#his autistic rizz. heart

[dellamortethelesser]

another thing that is so delightful about ismael is that even if he has lost his core memories, there is a lot of latent ones that spring up! he can ramble incessantly about magic and the arcane. in fact the party was introduced to him in our last session mid-ramble. it is implied that his yapping chased everyone else out of the tavern. cannot emphasize enough that he is the yapper. he yapped all night. to everyone. about anything. his beautiful autistic rizz. did i mention he has 20 charisma

[drksnctury]

this game has wrecked me and im only in act 2

[itswhatyougive]

The quencies......

Say what you will about Stede Bonnet, but he is in demand. Blackbeard can't stop touching the stiddies, Prince Ricky gave him the eye at Spanish Jackie's, Anne Bonny climbed in his lap to kiss him sloppy, Hellkat Maggie was giggling and kicking her feet, even Izzy Hands slapped his ass and copped a feel of his thigh.

Ed was right. Everyone DOES want a piece of the Gentleman Pirate

[medievalandfantasymelee]

THE HOT MEDIEVAL & FANTASY MEN MELEE

SECOND ROUND: 13th Tilt

Xenk Yendar, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023) VS. Giuliano de Medici, Medici (2016-2019)

Propaganda

Xenk Yendar, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023) Portrayed by: Regé-Jean Page Defeated Opponents: - Eamon Valda [Abdul Salis], The Wheel of Time (2021-) - Thraxus Boorman [Amar Chadha-Patel], Willow (2022)

“He's a knight (paladin) so pure he'll make you sick. The goodest good guy to ever pick up a blade and swear to protect those who can't protect themselves. His autistic rizz has captured me body and soul. We meet him saving a child/cat (a twofer in ways to make you like a guy) and giving gold to a beggar. He kicks ass, he gives good advice, 'Neither virtue nor blade shall break' is on his sword. He's got gods most tragic backstory He's tooth-rotting perfect and it's glorious to watch.”

Giuliano de Medici, Medici (2016-2019) Portrayed by: Bradley James Defeated Opponents: - Jack [Tom Cruise], Legend (1985) - Durotan [Toby Kebbell], Warcraft (2016)

“GIULIANO, MY ABSOLUTE BELOVED. There's no one who can do slutty tarty fuckboy with a heart of gold and a side of whumpy pain quite like him. You start off the series and you see him the first time and you go "oh damn he's GORGEOUS... but he's a fuckboy, gonna love to hate him, great! I hope he's shirtless a lot!" (He is.) And then you see him the second time and you go "oh no he loves his family! He adores his sister!! He would do anything for his brother!! He's a sweet mama boy!!!" And then you see him a third time and you go "oh wow he hurts so prettily", and then as the series goes on you wish you'd never thought that, because yes, he DOES hurt so prettily. Multiple times. And at that point he activates all the PROTECC instincts but it's too late. And you end this series with your heart broken by him and you just want to go back to the start to see him smile his tarty smug smile that makes you want to punch him in the mouth. With your mouth. Because god he's so fucking PRETTY.”

Additional Propaganda Under the Cut

Additional Propaganda

For Xenk Yendar:

“It's basically a running joke through the movie how stupidly gorgeous and perfect he is. Because he is. He's so sexy in the confident, effortless way he approaches everything.”

(+ Edgin photobomb)

“A lawful good paladin who has seen so much destruction and yet is noble and sweet. If he had been around in the early tumblr days there would be a million flower crown edits of him. He literally saves a baby kitty. Also, extremely good with a blade and has too much faith in a sarcastic rogue.”

"the epitome of autism swag. kind and righteous and capital “S” Sexy. also him and chris pine are really gay in this one which adds to the hotness imo"

“He's the only person who has ever properly made me wonder if I was actually asexual after realizing that, but like dang, dunno if I'd still want him if he was real and in the room with me but I think I might be Xenksexual not ace. God I wish he'd force me to swear something on his book.”

“The autistic rizz is off the fucking charts, man”

For Giuliano de Medici:

“He's unbearably cocky and hot ... but also sad and tragic”

[yeetmeoutthewindowdaddy]

**Makes the cat summoning noise for Galemancers**

Inspired by this post.

Mystra was dead (mostly-- check out the Spellplague, it was a mess) until ~10 years before the events of BG3.

