#ch: dr. pepper

[oakstar519]

made an actually-half-decent doodle on my econ notes, decided to turn it into a very disappointed ghost

[strvy-bvllet]

guys i love life now because my mama gave me dr pepper life is complete

[katsukisfangirl]

you don’t unerstand how much i LOVE dr pepper i can’t even put it to word idc how dramatic that sounds

this also reminds me of some mha tweets i saw (i freaking love mha tweets) where shinsou (my king 🙏) was an absolute HEATHEN for dr pepper and it just felt so right like fym it’s literally canon

me when dr pepper:

[livsversionn]

¤¸¸.•´¯`•¸¸.•..>> 🎀 𝒜𝒷🏵𝓊𝓉 𝓂𝑒❢ 🎀 >>..•.¸¸•`¯´•.¸

My get to know me even tho idk how to do this but hii

☆Name:Olivia but u can call me Livi or Liv

☆Pronons:she/they

☆bisexual

☆Age-18

☆Birthday-October libra:)

☆My lil obsessions basically: adventure time ,mlp ,arcane,minecraft,tlou,stardew valley,but I'm a cheerleader ,aggtm,fran bow ,life is strange,hozier ,boygenius,taylor swift,girl in red ,cm ,house md,perks of being a wallflower

My spotify acc-https://open.spotify.com/user/3132yyj6lrc4cu42vranqwy5fuhu?si=dPPaaEUkQVKF_iHqpYHNBQ

☆My hobbies are drawing and reading and ofc gaming :)☆

My fav things☆- drinks-dr pepper ,lemonade,Pepsi,boba, food;strawberrys,pasta,sushi

Fav books:a good girls guide to murder ,girl in pieces

Also appreciation to my moots :) @imfckngfantastic @nosferatuv @strwbryslut @angry-oil-slick11 @ajayonsaturn @bi-dykes @lotti3sproph3t @fistbumpsnail @l0velyb0nes111 @sinsexnsalvation @scissorszex @vougeangell @heartswill-explode @ch-4-eri @flungoutofspaceik @izzy3clipse @impeterparkerstype @cloudofbutterflies @sophiasribbon99 @itscarlyyyxx appericate all you lovely ppl

Side note i yap alot tbh and post abt whatever

My straw page- https://straw.page/draw?bio=sapphoe

[50calmadeuce]

Ch. 28: Dorian

Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Top Gun: Maverick world, trademarked by Paramount Pictures Corporation. I do not claim ownership of the characters and the world that I am borrowing.

The story and situation I am creating are a work of my imagination and I do not ascribe them to official story canon. This work is for entertainment only and is not a part of the storyline.

I am not profiting financially from the creation and publication of this story, but I do hope it gives you happy thoughts.

These stories are my own, so please do not take them and use them for yourself without my permission. If you see them somewhere else, please let me know. :)

Jake paced in the hotel entryway while Chuck sat in one of the chairs.

"I knew I shouldn't have let her come here alone," Jake said, his frustration and worry evident.

Chuck looked up at Jake from his seat, his expression calm but understanding. "I actually have to agree with you. I didn't like the guy the first time I met him, but now I definitely don't like him." Chuck sighed. "If he did anything to her..." Chuck sighed.

Just then, two county Deputies walked through the front doors of the hotel.

"Lieutenant Seresin?" the older one with salt-and-pepper hair asked.

"That's me," Jake responded as the Deputy walked towards him.

The deputy gave Jake a nod, his expression serious. "I'm Deputy Harris, and this is Deputy Monroe. We need to talk to you about Dr. Dorian Stryker."

Jake's worry deepened, and Chuck stood up, his attention fully on the deputies. "What's going on?" Chuck asked, his voice steady but tense.

Deputy Harris glanced between Jake and Chuck before speaking. "We received a call from Dr. Stryker. He reported feeling threatened and intimidated by you during a meeting last night involving you. He claims it involved you and Mrs. Seresin."

Jake's eyes widened in disbelief. "That's not what happened. Y/N was just meeting with him to go over some research. I stayed at the bar to keep an eye on things."

Deputy Monroe stepped forward. "We're not accusing anyone of anything yet. We just need to get statements from both of you. Where is Ms. Seresin now?"

"That's the problem. We don't know. My wife came here this morning to meet with Dr. Stryker to finish up reviewing some data. I've tried contacting her, but she hasn't responded," Jake explained.

"Well, if I hadn't been with my wife for four years, I wouldn't expect a response either," the deputy replied.

Jake's jaw dropped, and Chuck stepped in. "Officer…"

"It's Deputy," the deputy corrected, pointing at his badge.

"I apologize, Deputy. Dr. Seresin always responds to texts. I've known her for almost five years. If I ever needed her, she's always let me know how to reach her."

Looking directly at Jake, the Deputy said, "Maybe she left you."

Jake shook his head. "She wouldn't. Y/N's not like that."

"Are you sure?" the Deputy asked, raising an eyebrow.

Jake started to get mad and Chuck placed a hand on his shoulder. "Look, Deputy. I've known Y/N a while now and she would never leave the Lieutenant here. She loves him too much."

The Deputy sighed. "Look. She's an adult. Does she have any medical problems?"

"No. She's just pregnant."

"Then there's nothing I can do for at least twenty-four hours." The Deputy paused. "Now, if there's nothing else, have a good day."

The two deputies nodded, turned around, and walked out of the hotel.

Jake turned to Chuck. "Did that really just happen?"

You heard a crackling noise and felt warmth emanating from somewhere as your eyes slowly opened. As your surroundings came into view, you slowly sat up and looked around, not recognizing where you were.

A huge fireplace with a roaring fire was a few feet in front of you, and the rest of the room had a rustic style. The couch you lay on had a red Aztec pattern adorned with bears and looked quite expensive.

Just then, Dorian walked in from another room, holding a tray. "You're awake, darling!" he said, setting the tray in front of you. It held eggs, bacon, a biscuit, and a glass of orange juice. "Please, eat. I'm sure you're famished."

You looked at the tray and then at him. "Dorian, where am I? How did I get here?" You thought a moment and then it hit you. The coffee. "You drugged me."

He smiled with a look you had never seen before. "You're home."

Your eyes scanned the room. "This isn't my home."

His eyes, deep and intense, locked onto your, the air humming with unspoken tension. "This is your home now," he stated, his voice a low rumble, laced with a hint of something you couldn't quite place – concern? Determination? Perhaps a veiled warning.

And the air wasn't just thick, it was infused with the unspoken weight of Dorian's words. With his declaration, he had not merely handed you a roof over your head, but a responsibility, a new chapter in your life. This wasn't just a house, it was a fortress, a sanctuary, and perhaps, a prison.

He wasn't giving you a choice, not this time. He was making a decision for you.

"What do you want, Dorian? If it's money, I'll give it to you," you responded.

Dorian's smile tightened, his eyes narrowing slightly. "It's not about money, darling," he said, his tone disturbingly calm. "It's about keeping you safe, keeping us safe. This world is dangerous, and I can't bear the thought of something happening to you or our baby."

You felt a chill run down your spine as your hand went to your belly. "Our baby? Dorian, this isn't right. I need to go back. Jake is going to be worried sick."

Dorian's expression hardened. "Jake doesn't understand what's at stake here. He can't protect you like I can. I've been watching you, Y/N. I know what you need, even if you don't realize it yet."

You stood up, the sense of unease growing. "Dorian, this is madness. You can't just take me away from my life. Let me go, and we can figure this out together, rationally."

He stepped closer, his presence imposing. "No, Y/N. You're staying here where it's safe. You and our baby. We'll be happy here, I promise. Just give it a chance."

You took a step back, trying to keep your voice steady. "Dorian, I can't stay here. I need to go back to my husband, to my life. Please, let me go."

Dorian's expression softened slightly, but the intensity in his eyes remained. "Y/N, I know this is hard to understand right now. But you'll see, in time. You'll see that this is the best thing for all of us."

As you stood there, the gravity of the situation sinking in, you knew you needed to find a way out. Dorian's delusion and possessiveness were clear, and the only thing that mattered now was escaping and getting back to Jake.

"Dorian," you began, trying to keep your voice calm and measured, "I understand that you're worried about me, but this isn't the way to go about it. If you care about me, you'll let me leave."

Dorian's face softened momentarily, as if considering your words, but then he shook his head resolutely. "No, Y/N. You don't understand. I can't let you go. You're safer here with me."

Your mind raced, searching for a way to diffuse the situation and buy yourself some time. "Why? Why me?"

Dorian chuckled. "Are you really that naive, Y/N? If it wasn't for you helping me with that first book, I wouldn't have gotten as rich as I did. I need you on this project and many more. We work so well together." His eyes glared. "We need to be together for it to work."

The truth struck you like a blow, and you took a deep breath, trying to steady your racing heart. Dorian's obsession wasn't just about you—it was about his career, his success. You had to keep him talking, to find a way to escape his grip.

"Dorian," you began, carefully choosing your words, "I understand that my help has been valuable to you, but this isn't the way to secure my support. If you force me to stay, I'll never be able to give my best. You need to let me go, so I can work with you willingly."

