#hunter nozzle

[starsmuserainbow]

"Are--" She looks up at the hoe in the ceiling and then back down to the fellow alien on the ground. "Are you okay?!"

Your character wakes up to my character falling through the ceiling. What’s your character’s reaction?

[[Thank you!]]

Oof. Starfire needed a few moments after crashing, and she was somewhat glad, though also worried, to see Vartouhi at her side.

"Vartouhi!" The chance that her crash would actually end her up in the home of an ally, and not just at a random civilian's place... was this good or bad luck? "I am-" She couldn't finish answering her, when suddenly another being landed on top of her (making Starfire cry out upon them landing on her back), and shot a wrap of sorts out of their arm that wrapped around Starfire's waist, trapping her arms. The being turned towards Vartouhix (ignoring Starfire's complaints and grunts as she tried to struggle or burst out of the wrap), and as it spoke, the mask it was wearing blinked along to the metallic voice. "Stay out of this, human." It said, before boosting itself upwards again with some form of nozzles on its shoes, out of the hole in the ceiling and pulling Starfire behind within seconds. "Noo! Please, you must call my friends!" Starfire shouted towards Vartouhi as she was pulled upwards back out of the room.

[lalunanymph]

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐁𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃 — sylus

୨୧ meeting him meant the end of your innocence and ignorance

✧.* warnings: suggestive, hunter/prey dynamic, sylus has issues™, mentions of death, mentions of blood, making out, finger sucking, just sylus being a tease

✧.* this my chemical romance edgelord looking ass evil man has got me by the cl!t </3 i cant stop the sylus brainrot help

The sole of your mud-splattered boot splashes into a puddle of filthy water, soaking the hem of your Hunters’ pants. 

Hot breaths spill from your parted lips, and you glance back, full of panic, trying and failing to catch the barest hint of a shadowy figure spilling closer towards you.

Nothing.

But, that doesn’t mean you’re out of the woods yet. 

Doubling your speed, you tighten your grip on your gun, feeling the hard handle slipping between your clammy hands. 

“Damn it,” cursing under your breath, you make a sharp turn, and find yourself face-to-face with a wall. Using your Resonance, you feel for the potential threat, breaths rising and falling sharply as your watch beeps your coordinates back to your anxious teammates.

The second your whereabouts were exposed, you feared what the repercussions would be for allowing yourself to be drawn into such a risky mission. 

Captain Jenna has already warned you not once but twice for going after Onychinus on your own. 

Defying her once again, you fear it would be the last time you would ever hear her sharp words or firm tone. 

A crunch of leaves overhead startles you, and you swivel with your gun raised, eyes darting everywhere in the vicinity. The smell of rubbish burns through your nose, and coupled with the sharp sting of your sweat, it nearly makes you sick with nausea. 

Panic infuses through you, rendering you mute and unable to move when you hear a slow, dark chuckle emanating from the shadows.

He appears, dressed in all black, strands of silvery hair falling right into his deep eyes; your worst nightmare coming to life. 

“There you are,” he seems to purr, deep baritone dragging through each syllable; hammering in how defenseless and trapped you were. “I never thought I’d ever see a day when a Hunter finally becomes the hunted.”

Sylus—head of Onychinus—approaches you with a slow smile spreading across his striking face. His tall stature and fitted clothes, in every shade of black you can imagine, is exacerbated by the crow perched right on his shoulder, its blood-red pupils widening at the scent of your fear. Despite the dangerous aura surrounding him, he could easily pass as a gentleman walking down the streets of Linkon City—eccentric and grinning. 

“You’ll never get away with this.” 

Your words, meant to be a threat, only serves to amuse him further. 

“Oh? Isn’t that what every good guy says?” Approaching you closer, he doesn’t pay any mind to the nozzle of your gun digging right into his chest. He knows you can’t shoot him; you still need your answers. “And then, inevitably, they all turn out to be wrong.”

A flash of red. Your arm seizes and goes limp, the gun in your hands tumbling to the ground; pained cries reverberating across the alleyway. The crow on his shoulder caws, flapping its wings in excitement. 

He grabs your face, digging his nails into the fat of your cheeks. “Pretty little hunter,” Sylus coos again, and this time, pushes you to your feet, controlling your movements with his Evol so you have no choice but to be the puppet at the end of his strings. 

Your legs spread without your consent, and your back meets the wall. 

Sylus watches, those sharp eyes ever mysterious and waiting. He doesn’t lunge or immediately savor your helplessness; letting you stew in your panic and loss of control. 

“Wh-wait,” you splutter. “Don’t do this—”

“Is this not what you were hungering for, my little hunter?” As he speaks, he advances towards you, every heavy footfall spiking fear in your chest. “You knew what you were getting yourself into when you tried to pursue me. So,” he stops in front of you, bending down close enough for his breath to touch your cheek. “Why the hesitation now?” 

“How do you know about my heart condition?” you demand, referring to the encrypted video he sent you a few days ago meant to lure you out into the open. “No one else knows that besides my grandmother.”

Sylus arches one dark brow, cocking his head to the side to truly study the mutiny on your face.

“And how are you so sure your grandmother was the only one with such classified information?” 

This asshole. He was never going to give you a straight answer. You had walked right into his trap.

Trying to move your limbs was futile. You were fully under his mercy. 

The stench of your entire situation grows harder to ignore. You replay every single moment which led you right in this situation. 

A shady video sent straight to your Hunter’s Watch. The dark background and the modulated voice whispering how you can get your answers if you meet him right at the docks at exactly one in the morning. Ignoring Xavier’s concern and Jenna’s suggestion for you to take a partner. Nero, who usually supported your crazy ideas, was for once hesitant when he inspected the video. They never expected you to take this on by yourself—for you to act this recklessly.

And tonight, you would die without any of them knowing the truth.

You want to shout, to tell the entire world that the leader of Onychinus is right in front of you. But, you cannot find  your voice. 

Sylus is close enough for the sharpness of his cologne to fill your nostrils. You can barely move your hand to press the alert button on your watch; your movements are restricted by this dangerous Evol you don’t think you’ve ever encountered.

“Tell me, why do you seek such answers when you do not know the magnitude of their implications?” 

His voice is saccharine sweet, condescending to a fault. 

Scoffing, you turn your face away, unable to look him in the eyes long enough.

“I guess… I want to know why my grandmother and Caleb had to die.”

The admission feels like a punch to your gut. To anyone else, your voice remains steady and firm. But, it took a special sort of psychopath to hear the tremble at the tailend of your sentence and yet, choose to laugh.

“Ah. Yes. I can answer that one for you—Onychinus did not cause the death of your grandmother and friend.” Nothing about tonight’s encounter could prepare you for what he has to say next. 

“You might want to look a little closer to home.”

Closer to… home? 

The confusion in your eyes is his aphrodisiac, and his nostrils flare; getting off on your distress.

“The Hunters,” he clarifies; tone like a teacher speaking down to a toddler. “Don’t you think it strange that they never investigated what happened to your family? Or, did a postmortem on your grandmother’s remains?” 

He’s speaking circles around you, intentionally messing with your mind. 

And yet, a seed of doubt begins to take root. You have to physically clench down on your fists to stop from lashing out at him; Jenna’s sympathetic expression, the doctors who told you that there was no feasible way they could glean what happened to your grandmother and Caleb without at least 85% of the body intact.

An accident. An anomaly. That was how they classified your family’s demise.

You weren’t even allowed to have a closed coffin funeral for them. 

His thumbs touch your cheek, swiping the tears away in a gesture far too intimate for a man who was meeting you for the first time tonight.

“Ever since I first saw you, you’ve done nothing but invade my thoughts.”

Your back melts off the wall and meets the ground, his entire weight pressed on top of you. He has you right under him with nowhere to go, and you can’t even call for help, those long, elegant fingers sliding right into your mouth, forcing you to suck on them.

“My pretty little stubborn Hunter,” he whispers. 

You know the look in his eye; the one men would get when they’re crossing the threshold of claiming the object they’ve been seeking for years. It’s the same look in Xavier’s eyes whenever you accidentally graze his thigh, or how Zayne’s expression visibly darkens when you call him ‘doctor’. It’s the same look Rafayel gives you when you say you want nothing more than to be by his side forever.

Desire.

And fear. 

Sylus swallows hard, and you’re surprised to find his touch faltering. Those magnetically dark eyes could engulf you whole, growing closer and closer until you’re forced to close your own eyes; his lips the first spark that sets your entire world ablaze.

Devouring you like you were oxygen in a deprived world, Sylus kisses are brutal and hard, nipping at your lips, forcing his tongue into your mouth so you have no choice but to choke on your own spit. A dark shadow flits overhead, its caws filling the night air with rampant euphoria. 

He is too forward… this is going much too fast…

“Do you not like it when intentions are made known to you?” He tugs at your bottom lip, smirking at your faltering expression when you realize you’ve spoken those words aloud.

You struggle against him, trying to turn your face away, but Sylus will not relent his grip on your cheeks. 

“Why?” you gasp. “Why are you treating me like this when we both are on different sides?” Struggling to push him away, you’re overtaken once again by his mouth moving down your jaw, caressing your pulse point and traversing down the column of your throat. Kisses which feel more like a possessive mark.  

“Who said we were any different?” He murmurs, and you have no choice but to voice out your disbelief.

“I’m a Hunter. You’re an illegal weapons seller. My job is to stop you—oh.” 

He kneads your hip roughly with one hand, expression open with want. You can’t formulate a single coherent thought, your vision purely dominated by the halo of his silver hair and those deep, impenetrable dark eyes. 

“No,” his deep voice intones, sending shivers up your spine. “You have no idea. We are more similar than you think.” 

Holding secrets you weren’t aware of, Sylus didn’t know where to start; how to make you believe him.

So, he settles for pinning you against the ground, your wrists held above your head and your body trapped under his bigger build.

“Heed my words, little Hunter,” he whispers, and there’s a look in his eye, an unfathomable emotion you wanted to unravel but it was gone the second you dared to look closer. “Do not trust what you think is the truth.”

Before your eyes, he dissipates to smoke, small flecks of blood landing on your cheeks and parted mouth. His raven caterwauls, inducing goosebumps across your entire body as it spirals into the night sky, disappearing from view.

You turn onto your hands and knees, spitting out the blood, wiping it off your cheeks with frantic swipes. 

Someone calls your name, and you don’t realize how badly you’re shivering until a warm embrace engulfs you.

“Oh, Y/N,” Xavier exhales, bringing you closer to the streetlamp light so he can scrutinize your face. “Are you alright? Are you hurt?” 

Thumbing the blood from your face, you nod, murmuring, “This isn’t mine.”

 Xavier opens his mouth, about to ask you what exactly happened when your Hunter Watch went off the grid when Jenna pushes through the alley, her gun at the ready, mouth set into a grim line.

“Y/N. You’re safe.” 

Accepting Xavier’s outstretched hand, you stood up with his help. Jenna shines a flashlight on your face, momentarily blinding you.

“Is that your blood?” she demands, sounding like she was a second away from giving you the lecture of a lifetime. 

You grimace, and Xavier tightens his grip around your waist.

“Captain, we should take her back for an inspection—”

“Agreed,” Jenna cuts him off, then narrows her eyes as she leans closer. “Is that… a mark on your neck? And your lips—they’re quite swollen.”

Slapping a hand to your mouth, you shake your head, hoping your wide, pleading eyes will get them to drop this. Next to you, Xavier stiffens, those blue eyes going glacial as he sweeps them all over your disheveled frame. It’s unavoidable that he comes to such assumptions based on your appearance. 

But, rather than lashing out in jealousy, he reels it in, choosing to steer you back towards safety.

“Whatever happened, you can tell us later. We need to get you checked up.”

His grip digs into your skin, and you don’t know what to say once the inevitable interrogation comes up.

How could you divulge all that Sylus had said without putting Xavier in a predicament between trusting you or being loyal to an organization he serves well? 

If what the Onychinus leader said was true, you couldn’t trust Captain Jenna either. 

And Tara…

Everything dear in your world begins to blur, infecting the foundations of your love for the people you trust; making them crack and crumble. 

Xavier, Jenna, Tara, Nero… did they all know what happened to your family but refused to tell you the truth? 

You had no idea how to react; you couldn’t wrap your head around such a betrayal if the truth were to come to light.

You think you could probably destroy the entire Organization with your bare hands if what Sylus said was true. 

Abovehead, somewhere in the trees, a raven caws—a harbinger of worse things to come.

a/n. save me emo edgelord crow boy save me .... reblogs and feedback are appreciated !!

©️ all works belong to lalunaymph. do not copy, repost, translate or share across any other platform

[vellichor-of-the-solivagant]

Extra: The Night Before Rio De Janeiro

Task Force 141, Keegan & Konig x Female Criminal!Reader

Previous Chapter / Masterlist

Hunters who are forever hunted, always time-counting.

Often, they dream of drowning.

Water dyed in crimson, they found themselves sinking in.

They felt like puppets, crimes stuffed like cotton within. 

Ordered by a man behind a desk, their burdens grow.

Pulled by the string master behind the show.

Living in the darkness of night.

A sacrifice without a name nor a shed of light.

Nocturne of their nightmares continues, lasting and drawn.

Through each fire they make, the heart begins to wan.

Sinners who have taken others’ mantles of transgressions.

None are sentenced guilty in their visions.

A ghost, set out, shrouded in the mists of their deeds to catch another ghost.

Pray tell, oh, one who stand unmoving from their post.

Draw the curtains, which is the good you perceive?

Rather than good, which is the lesser evil you believe?

Anointed demon inhibiting other demons.

Group of people, neither good nor bad, for reasons.

On the clock, in this endless cycle of hunting, everyone hides scars.

Never linger, regardless, further into the shadows on a night without stars.

Such as your time would cease to continue

The Night Before the Mission in Rio De Janeiro

Jonathan Price scanned you from head to toes, making you tilt your head to the side and raise your brow. He kept his eyes on you for a minute, before he let out a sigh. “You surely know how to keep my boys entertained,” he spoke in a low voice, grabbing a handgun suspended on the wall. You watched him step into the range and aim at the target meters from where he stood.

“I guess, we vibe?” You answered, unsure of your words, and snatched a copy of his gun. You walked into the range and stood beside him, raising both of your arms as you gripped with comfort and fired. “I mean, your boys are good at making conversations. I, being talkative depends on—”

“Tell me,” he shot a bullet straight into the middle of the target, making the loud noise cut you off, “why did Shepherd bring you to us?”

You stared at the bullseye he just made. “For more manpower—” you stopped as he turned to you with the gun aimed at your forehead. “Uh, what’s this for, sir?” You dropped your arms down to your side.

“You are not normal,” he declared, finger staying on the trigger. “You don’t flinch with a gun on your head. Shepherd refers to you as a tool.”

You rolled your eyes and clicked your tongue. “He believes what he believes. He says what he says. That’s his weakness and, it should be your weapon.” You let your gun drop with a thud on the floor, making his eyes flicker down at your feet for a second before his attention locked on you. 

“And why should I listen to you?”

“Because in the long run, you will need me.” You smiled. “Time is running out. Emperor is rising.”

He narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean?”

You pointed a finger up. “His first target will be the golden eagle who soars in the sky, his shadow hounds, and those who take one for one.”

Price scoffed. “Yes, you are making sense right now.” He returned your smile, but it quickly dropped as the nozzle of his gun met your skin. “Who the fuck is targeting us, and why do you know about this?”

“I am the one the Czar calls his princess.”

The Captain’s eyes widened.

A black sheep of the herd, branded a criminal under the eyes of the one who has declared to make people pay their Price.

Yet, not only the Ghosts of the past hunt down what had gotten away, slipped away like grains of sand from their hands.

A man, obedient of the time, an emperor of his ideals seeks to bring the black sheep into his arms.

Will the Shepherd who had captured the sheep be able to keep it?

Will the other take back what was his?

Was the black sheep truly what it seems?

Or was it a wolf who brings snapdragons everywhere it goes?

Next Chapter / Archive of Our Own

Taglist: @yyiikes , @the-faceless-bride , @cassiecasluciluce , @annoyingstrawberryballoon @unicorngirly1, @thriving-n-jiving, @squidalapobre, @tallicaside @eustassh

[anon-e-miss]

Reformation - 3

The Praxian Beta swirked at the stump at the end of Lockdown’s arm. The bounty hunter snarled at the insolent half-mech. He snarled threats, promising to turn his valve inside out. It annoyed Lockdown that the Beta did not even blink. If anything, the gold-faced Praxian looked bored. Well restrained with stasis cuffs, Lockdown could not punch the smug face and put the enforcer in his place. The cocky Beta stared at him a moment longer before stunning Lockdown by taking his head and driving it into the interrogation table. Lockdown felt his olfactory ridge break. For a moment, he was blind. Tasting his own energon, the bounty hunter cursed the Beta. The curse was cut off when the enforcer drove his fist into Lockdown’s belly. He fell from his chair, groaning. Without missing a step, the enforcer nailed him in his panel this the armoured tip of his ped. Lockdown rolled from side to side in pain. He would rip this enforcers spark out.

“Pray they don’t extradite you to Praxus,” the enforcer said.

“I’m not afraid of a half-mech,” Lockdown groaned. “Wouldn’t stand a chance in a fair fight.”

“I don’t fight fair,” the enforcer replied. “I fight to win and there is no way I’d lose to you. From a distance, I would shoot off your cock and watch you bleed out, up close I’d cut it off and pour Gideon’s glue in the stump. If I had my blaster, I’d do it right now, maybe I’d shoot you right through your sheath. Unfortunately, the Simfurite’s are soft.”

“What happened here?” Just in time, on of the Simfurite enforcers appeared. The Praxian turned. His doorwings did not so much as twitch when he was caught. Lockdown growled a threat at his back.

“He tried to escape.”

***

“Oh, oh Primus,” Prowl moaned.