In a mobile game (an arguably canon source) Gale is stated to be 35.

Which means that there were 25 years where Gale was living without her direct influence. **side eyes Elminster**

Tav is not his first mortal lover. His hand was a popular one at the annual Blackstaff ball. He's got that autistic rizz and a charming smile. He was (and is) a powerful wizard. He had enough gold to be able to buy a full tavern a round of drinks without batting an eye. He was (and is) a certifiable catch.

But, he wouldn't have has time for a serious relationship, he's got to focus on contemplating the minutia of death cult politics, sorry wrong character his wizardly studies. He would've been a very horny young man, who was very appealing, amongst other very horny young people.

All of this to say: Gale was probably a play boy. Note that I don't think he would have led anyone on with false pretenses, he would have been straight up in how he was 'only seeking to share pleasures of the flesh for a night or two.'

I imagine that even though he was honest about only wanting a FWB relationship, at most-- he probably broke quite a few hearts. And Gale is a sweetheart who definitely felt bad about it.

And now for some angst!

Mystra came back right as Gale hit the age where his brain was about to finish developing.

Which means she revealed herself to him right as his brain increased his (already high) empathy. (I am not a science person) His brain would've also tempered his high libido around this time.

(35 year old Gale is horny, I can't imagine how much horny-er he was as a young man. RIP that pussy ayy!)

Gale already felt guilty about unintentionally breaking a lot of hearts.

He already worshipped Mystra.

The weave, the thing she controls/ is, was his sole focus.

Mystra is a jealous goddess.

Cue Mystra using Gale's play boy days as yet another way to emotionally manipulate him to ensure that he never has eyes for anyone else (and never uses his powers to kill/usurp her).

[hiimtheproblem87times]

Hi!

Could you please tell us some of your vicagent hc's? The fandom deffo needs more of these two ngl

Ah! Finally!! An ask about my HCs!

Thank you for asking Dear! Asbolutely adore that.

Anyways here you go, its about my human AU Designs :

Vic is 32 years old

Agent is 34 years old

Their Love languange is to braid eachothers hair

Vic adores Agent's training days

Agent likes to be a therapist and comforter to Vic

Black coffee addicts lmfao

they like to stay up at night so they can Hangout (like until 2:00am - 3:30am)

2 of hearts 💗

They are secretly dating, but, ballista found out

"they have autistic rizz, i think" -Flareboi

Oldest in their family (Vic) + Oldest in his family (Agent, if he has one) duo

Oh & they have a Cat Named Ava btw

i'm updating my HCs rn, these type of asks reminded me.

i need more asks of these! Thank you (•◡•)

[proudfreakmetarusonikku]

why is zuko out here breaking every earth kingdom girls heart. he's simply existing and they can't resist his autistic rizz. hell he even got jet it transcends gender. he just wants to like. vibe. and also destroy the parts of himself he believes his abusive father hates so he can be loveable unaware of the fact he’d destroy himself in every way to do that. but mostly vibe. like guys going around thinking he's someone that doesn’t deserve any sort of love and doesnt even think anyone will accept any part of him and he’s just completely oblivious to the fact he’s the most eligible bachelor in the whole earth kingdom. the girls and the gays are drawn to his autism like moths to a fire, or i guess a fire nation prince. genuinely funniest thing like everyone he meets roughly his age harbours a massive crush on him and he’s completely oblivious to his autistic charms.

[dipperscavern]

Who up pondering they orb rn? Dipper, that's who!

It's me, chonky, and I hereby request your finest 🔮 reading, please and thank you. Also, sorry for the oncoming wall of text.

As my self-proclaimed title suggests, I am chonky. I'd say I'm probably mid-sized actually but that's only really because I lost some weight when covid happened and the depression rolled in. Anyway, I think I'm 5'5/5'6 but I actually don't know so that's just an estimate based on how tall I am compared to my mom who's 5'11.

I'm biracial but my father's irish-italian genes colonized me so hard, my only afro-centric features I inherited from my mom is my nose, lips, and curly hair, textured around the 3a-3c mark depending on how agreeable my hair is.

I also used to speak spanish when I was way younger because I grew up around my mom's family and she's half puerto rican on her dad's side. Unfortunately, that got whitewashed too when me and my parents moved and I know longer know the language.

