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4ln-stay8 · 1 year ago

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Getting caught

>summary: You and Lando are in a secret relationship and get caught making out

>author’s note: The last 2 ones were decent so I made another one… I still don’t know what Im doing

>warning: fluff ig

You were really excited about today. You friends, Max and Lando, invited you to join them on set where a new video will be made. You weren’t going to be in the actual video, but your friends thought it would be fun to have you on set with them.

You, Lando and Max were now navigating chaotically through the corridors of the Quadrant headquarters, the echoes of your laughter reflecting all the years of friendship between you.

Unbeknownst to your other friends, you and Lando shared a secret romance, carefully concealed beneath the veneer of your friendship. The decision of keeping things secret wasn’t really easy, but you were very concerned about Max finding out.

You always feared that one day the friendship all three of you had would come to an end due to your feelings about Lando.

Growing up, Max, who was like a brother to you, always warned both you and Lando that no one was allowed to get feelings for each other.

It was stupid if you think about it know but back then, back when you were kids, it was a serious deal. You somehow always thought that Max was still holding onto that rule you made when you were kids and the fear was getting to you.

You were often overthinking and when you and Lando got the guts to confess your crush on each other, things weren’t going great for you.

Your instant thought was about Max and the rule he made back then and the fear was getting the best of you. The fear of losing Max, the fear of being the reason Lando loses Max and the fear of losing Lando all came rushing to you.

Lando noticed you were stressed out so he promised you that all your fears would never come true. He suggested on keeping things secret and talking things slow and you’ll eventually find a way to tell your friends about it.

Now back to where we left off, the three of you finally made it to the room the set was placed. There, Ria, Aarav, Niran, Ethan and the quadrant filming crew were waiting for you to arrive.

“Oh thank God you’re here… I thought you wouldn’t make it” said Ria relieved that they won’t have to reschedule

“Oh please Ria, we were only 30 minutes late. We had to pick Y/N up and she took a lifetime to get ready” said Max teasing you and ruffling your hair

Lando burst into laughter at Max’s comment making everyone in the room laugh.

“Oh shut it you muppet! I didn’t took that long. We are late because Max is too short and can’t keep up” you said sticking your tongue out to Max causing him to roll his eyes.

The truth was that Max was slightly taller than you but that didn’t stopped you from joining everyone into teasing him about his height.

“We’re going to get ready to film, you can stay on that chair behind the cameras. It won’t take long” said Lando showing you a chair behind the sea of cameras. You just nodded and made your way to the chair.

Everyone was into their place ready to start the video. They were supposed to make two members teams and compete with each other. There were a set of tasks and the first team that finished the task got a point, the winner being the team with most points.

After filming for a while, it was time for lunch break. Everyone was trying to decide what they would get and from where to order some food.

During this chaos Lando find the time to come to you. He approached you and smiled sweetly when he got next to you.

“You hungry? Max is ordering some food for the team, you want something?” he asked you softly

“Yeah, I’ll get whatever you’re getting” you said smiling

“I’ll go tell Max. After that I’ll meet you in the hallway. Be subtle” he said quietly giving you a wink

You made sure that you left the set without being seen and you patiently waited for Lando to come. Once he was out of the room as well he took your hand and started to drag you after him. He finally found an empty meeting room and pulled you inside.

“What are we doing here Lan?” you asked confused

“I missed you so much! You look so beautiful today and I just couldn’t resist kissing you anymore” he softly whispered while looking at your lips leaning in.

His pink soft lips soon met yours, dancing in perfect sync. God how much you love his kisses. Timed stopped as both of you enjoyed each other! The soft kiss soon turned into a make out session. You just couldn’t resist each other.

As the rest of the crew took a breather, enjoying the food that now arrived, Max notice that something was missing, more like someone.

“Did you guys saw Lando and Y/n? Their food is getting cold” asked Max looking around the room for his friends

“I honestly haven’t seen them since we ordered the food” said Ethan shrugging his shoulders.

“Imma go look for them” Max quietly said before getting up and out the door.

After a while Max stumbled upon the clandestine rendezvous, eyes widening in disbelief at the sight of you and Lando entwined in a kiss. His heart raced, realizing that the unspoken tension between you was no secret to him alone.

Unbeknownst to both you and Lando, Max noticed your feelings for each other long before you even did. He was subtly trying to get you guys together without really intervening.

Max in a whirlwind of emotions, confronted the two of you, unleashing a torrent of words that had long been held back.

“You two? Since when?” He said confused not knowing when did this happened and why he didn’t picked on it.

Lando and Y/n pulled away in shocked now that their secret was exposed. They look at each other than back at Max trying to find the words.

“A few months” you whispered looking down trying not to start overthinking it again

“Fucking finally! I didn’t know how much I could keep hinting it out to you” said Max laughing

“Wait what?” said Lando confused at his friends confession

“You aren’t mad?” you asked him, concern written all over your face

“Why would I be mad? I knew you guys were in love with each other for years now… I was just waiting to see how much time it would take this muppet to finally grow a pair and ask you out” said Max laughing

“But the pact?” you asked confused

“You mean the one we made when we were like 8 and we thought that girls/boys were gross? Come on Y/n, you weren’t actually still worried about it, were you?” Max asked now serious

“Of course she was you muppet, you know how she gets when it comes to possibly upsetting one of us. Thats the only reason we hid our relationship for so long” said Lando slightly revolted while pulling you into a tight hug knowing how embarrassed you got.

It wad stupid to actually worry about something like this and you know it, but in all those years of befriending the two brits drivers you never joked about upsetting them.

You loved them a lot and simply the thought of them being mad at you got you all teary. Of course you were worried about that stupid pact, you didn’t know how Max was feeling about it and you weren’t ready to find out. It turns out that you were afraid of nothing all along.

“I’m sorry that I made you believe that you couldn’t tell me about it” said Max softly trying to find your gaze

“Im sorry I was stupid to still hold onto that pact we made” you said shyly

“Well y/n this muppet is still more stupid then you so its fine. Now come on, the food is getting cold” said Max laughing and causing both of you to laugh with him

All three of you went back to the set where all your other friends were waiting for you. You dropped the news to them as well while you, Lando and Max finished your food.

The Quadrant video continued, capturing not just the staged antics for the camera but the genuine bonds that held this group together. As the laughter echoed through the headquarters, you and Lando were no longer burdened by secrecy and walked hand in hand into the next chapter of your intertwined lives.

#lando norris #ln4 #lando norris fanfic #lando norris imagine #lando norris one shot #lando x reader #lando norris x female reader #lando norris fic #lando norris x you #lando norris x reader #lando norris x y/n #formula 1 #formula one #formula 1 x reader #formula 1 x you #formula 1 x y/n #formula 1 fic #formula 1 imagine

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skibidilando · 10 months ago

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A day at quadrant: LN4

Author note: I don’t even know how to post anything on this and never wrote a fic but I hope this is good but I think it’s pretty shit and I haven’t finished it yet and if any writers want to use this idea you can for sure just @ me please oh and if you have feedback please let me know thanks xx

Lando x quadrant fem reader

Blurb: reader is a member of quadrant, she games most of the time but also likes f1 along with her best friend Ria bish. She is friends with all members at quadrant and finds it a good laugh with all her mates, but maybe her view of someone in particular is more than a mate..

Warnings: sexualising, swearing, mention of a gun, leaked tape, sad distraught reader, friends to maybe lovers if I make it a series? Smut-ish? If I missed any let me know (I don’t know how to do warnings sorry x)

I woke up late again today. The mornings aren’t made for me. I just can’t do it. I love the feeling of sinking into my bed for 20 hours. But I can’t today, I have 4 people with cameras recording waiting for me to bloody get up and start filming a video for quadrant. But I’m not complaining because this is my job and something I like to do. I try to be in most videos and do my part, but it’s not like Lando gets that mad if I miss a few videos, but from my fucked sleep schedule, I don’t think he will like if I miss another one after I skipped the last 3.

I realise the time and see Lando, Ria, Ethan, and Max spamming my phone to get on. Fucking hell. I don’t even think to get changed, i just checked all my lash extensions were on, tied up my hair, and brushed my teeth. I probably look like shit but I did this to myself. “Better late than never I guess” max says rudely to take the piss out of me. Everyone knows my bad sleep schedule and how moody I am in the morning and after he’s done that, I’m not having it.

“Sorry guys my alarm didn’t go off but I’m here now ahaha” you say trying not to make an unhinged comment to clap back at max. “Y/n girl I missed you where have u fucking been!” Ria says. Ria is my bitch, we ride together, we die together, Ria is my best friend. “Me too Ria!” I say back politely.

“Alright enough mucking about we have to record this video mate” Ethan jokingly says and makes Ria and I laugh. “What r we even playing again” i question. “we are playing gartic phone you muppet” Lando tries to say but starts laughing at Y/n. “Why r u laughing mate” I say confused then realise wtf I’m doing. I’m wearing my pajamas, not my normal pajamas my fucking tiny, tight lace top that could pass for a bra if you squint your eyes. It hits me and I shit myself realising I have a camera filming me and recording everything.

“Omg I’m so sorry fuck I forgot let me change” I panicked in saying quickly. “Who said to change” Lando bluntly says. I was stopped in your tracks. Excuse me? Lando? As if he just said that. “Um my tits are almost exposed on camera and i look like a hoe” I say. My manager is definitely gonna get me in trouble for that. “Woah y/n you fucking hottie” Ria says when she looks at me from my camera. I get nervous in my stomach and naturally run to go grab a hoodie, luckily i live in a small apartment so it didn’t take me long. “Um sorry guys sorry let’s just move on I forgot sorry sorry” i say nervously.

“Yeah alright let’s go I’ll send you the link Y/n” Ethan kindly says which is unlike him being a dickhead most of the time as a joke to piss me off. I like Ethan though I think he’s funny and actually caring about us all and our business. “So do we write a prompt then get someone else’s to draw and keep going” max says like he didn’t ask to play it. “Yeah but make it funny about us and f1 the viewers will fucking love it” Lando says. I still can’t believe what Lando said. I join the game and wait for everyone else to join. I started to feel the panic caving in on my chest and texted Lando.

lando wtf was that?

I send quickly

what was what?

He replied back

The fucking comment like I know I’m sorry and shouldn’t have worn that before chucking something on top but why did you say that Lando

I started to let everything out on accident, but I had every right to, he was my friend and said that I should not have changed from my top that was basically lingerie.

fuck I was just joking

He replied back bluntly.

Why do I feel sad that he said that. Did he think I looked bad in it? Did he think I was looking like a hoe? Fuck why did I talk to him like that he’s my boss!

“Alright we’re starting now lock in don’t say any dumb shit” Max says right before filming the intro and starting the game. I don’t know what prompt to write. Then I get an idea to do Ethan and ginge in the sauna with Lando from a video they did a week ago. I submit it and then recieve a prompt. I bursted out laughing when reading it in my head and looking at my atrocious drawing. It’s a drawing following the prompt of Max’s bunda blocking Landos old fiat jolly, but I drew their hair orange on accident. I kept playing the game and do a few more rounds and have a laugh until we stopped recording.

The rest of the day was pretty chill as I was tired and it was a week day so i stayed at home until I feel asleep watching a movie. I wanted to get sleep like I always do but extra sleep tonight because tomorrow we were all hanging out for lunch and a chat to talk about future video ideas. Was it bad I wanted to look really good? Surely not right?

I woke up and this time remembered to change my top. I picked out a cute off the shoulder knit long sleeve top and some jeans. They made me look good with my tanned skin and made me feel just as good. I straightened my hair, brushed my teeth, and did my makeup ready to go to the cafe we were meeting up at. We always watch the video our editor puts together while we meet up at the cafe spot every week, it’s basically a routine.

Ria and I hugged each other then went to the table both fashionably late. I saw Lando, Steve, Aarav, Max, and Ethan sitting there on the big table with two spots saved. One next to Steve, and one next to Lando. After my short blunt convo with Lando I decided I wanted to sit next to Steve, but that was overruled when Ria already sat down. Well fuck isn’t this awkward. Can I order a gun?

“Hi Y/n” he says looking at me. Why is my stomach already curling into a ball. “Um hi Lando” I say quietly. I am a bit too close to home for my liking as the table was a bit small but it’s fine. We all ordered our food and I ordered some avocado toast trying to be healthy and aesthetic knowing well I end up eating some of everyone else’s food lol. Lando like the child he is ordered pancakes.

“Im sorry about what i said yesterday, I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable or anything it just came out im sorry”. Lando says politely. Did I misinterpret his message? Why is he nice now? Why is my stomach tied up into knots? WHY AM I WEAK IN THE KNEES?

“Oh it’s all good I’m sorry idk why it didn’t click to change out of that fucking slutty top like a normal person” I blurt out. “Woah why are you so hard on yourself, calm down Y/n it’s completely fine and it was a nice top anyways, it looked good on you.” he said. EXCUSE ME? “Thanks?” I said confused. Thank fuck the food came otherwise I would have fainted at the awkwardness.

