#coushing

[kreachvera]

i should . organize my blog … yeag ……………..

[invertedspoon]

oooght....i em one sleeppy boye.......

[juicezone]

mhf. s’not rlly good brain nite, jus.. not

no reeson, jus.. struggln n swich isn evn charjed so cant play pokmn n th tv in m room havin conntctin troble

jus wis ther was reeson so cold at leas fix it

[kaixserzz]

a hug (or, a thousand words too painful to say, but too precious to be left unspoken)

Author’s Note: this is a highly self indulgent fanfic, and is significantly coded to myself irl. 😅 Still enjoyable and readable for most anyone, but features a much more specific Reader than my usual writing. 🤗

a hug (or, a thousand words too painful to say, but too precious to be left unspoken)

Tomioka Giyuu x Reader

Word Count: ~4,100

CW: alcohol, death content, Fem!Reader, implied canonical violence, mild sexual content

~faqs~ 

Keep reading

[talesfrommedinastation]

My redneck neighbor Doug wants to write my fanfiction for me

::text message exchange from yesterday::

Doug: How you feeling kid?

Me: Better. You?

Doug: Great! Me and my Navy boys are gonna watch LSU beat Army this weekend!  Hot boudin, cold coush-coush, come on tigers, push push push!*

Me: I have no idea what you are saying. I don't speak Cajun you know that.

Doug: Anywho, me and Jenny were reading your free white trash space love story book you put on the internet this weekend.

Me: That's nice. You like it still?

Doug: Yeah! Love Amos Burton, he's my boy! Oh, and we got the ending figured out.

Me: Do you now? Sassy Park Ranger and Church Lady don't get married, if that's what you're asking. They're not even in the story.

Doug: Shit, that's a great idea, that can be your next book, but here's what needs to happen at the end of this one.

Me: Go on?

Doug: Camina Drummer and Naomi Nagata get married and adopt Ryan-from-Accounting as their nerdy son!

Me: NO.

Doug: YES.

Me: That is not happening.

Doug: Well it SHOULD!

Me: I'm putting this conversation on mute, Doug.

A few minutes later, when the kids were in bed, I was so haunted by this concept that I drew it up and sent it to Doug, who cackled that he has two people (@amalthiaph and myself) drawing things that come out of his bayou-bred mind. Ugh.

Here it is: Camina and Naomi get hitched and adopt Tech as their son. Isn't he technically 12? I guess it works?

*=I guess this is something they scream in Baton Rouge at games?

@eyecandyeoz suggested I start tagging folks in my work, so for my Redneck Doug fans, here ya go: @skellymom @freesia-writes @girlzrok-99 @thecoffeelorian @megmca @merkitty49 @sued134 @nika6q @advisorsnips @techs-stitches @eclec-tech

Let me know if I missed you and I'll tag you in the next...whatever, Doug pops up.

[bamboo72498]

Tag Game With a Twist

I was tagged by my buddy @mrsmungus and usually this tag is done by finding words in your wip’s or punlished things. But I decided to put a little twist on it because gummy bears. 

So you’re getting little drabbles instead! Enojy! Note: these are written on the spot and unedited, so enjoy the chaos. 

Words I was given: hoover, summer, likeness, forgot, humid You words if you want to play: little, best friend, sister/brother, glasses, summer

Under a cut because long

Hoover: It always amazed Ziva the things that calmed a baby down. It could something as simple as their mother’s voice, or running water, or even a fan. She had a neighbor in her apartment building in DC who used to play jazz music for their baby. Thin walls made it so that everyone else in the place heard it too. 

As a mom herself now, Ziva was learning what sounds and things kept her own daughter quiet. Usually all Tali needed was to be held in her arms and sang to. A Hebrew lullaby Ziva had learned from her mother. 

But on the really bad days, when none of the trick worked; when Tali was a red, scrunched up ball of emotions, Ziva pulled out the big guns. The hoover’s white noise always worked on Tali. Lulled the infant into a trance and helped to fall asleep or at least be calm for a moment. 