Dorian shook his head, his expression a mix of frustration and determination. "You don't get it, Y/N. I've tried the other way. I've tried asking, negotiating, but you always have an excuse, something else taking priority." He threw a hand up in the air. "Like Jake." He looked at you. "He left you because you lost your child. I would never do that to you. For years I watched how he hurt you emotionally and I was always placed behind him. That's not going to happen again. I can't risk losing you again."

His words cut deep, and you could feel the weight of his obsession pressing down on you. "Dorian," you said softly, trying to maintain your composure, "I understand you're hurt and frustrated, but keeping me here isn't the answer. You can't build a future on coercion."

He took a step closer, his eyes blazing with a mix of anger and desperation. "But don't you see? This is the only way I can be sure. You always chose him over everything else. I can't let that happen again. I need you to see that I'm the one who truly cares about you, who will never leave you."

"I chose him over you because he was, and still is, my husband. That's how marriage works."

"He is not your husband! I am your husband!!" Dorian yelled as he stepped closer to you and held up his hand. "See! We even have a matching wedding set."

As you cast your gaze upon your hand, a sudden realization washed over you like an icy torrent. The familiar gleam of your wedding band had vanished, replaced by a set of opulent rings that you had never seen before. Your heart skipped a beat as a wave of confusion and unease swept through you. Your eyes darted up to meet Dorian's, their enigmatic depths holding an unsettling glimmer. A mixture of disbelief and trepidation bubbled within you as you tried to fathom the significance of this unexpected change. Your mind raced, frantically searching for an explanation, yet all you found was a haunting silence that seemed to weigh heavily upon the air. A myriad of questions surged through your being, each one more pressing than the last. Had you lost your mind? Was this some cruel prank? Or had your life taken an unexpected and inexplicable turn?

You slowly began to sit back down on the couch.

You stared at the rings, a chill running down your spine. "Dorian, this isn't real," you said, your voice trembling. "This isn't right."

"It's as real as it needs to be," he replied, his tone disturbingly calm. "We've always belonged together, Y/N. This is just the universe finally correcting itself."

Your mind raced, trying to process the surreal situation. "Dorian, you can't just rewrite reality. You can't just… make things happen because you want them to. This is insane."

He stepped closer, his eyes intense. "Insane? Insane is watching the woman you love choose someone else over and over again. Insane is knowing that she would be happier with you but being powerless to do anything about it. This," he gestured between the two of you, "this is clarity. This is fate."

You took a deep breath, trying to keep your composure. "Dorian, listen to me. This isn't fate. This is obsession. And it's dangerous. You need help."

"I don't need help," he said, his voice rising. "I need you to understand that we are meant to be together. Once you see that, everything will be perfect."

You stood up, backing away from him. "I can't see that, Dorian. Because it's not true. I love Jake. I always have, and I always will. You have to let me go."

His face twisted with anger. "I won't let you go," he snarled. "I can't."

Before you could react, Dorian grabbed your arm, his grip tight and unyielding. "You will stay here with me, Y/N. And you will learn to love me. Because I won't let you go."

Panic surged through you as you struggled to free yourself. "Dorian, let me go! You're hurting me!"

He didn't loosen his grip, his eyes wild with desperation. "No, Y/N. You belong to me now. And I'm never letting you go."

The room seemed to close in around you, the fire's warmth turning suffocating. You knew you had to find a way out, to escape this nightmare. But as you looked into Dorian's eyes, you realized that reason and persuasion were no longer options. You needed to act quickly and decisively, or you might never get another chance.

Chuck hung up his cell phone and turned to Jake. "We'll find her."

Confused, Jake looked at him. "What are you talking about?"

"I just got off the phone with your attorney."

Jake raised an eyebrow. "We have an attorney?"

"Lieutenant, there's a lot you still need to learn about your wife and her profession. Max will be here as soon as he can."

"Who's Max?"

"A friend of the family's. He's taking his private jet out here. So, until he gets here, let me tell you more about your wife as I make us some more coffee. I think we're going to need it," Chuck said as he went to the kitchen of the rental cabin.

Jake followed behind.

Tags: @buckysteveloki-me @bellyliveslife @tgmreader @callsign-barbell @86laura11 @dizzybee03 @kmc1989 @guacam011y @nerdgirljen @hookslove1592 @dempy @djs8891 @smoothdogsgirl

[totallynotagremlin]

Does a little jig*

I love ink and am now suffering, curse my drawing twacher for getting me into inks they are incredibly expensive

BUT DR PEPPER SCAR WHILE ALL YALLS WAIT ON CH 2 OF BLACK SHEEP should be out in the next few days

Fic. Is already in the works be terrified

[gyusprinc]

the party & the after party | teaser ??

an: hello i’m user gyuprinc! i have decided i wanted to start a smau for beomgyu of txt,, im posting a teaser because i want to see how many of you would be interested! so heres a basic synopsis

content: fratboy txt, there will be alot of dirty jokes throughout the series, yunjin is a chronic emoji user, sorority girl y/n

warnings: unalive joke, yj tells reader to wear smth sexy, spelling mistakes are on purpose 🥳

fic under the cut.. | ch one out now

yeonjun being apart of a frat means all of you are invited to his little parties, and you were never one to enjoy these things. yes, you are apart of a sorority but that doesn’t mean you love to party. you only did it because yunjin begged you to sign up with her during your freshman year, and now you’re stuck in it.

you sat on the couch with a red solo cup full of a dr. pepper in your hand as you sipped on it slowly, god frat parties were disgusting even sitting on this couch grosses you out.. who knows what people have done on here. yeonjun was off with his other “brothers” is what they called each other probably looking for some girls to hit on, yunjin was getting herself a drink and just then minho sat next to you. he was about the only regular one in this friend group. “come on y/n live a little while you’re in college, i mean im sure you can have a little fun?” he spoke loudly into your ear, it was fine this music made him hard to understand even if he was screaming. “i just don’t get it, no cute guys ever come up to me and plus it smells in here with everyones sweaty bodies all together..” you shook your head, followed along by a deep sigh “well.. we can watch yeon’s little frat brothers play cup pong, come on girl we can’t sit here all night.” lee know got up from the couch and reached out for your hand

you got up reluctantly as you gripped on his hand to lift yourself up and walk through the crowd of people. the bottom of your jeans were practically ruined now; note to self never wear baggy jeans to one of these again. minho lead you through the crowd as you stopped in a slightly smaller group of people who were chanting different names, you rolled your eyes at the scene, pathetic people really. you looked at the white ping pong ball be tossed into a red solo cup full of some sort of beer or alcoholic drink, that was actually a very good shot.. your eyes moved to who threw it. dark long hair with blonde highlights, he had a beautiful face my god.. wait? is that..

OK LEMME KNOW IF U WANT A FULL SERIES!!

[lacedinweb22]

Web of Lies (Miguel O’Hara x reader)

🕸️ Entangled series 🕸️ ch. 7 prev part

After the party and your falling out with Miguel, your isolation forces you to reflect… and so does the strange spider activity outside of your apartment.

cw: none

☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★

I ditched class for a whole week. I didn’t answer Miguel’s texts. I figured that the withdrawals from loving him would be less painful than the continuous aches from being strung along by someone I was hopelessly devoted to.

I sat up in bed, legs crossed and hovering over my textbooks, catching up on work. The rain pattered on my apartment window; the weather seems to be matching my mood lately. I flipped through our lab notebook, turning through the pages until I noticed a gum wrapper sticking out of the back. I flipped to that page to find a sketch of me, obliviously looking down at my notebook, which was perfectly centered and surrounded by the rest of a completely scribbled page of equations and chaos. Miguel drew me? When did– How–

I traced the curves and strokes of the carefully detailed sketch, graphite staining my fingertips. In the midst of chaos. I threw myself back onto the bed, replaying memories from the party: us standing across from each other in the crowd, the way his face was lit up by the lights, in the darkness, the way he looked at me, only me in the midst of chaos. I remembered him carrying me, the butterflies I felt, the way his eyes felt on mine, the way he stuck by my side the whole night, his drunken words in the bathroom. Something switched. I replayed our conversation in the bathroom. He said that I was the only girl, that he wanted to keep me away from everyone else at the party, keep me near him.

Fuck. Maybe I am oblivious.

It couldn’t have been clearer. I was a drunk asshole. I couldn’t have been more fucking self sabotaging and insecure, and it took so much from us, altering how the night could have gone. Maybe there was an “us” that I was too insecure to admit was there. I should have listened to him, given him a chance to speak.

My heart sunk, realizing what I had done. I reached for my phone and clicked on his name. Is it too late? Did I lose him? My finger hovered over the call button.

I breathed in and out, then clicked it quickly.

Straight to voicemail.

Fuck.

My screen then glowed green with a phone call from my mother. I picked up quickly.

“Ma? You never call this early, are you–” “Y/N, did you see? Spider-Man has been on your block all week. All week! Apparently he’s been lurking around there, so these freaks keep coming to him, trying to pick a fight. I mean Y/N, he caught that lizard freak who’s been living in the sewers, then that drug lord? It’s on the news right now, mijita! There’s reporters outside of your apartment! Haven’t you seen?— Why haven’t you been calling?”

