#i hope you use it as a baseline of how to not be strange and unusual on the internet

[tempesttz]

you are the tumblr user hussie was satirizing when he made kankri vantas.

im gonna fly off the handle

[candyswirls]

For the requests - can I please ask for any Gadriel fluff/smut/comfort (any of these) with fem reader? Thank you!!!

I actually don’t write smut. I got this fluffy idea almost immediately. There’s not enough old women. This kinda took a path all its own.

He huffed as he paced impatiently within his room. What was the lieutenant hiding? Even now he was resting in his quarters after collapsing when they came in contact with those marks of chaos. It was too strange. Too suspicious. He-

“Gadriel,” rasped an old voice just outside the door.

He paused in his anger.

“I know you’re in there.”

He sighed, knowing he couldn’t bring himself to keep her out.

He opened his door, letting an old ad mech shuffle in with her cane. Blue lenses were dim and any bit of skin was wrinkled and leathery. Her legs squeaked.

He took a knee and assisted her getting up to sit on his bed. She stared forward, hand resting on her cane.

She patted his pauldron, “You’re still such a good boy.”

He didn’t move as she reached out and pinched a cheek.

“And still very handsome,” she added. “Hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

“You know I never deny a visit from you,” the Sergeant said.

“Mmm,” she hummed. “How goes the fight?”

“We have achieved victories but we suffer the loss of our brothers,” Gadriel growled. “Lyreo and Elion… they are dead. And I wasn’t even with them.”

“You regret this decision?” She inquired. “Not like you to split up your squad.”

He scoffed, “It was not my decision. The captain has placed a lieutenant over my squad. He has my command.”

“You do not sound pleased,” she commented while rhythmically nodding. “Speak to me.”

Gadriel spoke freely, “He does things in strange ways. He is cut off and will not speak to us. I feel as though he is already disappointed with us. Condemning our actions before they have even happened! He shuts down my suggestions despite I having lead this squad before him!”

“It is always difficult to relay leadership to another,” she said. “You always found that difficult. You’ve always been ambitious. Hmm, but I sense this is not all?”

“His past is shrouded in mystery,” he exasperated. “He refuses to tell us anything. I question his motives and who he really is. He was part of the Deathwatch, a noble honor, but acts as if though it is a shame! He also collapsed upon coming across signs of the archenemy. Even now he rests in his room.”

“The captain will not listen to my concerns. He is dismissive. I know he cannot afford internal strife among the ranks and is more concerned with this war. Yet why place the Lieutenant over my squad? I have tried to consider what errors I have made to cause this decision but I am still at a loss!”

She placed a hand on his, signaling to him that it was his turn to listen.

She reached up and smoothed back some of his hair, cold metal brushing his skin.

“My poor Gadriel,” she hummed. “So many questions. So few answers. Perhaps this lieutenant is not here as a punishment to you but as a test. Maybe one from the captain. Maybe from the Omnissiah. Maybe just a simple case of clashing personalities. Do not dismiss your past accomplishments and drive.”

“But-“

“Ah, ah, ah,” she hushed. “You can’t fool me. Astartes pass all the time. Baselines even more. The passing of your squad mates is not your fault. Nor is it your lieutenant. There’s always the case of a better or different choice. We don’t always make them. This is war.”

Gadriel looked like he wanted to protest but chose not to. He wouldn’t dare argue with her solely out of respect.

“As for the suspicion,” she continued. “You are resourceful and academic. You know how to research. If others will not tell you, learn for yourself. There should be records on this Astartes. Reading to gain knowledge and learn of history is the best thing one can do for themselves.”

Gadriel nodded, “I know. You taught me that. I planned to go to the archives soon.”

“Good. I shan’t keep you long. We’ll both be headed the same direction. But I had to come see you though. I always know when one of my boys is upset.”

She cupped his cheek, “You fight hard, you follow your orders, remember the codex and what I taught you. But most of all, remember: you should enjoy fighting for the Omnissiah.”

He nodded and found himself resting his head on her lap.

“Thank you,” he mumbled. “You always put me at ease. I am honored to have you as a mentor. I admit, I find physical affection embarrassing but I appreciate you speaking to me in the privacy of my room.”

She chuckled as she stroked his head, “Like I said Gadriel, I know you. Now come, help an old magos back to the archives. My shipment of new legs won’t be here for a bit and these ones are rusty.”

He helped her off the bed and offered his arm as he assisted her out.

[watatsumiis]

I honestly adore your bitey series, and saw your suggestions were open. Do you mind if I suggest Arlecchino, Beidou, Hu Tao, Rosaria, Yanfei, Kuki, and Ganyu for the Bitey Series? I'm super interested in your hc ideas gkjddfgkl (Don't feel bad if you wanna not write for some of the characters I just listed gjkfdkfjgljk I just went with six because each of your bitey posts also have six so I used it as a baseline jkfgjkdgjk) I hope you're having a good day/night!

Thanks so much for the request!! I’m more than happy to do this, I really had a lot of fun writing the bitey reader series, something about it just makes my little heart happy <3 It seems like you actually submitted seven here, which is alright!! Thank you for noticing about the number of characters i usually have per post, it means a lot to me kjdkdfs

I think i may have to give Yanfei, Shinobu and Ganyu a miss for now since I’m not familiar at all with writing them, but I’ll keep them on my list, don’t worry!

Content: Gender neutral reader who bites as a sign of platonic affection. 

Arlecchino is used to being bitten. She works with children who will bite for a large myriad of reasons. She may not like it, but she understands it comes from a place of not being able to verbalise a certain emotion. At first she’ll be concerned that there’s something wrong, and will try to pinpoint what it is. Eventually, she’ll move on to being mildly annoyed, shooing you off, and then finally just settling for it and realising it’s just a way of you asking for attention. If she’s busy, she may brush you off and move away, but she’ll make a note to give you the affections that you’re pining for when she has a moment. If you have a particularly close relationship with her she’ll let it fly if she knows you’ve had a bit of a rough/long day.

Beidou finds it kind of funny, though she doesn’t entirely understand it. She’ll just laugh like you’ve told her some kind of hilarious joke, shaking her head and tutting her tongue as she pats you on the head and jokes that some kind of shark or something must’ve gotten on board while her back was turned. Though if you consistently do it, she may ask if you’ve gotten into the liquor (she’s got a few crew members who get a little… bitey, once they’ve had a few drinks), or kind of semi-awkwardly try to redirect you onto something (or someone) else. Eventually she just resigns to her fate though, and you get to nibble on her to your heart's content! She’ll just sort of phase it out after a while.

Hu Tao kind of adores it - she lives for non-traditional acts of affection and the like, so will almost immediately try to get you back. She’ll turn it up a notch and just CHOMP down on you, giggling all the while. She thinks it's a very silly and fun way of communicating affection, and it feels strangely natural to her, as do most ‘unorthodox’ ways of making people know how much she likes them. She’s fairly well known for doing things like this in her own unorthodox way, and once she knows you're open to it, you'll often find yourself on the receiving end of one of her rather 'quirky' ways of showing affection, which include tying things to the ends of your hair (usually ribbons, feathers or charms for warding off spirits or bad luck), pocketing some of your belongings while you're not looking or just grabbing ahold of you or your clothing and clinging tight.

Rosaria is entirely baffled, and maybe even a little offended. She’ll pull away sharply and give you a stern look, but won’t directly say anything about it. If you try again, you’ll earn an annoyed sigh. Repeated attempts will reward you with progressively more annoyed reactions, eventually escalating to you getting bopped (mostly gently) on the head with a book or paper she has on hand. After that, if you do it again, she can and will just walk away. She doesn’t understand and doesn’t really have a heavy desire to try and understand - all she knows is that it’s bothering her and she doesn’t like it. If you're in a situation that she isn't able to walk away from, you'll likely find yourself getting scolded or grumbled at - don't get too upset though, she isn't really that mad, and will forget about it pretty quickly.

Please don't repost, steal, copy or otherwise plagarise my writing! This includes posting translations to other sites.