The hoover got them both through hard days filled with loneliness and heightened emotions. It helped Ziva feel not so powerless; like she could actually be a good mom. 

At the risk of raising her electric bill any higher, Ziva had taken to pulling the sound bye off the internet for Tali to listen to instead of the real thing. 

[][]

Summer (set pre-s7): “God! It is hot out here!” Tony complained one sunny day in July as they all hovered over, sadly, yet another dead Marine.

“Trust me Tony: you do not know hot until you’ve spent a week in the Middle East. It is dry and windy there and there is no relief.”

“Oh yeah, I forgot you standards of weather are different than ours. Okay, it is hot for me. Is that okay for you?”

“Perfect,” Ziva smirks. She hated listening to her partner complain. She understood their perceptions of different things would not always align, but did he always have to complain?!

“If you want to take off early and get out of the sun, go,” McGee says, snapping another photo. “We’re almost done here once Ducky finishes packing this guy up.”

“Why would he do that? DiNozzo can man up like you and Ziva. Right, Tony?” Gibbs asks, silently sliding into the conversation. 

“Of course, boss,” Tony scoffs.

 The boys miss Ziva rolling her eyes again as they turn their crime scene into a competition to see who is the most manly. 

Ziva wins. 

[][]

Likeness: Tony looked at the little girl sleeping in the little cot on the floor. Her tiny face stained with tears after a fruitless struggle to go to bed that not even the comfort of her doggy, Kalev, could bring. Playing ‘The Little Mermaid’ off his laptop seemed to help, and the movie was still running even though Tali was fast asleep. 

Try as they might, not even the powers of Tony DiNozzo Senior could get his apartment ready for a toddler in a matter of hours. But it would have to do for now. 

He quietly pads out of the room to the couch where he would be sleeping that night. Ziva’s scarf is still laying on the coushing and his picks it up and brings it to his nose, inhaling her scent; warm and musky, but with flowers and citrus in there as well. Even that simple sense memory brings tears to his eyes and he lets them fall, hot and fast. 

Let’s himself fell every emotion he’d been holding back for the sake of their little girl. 

That little girl that look so much like her mom it was scary.

It broke his heart that that little girl, and a few photographs, would be the only things they’d have to remember Ziva by. 

He wanted to rewind time and make Ziva come with him that night on the tarmac; have them raise Tali together; to get to the farmhouse sooner. 

[][]

Forgot: “You forgot? How could you forget! It’s been on the calendar for weeks!”

He tried to shush her, pull her into a more secluded corner. 

He messed up. He was late to their daughter’s ballet recital and now Ziva was pissed at him. 

“I know you’re pissed, but don’t you think us standing out here arguing is going to make us even later? They just told everyone to sit down, let’s go.” 

“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m just very out of sorts,” Ziva tells him honestly as they follow the flowing crowd into the auditorium and take their seats on the hard wooden chairs. 

It was her first recital of Tali’s since coming home last winter, and Ziva had been hyping it up in her head far too much. It was not a professional event; just the yearly recital put on my Tali’s dance school. There were balloons everywhere and crying babies on parents laps; it was as far from professional as they could get. 

The toddler classes when first; half moving, half crying. Then came a class of older kids dancing to some bass heavy song that had a lot of sharp movements accompanying it.

Finally, about halfway through the show, Tali’s class came out in their blue and silver costumes and thick stage makeup. Tali was front and center, clearly the leader of the class. She hit every turn, leap, and step with exact precision and struck the final pose with the biggest smile plastered on her face. 

If the tears in Ziva’s eyes or the way she gripped his hand were any indication, she was in awe of their baby girl. And he was out of the dog house at least a little bit. 

[][]

Humid: “You ever notice the way Ziva’s hair gets all curly when it’s humid out? You think that’s an Israeli thing or just a her thing?”

“I think it’s a girl thing,” McGee says, giving Tony a disgusted and confused face. “It happened to my sister all the time! And Abby too when she has her hair down. Why does it even matter?”