Jazz licked his spark chamber as he toyed with Prowl’s tender nozzles. They were wet with the Alpha’s oral lubricants and throbbing in time with his spark. Prowl’s legs were wrapped around the saboteur’s narrow hips. Exhausted as he was, he wanted and wanted desperately. It had been two orns already and his heat was only just starting to ebb. Somehow, Jazz had never lost the strength and the energy to match it. Every moment of the last two orns, he had focused on Prowl and his comfort. He held Prowl’s legs open in a wide ‘V’ as he spiked Prowl. The Omega’s belly was round, even as fast as his frame metabolized the Jazz’s transfluids, the Alpha filled him with more. There had never once been the agony of the burn with this heat, Jazz had kept it well satisfied.

“One more, Sweetspark,” Jazz crooned. Prowl was spent, face down in the berth, his optics glazed over, jaw slack.

“Uhn,” he moaned weakly, overloading as the Alpha had commanded him.

Sometime later, Prowl woke. He brought his servo up, blocking the solvent spray from running over his face. Jazz hummed as he washed Prowl. For his part, the Omega was exhausted. After nearly three orns of interfacing, all but constantly, he did not think he could walk. His jaw fell open as Jazz ran a cloth over his well-used valve. His anterior node sparked at the brief contact. He had been fragged strutless, something Prowl would not have considered remotely positive before. The heat had passed and Prowl felt strangely satisfied. Jazz grinned at him as he tried him off when Prowl looked blearily back at him. He was carried to the berth, newly made and left alone. It was the first time Jazz had left him since they had come up here. Soon though, Jazz returned and in his servos, he had a cube of steaming energon. Prowl took it with gratitude.

“I think y’re gonna need a cube or two before y’re gonna wake up all the way,” Jazz said. Prowl nodded and drank it. That was something about Jazz. Even when they quarrelled over a mission, the next time they met, Jazz had a cube of black energon for him.

“Thank you,” Prowl said. “Even when you have been contrary, you have always been considerate.”

“Sounds like yer processor is wakin’ up,” Jazz chuckled.

“Mm,” Prowl murmured. Jazz refilled his cube and Prowl happily swallowed more. “I did not know you were entering a rut.”

“I usually make sure to be out in the field,” Jazz replied. “Use the energy to scrap Cons. Ya cancelled the op.”

“I did not intend...” Prowl defended himself.

“Hush,” Jazz told him and Prowl hiked up his doorwings. “I know ya ain’t that kinda manipulative, Prowler.”

“Most would argue with you,” Prowl replied.

“Yeah, well, they’re dumb aft,” Jazz declared. “Do ya need to see Ratchet?”

“Eventually,” Prowl said. “I will need to have a scan done.”

“Fair,” Jazz said. “Might reabsorb yet.”

“Reabsorb?” Prowl asked.

“Ya didn’t feel yerself ignite?” Jazz asked. “I heard it.”

“Oh?!” Prowl gasped. He did not mean to drop the cube but Jazz caught it, without spilling a drop of energon.

“Never happened before?” Jazz asked. He put the cube back in Prowl’s servos and encouraged him to drink.

“No,” Prowl said, feeling shaky. “No. Never.”

“First for me too,” Jazz replied. “Or ya’d know.”

“Oh.”

“It could still reabsorb,” Jazz comforted him. Prowl stared straight ahead. He had hoped he would had least have the good fortune to be sterile, but no. What Lockdown had started, Jazz had finished. The world spun. As Prowl half leaned and half fell over, Jazz caught him and held him. “Easy. Y’re okay. Y’re okay.”

***

The worst part of heat was even with all the pain Lockdown inflicted on him, Prowl’s treacherous frame lubricated anyways. He overloaded anyways, a typical Omega slut as his progenitor would have said. Lockdown slapped his aft as he fragged roughly. The frag, the rape was so brutal, Prowl’s aft was becoming dented. Yet, his valve lubricated. When Lockdown drove to the hilt in him, there was a wet, filthy clang, again and again. When Lockdown overloaded inside him, Prowl overloaded. The bounty hunter leered down at him as his knot deflated a little, he pulled his spike free. A loud, squelch echoed and Prowl sobbed as lubricants splashed against his thighs.

It was not enough to unmech him, Lockdown was determined to breed him. The thought of carrying his rapist’s spawn made him ill. Prowl sobbed, broken in spark and processor as Lockdown bit down on his mating node and ground his denta, cementing a hold on Prowl’s frame through that horrid code. Lubricants gushed from his valve as it reflexively milked his rapist’s spike. Lockdown cackled as he realized all he needed to do to make Prowl overload was bite this node. He knew the more an Omega overloaded, the easier it was to spark them up. He held Prowl by his shoulder, denta dug into that node as he sawed his spike, knot inflated in and out of Prowl’s broken valve. Even as Prowl cried with pain, he overloaded.

Even with the enforcers pointing blasters at him, Lockdown bit down on Prowl’s mating nodule a final time, making him overload on the bounty hunter’s knot in front of everyone. It would be preferable to die than to endure this shame but Lockdown had not given him that mercy. Barricade swooped in, growling when Alpha enforcers pulled Lockdown off of Prowl. He shielded Prowl with his doorwings as he pulled a warming blanket from his subspace. Prowl shook. Alpha enforcers audibly sniffed the air as the stink of Prowl’s heat was everywhere. His cousin, a Beta, snarled at them as he bundled Prowl in his arms. Now would have been the time to pull his pride together but the broken enforcer hurt so badly, so deeply, the sobs he had already been crying turned to keens.

“I have you Prowl,” Barricade promised.

[dumbbitchenergy17]

Clan of Three - Chapter 4

Chapter Four: The Gunslinger and Past

Plot: A Mandalorian, an infant with a history of the jedi, and a teenager with similar powers with an undiscovered lineage. An unlikely group to travel the galaxy together.

Word Count: 5.3K

Pairing: Father Figure!Din Djarin x Platonic!Teen!Reader

Warnings: fighting/violence, massive angst, childhood memories, death, just a really sad chapter

------

Leaving Sorgan was a hard moment you felt actually happy there. You weren’t running from the Guild or the Empire able to live on some planet without fear but that soon quickly came to an end. The Razor Crest zooms through space barely avoiding blaster fire from a guild ship that had found you.

“Hand over the kids, Mando. I might let you live.” The bounty hunter says over the comlink as Mando dodges another bullet the ship spinning around making you dizzy. A blast hits the ship shaking it and loud alarms sound in the cockpit. “I can bring you in warm or I can bring you in cold.” The hunter says as Mando flies dangerously in your eyes to avoid more attacks and when they try ramming into you Mando drops the ship making the starship get into his view with a single shot and the ship explodes.

He huffs looking at the damage that he received, “That’s my line. Losing fuel…” The left engine was damaged and the right wouldn’t be enough to get them out of the system in case more bounty hunters arrived. He flips a switch the power shutting off the entire ship going dark your only light being the galaxy surrounding. Flipping the emergency power and looking over the holomap you see him punch in coordinates manually flying the ship until you appear to arrive at a desert planet.

“Where are we?” You ask Mando as you begin to enter the atmosphere the large plains of sands familiar to you, he doesn’t answer as a voice from the comlink cut through.

“This is Mos Eisley Tower. We are tracking you. Head for bay three-five, over.” You feel your blood chill but your heart soars at the same time. Mos Eisley…that was a name you were familiar with, looking out of the window and seeing familiar structures of the planet you were born on. The dual suns shine through the windows…you must have been dreaming. You were home..you were on Tatooine. The ship lands and you’re already down the ladder ignoring Mando’s calls out for you. Your fist slams on the button on the ramp not even waiting for it to come all the way down jumping off your skin instantly warm from the dual sun something you were used to.

You walk out of the starport the loudness of the crowd fills you with nostalgia. Memories of walking through the streets looking for your next meal or a place to stay at to avoid the cold and any creature stalking at night. It was almost instinct to see a Rodian distracted at a stand selling goods, you flick your wrist and a basket holding items hit the ground spilling everyone. The owner begins to shout at the Rodian assuming he knocked it over who tries to explain distracted as you slip by your hands slick grabbing the pouch full of credits and disappear into the crowd. You smile holding the hefty bag of credits and attaching it to your belt, this felt normal..you were home. You see the cantina ahead entering the doors the place is pretty filled with aliens and some droids. Coming up to the bar sitting towards the side a droid who appears to be the bartender comes over.

“Um…some spotchka,” You say pulling out a credit from the bag you stole and sliding it across the table. Maker were you going to get kicked out cause you were underage that would be embarrassing. The droid just nods takes the money and produces a glass holding an arm out as spotchka pours from a nozzle, filling the glass nicely, and pulls away to tend to another customer. Nodding you hold the glass between your hands taking a small sip wincing slightly from the burn. You were never going to get used to that.

“Hey, droid, I'm a hunter. I'm lookin' for some work.” A familiar voice says and you freeze instantly putting your arm up so it blocks most of your face glancing over and seeing Mando standing on the other end of the bar speaking to the droid. You had to be kriffing kidding me.

“Unfortunately, the Bounty Guild no longer operates from Tatooine.” The droid responds and you can hear Mando sigh his dislike of droids clear.

“I'm not looking for Guild work.” He says and the droid shakes its head,

“I am afraid that does not improve your situation, at least by my calculation.”

“Think again, tin can,” A voice behind you at the booths calls out and you see Mando look over as you busy yourself taking a sip of the drink. Your nerves make you take too big of a sip and you force yourself to swallow, the burn fills your throat not settling well with your stomach. Don’t you dare puke it up. “If you're looking for work, have a seat, my friend.” The man says and you hold a fist to your mouth trying to keep your face calm and hidden as you feel the Mandalorian you were quite familiar with walks past you.

“Name's Toro, Toro Calican. Come on, relax,” He introduces himself and you hear Mando sit down, “Picked up this Bounty Puck before I left the Mid Rim. Fennec Shand, an Assassin. Heard she's been on the run ever since the New Republic put all her employers in lockdown.”

“I know the name,” Mando says as you listen in on the conversation your drink long forgotten as you were able to settle the churning in your gut.

“I followed this tracking fob here. Now the positional data suggests she's headed out beyond the Dune Sea. Should be an easy job.” Toro says and you hear Mando stand going to leave.

“Well, good luck with that.” “Wait, wait, wait, hey. I thought you needed work?” Toro tries getting Mando to stay.

“How long you been with the Guild?” Mando asks and Toro responds long enough, “Clearly not. Fennec Shand is an elite mercenary. She made her name killing for all the top crime syndicates, including the Hutts. If you go after her, you won't make it past sunrise.” He warns him before you hear him turn to leave again.

“This is my first job. You can keep the money, all of it. I just need this job to get into the Guild,” He begs Mando, “I can't do it alone.” Silence comes from the two men.

“Meet me at Hangar three-five in half an hour. Bring two speeder bikes and give me the tracking fob.” Mando agrees and you hear something hit the wall fizzing.

“Don't worry, got it all memorized,” Toro nods and Mando keeps walking to the door and you glance at him before looking away. “Half an hour.” He says before leaving.

“Looks like you're stuck with me now, partner.” Toro cockily replies as the door to the cantina shuts behind Mando. You sigh wiping the sweat that was on your face from your nerves. You wait a few minutes sure he had already left before standing up. You have no idea how he didn’t notice it was you but you weren’t going to push further. Just head out of the cantina and figure out what you were going to do next, you went out the second door that was there. The sound of people on the streets is loud as you slip out now on a side street leading to the main one. Walking out right about to reach the main road when a hand grabs you by the collar pulling you into a small dead end. You reach for the knife in your belt swiping your arm out to strike your assailant in the chest when it comes in contact with a loud clang of metal. As one hand grabs your wrist twisting the knife out of your hand the other slams against your shoulder pushing you against the wall pining both of your arms as you get ready to scream and fight freezing seeing Mando glaring down at you.

“Get off me.” You struggle in his grip but his hands are heavy, not budging.

“You think it was smart running off? What if that Rodian noticed you stealing from him, or the man looking for a way into the guild finding out you are a highly valued bounty?” He says scolding you as you glare at him still trying to get him off you.

“That’s none of your concern…I’m home you don’t have to worry about me.” You spit back kicking him in the knee making him back off as you move to grab the knife that he gave you lying in the sand.

“Home? You were fighting to survive here to see the next day. What about your parents…do you have anyone you have here to call home?!” He says blocking your path from leaving the small dead end.

“This planet is all I have! I did it before and I can do it again!” You yell pointing your hand down to the ground beneath you…you had nothing…parents dead..the one man who actually looked after you somewhere on this planet that you had no idea how to get there. “Just leave. Take the child back to its home but this is mine…you’ve done your job Mando.” You say pulling the bag of credits from your belt and tossing it at him but he doesn’t catch it letting it hit his chest and falling to the ground, “Your payment for your service.”

“I don’t want your money.” He says and you scoff stepping towards him grabbing the bag, 

“Not my money remember.” You try walking past him when his hand latches to your arm. “Let go of me Mando.” You say not looking at him as his hand tightens on your arm.

“Kid… let's just go back to the Crest.” He says and you try pulling your arm free but he holds strong.

“Mando let me go…” You could feel a fire bubbling in your stomach beginning to rise, “I don’t need you to look after me like some child. I don’t need you or anyone.” You spat pulling your arm again but it won’t break free.

“You deserve a better life than this,” He says trying to reason with you, “You and the kid are special something I’ve never seen bef-” “Get the hell off me Mando I swear to the maker!” Your voice is cold and he can feel the anger reaching its peak.

“Kid just listen-” “I said let go!” You shout ripping your arm free of his grasp with a strength he hadn’t expected you push your hand out and he’s sent flying back slamming into the wall a crack forming pinned there. He’s lucky he wasn’t badly hurt, the beskar protecting him. He looks at you shock hidden by his helmet but you could sense in, the feeling that covered you lightly like a gentle touch was weighing down on you. You drop your hand and he slumps free from the weight holding him down. He didn’t know what to say, it was the same thing he saw in the child with the mudhorn…and you during the escape of Nevarro and the battle on Sargon. He thought he had hit his head or the adrenaline of the fight had gotten to him but nothing was clouding his mind now. You slammed him into the wall without even touching him.

You step back feeling the weight on your chest making your breathing labored this feeling covered you almost painfully. You’re gone having darted out of the alley disappearing into the crowd of Mos Eisley before the Mandalorian could even get up. The day quickly passed as you traveled through Mos Eisley the familiar routes you used to take as a child before you found yourself outside an old building, the sunset of the dual suns a usually beautiful sight made your heartache. Boarded doors a building long out of use as your hand brushes away the dirt and grime covering the small plaque highlighting the door. Pulling the blade from your belt tracing the metal that was given to you. The pride you felt receiving it the trust you grew with him, how quickly it crumbled in days.

Slicing through the wood easily you move the boards aside using two hands to pry the door open squeezing in. Entering the dark home you spot a small lantern grabbing it seeing a bit more fuel as it turns on the light filling the home, a place you haven’t seen in years an empty home of memories. It was a small home, the living area and kitchen combined so most dinners were on the seats surrounding the small table in the living room. Entering further in the sounds of a child’s laughter and that of a mother and father’s rings clear in your head.

“Mama come on, Papa will be here soon!” A small child’s voice calls out rushing past you waiting by the door excitement in her eyes as a woman with similar features walks over.

“Patience Y/n…remember don’t jump him when he gets here..work was lon-” Your mother’s words fall on deaf ears the second the door opens revealing a man tired from a lengthy day of work is jumped by a small child.

“Papa!” You giggle wrapping your arms around his neck as he catches you pulling you up into the air your laughter growing louder as he spins you around.

“My daughter oh I missed you.” He grins hugging you back as your mother watches on lovingly before he walks over hugging her pressing a sweet kiss on her lips, “And I have missed you.” Your mother pulls you out of his arms putting you on the ground as you run off as he wraps his arms around her.

“A long day?” She asks and he sighs sagging slightly the smile he put on his face fading, “Not many ships came by…this blockade on the Outer Rim, it's stopping anyone coming in or out. People are getting desperate here.” He says. The empire’s blockade affected Tatooine deeply, with no open water and places to grow, most items like food came from trade. With this shortage, it was only time until grew rowdy and with a place filled with Tuskan raiders, bounty hunters, and anyone desperate for food. It was dangerous.

“Maybe you should ask to leave work early tomorrow, I grow worried each day when you come home late.” Your mother says stroking your father’s face as he nods silently. It was hard enough for two people to have enough food on the table but with a growing child, it was stretched thin. Your parents had sometime gone days without eating just to make sure you had food in your belly.

“Papa! Mama! Look at this trick I learned.” Your voice comes rushing out of the shared bedroom the three of you had holding a doll your mother made for you. The two watched you place the doll down in front of all of them stepping back. You hold your hand out your face scrunching up in concentration. They watch as the doll twitches before standing up on its legs, you move your hand slightly and the doll’s hand raises waving at them. You drop your hand and the doll falls back to being inanimate. You look at them with a wide smile ready for their response. Both of them look at each other silently communicating their fear...not of you but for you. They had found out you were force sensitive when you caused a ball to come towards you when you were only four. They had never seen anything like it but when they heard around in Tatooine rumors of a Jedi and learned of who they were and how similar it was describing the things you could do they quickly became fearful.

Your father kneels down in front of you a small smile on his face, “That’s very interesting Y/n but remember what we said,”

“Don’t use my powers I know, but I thought you would like it?” You say a sad tone in your voice that broke your parent’s hearts.

“Of course we do sweetie, your power is beautiful. We just need to be careful…people can’t know about this alright.” Your mother says coming towards you wiping the stray tears that weld up in your eyes. You nod sniffling to stop the tears, reaching down and grabbing your doll.

“Now let’s eat and you can tell me everything about your day my little womp rat!” Your father scoops you up in his arms tickling your sides as your squeals fill the room your father’s own bellowing laugh filling it.

A large bolt cuts through the air pausing what was meant to be a touching moment. Your father holds you in his arms as silence fills your home. Another loud pop fills the air again until it grows louder and multiple ones until a shout rips through the air outside that has you all freezing.