[incomingalbatross]

Stranger in a Strange Land

Here's my story for the @inklings-challenge!! A little late, for which I apologize. BUT it's actually finished! I limited my scope successfully this year, which is an accomplishment for me.

Wordcount: 1683 Team Lewis, genre: space travel Content warnings: some fantasy racism

Cale had completely lost track of time on this sun-drenched, salt-waste world. She might have been here for hours, days, or weeks—all she knew was that she wasn’t dead yet.

She’d escaped the wreckage of the ship with a few packs of food and water, but with nothing to carry them in, she’d had to fashion a clumsy bag out of her shirt. This left her down to her shorts and underwear, but at the time it had been the best she could do—the world seemed temperate enough, her hard armor-like skin would protect her from environmental hazards with or without cloth on top of it, and she really hadn’t wanted to hang around the crash site.

(Still, though. What would her mother have thought, knowing she was forced to wander half-naked through a strange world? Her mother had worried so much about how the various aliens out there would treat her daughter, in the weeks before Cale had left home.

Cale kind of wished she’d listened.)

But now here she was, stumbling blind through a landscape so bright she couldn’t see it, alone and lost and running low on food without even a clue where the ship had been, and with only the memories half-heard spacer yarns to tell her anything about what planet she might be on.

You’d think, of course, that a planet with no or slow rotation, a sun so bright her eyes couldn’t see, and an atmosphere that stayed temperate and breathable even with the constant inpouring of light—you’d think that would be distinctive enough to be easily identifiable. But the galaxy, even in its mapped portions, was big and too full of variety to keep track of. And Cale still didn’t have a handle on how much lower her light tolerance was than average, so that wasn’t a great guide; her people were an underground civilization, from a planet where the breathable air was found in vast subterranean caverns. The other races’ ships and space stations had seemed very bright for her, in the brief moments she’d taken took off her goggles.

(One of her bunkmates on a previous ship had been almost comically baffled by her world, Cale remembered. “Your air is underground?” she’d kept saying. “What if you run out?”

“What if you run out?” Cale had finally shot back, confused and frustrated. “We have plants. It’s a stable ecosystem.” It wasn’t that different from most planets, from what she’d learned—it was just that the habitable part operated without direct sunlight. But aliens never understood that part, apparently.)

Now Cale squinted through the miniscule slit she’d poked in the center of her makeshift blindfold (another use for her shirt, unfortunately), wishing she was back in that frustrating conversation, safe aboard that other ship. Or any other ship. Or at least that she had her goggles.

She didn’t really wish she was back on the crashed ship, though.

(She hadn’t been scared when she left home. She hadn’t really been scared at any point in her travels, until the sirens had started blaring on the ship those hours/days/weeks ago. Even traveling alone through foreign stars, she’d known she could take care of herself—her father had made sure she’d had a vibroknife and lessons on using it, but that was almost paranoia. Armed or unarmed, her people were the strongest and sturdiest race in known space.

But, as Cale quickly learned, that very strength and hardness and armored bulk that helped her people thrive also made her stand out like a looming, outsized tower among most other races. Politeness had varied, but that last ship—the one she’d booked a passage of desperation on in her hopes of reaching Sirius sometime in the next year, like she’d planned—well. That last ship had been the worst.

“So that’s some kind of…mole-person?” one of the baseline-human crew had speculated, well within her earshot.

“Nah, have you seen the skin? Armadillo is closer.”

“Honestly. She’s from that orc-world,” a third had said scornfully. “Haven’t you heard the stories? They didn’t just turn out like that, there was hardcore mad science going on to make something that could live on the cave-planet—and then you can add the inbreeding on top of it.” The scorn gave way to something uglier, then, as she added, “I don’t know why we have to give an orc passage-room.”)

No. Cale did not wish herself back with that crew, even with the security of a ship’s cabin. Even the memory made her angry—what right did they have to speculate about her people, their history, their lives? Cale was human. It wasn’t her fault—or even a mortification—if her kind of humanity came eight feet tall with armored skin and spines and tusks. But if there was one thing she’d learned out among the stars, it was that it was a barrier between her and the “average” human.

She’d rather be in this desolate wasteland of light, alone. Although she hadn’t found much variety in the landscape yet, just slopes and valleys of indistinct whiteness, she had found some grounds for hope. The actual ground, to start with, seemed to be a vast and uneven salt plain… and while that wasn’t good in itself, Cale told herself that if she could get out of it, some darker and less reflective terrain might let her catch her bearings. And having racked her brain for the stories she’d heard, she did think she could guess at the world—if she was right, it wasn’t far off the regular spaceroutes, and someone would come looking when the ship failed to dock on time. Furthermore, the planet she had in mind was probably empty. You know, if you discounted the crew’s ghost stories.

And Cale was telling herself, quite firmly, that given what they’d said about her people, there was no reason to believe in what they’d whispered about apparitions appearing on the nightless planet, abandoned spirits or monsters given form by the light itself, that wavered into view and vanished just to drive men mad.

She had much more to worry about from the facts that she was hungry, and thirsty, and had a pounding headache, and had ripped the little clothing she had left on a sharp spur while climbing a rise, and was slowly covering herself in salt dust as she walked in what she could only hope was a remotely straight line, and—

A cry rang out.

It was—otherworldly. Warbling and echoing and with something strangely inorganic about it, to her ears, coming from—the left, she thought?

No. Or maybe. But the next one came from the right.

Cale spun around, squinting ever harder through the slit in her blindfold, seeing ever less. Was that a blotch of darkness? Was that a line?

More cries came. She dropped her bag and ran, heedless, away.

All around her now, it seemed, the warbling and howling rose in eerily harmonious waves. Cale ran, staggering, feeling as tired as if she’d worked a long day at home on the upper levels, under gravity so much heavier than here. She didn’t know if she was thinking of the ghost stories—didn’t know if she believed them, even now—

—she knew only that she was alone out here, and the universe, one way or another, was full of monsters.

And then she fell, and cries rose up around her, quieter than they had been. Quieter, because they were closer.

Raising her head and squinting, she saw, finally, a mass of wavering shapes all around her. What were they? Were they examining her? Could they examine her? Could anything exist that could see, on this rock…and if so, what did they see when they looked at her, half-naked, sprawled on the ground like a felled rock?

Cale pulled herself half upright, slowly, arms wrapped around herself, shoulders hunched. Not knowing what to fear.

Then one of the shapes moved, detaching from the mass. It moved closer, billowing oddly in the windless air, and she could only stare with a dry mouth as something came over her—

—and settled on her shoulders, light and soft and comforting.

It was a coat, or a robe, or something of that sort. Coated in salt, but cloth underneath when she rubbed it with her fingertips—with sleeves, she found quickly, that she could slip her arms into and almost fit, and a front that wrapped around her. She pulled it on, quickly, and looked up with loosened shoulders.

The shape was still there. It made another warbling noise, and…something reached toward her head.

She bent her head, eyes closed beneath her blindfold, and clutched the robe closer. Even as she felt the precious blindfold taken off, she waited.

A moment later, something heavy and tight settled around her head and over her eyes, and at that constricting pressure she looked up.

Looked up through the new goggles on her eyes, and saw.

For the first time since landing on this planet, losing her own goggles in the crash, she saw clearly. There was a crowd around her—not indistinct and billowing shapes, now, but figures, clear and solid. They looked taller and slimmer than any she was used to, and their clothing was strange, and their eyes—well, no, she couldn’t see their eyes, they were all wearing heavy goggles like her. But she could tell at a glance that they weren’t quite baseline human.

But they were people.

The one crouched in front of her had bare arms, and a shirt with shining metal that must have been technology of some sort. He had the heavy goggles on, but the bottom of his face was bare. As she looked at him, he smiled, bright and warm, and made another songlike sound.

She smiled back.

“Cale,” she said, touching her chest, not knowing what else to do. And then, correcting herself, thinking that this was probably not a time for nicknames, “Michaela.”

His smile widened, and he made a noise—yes, that was a laugh.

In a strange, liquid accent, touching his own chest in return, the man in front of her said, “Rafail.”

