#i have a few leads but trying to stay in the Bay area makes it hard

[korracrat]

You might be asking why I am suddenly back, consistently, on this hell-site. I recently got an iPhone after I accidentally bricked my five year old Android by dunking it in a bowl of milk. Getting an iPhone was not my plan, but it was the only phone that was “free” and that I could walk out of the store with that day with an Otterbox case and a screen protector as I cannot be trusted to not accidentally yeet my phone into a bowl of milk.

Well how does this apply to you suddenly posting again? Good question….and I hate to admit it but the tumblr app is more streamlined for iPhone than it is for Android. So looks like you’re stuck with me.

[a-certain-romance]

Annoyed

Synopsis: Making their in-game ‘Annoyed’ voicelines all about you (smut no angst)

Characters/Ships: fem!reader x Rahu, Zoya, Chameleon, Bai Yi, Du Ruo, Angell, Eirene, and Shalom (Separate)

Warnings: dom/sub dynamics, oral (Shalom & Rahu), Rahu has a cock, spanking (Zoya), fingering (Chameleon, Bai Yi, Angell), slight mommy kink (Du Ruo), strap on (Du Ruo), face sitting (Eirene), inexperience (Shalom & Angell), loss of virginity (Shalom & Angell), reader sometimes referred to as Chief

A/N: Format is a bit different bc so many characters. It seems the smut gods possessed me I finished this in just a few hrs. Will probably make a pt 2 using ‘special attention’ voicelines as well for other charas.

“You’re the chief of the MBCC, yet you’re doing such things…have you no shame?” She grunts out, trying to maintain her composure despite the way your hand is currently pumping her leaking cock. “Do you want me to stop, Rahu?” You ask from between her legs. She eyes you warily. “Someone will walk in and see us.” “The door is locked.” “Seems like you have an answer for everything,” she scoffs. Rahu’s hands grasp the chair’s arms in an attempt to stay clear headed. It doesn’t it work. She huffs, ripping the mask off her face and grips it tightly in her hand. “Make it quick…” she growls, head tilting back in pleasure. “Will do~” you smirk triumphantly before pressing an open-mouthed kiss to her tip.

You and Zoya were in the middle of a meeting with other higher ups in the Leigon. She always radiates power and confidence wherever she goes. You thought you were used to it by now. But seeing her give out orders in such an authoritative tone made you weak in the knees. When she sat back down in her chair, your hand made a journey from her knee, to her thigh, and now rests dangerously close to an area that will surly get you in trouble later. “Are you…provoking me?” She grits out at a volume only you could hear. You smile, “I’m being discreet.” “Discreet my ass.” Zoya grips your hand from underneath the table to stop it from moving further. “You want me that bad? You’re such a needy fucking brat. Just wait until this meeting is over.” When the meeting comes to a close, Zoya locks the conference room doors. “I thought I trained you better than this,” she sighs in disappointment. She pulls out a chair and manhandles your body over her lap. “You’re going to count every slap I give you and if you lose count, we’re starting over.” She lands a harsh swat to your exposed rear. “One…”

Chameleon is an alluring woman, and her seductive tactics only render you to be more compelled by her every word. She leans forward from where she was seated and traps you in your chair, her hands planted on either side of the seat you’re in. “I know what you're thinking about... no subconscious impulses go unnoticed before my eyes.” She brushes a few strands of your hair behind your ear. “So tell me Chief,” she murmurs, “do you want me to take control?” Her question hangs in the air for only a second before you allow it with a breathy “yes”. She smiles dangerously, a glint in her eyes that every sinner gets when they know they’ve won. “Perfect,” she whispers, trailing kisses down and around your neck, leaving bright red marks before moving on to the next. Her hand slides underneath your pants, glides under your panties, and only stops when her fingers meet those slick waiting lips she’s been vying for. “Just let it happen.”

Bai Yi tends to be the ‘top’ in your relationship. She can’t help but want to overstimulate you with orgasm after orgasm, drinking in the sound of your moans and your sweetness on her tongue. “Oh? How unusual. Are you taking the lead today? In that case, let’s have some fun…” Bai Yi grins as you lean over her. “But are you sure? You just look so damn good in this outfit, I really want to ravage you.” She whines playfully. It doesn’t take long for you to turn her into a crying, moaning mess. “O-okay no more edging, please let me cum!” She begs. “I’ve been so good for you, haven’t I? Why won’t you let me—” “Where are your manners?” You scold, stilling your curled fingers right before they hit her g-spot. “Ask me nicely and maybe, maybe, I’ll give you the release you so desperately crave.” Bai Yi curses, biting her lip as she sobs in pure ecstasy. “I’ve been such a good girl, chief. I deserve to cum after all that edging and torment.” She pouts, awaiting your decision. “You make a good case,” you sigh, leaning near her ear, “but I think you can take a little more.”

Du Ruo was reading through one of her many mythological books as she laid in bed. She was deeply enthralled by the information she was learning, but her focus broke when a pair of arms wrapped around her waist. “Stop messing around…” she giggled melodically over your wandering hands. Your arms moved up to wrap around her neck, your head resting on her plush chest. “Aw, is my baby needy for attention?” She coos, “Want me to take care of you?” You nod, and she closes the book with care before setting in on the nightstand. From the drawer below, she pulls out the contents needed for her to wear a rather large strap on. “Are you comfortable?” She asks sweetly. Du Ruo places her hands on your bare hips, letting the tip gather your wetness before she dares to push in. “Good, now hold still for mommy~”

“You seem anxious. Do you want me to do something?” Intimacy was almost foreign to Angell. It took a while for the two of you to form a relationship, but it was worth all the effort and more. Angell wanted to try her best—the best is what you deserve really. But there was one thing she wasn’t so keen at. “Something as in…?” “Let me pleasure you.” She asserts, and the rare sight of a blush dusts her cheeks a light pink. She crawls onto the bed towards you and her body towers over your frame. “I want to learn how you make you feel good. Teach me.” And so you show her. Angell takes off your clothes with great anticipation. Her eyes rake over your body and you swear you’ve never seen her desire you more in any other moment. “I’ll talk you through it,” you say softly before guiding her hand down to your core. “Once your fingers go in, do whatever feels right to you. Stroke, scissor or curl your fingers or—oh my god—“ you moan abruptly at her ministrations. “Yes, like that, Angell that feels so good.” She continues to pleasure you, her eyes zeroed in on how her fingers disappear into your wet heat. When you climax, she tentatively brings her slick fingers to her lips and sucks. Angell’s eyes widen and in a flash her fingers enter you once more, her mouth moving lower to get a better taste of you. It seems like it’s going to be a long night.

“If there is something you desire, just tell me honestly. You and I, we don't need to play this game.” She cocks an eyebrow, waiting for your next move. Eirene is analytical. Eirene is patient. Except when it comes to you, and how good your tongue feels inside her after a long stressful day. Eirene weakly grinds her cunt against your mouth as she sits on your face. Your tongue laps at her greedily and she can’t help the sinful moans that escape. Her hand moves to cover her mouth in an attempt to conceal them, but a harsh slap to her thigh convinces her to grip the headboard and be louder instead. “Chief!” She cries out, spreading her legs wider so you have more to work with. “I’ll never get enough of you. Please, don’t hold back.” Eirene lets out a gasp when she reaches her climax. When you try to move her off, she holds up your head to meet her eyes. “Again.”

“Okay, okay, okay... This is a "virgin" territory for you, huh? Now, give me your hand. I'll teach you how to do it properly.” You didn’t expect today of all days to be the one where Shalom takes your virginity, but you weren’t complaining. “I’m going to put your legs over my shoulders now, just let them rest there while I pleasure you.” You nod and try to calm yourself, but you can’t help the nerves that rise to the surface. “Chief,” she nips the inside of your thigh playfully, “I won’t hurt you. We can stop whenever you’d like.” You put your trust in her hands and give her the green light. She delves in, and although this is all new, it feels so damn good. You let her awaken every new sound you never knew you could make. It’s almost too much. You grasp for the bedsheets, or maybe that was a blanket? Your hand settles on her head and you can’t help but push her in further. Your legs shake involuntarily and the pressure in your lower region starts to build up. You call out Shalom’s name as you experience your first orgasm. “Relax, I’ve got you.” She says, moving any hair away from your sweaty forehead. In your afterglow, you shift around to curl up against her. “So, how do you feel now that you’ve experienced your first?” She asks. “…Can we do that again?”

[look-at-the-soul]

Cia I adore this gif you sent! (Thank you for the inspiration!!) I immediately got the idea but other stories came to my mind first 🤭

Still loving you

Robert Fischer x reader (and it’s also part of my grandma tribute) ♥️✨

Word count: 3,246

Robert waited next to the carrousel, there had been trouble with the system and people had to wait in order to pass with a custom. He just hoped this would be solved quickly because he had a meeting in…

That laugh and that voice only belonged to someone. Turning around he stopped looking at the screen on his phone.

No.

This couldn’t be happening.

¿Y/N?

Robert felt his body froze, his heart rate increased and memories came back and hit him like an avalanche. After all these years.

Flashback:

Y/N felt her knees go weak the moment she saw Rob stepping down his vehicle. Dressed in an immaculate suit with a silky black tie and that effortlessly hairstyle that suited him so well, his face seemed to be made by a Greek God.

It was odd that he asked about her appointment at the salon, perhaps he’d send his driver to pick her up for the gala…

She tried to grab his face to give him a welcome kiss, but Robert stopped her, giving Y/N an emotionless stare. She soon was aware of his cold reaction.

“What’s wrong?”

Robert shifted his weight from one foot to another uncomfortably.

“I’m going to the United States.”

Y/N blinked confused by his statement.

“What? When?”

He wanted to reach out and touch her, but instead he decided to hide his hands inside his pockets. “Tomorrow night, it’s all settled.”

“But.. but I thought you’d be starting on the September course.”

“No, I enrolled in the summer program.”

“Okay, I could cancel my Venice holiday and meet you there then…” Y/N proposed, thinking of some way to make it work.

They had just graduated and she was hoping they’d take the next step in their relationship soon, so moving in while he focused on his master degree in a foreign country sounded promising.

“I could start hunting apartments right away, are you staying in a hotel meanwhile babe?” She smiled again, thinking it could be good he took the lead and moved there first, so he could explore the area and find potential places. “But first I’d need to fly there, do you think your Dad would still let me use his private plane? He had said before anytime, but since you’ll be there…”

“Y/N…” the way he said her name, made her look at him. But she didn’t like what she found in his eyes. “This is why I needed to see you. I’m going away for a couple of years, we’ve to end this. Right here, before I go.”

And she couldn’t hear anything else he said, because her ears were buzzing, she felt like she was underwater and that someone was stealing the air from her lungs.

“But I could fly over and be there, lots of people have a long distance relationship nowadays.”

“Don’t make this more difficult.” He begged, making an effort to keep his emotions at bay.

“You can’t be serious.” Y/N blinked nervously, trying to find for a sign in Robert’s face that this was a bad joke.

She waited a few minutes, eagerly to hear him ask her to come with him, that he was only messing with her, he was always joking.

But when he didn’t back off, she swallowed hard.

“Really? You can’t even tell me a valid reason to break up with me?” Tears would start falling any minute now.

“You know I’m going to start my master degree overseas. It’s for the best.” Robert tried to excuse his sudden decision.

“The best?”

She barely had time to process the sudden news. How long had he been planning this?

Anger took over her, pinching the bridge of her nose, she tried to control her emotions. “You know what? Do whatever the fuck you want Robert! Go and study your goddamn master, I hate you!”

Taking her purse, Y/N rushed, needed to get to her car as fast as she could. She had dreamed Robert would ask her to go with him to the United States, to live together and then, get married. But instead he broke her heart? He was he love of her life, they had plans together for the future, they were good… or at least she thought so, now realizing how selfish he really was.

Tears ran free down her face and she cursed in frustration now realizing how selfish he really was. The son of a bitch, he didn’t care about anyone else but himself.

Y/N never saw the way he broke into a crying mess. Feeling guilt eat him alive for causing her such pain. But he was suffering as much as her or probably even more, she had been his rock, his safe place to hide, he could be real and honest with Y/N. But now, not only she was gone, but that part of him as well.

Robert kept his head down during the entire ride to the charity event his family was hosting, thankfully his driver kept quiet. Images of Y/N giving him a look full of sadness and disappointment for breaking up with her filled his mind, he hoped the image would stop haunting him at some point. He didn’t want that to happen, but he was convinced if he focused solely on his studies, he’d make his father proud.

They were still young, he wanted to prove he was worth of the Fischer company and he needed to work hard to achieve that.

Putting on an emotionless expression, he took a few shaky breaths to mask the fact that he was dealing with a broken heart.

Walking past the directors and board members of the company, he shook some hands, everybody was expecting a lot of things from him, he had a very important place to fill in…

“Darling, over here!” His grandmother’s voice caught his attention among the people. “Where’s Y/N?” She turned her face around, searching for her.

“She isn’t here grandma.”

His maternal grandmother gave him an expectant look.

“Why not? She was so excited yesterday.”

“I just broke up with her.” He explained uncomfortably, his jaw clenching.

His grandmother couldn’t believe his words, Y/N was the most charming girl she had ever met, she had Robert drooling over her, her family was respectable, she was well educated, smart, funny, beautiful, everything anyone would kill to be.

“I need to focus on my maste-”

But his grandma was already shaking her head and giving him a disapproving glance.

“This is the worst decision you’ve ever made. And you will regret it for the rest of your life.”

(End of flashback)

And his grandmother was right, he did regret it every single day. He finished his master and started working for his father’s company, he had made his family’s wealth bigger than he ever imagined.

But none of that really mattered, because he let true love slip away from him that night.

And now she was standing a few steps away from him. And she was still the most beautiful girl in the room.

“Why is that man staring at you?”

Zoe whispered at her friend confused. Was he even blinking?

Y/N frowned and turning her face around, she found the man that broke her heart years ago.

The world stopped spinning for an instant and the air escaped her lungs. She could practically feel her blood running out of her body.

All the memories flashing back at her, as if it was a movie scene. His cold words playing over and over in her mind.

No, time doesn't heal anything. It’s just a way to disguise the pain people say to cover an uncomfortable silence.

And she knew it still hurt like the first day because even after all these years, she still cared about him.

Robert managed to leave his initial shock behind, and he finally started moving towards her.

What should he say? Should he greet her with a kiss on the cheek or keep his distance?

The heaviness in his heart grew as he saw Y/N blinking, looking from side to side as if trying to find a way to avoid him.

“Y/N.” Her name on his lips seemed to burn.

She could feel her friends whispering in shock, they must’ve realized by now who he was because they knew the story.

How are you supposed to react in moments like these? Say it’s lovely to see you! No, because it wasn’t.

Could this be their chance to talk about what happened? He wondered if she had someone in her life. He opened his mouth to say something but nothing came up.

“Robert.” She raised her eyebrows, but other than that, he didn’t get much. Except she folded her arms in front of her chest, in a protective reaction. “All right, let’s go.” She stammered to the girls, wanting to go as fast as she could.

“There’s a problem with the car rental, they canceled.” Zoe announced and threw a subtle glance in Robert’s direction, he was still standing there, looking at Y/N.

He noticed Y/N wasn’t wearing a wedding band on her left hand, she was carrying a book in her bag.

“We’ll get an Uber then.” Y/N proposed trying to make her friends start walking.

“It’s extra expensive right now, it’s rush hour.”

“I’ve a driver waiting for me.” Offered Robert. “I could take you anywhere.”

A heavy silence fell upon them, you could hear a pin drop. Zoe and Lisa looked at each other, not fully believing what was happening. Then, they looked at Y/N.

“This isn’t a good idea.” She admitted in a low voice, avoiding his eyes.

“Hey c’omon we won’t be able to make it on time with this traffic.” Lisa pointed out.

Zoe gave Robert a suspicious look.

Whatever was crossing his mind, his ego dropped to the floor, he had been waiting for this moment all his life.

“I think a ride won’t hurt nobody, right?”

Before Y/N could protest, Lisa practically jumped on Robert, not wanting to give Y/N time to react. “I hope you’ve enough space in that vehicle because we overpacked.” And she grabbed him by the arm as if they were long time friends. “I’m Lisa.”

“I think I’m going to throw up.” Y/N grabbed Zoe’s hand for reassurance.

“Take a deep breath honey, this is not the right time to have a breakdown, you’re stronger than this.”

“Why him? Why now? After all this time…” Y/N’s eyes darted again towards Robert, who was walking several steps ahead with Lisa still hanging from his arm.

“I don’t know, but perhaps you were meant to run into each other, it was just a matter of time.” Zoe gave her friend a sympathetic look. “It still affects you.”

Her friend’s statement made Y/N stop walking.

It did. It still hurt her definitely. But it was only because Robert had been the love of life.

That was the truth, plain and simple, over time she of course started dating another man, but as soon as she realized things were about to get serious or that he would take the next step she decided to end the relationship not wanting to get married to the wrong man.

She wasn’t scared of marriage, she hated the idea of waking up one day and feel disappointed of the choices she made, it didn’t make sense probably for most of the people, but she rather choose to be alone.

Of course she never expected to see Robert again, there were a lot of things left unsaid between them. And all of those years apart didn’t prepare her to face him once more.

She remained quiet on their way towards his vehicle, the internal turmoil taking over with each step she took. And there he was holding the door open for her, giving her the sad and traumatized puppy eyes a pet would use after being scolded.

“I’ll go in the back.” Announced Zoe climbing in while the driver took their luggage.

Lisa gave her friend a curious look. “Can I go in the front? I get car-sick.”

That left Y/N sharing the second row of seats with Robert.

Y/N shook her head slightly while she tried to control her heart drumming like crazy, all their memories flashing her back in time to when they were happy, when they first kissed, when they first made love and of course, when he broke her heart.

A heavy and uncomfortable silence filled inside the vehicle.

Y/N tried to focus her gaze in the sighting they were passing through the busy streets, the man in the bicycle, the three women at the café, the elderly couple with their dog, anything but the man sitting next to her that was subtly looking at her and clearing his throat. She could feel his eyes on her, boring into her soul.

“Where am I driving to Sir?” The driver asked, waiting for instructions.

Lisa gave him Y/N address, she had a small loft in the city and they’d be staying there for the book signing event.

A million thoughts crossed Robert’s mind, he wanted to apologize first. But after all those years? Y/N could hardly stand to be in the same car with him clearly. What could he say? How could he even even begin to justify what he did to her back then? There wasn’t a single valid reason for leaving her the way he did.

And for what? To get his father’s approval? To show the old man that he was worth to be his son?

He lost the best damn thing that could ever happen to him. He lost her over nothing.

But now he was willing to give everything for her.

When they arrived, Y/N thanked the driver, took her bags and mumbled a very lowly thanks to Robert through gritted teeth, then she excused to rush to use the ladies room, leaving Robert standing there in the middle not knowing what to do with a million words to say and a sincere apology trapped in his lips.

Zoe approached him quietly, she had known Y/N for over ten years and given her reaction to the odd encounter, despite all, she knew Y/N still cared about him.

“Can I ask you a question before anything else?”

Robert crossed his arms and gave her a nod.

“Are you single?” That was the most important thing to know first.

“Yes.”

Then, onto the next question. “Call me a witch if you want, I don’t know you… but I know her. Do you still have feelings or something? I know it got messy the last time you talked but...”

Robert allowed himself to let his guard down, the one he had built after losing Y/N. He never let another woman into his heart. His bed? Yes. But not his heart.

“I don’t think it matters, she can hardly stand to look at me for two seconds.” He saw the pain was still there in her eyes.

“She’s going to hate me for doing this but if I can help in any way it’s worth the risk…” Zoe assured him. “I’ve a book signing today at four o’clock, this is the address.” Noticing the confusion in Robert’s eyes, she added; “this isn’t my business but I know the two of you’ve an unfinished business.”

Robert stared at the flyer, wondering what was the right thing to do.

“What if she doesn’t want to see me?”

“Oh it’s going to be hard, trust me.” Zoe then took her best friend side. “And if you hurt her again, I’m going to give you hell for ruining it twice.”

As the girls walked inside the apartment, Robert took his time to process everything, and taking his phone, he called his assistant to clear his schedule for the day, his mind couldn’t stop thinking of the series of events that just happened.

***

Robert took a look at his watch impatiently, then stared out the window of his vehicle and his eyes stopped at the women walking down the street. A grandma with what looked like her granddaughter, strolling with their arms linked, their eyes focused in the articles before their eyes and it made him think immediately of Y/N and her grandmother. How many times did he found them just like that, then they’d drive back into her grandmas house for lunch or dinner, the same with his grandmother.

When everything was simpler and happier. When they were together.

“Mr. Fischer, they are done signing the books.” His driver informed him.

Marcus didn’t ask him anything further, and without intention the man pressed him to make a choice. Walk in the book store and try to apologize to Y/N or drive away and leave behind a small possibility to get her back.

All damn day he kept thinking about her and what they had. How different his life would be if only he didn’t let her go that day.

But guilt was eating him alive, for the damage he caused her.

Did he deserve to be happy for once?

A bald man stepped out of the store, holding the door open and then he saw Zoe and Lisa walking out.

But when he saw Y/N hiding her beautiful eyes behind her sunglasses, he soon realized by just one look that he never stopped loving her.

“Y/N!” It was an impulsive move, but he couldn’t stop himself. “Wait…” he pleaded her, the three girls turned around to face him.

She gave him a confused look, not knowing what he was doing there or how he knew. Would the feeling of being incomplete without Robert would ever go away? Her heartbeat went crazy.

Knowing there was a possibility that Y/N could reject him, Robert cleared his throat and hid his hands inside his pockets. “I owe you a sincere apology, Y/N and I know it won’t take away what I did…” two pairs of curious eyes stared back at him. “I’m really sorry.”

Y/N stood there processing his words unsure of what to do or say. A million thoughts crossing her mind.

��If you want, we could talk? Privately.” He struggled to say the words, not because he didn’t mean it, because he was terrified of getting a negative answer. His next words came out as whisper whilst he looked down. “If you agree of course.”

Time slowed as Y/N took a deep breath, pondering on his words. Had she been waiting all her life for this moment? Was this the closure her heart needed?

She opened her mouth to explain him, she already had plans with her friends, but Zoe gave her a disapproving glance, reading her mind.

“I don’t know what will happen next,” Y/N said cautiously, “but I think a chat it’s a good start.”

“Thank you.”

As soon as she said those words, she felt free, relieved even for carrying the burden for so long. Whilst for Robert, this was the small light at the end of the tunnel.

They both knew it would take a lot of time to rebuild a relationship like they did. But at least this was the first step to try to get back the love they once had.

And without a doubt, he still loved Y/N.

Robert Master list

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[melmac78]

Here’s part 6 of my USS Lexington story. I had to do some rewrites to the original because the original location didn’t work right (at least anymore: it’s based on my memory of the ship in 1994).

Pictured are areas mentioned in this chapter: chow lines (breakfast here, but they have lunch too), sick bay, medical storage area*, and engine room, and from the CIC tour, a porthole that uses the climate control to keep things cool, and model airplanes. The hallway I think is the loop around for lower decks.

(Note: this is where I’m having to start major rewrites, so… please be patient.)

Chapters: Five Four Three Two One

•••••

The rest of the day was a bit cloudy, but for everyone aboard the Lexington, there was quite a bit of fun.

Several of the groups were on the flight deck, looking at the planes and other artifacts.

A couple of the kids noticed a bit of water in one of the wheel wells and, thinking it was from rain, pretended it was the perfect dramatic landing for one of their toy planes they got from the gift shop.

A ship leader, seeing the mess they were making, ran up to them and stopped the action. They took them to a scout lead, but didn’t miss a college student also touching the water.

The scoutmaster made them put the toys in a plastic bag that he held out, scolding the boys that they needed to be cautious around the planes.

As far as the Tracy family, John took a nap and tried to eat a little bit more the others had brought down from the party in the break room.

He was able to eat a couple more of the seafood stuffed mushrooms and potato skins, washing it down with a Sprite.

Feeling a little bit better from both, he elected to again to the captains quarters and CIC tour.

If he decided to stay by a couple of the climate control ports to cool down a little bit every so often it wasn’t a big deal he decided,

Besides, there were a lot of model planes to enjoy, and it would take longer than a few minutes to see every one.

The others enjoyed other paths and then took a break to enjoy some of the other food in their quarters as a snack.

Grandma Tracy had elected to go off board for the evening and spend time with Kayo. She knew that the young woman was interested in eating at one of the restaurants on the ocean and spending the afternoon windsurfing at the National Seashore at Padre Island… if only because Sally’s bones had ached going up and down the ladders.

The cloudy evening turned into a slightly drizzly night, although for those who were still aboard for Lexington after it closed for the evening still had a lot of adventure coming.

Mess had come and gone, with the brothers eating various amounts of their meals. They spent the rest of the time of the meal visiting with campers and answering questions they had about the Thunderbirds. John was a bit quieter than normal, but would answer the few inquiries directed his way.

The cake was also well received after singing Scott the “Happy birthday song,” though Scott made sure that Virgil got all the credit for the idea.

The rest of the night’s events lead up to the big event - the scavenger hunt.

The campers, Tracy brothers and others were looking forward to this hunt as the top prize was custom-made dog tags.

Scott had a set from his days serving in the Air Force, however, these were done in the old typewriter embossed tin back in the 1940s. So, ever the history buff, he was looking forward to trying his luck.

The brothers paired off in twos, with the space brothers teamed up, then Scott and Virgil as a team.

Gordon ended up paired with a young woman who was interested in becoming a member of WASP so he didn’t mind being the odd man out.

The five teased each other trying to say who would win – though John reminded them that it could be anyone who won, including the other groups that were on the ship.

Jacob blew the start whistle, and each of the teams could go to any of the tour paths and any order they wanted to answer their questions.