“Darling?” Your mother calls out stepping closer to you two as the loud pops in the air grow louder and louder until screams are filling the air.

“Mama…Papa? What’s happening?” You ask,

“Take Y/n into the room now lock the door behind you,” Your father passes you off to your mother’s arm and you see your father move to a drawer and he pulls out something cocking the item back.

“What about you-” “Just do it!” Your father yells back making you jump slightly in her arms. The shouting outside as loud booms filled the air only make you clutch your mother tighter.

“Papa?!” You cry out reaching your hand out as your mother turns rushing toward your room the door closing behind it, she puts you down as you look around in confusion. You see outside the window bright flashes of light. But it was night what was doing this?

“Quickly under the bed, and do not make a sound no matter what you hear.” She says holding your arms as you look around in fear tears filling your eyes, “No tears you must be strong and brave you understand.” She wipes the tears from your eyes as you nod clutching the doll between your hands. Your mother gives a smile trying to hide her sadness and fear. You crawl under the bed the gap small enough for you to fit that you didn’t even know to exist. You clutch your doll between your hands when you hear a loud noise coming from outside the room. You hear your father shouting before another large bang fills the air and it’s quiet. The sound of multiple footsteps grows close before the door is burst open and you hear your mother screaming out as other voices are yelling out hear. The sound of a fight makes you cover your ears before a loud bang makes you jump squeezing your eyes shut. It was a dream you were going to wake up and this would be over. Whoever was in your home tore apart the room and outside.

You weren’t sure how long you stayed under that bed your small hands clutching the doll until the night was surely over and the fighting that raged through the night had ended. An odd silence filled your home as you slowly shuffle under the bed when your witness your life crumble in front of you. You should have just stayed under that bed.

Your footsteps are slow, both your father's and your mother’s bodies were long removed only leaving the damaged home and a frightened child behind. The stains of their blood couldn’t seem to get out of the hardened sandstone. The home you had many happy memories had been stripped away from you in one night, entering your old room everything was the same nothing moved. It was as if the room…this whole house was frozen in memory, your foot makes contact with something, and looking down you see the small doll. Time and the weather had gotten to it practically a ball of rags. Bringing it up to your face it was withering away in your hand the smell stale but the only lasting memory of your childhood. When you were happy and what were you now?

A child alone once again.

Mando’s mind hadn’t been as focused as he would like working on this mission. He could’ve tracked you down easily but with his needing to leave for Fennec and what you said to him. He would give you space but what if space isn’t what you need? Did you really think you were happy here? He and Toro had captured the high-ranking assassin but since one of the speeder bikes had been damaged he was sent out to retrieve the ride Fennec used to travel. He returned to the spot to find Toro gone with a dead bounty hunter, her blood staining the sands. He had no choice but to return to Mos Eisley, he may have lost the credits but his mind was more focused on trying to get you back. 

You were haunted by memories as you stayed in that abandoned home. The night had fallen long now hidden in your childhood home, the small lantern running on its last fuel. Seated at the small table in the space you would occupy as your seat with stolen food from your run-in at the cantina. A lonely dinner with empty chairs a home without love and laughter. The cold whispers of ghosts and lost memories drown you. What this meant to be your life, fighting to stay alive from bounty hunters and the empire that won’t stop coming after you. This was your decision you left them…you wanted to be alone.

A crackle fills the room and your hand instinctively reaches for your knife looking around for where the noise had come from when it came through again and you heard a voice.

“Took you long enough, Mando,” Toro’s voice rings out static and broken up, you look down hearing the voice coming from you. Your eyes widen seeing the comlink attached to the back of your belt. Grabbing it you listen in, “Looks like I'm calling the shots now. Huh, partner? Drop your blaster and raise 'em.” His voice sounds further away from Mando and you hear Mando sigh the sound of his blaster dropping on the ground.

“Cuff him. You’re a guild traitor, Mando. And I'm willing to bet that this here is the target you helped escape.” You hear a noise coming from the child making you freeze. This wasn’t your problem Mando was going to win as he always does. “Where’s the other one huh Mando, got her hiding somewhere,” Toro says.

“Just leave the kids alone you’re already going to get enough to bring me in,” Mando says, you hear Toro laugh and you hear another cry come from the child chilling your blood.

“Bringing you it won't just make me a member of the Guild, it'll make me legendary. Besides the bounty on those kids never said they had to be brought in alive.” The click of a blaster has you shouting out instantly unaware they could hear you on the other end.

“No!” Silence fills the air before you hear footsteps and something being grabbed,

“Now it’s not nice to listen in. Wherever you’re hiding give yourself up…or they all die starting with the kid.” His voice is rough before you hear the commlink fall to the ground and a loud crush and it’s silent. Your hand clutches the commlink…this wasn’t your business. You were alone now. Just walk away…do it.

“You must be strong and brave you understand.” Your mother’s voice rings clear in your head and you attach the link to your belt heading toward the door. You turn to look back at what you had called your home. Flashes of memories before fading away as you turn and leave.

You blend into the crowd a ghost passing by strangers. A brush of the wind as your feet carry you to the starport, the same port your father worked at. You slow down seeing a speeder bike outside recognizing the rifle of Mando’s attached to the back. Your hands move to the bike slowing down seeing a single blaster resting on the seat. Your hands grab the rifle pulling it over your back your hands tucking the blaster in your pants. There was only one way to come through the hangar and he would be waiting right there for you to arrive there. So you weren’t going to be coming through the front door. The wind blows through your hair, the hair on your skin raising as you stand multiple feet up in the air walking along the large roof of the port. Holding your hand out you close your eyes reaching out, the weight returns painful at first before becoming light to the touch gracing your skin. It stretches across everything around you before you sense the connection you gain so many weeks ago.

The child.

Footsteps light on the wind that no one, not even your Mandalorian notice your arrival from the roof, peering over you can see the Crest there, and in front of it is Toro holding the child as he looks around his gun trained to Mando and another woman. Sliding the rifle off your back aiming Toro, hit his hand or leg anything on the side not holding the child. Your finger presses on the trigger the bolt ringing through the air, the kickback sending you back and you fall through one of the holes in the roof. The bolt strikes right beside his foot and he whips around firing at the roof where you were as you are hidden behind a large crate. Your back pressed against the wall of the crate you trying to catch your breath, from the fall and the recoil of the strong weapon knocking the air from you. The rifle is still up on the roof your hands grab the blaster holding it between two hands.

“I know you’re here! Just come out and I won’t kill the kid or Mando.” Toro calls out and you peek from the crate seeing him facing away from you and looking around. Where you were at didn’t give you a good shot that didn’t hit that child. You turn back take a deep breath and look over at another crate you raise your hand flicking out and the other crate shifts slightly. Toro shoots at that as you rush but he had caught the glimpse of the blur of clothing in the darkness shooting at the ground in front of you making you stop in your place. Blasters pointed at each other and you see Mando with this other woman to the side.

“Drop the blaster.” He says and you keep your hands steady on the weapon.

“Let go of the child.” You say slowly taking a step forward when the gun pointed at you turns to press against the child making you freeze.

“I said drop it!” He yells and you nod holding a hand out while slowly kneeling to place the weapon on the sand.

“Your eyes kid!” Mando yells out and you instantly cover your eyes with an arm as a loud bang fills the port catching a bit of a flash of white light. Quickly adjust to the flash charger firing your gun as Toro’s arm makes him drop the child. He blindly shoots out and you dodge out of the way before firing another bolt striking him in the chest.

Standing up letting out the air held in your lungs as Mando freed from his binds and steps toward Toro.

“Where is it?” The woman asks and looks around before finding the child hidden behind a basket, picking him up, “There you are. Are you hiding from us? Huh? Look at you. That's all right. I know. That was really loud for your big old ears, wasn't it?” She coos over the child as Mando stands beside you. Your finger twitches and the rifle from the roof falls off it landing in your hands. Holding out the rifle and the blaster,

“I’m assuming you knew I was coming.” You say and he looks down at you the damn helmet hiding his emotions.

“No, not really, just a shot in the dark.” He says taking the rifle and slinging it across his back but not taking the blaster, “Keep it…it will keep you safe.” He says pushing the blaster back into your hands and you look down at the item gifted to you, just like the knife. The trust he had in you even though you rejected him. You left him.

Mando had accepted at that moment that you were going to leave. You proved to him you could protect yourself. He couldn’t ignore the small piece in his chest that primal urge to see a defenseless child wanting to protect. But he didn’t even know anything about you only that you’re a seventeen-year orphan from Tatooine who fought their entire life to only be chased by the empire and bounty hunters for things he wasn’t sure how to explain.

“So, I take it you didn't get paid?” Peli sighs him handing the child off to him, a hand holds out two bags of credits. Mando looks over seeing you holding Toro’s pouch and the one you had stolen earlier is still full of credits.

“Does that cover it?” You ask and Peli quickly takes the bags feeling the weight and nodding.

“Yeah. Yes, this is gonna cover you. All right, Pit Droids! Let's drag this outta here!” Peli shouts out clapping her hands and the small droids scurry out grabbing the body being to drag it away. Mando is still frozen why had you given away your credits if you were?

“Mando!” You call out to him and he turns seeing you standing on the ramp of the Crest holding onto the side looking at him, “What are you waiting for?” You give him a look and that springs the bounty hunter into motion as he follows after you closing the ramp of the Crest behind him. Entering the cockpit placing the child in his cradle seeing you strapped in your seat looking like you belong here and not staying on the planet. He settles in as well turning on the fixed ship the engines roaring as he begins to leave the spaceport of Mos Eisley.

“Thought this was your home?” It felt like a sensitive subject to bring up but you didn’t seem affected by it as you look out the window the dual suns you grew up to seeing rise and fall in the sky entering right over the horizon.

“I lost my home long ago…” You say your past is buried behind you. The childhood you desired to have old memories now and unrealistic dreams, “It’s time to let memories die.” The ship exits the atmosphere and you said goodbye to that chapter of your life. The home you grew up in, the planet you learned to survive in, the life you lost. All those memories are buried deep in the sands where your parents rot.

The only sign that you existed there before would be the small memorial for graves that were to never be filled. Three, a father, a mother, and their daughter. A small doll left as a childhood dies.

Goodbye, mama…papa.

[thebrightestlodge]

A barbarian we saw in one of Godcleaver's pages!

The Warg, master and wielder of her Moon Dogs, Seek and Destroy. She's a casual hunter and tracker, her weapons being the Moon Dogs she travels with (she has many but Seek and Destroy are her dears). Her helm has a nozzle she can twist and it turns it into a dog whistle.

I've spoken about them before but Moon Dogs are a very weird specific canine breed on the planet of Aurgelmir. Legends say they crashed from the cold barren wasteland of one of the mini planets/moons that orbits Aurgelmir. With huge near-human eyes and teeth, they are famous for their horrible calls from a chittering chuckle to a guffaw-like howl, sounds so uncomfortably human and it sends a chill down the spine of any target of theirs. When not giggling, they clack their teeth a lot, to most people's chagrin.

Only semi-domesticated, in the way a fox or a chimp can be.

[gluttonygirls]

Penacony is perpetually bathed in twilight, dark shadows cast by the towering sky scrapers. Only the shopfronts and lamplights cast any glow, the warm hues enveloping the guests.

"See? What did I tell you?"

Though, some people are enveloped more by that warm orange light, just due to having more to be enveloped. Lumbering side by side, taking up the entirety of the broad sidewalk with their mass, was Sparkle and Silver Wolf. Sure, a Masked Fool and a Stellaron Hunter might be at odds normally, but this was Penacony. A place to bury the hatchet and revel in pleasure, and both girls had certain tastes the liked to idulge.

So, when two girls pushing a half ton, with car sized hips and guts brushing their shins cross paths, they had to get to know each other better.

Swinging her colossal hips, red dress swishing over thighs as thick as truck tires, she bounced against Silver Wolf. The similarly enormous woman wobbled, the two smacking skin against skin.

"All you have to do is flutter your eyes, wink at someone, and complain that you're just soooooo hungry~ Either you'll weird them out and weed out the losers, or they'll take you to the nearest buffet and pay for the whole tab~"

A slap to her full gut, audibly sloshing with four dozen pounds of curry, steak, and pastries. A few people turn to look at that sound as they pass, staring as the two landwhales wobble past.

"Yeah, I guess, just lame that he woke up after you sat on his lap. I was still..."

Rubbing the top of her slightly less stuffed gut, Silver Wolf lifted up a tubby arm. Sparkled stopped, curiously tilting her head as she watched Silver Wolf step over to the curb. Leaning over to one of the Soulglad fuel pumps, she brought it to her lips.

There's the thunderous sound of rushing liquid, the fuel pump that was made for cars dispensing the soda at the same speed as it would for a tank. Silver Wolf's chubby cheeks puff out from the pressure, not even chugging as the force of the flow forced the soda down into her gut. Huffing, she only held it there for 30 seconds, but when she pulled the nozzle from her lips her gut was noticeably more swollen.

"BBBBRRRUUUAAUUUPPPPP!!!"

"...Nevermind, I'm good." Sloshing much louder now as she lumbered back over to Sparkle, she bumped bellies with her. Gut audibly fizzing, she nodded. "Anyway, you had some more spots you wanted to recommend?"

"Hey, save that for if we need to con someone next time. That was a great performance~"

[h50europe]

MERTHUR - BLOODLUST (a Merthur AU where Merlin is a vampire and a sorcerer, living under a roof with Arthur, who knows about his secrets. The prince left the family castle after a fallout with his father, who hates all supernatural creatures. Uther let his demon hunters terrorize the entire town. The friendship between the prince and the vampire stems from the night Arthur left the castle. Wasted, he ended up in a dark alley, where he would almost get killed by a bunch of werecreatures if it weren't for Merlin, who protected him and took him in until he sobered up. Since that night, they have looked after each other and tried to deal with their growing feelings for each other.)

"Holy Christ, you are bleeding!" Worried, Arthur dropped to his knees beside Merlin, who groaned as he applied pressure to the nasty gash in Merlin's side. Not because of the pain, but Arthur smelled delicious. Merlin's eyes focused on the throbbing vein in his friend's neck. Merlin wanted nothing more than to grab him by his silky blond hair and drag his throat to his mouth. Merlin's jaw ached as his fangs snapped free. Arthur's eyes widened. Of course he knew his friend was a vampire. Only, until today he'd never seen him like this. Usually, Merlin was a master in disguising his true identity.

Merlin felt his undead life draining from him as he cast a pleading look at his friend. "Please help me inside."

"Merlin, I..."

"Please."

Arthur never did what Merlin asked, and Merlin never said please. So that was a night of firsts. Arthur's heartbeat thundered in his chest as he grabbed him under his armpits to drag him over the threshold. Merlin could hear it but also smelled the blond's angst.

"Tell me what to do," Arthur said, ready to pull up his sleeve. Another first.

God, this man would die for him. Merlin shook his head. "I would kill you my noble friend in my current state, because you can't stop me from drinking. I would drain you to the very last drop." Shame barely broke through his thirst, as he licked his lower lip, teasing the tip of his fangs with his tongue. "There is blood in the freezer," Merlin whispered.

On his way to the kitchen Arthur almost tripped over his own feet. The artificial glow of the freezer light illuminated his silhouette that was wrapped in a cloud of condensation. Merlin's vision blurred. The next thing he knew, Arthur was shoving a bag of blood into his face. Every instinct in his undead body screamed to drag Arthur down and suck him dry. God, he smelled delicious, the warmth emanating from his body was more than tempting. Compared to his friend the packaged blood smelled like garbage.

Merlin tried to lift his arms. Due to the loss of blood his limbs disobeyed him. Humiliation paired with relief burned in Merlin's chest.

"Sorry, you have to feed me."

Raising one eyebrow, Arthur took the bag of blood, twisted the cap, and placed the nozzle in Merlin's mouth. Starving, Merlin closed his lips over it and also Arthur's fingers and sucked greedily. At the first burst of blood on his tongue, his hands shot up and he grabbed Arthur's wrists like a lifeline, forcing him into a half crouch as he swallowed. Merlin felt the energy flooding back into his body, counteracting the paralyses caused by the immense loss of blood. He didn't realize he was still sucking Arthur's fingers until the blond tried to pull his hand out of the crushing grip.

"Sorry," Merlin muttered, releasing his friend as his sanity returned.

Arthur sat back on his heels. He looked at his hands, unable to meet Merlin's gaze.

"Wanna tell me what happened?" he asked before clenching his jaw, still not looking at the vampire.

Merlin sat up slowly and tugged the ruined vest and shirt out of the way to watch his wound closing. The torn skin changed its color from black to pink and finally white. The scar was barely visible and would have disappeared in a few hours.

"Obviously someone wanted me dead."

"Care to elaborate?" Arthur kept digging.

"I got stabbed by one of your father's man. One of those useless vampire hunters." Merlin made a dismissive gesture.

"How in the world did he know you were a ..."

Arthur trailed off, the unspoken word hanging in the air like the sword of Damocles. To this day, Arthur had never uttered the word vampire in Merlin's presence. Merlin couldn't tell if it was denial or fear that kept him from saying it. Either way, it hurt.

"I bit him."

Arthur's brows shot up to his hairline. "I beg your pardon. You did what? But you told me you don't bite people."

"Well, in his case ... He asked me to," Merlin clarified. Trying not to be insulted as Arthur leaned away from him. Because he didn't want Arthur to see the hurt look on his face, Merlin climbed to his feet, holding on to the wall to keep himself upright. His head swam.

Arthur remained kneeling in front of him. His hands were on his knees. It shouldn't have been sexy, but damn if he didn't look like a servant, his blond unruly hair tickling his forehead, his full lips slightly parted. If he wanted he could unbutton the fly of Merlin's trousers, slide his fingers into the crease of Merlin's boxers and wrap those sinful lips around his...

Merlin shook his head, banishing the bloodlust. Arthur wasn't interested in Merlin sexually, and the vampire decided not to act on his silly crush. He was relieved when Arthur finally stood and walked into the kitchen to toss the empty blood bag into the bin and wash his hands. Any distance he put between them was a blessing.

