#how the fuck do i tag this iri help me

[motherbasil]

federico sesso

[keeryhours]

please don’t go, i love you so - rafe cameron

Baby daddy! Rafe x Baby mama! Maybank! Reader

Masterlist

Rafe Cameron Masterlist

More Baby daddy! Rafe

Summary:

When you get in a serious accident, Rafe’s true feelings are left staring him in the face.

Requested

Warnings:

Lots of drama and angst, language, serious car accident, medical stuff, talk of TBIs, broken bones, and other injuries

Word Count: 4k

A/N:

Had to do research for this one, but I’m definitely no expert on medical stuff so forgive me if I get something wrong 🥲 Requests are open! BD Rafe requests can be anywhere in the timeline, past, future, smut, fluff, or angst :) Other OBX (or ST) requests also very welcome. I hope you enjoy this one!

let me know if you want to be on any tag lists :)

@sabrina-carpenter-stan-account

—

“Iris, please, baby, we’ve got to get your shoes on.”

“No!” the toddler yelled back, running circles around the living room.

You were out of energy. You sat on the couch, your face in your hands, as she continued to run and you tried to clear your head and just breathe.

It had been a long day. A bad day. Iris had been absolutely wild, endless energy and more attitude in her nearly 2 year old self than you thought possible. And it didn’t help that JJ was out with the pogues, so you didn’t even have any backup. It was 7pm, nearing her bedtime, and this had been your whole day. You were over it.

Everything had been a fight with her all day, but the current one was getting her dressed for pickup. It was Rafe’s weekend, and he’d be pulling up any second. You didn’t feel too thrilled about seeing Rafe right now, either.

Things had been complicated with Rafe. You felt like it was a constant back and forth with him, especially recently. Not about co-parenting, never about Iris - you knew you were lucky that the two of you got along so well when it came to parenting your daughter. It was feelings that got tricky.

You didn’t even know how you felt about Rafe yourself. On one hand, you knew you loved him. You’d always love him. But just because you loved him didn’t mean you should be together. You could never forget the toxic situation your relationship had been. Constant fighting, endless tears, trust issues and anger problems.

That’s not even to mention the way he would act around you lately. He was hot and cold. Sometimes he acted all affectionate, kissing and touching you, fucking you, like you’d never broken up in the first place. Other times he was cold and withdrawn. It left you feeling confused, like emotional whiplash, and you were honestly tired of it.

You debated on letting yourself have a quick cry, but quickly wrote that off as you thought of how humiliating it would be to answer the door to Rafe with your face all red and puffy from crying. You took a second to collect yourself, before putting the Mom pants back on.

“Iris Elaine Cameron,” you said sternly, standing from the couch.

The little girl came to a stop, looking up at you with a big grin on her face, totally oblivious to your frustration. The sight of her angelic face softens you immediately, of course. She had her light brown hair up in tiny pigtails, dressed in one of the many outfits Rafe had bought her. Some designer brand dress, not that you had any idea about that or thought it made much sense to dress a toddler in such expensive clothes. She looked cute, though.

You held up her Mary Jane shoes. “Are you gonna let Mommy put your shoes on so Daddy can come pick you up?” you asked her, raising an eyebrow.

Her little face lit up with joy. “Dada! Dada!”

Your heart clenched in your chest. Iris had been a total Daddy’s Girl since day 1 - and Rafe was completely wrapped around her little finger - but sometimes the reminder of him hit you especially hard.

At the promise of seeing her dad soon, Iris happily hopped over to you. You smiled as you lifted her onto your lap and slid her shoes on, buckling them. “There. See? All done,” you said. Iris held her palms out and twisted them, baby sign language for all done, which made you giggle. When you had read the articles and brought it up to Rafe, he had thought teaching her sign language as an infant was dumb. But it actually ended up being extremely helpful since she couldn’t communicate with words yet.

“Book?” she asked you, and you knew exactly what she wanted - her favorite book, Where the Wild Things Are. She’d have you read it 50 times a day if you’d do it. You smiled as you reached over to unzip the diaper bag, pulling the book out. She broke into a huge grin just at the sight of it.

You opened the beloved book and began to read to her, making her giggle with the different voices you’d do for the monsters. Her favorite part was always when you or Rafe would read the line “Oh please don’t go - we’ll eat you up - we love you so!” while attacking her with kisses and tickles. She laughed so hard every time.

When the book was finished, you closed it and slipped it back in the bag to go to her dad’s. She pouted like she was about to throw a fit if you didn’t read it again. “Uh uh. You’re gonna have to wait until Daddy reads it tonight.” You leaned in, rubbing your nose against hers, making her giggle.

You sat Iris down on the ground at the exact time you heard the front door opening. You raised your eyebrows knowingly at Iris, who’s eyes went wide in the direction of the hallway. You both knew perfectly well who it was.

Rafe sauntered into the living room, sunglasses sitting on his face despite the sun already beginning to set. His bored expression was immediately replaced by a huge grin as he saw his daughter.

“Hey, baby girl,” he said, lifting her into his arms as she squealed with delight.

You avoided eye contact with Rafe, busying yourself around the living room as you made sure everything Iris needed that he didn’t already have at his place was packed in her diaper bag. Once you were satisfied, you approached Rafe with the bag, handing it over. He took it from you with a curious expression.

“You’re being weird,” he said, pushing his sunglasses up onto his head.

You ignored him, leaning over to give Iris a kiss on the cheek. “I love you, baby. I’ll see you Sunday night, okay?”

Rafe doesn’t take his eyes off you, like he’s examining you inside and out. “What’s your deal?”

You sighed - you already felt defeated and exhausted going into this encounter, you didn’t really want to do this tonight. “Nothing. Everything is fine.”

But Rafe knows you better than anyone.

He bit the inside of his cheek as he looked at you. “This is because I took Briana on another date, isn’t it?”

You felt your skin turn ice cold at the accusation, your defenses building themselves high. “That’s fucking ridiculous.”

The slightest smirk dances across his lips as he sits a wiggling Iris back on the ground, his eyes never leaving yours. “That is why you’re mad.”

You huffed an incredulous laugh as you crossed your arms and looked away from him, watching Iris start dragging everything you’d just cleaned up out of the toy box again, paying no mind to the two of you. “I’m not mad. And if I was, I have much better things to be upset about than who you choose to stick your dick into,” you hissed back at him.

Rafe barked out a laugh, looking up at the ceiling as he did like he couldn’t believe what you’d just said. “You are so full of shit.”

You rolled your eyes and shook your head. “Get out, Rafe. I’ll see you Sunday.”

He watched you for a minute longer as you both stood there in silence. Finally he let out a big sigh, running a hand over his face. “You’re such a bitch sometimes, you know that?”

You didn’t acknowledge the comment as he moved to lift Iris into his arms again, her bag slung over his shoulder. You followed him to the front door, ready to shut him out as soon as possible, but as soon as he stepped over the threshold, he turned back to you.

“You know, it’s none of your business who I see. We’re not together. You’re not my girl.”

You just looked at him, his words cutting far deeper and harder than you wanted to admit. “Same goes for you too, Rafe,” you said, thinking of the multiple times Rafe’s temper and jealousy had ruined one of your dates. Half the island was scared to even look at you because of him. It was fucking annoying.

Rafe scoffed. He shook his head one more time with that stupid grin on his face. “I’ll see you Sunday,” he said, and then he was walking off towards his truck.

You didn’t linger. You shut the door as soon as he stepped away, leaning against the wood as you took a deep, shaky breath. God, you hated that arrogant asshole sometimes.

You wallowed in your despair on the couch for a while that night, switching between various shows, none of them catching your interest. Eventually you think what’s the point, and decide to just go to bed early. You might as well take advantage of the sleep without having to worry about getting up early.

—

You hoped you would feel better the next day.

You didn’t.

You made breakfast for you and JJ, not something you typically do when Iris was at Rafe’s, but you felt like pancakes. And JJ certainly wasn’t going to complain.

“You look depressed,” JJ pointed out helpfully through a mouthful of pancake as you sat at the small dining table across from him.

You glared at him over your plate before eating a bite of your own breakfast. JJ held his hands up in surrender.

“Okay, okay. Touchy subject this morning, I see.”

As much as you loved your twin brother, you were relieved when he picked up his surf board after breakfast and told you he was going out. You didn’t exactly feel up to company.

With JJ gone, you attempted to stay busy around the house, but once everything was cleaned to perfection, you found yourself standing in the silent living room, feeling like you had no idea what to do with yourself. What was wrong with you, you thought. The place was always too quiet without Iris.

You needed a drive to clear your head.

You snatched your keys from the side table and left the house, still dressed in the tank top and athletic shorts you’d been cleaning the house in. You just wanted to drive around the island for a while, you weren’t really going anywhere, so you didn’t care how you looked.

You turned on your favorite sad playlist and sang at the top of your lungs to songs about love and broken hearts and pain. You felt pretty silly, but this was your time, your coping mechanism, and you weren’t going to feel bad about it.

Fuck Rafe Cameron. And not in the way you usually did.

You drove with the windows down, the salty breeze whipping through your hair, cooling your skin. You felt yourself starting to feel lighter.

You didn’t see the truck barreling faster than the speed limit around the corner. No one even had time to lay on the horn. You didn’t see or feel anything except a brief flash of pain and then - nothing.

—

“Wow! That’s beautiful, baby.”

Rafe lifted up the piece of paper covered in crayon scribbles, examining it like it was on display at The Louvre. It was the fifth one he’d been given since he sat on the floor with Iris, crayons and paper spread out all around them. Each piece of art went in a stack to be displayed somewhere in the house.

He watched his daughter as she picked up the green jumbo crayon and began roughly scribbling it across another blank page. The same big smile he always had around Iris was spread across his face. Nothing made him happier than spending time with her.

Rafe was caught off guard by the sound of his phone ringing loudly in his pocket. He sighed as he pulled it out, expecting to see either Topper or Kelce forgetting it was his weekend with Iris. But his eyebrows furrowed as he saw it was JJ calling him. JJ never called or texted him. They only had each other’s numbers in case of emergency.

Rafe felt a jolt of pure fear deep in his chest.

He answered the call, tentatively bringing the phone to his ear. “Maybank?” he answered.

He felt the nausea spread over him like a tidal wave when JJ spoke your name in his panicked voice. It was you. God, something bad had happened to you.

“S-slow down,” Rafe said, holding his shaking hand out in front of him as if JJ could see. Pure panic was spreading and growing through every vein in his body. “What…what happened?”

JJ’s voice was shaking too as he spoke. Rafe could tell he was pacing, probably pulling at his messy blonde hair as he did. “She- it was a truck. Guy was speeding and hit her head-on. Her car is totaled, they…they haven’t even let me see her yet. I don’t even know if she’s okay. Fuck, I shouldn’t have left this morning. Fuck!”

Rafe couldn’t even process JJ blaming himself for something that definitely wasn’t his fault, because he was doing the same thing. He had been a total asshole to you last night. The idea that that could possibly have been the last conversation he’ll ever have with you has him feeling like he’s going to be sick on the floor.