“It doesn’t, McSherlock,” Tony rebuts, going back to his computer. “I was just asking if you’d noticed. A good agent had good observation skills, which you clearly don’t have.”

“Yeah, and neither do you. Your fly’s been down all morning,” Gibbs says, not looking away from his computer monitor. 

Neither of the boys had noticed him there (great observation skills, huh?) and were surprised when he spoke up. 

Tony quickly looks down and, embarrassed, does up his zipper. “Boss, I didn’t see you there. I was just helping McGee hone his observation skills.”

“Is that what the kids call is these days? You need to clean that drool up off the floor and get back to work, DiNozzo.”

“Yes, boss.”

Gibbs smiles at his agent; Tony was as obvious as a toddler playing hide and seek about his crush on Ziva, but Jethro Gibbs was not one to expose people over their crushes. He was excited to see how it played out, though. 

[444names]

Names generated from orc (TES) names, plus English and Scottish surnames, excluding the letter "E"

Abzuuttom Accaikin Aglumga Agrum Aidhaols Akhumza Allow Ammog Anain Anupton Appill Asgan Astmurn Axson Azbur Azham...

Babgon Bacnìll Bagoh Banch Bargdugh Barnarkh Bashand Bashbush Basson Baston Batub Bazashit Bhush Bighath Bisbugall Blaillfhin Blash Blashabbs Blish Blort Bloulow Blousgèin Boasdanton Bodfor Bodich Bogaill Bogduch Bogord Boldolg Bolgara Bookulmoss Borbow Borbrapp Bownion Braildis Brains Brakaz Braklin Brimbubb Brold Brolmay Broory Broth Bruth Buffryam Bulboth Buratul Burby Burgod Burla Burmak Burrison Burson Burza Buzha Cacph Caigg Caighill Calliarn Caolord Cardal Carkh Catha Catrymon Charc Charz Chdars Chros Cliog Cliva Clottonyon Clucark Cluka Cocka Cockravan Cocks Colaxson Colduth Comack Comham Coodrogdul Corlaxon Courburc Coush Cragluk Crawson Crich Crils Croghdard Crogrupton Crold Croth Crundan Cudgdullog Cudstan Cuiblak Càill Cèampson Daington Dalain Dilkin Dillog Dilton Dison Dubhin Dugaak Dulan Dulard Dulgain Dumbarry Dural Durhorth Durza Duthcock Faill Fains Flarkulak Flyfol Frìghfor Gaccòin Gailboury Galfrig Gamull Garmar Garstaff Gaska Ghopart Gikhugdoll Gillaward Gillifin Glakub Glarry Glarth Glaulz Gling Glogol Glomp Glorzogdu Gluch Goornson Gorbag Gorbas Gorghlains Gortharz Gorzorn Gozub Gragrout Grangla Grood Groodfook Gruba Gruzu Gulan Gulgduk Gulmat Gulugton Gulzul Gurnt Habradd Hagdarp Hagron Hagrushuk Hains Hamoll Hardwoord Harga Hikholph Hildson Hinsby Hitmacatt Holain Holazgug Hoparr Hordans Hormanks Hothratt Hount Houth Houthag Howartt Hozog Hozusly Hrìosha Hulboran Hulga Humps Hunyung Hurly Hutch Ildrath Jagrans Jaquazgran Jashag Johol Jourashain Juslay Kharsond Krosbulg Lagdol Lagdurs Laghog Laibbs Laickit Laikham Lainson Lakkroin Lannag Lapson Laton Lauddoll Lawargokk Laytson Lharbar Liddin Lisapp Logbakh Lookins Lorlis Loway Luchroggub Lurch Lurlytt Luthorbai Luzga Luzguk Lytowmarth Macall Maccag Macclack Macdhay Macdhub Macgh Macgill Macild Macill Macillwort Macily Mackway Macmharrag Macmhna Macmhuk Macph Macran Macsh Macsup Maidh Malton Manach Mancy Mandlins Mannigh Maray Marboillf Marwill Marzobga Maturzarby Maugakin Maxton Misby Mityn Mogukas Morkh Morrikh Mudson Muhlaga Mulub Muntung Murbild Murushaka Muryl Musad Mèing Nahga Naigha Navow Noguzgraid Nookhison Noridor Nuchazh Ogatt Olintald Olton Oodin Orard Ornarcous Orthoza Oruazgood Orzgookh Orzogra Oston Othin Oushakh Paccòirgol Paduk Paltock Parry Pauck Pipton Piptow Poodbard Porzbanott Pothazogu Priarz Primbris Primfissh Pristan Prumps Ragornugh Rhast Ridgar Ridnimon Rilling Rimog Robin Roblanash Roggs Rogrodwall Roodagoth Rooddison Roodon Roosh Rooss Rothamun Rottingway Rulogrul Ruzogubh Saaga Salrow Sgalinglam Sgrasan Sgruingill Shadsmall Shking Shnabbsh Shoom Sikhamill Siots Skington Sloman Slozos Smanch Smignum Snagrott Snaick Snarots Spock Spoppard Staington Standin Stashrosh Stingh Stinnd Struisalg Stugbuck Stulash Stwinndson Suthinks Swhix Sylam Tagan Taington Talraag Tarnus Tatugdus Thogzu Thout Thyton Timon Tisdag Titham Tittysh Tizzag Tiùbhitt Tonds Tonfor Tongham Tonshadan Torzord Trick Trighaw Tritby Tritch Trourd Tualsotham Tuntron Turos Tyjos Ufarr Uglow Ugulgat Ulloll Umzod Undarf Urapp Urburling Urlas Urzord Usham Ustagrains Vaugu Vorth Vushbrosh Walmowlian Waram Warlansham Warlig Warmach Warus Waynd Whitarr Whith Whithratub Wichag Wington Woodan Wooddik Wooddin Woodway Woors Woorwor Worgdal Yargaraft Yarry Yazgarnars Yourson Zozmanch Zubhàin Zuggild