I slowly stood up, walking towards my window. I moved the curtain to peek out; sure enough, there they were. Relentless news reporters and crowds of people standing out in the rain for him, loyal to a complete stranger, someone they think they know.

“I– I’ve just been busy, Mama. Ummm classes got canceled this week so I’ve been inside all week working on… a project. Don’t worry, I’ve been safe, ma, I’m good,” I lied to assure her. Why now? What’s he doing on this block—

“Mija, ten cuidado, maybe come home for a week, the countryside air will do you good,” she suggested desperately.

Memories of Miguel flashed across my mind: the jacked up dr. pepper, how he took so fucking long just to get it, how he came back flushed, hair messed up. ‘Impeccable senses’? I remembered everytime he cancelled or disappeared randomly on me. I remembered how close in height he was to Spider-Man, and how Spider-Man knew my name, how Miguel didn’t answer my call the night Spider-Man saved me, and Miguel always answered my calls.

He was a liar, and Spider-Man, and I was the oblivious idiot caught up in his web of lies.

I sat back onto my bed, sinking down in shock. This was a day of realization. Too much realization. Too much clarity.

I snapped out of it and put my focus back on my mom. “Ma, I’ll be safe here, I promise. I love you, mama, I really need to go,” I whispered into the phone. She said goodnight and I hung up quickly. I pulled on my raincoat, grabbed my backpack, our physics notebook, and headed for the door.

To be continued…

next part

my lovely taglist: @wingedturtledream @skaochii @bat-yo-us @lostpirate79 @renn-pumkin-head @princessa-micomicona @waiif-uwu @punpuun @thbidkbutok @acehyacinth @thetoetickler @kaqua @i-live-in-a-fantasy-daydream @inafantasyworld10 @d1lf-loverrr @altheadq @thesilenthill @trash-king18 @imnotyourbcbe @tiffanypooh @ihateuguys @littlemissilovecoconuts @royal-jester @that-one-weeb-buts-its-the-main @tbh2idk @gilliantate23 @envyjmoney @qiaipia @ur-fav-ginger @lacook246 @eddiestitmiguelsbigdick @blair6th @missing2socks @thel0velykey190 @ladymoztaza @ta3bae @dhollandhs

If you weren’t tagged but requested to be tagged, I TRIED but I think your tagging setting toggle is disabled! Message me or comment again to work it out 💋

[viktoriaashleyyx]

Thank you for the tag @yaralulu !! Its nice to feel included ♥

Describe your writing process from idea to posting/publishing?

I get the best ideas while driving or showering and then struggle to remember them later.

Its a mess, it truly is, i have thrown away everything my hs teachers taught me. I have 35 WIPs that as soon as I think of a scene, ill spit it out and then move onto the next. I am writing CH 15 of my fic while CH11 remains bare and empty.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I have no idea what a pantser is tbh, I just started writing 2 mos ago. Still catching up with the lingo and all the different sites I need to learn.

I generally have an idea of a plot, and at the top of every CH or Word doc I will write a brief synopsis of what I want to happen, but for the most part i am possessed by the characters and I am just as shocked as yall are about what came out of my fingertips.

What do you listen to when you are writing?

Studio Ghibli Study music. I draw a lot of inspiration from BVB, MIW, Heather Dale and Misbehavin Maidens, but while I am actually writing I cannot listen to lyrics because my ADHD paired with my dyslexia will have me out here just writing the lyrics down.

There might be a Tarquin Bonus Chapter coming that is based off The Maiden and the selkie by Heather dale but shhh!.

What’s your drink of choice(while writing)?

It depends on Time of Day but I am the stereotypical 3 drinks at once person: 1 for hydration (water), 1 for caffeine (tea or coffee, I have a terrible addiction to both), and 1 for fun (hot cocoa, dr. pepper, or kool aid)

Promote yourself! What’s your favorite thing you’ve written?

I do really like my main fic A Court Reborn, it is a self indulgent fun story to write and a few people seem to love it, which I am floored by. I honestly did not think it was going to do well being my first multi chap fic and all. It often has me crying over my keyboard going "Lucien will be happy if it kills me." While it is a Pro Tamlin, Tam x OC, It also focuses on building and encouraging Lucien and Nestas healing to set them up for Elucien and Neris respectively.

But I also love the accessibility of my one shots/ drabbles, reader fics. Not everyone has the time to invest into reading a full fic so a quick chap to make you feel better before you continue scrolling is great.

Share a fic of yours that you think is underrated/deserves more love.

I did kinda hope for Lucien and Eris Make Up to do better than it did, but I am a new writer, not everything is going to stick and do phenomenal. I like it, and thats what matters ♥

Do you have any advice for new writers?

Comparison is the thief of joy, but also, it is understandable that you would like some feedback for your writing, I feel the same way!

I miss a lot on here, if you are one of my moots and you feel your fic did not get enough love, tag me! Send it to me! I will hype you up!! I follow you for a reason, and that reason is that I think you are great and anything you post, even if we have never had a conversation before, I want to read it!!

What is a writing style/technique that others do really well that you'd like to get better at?

Slowing down, fleshing out the scene. I get too excited when I write and rely heavily on Cannons depictions of the places themselves. I feel I am getting better at it though and reading back through my fic I can see in real time my writing improve and I think that is pretty cool.

Is there a character you were surprised you enjoyed writing as much as you did?

Lucien. I am enjoying babying him. "Yes you are a powerful Heir to Day Court, but you also deserve head scratches and forehead kisses." No my OC is not going to end up with Lucien romantically, my goal is to convey a loving older sister figure to him. Yes there will be a part where she clashes with Eris over him "hes not YOUR little brother"/ "he is now"

On the flip side, Tarquin is proving more difficult. In my head he is so calm, cool and collected, but I myself am chaotic. I am trying so hard to do his character the justice he deserves.

I am tagging: @farintonorth @1800naveen @matrixsss @positivelyruined @merwgue @bxriles @sad-scarred-sassy

And anyone else!!

[ros3ybabe]

Daily Check-in September 10, 2023 🎀

I am so tired!!! This weekend has worn me out. I worked almost 9 hours on Friday, 13 hours on Saturday, and about 6 hours today, and I'm scheduled for another 9 hours at my job tomorrow. I'm so happy that I'm getting money for the things I need to buy but I'm so tired now.

Anywho, onto today's breakdown:

🩷 What I Ate Today:

Brunch - Two cheese breadsticks and half a slice of pepperoni pizza w 8oz of Dr pepper

After Work - One bowl of spicy Ramen w some fiesta blend cheese mixed in

Dinner - One home grilled cheeseburger and some baked French fries w ketchup and a can of Dr pepper

Extra - Three cups of coffee and a lot of water

It's not my best, but I'm tired, and I needed the energy. Hopefully, I can have something healthy tomorrow, like a smoothie or something for breakfast.

🩷 Personal Goals Achieved Today -

Did two loads of laundry (did not put away yet)

Showered and washed hair after work

Took out my trash (bedroom and bathroom)

Washed pillowcases and put back on my pillows

Planned out the upcoming week

Planned tomorrow mornings workout!!

I am planning on easing back into working out now that my back feels better. I'm trying to focus on some easier workouts that won't make it easy to re injure myself. I'm so excited to get back into my routine for the morning!

🩷 Productive Academic Accomplishments -

took and passed my PSYC Ch 3 Quiz

Passed the first 6/16 modules for a training certificate for my PSYC class

Almost completed my PSYC Chapter 3 Notes

Planned out homework for the week

🩷 Song of the Day - Workin Hard by Fujii Kaze

I was recommended to check this song out by a fellow blog, and it was the best decision I made, I absolutely love this song!! I would tag them, but I'm so sleepy that I don't wanna tag the wrong one!

I feel like today was definitely a good day to go easy on myself, work and productivity wise. I didn't want to stress myself out and I was successful, I think. Still trying to get my nutrition in order but it will all come together in time. I'm here for the journey to my best self, not some end goal. I never want to stop improving myself or learning.

I'm falling asleep as I type this, but I will be posting about my Japanese language goals tomorrow so stay tuned!

Til next time, lovelies 🩷

[oakstar519]

pov you got a little too heated during a gambit match and said some things you shouldn't have

[nightmaremp]

Weremayhem: The Hunters. Ch 4: Camp of the Hunters

The mayhem follows the scent of the hunters and their band leader. The newfoundland dog suddenly stopped near the tree lines. Animal hid behind a tree and kept looking ahead of the tree line. The rest of the band catch up to the drummer. 

“What is it, Animal?” asked Floyd Pepper with a raised eyebrow. The hound points forward, to a small clearing some feet away from the tree line. The werewolf looks at the direction that Animal is pointing at. His eyes grow wide with horror. 

There were the hunters sleeping on the ground with some fur as blankets to keep warm. All the crystalsaurus were laying on the ground, asleep. The beasts was sleeping in a circle around Dr. Teeth. The feline was still out cold from the dart. 

“There he is,” said Floyd in a quiet voice as he looked. 

“But, like, how are we going to get him?” replied Janice with her ears pinned to her head. 

