Every-one

Abom ination

De-pend- ing

Child soldier ...

Lives? Who put the child soldier in charge,

Also Bull Shit Adults

Pressure Off

Whatever ..... Handle It

Aight

And...

Great

Back

Force be with you

Made the presence of self (which you can’t have because you’re a child) Be with You

“I won’t let you down”

Child.

Soldier.

Hope

Aight

[Mary Sue,]

Okay

]

It’s... rolling out

Kick- Back .... Knows Some Non -Sense Is going- down - He’s likely going to die

Being the only person that sees something wrong with the whole “child soldier,” Leader -ing thing ... Aight

‘Mother Bird,’?

Please tell me that isn’t Ahsoka‘s nickname?

Couldn’t it have been anything else?

[i’m aware “mother,” Generally Refers To Base Or Lead -ing - Ship - Just that we see plenty of other names - For the lead ship - That would’ve been less - - - Dis - turb -ing

(It’s a nitpick but one that I will carry to my grave)

(She’s a hec’kin Child!)

I am a little bit fumed

At them never writing her like one

And still trying to take any credit for good writing

.....

Shows on the roll

Aight

..Those Do... ... Kinda. look like vultures .. Maybe wrong ship ... IDk .. Okay There They Go .. Aight ... There They Go ... Perfect time to get your Padawan involved ... Back with this guy..

“Lau-,”

Okay when I originally heard this (I paused it) I thought he was saying “lunch” To show his decadence or lack of care,

What he’s actually saying is a “Launch,”

Still good

(A (relatively) smart move)

Just a funny anecdote

Okay

Again what is with the mood ... lighting?

(On his hat?)

Okay .... Right,

Whelp

They’re screwed

(Way to send the inexperienced Padawan first dickhead,”)

Also; where the heck is Obi-Wan?

Like I normally never usually complain because they never hold him responsible and treat him like a kicked puppy

( “In this nonsense ‘adults are the savior of everything, leading down, other adults, capable of initiative, the Glorious path Of stag -nation

And ooh, Obi-wan is the victim!

Saving his previous grooming victim from the evil of not �� stagnation (And being even the tin-iest bit upset about that whole grooming set up!

(Never mind Accountability [Shutter])

I see them doing it

I’m just giving the writers the benefit of the doubt that that’s not what they’re going with

(Until I’m certain that’s the narrative)

Anyway, Yeah, they mentioned him like five minutes ago

We haven’t seen him since Or ever

Switching over to Anakin‘s Admiral

When it’s supposed to be Obi-Wan’s mission ...

For his attack it’s surprisingly empty

Then again when has he ever focused and done what he was supposed to do

[Man is a dumpster fire]

[And yeah he has another child soldier to train so he’s probably busy with that]

- Last episode snark

He really can’t restrain himself to one

[ Anakin’s old news now...]

.....

Okay, I’ll stop the jokes now

Back to this episode;

Fleet is ready?? !!

You’re all clear

For What?

Dying?

There’s a million ships heading right for her

She’s going to be destroyed...

“Softened them up,”

A child dies when an adult wants them to die

There is no way she makes this

R7 —- Ready —- Action —-

What-ever

My brains already going numb?

This is going to be an ‘Asoka’ focused episode, isn’t it?

Argh

[i’m starting to wish I read the pre-views

(Or the title description)

Note; you’re going to hear a lot of a ““Uhmms,” “Uh-hahs,”, and ”what- Evers,”

As my brain shuts down to make way for the authors favorite Mary Sue

...

Boss

Arghghhhhh

God help me

Ahsoka should be dead

Ahsoka should be....

Movie, you do you know how children work

Children... Can’t survive An Adult wanting them dead

Those are bots programmed to kill every man woman and child

Ahsoka, should be dead

What really bothers me-

It’s the fact the child soldiers is something that you have to do carefully

You have to think through it

There’s not brawns because children don’t have the brawns to win that fight

Nor anything else

The adult has to let them win

(Or let them live at least)

Which goes well with a story about a narcissist. playing both sides

If the narrative (didn’t) what are used to hold the scene with culpable

The tension should come from the fact That Asoka isn’t aware of the danger she’s in

Completely unaccountable for her situation

And would be unaware up to the death

That is the tragedy of child soldiers

(They are by very definition glass tanks)