[ask-thsc-blog]

Now the only.one with clothes was Rupert... but those would taken off soon-

Dave: *slurred* N-Noooo...

Rupert: ??

Dave: *slurred* N-Not on da coush...

RUP: "mmmm, wanna take this to the bed then~?"

[decarabiandivorce]

Diluc hates how much he agrees with Decarabian on most of the points. Deca points out how the average human could only do about 2-4 tasks per day and taking on much more than that Will lead to burn out (cough cough Jean coush cough).

Decarabian: The knights are all so ineffective and useless at their jobs a Former Tyrant can walk through the city. These people are so lucky Barbatos built this place on an island because if it had the structure of Liyue harbor the knight Would Not be able to hold down multiple points of entry!

Decarabian would be the worst type of backseater. He'd go "Why aren't you doing this ___" at everything. Like yeah sure he knows how to midmax a city (he arranged for everyone to live in certain locations like an animal crossing mayor), but at the same time Jean and Venti are both P.P at his suggestions

He’s not allowed to come to the KoF meetings after the first couple rounds of backseating 😔 (he is not happy about this) (do the knights have a feedback box?) (if so he spams the feedback box) (if not they just keep getting a lot of letters about how the city could be better) (jean maybe considers…one (1) of his suggestions she’s trying to be open minded and polite)

[juicezone]

n hes m papa n somtkms hes grumpy n but hes snugly n lovy n givs huggs n snugs n kiss on the nose n soooo hugs n if bad day n tuff lets m sit in his lap n wach cartons n snugl on th coush

[punchincorporated]

ill be there 4 uuu

[agirlsenseless]

.

[thatonehotredhead]

i feel so numb not even getting viciously high makes a difference

[downydig]

He showed up an d pased out on my coush I don’t know his name or anythin

[archangeldraws]

Hi could you give a hint on how to draw anthro form of kaijus, ex: king ghidorah °-°

Well, it does help how to draw human bodies as bit. If you know some anatomy, how to draw arms, legs and muscles your pretty much good to go

For King Ghidorah I just draw a muscular body type, wide shoulders to fit those three necks, stick their wings in a set of arms and make it somewhat look like hands and add their feet to some digigrade legs.