The food was good, Lando didn’t talk nor did I the rest of the lunch. Then we watched the video that came out. My heart sinks. The start of the video showing our cameras in the intro has me at the start or the whole morning, in that fucking top on YouTube. “Wait-fuck what why am I in there wearing that how did the editor get that clip it’s not even from the same time frame. I panicked. I was about to cry. All the comments were already flooding in hating on me saying I was attention seeking in that top. “Please get it down, please please ” I started crying already in Rias arms. Lando looked angry. “Who the fuck put that clip of her in it” he said angrily. He calls the editor who made the video on speaker. 0.00001 seconds after the editor answer Lando is already yelling.

“WHY THE FUCK DID YOU PUT THAT CLIP OF Y/N YOU DIDNT EVEN ASK HER OR CARE YOU PURPOSELY DID IT! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE FUCK YOU JUST DID! GET IT DOWN NOW”. Lando yells before hanging up knowing the editor got the message. I’m are still shaking and trying to not bawl your eyes out with just a few tears. “Lando it’s my fault you didn’t have to yell at him like that sorry” i say weakly. “NO ITS NOT YOUR FAULT BECAUSE YOU DIDNT EVEN KNOW IT WAS FILMED AND CLIPPED YET AND HE PURPOSELY DID IT, ITS LIKE HE WANTED TO HURT YOU. FUCKING DICKHEAD”. Lando yells. Out of instinct i just run and give him a long hug. My head sinks to his chest. He holds me tightly as i hold onto him for a while.

I go back to your apartment that night. I’m just sad. Especially after reading all those comments about me. I try to ignore them all but they keep flooding in like rapid fire. I automatically give in and go on my phone. But to my confusion I’m getting tagged on twitter instead.

Fucking hell. When I thought this couldn’t get worse.

There is a video going around with hundreds of thousand of retweets already. It’s a sex tape of a girl which confuses me so I click onto it. Oh my god. It’s a deep fake of my face and that lacy bra thing on a random sex tape. I can’t do this anymore. I wish I didn’t exist. Naturally i call our quadrant group chat. Everyone answers immediately leaving me to realise they have seen it too. “Guys, I am fired” I say while bawling my eyes out. “Y/N I’m coming now with Lando” Ria says while in her car on her way to my apartment. I can’t even process what Ethan and Steve are saying cause my mind is just blurry and I’m a mess.

5 minutes later a knock is on my door and it’s Ria with Lando. I just cry in her arms and start rambling on about how my life is over. “Y/n that editor is going to jail, the YouTube vid is down and all of our socials are deactivated for now, talk to us if you need now” Lando says calmly to me. I just hug him tightly. “Can you tell everyone that’s obviously not me please” I say weakly. Ria is making me mac and cheese cause she knows it’s my favourite. “Of course I will and I will get this fixed Y/n for now just let us take care of you and get better.” Lando says. His touch is making me feel better if I’m being honest. “Thanks guys for coming over tonight, can you guys stay I’ll sleep on the couch and you guys take my bed” I say calmly as I’m starting to get her my bearings and feel a little better about everything.

“You’re not sleeping on the couch.” Lando and Ria both say straight away after my words. “Lando has a race next week so he should fuck his back up on the couch again like he did that one night he got drunk at the club last month” Ria says jokingly. “Is it okay if I’m in the bed with you?” Lando says maturely (shocking I know). “Yeah it’s fine if it is fine with you” I say back. “Yes it’s completely fine.” Lando replied quickly. I go to change into my pajamas. I see that bloody top. I don’t think twice after ripping it into pieces with my hands and teeth before chucking it out. “Fuck that ahahha” I said laughing as all the lace misses the bin but I ignore it. Ria Lando and I all start watching a movie together, Ria asks me which movie and I try to think of a normal movie I want to watch but I’m not sure why ratatouille is speaking out to me but I choose ratatouille like the wise mature person I am. Lando starts laughing obnoxiously which makes Ria and I start to as well. “It’s a good fucking movie shut up” I say defending myself laughing.

We are watching ratatoullie all together while I’m snuggled up in between Ria and Lando feelin comfortable and safe. My mind starts to forget a little bit about the stupid video situation. I don’t know why but my legs somehow ended up over landos. Whoopsies. I feel happy and safe with him, he had always been a good friend to me and always fun to be around. We all get tired after the movie ends and go to bed to sleep, well Ria goes to the couch to sleep.

Something inside of me wishes this isn’t the last time Lando is in my bed.

I myself am going to bed too xx

thanks to these lovely authors who inspired me to write ahahahha:

@mariahcarreyyy @f1goat @uglyducklingofthe2000s @vivwritesfics

#lando norris #lando x reader #f1 fanfic #fanfic #f1 #lando fic #quadrant

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toppersjeep · 1 year ago

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Cold Hearted Angel - Max Verstappen/ Lando Norris

(Max Verstappen X Lando Norris X Reader)

Summary: You and Max work together. However you don’t get along with each other at all. You have never liked Max. But you pretend to since your are his PR manager. But what happens when Max learns about who you’ve been seeing on the grid.

Your POV

“Max you have a couple interviews soon” I said. “Yeah Y/N just give me a minute” Max said. “Max we gotta do these now I don’t have the time” I said. “Like you have anything better to do” Max said setting his helmet down. “Max I do have places to be” I said. “And I don’t care you can wait a couple minutes” Max said.

“Do you care about anyone else besides yourself” I said. “I do care about others Y/N but you don’t need to boss me around” Max said. “Forgive me for having a love life unlike you” I said. “What do you mean love life” Max said.

“Please I’m not telling you” I said walking out of his room. He followed me. “What is it another driver on the grid it is huh” Max said looking at me. “Will you shut up and get ready for these interviews” I said. “Y/N” Lando said walking over to me. “What’s up” I said. Lando looked at Max.

“Later for the quadrant video what time” Lando asked. “Whenever Lando” I said with a smile. “Okay great so umm.. ride out with me” Lando said. “Yeah absolutely” I said he smiled. “Okay great love see you later” he said kissing my cheek.

“Lando seriously” Max said. “Shut up please” I said. “Your so” Max said. “So what Max finish that sentence” I said. “You just look for attention from any guy on this grid” Max said. “Oh I do and how about you Max” I said. “What about me” Max said. “You are so cold hearted” I said.

“I’m cold hearted Y/N wow big words coming from you” Max said. “What’s that supposed to mean” I said. “If it wasn’t for me you wouldn’t have this job remember” Max said. “Who said I want this job all you do is scream at me” I said. “And tell me that I’m doing this wrong” I said looking at him. “Then go is that what you want” Max said.

“What”I said. “Max you can’t be serious” I said. “Why don’t you go be Landos assistant or whatever I don’t give a shit” Max said. “Max” I said. “You know what I really hope you figure your shit out” Max said. “Fuck you” I said throwing the papers at him. “Y/N don’t walk away” Max said.

“I quit Max I’m done” I said teary eyed. “You can’t just run away from this” Max said. “Watch me and I don’t need you to get a job” I said. “Whatever Y/N” Max said. I walked back to the Red Bull paddock to grab my things. It was time to leave anyways.

I met Lando out the paddock. He walked to me and hugged me. He then kissed my forehead.

“How was your night love” Lando said as we walked to his car. I put my bags in the trunk. I didn’t say anything to him. I just couldn’t. I was hurt. Max and I were friends for a long time. But I don’t understand why he acted the way he did to me tonight.

We got in the car. It was silent. Just silent.

“What’s on your mind” Lando said as we drove back to his place. “Nothing” I said looking out the window. He placed his hand on mine.

“You sure love” Lando said. “Yeah you know how Max gets” I said. “Doesn’t mean you deserve to feel treated badly” Lando said. “I’m alright but.. I quit” I said. “You quit being his pr manager” Lando asked. “Yeah I’m over it lan” I said. We got back to his house he shared with Max.

“Well guess what your hired” Lando said. “For” I said. “I need a manager for myself you know” Lando said. “Oh” I said. “Your first order of business is inside” Lando said. “Really what am I doing” I said. “Me perhaps” Lando said.

The following day…

I rolled over to check my phone. I had a missed call from Christian and Max. And a million texts from Max. But I really didn’t care.

“Baby come back to bed” Lando said. “Lando” I said. “Do I gotta be your boss and say it too” he said with a cute smile. I kissed his lips. “I gotta make a phone call” I said. “Alright” Lando said. I then walked outside on the balcony and answered it.

(M- Max Y- You)

The phone call:

Y: what do you want max ?

M: I just wanna apologize for last night I was a jerk

Y: not the word I’d use but sure

M: alright an asshole but I’m so sorry okay

Y: I still quit max

M: will you at least accept my apology y/n

Y: max I can but I don’t get you at all

M: I’m really sorry I just got a bit jealous I guess

Y: Of what Max Lando he’s my boyfriend do you get that

M: of course you don’t get it

Y: get what Max

M: I’d rather not do this over the phone I gotta go Y/N have fun with Lando

____

Max then hung up the phone. And the balcony door opened.

“Love you wanna grab breakfast before we go film the video” Lando said. “Ummm yeah but first may I borrow your car” I asked. “Yeah sure” Lando said. I threw some pants on and my shoes. I then grabbed his keys and ran downstairs.

“In a hurry” Lando said. “I’ll be back okay I gotta I deal with something” I said. “Alright drive careful” Lando said kissing me. “I will” I said.

I drove to Max’s apartment. I parked outside next to his car. I then ran upstairs to his door. I knocked a couple times.

“Max will you open up please” I said. “Why should I” Max said. “I don’t know aren’t we friends” I said he opened the door. “Friends” Max said. “We are friends” I said. “Of course you still don’t get it” Max said. “Get what you make no sense” I said.

He then pulled me into a kiss. And then I got it. How protective he always is over me. How jealous he gets over the other drivers that hit on me.

“Y/N… I’ve been in love with you for a long time” he said cupping my cheek. “Max..” I said. “What” Max said. “What if I can’t give you the answer you want” I said. “You can’t tell me you don’t feel anything” Max said.

“I… don’t know how to feel right now” I said. “I just I’m so in love with you” Max said looking at me. “Max” I said. He looked at me. I did love him. I had for years. But I got tired of waiting for him.

Then I met Lando. Someone who put me first. Someone who didn’t make me wait. Someone who made me feel loved.

“Now you tell me after I spent years loving you silently” I said. “All I wanted was you for the longest time” I said. “Y/N please don’t go” Max said. “But now that I have Lando you tell me” I said. “I should’ve told you a long time ago I know” Max said. I moved his hands.

“Maybe if you weren’t so cold hearted all the time.. you would’ve realized how much I loved you” I said. “I still love you but I can’t be with you” I said. “Y/N.. what am supposed to do” Max said.

“I don’t know Max” I said. “I’m sorry for treating you so bad sometimes” Max said. “Mmh” I said. “I just hope he… treats you well” Max said. “He does Max.. but sometimes I wonder what it would’ve been like with you” I said.

I then walked away. And that was it. I had the last word. I didn’t wanna hear anything more from him.

I drove back to Landos place. He was in the kitchen making breakfast.

“All good” Lando asked. I walked over and hugged him. “Thank you” I said. “For what silly” Lando said. “Loving me” I said. “I’ll always love you” Lando said.

#fanfic #love #lewis hamilton #lando norris #f1 imagine #daniel ricciardo #x reader #max verstappen #max verstappen x reader #lando norris x reader #lando x reader #f1 fanfic #red bull f1 #charles leclerc #Spotify

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captainnameless · 2 years ago

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i have so many lando and max ideas pls 😭😭

I feel like Max is who Lando behaves the most for, like he is still this little ball full of energy but Lando knows Max wont tolerate his brattiness or give into Lando. Max knows Lando well enough to understand if he's actually upset or just putting it on, if Lando starts using crocodile tears Max will genuinely just laugh right in his face. But then again, Max knows how to comfort little Bub. Knows just how he likes his hair petted, how much pressure to cuddle him and exactly what words to use to calm him down. Lando can go from on the verge of a meltdown, to dead asleep in Max's lap in sub 3 minutes.

Max is also the one that gets the earful of everybody who has slightly upset Lando that day, even over FaceTime. I can also imagine Daniel getting so desperate for little guy to calm down that he calls Max himself and hands the phone over to Lando after a brief explanation.

Max is also there for all the Quadrant videos, Lando's exhausted during a filming session which was scheduled just after a race weekend. Something goes wrong at the studio and Lando just loses it as soon as he and Max get somewhere semi-private. Max is amazing with little guy.

Max feels like home for Lando. I can se bub being very homesick and when Max comes to a race with him, he feels so much better. It may not be his mom and dad but it's his best friend and that may be arguably better. Maybe since Lando is just so comfortable with Max, he may regress to an even younger headspace sometimes? He just feels safe and loved.

We know Lando's a little attention seeker (bless him) and i can also see him trying to throw a semi-tantrum to gain Max's attention when they're back at Max's place: Maybe Max has just finished streaming and bub feels like he hasn't been getting enough of Max's attention so a meltdown begins.

Max also knows Lando better than Lando knows himself; so can automatically sense when little ones lying about something.

Sorry for all these but they've been sitting in my notes app and i saw Max and Lando mentioned 😭

BYE i forgot about this, it’s literally 2am and i’m like wait a damn minute; did i respond to that ask n i didn’t 😭 i’m so sorry bc this literally made me smile so much so thanks for sharing your thoughts with me ily!!!!!!!!