Fodder Of ...... Amorality

If you want to write an adult, write an adult

Don’t push these backwards morals

Write responsibly ........ Accountable for the ideas you bring into the world ... Ahsoka the unchildlike Narc

(That thing is not a child; I will be addressing it as the quasi-adult abomination it acts to be Showing how the actions (at least) Work better with the adult

While still holding its culpable for writing a bad character (Child) (Un-real -istic-)

[also they’re leading into a Patroclus like twist]

I don’t care

Here we see Ahsoka, taking the blame for some-thing an older (Enabler) Generation Did, Taking the heat [for the blame]

And by the energy the enabler (toxin instigat -or has gained, by the Ena-bling

That’s what I would say if the story actually took it self properly, and didn’t write Ahsoka poorly

- additionally with Anakin’s emotions of guilt (for enabling) addressed

[Alt ernatively]

Child;

This represents the complete power Adults [Enabling- over involved- generation breakers] hold over the naïve and defenseless, And how enablers care about their games more than for any concern about the well-being of others]

However that’s not what Happens;

Ahsoka, the abomination culpable to neither odds or groups, Makes it through

OY, Writers, Plot armor only applies to adults,

For children it’s unrealistic and bad writing

Because while adult humans maybe space orcs

Babies are... Not

They die when they are killed

While an adult can survive so long as they know what they’re getting into

Okay. everyone except Ahsoka

Who should be dead

.......

Clone enables ...... Okay ... Whatever ..... There is .. Oh yeah when they’re right on top of you .. That’s the right time to call for reinforcements .. Not like they were arrive - just in time to see you get blown up - Good idea .. Smart guy

[Also Anakin lent Asoka his ship so she can be Patroclus-ed did I mention that?

And how stupid it is?

[The characters I mean] . . Alright . .. There we go .. Right ... Whelp ..... Four enemy cruisers

So she’s

Totally

Dead Now Right .... Warn those fighters

Why

Does Anakin looks so pissed off at everything?

Also like not going to pull the child soldier at any time?

Caught

“You’re over reacting Admiral.”

Do you know those fanfiction’s where it states that someone has a problem but he’s never brought up in any meaningful way?

Just there .... . To make her seem quirky and relatable?

With a child character acting way beyond her age? (Or his’ having been no stranger for calling Anakin out for his shenanigans; even though Ahsoka is the most oblique case]

As a child they shouldn’t have any preferences besides eating and sleeping on un-interrupted

As an adult that would be a good study of how �� assumed authority and toxic behavior (Such as enabling) leads to a worser quality life (Ahsoka’s preferences and dislikes; no longer a concern,)

With the feeling of instability toxic peers bring

(Small goal; why cutting toxic peers, out of our life, and society, is a good idea, a necessary to prevent society from becoming an unstable mess)

However here it is nothing due to the story’s refusal to commit

And instead creating a non-human abomination of a main character, that sucks all the tension and stakes from the story like an on branded Mary Sue straight from Fanfiction

I hope the writers are proud to know they wrote such an abomination of a character

That it ruins any semi-decent plot they have written

And their decision to irresponsibly inflicted on the world are not unnoted

Though I do hope to forget this character as soon as possible

And that it’s existence will be lost to time and space

And not inflicted on the future generations

(And hopefully not many more people from this generation either*)

Or the older brother* generation

* Specifically

With that we are 19:17 minutes in (From finishing)

“Blue leader”

Do you think I won’t be done with a premise* so early on

*Episode

But the premise was already such a bad one

And the characters so badly miss handled

Which is a shame because I actually look forward to an episode of this premise

Heck they were redeemed Jar-jar Binks, you’d have to figure an episode with Ahsoka being redeemed was waiting right around the corner

However this is clearly not it

Well I hold out hope that the writers will eventually practice accountablity when writing Ahsoka’s character

That light is getting shorter and shorter

(It doesn’t excuse all the mediocre episodes or episodes turned mediocre by the lack of acc- oun tability

In her writing)

Con- tin- Uing On

“Admiral attempts to order a Jedi,”

I don’t think he has the authority to do that

Movie did you just break your own rule of command?

For a stupid trope?

Show how “bad ass” your Mary Sue Character is?