“I don’t know,” replied the gray wolf as his ears slowly went down to his head. 

“They have their animals guarding the doc. We can’t get past them if we try. One tiny sound could wake them up. It's….hopeless” he added. 

“No! It’s not!” snapped Zoot as he bared his fangs at the werewolf. “We can still save him” he added as he let out a sigh. 

“How?” replied Floyd with a bit of a glare. He didn’t like the sloth baring his fangs at him. Zoot was quiet for a few seconds before answering the gray wolf. 

“We will wait until morning and then we can sneak up on them” replied the sloth. 

“You sure that is going to work?” replied Floyd Pepper with a raised eyebrow. 

“It doesn't hurt to try,” replied Zoot. The saxophonist looks over at the sleeping Cheshire smilodon. 

“Don’t worry, doc. We will get you back” he said in his mind. 

Hours pass before the morning sun starts to rise up into the sky. The sky was slowly turning into a reddish orange color. Lips and Floyd were up watching while Zoot, Janice, and Animal slept on the ground. The trumpet player was in his wereblood form, same with Floyd Pepper. 

Meanwhile, the skeksis had started to wake up from their sleep. The albino skeksis let out a yawn that showed off all of his sharp teeth. The hunter looked over at Teeth, who was still asleep. Dr. Teeth was in normal form, he was naked. His ginger hair was all over the ground. It made him look like he was having a hangover. 

The blue feather skeksis started to wake up. She stretched out like a house cat. Her stomach growled a bit. “I’m hungry,” said skekSz with a small whimper. The other hunter let out a grunt before walking over to one of the crytalsaurus. He took out a slice of weremouse meat again and threw it to his mate. 

A smile formed on her beak before she took a bite of the raw meat. The blue feather female’s tails wagged as she ate the meat like a vulture. Her sharp beak ripped pieces of the meat before chewing it with her sharp teeth. 

The albino skeksis walk over to the sleep Teeth. His eyes narrow at the ginger haired male. A snarl forms on his beak for a few seconds before walking back over to his mate. 

Back with Floyd and Lips, The red haired male was trying not to fall asleep. The trumpet player on the other hand was keeping his eyes on the hunters and the doc. Lips noticed that Floyd Pepper was slowly falling asleep. 

The blonde male lightly smacks the red haired male on the back of his head. Floyd quickly sat straight up with wide eyes. “Did I fall asleep?” he asked. Lips shake his head no. 

“Good” replied the red haired male with a sigh. “Anything new happened?” he added. 

“No” mumbles the trumpet player as he keeps watching. Nothing really happened. 

After a few minutes, Teeth started to wake up. “Huh?” he slowly sat up, unaware about the net on him. “What happened?” he asked himself as he rubbed his head. 

“You’re finally awake” said skekRey as he walked over to the ginger haired male. The doc’s eyes went wide. He looks up and stares the skeksis dead in the eyes. 

“You…” growl the good doctor. He bared his teeth at the hunter. “Where the hell am I?!” he snarled. 

“Far away from your friends. For now, you’re just here near the mountains” replied skekRey. His blood red eyes look at the ginger haired male. 

“I see you have a new look to you” the wereanimal hunter added with a cruel smirk. 

Rage filled the doc’s body. He suddenly tries to jump at the albino skeksis but the net stops him. The good doctor was growling at skekRey. 

“It’s good to see you,” said the albino skeksis. 

“Fuck you” snarled Dr. Teeth. His eyes were slowly turning gold. The ginger haired male’s nails started to grow long and sharp. His fangs got a bit long. 

The hunter let out a chuckle. “I think I should be saying that.” he replied with a smirk. 

“Soon, you will be living in a life of fighting. Making that Russian frog a lot of money.” the albino skeksis added. 

“Constantine” growled Teeth. He wasn’t surprised. 

“Oh? You know the frog, huh?” replied skekRey with a raised eyebrow. The albino skeksis turns away from the good doctor. He pulled out some raw meat from a bag. It was the meat that his mate was eating. 

“You should eat before your trip. The frog wouldn’t like to have his prize hungry on the open sea” he said as he threw the meat through the opening of the net. The opening was for carrying the net. 

“Eat up” said skekRey with a dark laugh before leaving Teeth alone with the raw meat.

[hazel-of-sodor]

A Life Well Lived

Ch.4 Exit Stage Right

Other Stories

Other Chapters

The cool September air was a welcome feeling on Topham's skin as he leaned against Edward. He had walked over to speak with his old friend while waiting for his train. Edward was telling him about some of the antics the others had gotten into since he retired, but he just couldn't seem to focus. He was so tired... Oh.

"Edward?" He interrupted.

"Yes sir?"

"Could you call Lady Jane over here?"

As Edward whistled for her, Topham lowered himself on to a crate that had been left in front of the engine.

"Sir, are you alright?" Edward asked with worry.

"I'm sorry Edward, but I don't think I'll be getting back up from here."

Edward looked confused for a moment before he understood. "Sir..."

Edward sounded smaller than he had in years.

"It's quite alright, Edward," Topham reassured him, placing a hand on the nearest buffer. "I've known this was coming."

His wife rounded the corner of Edward only to stop cold, "Oh...Derek..." She whispered.

"I'm afraid we'll be late to the picnic my dear." 

 "You'll make it up to me, you always do," she said, brushing away tears.

"I'll be waiting for you with the basket ready my dear."

"You had better be." she said with a broken laugh.

Topham chuckled weakly only for it to break into a coughing fit. When it stopped he turned back to Edward.

"If I may ask one last thing of you, Edward?"

"Anything Sir."

"I've been advising Charles as best I could, but he will need someone else he can trust to advise him as controller now. Will you help him for me?"

"Always. I promise Sir, I won't let you down." Edward said, tears finally hitting his footplate.

Topham smiled, "You never have old friend."

The station porters ran up with a stretcher. "Don't worry Sir, well have you to the hospital in no time."

"Its too late for that I'm afraid."

"Sir?"

"Its alright boys, I've got him from here." A man with white peppered hair and white coat strode up.

"Doctor Stephens. I knew I should have had an apple this morning." His laugh quickly turned into a shaking cough.

The Doctor pulled out his briefcase. When he laid his stethoscope against Topham's chest he sighed deeply.

"You had to be right one last time, Derek."

He looked up towards Jane, "I'm sorry Jane, but it would be best just to take him home.  He'll be more comfortable there, and theres nothing I could do at the hospital that I cant do there."

Derek reached up and grabbed Jane's hand. "Thank you, Doctor."

Dr. Stephen closed his brief case, "I only wish I could do more old friend."

He helped the porters lay Derek on the stretcher, and the group began walking towards a tram waiting to take Derek home.

Edward watched the tram until it was long out of sight, tears coating his running board.

------

Sir Topham Derek Hatt passed away at his home in Wellsworth on September 5th, 1956, surrounded by his family. Moments later, whistles and horns began sounding out across the Island. One last farewell, to the Fat Controller, and a life well lived.

[scrapsovereign]

That One Time I Got Kidnapped By An Evil Vampire Lord Ch. 2

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/57838303/chapters/147393754#workskin

Summary: To say that Mackenzie's day starts off on the wrong side of the bed is an understatement. A stranger shows up at her work and is about to make her day a lot more interesting.

Pairings: past Ascended Astarion x Evil male!Tav, Ascended Astarion x Original Female Character

Trigger warnings/Tags: cheating, intimate partner violence, abusive relationships, medical settings, body shaming, internalized fatphobia

Renton Highlands, Washington  

Thursday, August 21rst 

8:30 AM 

“What’s the deal with Nurse Brad? He blood sugar shamed me, which I think was low-key fat-shaming,” Mackenzie complains, her mouth full of breakfast sandwich. “I’m getting bro podcast vibes from him,” she says out one side of her mouth as she chews her food with the other.

She reaches into Rob’s cup holder and takes a sip of the Annihilator she’d ordered from Dutch Bros. She takes a moment to savor the taste of 6 espresso shots, half and half, and white chocolate macadamia nut while Rob finishes chewing to say his piece.

“Lo-ki? I need the Thor-ough details- ohwhoathere!” Rob’s eyes go wide at the Tesla that almost side-swiped his Subaru Outback as he drives down the road to Mac’s.

“He said that if I went paleo and went to his CrossFit gym my A1C wouldn’t be so bad. Like excuse me, I’m on my feet all day already, and today’s the first time in weeks I’ve had fast food and a fancy coffee drink. Oh! And that I need to start reframing my paradigm to embody a ‘high value female’,” Mac rants, imitating the tone of voice Brad used with her earlier. “What does that even mean?!”

“I hate it when dudes say ‘females’,” Rob says, letting his long, salt and pepper brown hair down from its bun. 

“Right? It's so Ferengi-coded. Like, try me again when you have the latinum, small-ears…you haven’t got the lobes,” Mackenzie snickers, Rob utterly lost on what Star Trek deep lore she’s referencing.

“Is that the Star Track? What do they say, ‘Live long and let the force be with you’?” He says with a mischievous grin, turning down Mackenzie’s street.

Mackenzie sighs, taking another long sip of her coffee drink to hide her annoyance. “Yep. And also with you,” she says, deadpan. 