[dogaquarium]

Hey Laika, I saw your post about nightmares and I hope you’re doing alright :( that sounds really hard and on top of all the other stressors must be rough.

I’ve been curious about your thoughts on alien 9 recently, and was wondering your thoughts on it! If thats too much to think about right now how about some of your favorite foods or items?

Hope this helps a little 🫶 <:D

Hi star thank you so very much for the ask <3 I'm feeling a little better now, just takes a little bit of wind out of me whenever I wake up from something like that. Let me focus on answering your questions now though....

Asking me my thoughts on alien 9 in such a vague sense is a recipe for disaster, lol. I have so many thoughts and opinions on so many different elements of it. So feel free to ask for specifics later if you'd like, but I suppose I'll do a quick overview on as many things as I possibly can! Also going to try to make this as relatively spoiler free as possible since I'm pretty sure neither you nor a few other people following this blog have seen it yet, and I'm not sure if you're interested in attending movie night or not whenever I have time to plan a date for that.

Boy, where do I even start..... alien 9 is something so special to me. The entire franchise definitely does have its issues, and I do wish some moments were expanded upon or changed slightly. The pacing can be a little strange in the OVA, and even stranger in the manga (which is one reason I enjoy the anime a lot more; the manga sometimes feels almost detatched entirely). But it's something really valuable as it is regardless. It's such a foundational media for me that I came away from differently. Something I've found a lot of comfort and security in! The characters are all extremely charming, the story itself tackles such serious taboo topics in a proper sense, such a large part of it corresponds to the young queer experience, it doesn't poke fun at childhood mental illness, the core concept of the universe it exists within is endlessly compelling, the list goes on..... plus, kumi's character themes of identity (which I've already mentioned in precious posts) is something you can dig into forever. It's all so interesting. And it resonates a lot with me!

Episode 3 is one I'm especially excited for everyone to experience when I stream it. It's my personal favorite episode for a lot of reasons that I think we're masterfully tackled. It's a beach/vacation episode! Which sounds, admittedly, very frivolous and unimportant in the grand scheme of things. And to some degree it is!!! But what I personally find so compelling about episode 3 is the fact that it serves as a medium through which we can see how the main three girls function outside of a traumatic environment. It provides a baseline for us. It allows the audience to see them just be kids. I truly do not think it'd be as impactful of a series for me without that.

And now, since you can't have a general dump of my thoughts on alien 9 without mentioning the spinoffs.. prepare yourself......

I firmly believe that hitoshi tomizawa should have not been allowed to expand on this franchise any further after the original story had been wrapped up because after seeing what he's done with it you're bound to get a headache. There's two spinoffs from the original three classic volumes: namely alien 9-emulators and alien 9-next. I will not dwell on emulators (at least in this ask) because my rant on it will likely be even longer than this response, but know that with the way it handles the original subject material, it's not only incredibly insensitive, but I'd go as far as saying actively harmful. Tomizawa is a fuckin pedophile which SHINES in his later works in particular, and is very ironic considering so much of the point of the original classic series concerns the harm done by csa and how cyclical it can become (most blatantly in relation to kasumi's character). That's all I'll get into it for now because if I talk any more on it I'll get even more pissed. Idk where to even begin with Next, though.... such a strange expansion of the universe...... this spinoff takes place after the girls have all grown up and are on some kind of outer space mission.. idk how to even explain it to you and it's been far too long since I've read it but it's utter horseshit, such an anomalous entry in the series. Also the art style changed to be 3D models for no reason and it's ugly as sin.

Besides all the....... obviously glaring problems with both next and emulators..... there are also some simpler things that don't work for me in them. Namely kumi and yuri's relationship! In the classic volumes, such a major plot point is the evolution of their relationship from one that is tense, angry, and unhealthy to one that is mutually supportive and uplifting. There's a lot to be said about this change in relation to both parties- be it relaring to kumi's home life/preconceived expectations of her to yuri's mental illnesses/the way others treat her due to that. They act the way they do for a reason, is what I mean. And so when the audience finally gets the relief of them forming a genuine bond together, you expect that to be that, it's a plot point wrapped up and done with. And does stay wrapped up..... in the classic volumes, at least. In the spinoffs, kumi suddenly reverts back into someone aggressive and untrusting. Yuri reverts back into someone who has made no advances in her bravery and independence. All because fuckin tomizawa had no idea how to craft a story with meaning after he finished the first three volumes.

^ so cutes.. awwee......

I suppose this turned more into a response of why I dislike all the spinoffs rather than why I like the originals.. oh well..... easier to avoid spoilers in that way I suppose. Maybe you still found this interesting enough? Don't hesitate to ask more if I didn't answer how you'd expected!

[kxllerblond]

“He’ll stab you but he draws the line at purposeful misgendering.” -- Bastian

❝ I mean, I'd hope so. Only fucking idiots do that shit and you know how I feel about needlessly stupid people. ❞ a testament to how comfortable he'd grown around the mortician that Bastian got a taste of his strange Victorian Orphan speak as well as his casual crassness and occasional Internet lingo.

Clark busies himself with two empty mugs, turning both over in his hand with scrutinizing attention-—neither are for Bas, he's still stuck on what mug to use for himself and hasn't even begun to think about extending the invitation for a mug for the other yet.

A curt hum conveys that he's decided on the overly large and just as overly cringeworthy ' Boss Mode ON ' mug and sets the other back into the cabinet.

❝ I mean, don't get me wrong. I'm going to have him killed before he can attempt any sort of stabbing but, you know, I appreciate he has the baseline amount of decency I expect anyone to have. ❞

[sidesteppostinghours]

Hewooo, good morninggg!

ask game time ✨

For Caine: Philia 4 + Storge 3 in the context of tbe farm or tia elena

For Cyrus: Eros 1 + Storge 4 (sibling au ✨) + Philautia 4

im probably a few hours late when i finish answering this, but morning idle :D! hope you had a good one

Philia 4. Is your OC able to build close friendships with people very different from themselves? Perhaps in terms of culture, age or personality?

i was thinking about this yesterday on my way home from uni actually. the answer is yes, but with one baseline requirement: anybody they become close with needs to be able to ground them in one way or another. mortum and argent are possible, he appreciates their bluntness and strict boundaries. he likes to listen to mortum and occasionally bounce off ideas with her. he already holds respect for argent, and given time, she couldve grown to be a trusted confidante. however, they want to keep mortum as a purely business relationship at the moment, and argent already scared them off before anything could happen. heralds not getting any further than coach or "he seems nice", they like him but they get a headache whenever theyre in a room with him for too long. other than that, anybody goes. hes not picky.

Storge 3. How far does parental approval (imagined or expressed) impact upon their current sense of self-worth? What might they sacrifice or attempt to achieve in order to ensure the approval of their parents?

the answer varies wildly for either, so ill answer for both. in the case of tia elena, parental approval is a bit shocking to him, like with most relationship dynamics. they like it, they just cant fathom the fact that theyre getting percieved, much less in a positive light. hed do a lot to get more, its fascinating to him and it makes him feel like hes doing a good job. but its something they can easily give up if the situation calls for it (aka theyre my only step tia elenas 'im-not-mad-im-just-disappointed' look wouldnt work on).

the farm is...a very different story. they were made to be a tool, and if its a tool they want, a tool they shall get. before their escape he was very single-minded when accomplishing missions. get the job done in any way possible. consequences arent for him to worry about, he only needs to worry about if they mess up. which they wont. they make sure of it. after their escape he leans less into that mindset, but its difficult to let go of, and still bleeds into his relationships most of the time. they dont like to think about the fact they wouldve sacrificed anything for the farm back then, and that theyre not sure they wouldnt sacrifice anything now if the right people asked it from them.