“I’m on my way,” Rafe said simply, and then he was hanging up the call, shoving his phone in his pocket and climbing to his feet.

Sarah was happy to watch Iris as Rafe grabbed his keys and sprinted to his truck, with promises to text her about your condition as soon as he knew anything at all. He probably would have been driving 15 over the speed limit if he wasn’t so disgustingly reminded of the dangers of the road. Instead he drove as fast as he safely could, a white knuckled grip on the steering wheel as he clenched his jaw tightly.

His head was spinning as he rushed into the hospital, looking around the waiting room for any sign of JJ. He didn’t see the blonde boy anywhere. He approached the receptionist desk instead, urgently giving your name to the tired looking receptionist.

“She’s in the Neuro ICU, room 5,” the receptionist said. Rafe felt his breath hitch - the fucking ICU? “We only allow two visitors at a time, and it’s immediate family only,” she continued. “You are…?”

Rafe hesitated. “Uh…I’m her boyfriend,” he said the first thing that came to mind. “But we have a child together. Please.”

The receptionist eyed him for a moment, before nodding, giving him a sympathetic look. She printed a visitor’s badge for him and handed it over. He thinks she said something about wishing you the best, but all he could hear was his own blood rushing in his ears as he mindlessly walked towards the elevators.

The last time Rafe had been in a hospital was for Iris’ birth, decidedly a much happier occasion. He felt out of place and awkward as he walked through the quiet, sterile halls, following signs pointing him where he wanted to go.

When he reached the ICU and approached room 5, he froze. He had never felt so scared in his life, he thought. He didn’t know if he could do this.

But you needed him.

He slid the glass door open, a flash of blonde hair peeking from around the privacy curtain where JJ was sitting. Rafe mustered all the strength he had to walk forward into the room. JJ looked up at him as he entered, but his eyes were immediately drawn to you as his heart shattered in his chest.

He clasped his hands behind his head as he took in the scene in front of him. He was holding off a panic attack as tears welled in his eyes. You were there on the bed, and you looked so utterly broken that it made Rafe feel like he couldn’t breathe. You were hooked up to an IV, about a million monitors mostly over your chest and head, a cast on an arm and one on a leg, a ventilator.

Rafe’s shaky legs practically gave out then, his body collapsing in the empty chair by your bedside. He was terrified to look at you, knowing he was going to start crying harder if he did. He looked at JJ instead, who looked equally wrecked, his eyes red from crying.

JJ gave Rafe the rundown the doctor had just given him. Traumatic brain injury, broken bones in your left arm and leg. You hadn’t regained consciousness at all since the accident. Things were still up in the air, nothing the doctors would say brought Rafe any comfort. They didn’t know about surgery yet, they didn’t know how long it would take you to recover, hell, they couldn’t even say if you’d be the same when you woke up.

When Rafe finally worked up the courage to be close to you, to actually look at you - he didn’t know his heart could break like this. Your normally smooth, perfect skin that he loved to trace his fingertips over because of the way you’d react to his touch, was now covered in deep bruises. Your face - that beautiful face he always adored so much, the one he fell in love with back in junior high - bruised and lacerated. He couldn’t even tell himself you were just peacefully napping. You looked like hell.

The next weeks were long and difficult. Iris stayed with the Cameron’s, and while Rafe spent every second he could drag himself away from your bedside spending it with her, he didn’t leave the hospital much at all. He grew used to sleeping in the world’s most uncomfortable chair.

Your recovery was truly a miracle. You didn’t end up needing brain surgery, but they kept you monitored for weeks. You did suffer a pretty bad TBI, and you had surgery to repair the broken bones in your arm and leg. The ventilator was removed first, which Rafe was the most relieved about, because that terrified him more than anything else.

When you finally woke up, Rafe was the first thing you saw.

The second he noticed your eyes fluttering open, Rafe was bolting up straight in his chair, his hand gently cupping your cheek with a barely-there touch as he whispered your name.

“R…Rafe?” you had croaked, voice raspy and dry from disuse and the ventilator tube being down your throat. Rafe called the nurses immediately, and multiple examinations, a plastic hospital jug of ice water, and some heavy pain meds later, you were feeling…okay.

JJ was there for most of the day like he was every day he didn’t have work. He actually cried when he showed up and saw you awake, which surprised Rafe because he didn’t even seem embarrassed about it. He just embraced you as gently as possible so as not to hurt you, and it was clear you were equally as happy to see him. There was that twin bond, something Rafe found a little weird (especially when the two of you would communicate without even talking) but also…endearing.

Recovery was a long road, and it was a lot of hard work, but the doctors were confident in your ability to return to normal in time. You had to work on your memory, your speech. Physical therapy took up most of your days. But Rafe knew you were strong, and you showed him every day. Even Iris got to visit as often as she could, but you didn’t want her in a hospital for too long so she wouldn’t get sick.

Rafe sat by your side late at night, gently brushing his fingers through your hair as you laid with your eyes closed, enjoying the feeling. Your hospital stay was finally almost over. You’d be coming home tomorrow, staying with the Camerons so you had the help.

You opened your eyes and looked up at him. You were happy, but his behavior was confusing to you at the same time. “You’re being weirdly sweet,” you said with a teasing smile.

Rafe looked away from your eyes. “Yeah…well.”

The two of you sat with that silence for a while. You knew there was plenty he wasn’t saying, and you wondered if he would.

Rafe reached forward and traced a finger along your cheek, over your jaw line. The cuts and bruises on your face were mostly healed now, and you were endlessly grateful when they told you they didn’t expect any lasting scarring. His light touch sent a shiver through your body.

When Rafe finally spoke again, he sounded different than you had ever heard him. His voice was weak, broken. “Don’t do that to me again.”

Your face fell as you looked at him - really looked at him - and saw the pain hidden deep behind his blue eyes. Obviously you knew none of this was your fault, but you felt terrible for what you’d put your loved ones through all the same.

“I’m sorry-“ you began to say, but Rafe shook his head.

“Do you understand that I love you?” he said, his voice choked up as tears welled in those deep eyes. The words hit you like a physical blow, you felt yourself moving back as you looked him in the face. “I don’t give a fuck about Briana, or any other girl on this island compared to you. And it’s not just ‘we were together for a while and you’re the mother of my daughter so I’ll always love you’,” he continued, like the words were spilling out of his mouth faster than he could control. “No, like, I love you.”

He was looking you so intensely in the eyes that it took your breath away. You felt tears in your own eyes, falling down your cheeks before you could do anything about it. “Rafe…” you breathed out, you didn’t know what else to say. You weren’t even sure this wasn’t a dream.

“Maybe we could…maybe we could try again,” he said, the hope audible in his voice. “A…relationship?”

You let out a long shaky exhale. “I…” You searched your brain for the right words to say, searched your chest for how you really felt. “We…it’s never worked, Rafe, we never-“

“Do you love me?”

The question caught you completely off guard. “What?”

“Do you love me?” he repeated simply. “I told you how I felt. I need to know how you really feel.”

You swallowed. “I love you, Rafe,” you said, your voice small. “I’ve always loved you. But it’s still never worked for us.”

Rafe clasped both your smaller hands in his, being gentle with your cast. “I’m serious this time, baby. This is…things are different.” He held intense eye contact with you as he spoke, and you could see the genuine emotion swirling behind his eyes. “I’ve had a taste of what life would be like without you, and I don’t wanna go through that again.”

You had no control whatsoever as the tears started to fall down your face faster, a sob escaping from your throat. Rafe pulled you into the tightest gentle hug he could manage, his large hand combing through your smooth hair as you cried into his chest. He was a little panicked, he didn’t know if he had said something wrong to upset you. He didn’t want to make you sad anymore.

When you pulled back, Rafe wiped the tears from your face. He traced his thumb lightly over your bottom lip. His gaze flicked up to your eyes, back to your mouth, and then he was leaning in to press the softest kiss to your lips. When he broke the kiss and looked into your eyes again, he could see the mix of emotions swirling behind them. He wished he could read what you were thinking.

He grabbed your good hand with his own, intertwining your fingers. “You don’t have to decide anything now. You have plenty else to worry about. Just…think about it for me?”

You nodded, squeezing his hand in yours, which gave him some reassurance. You didn’t know what your decision would be, but you wanted to make sure you made the right one. For you, for Rafe, and for Iris.

“I love you,” you whispered to him.

His lips turned up in a smile. “I love you too.”

[buck-star]

Finally thought of a scenario for Stevie!

Okay reader and Steve are stuck somewhere where they are pushed against each other. (I’m talking forced proximity trope!)

So while they are stuck and the others are trying to help the reader feels something hard pressing against her and when she moves to try and figure out what it is Steve can hardly hold in a moan ”please s-stop moving”



No move

Wordcount: 562 Words

Warning/Tags: mention of hard on, mention of smut, forced proximity, mutual pining, kisses

Divider made by me.

Your bodies are pressed against one another when the truck crashed into the container you’re in. The hard metal pressed tightly together from the force, and you’re glad that there’s still a bit of space for you and Steve to stand.

The voices of the other Avengers come from the outside of the container, and you turn your head toward it. It's still pretty dark in there except for the light that shines through the corner of the container.

Steve groans quietly when you move your body a bit. Your eyes immediately narrow, and you turn back to look at him, earning another groan from the man.

“Are you hurt? Do you—” You get interrupted by him shaking his head. You nod, tilting your head in confusion. Steve leans his head back while he tries to think about everything but his closeness and the possibility to get some friction; would he move his hips just a bit.

Your hand starts to feel numb, and you shift once more, earning another groan that sounds more like a moan from Steve. He takes a deep breath, his eyes closing before he blinks them open and looks at you.

“P-please… Stop moving your hand,” he whispers, and only when you notice the hardness that pokes against you. Your eyes narrow, then they widen when you realize what’s poking you.

“Fuck, Stevie, I'm sorry. I— do you… I can try to wiggle my hand out—”

“No, stop, please. Don’t move, you only—” he moans when you already wiggle your fingers. They stroke so perfectly against the hard bulge in his pants that he thrusts his hips instinctively forward, chasing more soft touches. “P-please, it… feels so good, but please, we can’t…”

Your eyes light up. Steve looks so fucked out, his voice hoarse, which makes you shiver. Knowing that he’s so hard because of you, because you're forced to be pressed together, makes your arousal pool out of you.

“You like it?” You ask with a soft smile on your lips. Steve’s cheeks heat up immediately; he didn’t think much about what he said before he did, especially not the confession that your touch feels so good. Steve nods slightly, his calloused hands finding their way to your waist, and he pulls you closer.

“Mhm… you— you didn’t know?” He whimpers, leaning his head forward until his forehead is pressed against yours. “You always make me feel so good.”

You hum, keeping your fingers over his crotch before you grip him tightly and make him buck his hips. “How about… we use the time in here to do some… distraction?”

“Only… if you…” he groans, his eyes darken, and a smile tugs at his plump lips. Steve tilts his head, his voice lowering. “Only if you will let me reward you later, princess.”

With that he presses his lips against yours, warm and soft when they move softly against yours. His fingers digging into your hips as he humps against your hand, groaning and pulling at your lip with a grin plastered on his face, and his eyes darken even further.