Max and Lando have such a soulmate connection i literally wanna scream into the void watching them, like they’re so in tune. and Max endures so much bless him

they’ve been together in every life time idc idc.

Lando definitely would try be on his best, especially when they lived together bc Lando’d be spending most of his (free) time w/ Max.

i almost don’t know what i wanna add to this cause i’m just like yes to everything you’ve said.

but especially the semi-tantrum to get his attention, it’s also just misbehavior lmao. that stream where he’s just yelling when Max unmutes? starts playing the drums obnoxiously loud while Max is trying to stream/speak. the look-backs he’s given until eventually Lando’s just sat on the floor behind him annoying him continuously.

i can so imagine when Max finally turns off the stream, spins around to face Lando with a semi-unimpressed look while Lando just gives him the biggest puppy eyes.

“Well?” Max’ll say and Lando’ll just blink up.

“You wanted my attention right?”

so Lando’ll grin up kinda sheepishly before clambering up into his lap with a “Yep.”

#littlef1adventures

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missmonaco · 3 years ago

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He’s missing his papaya man 🥺

I can’t wait to see the two of them together again

#lando norris #max fewtrell #notrell #these 2 make my day so much better #can’t wait for all the quadrant videos #they must have so must footage

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anlian-aishang · 4 years ago

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This one is a lil wholesome but Can I request a Levi x reader🥺 both Levi and reader share an island in animal crossing: n horizon and Levi has a fit when he see stuff lying around the island🙃

Thank you for the request! I am sorry this took so long. I waited to write this until I could buy and play ACNH a little bit so that I wouldn’t sound completely clueless XD (I’m still kinda clueless teehee) Anyways, I hope you can enjoy <3

Word count: 700 Tags: sfw, fluff, modern AU

The insomniac he is, Levi always stays up later than you and gets up earlier than you. In those extra hours, video games are often what he goes to. Even when he wakes up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep, he heads to the living room and boots up the switch.

And always, without fail, when the island loads up, there is shit everywhere.

The first few days that you owned the game weren’t so bad, but once you started planting gardens, inviting new neighbors, building the museum, acquiring all the fruit trees - no amount of hours he put in were enough to keep the island clean.

He had his house on the southwest end, yours on the northeast, and with such distance, he could usually keep his own little quadrant free of clutter.

But not today.

Levi squints his eyes, his jaw drops, and he whispers to himself, “What the hell?” There is so much chaos, even he can’t keep track - it spreads beyond his screen. A yule log, candles, an accessories stand, chessboard, cooler box, a mug, there are so many items flat out laying on the lawn outside his house.

Where - When did they even get all this stuff? It had been a couple days since he last played. It is 6 AM now, did you do this while he was at work or has it been like this all week?

As always, he checks his mailbox promptly - which, like his yard, also turns out to be full. 300/300 letters - all from you, it takes multiple scrolling screens to get to the bottom of. He shakes his head and rolls his eyes. One thing at a time.

// // //

It is well over an hour of him playing until you come downstairs. You find him on the couch: dark circles under his eyes, a slight frown on his face, his movements look defeated.

“Good morning, honey!”

He flicks you one glance before quickly turning his attention back on the game, “Morning.”

And already, you can tell something’s wrong. You tiptoe over, cup his shoulders in your hands, and press your foreheads together, “Hey. What’s wrong?”

Levi tucks his lip under his teeth. It sounds so stupid to say out loud, extremely childish. At the same time, though, he feels he spends more time cleaning up your mess rather than getting to enjoy the gameplay that he bought the cartridge for in the first place. Sure, he’ll admit it - maybe he likes cleaning up after you sometimes, but not all the time.

He puts his hand on your head and tousles your hair, “You really made a mess of things, huh, brat?”

You take a look at the TV screen. To your dismay, he has picked up most of what you laid outside of his house. A bit of hurry in your voice, “H-Have you gone inside your house, yet?”

Levi snaps his gaze to you - an expression that asks Are you serious? For one, he hasn’t had the time to check it yet, prioritizing the island. But next, you dirtied his house, too? That frown deepens. After all the hard work he put into it too… He sighs, “Oh no…” But better to find out now and get it over with.

You take a seat behind him, hiding your knowing grin. Eyes stable on him as you await his reaction.

All the planning that went into it - uploading the images, earning money, buying gifts, writing the letters, sending all the mail - while he was at work. Then, when he came home, distracting him and thus keeping him from playing Animal Crossing, all without having him know it.

He is relieved to see that the house is as it was - everything has been kept the same, except for the wallpaper which reads: Happy Birthday, Levi!

It takes him a second. He is never the forgetful type except for his own birthday, which he deduces, must be today. And that all that clutter lying around from before and all those letters sitting in his mailbox do not stem from carelessness, but exactly the opposite.

Levi huffs some quiet laughs, rubs your back, and kisses your cheek, “I love you.”

You give him a kiss on the forehead and a head pat to accompany, drawing that smile you love so much - while also making a note to yourself: next year, maybe a clean island instead.

// masterlist //

#levi x reader #levi ackerman x reader #levi #levi ackerman #anlian writes #my writing #alias's #request #fluff #2021 #headcanon

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itsclydebitches · 4 years ago

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“I can’t believe they were that far from home and actually followed Starfleet’s rulebook.” OH THIS ALWAYS GETS ME. 'they're so far from home, why do starfleet's rules matter?' it's like uhhhh simon tam said in firefly--kaylee was getting after him for being all 'proper' and 'it don't mean nothin out here in the black' and he said no, it means more out here, because if he lost that then what identity could he possibly have that means a damn thing?

im also reminded of a batman quote--'if nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do.' starfleet may not exist in the delta quadrant, but they are trying to get home, and they are trying NOT to lose themselves in the process. and one of the best ways to do that is to hold onto the pieces of home they still have left--their ship, and what it means to be starfleet officers on a starfleet vessel.

there's just something really beautiful in the idea that no matter how far from home they were, or how long it took them to get back, they never lost sight of who they were. sometimes they may have to bend the rules, but they still never lost their humanity, or their identity, and THAT is why starfleet protocol is so important to them.

THIS. Beautifully put! It also reminds me of that post that’s been going around for ages about video games like, “In a world with no rules why are you still playing the good guy?” and it’s like because being bad... makes me feel bad?? There’s this weird Lord of the Flies-esque belief that if you were to remove all the consequences attached to our actions--by playing a game, being alone on an island, getting lost in the Delta Quadrant, whatever--people would instinctively revert to some feral version of themselves. Like we’re all just waiting for the chance to become the worst version of ourselves, so long as we know we can’t be punished for it. But as those quotes emphasize, it’s when you don’t have to do the right thing that it really matters. Who are you without someone threatening you with punishment to Be Good? Hopefully someone you can still be proud of.

So yeah, there’s this super strange idea that the version of the crewman who believes in the Starfleet ideal isn’t the “real” version and, at the slightest provocation, they’d toss it aside even though that’s a core part of their identity. And as you say, they’re trying to hold onto that. There’s a healthy balance between upholding the beliefs that make them them--we need to obey the Prime Directive whenever possible because we believe in the importance of letting civilizations develop naturally--vs. bending the protocol that may be stifling them in their current predicament--crewman aren’t normally allowed to have kids on these missions, but this mission is 75 years long, so... Plus, identity aside, Starfleet protocol has developed over however many years for a reason. Namely, to help people survive in space. It’s not just there for shits and giggles. I love the part in “Learning Curve” where the Marquis guy wants to do things their way, so Chakotay just straight up punches him. It’s a moment that asks, “Is this really what you want? The crew pummeling one another for power, backstabbing, creating a hostile and untrustworthy environment? Oddly enough, that’s not a very good way of keeping us all alive out here.” There’s a chain of command so that something is settled on, rather than everyone wasting what little time they might have arguing over a course of action. Though the show doesn’t get into it, Tuvok demanding that they remove their jewelry likely ties into working on a starship and how you don’t wear stuff like that in any physical job that also interacts with a ton of sensitive tech. It’s a mix of “This is who we are” and “We didn’t pull this protocol out of a hat” with a heavy dose of “These are uncharted waters so yeah, we’ll bend those rules a lot as needed.” That balance is way more interesting to me and it produces far more nuanced conflict/self-reflection than this (inaccurate) idea that people will toss aside what’s important to them the second they’re given the chance.

#star trek #ST #mymetas #Anonymous

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izlaria · 4 years ago

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Someone you like (part 3)

This is the third chapter of my “Someone you like” inspired fic. It’s also available on AO3 in case you prefer that platform. Please hit me up to talk about Plance!

Summary: Lance finds a better friend in Pidge than he could have antecipated.

Also, Pidge pining hour.

17 and 15 years old

“I can’t believe we have a cow.” Lance stared in awe at the animal. It looked completely out-of-place in the middle of the highly technological castle-ship. “Where did that dude even get her from?” he exclaimed, waving an arm at it. Lance gasped, lowering his voice to a whisper, “Do you think she’s… a clone?”

Kaltenecker kept on chewing, indifferent to Lance’s fussy behavior.

“Most likely,” Pidge responded. She was looking down at a tablet that contained results from the scan they’d conducted on Kaltenecker. “She is carbon-based, which isn’t such a rarity out here, but is always good to know. The anatomy also checks out with normal cow biology. The only change I could find is that her diet is more adapted to what’s available in this quadrant.”

Lance scratched the top of his head. “Does that mean she can’t eat Earth food?”

“She probably can…” Pidge tapped the edge of the tablet in a considering manner. “We eat alien food and nothing has happened yet.”

“So we’re winging it? That doesn’t sound very scientific.” He didn’t like the idea of putting their cow in danger. “Can’t you figure something out for her to eat?”

“I’m not a biochemist, Lance.” Pidge took her eyes off Kaltenecker to glare at him. “Nor a geneticist. That’s more Coran’s area of expertise.”

“Easy!” Lance held up his hands. “We can talk to him, then. I was just asking a question…”

Pidge huffed out a breath, then let her shoulders drop. “I don’t know how you’re not annoyed right now. We spent the entire afternoon in a fountain to get a freaking video game, only to realize we have no way to turn it on!”

“I actually had fun.” Lance shrugged. He didn’t really see what bothered her so much. Sure, he wanted to play Killbot Phantasm, but even the fact that they’d found the game out in the universe was enough for him. “It felt like the sort of crazy I used to get to back home.”

She fidgeted with the tablet in her hands. “Going to the mall and causing a scene?”

Lance eyed Pidge curiously. Her brow was furrowed, but she looked more lost than irritated. “Sure,” he acquiesced. “This was hardly my first time fishing out coins from a fountain.”

“It was for me,” Pidge interrupted brusquely. “I had never done that before.”

He cocked an eyebrow at her. “Really? You’re one of the biggest troublemakers I’ve met. I’m pretty sure you’re at least guilty of fraud after lying about your identity to get into the Garrison.”

For some reason, this seemed to startle her. It was almost ludicrous to think that Pidge had gone undercover without realizing the legal implications of her actions. It would be just like her, too, to get so caught up in the big picture that she simply bulldozed through every other detail.

“That was different, though.” She was pouting now, her cheeks comedically puffed out. “I was more of a homebody when younger.” Her gaze was lowered to her hands, distant. “I don’t have as many stories to tell as you and Hunk.”

“I seriously doubt that.” Lance scoffed. “Aren’t you always talking about the crazy experiments you and Matt did? I bet he will have a bunch of embarrassing shit about you that you never tell us. I can’t wait to get my hands on all that sweet, sweet blackmail!”

Lance wrung his hands menacingly, but when he looked down at Pidge the expression on her face caught him off guard. He expected her to be exasperated or at least displeased, so the tenderness in her eyes was unforeseen.

He’d been talking about her brother as if they would meet soon, Lance realized. Pidge mentioned him often, but not in detail, not in any capacity that didn’t serve to remind everyone of her mission to find her family. He guessed it felt too much like an open wound, like when Lance tried to talk about Marco or Rachel.

But maybe it did them some good, too.

“Besides, even if we never get to play Killbot Phantasm, we still did plenty today.” Lance began to count on his hand. “We stole money from a fountain so we could buy a vintage video game. We got a cow from a space mall. We were chased by an alien security guard who thought we were pirates! I couldn’t make this up if I tried!”

When he laughed, Pidge joined in. She tried to suppress it, but the air escaped through her nose and her lips quirked up in undeniable amusement. It always felt like a victory to make her laugh. Pidge didn’t let herself get distracted often.

“I don’t know,” she quipped, looking more relaxed. “You have the most convoluted stories of anyone I know.”

Although Pidge said it as if it was a bad thing, Lance could see the playfulness in the twist of her mouth. This was nice, too, because a year earlier he would have seen only the harshness in his teammate. On an impulse, he leaned down to hug her.

“W – What?!” Pidge thrashed against his arms. “Lance, let me go!”

“No can do, Pidgey.” He held on. Lance had crossed his arms behind her head, keeping her tight against his chest. “You can’t escape this friendship.”