Alan was so excited about trying to win this prize however, after the hangar deck questions were answered, he led John on the lower deck tour – the wrong way.

In spite of that, the two started the tour and just answered everything backward.

Made sense too as they realized the flow of the paths made this a wise choice.

Little did they know that going backward would be one of the best and worst decisions they could’ve made.

“OK, it says 'The crew’s mess hall served breakfasts X many hours per day.' Do you see the answer John?" asked Alan.

The astronaut narrowed his eyes as he looked at the display in front of him. "Yeah, it says '316'," said John, blinking his eyes. He wasn't sure if that was the right answer everything seemed a little blurry. *I should've brought my glasses,* he thought. He occasionally had trouble with his eyesight after spending a bit of time in space.

Alan however glanced over his shoulder and laughed. "Bro, that's the number of calories on the sausage," he said and, seeing the placard at the end of the line, wrote the correct answer.

John smiled weakly as he reread the number. "Yeah, you're right," he said, rubbing his neck.

The youngest brother paused seeing the older man’s gesture. He scrutinized his fellow astronaut, and his laughter faded.

“John... you sure you're alright?" asked Alan. "You've been acting odd since din - uh, mess this evening. Why don't you turn in for the night and I'll finish this up?"

The redhead shook his head. “No, I'm fine Alan. Besides, we can get back at Gordo for calling us space cadets," he said with a faint grin, looking at the display again.

The youngest Tracy laughed. "Yeah - just because he was in WASP and knows ships doesn't mean he's got this won," he said and started down the path.

John however stared at the Mess Hall display, as though a bit dazed. "Can you help me," he said to the mannequins, frowning when they didn't respond. "Hello, can you guys hear me?"

A squeaky voice broke through. "Very funny John - these don't talk like the 'captain' did in his quarters," said Alan, remembering the tour.

John shook his head, clearing it. “Right,… just making sure they’re not Autons… though they’d be better than the projected face ones,” he said.

The youngest smiled. “Yeah… ‘Doctor Who’ did animatronic plastic better,” he said, and checked his watch. “Look, we've got to hurry so we can win."

John nodded. "You're right, they just look real. Anyway, this is about a third of the way through the tour, and we've still got to go through the other routes…” he said as they headed down toward the sick bay area.

Privately though, John was worried something really was wrong. He still felt weak, even after the nap and food. John dismissed it initially, as that could be from the space sickness and not eating a lot in the mess.

Now he wasn’t as sure. His ears buzzed slightly, and while he chalked it off this time to the fluorescent lights lighting their path, he wasn’t so sure.

Then there was the fact John felt warm on the tour route, which was odd as he knew it was air conditioned.

"Then again, anything on the ship is warmer than the sleeping berth," he muttered under his breath as they stopped by the pre-op and operating rooms in sickbay to answer questions.

Alan asked him something, but it sounded slightly blurred. "Yeah Alan - it says they used ether and halothane for anesthesia," he said, looking at the machinery, "doctor" and "patient" in the surgery.

"Um... John, that's not what I asked. In fact that isn't even a question on the hunt," said the youngest, looking through the list.

Confused at the non-sequitur, Alan looked up at his older brother. Seeing John's pallor and dazed look, the teen gently, but firmly grabbed his brother by the arm. "Let's take a break - you look like you really do need one."

John nodded and leaned against the wall, running a hand over his face, wincing at the slight headache he had. "Good idea," he said tiredly. Seeing Alan's look of concern, he smiled. "I'm fine Alan..."

Alan scoffed in a way that closely sounded like Scott's. "Yeah, sure. John - you're a bit pale - well, more than normal, and your cheeks are still slightly flushed," he said, reaching out to check his brother's wrist pulse. "Plus, you're acting funny again, and I don't mean in the Gordon's failed joke way."

John shied away from the younger man's icy touch. "Funny? How?"

"Your answer listing two anesthetics to the question of 'How many towels are in the surgery'. You're never that far off on an answer, even concussed," said Alan.

The older man quirked an eyebrow at the remark. “Hey, it was interesting they had drugs that if they weren't careful could knock out more than the patient in the room," said John, shrugging.

"Maybe," muttered Alan, who was more concerned about the present day issue. "Look, I know you don't want to disappoint Scott, and want the 1940s style dog tags… even if for me… but…”

“But…?”

“But you can't keep pushing yourself too hard there."

"I'm not pushing myself too hard Alan,” sighed John, though he was doubting himself.

The youngest scoffed. "Bro, I love you but let's be real - astronaut to fellow astronaut. You haven't been at 100 percent since you came down from Five," he said bluntly. "You passed out in the living room shortly after you arrived home, then you almost missed this because you had trouble boosting up your levels….”

John reluctantly nodded. "I know - but I'm eating everything that you guys tell me to..."

"Not quite John. You only ate half your hamburger and one Oreo cookie out of six tonight - plus left the chips untouched," said Alan pointedly. "That isn't everything."

"You guys also made me eat the meal Elmo’s brought today ... about two hours before mess," retorted the older brother. “Then a few of the appetizers from Scott’s party…”

"That still isn't a whole lot John, even for you but…"

Seeing Alan pause for thought, John placed a gentle hand over Alan’s mouth.

Seeing the youngest twitch his nose in irritation, John removed it, and continued with a smile. "But this is Scott's birthday and I didn't want to disappoint him being stuck on Tracy Island,” he finished.

The youngest however was not convinced of it was worth his brother’s health.

"Yet Scott would much rather you be 'stuck on Tracy Island' than scaring him like you did yesterday," Alan said pointedly.

Seeing his brother start to speak, Alan put his hand up. "No John… you freaked him and Virgil out - not to mention Gordo and me - trying to take an unconscious header off the flight deck.”

John narrowed his eyes in challenged. "But - again - I didn't lose consciousness yesterday..."

Alan however put a hand on John's shoulder, making him look into his younger brother's blue eyes. "John… contrary to your opinion, you nearly did."

The elder Tracy paused for a moment, and then ran a hand through his bangs. "Not you too," he said, sighing in frustration. "Virgil told me his diagnosis after mess yesterday, then ordered me to lie down again for an hour before the evening programs. I still don't believe him though..."

"You need to John. When Virg said you looked worse than a zombie he meant it," said Alan, shuddering. "Bro, you really looked like the ones in my game - even I know that's too close to out cold."

The astronaut brushed it off. "But Alan, I'm feeling far, FAR better than yesterday. The rests and food have helped a lot," he said. Seeing his youngest brother give a skeptical look, he chuckled. "But, since you insist I'll snag some of Virgil's gummy bears when we get done with this part of the tour."

"Promise?" inquired Alan, quirking a skeptical eyebrow.

"Yes, I promise. I'll leave the white-eyed zombies for the video games," John crossed his heart, smiling as he glanced at his watch.

He then straightened up. "Look, we've got an hour to finish the hunt. We'd better hurry or Squid Kid could get the last laugh."

The youngest nodded reluctantly, but admitted that John's dazed look had faded. He smiled and patted hod brother on the back. "FAB John, but let me know if you need another break," he said, then snapped his fingers. “Of course, we can get a soda from the machine at the dining room area.”

The older astronaut nodded. “Sounds good,” he agreed, and they continued their scavenger hunt. They answered the questions for the Sickbay area correctly this time and continued.

After a few confusing turns in the chapel, leading them in circles and briefly going the wrong direction, the duo finally reached the hatch that lead to the engine room.

Alan frowned as he saw the notice. "Caution: Engine Room has low overhangs, narrow pathways and tight spots. Proceed with caution," he read and turned to John.

"Tight spots?" said John, wincing. He didn't want his mild phobia to set in.

Seeing his brother pale a bit however, Alan started putting together a possible issue and placed a hand on his shoulder. "John - if you can't handle small spaces with opaque walls, I can do this one on my own," he said.

Seeing John's surprised look, the younger man shrugged. "Going to bed or waking up in the morning not being able to see sky or stars can make anyone mildly claustrophobic," Alan admitted. "I've had some issues with it on this trip."

"Huh - you sawed logs all night. How did you get over it?" said John, amused.

"Slept on my stomach - the top bunk for some reason feels a lot like the rug on my bedroom floor that way," Alan said, chuckling. Seeing John was still indecisive, he gave a kind smile and gestured to the stairs. "But your call here bro - wait or go?"

The red-head shook his head. "No, I'll go. You might be 20 but that's ONE place we need the buddy system," he said. "Don't want you falling over the side into the engines - again."

Alan rolled his eyes as he started his descent. "Seriously, tripping over sofa cushions onto MAX does NOT count as falling into any engines," he said sourly, but seeing John crack a smile, joined in on the humor.

Once John reached the deck the two started on their scavenger hunt. As they walked through the path, John started to feel warm again - but this time it was different.

The path seemed to be a bit more uneven, and John had to steady himself several times. John dismissed it as minor buckles and floor imperfections caused by 118 years of tourists and sailors walking the paths.

Alan however was so interested in the large machinery and dials that he too didn't notice John's growing unsteadiness.

They reached a wall with wheels, valves, dials and other machinery. "EOS looks good," said John seriously. He was starting to feel even warmer and was confused as to what his favorite AI was doing on the Lexington. He half expected to start being pelted with bagels and have the gravity ring turned off.

Alan however hadn't heard the EOS part and chuckled as he touched the surface of one of the valve wheels. "Yeah, she does look good for 118 years old. Still - there's enough panels on this wall that they probably would've wanted something like EOS to control them," he said as he answered another question at that location marker.

John however was fascinated with the dials, touching a few to see how they felt. In his mind he thought he was really on Five, and wondering why EOS used holograms to look like a 1940s ship. The images kept switching from both themes, confusing him to the point he paused.

When John didn't move, Alan pulled his shirt sleeve. "Come bro, we're almost done, then we'll take another break before finishing up," he said.

The older Tracy snapped out of his hallucination and realized he was on the Lexington. He heard Alan's comments, slightly distorted. "Good, glad to hear," said John, nodding and they continued walking down a longer hallway that lead them on a catwalk over several larger engines.

Shortly after a jump… at least to John it felt there was one, they were in a hallway again, heading to the main crew dining area.

This was where there was a soda machine with refreshments he needed… he remembered, looking forward to another Sprite.

But… as they were heading through more of the medical area, John started noticing some was definitely wrong.

He paused when he realized Alan's voice sounded more like a literal chipmunk's chatter than his still slightly squeaky voice.

“That's odd," he mused and started assessing how he felt again - really felt.

John noticed he was even more tired than he had a few hundred yards earlier, even compared to the engine room, and on a normal, even path.

Looking down, he saw his hands were shaking slightly.

"Alan's right... I have low blood sugar again and need that Sprite," he thought at first, but then came a heatwave - and the trembling got worse.

The combination of the two then alerted him to a more troubling issue. "That's not right - I usually end up chilled," he thought as he looked at the hallway with a medical storage hatch not too far to his right.

It was still in front of him, but the now only sharp thing in the room in his vision.

The rest of the started to blur into a tunnel, growing darker...

It was then John had a moment of clarity. He knew those signs, having fallen victim to them a few times.

He wasn't hypoglycemic he vaguely realized - he'd eaten enough foods to stop that issue.

This was worse - and this time he wasn't going to escape its clutches.

"Alan... I-I n-need...rab-bits," he tried saying as loudly as he could, but it came out as soft as a whisper.

Feeling his muscles quiver, trying to keep himself standing on the narrow hallway, John realized then his estimation was drastically wrong and tried to prepare himself...

Alan however was looking at an answer, not sure if was correct. "Hey John, I think this is wrong. Do you think the X-Ray room…” he said, and paused hearing his brother murmur something wildly offbase.

"Rabbits? Bro, what? -" Confused, the younger Tracy heard a stumble near the hatch he passed.

He turned just in time to see John's eyes roll back as he passed out.

John had been trying to get to the wall to sit down when he collapsed, but fell backward and toward the right, landing in the netting.

While it kept him from hitting his head, when he kept sagging, most of John's weight fell into the net.

To Alan's horror however, the nets there to protect guests - several decades old, then started to tear under John's 180 pounds.

John landed on the plexiglass, which at its age started to crack under him.

"John!" shouted Alan, as the cracks got louder. Diving, he barely caught his brother around the legs and knees as the net tore fully.

Alan succeeded, if barely, keeping his older brother from going completely over to the floor 30 feet below them.

The youngest did shift slightly as gravity pulled John down until his knees were over the thin lip of the hatch.

Fortunately for John, there was enough clearance under the hatch to avoid smacking his head on any item underneathwhen he stopped being a human pendulum.

Unfortunately for John, Alan's position in saving the older astronaut made the younger essentially a human brake, unable to do anything except keep the duo from falling.

"John! Can you hear me?" Alan persisted, only to frown when his brother didn't respond.

Alan carefully worked himself into a position to try and help pull John back over onto the walkway, but quickly stopped when he felt John start to slip further over the edge.

Feeling his own feet slip on the flooring when he slide some, Alan turned his head to find a secure leg hold. The teen saw what was left of the guard supporting the net. It was not floor to ceiling, but any little bit until aid came had to be enough.

He then put his other leg around his ankle, putting himself in a variation of a figure four leg lock. He was able to reach the other side and hold on to it, creating a more secure human brake. The younger Tracy then readjusted his grip around John's legs.

Alan let out a slight sigh of relief as he kept hold of his senseless brother, but knew he couldn't do it indefinitely.

"OK, plan B," said Alan, who used a special whistle code he had Brains program into his watch to turn the communicator feature on. "Alan to Scott, Virgil - anyone," he said in his rescue voice.

Virgil's bass timber spoke up, chucking. "I read you Alan, did you get -"

The youngest just interrupted. "John's collapsed!"

The medic's tone abruptly changed. Alan never joked when it came to John's health. "Where are you?"

"Lower decks - sickbay - medical supply hatch - I'm hanging on to him," said Alan, grunting slightly when he felt John's body shift slightly.

"Hanging on? What..." said Virgil, growing even more worried.

"He's fallen halfway into the hatch. I have him, but can't move without risking him - and me - going completely over."

Scott, who was at the machinery fabrication portion of the route, started running through the lower deck tour. "FAB Alan - just hold on to him. I'm on my way," he said, into his watch. "Gordon, go find Jacob and tell him we have a man down in the lower deck tour."

"FAB Scott," said the aquanaut, who had been studying the "Pearl Harbor" movie display in the Foc'sle. He fortunately was near the end of that tour so he wouldn't have too far to run for supplies and help.

The medic, quickly followed his eldest brother. "Alan - I'm right behind Scott. How is John now?" said Virgil, who then heard some minor shuffling and Alan's voice.

Hearing no further response, he grew even more concerned that he might be treating two patients. "Alan do you copy? Is John awake?"

"FAB, I copy," said Alan, to his older brother's relief. "But John's still out like a light."

Virgil frowned. "You sure? You can’t see ..."

"FAB… I bit him to be sure."

The medic did a double take. "You *bit* him?" said Virgil, not sure if he heard right.

"Well, I've kinda got my hands full - how else am I going to check?" snapped Alan.

Virgil started to argue, then shook his head. Given Alan was holding onto John for dear life, he admitted it probably was the only thing Alan could do besides yell to test his brother's awareness level.

The medic continued. "Understood Alan, but don't bite him again," said the medic as the two continued running down the hallway. "When John starts coming to, keep him calm so he doesn't cause you both to fall."

Alan started to say something when he felt John again try to slip through his grasp. "Hurry Virg! I don't know how long I can hold on," he grunted, holding on tighter and praying his brothers got there in time.

8888888888888888888

Three minutes later, Scott and Virgil quickly approached the area. “Alan, give us an update on John," said Scott as he passed by the Missing Man table.

"He's moaned softly a couple of times, but that's it," groaned the youngest, pained. The discomfort in his shoulders and legs securing his brother was agonizing, but he vowed to let his joints dislocate first before risking John's safety.

The two older brothers frowned as they continued down the hallway. "He should've come to by now," said Virgil.

"Why hasn’t he?" asked Scott, thinking space sickness and the long night before took its toll.

"Not sure," said Virgil, having thought of at least 10 more serious reasons at the moment. "Of course Alan can't really tell if John's woken up though…”

The pilot nodded grimly, understanding. "Let’s get them safe first..." said Scott as they arrived. They froze in their tracks briefly, assessing the scene.

Alan was on the floor and using his weight and grip on thin - but bolted down, pieces of metal to secure John's legs, doing what he could to keep his brother from becoming a pancake.

John's legs from the knees down were the only part visible on the high walkway. Leaning over the hatch, they saw John was upside down facing the an empty, but no less deadly, 30 feet or so header to the floor. Between his lax face and limp body language, John could almost be mistaken for a washcloth hanging from a laundry line to dry.

Scott and Virgil were thankful Alan was there to catch his brother, but worried as it had been several minutes since John's collapse with no known signs of awareness.

The oldest Tracy shook his head and quickly walked forward. "Alan, we're here," he said as he reached for John's legs, hoping to lighten some of the strain on Alan. "Did he hit anything going over?"

Alan by then could only whimper slightly in pain from his locked muscles. Scott pulled a MiniMAX from his pocket he had used to take aerials of the ship, and launched him to assess the situation below them.

Virgil however carefully stepped around his youngest brother and got on John's other side. He knelt over and unabashedly grabbed the waistband of John's Bermuda shorts and what fistful of shirt he could grab safely.

The man paused in the action - he had to be sure before risking further injury to John. "Scott, what did MiniMAX find" he said.

"The area under the hatch is clear. John couldn’t hit anything. Still unresponsive," said Scott.

"OK Scott. Now, this isn't the way I'd like to move him but we have little choice," the medic said. "On the count of three, you and I will pull John up and adjust positions until I can get him around the ribs to turn him onto the hallway."

"What-about-me," said Alan, who finally caught his breath as Virgil lessened John's weight.

"Keep a hold of his legs and pull as we lift," said the medic gently.

Scott nodded as he knelt down to assist. "FAB Virg," said the pilot and on three, they carefully pulled up their brother. Virgil would grab as much of new shirt as their brother's position changed.

Once John was high enough, Virgil had Alan move out of the way so the two older brothers could carefully remove their ill brother.

Getting a firm grip, Virgil was then able to reach around John's shoulders and head safely. The duo then gently turning a further 45 degrees, gently laying John on the hallway floor.

After dragging him a few feet back to not risk anyone else falling through the hatch, the medic then checked John's vitals.

“His pulse is fast and his skin is hot," said Virgil as Scott lowered the storage hatch. "He might have heat exhaustion."

Scott nodded. "We need to move him to a cooler location," he said, lifting his watch. "Gordon, meet us at the medical storage hatch near sickbay. If Jacob is there, ask he get…”

"FAB - Jacob is getting the trauma kit. I’m on my way with a stokes if needed and a first aid kit,” said the aquanaut as if reading Scott’s mind.

Scott looked at Alan, who was sitting behind Virgil, and rubbing his shoulder and knee. "Alan, can you help us carry him?" said Scott. "Three people would be a more secure way to get him to safety."

Alan nodded weakly. "Yes, but I'd suggest I just help with his legs," he said. "I think I've hurt myself stopping him."

The eldest frowned. "Any other injuries - you or John?" asked Scott again.

The youngest shook his head in negation. “He just hit the net. Kept him from hitting his head… just not landing on the plexiglass,” Alan said.

Virgil nodded. "I'll check it and your shoulder too after we get John sorted out," he said.

Alan nodded as the two older Tracys got on either side of their unconscious brother. Virgil put his arms under John's armpits, protecting his head. Scott put his arms underneath John's lower back and knees while Alan secured their brother at his ankles.

On the count of three, they lifted their brother, who gave a mild groan but didn't do much else. "Easy bro, you're safe," reassured Virgil, though he had a feeling John couldn't quite hear them yet. If the man did though, Virgil didn't want him to panic being carried.

They carefully moved John the rest of the walkway to an open area and placed him on the ground, trying to make him more comfortable.

Then they saw Gordon coming down the hallway. “Jacob’s ETA is about 4 minutes.”

"Understood Gordon," said Scott as he used what was in his water bottle to cool his younger brother.

Gordon kneeled next to the group as Virgil reassessed John's condition. "How's John?"

Virgil frowned as he finished checking John's pulse and eye response. "He's a bit too warm, possible heat exhaustion," he said, concerned as he and Scott then moved their brother onto the metal stretcher. "We've got to lower his temperature down."

Gordon nodded, pulling out a small cooling pack from the first aid kit as they heard running footsteps. Turning, he noticed Jacob run to their location with the larger kit, which would contain more, and larger, instant ice packs.

He then knelt next to the group. "I've closed this path to the other groups so they don't interfere," Jacob said.

"Thanks," Virgil nodded and opened up the rescue box, pulling out a cooling packs to place on John’s pulse points.

Jacob then gently grabbed John's wrist and checked his pulse. He was a certified EMT just in case there was an accident on the ship. "Gordon said you had a man down, but what exactly happened?"

Alan took a breath and explained as he helped Scott place cooling pack behind his insensible brother’s neck. "John and me were in the sickbay hallway doing the scavenger hunt… when he all of the sudden he passed out," he said. "I had to keep him from falling to the bottom of the medical storage hatch..."

Seeing Alan’s shudder, Jacob decided to distract the younger man. "Any other injuries - particularly you?" asked the ship leader gently.

The youngest brother shook his head uncertainly. "May have strained my shoulder and something in my knee… but Virg's going to check it out," he said.

"I can help - I'm an EMT," said Jacob, who gestured for the youngest to come over. He gently checked the injury as he continued. "Was there anyone or anything else affected?"

"A set of security nets tore under his weight when he fell. The plexiglas also broke, so you’ll need to replace them and check the others for age before reopening that display," said Alan, hissing slightly at the elder's ministration.

Jacob nodded. "Right now, I'm thankful they worked long enough for you to keep him from falling in," he said.

Privately, the “hangman’s humor” of his EMT side stayed mute.

Jacob had fun with people talking about the ghost in the engine room during the ghost story part of the event.

He didn't want that to actually become fact…. Even if the incident was higher up.

Feeling Alan shiver in memory, the ship leader cleared his head of the darker humor, then gently put a hand on his shoulder. "Looks like nothing's seriously hurt,” said Jacob. “I'd say use an ice pack on it and take some aspirin tonight."

Alan nodded while Virgil again took his John's vitals and checked his temperature.

He smiled softly. "The cooling packs are working some," said the medic.

As if in reply, John groaned and stirred some, partially opening his eyes.

Scott leaned over and smiled. "Hey John, how do you feel" he said simply, wanting to check John's reaction.

The astronaut winced at the metal under his back and sighed. "Fizzy," he said almost deliriously. “Am I in sick bay?”

Virgil shook his head. "Not exactly. Do you know what happened?" he said.

John tried concentrating, but it was too hard for him. He understood enough between that and the “fizzy,” feeling what that usually meant.

"I fainted… pretty certain... in the near a hatch heading from sickbay… I think?" he said, more as a question than statement.

"Yes, you did," said Virgil. "Alan called for help and we got you to safety."

The astronaut however didn't understand and winced. "Still so tired though..." he said, closing his eyes to rest.

"You're going to be - you know what fainting spells do to you," said Virgil gently, much to Jacob's confusion. "John has had issues in the past with low blood sugar."

Jacob furrowed his brow. "Does he need a glucose pack?" he asked, looking through the IR medical box.

The medic shook his head. "I don't think his collapse was from that, not with the past two days being as rough as they’ve been for him," said Virgil.

“Heat exhaustion?”

“Possibly. I think it's space sickness combined with the heat," said Virgil, putting a hand on his brother's cheek to check his temperature. "Look we need to move him back to the berth to cool him down more in private. Is there a way we can get him there with the stokes?"

John cringed… “Don’t wanna stokes,” he muttered.

His plants went unanswered as his brothers continued.

"Or having the Scouts save Sam freak out seeing him," said Gordon. Seeing Virgil's look of disapproval, he shrugged. "What? - It's true."

The ship leader however merely nodded. "Sure, there's an old sailor path through this part that leads to the berths. That's how they'd get to their stations during the service," said Jacob. "You gather up your supplies and I'll lead you through them. Most of them are air conditioned as well so they'll help cool your brother off."

The medic nodded. “Thanks," he said as he and Gordon adjusted the cooling packs on their brother. "OK John, you get to go for a little ride now,” he said, as Virgil and Scott moved him to the stokes.

John looked at his brother blearily. "Great - I hate being carried almost as much as EOS with bagels…” he said groggily.

He however then sighed as the packs cooled him further, appreciating the cool temperature against his warm skin. "Though it's worth it if she has the same coolness in the gravity ring..."

Jacob quirked an eyebrow. "You *sure* you don't want me to take him to the hospital?" he said.

Virgil also shook his head. "I don't think it's necessary. He's just more susceptible to exhaustion than the rest of us because he works in space so much.”

“But EOS…?”

“A private joke between us regarding TB5,” said Virgil. They didn’t want the AI’s existence to be known. “I think he needs just rest and fluids.”

Scott nodded. "I trust Virgil's assessment - he wasn't out long. We should be able to treat it here," he said.

The ship leader nodded. “Aye-aye - just keep me in the loop in case you need me to assist further,” he said. “My radio is on all night.”

The four conscious Tracy brothers finished gathering their items and tucked the kit onto the stokes at John's feet. On the count of three, they gently lifted the stokes, hearing their brother mumble some in protest, but didn’t try to get out.

They followed Jacob through a series of halls that lead them to the women's head and doorway to the berth, not noticing someone else was in those halls.

After gently maneuvering the basket through the doorways and down the stairs, they entered the sleeping quarters.

John still rested quietly, if a little bit annoyed as Virgil and Scott helped transfer John to his bunk.

Virgil sat on the floor next to John, who had dozed off again, and checked his vitals. "His temperature's down another couple of degrees. We can reduce the packs some so he doesn't get too chilled," he said, starting to remove them. "We'll have extras on just in case they are needed again."