As a tip, if you draw reptile like anthros, I see it many times people draw their tails like they would with, e.g a cat or dog. But their tails are much thicker

I just have their tails fuse with ther butt and leave a bit of cheeks, cause a good tush give a good coush X'D

Hope that helps somehow? I'm bad at explaining without visuals

[mldrgrl]

Wise Up

by: mldrgrl Rating: PG Summary: Scully needs someone to take her home after dental surgery.  Pre-Millennium.

He came back from getting coffee to find her mid-conversation with her mother.  She gave him a glance over her shoulder when he put the to-go cup quietly on her table and then lowered her chin so that her hair obscured her face.  She switched her cell phone from one hand to the other and he shuffled to his own desk pretending to give her privacy.

“It’s fine, Mom,” she said.  “I promise.  I’ll just try to get it rescheduled until after the new year.  No, I...no, I don’t need...Mom, it’s fine.”

He sipped his coffee and opened a file, but kept his gaze higher than necessary to keep her in his periphery.  She pinched the bridge of her nose in silence for the next ten seconds and then she finally lifted her head.

“Mom,” she stated.  “I have to go, I need to finish a report.  I’ll reschedule for January.  As for Thursday, don’t worry about it, you just feel better.  I know.  I know.  I love you too.  Bye.”

Scully disconnected her call with a deep sigh that Mulder pretended not to notice.  He was burning with curiosity, however, and it was only a matter of time before he would ask.  He just had to wait for the right opportunity.

“I’ll be right back,” she said.

He nodded as she stood and rubbed the back of her jaw a little.  He’d noticed she’d been doing that a lot lately, but hadn’t said anything about it.  She left without her coffee, her jacket, or her satchel, so he assumed she was headed to the ladies’ room.

Only minutes later, she was back, and he was sipping his coffee and reading email.  She stayed standing, lifting the lid of her own coffee and blowing across the top.  He gave her a sideways glance as she paced in front of his desk with a pensive expression.

“Thanks for the coffee,” she said.

“A few dozen more and I might make a dent in what I owe you.”

“Mm.”  The left corner of her mouth twitched into a half-smile.

He thought he might have an opening.  “Everything alright?”

“Fine.”

He thought wrong.  He nodded and clicked open another email advising an early release tomorrow for administrative personnel due to the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.  He’d be surprised if he saw anyone but his own shadow at work tomorrow.  Even Scully had taken the day off.

By the time he opened and deleted three other emails, she was still pacing by his desk, so he tried again.  “How’s your mom?”

“She’s…”

“Fine?”

“She has the flu, actually.  She called to tell me that she didn’t think she’d be up for Thanksgiving this year.”

“Oh.”  Mulder sat back in his chair.  Now he was the one pulling a pensive expression.

“It’s fine,” she said, quickly.  “I wasn’t actually…”

He raised his brows in question and she shook her head dismissively.  He swiveled from side to side in his chair and tapped a pencil against his chin as he looked at her, which he knew made her nervous.  It worked.  She shifted her feet and suddenly couldn’t decide if she might speak or drink her coffee.  Her exasperation was palpable.

“I have a dentist appointment tomorrow,” she blurted.  “Well, I was supposed to, but now I have to cancel.”

“Why?”

“I’m having a wisdom tooth removed and Mom was supposed to take me.  I was going to use the long weekend to recover.  She has the flu now, so…”  She shrugged and finally took a sip of her coffee and then rubbed her lips together.  “They don’t let you leave on your own after anesthesia.  So, I have to reschedule.”

“I can take you.”

“No, Mulder, I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You’re not asking.  I’m offering.  I can take you.”

“I don’t know…”

“It’s not like I’d be getting much done here by myself anyway.”

“I thought you always accomplished so much with me out of your hair.”

He smiled at her.  “I just tell you that so you don’t feel guilty about leaving me on my own.”

She snorted softly.

“So, what time do I pick you up?” he asked.

“Don’t you have plans for Thanksgiving, Mulder?”