Eros 1. Is your OC romantic in the traditional sense? Do they enjoy giving or receiving gifts of flowers or confectionary? Or are there other courtship traditions from their culture of origin that are important to them?

nobody but him is allowed to be romantic. thats it thats the answer were moving on

in all seriousness, he does do traditionally romantic things alot, though most of them are for the reaction, not courtesy. roses and flowers are a common way for him to try and fluster his dates, and the two people hes dated are both sappy suckers so its worked most of the time. the exception is gift giving, because most of his gifts are handmade, so he tries not to make a big deal about it. unfortunately, his partners always do.

receiving romantic gestures should be something hes used to at this point, but hes not, so it always catches him off gaurd. its embarrassing, but the most embarrassing part is that he gets strangely touched by it. he probably still has a teddy gifted to him thats never seeing the light of day. oh, and chocolates are always welcome. thats just good food.

Storge 4. Does your OC have any siblings? If so then did their parents have a favourite growing up? Has their relationship with their sibling changed in adulthood? If they don't have any siblings then do they perhaps feel they have missed out on an important relationship? Do they have any especially close friends who go some way towards filling that role?

sibling au time✨

does the farm have the normal version of a favourite?? no. do they have a favourite 'im gonna fuck them up for fun' sibling? yes and thats fawn. north is a bastard and he frequently makes cyrus dream of murder. as for how their relationships all changed, cyrus used to be closer to his siblings. a Lot closer. of course, the farm changed that. he became cruel and harsh, which fawn couldnt connect with. even with river who wants to be evil, cyrus became obsessive about control after heartbreak, which i dont think river appreciates. his mental imprint changed extremely, and he started shielding around them. needless to say their relationship was estranged for a good while, but cyrus can never stay away from the people he cares about.

Storge 5. Which of your OC's qualities makes them the most proud? Do they think more people should be like them in this regard? Or do they quite like being rare in possessing it?

hes proudest of his ability to stay logical and composed, unaffected by emotions. that last part isnt true btw, but he gets to believe it to feel better about himself. hes able to think things through and do what needs to be done without external influence. he thinks itd be easier for everybody if they were more like him, but secretly, hes relieved that theyre not. itd get less people hurt, but the poison is addicting, yk? if people were as logical as he wanted them to be, ortega and herald (and maybe mortum, the verdict is pending) wouldve dropped him by now, yet persistent assholes that they are, they stay with him anyway. he likes the trade-off.

questions are from here!

[umgeorge]

george russell is interviewed on media day, monaco - may 25, 2023 (transcription under the cut)

Interviewer: "…doing. Obviously we have the sad news of all the flooding and the devastation in Imola. It was absolutely the right thing not to race there. Did you have a sort of weird kind of rhythm within you in Saturday and Sunday, knowing that I feel like I should be racing this weekend…" George: "Yeah, absolutely. It was…" Interviewer: "…and how to sort of dissipate that slightly." George: "I'll always remember Australia, when the race got canceled in the Covid year, of when you put all that effort and work in. In Australia we was already there at the event, getting the news that we're not racing. It's such a strange feeling. Obviously Imola is a little bit earlier. I had actually just finished my sim session, the morning on the sim prepping for Imola, when we got the news, but it wouldn't have been right at all for us to be there, with everything that was going on in the region. And it was also… Let's say in a selfish perspective, it was a bit annoying for us not to see how the updates performed on a more normal circuit. But, nevertheless, we got them here. We'll probably wait until Barcelona to get a true picture, and just try and maximize this weekend." Interviewer: "Okay, so just explain… It was impossible to go back to the old car that you know, 'cause they'd already changed all the internals and stuff…" George: "Yeah, it probably would have been possible, but from our side I think if we had a strong weekend here with the old car and we were half a tenth away from pole, for example, we'd be kicking ourselves knowing that we've got more performance on the table. So if you've got performance there, you've gotta use it, and I guess it shows the trust the team have in us as drivers, but also I'm happy to know that the team are pushing forward. Maybe we'll sit here on Sunday night saying that was a stupid decision, or maybe not. We'll maybe say we were right to be bold, but we wanna get on with our season and yeah, so what?" Interviewer: "Which, of course, begs the question: how much performance /is/ on the table, then? A second? Half a second? Six-tenths?" George: "I don't think any update in the history has been six-tenths, or…" Interviewer: "The car's got sidepods on it for the first time since the Barcelona test in 2022. It's got some sidepods on it." George: "I hope I'm proved wrong, but the sidepods aren't the magic, so it sort of… Putting that on the cards just to tick a box, to say that is a question that's been answered and there's no more question marks over the sidepods. The magic happens elsewhere, so… No, let's see. It'll be a step in the right direction. We know that Monaco's difficult. For example, Ferrari in the last ten years, probably they always exceed their base performance here in Monaco. They're always very strong in Monaco. Mercedes generally struggle a little bit more in Monaco. Even during the glory years, Monaco was a bit of a difficult circuit for us as a team, as in Singapore, those types of tracks, so we're not expecting wonders this weekend. So we'll focus on this weekend, go into Barcelona, new baseline, and see then."

[senstless]

Splinterlands Monster Highlights - Xenith Monk powered up by 4 Martyr!

Featuring Bronze League Summoner and Monsters in Action!

Very excited to share this battle with you. When I set this lineup up before the game I was excited with the idea and possibility of adding rebirth with Marta cards and trying to super boost one card as much as possible. This is a great example of how powerful a regular common card can become if it receives a four martyr boost.

Weekly Highlight -XENITH MONK

Born Again

All units receive the Rebirth ability which allows them to self resurrect once.

Edition: CHAOS LEGION Rarity: RARE Element: NEUTRAL Attack: MELEE Abilities: HEAL Abilities" Health: 6 Speed: 3 Attack: 1 Armor:

Reasons Why I like it.

I like Xenith Monk because it has a decent three speed to start as a baseline of level 2, along with healing. This is fairly rare for a lower mana card only costing for mana. It's downfalls are it only does one damage, and it only has six health to which heal from. This means it will get maybe to hell her heel and is usually eliminated by a high attack card. But this gives a great baseline for what the card can turn into if it gets a few boosts along the way.

The Born again rule set is nice because it gives every month to rebirth. This means cards with martyr are born again to provide yet another boost, monsters with high void armor are brought back and given a chance to be healed by a tank killer, cards with self heal I brought back and have a chance to protect themselves. Overall it's a very unique rule set that can change dynamic quite a bit.

The Matchup - Where Rules Sets, Splinters and Mana Collide

The Rule Sets

Watch the Match Here

MANA: 34

Ruleset: Born Again: All Monsters have the Rebirth ability.

Ruleset: Little League: Only monsters and summoners which have a mana cost of 4 or less may be used.

SPLINTERS: Fire, Water, Earth, Life,

Initial Rule Set and Mana Gameplay Thoughts

Rulesets Obviously I think cards with martyr will be heavily used to provide multiple boosts to the big hitters.

The other issue is that it's a little league match meaning only smaller cards can be used. The bonus is that you can use one or two mortar cards, but the cards they'll be boosting are not the traditional heavy hitter self healing cards

Mana 44 mana almost doesn't matter since this is a little league game and we can only use carts with four men are less.

Splinters

I don't see too much of an issue by losing dragon and death here, they're not my favorite Little League splinters. Death can be a solid choice from time to time but I typically favor Earth or fire more often.

Summoner MYLOR I had it rented for some brawl usage and it's exceptionally useful. It provides another bonus in games like little league where so many cards have such few health to start with receiving additional Thorn damage can be devastating

First Position HILL GIANT My favorite three minute card on the earth team. It just provides so much health to get through for only three mana. It does have a two attack but the big bonus for me is having seven health

Second Position GOBLIN THIEF Not a bad choice for little league, while it's health is low it has a two melee sneak attack and two speed.

Third Position VENARI MARKSRAT Clearly playing this for the Martyr boost. When it's knocked out and brought back it will provide two Martyrs to the cards closest to it

Fourth Position XENITH MONK A bit strange to be in the middle of your lineup, but I'm truly hoping that it gets attacked from both ends and ends up being boosted four times by my cards

Fifth Position FUNGUS FLINGER Yet another martyr here, just praying there is a sneak attack to take it out and that it gives the boost to monk before monk dies

Sixth Position QUEEN MYCELIA Usually not the place I would play it, I wanted to be attacked and I first so that when it's resurrected it reapplies a armor to every monster. This will help my thorns give extra damage if they're using a lot of money

Opponent Lineup & Match Play

Summoner KEYLA FRENDUL Solid play, the extra speed and armor boost are always welcome in Little League games

CRUEL SETHROPOD One of my two go to cards for tank position in little league. It's high armor and decent health make it a solid choice

TIDE BITE It's speed plus to melee attack make it a great choice for second position with reach. Between the tank and the second card you're now dealing for melee damage to start around.