Alan nodded and bundled the packs in an unused bunk to be ready for reuse while Gordon gave Virgil a light blanket to swap it out.

Scott took a close look at Virgil's reactions when he gently lifted an eyelid to check John's awareness level. "He is asleep right?" he said quietly.

Virgil nodded. "Yes, but it's a little restless physically - probably because his body is in shock from the heat and tumble," he said, adjusting the blanket over his brother.

"Could it have been exacerbated because John's pushed himself too far to come here?" asked the eldest. He felt guilty not telling John to wait a day and move TB5 to lower an elevator there instead.

"Maybe, but Scott… it isn’t your fault you know. Between yesterday and the late night and weather today…” said Virgil, but then shook his head, choosing to not continue. “Too many factors.”

He pulled out a gel pack for John's forehead and placed it on his head to gently cool it down. "As long as he stays cooling down, we’ll stay the night.”

Virgil then yawned and looked at the time. It was Tattoo, nearing the time they'd have to go to bed anyway. "Guys, we may as well turn in ourselves. I'll stay watch for the first few hours and we can swap out just in case John wakes up in a panic," said the medic.

The others nodded. "FAB Virgil. If you need us anytime, holler," said Scott.

The four uninjured Tracys, along with the Boy Scouts, college students got ready for bed and laid down in their berths. Within a half an hour they were fast asleep.

Little did they know in the next few hours, their trip through history was going to make some more history...

*A note - very minor liberties were made to the hatch: I don’t remember if there was a ladder in it or not, so I went headcanon 2060s there’s not. This is however reversed tour.

[befuddled-calico-whump]

Total $hit$how: Punching Bags

in which Benji realizes he's in over his head.

cw: violence, abusive training methods, threats, adult/crude language

previous ///// masterlist ///// next

×~×~×

Wandering the base hadn't been nearly as fun as Benji had hoped.

It was mostly just empty government-style hallways and locked doors. So many locked doors. Made even more frustrating by the fact that the locks all looked easy as shit, and if he tried, Benji could have any of them open in a matter of seconds. Maybe all of them. He wondered how long it would take him to open every door in the facility if he was really trying. Ten minutes? Fifteen? There was always the chance that a locked door would just lead to more locked doors, but that wasn't really fair to count against him.

But… he wasn't going to do that. No matter how bored he got here. Normally he didn't care too much for following rules, you couldn't make a living as a thief if you did, but Sahota's all-but-outright-stated threat made him think better of it.

If he messed up here, he would go to jail.

He'd already been there briefly, while waiting on a trial, and that had been… significantly less than fun. Benji imagined a state prison would be worse, especially if he was in for literal decades. So, fine. He'd be a good boy and do what he was told, even if their mission sounded made up.

There were a few doors that weren't locked. A decent-sized kitchen and adjacent dining hall. A computer lab that doubled as a small library. A huge, open room with cushioned floors that Benji assumed was the training area.

Eventually, Vic found them and showed them to their rooms. They were down a hall, behind yet another locked door, but Vic gave them keys for this one. 

There was a room for each of them, thank God. Benji would lose his mind if he had to room with one of these doofuses. Joy and Jericho seemed alright, but he never trusted a first impression. Kaius was a classic arrogant rich boy, probably turned into an asshole by parents and teachers who constantly praised his intellect. And Harbor seemed more than a little unstable. The kind of guy who'd snap and stab you in your sleep if you looked at him wrong.

Sure, he'd learn to get along with them; he got along with everyone given enough time, but sharing a living space was a different story.

The rooms were small and impersonal. A little bland for Benji’s tastes, and if he weren't fresh out of a jail cell he might've complained more. It was late, and he was tired from all the new information that had been chucked at him throughout the day, so he fell onto the bed before doing too much poking around.

The next morning, at seven sharp, they all filed into the training bay as instructed. Everyone else was wearing a set of dark gray workout attire.

Shit, did he not get the memo? He hadn't bothered to dig through the drawers the night before, and had just changed into the same clothes he'd worn yesterday, minus the fishnet undershirt. Now he was standing there in a crop top, looking ridiculous.

When Harbor stumbled in, ten minutes late and wearing the same rumpled shirt and oversized jacket he'd had on at the briefing, Benji didn't know if he felt better or worse.

On the one hand, at least he wasn't the only one who'd goofed. On the other, he didn't want everyone else to start grouping him with Harbor.

“I see most of you found the training uniforms.”

Benji turned around. Sahota was walking into the room, his face impassive as ever though his tone was full of irritation.

“Right, sorry,” Benji said. “Maybe give us better instruction next time instead of running off? Even just a note could work. Oh, or those little instruction pamphlets that come inside board games, that would've been a huge help—”

“Is this just a game to you, Ruebin?”

Benji gave him an exaggerated wince. “No," he said "I can honestly say that me staying out of prison is a very serious matter. I'm just saying—”

“Then shut up and pay attention.” He sauntered to the center of the group, leaving Benji to throw an exasperated look in Joy’s direction, which she answered with a small grin.

In his experience, the quickest way to bond with someone was by complaining about someone else.

Sahota unzipped his jacket and cast it aside, then turned to face them. He was… actually kind of hot, even if Benji was reluctant to admit it. Warm brown skin and lean muscle. Scars running up and down his arms that served to add an edge to his look, and a tattoo of something—a hawk? Some kind of bird—curling along the side of his neck. His dark hair was cut short at the sides and allowed just enough length to curl at the top, and his eyes were framed by thick lashes. If the guy wasn't such a prick, he might’ve tried to chat him up.

“Today we'll be doing some sparring," Sahota said. "I assume most of you already have some combatives experience, but I'll need a firsthand look to see if your skills are adequate.”

Joy raised her hand. Benji found it adorable how she kept doing that, like a kindergartner excited to learn. 

“So you're going to watch us fight each other?”

“No,” Sahota said. “You're going to fight me.”

Shit. Benji raised his hand. “Ah… exactly how important are these combatives?”

He was more flight than fight. Hell, not even that. As long as his jaw was working, Benji was a talker. He'd avoided countless black eyes and broken bones through simple verbal de-escalation. The few times he had been dragged into a scuffle hadn't gone very well for him.

“It's a matter of life and death.” From anybody else, that would've sounded like a joke, but Sahota was dead serious. “Each potential target will be swarming with guards. If you end up cornered, really cornered, it'll be a fight to survive. Understood?”

Benji swallowed, nodding. “Yeah. Sure.”

“Shoes off. Vic doesn't like the mats getting scuffed.”

Benji crouched, unlacing his boots with a heavy sigh. This was gonna suck, wasn't it? Maybe he should just volunteer to go first and get this over with—

“I'll go first if that's okay,” Jericho piped up. “Might as well get it over with.”

Oh, son of a… well. Great minds think alike and all that. Benji scooted away from the mat, eyes on his brand new teammate as the man stepped up and came face-to-face with Sahota. Their handler smirked—if you could call it that. It was a half-smirk. Quarter smirk. Barely noticeable at all.

Jericho was nearly a head taller than him and twice as wide, all nervous smiles and beefy arms as Sahota sized him up.

“Alright Davis. Come at me.”

“What, right away?”

Sahota hit him.

Nothing devastating, just a little pop on the jaw, but Benji physically cringed at the blow, and Jericho staggered back in surprise.

“If you're caught in a fight, you can't hesitate,” Sahota said. Jericho gave a sharp nod and swung on him, but the smaller man dodged the blow effortlessly. 

“If you don't have skill, you'll need to make up for it with speed. If you know you're cornered, be the first to strike.”

He sidestepped another blow from Jericho as he spoke, sending a sharp kick into his opponent’s ribs.

“You're strong, Davis, but too slow.”

Jericho lunged at Sahota, making to grab him, but their handler dodged that too.

“And you're holding back.”

“I… I don't want to hurt you,” Jericho said, sounding a little winded.

“Your enemy won't feel the same.”

Sahota dropped to the floor, moving quicker than Benji thought possible as he took Jericho’s legs out from under him with a sweeping kick, then pouncing on the bigger man when he hit the ground, wrestling him into a chokehold before he could react.

Jericho tapped out, and Sahota let him up. The whole thing was over in under two minutes, and their handler wasn't even breathing heavily.

Maybe it was a better strategy to go last, when Sahota was the slightest bit tired out. If he got tired at all. Even then, Benji really didn't like his odds.

“I'll go next,” Joy said, stepping up to the mat as Jericho trudged back to his spot on the floor, one hand on his ribs. Benji threw a sympathetic look his way, or rather, a can you believe this guy look.

“Begin.”

Having apparently learned from Jericho’s match, Joy lunged right away, dropping a knee between Sahota’s legs and thrusting her body forward, driving them both to the ground. The move seemed to have taken the man by surprise, but he didn't stay that way for long, engaging with Joy before she could throw an arm around his neck. The two grappled for a moment, but Sahota came out on top. Benji wasn't overly shocked as he released the defeated Joy.

“Not terrible,” he said. “But against a larger opponent you wouldn't stand a chance.”

“That's what guns are for,” Joy panted.

Kaius went next. Small as he was, he was surprisingly good at kicking, and actually almost landed a blow. Benji felt a little vindicated when he didn't, even more so when he was swiftly put into a chokehold. If Kaius was the first one to match Sahota, Benji had the feeling he'd only get smugger.

With Kaius beaten that marked three fights won, and Sahota didn't look the slightest bit tired.

“Are you ready, Harbor?”

“If it means I get to punch you.” Harbor shuffled over to the mat, hands stuffed into the pockets of his oversized jacket. His multicolored hair, buzzed on one side and long on the other, gave the appearance of a parrot sitting on his shoulder. A feral parrot. Who'd been caught in a particularly bad storm. His height matched Jericho's, but he was scrawny, with a build like the kid from the chocolate factory movie after he'd been stretched by the taffy puller.

“Begin.”

Harbor darted forward, closed fist shooting out and… and actually catching Sahota across the chin.

Their handler seemed just as surprised as Benji was. Of all the people to land a blow, Harbor had got it first?

Sahota recovered quickly, dancing around the next few jabs. Harbor moved like a drunk monkey, slouchy and swaying, but he was fast.

What had he said at the briefing? He had some kind of biotech implant that made him quicker? In that case, completely unfair. Benji hoped he wouldn't have to fight him.

On the other hand, having Harbor on his side in a fight would be a plus. Even after Sahota had landed a few hits of his own, the taller man hadn't slowed down, the half-crazed smile on his face spreading with every blow. 

Which was more than a little bit unsettling. Benji once again found himself glad he didn't have to share a room with the guy.

After what seemed like forever, Sahota managed to get him on the ground, wrapping an arm around his throat and squeezing, the finishing move that had ended every other match.

Only Harbor didn't tap.

His face was contorted into a snarl, blood dribbling down his chin as his hands clawed at the arm around his neck. His upper lip was starting to go purple.

“Sahota…” Jericho said. “I think he's done.”

Their handler didn't move.

“Sahota.”

Harbor's jaw worked soundlessly, his feet scraping at the ground. A sick fear settled in Benji’s stomach. He wasn't… he wasn't about to watch this guy die, was he? Sahota wouldn't go that far, would he?

His mouth fell open, to reason with the other man, to shout for him to stop, but words didn't come. Beside him, Joy jumped to her feet, striding forward. Jericho was already standing, looking like he was about to charge in as well.

“Hey!”

Harbor's arms fell slack at his sides, and Sahota at last let go, letting the other man fall limp onto the mat as he stood.

Joy bent over Harbor's body. “What the fuck was that?”

“He'll be fine,” Sahota muttered. He was more winded than he'd been after his fight with Kaius, but his expression remained impassive. Not angry, or regretful, just… just a whole lot of nothingness. Like he didn't care at all. He was just doing his job, and he had no room for showing mercy at it.

And Benji was up next.

“Are you supposed to be training us or hurting us?” Benji said, finding words at last. “Is this really what Vic wants from you?”

“Who do you think I learned it from?”

Behind him, Harbor's eyes fluttered open with a groan. Joy offered him a hand, but he swatted it aside, staggering to his feet with difficulty. Sahota watched him limp away.

“You're quick, Harbor, but you're a sloppy fighter,” he said. “However, you're also the only one who didn't tap. Good work.”

“Good?” Joy scowled. “You're a shitty trainer if you think that's a good thing."

Sahota ignored her. “Get on the mat, Ruebin. You're up.”

Oh, fuck me.

Benji chewed the inside of his cheek as he pushed himself to his feet. Everyone here was a better brawler than him, and everyone here was already sporting bruises from their go with Sahota. No way would he escape unscathed.

“Go easy on me,” he said, trying to make it sound like a joke. “I don't even know how to throw a punch.”

“Begin.”

He knew he should follow the handler's suggestion and strike first, but Benji couldn't bring himself to move closer to his opponent. Sahota took a step forward, and he took a step back, hands half-up as if he'd actually be fast enough to protect his face.

“Maybe we should just—”

Sahota swung on him, and Benji jumped back with a yelp, barely evading the blow. Shit!

“Dodging won't always save you. What will you do when the door is barricaded? When you're trapped?”

That was where words came in. “Can't I just offer to go down on him?” he snipped.

Sahota answered with a jab to the jaw that sent Benji’s head snapping to the side, and he staggered backwards, losing his balance and landing hard on his ass. He scrambled to his feet as Sahota stalked towards him, holding his hands up in awkward fists, cheek throbbing.

His opponent spun on his heel, sending a kick directly into Benji’s side, which he accepted with a cry and a stumble, arms instinctively rising to protect his head, body panicking and not moving in the right direction quick enough.

“If all you're going to do is cower, you're never going to win.”

Benji grit his teeth, getting his hands back up. He flung a blind punch at Sahota, and was unsurprised when it didn't make contact. The other man took advantage of the opening, planting a heavy kick in Benji's stomach.

He crumpled, retching as the boot sent a spike of pain and nausea through his torso, up his spine. Sahota was towering over him, moving to pin him down—

“Wait!” Benji threw up a hand to shield himself. “Wait, wait, I surrender. Okay? You win.”

Sahota stopped. “You surrender?” he echoed, his voice low. An edge had entered his tone, and Benji didn't like it one bit.

“Your mission is to destroy top-secret equipment owned by a company with enough money to own you a thousand times over. Do you know what happens if you surrender?”

Benji searched for something witty, something he could throw out to defuse the situation, and came up empty handed. “N-no, I—”

He cried out as Sahota seized a fistful of his hair and hauled him to his feet, scalp set on fire by the sudden force, only half-aware of the shouts of alarm from the others.

“If you surrender, they'll want information. Who sent you. Why. They'll do anything to get it. And when you give it up, when you sell us out, Vic and I will do worse. Understood?”

Benji squeezed his eyes shut, nodding as much as the hand in his hair would allow.

“Good. Now stand up and fight—”

“I think that's enough.” Jericho was behind Benji. He hadn't heard him walking up. “Sahota, let him go.”

When he dared to open his eyes, their handler was glaring up at Jericho. But the grip in his hair loosened, and the big guy caught Benji as he fell backwards.

Sahota turned his back on them, silent for a moment. Benji imagined he was contemplating lunging for Jericho, then coming back to beat him up when the bigger man was unconscious. 

“That's enough sparring for one day,” Sahota said at last. “Take the next few hours to train as you see fit. Vic will be around to brief you on individual skill use later.”

Benji clung to Jericho as they left the mat behind. His ribs and stomach felt bruised, and his hands were trembling. Fuck, Sahota was good at making threats that shook him to his core.

“You okay?” Jericho asked, and Benji could only nod. Had anyone else caught what Sahota had growled at him? Did they know how fucked they were if they failed? It was probably better for the overall mood if he didn't tell them. Sure would do wonders for his if he could unhear it.

Sahota started to leave the room, but stopped just short of the door.

“I'm sure you all think I'm a monster,” he said, not turning around. “But when all this is over, when you survive it, you'll thank me.”

Benji watched him go with a barely-suppressed shudder. After today, prison wasn't sounding too bad after all.

[shadowetienne]

Reflecting on seeing OnlyOneOf for Things I Can't Say LOve tour stop in San Francisco (2024/05/03)

I meant to type this up sooner, but I've had several hectic weeks (leading up to going down to SF to see OnlyOneOf and since). Mostly good hectic, but hectic nonetheless. It was incredible getting to see OnlyOneOf again though, and I want to write up the experience before it fades in my memory.

This was a much less whirlwind trip than last year (where we drove down the night before and back up the next day), but it was still an adventure. We started very early in the morning on Wednesday, May 1st, with @redeim and his partner picking me up around 6 am just north of Seattle, and then us going to pick up another friend who was roadtripping down to CA with us to see relatives but not to see the concert. We had two drivers this time (Redeim and his partner) which was already an improvement on last trip. Redeim was coming off a knee and ankle injury, which will come up again, but was a bit of an impediment. The trip was, as expected, long. We didn't actually make it to where we were staying (with Redeim's partner's family over across the Bay from SF) until something like 1 am. I did knit an entire cowl on the trip down though, and it was nice to get to see a lot of the trip in daylight this time. Thursday (all day) and Friday (morning) were spent visiting with people we know in the Bay Area.

We went up fairly early for when we needed to be there for VVIP check in, but not absolutely as early as we could have (here we are before we headed out: https://shadowetienne.tumblr.com/post/749535185571315712). It was easy enough getting in and getting checked in, getting our lanyards for VVIP and our premium snapshot tickets. We didn't take that long in and out which was nice because Redeim's partner hadn't gotten VVIP so was waiting for us outside while we did the check in. We then went to get caffeinated beverages and some food (and a silver sharpie from the art store a few blocks down because we'd forgotten ours in Washington and we wanted to have it for people to be able to sign the flag).

But soon enough, we were back to the venue area, and during the time we'd done our little wander, the lines had started to properly gather (even though it was technically early for the VVIP line to have started to form). We wandered the VVIP+ line side for a while trying to get as many signatures on the flag and getting a fair number of freebies in exchange. There were also a good number of people with GA tickets around who we were able to get a chance to sign the flag. But after a bit of this, people were herded into the VVIP line for not blocking the sidewalk reasons. Redeim and I were still getting a pretty steady stream of people to sign the flag because we had it out and people were wandering along the line with freebies, or walking around if they were in VIP or GA and didn't have a line up area yet. At some point in here we got the delightful chance to see @jungwookjins and @tolkpopfan who swung by to sign the flag and say hi! (Standing in line and getting the flag signed: https://shadowetienne.tumblr.com/post/749535784683667456)

We also got to chat with the people around us in line, and as always lyOns are delightful. I got so many compliments on my outfit, and so many people who remembered me/us from last year. Handed out a few of the little pride flags that we'd brought for people who didn't have lightsticks (or just wanted a pride flag). There was a lot of commiseration about how much of a menace Rie can be (was last year, and it turns out would continue to be this year).

Eventually, after a good long while of waiting, it was VVIP's turn to go in for fansign. I liked the set up for this better than last year because where we were queued up let us watch the members for a while before we actually went up to get the posters signed. I got to watch the tail end of the fanchat before they took the chairs away, and then a chunk of VVIP that came before us. Some fun observations from that time: Nine continues to move constantly in his seat. I was very entertained watching him kicking his heels together with his feet resting on the cross bar of his chair and just being incredibly wiggly. Junji was very very smiley, and he seemed to be really enjoying being there. Also his hair was so good. KB projects the most of all of them in terms of being able to hear his voice when I was standing in line. I definitely spent most of this time watching Rie though (I suspect no one is shocked). He looked incredible, and I was so curious how the interactions would go this time.

At last, it was our turn to go up for the fansign. I believe it went Yoojung, Mill, Junji, Rie, Nine, KB, but the middle could be out of order there. Yoojung and Mill were both quick for me, they signed, they said thank you/love you, it wasn't a big interaction. Junji did a repeat of last year's interaction a little bit. He looked up at me, gave two thumbs up and said "shirt!" with a big smile again, and then said "thank you for coming again." At this point, I suspected that he might remember me from last year, or at least my shirt. Rie was, unsurprisingly but somehow still surprisingly, a menace. He looked up, definitely remembered me because the first thing out of his mouth was "thank you for coming back bestie" (he kept using bestie, it was somehow very charming). I told him he was my favorite, and he said, "I love you," and at this point he's trying to be handed Redeim's poster and I'm only freaking out a little bit. I got passed along to the rest of the members to sign, but I've got to tell you, I don't remember as much about what they did because Rie had just done his Rie thing.

This is where Redeim being in the process of recovering from an injury comes back into play. He was using a cane, and after the fansign, they were going to herd us down into a room downstairs for waiting until the high touch and group photo, down the steep stairs in an old building. One of the staff noticed Redeim using the cane, asked if he was OK with the stairs, and then herded us over into ADA (I was like "can I stay with him" which they were chill about). This was the first bit of venue weirdness, and it turned out ADA wasn't very well placed. It was sort of off to a side and too far back, especially for a standing venue. People sitting in ADA were going to have a very hard time seeing the stage. We had to wait for a while, and they ended up having the ADA area folks all go up together for the group photos (because they forgot to tell us how they wanted us to join the line until it was getting into VIP, and there were a mix of VVIP+, VVIP, and VIP folks in the ADA section at this point). This did mean that I got to watch most of the high touch and group photo process from over at the ADA section. They are so sweet and friendly and good at fan interaction. They're very clearly happy to see all the fans!

When we got to do our high touch and group photo it went pretty fast, I did get to confirm that the shoes that I wore this time made me about Junji's height, which was fun. Mill only startled a tiny bit at my tiny hands this time. Rie continued to be a menace. Got a smirk and a hand squeeze again this year. Then for the group photo, I was standing behind in a sort of in between way Rie and Nine, which was nice (hopefully group photo turns out OK, haven't seen it yet).

Then it was back to ADA to wait for a bit while stuff got set up and it was time for them to start letting people in. It ended up being a standing only venue other than the ADA section because they'd closed off the balcony (Redeim's partner had originally been expecting to sit up in the balcony for GA). I'd decided that I was going to go stand as close as I could to be able to get the flag up to the stage, but Redeim also decided that he would come stand up there with me, so once VVIP started coming in, we made our way up to stand as close as we could (they gave us little stickers that meant that we had in and out options for ADA). Redeim's partner got a great photo of us while we were standing waiting for things to start because he was just a little behind us: https://shadowetienne.tumblr.com/post/749583294468849664

I'm tall enough that I could see the stage quite well (or well, as well as I can see anything), Redeim was struggling a little bit more, and would at a point end up going back to ADA for a while, and then standing a bit further back with his partner while I stayed as far forward as I could. This is wild for me because with any other crowd, there would be absolutely no way I'd be comfortable standing away from my people. I generally feel really comfortable around lyOns though, and so many people had recognized me from last year, and had said nice things about my outfit. As we were settling in waiting for the show to actually start, we passed out all the rest of our little pride flags to people who had been standing with Redeim's partner in GA or who were clustered near us and didn't have something to wave. It was lovely how excited people were about them.

Eventually the concert started, and all my focus was on the stage. OnlyOneOf are incredible performers. I couldn't tell you the set order, or exactly what they performed off the top of my head for the most part (Redeim has videos), but every single stage was so good. I was definitely the most focused on watching Rie, but all of them had pretty good coverage of the stage when they were doing talking bits or songs that didn't have choreo and they wandered around. There were some moments that stood out to me a lot because of who I was watching: so many cute JunRie moments sort of scattered through out. Rie was having trouble with either his microphone or something on his outfit, and during one of the first ments, he and Junji sort of dropped back to the back of the stage and Junji helped him fix it. There were several hugs scattered through. The entire wonderful nonsense of Junji doing the challenge dance with the belt, and KB stealing Yoojung's belt for him to do it with, and Rie joining in on the choreo (and then KB also joining in and being very silly). And the ui medley stage, which was incredible. We didn't get one of the most exciting JunRie endings of the entire tour so far, but they made hearts together and then walked off holding hands which was sweet. But then after the ui medley, we got the treat of all of the members messing around trying to show Nine and Mill that they could clearly do the ending choreo of beyOnd better.

As we were approaching the end of the show, I got the flag out and was holding it up at times (I was trying not to block anyone's view, but I wanted to make sure that the guys got a chance to see it in the audience). Flag definitely got a few of their attention! I got reactions (pointing to it with a big smile, hand hearts, some combination there of) from everyone but Mill (he didn't make it over in the area during one of the times it was more visible). I also may have hidden behind the flag a little bit when they sprayed us with water because I did not entirely enjoy that sensory experience. I actually tried to send the flag up at two different points, but the first one ended up coming back to me because for some reason it didn't keep getting passed forward, but after another flag had gone up successfully, I managed to send the flag up on stage: https://shadowetienne.tumblr.com/post/749535481042272256

Mill is the one who ended up with the flag, and it was around his shoulders for a good long while. I wish that they'd gotten more chance to look at all the messages that people left for them, but I'm glad that it made it up on stage and all the members interacted with it at least a little. They had to send all the things back into the audience this year (sadly, we really wanted to have the flag be a gift to them). Redeim and I are plotting ways that we might be able to get it to them as a gift if they come back next year/in the future.

I already talked about the premium snapshot experience (and my confirmation that both Rie and Junji remembered me from last year) here: https://shadowetienne.tumblr.com/post/749574999788109824/got-premium-snapshots-with-both-rie-and-junji-it

It had started drizzling a little bit by the time I got out of the venue, but we were able to make our bus and train connections back to where we'd parked just fine, and then back to where we were staying. I'd originally been hoping to go into SF the next day for a bit, but between weather (pouring rain) and being exhausted, we ended up having a rest day, and then we drove back up on Sunday (again leaving very early). Got home just before midnight, and I'm definitely still just rotating the experience in my mind.