Argh

Also Anakin’s just a dip shit

(An Unaccountable dip shit)

Who en-dangered a child’s life on his own volition Like he’s already Darth Vader to me

No need to put on the mask

Just start playing the theme

(Not charming)

(Will never be)

Okay ..... There should be no question about that

(Unless it’s trying to insinuate Obi-Wan as a secondary groomer

Or the Chancellor’s second victim)

But seeing as the writers practice the accountability of a squirrel

Probably not...

.....

Heck off

Un child like abomination

Whelp

But the (un) child-like abomination is getting people killed

When by all the realism she should be the one dying

........

Writers ....

Not cool

“Our lines,”

You sent one group out there

We’ve seen you do literally nothing else ....

[this doesn’t make Asoka look cool, this makes everyone else look stupid

[Un-accountable]

[and I know what they are going with the survived beyond all odds when no one else can nonsense,”

No, movie

Just... No

[so many critical (mis)understandings (intentional mis-carrying), that drives this story into extinction

“Alright, alright,”

She only comes back when she’s needed more!

Fuck off...

Movie

That character got someone killed...

And has had enough sentience to understand the consequences of her actions

[and the system she enables]

And the concept of death

[Fair enough that dude could’ve saved himself]

But Ahsoka assumed authority and fucked it up Well enough Herself

No innocence in that

Retreating

Dude is ready to die [and while I don’t actually respect to or encourage that]

You kind of have to respect*/laugh At his commitment to his toxic job

Aight, Mate

Orders

That I pick and choose

And should’ve followed without a second thought if I was an actual child

Abomin -ation

Well

what

hope that was good

Oh he was actually doing some thing

That would’ve been nice to see when he uttered the “We’re out-numbered,“ Line

“Intensify deflector shields”

How?!

There’s too many

[really setting up the odds for Ahsoka to be the Big Damn hero [Un-realistic -ally]

Aren’t you ,movie

Aight

Fighter Squad

Bull-shit

Also isn’t it supposed to be the whole damn army?

Like, where is their enforcement is my question

Because it should be like baseball bat to glove

With them out numbering those guys 1 to 10

So what is up?

And also where is Obi-Wan Kenobi?

Y’know

The guy

this mission is actually supposed to be about

Seriously, that’s becoming a littered detail

Alright, okay

ARGGH

Dear God

She just said “cool your jets,”

To the fuckin Admiral

Are you trying to DIE

Child?

That’s an adult

They can

(And might)

Try to kill you!

WTF

We’re at 18:03

And already having this many problems with the story

Like even an essay on why this character doesn’t work

Hasn’t done much to sustain me

Through This Bull

Too late!

What.......?

What-

Happ -ened

Sky- Walker..

Okay

Just- Okay movie

You- don’t get any reaction beyond that

And.. the ship’s down

You know if this is in any other situation

With actual good characters

And set up

That might’ve been a bit actually tear jerking

As Ahsoka is forced to reckon with the fact of what the toxic behavior has done to her friends and family

And even as enablers - of a terrible military complex -( of toxic behaviors) you can’t help but feel - despite this being on making up their own creation - that it’s still too cruel for a human being (or sentient) and that accountability will be a blessing for them, where their hurt to themselves and everyone around them will be lesser

But that isn’t the case

Because Ahsoka

And toaster

Hang on Admiral

Fuck’in Jedi -under breath

Like seriously Comms guy here gets lot of our beef

But he seriously gets put through a whole fecking lot this episode

Like yeah he could stop this at any time

But He Doesn’t

And as noted above, It’s like dude you could be doing better for yourself...

You deserve better

Human reaction

Just Ouch

Out of Here

Fighters

Like yeah let me just try and contain the inhumane abomination of nature Sure, sir Right after- [Ship shaking]

I get these fires contained

[Feckin’ Jedi]

Well shit �� got more wrecked

Return

Oh shit yeah I fucked that up

Oh, Right

Few seconds

Why are you riding this guy’s tailplate?

Retreat

Whelp

Why?

Also, this is just like one fleet

I thought this was supposed to be like a multi facet thing

Like it said that the whole entire army

And we’re dealing with is extremely small slice of the pie

(Like not even supposed to be part of the pie As Asoka is a Jedi in training,”

We didn’t even see what Anakin and the Admiral are doing otherwise

Seriously all their hopes...