VENARI MARKSRAT Not surprised, we're all going to be playing Marta cards in this rule set.

MUSA SALINE Interesting choice here, but scavenger will be extra powerful in a rule set that has rebirth and reborn. Every time a monster dies over and over again it gets to add lots of health.

PELACOR BANDIT Another great choice. Level 4 boosts it to four-speed into melee on it's a sneak attack high speed and flying make it devastating.

URAEUS Another great sneak attack card choice. They'll be doing a lot of damage to my cards.

Round 1

Before the round starts I'm quite happy I picked mylar for the thorn damage as they are heavy melee and it will definitely help me. It's just a question of whether or not I will have enough power to survive their attacks.

Has round one starts off and progresses everyone is dealing and taking a lot of damage. I do score the first knockout of Ureas for the first time. Other than that I think it's mostly uneventful

Round 2

Round two starts off in much the same way. Queen micilla gets knocked out but as a bonus comes back and reapplies armor to itself and help giant. It is uneventful for Hill giant but it does die on an extern via magic attack. But as we know rebirth brings it back and reapplies those same two armor. As round two plays out we're both going to end up losing cards. I lose Hill giant. Quickly followed by knocking out sethropod for the first time, before the round ends.

Round 3

Round three gets interesting as I start off by knocking out tide biter for the first time, then quickly losing Queen Mycelia. The thing that I have noticed now is that Musa saline is up to 11 health already and that's a little concerning. Before the round ends I knock out Ureas and cruel sethropodfor the final time and lose goblin thief.

Round 4

Ground floor starts off and things don't look great on paper. They have four monsters left, one with 15 health, and I'm down to a couple of monsters all of which are going to get devastated quickly. But this is where the magic starts to happen. Markscrat gets knocked out and reborn providing a quick boost to zenith monk. I then have fungus flinger knocked out providing another boost to the Monk, before Markscrat it's knocked out for the second time providing the third boost to the Monk. The Monk is now boosted quite heavily and has four melee damage, 6 speed and 8 health. It's becoming a devastating monster.

Round 5

Things are looking a bit better for me. I knock out tied biter to start the round before fungus flinger is quickly knocked out giving me my fourth and final boost to the monk. It now has five damage, seven speed, and 10 health. While my opponent still has two cards, I have a self-healing fast damage Wheeling Monk

Round 6

Things are looking interesting, not much happens in round 6 other than a little bit of armor reduction and moving on to around 7:00

Round 7

In around 7:00 it dawns on me that they're only dealing one damage at this point and I can heal one damage, and I can heal two damage from 10 health. This means I've already won the game even though Musa has 21 health. After knocking out Mark Scranton

Round 8

Round 9

Even after the second boost in route 9 and it gets three magic damage I can heal three magic damage every round with the base of 10 health. It's now just a matter of time before I wear them down and knock them out. Who would have thought that monk could be so powerful.

Round 10

Round 11

Round 12

Round 13

Round 14

Round 15

Man do I love quad boosting this monk, it is an absolute self-healing reckoning machine. It would be hard to hit for a lot of melee and arrow monsters, but it also is impressive to be dealing out five damage.

Thoughts

I definitely think I will try to quad boost monk any chance I get. Well this is going to be hard to do due to needing the perfect rule set and splinter lineups, I think that it can lead to an impressive show of power and elimination especially considering this was a little league match. I feel like I played about the perfect lineup given all the real sets and options and would love to do it again. In fact I may have to go out and run to myself Mylor at the start of next season just to help me get through some of those matches.

~~@senstless

[brightest-starr-girl]

Helena grabs Karen’s hand, then. She can hear the rapid beating of her best friend’s heart, knows her well enough to spot the signs that she’s fighting back tears. She says nothing in the face of the silence, knowing that Helena needs a moment to puzzle through her thoughts before she speaks. A moment in which to push down the emotions, unable—afraid—to let herself show vulnerability. Karen hates the sound, hates the hoarseness in her voice, hates the effort with which she keeps the tears back.

There’s a strange ache in Karen’s chest at the way relief crashes through, fighting with guilt over her soul’s absolution. Here Helena is, offering a lifeline—as confusing as the analogy, Karen understands it, understands her, always has and always will—but Karen doesn’t know if she’s strong enough to take it. Not when she’s watching Helena fight back a sob, bare her soul, for Karen. Cutting herself deep to release whatever miasma thickened and blockaged her heart.

Karen’s own throbs in synchronistic pain, feeling a squeeze on her hand that would break a baseline human’s but is merely comforting pressure on her own. It takes effort to bite her tongue, to refrain from responding, when she knows Helena needs silence in order to get out what she wants to get out. And yet, all Karen wants to do is scream, get on her knees and beg and cry and plead, because she still holds out hope that things can go back to how they were. Because she still loves her. Because she, too, would marry the other in an instant.

The wind picks up from gentle breeze into a roughness more akin to the feeling in her soul, that of a storm brewing. Not quite as rough and turbulent as Karen’s heart yet but definitely on its way there. There’s a final crack, a boom of thunder, that Karen isn’t sure if it came from inside or out at the Helena’s decision.

Helena never means ‘maybe’s. If she ever uses a maybe, it’s already decided.

And Karen loves her enough to respect that. To resign herself to a lifetime of friendship. If that’s all she’ll ever get, it’s enough.

“Ok.” It’s barely more than a whisper, right on the edge of human hearing. Karen clears her throat, mindless of the rain—tears—that have fallen down her own cheeks. Louder, she repeats, “Okay. That’s- I respect that. And whatever boundaries you want to set growing forward.” The smile pains her to make, but it’s real despite the obvious hurt. Karen squeezes Helena’s hand, gentle and without full force, and exhales with a slight shudder. “You’re my best friend, Lenny. I don’t want to lose that. I don’t want to lose you.”

“Oh.” It’s quiet, choking Karen on the way out. “I- I’m sorry, Len. I didn’t realize- of course it’s okay for you to move on. I’m happy for you, truly. I don’t think any of that. Wouldn’t. Couldn’t,” she protests. “And I know I matter. I know you care. I’ve never doubted that.” And yes, she might be blinking back tears, more than slightly jealous, but she really is happy for Helena. “You have my blessing.” Her gaze turns suddenly uncharacteristically dark. “And if he does anything, I’m lasering off his dick. At best.”

Karen scoffs. “Doesn’t matter what I know, I don’t think I could get through even a fake funeral for you and not cry real tears.” She puts a hand on Helena’s chin, pulling gently for her to look at her but lightly enough that she would have no trouble resisting if she didn’t want to. She has one simple question. “Why?”

Martha Wayne Foundation’s Midwinter Gala

open to anyone who wants to join!

Helena takes a deep breath and a shallow sip of champagne. Her family isn't here, so it's not like they can take it away, and no one else cares, because she's not getting drunk and pretty much everyone above the age of fourteen at a gala drinks.

As much as she hates these things, she is willing to suffer through if it means her dad and brothers get a little break. Maybe it'll help with the guilt a little. After all, it's the least she can do, considering...

Nevermind. She's nauseous once more.

She spots a server unobtrusively making his way through the crowd and immediately begins weaving through to reach him. The food is the only redeemable thing about a gala, other than the dancing; it might be small in size, but the number is unlimited, the selection varied, and the taste exquisite.

So focused is she on her goal of canapes that she completely misses the person she bumps into.

"So sorry," she apologizes quickly.

[outfit under the cut]

[fuckyeahdindjarin]

Its strange how theres not even a courtesy to ask you like, "hey youre story inspired one similar of my own but still with my own ideas added to it, would you be okay with me writing it as long as i fully credit you and your fic that inspired it?"