I hope they are able to come back again next year, and maybe also come to Seattle next year (though I'm going to be so very very tempted to try to see them at multiple stops if I can manage it). They are so incredible, and while I think that last year is still my very favorite concert I've ever been to, this year was amazing, minor venue issues and all.

Also, I'm just going to be reeling for a while over Rie and Junji both remembering me. I'm not sure how I feel about being perceived, but overall it was a nice feeling, they seemed so happy that people were coming back to see them again. Also Rie is an absolute menace and flirt, but it's charming.

[wicca-wicca-whack]

Orbiting...

Gordon Malloy x Reader 

Word count:   2916

// I really wanted to write another Gordon fic somehow there are like none

A transfer to the Orville wasn’t something you’d seen in your future four years ago. You remembered what Ed had been like when Kelly had divorced him. You remembered hearing Gordon talking about picking up the pieces, and though Ed made an effort to pull himself together by the time you were able to hang out, you could tell it was wearing on him.

But three years ago, Ed had been given command of the exploratory vessel, with Gordon as his pilot and Kelly as his XO. You’d been on another ship, a long assignment on a science vessel as one of many engineering staff. And Ed had been practically begging you to transfer for a long time now, which you’d rejected for a few different reasons- the main one being that your assigned ship was pretty far out and you were tasked with maintaining and upgrading the various systems on the ship. 

But now you were here, standing in the shuttle bay, and one of your longtime best friends is patting your shoulder, explaining Gordon wanted to be here but he told him to stay at the helm so they could take off once everything was secure. You nod along, expressing your understanding as he and their security officer- Lieutenant Commander Keyali- lead you to your new quarters.

“This is where you’ll be staying,” Ed offers, watching you look around idly as Keyali sets the bag you couldn’t drag around yourself down.

“Thank you,” you tell them both, looking around the small living area with a nod. 

“Make yourself at home,” he assures, “and Gordon and I’ll be in the mess around 1800 if you wanna come join.”

You assure him you’ll think about it, and he backs out of your quarters to let you get settled.

Unpacking is easy. Decorating your new space, putting up your pictures of you and your friends, including ones with you, Ed, and Gordon, quite a few of them just you and Gordon. 

You can’t help but smile at one, set on Halloween what feels like a lifetime ago, where he’s dressed as Fox Mulder and you’re Dana Scully, from that strange paranormal-ish show you two had been watching at the time. It was a cute costume idea, just buddy-cop-like, you had thought, and you can almost see Ed in the background in his freakish Kermit costume. 

You can clearly remember when someone passed by you, congratulating you on your new relationship as Gordon was otherwise engaged. You’d quickly moved to correct them… which is how you found out about Scully and Mulder’s future romantic subplot. 

You still weren’t sure if you were thankful or upset you’d been put on your last posting before you saw any of it while watching with Gordon. 

You snap yourself out of your memories quickly, shaking your head as you move to leave your quarters and head to the mess.

Gordon looks ever so excited to see you, the way he always does, a big goofy grin on his face as he stands from the table to greet you, wrapping you in a hug you eagerly return.

“Feels like it’s been forever,” he jokes, tugging you to sit right beside him as Ed gives you an amused look and a friendly nod. 

“You called me just last week,” you remind him fondly as he slides a drink in front of you.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Have a drink! We can all hang just like old times!”

So you do. And it really is just like old times- you’re catching them up on many things you never even mentioned during your calls, and Gordon is telling you stories that sound like lies as Ed nods along, trying to communicate that these are not lies. And, after a certain point, you go to glance at Ed, and he’s left the pair of you alone, the mess slowly clearing and it really feels like old times.

But you don’t interrupt him, you just listen to him continue to regale you with the story of him and Orin Channing, desperately trying to make what you’re sure was a hard situation sound light and ‘super badass.’ The three or four drinks you’ve had take a bit of a toll, and you find yourself resting a hand on his shoulder as he speaks. He doesn’t stop, but you do see him give your hand a cursory glance.

It’s a couple hours and as many drinks later the two of you are finally leaving the mess, Gordon holding you up as you stumble along the corridor, gently ribbing you about your stumbles as you giggle softly, warm and feeling light. 

He manages to get you to your quarters, trying to carefully wrangle you into bed, and your brain can’t help but drift down memory lane again.

Your ‘going away’ party. Gordon had insisted on a little party when you got your original posting, and you’d ended up pretty drunk. It wasn’t abnormal for the two of you to spend the night at each others, when it was easier than trying to wrangle the other home, and though you normally crashed on his couch, Gordon had been determined to have you take the bed that night. You, giggling, jokingly fighting his insistence, and him, laughing at you, clearly leagues more sober than you were as he carefully wrestles you into bed. He finally got you tucked in, closer to your face than he probably meant to be as the two of you pant as you continued to giggle softly, until the proximity of his face and the look he’d been giving you really set in. You had pressed closer, eyes on his lips, and they had just barely brushed when he’d pulled from you, chuckling, nervous and awkward. He’d wished you goodnight, and went to sleep on his couch. 

You never spoke about it again, not even the morning after. He’d acted completely normal and… like nothing had happened.

You haven’t even registered the pout on your face when Gordon nudges you back to the present, tucking you in. “I’ll see you later,” he promises, retreating from your quarters quickly. You can’t even tell him you don’t want him to go before he’s just gone.

And, alone, you can’t help but lament on your crush that will seemingly never go anywhere, that eclipses any relationship you’ve tried to have since. You’d dated both men and women on your old posting, aiming to forget about Gordon and give someone else the love and affection he seemingly had no interest in, but, you see, it seems you couldn’t let go of this idiot.

You lament on this as you drift into dreamland, dreams riddled with one scruffy ginger.

The next few months go more or less the same. You, trying not to think about your crush on Gordon, going on a couple dates here and there. It doesn’t work, and you give up quicker than you would like, giving the science officer you’d been seeing a polite smile and the nicest dismissal you can think of. They’re polite, telling you they understand, and offering to still be friends, to your relief.

In other, terrible news, it seems Keyali and Commander Grayson have quickly uncovered your feelings for Gordon, between interacting with him during lunches and after work and drinks with the crew, which Gordon almost always drags you to.

Tonight is no different, being the drinkathon, and you’re all wearing Regency-era clothing, thankfully not as tight as it could be, and you can’t help but laugh at Gordon, looking horrifically goofy in his breeches and stockings and horrible waistcoat, complete with top hat and cane as he takes the seat next to you, playfully taking your gloved hand to give it a kiss. “M’lady,” he greets as you tug your hand from his.

“You look ridiculous,” you inform him, reaching to tug his top hat from his head, yelping as he snatches it to nearly shove it onto yours. “Hey!”

“Looks better with your dress, anyway.”

Oddly, the pair of you nearly match- you’re suspicious that when Talla picked out your dress, she already knew what color Gordon would be wearing, as you’re wearing almost the exact same shade of near-royal blue, from your dress to his waistcoat, and you give the Xelayan an accusatory look, receiving only a smile in response as she sips on her cocktail.

He’s jovial the whole night, chatting away with everyone even as the pair of you casually lean toward one another. You’re doing your own chatting, mostly with the girls, with Ed chiming in here and there, trying to focus as your brain, once again, drifts.

It was maybe seven years ago, back when Ed and Kelly were still married, and you and Gordon were listening to them complain about one thing or the other- you couldn't remember, and you’d surely been drinking. You were all in one of Gordon’s sims, very pirate-themed, you dressed as a simple barmaid as the others were dressed a bit more… pirate-y. You hadn’t the energy to really dress up, but you knew about and admired Gordon’s commitment to costumes in his sims, so you lived up to the part, the best you could despite your sour mood. You had just broken up with your ‘flavor of the month,’ as Ed took to calling them, a few days prior, and they had gone full psycho and burnt the few items you’d left at theirs over the last few weeks, including your favorite jacket. So, yeah, you’d been pretty bummed all night, content to listen to Kelly while looking at her over your comically large beer mug.

Gordon had been sort of pouting the whole night himself- as he had for multiple nights, ever since that woman who had been blatantly stalking him had dumped him (who gets dumped by their stalker?)

Naturally, you really should have seen it coming when the couple had abandoned you, the pair of you just sulking. He’d spoken first- complaining that, apparently, he’d been too clingy for her liking, which you quickly dismissed, telling him there was no way he was too clingy. He’s chuckled, bitterly, telling you that’s exactly what she had told him, pulling at the frown that took over your face.

Drunkenly, you’d told him if you had been her, you would love to have him all over you. He had only laughed, shaking his head at you and giving you a joking wink that set your face ablaze. 

You’d talked into the wee hours of the morning, have stopped drinking long ago and nearly sober by the time you parted.

But that was then, almost another reality, an odd contrast to your current. You could hear him talking to LaMarr about some cute science officer, and your mood quickly soured as you came back to the present. Talla noticed very quickly, and tried to redirect your attention, but, instead, you gave her a polite smile, making some excuse to the girls that you were much too tired, pulling from where your arm is pushed into Gordon’s, quickly dismissing him when he offers to walk you to your quarters.

Ed is harder to shake, and insistent on making sure you get back safe, so you relent, rolling your eyes at him as you tell him you don’t need the Captain’s Protection when you only stay a few decks away.

He just gives you that stupid grin, and for a couple minutes, you walk in companionable silence, until he breaks it, looking at you questioningly. “You’re still really into him, aren’t you?”

You can’t help but sigh, peeking at him, but staying quiet for the moment. 

It doesn’t make a difference, you realize, as he starts to laugh at you. “You haven’t even been around each other since you took your posting!”

“I know,” you groan at him, waving him off. “Fuck off about it.”

“I can’t believe you’re still into him. You’ve told me countless times you were going to give up!”

“I tried,” you whine, running your hands over your face. “I tried, I’ve been on multiple dates and been with multiple people.”

“You know I love Gordon, but he isn’t that damn special,” he chuckles as the two of you stop at your door. “You should just do something or get over it.”

“Gee, thanks, man.” You reach out to shove him, disappearing into your quarters.

You know he’s right- he’s heard you talk about the countless questionable moments you’ve shared with Gordon. The glances, the awkward ‘oh but if I was your ex,’ conversations… You’ve been friends for so long, the list is nearly endless. You always explained it away in the end, but Ed reminded you on many occasions that the pair of you have never had all these questionable moments.

Another hour goes by while you sit on it, changing into your pajamas and telling yourself you’ll think on it longer, but then you realize you’re heading out your door, in your tee and shorts, but as you move to step out, you almost walk directly into Gordon, who looks shocked to see you, hand raised to ring your door.

There’s an almost comical moment while you stare at each other, both shocked to see the other, but then you’re using both hands to grab the collar of his ridiculous waistcoat, almost tripping over your feet as you back into your quarters, and his hands dart to keep you from falling, laughing awkwardly.

“You alright? Don’t fall.”

“Why are you here?” You’re surprised by how breathy your voice sounds, and your hands don’t let go of his collar as his hands feel like they’re burning holes in the back of your shirt.

“Just wanted to check on you,” he tells you, and your heart melts just a little. “You looked kind of upset.”

You hum, not really answering, flattening your hands over his collar and sliding them up around the back of his neck, receiving another nervous laugh.

“I think maybe I should put you to bed,” he tries, piloting you to take a couple of stumbling steps before your dig your heels in.

“Gordon,” you try, and he shakes his head.

“No, you’re gonna be pissed tomorrow if you’re as hung over as i think you’re gonna be,” he tells you, trying to get you to move more.

“Gordon.”

“Come on, Einstein, you-”

“I’m in love with you,” tumbles from your mouth before you can stop yourself.

You watch the way his demeanor changes, swapping from the jokey and fun way he was trying to tug you to bed, to confused, to seemingly happy, and then… to resigned. “You must be really drunk if you think you’re in love with me,” he tries to dismiss you, and you can’t help but frown.

“You think I’m lying.”

“I think you need to go to bed,” he corrects, trying to pull you towards your room again as you launch forwards, pressing your lips to his with more force than you intended to, but you don’t pull back, using your arms to hold him to you.

Seconds feel like minutes and he doesn’t move to reciprocate, and you can feel your face turning red at the idea that you may have misstepped, and you’re unwinding your arms from him with the intent to pull back and lock yourself in your bathroom when his hands reach up to cup your face, returning the kiss ever so softly before pulling away from you, giving you a shaky smile.

“Come on. Bed now,” he tries again, and to your surprise, your body listens. He gets you in bed easily, tucking you in as he avoids your eyes.

“Stay?” He looks up at you, and you can see the hesitation in his face. “For old times’ sake?”

He nods, assuring you he’ll be on the couch as he leaves the room.

You’re surprised to still find him there in the morning, as you move to get yourself a coffee, you spot him on your couch, throw blanket tossed over him, waistcoat and other parts of his costume from the night before spread over the piece of furniture.

You elect to synthesize him a coffee as well, and he seemingly wakes right as you set it beside him, giving you an awkward little grin. “Hey. Morning.”

“Morning.” Your voice is soft, and you watch his eyes go wide as you lean down to kiss him softly, aiming to reaffirm your confession. You don’t wait for him to return the kiss this time, pulling back quickly and reaching to sip your coffee before he tugs it from your hands, reaching over to pull you back to him and kiss you again.

It only lasts a few more moments before he’s pulling back again, and you can nearly see the apology brewing, so you shush him quickly, not sure what he would need to apologize for.

“I’ve been in love with you for a long time,” you re-confess, watching the way he bites his tongue.

“Me too,” is the most intelligent thing he can come up with, and you can’t help but chuckle at him.

You spend the rest of your day off hearing each others side of every questionable interaction, and you can’t help but be pleased that your over a decade of apparently mutual pining has come to this conclusion.

You guess you’ll have to thank Ed for putting the idea in your drunk brain.

[ausetkmt]

A Florida plantation that had slaves still stands today | wtsp.com

Tucked away on the side of a busy Manatee County road stands the vestige of a defining era in American history.

At its peak, the Gamble Plantation enslaved 190 men, women and children. Federal documents say they ranged in age from two months to 105 years old.

Their stories are not well known. In fact, few locals are even aware of a slave plantation in the Tampa Bay region.

Some historians say it's intentional.

A descendant says it's time for change.

Chandra's Gamble 'This is my history'

One of Chandra Carty's first visits to the Gamble Plantation was during her time as a high school student in Manatee County. 

"We didn't call it a plantation, we called it a mansion. I didn't know it was a plantation until maybe, I don't know, 10, 15 years ago," Carty, who is in her 60s, said. "Growing up, this was a mansion. So, they obscured what really happened here."

Interstate signs leading to the site make no mention of a plantation — only a mansion. It's only upon arrival that a sign reads, "Judah P. Benjamin Confederate Monument" at Gamble Plantation State Historic Park.

"How would the word change from plantation?" Carty asked.

However, Carty's quest for more information about the Gamble Plantation goes beyond the name. A family research project revealed she has direct connections to the site. Her great-great grandmother, Mariah, married Nelson Burton, who was enslaved at the plantation.

"The Manatee County historical records show in 1872, two freed ex-slaves being married, and that's where our family history picks up," she said.

It's history Carty and others who study the site say is missing from the Gamble Plantation, which now as a state park focuses heavily on its Confederate themes and memorial to Confederate cabinet member Judah P. Benjamin. He served as Secretary of State to the Confederacy and stayed at the plantation for a brief time on his escape from the country at the end of the Civil War.

"To be in line with how contemporary historians, contemporary museums, anthropologists try to interpret these public heritage sites, there needs to be a significant push to foreground the stories of the enslaved laborers here," Dr. Diane Wallman, associate professor of anthropology at the University of South Florida, said.

"As you know, somebody who studies history, and believes in, you know, the thorough and full telling of history, it makes me sad that the stories of particular people that lived here, died here, worked here, are not being told," she said.

Currently, there is little on the site that mentions the experiences of the enslaved. A visit to the plantation's information center does have a typewritten list of the names of all those enslaved. However, unlike other displays, there is no museum label to describe its significance.

"I want to see when I go into the little information booth, to see the story of specific slaves, to see Nelson Burton's story, because life is a story," Carty said. "We need to tell the story the best that we can. Where did the slaves live? What did their day to day activity consist of?"

A big Gamble The rise and fall of the Gamble Plantation

In the early 1840s, Robert Gamble of Tallahassee, Fla., used slave labor to establish a sugar plantation on about 3,500 acres of land along the Manatee River. 

Federal documents show he came to the area under the Florida Armed Occupation Act, which gave away 160 acres of land to settlers willing to develop the area and battle indigenous inhabitants.

According to paperwork filed with the National Park Service, those enslaved to Gamble lived in 57 slave cabins on the plantation. They are credited for the success of the plantation and sugar mill. 

Unable to keep up with "natural disasters and a fickle sugar market," information from Florida State Parks says Gamble was driven into debt by 1856 and sold the plantation in 1859.

A path forward Reconciling past with present

Documents filed with the National Park Service show in the 1920s, the United Daughters of the Confederacy purchased the Gamble Plantation mansion, restored it and made it a Confederate shrine.

10 investigates got records going back to the 1970s that show the UDC made an agreement with the state to limit the plantation's interpretation mostly to its Confederate themes.

When a state park leader proposed changes, he faced resistance. 

"There was pushback from the state government level. There's letters from senators...supporting the UDC and folks and trying to keep this focused on the Confederacy Judah P. Benjamin and Robert Gamble," Wallman said. "it's come up in the 90s, it's come up again now, where we're trying to have these conversations about expanding the narrative here and making it more inclusive."

John Sims, the late Sarasota-based artist who based some of his last projects on reimagining parts of the Gamble Plantation said he would like to see a memorial to the enslaved at the site.

“The state should consider…funding and even through legislation being able to support efforts to memorialize the history of enslaved folks and their relationship to the various slave plantations in the state of Florida,” the late Sarasota-based artist John Sims told 10 Investigates’ Emerald Morrow before his death in December 2022.

“Let’s look at some of these former slave plantations as places that really belong to all of us, particularly descendants of African slaves who have occupied those spaces,” Sims said.

Requests for on-camera interviews with the Judah P. Benjamin chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy were denied, but member Evelyn Hoskins said she believes others will be open to doing more at the Gamble Plantation to honor the enslaved.

"We are all looking for answers," she said. "The slaves were just as much of the Gamble story as anyone else."

10 Investigates also reached out to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, which oversees the Gamble Plantation Historic State Park. A spokesperson denied our request for an interview, but said in a statement:

"The Florida Park Service is committed to providing resource-based recreation while preserving, interpreting and restoring natural and cultural resources, and the agency strives to do this in a positive and appropriate manner.

"Our agency is always evaluating how we communicate Florida's unique history across all state parks, including at Gamble Plantation Historic State Park."

Carty remains optimistic. She said her focus’s is not on removing what’s at the site. Instead, she wants to include what’s missing.

"I just want the complete story because this is my history," Carty said. "Why would I tear down my history? Nelson had to build this? Why would I destroy?"

So, she's calling on the UDC, the state park, lawmakers and even the governor to push a more balanced version of history—one she never wants to be forgotten. 

"I'm feeling hopeful," Carty said. "Hopeful that some I see the image of Nelson...the image of Mariah, and they say, 'job well done.' You finally got our story out so everybody can understand what it was like living here."

[waywardxrhea]

Part Three - The Battle of New York

[slow burn romance between you, a SHIELD investigative journalist, and Steve Rogers]

Warnings: 18+, contains humor, fluff, mental health, family trauma, romance, angst, language, violence, smut later on.

installment list

Word count: 4.3k

The Battle of New York commences.

After sneaking away, you made your way to the control hub where most of the other agents were stationed at computers with Maria at the center monitoring the ship while Fury was away. You stopped to talk with another reporter for a few minutes before you planned on heading back to see if Captain Rogers had confronted Fury about the weapons.

Before heading to find the Captain, you walked up to where Maria was on the platform in the center of the room and asked quietly, "Hey Maria, can I ask you something real quick?" Your thinking was that maybe if you asked her nicely, you could get more answers than Cap could in his irate state with Fury.

"Yeah, what's up?" Maria asked while still keeping tabs on her screens.

"So I happened across something in a room down one of the halls and-" before you could finish your sentence though, the entire ship shook and explosions could be seen near one of the engines of the ship!

Maria cursed before telling you, "Let's continue this talk later, I have to figure out what the hell just attacked us." You held onto the railing as announcements overhead called for all hands on deck. Maria looked at you and said, "You find someone and get a gun, whatever or whoever this is doesn't seem to be playing games."

"You got it," you replied. You then proceeded to follow a group of agents who were heading to the onboard armory to get weapons. You picked up a pistol and put the safety on before tucking it into the waistband of your jeans and making your way back to the control room. If the fight got there, the control agents would need to stay protected while they worked and you planned on being the one to protect them.

After a few minutes, Fury reemerged at the control center and began calling orders. As he looked at the damage to the ship, he said to Maria, "We need a full evac of the lower hangar bay."

"On it," she replied and motioned for some agents to follow her lead. She looks to you and said, "You too. We don't have time to sit around looking pretty, I need all hands on deck."

"Yes ma'am," you replied with a nod, following Maria and the other agents to the lower hangar bay.

Right as you all began walking though, something was thrown in your path. "Grenade!" Maria shouted, trying to dodge the blast.

You ducked behind a desk before the blast could get to you and you quickly crawled over to where Maria was on the ground, asking "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Maria responded through her teeth before peeking over the desk and seeing Fury about to get shot at. She quickly aimed and shot the attacker down before he could get his shot off.

"Nice shooting," you commented as you stood up, taking the gun from your waistband in case there were more attackers on the other's heels.

As luck would have it, chaos ensued as more attackers entered the area. Maria took position behind some guard rails and shouted, "Praise my shot later, I need you to hold up that promise that you're a good shot!"

You nodded before crouching behind the desk again and taking aim at anyone who was pointing a gun in your general direction. Over the coms, Agent Coulson announced that the intruders had SHIELD armor on and that Thor and the Hulk were battling on one of the levels of the ship.

"Won't the Hulk tear this place apart?" you shouted in the direction of Maria and Fury.

Fury was quiet for a second before telling Maria, "Get his attention." She nodded and started calling out orders for a distraction into her earpiece at once, trying to save as many lives on the carrier as possible.

After the problem of the Hulk was starting to be dealt with, the three of them plus a few other agents remained in the control room shooting at attackers when there was a series of more explosions. One hit near the desk you were crouched behind, knocking you to the ground. In the process, you lost your grip on her gun and it went flying across the room! With eyes clenched shut for a moment and ears ringing, you tried to regain some semblance of your senses before another attack happened.

When you finally were able to open your eyes without getting another sharp pang of pain in your head, you spotted your gun about ten feet away from where you were positioned. Before reaching for the weapon though because you knew it would trigger more pain, you glanced around the room and saw where the attacks were coming from: the explosive arrows of Agent Clint Barton, one of the finest marksmen in the world and the man you had tried to track down after Loki mind-controlled him in Nevada.

"Shit," you whispered while waiting for him to reload. You knew you would have to be fast to seize the opportunity so you waited with baited breath for the marksman to reach for another arrow. When he did, you tried to ignore the pain as you scrambled for the gun. As you begins your crawl though, Barton shot a final arrow into one of the control panels which causes yet another engine to fail. The carrier began to fall quickly due to the engine failure and you were catapulted over the gun. Abandoning the protective weapon, it was now time to protect yourself from the control panel you were quickly descending toward. So you tucked yourself into a ball and guarded your head before roughly bumping into the panel, the impact leaving you breathless as the air was knocked from your lungs.

As the carrier descended faster and faster, and Barton dodged the heavy gunfire of the SHIELD agents, Fury shouted, "Barton is heading to the detention level! Someone needs to take him down." Agent Romanoff answered the call as Fury took his station once more as the ship fell.

Finally having regained your breath, you got up on unsteady legs as an announcement overhead said, "All agents to their crash stations."

You made your way to where Fury stood looking at the ship's stats grimly. You wanted to help. Tech was your thing! But as you looked at all of the failing numbers in front of you, a sense of dread began to fill your chest. You grim thoughts were interrupted by Fury telling you, "Agent, you can either continue the evac mission Hill started or you can get to a crash station. The choice is yours."

"I'll go to the hangar," you replied. If there was any way you could help you were going to.

"Then get going, just down that hall there."

You nodded and followed the direction Fury pointed as the ship suddenly began to slow its fall. With less force working against your movement now, you surged forward to your destination only to find the hangar bay filled with a dozen agents hiding as a ship flew off. "Who was in there?" you asked between panting breaths.

"It was him...Loki stole the ship," the agent replied in a sort of far-away voice.

"Are you all okay?" you asked, seeing their shaken expressions. No one said a word but they all began to follow your lead to the control station where first aid was being administered to those who needed it.

When you got back with the other agents, you were shocked into silence as she were informed of Agent Coulson's passing by the hand of Loki. Right before you saw him fly off... Your shoulders slumped in sorrow at the news and you gave a comforting hand to Maria as you listened in on Fury's conversation with Rogers and Stark about Coulson. You cringed as you witnessed Fury throw bloodstained Captain America trading cards at Rogers and looked away quickly as your stomach turned over.

Trying to stave off the waves of nausea washing over you, you looked for a distraction and found it in helping with the ship's tech reboot. You forced yourself to focus on the task and coding, pushing away the gruesome image every time it floated back into your mind.

After a while of working on the tech reboot, Romanoff and Captain Rogers approached you. "Captain, Agent," you said respectfully, looking up from the screen you were focused on.

"Rogers and I along with a...recalibrated Barton are heading back to New York to stop Loki," Romanoff started off. "I know Fury would benefit from footage of the capture, so we need you there for coverage."

You looked around for the Director, asking, "Does Fury know about this?"

Romanoff shook her head, replying, "No, but it won't kill him. What do you say?"

"I'm in," you replied instantly. You paused for a beat before adding, "As long as I don't lose my job."