"Why in the world would anyone ask to be bitten?" Arthur tried to sound curious. Only, the tension in his shoulders betrayed his disgust.

"Because it feels good," Merlin offered.

Arthur gave him a skeptical look in return. "Seriously?"

Merlin snorted, "Dear friend, you are doing a helluva job making me feel like a monster. But then thinking about how easy it had been to tear this asshole apart, I probably deserve to feel like one."

"You could have enchanted him," Arthur suggested.

"Nope. Not with the amount of vervain in his system. I could smell the stank of it. Unfortunately, too late."

Arthur dropped the dish towel next too the sink.

"I don't get it. How could being bitten something worth craving for?"

Merlin sighed. Was he really about to have the vampire equivalent of "the talk" with his oblivious flatmate? Merlin approached Arthur. The moment their eyes locked, the vampire knew that, yes, that was exactly what he was going to do. To be continued...

[mepuppy]

Let It Ride - Supernatural rewrite

A.N.: I do not own the characters, nor the storylines. I'm simply adding a twist to the episodes. Please feel free to help me out with constructive criticism on the story or the writing. Sorry for the mistakes, not proofread and english is not my first language. Im so sorry for the long wait, I had a lot to deal with. I'll e trying to post every oher week! Hope ya'll enjoy it!

1x01 1x02 1x03 1x04 1x05

Word Count: 8.5k

1x06 - Skin

         Y/n is already filling up the Harley when Baby, the Impala, arrives. She goes to Dean's window when they stop, to see what the plans are. 

“Alright, I figure we’d hit Tucumcari by lunch, then head south, and hit Bisbee by midnight.” Dean says looking at Sammy and when he doesn't takes his eyes off the phone  or answer Dean keeps going “Sam wears women’s underwear.” the woman frowns and looks at the older hunter with a slightly amused but confused expression.

“I’ve been listenin’, I’m just busy.” Sam answers still looking at his phone.

“Busy doin’ what?” She asks stepping back because Dean wants to leave the car.

“Reading e-mails.” he answers as Dean gets out of the car and starts to fill the tank with gas.

“E-mails from who?” she asks, resting her elbows back on the driver's window frame and Dean goes to Sam's window.

“From my friends at Stanford.” he sighs and finally lifts his eyes to look at the girl in the opposite window.

“You’re kidding. You still keep in touch with your college buddies?” Dean asks incredulously.

“Why not?” Sam turns to look at dean frowning.

“Well, what exactly do you tell ‘em? You know, about where you’ve been, what you’ve been doin’?” Dean asks curious.

“I tell ‘em I’m on a road trip with my family. I tell ‘em I needed some time off after Jess.” He explans lifting his eyebrows.

“Oh, so you lie to ‘em.” Dean says only half joking.

“No. I just don’t tell ‘em… everything.” 

“Yeah, that’s called lying.” Dean tells his brother and y/n cuts him.

“I mean, hey, man, tellin’ the truth is far worse.” she looks at the oldest of the three on the opposite window.

“So, what am I supposed to do, just cut everybody out of my life?” Sam questions Dean with slightly wide eyes. Dean shrugs. “You’re serious?”

“Look, it sucks, but in a job like this, you can’t get close to people, period.” Dean tells him and turns around.

“You’re kind of anti-social, you know that?” Sam says going back to his emails and y/n agrees with a small chuckle.

“Yeah, whatever.” he rolls his eyes at the two. Y/n goes back to the Harley to finish the pumping.

“God…” Sam states, rearranging his posture.

“What?” y/n asks from the next nozzle over.

“In this e-mail from this girl, Rebecca Warren, one of those friends of mine.” Sam starts.

“Is she hot?” Dean turns back around.

“Shut up.” the woman looks at him with a disgusted expression.

“I went to school with her, and her brother, Zack.” Sam ignores his brother. “She says Zack’s been charged with murder. He’s been arrested for killing his girlfriend. Rebecca says he didn’t do it, but it sounds like the cops have a pretty good case.” he continues and Dean looks over to y/n.

‘’Dude, what kind of people are you hangin’ out with?” his older brother asks him.

“No, man, I know Zack. He’s no killer.” Sam looks back up at Dean.

“Well, maybe you know Zack as well as he knows you.” he tells the youngest and takes the nozzle out of Baby.

“They’re in St. Louis. We’re goin’.” Sam says looking at the back of the car with his head out of the window. Dean chuckles.

“Look, sorry ‘bout your buddy, okay?” Dean starts but trails off looking at y/n for back up. Sam turns to hertoo.

“I just … This just does not sound like our kind of problem, Sammy.” she tries looking at the younger brother.

“It is our problem. They’re my friends.” Sam looks between the two, determined.

“St. Louis is four hundred miles behind us, Sam.” Dean tries to convince him to let go. They  exchange a look. Dean looks at y/n and they both roll their eyes going to their respective driver’s seats. Y/n pulls out of the gas station turning around and Dean follows her.

After some time on the road they stop at Rebecca’s house. Sam knocks and the girl opens the door.

“Oh my God, Sam!” She looks happy to see him and pulls him into a hug.

“Well, if it isn’t little Becky.” He teases her and they let go of the hug.

“You know what you can do with that little Becky crap.” She smiles and rolls her eyes. 

“I got your e-mail.” Sam’s expressions shifts. 

“I didn’t think that you would come here.” She says as Dean steps forward and extends his hand.

“Dean. Older brother.” She shakes his hand and he points back with his thumb to y/n. “Y/n. Best friend.” The two women smile and shake hands too.

“Hi.” “Hi” they say in unison.

“Hi.” Dean says grinning at Rebecca. 

“We’re here to help. Whatever we can do.” Sam tells her and she takes a step back giving them space.

“Come in.” They walk inside the house, and Dean shuts the door.

“Nice place.” Dean states, looking around as they head inside.

“It’s my parents’. I was just crashing here for the long weekend when everything happened. I decided to take the semester off. I’m gonna stay until Zack’s free.” She looks over her shoulder to explain her situation.

“Where are your folks?” Sam asks

“They live in Paris for half the year, so they’re on their way home now for the trial.” Y/n looks back at Dean with wide eyes as they enter the kitchen. “Do you guys want a beer or something?”

“Hey…”

“No, thanks.” Y/n cuts Dean off and glares at him.

“So tell us what happened.” Sam asked Rebecca.

“Well, um, Zack came home, and he found Emily tied to a chair. And she was beaten up and bloody, and she wasn’t breathing.” The girl started to cry. “So, he called 911, and the police… they showed up, and they arrested him. But, the thing is, the only way that Zack could’ve killed Emily is if he was in two places at the same time.” She looks from one hunter to another “The police… they have a video. It’s from the security tape from across the street. And it shows Zack coming home at 10:30. Now, Emily was killed just after that, but I swear, he was here with me, having a few beers until at least after midnight.”

“You know, maybe we could see the crime scene. Zack’s house.” Sam tells her and looks back at Dean

“We could.” The older brother agrees.

“Why? I mean, what could you do?” She questions confused.

“Well, me, not much. But Dean and y/n are cops.” Sam points at the other two and Dean chuckles.

“Detective, actually.” Dean corrects.

“Really?” Rebecca asks looking at Dean then at y/n and she nods smiling. “Where?”

“Bisbee, Arizona.” Dean tells her.

“But we’re off-duty now.” Y/n says.

“You guys, it’s so nice to offer, but I just… I don’t know.” Rebecca tells them, unsure.

“Bec, look, I know Zack didn’t do this. Now, we have to find a way to prove that he’s innocent.” Sam tries again.

Rebecca sighs and looks at Sam for a moment. “Okay. I’m gonna go get the keys.” She walks away, down the hall.

“Oh, yeah, man, you’re a real straight shooter with your friends.” Dean looks incredulous at Sam after Rebecca’s out of sight.

“Look, Zack and Becky need our help.” He tells the two older hunters.

“I just don’t think this is our kind of problem.” Dean shakes his head with an anxious expression.

“Two places at once? We’ve looked into less.” Sam counter argue ad Dean says nothing when y/n agrees.

Rebecca comes back with the Keyes and they all get in the Impala going to Zack’s house.

Rebecca turns back to Dean and y/n asking “You’re sure this is okay?”

“Yeah.” “We’re officers of the law.” They reply at the same time and the girl turns back opening the door and giving them space.

They enter looking around. The furniture and walls of the house are smeared with blood. Rebecca stays on the porch steps.

“Bec, you wanna wait outside?” Sam turns back and asks her.

“No. I wanna help.” She swallows and ducks under the police tape entering the house.

“Tell us what else the police said.” Y/n stops in the middle of the living room turning around and asking her.

“Well, there’s no sign of a break-in. They say that Emily let her attacker in.” She looks around with tears in her eyes. “The lawyers… they’re already talking about plea bargain.” She starts crying “Oh, God….” After spotting the chair by the sofa she starts crying.

“Look, Bec, if Zack didn’t do this, it means someone else did. Any idea who?” Sam asks her but she shakes her head, then begins to remember something.

“Um, there was something, about a week before. Somebody broke in here and stole some clothes… Zack’s clothes. The police… they don’t think it’s anything. I mean, we’re not that far from downtown. Sometimes people get robbed.” She looks at y/n and Dean. Sam walks away. Dean moves to the open front door and sees the neighbor’s dog, barking loudly. Rebecca comes up behind him. “You know, that used to be the sweetest dog.”

“What happened?” He looks over his shoulder to her.

“He just changed.” She shrugs lightly.

“Do you remember when he changed?” Y/n asks from her spot looking at the windows.

“I guess around the time of the murder.” Y/n looks at her, nods and walks away.

Y/n go in the kitchen and Dean follows her, they find Sam looking at a picture of him with the two siblings, Rebecca and Zach.

“So, the neighbor’s dog went psycho right around the time Zack’s girlfriend was killed.” Dean tells them. 

“Animals can have a sharp sense of the paranormal.” Sam points out turning to look at the two.

“Yeah, maybe Fido saw somethin’.” Dean starts and Sam cuts him off.

“So, you think maybe this is our kind of problem?” Sam questions smugly and y/n chuckles.

“No. Probably not. But we should look at the security tape, you know, just to make sure.” Dean says turning around

“Yeah.” Y/n agrees looking at Sam smiling and winks. “Just to make sure.”

“Yeah.” Rebecca walks over to them. “So, the tape. The security footage… you think maybe your lawyers could get their hands on it, ‘cause I just don’t have that kind of jurisdiction.” Dean questions the girl when she enters the kitchen.

“I’ve already got it. I didn’t wanna say something in front of the cops.” She glances at the two. “I stole it off the lawyer’s desk. I just had to see it for myself.”

“Perfect.” Y/n says and they leave.

Back at Rebecca’s house, the three hunters and Rebecca are in the living room. Rebecca’s sitting in an armchair and Sam is on the doga end closer to her. On the other end Y/n is sitting with Dean on her arm rest. They are watching the security footage. 

“Okay. Here he comes.” Rebecca says as the tape shows Zack entering his house.

“22:04, that’s just after ten. You said time of death was about 10:30.” Y/n says as she notices the time stamp.

“Our lawyers hired some kind of video expert. He says the tape’s authentic. It wasn’t tampered with.” The girl says still looking at the screen and Sam seems to notice something on the tape.

“Hey, Bec, can we take those beers now?” He asks and Dean and y/n frown at him.

“Oh, sure.” She gets up to go to the kitchen.

“Hey.” He calls her again and she turns around. “Maybe some sandwiches, too?” 

“What do you think this is, Hooters?” She laughs and leaves the room.

“I wish.” Dean says and receives a punch in the thigh from y/n. 

“What is it?” Y/n asks and gets up at the same time Sam does.

“Check this out.” He rewinds the tape, then replays it. One of the frames shows Zack looking directly at the camera. His eyes are silver. Sam pauses the tape.

“Well, maybe it’s just a camera flare.” Dean tries, but sounds unconvinced. 

“That’s not like any camera flare I’ve ever seen.” y/n tells him. “You know, a lot of cultures believe that a photograph can catch a glimpse of the soul.” Y/n tells him, examining the tv a little bit closer.

“Right. Remember that dog that was freakin’ out? Maybe he saw this thing. Maybe this is some kind of dark double of Zack’s, something that looks like him but isn’t him.” Sam looks at Dean then at her.

“Like a Doppelganger.” Dean says.

“Yeah. It’d sure explain how he was two places at once.” Sam agrees.

When Rebecca returns with four beers they drink it and afterwards say goodbye to her. They leave the house in the impala and Harley, y/n had left there to go see Zach’s house, and go find a motel. Arriving at one that had an okay price they make themselves comfortable. It was y/n’s turn for the pull out couch so she drops her bag on the one in the corner.

The next day Sam wakes them up very, very early and drags them to Zach’s house, parking behind the house. 

“Alright, so what are we doin’ here at 5:30 in the morning?” Dean asks leaning against the hood of baby by y/n who was rubbing her eyes.

“I realized something. The videotape shows the killer goin’ in, but not comin’ out.” Sam says energetically.

“So, he came out the back door?” Y/n tells him dropping her head on Dean’s shoulder.

“Right. So, there should be a trail to follow. A trail the police would never pursue.” He looks back a them for a moment and then goes back to the back of the building.

“‘Cause they think the killer never left. And they caught your friend Zack inside.” Dean states a little bit more awake, but still not happy. 

“I still don’t know what we’re doin’ here at 5:30 in the morning.” Y/n says with her eyelids closed. Sam looks around the outside of the building, and notices blood smeared on a nearby telephone pole.

“Blood. Somebody came this way.” Sam tells the other two. The woman opens her eyes but don’t move her head from Dean’s shoulder, she is way more comfortable than she should be.

“Yeah, but the trail ends. I don’t see anything over here.” Dean says not making any motion to move and disturbed the woman. Until an ambulance drives past them, waking the two leaned against the car up and they exchange a look.

They follow the ambulance and arrive at a house in time to see an Asian man handcuffed stepping into a police car. “What happened?” Y/n asks to a woman. 

“He tried to kill his wife. Tied her up and beat her.” The woman answers and y/n exchange a look with the other two.

“Really?” Sam questions faking surprise.

“I used to see him going to work in the morning. He’d wave, say hello. He seemed like such a nice guy.” The man gets taken away and Sam turns around going to the side of the building and y/n follows him.

They are looking around. Sam looks inside two garbage cans but finds nothing as y/n looks at the wall beneath the window. They move to the front of the house, where Dean comes to them.

“Hey. Remember when I said this wasn’t our kind of problem?” Dean asks when they turn around to look at him.

“Yeah.” “Uhum.” They agree at the same time.

“Definitely our kind of problem.” He continues

“What’d you find out?” She asks him.

“Well, I just talked to the patrolman who was first on the scene, heard this guy, Alex’s story. Apparently the dude was driving home from a business trip when his wife was attacked.” He explains what he just learned. 

“So, he was two places at once.” Sam utters.

“Exactly. Then he sees himself in the house, police think he’s a nutjob.” Dean continues.

“Two dark doubles attacking loved ones in exactly the same way.” Y/n wonders out loud looking back at the front door.

“Could be the same thing doin’ it, too.” Dean points out. 

“Shapeshifter?” Sam asks and Dean shrugs. “Something that can make itself look like anyone?”

“Every culture in the world has a shapeshifter lore. You know, legends of creatures who can transform themselves into animals or other men.” Dean looks back at the house.

“Right, skinwalkers, werewolves.” Sam says.

“We’ve got two attacks within blocks of each other. I’m guessin’ we’ve got a shapeshifter prowlin’ the neighborhood.” Y/n looks at the tallest of them.

“Let me ask you this… in all this shapeshifter lore, can any of them fly?” He asks and turns to her.

“Not that I know of.” She raises one eyebrow. 

“I picked up a trail here. Someone ran out the back of this building and headed off this way.” He leads them to the side of the building again and points to the trail that goes a little and then ends abruptly. 

“Just like your friend’s house.” Dean comments.

“Yeah. And, just like at his house, the trail suddenly ends. I mean, whatever it is just disappeared.” Y/n goes to the end of the trail and crouches and looks at the manhole a close. “Well, there’s another way to go… down.”

Dean goes to her side and opens the cover and going down first. She follows right after and Sam comes behind, closing it behind him. They look around a little. “I bet this runs right by Zack’s house, too. The shapeshifter could be using the sewer system to get around.” Sam says. 

“I think you’re right. Look at this.” Y/n bends down and shows them a pile of blood and skin on the ground. It is disgusting and she and Sam get up quickly.

“Is this from his victims?” Sam asks grimacing. 

Dean takes out a pocketknife and holds up some of the skin. “You know, I just had a sick thought. When the shapeshifter changes shape… maybe it sheds.”

“That is sick.” Y/n states and turns around as Deans puts the bloody pile back on the ground. They turn back and go up again to the Impala, taking some weapons out.

“Well, one thing I learned from Dad, is that no matter what kind of shapeshifter it is, there’s one sure way to kill it.” He states holding a full magazine.

“Silver bullet to the heart.” Y/n looks at the bullets in it and then back at him.

“That’s right.” He smiles back at her when Sam’s cell phone rings. He answers it.

“This is Sam.” He answers and continues after a pause. “We’re near Zack’s, we’re just checkin’ some things out.” Another pause “What are you talkin’ about?” He frowns and the other two repeat the action looking at him. “Why would you do that?” He walks away a little “Bec…” he looks at the other two “We’re tryin’ to help.” Shaking his head after another short pause “Bec, I’m sorry, but…” he lowers the phone from his ear and walks back over to the car looking disappointed.

“I hate to say it, but that’s exactly what I’m talkin’ about. You lie to your friends because if they knew the real you, they’d be freaked. It’s just… it’d be easier if…” Dean starts as they get closer to Sam, y/n nudges him and he trails off.

“If I was like you.” Sam cuts him off.

“Hey, man, like it or not, we are not like other people. But I’ll tell you one thing. This whole gig… ain’t without perks.” He holds up a gun and Sam takes it and puts it in the back of his jeans as they walk away going back to the sewer. 