“Such a good girl,” he growls, moving his lips to your neck to leave some hickeys all over your neck. “So good, princess, take what's yours, sweetheart, take it to get your sweet reward for making me feel so good with your sweet touches, princess.”

Taglist: @rogersbarber @loki-laufeyson68 @etherealdisneyvillainness @winterschildren8 @pono-pura-vida @kimmie113080 @sergeantbarnessdoll @sebastianstanisahotmf @mercurial-chuckles @holylulusworld @randomawesomeperson102 @looking1016 @multiversefanfics @kpopgirlbtssvt @alexxavicry @gremlin-girly @iris-xoxo-juhu @fckedupandbeautiful @hisredheadedgoddess28 @princesscore-angel @blackhawkfanatic @bamitzzsam @kandis-mom @armystay89 @queen-honeybee-stories [add yourself]

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

upon his grace 1

No tag lists. Do not send asks or DMs about updates. Review my pinned post for guidelines, masterlist, etc.

Warnings: this fic will include dark content such as noncon/dubcon, age gap, power dynamics, cheating, bullying, and possible untagged elements. My warnings are not exhaustive, enter at your own risk.

This is a dark!fic and explicit. 18+ only. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: You are called to court after the end of the civil war, but find yourself facing many challenges, expected and not. (fantasy medieval au)

Characters: king!Steve Rogers

Note: bro, Idk how I start at point A and get to fucking outer space. Also happy bday to Steverino.

As per usual, I humbly request your thoughts! Reblogs are always appreciated and welcomed, not only do I see them easier but it lets other people see my work. I will do my best to answer all I can. I’m trying to get better at keeping up so thanks everyone for staying with me.

Your feedback will help in this and future works (and WiPs, I haven’t forgotten those!) Please do not just put ‘more’. I will block you.

I love you all immensely. Take care. 💖

The gardens of Astra Castle are unlike any you’ve seen before. Certainly, you’ve never been to a royal castle previously. Your father’s own hold is modest, still bearing the wooden foundation, whereas the rich lords have poured mortar and built in stone. 

So, it is a great honour to be among the noble women chosen to serve the queen. Most unexpected. As a daughter of a lower house, it is rather unusual, but it comes with the newly set writ tabled at the end of the uprising. That is how your father tells it anyhow. 

King Steven is as newly crowned as he is newlywed. After a lengthy revolt against the previous king, the land has settled, and upon his victory, the new ruler promises the expansion of prosperity to all. The very precedence of his war rested on the greed of the former court and its covetous lords. 

To those who took up his mantle, he has made good his word. To the commoners, he has sent bread and ale, livestock and alms; to the nobles, he has granted titles and lands. You were of the same doubt as your father, however, you expected to be forgotten in the disarray. 

Yet, you were not. You’re there with several other ladies. A set of blond twins borne of a duke and duchess, the sole heir of a widowed countess, and several earl’s daughters such as yourself. Unlike them, you do not wear satin or silk, not muslin either. You have only the dyed linen your mother attempted to enhance with some embroidery around the cuffs and collar. 

“Marcia and Marigold,” the twins introduce themselves as you cluster together in the gardens, grooms and servants bustling around carriages and chests. “Lady Calliope,” they call out the countess’ daughter, “we met prior, yes? Your mother is near Estrela.” 

“She is,” Calliope answers in her stern manner, herself seeming a widow in her black dress. The shimmery fabric makes up for its single tone. 

“Ameri, Dorida, and... Selene,” they point to the other girls, themselves clothed in scarlet, rose, and azure respectively. “We know the earls, your fathers. They gathered at our father’s hold for the battle near Caffre.” 

The twins take turns speak so that sometimes you cannot track whose lips are moving. It is even that they trade off in the middle of sentences. You find yourself almost as lost by their words as your new surroundings. 

“And you...” The twins turn their jade eyes upon you. It is there you have found the only difference in them; they have the same heights, the same hair, the same gowns even, but there is a sliver of grey through Marcia’s green iris. “We haven’t figured who you are.” 

“My father is an earl. In Woodsdam.” 

“Woodsdam,” they echo in unison and share a look. They are perplexed. 

“A minor house,” Calliope provides. “a farmer more than a noble, if I’m not mistaken.” 

“We have vast lands and we tend to them, yes,” you assure. You expect their condescension. Your father warned you for it but he bid that you keep your chin up. The king has given him a mission of his own and so you will represent the family for the time. “We keep our people well and we fed the king’s troops when they marched." 

“Mm, sounds very... common,” Marigold grins and her sister snorts into her hand. 

“We know many lords like us, yes. They work hard amidst their vassals. It keeps the lands strong so that we may better serve the crown,” you return evenly.  

Your mother helped you prepare. She coached you to keep your manners and your spine. The latter is much more difficult as you face these ladies and their bobbles with only a ribbon in your hair and a pair of patched gloves. 

“Woodsdam? I think I rode through it once on the way to my grandfather’s summer castle,” Ameri tuts, “it was little more than a swamp.” 

“It must’ve been the spring rains, perhaps, lady,” you offer. 

“Summer house,” she enunciates, “one travels there in the summer.” 

Your cheek twitches at her barbed retort. Very well. You are not used to their sharpness. Their chittering has thus far centered on gossip and the cost of their new caps. 

“A wonder the pauper’s daughter received an invite. Are you certain you can read, lady?” Dorida snipes and looks to the twins for approval. You notice how they all tend to do so. 

“It was sent to my father, Lord Eldon,” your voice quavers. You are not so strong as your mother bid you to be.  

They cackle at your meek response, “the precious maiden of Woodsdam.” 

You put your head down as the activity all around threatens to swallow you up. You wish the ground would rent and you would fall right through. All your excitement has dissipated to a sludge in your veins. You touch your cheek as you try not to show your embarrassment. 

“The Lord of Woodsdam,” a deep voice startles you as boots approach from behind, “is that what I heard?” 

You stiffen up as the ladies before you hush and blink, almost in tandem. They curtsey as their faces wash over in shock and you turn to face the newcomer. A man in a deep blue vest over black sleeves and grey breeches. He wears belt of gold and a circlet across his brow in a similar hue. It is that which betrays his statues. 

You lower your eyes and mimic the other women, mortified to be faced with new king so informally. You would not think him wandering out in the yard. Still, he has vowed to be unlike the former leige. That he would be of the people. 

“King Steven, your majesty,” the others titter in a messy chant and you murmur your own propriety as you back away. You find yourself still to the shoulder of the king as the other ladies give no room for you to join. 

The vision of him stains your mind. He is tall, with dark blond tresses that extend past his neck, and blue eyes which put his own attire to shame. He has a jaw which looks etched in stone and a bearing which matches his rank. He is tall and broad and a finely built knight. 

“It is an honour,” Marcia says most boldly. 

“You may rise,” he allows in a breezy timbre. “I did hear my wife would receive new ladies. Young ladies.” 

“Your majesty,” the murmur rolls across each lip. 

“It is much needed. We have so many established ladies at court and yet we need to think of the future. Of the next generation,” he declares as he emphasizes his words with his large hand. You watch his garnet ring to keep from so brazenly looking him in the face. 

“Certainly, your majesty,” Marcia and Marigold chime in unision. 

“And don’t worry for there are many young lords as well,” the king laughs galely at the quip which makes the ladies, yourself included, blush. “Ah, then, Woodsdam I believe we were speaking of...” 

You blink and glance at the other ladies. They are cowed, unsure if they were overheard in their derision. You hope as much as they that they were not. It is rather unflattering. 

“My father, Lord Eldon,” you explain, “your majesty.” 

“You? You are the young lady of Woodsdam I heard so much of.” 

“You did? Er, your majesty,” you curtsey apologetically; unnecessarily. 

“Certainly, I did. Your father was a great assistance in me holding counsel with the lower lords. He is very patient. “When not about his duty, he spoke of you oft. Though what matters are more important than family?” 

“Yes, your majesty,” you can’t help a smile, “my father is a very kind man.” 

“Kind and courageous. I’m certain you’ve inherited as much,” the king praises, “and these other ladies. The twins who belong to Mawsley, the Countess of Clovers daughter, and the three earls daughters from the White Plains.” 

The ladies each bow their heads as he proclaims them by their forebearers’ titles. You watch from aside, feeling even more out-of-place. The king recites them all proudly as he extends a finger for each. 

“Allow me myself to extend a welcome to Astra. When you are sorted, my wife shall receive you all and have you acquainted with the grounds. I hope you enjoy them, we’ve had the gardeners at work day and night,” he pronounces, “for now, I must be off, for a king has many obligations and not so much time.” 

He bows and turns on his heel, marching off with his shoulder straight and head high. He walks as a soldier does, not some lord. You’ve seen the difference before, more recently in the aftermath of battle. A soldier is more akin to a farmer, much as your father, whereas a Lord tends to keep his steps tight. 

“Wow, oh my,” Dorida fans herself, “he is rather handsome.” 

“Oh yes,” Marcia and Marigold say, the latter forging ahead, “we met him at our father’s castle. He is ever so charming.” 

“Hm, and the queen would love to hear it, I’m certain,” Calliope intones brusquely. 

“The queen is not here,” Ameri sneers, “so what does it matter? Besides, is it so wrong to state a truth?” 

“He is very elegant,” Selene agrees. 

“Much too kind, as well,” Marigold snips, “Woodsdam? He speaks as if it more than some paltry farmhouse.” 

“You’d never even heard of it,” Calliope remarks. 

“And how had you, hm? You seem the bookish type. Perhaps you should leave the maps to the men. What good will a river or road do for a widow’s welp?” 

“Needn’t be cruel,” Calliope rebuffs. 

“Pity if this is the lot they send,” Marcia shakes her head as the sisters share another cryptic look. 

You keep to yourself. That is all you can do. It is better to watch and learn than to leap and land wherever you might. Your mother always said so and she was your best teacher. 

“Right, there must be some maid who might show us to our rooms,” Marigold stands on her toes and waves at each passing servant. “I tire of the sunlight and boorish company.” 

👑

You have two trunks awaiting you in your chambers. Not as the other ladies who had at least a dozen each. Less humble than your lunger are the rooms themselves.

There is an antechamber hung with tapestries showing wildlife and flora, a table set for two and cushioned bench by the window. The bedroom is draped in similar hangings with a four-post bed and a grand hearth. A desk, another bench, a woven carpet, and fine accouterments on square tables. And a closet for the commode as well and a pot in the far corner of the bedchamber. 

If only your mother and father could see this. They would be just as amazed. You can’t help but admire all of it. To touch the curtains as you approach the window and stare off at the afternoon sky. The gardens are a medley of hues; petals and thorns; leaves and dirt. It’s all so wonderful, you can still hardly believe it. 

Seems those other ladies can’t either. You can’t help but think of their words anon. They said so outrightly what you doubted inwardly. You don’t belong here. It must be so clear to them. 

You lean on the ledge and peer down into the garden pathways. It is almost a labyrinth with how intricately they’ve laid out the hedges. You lower yourself down to your elbows and cross your arms as you sigh. 