I'm from New Jersey but was primarily raised in the New England area of America. I'm (almost) 19 and unlike Jared, I did learn how to read and I enjoy it very much.

I love music of all kinds except country and k-pop is on really thin ice. I'm self-diagnosed autistic and incredibly socially awkward. I make a lot of race jokes but in the "white people can't season their damn food" way instead of the "racist remarks and racial slurs I can't reclaim" way. I'm here, I'm queer, and I really, really need a beer because these damn politicians are going to turn me into an alcoholic, I swear.

I'm a switch but I prefer to dom. Or at least I would. Unfortunately, I get no bitches for I have no rizz. I also have questionable taste in men and women because best believe, you put me in a room alone with Cersei Lannister, her brother (or her lover), Aegon Targaryen II, Aemond Targaryen, Alicent Hightower, or Criston Cole, all them bitches walking out pregnant and I will not apologize for that.

I think that's it. Sorry for the yapfest. All that not talking to people irl manifests into being a blabbermouth online.

-chonky anon

who up pondering they orb rn (me), ANYWAYS, come, dear chonky, and let my crystal friend tell us which man will you love until your timely end 🔮

hm… i see… who is that? no, seriously, who the hell in my orb rn?? OH A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE— excuse my french, that’s your brother jared. *i outstretch my hand, and a nearby unseen hamster gladly walks on it. i flip it, using its back to rub my eyes clean. you watch in horror as i finish my business, setting the hamster down, and returning my gaze to my crystal ball*

ah, that’s more like it. yes yes… i gaze upon (the first) king in the north, robb stark. the thing that solidified that for me was the race jokes 😭 he’d think you’re sooooo funny, and you remind him a lot of theon (whether or not that hurts his heart after theons betrayal, we’ll never know). and your attitude about politicians is exactly how robb feels 24/7. he’s a great battle strategist, but politics make his head hurt, and he’d love being able to complain with you. the part about being socially awkward and preferring not to speak with people much would tickle robb’s fancy at times, because he feels like he gets you allll to himself. and don’t even worry about the rizz!! robb is a-okay being the charming one, and relishes in being able to tease you all he likes <3

[that-one-queer-poc]

seroroki hc where sero wants to ask shoto out but hes sosooso scared because shoto is like intimidating and quiet and also like 200 people ask him out every day probably and the bakusquad (because in my heart it exists) hypes him up and theyre like so stupid so they go dude you have to rizz him up real good like yeah make a big deal about it so sero does (i cant tell you the specifics but the scene goes something like this: they catch shoto at the community space, theres confetti (thrown by a VERY uninterested bakugou who somehow looks like he wishes the confetti he is throwing in shoto's face was bricks), mina and kiri insist on dancing this weird number thats mostly spins and kicks, it's like SO BAD, and denki sings celine dion). shoto is just 🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️🧍‍♂️ BUT heres the thing. it somehow works, shoto finds it adorable and later tells sero that he didnt even have competition because people are just very intimidated by him so this was the first time he was EVER asked out.

cries and sobs whatever

HONESTLY. sero got that autistic rizz and roki is captivated by his cringefail swag. and sero is enamored with his swagless epicness they’re perfect for each other

[lightyaoigami]

down horrendous • rating: E

Light's heart clenched as the door handle slowly opened. He shivered involuntarily as L stepped into the room, smelling like an aggressive combination of clove cigarettes and detergent. Light wondered if he had doused himself in air freshener to mask the smoke. The combination normally would have repulsed him, but his lizard brain overrode his better angels and he felt, regrettably, aroused.

OR

After being ignored for a week, Light unexpectedly lays the autistic rizz on L.

Read on AO3!

thank you to my midnight babysitter, @quicktimeeventfull, who always unsticks my writing. you're the best company! (& go read xir amazing fics, or else)

[theirisianprincess]

In preparation for the upcoming Winter 2024 anime season, I will be explaining why all six anime I plan on watching are actually yuri by difficulty in how much I have to bullshit.

Gushing Over Magical Girls

This anime is explicitly yuri. Everyone's a lesbian. None of it is open to interpretation.

Tis Time For "Torture", Princess

The princess and Torture Tortura have sexual tension. If you've read this manga and you don't notice it, it might be too late for you. It's yuri.