They get down again and walk around for a bit with their flashlights and guns. “I think we’re close to its lair.” Y/n says after a while.

“Why do you say that?” Sam asks, stopping behind her. 

“Because there’s another puke-inducing pile next to your face.” She points with her lantern and he turns to see it on top of a pipe. 

“Oh, God!” He sounds disgusted and they start to look around the area and see a pile of clothes in a corner.

“Looks like it’s lived here for a while.” Dean tells them showing the pile with his light.

“Who knows how many murders he’s gotten away with?” Sam turns and sees the shapeshifter, still in the form of the Asian man, standing behind Dean. “Dean!” Sam yells alarmed and y/n turns around seeing the shifter at the sae time Dean turns and gets punched, he falls to the ground, and the shapeshifter runs away. Sam shoots after it a few times but misses and y/n goes over to Dean. 

“Get the son of a bitch!” He says when the younger brother comes to him, but he's already standing up with y/n help and they run after the shapeshifter.

They get up back to the street and look around, trying to spot the shapeshifter. 

“All right, let’s split up.” Y/n looks at them already going in one direction.

“All right, I’ll meet you around the other side.” Dean follows the other direction. 

“All right.” Sam goes to another one.

They each go in their respective ways with guns drawn, Sam and y/n try to hide it inside their jackets, but Dean holds it out, making some pedestrians run away. After a while searching without any luck and without finding the brothers, the woman decided to go back to where they started. She puts the gun in the back of her pants and goes back to the Impala, but none of the other two are there. Pulling her phone out of her pocket she calls Dean on her speed dial and after a few rings it goes to voicemail. 

She hangs up and dials Sam’s number. Again it goes to voicemail. Worry starts to build inside her. Looking around she goes to the driver’s side and unlocks the door with a trick Dean taught her when they were teenagers. Inside the car she tries calling them again, but this time Dean picks up on the second ring. 

“Hey!” He says as soon as the line stops ringing. 

“Where the hell are you two?” She blurts trying to find the wires underneath the panel with the phone between her shoulder and ear.

“Hello to you too. Where are you?” Dean ignores her question, asking her and emphasizing the last word. 

“I’m at the car. Was thinking to head back to Becca, try to ask for her forgiveness.” she tells him only half jokingly.

“Cool. Good. You do that. I'll make another round over here and I'll meet you there. Take the car.” she frowns at the last part.

“Take the car?” she narrows her eyes and starts to pull the wires under the wheel.

“Yeah. You left the Harley at the motel, right?” he asks as a matter of fact.

“Uhum” agreeing she connects the two wires and the car starts “Alright see you two in a minute. Right?” she can tell something's wrong but decides to go along and see what to do after.

“Oh… Yeah. Of course. We'll be right there.” He hangs up.

She drives to Becca's trying to create an action plan. What could she do? Because she was sure that something was off. And the only thing she was coming up with was that the shifter had gotten Dean's form and cell, and probably Dean himself. She dialed  Sam's number again to make sure he was okay and warn him of what she was thinking. But of course he didn't pick up. What if the shifter had gotten him too?

Parking in front of the house, and getting off the car to head to the door she put her phone in her back pocket and made sure her gun was well concealed on the back of her jeans. She rang the bell and waited. “Please, don't be too difficult.” muttering under her breath the same time the door opened, her smile was back quickly. “Hey, Becca. How are you?”

“Oh, hi.” the girl starts, but the hunter cuts her off. 

“Look, before you say anything. I know we messed up. Sam doesn’t know I’m here, but I thought I should try and explain ourselves.” she tilts her head and presses her lips together in a small smile “If I get the chance!?” It’s a half question and after some seconds pondering Rebecca leans out of the way and gives her passage. “Thank you!” Her tone is genuine as she passes the frame looking over her shoulder.

“So…” Becca passes the hunter and leads the way to the living room “How do you plan to explain yourselves on this one?” she sits on the couch and look at y/n.

The hunter sighs and sits down by her side, trying to decide if just coming clean and telling the truth is the best course of action. “Would you be able to keep an open mind on what I'm about to tell you? Because I can guarantee you, it will sound insane.” She tilts her head and frowns at the younger girl, knowing that lying wouldn't do any good right now, especially if that thing had really gotten Dean and Sam. She would need the girls' help, one way or the other.

“Uhum… Try me, I guess.” Becca shrugs, what seems to be her uncertainty, off and puts on a sarcastic look on her face.

Y/n rolls her eyes, she can tell the girl has no open mind whatsoever, but she might be able to convince her, if she gets to show everything they have to fight this type of things. Maybe Baby's trunk? That may be a bit harsh. John's journal is just nonsense for someone who doesn't want to believe. And the box of fake id's is just out of the question. So the trunk it is, if it gets to it. 

“Okay. So, here's the thing. We know, for certain, your brother didn't kill his girlfriend. We just can't exactly go to the authorities, ‘cause they wouldn't believe in us.” The hunter begins to explain, but Becca's face doesn’t improve much. “Here's the thing…” her tone gets to a slightly harsher point “You know all the scary stories you ever heard growing up? Bloody Mary, vampires, exorcisms, all that crap? It 's mostly real. And yes, I do know that I sound completely insane. And if I hadn't been dealing with all this shit for the past 17 years I wouldn't believe it either. But I’m putting myself out there, ‘cause I don't think lying to you again is going to take us anywhere. So I'm really just asking for you, for god's sake, to keep an open mind.”  

She finishes off her ramble and can tell Becca is a little taken aback, she can only hope, now, that the girl decides to listen to her. A few moments pass with the two in complete silence. Y/n is giving Becca time to process and decide for herself what to do,  but she is looking with a hopeful expression to the girl. After pondering for a while she gives in. “Okay, yes, you do sound insane, but let's say you are telling the truth. What, exactly, happened with Emily?” her expressions turn a bit regretful the moment she finishes the sentence, but it is too late, y/n already relaxed and started talking again.

“So, we are dealing with a shapeshifter. It can basically change its appearance to become anyone.” 

“Alright… And this thing killed Emily?” she asks.

“Yes, it took Zach's form while Zach was here with you. Went to Emily, since all she saw was him, she let him inside and… Well you know what happened.” the doorbell rang and they both startled on the sofa. Becca got up to answer it and y/n followed her.

“So, this thing could become anyone?” she asks on the way to the door.

“Literally anyone. It just has to know what to look like.” the hunter explained.

When the girl opens the door Dean is standing on the other side. “Hey, look who I found” he looks at the hunter inside the house and then back to Becca “Look, I know what you are going to say.”

“Oh, you do?” the girl asks him, knitting her eyebrows and tilting her head.

“Wel, no, not exactly. But I can take a guess. Get off my porch?”  He tries, giving her a charming smile. Y/n feels her muscles relaxing a little. Maybe she was being a little paranoid, he sounds ‘Dean’ enough.

Rebecca laughs and nods “That's about right, but y/n here was trying to make me understand why you lied.” she motioned the hunter behind her. His eyes followed and met with hers. 

“Great.” he looked back at Becca. “Sam told me not to come, but you know, I thought, what the hell,I have to try explaining to her.” he finishes.

The younger hunter muscles tighten back again. That didn't sound right. Dean did have a mind of his own, and whenever they disagreed he would try to convince everyone he was right. And he had that power, he was persuasive enough to make Sam agree to try his way before anything else. Becca stepped back, after pondering for a couple of seconds, giving him space to enter the house. He entered and they headed to the living room.

“So where is Sam?” y/n asks over her shoulder to Dean.

“Oh, I dropped him off at the motel.” dropped him off? But she was with the car… Se couldn't shake the feeling something was wrong.

“Okay, so to recap, you’re saying that there’s something out there that made itself look like my brother.” Rebecca asked, sitting back down on the sofa.

“Exactly.” She answers and sits too. Dean sits across from her.

“What’d you call it?” she questions, clearly trying to keep up.

“A shapeshifter.” Rebecca laughs. “Yeah, maybe we’re crazy. But what if we’re not? I mean, look, you said it yourself that Zack was in two places at once. Now, tell me how that can happen.” she reasons and Rebecca's laugh starts to die.

“Right, and this thing… it can make itself look like anybody?” she doesn't wait for the answer she already has. “Well, what is it, like a genetic freak?” Y/n opens her mouth to answer but Dean laughs. The two look at him.

“Maybe.” he says “Evolution is about mutation, right? So, maybe this thing was born human but was different. Hideous and hated. Until he learned to become someone else.” he tells Rebecca and y/n frowns the slightest. 

“I'll be right back, just need to run to the restroom.” She smiles with tight lips and goes to the corridor but stays to listen to the conversation. She knows there's something off, but he needs to pinpoint what.

“It’s funny.” Dean continues “I kind of understand him. He’s all alone…” he pauses and she  hears some fabric rustling “Close to no one. All he wants is for someone to love him. He’s like me. You know, everybody needs a little human touch now and then. It’s so hard to be different.” he pauses between sentences. What the hell. Was he seriously flirting like that right now? 

“Dean!” she comes back to the room and sees him sitting in her place now, with one hand on Rebecca's hair, while the girl is looking very uncomfortable. “Can I talk to you really quick? In the kitchen?” she crosses her way to the kitchen without waiting and hears him following her.

“Yes, darling?” he asks when they get to the kitchen. 

“What are you doing? We have to convince her we are not crazy and explain everything, it is not the moment for that type of flirting.” she whispers incredulously, stopping, shaking her head and continuing “It is not the time for any flirting, whatsoever.”

“Are you jealous, honey? I noticed how you seem uncomfortable every time I flirt with someone else. I've been wondering lately if it was just the wish to be in their places.” he takes two steps closer, getting in her personal space.  She tilts her head up to look in his eyes since he's taller than her. That's proof she was right. It doesn't matter how horny Dean is. He wouldn't compromise a job. He knew better.

She swallows loudly, pretending to be caught off guard and takes a step back hitting the island. “Wha… What?” 

“You don't have to be jealous. I'd like to redirect those flirty comments your way. I'd love to be kissing you. And not sharing beds just to sleep with Sam in the bedroom too.” Her hand, slowly looking for the knife stand, stops for a second. How could he know that? That they would share a bed to sleep. But she didn't have time for that right now. She was probably just misinterpreting things, anyway. 

“Dean… What are you…?” he gets even closer to her, with his body pressing her against the counter. Dropping his head, with parted lips and eyes closed. How many times have she imagined Dean doing that to her. But the thing was, this was not Dean!

She grabbed a knife, pressing it against his throat.  “Where is he? What did you do?”

“Whoa, Chip. What are you talking about?” the pressure of the knife faltered for a millisecond. How did he know her nickname? The tiny confusion was enough for the shifter, tough. “I really wish you had gone to the restroom.” he says just seconds before hitting her hand with his forearm making her drop the blade and pinning both her hands down.

He was way stronger than she is, so she knew brute strength wouldn't do any good. Before he could move from her front she headed his nose, hearing a crushing noise, but the shifter didn't weaken his grip as she had expected, instead he just cursed a lot and tightened her wrists into one of his hands. She allowed it, knowing that way would be easier to get herself free. She could also call for help from Becca, but the shifter would probably knock her out and go to the girl before she could do anything. 

“You know, Dean spent so much time trying to ignore his attraction towards you.” the shifter said while turning her back to him and holding her with two hands again. Crap! “He actually feels guilty, because you were supposed to be a little sister, you know?” He guides her to the drawers and starts opening them from the bottom to the top until he finds something to tie her up.

“Go to hell.” is her only reply. He opens the second to last drawer and finds some cable ties.

“Oh, would you look at that?” He grins and holds her hands together again grabbing them. “Perfect.” Why would Rebecca have that in her kitchen drawer is beyond the hunter, but she only had a few seconds before he locked her wrists in place. She tugged her left hand from his grip, hoping he would be too focused on the ties to be quick enough, but… “Uh-hu, come on now. You really think it would be that easy?” 

His grip didn't bulge, in fact he just got quicker to tie her hands together. “Where the fuck is Dean?” she asks when he turns her back to face him. 

“Look… chip!” He used her nickname again with a hand going to her throat and constricting her airway. “I really wish I could chat and tell you all about the hundreds of times he took other girls to the rooms because he was too frustrated you would never be interested in him.” Squeezing tighter and tighter her throat while guiding her backwards until the back of her knees hit a chair and he forced her down to sit. Her head started to feel lightheaded for the lack of oxygen. “I would gladly explain everything that went to his mind every time you would go out of the bars with a different guy.” 

“I don't know what you’re on about, but this is not gonna work!” Her voice was strained, but she needed him to stop talking. Hearing Dean's voice saying all those things was weird and would only make her fantasies stronger, even though she knew it wasn't him, even though she knew it couldn't be true. He got down on the side of her chair, taking away her chance to kick him and tied her leg to the chair leg with another cable tie, doing the same thing on the other side and only then standing in front of her.

“I think you do.” He got really close to her ear and whispered, placing a kiss there. This was probably gonna be her last chance, so she closed her eyes to make him believe she was giving in, the shudder her body made wasn't planned, but helped. He traced her jaw and when got close enough pressed his lips against hers, she bit him, as deep as she could and tasted a little bit of blood. “Fucking bitch.”

He stepped back and hit her face with the back of his hand and she feels her cheekbone burn. “Yeah, I don't have time for that. I'm going to play a little with Becca, so if you excuse me.” And the shifter raises his arm and knocks the hunter out with one swing to her temple.

⬛️◼️◾️▪️◾️◼️⬛️

Sam and Dean are walking back to the motel room when they pass by a store window with a TV with the news on. The reporter is in front of Becca's house “An anonymous tip led police to a home in the Central West End, where a S.W.A.T team discovered two women bound and gagged. Her attacker, a white male, approximately twenty-four to thirty years of age, was discovered hiding in her home.” A sketch of what was supposed to be Dean appears on the screen. The drawing has a few alterations that could make people confused, but it would still make the police doubt him. 

“Man! That’s not even a good picture.” he points at the TV with his brows furrowed.

Sam looks around cautiously and returns to Dean. “It's good enough.” The reporter is back on screen.

“Wait, look.” Dean points at the images of Becca's house and both the Harley and Baby parked in front of it. “Y/n was there!”

“Crap!” Sam says at the same time “Now I get why the drawing was so out, she tried to save your ass.” Sam looks around again. “So we know why she wasn't picking up.” He walks off and Dean follows him.

“Come on.” Sam enters an alley and Dean, looking too distressed, steps into a puddle.Sam pauses. “They said attempted murder. At least we know…”

“I didn’t kill her.” He cuts the youngest off, his voice colder than usual. They continued walking.

“We’ll check with Rebecca’s in the morning, see if she’s all right. Y/n maybe back to the hotel.” Sam told him trying to calm him down. 

“All right, but I wanna find that handsome devil and kick the holy crap out of him.” Dean tell Sam as he stops walking. 

“Dean, we have no weapons. No silver bullets.” He tries to reason with his brother but can see in his eyes it doesn’t do much.

“Sam, the guy’s walkin’ around with my face, okay? He had y/n, it’s a little personal, I wanna find him.” He shifts his weight showing how anxious he really is.

Sam sighs defeated, knowing he can’t argue with his brother. “Okay. Where do we look?” 

“Well, we could start with the sewers.” He looks at the manhole at the end of the alley. 

“We have no weapons. He stole our guns, we need more.” Sam pauses for a couple of seconds and raises an eyebrow. “The car?”

“It’s at Rebecca’s.” Dean’s eyes glimmer. “I saw it on the news.”

⬛️◼️◾️▪️◾️◼️⬛️

Y/n had already talked to two different doctors, assuring them she was okay after the first one had cleaned the cut on her cheekbone, three police officers and one reporter. She used this advantage to try and deceive them, giving false tips about Dean's appearance and name. When she noticed the fourth officer coming her way, she tried to dodge him, but he intercepted her way.

“Miss, can I ask you just a  couple of more questions?” he asked, on her way to the end of the street.

“I already answered all I could three times.” She complained looking past the man, noticing Dean and Sam, but before she could tell them to leave…

“It's him, isn't it?” A voice called from behind her, making the officer who was trying to talk to her turn and a few of them are already running past her.

”I don't think it's him guys, his hair was darker!” She tried and hurried behind them, seeing when Dean jumped off a fence and Sam stayed behind.

“Don’t move! Keep your hands where I can see ‘em.” Sam does as the officer instructed and looks over his shoulder.

“Miss, you can't be here. Go home, if we have any follow up questions we'll call you!” A middle aged man comes to her encounter and stops her from reaching Sam and the officers surrounding him.

“What ‘gonna happen to him?” she asks letting the officer turn her around and lead her away.

“He'll be take to the station to answer some questions, we're gonna find the one that gt away, he won't hurt you anymore. Don't worry!” 

“It wasn't him!” she tried one more time “I know who I saw, and it wasn't that guy!” She points to the direction Dean went.

“Don't you worry about it anymore.” The man dismissed her. She got to the Harley and looked ack to see Sam entering a police car nodding to her, trying to reassure her. She sighed and hopped on the bike, heading to their motel. Maybe Dean went there too.

Arriving at the mote she got off the bike and headed to their room, but before getting to the door, she felt a blinding pain in her head and passed out.

Her eyes were heavy, and as she forced them open, her senses coming back, slowly. The shar pain on the back of her head came back with full force. Her vision readjusted to the see that she is on the sewers, the shapeshifter's home. Her feet are tied together, and hands are tied behind her back over a pipe, as well.Next to a wall, across from her, she sees herself. The shifter, on her form, is trying to catch her breath.

“Shit. This change will never not be unpleasant.” The shifter looked up and saw that she was awake. “Oh, good morning. Sorry I can't stay long. But I have to finish the job, you know. Do you think Rebecca will trust you or Dean more?” The grin her own face was giving her was diabolical.

“Go to hell.” she spat, but the shifter didn't gave her attention, instead jus threw a white sheet on top of her and she heard steps getting farther and farther.