He got up out of his seat and walked over to her, extending his hand.  “Fox Mulder,” he said.  “We’ve obviously never met before.”

She bashfully lowered her head a little and hesitated for a few beats.  “I need to be there by 9:15,” she finally said.  “It’s only about ten minutes away from my apartment.”

“The Skinman’s gonna have a heart attack when I submit my request for time off.”

And that’s how he ended up sitting in a dental surgeon’s office splitting his attention between vintage copies of Reader’s Digest and anxiously checking his watch every five minutes.  Occasionally, he would get up and inspect an elaborate fish tank taking up half the wall in the waiting room to watch the yellow tangs and clownfish pass from side to side.

It was nearly noon when the nurse came out to collect Mulder.  “Your wife is ready for you,” she told him.

“Oh, um…”  He tossed the Reader’s Digest aside and decided it wasn’t worth it to explain his relationship to Scully.  Instead, he followed her to a tiny, all-white recovery room at the back of the office where his partner was curled up on a cot with her eyes closed.

“Miss Scully,” the nurse said, shaking her gently on the shoulder.  “Your husband is here to take you home.”

Scully opened her eyes and stared blankly at the woman standing above her.  She sat up slowly with the nurse’s help and then Mulder crouched down and put a hand on her knee.  Her right cheek was puffed up, full of cotton swabs that poked out of the corner of his mouth.  The size of her pupils caught him off guard, so dilated her eyes almost looked black.

“Muller,” Scully murmured.  “My mowf ish mishing.”

“Your mouth is missing?”  He chuckled softly and rubbed her knee.  “Certainly not the whole mouth.”

“She might be a little loopy until the anesthesia wears off,” the nurse said.  “The tooth was impacted and took some work.”

The thought of it made Mulder cringe.  He helped Scully into her jacket and then to her feet and she swayed into him, leaned against him for support.  The nurse handed him a small white bag with painkillers and instructions, which she rattled off to him as he escorted his partner slowly down the hall.

“Take the gauze out when you get home,” she said.  “Don’t let her prod the jaw or use mouthwash for at least a week.  She’ll probably want to sleep for a few more hours, but by the time she wakes up, she’ll be in a fair amount of pain.  Give her one of the painkillers immediately, and then as needed, but no more than four in 24 hours.  Ice packs will help with the swelling and the pain.  She might feel lightheaded or woozy the next couple of days and that’s normal.  No exercise for the next week, no drinking through a straw, and no eating or drinking at all for the next two hours.  And then soft foods and room temperature liquids are fine.  The pamphlet there has all the information you need.”

Mulder nodded along, suddenly nervous about the responsibility he’d volunteered for.  He’d never had dental surgery and had no idea the amount of recovery involved.  Maybe he should have let her reschedule the appointment so her mom could take care of her, but then again, he struggled to imagine Scully’s mom, as slight as she was, getting her daughter out of the office when Mulder was practically carrying her down the hall to the door.

It took some time, but he managed to get Scully into the car and buckled in.  She turned her head towards him when he got in and gazed at him like she had just awakened from a pleasant dream.

“You’re susha good driver,” she said.

“Well, thank you,” he answered, latching his seatbelt.

“Even whener losh and dunno whereer at.”

“Lucky for you, there’s no chance I’ll get lost from here to the apartment.”

“Are we goin’ to your parparmen, Muller?”

“I’m taking you home.”

“Mm home.”  

Mulder started the car and that was the last thing Scully said until they arrived in front of her building.  He would look over at her at red lights and she was still turned towards him, her eyes half-open, blinking slowly.  When he parked the car, she turned her head and her brows came together with a deep frown.  He helped her out of the car and she took baby steps across the lawn, leaving footprints in the thin layer of snow that covered the green.

Her face contorted as though she was in great pain and he stopped with her at the foot of the stairs up to her front door.  “Muller,” she whined.  “Thish isna wherer coush lives.”

“No, it’s where your couch lives.”

“I can’d shleep on my coush.”

“Good thing you have a bed.  Come on, almost there.”