Romanoff shook her head as she headed off, saying, "I wouldn't worry about that. I'd worry about surviving this first."

"Oh," you said, fear beginning to creep into your mind at the words. "Right..."

"It'll be fine," Rogers reassured you. "When we get there, find a secure building where you won't get hurt and get all the footage you can. We need all eyes on the situation so video coverage will help us out."

"Got it," you responded, a bit of the fear easing up now that you had a goal to focus on. Heading toward the station where your drone was, you dusted off a bit of rubble from it before grabbing both the control tablet and the drone.

When you all met up with Barton and got to the jet, one of the techs working on it said, "Hey, you guys aren't authorized to be in here!"

Captain Rogers put up a hand and said, "Son, just don't." You laughed quietly at the comment and the four of you settled into the jet for the ride to New York.

When the jet arrived in New York, Loki's army had already moved in. "What the hell..." you breathed as you watched the alien army blast their way through the streets. Already in his suit and on the battleground, you watched as Stark lined up a few of the invaders for Romanoff to shoot with the jet's guns before she landed.

Upon surveying the chaotic scene unfolding in the streets, you looked at Captain Rogers and joked, "Now which of these buildings looks safest?"

The joke didn’t earn a laugh though, and as you asked, Loki blasted a beam of energy into the jet, causing it to lurch. When it did you felt yourself lose your footing and grasped at the air as you began to fall out of reach of the wall. With his quick instincts, Captain Rogers grabbed a rail on the roof to balance himself with and grabbed your arm to make sure you doesn't topple over as the ship went down.

Romanoff made a crash landing and Barton opened the rear door for you to all get out of the now destroyed ship. You grabbed the backpack that held all of your equipment and stepped into the sun, looking for a building that was tall enough and not being shot at. You quickly spotted one about a block away and called out, "I found my spot! If I see anything you guys can't I'll loop you in!"

Captain Rogers nodded as you tightened the backpack on your shoulders and ran toward the building. You jumped over debris from the crash landing and pushed through crowds heading in the opposite direction and away from the source of the alien invaders. A few people tried to grab you and take you with them in the direction of potential safety, but against every self preservation instinct you had, you shoved their helping hands away and kept running.

You got into the building out of breath from the run and put your hands on your knees for a few seconds as you caught your breath before contemplating taking the stairs or elevator. You noticed a frightened security guard by the elevator and called out, "Does this thing still work?" as you quickly made your way over. He nodded fervently and gave you access to the elevator which quickly shot her up to the top floor where you would have access to the roof.

On the way up, you booted up your tablet and drone so you could be ready when you got to the roof. Once out in the daylight again, you watched as the battle raged on in the streets below. Your eyes widened in fear and you froze in place as you saw flying right past you was a giant metal robot fish-looking creature. A feeling of complete awe and terror filled your entire body, unsure what to do as more aliens jumped out of the being and onto the nearby buildings to begin attacking them and their occupants.

Instinctively, you darted behind an air conditioning unit on the building and hid from the soldiers as you pleaded with whatever deity that may be that you were kept safe. You let the shock wear off for a few seconds before assessing the area around you. Upon realizing that the aliens hadn't landed on the building’s roof yet, you started to regain your bearings and started using your drone. You turned on the camouflage mode and began flying it into the battle, careful to avoid the invaders' blasts and flying vehicles.

You held your position behind the AC unit as you watched what the drone was capturing on the tablet. Near Stark Towers, you watched as Loki fell and landed on one of the speeding alien vehicles. You touched your finger to the headset in your ear and shouted, "I have eyes on Loki! Just flew past Stark Towers on one of those flying...things. He's with a group of about seven of them. My drone can't keep up with their speed."

You flew the drone as fast as it would go and round the same corner Loki did but you were still far behind. When you turned the corner, you captured footage of Captain Rogers bus-jumping while the buses exploded beneath him. "Okay that was really cool..." you muttered to yourself. After this, you turned the drone to capture the effort of Agent Barton rescuing citizens out of other buses and Agent Romanoff shooting off attackers to protect them.

Further down the street, you watched as a huge fleet of NYPD officers shielded by their cars shot at the attackers in the air. You laughed to yourself, wondering how much you could sell the footage to them for if they would even give you the time of day after all these years.

After a minute more of Cap, Barton, and Romanoff fighting the creatures, a handful of lightning bolts shot down from the sky and Thor landed on the street near the three of them. When he landed, you marveled at the footage you had captured of it but your attention was grabbed by the door to the roof bursting open revealing an alien with a weapon pointing directly at you. As you made eye contact with the beast, your breathing stopped and your heart rate picked up as panic began to rage within your head.

At the same time, from over the headset came Captain Rogers' voice, calling out your name before asking, "What's the view from up there?"

With your flight or fight reflex finally starting to kick in, you scrambled up and fumbled to put your drone in hover mode before dropping the tablet in your backpack. You threw the bag on your shoulders and began running to hide from the creature. As you did this, you activated your headset and shouted, "Not the best time, Cap! Currently being chased by an alien!" After a brief chase, you wound up in a corner with the alien staring you down. As you breathed hard you glanced over the side of the building to see if there was anything that could break your fall. When you spotted nothing to aid you, you placed a finger to your ear and announces in a far away voice, "He has me cornered. I don't have anywhere else to go."

A few seconds later without and sort of warning, you were suddenly swept off your feet and into the air as you went flying! You let out a scream of surprise and terror as you flew through the air in the arms of...someone. It took you a few moments to relax and finally realize that it was just Thor who had come to her rescue. He dropped you off at Stark Tower and said, "Avoid the power source and try to stay hidden. You have no idea what you're up against." Without another word, Thor flew off again to joined the others in the fight.

Breathlessly, you took a few moments to shake off your shock before saying into your headset, "Give Thor my thanks."

After regaining your footing, you jogged around to find a good place to view the battle while also being hidden from any aliens. Once in a secure spot, you took your tablet out of the backpack and took control of the drone again. From your position, you saw the giant creature from earlier a few blocks down and flew the drone to it so you could capture that footage. When the drone arrived, you saw Stark in an all-out battle with the beast, shooting a plethora of weapons and munitions at it trying to take it down.

You listened to the conversation being had between everyone on the headsets and followed Stark as he lured the beast toward the others who were still fighting in the streets. Due to the slower nature of the drone, you only captures the creature being stopped and starting to flip over from behind. You furrowed your eyebrows as you tried to catch up to the front of the creature, unsure what could have had the strength to cause the beast to stop. When you finally caught up, dodging the beast's tail, your questions were answered when you saw that it was the Hulk who had stopped the creature from destroying the team. You smiled and whispered to yourself, "There ya go Doc."

Once the massive beast was dealt with, the group circled up to fight the invaders who had gotten ready to surround them. While the drone was still in camo mode, you flew it around them to capture the shot of unity before the battle commenced again.

From your hiding spot in Stark Towers, you spotted more of the huge beasts coming out of a portal in the sky. Your mouth felt like it filled with cotton at the sight and you swallowed hard before saying into your headset, "Uh guys...there's incoming. Massive incoming."

Immediately after the warning, Captain Rogers started telling the team their assignments for the mission before continuing the fight on the streets. Without any instructions thrown your way, you opted to keep your drone where it was and captured footage of the Hulk tearing into the invaders!

When you got your fill of that footage, you turned the drone in the direction Thor had gone to see him lighting up the Empire State Building! A sense of awe began to fill your body again at the sight and you started to feel like with that kind of power, maybe the city and its citizens stood a chance… The scene left you staring silently at the tablet screen in wonder, your mind almost incapable of registering what you were witnessing. Two weeks ago if anyone had told you that you would be experiencing any of this you would have laughed it off and told them they were crazy. But life is crazy like that and here you were at the top of Stark Towers filming a huge battle for New York against aliens.

After watching Thor move on and battle a squadron of aliens on Sixth, you located Captain Rogers who launched Agent Romanoff into the air and onto the underside of one of the alien vehicles right as your drone rounded the corner. You watched in amazement as the Captain fought off the invaders and then team up with Stark as he flew in to aid in the fight.

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw movement on the roof near the power source. Going against Thor's advice and your own instincts, you fished around for the gun she thought was in your bag. Your heart skipped a beat though as you remembered that you had lost the gun after Barton’s attack… With panic mounting again, you began darting your eyes around to look for any sort of item you could used as an improvised weapon. To your left there was a pipe that had broken off of something somewhere, but that didn’t matter. What mattered is that now you had a weapon and you gripped it tight as you went to see what the movement was.

As you approached, you saw Doctor Selvig, the man who had been working with the Tesseract in Nevada when it was stolen. As far as you knew from the intel you were given, he was also under the mind control of Loki. So you approached cautiously, ready to use the pipe if he made a move on you. When he saw you, he raised his hands to show he meant no harm. He studied your face for a second before asking, "You're...you're that SHIELD agent we met back in New Mexico aren't you? What was it? Nasser?"

You lowered the pipe to your side slowly in response to the words, telling him your real name before informing him, "I gave that one as my cover when I was down there working." Knowing that Loki never could have known that bit of information, you approached Selvig to try and help him up but were startled when you saw Loki fall onto a nearby platform followed quickly by the Hulk.

With your fight or flight instinct intact, you quickly threw yourself to the ground and out of sight of the pair and motioned for the Doctor to follow suit. Neither of you dared say a word to each other out of fear of Loki finding your location. Not like you could say anything coherent through the jumble of thoughts running around in your head.

After a few more moments of tense silence, Agent Romanoff appeared on the roof, approaching the power source to see if there was anything she could do to shut it down. Doctor Selvig noticed her too and spoke up, saying, "The scepter...Loki's scepter. The energy. The Tesseract is the only thing that can break that forcefield... You can't do it yourself.” A look of regret and remorse shadowed his face before he whispered, “This is all my fault..."

"It isn't your fault," you told him.

Romanoff agreed with you, saying to him, "You didn't know what you were doing."

"I think I might have, actually. I built in a safety mechanism to cut their power source," he said, a bit of hope braking into this tone. Both you and Romanoff gave him encouraging looks that silently told him to fill you in and he did, saying, "The scepter will be the key to closing the portal.” He looked down over the side of the building and continued, telling you, “And I'm looking right at it."

Agent Romanoff began formulating a plan and as she did, she looked over at you and said, "I've got this. You continue filming. Help the others as much as you can."

You nodded before heading back to the post where you had left your tablet. You picked it up and surveyed the screen, only to see one of the huge beasts heading right toward the drone. "Shit!" you cursed before taking back control of the drone and getting it out of harm's way just in the nick of time.

You did a quick survey of the area surrounding the drone and watched as a group of ships began to converge on the Hulk. You got as close as possible within a safe range and filmed the encounter of mass destruction as the Hulk tore into opponents, leaving a wake of debris behind him.

During this battle, you saw a popup message appear on your screen from Maria. The message read: The Council has overridden Fury's command. They're sending a missile there right now. Tell Stark. It'll destroy everything and everyone.

Upon reading the message, you turned on your coms and shouted, "Stark! They're sending a missile!"

"You're about two seconds behind the Director man, Agent," he replied. "Devising a plan right now. You may want to get that drone on me near that portal, if this goes according to plan it'll be badass."

You sighed inwardly at the arrogance but nodded and replied, "I'm on it, Stark." So you proceeded to find and hold a position with a good view of the portal which still had alien invaders coming out of it. Is this army never ending? you thought to yourself as you watched the aliens continue to stream out.

"Incoming," Stark’s voice said with a grunt of effort as he began redirecting the missile toward the portal. "You better get my good side if this is the end of me, Agent." he told you, a cocky smirk evident in his voice.

"Wouldn't dream of getting it wrong," you replied, hiding the exasperation in your voice in case it truly was the end of the man. You trained the drone’s camera on his ascent into the portal and watched as both him and the missile disappeared into the gaping hole in the sky. When he left your sight, your breath caught in the back of your throat and you once more began hoping with your whole heart that the crazy plan would work.

After a few tense seconds, all of the remaining invaders in the streets and on top of buildings began to power down and crash land onto the streets! As they did, you stood up from your post and watched for a few moments before looking back up at the portal, waiting for Stark to reappear.

"Close it," came Captain Rogers’ voice in an order to Agent Romanoff.

From the other side of the roof, Romanoff dealt the final blow to the power source with Loki’s scepter which shut the portal down and it began to close on itself. You were just about to close her eyes in shock and sadness at the loss of Stark but then saw him reappear on your tablet's screen right as you turned your eyes down.

"Oh my gosh..." you whispered and laughed to yourself, "the crazy bastard made it!" You refocused the drone's camera on his descent and filmed as Hulk jumped to save him from crashing to the ground.

After a few minutes, the team, the Avengers, made their way to Stark Towers to take Loki into custody together. During this time, you began quietly talking with Doctor Selvig about what he knew so you could get it down for a mission report. After finishing up your questions, with shaking hands you dug your phone out of your bag and clicked on Maria’s contact information.

After getting everything with Loki squared away a few minutes later, Captain Rogers announced into his coms, "I'm on my way to coordinate search and rescue."

You emerged from around the corner after your phone call with Maria and asked, "Can I offer any assistance? I do have my drone to have eyes in the sky. We can work a lot faster that way." Captain Rogers nodded and told you to follow him down to start the search for survivors.

Over the next few days, you had to undergo many, many interrogations about your involvement in the Battle and have every single second of footage you captured under keen eyes to get every bit of intelligence they could out of it.

One day when you were being questioned by one of the councilwomen, you were asked if you knew the whereabouts of any of the Avengers. In response, you replied, "Unfortunately, I do not, no ma'am. I frankly have not been in contact with anyone besides members of the Council and my grandmother in the past few days because of interrogations like this going on for hours on end."

This response earned a look from the woman and she told you, "I understand that you've been under a lot of stress lately Miss, but that doesn't mean you get to have a tone with me."

With your heart skipping a beat in your chest at the statement you straightened your back and replied, "You're right, I'm sorry. It won't happen again." You had no idea where that comment came from, you didn’t tend to get an attitude with people who quite literally held your fate in their hands. You cleared your throat before saying timidly, "But really you can check my phone records and see that it's only been business calls and calls to my Grammie to assure her that I'm okay. She's in a home, you see, and she saw on the news what happened and has just been worried sick. On top of that because of all of this interviewing and interrogating and everything I haven't gotten any sleep and-"

The woman put her hand up and stopped your rambling, telling you, "I can tell you are not up for any of this right now Agent. Take a day and get some rest. We'll have you back to your regular job at SHIELD soon enough."

"Well before all of this, my job was helping Captain Rogers acclimate to this world and considering that the Council and him aren't in the best graces right now I'm assuming that means reporting again?"

"That's exactly what that means Agent. You'll start reporting on cleanup and the impact of the battle on Monday. Until then you are dismissed, thank you."

You simply nodded and stood as you said, "Thank you, madam."

As you left the building and got into your car, your phone began ringing with a call from an unknown number. You quirked up an eyebrow in question before answering with a cautious and exhausted, "Hello?"

"Hello Agent," came a voice from the other side. The voice belonging to Captain Rogers.

You shuts the car door before replying, "Captain Rogers. It's good to hear a familiar voice."

“I can definitely say the same,” he replied, the same exhaustion in your voice evident in his as well. "So I went out on the road for a little bit while things in the city clear up, but when everything settles down, I hear you're the girl who knows her way around town. I think I may need some help navigating it all."

A warm feeling filled your chest and you smiled, replying, "I'd be honored. I'll give this number a call when everything here is back in working order. Since we probably won't be able to meet at SHIELD is my place okay? I have an apartment in Brooklyn with an amazing view. I can start catching you up on everything you missed out on while you were on the ice."

"I'm looking forward to it," he replied, his own smile apparent in his voice.

"I'll talk with you soon, Captain,” you told him before hanging up the phone, your shoulders relaxing for the first time in days as you imagined the things you would help him with to navigate this strange new world.

[willxmeyers]

WILL + LEMIE

where: near the lighthouse who: @lemielewis x @willxmeyers what: first date

--

LEMIE:

Despite the awkward note they had parted on, Will had made good on his promise and had asked her out on an actual date. The giddiness of it all was enough for her to put aside the uneasiness that had plagued her after their last conversation, replaced by nerves as to what she should wear and what they would do. There was no way in hell she was bringing up the scars again, that was a given. Surprisingly, she chose to wear a dress again, albeit not one that screamed Lori this time around. It was more simple and, more importantly, black.

She met up with him at the cottage and they made their way together to the beach, near the lighthouse. It made for a romantic setting, there was no arguing that, but the proximity to the ocean did make her think this was a little nod to the confession she had made him a few days before. "Bringing me on a date right next to a huge body of water containing countless tiny fish, huh? Bold move," she told him, holding onto his arm as they walked in the sand to the little picnic area he had set up. "Don't get me wrong, it looks beautiful, but bold nonetheless."

--

WILL:

He'd been feeling particularly self-loathing in between leaving Lemie's house. Things were going so well, until the dark, grey cloud of his past loomed above them. But this date was a chance to set things right. As if the perfect first date was enough to put everything back inside Pandora's box. He'd dressed slightly more formal than the beach attire he usually sported, nothing close to a suit though. Those days were dead and gone.

They'd texted back and forth to arrange the date and he'd wanted it to be a little bit of a surprise. "We live in a bay," he lead her down the space he'd spent the better part of the afternoon setting up. "If there's not a fish within a 5 mile radius of anywhere in town, I'd be shocked. Besides, we'll stay firmly on the shore, I promise." When he was thinking through date ideas, everything that came up was somehow fish related. Dinner on a boat, at Neptune's — he knew the aquarium was out of bounds already. "Watch your step," he guided her to the laid out blanket with realistic faux candles flickering. The last thing he needed was this date going up in flames.

--

LEMIE:

"I hate it when you make sense," she muttered, shooting him a glare. It was incredibly ironic for her to have been born in Aurora Bay given her fish phobia. Whoever was in charge definitely had a sick sense of humor. "Just so you know, there are safer places when it comes to fish prevention than a beach." It was hard to deny that this was possibly the most perfect place in town for a date, though. The ocean sounds, the sunset, the complete lack of other people. It was perfect, even for someone who disliked romance as much as she did. Or someone who liked to say she did.

She stepped carefully onto the blanket, trying hard not to knock down the set up he'd obviously put a lot of thought into. After their last conversation, she had started to doubt how much Will wanted this, but this… well, it was giving her backlash. "When did you have time to do all this? I feel like we were just at work together… an hour ago." No one had ever done anything like this for her before and she wasn't sure what the appropriate reaction was. Just saying thank you? Sexual favors? This was all very new. "I can see you don't need any practice when it comes to date planning. This is straight out of a Hallmark movie."

--

WILL:

He chuckled lowly as she glared at him, keeping his eyes down on the sands so he didn't stumble and knock them both over. "Lucky for you, fish haven't grown legs in millions of years. I think you're safe," he reached over and squeezed her hand, which rested on his forearm. He hadn't considered her irrational fear of fish meaning she wouldn't want to sit on the beach, but they were far enough away that maybe it wouldn't matter too much. It had been so many years since he was nervous about a date.. or dated in general, outside a casual dinner and drink. This had required effort.

In the past, Will would have planned a more extravagant date. Something flashy and expensive, more a show of wealth than any measure of intimacy. But he wanted something small, thoughtful. He thought she'd appreciate it more than jetting off somewhere. "You thought I was working when really I was just stealing supplies." Did it count as stealing if it's your business? "You like it?" Will looked at her expectedly as he sat down on the blanket, settling in before he poured them both a drink.

--

LEMIE:

Right, again, which she had a feeling he would be when it came to her fear of fish. It was, after all, completely unfounded. Most people, when they thought of fish, thought of Nemo or Flounder, and here she was thinking of Jaws. It was nonsensical. "I didn't hear you say them growing fish was impossible, I just heard you say it was unlikely. The odds are still too great," she said dramatically before flashing him a playful smile. Right now, the fish thing was overshadowed by his presence and the setting, if she were being honest.

"I'm not that surprised, I've always known I work way harder than you do," she teased, the hand holding on to his arm giving it a small squeeze. She sat down next to him, their shoulders touching. "I love it. I've never been on a date like this. The nicest thing someone had done for me is probably bring me to the aquarium and you can guess how that went." She accepted the drink he'd just poured and held it out to clink it against his glass. "Thank you. This means a lot."

--

WILL:

Well, it had obviously happened before, otherwise they wouldn't be here. Depending on your school of thought. "I'll protect you—" he leaned over to her, raising his eyebrows in jest. He gave her a quick kiss before continuing getting themselves set up. A nice bottle of champagne to start, before he had small samples from the various places in Aurora Bay. Will wasn't sure what kind of food she liked the most, so he got it all. Just in case.

"If you consider yelling at people your full time occupation, you do." Lemie did work hard, there was no doubt about it. Will was just there to keep the lights on and pay the bills, or at least he thought so. It was significantly less stress than any other job he'd had, and that was all that mattered to him.

He chuckled. Will would have done the same thing had he not known how much she despised fish. Clinking his glass with hers, he took a sip. "Thank you for coming," he looked down, brushing off some sand with his free hand. "I thought maybe.. after the other day.." Maybe he shouldn't talk about it. "How did it go with Sunny?"

--

LEMIE:

Lemie grinned, leaning in closer as well until they were inches away. "You know what, I always thought I would hate it if a guy vowed to protect me, but in this particular instance? Kinda doing it for me," she admitted, the smile still on her face when he gave her a quick peck. Plus, there was no way in hell she wasn't hiding behind him if fish suddenly grew legs and invaded Earth.

"I don't yell, I speak loudly at the people who irritate me. They usually deserve it," she argued, despite knowing that wasn't always the case. Sometimes she was just having a bad day and people just so happened to be standing in her way. "And I was talking about cooking for your guests, which I'm awesome at. You would know, you've had my food."

For a second she thought he was about to bring up the conversation they had about his scar, that maybe he decided to be honest about how he'd really gotten it. Her hopes were quickly crushed, however, when she realized he was talking about Sunny. Not that she didn't want to discuss her niece, she did, but above all, she wanted to know more about him. Because that's what this was supposed to be about. The two of them. "It went well. I was nervous, but I think she liked me. She's really cute and she reminds me a lot of Lucky when he was that age." What she didn't say was that she had practically raised Lucky, despite being a kid herself. Seeing Sunny had really stirred some memories she hadn't thought of in forever.

--

WILL:

It sounded like they were both finding out that they were maybe a little more romantic than they thought. For him, he just wanted to show that he was into this. His actions revealing what maybe his words could not.

Will knew first hand that most of the people on the receiving end of a rant most likely deserved it, himself included. She kept everyone accountable.. and borderline terrified. “You know I know that,” he rolled his eyes, a smirk on his lips. There were many reasons for keeping her around, some more relevant now than before, but her culinary skills were always on the list. “I can’t guarantee the food tonight will be as good as anything you can cook, but I tried.” And by tried, he meant he ordered. Will couldn’t cook to save his life.

She look expectantly and Will knew he shouldn’t have mentioned it at all. He just wanted her to know that he was glad she was her. Idiot, he scolded himself. But thankfully, the conversation swerved the way he intended, towards anything other than himself. “See? I told you you’d be amazing,” he had to take what she said at face value but he knew she had a tendency to see things through a pessimistic perspective. If she said that all went fine, it probably went better.

--

LEMIE:

He did know that better than just about anyone. She had been particularly harsh on him when he hadn't really done anything that offensive. Looking back and considering where they both were now, there might've been a reason for that. Lemie was basically the equivalent of a little boy on a playground with a crush.

She took a peek in the basket, moving a few things aside to get a better idea as to what he had gone with. Just about everything it seemed. "Here I thought you had decided to take a crack at cooking. Kind of relieved you didn't. I know I said I would judge less, but you look like you've never stepped in a kitchen," she said with a chuckle. She assumed he was more a take-out kind of guy. "These are great picks, though, don't worry. I know I'm a chef, but I'm surprisingly not picky."

Despite Will's quick change of subject, she couldn't help a smile when he pointed out he had been right (again). It was right to be annoyed about him basically saying I told you so when it was in regards to him thinking she was amazing. "You're kind of biased, though, which is odd given the number of times I've yelled at you. One would think you'd be at least a little bit critical of me."

--

WILL:

He made a non-committal sound, border-lining a chuckle, in regards to his misadventures in a kitchen. "Not a judgement, more of an accurate assumption. The kitchen and I.. we see each other very casually, but it always ends in disaster." The intention was there, he had thought about trying to make something but decided against it. "I thought it was more important that the food be edible." Not to mention the various accidents and possible fires that could have happened.

"So far, I'm not sure you've said anything about me that hasn't been right in one way or another," Will shrugged, taking another sip. Even in times when he hadn't wanted to admit it to himself, she'd been right. At least that's how he saw it. "Besides, I get the feeling you're plenty critical of yourself." And as she mentioned, he was completely biased about her.

--

LEMIE:

"If you tell me that's usually how it goes with women as well, I'm walking off right now," she said with a shake of her head before taking a sip of the champagne. "Maybe I can show you a few tricks one day. The basics, nothing too complicated. Wouldn't want you to burn down my kitchen. My landlord's been looking for a reason to kick me out ever since that one time I yelled at him… Again, totally deserved."

Lemie shook her head, fully willing to admit she was wrong this one time. He didn't even know half the things she had originally thought of him, and she wasn't about to tell him now, but he had proven most of her assumptions wrong. "I judged you too harshly. I can admit that," she said quietly, looking down at the hem of her dress with way too much interest. "You know, I think I was a little jealous… I saw you and I assumed that everything in your life had been easy and that you were showing up here, ready to boss me around. I was projecting." He was right about his last statement, obviously. She reserved her harshest judgements for herself.