Like its clear when someone has inspiration from another source for their own retelling of those ideas and thats fine thats how story telling evolves

But you personally are still owed the courtesy of being given credit for being that inspiration, and them having enough foresight to make enough elements their own creation to make it unique.

Just, people, if you want to write your own work inspired by or somewhat based on another writers work? There is a baseline respect you need to be directly and openingly giving and communicating with your audience and the orignal creator, so that you aren't just going behind peoples backs and making a beat for beat copy of another work and passing it off as your own idea entierly.

Its easy not to blatantly copy someone elses work, fellow writer. And at least have the common decency to check in with the person who creared the work you are heavily basing your own off of.

I hope that author at least has the courage to properly speak to you and understand why this upsests you.

I’m taking this ask as an opportunity to draw this matter to a close.

I have spoken to the writer in private, and they have told me that they have not read Palomino and the similarities in the set-up are purely coincidental.

I choose to take their word for it, but it doesn’t invalidate my feelings and I stand by my post.

While I have your attention, I want to suggest something that could hopefully be useful to some people. Personally, I always do due diligence before I start a new fic. If you’ve been following me, you know that I do votes for fic ideas from time to time. They are not only really fun, but it’s also an opportunity for me to vet the ideas and give people the opportunity to alert me if something very similar has been done before. If it has been, I could then reach out to the writer to ask if they’re ok with me writing something similar and to credit them properly.

Another thing I do is searching the tags to get a feel for stories already out there. Rae’s legendary Pedro Library is another amazing resource. A quick search for keywords takes minutes.

That’s just what I do to put my mind at ease, and thought I’d share ❤️

[mittensmorgul]

from a chat with scylla9726, because the universe is NOT giving me enough time to type my thoughts out coherently this week, and I’m way behind on rewatch notes for the Winchesters already... 

(slightly edited for coherency and to make it a readable format)

i was hoping to get out my thoughts about djinn at least before tonight's episode, and I am definitely not gonna have the time now it's incredibly frustrating! but I'll be livewatching tonight!

scylla9726 Oh i can remember djinn are a big deal in your meta usually. Just so you know, I’m incredibly frustrated that I can’t read yours thoughts. scylla9726 Hope you can get the time someday. I’ve read some meta linking to the mother ship and it’s so delightful

mittensmorgul yeah, and these djinn, which everyone very casually is like "oh yes, this is what all djinn are like" but these djinn? are NOTHING like spn original djinn. they're... bafflingly... completely different in how they operate and I think that's a MAJOR clue as to what is actually big-picture happening, but I can't puzzle out how yet :'D

scylla9726 You’re talking about the monster at the beginning of the episode ? Because Ava’s son can be explained be the fact that he’s half human. I’m not sure I understand. He’s the same one or not ?

mittensmorgul just how djinns functioned as a baseline in our universe, they had to have access to their victim. they kidnap people and keep them in a warehouse. they don't just "invade dreams" of random people still walking around town, you know? yet this political candidate was like... experiencing djinn hallucinations when he was asleep in his office, still functioning.

scylla9726 Yes. But Ada s son different somehow. I can’t remember if he the one who killed in the cold open

mittensmorgul original djinn (and even the "bastard offshoot" djinn) literally needed physical contact with their victims

scylla9726 Yea it was bizarre

mittensmorgul and EVERYONE-- mary, ada, carlos, lata-- they were all like "yeah, this is how djinn work" and i was like... no the heck it is not? and it feels so intentional! like we're supposed to be going wait... why are djinn able to do this?

scylla9726 Ooooh i understand. In their world it airs sense to them but for us it’s strange. You’re right

mittensmorgul it's much closer to the boosted power that AU!Michael was able to give the djinn to affect people in reality, than it was to original djinn of any variety

scylla9726 So… alternate reality maybe ?

mittensmorgul i sincerely hope it's not, and don't really think it's an alternate reality. I think either the akrida are actually creating some sort of instability

mittensmorgul heck i might just copy paste these messages to just put it out there and I have a whole long essay with references etc. to explain this, but I haven't had time to write it ;_; mittensmorgul or if it is an alternate reality, it's somehow meshing with original spn reality because of the akrida, and it's up to dean telling the story to untangle truth from the akrida warping

scylla9726

The fact that they’re pulling uncommon monster. It remind me of something from spn ? mittensmorgul yeah, the "monsters not where they're supposed to be/acting weird" is very s6

[youarejesting]

Hope in the sheets.10

[Masterlist]

Beta: N/A Pairing: Hoseok x Reader Genre: Friendship, Comedy, Soft boy, Fluff, SMUT, Friends2Lovers, Words: 5k

Summary: You held many titles: his neighbor, colleague, wing-man… well, more likely a wing-woman, yet most importantly, you were his best friend. You had been friends since you were born. Between the two of you, you were younger; barely, but he never let you forget it. He always seemed to ruffle your hair and tease you, which could get rather annoying but he made up for it by treating you to things.

What if a drunken one night stand between you and your best friend Hoseok leads to more complicated situations? Your reckless twenties are cut short as you find yourself suddenly responsible for something a little more.

Warning: Implied sex, pregnancy, implied reader has baby.

[First] [Previous] [Masterlist] [Next]

Hoseok and the others were eventually led into the birthing suite; the entire place had been cleaned and only the bare minimum of staff stayed behind. They were sorting out equipment and monitoring your current state. When his eyes landed on yours he felt emotions bloom in his chest. There you were laying in the bed, a small bundle of soft blankets nestled delicately in your arms. You had showered and dressed in a nightdress that had been packed in your hospital bag. 

Hoseok’s lip curled. He was trying to hold his expression, giving you a forced smile before he broke out into tears. Holding your free arm out to him, he stumbled into your embrace kissing your forehead and telling you how much he loved you. 

His words were broken by the force of each sob. “Are you going to hold her, or do we have to hold you?” Yoongi playfully teased. Hoseok wiped his eyes taking a few shakey deep breaths trying to calm his emotions. 

When you moved the blanket to show your daughter laying gently against your chest, he was a mess once more. “Hobi, you want to hold her?”

“I can hold her?” He hadn’t even thought that far ahead. He could hold this baby, his daughter, he could hold her in his arms and she was real. 

“Of course you can hold her.” You laughed, reaching up to wipe his tears away. Hoseok remembered everything he was taught from the birthing classes, practically reciting them out loud. You placed his daughter in his arms and his bottom lip fell. 

Tears were his automatic response. There was nothing else, this miracle, this symbol of his love for you, his best and longest friend. This was his child, his flesh and blood and he couldn’t thank you enough for giving him such a gift. 

“You have to stop crying Hobi, we need a nice picture for your family.” You smiled and he tilted his head back sniffing. 

“I love you so much, and I love her, I just can’t stop crying.” The words broke again Hoseok turned to show off his daughter to his friends. They were some of the people he was closest to and when he looked at them they were all crying. Jungkook’s wet cheeks and red nose, Jimin’s sweet puffy eyes bubbling with tears, even Yoongi let out a stray sniff. 

By far it was a sight to see big burly Namjoon openly weeping like Hoseok and cooing over how precious she was. 

“Look how little she is,” Namjoon whimpered

“Her hands are so tiny too,” Hoseok said back. The two were just making it worse for each other, a back and forth of doting comments of your newborn each statement causing a fresh cycle of tears. 

The nurse who had been checking your vitals waiting to take you back to the ward rolled her eyes. “I have seen some sappy fathers but you brought a whole troop.”

“Gentleman it’s time to let mum and her baby get some sleep, the father can come back tomorrow morning any other guests can come two at a time during visiting hours.” She ushered the other six males from the room, Hoseok kissed you his cheeks were wet. 

“I don’t want to go.”

“Get some sleep Hobi, get the house ready. If all goes well I will be out of the hospital soon.” The nurse took your daughter from Hoseok’s arms. 

“Wait, can I give her a kiss?” You whispered. The nurse nodded bringing your daughter over allowing you to kiss her goodnight before she was wheeled down to the nursery. 

“Are you ready to go back to the ward? You should get some sleep. Your body will be exhausted. We will bring the child in when she is hungry.”