“Yes, I can, you nitwit!” Pidge’s voice was muffled by his shirt and Lance simply pretended not to hear her. “You’re suffocating me!”

“We have Kaltenecker now, we’re her parents!” he stated happily, despite the sting of Pidge pinching his sides. “Stop, you don’t want her to see us fighting.”

Pidge let her arms fall, looking up at Lance. Her face was red and her hair stuck out from where he’d accidentally run his hands through it. “You’re ridiculous.”

There was a well-placed moo from Kaltenecker, as if the cow agreed.

Lance grinned and finally gave up his grip on her, taking a step back. Pidge immediately punched him in the stomach in retaliation.

“Ow!” he complained, though it was clear she hadn’t put any real force behind it. “We were having a moment!”

Pidge turned up her nose, but her complexion only grew more flustered. “Then you can forget all about it, like you did with Keith.”

“Fine, you win.” Lance crossed his arms, looking smugly down at her. “I did make you blush, though. I might be rusty, but old Lance still has an effect on the ladies!”

“Ugh!” Pidge moved so quickly that Lance had to hide behind Kaltenecker in order to evade her hits. When they stopped running, she kept her tablet at hand, brandishing it as if it was her bayard. “Never say that to me again!”

He stuck his tongue out at her, then had to duck when Pidge aimed the tablet at his head once more. “Jeez, you know I’m kidding!”

“Yeah.” Something in her voice made Lance shoot back up. She was staring right at him, looking more serious than he’d expected. “I know.”

Before he could ask what was wrong, Pidge walked away from where he stood and towards a panel in the back of the room. She deposited her tablet on one side, then started clicking away at a few keys.

“Coran mentioned we could reprogram the room to look like a field on Earth,” she explained once Lance had made his way over. “We could maybe get some vegetation from a planet in this quadrant and create an area for her to graze.”

“Yeah, that would be cool.” He felt almost dizzy from the ups and downs of Pidge’s humor. The coldness that surrounded her now made Lance want to apologize, but it also annoyed him. He thought they were having a good time earlier. “Introducing Kaltenecker to Earth food isn’t really the priority, huh?”

Pidge nodded, avoiding his eyes.

Despite the awkwardness, Lance didn’t want to leave. The idea of letting Pidge stay mad at him left a bitter taste in his mouth, especially after the day they’d had. She could be incessantly frustrating, but she had also grown on him.

Like a weed. A short, bad-tempered weed.

He watched in silence as she worked the panel. Her concentration was admirable, even when she used it as a way to push Lance away. It reminded him of their time in the Garrison, when it felt like every step he took in their friendship was met with two steps back from Pidge.

With the privilege of hindsight, Lance could guess how tiring the disguise must have been for her. Their studies had never been easy and Pidge had perfected her mediocrity like an art. Knowing her true genius now, Lance imagined she’d actually known it all but had chosen to keep herself under the radar.

“Are you just going to stand there?” Her tone struck a chord with him, bringing forth a familiarity that he hadn’t felt since Earth.

Lance put his hands on his hips, raising an eyebrow at her. “I’m just waiting for you, Pidgeon.”

She turned back to the panel, then took a deep breath, as if calming herself.

“I have a lot to do here,” she said in warning. After a moment, her expression softened. “Why don’t you take the game up to your room? I’ll grab Hunk on my way there and we can try to adapt everything to the castle’s power source.”

Lance could recognize her words for the peace offering that they were. He aimed finger guns at her, earning himself a snicker.

“Don’t take too long or I’ll fall asleep!” he called out as he walked backwards, towards the exit.

“I’ll get Kaltenecker to lick your hair, if you do!” she replied, attention already back to the control panel.

Lance laughed, but he knew that was no empty threat.

He didn’t often spend his nights roaming the hallways of the castle. Lance was a big believer on the benefits of good sleep and an established routine. It helped him maintain his complexion blemish-free and it contributed to keeping him sane when his mind felt scrambled beyond repair.

There were times, however, when not even spa days and special hair masks could calm his thoughts, and then he was stuck like this, struggling to fall asleep.

He buried deeper into his jacket. It wasn’t his normal one, but a big, fleece-y thing that Hunk and Pidge had gotten for him in their last trip to the space mall. Lance loved it fiercely. The castle cooled during the night-cycle to ensure the machines didn’t overheat and Lance always suffered for it.

A blinking light on the doors to his right caught Lance’s attention. It signaled movement in the hangar, just one of many fail-safes devised by Coran and Pidge to ensure no one was trying to mess with the lions. The light wasn’t all that worrying on its own; it was just a way to know what rooms were currently in use.

Lance was too tired to think through his actions. He moved into the hangar, not even questioning who might be in there. He wanted to see Blue. Or Red. Or anyone, really.

He rubbed at his eyes, collecting the tears that threatened to spill down his cheeks.

Sure enough, there was Pidge, curled around a set of tools and a big, wiry mess of parts. She had probably been propped up against the processing columns but ended up sliding down in her sleep.

The image filled Lance with so much affection that he found himself smiling. It was unusual to see their youngest member without her defenses put up. She was only second to Keith in her reserve, something that had initially displeased Lance about the two.

Pidge did have the habit of falling asleep while she worked, but Shiro and Hunk were the ones charged with checking on her. Lance thought she looked strangely cute like this, with her mouth a little open and her glasses askew. He’d forgotten how young she truly was, because of how smart and assertive Pidge could be. She didn’t want to be treated like a child and the whole team could respect her strength and maturity.

Even before they’d ended up light-years from Earth, Pidge had already carried more on her shoulders than anyone Lance had ever met. Despite knowing it was a vain hope, Lance wished he hadn’t made things harder for her back in the Garrison.

He crouched down and carefully pulled her glasses free. Strands of hair stuck to her cheeks and forehead, but without the too-big frames Lance could see her face more clearly.

Pidge already looked older than she had when they were students. After so many wormhole jumps, it was difficult to determine how long had passed since their discovery of the Blue Lion, but the passage of time made itself known in other ways.

She was pretty, but that didn’t surprise Lance. Pidge’s no-nonsense ways and sharp eyes had always been striking, even when he only pointed out these aspects of her as a joke.

Lance took off his jacket and balled it up, trying to slip it behind her head. It wouldn’t be comfortable, but it was an improvement to her current position.

“Lance?” Her eyes had fluttered open. From this close, he could see the fatigue that clouded them.

“Hey, Pidgey-Pidge,” he called out in a whisper.

“Hey, loverboy.” She giggled, lids opening and closing tiredly.

The nickname shot another wave of emotion through him. For some reason, Lance felt his eyes burn again.

“We should get you to bed,” he tried to say, though his voice sounded rougher than he intended.

Pidge didn’t immediately notice. She nodded a few times and sat up, stretching her arms over her head. She frowned at the pieces of tech still scattered around them, then focused her eyes back on him.

“Lance,” she sounded much more awake now, “why are you here?”

“Oh, you know,” he stalled. “Sometimes, in the middle of the night, a guy just needs to grab some food goo.” He flexed his now exposed arms. “I’m a growing boy, Pidge.”

Pidge raised a brow, looking supremely unimpressed. “Don’t lie to me.”

Lance winced a little at the terse tone she’d adopted. Even in her half-awake state, Pidge was still able to see through his bullshit.

“The kitchen is nowhere near the hangar,” she continued when he didn’t reply. Her voice was soft in a way Lance had never heard from Pidge. “And your eyes look red.”

He shifted his head to the side to escape her scrutiny. Lance half-expected Pidge to get angry at his stubbornness, so he couldn’t help the small, shocked sob that escaped him when her hand touched his chin, slowly lifting his gaze.

The worry in her face quickly changed into something understanding, an almost desperate ache that must have reflected his own expression. Without another word, Lance buried into her embrace, curved so that his forehead rested on Pidge’s shoulder.

“I c-can’t stop thinking about them,” he confessed amid his sobs. “What – What if they think I’m dead?”

Pidge murmured an “I know” into his hair. Despite their size difference, she wrapped herself around Lance so completely that he felt guarded by her arms.

“Come on,” she said once his whimpers had quieted down. “Your room is the closest.”

Lance let her move away. His knees hurt from the position he’d assumed on the floor and, now that he no longer had Pidge there, the cold of the hangar raised goosebumps across his arms.

“Put this back on.” Pidge draped the fleece jacket over his shoulders. Her hands lingered there for a moment, drawing a line in the fabric. “It’s a better coat than it could ever be a pillow.”

It wasn’t much of a joke, but Lance smiled at her. Crying made him exhausted, but not enough to ignore Pidge’s efforts to cheer him up. He stood up.

“Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it.”

They made their way to his room in silence. Pidge had to stop at the hangar doors to put in the security measures, but no more words were exchanged. Lance was just glad to have company.

They paused in front of his dorm. “Will you come in?”

Pidge studied him carefully. Lance didn’t think she could see much in the dark of the hallway, but the truth was that she’d already caught him in a breakdown, there was nothing else to hide.

“Do you want to be alone?” she finally vocalized her concern. Lance shook his head, feeling his chest constrict at the possibility that she might leave. “Then I’ll come in.”

He went straight to his bed and laid down. Pidge stood at the entrance, letting the door slide closed behind her. The awkwardness was palpable and Lance couldn’t blame her for it; Pidge was not the best at social cues.

“At least sit down with me. I promise I won’t start bawling again.” He didn’t mean to sound depreciative, but his self-consciousness must have shown, because Pidge narrowed her eyes at him.

“I don’t care if you cry, you doofus.” She marched up to the bed and sat down near the headboard. “Put your head in my lap.”

Her demanding tone didn’t fit in with the gentleness of her actions. Lance was amused by the incongruity. Pidge was rough around the edges and her earlier show off affection now made her bristle, almost as if she was afraid to reveal too much to him. Lance could understand the urge to put up a front, but he was too exhausted to be embarrassed.

He rolled on his side, fitting his shoulder under her thigh.

“My mom used to do this when I was upset.” Pidge ran a hand through his hair, pulling lightly at the knots until they were undone. “The rhythm of it always soothed me. That and her, really. Mom had – I mean, she has a calming influence.”

Lance didn’t comment on her slip up. The feeling of nails scraping against his scalp was pleasing. The personal closeness was something that they also did in his family and he had missed it. He was a naturally affectionate person and the team didn’t seem to appreciate his expansiveness all that much.

“I used to do this for Veronica and Rachel,” he breathed out. “Ronie is older and she would force me to braid their hair when I was younger. I complained about it non-stop, but now I miss it.”

Pidge traced his hairline, then down to his ear, neck, collarbone. She seemed absent-minded as she did it, mind caught somewhere else.

“Matt was the one who would call me Pidge. I used to hate that nickname. After he disappeared, it seemed only right to assume it as my new name. For him.”

Lance shifted a little, so that he could look up at her. “Your real name isn’t Pidge?”

This made her stop for a moment and look down at him in exasperation. Lance suppressed the urge to laugh, but his lips still twisted into a smile, despite his effort.

Pidge flicked him on the forehead.

“I thought you were being serious!” It was funny to see her like this. Pidge usually responded to him with either blankness or sarcasm, so it was satisfying to garner an actual reaction.

“I could have been!” Lance brought a hand up to rub his stinging forehead. “You do realize you never told Hunk and I your real name?”

“It’s Katie,” she said without preamble. The only sign of her unease was that, when Lance tried to sneak another look at her face, Pidge’s fingers held his head in place, before resuming movement in his hair.

“It’s nice to meet you, Katie.” He let out a soft snicker, which Pidge mirrored.

“Nice to meet you, Lance.”

Lance fell silent, letting her touch lull him into a torpor. The point of contact gave him something to concentrate outside of his thoughts of Earth, until the sensation and Pidge were all he could focus on.

“Did you fall asleep?” she asked after some time.

“No.” Lance slowly rose up from her lap. “I don’t know if I will be able to sleep tonight.”

Pidge frowned, looking down at her hands as Lance repositioned himself to sit at her side.

“You and I are more similar than I ever thought, I guess.”

“What, you also go crying around the castle at strange hours, hoping no one else will see?” She raised a brow at him in response. It wasn’t that much of a surprise, really. Lance had known how broken up she felt about her father and brother’s disappearance. “We will find them, Pidge. I won’t rest until we do.”

The emotion in her eyes shifted. He couldn’t really tell what Pidge was feeling, but the look on her face was both sad and warm, grateful even. Lance tried to think of a time when he or any of the others had tried to support her in her search. There might have been something said when she’d first revealed her identity, but nothing stood out since.

His chest tightened with the realization.

It was possible that Hunk or Allura had spoken to Pidge privately about it, and Lance would put good money on the odds that Shiro had comforted her more than once, but that was it. Keith was quiet and broody, too dedicated to their mission to consider what the rest of the team went through. And Lance…

Lance had been too self-involved to notice. He had wallowed in his own misfortune and it had blinded him to the fact that at least his family was safe in Cuba. Pidge’s father and brother were lost in the middle of an intergalactic war, taken prisoners. Her mother thought she was missing.

He didn’t feel like he deserved Pidge’s gratitude.

“Can you tell me something funny?” she asked out of the blue. “I don’t think talking about our families is gonna help either of us sleep tonight.”