--

WILL:

Unsure of how to answer, because that had been the way in the past, it seemed unwise to come out and say it. Not exactly first date talk. "No way, what the kitchen and I have is special." He gave her a cheeky smile, before reaching into the nearby basket to start laying out food. "I'd like that," he'd never had a chance to learn how to cook, or any other domestic skill, besides laundry. He'd gotten rather good at that. "If we make it through with all our fingers, I'll consider that a success."

Will didn't see it that way. In the grand scheme of things, life was plenty easy for him and he wasn't afraid to admit that. But there were a number of things he missed out on. Things he envied from others. The Meyers family sacrificed everything for greed and glamour, nothing else mattered to them except image. Will placed his glass down on the wooden board that served as a table. "I have been told that my hands do look like they've never worked a day in their life," he flipped his hands over to inspect them. "Is that what gave me away?"

--

LEMIE:

It was stupid to consider what she had with Will to what he said he had with a fucking kitchen, but she caught herself hoping he thought what was going on between them was special too. She sure thought so. "I never knew you had such a thing for kitchens. This explains why you're always pestering me at the cottage," she said, as if everything was suddenly much clearer. She nodded when he agreed to her proposition, trying not to smile like an idiot. It was hard not to when Will was doing everything right. "If you don't want to be forced to look for another chef, I'd advice being very careful with mine in particular."

Maybe it was because of how much pent up tension was between them, but the sight of Will's hands somehow felt erotic. Her desire to wait was clearly affecting her just as badly as it was him. "You do have very nice, moisturized hands," she said nonchalantly, looking up at him quickly and trying very hard to get her mind out of the gutter. "I think it was a mix of that, your dazzling smile, and the obnoxious charm." She helped him lay everything out in front of them, hoping to distract herself.

--

WILL:

The kitchen was always meant to be the centre of the home. A place where parents cooked dinner and families sat around and enjoy it. Siblings squabbled and everyone had their place. Will didn’t have that. Most of the food he ate was served to him by strangers. Nothing hearty, all unnecessarily pretentious deconstructions of food or what have you. Maybe he did have a thing for kitchens, or at least the notion behind them.

“Thats not about the kitchen,” he replied quickly and sincerely, offering a plate for food. “I just enjoy pestering you.” It was true, ever since he bought the cottage, he’d found a way to be near her. It seemed so stupid now, how much he longed to be the object of her attention. Even if that attention wasn’t always good. “I’d sooner cut off my own finger.”

She was looking at his hands awfully intensely, he pursed his lips to stifle a smirk. But his thoughts turned elsewhere, to the three things that mixed together resulting in her contempt from him. Cocking his head to the side, he looked back at her. “You find my smile dazzling?”

--

LEMIE:

Lemie’s smile turned bashful and she averted her gaze quickly before he could realize what a lovesick fool she had turned into. “I don’t mins the pestering all that much,” she admitted, accepting the plate he held out for her and muttering a quiet thank you in return. The days he hung out in the kitchen were fast becoming her favorite days, in fact. “How about no one loses a finger? That’d be the best outcome, I think.”

She started nibbling on the food in her place, far too distracted to really focus on eating or the taste of whatever was in her plate. “Your teeth are freakishly white, what can I say?” Even that wasn’t fully an insult. She had walked right into that trap, there was no saving herself. At least she wasn’t thinking of his hands anymore. Much. “This food is pretty good.” A diversion was her next best plan.

--

WILL:

He knew she didn’t mind the pestering so much now, but when he first started— if looks could have killed, Will would have been dead ten times over. It made sense after her confession why she'd reacted that way. "No promises," he joked, hoping that there would be no knife accidents at any point. But he also didn't have full faith in his own culinary skills.

Will put a few items of food on his plate, taking a small bite, watching her before giving a small shrug. “I like your smile better,” he said casually, ignoring the backhanded compliment she sent his way. Hers was rare, not at all like his own which was too frequent and most of the time not that genuine. If you made Lemie smile, it felt like a personal triumph. You had to earn it. "I'm glad," he took another bite. "What's your favorite thing to eat? Just so I can remember for next time." Assuming there was a next time.

--

LEMIE:

Unlike his, Lemie's smile was a little rarer. Smiling felt like letting her guards down, so she didn't do it with just anyone. Lately, she'd been doing it a whole lot around him, though. His smile, though… it was charming, yes, but it put people at ease. It made them comfortable. It was a skill she wished she had. "I think we've established you're a little bit biased," she said with a grin, leaning in to kiss his cheek.

She thought of his question for a few seconds. Despite being a chef, it was a question she always struggled to answer. "I have a sweet tooth. Probably because I'm not that great a baker," she admitted with a chuckle. She usually delegated at the cottage to her sous-chef when it came to pastries and desserts. She was probably better than most people, but it still was her weak spot. "What about you? So I know what to cook for you next time you come over."

--

WILL:

"Completely biased," he agreed. "But I think we've also established that I'm right a lot of the time." Recalling that he had promised that for every compliment, he had to give an insult for her to accept it, but none came to mind. His mind was only full of sweet nothings, endless compliments and maybe some other riled up thoughts.

It was obviously hard for her to choose and sweets wasn't specific enough for him. "Like chocolate sweet or candy sweet?" he asked curiously. There was too very different kinds of sweet tooth. Indulgent and sickly, neither tempted him. Will knew his answer already, right off the bat. "It's a pretty basic answer but nothing beats a perfect medium rare steak."

--

LEMIE:

Lemie rolled her eyes playfully, groaning in annoyance at the pattern that was rapidly emerging. She was irrational most of the time, so it was easy for him to be right. "Yeah, yeah, don't rub it in. I'm gonna have to make it a bit harder for you and then you won't have anything to hold over my head anymore," she threatened, knowing full well she wouldn't be able to make good on such a promise. Her irrationality was firmly engrained in her, unfortunately. Truth be told, it was nice to have someone to bring her back down to earth.

"Both. My favorite ever would have to be anything with the word funfetti in it. I know it's not technically a flavor, but sprinkles make me kind of happy." It was probably related to some sort of childhood trauma, her therapist would say. She didn't get cakes when she was younger because her parents forgot birthdays, so now she indulged. "If you really want to go fancy, I like tiramisu." Lemie could've guessed his answer, but she didn't say that. As hard as it was for her to choose, she was good at guessing what kind of food people liked. "I make a mean steak."

--

WILL:

The usual cadence of things. Him saying something dumb, her rolling her eyes and he naturally found it all so amusing. He couldn’t stop smiling even if he tried, she had that effect on him. “Where’s the fun in that?” If he was honest, Lemie had always made things hard. Now in more ways than one.

“Funfetti,” he repeated, a slight chuckle. It wouldn’t have been his first guess. Fancy schmancy, he thought to himself. If sprinkles were her favorite, fanciness didn’t matter. “Adding sprinkles to something seems achievable for my cooking skill level. Much more than tiramisu.” He had no doubt she could cook a steak, probably more perfectly than a lot of people. “It seems silly for you make something just for me,” he replied. “Unless you like it too.”

--

LEMIE:

Lemie didn't say anything this time, not wanting to point out that this was yet another thing he was right about. Of course, it was more fun this way. The banter was part of the reason she was so fascinated by him. He took everything she threw at him with that cocky smile of his and dished it right back. It was infuriating, but also one of the main reasons she was so attracted to him. They were on equal grounds when most people were terrified of her. “I do get weirdly turned on when you piss me off. I'm worried about what that says about me,” she said jokingly, despite it being the full truth. If there hadn't been other people in the kitchen when he came to pester her, she would've given in a long time ago.

“Don't judge me. It just tastes better when there are sprinkles and it's so easy to pull off that you could definitely manage something edible. Just don't go and put sprinkles on top of risotto or something,” she said with a chuckle, hoping he knew that already. If not, teaching him anything might prove more difficult than she thought. “I like it. Even if I didn't, I would make it for you. I wouldn't mind at all actually.” It was, after all, an easy way for her to show love.

--

WILL:

Her silence spoke louder than anything she could say. Instead, he quietly nibbled at some food, mouth tight from trying to keep a smile from showing. “And I get weirdly turned on when you yell at me,” he replied cooly, which definitely said something about him. “But I already knew I was fucked up so I’m not that concerned.” It would be funnier if it wasn’t so true, but it didn’t stop him some laughing.

“Ah fuck, that was going to be my first dish-“ he replied sarcastically, eyes rolling. “I may not be able to cook food but I have tasted it before. Even I know that sprinkles and risotto don’t go together, chef.” Just in case that needed clarifying.

Will felt a sense of guilt at her willingness to do something, just for him. Like he didn’t deserve it in the slightest, even if it was just a meal made by her. He sat with it for a moment, hiding his silence by chewing slowly on a piece of bread. No one had ever cooked for him before, unless they were getting paid. Will couldn’t understand why it felt so meaningful to him, but eventually, once he’d finished eating, he responded. “It’s a date then,” he said, looking at her with a warm smile.

--

LEMIE:

Lemie couldn't help but chuckle too, only allowing herself to do so because she too was pretty fucked up in the grand scheme of things. This would be a good time to ask exactly what had made him this fucked up, but the last thing she wanted was to ruin this date like she had last time. As much as she wanted to really know him, she wouldn't achieve much if she chased him away with questions every time they were together. "Does this mean I should stop yelling at you when we're at work? This information gives our kitchen screaming matches a whole new meaning," she pointed out, looking at him knowingly.

"I don't know what goes through your head. I didn't want you to think a savory and sweet pairing would work here," she said with a roll of her eyes that mirrored his. "Gives me a little bit of hope to learn that you wouldn't go there, though. Maybe you're not quite as useless in the kitchen as I thought you were."

The blonde leaned closer to him, forgetting all about the food she had been absentmindedly nibbling on since he started taking things out of the basket. "We're not even finished with our first date and you already want to go on a second one? It's the dress, isn't it? Much better than the one from the festival," she said with a playful smile, her smile wide as her eyes slid down to his lips.

--

WILL:

Watching her laugh always brought a smile to his face, but everything time they were together, it was all he did anyway. The real, genuine smile that was somehow reserved for her. “Are they considered foreplay now?” he joked. “Because I think we’ll have to set some kind of boundary about work at some point.” If their sexual tension was anything like it was now, everyone would know soon, if they didn’t already. Will didn’t anyone to think this was some weird power dynamic, it didn’t feel that way to him and he hoped Lemie didn’t. They’d have to work through that in time.

“What an endorsement,” Will chuckled. “Good to know that I’m not a complete lost cause in the kitchen.” He did still have flashbacks to a recent egg cracking incident that resulted in him having to pick out shells.

He caught her movement and instinctively put his plate down. “I like to plan ahead,” he said simply, as though he didn’t want to spend nearly every minute with her. Date or no. His hand went to the fabric of her dress. “Black is definitely more you,” he broke their gaze to look down at his fingers on the material. “You look beautiful,” he felt like he could compliment her more frequently now. Not having to hide his intentions. “In case I didn’t say it before.”

--

LEMIE:

He had read her mind, using the exact word she had thought of when referring to their work fights. Especially now, it felt like everything that had led up to this relationship could be considered foreplay. It was clear in her mind, she had been particularly aggressive with him because she felt drawn to him almost instantly. "I think they might be, which means they can now be considered very inappropriate workplace behavior," she said with a chuckle, not feeling as sorry as she should. "How about we agree to mostly avoid each other when there are other people around? I, personally, think that anything that happens after hours should be considered fair play."

In her own way, Lemie was making plans as well. Offering him to teach him how to cook was something that would take more than a few hours. It was a long-term thing, not to mention the meaning behind it. She was offering to share with him one of the things she loved the most in this world, something that made her happy. "You've said it a few times, but I don't mind hearing it again," she admitted, making herself vulnerable in a way she didn't very often. Compliments usually made her skin crawl because she didn't believe them. She looked down at his hand on her momentarily, looking back at him with eyes that conveyed that she wanted his hands everywhere. "You did so good on this date that I'm inclined to indulge you with that stupid skinny dipping in the ocean idea." She must be insane. He was making her insane.

--

WILL:

He wasn't having doubts, per say. But rather, he was thinking of how this must look from an outside perspective. Will was her still boss, although he had never really felt that way with her. If anything - she tended to boss him around a lot more than he ever did to her. But in the interest of at least attempting to stay professional, she had the right idea. "I like your logic," he agreed reluctantly. "How about my office and your kitchen are out of bounds, but the garden is free reign.." It was their spot, after all.

"You're beautiful," he repeated as she dipped her head to glance down at him playing with her dress. Another loose strand of blonde hair covered her face, and he tucked it back behind her ear. It was hard to keep himself in check, especially when she looked at him like that. But her offer caught him off guard, eyebrows raising. "What? Are you sure?" Will didn't want her to do anything she wasn't completely comfortable with, even if it was her idea. "You don't have to do that."

--

LEMIE:

Lemie was tempted to say that both those places could be utilized as long as other people weren't around, but weren't people always technically around? Even if said people were old people who wouldn't hear them do all the things they wanted to do when they were together. "I like that you picked the only place without a door. Did I just unlock another kink of yours?" She asked playfully, knowing that this was mostly about the garden having a special significance to them. It was where they first bonded, where they still spent late nights whispering secrets to each other.

Her smile turned bashful, eyes twinkling when he reiterated his compliment and brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. This was sickeningly romantic, but she couldn't find it in her to come up with something snappy and sarcastic to bring them both back down to earth. She liked it here. Reluctantly, given the hand on her dress, she got up from the blanket and looked down at him. "The offer will expire in about thirty seconds, so you better get up and start removing clothes." She turned her back to him and started walking towards the water, her slip dress falling right into the sand a second later. She crossed her arms over her chest, trying to at least appear a little modest despite her current state of undress. "Hurry, I need protection from the fish."

--

WILL:

A solid, hearty laugh erupted through him. “In this scenario, we both have homes to go to as well, you know.” He realised that she hadn’t even been to his house yet, the realisation dawning on him. “I know I’m irresistible to you and everything,” a cocky grin emerging. “But maybe we just try and keep our hands to ourselves during work hours, as a general rule.” However, rules were made to be broken.

He hadn’t planned on getting naked on this date, at least not while they were still outside. Despite Lemie’s thinking of whatever kink he might have. “This woman is going to kill me,” he mumbled under his breath in sexual frustration as he watched her undress on her way to the water. Naturally, Will did as he was told, standing from the picnic blanket and removing his shirt. It wasn’t quite summer yet, but thankfully the weather wasn’t too cold. Removing the remainder of clothes with a little too much ease, he was thankful they were the only ones on this part of the beach. God forbid that Ms. Goldbalm wants to go for a twilight walk along the beach.

--

LEMIE:

Again, she omitted saying that she hadn't been to her house yet, nor had he shown any inclination to have her over there. She preferred thinking it wasn't a deliberate choice on his part, that things were happening organically between them and that he would have her over when the timing was right. "Ugh, you're so uptight," she said with a dramatic groan. This was where Lemie's love for trouble came into play. There was a reason she spent more time in detention than in class back in high school, after all. "I'll do my very best, but you should probably stay away from the kitchen as much as you can. I seriously lack self-control and I don't exactly love rules."

There was definitely a little chill in the air that caused little hairs to raise all over her body. She hopped from one foot to another, glancing back to see what progress Will had made with his clothes. "I've really thought me being naked would make you go a little faster," she told him, voice loud enough for him to hear her over the waves. She dipped a toe in the water, immediately regretting her offer. "Maybe this wasn't my best idea." The temperature paired with the fish she knew lived in there made everything about this seriously unappealing. She took a few steps until the water was up to her calves, stopping to look at Will. At least the sight of him half-naked brought a little bit of warmth to her body. "What part of this did you think was going to be fun?"

--

WILL:

Never in his life and he been called uptight. Even with her teasing tone, Will felt like taking her in the garden just to prove a point. “Never did I think that I’d have to be the responsible one of us.” She said she didn’t love rules like he wasn’t fully aware. Even the ones she did follow, begrudgingly, she had to be a smart ass about it. Will couldn’t deny that her complete lack of respect for authority wasn’t something they shared.

“I was admiring the view,” he admitted, knowing that he’d felt a little dumbstruck by how quickly she’d abandoned her clothes. He’d had to think very calming thoughts as he approached the beach until he was in hidden by the water. “No chickening out now,” Will teased, a hand running along her forearm. When she asked what part was fun, he quirked an eyebrow. “The part where we’re both nearly naked in the moonlight,” he admitted, in his cheesiest tone.

At a moments notice, Will dived into the water, not wasting any time. He was used to swimming in the ocean, doing so nearly every morning so it wasn’t difficult for him. Pushing back through the surface, he shook his wet hair out of his face and he made his way back to her. “Come on. You’ve just gotta get through the first plunge.” Will reached out to her, taking her hands in his and slowly guiding her into the water. “I’ve got you.”

--

LEMIE:

"Am I making you feel like the old, boring one?" Lemie asked playfully, obviously not thinking he was either of those things. She wouldn't be here if she did. Part of what was appealing about him was how similar they were in this aspect. How he made her feel like a teenager again, in a good way. "Plus, who's gonna enforce the rules? You're the boss. Well, on paper you are." She had never actually done a good job at respecting his rules in particular, had she? Why start now?

Her eyes followed him as he walked past her, his hand leaving a trail of goosebumps down her arm. "I'm no chicken," she said defensively, taking another step and stopping again. The water felt like a block of ice, but that didn't seem to stop him. He looked completely in control as he took a sudden plunge and came out a few seconds later completely wet. "I do like the naked part."

She looked down at him as he swam closer, his hands extended out of her. The water was almost to her waist now and she had yet to see anything fishy, so she was pretty proud of the progress she was making. She let him drag her further away from the safety of the beach, her teeth gritting as the water reached past her stomach. "How do you do this on a daily basis?" She froze when she thought she felt something graze her ankle, horror washing over her face as she suddenly forgot about the cold and closed the gap between her and Will. "Something definitely just touched me, William," she said, alarmed, as she gripped his arms and debated how helpful it would be to literally get on his back.

--

WILL:

“Oh, fuck off-“ Will laughed, showing that despite his words, he wasn’t actually offended. It technically was his birthday the next day, but this night wasn’t about just him. He hated birthdays at the best of times, so why spoil a lovely evening by bringing it up now? “I expect it’ll go like every other rule I tried to enforce on you. You ignore it and end up doing whatever you want.” He didn’t mind all that much. Will had a feeling that if he really needed something from her, he could ask her seriously and she’d respect that. Maybe roll her eyes or something insulting, but she’d follow through in the end. Luckily, he hadn’t needed to test that theory yet.

Will chuckled in response to her question. “Well I’m not shit scared of fish, so that makes this actually enjoyable for me.” And just as if he manifested it himself, she stilled in the water. The full first name meant trouble, but his face still held a grin. “It’s just seaweed, Clementine.” He wasn’t actually sure if it was or not, but the likelihood of it being a fish were slim. “Come here.” In a swift movement, Will picked her up so she could wrap her legs around him. Hands rested on her under thigh, keeping her up. “Is that better?”

--

LEMIE:

This is how she knew Will was right for her. No matter what she said to him, he could take it and even laugh it off. She had always been a little clumsy socially, but she didn't feel it when she was around him. She just felt funny and appreciated for what, who she was. "Don't we both win if I ignore this particular rule?" Lemie pointed out, her brow raising suggestively. "Don't worry, I can be a little reckless, but I'm not stupid. I know the cottage is our place of work, so I'll fuck with you at very strategic moments. Does that ease your mind a little?"

Her eyes shot daggers at him, hating that he was right about this. Normal people who didn't think fish were evil little creatures probably loved the ocean. "Is that supposed to make me feel better, William?" She said a little too loudly, glad to be scooped up despite knowing the fish could probably still get to her. Her arms and legs wrapped around him, clinging tightly to his body. "Slightly. It's a little distracting, which is helpful." It was a lot distracting actually. One of her hands moved to the back of his neck, her face inching closer towards his. "I like you. A lot." Coming from her, it might as well have been a declaration of love.

--

WILL:

Again, she was right. It was a win win for both of them if she did ignore this rule, but they’d put it in place for a reason. He was just about to say so before she spoke again, asking if it eased his mind. “Only a little,”

Will usually hated the sound of his full name, but it sounded different rolling off her tongue. “Hey, you asked–“ he chuckled in response. Will had always loved the ocean. Well, he loved this ocean in particular. He chosen to come back to the one place in the world where he felt peace, and he had found so much more.

Distracting her was definitely a nice side perk, but mostly he just wanted her in his arms. Holding her tightly to him, Will stood firmly in the sand. He didn’t mind when seaweed drifted past him, brushing his leg as long as Lemie wasn’t uncomfortable. The moonlight lit up the side of her face, making her eyes shine. It was breathtaking, and he should have said as much. But he may have already filled his compliment quota up for the evening. “Good to know you don’t just get in the ocean for anyone,” he replied lightly, knowing that definitely wasn’t the case. “I like you too. A lot.” It was so profoundly obvious to him how much he felt for her, but maybe he didn’t say it enough. Will believed his word to not mean much, it was cheap and easy to come by. But his actions was where his heart lay. “See? I told you this could be fun.” Maybe it was his hands on her, how close she was to him but he could have stayed in this moment forever.

--

LEMIE:

Her mischievous smile said everything she didn't say with her words. They both knew she would manage to stir up at least a little bit of trouble sooner or later, but not in a way that would jeopardize his job. The other employees couldn't find out about them that way. She figured they would have to tell people eventually, but she was okay with this being just theirs for now. If they started telling people, her family would quickly find out about it and this was one thing she didn't want them to have just yet. "You should've just lied to me and said it was your damn foot," she argued, freakishly relaxed for a girl who probably just had skin to scale contact with a fish.

"I most certainly wouldn't. For completely non-violent reasons too? You should consider yourself to be very special," she said nonchalantly, giving him a quick peck. He had to know this was a big deal for her, he'd seen how she acted around other people she didn't like. She was terrible. She watched him as he repeated her words, adding a too at the end. She wanted so badly to believe him, but the walls he had built around himself made her doubt. If he liked her so much, why wasn't he letting her in the way she had him? She chose not to question it, leaning in to kiss him instead. Nothing would ruin this date, not even her. "I still think pools are superior, but this isn't so bad. I'm mostly enjoying the shirtlessness going on. The swimming you're doing is clearly working for you."

--

WILL:

“I could have,” he agreed with a slow nod. It wasn’t like he was above lying, but it was better not to. “But then I wouldn’t get to carry you like this. And that was an opportunity I just couldn’t pass up.”

“Oh trust me, I do.” He did find himself special. Maybe that was why he worried so much about letting her in deeper. By his own design, Lemie only knew a fraction of him. The better parts, the parts that weren’t broken beyond repair, the only parts of him that was somehow still whole. Sure, some things had slipped through the facade – if she was paying close enough attention, which he didn’t doubt she was. But saying too much was asking for trouble. If she knew all the demons of his past, if she was wise, Lemie would run. But he wanted her here, in his arms, kissing his lips.

Feeling a little vulnerable under her gaze, he held her up a little higher. “Are you objectifying me?” he joked before he took a deep breath, looking at her. Mischief in his eyes. “I think you’re nearly ready..” he said ominously.

--

LEMIE:

Even she had to admit that getting in the water had been worth it. She wouldn't have ended up in his arms if she had stayed on the shore and that totally made up for the fact that her entire body was touching water that contained fish and other gross, slimy shit. "I'm glad you didn't. This is the perfect compromise. I've followed you in, but I'm also not getting brutally murdered by sea creatures."

For once, she didn't mind the cockiness Will was displaying because she had brought it on. Was this what it felt like to be in a healthy relationship? Well, as healthy as two people who considered yelling foreplay could get. By her standards, though, this was as good as it got. "I've been objectifying you since the moment we met. In fact, I remember telling the receptionist that your only redeeming quality was your ass," she said with a chuckle. "Don't worry, I've found you other qualities since then."

Lemie watched him with confusion as he lifted her up slightly, her arms tightening around him. "Nearly ready for what? I swear, William, don't get any funny ideas or else…"

--

WILL:

Her reveal of just how long she’d been objectifying for was another thing that only she could say. Of course, he found her stunning from the moment he’d seen her. But she was so much more than just a pretty face. He’d known that from the beginning too. Never did he’d imagine they’d end up here. “Only a couple, I’m sure-” he replied sarcastically. “My ass still better be top 5 things you like about me. I don’t do all those squats for nothing.”

Her warning of or else didn’t phase him in the slightest, only making his smirk evolve into a grin. In a fluid motion, he moved her petite frame into a bridal style cradle. “Under we go,” was the only he gave as he moved backwards, submerging them both under the water. Hands still held onto her tightly, not wanting her to feel as though he’d thrown her to the wolves.. or fish, in this case. As he stood back up, holding her again, he shook his head and opened his eyes. “Refreshing, no?”

--

LEMIE:

"Maybe more than a couple. Just barely, though," Lemie shrugged, smiling mischievously. There were a lot of things on her list of things she loved about Will, but admitting she had been checking him out for so long would have to be enough for now. "Why do you think I yell at you to get out whenever you walk into the kitchen? Watching you walk away is one of the highlights of my day."

Unlike most people, Will didn't seem too worried about her threats. Didn't he know they were rarely empty? Rarely because, of course, he seemed to be the exception to that rule. "Don't you dare," she shrieked as he moved her around easily, her arm wrapped around his neck in a death grip. He did dare and a second later she was fully under water, the cold water giving her what felt like an electric shock right to her brain. She gasped when he pulled her back out of the water, her blonde hair sticking to her face. "I'm going to kill you," she said, breathless, as she moved out of his grip and attempted to shift her entire body weight on his shoulders in an attempt to dunk him under the water. "I just drank sea water, William Meyers!"

--

WILL:

He gave a small 'mm', narrowing his eyes playfully. Will could think of endless things he liked about her, could name them all off by heart. Time would most likely uncover more. "I should have known there is a horny double meaning to everything you do." He made a mental note to add an extra swagger into his step the next time she banned him from the kitchen.