She started twisting her hands, trying to test the knots on the ropes. After a while trying to release her hands, panting a little bit. Her arms were already aching from the position and the pressure she was putting on them to release them, twisting and turning in weird ways, grunting every now and then. When suddenly she starts to hear footsteps again. She went as sill as she possibly could, and the sheet was pulled from on top of her and Dean was looking at her.

“Y/n?” he asked exasperated. She looked in his eyes, trying to decide if it was really him or not. “What happened?” he goes to her back and starts untying her feet.

“I was going to the motel, and everything just went white.” she notices his gaze going every now and then to her face and throat “Someone hit me over the head, and I woke up here just in time to see that thing had turned into me.” he sets her feet free and she gets up almost falling again when her legs give out and dizziness blurred her vision.

“Okay, okay.” He catched her before she fell “Are you okay?” He holds her up by her elbow with one hand and the other hand goes to her cheek. “Come on. Can you walk?” his eyes are concerned looking deep in hers. The shifter couldn't recreate that look. The look he gave that showed that his whole attention was on her and that she was his only concern at that moment.  When she nodded his eyes traced her left cheek and then her neck again. “Are you okay?” he asked and she nodded again. With the slightest brush of his thumb over the stitch on her cheek he checked “Sure?”

“”I’m fine. Swear.” she reassured him, letting go of his shirt, that she used for support. “We have to go, now. He went back to Rebecca's!” She diverted her gaze from his and took a few steps.

“Did you see Sam?” he asked her when they started heading out of the sewer.

“The cops took him to ask some questions. But that was right after you ran.” she glanced at him “Wait. Did you really come down here by yourself? What was the plan?”

“I couldn’t wait around. The son of a bitch had my face on. My memories.” He looked at her, scanning through the bruises and landing on her eyes “The guy had you! I had to do something.”

“You’re the stupidest moron I’ve ever known.” She replied shaking her head “But thank you!” Her voice softened and a small smile appeared on her lips. They started walking again and she looked at him “You know what was weird, that I can wrap my head around?” He made a noise for her to continue. “The shifter, when he was you, he was you! He called me chip. How could’ve he known the nickname?”

“Yeah. He does this thing. He kinda downloads memories from us. Sam and I guess that’s why he doesn’t just kill us.” Dean explains and they arrive at the manhole.

The two hunters went straight to Rebecca’s house, not saying much afterwards. Arriving there they notice the living room light on. Entering as quietly as possible they hear a commotion from the door, hurrying inside.

“You’re not him.” Sam says and a loud noise echoes again, followed by many thump sounds.

“Even when we were kids, I always kicked your ass.” Dean's voice says right after the sound of broken glass. They enter the room and the shifter is pinning Sam to the floor, choking him.

“Hey!” Dean says and the shifter looks at him, getting off Sam and looking at Dean. Y/n uses the moment and fires two shots to his chest. The shapeshifter falls to the ground, dead. She runs to Sam, helping him sit up.

“Damn!” Dean walks to the shapeshifter’s body and notices him wearing his necklace. Dean yanks it from around the shapeshifter’s neck and nods knowingly at the two. They find Rebecca on the next room over and untie her.

⬛️◼️◾️▪️◾️◼️⬛️

They head outside after melting sure the girl is okay and Sam explained every detail to her. “So, this is what you do? You and your family… you hunt down these kinds of things?” She asked him standing outside of the house.

Dean and y/n go to the car. He opens the trunk and she tosses the gun back inside. “I think we’re even now. From all the times I promised killing you… you know? I just did.” She grins at him.

“Yeah. Sure.” He chuckles without too much emotion.

“What is it?” Y/n cocks her head to the side leaning on the car.

“He hurt you pretty bad. I…” Dean’s eyes go from her eyes to the bruised temple, passing through some marks and landing on the purple fingers around her neck. “I’m sorry.” He looked at his boots.

“Hey, It wasn’t your fault! It wasn’t you and I’m fine. It wasn’t you!” She touched his cheek to make him look at her. “Besides, don’t forget that I did kill you!” She smiled big.

“Yeah, but I can see the murder promises are coming back very soon.”

“Oh yeah. For sure. Don’t you worry. She chuckles and looks back to Sam, seeing Rebecca waving at them. They wave back and she goes inside.

Sam walks over to the car. And Dean asks. “So, what about your friend, Zack?”

“Cops are blamin’ this Jack Whitlock guy for Emily’s murder. They found the murder weapon in the guy’s lair, Zack’s clothes stained with her blood. Now they’re thinking maybe the surveillance tape was tampered with. Yeah, Becca says Zack will be released soon.” He smiles and Dean frowns “I’m guessing that was you?” He looks at her.

“It was hard having to correct every single thing Rebecca said to try and clear his ass, but at least the name I convinced was fake.” She smiled back to the brothers.

“Nice!” “Awesome.” They turn to get in the car, y/n sitting on the back seat until they get to the motel, where she would get her Harley back.

“Could you have imagine, Sam?” She questions out of nowhere. He frowns and looks at her over his shoulder. “The idea of having two Deans out in the world.” She smiles wickedly and looks at the older brother through the rear view mirror.

“Oh god.” Sam fakes a shudder.

“I can already feel the headache.” She continues.

“Oh, shut up the two of you.” He rolls his eyes and pull the car out of the parking spot.

Taglist: let me knowif you want to be added or removed.

@stillhere197

@lmhf1

@un-expectedly

[es46]

This one is only a small monster, but it's always nice to have more arthropods. - MARUN-KADAKI Title - Symbiont spider Monster class - Temnoceran Known locales - Direct proximity to Ojoz-Kadaki, either underwater or isolated islets Element/Ailment - Water + Bubble Elemental weakness - Ice (3), Dragon (2), Thunder (2), Fire (1), Water (0) Ailment weakness - Blast (3), Poison (2), Paralysis (2), Sleep (1), Stun (1) Marun-Kadaki is a temnoceran and a small monster, residing in the deepest depths in the ocean where it gathers with its fellows upon the back of the gargantuan Ojoz-Kadaki. These temnocerans are only seen when Ojoz-Kadaki migrates to the surface, scuttling across the giant's back, cleaning it of any parasites or other discomforting organisms in the joints or underside. They were well adapted to their symbiotic role, with their mouthparts forming a toothy nozzle that vacuums up tiny plants and creatures whilst the pedipalps and hooked first and second limbs dislodge clinging parasites. The third pair of limbs handle clinging to Ojoz-Kadaki, whilst the fourth pair of limbs, alongside the finned abdomen, help the temnoceran swim should it need to find another host. Marun-Kadaki is a humble omnivore, feasting on unwanted guests on the small community that forms on Ojoz-Kadaki's back. Cleaning the giant of algal overgrowth and parasites, it forms a team with several other Marun-Kadaki, ensuring the health of their host is maintained by their cleaning. The size difference is staggering; Marun-Kadaki is half the size of the average human whilst Ojoz-Kadaki. Though small, Marun-Kadaki can still be dangerous to humans in the rare circumstances when they meet. As the Guild only encounters Ojoz-Kadaki during its rise to the surface and must sends hunters to slay or repel the giant before its ability to influence weather disrupts ecosystems, Marun-Kadaki perceives the hunters as a threat and fights to protect the host. Lacking the sheer size and power, they instead focus on distracting and restraining tactics, often leaping onto a hunter and hooking their limbs into them in an attempt to hold them still and make them easier targets for Ojoz-Kadaki. Their nozzle-like mouthparts also spew a foamy blast of water that replicates the bubbleblight used by the leviathan Mizutsune. Researchers now know that the relationship between these temnocerans is more than mutualism in itself; they are actually the dimorphic male and female of the same species. Ojoz-Kadaki, the gargantuan female, is the lynchphin for survival for the comparatively miniscule male Marun-Kadaki. They depend on the communities formed upon her back for food and shelter, and she in turn depends on their care to overgrowth of unwanted symbionts. Another obvious benefit to this co-dependant lifestyle is that Ojoz-Kadaki never has to venture in search of a mate. When she is ready to lay eggs, she already has a group of males on hand to ensure reproduction. In itself, a Marun-Kadaki is little threat even to novice hunters. However, as they are only found in proximity to Ojoz-Kadaki, only the most experienced of high/master rank hunters ought to encounter them when they confront the gargantuan females. Hunters must be aware that while Marun-Kadaki is rather fragile, their ability to attack in groups and endeavour to distract hunters from the immediate danger of the giant female can be lethal. Endeavour to slay any Marun-Kadaki as quickly as possible before they enable Ojoz-Kadaki's more predictable attacks. - Thank you for reading and take care.

[saucylobster]

Took me a lot of attempts to get these guys to a point I was hapy with, despite settling on the idea pretty much immediately. Velvern are large worm pokemon that live in humid jungles. Their defining trait are the two nozzles on its head, which it uses to spray a glue-like substance over great distances. Despite its cute appearance they are actually accomplished hunters, trapping prey with shots of glue before leisurely making their way over to their hapless victim. Velvydra have overly developed nozzles, now resembling extra heads. Their range has increased considerably and they are effective over a much wider range. A Velvydra's large size is often enough of a deterrent to predators but appearing to have multiple heads, two of which are decoys, is a nice back-up defence. --Attack Info-- --Ability Info--

[hawkherps]

Sigma's new enclosure is finished!

well, mostly. I want to get another branch or tube or plant or something in that top right corner to fill in the empty space, assuming the monster dracaena doesn't realize it now has an extra foot of vertical space and decide to conquer it. i'll give it a month or two and see how the dracaena adapts before putting something above it. I also want to see how the new pothos grows in, and how the old philodendron adapts. i actually removed two vines from the philo and cut the remaining two down to size a bit since they took over whatever space the dracaena didn't in the old enclosure, so i'm confident the philodendron will help fill in some of the currently empty space even if the dracaena and pothos decide not to.

for the enclosure itself, it's a Leap Habitats 22"x17"x36" enclosure and hoo boy it has its pros and cons... mostly cons. i haven't seen many reviews for these enclosures that aren't from popular youtubers or reddit threads from over a year ago, so here's my opinions below:

i've moved several times so i greatly appreciate how light the enclosure is even fully planted, and being able to screw branches and tubes and other things into the walls instead of having to use spray foam (and then either silicone or the grout method) to mount them is really nice. both are pluses over the glass exoterra 18"x18"x24" Sig has called home since he was given to me. i loved that enclosure but after moving three times with it (once before i made it bioactive) i was not a fan of the weight.

this doesn't apply to me right now, but i do see it as a plus that they included the little spots in the corners of the top that you can pop out to easily install mister nozzles through. i don't know if these holes fit non-Leap misting systems without modification, but it's certainly simpler than some of the setups i've seen for getting misters installed in traditional enclosures like exoterras.

Sigma is... not a great hunter. his method of hunting black soldier flies, for example, is to slam his face as hard as possible into them. this is another big reason i wanted him out of the glass enclosure-- i'm genuinely worried about him injuring himself with the force at which i've watched him bounce his face off the walls and door of the exoterra enclosure. so the softer, less rigid walls and acrylic door are a plus for that alone.

now for the downsides...

i'm really not a huge fan of how flimsy the acrylic door is. if it was a liiiittle thicker i'd probably like it more. the very simple method for the door hinge also means that when open, the door is misaligned, so i have to remember to slightly lift it when i go to close it so it will fit back in its space and close properly. this could be related to the low quality control that i've heard other people report regarding Leap (and experienced myself further below)

the base also leaks. they do sell external water catch trays in case of leakage, but i feel like they should come with the trays instead of the tray being optional, since the design of these things is basically guaranteed to leak without modification.

i didn't encounter this myself because i'd already seen warnings about this and didn't bother trying, but silicone and expanding foam won't adhere to the sides without help. Leap recommends using wall anchors for the foam to hold onto, but there's no real solution for silicone. this is annoying, because being able to seal the damned thing with silicone would GREATLY help the above leaking problem because you could just silicone around the rivets and internal plastic liner so that the leaking wouldn't be an issue. sealants that do bond to polypropylene don't strike me as being safe for use inside a reptile enclosure, especially a bioactive one.

it was also a BITCH to put together. i sort of expected this because a couple reviews i read before buying stated that the quality control is not the best. Leap has several videos on their youtube showcasing how to assemble the enclosures straight out of the box, and the provided instructions in the box are simple enough to follow, but i had to make some minor modifications in order to get the enclosure together due to ill-fitting pieces (for example, the screen top, which also keeps the walls in shape, did not actually fit on top of the walls like it was supposed to and i had to pry some sections open wide enough to actually get the damned thing in place). the alignment pin that goes in the front right of the base also did not want to be flush with the base like it's supposed to be.

all that being said, right now i would still be willing to get another, smaller Leap enclosure in the future for my mourning geckos or another gecko species. whether i actually do get another of their enclosures will really depend on how this one for Sig holds up. the lightness and ease of customization were the entire reasons i ordered this enclosure instead of a similarly sized (24x"18"x36") glass one, so we'll eventually see if that's truly worth the troubleshooting and outright downsides to these enclosures or not.

[kitchenisking]

February Fic Rec

It's that time!!!!!!!!!!!!! its raining by me! Hope everyone isn't to cold and are enjoying the winter! happy weekend everyone!❤️

What you do to me by Tails89 - (Rating: Explicit, Words: 1614, sterek)

"Wait." Derek's voice is little more than a low growl in Stiles’ ear and the human nods, twisting slowly until his back is pressed to the tree. The hand on his hip finds a new purchase and Stiles' heart pounds in his chest.

Don’t Take Your Work Home With You bystep_lightly_little_wren - (Rating: Explicit, Words: 56083, sterek)

Stiles was suddenly reminded of those Choose Your Own Adventure books. He wished he could have looked ahead to see if choosing, “I want to climb you like a tree,” would land him in the sexy sex-beast’s sexy sex-lair or the unemployment line in the mystical Land of Fired-For-Sexually-Harassing-His-Boss.

Hands Together by tty9 - (Rating: Mature, Words: 4431, sterek)

Stiles is captured by hunters and gets to know the mysterious guy next door.

safe by jesuisgrace  - (Rating: Explicit, Words: 3238, sterek)

Stiles is jamming the nozzle back onto the gas pump when he hears it, a low, threatening growl. He looks around and finds a dark haired man boxed into his black Camaro by two tall, beautiful women. He blows it off as stupid flirting between stupidly beautiful people, but then the man growls again. Something makes him stop and listen, and what he hears, and smells, makes his skin crawl.

touch me by jesuisgrace - (Rating: Explicit, Words: 873, sterek)

Derek’s got him boxed in against the wall, his head shoved in neck while he heaves in deep breaths. 

“Derek, please,” Stiles whines.

Sun in Your Heart by scribblemoose - (Rating: Explicit, Words: 1733, sterek)

Stiles keeps turning up at the Loft, and Derek isn't sure what to make of it. He just knows it's annoying.

Knot if You Don't Knock by jsea, marguerite_26 - (Rating: Explicit, Words: 13737, sterek)

Stiles never expects to present as an omega -- that's something that happens to people like Greenberg, not him. He is so wrong.

His life only gets stranger when Derek Hale mistakenly bursts through the door of his exam room during a doctor’s appointment. What happens next is a complicated series of events, including freshly baked cookies, book-carrying and surprise heats.

Bruises and Bitemarks by orphan_account - (Rating: Explicit, Words: 121566, sterek)

Biologically, Stiles is weak. When he presented as an omega, he knew that to be the truth but that never stopped him from running his mouth as a defense mechanism. However, it could only save him so many times before he ended up pissing off the wrong person. After he's attacked in the parking lot outside of school, Stiles realizes he can no longer protect himself with just pure wit and sarcasm. When the attack lands him in the hospital, his dad forces him to pick between two options, report the alphas who attacked him or join a kickboxing gym run by omega rights activist and alpha, Derek Hale, a man Stiles has been in love with for many years.

*Now includes an extended chapter featuring Nate/Jupiter*

Derek, Did You Steal That Baby? by SylvieW - (Rating: Mature, Words: 10119, sterek)

When Derek suddenly shows up with a baby, everyone is suspicious. Except for Stiles. He doesn’t care where the baby came from, he just wants to play with her and explore the new side of Derek she brings out.

Sugar and Spice by KaliopeShipsIt - (Rating: G, Words: 19157, sterek)

When the human and supernatural third graders of Beacon Hills Elementary learn that their beloved teacher Mr. Derek and his boyfriend Deputy Stiles cannot have a little baby of their own, a pair of mischievous but well-meaning fairy-trickster twins decides to take matters into their own hands.

[ellethespaceunicorn]

Bright Like The Moon: Chapter 2

Chapter 2: It’s The Feelings I Wear

Rating: M for Mature, 18+, Minors - DNI

Fandom: Night Hunter

Pairing: Walter Marshall x Black!OFC 

Word count: 6K 

Summary: Kamaria Mansfield is hired at the Minnesota Police Department as an intern. Detective Walter Marshall is overworked and unsatisfied. Takes place post-film.

Chapter Summary: Kamaria’s first day is filled with confidence and realization. Walter’s day is filled with self-doubt and introspection. Their day ends in a noteworthy way.

Chapter warnings: Mutual pining, accidental flirtation, intentional flirtation, angst, police interrogation procedure (or what Law & Order and The Shield have taught me is perfectly normal police procedure during interrogation), murder investigation (no details), flashback to a fight, Faye’s opinion on Rachel, spicy texting, different POV at times

A/N: I like to write in the third person (omniscient) for the most part, but as a challenge to myself, I decided to try writing in the first person for Kamaria and Walter in this chapter. Let’s see how this works out and if I wanna do it again. Un-beta’d, we die like people trying their absolute best.

Dividers: @firefly-graphics

Support/Reblog banner by me

Cover Art by me

Cross-posted on AO3 @ ElleTheSpaceUnicorn

Series Masterlist

My Masterlist

Kamaria’s POV

After a fun weekend of self-care, a mani-pedi in a cute baby pink with medium coffin-shaped nails on my fingers and getting my locs redone, I am ready for my week to start. I am happy to be woken up Monday morning to my alarm blaring ‘Her’ by Megan Thee Stallion. The catchy and inspiring song was a choice I made last minute on Sunday night, wanting to be roused from sleep with confidence and purposefulness in my mind.