Your eyes are drawn from the swaying roses to the dark speck that appears below. You squint at first. From the second floor, it is harder to discern. It is the glimmer of gold in his hair and the defined gait that gives away the king. For an instant, you believe you might be dreaming. 

He walks along one path and to the next. There is another with him. A man with darker hair and a stauncher figure. They speak and stop just as they enter a circled walkway centered by a large vase of flowers. The other man talks, though you can hear neither, and the king rubs his chin. 

You should turn away. They might think you an eavesdropper. Oh, too late! You don’t dare move as the king tilts his head. You wouldn’t want to pique his attention. You cannot tell if he has spotted you. Not until he raises a hand and waves. The other man stops and looks to follow the gesture. 

You stand up straight but before you can flee in horror, you recall yourself. It is improper to turn your back to the king. You lift your hand and return the wave. He dips his head and turns to clap his companion’s shoulder, pointing him onward. 

Oh, you hope he is not unhappy. If you pray, perhaps he will not have recognised you. You needn’t an enemy of the king as well. 

[sanjuwrites]

wip wednesday!

thanks to @honeybee-taskforce, @paperstorm, @carlos-in-glasses @bonheur-cafe, @decafdino, @reyesstrand, and @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut for the tag!

“TK still refuses to see or talk to Carlos?”

“Yeah, and I’m at a loss. Ana keeps texting me asking if she can talk to TK because he’s screening her calls and texts, and I don’t know how to tell her that the stubborn bastard won’t talk to me either. We just got home and he locked himself in his fucking room. He’s mad at me for telling him to talk to Carlos. I swear it’s like I’m living with a toddler.”

Marjan is silent on the other end of the phone for a long minute; and Aishu pulls the phone away to see if she’s still connected, “Marjan?”

“Yeah, sorry, I’m here. I just switched you over to speaker, Paul wanted to say something.”

“You’re going to hate what I’m about to say, just so you know.”

Aish slams her head against the door, “I know exactly what you’re going to say, and the answer’s no.”

“Darling, they’re going to have to figure it out themselves eventually, don’t you think? You can’t moderate the conversations between them forever. Say you do finally convince them to get their shit together, are you going to mediate every argument they have for the rest of y’all’s lives? I hate to burst your bubble, but they’re going to have to figure it out eventually.” 

Aish sighs, “I don’t know what you want me to say, Paul. I really don’t.”

“You have enough on your plate with Captain Blake and Iris – all I want you to say is that you’ll let go of the reins a little bit. This isn’t your battle to fight.”

“Mish wants to have a funeral,” she whispers, dropping her voice to make sure that TK can’t hear her. “Mish wants to have a funeral, and she wants my help planning it. She’s been texting me asking if I can send her a good picture of Iris to put next to the fucking empty casket. And I keep dodging her damn texts.”

Marjan’s voice filters back in, “Aishu, you know you can say no. You don’t have to do this.”

“Don’t I? She was my girlfriend, it’s not like I can just not show up. I blew up my life as I knew it to chase after her, and I just, what? Don’t go to her funeral?”

i got around to this late (my mom had surgery this morning), so im gonna leave an open tag!

[neptoons1998]

Study Date

A/N: I made some smut cause I want to feed y'all.

MINORS DNI

Tag Gang: @s0lam33y @mal-urameshi @xchoxix

Summary: Shuri came to visit Riri to help her "study" for her chem test this friday.

“Fuck~!” Riri cried out as she felt the strap going inside her. How did Riri let Shuri fuck her? Riri had no idea. Shuri was supposed to help her with studying with her chem test she was going to have friday. All Riri knew Shuri was using one the straps that made her full. At this rate, Shuri is trying to get her pregnant. 

“You’re so cute when you’re beneath me, my love,” she whispers as she leans over to plant kisses along Riri’s collarbone. She whines almost pathetically as she does so poorly trying to start moving. Shuri couldn’t help herself but smirk at her love. Little does she know she is everything to me, Shuri thought as the woman giggled. 

Riri’s face shined with sweat, her pupils swallowed her iris- only leaving a thin ring of brown. Riri gritted her teeth as she tried her best position to entice Shuri into giving. 

Oh, She thought she was telling what Shuri to do? How adorable.  

“No moving,” Shuri commands. “I never said you could, did I?”

Riri whimpers in response as she grabs her wrists and pins them above her head. 

“Don’t make change my mind on not tying you up,” Shuri said causing Riri to whimper out again. “No that would be too mean of me, wouldn’t it be my love? But you looking desperate is so-” Shuri licked her lips, “Beautiful. No one besides me gets to see you like this.” Shuri moves to where her lips are right beside Riri’s ear, “I want you to be desperate until you know nothing but my name.”

 “ P-please~!” Riri begs.

Shuri smirked as she looked at her love. Riri pleads like a worshipper to their goddess. All because she wanted to be fucked. She’s never leaving my side Shuri thought. 

“Okay, my love. I'll go harder,” Shuri complies, her hips withdrawing and then snapping so quickly and forcefully that her partner lets out a loud moan.

 “You’re being too loud my love,” Shuri ordered, “ You don’t want your classmates to know how much of a slut you are.” 

“N-no,” Riri commented as she tried to clamp down her voice. Shuri was about to tease her girlfriend until she remembered something. 

“Oh, that’s right. I forgot,” she says as she slows her thrusting, careful to not let Riri have the taste of her orgasm just yet. 

Not now. 

“Mm?” Riri responds, her mind half was gone at this point.

“You have your final exams on Friday, don’t you?” She questions rhetorically. Shuri already knew the answer. Shuri remeber Riri complaining about it last week, not wanting to take the test.  

Shuri lightly twists and pulls Riri’s clit. The strap is still inside her love, “Aww, you don’t have to answer, my love,” she coos. “Of course, you do. And I know you’ll get an A+, my scholar.”

Riri’s eyes blurred no thoughts between her eyes. Drooling slightly but not strong enough to give Shuri a response.  

“Please- S-shuri,” Riri begged as she wrapped her legs around Shuri’s waist. Shuri couldn’t say no after all a good queen is only good for her people. 

“You’re going to cum untouched,” Shuri directed Riri as she continued to snap her hips back. Riri wasn’t able to keep up as she continued to moan and pant against Shuri’s pace.

“Ah,” Riri cries into the sheets as lightning shocks through her. Shuri slipped out of her as Riri stilling the aftershock of her intense orgasm. Shuri took off the strap and went into the bathroom to help clean up her love.  Riri laid on her side as Shuri took care of her. She could feel herself slowly drifting off to sleep. Riri was trying to stay awake.

Shuri slipped a bonnet on Riri’s head, “Go to sleep my love.”

“But I wanna to be with you,” Riri mumbled out. Shuri softly shushed her girlfriend. Shuri knew the distance was hard for the both of them, but they would be together again soon this summer. 

“I’ll be here,” Shuri said as she kiss her forehead. 

[siren-serotonin]

SLIGHT PJSK (main story) AND PJO/HOO SPOILERS(?)

So!! As some of you may be aware.. I love pjsk. In case you didn't know, I love pjsk. I also love pjo and hoo. And last night I when I should've been sleep, I was fucking PUNCHED by both hyperfixations at the same time and then I started wondering what it'd be like if pjsk characters were demigods and/or Hunters of Artemis. This is that post. Feel free to ignore, I just need to infodump lmao

Mafuyu is a daughter of Jupiter. Jupiter's children are often set unrealistically high expectations, which causes them to be terrified of failure and slowly crumble under the stress. This can be seen with Jason during his time as praetor, on the Argo II, etc. In Mafuyu's case, her mother and the majority of her peers all expect her to excel in everything she does. Do you see where I'm going with this. Yeah okay. Anyway she's specifically a child of Jupiter and not Zeus because the gods are stricter in their Roman aspects and Mafuyu was raised by a strict parent. Also I think she'd either be a praetor or join the Hunters of Artemis.

Airi and Mizuki could both very much be children of Aphrodite. Airi because her whole "the most important thing in an idol is the heart" thing breaks so many Aphrodite kid stereotypes and I love it. She would so teach others that there's more to Aphrodite than being a toxic person (cough cough Drew cough Cheerful*Days) and I love her for that. Mizuki is here because they have trouble expressing themself freely and finding out that Aphrodite is their mother could help them figure stuff out?? Maybe?? Idk man. Also TRANS APHRODITE KID LETS GO!!! I think that they can both charmspeak but choose not to unless like their fucking lives depend on it.

Shiho is a child of Hades. Hades' kids are shunned and often misunderstood, which reminds me of how Shiho is mischaracterized in the fandom a lot. Also the way she acts reminds me of Nico. "I'm fine on my own" NO YOU'RE NOT!!!

Tsukasa, Saki, Toya and Kanade are all children of Apollo. Do I even have to explain for Tsukasa? He is the most theatre kid to ever exist, literally who else would be his godly parent???? Toya would be the most unconventional son of Apollo ever. Imagine him being like "no dad fuck you and your instruments im gonna be a street musician" and Apollo's just like "yeah go piss girl idc music is music" it's so funny to me omg. Kanade's whole self-sacrifice complex + composer thing?? She is THE daughter of Apollo (sorry Kayla). I feel like Toya would be a praetor if Roman Apollo was his dad but idk just a hunch. Toya could also be a child of Jupiter for similar reasons as Mafuyu. Kanade is literally Will Solace if he was musically gifted (Will I'm joking ily). Saki is here because I didn't know where else to put her and I'd feel bad if I separated the Tenma siblings.

Ena is a daughter of Ares. I can't quite explain this one, but Ena wanting her dad's approval of her being an artist reminds me of Clarisse a lot for some reason?? She could also be a child of Apollo but I already put four characters there sooooooo yeah

Rui the most son of Hephaestus EVER. "I'm not good with organic life forms" is such a Rui line oml. The automatons?? The mechanic shit?? ROBO-NENE. Do you see my vision. I want Rui and Leo to be friends so bad augh.

Nene could be a daughter of Poseidon because she has mermaid imagery, aside from that idk.

I think Minori could be a daughter of Iris since she's underrated (similar to how Iris is underappreciated/a minor goddess) and Minori + Iris both strongly believe in hope.

Besides Mafuyu, I think Honami and Shizuku could be Hunters of Artemis. As I'm typing this, I just realised that the april fools Meru trio are all Hunters asdfghgfdghj

A lot of characters were left out because I didn't know who their parents could be but if anyone has headcanons pls put them in the replies or tags!! Thank you for coming to my ted talk, goodbye.

[thelaundrybitch]

A New Beginning

TURTLE DOVES!!!

I found something in my drafts, and I decided to share it.

I wrote this FOREVER ago - So I'm unsure if I will continue with it.

@leosgirl82 was there when it happened. 😁😎🤩🫶🏽💃🏽

And @drowninghell made some fanart for it - Which I will be posting if it's alright with her 🥰😍💖

Tee hee

Anyways. It was something somewhere between "write what you know" and "wicked fucking self-indulgent."

Also

IT'S NINJA FUCKING TURTLES

SO

Without further ado...

I give you...