It was slow-going up the stairs.  She took them one at a time, making sure both feet were planted securely before moving forward.  By the time he got her through the door, she was sagging against him again and he considered just picking her up and carrying her the rest of the way.

“Home sweet home,” he said, unlocking her apartment door.

“Where’sh the dog?” she asked, blinking up at him.

“What dog?”

“My dog.”

“Queegqueg?  He uh…”  Mulder paused.  It probably wasn’t the best idea to let her know her dog had been eaten by a lake monster three years ago.  “Queegqueg isn’t here right now.”

“Queegqueg.  Thash a weird word, Muller.  Queeeeeeequeeeeeeeeeeeg.  Queegquegqueegquegqueegqueg.”

He put the bag of painkillers and nurse’s instructions on the table in her kitchen while she tried to wrap her head around the odd word.  “Yeah, I always thought it was a weird name for a dog, too.”

“What dog?”

“Your dog.”

“I dun have a dog.”

Mulder raised his brows.  “Okay, let’s get you to bed.”

Scully sighed a little and let Mulder lead her towards the bedroom.  He sat her down on the bed and then knelt in front of her to unlace her tennis shoes.  He wondered if he should try to coax her into getting into some pajamas, but figured it might be more trouble than it was worth.  Jeans and a sweater should be comfortable enough.  He got both shoes off her feet and then remembered the gauze needed to come out of her mouth.  

“Can you…?”  He gestured to her mouth and she followed the wag of his finger until she turned cross-eyed.  “We need to get those cotton balls or whatever it is out of your mouth.”

She opened her mouth for him and tipped her head back a little.  If he didn’t know she was drugged up before, he definitely knew it now.  A sober Scully would’ve insisted on gloves and sterilizing and sanitizing the entire room before letting him near her mouth.  A sober Scully would’ve insisted she was fine and could do it herself.  Gingerly, he plucked out the saliva and blood-soaked pieces of cotton from the inside of her cheek, trying not to let his squeamishness show too much or  get in the way.  It wasn’t lost on him that if the tables were turned, she would do the same for him, and more.

When he was sure he’d removed all the gauze, he took it into the bathroom to dispose of, not looking at the little pile of gore in his hand.  He shivered and then washed his hands with the soap that Scully had been smelling of lately, which he definitely wasn’t going to complain about because it made her smell so good.  It made the night he’d ‘taught’ her how to play baseball even more memorable.  He thought it might have been a new lotion or bath gel, but it turned out it was hand soap the whole time.  Or maybe she had a whole set of it lurking in the bathroom.  He dried his hands and peered at the bottle.  It was simply called: Almond.  He would buy her another bottle or a dozen for Christmas.  He liked it.

Back in Scully’s room, he found her poking at her cheek with the pads of her fingers and he took her hand away from her face to stop her.  “You can’t do that,” he said.

“Can’t feel anything.”

“It’ll wear off soon enough.  Let’s get your coat off and into bed.”

“We can’t.”

“Can’t what?”

“Go to bed.”

“I don’t see why not.”  He started to unbutton her coat.  “You have the day off, tomorrow’s a holiday, and then you-”

“It’s against the rules.”

“I’m not familiar with any rules that prohibit adults from taking post-surgery naps.”

“The FBI says so.”

“I haven’t read the handbook in awhile, but I don’t think this’ll warrant an official reprimand in your permanent record.  If it does, I’ve got your back.”  He struggled to get her arms free from the jacket and she was no help.  Just looked solemnly up at him while pouting her bottom lip slightly.  He finally pulled the jacket loose and then reached behind her to turn down the bed.  “Time to break some imaginary rules,” he said.

“I want to,” she whispered.  “I really want to.  But…”  She winced and then reached up to cup her jaw.

“Hurting?”

“Kind of.”

“Okay, stay put.”  He turned to leave, but was stopped by a pull on his back pocket.

“Where’re you going?”

“To get you an ice pack.”

“You’ll come back?”

“I promise.”

“Promise, promise?”