Villainess Level 99

Eumillia's sheer autistic swag gets both a man and a woman to fall for her. But this potential bisexual polyamorous relationship isn't the only reason why this is yuri. The other reason is that she's utterly unaware that she rizzed these two up by being an absolute wierdo, which itself is yuri.

Chained Soldier

In a world where only women can get powers, Yuuki finds a workaround to get powers for himself. Also a group of dominating women take romantic and sexual interest in him. This is a transfem allegory. It's yuri.

The Dangers In My Heart Season 2

The yuri in this story isn't found in the surface level. No, the yuri can be found in the environment and the way the characters are framed. There's significant amount of focus on yearning between characters, environmental lighting, awkward sexual tension, and grappling with new initially unwanted emotions. It's yuri.

The Wrong Way To Use Healing Magic

Okay. This one might genuinely stump me. After all, most of the character dynamics are between the protagonist, Usato, and everyone else. And unlike Yuuki from Chained Soldier, I don't think I can salvage this with a transfem allegory (I mean I could but just for funsies and not for this). So, like, how can I possibly make a claim that a harem isekai could possibly be yuri?

But that is actually where the yuri comes in. You see, despite him amassing this harem, Usato isn't all that aware that this has happened. And, yeah being unaware is yuri. But there's more to it than that. You see, other than being oblivious, he's also generally respectful toward the women in his life. What I'm getting at is that I think he'd be right at home playing the role of the supportive male friend that sometimes pops up in yuri manga. You know, those characters that are super supportive, but have almost no idea what's actually going on. It's yuri.

[krakenshaped]

Tag force posting again, finished Asuka's route. Rambles below:

This route was highkey so fucking funny. The first 3 events are the same for every character but her 4 heart event is her and Hat-kun being jumped by Momoe and Junko. These girls istg they spend the entire anime trying to get Asuka to date someone but when they assume Asuka is dating the protag, they jump him because they don't think he's good enough for dearest Asurin. You get a REALLY strong sense for Junko's love for Asuka in tag force because like. When you talk to her she's like "You better not be causing problems for Alexis!!!" plus she's the first character to comfort Asuka during her ending. You kinda get the vibe that the two are closer friends with each other than they are with Momoe oddly enough but I might be reading into it too much.

Also she calls the protag a pervert (lmfao you KNOW 4kids was not involved in this translation)

Speaking of which the translation is so interesting. It's like a strange mix of dub and sub probably because of the translation team. I don't know if it's different from the anime translation team or what but there's so many bits you're like oho i see what that is. Like Manjoume calling Asuka "Rhodes" consistently - feeling kinda like his sub Tenjouin-kun in comparison to his dub pet name, Lexi. Although on the other hand, dub character quirks still pop up like Kenzan's weird army talk and Judai's goofy little catchphrases (sweetness, the hero always wins in the end, etc).

The 5th event follows Manjoume and Fubuki trying to cheer Asuka up after Momoe and Junko go missing after their event duel. This is covered up by Manjoume claiming he's going to win Lexi's heart from Hat-kun while Fubuki insists they form a brother-sister tag duel together. Shout out to Manjoume losing 20 manly points during this dialogue. I adore Fubuki and Manjoume's silly hijinks. At the end of the event they reveal they were trying to cheer Asuka up, but in the end they go missing too.

Honestly it's just. So. Sad. Throughout her route Asuka seems to have such an air of sadness around her. Her bio kinda suggests there's a lot on her mind she doesn't openly express but there's always an air of worry and grief around her, especially by the time the 6th heart event comes around and Judai and Sho go missing. She has teary sprites and it broke my heart, especially with the context of Fubuki's disappearance and how badly it affected her the first time. One of her potent lines was something along the lines of "What if I have no one left?" Everyone she cares about literally just vanish off the island (although this doesn't stop them appearing during the dueling exam)

The route concludes with Asuka meeting with Kenzan and Johan at the abandoned dorm where Titan (yes, the shadow rider) is back for some reason? With Jinzo. Apparently Titan is back for revenge and Jinzo wants to use everyone Asuka's ever loved as sacrifices for his rebirth. Which of course doesn't happen because its the easiest boss fight in the whole route lmao.