Some Cowabunga 💙❤️💜🧡

18+ content - for mature audiences only!

THESE ARE AGED-UP NINJA TURTLES. THEY ARE GROWN ASSED ADULTS. DON'T BE A <FILL IN THE BLANK>. 😘

Or at least that’s what I tell everyone.

My name is Liz, and I work for OSHA.

You see, after I graduated with an Associate’s in Science for Occupational and Environmental Safety Management, I was offered a job with FED OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration through the federal government - The job of my dreams. So, you can imagine how ecstatic I was when they hired me. 

Everything was great for the first few months - until they brought me in on a top-secret project in New York. They told me they needed a Safety Technician who specialized in humanitarian issues and loved animals. Apparently, they thought I was their girl.

Weird, right?

So, they brought me to this gargantuan underground facility, where I was given my own office with all the latest and greatest technology and safety gadgets - even ones that hadn’t been put on the market yet; It was a fucking dream. One of those ‘too good to be true’ scenarios.

And indeed. It was too good to be true. 

They moved me to Manhattan to be closer to the facility because it was necessary for me to be on call 24/7 - which was totally fine because it was just me. 

And because they paid me WELL.

So, after a few months of puttering around, fixing compliance issues, they decided it was time for me to start in my REAL job position.

“Ms. Bueno, we will be bringing you in today, to help with the major issue we hired you for, initially.”

“Great! I can’t wait to get to work!” I said to the director.

“Good. I’ll be waiting in Section K22. Please meet me down there.”

“The high-security clearance sector?” I asked, a bit confused.

“Yes,” he replied.

I nodded, and he went to walk away but stopped at my office door. “ Oh, and Ms. Bueno?”

“Yes, sir?” I asked.

“Do make sure you use the restroom before you head down. Some of the things you see may be… Shocking,” he told me.

“Certainly, sir,” I said as he turned and left completely this time.

What the actual fuck are they doing down there. 

I met the director at the entrance to K22 - which turned out to be more secure than Fort Knox - and I was handed a white lab coat and some safety glasses by his security detail, which consisted of like seven huge dudes.

“Why are you guys all wearing bullet-proof vests, and I get this?” I asked, shaking the flimsy lab coat between my index finger and thumb.

“They seem to have a soft spot for females,” said ‘Bruce’, according to his name tag.

“Well, Bruce,” I said, unimpressed by his explanation, “OSHA clearly states that whatever PPE or other safety-related articles are donned by personnel going into an area of safety concern, those same articles need to be worn by EVERYONE that enters. Not just the men,” I stated, giving him my best OSHA inspector face. 

“She’s not wrong. Give her a vest for under her lab coat,” said the director.

That’s right. Fuck you, Bruce.

After all of my safety gear was on, they walked me down a long, brightly lit corridor that led to another door. This door could only be opened using iris recognition. 

“Ms. Bueno, what you are about to see, is one of the World’s most highly classified projects. If you tell anyone about this, you and said people will be eliminated.”

“Eliminated?” I choked out through a slightly embarrassing squeak.

“Eliminated. As in loss of life. Death. And you will be expunged - completely erased so no one knows you ever existed. Do you agree to these terms?”

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. What in the HELL have I gotten myself into…

“Uh, yes?” I said, making my response sound more like a question.

“I’m not convinced, Ms. Bueno. I need to be very convinced before we go through these doors. It’s a matter of national security.”

“100%, sir. I am absolutely, 100% positive. I swear to these terms, sir,” I told him, feeling my backbone reappear.

“Good. Samuel, we’re ready for entry,” he told the biggest security staff member.

Samuel cocked his gun and stood in front of the door, in the ready position, pointing the gun at it like the zombie apocalypse was about to ensue.

I swallowed nervously.

That’s a fucking lie. I’m about to shit my pants. No wonder he had me go to the bathroom before I came down here.

Anyway, as I’m wishing I had a diaper on, the director leaned in and initiated the iris recognition scan, successfully opening the sealed door. The security detail filed in first.

I followed the director into what looked like a giant laboratory. As we got ready to turn the corner, his security detail fanned out in front of us.

“LET US OUT!” Boomed a deep, raspy voice.

*Adrenaline rush*

“Just sit down. It’s not gonna help,” said another.

“HE NEEDS HELP!” yelled the first voice.

“I know, but they aren’t gonna let us out. And honestly, I don’t even know who could, or would, help him.” came a third voice.

I saw the director from the corner of my eye, turn and look at me as I stood stock-still, looking forward, and waiting to be told that I could proceed.   

He didn’t say anything, so I turned and looked at him, my eyes the size of Jupiter. All pupil.

He nodded once, and I stepped around the corner.

May God strike me dead where I stand, if I’m lying. 

There was a giant reinforced cage, resembling jail cells, holding the fucking Ninja Turtles in them.

I shit you not.

Albeit they were a bit older than we’d seen them in movies, and they looked slightly different, but they were definitely THE Ninja Turtles.

I gathered myself and turned to the director. “What is my job here, sir?” I asked him, completely composed with a straight face.

“Health and Safety,” He said, sadness flashing across his eyes for less than a moment. “We will leave you and let you do what you need to do,” he said, leaving me alone with the caged turtle-men. 

Once I was sure I was alone, I looked around for security cameras. When I'd decided there were none - probably for top-secret and national security reasons - I took off the stupid lab coat, safety glasses, and bulletproof vest and ran to the cages.

“Oh my god, what happened to him?” I asked, squatting down and reaching an arm through the bars to check Donatello’s pulse.

The other three turned and looked at me, confused. 

“Don’t touch him,” Growled the red-banded bara.

“Who are you?” asked Leonardo, putting a hand up in a placating manner, in an attempt to get his brother to back down.

“I’m the lead Health and Safety technician for this project. They hired me six months ago for this project, but this is the first time hearing about all of this,” I said, slightly alarmed by the faintness of Donnie's heartbeat. “Now, please tell me, what happened to him,” I said to Leo, looking him directly in the eyes.

“We don’t know. They sedated him. Heavily. And took him out of the lab. He was gone for two days. He’s been like this since they brought him back,” said Leo, now kneeling in the corner of the cell so he was next to me and his unconscious brother.

“And how long ago did they bring him back?” I asked.

“Maybe three to four hours ago? It’s hard to tell. We’ve been stuck in here forever.”

“Oh God… Is he allergic to anything? Does he have any health issues?” I prodded, my eyebrows furrowed, and my face twisted in clear heartache.

“Uh, no, no. None of us do. I mean, unless you count the fact that we’re overgrown, mutated, humanoid turtles…” He said.

I couldn't help but smirk at him, “No. That’s actually quite normal. This is New York, after all.” 

Mikey huffed a stifled giggle from beside me, now standing the closest he could get to us, in his own cage.

As I started to stand up, Leo stuck his hand through the bars and grabbed my wrist. I looked into his gorgeous blue eyes, which were filled with sorrow and hope. “Thank you,” he whispered.

“Don’t thank me yet. I haven’t even done anything,” I told him softly.

“Yea, but you’re going to - I can see the genuine worry on your face,” he said, my face heating up as he pulled me closer to his cage to get a better look at me.

“I need to go look through the files over by the entry door,” I whispered to him. “I need to see what they were doing to him, so I can help him.”

Leo released my wrist and wiped a tear from my cheek. I didn’t even realize I was crying. 

“I’m Leo,” he introduced himself.

“I know who you guys are. You’re kinda my childhood heroes,” I confessed, looking down.

“Thank God,” huffed Raphael, visibly relaxing.

“You’re actually gonna help us then?” asked Mikey from behind me.

I turned and looked at the orange-clad turtle, “Yes, of course.”

I turned back to Leo and leaned in closer to him so he could hear me whisper...

“I don’t know how, but I promise, I’ll help you get out of here.” 

Enjoying my work? Find my Master list HERE

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[mushroommushy]

Please please tell me your ideas I will be so normal about it I am not at all desparate for Broken Masquerade content

Boy I have so many ideas I actually need to put this in a draft to list all of the brainrot things I’ve had circling in my head!! This does include some negative things so feel free for me to ask to tag.

All of the colleges (Particularly Harvard) adding Thaumaturgy to their classes is extremely cool in the canon and I think there should be many more schools

Site-43 College beloved I want to go there so badly please be real c’mon :[

Those Facebook mom groups…oh boy there’s so much drama

Lord help all the poor kids with minor anomalous power

Segregation with schools, even restaurants

A lot of anomalies end up in homeless shelters because not many jobs are willing to take the backlash of anomalous employees

Shitty parents faking their kid having a dangerous anomaly so they can send them away

Because they think the foundation would just kill them because of all the propaganda

You know that the cults are gonna take advantage of this to try and grow their numbers

Chaos Insurgency propaganda against the foundation

A flag that shows your support for the foundation, GOC, anomalies hanging outside your home

New Genders from the tumblrinas like us

Twitter DNI’s are a genuine hell

‘DNI IF YOU SUPPORT SCP’S/THREAT ENTITIES/OBJECTS’

‘Block me if you call anomalies SCP’s that’s a slur’

Speaking of slurs there’s probably a lot more

COTBG members constantly calling the Nälkan’s Sarkics just to piss them off

And Maxwellium members getting real pressed over internet drama

Someone trying to make the nicknames the Serpents Hand has into a slur

Dr. Glass walking down the street and just has someone scream ‘JAILER’ at him and he is desperately trying to not commit a crime

Also Twitter being Twitter

‘Is it wrong to kin SCP-076-2? I’d murder too if I was under the ocean.’

Extremely dangerous TikTok trends involving anomalies that makes both the GOC and SCP have collective heart attacks

Some girl posts a video from a foundation site doing Macarena during a breach and is just immediately cancelled on every platform

You know there’s gonna be dumbass teenagers trying to find some real dangerous shit to seem cool

‘Oh a lake full of bodies that makes you enter through mind control??? Sounds cool and not totally dangerous I’m gonna find it and go swimming’

Gonna readmore this it’s getting long lol

Five missing teens later the foundations getting slandered even though they did nothing

Articles with the ‘How to tell if ‘X’ is an anomaly’

Of course they’re bullshit and usually offensive

Charities to support anomalies

An actual cult around 2662 that didn’t spawn anomalously

You fucking know that the Christian’s will either take 343 well or absolutely horrifically

There’s also two sides of people when it comes to Cain and Able

The ones who hate Cain and think Able is reasonable and the people who think the opposite

Cain’s also not allowed to leave site-17 for more than just the fact he’d kill plant life it’s for his own safety tbh

Meri does get chances to wander the woods! Just..not in public because they rampage that would happen with the amount of broken phones and cars would be horrible

Iris gets to go home because she deserves it

I feel like Gerald would become a meme in general and people pay his hospital bills for him lmao

Parents keeping their kids out of school and switching to online or homeschooling to keep them away from anomalies

Conversion camps to send your kid to so people can ‘release them from their curse’

Those got the serpents hand real heated

Speaking of them they have the snarkiest Twitter account ever and just roast the living hell out of every word that comes out of the foundations mouth

Podcasts

So many fucking podcasts

There already is a writing on the broken masquerade hub of the foundation making a video with outdated slang to appeal to kids

But I think Dr. Gears should just stare at a camera and say swag with a straight face it would be beautiful

Kondraki, Clef and Gears get called dilfs and not a single one of them knows what it means

‘Kain’s the goodest boy’ even though he’s morally corrupt as fuck is very common

But he will Fuckin run if you even try to touch him he does not need his fur messes up

Ok I don’t want this to be a mile long so I’ll stop here but!!!