“Okay Hobi, I have to go rest now you head home and make the house all ready for when we come home okay.” You waved goodbye to him and watched as Jimin took his hand leading him from the room. He seemed reluctant to take his eyes off of you, his hand coming to lay flat under his heart. 

You touched your collar bone watching him mouth the words 'baseline'. It was like everything you ever wanted but such a weird and obscure way you got there. You wanted to be with Hoseok and cherish him and be loved in return, but you never thought you would get there by completely derailing your relationship and almost ruining your life. 

It was like you had to destroy what you had to build something better. It seems counterproductive and a step in the wrong direction but somehow you were able to shape the rubble of your friendship into a relationship stronger than before. 

You love Hoseok with all your heart and he only has eyes for you. It seems you were both delusional to believe that you weren’t in love. Everyone could see it except the two of you and now it was painfully obvious. 

Being a mother was kind of a shock. Scared when you woke up to cramps, only to remember you had already given birth, you were also woken throughout the night to feed your daughter. A part of you worried about taking care of someone, the responsibility setting in as being a mother was a full-time job.

“You are doing wonderful.” The nurse gave you some pain killers for your cramps, your uterus was slowly shrinking back to its regular size and you were uncomfortable. “Would you like me to get you anything?”

“I would love something to drink.” Voice hoarse from sleep, she nodded before setting off for you. You sat up watching the sunrise, your daughter sleeping soundly on the bed in front of you. She was so precious. Even with closed eyes she still wiggled and stretched her hands out to the warm glowing orb.

“Seonhee, do you like that name?” You whispered, taking out a small outfit: a white onesie with sunflowers and bright yellow footed pants with soft yellow ruffles on the butt. “Jung Seonhee.”

“Ah, is that her name?” The nurse smiled, placing some apple juice and water on the small bedside table. She sanitized her hands and began helping you with the baby's clothes and diaper, bagging the old clothes and disposing of the soiled diaper. She smiled down at the little girl in her bright outfit. “I think it suits her, Seonhee”

The doctor came by on her round, her hair pulled into a tight bun and her scrubs pastel blue with stalks. “You are looking better, how are you feeling?” There was no messing around, she was straight to business, checking for any concerns or pain. Your stomach was being palpated while she brought up things to look out for. “Ultimately if anything happens that you are unsure about, even if it is something silly like, should I have coffee while breastfeeding, call this number here, they are a great service and they will help you.”

“Thank you so much.” Taking the card you were handed and a little care package from the hospital, the nurse placed the card into the baby book which had accompanied you throughout pregnancy and after. “Am I okay to go home today?”

“You are all clear. Let us know what time you want to leave and we can have all the paperwork ready.” Pausing in the doorway, a young nurse almost bumping into her, she spun around, her coat swishing with her. “After giving birth a lot of women become a little moody, fatigued, or cry. This is totally normal as your hormones will be dropping back to a normal level. It is perfectly normal to feel these things during this time.”

“Ah, that’s good to know.” You replied while searching through the care package, glancing at some of the booklets and information sheets. There was a number for a community service where mothers take their babies to be weighed and receive checkups. The nurses had few information sessions on feeding techniques and developmental leaps. 

Looking forward to being a part of a group of new mothers, you knew you would have a lot of questions eventually. It would be nice to know if other mothers have similar concerns or effective tips for any future problems.

Hoseok arrived with a big smile, kissing you sweetly before heading over to scoop up his daughter. “Wait Hobi,” you stopped him, “I need to talk to you before you get all teary-eyed again.”

“Okay,” serious expression on his face he gave you all his attention.

“We need to agree on her name and sign the birth certificate.” The smile returned to his face, the twinkle in his eyes never dwindling since the moment he stepped into the room. “I like the name 선희 (Seonhee) written as 善 meaning Good or nice and 希 as in Hope”

Hoseok watched you write an example on a scrap piece of paper, and began nodding enthusiastically. Hands shaking the two of you eyed one another passing secret smiles, the taste of giggles on the tip of your tongue. Once the document was completed Hoseok’s hand swooped up into your hair, cradling your nape as he kissed you.

Neither lazy nor heated, the kiss was full and romantic, his lips telling a story against yours. The world stopped and only Hoseok existed. Until a shrill cry broke through the silence and the two of you apart. The cry brought with it the sound of machines and nurses walking down the hall.

“You want to go home,” Hoseok raced around the hospital bed towards your daughter, wiggling in the tiny hospital portable bassinet. His style was honestly amusing. Strips of fabric hanging from a graffitied shirt with a cargo jacket and sneakers. Strange to see him holding a baby but you loved it so much. 

Just because you were parents didn’t mean you had to get rid of everything you love. Sure you had to grow up and it was extreme. The transition you made while pregnant felt like your life was ending. That you would live to serve a tiny being. But seeing Hoseok still smiling the same, still wearing the same street hip hop style reassured you that you still had a life outside of being a mother and that would never change.

Of course, the two of you probably wouldn’t club anymore. It would be unfair if either of you went out without the other and unfair on your daughter if you were not there for her. Not to mention the cost of babysitting and the trust you would need in order to leave Seonhee with someone who wasn’t you or Hoseok.

Hoseok helped you with your bags packing the car, he had borrowed Jin’s for a smoother drive. Always thoughtful even on the littlest details. Sitting by the baby's car seat while Hoseok drove you home apologizing for every speed bump and every turn.

“Hoseok, I would like to go home before it is dark. You don’t have to drive that slow.” You laughed, he was being so serious like a knight or warrior preparing for battle to protect those he loves. In the reflection of the rearview mirror, you saw his lips twitch in amusement, the sun shining on his shaggy hair. “I love you.”

“Babe,” He whined, “you can’t say that when I am driving, I want to kiss you and then we really won’t get home before dark.”

His eyes flickered up to meet yours in the mirror before concentrating diligently once more on the road. He was singing softly to the radio as he crossed town, you must have fallen asleep as you were woken by his sweet laugh and some kisses on your cheek.

“We are home Lil darling.”

Breathing deeply trying to clear your head from your nap, as the fog in your mind disappeared your hands were secured in Hoseok’s as he helped you out of the car. Standing patiently for your body to catch up, the tender sensations in your stomach leaving you stiff.

“Seonhee, time to see your new home.” Hoseok scooped up the infant holding her to his chest as if it was the most natural thing like he had several years of experience. As opposed to this child being his firstborn. He took the soft yellow muslin wrap and covered her protecting her eyes from the afternoon sun.

Opening the door, you weren’t surprised, (mostly because you had spotted their cars on the curb) to see the boys sitting on your couch equally as excited to see you as they had been the day before in the birthing suite. Hoseok was placing your bag on the table when Seonhee started crying.

“Hey, sweetheart what’s wrong?” Hoseok patted her bottom to a steady rhythm hoping it would lull her back to sleep. Her crying continued and you felt your shirt grow damp, taking a seat you held out your hands for your daughter and nursed her while the boys kept their eyes firm on one another to respect your privacy.

“Are you drinking or are you sleeping?” You giggled at your daughter who was milk drunk. Burping her gently she wiggled releasing a few loud burps and spitting up a little onto the back of your hand and the small burp cloth you had been holding to her clothes.

“Let me take her while you clean up.” Yoongi smiled, scooping up your daughter, holding her so her head was supported, her arms and legs draped over either side of his arm. His other hand rubbed and patted her back gently as he swayed.

“You look like a squashed pie.” He smiled cheekily talking to the baby in his arms. “Cute bow shape lip from your mum, and your nose is very cute like Hoseok’s.”

“How dare you call her a squashed pie.” Namjoon tried to defend but when Yoongi turned he showed the infant, her cheek squished up against his arm, her drool slowly seeping between parted lips. “Okay, maybe a little but she is also adorable.”

“All babies look like aliens when they are born,” you grinned.

“But do you love her, more than anything else in the world?” Jungkook giggled trying to make small talk while also projecting his newfound love for such a tiny being.

“We just met, I need some time to get to know her some more.” You joke playfully curled up on the couch Seokjin handing you some dinner and a cup of tea while the boys took turns meeting your daughter.