However it was cute. Tag Force 2 is kinda like if season 3 was season 1 and I like it as a season 1 defender. It was nice to see the tables turn where Asuka saves Judai instead of vice versa (even if the dialogue regarding it was a little ham fisted and more could have been said about Asuka being a damsel in distress more often or not and how she feels about that - but like wtf its a childrens card game anime video game who cares)

She gets a lil tsundere @ Judai at the end too lmao I'm telling you, this guys autistic rizz is endless

[petrichorium]

pls trust me with all my HEART I believe he talks that way, and I'd be amenable to anything he'd suggest or request any time. forever twirling my hair thinking about Mihawk's Old-Timey Every First Letter Capitalized Vocal Cadence. "It Is Dearly To Be Wished That I Should See You Again, If That Would Be Amenable To You" like??? (this message is not coherent alas)

NO YEAH the thought has me twirling my hair and giggling genuinely,,,,,, man who would have me swooning like a teenager i fear. He’d have this wild combo of like. eloquent, sophisticated courting but also autistic rizz yk JDNFKSNKFNE and relentless ugh in a similar vein to shanks where if he’s got his heart set ur not getting away. But where shanks is a persistence hunter mihawk tends to take a faster route; they both love the hunt but mihawk has far less patience.

Anyway. Big on letters I think and that’s where he typically drops his “if that is amenable to you” so u can largely get away with how flustered it makes you BUT he does say it once on the den-den (“upon my return I should like to stay with you rather than at the inn. Perhaps we’ll spend the first few days making up for lost time, if that is amenable to you”) and ohhhhhhhh it’s all over for you from then on he knows Immediately what that silence means and he Will be abusing it 🫣

[we-are-inevitable]

Going off of the tactile Jack and Davey thing- Davey enjoys peeling dried paint off of Jack’s hands because he likes the texture, not noticing how flustered Jack gets because “holy shit Dave’s so close and he’s holding my hands.”

OH MY GOD YEAH

davey has autistic rizz 😎 but FR davey constantly needs to move his hands, and peeling the paint is just a mindless, calming experience for him- even if it makes jack almost have a heart attack <33

[aynavaano]

Get to know me tag game

79's edition

Thanks for the inspiration @vodika-vibes

//Rules// copy this post and answer the questions below + tag people you would like to see at 79's!

So, imagine that all of us are living on Coruscant during the Clone Wars. Obviously, we would all be going to 79's, right? Now I'm wondering what everyone is gonna wear the first time you're going? What kind of drinks do you order? What will you be doing? Who will you be flirting with?

What to Wear: I would wear a long tight dress to accentuate my curves. It’s sexy without revealing too much and I would wear my hair open and with my natural waves. Maybe I’d add a little bit of jewelry, but not to much. A necklace with a little golden heart pendant or something like that. And I’d wear comfy flat shoes, nice sandals or similar style. I hate walking in heels and I like that I am very small.

What to Order: I’m not good with alcohol but I’d order maybe a glass of white wine to get started and I’m sure they have some yummy non alcoholic cocktails to continue the night.

What to Do: I like to imagine myself dancing but let’s be honest I’m autistic as fuck and I’ll probably sit in the corner until someone comes and talks to me. If I’m with good friends that help me feel safe I might get a little courageous and try dancing but it will need a lot of convincing. But I’m very good at sitting around looking beautiful and lonely, it’s my autistic rizz

Who to woo: Honestly any of the Batch or Rex or Wolffe, depending who’s there that evening. If they are all there Crosshair would be my number one. I don’t think he is big on partying, so he might enjoy joining me in my quiet corner with a drink. I’d let him give me a taste of his whisky on his lips and slide his hand under my dress while he whispers all the dirty things he wants to do with me later in my ear. Or maybe Hunter would approach me, seeing me sitting there alone would activate his protective instinct and he would enjoy that I am small even next to him. If I get lucky either of them take me home to play with the rest of the Batch, heard they don’t mind sharing.

No pressure tags: @neon-junkie @techhasmjolnir @badbatchsprincess @bring-backup-99 and anyone who wants

[silverwings22]

Song of the Sea: Chapter 7: Here There Be Dragons

Chapter warning: child endangerment, communication is 9/10 of conflict Series warning: explicit smut, alien anatomy (it's a monsterfucker fic, guys), major character injury, grief, canon typical violence, autistic meltdowns, and my terrible attempts at Mando'a

Previous Chapter:

Next Chapter:

The buzzing of an alarm and pulse of red lights woke Shiani from her fitful doze in her new overhead berth. She opened the door from within, sticking her head out. "Blinkers?"