Rob pulls up on the side of the street across from the house she rents with Ari and turns the car off, squinting at her driveway. “Whose car is that?” 

Mac feels that all-knowing lump inside her gut solidify as she sets eyes on her car beside the other in the driveway.

“That’s Ari’s friend Jasmine, they met at ECCC this year,” Mac says blandly, taking another bite of her half-finished breakfast sandwich. 

It turns to ash in her mouth.

She gulps it down, wrapping up the other half and shoving it into her work backpack. Hopefully she’ll remember to eat it on the way back to work. 

Her phone buzzes in her hands- it’s her boss, Amanda.

“Hey-“

“Are you okay? How are you feeling? Are you still there? Do you need someone to come get you?” Amanda blurts out in a run-on sentence.

Mackenzie’s throat feels tight contemplating Amanda’s concern for her. 

Rob’s attention perks up from his phone. “Is that A-man-da Hug n’ kiss?!” He asks excitedly.

“Is that Bobbertina I hear? Heeeeeey Bobby boy!” She shouts, her voice easily heard through the phone’s speaker.

“You know, you can do this over text, or the D and D sessions where you see each other every week,” Mackenzie says flatly, watching Rob shake his head.

“Nah, it wouldn’t hit the same, you know? Hey, so, how you feelin’ Mac? Should we see you tomorrow?” Amanda asks, offering Mac the out if she wants to take the day off. 

Mac sighs wearily, rubbing her forehead. “Nah…I’m coming in. I don’t have any PTO left for a full day. Probably about 10 at the latest?” 

“Hmmm…if you’re sure…okay. Dr. Anderson called off, so it’s inbasket hell- I mean, fun for you today. I’ll help cover until you get in,” Amanda says proudly, her car door closing in the background of the call. 

Mackenzie feels a chill come over her- Amanda working in anything else other than her nurse triage inbasket is a nightmare. 

She’d better get to work before Amanda makes too much of a mess in there.

“Sounds like a plan. I’ll see you then,” Mac says lamely. She likes her unhinged grand-millennial manager, but always feels awkward wrapping up a conversation with her.

“Okay, see you soon!” Amanda exclaims before ending the call. 

Mackenzie slumps in the car, closing her eyes for a moment to steady the flip-flopping of her stomach. 

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay home?” Rob asks, his brow furrowed in worry. “Ari’s home, he could help take care of you.”

“No…he’s streaming today and I don’t want to impose on him…” Mac slides further down in the seat, hoping that it renders her invisible. 

Rob’s jaw tenses, his fingers tap on the steering wheel. “You’re too nice. He’s supposed to do that for you, you know that, right? Sickness and health and all that?” He states to the road ahead of them, turning to look Mac in the eyes.

“I do,” Mac sniffles, fidgeting with a straw wrapper in her hands. “It’s funny. I spent all night wishing he would reach out and now I don’t want to go inside and see him. Or talk to him.”

Rob sits quietly with her, allowing her the space to feel her grief as it permeates the silence between them. 

“Kim said they couldn’t find anything wrong,” Mac says after a few moments, unable to tolerate the intensity of her unspoken sadness any longer. “She thought that maybe I was pregnant, but my HCG was negative and nothing showed up on the imaging. Which is fine, I don’t think I could take care of a kid right now.”

“I agree, one kid is enough,” Rob observes, curling into a ball, his gangly limbs shielding himself from the straw wrapper that hits him in the face. 

“Hmmph! Give not into anger, for that is the path to the dark side! Much fear I sense in you, young Skywalker.” He exclaims in his best Yoda impression. “But no really, Maccy. You’ve gotta be having some big feelings, you have health stuff going on, and you need some support. Have you tried to explain how you feel to him with your ‘I messages’?”

Mac huffs a laugh, wishing it was that easy. “You think I haven’t? Nursing school Jedi Mind tricks don't work.”

“Have faith in the force, padawan,” Rob says dreamily, switching to his rather good Obi Wan Kenobi impression.

“Listen. I did that when I went full motivational interviewing interrogation mode on him after he gave me COVID the first time. He said I’d picked it up from work, but then I found out about Sara, and that he got it from her and gave it to me because they were…you know.”

“I…” Rob flexes his arms, rolls his neck to the side to stretch it. “I know you’ve forgiven him, but I haven’t,” he states evenly, quietly. A sign that Mac knows he’s angry. 

Mac unintentionally twists the ring on her finger as he mentions it. “Yep, that’s…yep. Well, if anything we’ll have a chance to talk about it tonight when he wants to bang and I have to explain why we can’t. I should probably head on in and get cleaned up. Thanks for letting me crash in that empty stock room after I got discharged.”

Rob yawns and nods, leaning over the seat to give Mackenzie a tight hug. 

“No problem, facilities owed me a favor. Anything for you, anytime. You need help inside?” His brows pitch upwards, ready to spring into action. 

Mackenzie winces as she gathers her things, opening the car door, seeing it scrape on the brown grass of the curb.

“I’ll be fine,” she smiles. She’s lying to him.

Rob smiles back and turns the key in the ignition. He knows.

Mackenzie trudges to the door, goes to open the lock, but feels no resistance. She opens the door quietly, mindful of the background audio that might pick up on his stream. 

She steps over the craft foam and fabric, pins and half-finished garments as she makes her way to the kitchen table. She lets out a heavy sigh in disapproval when she sees the cookie sheet that lies directly on it littered with bagel bites, half-eaten and grown cold.

She has her work backpack almost empty when she hears the sounds of two voices moaning together, one male, the other female.

A wave of nausea surges through her, her limbs going numb.

No. That can’t be it. He’s not cheating on her with Jasmine in their bed. Mac is just being crazy again. He’s probably just watching porn. Yeah…Ari’s just taking a break from streaming Minecraft speedruns to jerk it, it’s not the first time he’s done it.

Her guts ache, a ripple of deep knowing washing over her so strongly it almost knocks her over. It helps her remember Jasmine’s car is still in the driveway, helps her see the line of discarded clothing in the hall... 

“Mmm, Ari…you fuck my pussy so good, ” the female voice echoes from the bedroom door.

Mackenzie has to be hearing things. 

Yes, it’s just an intrusive thought, she’s more than likely going crazy and hearing things others can’t hear. It would make sense- she’s sleep deprived, not feeling well, and she’s in pain. She’s just losing it, she didn’t actually hear anything, she’s imagining things.

That is, until she hears it again, accompanied by a rapid cacophony of combined moans and wet flesh slapping together.

“Yes, Ari…yes just like that…I’m gonna fucking cum on your dick daddy, ooohhhh…Ariiiiiii… ”

“That tight little hole feels so good, Jas! Cum for me, cum for daddy… ”

The floorboards creak underneath her feet as Mac tries to stealth down the hall, giving her presence away. 

Mac takes a deep breath or five to still her pounding heart. 

“Get dressed Jas, I think Kenz is home… ”

Ari’s panicked instructions all but confirm what her intuition is telling her. It did the same when she had caught him in the act with Hayleigh, a 16 year old fan that he’d brought to their hotel room at PAX last year. Mac recalls with deep shame that Ari had almost successfully gaslit her into thinking the whole thing didn’t happen. Ari might have gotten away with it if Hayleigh’s father hadn't shown up at their door 2 months later, angry as hell and demanding $750 to cover the cost of her termination.

She walks quietly towards the hall closet, opening the door carefully, pulling her go-bag out that her therapist insisted she make. 

She wraps her tingling hand around the master bedroom door, making a mental checklist of the additional contents in her room she needs to grab, keeping her mind busy to forget the sudden urge to vomit all over the floor.

The open door reveals Ari and Jas, but not in the position she expected to find them. She takes stock of what she sees, trying to ground herself in the facts. 

Ari and Jas are sitting on the bed next to each other against the headboard, disheveled and flushed, wearing what could be interpreted as sleepwear. They’re an odd pair. Jas is a tiny thing that couldn’t be taller than five feet and some change and a hundred pounds soaking wet, Ari being a few inches over six feet tall and built like a comic book hero-well, a retired one. He had a bit of a gut and some fat under his chin that he’s self conscious of.

If she had only given Ari a brief glance, he would pass her inspection with flying colors. He’s been known to walk around the house with only gym shorts on. The sight of his broad, naked chest with the slight bit of a tum hanging over the elastic waist isn’t suspicious. 

The pillow he has on his crotch is, though. 

So is the musky, slightly fishy odor of sex lingering in the air. 

Mac notices Jas’ long black hair has been pulled into a tight, hasty ponytail. Her small, slender body is slick with what she thinks is sweat even though the shirt of Ari’s she has on is dry. Her dark eye makeup around her jade eyes is smeared in streaks down her face. 

Mac then turns her scrutinizing gaze back towards Ari. He beams at Mac with his ice blue eyes, sweeping back his bleach blonde hair to show its mousy brown roots, putting his muscular, trembling arm on display. 

“Oh…ah, hey there Kenz. Aren’t you supposed to be on your way to work?” He inquires with his SoCal accent (that he claims isn’t an accent), his thumb drumming on the pillow he has atop his lap.