Lance let out a shaky exhale. “You’re right. I’m all cried out.” He poked at the skin under his eyes. It felt sensitive and swollen. “All that investigating for good eye masks and the work was all for nothing!” He put his palm over his eyes, playfully turning his head to the side. “Don’t look at me! I’m a shadow of my former self!”

“You’re the resident beauty guru, I’m sure you’ll figure something out.” Pidge rolled her eyes at his theatrics. She pulled Lance’s hand away from his face. “And you owe me a story.”

“Hey, how do I owe you anything?” He pouted at her. “I just saved you from getting a crick on your neck!”

She pulled more harshly at his hand, making Lance yelp. “You woke me up and I even gave you a head massage!”

It was his turn to tug at her arm, but his smile betrayed that Lance was having fun. “Fine, but then we’re even!”

Pidge finally let go of him, looking smug. He closed his hand and pointed at her face in an act of mock aggravation.

“Is it okay if I lie down?” She looked around the room, as if searching for a hidden futon where she could stretch out.

“Sure, let me just…” He scooted down and to the side. Pidge maneuvered into the space he had created, stuck between him and the wall. “I don’t think these beds were made to be shared.” He laughed.

The position wasn’t the worst they could be in. Pidge was small enough that, with her back pressed to the wall, Lance had enough space in the mattress that he wouldn’t fall over.

“This feels like a sleepover.” Her face scrunched up at the words. He couldn’t tell if she was embarrassed or just amused by the idea. “I never had one of those before.”

“Never?” he marveled.

“No need to look that surprised,” Pidge huffed. “I just didn’t have a lot of friends growing up. Not anyone close, at least.”

“Just Matt,” Lance blurted out without thinking. A shadow crossed Pidge’s eyes, but she didn’t seem upset.

“Yeah… You would like him. Matt can be as much of a goofball as you are.” She nuzzled quietly into the pillow. The lights had dimmed automatically when they laid down, so Lance couldn’t tell if Pidge was blushing or not. “It helps, you know? Having you here.”

Pidge refused to catch his eyes as she said this, which Lance understood. Being vulnerable could be scary, even when around your best friends. Still, he felt pride well up in him, glad that he had done something right towards her.

“You wanted a funny story, right?” he asked softly, the words only loud enough to be heard. Pidge’s gaze snapped to his, obviously relieved. “How about this: My first love was this little girl I met when I was fourteen. I never even knew her name.”

“That’s not funny, not really.” Pidge’s brows took a quizzical air. “How do you know it was love, then?”

“I just know. When I think about her, about that day… It felt like fate.” He saw the cynicism on her face before Pidge could even say anything. “I swear! I met her and everything changed. I don’t know if I would have met Hunk or got into the Garrison or even made it here without her.”

Pidge sighed against the pillow. “Honestly, that sounds like a lot of pressure to put on a first love.”

Lance watched as she drew patterns into the sheets between them. She wasn’t trying to be mean, he could tell.

“She doesn’t know, obviously. I didn’t even like her straight away. It’s just –” he paused, thinking it through. “It’s just funny, how much of a difference one person can make. When she talked to me, I was feeling sorry for myself. She cheered me up.”

That same day, he had met Hunk, who had later confessed that he’d only approached Lance because he’d appeared to be in a good humor. Without Hunk, his best friend, Lance might not have tried out for the Garrison. And, without the Garrison, he wouldn’t have been in Arizona to find the Blue Lion.

“Is she why you are so obsessed with fate and such?” Pidge teased. She was yawning every few seconds, but there was a smile on her face.

“You shouldn’t knock fate down.” Lance grinned, trying to bat her hand away from the sheets. They had bunched up a bit due to her movements. “It got us into space and closer to your family.”

Pidge made a face at him, then shrugged. They’d had this conversation before, about what had led the three out into Garrison grounds that night. Pidge argued that it was bound to happen, with how often she went out to search the radio frequencies, but even that fell back into Lance’s claim that they were all destined to become the new paladins of Voltron.

“I just think that love is about commitment,” she murmured, eyes already closed. “It’s about choosing one person and then falling in love with him, even when he’s obnoxious, even when he’s…” She trailed off, having fallen asleep.

Lance chuckled at her little speech. It was nice to think that someone would eventually choose to love him, forever. He felt comforted not only by the idea, but by Pidge's slow breathing, the heat of her hand so close to his chest. His own lids felt heavier and heavier. Lance closed his eyes.

#plance #pidgance #flirtyrobot #cyance #lidge #voltron #voltron legendary defender #vld #vld lance #pidge gunderson #katie holt #lance mcclain #vld fanfiction #vld syl verse

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dw-writes · 4 years ago

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Tumblrs gonna ban me for spamming you with messages :( leonard mccoy x alien!reader sharing holiday traditions

you ALREADY know how i feel about this and i know how you feel but hERE WE ARE!!!! @writerdee1701 and @outside-the-government here is some soft Bones

click HERE for more SOULMATE AU

“Do you celebrate the holidays on your planet?” The question came as a surprise, especially when it came with the Southern drawl and the clink of a glass on the table in front of you. You looked up, smiling at the sight of Leonard, and asked him what he meant. “Well, like Christmas? Hanukkah? Things like that?”

You tilted your head. The relationship with your soulmate had been interesting – what with the clashing of cultures between Earth and Asterla, and you both struggling to understand the differences between the two. He’d taught you about baseball, you taught him about a similar sport played in the nebula fields of Asterla; you shared how dancing was done on your planet, and he taught you how to two-step.

“Holidays?” you asked as you took the glasses, sipping at the sweet tea he gave you, and smiled. “Celebrations? Like birthdays?”

Leonard tilted his head. “Yeah, kinda. But across the globe.” He scooted closer to you, tracing the lines of your bones in your wrist, and tapped at the PADD in front of you. “They were all religion based, once upon a time.” He tilted his head. “Hanukkah is still religion based, but the rest aren’t. Thanksgivin��, Christmas, the lot of the big ones on Earth don’t really have a religious meanin’ to ‘em anymore,” he explained.

“So, what holiday made you ask me about them?” you asked as you leaned over the PADD. It was a picture of a two stories house surrounded by trees, each of them decorated with multicolored lights and silver tinsel. Leonard was in the middle of the picture, holding a little girl on his shoulders as she balanced a star atop a pine tree in the middle of the yard.

Leonard cleared his throat. “That’s Joanna,” he murmured, “Normally, we’d be decoratin’ my parents place for Christmas, but uh….”

“You’ve been up here,” you murmured. With your free hand, you brushed the space at the base of his neck, where his own soulmate mark was – a swirl of brightly colored nebula, with a single blue star in the lower left quadrant – your birth nebula, and the star that roared in your chest. He cleared his throat and relaxed under your touch. You tilted your head as you stared at the picture. “My family would celebrate for the New Year,” you sighed, “You would say it was the largest holiday on Asterla.”

“What would you do?” whispered Leonard as he leaned into you. He adjusted his arm, slung it low around your back, and slid his hand down your arm until he reached the outlines of your wrist.

“An eclipse happens every new year, like clockwork,” you said with a dazed smile, “So, Asterlites would go out in droves, and when the planet went dark, you would see the glow of thousands of Asterlite stars everywhere.”

“Sounds lovely,” he said as he brushed his nose against the shell of your ear.

Your face glowed, backlit by your own star in a similar way that you described the ritual. You tilted your head away from his gentle lips as your face continued to warm. “Yes, well, then we would blow up hundreds of thousands of fireworks and eat and drink and dance until the sun returned.” You turned the PADD towards you with your thumb, not straying far from Leonard’s embrace.

“Now, wait a minute,” he puffed, “I thought you said dancin’ was for marriage.”

“No, waltzing is for marriage, Bones,” you murmured. A thought struck you. You grabbed the PADD and stood, swinging in to press a loud kiss against Leonard’s mouth. “I have the perfect plan!” You stumbled away from the table, turned around, and finished your tea before kissing him again. “Meet me in your quarters in,” you ticked off your fingers as you jogged backwards, almost colliding with Uhura, who was, luckily, paying attention, “Three hours!”

Leonard nodded and touched his mouth. No matter how many times you kissed him, or he kissed you for that matter, he would never get used to how hot your mouth was. He shook his head and turned back to the table, stuttered, and whirled around. “That’s my PADD!” he shouted with no response.

He did what you said, though, and met you at his room three hours after you had stolen his PADD, rubbing the star at the base of his neck as he wandered over. You were practically vibrating when he walked up and pulled him into his room. “This took a lot of bribing, and I owe Scotty my shore leave days the next time we’re somewhere he enjoys, but!”

A squeal pierced the room the second Leonard passed the door. There, in the middle of his living space, was Joanna. Though, as Leonard looked around, it wasn’t exactly his living space anymore: with the use of multiple hologram nodules (Leonard counted about fifteen, but he was sure there were more) and a synced video call on his PADD, you had turned his living area into his parent’s front yard in Georgia, complete with the pine tree that remained unlit.

Joanna jumped in front Leonard, throwing her arms out wide, then wrapping them tight around herself. He laughed, and you noticed how it caught in his throat. She then went on to talk about school, and how you had called to set everything up, and that she didn’t need him to put her on his shoulders anymore, but she was still so glad that he could be there when she put the star on the tree.

“And!” Joanna declared as she climbed the stepstool, she had lined up next to the tree, “There’s an even bigger surprise for you!”

“Oh, there is?” asked Leonard. He glanced back at you, and you smiled.

Joanna quickly set the star at the top of the tree, then jumped from the stool to run over. She pointed at the PADD that sat on the nearby table. “If you hit the big circle there, you’ll see it,” she said with a nod. Then, she held her hand up to mouth to loudly whisper, “Starlight really helped with this one.”

“You two are plottin’ without me, are ya?” drawled Bones. He swallowed a nervous lump in his throat, then tapped the circle as Joanna said.

The entire room lit up with brilliant, multicolored lights. It wasn’t just the tree in the middle, but the hologram just barely caught the edges of the trees that lined the front yard.

Joanna beamed and clapped her hands. Then, she turned to face Leonard. “Merry Christmas,” she said, “And I can’t wait to see you soon.”

“Merry Christmas, kiddo,” Leonard choked out.

The hologram vanished.

You rubbed your arms. “I was only able to rig them up for a short time but—”

He whirled around and wrapped you up in a hug, burying his face in your shoulder. You slid your hands up his back and squeezed him tight. “Thank you,” he murmured through a trembling sigh. You squeezed him tighter. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Leonard,” you whispered.

#star trek #leonard mccoy x reader #leonard mccoy/reader #bones x reader #bones/reader #star trek aos #star trek tos #star trek asks #lethargicprofessor

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aparttimewriter · 11 months ago

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STARSTRUCK: part thirteen

charles leclerc x singer reader x lando norris

summary: charles and y/n are in happy couple bliss, while y/n and lando test out if being friends can work between them

yourusername added to their story

viewed by landonorris and 23,567 others

yourusername

liked by reneerapp, charles_leclerc, landonorris and 934,567 others

yourusername: so i have been keeping a little secret… my new album life support is now available for pre order before it’s release april 10 !

view all 40,577 comments

reneerapp: so proud of my baby !!

y/nstans: ahhhh literally screaming so excited

user567: our girl has been busy

charles_leclerc: literally blown away with how talented you are beautiful 💕

leclercstans: this album better be playing all year in the ferrari garage

teamferrari: how many songs about charles !!

landonorris: surely i get sent a free copy??

—yourusername: i am making you buy it double the price just for this comment

yourusername

liked by y/nsister, arthur_leclerc, charles_leclerc and 845,678 others

tagged: charles_leclerc arthur_leclerc

yourusername: hope everyone had an amazing Christmas 🎄

view all 23,567 comments

arthur_leclerc: still mad about you breaking my gingerbread house

—yourusername: it was an accident !

y/nsister: tell murphy his auntie misses him

teamleclerc: y/n and charles spending chrismas together i’m losing it

y/nstanaccount: screaming at the second photo!

charles_leclerc: love you ❤️

—yourusername: love you even more ❤️

charlesboxbox: they really are our mum and dad !

yourusername added to their story

viewed by charles_lecler and 32,566 others

📍London, United Kingdom 🇬🇧

liked by maxfewtrell, landonorris, riabish and 745,455 others

yourusername: thanks so much @team_quadrant for the best weekend! can’t wait for everyone to see my channel appearance xx

view all 22,667 comments

papayanorris: y/n in a quadrant video !! it’s going to be iconic

maxfewtrell: i would like everyone to know that y/n won all those stuff toys, and forced lando and i to carry them around

—yourusername: don’t spread lies to my fans !

mclarengirls: i love charles and y/n but lando and her just make sense when they are together

landonorris: still mad that you took the baby yoda 🥲

—yourusername: i let you keep the sloth !

ferrarigirl: charles come get your girl away from lando please

yourusername

liked by oliviarodrigo, charles_leclerc, reneerapp and 756,467 others

yourusername: a couple of behind the scenes shots of me while working on life support xx

view all 35,678 comments

leclercgirl: did anyone else see that photo of y/n out with lando a few days ago ?? really unsure how i feel about it

oliviarodrigo: sooo exciting for this release!!

mariaxxx: life support is 100% being my anthem for this year

ferraricharles: really wonder how charles feels about the time his girl is spending with lando

y/nfanaccount; really sick of these comments about y/n and lando, apparently the two of them can’t just be friends

— papayanorris: just friends ?? from the way lando looks at her, he definitely has bigger feelings then that

charles_leclerc : i am so proud of all the hard work, you put into this album ❤️

charlesboxbox: lando 100% has a things for y/n even if she doesn’t notice it

y/nstans: can we please get y/n pictured with charles, so i can be happy again

tagged list: @urfavnoirette @formulaal @maplesyrupsainz @celestialend @janeholt3 @starz4me1 @landossainz @k4marina @partyinpitlane @nessacarty1 @ssprayberrythings @1655clean @belennasif @basicchelsea @eviethetheatrefreak @champagneproblems17 @noneofyourfbusinessworld

#f1 #f1 x reader #formula one imagine #formula one x reader #charles leclerc #charles leclerc imagine #charles leclerc x reader #lando norris #lando norris imagine #lando norris x reader

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unforth · 4 years ago

Link

Pre-orders of the Trek Tribute Zine - a Spirk zine dedicated to the zines of the 60s, 70s, and 80s - are now live!