Wrecker held up his arms. "Yeah. We broke something coming off Salucemi. We're gonna have to land to fix it. Come down?"

She nodded and dropped into his arms. "What broke?"

"Our capacitor." Echo sighed as Wrecker set her down. "Tech says we have a spare. We're landing on… Ordo Moon, I think he said. Honestly, I'm tired and I was only half listening."

"You work hard, Chainbreaker Echo. Let me help fix it?" She offered. He did look exhausted, and she wanted to prove she wasn't useless. If Tech wouldn’t be the voice to keep her here, she needed to solidify her friendships with the other members of the squad. She

Echo smiled. "You know how to replace a capacitor?"

"I was building my own ship. I know lots of parts… but I don’t always remember names." She nodded. “Just need to see it.”

"You were building a ship?" Omega squealed from beside her. 

“I was getting off Kamino one way or the other." She nodded. 

"That's pretty clever. Where'd you learn that?" Hunter chuckled. 

"Tech taught me. Tech… taught me lots of things. But he still thinks my brain is full of bubbles." She shook her head. “I’m smarter in my own language, I promise."

Echo glanced back towards the cockpit. "What's your own language?"

"Hearts. Siren’s talk by singing, and we feel what the other feels when we do. We only sign when we need to be quiet, like hunting…" She explained, looking up at the blinking lights. "Sometimes it’s easier that way, because you’re never misunderstood… but when someone knows how you feel and ignores it, that’s hard. Frustrating."

Wrecker patted her head. "I want to hear you sing now."

"Later, I’ll sing for you." She nodded as they moved to land. “But first, we fix the ship. It’s your home, gotta keep it safe for you and Baby Mega.”

"The air on this moon is not safe to breathe." Tech walked into the hold as they touched down, offering Echo a respirator. "We only have two, Shiani, so you should remain-"

"I’ll be fine." She grumbled, brushing past him to follow Echo to the hatch. Down her ribs and tentacles, blue light pulsed that he’d only seen glimpses of before. At least the blue rings were gone... She certainly still seemed angry, but Wrecker had been so sure she wasn’t.

He groaned and followed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. 

Hunter looked at Wrecker. "We've got to figure something out. Omega needs a place to sleep."

"I've got an idea." Wrecker grinned. 

"Then get on it." Hunter smiled. "I'll go try to figure out supplies."

"Yes sir!" The kind giant grinned and picked up a crate, heading to the gunner's mount. 

Outside, Shiani's gills opened on her ribs to filter oxygen from the inhospitable air. She let Echo boost her into the guts of the ship to find the blown capacitor, the cyborg secretly delighted to both have help and witness the annoyed look on Tech's face when the siren wouldn’t talk to him. Tech had never had to compete for Shiani's attention before. He’d had it, undivided, whenever he wanted since he was child. She always answered his comms, always was there when he visited… Had he taken that for granted? 

She passed the broken part out to Echo and pulled the new one to her with a tentacle, freezing suddenly and her blue light going dark. "... Nexu on this moon?"

"No, I do not believe so." Tech huffed.

Shiani poked her head out of the ship, looking around with a pinched expression. “Somethi- eee!” Her words were cut off when something knocked the siren out of the side of the ship, snatching the capacitor from her hands. She tried to hiss and swipe, but the creature flattened her with its tail before she could get more than a cursory glance. It was a very large, reptilian something that took off with their ship part in its mouth, vanishing into the dark. 

“Are you injured?” Tech knelt where she’d been knocked to the ground, checking her over when Echo drew his blaster. 

“That scaly-thing took the part!” She tried to clamber past him, hand over her mouth. “I’ll get it back-”

“You will not be able to track that creature, nor are you prepared to fight it. We need to alert Hunter.” Tech grabbed her wrist firmly. “You handled the nexu, but that creature eats energy, and will be extremely territorial. You could be hurt.”

Shiani stiffened, looking from him to the direction the creature had taken the capacitor. Every wild instinct in her was screaming to give chase, before it got away. She had to tell herself that things were different on the surface, and the clones knew better. She had to play by their rules, and she didn't even know them until she was told. "Hunter is a tracker… okay. I’ll get him. What… was that thing? So I can explain."