He traced an ‘x’ against his chest.  She let go of his pocket and raised her hand up to him, all her fingers folded down except for the pinkie, which was crooked slightly.

“Pinkie swear?” she asked.

He chuckled and then hooked his pinkie finger with hers and gave it a shake.  “Lay down,” he said.  “I’ll be right back.”

Afraid she might try to stop him again, he hurried out of her room for the kitchen.  While there, he read over the instruction pamphlet on the table and checked her fridge and cupboards to see if she had any soft, bland foods, in case he might need to call out for delivery later or run to the store.  He found some yogurt and cans of soup and figured that would be sufficient.  What he couldn’t find, however, was an ice pack.  He searched her freezer high and low, but found nothing.  He decided to make do with a package of frozen corn wrapped in a tea towel.

He’d hoped to find her asleep when he came back to her room, but she was still awake, albeit drowsily staring up at the ceiling and rubbing at her jaw.

“You have to stop doing that,” he said, taking her hand away from her face.  He gently placed the makeshift icepack against her cheek and sat down next to her to hold it in place.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

He squeezed her hand.  She turned her head slightly and then closed her eyes and sniffed a little.  She looked up at him.

“You used my soap,” she said.

“Had to wash my hands earlier.”

“You like it don’t you?”

“It smells nice.”

“I noticed that you’ve been breathing me in lately.”

“If I have, I’m-”

“So, I went back to the shop I got the soap from and bought the lotion and the shower gel as well.”

“Oh.”  The first thing he thought was that he was right.  She did have a whole set lurking in her bathroom.  The second thought he had was that she’d just admitted she was wearing it for him.  Heat flooded his chest and tightened it, followed by a flutter low in his abdomen.

“You okay, Mulder?”

“Sorry, Scully, maybe I’m coming down with something?”

She struggled for a moment to sit up and the icepack slipped out of his hand and from her face, landing in the space between them on the bed.  She grabbed his head with both hands and pulled his towards her.

“Scully, wha-?”

“Checking for fever,” she murmured, resting her left cheek against his brow.  “You are a little warm, but I think you’re fine.”

“Not very scientific.”

“Some things are better than science.”

“I’m going to need you to repeat that when you’re no longer under the influence.”

“I haven’t been drinking.”

“You’re not exactly sober.”

She let him go and laid back down.  He retrieved the icepack and rewrapped it in the towel that came loose.  She waved him away when he tried to put it back on her cheek so he reached over to set it on her nightstand.

“I want to break the rules with you,” she said.

“Finally succumbing to my bad influence, are you?”

“I’m afraid though, Mulder.”

“What’re you afraid of?”

“The end of the world.”

“You don’t need to worry about that.  We’re gonna save the world together.  I promise.”

She shook her head.  “Our world, Mulder.  The world of you and me.”

“You’re gonna be stuck with me for a long, long time, Scully.”  He chuckled and raised his hand up, folding his fingers down and keeping his pinkie up.  “Pinkie swear.”

She grabbed his finger loosely with her own.  “I’m sorry I’m so sleepy.”

“You’re drugged up, partner.”

“Oh.”  She rubbed at one eye with the back of her hand.  “You won’t go, right?”

“I’ll hang with you until you kick me out.  You’ve got HBO, don’t you?”

“Even if we can’t go to bed?”

“What?”

“You said you wanted to take me to bed.”

“Oh.  Oh.”  He almost laughed.  Now her talk of rules made sense.  Except, what she said, what she’d been saying, was that she wanted to break those rules.  With him.  “Scully…”

Her eyes closed lazily and she took a deep, slow breath, exhaling with a sigh.  “I love you, Mulder.”

“Oh brother,” he whispered.  He sat absolutely still for the next few moments as that warm, fluttery feeling washed over him again.  He touched her shoulder and then leaned closer to her, watched her breathe slowly and evenly.  “You’re the only one I want to break the rules with too, Scully.”

Even though she was caught in sedated slumber, he was pretty sure she knew how he felt.  And he was definitely going to get her that almond soap for Christmas.

The End