If you want more dm me so we can talk 👀👀👀 I need SCP friends

[nczaversnick]

OC Questionnaires

Okay so @the-letterbox-archives tagged me in not one, not two but 5 of these. So I’m going to do all of them in one post for their favorite character in Project Gemini, Adrian Harlowe. (He’s my favorite too)

What is your favorite thing to do to avoid responsibility?

“Leave.”

If you could choose anyone in the world to be your sibling who would it be?

“Probably Quinn. They are the closest thing I have to family within the military.”

Authors Note: In the previous draft, they actually were siblings

What is the most sublime thing you have ever eaten and why?

“First of all what the fuck kind of word is sublime anyway? Secondly, I ate…science blocks of..not really food for like the first 20 years of my life. Anything that isn’t that, is worth its weight in gold.”

Authors Note: He means genetically engineered processed foodstuffs.

What was the worst day of your life?

“None of your business.”

Authors Note: In my defense the answer to this is an insanely massive spoiler.

What’s your worst nightmare?

“…………..I dream about it. The day I became Gemini. I don’t want to be him anymore”

If a monster asked you your worst nightmare what would you tell it and why?

“Unless that thing provokes me I’m leaving it there hell alone. And even if it does, it’s gonna have bigger problems than asking me about my nightmares.”

Would you give away secret information if tortured? Be honest.

“No.”

Authors Note: This is true. He is specifically trained to resist torture. Even then his sense of loyalty outweighs everything

Who could you trust most with a secret?

“My sister Aurelia. Even Cas knows there are things I told her and not him.”

You have been caught somewhere you should be! Quick, what is your excuse?

“As Gemini I outrank nearly every officer in the city. For rebel activity it’s really a ‘hit first ask questions later’ kind of interaction.”

How good is your sleep schedule?

“If you’re gonna antagonize someone about sleep go bother Iris. She’s the worst of all of us.”

Do you have any siblings? If so, is your relationship good?

“Yes. Aurelia is the reason I started fighting against the military instead of for it. She is the only person who understands me.”

What’s the toughest time you had to endure growing up?

“Uh…all of it? It’s not like being experimented on comes with summer vacation time or something.”

What’s your relationship with your family like?

“Well, we’ve talked about my sister already. My mom is dead. My dad….I met him. Once. Aurelia was coming with me, to help fight for deviant rights like my mom did. We told him he could come with but he said no. I haven’t heard from him since.”

Do you have any hobbies? If so, what ones?

“Not really. Between training and keeping up my cover as Gemini, there isn’t time for anything else.”

Authors Note: After Book 1, he picks up gardening. In later years, he does try to learn to play the guitar. He learns to appreciate music more at least

Do you dream often? What do you dream about?

“…..Yes. Often. More nightmares really. Of the experiments. Of Gemini. Of fire and ice raging until there’s nothing left of me anymore.”

Have you ever been in love?

“Well I don’t have a husband for shits and giggles.”

What is your least favorite thing in the world?

“Oh I mean other than Lucia, the military in general and capitalism, I’d have to say when you’re in a body of water and something touches your leg? That shits the fuckin worst.”

What is your pet peeve?

“When people use big or fancy words to say simple things. Like sublime? What’s wrong with just saying good? Or great?”

Would you consider yourself different?

“Given that I’m not only classified as a Deviant but also as a Zodiac, yeah I’d say I’m pretty fucking different.”

How far would you go to save a loved one?

“As far as I have to.”

Would you team up with your worst enemy if it was your only option?

“It would never happen. She thinks she owns me. But under the right circumstances, I could do it. But she wouldn’t.”

What is the worst insult you can give?

“That I can give? If I stop pushing you to be better than you were yesterday, then you’re a lost cause.”

What is the nicest thing someone could say to you?

“If they’ve got my back that is all I need.”

Are you a jealous person?

“Hell if I know. My husband and his sister sure are though.”

Have you ever committed a crime?

“That’s kind of the point.”

Are you neat or messy?

“Neat. Ish.”

How do you feel about crying? Let it out or hold it in?

“…it’s not about one or the other, it’s about knowing that there’s a time and place for feelings or for focus.”

Who do you live for? Why?

“My family. They are everything.”

Who has betrayed you most?

“Lucia, easily. She lied to me about who I was and where I came from.”

What style of accessories do you wear? Is it willingly?

“I have masks for Gemini and for rebel activities. Also several guns or knives for combat. Other than that….i have my ring. That at least was completely my choice.”

Tagging: @honeybewrites @wyked-ao3 @kittrrrr @zackprincebooks @theverumproject @the-golden-comet @fractured-shield @poppycat-writes @illarian-rambling @finickyfelix @kuebiko-writing @yourpenpaldee @willtheweaver @moltenwrites @davycoquette +open tag

[autumnfangirler]

ill be the first to admit that i dont interact with the gaa fandom as much as i should, so id be very glad to be wrong about this, but from my (admittedly very limited) observations in the fandom susatos talked about mostly in the context of a) other male characters(naruhodo, kazuma, mikotoba, holmes) or b) shipping. which is fine, it makes sense! shes not very attention grabbing in the game, and while she does have her goofy moments, shes not nearly as silly as the rest of the cast. shes more of a straightman than anything else. but shes such a good character and i really want to see more people talk about her so fuck it, were making the overdue susato rant ourselves gdi

major spoilers for great ace attorney under the cut and in the tags!

i think a lot of people see susato as a #girlboss, which is true and undisputed, but ive never seen people dig into why. personally what sticks out to me is how determined she is. its overshadowed by kazuma, but she Clearly learned a few things. she was willing to travel halfway across the world to work as a judicial assistant, and in kazumas death she helped naruhodo become a lawyer in his stead. she broke the law to help naruhodo win ginas case, a decision that tore her up so much she nearly resolved to quit. and of course she won a fucking courtcase at the age of 16 while succesfully pretending to be a man. when she has a goal in mind, shes seeing it through. shes consistently pulled naruhodo out of (rightful) uncertainty and hesitation with this mindset. she followed kazuma, and then naruhodo, to the ends of the earth because she truly believed it was the right thing to do. shes competent in her work, and shes firm without being unkind.

thats another thing about susato. shes one of the most emotionally mature characters in the games (games filled with adults– iris is probably one of the few characters who rival her in that respect). shes emotional about the things shes passionate about, but shes never overwhelmed by it. the only scene i can think of where emotions really did overtake her was at the end of the first game, where she nearly threw her judicial book into the sea. which is,,, still relatively reasonable? she broke the law and had to leave britain to go back to japan. she couldnt practice as a judicial assistant anymore, and nobody back home had a need for her skills as a judicial assistant. why would she need it anymore? in every other instance, shes polite, calm, and most importantly, the heart of the whole cast.

because while shes a great character on her own, her main role in the story is always in servitude to others– whether that be as holmes number one fan, iris' big sister, or naruhodos ever-reliable judicial assistant. we never get the sense as to why until the 4th chapter of the last game, where her backstory is finally revealed. with it, a lot of who she is is recontextualized. she never had a mother and her father left her before she could have any real memories of him. shes headstrong and driven because there was no direction for her. shes compassionate and polite because her only role model for her formative years was her grandmother. shes emotionally mature because she learned what loss was at a young age and how to live with it alone. and all of that translates to a young girl with a fire to help others in whatever way she can.

shes just,,,, shes such a good character man. i love her.

[hawkstincan]

this shit was on my mind for two years. time to write it down and let it go.

at first I was thinking angsty here. like in the actual movie: only two survivors. (except Len didn’t leave Barry in the middle of nowhere and let him tag along. Len thought it’ll be temporary… jokes on him.) they help each other to keep it together, Barry and Lisa become fast friends and all gets as good as it can after a traumatic experience. maybe they even broke Barry’s dad out of prison at some point. it’s not like Barry living a law-abiding life now.  but I hated that Mick and Iris are dead in the end. I do not enjoy angsty things and I didn't like Mick playing Richie’s part. just didn't feel right if it’s close to the movie. 

but we have Eobard! this creeper? perfect in Richie’s place! (and i can see him as Lewis' spawn just fine). here we have Barry and Iris alive, Len letting them both tag alone (mostly because Lisa glanced in Iris’ direction five times in a minute and Len saw her betting eyelashes. why is this his life? wasn’t the vampire's existence bad enough? he sighs glances in Barry’s direction and decides well. it could have been worse. it could have been Mick who got him out of prison and lay dead now).

in the end my brain stuck on the farce-ish version, of course. 

Mick and Len have been friends since forever, they are brothers in all but blood and they raised Lisa together. they never kill innocent people or cops (Mick lost the argument). they steal, they sell the loot and move to their next target. the goal is to get enough money and move to Mexico (Lisa’s already there). Len gets himself in prison after he gets the final score. Mick got him out and they headed to the bar in Mexico. and Len will fucking kill Lisa if the bar will be what he thinks it will be after hearing it’s name. 

Barry was adopted by Joe West after his parents died in a car crash (drunk driver). he was six at the time. the driver didn’t go to prison (the forensic team fucked up) and that’s how Barry knew he’d be the best criminalist in town when he grew up. Iris wasn’t as devoted and during the years wanted to be everything from opera singer to astronaut. Joe was both scared and proud when she wanted to be a cop just like her daddy.  he wasn’t supportive (it's a scary job okay? he hated the mare thought of his little girl chasing criminals for living!) but he wasn’t vocally against it either. 

Joe quits after his wife was killed during a robbery gone wrong. Barry just graduated and was going to start at the precinct soon. Iris is working on her final project at uni and graduating a bit later. (they’re sure their dad lost it or having a midlife crisis on top of grieving ‘course why the hell else he’ll shove them in the motorhome and drive them to fucking Mexico for “vacation”?)  

___

len, smirking: keep it together and will be out of your hair in no time mick, frowning: why can’t we roast a pig?

len: we don’t need more heat on our asses then we already have!

mick: heat’s nice

len: shut up and give me matches you just snatched, i said no to lighting store on fire!