"I believe it was an Ordo Moon dragon."

She nodded, yanking her hand free and darting up the ship steps before he could say anything else that might hurt her already tender feelings. "Hunter? We need a tracker."

"What's wrong?" The tattooed clone stuck his head around from the supply crates, Omega right behind him mimicking the way he walked. 

"A dragon took the part out of my hands. Tech said you can track it down, and fight it better than me."

Hunter sighed as Echo and Tech walked in behind her. "You let a lizard steal our spare part?"

"Shiani did try to warn us, but it was too fast." Echo sighed, handing over his respirator. 

Omega wrapped herself around Hunter's side. "Can I come with you?"

Hunter looked at her, wanting to say no, but she looked so hopeful… and Shiani had this burden of disappointment radiating off her from where Tech had told her to stay put. "Alright. But you listen to every word I say, deal?"

"I promise." She took the respirator from Tech and followed him out. 

Shiani was halfway back up the wall to her compartment when Wrecker caught her. "Hey, can you help me with something? You got more arms!"

"I can help." She agreed, dropping back down and following him to the gunner's nest. He was setting up a bedroom for little Omega, and needed hands to hang string lights to make it cute for her. "This is pretty, Wrecker." She looked up, fascinated with the lights. It reminded her of her string of camp lanterns in the cave; the very first thing Tech had ever given her. She used to lay under those lights and stare at them in the dark of the night, when she missed him most. 

Now she wondered if he’d ever actually missed her at all. 

"Think she'll like it? A kid should have a bedroom." He grinned. 

Shiani nodded. "She will."

"Where do you want your space to be?" He offered. "You're the only other girl on the ship."

"I can stay in the ceiling… I’ll be out of the way." She drooped a little. She wasn't good at concealing her emotions, she'd never had to while living on her own. And it wasn't her people's way anyway. 

Wrecker surprised her with a warm hug. "Don't look so sad. And don't hide from everyone, we like you. What's the matter?"

From the cockpit, Tech leaned back in his chair to eavesdrop. He couldn't help it… Shiani had always been cheerful and pleasant. He didn't like the way she'd snatched away from him, or how she'd only spoken to Echo when they were making repairs. 

"I’m just… hurt." The siren admitted, and he reached for his med kit. 

"That dragon get you?" Wrecker frowned. 

"No. Not outside hurt. Inside hurt. Hearts hurt." She explained. "Tech… Hunter said it was his idea to send me away. After all that time in exile, and he was my only friend. It felt like when I got banished… like he didn’t want me anymore." She sat down, hugging her knees. "Tech thinks he knows better… and maybe it is safer far from you guys. But I don’t want safe. Safe is lonely. I want to be here and be a part of Tech’s family. I could keep you all safe, or at least try…"

Wrecker hugged Shiani a little tighter. "Tech always thinks he knows better. Most of the time he's right, but sometimes he's not. You fit with us, so it'll be okay."

"Do you think he doesn’t like me anymore?" Shiani looked up at Wrecker, cuddling back with a heartbroken expression.

"I doubt that. But you might have to talk to him." Wrecker patted her back. 

"Ugh, talk. Basic doesn’t have the right words for all this feeling." She grumbled. 

"Maybe you can sing, like you said before?" He offered. 

Shiani nodded. "I’ll try… I just want things to be the same with him. I was always happy with Tech before, no matter what was happening."

"That's the spirit. How about I make you up a bed in the back by the tailgun? Then you can see the stars. You like those, right?"

"Yes. I love the stars" She nodded, and he hopped down the ladder to go try to pull off a miracle for her and make her feel like she belonged.

In the cockpit, Tech sighed and leaned back a little further, pushing his goggles up his forehead to rub his eyes. Emotions were complicated… but he hadn't meant to hurt her. 

When Hunter and Omega returned with the capacitor, Shiani was sitting in a swing made of her own limbs, hanging from the ceiling upside down. 

"I chased the dragon down a hole and got the part back! I didn't even have to use Hunter’s blaster!" The girl crowed. 

"Proud of you, Baby Mega." A tentacle patted her head. "Wrecker has a surprise for you in the gunner’s seat. Go see, you’ll like it."

Omega skipped off with delight. Hunter gave a wry smile. "She saved my life out there."

"She loves you. She’s a good girl with good hearts." Shiani nodded. "Lights all fixed now?"