On a “teenager”

Who should be uncapable of intuition (Or initiative)

And Yoda (and surprisingly* every one else) Signed off on this

*Presumably * Nothing is surprising about A bunch of child groomers Agree- Ing to throw -ing A child into danger

That’s ex -pected

Smart Guy

Given that we literally haven’t seen any other bit of the Army

Ahsoka meant that she’s going to invade the enemy ship didn’t she?

Like it was cut so we couldn’t see the direction

The way she said that other clone’s name

I’m sus.

Good job

If you do your job well enough No one can beat it with half-ass ery

Okay

Failing?

Since when?

Anyone that got hit died!

How?

Stay with me

In this surprisingly stupid attempt

... ....

Aight,

He’s Dead

Good job everyone involved

“Axe,”

Apparently the only one that survived (Almost)

Also, Ahsoka how does it feel to have enabled that behavior?

Because you played a part

Skipping over the part that that was her fault?

And the consequences of enabling extremely toxic actions?

Like that person’s dead

Might not have been dead if everyone didn’t enable this

Like there was a part there

Close up the hangar doors

Why?

Also, That’s your reaction, To seeing all this shit

We’re home

That’s a bit better

Could’ve use a bit more conflict Over her role Eyes widening and shifting in horror Actually shocked

And expressing the full emotions of an adult

(If that is what we’re going for)

Okay, Alright

Also, someone survived?

Why?

Didn’t

He-

(Guess he only survived out of his own initiative)

And was just very done

Alright

Okay

Sucks

Hey- “jump to lightspeed”

Aniken- actually did some thing in this whole episode

Well,

Hope the other traids of this multi-facet -Ed

Invasion

Also, how is one ship not on fire?

Bull shit that’s Anakin’s

His ship... was on fire

Hold your characters accountable For the situations they caused

Now I’m going to assume Anakin and Ahsoka have the standard clichéd ‘You should’ve listen to orders/ I do what I want,” or Anakin comforts the un-child-like abomination for consciously Enabl -ing Bad Behaviors, As An Adult, As that the only situation that conversation would happen

(The narrative refusing to hold her accountable)

With a child it would just be an over involved adult comforting their own orders That and only that

Himself and only himself

Because children do not require comforting if you do not put them in distressful situations

“Sorry” Doesn’t quite cover it

Head Count

Aight

Can’t make me feel bad drama queen

Stop bothering the tech guys and get off

“Dis-appointed,”

She’s capable of making her own decisions

She’s either one an un child like abomination Or an adult Who should be how to accountability for repeated tox

Anakin held accountable (For enabling)

The second he hits an accountable adult

Point being they’re both in the wrong

And if movie is trying to paint one of them as a more or less innocent (Accountable) Movie is wrong

(You can be more or less toxic than someone, But after rule of five; you’re both equally accountable (Aka, should be held accountable)

(Equally irredeemable)

(By audience)

(Different People)

Point being; they’re both toxic

And I wish the writers would stop treating Ahsoka as deserving of any of the inn -ocence Un-account -ability

Of a child

When she doesn’t act, talk or have any say to it besides in name

Story telling us

Then contradicting by showing us what is almost the exact opposite (Quasi-)

Wanting to give Ahsoka of the responsibilities, (and dialogue) of an adult

But the subjective accountability Of nothing

Same with the tone

Creating a wholly Inhumane Character

With the loss of any sympathy as consequence

It sucks

[Too much emotions]

Like an un childlike abomination

Children shouldn’t have initiative!

Nothing

Obi-wan

Yeah- where the FECK is Obi-Wan?

He was mentioned at the beginning

That’s it

We haven’t heard (or seen) lip of the guy

Until now

“ I know you meant well snips,”

No she didn’t

If she’s capable of initiative, She knows she’s enabling the military complex

Fuck off with your subjective accountability movie

You can’t make me sympathize with a war enabler

(One doing it completely of her own sentience)

You get in that corner with your own (un) accountability

And stop focusing on this moment like there’s anything interesting or we’re supposed to sympathize with these characters

Without adjusting the lighting or showing any sign that you’re (assuming acc ounta bility For dis- play ing An enabling conversation And not normalizing a bad situation (Which should not be taken lightly)