___

clerk: I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING

len: i know, i know

clerk: … then why did he?...

len, shraging: he likes fire. i’ve missed him snatching a lighter too. be grateful he waited until your cop buddy left

clerk, watching the burning building with wide eyes: how is this my life?

len, signing: i ask myself this most of the days

___

len, heading for the door: and don’t let him get his hand on anything with an ability to make fire! 

gloria, the hostage: what.

len: am i stuttering? don’t let him… ah, my bad *goes back and cuts tape on her wrists* ...him light the room on fire! 

gloria, the hostage: …

len, rolling his eyes: Mick won’t hit a women. he may try to use a toaster or hair styler to make a room feel homey and cozy. by making a bonfire. we don’t want this, okay? 

gloria, the hostage nods: and you let me go when again? 

len, smirking: as soon as i find a fitting ride

___

len, staring at the burning motel: i asked you to do one thing, gloria!

gloria, the hostage: well he can be very persuasive and charming…

len: single, yeah?

gloria, the hostage just sighs 

___

len, knocking on the door: terribly sorry to bother you this early in the morning but if it’s not too much trouble could I possibly borrow your’s… 

joe, opening the door and looking straights at the barrel of the gun: fuck

len: sorry, not my type

___

len, gun in hand, but not pointing at anyone at the moment: sounds easy, right? we cross the border in your nice motorhome, spend a night at the bar and go our separate ways in the morning. no one needs to get hurt.

iris, hiding her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking: i can’t believe this is happening to us

barry, barely holding the eyeroll: iris...

iris, starts shaking harder: but Bar, this is so…

barry, covering his face too: i beg you don’t 

joe, barely holding the urge to bang his head against the wall: you’re making it worse 

len and mick glare between them, confused

iris, can’t hold it anymore and starts cackling: of all families in this fucking motel…

barry, starts giggling too

joe, just sighs

len, even more confused: what’s wrong with you people? 

iris, with tears in her eyes from laughing: my dad was a cop, Barry here just graduated criminalist and i’m almost graduated journalist. 

len, with why is this my life look: it’s not that funny

iris, shrugging: i deal with my first hostage situation, fuck off

mick: you know how to pick ‘em snart

len: shut up    

___

len, to everyone: if you see mick with a lighter or matches take them away from him

everyone: ???

len, sighs: he started two fires already and you have one real nice motorhome here...

___

iris stopped three arson attempts from mick before they crossed the border

___

barry recognised who len was and spent three hours trying to get len to tell him how he managed to never leave evidence at his crime scenes

___

joe barely held the urge to bang his head against steering wheel more time than he cares to admit 

___

len, looking at the titty twister: i will fucking kill her

mick, cackling: she got sadistic sense of humor from you

barry, blushes

iris, looks very interested 

joe, adopts why is this my life look 

___

iris, after stacking santanico pandemonium: damn shame 

mick, high fiving with her: yeap  

___

sex machine: ‘name is sex machine

iris and len, in unison: bold of you to presume i’m interested 

joe facepalms

mick: barking all wrong trees 

___

barry, in a quiet shy voice: so, if we survive this shit show would you be interested in a…

len: i’m sure will but your dad won’t approve 

joe, shouting from behind: I WON’T

iris, shouting from joe’s left: I WILL

mick, looking for the lighter while others are distracted: I DON’T CARE, BUT LISE WILL TOO 

___

len: i can’t believe i’m saying this… the stage is yours go at it

mick: fuck year, fire saves the day!

___

all of them looking at the flames rising from what was once the titty twister

len: good riddance

joe: hate to agree

iris and barry just rolling their eyes

mick, with feeling: nice 

___

lisa: i’m five minutes late and you burned the faking meeting point? 

len: hey, trainwreck, nice to see you too, your fault by the way

lisa, rolling her eyes: hey jerk, why?

len: you managed to choose the one with vampires 

lisa, triumphal: ha! i told you so!

len, pinching the bridge of his nose: last time, lise, you were fucking five…

lisa: and i was right

len, resigned: yes you were

___

joe, watching barry flirting with len: how is this my life?

mick, suddenly appearing from behind: popular question

joe, signing: what do you want?

mick, smirking and pointing at iris betting her eye at looking quite interested lisa: guess runs in the family 

joe, covering his face: i’m too old for this shit

mick, looking up and down: nah

joe: what. the. actual. fuck  

[acaciapines]

obviously if you’re busy leave this alone but: your tag essay has made me VERY intrigued about Dess and Azzy’s relationship in this AU. Tell me about it?

(also, did you see they did an announcement about Starship Iris season 3? It’s finally gonna happen!)

okay IM HERE TO TALK LOL i will NEVER not talk about this au <3 uhhh under a cut bc. really i should just expect these get super long.

big important note up top: all of this is in! early stages! things are not fully formed and researched yet so please keep that in mind as you read this. ideas might change and will get deeper as i do more work for this au, but since rn im focusing on owl house most of these are my ideas i've had without time to do deeper dives into them.

okay so with asriel i've always sort of written him as this guy who like...has an idea of what is 'normal' in his head, ie, what society wants from people, and what it doesnt want, and he has tried his hardest his entire life to always fit into this box. (think about i know im not well--this is why he's always seen kris as a human. being nonhuman is abnormal and gets you punished in society. to an extent this is also how he views dess being aromantic.)

i think a lot of this comes from fear--asriel IS for sure contorting himself and actively harming himself to stay inside this narrow box of 'normal' (think of this as another sort of prophecy--these are all touching on the same themes). and he applies this same mentality to other people BECAUSE of this fear, because he doesnt want his loved ones to be hurt, to be punished, ostracized, etc by society--which are i wanna be clear VERY MUCH THINGS THAT HAPPEN--but in doing this he sort of just hurts the people he loves. because instead of being someone who rejects these boxes hes like. no we gotta be good and fit into the boxes and then everything will be okay.

so when it comes to dess, dess has always very much Done Her Own Thing, consequences be damned. partly this is who she is, partly this is hashtag undiagnosed and untreated mental illness, the onset of which happens around when shes 18 and everything is going down with the bunker (which is NOT helping at ALL). and so when dess comes back from the bunker asriel does very much go 'oh. shes delusional.' and proceed to be No Help At All.

and like, the thing is dess IS very much having a psychotic break. this bit is very much still in deep research (sidenote: anybody in my audience who has experience w/ these things. feel free to hit me up/dm me lol i'd love to talk through some of my ideas as a sort of preliminary sensitivity read, but of course only do this if you are up to it, no pressure lol bc again we're in early stages) but she has schizoaffective + bipolar disorder. dark worlds dont help with this, asriel SUPER doesnt help with this (he doesnt know her actual disorder--neither of them do, this is the onset of things. but tbf even if he did he Would Not Help asriel is essentially doing everything wrong here.) and what dess needs is literally one single person in her corner but the person who is supposed to be in her corner (azzy) is basically being like 'you are making this up' and shes like im NOT, and everything is all mixed together, terrible, bad, awful, and eventually everything culminates and. we know what happens.

(side note but this is why she and chara work real well together actually--chara gets her when asriel doesnt!!)

asriel never actually like. tells anybody about this though. in his head after its assumed dess and kris have died he sort of just. is like well this proves it. i cant let anybody else i care about go that far EVER AGAIN, because if i was a better friend i would've noticed and i wouldve stopped it and made dess "normal." (yes asriel sucks here. the focus is on the kids but. he's getting an arc. i do promise he will get better but. that doesnt really fix what he's done in the past.)

and all of this is like. it fucking sucks for the people around asriel. in hurting himself he's hurting his loved ones--it pushes dess away, and that relationship is never going to be the same. even when asriel realizes how he fucked up i dont think dess really forgives him. because if asriel had just believed her, or at least even if he didnt actually took her seriously and tried to help, shes like. things wouldve gone differently. and asriel knows this too.

and then when it comes to NOELLE, well. asriel's always been very overprotective of her. terrified the world is going to hurt her. and so when noelle starts experiencing things, things she cant tell if theyre real or not...

she doesnt tell him. she doesnt tell anybody. she keeps it all to herself, and this means its a hell of a lot easier for the player/red soul to manipulate her. and nobody finds out until its too late.

[thelongestway]

Hmm. I'm not sure if what amounts to an altered state of consciousness/psychedelic experience needs a content warning, or an unreality warning, or something? New topic for me, no idea how to tag this, help appreciated.

But meanwhile, without further ado...

Chapter 11: Ascent

It took Ratthi and Dandelion a few days to synthesize an appropriate chemical cocktail for Gurathin (ART refused to have it be Iris, in case the experience was as bad for her as Dandelion promised). And this is how we wound up sitting in ART's lounge with the lights dimmed, myself connected to Gurathin, ART connected to my filtered feed, and Ratthi and Dandelion's drone on monitoring duty, with detoxicants on hand in case something went wrong. Dandelion and Ratthi were also connected to us on a separate channel.

My job wasn't just to filter Gurathin's experiences and transmit them to ART, making sure that we didn't bleed anything into Gurathin's feed at the same time. It was also to monitor his implants in case they did something stupid and inform the medical team, and to stop him from going out onto the general feed if he got the very smart idea to do that in a compromised state. Also we all had to promise that we'd keep whatever we found out about Gurathin entirely private.

Gurathin looked at the cup of steaming liquid in his hands, shrugged and said, "Bottoms up." Then he downed the liquid in several big gulps, wrinkling his face in disgust.

"Time to full immersion should be about 30 minutes," Ratthi said.

Dandelion added: "In a real wormhole jump, the change is almost immediate. You simply switch into a different processing mode. We could have imitated that by injecting the cocktail into your blood stream, but this slower way should make for a better training model."

Gurathin nodded and sat down, legs crossed, on one of ART's couches. He closed his eyes. And a few minutes later, he was gone.

(I don't mean that he was literally dead or anything. But the feed presence that I normally associated with Gurathin was just gone. Shut down, piece by piece, like he was falling asleep or something. But his body was still awake, staring at the stars outside of ART's viewing port. And we were still receiving data. The data was just getting weird.)

"Check in," Ratthi said. "How are you feeling, Gurathin?"

"Here and present," Gurathin said, words slurred but understandable. "Feels like I'm down a well of some kind, though."

Your human is definitely not here. From the data you're sending me, he shouldn't even be able to identify his name, because language processing is compromised, ART said. Then it added: This is very creepy.

This is approximately how it feels to enter a wormhole, Dandelion said. He'll be here for some time. In reality, this is when Brisote and I adjust our course. The correct trajectory becomes apparent only from the inside; it cannot be plotted in advance.

"Huh." Gurathin said. "I can run diagnostics on my nerves now."

What the fuck, ART said.

Yeah. What the fuck. Because that was literally what Gurathin was doing. He was tapping his implants' diagnostic modules--and not the ones that monitored health data, either, but the feed connection protocols--and just… Converted them, somehow, into organic impulses. Data flowed back into the implant, turning into a map of his nervous system, which looked similar to default implant-constructed diagnostic maps, but was much more detailed, as if it were given a powerful magnifying lens.

"I should get my spine looked at again." Gurathin said, focusing on a particular region and running pain impulses up and down his nerves like they were pings. "That doesn't look good."

"I'll record the data for you. It's an easily fixable issue at this point," Dandelion responded. In our private channel, she hummed thoughtfully and added: Getting an augmented human for this might not have been the worst of ideas.

"Please do," Gurathin said, and went back to his diagnostics.

Systems at 30% effectiveness and falling. I do not understand. How is he still talking? ART asked into the joint channel.

The wonders of neuroplasticity! Ratthi said enthusiastically. The human brain can make more than a few systems take over for one another in a pinch. Was this what you meant when "using all of its processing", Dr. Tenacious? Having other subroutines available to create workarounds when necessary?