I’m a contributor as an author, and I’ve seen all the WIPs and art and...guys, it’s great. It’s so good. If you like original Trek, and you ship Spirk - you should definitely consider ordering it!

And here, have a teaser for my fic - which is about Ben Sisko and Jadzia Dax finding a recording that mirror universe Spock made, and learning some pretty surprising truths along the way... it’s entitled “Self-Reflection.”

“Captain, you’ve got to see this,” Dax announced, striding into Benjamin’s office.

“I’m preparing for the Wadi delegation arriving tomorrow—can it wait?” Benjamin massaged his temple, eyes fixed on his PADD. He’d memorized the rules to more games in the last two days than his entire life previously, and still had hundreds more to learn.

“Oh—oh no—can’t wait.” She grinned, yanking the PADD from his hands and throwing it aside; Benjamin frowned.

“Summarize it.”

“I wouldn’t know where to start,” said Dax, laughing. “Computer, load Terok Nor file 832546.26, sub-log 923.8.”

“But—”

“Loading file.”

“Will you just tell me what’s so important?”

“Computer, one…” She side-eyed Benjamin. “...make that two raktajinos.” The drinks materialized in the replicator; as he stared disgruntled at her, she retrieved them, returned to his desk, set them down, grabbed the visitor’s chair, placed it beside his, and sat straddling it. “Trust me. You’ve gotta. Besides, it’s not like you can learn every game in the Alpha and Gamma quadrant.”

“I can try.” With a resigned sigh, Benjamin took his raktajino and leaned back. “And do you also need a break?”

“Always,” she said. “Besides—I want to rewatch it. Really enjoy myself this time.”

“But you won’t tell me what you’re on about?”

“No chance. Spoilers!”

“...fine.” He sipped the raktajino. She wasn’t wrong...a break might be in order. The Wadi would always know more games than him, no matter how many he learned. “Show me.”

“Computer, play video.”

#star trek #spirk #star trek zine #signal boost #unforth writes #fanfiction #teaser

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othercat2 · 4 years ago

Text

Writing Update, Bunny, and Snippet(s)

So! While searching for porn I found a series called Taming Riki on Amazon, which is apparently original fan fic of Ai no Kusabi. It is not very good fan fic, and only semi okay porn. It reminded me very much of the kind of yaoi porn one used to be able to find on LJ in the early 2000s. I did end up reading it, but was very impatient with it. (Writer, have you ever actually met human beings? I wonder!)

This somehow led to reading Ai no Kusabi fan fic. Which was very odd since I was not impressed with the Ova! (I am probably not going to read the novel(s) since they apparently end in Bury Your Gays Under Piles of Rubble.) Anyway, the AnK fan fic seems to tend toward the "rewrite canon so characters survive" variety. And is often quite optimistic that the mains could have a relationship.

Bunny 1: Due to the part where Iason "Why is my surname a Mustelid, it must be because I fuck like Weasels" Mink is an android he was never actually in danger because all you need to do is down load a backup. Problem: he keeps crashing because Riki was made of meat, and he does not know how to grieve. Jupiter POV as they/it/she tries to get Iason back to operational parameters. (Ricky don't you lose my number plays ironically in the background.)

Bunny 2: Almost exactly like AnK except with Homestuck style quadrants. So much quadrant vacillation. SO MUCH.

Speaking of Homestuck, I've been working on Rebel and Conqueror! I have also been working on Pernstuck, and the next installment of The Yiling Almanac ("the young master most likely to be found disappearing into the kitchen garden") Wei Ying's love of potatoes is featured. (I need to find Ursula Vernon's rant on potatoes.) I've also managed to get some writing done on Build a Life from Scratch. However, I'm slightly frustrated because I can't segue over the GHB/Signless debate. And I hate debates.

Snippet the First: (Rebel and Conqueror)

Trolls had all kinds of mind control powers. They could terrorize you into catatonia or turn you into a puppet. It depended on the caste though. Lower castes tended to have telekinesis powers, higher up the scale started to be telepathy and fear projection. At the very top it was mostly resistance to the mind control powers (and you suspected, regeneration and other weird shit you've only heard rumors about). It probably made sense to trolls to keep you away from Vantas, if things like what happened to you happened a lot. “He’s fuchsia,” you say, and even as you say it, you know it’s a stupid thing to say. Vantas doesn’t need to have been the one to fuck with your head, with or without the pheromones. “Is there any proof he had anything done to my head? Aside from fucking with it just by being his normal asshole self?”

“No evidence was found in the initial investigation,” the Dolorosa admits.

"So he didn't do anything," you say. "So I think I should get to see him sentenced." You pause, looking down at your hands. "For closure. Since I'm not allowed to be in contact with him anymore." The Dolorosa gives you an odd look. It's part concern and part curiosity, and you realize what you said might sound like. "It isn't Stockholm Syndrome," you tell. "I don't feel dependent on him for safety or something." You just want to know what's going on with him. "And don't ask if I want to see him, because that opens the entire do you want to be his kismesis can of worms, and the answer to that is still and will always be fuck no."

The Dolorosa smiles a little at that. "That's understood," she says. "Would you want to be in contact? From what I understand that also seems to be an issue."

"So, troll doctors don't have confidentiality?"

"I think you've made it clear that it's an issue outside Doctor Coyotl's office," the Dolorosa says. "It would be hard to keep common knowledge confidential." Her tone is dry. "Wanting to see him doesn't necessarily correlate to wanting to be in a kismesis with him."

"I want to see him," you say. "I don't know about contact. Maybe I want to ask what he thought he was going to do, raising my kid and screwing with me at the same time. How he thought that was going to work. What was he going to tell my kid about me, if he thought he was going to get away with it. Maybe I want him to delete that fucking 'I hate you' wall he has. Maybe I want to point and laugh at all the 're-education' he's going to go through."

"He already knew he wasn't going to get away with it," the Dolorosa says.

"What's the Black Tower like?" you ask, veering slightly off the subject.

"A prison," the Dolorosa says. "Or in some ways a hospital. I'm sure Pyrope has explained some of the details."

"Re-educated, supervised visits, supervised everything, Earth still conquered but the Viceroy can't have a hate boyfriend, yeah."

"Among other possible punishments," the Dolorosa says. "But those are the most likely." She pauses. "Are there any penalties you'd prefer?"

"Be pretty stupid for me to ask for execution, wouldn't it? Maybe ironic after all the effort not to kill me." Probably also stupid to suggest it to his grandmother, but she asked. "Maybe freedom for Earth and he doesn't have command of anything bigger than one of those ships you stick in a bottle. But freedom isn't on the table either."

The Dolorosa doesn't lecture on the benefits of imperial rule. Instead she says, "Dr. Coyotl mentioned that you had been losing a considerable amount of time during your captivity." She decaptchalogues a data grub, and sets it down on a low table by the couch. It's stubs around a couple inches before curling up, mandibles opening and shutting. You absolutely do not want to pick it up. "This data grub contains the complete security footage from your time on the then-Viceroy's ship. After viewing this, we can discuss if and when you can see him."

"I have to watch the home movie if I want to see him?" you ask. The Dolorosa nods. You know that you're stalling. (You still don't want to pick the data grub up.)

"You can watch it on your own, or with your partner, Rose Lalonde," Dolorosa says, and gets to her feet to leave.

"Wait," you say. She gives you an inquiring look. "So, if this is the complete footage, that's a lot of hours. What's the amount of hours before you'll let me see Vantas?"

"At least seventy two hours within a twenty four hour time frame," Dolorosa says.

"Okay."

Something resembling manners has you get up and follow her to the door, and see her out. When she's gone, you lean against the bulkhead and shudder all over, face in your hands. You slide down the bulkhead to the deck. Take it in steps. There was a computer in the corner of the living room, built into a desk. It wasn't too organic or alarming in appearance. Get the grub to the computer, and open the files. Did you really want to watch it on your own? Did you want Rose there, knowing how badly she wanted to kill Vantas? (It takes a moment to wrap your head around the way the argument wants to phrase Rose's presence as a negative. You don't want me her to be hurt. You don't want her to hurt Vantas.) Did you want to watch it, already knowing what you were going to see? (All the parts you couldn't remember and all the parts you could.)

"This is bullshit," you say, half hoping for a comment from the intercom. "You're hoping I don't watch, which will prove I shouldn't see Vantas." You don't get an answer.

With cringing fingers you pick up the grub (soft squashy urgh) drive and stick it in the port. As the drive opens you send a message to Rose: so i have umptybillion hours of video footage to go through before they'll let me see vantas please come hold my hand. You don't get an immediate reply, so you start going through the files.

You see that you have lots of raw footage. As far as you can tell, no editing was done at all. You are going to be doing a lot of skipping and fast forwarding, is what you're saying. Opening the first file, you get started. It starts with him getting you into his ship, and his quarters. Your hands clench as you watch yourself wake up, the combination of anger and panic on your face as he fucks you, how it turns to lust and desperation. You fast forward.

You fast forward a lot. A lot of this, you remember, and don't much want to go over it again. From a third person perspective, it's weird watching him with you. Watching you with him. (You don't remember the times you tried to make a shank--three times--or biting him as often as you as you actually did.) You can see the moments of concern or confusion on his face, see him arguing with Egbert and Harley. Or meeting some official. (Those are the times when you can remember having been locked in your room. )

Snippet the Second: (Build a Life from Scratch)

After some more talk you all break camp and head west. As you all walk, you stretch your Aspects out, figure out what they can do. It's at least half way to sense for danger, half to practice. You might lay down a "beat" that Redglare joins in on, that Disciple sings along to, that Zahhak hums absentmindedly. Or Jade and Signless have a "song" that Dolorosa joins in on, accompanied by Disciple. Demoness can sound like an entire choir, with Highblood coming in over the top, "sounding" something like a theremin crossed with a bass fiddle. Dave joins in, and Roxy, doing odd little solos or "duets" with one of the trolls, or with Jade.

The next few nights not much happens. The terrain is uneven, the sky is endless, and the air is muggy and damp. There are a few high-flying clouds that disappear by morning. You can see mountains in the distance, and the glinting snake of a river edged with trees. On the third day, you get closer to the river, it starts to get cloudier and the wind kicks up. In the early evening, you can see the wall of an approaching storm. It's a solid green-black wall, and you can see the trailing mists of rain as it dumps down, along with flickers of lightning. "Well, that's going to suck when it gets here," you say.

At the same time you hear this huge sliding crunch off to the side. Exactly like someone pulled up a whole hell of a lot of chunks of ground, all at once. You turn in that direction and see huge chunks of dirt and rock floating around Jade and the Demoness. "Hopefully we can make it suck less!" Jade says cheerfully. The chunks orbit Jade and Demoness as they began to quickly create a shelter. Everyone helps with pounding the dirt and rocks into a rough shelter big enough to hold everyone plus the not-horses. Demoness and Jade (with help from Alter Dave and Dolorosa) smooth out the inside and make everything solid and waterproof.

You all get inside as the storm hits. Roxy pulls out a couple of battery powered lanterns, and sets them up. "Getting better at that," you say.

She grins. "This trick's kind of fun," she says. "Watch." She shows you everything she can make appear, and then disappear. She starts with green cubes, then goes on to various toys, a pair of shoes, a laptop computer, a 3rd Edition Dungeon and Dragons Player's Handbook and DM Handbook. And various sets of dice. And a DM screen. "So, how about a game?"

"That game's for nerds," you scoff.

She rattles one of the clear tubes of dice at you. "Dirk, you are in fact a nerd." She tosses the tube at you, and you catch it reflexively. She also tosses one at Alter Dave, who steps back and lets it fall.

"Nah," he says. "I want to be Debbie."

Roxy laughs, eyes a little bright. "Rose had a brief stint of leaving Chick Tracts in odd little places. I covered the door to her bedroom with a print of The Time of the Dark."

"The one with the wizard sitting in the kitchen with can of beer?" You ask.

"Yep!"