Oh, Megan, if only I had your confidence…and that body-ody-ody.

Grabbing Beary from the crook of my arm and placing him back against the pillows, I pull the covers back over my bed. Making my way to the kitchen for coffee, I’m reminded that I need to pick up some more creamer this week. Black coffee is too rich for my blood and my colon. I turn on the coffee pot and end up in the bathroom ready to shower. 

I turn on the shower, letting it warm up while I go grab my phone from my nightstand. Pulling up Spotify as I reenter the bathroom, I select the Shower Vibes playlist. Soon the soothing sounds of Solange’s ‘Don’t Touch My Hair’ is wafting in the air. This song always gets me in the right headspace.

I switch from my bonnet to my shower cap and step into the spray once it’s at the perfect temp. Just right to get squeaky clean and not enough to sweat and frizz up my hair. I put on my exfoliating gloves and pour on enough Apricot & Honey body wash to drown a small town. 

Rubbing my hands together, the scent of it permeates my soul. Stepping back from the water, I begin to lather my body.

Before I know it, my mind goes on auto-pilot washing my entire body, top to bottom. I step back into the spray backward to feel the pulsating water on my neck and back. Bless my water pressure. 

I turn around, allowing my front to be clear of the suds. I wring out my shower gloves and place them back in the shower caddy. I reach up and turn the nozzle to push water through the detachable showerhead to get my most delicate places nice and clean. I’m careful this time to not allow the powerful jets to lull me into a hazy state of arousal. The last thing I need to be is late to work for that.

I finish up and grab my towel from the hook, patting my skin dry and taking off my shower cap. I wind the towel around myself and turn off my music before walking back into the bedroom. Opening my closet, I see my first-day outfit looking back at me. A mustard yellow turtleneck sweater that makes my amber eyes pop and a pair of black skinny jeans to show off my curves. Not really sure what the dress code is but if all else fails, the jeans look sorta like dress pants so whatever.

I begin my skincare routine by applying face serum, moisturizer, and body lotion. Slipping on some underwear and a bra, I remember I started the coffee pot. 

Throwing on my satin robe and house slippers, I head to the kitchen to praise the caffeine gods. The warm aroma of french vanilla wafts into my nose and I smile. Why have any other flavor if french vanilla is available?

Within a short time, I have a perfect cup of coffee and a decent breakfast in my system so I head back to the bedroom to get dressed. I put my butterfly locks in a high bun, leaving out the front two locs to frame my face. I’m not really a big makeup girl with the primer and the foundation and the contouring. However, I do have my essentials and it’s basically muscle memory to apply so what the hell. I sit at my vanity and turn on my lighted mirror.

“Hey, Siri?” I pause and wait for my phone screen to light up and for Siri to acknowledge me. “Play ‘Female Energy, Part 2’ by WILLOW, please.” Siri accepts the command and the song begins to play.

From the instant that I hear the melodic voice of a woman older than her years, I am transported to a state of pure emotional wonder, thinking of my position in the world around me. I begin with a medium line of black eyeliner, followed by some of my favorite Lash Princess mascara. Torn between a matte dark brown lip and a glitter gloss, I choose the gloss because it will reflect every bit of light it catches. Maybe he will notice that little touch? I shake my head to clear my thoughts and apply Shades by Shan in the color ‘Erika(https://sbscosmetics.com/products/new-erika-lip-gloss)’ slowly while the final verse plays.

‘Am I to feel bolder 'cause / All of my pumping blood? / I am human, I am woman / Drifting down my life / Light up this time, light up this time / Oh, oh, oh, oh’

I stop the song before it could play again and get up to check out my outfit in my long mirror. Everything is in its place, nothing too tight. Putting on my flats, I check my phone. Exactly thirty minutes til I start work, with a twenty-minute drive to work, which will allow me to freak out in the parking lot for a good chunk of time. Perfect! 

In the living room, I collect my keys and purse and throw on my coat. Taking one final deep breath of unemployment, I exit my apartment and lock the door behind me.

I make my way to work and park my car near the end of the lot under a lamppost so that when I leave later, I’ll have the light for safety. I start to prepare myself for my specifically scheduled ‘freakout time’ when I hear the low rumble of a truck being backed up next to me. I wait until it's all the way in the spot before I look over at the same time the driver does. 

We exchange smiles and it feels like the world stops. I turn off my car, grabbing my phone from the mount and my purse from the passenger seat. I go to open the door and he does the same, motioning for me to go first. I’m just closing my door when he exits mere inches from me. I turn around to properly greet him, smelling the clean scent of him in the wind, and try and hide the way it goes straight to my pussy. Down, girl!

“Happy Monday, Detective,” I say, my lips only quivering slightly in my attempt to appear confident.

“Please, call me Walter. I feel like Detective sounds too formal. After all, I’ve already saved your life, right?” His deep baritone radiates through me and if I didn’t know any better, I’d say he was flirting with me. 

‘He’s not interested in someone like you. Think about it, sweetheart.’ The voice of my ex attempts to ruin my morning, I shake my head almost imperceptibly and continue to smile at Walter.

“How long are you gonna hold that against me, Walter? I swear to you, I didn’t stumble on purpose just to be caught by a handsome stranger.” Did I just fucking call him handsome to his face out loud where he could hear it? Don’t freak out. DON’T. FREAK. OUT.

The smile on his face goes from his mouth to his eyes, a slight blush creeping across those perfect cheekbones.

“Handsome stranger, eh? That just made my day, Kamaria. Thank you for that,” He winks at me and my pussy wakes back up at that gesture, “Dads aren’t used to compliments, ya know?” Oh, you have a kid?

“Oh, you have a kid?” Ok, I said that part out loud I guess. 

“Yeah, a daughter,” he says, taking out his phone and showing me the lock screen with a picture of a curly-haired girl smiling at the camera, “This is Faye, the light of my life. She’ll be 16 soon.”

“Oh my goodness. She’s gorgeous and she has your curls. Got your shotgun ready?” I laugh, knowing what a Dad would do to protect his daughter, thoughts of my own Dad’s exploits cross my mind.

“Oh, I would love to say it’s primed and loaded. But she’s a pistol. Smarter than she gives herself credit for. And would run circles around any smooth-talking, pock-marked little shit who tried her.” He smiles, putting his phone back in his pocket after checking the time. “Where has the time gone? Let’s get you into your first day, eh?” He motions for me to take the lead and throws another wink my way.

I suddenly remember I had no time to freak out in the car before going in. No time to think about that now, maybe I’ll just freak out a little later. Or something more professional, like excusing myself to the bathroom to have a quick anxiety attack. Perfect plan.

We walk into the building together, Walter holding the door for me. As I am shaking the chill of the early morning off and instantly feeling overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of those in the office, I hear Walter say my name.

“Kamaria?” He tilts his head and shoots me a grin, “You’ll wanna check in with the Desk Sergeant over to the right and let them know it’s your first day, yeah? Along the left wall there, the last one down before the hallway ends is my office. If you need anything, I’ll be in there most of the day and it would be nice to break away from paperwork even if for a second.” 

Ok, this man is most definitely flirting with me. At least, it feels like it. The winks, those smiles, basically inviting me to his office to distract him. What else is that, if not flirting? 

‘He’s just being nice to the inept charity case, sweetheart. Stop dreaming.’ And that’s when the asshole creeps back into my head to try and pull me back down. I ignore it and smile back at Walter.

“Thank you, Walter. For everything,” I start to make my way over to the right, and he to the left, “I’ll be sure to stop by and save you from the paperwork demons.” We are still in eyeshot and walking backward from one another, “I’ll see you later?”

“Later it is, Kam.” That little nickname he throws my way makes my cheeks warm and before I can ask about it, he turns and makes his way to his office. 

I end up standing in front of the Desk Sergeant, a burly bald man who looks like he could break me in half gives me a sweet smile and asks how he could help me. “My name is Kamaria Mansfield and it’s my first day as an intern and I have no clue where I’m supposed to be.” He takes pity on me and points to the intern pool and who has to be the manager giving an early morning meeting.

I rush over and give my name and the manager introduces me to the rest of the interns, none of them look to be starting on their first days as well. Awesome. Kind smiles and waves welcome me and I feel instantly calmed. 

Today will be a good day, hold onto this feeling as long as you can.

Walter’s POV

Kam? Where the fuck did that come from? I gave her a nickname without her permission. Might as well have called her ‘Sweet Cheeks’. Just as I am berating myself, someone walks into my office.

“I need you in Interrogation Room 2 before I lose my shit and plug this asshole into next week,” Commissioner Harper starts a tirade before I even have my coat off.

“Good morning, Commissioner.” I deadpan and start to follow him out of my office. 

“Yeah, good morning, is it?” The Commissioner raises an eyebrow and I get the hint.

I look to the intern pool as Kamaria is being introduced to her fellow gophers like starting at school late in the year. Her sweet smile stays on her face, her eye line focusing on those in her immediate vicinity so she doesn’t notice me walking out of my office and down to the hall.

Making it to Interrogation, the room’s atmosphere shifts as I notice Rachel behind the glass trying her best to stay in control while every other word out of our suspect’s mouth is cunt or whore. No matter how much she may dislike me, or our history, she doesn’t deserve to be treated like that.

I cross my arms and await her signal to come in and be the ‘bad cop’. She’s holding her own and I don’t want to interrupt that. Being a profiler, she knows what games to play and what tactics to use when it comes to hostile men. She’s not afraid in that room, she’s not submissive. She uses what she was blessed with, her feminine wiles and whatever training she can remember. It’s what any good cop would use when in this position, and she's damn good at it.

After the whole situation with Simon Stulls, I had to give her credit. She knew the tells, she knew there was more to the story. And she went after what she believed. After all, she did save my life. As much as I wanted to return the favor, I couldn’t. She was far too…in control of her own life. She wouldn’t allow herself to be in danger without knowing how to save herself. That’s just Rachel.

She doesn’t need me until she has no further tricks up her sleeve. And I have to be fine with that. I am fine with that. I, after all, have my sights set on another. While waiting for Rachel to look at the glass, I’m reminded of our last night together.

*Eight Months Ago*

Rachel was over at my house after work one night, we agreed to finish the casework outside of the office as another excuse to be able to spend time together.

She throws her pen down on the coffee table and turns to me. “Faye still hates me. And you do nothing about it. That sucks, Walter.”

“Faye doesn’t hate you. She can just tell that you and I are different people. I think she knows when I’m not happy and she knows I can’t hide that from her.” I catch her eye as she furrows her brows.

“If you would just realize that I’m not here to be saved, I think you’d be happier.”

“And if you would realize that I am not trying to save you, I think you’d be happier.”

“See, you say that. But all you do is open doors for me, and offer to help with every little thing and that makes me feel like I’m incapable. Like, I’m not in charge of my own life. And that shit goes against everything that I have been taught my entire life. I can do for myself. I don’t need you to help me do every little thing. Wait for me to ask for your help, once in a while. Don’t just…do.” Her voice raises as she gets up from the couch to walk over to the kitchen for a glass of water.

I stay where I am for a moment before standing up and leaning against the back of the couch to face her. “Look, I get it. You are your own woman. You don’t need me. And you have made that abundantly clear. You don’t need anyone. Until you do, and then here I am. Meant to pick up all your pieces. On your terms.” I move one step closer to where she stands. “Why do I never get terms? Why can’t I take care of you when I need to take care of you? Why do I have to wait until you’re ready to accept me as someone to care for you? How do you think that makes me feel? Knowing I’m nothing more than at your beck and call, for when YOU deem it necessary for me to feel helpful? How is that fair to me?”

“I don’t mean to make you feel as though you can’t help me, but you have to realize that 95% of the time I can do it on my own. I’m not your ward, I’m not yours for safekeeping. We should be equals in this relationship. Not owner and dog.”

“That’s not fair and you know it. I was never your owner, and neither did I want to be. And you’re not a dog.” I shift on my feet. “You’re much more like a cat, feral and wild.”

“Thanks for that,” she takes a sip of water before looking back at me, “I always liked cats more anyway. And I get it, you like being the protector. You like being the one to come to for help and reassurance and I just don’t need that right now.”

“Noted. Let’s get back to work and after this, I will stop trying to be your protector and start trying to be your equal, ok?” I nodded back at the paperwork as she nods at me.

Not long after that night, Rachel and I decided to call it quits. Luckily, we kept everything very close to the chest at work so no one ever asked about it. I had a terrible time trying to put the past behind me, no matter how I excelled at treating her as an equal. I wanted someone who needed me. Not someone who tolerated me. Perhaps, good things DO come to those who wait. 

I guess I’ll have to thank Faye at some point for her opinion on the matter. She didn’t like Rachel. And she made it known that Rachel was never going to be in her life if she had anything to do with it. Rachel wasn’t exactly good with kids, let alone teens. I honestly can’t even say if she tried her best. She wanted to be looked at as an authority figure, not a mother figure. That is not the way to get a teen to like you, and she never found the way into Faye’s good graces.

The way into that girl’s heart is by showing her that you care. Care about her hobbies. Care about her favorite color. Or most importantly, as a child of separated parents, show her that you care about the well-being of the two people who brought her into this world. Don’t take anything too lightly, and she’ll give you a chance.

But, Rachel failed there. And there is no relationship when your child doesn’t feel comfortable around your partner. Angie learned that the hard way with Mick or Nick or whatever his name was. But Jackson, the one she’s dating now, he’s a good man. He cares about Angie and he cares about Faye. That’s all I can ask for. All I ever would ask for.

Well, I guess there are other things I can ask for, but I will be patient about those things. My mind retreats to Kamaria calling me handsome. I was dumbfounded at the time, and now I’m incredibly flattered that I flustered her enough for her filter to malfunction in front of me. I could tell she was instantly angry with herself for letting her cards show. But I enjoyed every bit of that interaction, quick as it was. She may have felt intimidated, but she didn’t seem scared and she didn’t seem like she minded my flirting. A good thing, because I plan on flirting with her as much as she will allow me to.

Rachel gives me the cue to step in, snapping me out of my thoughts and I’m slamming the door shut to the Interrogation room before long. Walking up behind the suspect slowly, I stand to the side of him and nod for Rachel to take a break. She collects her things, leaving the case file behind after closing it. But I won’t be needing it.

I pull her empty chair out from the small metal table and act as though I will sit down, but instead choose to throw it behind me. The intended emotion is felt by the suspect. Fear. If I didn’t thrive on that fear, I wouldn’t be able to get the job done. I reach over and grab the suspect by the collar and yank him to me over the table. This is where the fun begins for me and ends for him. I hold him above the ground, speaking to him lowly but still able to be picked up by the audio recording in the room.

“Tell us where the bodies are, and this can be over for you. I’m sure the public defender can get you some type of safety while you live out the rest of your days behind bars,” I tighten my grip on his coat collar before speaking again, “Give us nothing and we’ll feed you to the dogs. You do know what happens to men like you in prison right? Men who’ve done what you’re being accused of doing? They’ll string you up, they’ll castrate you, and if you’re lucky? They’ll make sure you die from your injuries.” 

I set him on his feet and straighten his collar. I walk around him to where his chair is on its side and pick it up, nodding for him to sit down. Chancing a glance at the mirrored window behind, I motion for Rachel to re-enter. I pick up the other chair from the floor and let her sit back down. Ever the professional, Rachel opens the file again

“Now, can you tell me where the bodies are?”

The suspect wipes a hand over his face, eyes peeking up at me before nodding at Rachel. I leave the room and rejoin Commissioner Harper.

“Is it unprofessional to say I love it when you do that?” The Commissioner looks at me with genuine boyhood glee.

“Probably, but I won’t tell anyone if you won’t.” I let my sly smirk show and get back to watching our suspect give Rachel the locations of the five confirmed victims. Once done, a uniformed officer comes to collect him and take him back to the holding cell. Rachel exits and comes back to the room where Harper and I are.

“He gave us everything,” Rachel hands me the file and nods, “thanks for taking over, he was making me want to rip out his fucking throat. But, try and keep The Hulk at bay next time, maybe?”

“I enjoyed it thoroughly,” Harper quips, annoying Rachel to no end.

“Understood, Rachel,” I say, not meaning it at all and she knew it, “I’ll get to work on these. Have the transcript to me later?” I hold up the file and leave the room before she can say anything else. 

Kamaria’s POV

I’m just getting up to lock my computer when I see Walter walking down the hall, his nose in a file. I head in the opposite direction to hit the bathroom before stopping by his office for a quick chat. 

I stop at the door, his attention completely on the file at this point, and knock on it lightly.

“Hey, stranger,” I say, walking in and sitting in one of the chairs across from him. I notice without his coat on, he opted for an oceanic blue sweater today that hugs his biceps which seem even bigger than they did on Friday when I touched them for all of about three seconds.

Without looking up, he smiles and jokes, “I will only be answering to ‘handsome stranger’ from now on, thank you very much.” He finally looks up and I notice his eyes in the sunlight coming through the window, “How’s your first day going?”

“Ha ha, good one. It’s going quite well. I met a lot of nice people. I was taught how to get Spotify on my computer and how to get free snacks from the vending machine at the end of hall. And a couple of the girls are taking me out to lunch.” I guess that could be something friendly, right?

“Oh, they’re gonna grill you. I’ve seen them all go out to lunch a lot. They’re a close-knit bunch but they are also very territorial if they think you’re in a dangerous situation so make sure you play nice.” His tone, although joking, actually sounds serious. Almost like he is encouraging me to make friends with my coworkers, and I like that. I’m sure Yada would be high-fiving him right about now.

“I’ll keep that in mind, handsome stranger,” I chance a wink and him and there is that blush back on his face, “Well before they come to look for me, I better get back. I do wanna make sure I get all the hot gossip and find out where the best places for lunch are.”