"Yeah. We've still got some damage, but we're going to need a more secure landing zone to fix it." He leaned against the wall. "I'd like you to help Tech, if that's not too much trouble."

"I can help." She nodded. "I’ll be your mechanic, if you want. Echo gave me a datapad, I can learn more and faster now, without bothering anyone."

"Good." He smiled. "... you still mad at Tech?"

She flipped upside down, head hanging over the floor a scant inch. "Not so mad… just upset."

"You know he doesn't really want you gone. Once we found out about you, he talked about you all the time. Every time he found something out there, he wanted to show you." 

She peeked up. "He talked about me?"

Hunter nodded. “Yeah. Go easy on him, he’s never had a friend that wasn’t a soldier before. And having you here is a big change. Change is hard on him.”

“I’ll figure out how to talk to him.” She said after a long pause that left her non-existent eyebrows scrunched. “This is hard. I don’t want him to hate me, or think I’m stupid.” 

“He doesn’t, trust me.” Hunter offered a hand to help her off the floor. She was surprised when he placed a ration bar in her hands. "Now eat and go to sleep. You've got to be exhausted. There will be plenty to do later."

"Thank you." Shiani nodded with a weak smile before going back to the tailgun where Wrecker said he'd made her a bed. 

It was a couple thick shock blankets and pillows arranged in a little nest by the window, and the kind giant had even tried to make it cute with some of the string lights like he'd done for Omega. Shiani smiled and sat down on the blankets, taking her boots off and unwrapping the ration bar. 

It was chalky and hard to swallow, but she was hungry. After she’d finished it, she pulled up one of the blankets around her shoulders to ward off the persistent chill of space. The stars were just as pretty back here as they'd been in the cockpit… but she liked them better with Tech around. 

She heard the other Batchers one by one turn into the bunkroom, leaving their best pilot on duty. Her big eyes were heavy, the need for rest nestled at the back of her neck like a lead weight. Still, something was missing. She'd never turn her brain off if she didn't make up with her best friend in the galaxy; she'd just dream fitfully like she had in the overhead. 

Tech was glancing over his maps, deciding the safest place to land the ship, when he heard the door open. Shiani, wrapped in a blanket, padded in softly and sat on the floor beside his chair. 

"That is the least comfortable place you could be." He said mildly, as she leaned over and put her head on the seat beside his armored knee. 

"Missed you." She mumbled. 

"I thought you were upset with me."

"Still miss you." She closed her eyes. "Can I stay?"

Tech sighed, setting his handheld aside and carefully putting a gloved hand on her head. "You wish to stay on the floor?"

"Closest to you." She smiled when he lightly scritched between her tentacles. "That feels nice."

"I am sorry, Shiani. It was not my intention to upset you." He tried not to smile when her ear fins wiggled. "I hope you will forgive me, but it was my intent to protect you."

"I don’t want you to protect me. Or make choices for me, just cause you think they’re best. We could have talked about it together." She opened one eye and looked up at him. “You weren’t even going to say goodbye. That’s not fair, Tech.” 

“Would you have agreed to go if I’d spoken to you about it?”

“No. I don’t want to go with strangers just because it’s safer. I want to be with you. It’s the only place I’ve ever wanted to be.”

"What about your home?"

"I didn’t belong there. I didn’t know where I belonged, until the first time you and I looked at the stars together. I belonged wherever you were." She looked up at him with those liquid eyes… and Maker, had she always been so cute? "You’re so smart it makes you stupid sometimes."

"I am exceptionally intelligent-"

"I know that. But you forget other people know what they want."

"And what is it that you want?" Tech's mouth was oddly dry suddenly. 

"I want you." She smiled and closed her eyes again, snuggling her blanket more securely around her shoulders. "I want to be wherever you are. However you want me there."

He sat with this admission for a long time, but when he'd processed it enough to try to question further, she was asleep with her head against his knee. He talked himself out of waking her to satisfy his curiosity, slowly stroking her head with his fingertips. "If that is what you wish… then you may stay. For now." He finally sighed. 

He hoped she knew what she was getting into… but he wanted her to stay too. Change was challenging for him and dangerous for her, but she'd picked him. That meant something. He'd never had anyone, not even his brothers in their bred-in loyalty, pick him and only him before.