Will barely got a laugh out she attempted to push him beneath the water, his feet still firmly planted on the ground made that difficult in the moment. But he did stumble a little. It was payback, but it was worth it. "It's good for you!" He laughed, a wide smile. Leaping back into the water, he swam to the side, circling back around her. "Come on, show those fish who's the boss."

--

LEMIE:

Lemie realized Will could probably tell there were more than just a few things she liked about him and, for once, she didn’t mind that he did. “Don’t judge me, it’s a nice ass!” She managed to say through her laughter. “You’re one to speak, you got a boner because you saw me wearing a bra like a high schooler.”

Her poor attempt at drowning him obviously didn’t work out for her as he was standing and she wasn’t. Not to mention he work on his upper body strength more often than she did, which was not ever. “How is it good for me, asshole?” She said through gritted teeth as he swam around her. “I’m sure the fish will love me after I leave your body in here for them to snack on.” She splashed water in his direction, her speed obviously not a match for his.

--

WILL:

Again, she wasn’t wrong. He had felt very much like a nubile teenager, all full of lust and longing. Deciding to wait had put a new kind of excitement to it all. “I can’t help that I fancy you,” he shrugged, not ashamed at all at how she made him feel. It wasn’t worth being embarrassed about it now. Plus he knew she was just as hot and bothered as he was, even if it didn’t show as easily.

Her attempts were pitiful but it only made him laugh harder. Will hoped she wasn’t actually upset. The pint was to show that she was safe in the ocean, even if she wasn’t attached to him. He continued to circle her like a shark, grin beaming. “The fish would never eat me,” he replied confidently. “I’m one with them.” So many mornings he swam here and Will actually hardly saw much wildlife. He was grateful for it now. They were one krill away from disaster.

Tipping his head back, Will lay belly up in the water, floating among the waves and looking up at the moon. Utterly at peace for a single moment. “This is my happy place, I think.” He added the I think as though he wasn’t completely sure but he was. There was a reason he came back here, as opposed to all the other places in the world. “I’m glad I got to share it with you.”

--

LEMIE:

Lemie had tried to embarrass him a little, to make him blush, but he ended up turning the tables on her and making her blush. “You fancy me,” she repeated, her tone playful. She swam closer to him, stealing a quick kiss. “I must be doing something right. Doesn’t happen too often.” In love, it was usually the other way around. She was both abrasive and aloof—the makings of a terrible girlfriend.

She wasn’t getting anywhere with the murder attempt, so she gave up with a long sigh. Swimming lazily, she still circled him with narrowed eyes. “I don’t know if I can date a fish man,” she told him with a quiet chuckle, suddenly picturing him with gills. Not a great mental picture.

Lemie followed his lead and let herself float on the water, taking a moment to look at the stars and the moon. This was peaceful, despite the fish and the cold. She wasn’t willing to say she would join him on his morning swims, but she wasn’t opposed to doing this with him again. “I’m glad you did. Even if you made the wet rat look I have going on happen,” she said playfully, her arms reaching out towards his, her fingers grazing the tip of his.

--

WILL:

Will hadn’t thought that he’d said anything particularly kiss worthy but he wasn’t going to complain. As she swam over for a surprise kiss, he had the temptation of scooping her back up in his arms and not letting go. However, she seemed surprisingly at ease. Swimming around with the confidence of a person who wasn’t terrified of the ocean or the creatures that inhabited it. Fancying her seemed too simple a notion for what he felt but it was only their first date, better to keep it to himself. “It’s not about doing anything. As I said, I like you just as you are.”

He mirrored her light chuckle. In another life, maybe Will was some kind of ocean creature. It would explain how at home he felt. Lemie followed suit, floating on the current beside him. She outstretched her arm, and he lightly held onto it. “The drowned rat look works for me,” he smirked, returning to slowly stand in the water. With her arm is his hand, Will gently pull her towards him, chest to chest. “It really works.” Not so much the wet look but just her in general.

--

LEMIE:

Someone liking her just the way she is was a foreign concept for Lemie. She had always needed to make herself less in order to make the people around her feel comfortable. Less blunt, less abrasive, less honest. She didn't feel the need to tone herself down around her siblings, but that was because they had grown up around her. They knew her. Not that she tried that hard to censor herself, but she also didn't expect people to see the worst of her and still want her. Will did. "I know. It's odd. The way I treated you… it usually keeps people far, far away. Not that I'm trying to victimize myself, I don't blame people for not wanting to be around anger and bitterness."

The surprise underwater excursion left her mind entirely when he pulled her back towards him, the idea of drowning him significantly less appealing when they were this close to each other. She wrapped her arms around his neck loosely, her gaze meeting with his. "Right, so your type is angry wet rats. Noted," she said with a shake of her head, knowing it had less to do with her current look and more to do with her. It was a hard thing to admit for someone as self-deprecating as she was. She moved her hands to the side of his face, pulling him down to her lips to say what she couldn't say with her words. That she wanted to be around him all the time, that he made her feel good, that she felt seen in a way she never had. The list could go on forever.

--

WILL:

“Well, your attempts to drive me away have failed, I’m sorry to tell you.” They both knew that he was not sorry at all. But she had been less bitter and angry with him these days, and even when she was, it felt empty or with a side of affection. So he didn’t mind all that much. But he never had. Her aggression towards him had been a catalyst of his pestering. “You’ll have to try harder to keep me away.”

She couldn’t take the compliment outright, always diverting with a self deprecating joke. If it meant that internally, she registered that now he found her breathtaking, that was all that mattered. Will was about to reply with a witty retort when she pressed her lips to his, and he sunk into the kiss like a stone in the ocean. Completely. Hands went to cradle her neck, not wanting to get tangled in her wet hair. They came together and Will had no intention of tearing them apart.

--

LEMIE:

"Yes, I can see that. I've gotten used to having you around." Would it really come as a surprise to him to hear that she didn't want him going anywhere? That she trusted him more everyday and that she could see this actually lasting more than a month? Despite all the bickering, they barely fought, they made each other comfortable, but also brought each other out of their comfort zones. Something had clicked for her. "Or maybe I should just stop trying."

It was both incredibly inconvenient and disgustingly romantic that all of this was happening in the ocean, under the moonlight. Her legs wrapped around him once more, her fingers curling in his short hair as the kiss intensified. This felt right now, there were no worries lingering in the back of her mind. No one was this good a liar, no one could fake the look he got when he was watching her. She didn't want to put a stop to anything this time.

--

WILL:

Usually someone saying things like that to him would trigger fight or flight in Will. An echo from a past where he didn’t want to be tied to anyone or anything. No expectations, no disappointment. At least on his end, anyway. He never stuck around long enough to witness the aftermath. But there was something about this made him feel eerily comforted by her words. Could it be maybe he was finally growing up? Or was it because he knew how special it was for her to open up this way? There was a small nagging voice that made him wonder if he truly deserved her trust when all Will had ever done is let people down. “As long as you don’t stop bickering with me,” he warned. That was his favourite part, after all.

He pulled her closer once again. Always the feeling that close wasn’t close enough. The cool ocean breeze nipped at his bare back, the salt water droplets falling down his skin. It was perfect. She was perfect. He wanted nothing more to be perfect for her. As they wove together, the world goes soft and dark, everything shrinking down to the points where their bodies met. Will had to physically remind himself to come back to Earth, he had gotten so swept up in her that he felt wild, fraying at the seams.

--

LEMIE:

Even if she wanted to stop the bickering, her desire to constantly contradict everyone wasn't something she could turn off. She might be halfway in love with Will, but she would still find a way to debate every word that came out of his mouth. "Of course. It's all about balance. I have to find a way to be a pain in the ass without going right for the jugular." She had done it before and, even though it had been what had ultimately brought them closer, she hadn't enjoyed the look of hurt on his face.

Lemie couldn't tell how long they had been very heavily making out in the middle of the ocean, but the mix of the wind and the cold water eventually pulled her back to reality and she pulled away just barely to catch her breath. "Not that I'm not enjoying kissing amongst the fish like I'm the freaking Little Mermaid, but… would you like to, maybe, spend the night? At my place?"

--

WILL:

"That might be tough for you but you have my full support," he jokingly encouraged, as though it wasn't his jugular on the line. Will had made it abundantly clear how much he liked her, just as she was. Sharp edges and all. The last thing he wanted was for her to change for him. Will knew that she had the ability to rip him to shreds if she so pleased, and right now, Will would gladly let her.

He had been so caught up in the taste of her, the feeling of her touching his skin, that he'd almost forgotten they were just standing in an ocean. Will chuckled at the realisation, and her comment about the Little Mermaid. He moved a piece of wet hair from her cheek as she put forth her invitation for him to stay over. The answer was obvious. Will thought about extending an offer to his own house, but she might be more comfortable at her own. "Not sick of me yet?" he asked, teasingly.

--

LEMIE:

He was right that it would be quite the task to soften her blows, she was quite impulsive when anger came over her. Even when she wasn't angry, her words could sting. She had grown up with three siblings that didn't get along, so she'd had plenty of practice when it came to insults and low blows. It was part of who she was, but she didn't relish in hurting the people she loved either. "I appreciate the vote of confidence," she said sarcastically, knowing he didn't really believe she would ever be soft-spoken and docile. Despite her tone, she liked that he knew that and didn't mind it. Who wanted to be either of those things?

Lemie looked at him like he was insane for even suggesting she could be sick of him as if she would ever say such a thing right now while she was in his arms and still trying very hard not to kiss him. "Definitely not," she told him immediately, tilting her head to rest in the palm of his hand. "I was thinking we could continue what we've been doing, but if you don't feel like it…"

--

The look on her face was something Will wished he could bottle. Like he was an idiot for even suggesting she might be sick of him. It was hard to imagine, Will was pretty sick of himself most of the time. "Well, that's a relief." The feeling was mutual, he only just kept himself from pulling her close once more. He was unsure if he'd ever stop and she offered up such a tempting offer.

If she was worried about his eagerness to continue exploring each other, she needn't. "Let's get out of here," he replied too quickly, a cheeky grin on his face. To emphasis his point, Will lifted Lemie up from her straddled position and placed her over his shoulder, beginning to carry her out of her water.

--

LEMIE:

Truth be told, Lemie was tempted to go right back to what they had been doing, public setting be damned, but she couldn't forget their proximity to the cottage and the chance of some poor old grandmother seeing them do ungodly thing in the middle of the ocean. Probably not a great idea business-wise. "I don't usually let people I can't stand do the things I let you do," she said with a grin, trailing her finger down his chest as she swam further away.

The giggles that left her mouth as he threw her over his shoulder to drag her back to the beach were fucking embarrassing. Everything about this was quickly turning her into someone she would've scoffed at a few weeks prior. "So eager," she said a little too loudly, getting carried away by the excitement of it all.

[bonjourxrenae]

OC SUNDAYS: Tom Lazarus "Laz" Thorn

picrew link: [x]

Laz is a weird guy who lives on the off-beat. He works as a phlebotomist by day, and stays up in the late night hours to talk to interesting folks at local cafes. In spite of his carefree, goofy nature, Laz's past is a bit of a mystery - which makes him the subject of study of a supernatural organization known as DERIMA.

Laz is a character that exists within the universe of an original story that's been floating in my head for several decades, which I've just been calling The Bayfield Chronicles. The story takes place in the titular Bayfield, which is an isolated port town bordered by a mountain range, open fields, and a large bay that opens up to the ocean. Within those borders live supernatural beings, which have been the study of a national organization known as DERIMA (the Deoxys Enterprise for the Research and Investigation of Mystical Affairs). There was a branch of the organization dedicated to eliminating supernatural threats, a team of elite slayers. But after the Bayfield Vampire Murders incident, that branch has since disbanded, and DERIMA has taken a more observational stance.

One of those former slayers, a woman named Ursula, is one of the lead case specialists working for DERIMA. Laz is both her current case subject, and her biggest liability.

Laz's backstory is a bit unclear (even to me!) But what is currently known about him is that he is a magic user, his entire body is being held together by said magic and a few staples, and by all accounts he should be dead.

His pale skin is riddled with magic runes. It's unclear how they got there - whether he put them there or not - but they seem to be a permanent feature on him. He tends to wear long sleeves and rarely wears anything that exposes his legs or torso, as he has what appears to be a very prominent, stapled-up Y-shaped incision on his chest.

Because he has a latent magic ability, he is classified as somewhat of an anomaly among DERIMA; he's human, but does not fall into the category of a supernatural such as the vampires, harpies, elves, shapeshifters that populate the area in and around Bayfield. I suspect he may be some sort of zombie or undead, but since he still has all his mental faculties (and I do use that phrase lightly) I'm not sure??

Magic is so present in his entire being that even his blood is tainted by it, which makes him easily detectable to supernaturals and leaves him susceptible to being overloaded with magic potential. To avoid his own magic destroying himself and everyone around him, he undergoes a monthly "magic dialysis," where his blood is cleansed of all magic.

In exchange for his cooperation as a case study and his voluntary work with testing experimental drugs for DERIMA, the organization has given Laz his own apartment, secured him a day job at an outpatient center, and allows him to do freelance magic work for the benefit of supenaturals under their protection. Laz uses his magic mostly to alter people's memories, but it does come at a small physical toll.

In addition to using magic, Laz loves sleight of hand magic tricks and reading. He reads a lot of horror (particularly the works of Clive Barker and Stephen King) and has been known to dabble in the occasional romance novel. He tends to hang out in cafes after his work shifts and lab days, and is very addicted to crunchy pastries.

So far, Laz has really only interacted with a few other characters, including an entire family of vampires, a few former vampire hunters, a paranoid vampire just trying to not be perceived, and his best friend, who is a literal fallen angel. But I'm having a blast developing a chaotic dumbass like him, and I'm excited to see where he takes me next! ^^

[thesinglesjukebox]

DILJIT DOSANJH FT. SAWEETIE - "KHUTTI"

Per the Punjabi Music subreddit: "'Khutti' doesn’t really have one meaning and can be used to mean amazing or larger than life or trouble or similar things"...

[5.80]

Nortey Dowuona: From what I've read, Diljit Dosanjh seems both very nice and deeply ambitious and has spent the last two decades becoming a star of Punjab bhangra and cinema. He began in 2009 with The Next Level, produced by Honey Singh, as well as his lead role in the Lion of Punjab in 2011, in which he and Honey Singh teamed up to make him available to pop rap, opening the door for his following attempts at crossover. However, despite his desires to create a crossover hit on the level of “Gangnam Style,” he had yet to do so, having worked with several other producers but failing to break through as a musician. Finally, he seems to be on the verge, starring in the biopic of the legendary Amar Singh Chamkila for Netflix, as well as this song. A quartet led by HARV, GENT!, John and Pontus make the drums bounce and the synth riff twinkle ever 4 measures, enough for Larry Jacks and Raj Ranjodh as well as Saweetie to team up and make Diljit Dosanjh dazzle. [7]

Katherine St. Asaph: This Punjabi crossover bangs in the way a meteor could be said to bang as it strikes Earth. Diljit's vocals and energy are colossal, and Saweetie mostly holds her own against the force of this, despite occasionally sounding unsure how she got there. [8]

Leah Isobel: I find Saweetie's presence on this sort of baffling. Like, I get that she signifies "hip-hop" and "women" and "United States" in a broad sense - so from a business perspective, she makes sense - but nothing about her performance or presence goes beyond the vague gesture. Her concept-free smoothness doesn't complement Diljit's specific rhythmic and vocal choices, either; instead, she just irons out a song that's already too frictionless. I'm not mad at it, but I don't feel anything either. [5]

Jacob Sujin Kuppermann: "From the Bay to Punjab" is going to be huge for the Instagram captions of a couple dozen people I knew in college; I wish there was a bit more Bay Area styling on this as opposed to the Atlanta-as-nowhere trap beat by Gent! (a Lil Yachty associate, tragically). Everything here is adequate but not quite satisfying -- Dosanjh seems less comfortable as a yelped than he does as a R&B-leaning loverman, Saweetie does the same thing she's done for the past half decade, fossilized in an eternal pre-pandemic summer. [4]

Jessica Doyle: The execution's on the boring side, but I like the concept. Also how Saweetie says, "Y'all know what time it is," because she informed us it was 8 a.m. local time two minutes earlier. [5]

Taylor Alatorre: Even more of a blatant cut-and-paste job than these cross-border collabs often are; Saweetie framing her verse as the byproduct of a 12-hour red-eye flight is some savvy expectation management. Diljit, or at least his producers, are fluent enough in the lingua franca of trap music to make each part work fine on its own, even if hand-off between the two is unceremonious. [5]

Ian Mathers: Feels oddly like a mirror universe counterpart to Truth Hurts' "Addictive," and if it's not quite the banger that one is, it's still pretty good! [7]

Isabel Cole: On first listen I thought I wanted this to be faster, but after a few more I came to appreciate the unhurried way the beat muscles forward. [6]

Rachel Saywitz: A perfectly fine Punjabi banger with an unsurprisingly middling Saweetie verse. That downward vocal flourish in the chorus gets more and more entrancing as I listen. [6]

Tim de Reuse: Very little is exchanged in this cultural exchange. Dosanjh gives a spirited performance, but the grooveless, sparse beat simply does not function underneath his Bhangra cadence; he is syncopated and energetic, while his surroundings plead for Drake-style triplets. The overall effect is that of a crude mashup that could've stayed on SoundCloud, but at least he's trying to keep us entertained. Saweetie, on the other hand, is on autopilot, bringing nothing specific other than a few off-handed geographic references. And, hey, on that note -- why would you drop that you're getting a visa? Applying for an Indian tourist visa is not a glamorous experience. It's mostly filling out forms for hours on a site that boasts compatibility with Internet Explorer 9. It still uses the HTML <marquee> tag. [5]

[Read, comment and vote on The Singles Jukebox]

[chrisbannor]

Elements of Change

Chapter Five: Kammon, the Calamity

Author: Chris Bannor

It started like a pull at the back of Ezo’s mind. Like someone had tied a piece of string to his brain and was gently trying to rush him down the path. Ezo was never one to be deterred from his curiosities, but he was on the road to rejoin Jaroh’s Traveling Players. It’d been ten days since he’d left to visit the village of Northsea. It was too small to hold the player’s interest, but there had been plenty of work for him to do and he was richer than when he’d gone in. Not everyone was happy to see an elementalist in town, but he did enough work to make it worth the time. Now, he just wanted to join up with the players, check in with Alvrey, and listen to Mathis and Tamis tell him about their adventures of the past few days.

Thankfully, the pull was leading him in the general direction he wanted to go.

The road was joined by smaller paths and eventually led to the grand roads of Desra. This section of the road was barely big enough for a village cart, let alone the larger wagons that sometimes made their way from the capital city to the outlying areas. The forest had encroached over the years. As Distria fought against its bordering neighbors, the interior roads that weren’t routinely used by the military were neglected. A handful of earth-gifted elementalists could clear the whole section of the road in a few days, pushing the forest back and building a safe road for travelers, but it was a story he heard too often.

The War-Sworn were too important - and too tired - to deal with insignificant trouble. Ezo didn’t know how the safe travel of the roads in the kingdom was insignificant, but he did what he could when he could. This wasn’t something one man could fix though, no matter how strong he was. Instead, the villages in the area had learned to hire soldiers to guard their wagons and make sure they reached their destination safely.

It was midday when the pull in Ezo’s brain pointed him towards a path that steered southward. There was nothing special about the path. It was one of many smaller paths that he’d passed as he traveled. No mystical fog begged him to follow, and no dire omens sat before him, warning him of danger. He just felt the pull to walk that path.

He’d taken detours for less reasons, so he decided to follow.

It was a pleasant walk at first, but after an hour, he caught signs of recent struggles. A large wagon wheel was tossed on its side with signs of fire damage. A trough dug into the earth large enough that he needed to summon the earth to close the gap before he could walk across it. The destruction of fire in the woods that was far too focused to have been a natural fire.

He came across a wagon that had been ripped in two. He knelt to the ground and ran his fingers over the wood.

“Stay where you are!”

Ezo froze. He hadn’t heard anyone coming. He closed his eyes and shifted slightly to get to the earth under his feet.

“I said don’t move!”

Ezo turned his head to look back at the man because he recognized the voice. “What are you doing here?” He stood, watching the elementalist he’d met in Mason Creek so many months ago.

“You?” The man seemed offended by his presence and Ezo scowled.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“What are you doing here?”

“I asked you first.” He wasn’t normally argumentative, but there was something about the other man that riled him up. Or maybe it was the other way around. Something about Ezo riled the other man up, and he returned the sentiment.

The man frowned but he looked away from Ezo. “I was hired to find raiders that have been attacking a local town’s wagons. They’ve lost two trade caravans that were heading out. One was heading to Desra, and one to Nivet Bay.”

“Barley warned us about them.”

The other man turned his head sharply. “Who?”

“We met a group of War-Sworn on the road when I was with Jaroh’s Traveling Players. Barley was their commander.”

“I know who Barley is.”

“How do you-”

“It doesn’t matter. He warned you about the raiders, but didn’t do anything about it himself?”

“Look, I don’t know you,” Ezo said as he crossed his arms over his chest. “But those men were exhausted. I’m not sure any of them could have held a flame for more than a minute, let alone defeat an enemy.”

“He was in that bad a shape?” The man’s voice has softened, and the words seemed more to himself than a question to Ezo.

“The players have a healer with them. If it helps, she stopped and healed what she could. They need time to rest and heal, but Barley and his men were sticking together, taking care of one another. I think they’ll be okay. But now I’m worried about the players. I was meeting up with them on the road north. Are the raiders heading that way?”

The man nodded. “That’s where their path is leading. If your friends are there, it could be trouble. They would be too big a target for the raiders to resist. Do they have protection on the road?”

Ezo shook his head. “A couple of their guys are good in a fight, but that’s always been enough from what they say. In the few months I’ve been riding with them, I haven’t seen any trouble either.”

“The raiders have ignored anyone with an elementalist in the company.”

“They must have one as well, then.”

“Exactly. They would have left the players alone while you were with them.”

Ezo felt guilt settle in his gut. “Then when I left, I made them a target.”

The man watched him for a moment, then nodded. “Then we had best find them.”

“You’ll help me?”

“It’s the best lead to where the raiders will be heading next. If they are both heading north, their passes will cross eventually.”

“Thank you.”

The other man just nodded as they began to walk. They were back to his original crossroad before the man touched his wrist. Ezo stopped, feeling a strike of lightning in his veins at the brief contact.

The man’s eyes widened and tightened quickly, but he ignored the sensation. “Kammon.”

“What?”

“You said you don’t know me. My name is Kammon.”

“Ezo,” he answered with a small smile.

The man started walking again, but then the name caught up to Ezo. “Wait. Kammon? As in Kammon, the Calamity?”

Kammon stopped in his tracks but didn’t look back at Ezo. Ezo watched the rise and fall of his shoulders but didn’t dare speak again.

“Are you coming or not, Raven?”

When Kammon began forward, Ezo ran to catch up. His mind was racing though. Kammon the Calamity. The most destructive force of fire the world had ever seen. The man had done more for the war efforts than any other soldier. And, according to story, after he arrived and single-handedly ended a month-long stalemate, he disappeared without a trace.

Kammon. The man who had helped him protect the people of Mason Creek from a flood. The same people who had all but tossed him out because they knew he’d been War-Sworn.

Ezo caught up to the soldier and braved a glance at him. When Kammon returned the look, he gave another small smile. It wasn’t much, but he could see the man’s shoulders relax just a little bit. Ezo felt his own unease settle as well.

And whatever that pull at the back of his head was, at least they were all three going in the right direction.

Author's Notes: And we are back to our mysterious stranger for chapter two. What do you think of Kammon? Will he and Ezo hit it off, or are there rough days ahead?

[the-silver-peahen-residence]

||A surprising little pup||

Hi there dears, peahen mom is back and I have a little silly yet cute thread to share. This is for my friend but the idea involves one of her Au’s for it. So, Lets get on with it.

~~Drabble short summary~~

It was a normal day in NYC and everything was fine but that also changes when a sudden new face appears. It was a little girl who got taken to the past but got caught in a fight among the fractions against some bad demons. Before the little girl got hurt, she was saved and found by the DBT and cursed vixens. Now the teams were wondering who was this little girl and where did she come from? Well, read to find out.

||Warning||

~Swearing might be present in this drabble

~~Guests in this Drabble~~

((My OC’s))

~The Cursed Vixens

((Dani mun’s OC’s)) @demon-blood-youths

~The Demon Blood Tears. Also the Young adults and Demon royals AU also belongs to Demon mun so everyone is young adults in this one and some are older teenagers. But you will see in the drabble.

((Their will be errors and grammar mistakes but as I stated as always, this is written for fun. So I hope you like it.))

‘W..where am I?’ a young little girl was hiding in a spot in a building where she was seeing scary people or demons fighting around the area of New York City. AT first, the little girl was at home with her parents as they were seeing her playing. However, one of her friends did something and somehow, she ended up here. She had two demons with her but they have protected her from time to time but they were keeping the little girl safe. However, they were tired after having to regain some energy from saving her from a few that wanted to eat her.

“I have to find mama and papa. They should be back home right? But this isn’t my home...where am I?” she asked scared to almost cry but she heard a explosion to make her yelp hiding again to hug a jackal plush. Though her parents told her to stay brave. She looks out seeing the scary monsters gone so it told her she can move on. She hurries off to try and finding a way out before she heard growling seeing one of the monsters!

“U..Uh oh..” Quickly, she runs to see the monsters chasing her! She was scared but she was tired so she couldn’t do anything to keep them at bay. She kept running through this building that leads to the outside where she saw New York City. It was the afternoon but she was shaking now knowing she was not back home. She was somewhere else. Maybe the past?