“Enjoy your lunch, Kam. If anyone mentions going to Mitch’s Steak Shop, get the cheesesteak. You won’t regret it. I promise,” He smiles and goes to pick up the file again before looking back up at me as I get up to leave, “Actually, I did have something to ask you, if you don’t mind?”

He has a pensive look on his face so I sit back down and nod at him to ask.

“I started calling you Kam without your permission. And I, rather belatedly, would like to say if you don’t like that, I can go back to using your full name. It’s a lovely name, after all. And I would hate for you to feel like I’m getting too personal in calling you something that you didn’t ask to be called.”

“No, it’s fine. I actually used to go by Kam all the time. I haven’t used the nickname in a while and I’m not ashamed to say I missed it. So, please, call me Kam. I like it.” The smile on his face could light up the darkest of nights.

“Phew, good. I spent most of the day feeling like a complete tit. I swear I know better than to call a woman out of her name, but I just felt it in the moment and went with it.” He runs a hand through those curls, and I wanna follow that hand with my own. 

“Don’t sweat it, it made me smile,” Just then my stomach grumbles and I remember I was supposed to be going to lunch, “Ok, it’s food time. I’ll see you later, k?” I raise up from the chair and play with one of my butterfly locs, putting it behind my ear.

“Sounds great, I’ll see you later, Kam.” We share a smile and he returns to his file as I walk out of his office.

I head back to my desk and notice the group at the front door is waiting for me. I scurry up to them and apologize for keeping them waiting. They all just smile and tell me that we are walking to Mitch’s. I guess I get to try the cheesesteak sooner than I thought.

Walter’s POV

The rest of the day moves pretty fast. Rachel has the transcript sent to me with enough time to go over it and plan the search teams. The bodies are located within about a five-mile radius. The teams will go out in the morning. The faster we can recover the bodies, the faster we can get these families closure on their loved ones. And that is what matters most of all.

Before I know it, it’s ten after five and I can hear the cleaning crew vacuuming down the hallway. It has been an interesting day for sure. The thrill of flirting with Kamaria, the excitement of an interrogation gone well, and leaving before the sun is all the way down? A splendid day indeed.

Putting on my jacket, I put my work away and lock it in my desk drawer. I turn off the lights in my office and close the door before turning around to see Kamaria putting on her coat. I walk up to her and offer to walk her out. She accepts and we start the short walk to our cars, taking our time.

“So, how was the rest of your day? Did you get all the hot gossip you could handle?” I ask, chuckling as she rolls her eyes.

“You’ll be happy to know I got absolutely nothing. Either there is no gossip or they’re still trying to figure out if I’m worth keeping their secrets. I understand it. But I did have a great conversation with two nice girls, Nina and Sophie. They’re hilarious. We exchanged numbers and I think they actually think I’m cool.” She rambles out, so excited that she made some friends. How is she so surprised someone thinks she’s cool? She’s amazing.

“Ah yes, the twins. They are nice. And they actually finish each other’s-”

“Sandwiches?”

“Oh my god, did you just quote Frozen to me?” I stop walking and look at her, not even trying to hold in my laughter.

“I took a chance that you might have seen it, thought Faye may have made you watch it. The music in that movie is too good for adults to not enjoy it too. And Olaf? He was so sweet!” Her face lights up remembering the children’s film.

“Olaf was great, I’ll give you that. But I loved Kristoff and Sven more. As a kid, when I found out reindeer were real, I couldn’t believe it. I actually asked her to get me one as a pet.” I can still remember my Mom informing me that instead of a reindeer, we could get a dog. I was upset about the reindeer, but I loved that dog.

I realize we’ve made it to the parking lot and are both leaning on our cars, but making no move to get in and leave. In a second of bravado, I try my luck.

“So I feel like I’m not imagining that we have some chemistry here. Or is my head in the clouds?” I remark, watching Kamaria’s smile widen even more.

“Definitely not imagining it.”

“Would I be too forward in asking for your number? I completely understand if that’s, like, awkward or something.” I shove my hands in my pockets, intentionally running my fingers over my phone.

“That depends. If I give you my number, that means I want to hear from you. If you give me your number, I expect that to mean the same. I ask for clear communication. And if you ever need space, don’t ghost me or just go radio silent. Tell me so that I don’t waste my time, or worse yet, worry. Is that something you can do?” She takes on a serious tone, and I can tell this is something that she needs from me and that she probably hasn’t gotten in the past. Clearly set boundaries.

I take her manicured hand and place it over my heart so she can feel my even heartbeat when I answer her. I hold her hand there, her baby pink nails digging in, and say, “You have my word that I will not only call you and text you, but I will let you know when my attention needs to be elsewhere. And when I can talk again, I will let you know as well.” I rub my thumb over the back of her hand and she honest-to-goodness giggles like some fair maiden in a storybook. 

I let her hand go and she reaches into her pocket and grabs her phone, unlocking it before handing it to me. She then holds out her hand, palm up, to take my phone. I unlock my phone with my other hand and hand it to her. The light of my phone illuminates her face as she enters her information and I try not to stare for too long. I fill in my number and my full name because she might know another Walter. 

Then feeling another spark of bravado, I hit the ‘Add Photo’ button and use the front-facing camera to take a quick selfie. I save my contact and hand her back her phone. She copies me and goes to take a selfie as well. But before I can tell what she is doing, she is standing next to me and taking a picture of us together. She saves the photo and then calls me so I can see the photo. My phone lights up and I see our faces, myself smiling down at her as she faces the camera. I can’t hide the smile on my face, and I wouldn’t dream of keeping that from her. She caused it after all. 

“Ok, let’s get you out of the cold. Let me know when you get home safe?” I say, opening her car door for her to get in.

“Yes, Sir.” A low growl escapes my throat at that. Thank God, she was turned around, getting in the car because those words were almost too much for me not to want to turn her around and kiss the words right out of her mouth. I close the door behind her and step back.

She waves goodbye and I wave back, turning to get into my truck. I turn the key in the ignition and adjust my tightening jeans. I watch as she pulls out of the parking space and drives past me before I start to move the car. I notice she goes the opposite direction that I do and I watch her car in the rearview mirror until it’s no longer in sight.

The drive home is filled with me grinning to myself and thinking about all the little moments of the day. Kamaria. Kam. I can still feel her hand on my chest. I can still smell that fresh and sweet fragrance that lingers on her skin. I can still hear her sonorous laugh. If I could, I would burn that sound into my mind so I could hear it whenever I wanted.

I make it home, walking in the door before my phone dings. I hang up my coat and leave my shoes at the door. I smile, looking at the phone screen, knowing what to expect.

Kam: Made it home safe and sound 😁you home yet??

Me: Just walked in the door

Me: What’s for dinner?

Kam: Since I had a cheesesteak for lunch, I’ll be having a salad haha

Me: You had Mitch’s then, did you enjoy it?

Kam: Your recommendation was excellent! And the kettle chips? So damn tasty

“I bet you’re damn tasty,” I mutter to myself, quicker than I can stop it from escaping.

Me: I could write a sonnet regarding those kettle chips

Kam: I hope you know that means you’ll be reading that to me

Me: As you wish, Princess

Kam: And he quotes Princess Bride??? 

Kam: Ok, I’m gonna get off the phone before I start sweating 😥

Me: And I would just hate to see that 😉

Kam: Ha. Ha. Goodnight Walter 😴

Me: Goodnight Kam

I sit my phone down on the kitchen table and go to rummage in the fridge for dinner, hearing my phone ding again. I reach over and pick it up.

Kam: By the way…

Me: Yes?

Kam: I like it when you growl 🥺

Fuck.

Me: Eat your dinner and enjoy your night, Princess

Kam: Yes, Sir 

I grab a beer from the fridge, and adjust my jeans again, willing myself to maintain control and not shove my hand inside. Then that nagging little voice peeks around a corner in my brain. Was I moving a bit too fast giving her a pet name? That might be too much. And this time, she saves me.

Kam: And yes, I do like to be called Princess so DO NOT think otherwise.

Kam: I can hear your brain gears turning from here

Me: Good to know Princess 

Me: See you tomorrow

Kam: See you tomorrow 

Guess I’m gonna beat this dick like it owes me money.

Chapter 3

**Tag List**

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Bright Like The Moon: @geralts-yenn @deandoesthingstome @liveoncoffeeandflowersss  

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[usafphantom2]

Russia's large stealth attack drone, Okhotnik, is expected to go into mass production in 2024

The S-70 is designated as the 'loyal wing' of the fifth-generation Su-57 Felon fighter

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 01/31/2024 - 16:00in Military, UAV - UAV

According to information shared on Russian social networks on January 29, 2024, Russia is expected to start serial production of the S-70 'Okhotnik' (Hunter) strategic bomber later this year in the Novosibirsk region.

Lieutenant Governor Sergei Semka announced that the Novosibirsk Aviation Factory, a subsidiary of Rostec's Sukhoi Company, is preparing to start serial production of the Okhotnik heavy unmanned aerial vehicle in the second half of 2024.

Sukhoi Company has been diligently developing Russia's inaugural heavy attack drone, the S-70 Okhotnik, since 2011. The project reached a milestone with the first experimental prototype flying on August 3, 2019, followed by a subsequent model with a flat jet nozzle, designed to reduce the radar signature, emerging from the Novosibirsk aircraft factory in December 2021.

Series production will focus on the heavy reconnaissance and attack UAV, designated as the S-70 "Okhotnik-B". Several prototypes are currently in the final stages of comprehensive testing, with particular emphasis on optimizing the weapons control system software. Production models are expected to have a narrow section nozzle, aiming to achieve a reduction of 2 to 2.5 times in the infrared signature and a marginal decrease in the effective reflective surface at the back of the UAV.

All S-70 vehicles are programmed to be equipped with terminals for the exchange of tactical information and telecode information through secure radio communication channels of the KDL-I type (0.96 - 1.25 GHz). This technology is designed to allow the operation of UAVs under the control of Su-30SM2 and Su-57 crews. The range of the communication channel is projected between 350 and 450 km, allowing these multifunctional fighter crews to deploy the S-70 as "unmanned wings" without the need for manned vehicles to enter the enemy's anti-access/anti-aircraft (A2/D2) zones and the fighter maneuver zones.

The S-70 Okhotnik, with a 14-meter fuselage and a 19-meter wingspan, is comparable to the MiG-29, has a take-off weight of up to 25 tons, including combat load of up to 3 tons.

Although the composition of the 3-ton combat cargo remains uncertain, the initial studies of the project suggested a wide range of guided aerial weapons, from anti-aircraft missiles to tactical aviation cruise missiles. The aircraft allegedly has internal weapon compartments similar to those of the Su-57 fighter, allowing the use of weapons beyond the visual range, including R-77M air-to-air missiles and Kh-59MK2 air-surface missiles capable of avoiding radar detection. However, at the end of 2020, Russia announced plans to use Okhotnik to launch unguided aerial bombs.

Tags: Military AviationRussiaS-70 OkhotnikUCAV

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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Cavok Brazil - Digital Tchê Web Creation

[hermesserpent-stuff]

HI! this is so chock full of spoilers for stolen heir. like 10 chapters ahead or so. but i had to write it and i had to share because viggo and ryker are my world when hiccup and dagur are not busy being my world

Hiccup puffs out his cheeks as he considers the Gronckle iron that he had gotten his hands on. It is both a fascinating and frustrating metal. It is very strong, but can be riddled with impurities, with its creators seeming to have no method of getting out the impurities. On top of that, it had to be melted at a consistently high temperature that was hard to maintain. Hiccup had made a ton of modifications to his forge on Áræði that let it burn hotter than any forge on Berk had ever managed. And since that one dream he had mixed in some offerings and specifically birch logs. It made any Gronckle iron that he melted down much purer. But he wants it to be more refined. He scrubs at his face with sooty hands, having just ended a session in his  far smaller smithy located at the back of their shop in the Northern Market. There had to be a…

Water.

What if he did the quenching process differently?! With pressurized water pushed through a hose that cooled the metal in a different fashion. And maybe some sort of filtration system to keep out soot and other undesirables! He grins and starts darting about for supplies. It comes together quickly and he turns a few knobs on the small forge to get it to heat higher. Not as efficient as his one at home, but it will melt what it needs to.

He is quickly working on making a small dagger to test the technique on, and is pleased with the results as he starts to hammer the metal into the shape he wants. He hears a knock on one of the nearby work tables, his brother's normal signal that he is there so as to not startle Hiccup.

“In a moment, I'm trying something new, Dagur!”

He chirps, adjusting the nozzle for the water and then working the modified billows to build up the water pressure for when he needs it next. Hiccup forgets that his brother might be waiting as he works, giving a final thought of if it was truly important, his brother would rouse him from his work, before fully losing himself in twisting knobs, hammering, billowing, and testing out his new water system. 

The dagger is a fairly standard design but far stronger and if Hiccup is not mistaken, definitely going to hold its sharp edges much longer than a standard blade. He holds it up to inspect it and gives a satisfied nod.

“Impressive. That metal looks far more refined than anything my village has managed.”

Hiccup startles and  drops the blade with a yelp, nicking his hand and falling back towards his makeshift water tank. A set of arms catches him. Not his brother. Hiccup is not sure who it is. He vaguely recognizes it as someone who had visited the Northern Markets fairly frequently, often near one of their largest buyers, Ryker. Ryker who is standing at the edge of Hiccup's little forge area that is divided from the main selling area by a bit of leather acting as a curtain. 

Hiccup turns bright red with embarrassment.

“Err, hello…”

“That looks like a nasty cut, my dear, you should treat it. Do you keep medical supplies back here?”

The man asks and Hiccup nods. Hiccup is gently placed back on his feet and he scurries to the medical box his brother always kept stocked.

“So, uh, sorry, for ignoring you! And how can I help you?”

Hiccup is not the strongest at interacting with customers. Most Vikings tended to favor and like Dagur's more abrasive interactions. But Dagur must have gone to go get something if these men are back here. Ryker is nice enough for a dragon hunter though, so Hiccup's eyes dart to him while speaking. But oddly enough, for a man who commanded others and took charge every other time Hiccup had seen him, Ryker looks to the other man and waits for him to speak. 

“I am Viggo Grimborn of the Acumens tribe. My brother here has been purchasing a lot of our weapons from you lately and I wanted to come and meet the mind behind them. I find many of you more inventive weaponry endearing and have a pet project I would like a second set of eyes on.”

Hiccup blinks and freezes mid wrapping. The chief of the Acumens. He knows the name Viggo Grimborn from many whispers in the market. And the man likes his weapons?

“What was your favorite?”

Hiccup blurts out and then just about bites his tongue off. Stupid. But Hiccup normally just sells axes, swords, and Maces. Ryker was one of the few to buy Hiccup's stranger weaponry. Viggo smiles and it is a lot like a smooth stone in a river bed. A little cold, but no cracks or faults present. And it could potentially warm if the water and weather allowed.

“I liked the bola launchers.”

Hiccup lights up. One of his earliest true inventions that he had been perfecting.

“Oh! Yes. Those are quite useful. Have they been giving you any trouble? I know the older models need a little calibration and beeswax to stay on target.”

Viggo's smile warms a little.

“The written instructions that came with them were quite useful. I particularly enjoyed the step by step diagrams for those of us who bore of words.”

The last sentence is paired with a teasing smile and a glance at Ryker who rolls his eyes. Hiccup finds himself settling, soothed by the approval and the brothers' interaction with each other. Hiccup finishes wrapping his hand as he replies.

“Oh good. I had hoped the doodles I did were helpful. They felt like such a flight of fancy at the time, and I didnt really put all the detail and time I could have into them…”

Hiccup scrunches his nose as he catches himself babbling. He closes his mouth with a click, and notes the odd look that enters Viggo’s eyes and then quickly fades. Shoot. He is going to annoy them with his talking and then he’ll never get to see the project that Viggo wanted consultation on. Which would be a shame, because it would be his first consultation, and maybe could lead to his first specialized request. At 14, it is a bit early in his smithing career to get a specialized request, but then again most 14 yearolds are apprenticed and not running their own forge. So really-

He bites the inside of his cheek to halt his flyaway thoughts and blinks hard to ground himself back in the room.

“Consultation?”

He squeaks out weakly and flushes deep red in embarrassment. At this rate they probably will get annoyed enough to stab him. He had seen it done to another merchant who refused to give a straight answer. Which vikings generally prefer. Straight and short and to the point, with out wandering too far afield-

“Yes. I have an idea for a type of ship, but I wanted to speak with an expert smith first.”

Hiccup preens a little at the implied praise and then takes a breath. Do not get too invested in the praise, people were always saying nice things to Dagur to try and get what they want out of him. He twists his fingers in his smith apron. 

“Uh, sure, I can take a look, but you might want to call on the blacksmith who comes to the Market from the Hysteric tribe. He makes some really good weapons and ship equipment. He definately knows more about ships than I do.”

Hiccup rocks awkwardly, prosthetic creaking very softly. 

“But he’s not half as inventive.”

Hiccup turns bright red again and really wishes that he could stop getting embarrassed. 

“Okay. Alright. Err… I'm not used to consultations, to be very honest. I'm not sure…”

He tilts his head to the side as Viggo starts to look disappointed. He had heard Ryker mutter about his brother’s Maces and Talons obsession a little irritably in the past. 

“Maces and Talons!”

His outburst startles both men and he fiddles with his apron.

“I mean, I’ll look at the idea if you play me in Maces and Talons. And if you choose to hire me to try and construct anything, like test models, then we’ll talk about prices.”

Hiccup ends with false confidence, fingernails pressing into his palms to indent crescent moons where there are no wrappings, holding tight to the steadiness in his voice. Ryker grins and Viggo looks interested. 

“Alright. I saw a metal set on my way in here. Did you craft that?”

“Yes, and we can use it to play.”

Hiccup says with a firm nod to himself and he marches out to go and grab the board. Dagur and him had played a few times but they had grown used to eachothers play styles and Hiccup is eager to test out something new, especially because he cannot show his face a the Meatheads yearly tournaments. Too much risk of his father finding him.