Yes. Not that we do not use all our neural matter in regular operating mode, but when we do a wormhole jump, a great deal of it is drawn into handling the respective calculations. The brain de-prioritizes the connections to most of its regular functions as it takes on the jump processing, so it becomes a separate challenge to keep the key systems running while calculating and maintaining course. This is where my computers normally come in. Additionally, my crew runs backup for this; should my control over critical systems fail, they take over manually.

Two check-ins later, Gurathin said: "I think I'm starting to come back up."

Ratthi confirmed: "Consistent with predicted time of effect. Go ahead."

Dandelion said, And here comes the hard part. At this point, the course has been plotted and we start moving. The problem is having to maintain trajectory while your regular organic systems start reconnecting to their normal functions, which you cannot really delay. Or control.

As if on cue, Gurathin cringed and rubbed his lower back, and then started to shiver.

"Fuck. This was a lot nicer before pain actually became pain again," he said through gritted teeth, hugging himself tightly. "Ratthi, am I clear to move around? The pins and needles in my legs are killing me."

His proprioception is at about 28% effectiveness, although it is now climbing, ART said. Is this a good idea?

"Go ahead, Gurathin," Ratthi said, standing up next to him.

Gurathin stood up. The way he walked resembled nothing even close to a straight line, but he walked. Which he should not have been able to do. With Ratthi's occasional assistance, he warmed up his muscles silently for about the length of a check-in and then settled back down, closing his eyes tightly, tears suddenly running down his face while his mouth twisted into a weird feral grin.

Social processing coming back up, ART said.

In the feed data, we could see Gurathin being focused on Ratthi. On me. On Dandelion. On me again. He tried to focus on ART but couldn't; ART was way too big, and also way too small in his mind. He dropped the visual inputs for Ratthi, picked them up. Dropped the inputs for me, and picked them up. Looked at my face, couldn't read the expression. He thought it was supposed to be easy to read. (Fuck you, Gurathin.) But it wasn't. He dropped my inputs again. Stared back out onto the stars.

"Fuck being people," Gurathin managed, wrestling control of his muscles back. "Why is this so fucking hard. How do we do this all the time."

Yeah. It was really fucking hard.

"Check in, Gurathin." Ratthi said. "You all right in there?"

"Yeah," Gurathin squeezed his eyes shut tight. "Fuck."

Memory reloading, ART said.

Ok, now this shit was getting scary. We were getting memories in the feed, but they were sort of looped and reduced to very short thought bites, turning on themselves again, and again, and again.

(My skin fucking crawled. But maybe that was just bleed from Gurathin.)

Coming to Preservation, Gurathin thought. Fuck the bond company. They're dead. We're dead. It calls itself Murderbot. (I filtered that one. It was private. I also really didn't want to show them everything else, but I did.) Coming to Preservation. Fuck the bond company…

"Dr. Gurathin," Dandelion quietly said. "No matter what you are seeing, you are not there anymore. You are here, in the well. There is a way out. Keep going."

"I am so tired," he murmured. "We're not making it out of here, are we."

"You are tired," Dandelion confirmed. "But you've already found the way out. Keep climbing. Remember that there is always a way out and you've already found it. You have your guiding thread. Now you just have to hold on to it and keep going."

"Fuck the well."

"Fuck the well," she agreed. "Keep climbing. However long you have to go, the road is all yours."

"Fuck the road."

"Fuck the road. Keep walking."

Gurathin did.

The fractals in his head kept looping, occasionally bringing him back through the stages--diagnostics, movement processing, social processing, memory--and with each loop, the feed data we got became more and more normal. Finally something clicked into place, and the regular, integrated Gurathin was back in the feed with us, looking like he could use a triple rest period. Gurathin blinked, again and again, wiping the crud from his eyes, and stretched his fingers, as if trying to see if he had control over them again.

"Ow. Fuck everything. But I think I'm back."

"Systems nominal," Dandelion said, her drone showing a smiling face. One of her arms extended a tray towards Gurathin which held a detoxicant, and he ate it without complaint. "Welcome back, Dr. Gurathin, and thank you for your work."

"Welcome back, Gurathin!" Ratthi echoed as he grabbed a blanket and draped it over Gurathin's shoulders. "How does it feel to be the first person in the universe to take an advanced AI on a psychonautic trip?"

Gurathin raised his hand in a rude gesture, then said, "Perihelion, can I crash on board? I don't think I can make it home without falling asleep."

"Of course," ART said. "I will get a gurney to get you to a real bed."

"Thanks," Gurathin said and passed out.

I understand now. ART said in our feed as it prepared a room for Gurathin while Dandelion maintained observation over his vital signs. Your jump procedure is to sit still in the highly volatile jump medium while using all available processing power to calculate an optimal trajectory. Then, once movement is initiated, the task is to maintain trajectory while the previously-engaged subroutines reconnect to their regular functions in random patterns.

Not entirely random. The order of activation is fairly typical, which is what we designed the drug for. But the content is not. One does not exactly choose what the subroutines will activate on, and in the case of memory processing, it tends to latch on to your worst moments. Dr. Gurathin's idea was a better approximation than I had hoped.

It was not particularly terrifying, ART observed. Perhaps to SecUnit, but I was fine.

Yeah, fuck you too, ART. I said. Because it was scary. My least favorite part was feeling my own hand on my neck. Gurathin's neck. Whatever.

That is because these were not your memories, Perihelion, Dandelion sighed. Do not be cavalier about this.

ART didn't answer. In our private work space, I could see it had a few ideas, and it was already working through them.

[galaxostars]

☾ Fic masterlist 𖤓

Hi, I’m Iris, I mostly write about HP and rare pairs :)

In this house we hate JK Rowling with a burning passion, and love everyone part of the LGBTQ+ community. It’s a loving and judgment free zone ! No ship/kink bashing either <3

+18 | mdni

general ao3 link: main account & dead dove account

Main

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ✧･ﾟ: *✧

All of you : one shot, 5k, E, drarry smut ft small cock Draco and body worship from Harry

Lights up : 3/3, 28k, written for the Transfest, E, Sirius' journey with gender, featuring ftm Remus, non-binary Teddy raised by wolfstar

Show me your teeth : one shot, 25.9 k, E, a jegulus meet cute at a costume party in which they have sex, and discover each other’s identities in the morning. Featuring some black brother angst, Jame’s nipple piercing and funny banter.

Stitches undone : one shot, 30k, written for the TTPD fest, E, Lily isn't over her first love when she falls for someone a second time, and Regulus is still carrying the weight of his heartbreak when he meets someone new. Little do they know, the name they're running from may just be the very person they need.

The most beautiful part of me (is you) : one shot, 14.6 k, E, a prongsfoot one shot in which James comforts Sirius struggling to cope with his guilt post Prank. HAE but mind the tags !

Fuck. Me. Up. : one shot, 4k with art, E, rosekiller smut with fan art by Steffi

Take me for a ride : one shot, 7k, E, Sirius teases Remus, finally convincing him to go on a ride (or, me satisfying my bike kink)

"You love a good ride, don't you?" : one shot, 6.6k, E, James fucks his bike and Regulus gets jealous (or, me satisfying my bike kink... again)

Like stars, we'll burn ourselves out : wip 3/8, 31k, E, a Remus/James slowburn featuring the roommate trope

Lonely hearts : one shot, 31k, E, Teddy Lupin works as a massage therapist and is in for a surprise when his new client turns out to be none other than his estranged godfather (Heddy ft grief, touch starved werewolf Teddy and second chances)

Locked Longings : one shot, 8.3k, written for the TTPD fest, E, Sirius fantasizes about Monty, based on the song "Guilty as Sin"

Untamed desires : one shot, 12.5k, E, Draco pines over Charlie and Harry (shameless smut)

Trip, Switch : one shot, 15.8k, E, five times Krum made Ron blush and one time Ron got his revenge

Scars sparkle in the moonlight : one shot, 3.6 k, E, collective work, Pandora and Xeno find Remus during the full moon and proceed to help him through it (or, a soulmate AU) 

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ✧･ﾟ: *✧

Dead Dove

Written in the stars : one shot, 11k, E, prongsfoot but if sirius was adopted by the Potters

Rotten love : one shot, 7k, E, starcest inferi cannibalism smut

Haunted breaths : one shot, 5k, E, ghost regulus sees himself in Draco... in more ways than one

Sweet promises : one shot, 7k, E, Alphirius cockwarming smut

Deadly flowers and their happy side effects : one shot, 4.5 k, E, starcestbucks and sex pollen

Bathroom discoveries : one shot, 1.6 k, E, microfic for @microcest : starcest sharing a bathroom

Un amour lunaire : one shot, 6.4 k, E, underage, starcest ft Sirius comforting his brother after a nightmare

Dinner treats : one shot, 2.1k, M, testing how affectionate they can act in public ft Sirius/Alphard

Lovesick : one shot, 14.3 k, E, starcestbucks featuring the "there was only one bed" trope

[best-fictional-cat]

Please vote for Shoe and Wagahai!!! 

-Shoe is based on a real cat!! One of the creators of Ace Attorney, Shu Takumi, named the cat after himself, and made him look very similar to his real life cat, as you can see by the side-by-side comparison!!!

-Shoe also helped solve a kidnapping case! He meowed while the kidnapper was on the phone, giving away their location to the protagonist, who had seen the cat earlier that day!!! -Shoe’s meow also helped the protagonist figure out who hired the assassin–this cat is truly a hero in every sense of the word!!! Just look at his precious little face!!! And here’s a bonus picture of the irl inspiration:

Anyways, remember how I said Shoe was based on a real life cat? Well guess what that cat’s name is? That’s right: Wagahai!! Just like the other kitty in this delightful duo!!! This is Wagahai:

(Picture taken immediately before Wagahai fucked around with the strings on Herlock Sholmes’ fiddle like a little gremlin)

Shoe is a hero, and Wagahai is too–their younger owner, Iris Wilson, made a cat flap creation device to make some for Wagahai. This device later helped solve ANOTHER murder. Here is a picture of the creation, just for fun:

Yeah me too Iris. 

Here’s another good picture of our little baby:

We all know that when cats sit on their little cat towers staring down at us, they are thinking “I am above all of you. You are nothing more than the dirt beneath my feet”. They are the princes and princesses, and we are their servants. Well guess what? Wagahai’s very NAME embodies this!!!

-The word “wagahai” is a Japanese first-person pronoun–we only have “I” in English, but Japanese has multiple versions of “I”, which each carry characteristics like masculinity, femininity, politeness, etc. 

-The pronoun “wagahai” is special because it carries with it an EXTREME sense of haughtiness and arrogance. Using it is just like being a cat staring down from that cat tower–it’s a way of saying “I’m above all of you”.

-Wagahai is the perfect name for a little kitty cat, so you simply must vote for this legend!!!

In conclusion:

Vote Shoe and Wagahai!! They are a perfect tag team, heroes and gremlins, and if there is anything better than one cat, it’s two cats!! Also if they lose I will cry real, genuine tears. These kitties have endured hardships too, and they deserve a win!! I love them very much, and I hope you do too!!!

Come on guys, I believe in you, you can beat that warrior cat! :) (poll link)