Bigger Picture .... That You’re Not Aware Of

Assuming a sentient being is uncapable of understanding your logic

Tox

First rule of war

Don’t do war

It’s unaccountable

“Listen and obey your superiors,”

Yep there’s that assumed authority

Also she spent her whole life being groomed for this

There’s no doubt in my mind that she knows

That was malicious disobedience

(Something uncapable of children

“But sometimes you get carried away,”

Yeah he’s an adult he does it maliciously

You’re supposed to be a child But you’re capable of malacian

But the story refuses to hold (both you and him) Accountable For multiple acts of deliberate tox

And por -tray this conversation, As between two tox individuals Debating which one of them is more tox, with no stakes

To put it shortly, The story has commitment issues (And Severe characterization issues) That causes of the story to be unstable and flounder

(As it deserves)

“ understand what you’re going through,”

Being an enabler?

(To this un -childlike abomination’s toxs?)

No one is innocent in this scenario, movie

You better get it right

....

“ that I failed,”

Yeah you specifically screwed that up

....

“it wasn’t your fault,”

Hold up, hold up, hold up

(You put that soft music back where it belongs

Movie!

That was completely her fault!

(Enabling be damned)

“So many of my pilots,”

Put that light music away

Play something heavier

She’s the villain of the story

Now

This is disturbing

Not cute

Anyway...

“that’s the reality of command,”

That’s the reality of being toxic

“General we’re approaching our staging area,”

This is the circumstance you allow Skywalker

“Very Good Captain,”

Continue enabling The military complex Anakin

It’ll pay off one day (No; it won’t)

“ Master Windu,”

Seriously first time hearing (Never mind Seeing) Windu; This entire time;

“Progress,”

Oh so Ahsoka did fuck up the plan

Big Whoop

No surprises there

Mary Sue’s breaking the rules and getting no consequences is pretty on par

“Our progress ,huh,”

Hey you actually nearly had some bitterness appropriate for the situation!

Almost a good job writers!

“ we haven’t made any progress yet,”

Yep both a group of feck ups in a group of enablers

Great- situation that is

“No, Rex,”

Rex is half a Narc

Still an enabler

But he gives some care

(Still bad)

(And tox.)

(Myself)

Movie!

Put that sad music back where it belongs so help me

Screw that

Un-deserved-

You cannot make me feel bad for the enablers-

You shouldn’t be damn trying!

On the damn line, this movie is

Okay

....

She made this hole

Like good for her for taking some basic self accoun- tability and getting (temporary) away from his toxicity

That was almost an appropriate emotion

Okay, Whatever

Ahsoka’s going to do something reckless and stupid (Un- Acc oun Table) To “Prove” Herself, Do the same exact thing, That got her reprimanded, And be rewarded

,isn’t she?

....

Jedi Crashed

One very small piece

Of one facet

That shouldn’t exist

Did

And they had no back up plan

Besides the child soldier

(That acts like nothing like a child)

That’s something really to brag about

More so to shout “what the heck is that thing?!!”

At the clearly on unchild “child”

Yoda, And Plo, Have some explaining to do

Over where they found such a child

(A lab?)

It’s always on my mind that no one screaming about how fecked up it is that a “child” is capable of initiative

In every scene No one’s screaming, ‘You’re like 13! How are you capable of anything besides following orders??”

That’s how the clone facility got shut down

*gets

There’s some things even they won’t touch .....

Aight ... This dude bragging .... Okay

What-ever .... Blockade

Al right

Remember this is just the blockade

There’s a whole slave colony (Or whatever)

That we still haven’t got to

(Nor Obi-Wan‘s arrival)

How long is this thing?

Con-gratulations

But do not underestimate the Jedi

‘Except Obi-Wan underestimate that bitch all day, He still won’t do shit!

[Hasn’t even shown up!]

Seriously...

Commander bring me the data on general skywalker,

I know this is working up a ‘don’t underestimate the young,’ But babies?

Underestimate that all day they’re still Help-less

(As Ahsoka should be)

Yeah you shouldn’t underestimate the younger generation, Because you shouldn’t heck with the future at all!

The tragedy of child soldiers (And abused children) Is that there is no instant karma

Only Capable After The 22 Mark.