"Mean," Dave says. "Isn't Hambly kinda homophobic?" Quickly. "Not that I would know, except from what my Rose might have ranted about a time or two because she's read a few of the writer's series. I'm way too cool for wizards."

"Wizards are extremely cool," Roxy says. "And I'm not sure one way or another, except yes, if she had written certain books today the way she had then, she would be up to her ears in angry letters and tweets, because holy crap."

It turns out trolls also have roleplaying games. Redglare, Disciple and Signless join in. To your surprise, so does Demoness. Highblood, the Dolorosa and Zahhak do not.

#writing #homestuck #ai no kusabi #update #untamed #plot weasels

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voltrontranscript · 4 years ago

Text

VLD S8E4: Battle Scars

Season 8 Episode 4: Battle Scars

Transcript by @dragonofyang

Summary: In a race against time as a weblum approaches Olkarion, the paladins have to piece together what happened to destroy the once-vibrant planet and all its people as flashbacks reveal the destructive powers of Honerva’s white Altean mechs.

[Google Doc]

Hunk: Okay, that’s the third star system we checked in the last eleven days, and we still haven’t found a single clue about any robeasts.

Pidge: Actually, that was the eleventh star system in the last three days.

Hunk: Was it, really? Oh my gosh. Okay, see, I’m so worn out, I can’t even… you know.

Lance: Uh, count?

Hunk: No. Think.

Allura: I know this is not ideal, but the intel we received from the Galra cruiser in Lahn’s fleet identified one of those robeasts within this quadrant. We must find it.

Keith: Unfortunately, we just don’t know how current that information is.

Pidge: Also, this celestial quadrant is two hundred and thirty thousand lightyears in diameter.

Hunk: I can’t even process what that means.

Pidge: Okay, picture five fleas searching for another flea on a dog that’s the size of Earth.

Hunk: Ugh, all this talk about fleas is making me itchy. Are you guys feeling itchy?

Lance: Pidge, why can’t you and Hunk just make a robeast tracker thingy, you know? Do some math and science stuff. Then put some components together and bam, it’s done.

Allura: Perhaps we should set our heading for the Altean colony.

Keith: We talked about this. To get to the colony, we would have to travel through the Quantum Abyss.

Pidge: Plus, Kolivan said the colony no longer exists.

Allura: But there will be clues there, something to go off of.

Keith: Traveling through that abyss was one of the most harrowing experiences of my life. A single misstep could turn a six-month journey into a ten-year journey. The creatures, the environment, everything in there wants you dead. Except you.

Allura: I’m tired of hearing what we can’t do and what we don’t know.

Lance: Allura, we just want to make the best decisions--

Allura: The Alteans were my people, and the last of them are being exploited as soldiers in someone else’s war. You don’t understand.

Lance: I understand what it feels like to see someone I care about hurt so much.

Allura: I’m sorry, Lance.

Hunk: Okay, maybe we head to Olkarion. We’re just a few galaxies away. They might have some information on any unusual sightings.

Keith: Hunk’s right. Olkarion is a great spot to regroup and evaluate our situation.

Pidge: And it’ll be awesome to see everyone again. I wonder what kind of technological advances they’ve made in the last few years. Oh, man! If they figured out a way to untangle the uncertainty principle, new precision calculations could open the doors to a flood of innovations!

Lance: I think I understood, like, three of those words.

Keith: Allura, what do you think?

Allura: Perhaps a trip to Olkarion is best.

Hunk: Alright! Let’s do this!

Pidge: Hailing Olkarion. Be advised the Paladins of Voltron are en route. This is Pidge… hailing Olkarion. Do you copy?

Hunk: Are they not home?

Lance: Probably too busy untangling calculations. Am I using that right?

Hunk: No, not even close.

Pidge: I’m guessing there’s a delay due to our distance. We’ll probably receive their reply on the way.

Keith: Paladins, if we want to get to Olkarion quickly, there’s only one way to do it.

[Voltron transformation sequence.]

Keith: Engage wings!

Lance: Welcome to Olkarion’s galactic neighborhood. Did we ever hear from them?

Pidge: Actually, no, which is strange. I’ll try and contact them again. Whoa! We got incoming! Something big is headed our way at an incredible speed.

Lance: A Galra cruiser? Some kind of weapon?

Allura: Is it a robeast?

Keith: Shield up!

Lance: What the heck is that thing?

Hunk: It’s a weblum! Keith, look! We’ve been inside one of those!

Keith: How could I forget?

Pidge: Um, what’s it doing?

Hunk: Actually, it’s creating scaultrite. Pidge, you would love it. It’s this amazing chemical process--

Lance: Science talk later! We’re in its line of fire!

Keith: Thrusters!

Lance: Should we go on the offensive?

Hunk: No, no. They may be dangerous, but they’re essential for the universe. Think of them like giant space bees. Keith and I learned all about them from a video that Coran made. There was some rule, like, “If you don’t want to be killed stay away from its gills”?

Keith: That wasn’t the rhyme. It’s “If you don’t want to be dead, avoid its head.”

Allura: We don’t have time to listen to you rhyme!

Hunk: You just--

Keith: Hunk!

Allura: Where is that weblum going?

Pidge: According to my calculations, it’s headed towards… Olkarion.

Keith: Then we better get there first.

[Transition to Olkarion’s surface.]

Pidge: They were our allies, our friends.

Keith: Paladins, I know this is a difficult moment, but we need to get to work. That weblum is headed here right now, so time is short. Our top priority is search and rescue. If there are survivors, we need to find them, and we need to find out what happened here.

Allura: There is only one thing capable of this.

Keith: Well, let’s confirm it.

[Cut to each paladin conducting their search.]

Keith: I think our worst fears have been realized.

Hunk: What do you see?

Keith: The physical wreckage and destruction patterns are just like those on Earth.

Allura: Our findings are the same. It appears the quintessence was siphoned out of Olkarion as well.

Hunk: Lance and I took readings. We picked up trace elements of psyferite. That’s the same metal the creature on Earth was made from.

Allura: Why did this robeast attack Olkarion of all places?

Lance: Maybe because it was a central part of the coalition.

Allura: Maybe. I just get the feeling there’s something more to it.

Keith: You might be right, but we don’t have any way to confirm it. Right now, we just need to focus on finding survivors.

Allura: Pidge, have you picked up anything? Pidge, do you copy? Pidge?

Pidge: I know this place. This is where Ryner taught me how to bond with the forest. The Olkari people helped me to make that connection. I learned more from them than I ever thought possible. Allura, they had so much more to teach the universe. And now they’re gone. Huh? Huh?

Allura: Pidge. Are you alright?

Pidge: You didn’t see it?

Allura: See what?

Pidge: The forest, it was back to how it was before. There were girls playing.

Allura: Maybe this place is trying to show you something.

Pidge: What?

Allura: The Olkari had a profound connection to the land, just like you do. Their history could be etched into the very soil for you to see. Concentrate. See if you can tap into its energy.

[Transition to a flashback of Olkarion shortly before its destruction as Pidge watches.]

Olkari Girl: Come on! Follow me!

Pidge: Huh? We need to get to the city!

[Cut back to the present as Allura and Pidge return to the city, then the flashback resumes with Pidge watching.]

Pidge: Ryner.

Allura: You can see Ryner? What is she doing?

Pidge: The robeast! It’s here! We need to get closer. Ryner!

Ryner: Get civilians to evacuation pods and launch them immediately! Have all military personnel report to battle stations. Scramble the mechs for counterattack. Come with me!

[Cut back to the present.]

Pidge: Ryner. It seemed like she was talking to me. Or it could have been to the soldiers. I don’t know.

Allura: All the answers we’re looking for could be here. We may be able to find out where this beast came from and where it’s going next. There might be some clue here about the Alteans.

Pidge: If there is, I will find it.

Hunk: Guys, we have a, uh--we have a major problem here.

Lance: Hunk released some low-orbit trackers outside of Olkarion on the way in. The weblum just set them off. We have about ten minutes to evac!

Keith: Copy that. Everyone to their lions! Let’s go, now!

Allura: We can’t leave yet. How long do you think you can hold it off?

Lance: Hold it off? It’s a giant space worm! We can’t hold it off. What are you talking about?

Allura: Pidge found a way to tap into Olkarion’s history. She may be able to find out what we need to know, but we need a little more time.

Keith: Alright, we’ll buy you as much time as we can.

Allura: Copy that. Thank you.

Keith: Hunk, Lance, we need to hurry! I got it on scanners. Let’s intercept it.

[Flash back to the fall of Olkarion.]

Ryner: Go, go, go! We need to preserve the information from the communications tower! Keep the beast at bay as long as you can.

[Cut to Keith, Lance, and Hunk in space.]

Keith: We need to get it to divert its course.

Lance: And how do we do that?

Hunk: How about like this? Uh, my idea isn’t working!

Lance: Okay, okay, well, what were the rules with this thing?

Hunk: I’m drawing a blank. I’m not good under pressure!

Keith: It’s still heading for Olkarion! We haven’t slowed it down at all!

[Cut to Pidge and Allura on the communications tower as the flashback continues.]

Olkari Officer: How did we not pick this thing up on our scanners?

Female Engineer: It just appeared!

Pidge: Just like on Earth.

Olkari Officer: How could that be? Wait, bring up our scanner logs. Those anomalies we detected recently. I can’t believe I didn’t see it before. The anomalies are from the warping of space-time. This creature came through a wormhole.

Ryner: Transfer all data from this facility to a safe location off-planet, then evacuate immediately!

Olkari Officer: Understood. What we just discovered could save billions of lives.

[Cut back to the present.]

Pidge: It was a wormhole. That’s how they travel.

Hunk: Pidge, Allura! I’m sorry, but you’ve gotta get out of there immediately!

Pidge: I need more time.

Allura: I’m coming up to help.

[Cut to Keith, Lance, and Hunk in space with the weblum.]

Lance: Over here! This way! Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Too close! How’d you guys beat this thing the first time?

Keith: We never beat it. Trying to get it to alter its course is an entirely different thing than collecting its scaultrite.

Hunk: Alright, that’s it. I’m calling Coran. Coran, come in!

Coran: Hunk! Hello there.

Hunk: Coran! You’re there! Okay. Um, I’m sorry to make this quick, but we need to stop a weblum from eating a planet, like, right now! Any chance you know how to do that?

Coran: Well, it’s definitely been a while, but in my younger days, me and my cohorts would have a little weblum fun.

Hunk: Coran! We’re kind of in a rush here!

Coran: Right. Let’s see, if I remember correctly, all you need to do--[static hissing]--on the trilo-mutarth, which you’ll find under its dorsal--[static hissing]

Hunk: Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no! Not this again! Our connection is breaking up!

Coran: --resulting in face boils, a runny nose, and cosmic light radiation poisoning. And if you don’t do this, you’ll expand to twice your size and pop like a balvax.

Hunk: Okay, that conversation took a lot longer than I expected, and I learned nothing. Allura, thank you!

Allura: Please hurry, Pidge.

[Cut back to the fall of Olkarion.]

Ryner: Hurry! Everyone on board. It came for something. Find out what.

Pidge: It came for the cubes. Why? Ryner, can you hear me? Do you know why the beast wanted the cubes? Please, talk to me!

Ryner: Hurry! Everyone on!

Pidge: Ryner, please! Ryner!

Olkari Girl: I’m scared. I don’t want to leave!

Ryner: You mustn’t cling too tightly to the past. The Olkari have always been able to adapt and move forward. It is our greatest strength. And it will live on in you.

Olkari Girl: But, our home…

Ryner: The old must give way to the new. It’s the way of the universe. Now please, go.

[Flashback fades away and Pidge becomes aware of the present again.]

Allura: Pidge! Pidge, are you there? We can’t hold this thing off any longer. You need to get out of there!

[Cut to Hunk in Yellow Lion.]

Hunk: There she is! The planet is clear!

Keith: Everyone, fall back away from the weblum!

Lance: It’s… it’s all gone.

Allura: I’m sorry, Pidge.

Keith: I wish we could’ve done more.

Pidge: Thanks, everyone.

Hunk: If you think about it, this isn’t really the end of Olkarion. Weblums eating dead planets is just the first step in a process that leads to the growth of new stars, planets, and galaxies.

Pidge: The old gives way to the new. We need to contact the Atlas.

Allura: Why?

Pidge: Because it turns out the Olkari weren’t done teaching us a few things. They showed me a way to track the robeasts. Their information is going to save billions of lives.

End.

#vld #voltron #transcript #pidge #allura #hunk #keith #lance #ryner #coran

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heuristicallyinclined · 5 years ago

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MallekWeek2020 Day 4 Writing Prompt

Chapter 4: Day 4: Mallek working through his feeling for someone Summary: MSPA Reader wants to ask Mallek a question.

Notes: Good luck predicting this chat.

They had come over a few nights after visiting Galekh to hang out with you. Normally you two just chatted, enjoyed the silence, or played video games. Things were pretty chill tonight with the two of you hanging out on the couch and them catching you up on their very active social life and you with your coding progress. You knew they didn't understand all of what you were talking about, but they still were making an effort and were listening very attentively. It was pretty nice of them and you enjoyed just being able to talk to someone about it.