“Was this what Kat was saying?” she mutters remembering what her friend told her or heard from her parents say but as she was wondering, she keeps running away from the monsters till she was surrounded by them. She stops to be trapped in the middle hugging her jackal plush crying. “St..stay back. Please leave me alone.” she said crying now but the demons didn’t have it. They were going closer to the little girl as they tried to jump her! She gasped to panic about to do something till......

A strong blast of blue flames came forth to hit the demons away from the little girl as she blinks to look. She saw the demons gone but saw the flames there. “H..Huh?” Then she saw someone standing in front of her to a young adult female with black hair but she was holding a familiar sword.

“Got here just in time. You okay kid?” she asked but the little girl slowly nods before seeing black flames hitting the demons as they yelp backing up when another female lands but she was showing black flames in the palm of her hands.

“Yo Ink! The others are taking care of the enemy on the other side! You think we should hurry and take these things out!?” Jinx said but she saw Ink laugh to grip her sword. “Yeah, lets do it!” the two charge at the demons as they fight them. The little girl blinks to look but was confused.

‘N..No way..is that..’ before finishing someone carefully picks up the little girl to show another young woman but the little girl’s own eyes widen to see two people. One had black hair but it was longer, her silver eyes were gentle. She had silver demonic markings on her arm but she was looking worried to the little girl.

“Are you okay?” she asked but the little girl was speechless.

“Melinda!” she looks back seeing another young male show up but he had curly afro hair, yellow golden eyes but he was wearing classic clothes while looking to help Melinda with the little girl. “Is she alright?”

“She’s alright. She must be spooked right now...don’t worry little one, we can get you out of here.” she said but the little girl blinks but nods slowly. The two help the little one out while seeing their teammembers taking out the rouge demons that was causing chaos all over in this section. Even seeing Breezy and Rust punching a few back to her blasting them with a ice wind freezing them.

Navarro and Echo was bombing a few bigger ones resulting in the explosions but it’s just crazy now. Though, the little girl watches all this still shocked but relaxed in the arms of Melinda.

‘I wonder.....are they....no way. I remember Kat said something about the past but...am I.....’

~~Hours later to Evening~~

The DBT and the cursed vixens were at Wyckoff right now but Ophelia was just done treating the little girl who was sitting on a chair while she was being checked on. The others were talking about what happened while Melinda and Jaron wanted to be sure the kid was okay.

“Well?” she heard Melinda asked to see Ophelia nod.

“She’s alright. She’s not bruised or hurt. Maybe a little startled but she’s alright.” she said to Melinda sighing in relief. That was good the little girl was safe but Jaron looks to her as he sees her hugging her jackal plush.

“We are happy to have found you. We thought everyone evacuated the area but guess not. Though, good thing we found you before it got too dangerous.” Breezy said with Rust nodding his head.

“Yeah, we didn’t expect the rouge demons to get that dangerous over time. Guess now they have.” he said.

“Even so, we are happy to have found someone..but...why were you there all by yourself? Where are your parents?” Jaron asked but the little girl looks quiet.

“I....I don’t know. They were here but then..they disappeared. I don’t know where I am..” she said but Jaron looked to smile petting her head. “Well, don’t worry, I’m sure we will help you find them.” he said.

“T..thank you.” she said softly.

“Of course. Now, are you hungry? I know you must be after all that. I have a plate for you so you can eat.” he said but the little girl blinks to look up showing her face. “R..really? Thank you....” she looked really adorable but looking closer, Jaron and Melinda noticed something.

This little girl had med long black hair but with some curls, she had a cute small nose, med dark skin but what caught the two was her eyes. They were a mix of golden orange like color and silver to have a light almond color that looked just like....

“Well, lets get you something to eat!” breezy smiled to see the little girl nod, hopping down to follow her to leave Melinda and Jaron silent. This little girl..However, that was for another time. Everyone was seeing the kid now sitting down but some of the girls find her really adorable and cute!!! She blushed from the comments but only sees Ophelia setting a plate down for her as she blinks to her eyes sparkling.

“Here you go, hope you like it.” Jaron said to her as the little girl nods to look at him.

“Thank you again! This looks really good. It’s just like my papa’s.” she smiled to say her thanks but sets the plushie down before carefully beginning to eat. As soon as she did, her eyes widen to blush, smiling from the taste to eat. Everyone else begins eating while the cursed vixens were invited to stay for dinner.

“So what do we do with the kid? I mean, if her parents are somewhere they have to be looking for her.” Navarro said but seeing the others thinking and agreeing.

“True, maybe Fosh and Mouse can find them. They have to be around here somewhere.” Echo said.

“Well, maybe we can after a while. They should be close.” Vivi said drinking some water.

“Is that true little one? Are your parents near by?” Maggie asked but the little girl shook her head.

“N..not around here. I....it’s hard to explain. I was with my parents but....I don’t recognize this place.” she said holding her fork. “I think papa say this was..uhhh...New York City?” she said seeing everyone look to her.

“Well, that’s true. This is new york. Maybe your parents are looking for you somewhere. We can help you find them!” Jinx said to her.

“I..I hope so. I don’t wanna worry my parents o..or my friends. They are w..worried and I don’t wanna worry them.” she said looking down but she only keeps eating now feeling sad and worried.

“Now now, I’m sure we will find your parents..” Melinda said to her. She looks to Melinda but nods showing her eyes again but Melinda pets her head while she was smiling. Her touch was nice that she felt happy.

“By the way, we never got your name or are you from around here?” she heard Mouse asked.

“..I don’t know...I remember coming here with my parents..but.....that’s all I know but my papa told me to always be careful and stuff if I got lost. I even have my plushie daddy gave me.” she shows the jackal plush by her that Jaron and Melinda saw it.

“Awwww, it’s cute. They gave you this?” Melinda asked.

“Yes. My papa made it for me......I do have my other two friends but they were tired after protecting me from the scary monsters.” she said.

“Hmm? Your two friends? Were they helping you?” Ink asked.

“Uh huh. Jet and Jin were protecting me. See?” she looks to the side before the DBT and the cursed Vixens saw something show up by the little girl that made everyone gasp. A silver lung dragon was sleeping on a jackal that was resting.

“HOLY-” Echo and Navarro was shocked seeing this but they saw Melinda and Jaron more shocked.

“Hold up, are those..”

The little girl saw but sees the jackal yawn but she hops down to pet him. “You alright Jet?” she said seeing the Jackal look to lick the little girl’s cheek who giggled. “Huh? Oh yeah their demons!” she said smiling.

“A..a...are you guys s..s..seeing this?” Breezy said seeing everyone nod slowly.

“Wait.....if they are demons then...does that make you..” Mouse started to say seeing the little girl look to nod.

“Y..Yeah, I’m a demon myself or I’m born as a demon....just like my mama and papa!” She looks to lift her right arm up showing silver tribe marks on her arm of a demonic lung dragon pattern but she saw two more jackals show up. One female and another male. They were wagging their tails happily seeing the girl safe as they lick her. She giggled laughing.

“Guys quit it! that tickles!” she giggle hugging them. Now the DBT and the Cursed vixens were shocked and speechless. Who was this little girl!?!?

“Ummmmm......dear? We don’t know how to ask but..what’s your name?” Vivi asked to see the little girl blink to sit up but see the plush get brought to her as the jackals help her stand.

“My name? Oh, it’s Abigail Layla Jackal!” She said with a smile but everyone was shocked. But Melinda and Jaron was more shocked!!!!

“....”

“EEEHHHH!!?!?!?”

“You...wait, that’s your name? Then....w..who are your parents?” Rust said as Abigail blinks.

“Uhhhh my parents are the king and queen from the demon world. My papa’s name is Lyulis “Jaron” Jackal but many call him Jaron. And my mama is Melinda Brooks! They are from New York City but they were turned into demons but sent back home to rule or take over this human world with my friends and the other rulers. They rule the left side of the human world with grandparents Lyilus and Yen-Lo-Wang. They are always helping me out if my mama and papa are not around.” she said.

“......”

“T..then y..you.....w..we......” Melinda started to say but her face was red that she was speechless.

“......” Jaron had no words but he was just as speechless. The two see Abigail happily petting the three jackal familiars as they were happily wagging their tails.

“Well, at least you two were right about Jaron and Melinda getting married. Geez, that’s something.” Breezy said seeing Rust and Navarro speechless.

“Wait, when you mean others....do you mean..”

“Yeah, the others as some of you also got uhhh married too. Something about the demons doing the same thing. You all went back to the demon world to learn more about taking over this one and you rule it now but in your own way. That and my friends or their kids we play but we also are working on your demon powers.” she said smiling. The others were shocked even more but said nothing.

Then some got married or had a arranged marriage and even had some kids!?! Yeah the DBT and the cursed Vixens were shocked but wonders but that’s was another time.

“Wow, it must be something in the future if that’s possible but does this mean we all gotten more powerful then!?” Ink said with eyes sparkling that some sweatdrops hearing that.

Abigail looks but nods to answer her. “YES!” Ink cheers but Navarro sighed. Well, this is something. This little girl was the other two’s kid. No way!

“Hold on, if your really Jaron and Melinda’s kid? Does this mean you have their demonic blood or abilities too?” Echo asked seeing Abigail nod.

“I..I do. I have papa’s ability..” She looks to show her eyes changing from almond to a golden color as a mist shows around her and from her mouth. Just like Jaron!!! She calms down to her eyes changing back. “And I have mama’s ablities too!” They saw silver demon aura around her as she was making some things float just like Melinda. “I even have her silver f..flames too.” she held her hands showing a few to make them disappear.

“.......”

‘Yep, that’s their kid alright..’ the others said in their heads but Jaron and Melinda were still speechless.  But the other thought was how to find her parents?? Before long, a silver portal or a mirror shows up as the other two fractions backs up seeing it forming but it didn’t damage anything as it appears in front of Abigail. The DBT and Cursed Vixens watched in shock as Melinda and Jaron covered their eyes before lowering their arms.

And then..

“Abigail??? Abigail??? Is that you??”

She blinks to hear a familiar voice to lower her little arm to see a woman there who was glowing silver but she looks to see. Abigail knew who it was. “MAMA!!” She stood up happy while seeing the portal opening more. The others saw a older version or adult version of Melinda. She still looked like herself but her demon self was stronger now. Though, aging was slow for demons so that explains a lot.

“Abi!!! Jaron! I found Abigail!” she said seeing another rush over to show a older Jaron who was happy but relieved to see the little one safe. “Abi!”

“Papa!!” she was happy to smile when the others was shocked seeing the other side. It looked like New york but it seems to be the demon world and the real world combined as one. The three jackals stood up to bark but the portal kept open while they rush through but Abigail felt the aura to see her parents. Even Melinda and Jaron was shocked. That was them in the future? Or a possible future. Abigail happily grabbed her plush but was ready to come back but stops to look back at the younger Jaron and Melinda to rush and hug them tight.

“Bye younger papa and mama! Thank you so much for helping me and the others too!!” she giggled to turn and head to the portal to jump through but the older Jaron catches her in his arms while she hugs him back. The others then saw other little kids seeing this. Some noticed a few even one that was having a white snake and a purple viper on her shoulders as the little ones were happy to see Abigail safe.

The older Melinda was happy to see her daughter safe but looks seeing the younger versions of themselves to gentle smile.

“Thank you so much for finding her. We been worried and didn’t know she was teleported to the past.” she said looking at the younger selves.

“Again, it was Jinx’s fault! I told her not to touch the machine!” a older teenager Echo shouted in the background holding a wrench but she sighed to look at them. “Even if you know she tends to touch anything even Ink too?” she said seeing Ink waving to smile.

“My bad! X3″

“...........*sighs*”

“Anyway, thank you all for finding and saving her. We hope she was not much trouble?” Older Melinda asked seeing them shaking their heads no in a speechless expression.

“I see. Well, We are both happy that you helped find her..thank you so much..” she smiled but Breezy looks to ask.

“Hold on! Then if your the older versions of Jaron and Melinda t.then the kids are..” she saw a little girl but she was laughing while waving but she was wearing a t-shirt with a gear bracelet but a cute little charm.

“Lets just say you will know but the future has many paths for one to know of. But I’ll let you figure it out on your own. I will say this.....the first date I had with Jaron...It was a beautiful night. I’ll always remember it. Even if we were shy through it all. But that’s a secret.” she smiled as everyone looked to Jaron and Melinda who was still speechless right now.

“Even so, we better go. Thank you again all of you.” With a smile, the older Melinda’s silver flame mirror started to dissappear with Abigail waving bye to them. A few did wave back till the portal was gone leaving them all there in the living room silent.

“....I knew Jaron and Melinda would get married! I told ya!” Rust said but the others sighed. But how did Jaron and Melinda feel about this?

“Uhhhh Jaron? Melinda? Are you two okay?” Ophelia said touching their shoulders. The only answer was both of them passing out to fall on the floor at the same time flushed red.

“Guys!?!?” everyone looks to see the two’s eyes dizzy and swirly right now from everything.

“.....@_@.....”

“......@_@.......”

“Huh, they passed out..” Jinx asked seeing the dizzy swirly eyes.

“Well, at least we are curious of this! They had a cute little kid!! She was precious too!!!!” Jinx giggled but the other girls looks to her. “What?”

“Uhhh, lets just help them to the couch to lay them down..” Vivi said but she and the others helped Jaron and Melinda rest on the couch but they knew the two were shocked at the thought. They’ll be okay after a while.

~~Meanwhile~~

“I can’t believe we saw our younger selves! Seems we haven’t changed have we?” Melinda asked seeing Abigail hugged by the other kids from the others that was worried but she saw the fractions reacting to the machine and how it really worked.

“But this should be a lesson though; Don’t let Jinx touch anything!” Echo shouted glaring at Jinx who was giggling holding her hands up smiling.

“Again, my bad!”

“...Your seriously dumb you know that??” she growls but the others sighed to laugh. Well, all’s well that ends well. But at least Abi was back home safe. But this only means a possible future for everyone but that’s for another story to tell.

[naturesapphic]

hi! could i make a natasha x reader request where tony is throwing a party and reader decides to jump from the balcony to the pool but ends up broking/dislocating something and ends in the med bay very fluffy

Bad Decisions

Natasha romanoff x fem!reader

Warnings: reader being stupid, broken arm, protective/soft natasha, and cursing

I finished buttoning up my crop top and adjusted my skirt as I heard Natasha coming out of our shared bathroom, wearing a black knee-lengthed dress.

Your mouth fell opened as you admired how gorgeous your red headed girlfriend looked. Natasha was straightening out her dress as she felt you staring at her. Her curled red hair bounced as she looked up at you, wearing her signature smirk.

“See something you like kotenok?” Nat teased you as she walked over to you. You smirked back slightly as your cheeks started to grow warm. Natasha was about to wrap her arms around your waist until Tony interrupted the moment by yelling at the both of you.

“COME ON LESBIANS! THE PARTY HAS STARTED. STOP SUCKING EACH OTHERS FACES OFF AND HURRY IT UP.” Tony yelled at the top of his lungs.

You rolled your eyes as nat grabbed your hand, leading the both of y’all downstairs to the room where the party is being held at.

~ A few hours later ~

Nat was looking everywhere for you. You disappeared into the crowd after a few hours of staying by natasha. You told her that you would be right back because you knew someone from across the room and you wanted to go say hi. After about an hour, she started getting worried and that’s where she is now, trying to look for her lost girlfriend.

She heard screaming and yelling from outside by the pool area. Curious, she walked outside to see you on the balcony, screaming and waving your arms everywhere. Nat’s eyes widen in fear as she was scared that you would fall and get severely hurt. “Y/N! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING UP THERE?!” Nat yelled at you.

You looked down to see your ex assassin girlfriend glaring up at you with concern filling her eyes as well. You smiled wide and waved down at her wildly. “HI NATTY! MY FRIEND SAID THAT I COULDNT JUMP OFF THE BALCONY BECAUSE I TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS TOO HIGH! SO I TOLD THEM TO PASS ME THE VODKA SO I CAN HAVE SOME BRAVERY JUICE!” You screamed down at her.

She shook her head in disbelief. “PLEASE, WOULD YOU COME DOWN?!” She yelled at you as she started to get scared as you were getting closer to the edge. “NOPE! SUCK IT Y/F/N!” You screamed as you jumped off the balcony into the pool.

Well, you thought you were landing for the pool, but your body landed on the side of it before you fell in the cold water. You heard some screams and yelling before being pulled out of the water which you assumed was your girlfriend.

You couldn’t remember much because everything was fuzzy and you were in severe pain. The next thing you remember was waking up with bright lights in your eyes blinding you slightly.

Groaning, you slowly tried to sit up in the bed before a hand gently pushed you back down. You opened your eyes to see the green eyes of your worried girlfriend.

“If you weren’t in a lot of pain right now and if I didn’t love you, I would break your other one.” Nat glared at you then sighed softly. “I’m sorry….but literally why the fuck would you jump off a balcony?!” She exclaimed at you. You shrugged your shoulders as you looked down in your lap and started playing with your fingers.

Natasha gently lifted your chin up and kissed you softly. You smiled and pulled away as you looked down at your casted arm. “How long did dr. Cho say that I have to wear this thing?” You questioned as you gently lifted your arm up.

“She said about 6 weeks. Then after she will take the casting off she will scan over it to make sure that it healed correctly.” She said as she looks down at your arm in a worry gaze.

You groan and your head falls back against your pillows in annoyance. Natasha chuckled at your behavior “oh stop being a big baby. It’s not the end of the world dove. Plus, that means I’ll be with you the whole six weeks.” She said as she smirked at you.

Your eyes lit up as started squealing happily. This was going to be a interesting but a fun filled 6 weeks but at least your super cool badass girlfriend would be there.

A/n: hey everyone :)

I missed y’all! How is everyone doing? I hope y’all liked this, and don’t worry more is coming soon :)

Make sure you rest and stay hydrated <3

[waltnut]

Hey!! Do you have any more lore ideas of the demon bros in their level 3/4 states? Your last post was really interesting!! :)

I do have some that’s kinda dark? Maybe even kind of NSFW-ish? I’m not sure how you’d categorize it but here it is anyway.

I’ve had this idea of when the “heat season” comes around and what is needed to be done to protect MC. This is in no way what I think happens EVERY TIME heat season comes around just an idea that I had in my head for a concept. I’ve read many wonderful Headcanons for the heat seasons for the brothers and they are all way more thought out than this lol.

The idea is that for MC’s protection, it has been tasked to keep the brothers locked up in their room or a specific location until the heat has passed. The scenario is that this is the first time MC has been there for it and Barbatos is explaining to them and showing them what is needed to be done. There are seals in every room to keep them from breaking out, for example. The seals are made for that specific demon and do not affect MC or other demons. Most of them are in Level 4 during this time but will phase into Level 3 to try to manipulate MC into letting their guard down. Each demon is given something to keep the desire at bay. If they stop receiving these things they will go into a rage.

Assume they are in Level 4 unless stated. This is specifically the brothers...Read more below.

Lucifer - Locked in his room

Mc is not allowed even on the same floor as Lucifer during this time. It is said his power and influence can affect a large radius and should you get too close, you will feel unconsciously drawn to him or where he is.

There is a seal on his door to keep him in.

You will hear nothing behind his door, it is as if no one is home.

He stalks around in his room in Level 4, with all his lights off. Ashamed of himself and his lack of control.

If he knows MC is close, or if he can no longer resist, he is able to project illusions of this form throughout the house to Lure MC or scare MC into heading closer to him. You would see these out of the corner of your eye, or red eyes in the shadows of a silhouette of a giant goat man.

Should MC enter his room, the seal does not react to humans and opening the door does not break the seal, MC will be stuck in here until it’s over. Have fun dealing with a scary goat demon in the dark.

Music is needed to keep him calm. If no music is played he will use his illusions more to terrorize others on the outside and become violent if approaching his physical form.

Mammon - Locked away in his room, in a secret cellar type room that is accessible only through his room. It’ll

To get to him, there is a door in the back of his room, that only appears for this season, magic or something. It leads down a spiral staircase where the walls are stone and you come to a large stone room that is lit by conches and it’s filled with gold and treasure and the like. It’s a dragon’s den. And it’s separated by a wall of decorative bars keeping MC on one side and the dragon on the other.

The seal is on the bars and touching the bars would repel him. But MC can touch them and stick a hand through.

He lays on his treasure and gold objects which will stick to his leathery parts on his wings and the underside of his tail and belly.

Nests of treasures, tapestry and fancy rugs are also used as paddings for his nests. There are items from ancient times, which you could only assume he’s had for centuries and his hoard has only grown since then.

If MC enters this chamber he will transform to level 3 and offer his treasures to them. He will also pout and guilt to keep MC there with him.

Treasure is given to him every hour to keep him happy. He transforms back into level 4 in a fit and will destroy his piles of treasures out of anger and upset if they choose to leave him.

If MC chooses to stay, he will dress them in his treasures and make nests for them.

Leviathan - Sealed in his large aquarium tank. Did you think it was built for the fishes?

The only light source comes from the fish tank and TVs. You can see a giant dark mass inside the tank wrapping around everything inside. It has pulsating glowing orange orbs on its form.

There are Tv’s set up in front of the glass. A lot of them. All of them are anime. There are also a lot of plushies floating in the water. To keep him company, Barbatos would say. These objects keep him calm.

If MC approaches he will turn into Level 3 and press himself against the glass with the most sad eyes. He will use words to manipulate MC into feeling guilty for him being alone and to stay there with him and watch all the shows.

If you stay too long in this room you will hear an eerie whale type song in the back of your mind. It seems to make you dizzy and makes you want to stay with him. Maybe you just might jump in the water. Who needs to breathe anyway? He probably has a solution for that.

If MC chooses to leave he will turn back into Level 4 sea monster and wail the saddest deep sea song and slam his huge body against the glass. Hopefully it stays in tact.

Satan - Locked in his room.

A green glowing wall seal separates the door area from the rest of his room. It has a shimmering flame affect but you can see through it.

His room is trashed. Books ripped to shreds, book cases fallen over, small flecks of green flame and ash are scattered on the piles.

He remains in Level 4 even if MC is in the room. And he is not nice. He is mean. He will scream and yell and swear profanities at them, and especially Barbatos since Barbatos will not let Mc go alone. He will say down right terrible things out of anger and frustration.

If MC expresses any type of upset, it’s possible Satan might notice. If he does, he will lower his voice and approach. He will apologize and begin to try to convince Mc to stay with him and read all the books.

If he is refused he will slam on the sealed wall furiously and monstrous screaming continues. His flames in his body are strong and bright.

Books are given to him every half hour as well as audiobooks of plays from every language to keep him calm.

Asmodeus - Sealed in his room, but an altered version of reality.

His room is separated by a clear glass wall with an invisible seal. On the other side there are mirrors everywhere. It’s like a fun house with how they are not in any uniform pattern. Some are cracked and broken.

There is pillows and blankets and a giant bed where there isn’t mirrors.

The mirrors are used to keep his morale low, showing his reflection in his level 4 state causes a depression to keep him from wanting to pursue others, as he is the avatar of Lust and is the most insatiable during this season.

If MC is in the room, he will actually scream and refuse for them to see him. If MC can convince for Asmodeus to show himself, he will come close to the glass barrier and black tear lines would be streaming down his face.

He will show himself in Level 3 to them to convince MC to stay and keep him company. Something about wanting to see them from every angle with all these mirrors?

If refused he will start to break the mirrors around him. The magically repair themselves eventually.

Other demons like succubi/incubi are sent to him to keep his appetite lower. But he will always prefer MC over them.

Beelzebub - Locked in a giant meat freezer storage near the kitchen.

It’s very cold in here, and there are animal carcasses hanging from meat hooks everywhere. Even things you never seen before. It’s a large cold room with tile.

Bars separate you from the monster in the middle of the room. He sits on a pile of meat and flesh, sounds of tearing can be heard. But also the raffling of chains. The bars are not enough to hold him. There are seals on the bars and metal cuffs attached to his wrists and ankles.

Steam can be seen coming off the monster form Beelzebub.

Once MC enters, he will come launch himself towards them but the chains catch him and hold him away. Barbatos will allow MC to throw him some meat but to use a rod to stick it through, like some zoo keeper feeding a lion.

It was said they didn’t start using the chains until one time he broke out and went on a feeding spree. I won’t get into details about that.

He speaks in very few words. “Closer.” Or “Stay.” are usually what he’ll snort at MC. He stares at them, licking his lips. You don’t know if it’s lust or hunger or both.

He doesn’t put up much a fuss if MC leaves, as the food is enough to occupy him.

Food fed to him by the hundreds is needed to keep him from raging.

Belphegor - Locked back up in the attic.

There is a wall of black smoke/fog that hides the rest of the room. It has light flecks off white in them, like stars.

Red eyes stare at you from inside the fog. They disappear and reappear somewhere else.

Barbatos tells you to not touch the smoke. Do not. Ever. Touch the smoke.

Level 3 arms of Belphie can reach out from the smoke to grab you.

His voice is soft and sweet but his words are not. He tells you he is always with you when you sleep. He can see your dreams. He is in them. It’s the way he says these things that are unsettling.

He can disperse the fog enough to show himself to you. He can change the fog to look like space and galaxies to entice MC to want to stay and experience it.

He will guilt trip MC, saying they’re the reason he’s here and they owe him. They need to make it up to him. He can forgive them if they stay.

If he is refused, a wave of tiredness will wash over MC. Barbatos must always accompany them and he is able to take them away before anything happens.

Incense smoke is needed to keep him calm and sedated.

Now you may be thinking...What about Barbatos?? Isn’t he affected by the season?? To that he replies...

“Oh yes, but my constitution is much stronger than the rest.”

Then perhaps you may be wondering about Lord Diavolo. To which he replies...

“It’s best you don’t set foot in the castle. Better yet, just stay in here in the house, where it’s much safer.”