“Yes,” Mackenzie says calmly as she desperately tries to keep her shit together, “Usually I am.” She throws extra clothes into the bag unceremoniously, turning sharply to grab her ADHD meds out of the bathroom.

“Kenz…it’s good to see you,” Jas calls politely from where she’s perched on the bed. 

Mackenzie ignores her, looking down at the bathroom trash can briefly. 

It’s clean for once, after two months of reminding Ari to take it out.

Interesting.

“Is it?” Mackenzie asks, her eyebrows raised, her voice pitching up to a squeak.

“Why would you say that babe?” Ari asks, swallowing thickly. 

Mackenzie stares at him, emotionless. 

“Look, you guys,” she starts, zipping up her pack, throwing it over her shoulders. “It’s pretty clear what was going on before I came in.”

“We…we were uh, just waking up,” Jas stammers. “Ari was about to start streaming and I was going to keep working on our cosplays,” she says playfully, twirling her ebony hair idly with her long, manicured nails.

Nails that match the welt marks forming on Ari’s shoulders. 

“Gotta rise and grind, huh?” Mac snarks, her voice catching in her throat. 

She looks at her bedside alarm- she’s lingered too long, she’s going to be more than a few minutes late if she doesn’t leave for work now.

“You know it babe! ‘The Might Way is the right way’,” Ari smirks, parroting the way he says his catchphrase from his stream. 

“I’m sure it is,” Mackenzie clips out as tears sting the corners of her eyes. She makes her way out of the bedroom, the fibers of the tan carpet crushed underneath the stomping of her feet.

“Kenz,” Ari calls out as Mac walks swiftly down the hallway, ignoring him. “Kenz!”

She grabs her keys and her work bag, ready to walk out the door when his large, calloused hand grabs around her wrist.

“Hey. What’s going on? You didn’t come home last night,” Ari asks, his voice low and soft. 

“Yeah, well, that’s because I was in the ER,” Mac snaps, wrenching her hand away from him. 

“Why didn’t you tell me?,” he furrows his brow in worry, reaching up to cup the side of her face with care. “Why didn’t you text or call?”

Mackenzie flinches, pulling away.

“I could ask why you didn’t do the same. You know, I had been in the ER alone for almost four hours when I saw you replied with kissy heart faces to Jas after she’d tweeted about coming over,” she counters. 

“You’re acting crazy,” he coos, brushing his thumbs that smell like somebody’s else’s genitals against her cheekbones. “It’s just an emoji, it doesn’t mean what you think.”

A strong wave of nausea rips through Mackenzie- she really is going to vomit all over her husband if she doesn’t leave now. She backs away from him and opens the front door to leave.

Mac pauses and turns around to look Ari dead in his arctic blue eyes.

“You know what? This is stupid. Ari, I heard you and Jas when I came home. I know why you didn’t check on me. You were so busy fucking Jas you didn’t even think about me, where I was. You know where I slept last night until Rob was done with his shift?” she rasps, wiping away the fat tears that drip down her cheeks. “A closet. I slept in a storage closet with a pile of musty hospital blankets while you screwed and slept in our bed! Rob had to bring me home-“

“Rob brought you home ? You’re cheating on me with him, aren’t you?” Ari recoils in disgust.

Mackenzie shakes her head, so angry with him she’s unable to think of a reply she won’t regret later. 

“I have to go to work. At least I’m getting paid to get fucked over when I’m there,” she sobs out, barely able to see the sidewalk as tears stream down her face, power-walking to her ancient Toyota Camry. 

“Wait, Kenz, please,” Ari whines, following her to the driveway as she tosses her bags unceremoniously in the car and pauses to hear him say his piece. 

“What are we doing for dinner?” He asks like he hadn’t just accused her of cheating on him.

“Un-fucking-believable,” Mackenzie curses under her breath, slamming the door, turning the ignition and peeling out of the driveway faster than her sedan was built to do.

She doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry as she sees Ari chase after her car barefoot down the street in nothing but his gym shorts, so she does both.

…until she sees her check engine and her gas light flicker on.

Downtown Seattle, Washington  

Mercy West Medical Group Primary Care Clinic

Thursday, August 24th 

10:30 AM

“Hey boss, I’m here- what happened to you?” Mackenzie’s eyes rake over the crime scene of a nurse manager.

Amanda closes her eyes tightly shut as she tips her head back, holding pressure to a nose stuffed with cotton balls that had dripped blood into her mask. 

“So…we had a walk-in for chest pain…no insurance, of course, not our patient. And so I figure I’ll just grab him, do a quick EKG, make sure he’s not dying,” she gestures with her free hand. 

“When I go to grab him and take him back…Mackenzie Elizabeth Eriksson, with the Flying Spaghetti Monster as my witness, I didn’t think the anime thing of having a nosebleed was real,” she nasally groans, changing hands to continue holding pressure. “I was today years old when I learned it was real.”

“Did you get vitals? Does he still need an EKG?” Mac inquires smoothly, positively dead inside. She prays to whoever’s listening that Amanda can’t tell.

“Yeah, orders are in, machine’s in there. He’s in room 7. His name’s Rion Ahncooneen. Ankhunin? I didn’t ask him how to say it, you get the idea. And uhh Maccy? You might wanna prepare yourself for this one. You ever seen Labyrinth?” Amanda side-eyes her, lifting the tissue to check and see if her bleeding has stopped.

“A long time ago, why?” Mac asks, all business as she writes his name and exam room on a sticky note, her gut tingling in an odd way she can’t explain.

“You…uhm. You’ll see what I mean. I didn’t think people that pretty existed in real life, but here we are,” she chuckles, tipping her head back again. “Hey, you alright?” 

Mac cringes at being called out. Of course Amanda can tell she’s upset. She can always tell.

“No, and if I start talking about it, I’m going to start crying and I won’t be able to stop,” Mac sets down her personal and her work bag on the chairs in her boss’ office, grabbing her stethoscope. 

Amanda eyes her go bag with somber recognition.

“I’m here for you, Cheesy. Anything you need. I have a copy of my house key in my desk- top right drawer. You can take the spare bedroom, I’ll wash the sheets and everything-“

Amanda must really be serious if she’s calling her Cheesy, the name Mac had received from an angry patient while they worked together at urgent care during the early days of the pandemic. Mac gives her a quick side hug in reply, avoiding her eyes, and marches down the hall, catching a generous glob of hand sanitizer foam when she reaches halfway there.

She opens the exam room door, rubbing sanitizer over hands that don’t feel like they belong to her, putting her best patient care game face on. 

“Hi, I’m Mackenzie, I’m one of the medical assistants here. I’m going to get an…an…” Mackenzie’s brain shorts out, her stuttering words robbed of her as she stares at the shirtless man in the exam room. 

Amanda calling him pretty is the understatement of the century.

The corners of his eyes tug up at her with a cocked eyebrow. He leans back on the exam table where he sits, playfully puffing out his hairless, smooth, perfect tits as if on purpose. 

Oh no. He knows he’s pretty. 

Mac exhales, annoyed at his preening. He’s one of those. Great. Just…great. 

She rakes her eyes over him critically; down to the slender, cut muscles of his abdomen and back up to the sharp, delicate features of his face covered by the blue surgical mask.

This is a man who takes great care in his appearance, unlike Ari. His skin practically glows in the fluorescent light of the exam room. His short nails are impeccably manicured with a layer of clear polish, his silver brows shaped to perfection, with a hint of kohl lining his eyes. His black lightweight woolen trousers hug his waist perfectly. She eyes the crisp white linen shirt that hangs on the door with a blazer that matches his pants- they probably cost as much as her rent. 

“Yes darling, you were saying?” he states airily in a posh British accent that sounds like silk velvet would feel, carding an elegant hand through his impossibly perfect, long silver waves. 

“EKG. Yep. What’s your name and birthday?” She requests, flipping the machine screen up to put in the information. 

“Rion Ancunìn. October,” he pauses to think about it, his head tilted to the side. “October the fourth…1983.”

Huh, a Libra. That explains the pompous airs he puts on. 

“Birthday’s coming up soon. Any plans for the big 4-0?” She inquires with empty interest. 

“You could say that,” he drawls flirtatiously. “Nothing set in stone as of yet, but I suppose a bit of hedonistic debauchery might be in order for the occasion.”

Mackenzie pauses and blinks after she takes out the leads and alcohol swabs from the machine, reflecting on the phrase ‘hedonistic debauchery’. She’d more or less grown up under a rock, she doesn’t know the first thing about what that’s supposed to be. She’s dying to know more, but isn’t a question like that inappropriate?

Mac’s impulsivity wins. “I might regret asking this, but what does ‘hedonistic debauchery’ entail?”

“It’s better experienced than described,” he purrs seductively, giving her a once over with half-lidded eyes.

Mac almost starts laughing. 

Is this guy hitting on her? Is he fucking for real?

“Sounds like it’s different than the usual board games and beer that’s popular ‘round these parts,” she chuckles politely. 

“I’m going to have you lay down for me,” Mac instructs, avoiding his gaze that follows her as she comes closer to him. She pulls out the table extension, turning her back briefly to sanitize her hands and put gloves on. 