You had just finished updating them on your work when you noticed they looked a bit hesitant to speak, now not meeting your eyes and preferring to look off to the side. They clearly had something to say and the pause in the conversation was growing uncomfortable.

"what = up;" you kept your tone easy, trying not to look concerned. You knew they were pretty sympathetic and you didn't want them to feed off of your worry if something was already bothering them.

"Nothing! I just wanted to thank you again for showing up at Galekh's place like that. I know you're a busy guy so that was really cool of you." They smiled, but they were still stiff, this was clearly not all they wanted to say and you wanted to know what it was..

"like i said; its != a big deal; i had some free time;" You definitely made some free time for them when they called. Like they weren't too far, but you did drop everything you were doing for them. I mean you were friends. Friends do that.

They waited a bit before continuing on, "And I really appreciate it. You being fine with that and all of the other stuff. You've just been pretty easygoing about a lot of things in general and I know I say dumb shit all the time because of me being an alien and not getting Alternian stuff. Also just who I am as a person." They chuckled a little at the end and were getting a bit more anxious, they were starting to play with their hair.

You turned towards them on the couch. You wanted to put them at ease but also really wanted to see where this was going, if you could. "i like who you are as a person;" you teased.

They seemed a bit reassured by this and they gave you the smallest smile. “Thanks. And I'm kinda hoping you still will if I ask you something? I mean, can I ask you something?" their voice was getting higher at the end and they were finally looking at you again, looking sheepish, but hopeful.

Oh.

OH.

They noticed you were flushed for them? You mean you did slip up and call them cute while they were soaked. And said you would do anything for them during a video call that another person fucking heard. Also, you met them and immediately gave them your sign? Okay, maybe that last was a bit too obvious.

You were being pretty clear, but you thought they were shy or this just wasn’t translating for them. It would be dumb to hold aliens to Alternian romance and didn’t know if they had anything similar, not that you would ever ask. You even wondered if they were trying to be polite about it since you two were friends, but it’s pretty clear when they’re uncomfortable. You weren't expecting this tonight or for them to just come out with it like this. Guess they were just full of surprises.

"sure robobud; you know you can ask me anything;" you leaned towards them now, looking down at them softly. They looked up at you and while still tense, they seemed to calm down.

"That's good, okay so," they took a deep breath and looked up at you now more determinedly. Your attention was solely on them now, you wanted to hear what they wanted to say.

"What did I say to Galekh that made him so uncomfortable?"

What.

"what;"

So that did not go where you thought it was going. But they were pushing through, speaking rapidly before they lost their nerve.

"Like how when you were tattooing him I said he was crossing something off of the bucket list and he just full body cringed. And then you calmed him down by saying something I didn't understand. So that meant something very different to you two than it did to me and I want to know what so I don't say something dumb like that again to someone." They were looking at you a bit more optimistically now but that didn't stop them from adding," again, only if you're okay with it."

Well, you did say anything.

You didn't know that giving a bluebood a tattoo was going to result in the most uncomfortable conversation of your life with another person. The fact that this person was an alien who you were flushed for wasn't helping. They just didn't have the same cultural background meaning that you would have to go deeper into this than you would otherwise have to, not that you would ever even need to explain this to another troll. But still, you were their friend and it's probably better for them to be unaware and ask you these questions rather than someone who would just kick their ass.

You guess it took you a bit to process that with how they were looking at you. "Are you okay with it? You seem to be having a hard time."

"yeah; sure; i = good;"

"You were quiet for a little bit."

"i != was expecting you to say that;"

"Yeah, I could tell." They paused and perked up a bit, "wait, what did you think I was going to say then?"

"i != know; != that;" You weren't looking forward to getting into it, but they somehow managed to find the only topic of conversation that you wanted to talk about less than that. You consider for a moment, before just deciding to be direct with them.

"i mean you basically said he had a bucket list;"

They looked at you inquisitively. "Doesn't everyone?"

You just took a moment to take in the casual way that they just asked that. Either they were into some shit or this meant something wildly different for humans. You try again, hoping for the latter.

"what does that phrase mean to you;"

"A list of things you want to do before you die."

You took in a deep breath, pressing your palms together, and stared, "define things;"

"Like big life goals? Like learning how to play an instrument, or how to speak a new language, maybe running a marathon or climbing a mountain. Maybe traveling or getting a tattoo. Things that are kind of experiences that are aspirational."

Oh okay then.

"i get it; but why say it like that;"

"It’s for before you kick the bucket."

What the fuck.

They saw your look and said, "It is a metaphor. It means to die. Like I'm not one hundred percent sure where it came from but yeah. It sounds weird to actually dissect it."

"i mean; you could get culled if you did that here;"

At this they were confused, "why would that even matter?"

"The drones != like that;"

"Why would the drones even care?"

It was at this point you realized that there was a much deeper lack of understanding than you had previously anticipated. Like you weren't expecting much, but this was still a lot. So you just kinda jumped into it and tried to explain the whole thing with drones and quads as best you could without turning cerulean. Luckily they had already seemed to have a pretty decent understanding of quads because of their other friends’ personal lives and knew a lot about the brooding caverns from one of their jade friends. It was more they never picked up on the connection between the two.

Not that it mattered much since once they understood the implications of what they said, they were turning bright red, clearly embarrassed.

"I turned it into a sex thing. Oh poor Galekh." They covered their face with their hands and groaned. "I can't believe I turned it into a sex thing. Fuck, if you didn't play it off, I wouldn't be surprised if he just kicked me out of his hive then." You didn't tell them that that was probably the best case scenario since they were already mortified and things turned out okay for them anyways.

Trying to comfort them, you reply “i != worry about it too much; quad shit can get complicated for trolls; he would have gotten worked up about it somehow anyways; so it must be especially wild for an alien;”

“It was mostly just the introduction to them that was wild. The first time someone was trying to explain quadrants to me, it wasn't really an explanation of them so much as it was this indigo guy trying to convince me to be his matesprit since it would come with benefits, or anything else he could get. Yeah, so that was uh,” they mull over their next word carefully, “something."

"yeah; that = skeevy as fuck dude;"

“But otherwise it’s mostly that there are more kinds here that focus on different parts of a relationship. Like auspitism I am still a bit fuzzy on, I get kismesitude now, I have a moirail, and matespritship is basically analogous to what romance for humans is.”

That last little bit of information caught your attention immediately. So they did have something equivalent. That was promising at least, the fact that it was even a possibility. There were no chances of anything happening tonight though, not with the turns that conversation took. You still had mental whiplash from that.

It wasn’t hard for the two of you to slip back into the casual chatting that you had been doing before. It was just easy to talk to them. They started telling you some of the wilder antics that had been keeping them busy and some of it was hilarious. They had you laughing throughout and maybe you were imagining things, but you started to notice the way they would glance at you, how they smiled at you a little longer when you laughed, how it reached their eyes.

You were starting to feel a little bit better about your chances.

Notes: Getting some lighter chapters after angstier ones is self-care.

#mallekweek2020 #mallekweek #mallek adalov #hiveswap #homestuck #my writing

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whitecatgraycatblackcat · 4 years ago

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Fictober 2020, Day 2

Prompt: “That’s the easy part”

Original Fiction

Rating: G

Warnings: None

Word Count: 1396

“That’s the easy part!? Are you kidding me?”

I gestured down to myself, at my torn clothes with a few slits in the sleeves and a scorch mark on one of my shoes. I had had a few too many close encounters, and my clothes showed it. Lia smirked. “Yeah, easy peasy.” She still looked pristine, with only a few small slits on her right sleeve.

I just rolled my eyes. “Alright, where do we go from here, leader?” I couldn’t help the sarcasm that crept into my voice at the end - this had been Lia’s hare-brained plan from the beginning, and she had only barely convinced me to come along. At this point I was pretty sure I should have stayed home.

She gave me a pat on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, we’re almost there. We just have to go down this hall, take a right, then a left, then another right, jump across a short gap, then go one floor up.” I narrowed my eyes at “jump”, but kept my peace. “Alright, and what makes this worse than before?”

Lia pursed her lips. “Wellll, the part we’re going into now is even higher security than where we were, so the bots are going to be a few grades higher and a few kliks faster.”

I stared at Lia. “What? I barely made it past the first set, and now you’re telling me the bots ahead of us are even worse?” She gave me a grin. “You made it past them, though, right? And now you know what to expect.” I grumbled, and then acquiesced. “If you had given me more info upfront, I could have been better prepared.” She replied, “Yeah, but I couldn’t, so here we are.”

I turned to face the direction she said to go. “Fine, let’s just go. You lead the way.” She nodded, then walked past me. We crept along the hallway, trying to be as silent as possible so we didn’t set off any alarms. We had almost made it to the last turn when Lia accidentally tripped a sensor. Immediately panels in the walls slid open and five bots came out.

I could tell at a glance they were higher grade than the previous ones, and I wanted nothing to do with them. I leaped over Lia and the bots and started to run down the hall, stopping after I turned the corner. I knew Lia wouldn’t have too much trouble getting out of the situation, but I still wanted to check. She was barreling toward me, a goofy grin on her face and all five bots behind her. She kept zig zagging and jumping to miss the shots they were firing at her. As she got closer she called, “Your turn up next.”

I didn’t know what she meant until I turned to look down the hall. The “gap” she had mentioned was twenty feet across, and now I knew the reason she had been so insistent on me coming with her. I gave a deep sigh.

She came around the corner at a run, and as she did so I grabbed her and then jumped, unfurling my wings to their full span and rising to be out of reach of the bots. “I can’t believe this is why you were so insistent on me coming. You should have warned me at least.” She just smirked and said, “I told you, I couldn’t, and anyways, I knew you definitely wouldn’t come if I told you about this.” I rolled my eyes. She had me there.

I set us both down on the opposite side, careful to look around and make sure nothing was waiting for us. She noticed and replied, “We should be good for now, but let’s go. There should be stairs down the hall and to our right, and then the room is just off the stairs on the next floor up.” I nodded, giving my wings one more stretch and then carefully folding them back into their customary place against my back. No need to get a sprained wing out of this.

We crept the rest of the way, Lia taking more care than before since she had set off the last sensor. We made it up the stairs and down a hall, and then Lia motioned to a door. “Through here”, she whispered. We slipped through the door into a darkened room. I looked around, trying to tell why we were here, but Lia just motioned to go behind the desk. “We have to wait here, but,” she glanced over at a clock on the wall, “it shouldn’t be more than fifteen minutes or so.” I raised my eyebrow at her checking the clock and us having to wait, but I had come this far and figured I might as well trust her until the end.

It felt like forever, but eventually we heard the door open, and someone walked in, turning on the lights as they entered. As soon as the lights turned on Lia popped up, motioning me to do the same. I wasn’t insane, so I stayed crouching for a half second and heard her say, “Hello Mr. Haight, I hope you’re doing well this evening.”

At that I slowly stood up. So this was what she was up to. I saw a flabbergasted older gentleman looking at Lia and I. He was clean shaven, in a suit and apparently finishing up work for the day since he had his briefcase in hand. He stuttered as he said, “M-Ms. Lia, I wasn’t expecting you. H-how did you get in?” He looked around the room, as if he would be able to see an explanation laying around somewhere.

Lia simply gave a large smile and bowed. “Mr. Haight, you did hire me to audit your security system, and I just wanted to back-up my proposal. You seemed hesitant to believe that your system might not be sufficient for your needs, and I figured that giving you direct proof would be easier than me showing you charts and numbers. Especially if it was two ladies such as ourselves testing it, security amateurs.” She moved back against a bookshelf as she spoke, so that she could motion to both of us. I could tell from her tone what kind of client he was, and I snickered to myself. He really shouldn’t have gotten on Lia’s bad side.

Lia continued, “Your security is fully automated, with the latest tech and bots, but that’s your problem. Fully automated feels safer, but it’s bound to miss things that humans watching video cameras wouldn’t. Splitting your building into separate quadrants for security may feel more efficient and be cheaper, but it means no one has an integrated view and one quadrant may not always notify another of an issue.”

Mr. Haight still looked confused, but he slowly nodded. “Alright, Mrs. Lia, I see your point. I’ll set up a meeting so that we can discuss this in more detail.”

She gave another small bow. “Thank you, Mr. Haight. I hope you won’t mind if we take a shorter way out?” He nodded and waved his hand, still looking rather out of it, “Yes, go right out of this room and the elevators will be on your left just down the hall.”

Lia gave another small nod and then left, with me on her heels. Once we were outside the building and a few blocks away I said, “Really? Security? I thought your policy was to tell the truth to clients.” She smirked. “Well, it’s true for me at least, and what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” I gave her a side-eye at that comment. She was the one in security -- wasn’t she supposed to have the morals?

“Well, whatever. Does this mean tonight was charity? Based on your phrasing I thought I’d be getting something out of this.” She smirked again. “Don’t worry, once I get paid I’ll give you your cut.”

I shrugged. “Good enough. I would have made more my way, but, you know, to each their own.” She gave me a side-eye at that, so I grinned back. Thieves and security consultants don’t always have to be on two separate sides, after all.

#fictober20 #fictober #original #mywriting

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