Writing your character an un child like abomination Isn’t clever movie

It’s un acc Ount Able

(And Terrible)

Asoka should be a worse version of general Kenobi/ Skywalker Due to having the orders But none of the initiative .. Of an adult ....

Aight

Okay

Surprise

No Asoka almost systematically Screwed up your unaccountable plan Relying completely on her

How this conversation should go;

So, the plan revolving around the child soldier went horribly

Ob; “wouldn’t have guessed,”

A; Yeah, I suppose...

[Angry bick -ering and Snark -ing comm ences]

While Ahsoka sits by blankly, awaiting an order [Be-cause Child]

[End]

....

What actually happens;

Aniken lies and says they were “out numbered”, [didn’t even try]

Sent out like one teem

[To our knowledge]

Cruiser

Wait, what?

When did this happen? We didn’t see that!

Everyone made it to the safety of hyper space

[Last I checked]

Except for Ahsoka’s team!

And I’m no expert on ships

[i’ve gotten the Separtists And Republic ships confused more times than I can count]

But Ahsoka’s team was the only ship we saw go down

And there was definitely more than one of those...

So like...

Show don’t tell movie

Plus an entire squadron of fighters

PLUS!

Dude I’d rather see the ship go down!

Seriously?!

What the heck happened there!

What the Heck!

That’s an important detail!

You could’ve use that as contrast!

Or to show that Anaken was further along in enabling!

- ——-

!!! !

And your Padawan

And your Padawan what...

What part of the plan are you aware of that we’re not?

(Because apparently a cruiser went down!)

So clearly some nonsense happened that we didn’t see!

Also, wait what happened to Comms guy?

That is prime guilt trip material!

Knowing the consequences of enabling bad behavior! (Toxic behavior!)

Seriously...

What?

Ahsoka’s fine

The authority assumer’s fine

Yippee!

I was so con cerned

About the childlike abomination that it doesn’t seem able to die

“Hard,”

HAHAHA

Are you kidding?

She was more concerned with her failure then the fact That those guys died!

She treated them like skill points more than actual people!

“ give her time,”

Give her time to get over it and enable more people in danger!

- Advice with Obi- Won-

“ you will need her help-”

Th-

The CHILD soldier’s ?

WTF

Not Cool!

Through This

“I know,”

I know child soldiers are the new in!

Also, wow. Even when she’s not in the scene, the universe bends to talk about her and give her props Sign 1; that you’re writing a Mary Sue

Seriously, You didn’t bother to put this character through like a Mary Sue checklist?

(Or did you use that as writing guidelines?

For This Character?

I’m getting really heated..

I’m just going to blank my mind for a bit

And maybe skip past these scenes

[because there was just nothing with redeemable about These Characters Or This Plot]

Thank you Windu for not focusing on Ahsoka..

Postpone The...

Urgh

[it’s not worth it It’s a badly done “Child screws up one thing (And the entire world) and must overcome your measurable odds (completely unrealistically) to Atone,”

It is literally the candy bar of plots

The most unhealthy .... And unappealing (Sorry to candy, It Has some thing over these plots)

If I stop at anything that makes me angry, I’m going to be here all day, [For Years!] - Switching into summary mode .... Meaning that the commentary won’t be immediate .....

And will be more like when there’s a Tumblr refresh Without The Brackets...

Not even worthy of the, “Uhms,” “Oh yeah, and “That’s great,” I usually start falling into about this point

.....

[Oh my god....

No, Just No

[Everyone is tox, Ashoka is an adult, tries to assume some accountability and leave, Anakin guilt trip her into it [she’s an adult so she didn’t have to go with it] but still, the Clones show the tiniest bit of Accountability, the Admiral showed reasonable hesitance, confirms And enables Ahsoka’s Un-accoun tability]

And the story ends up as clichéd and [even worse] broken as I predicted, going full Mary Sue, having Ahsoka take the helm at the rip age of 13 [Acting on Quasi-22] having the basic decency not to blow my ears out with a happy theme but it’s still appears nauseatingly constant in the background, despite none of this being deserving, staying enough under the radar, near “fiercely annoying,” instead of “actively harmful” And Dis gus ting

Like it’s predecessors saving it from a strike

But not from being a terrible episode

[Worthy of being forgotten,]

Ahsoka; the tales of being a Mary Sue?

Skip It

Which is a shame

because This character could be so much better

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