When she turns around he’s watching her keenly, like a cat would observe a mouse. 

Like she’s his prey.

“And you’re not going to join me? Pity,” he pouts, looking at her out of the side of his keen ruby eyes as Mac chokes on her own spit from his remark. 

She tears open the alcohol wipes and he hums as she quickly swipes them across his left ribcage. Touching him feels like playing Russian roulette with an electric fence, her nervous system sending lightning rods of electricity down to her core. She fans him with the plastic card that houses the electrode tabs to dry the alcohol and he groans. HE GROANS. 

“That feels rather nice. Are you looking for a job? Because I could pay you to do that all…day…long,” he drawls, his eyes closing in bliss. She feels a hot flush creep up her chest, a bead of sweat dripping down her back. 

She quickly assembles the leads with shaky, fumbling  hands, her brow furrowed in concentration as she hovers her finger over the button to run the test.

“I need you to relax for just a moment,” she says monotonously, feeling another bead of sweat run down her back.

“Difficult to do when a pretty thing such as yourself is near, but I’ll give it a go,” he smirks roguishly underneath the blue mask that covers his face, giving her a sly wink. 

Mac feels her whole body tense and ache as she watches the lines turn green on the machine. 

She presses the button to capture and print out the report. She should set some boundaries with him. She should tell him that was inappropriate. She’s pretty sure too that there’s a policy about this kind of thing, not that she’d ever had to look it up.

So why do her guts tell her that the attention from him feels right? Why do they beg for more? 

A flood of shame washes over Mackenzie from head to toe. Her sex drive had been dead for almost a year and a half, so what is it about this stranger that’s made it come alive so inconveniently? Why is her body betraying her like this? Can’t she stay in control of herself? 

While Ari had incorrectly guessed she was cheating on him with Rob, had he been able to accurately detect that she would have feelings like this for another?

The tears she’d held back successfully return at the thought of Ari enduring what he has made her suffer, flooding her eyes and fogging up her eye protection. 

No, no, no. She’d done so good holding her shit together for the last 15 minutes she’s been here! She’s not crying in front of a patient…

A warm, strong hand reaches out to grip hers with care. She looks up to see Rion sitting up on the edge of the table, his eyebrows soft over his gorgeous sparkling eyes. 

“What’s troubling you, pet?” He coaxes, rubbing his thumb in reassuring circles over the back of her hand. 

Try as she may, a waterfall from her eyes streams down her face, soaking her mask as they run down in a steady river. 

“I’ve had a pretty bad day,” She explains vaguely, tearing the sheet off to show the on-call MD.

“Obviously. It must be something truly horrid to upset you so,” Rion chuckles, one of his hands coming up to trace a knuckle down the side of her tear-soaked face.

Mackenzie casts her eyes downward, fat tears pooling in the clear plastic of her eye protection as she nods with a sniffle. 

A knock at the door startles her, reflexively moving a footstep away from him.

“Everything okay in here?” Amanda asks nonchalantly as she lays eyes on a shirtless Rion, her mask hiding the lecherous smile Mac knows she wears underneath.

“Yeah, I was just getting ready to show it to Dr.Calloway,” Mac sniffles. 

Amanda takes the EKG tracing and pushes a pretend pair of glasses further up her face like an anime character, humming as she looks the sheet of paper over. “I think you’ll be fine sir- are you still having symptoms?”

“The healing touch of your lovely colleague has cured me,” he confirms, giving Mackenzie’s hand a squeeze. 

Another bead of sweat runs down Mackenzie’s back as she tries to pull her hand away.

He holds her firmly in his grasp.

Amanda’s eyes squint at Rion, at Mackenzie, and at their joined hands.

“I think we can get unhooked and dressed. It looks normal to me, but I’m just going to run everything by our on call doc just to make sure you’re safe to be released into the wild,” Amanda advises, closing the door behind her. “I’ll be right back.”

Rion lets go of Mackenzie and she goes right into autopilot, unhooking the leads with practiced ease. 

“I think my husband’s cheating on me again,” she blurts out, the confession spilling at the impulse of her traitorous gut.

“Oh dear. Do you have a lawyer?” he inquires softly, Mackenzie shaking her head in reply. 

“Would you like one?” He hops off the exam table, taking a card out of a smooth metal case, presenting it to her with a flourish.

“Astarion Ancunìn

Attorney at Law”

She looks it over, turning the card stock in her hands.

Astarion’s an unusual name. She imagines it got him teased or bullied as a kid, no wonder he goes by Rion. She finds it interesting the card doesn’t have any contact information on it. It looks custom-pressed, the paper has a good heft to it, and she can detect the smallest hint of fragrance through her mask. 

“I don’t know if I could afford your services,” she says dejectedly. “And I don’t know if I want to get divorced just yet. I feel like we could still work things out, I still love him,” she explains, her eye protection fogging up as she speaks.

“Oh, my sweet. Look at me,” he raises her chin up, his eyes darting back and forth to search her own despite the barrier of plastic and condensation between them. “Love, true love is not self-sustaining. It is a choice, and one must make that choice every day. It takes dedication, sacrifice, hard work…mutual effort from the parties involved. Honesty. Clear, effective communication.” 

His hand drops and he turns away from Mac, slipping the fine linen shirt on, buttoning it up with nimble fingers. 

“Speaking of being clear- I would hate to mislead you. I fear that I am not a divorce attorney. My legal specialty is rather, shall we say, unique? That being said, I dabble in a few areas that are relevant to your…situation.” He shrugs on the coat of his impeccably tailored suit. “Join me for a drink tonight? We can continue this discussion in a more…appropriate setting. Think of it as an informal consultation of sorts.”

Mackenzie fidgets with the card in her hands nervously. He looks like he has champagne tastes, and all she has in her go bag is an extra set of scrubs, underwear, handmade linen shorts and a t-shirt. “I don’t know if I have anything to wear…ah!”

She cries out in surprise as Rion’s hands shoot out towards her and pull the royal blue fabric of her scrub top taut at the sides.

“What’s your dress and shoe size?” He murmurs his question, holding her at arm’s length to analyze her frame and the shape of her curves.

“Depending on who makes it, anywhere from a 16 to a 20, shoes are always an 8.5,” she grouses, ashamed of how much weight she’s gained in the last few years.

Rion tsks in what Mac fears is disapproval at her larger body size. “A pity that women’s sizing remains inconsistent across the realms. No matter. You close at 5pm, correct?” Mackenzie confirms his assumption with a nod.

“I’ll have the appropriate attire delivered to you by then. The address of where we are to meet will be included with the garments.” He sweeps her hands up to his mouth covered by the disposable mask on his face, lingering a moment too long as he presses his lips to them.

“I’ll be looking forward to it, darling.”

Mackenzie stares dumbly into space as he exits the room and disappears, the realization of what she just agreed to crashing down upon her. 

[daisiesonafield-blog]

Info for Faith In The Future World Tour BERKELEY, CA - JUN 29 2023

With special guests THE SNUTS & ANDREW CUSHIN!

Important Times:

5:30 PM - Doors Open

7:00 PM - Andrew Cushin

8:00 PM - The Snuts

9:00 PM - Louis Tomlinson

Times are all approximate and subject to change.

General admission (pit tickets):

Please note: this policy will be strictly enforced!

OVERNIGHT CAMPING IS NOT ALLOWED AT THE VENUE!

Guests can begin lining up no earlier than 9AM on the day of show, June 26.

Sequentially numbered wristbands will be put on GA guests’ wrists upon arrival on a first come, first served basis at the NORTH gate near the corner of Gayle Rd and University Dr.

Guests must have a valid ticket for the Greek Theater show on June 29 to receive a wristband, and all guests in a party must be present to receive a wristband.

Any guests that have camped overnight or arrived before 9AM will not be given wristbands and will be sent to the back of the line.

You may leave after you receive your wristband.

You may return at 3PM to queue for General Admission pit entry at the BOX OFFICE.

Security will honor wristbands from 3PM – 4PM.

After 4PM, guests will join the line on a first come, first served basis.

Loss, removal or tampering with a wristband will result in loss of place in the GA line.

Guests are not permitted to hold places in line. Please be respectful and courteous to all other guests in line.

Have your mobile tickets open and ready to scan to expedite entry upon doors opening at 5:30PM.

Check the venue’s socials and website for updates!

⚠️ HYDRATION ADVISORY ⚠️

Hydrate before the show, while waiting in line and during the show

For optimal hydration drink something with electrolytes such as Gatorade or LiquidIV

Eat well!

Here are important things to know:

The venue is OUTDOORS! Bring a jacket for possible night fog!

The venue is cashless! Pay with card or mobile pay!

Parking: parking is very limited near the venue at the Lower Hearst and Upper Hearst lots, open at 5pm, card only. Additional parking off campus in downtown Berkeley here. We highly recommend the use of public transportation, biking or carpooling due to the very limited parking. Heavy traffic is expected on all show days. For maps, directions and details click here.

We have restrooms located on the North and South sides of the venue with gender neutral options on the 2nd level of the plaza. In addition, we have port-a- johns at the top of the lawn.

ADA info here 

Cameras: Point and shoot cameras are ok, but no professional cameras are prohibited. Cameras with a detachable lens of any kind and professional recording devices are not allowed, including GoPros.

Water: sealed water bottles, empty refillable water bottles ALLOWED. Water refill stations are located on the middle concourse at the Greek.

Food: small food items ALLOWED

Food and beverage map and menus here.

Personal seat cushions (no legs, no hard structure) ALLOWED

NO large blankets

NO bottles or cans

NO coolers or picnic baskets

NO Animals

NO tobacco products

NO Marijuana or any cannabis products

NO drugs

NO smoking

NO umbrellas

NO Fireworks, explosives and aerosols

NO knives, firearms, Brass knuckles, Tasers & mace/pepper spray, razor blades, box cutters, scissors and unsafe personal accessories or weapons of any kind

NO Lawn furniture or structured stadium chairs

NO hula hoops

NO musical instruments

NO Laser Pointers/flashlights

NO Bicycles, scooters, Segways, hoverboards, skateboards and roller blades

There is NO RE-ENTRY!

For Lost & Found email lostandfound@calperformances.org OR call here

VIEW VENUE MAP 

VIEW SEAT MAP

*This list is not exhaustive. Items not appearing on the list may still be prohibited at the discretion of Security

For more details click here

Bag Policy:

Small personal bags and backpacks ok

NO large backpacks

Banners, signs and flag policy:

NO flags

Contact:

For additional questions please call the venue at 510-871-9225. You can also access their website. Email:  contact@anotherplanetent.com. Check their twitter here and IG here for updates. Address: 2001 Gayley Rd, Berkeley, CA 94720. Venue: The Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley.

[silvertherogue715]

Hello! How are you doing? This one’s a fun one. I assume that with Shademan being in here we’d have dark chips. Knowing that they cause dark emotions to be magnified I wonder how they’d effect the NEC-Navi’s(Terra) especially with Shademans ability how would it affect them? Especially if one of them is stuck in a long term exposure situation to the dark energy and emotions from Darkloids if say one was captured or something?Especially cause they can’t be held in one area due to their ability to go out into the real world and depending on their strength levels I’d assume Terra or Sunstar would be more dangerous. Tho I assume Sunstar wouldn’t be the most likely target because he spends more time in the real world while Terra stays more in the net. Do you think Shademan could possibly be able to go toe-to-toe with Terra or another NEC-Navi or just easily snatch one knowing his ability’s? How would this affect the others especially cause I assume theirs some regret over past experience with being overwhelmed with dark emotions? I’d assume if any of them were captured and held captive to use as a weapon it wouldn’t go over well. Especially with Sunstar. Anyway I hope you have a good day/night! Thank you!

Answers below! Been working on this response for quite a bit. Hope I got everything!

How do Dark Chips affect Navis?

Depends on who made them and what type of Navi they’re used on.

Dr. Regal manufactured his to function like a drug. You’d get a brief power boost, but then the withdrawals would hit–and they were lethal. The more you consumed, the faster they’d kill you. He intentionally programmed his chips to be this way. 

Regal Chips → Bad.

Minx manufactured hers to function like recovery chips. She only made hers with Ra Moon in mind, knowing pure negative energy was needed to heal himself in a way normal recovery chips couldn’t.

Minx Chips → Good.

Using a Dark Chip on a ‘normal’ navi is not recommended, since they were made with Darkloids in mind. Depending on how strong the chip is and how many consumed, there could be several side effects: 

Increased strength and agility

Deliriousness, loss of control, violent ideologies, lashing out, memory loss, etc.

Conversion into a Darkloid (as seen with Blues in the anime)  

How do Dark Chips affect the Stardroids?

They give them a power boost, if anything at all, but a small one.

The Stardroids are already powered by Negative Energy Crystals, which are about as pure an energy source as you can get. Dark Chips are far weaker in comparison.

To compare Dark Chips and NE-Crystals, think about drinks! You’re in the middle writing a paper and need some energy to get you through. A can of Dr. Pepper has 41 mg of caffeine. A BANG energy drink has 300. Dark Chips are like Dr. Pepper and NECs are like BANG. If you drink the BANG you’re gonna be way more wired (or more powerful, in this case)

More on the last bit, though–

Minx manufactured her own Dark Chips to help Ra Moon as ordinary recovery chips did nothing for him, likely due to his alien code. Her method of making them differed from Dr. Regals and they were not mass-manufactured. She had a very limited supply, and they were usually reserved for emergencies.

Reviewing some of my Doc notes:

Dark chips are both very illegal and expensive as they boast an ability to permanently increase a Navi’s base stats. Minx purchased one and used it as a reference to make her own. Edward and his son found more than just Ra Moon when poking head around the crater the navi left, too (let's call them Dark Chip Crystals/Crater Crystals).

Dr. Regal was able to mass-produce so many dark chips because he would infuse his machines with Viren NEC shards, which would in turn fuel the chips without needing an individual crystal for each one, unlike Minx, who used an unrefined material (Crater Crystals) for her dark chips, hence her needing a crystal shard for each individual Dark Chip.

What would happen if there was continuous exposure to negative energy? To Dark Chips?

Hm...if one of Dr. Regal’s Dark Chips were used on a Stardroid, I imagine they would feel ill/become weakened purely as a result of the ‘kill code’ embedded into the chip's design that forces data to slowly delete itself. I’m sure the Stardroids would have a method to deal with poisoned data eventually, but whoever is afflicted would definitely need down time until they found said cure.

Fun fact! Around the end of arc 1, Minx reveals her knowledge of Dark Chips with the main cast in SciLab so they can start working on a cure, or at the very least a way to slow down the voraciousness of Regal’s data deletion program afflicting [a captured Darkloid].

This backfires on her later.

Long term exposure to negativity for any normal Navi is bad. Darkloids get stronger with it, though they become more dangerous to others. The thing about Darkloids, though, is that they willingly give in to those urges/to the power high. NEC-Navis/The Stardroids do not. Think of it as a battle of will! The Stardroids feel the urge to lash out and destroy, sure, but like all NEC Navis, they were taught to restrain themselves from their “evil” urges, lest they become a threat to Viren society and be…dealt with. Either by Sunstar or some willing GVC soldier.  That doesn't mean some of them wouldn't give in to temptation, though. Eyeballing Mercury here.

The over-exposure to a 5-NEC Sunstar resulted in the Stardroids becoming nearly as unfeeling as their leader. They were still themselves at their core, sure, but anyone without the capability to feel remorse would act in cruel and unusual ways to get what they wanted. No moral compass to tie you down, you know? Especially if the only thing preventing you from taking certain actions is the vague memory of knowing you wouldn’t have done so in the past, or that it would upset someone you know you’re supposed to love.

Regardless, the scariest NE-Navis aren’t the mindless ones who snapped and lashed out blindly, but the cold, calculating ones who could pick apart a system by its threads. That’s what made the corrupted Stardroids so scary–people could tell there was something wrong with them, but couldn’t do anything because the Stardroids hadn’t done anything to warrant getting captured.

How would Sunstar react?

Hoo boy, seeing his fellow stardroids fall prey to their urges again would mess. Him. up. 

You’re right that he would feel extreme guilt that he let this happen under his watch again, even if he’s not to blame this time.

Shademan vs The Stardroids?

I think Shademan would stand a pretty good chance against some of the tankier Stardroids like Uranus or Mars, simply because they're easier targets. Smaller ones like Venus would also be at a disadvantage, since she wouldn’t be physically strong enough to handle his close-combat attacks. Neptune is pretty slow out of water, but he does have his acid attack–so it’s a solid maybe for him. In water though? Good luck Shademan.

Shademan would probably struggle the most against the faster, more clever ones like Pluto, Jupiter, Terra, etc. Terra is the strongest out of that group, though, given his combined experience and long-range weapon.

Mercury and Sunstar are..in their own league.

Kidnapping a Stardroid?

Excluding Terra and Sunstar, all the others generally travel in pairs of two. Even if they were confronted one-on-one, the Stardroids are frustratingly powerful, and all of them have years of battle experience–far more than any Earth Navi–a run for their money. Kidnaping one of them is uhh..pretty unlikely.

Even if one Stardroid was indisposed or cut off from the others, it’s likely they would be found relatively quickly due to their unique energy signatures (thank you NE-Crystals). That’s not to say you’d be able to identify who is who if you placed two stardroids on opposite sides of a wall from one another, though. The only NEC navi that’s relatively easy to pick out would be Sustar, but that’s just because he has a much stronger, more concentrated energy (2 NECs) to pick up on.

The Stardroids/NEC Navis can also pick up on Darkloid signals, but they’re much more…faint? If that makes sense. Weaker energy source and all that.

But back to the first bit– you’re right about Sunstar being regularly unavailable as a target due to being in the real world more frequently. When Terra isn’t in his office on the Stardroid’s spaceship (or inside the ship’s systems), he can be found rooting out issues on the Net. Said issues are generally Viren or Darkloid-related, though. The existence of Darkloids disturbs him greatly. I mean, how do similar beings made of negative energy exist, if the Virens were destroyed ages ago? =)