“It says in the paperwork she can have a bath tomorrow, and that her first poo might be really yucky.” Hoseok read the take-home leaflets from the hospital and constantly checked on his two girls making sure they were both safe and sound.

“Put her in outfits you don’t care if they get destroyed,” Yoongi was singing something to the child. It was low and rough. He was talking about dreams, freestyling about how your daughter didn’t need to go to university and that she didn’t have to know everything right at this moment.  

Placing the little girl into Jimin’s waiting arms. His eyes sparkled and his lip dropped as he turned soft for the little girl.

“Hello, I am Uncle Jimin and I am going to spoil you so much.” His sweet voice gasped. He practically wiggled on the spot when she brought her fists up to her closed eyes and yawned. Taehyung was quietly snapping photos, careful not to use the flash as he didn’t want to hurt the baby's sensitive eyes, even while they were closed. He assured you, that he would get photos of everyone holding Seonhee. He had already captured Yoongi and was taking a few extra of Jimin with the small bundle.

It was honestly nice to see them all so supportive and there for your daughter. Images in your mind blooming of her first Christmas and birthday and all that would follow. Namjoon would buy her a green bike with flowers and tassels on the handles and Yoongi, helping assemble it before she woke up, attaching the training wheels for her safety.

Learning how to wrap people around her finger from her Uncle Jimin and then using it against them. She would be a dancer like her father and would light up the room. You could see her performing on a stage with the eight of you waiting with flowers to throw on stage. Maybe she wouldn’t win the first prize at her first show but they would still take her out for pizza and celebrate. Her skills would improve and the day she wins the trophy she would be lifted onto Seokjin’s shoulders. 

Not noticing you had started crying until Namjoon pulled you into a hug.  “Hey what’s got you so upset.”

“No, I am not upset, I was told that as my hormones go back to normal, I might cry and be more tired and moody and upset and I just,” Sniffing Jungkook handed over some tissues and hugging your back. The newer of the group Taehyung and Jungkook had just fit perfectly into the group, it was like they were always meant to be.

“Hey love,” Hoseok said, coming over to kneel at your feet holding your knees softly. "Tell me what made you so upset."

“I was thinking about her first Christmas and her first birthday and how you would all be here and she would be loved and…” Taking a sniff and pushing the tears from your eyes you looked up at them seriously. “You can never leave now, we are going to be one big family. I hope you know you are now each my daughter's uncles and therefore responsible to attend events. If you didn’t want to be a part of the family, I am sorry you are now my family.”

More tears shook your form. “You're the only family I have, I wasn’t exactly disowned more than I left when my mother told me not to have my sweet daughter. My precious baby deserves a big happy family and so I am sorry you are stuck with me. 

“And don’t even think you are getting out of it.” You pointed at Taehyung and Jungkook, “You are my family now. Seonhee needs lots of uncles to protect her.”

“We aren’t leaving,” Seokjin grinned, taking a turn holding the wiggling bundle, smiling for a picture, and looking at her. “She will be a heartbreaker.”

~

The first couple of weeks were a learning curve filled with broken sleep, reheated meals courtesy of Seokjin, and constant fatigue looming over your head. Jimin appeared one-afternoon Taehyung, Namjoon and Yoongi apprehended your daughter. Settling her into a baby carrier strapped to Namjoon’s chest. The thick bodyguard looked a little silly with a tiny child nestled against his pecs.

Seonhee was wearing a new outfit from her uncle Jimin. It was a sweet-footed onesie with bear ears warm enough for a day out in the park. Kicked out of the house by Jimin who stressed how much you needed a break. Hoseok was at work while you were still on leave which meant you took the larger portion of the home and baby duties.

Mostly because you were at home all day, but also not wanting to interfere with his sleep schedule seeing as he was going to an actual job that needed proper attention. There wasn’t even a moment of hesitation from Jimin as he dragged you into the bathroom and started the bath filling it with a generous amount of bubble bath. It was the sleepy-time product you had chosen for your baby, emitting a soft lavender scent.

“You relax and I will wash your hair.” He smiled and he massaged your scalp to help relieve any tension, after washing out all your hair products he took your skincare products letting you lay in the bubbles as he pampered you. “You are such a good mum, you are doing amazing.”

“I hope so,” you yawned.

You stepped out of the tub, quickly wrapping yourself into the fluffy robe you hadn’t used in a while. Then sat down on your bed whilst Jimin dried and styled your hair. The others had returned, poking their heads into the room and smiling at your new refreshed look. You quickly fed your daughter while Jimin braided your hair securely.

“You rest okay, we will watch her until Hoseok comes home. Don’t worry we will come to you if we are unsure about anything and for food times.” Yoongi said playing some soft tranquil music on the small speaker by your bed. 

It seemed pointless. Laying there believing it impossible to fall asleep. As you walked past the clock reading half-past one, your stomach rumbled in a gentle protest. Before you could even think of the food you wanted to get dressed, pulling on a white crop top and a baggy overall dress. Something easy to breastfeed in. It was definitely time as your breasts were heavier with milk.

Walking out you poured yourself a glass of juice and scooped up your fussing daughter, stomach growling again. Yoongi stood up marching into the kitchen, rapidly chopping ingredients. Soon the house was filled with a savory aroma and the glorious sound of oil sizzling. 

~

Hoseok was having his first afternoon with Seonhee. You were going for a checkup. Jungkook was free and agreed to accompany you to your appointment, he almost paled when he saw the equipment on the table for your checkup. It made for a good laugh and endless teasing during your small coffee date afterward.

Jungkook’s phone buzzed and he grinned texting back quickly. “Ooh, what or who is making you smile so big?”

“Uh, I just got a funny text from Namjoon. Apparently, Hoseok asked for company so Namjoon and Yoongi stopped by the house after their errands.” He laughed, nose scrunching showing off his front teeth. “And well, your daughter may have accidentally had a poo explosion. So far from the pictures I have seen, Yoongi and Hoseok are covered in it. And while trying to help Namjoon dropped a whole bottle of baby powder and they are vacuuming the carpet.”

“Jimin and Taehyung agreed to pick up some more and I have been asked to keep you busy,” Your smile growing the more you heard, of course, they would make a mess on your first day out. Expecting something chaotic to happen but never something as funny as this. 

“I am just glad it is something like this and not that someone is sick or hurt,” You smiled while eating a strawberry cheesecake and sipping coffee. Not making any move of leaving early and relieving them of their duty. It was a right of passage and showed just how much you trusted them. Hearing that something happened and not jumping to take over.

“They said not to tell you, but how could I not?” Jungkook turned his phone showing you some photos worthy of scrapbooking, the kind you would take out for Seonhee’s twenty-first and a story she would get sick of hearing at every family gathering. “Look at them.”

“Well while they are busy, how about we go grocery shopping? I think perhaps we can make something delicious for dinner,” Standing and collecting your jacket from your chair, and leading the way. Jungkook followed listening to your concerns about your weight and figure, he assured you how good you were looking and even offered to personally train you at 21, the gym.

~

Seonhee was growing steadily. Each milestone leading into the next, she would roll over and had started to crawl. Finding herself putting things she shouldn’t in her mouth. Going back to work was hard for the first few days, leaving Seonhee at the daycare was easy but she became more clingy when she came home. It was her way of coping with the separation that came with daycare and full-time work but eventually, Seonhee got into a routine.

Understanding that her parents were always coming back made everything in the house run a lot smoother. She had a small handful of sounds, mostly eomma, appa. 

Work was a lot more tolerable and dare you to say fun. Jimin had quit his sugar baby gig and joined the company working alongside you. Sure he had broken a few hearts by canceling his service but he was happier. He never explicitly said it but you believed he was trying to be more independent and above everything else make himself more approachable to Taehyung.

Taehyung however left for a while, he had been away working with a few celebrities and luxury brands, photographing concepts, photos, and more. He had been pushing and working harder and harder as the days passed until he traveled away for his latest project. 

It was a little sad that they weren’t together but you could see the longing in Jimin’s eyes whenever he replayed Taehyung’s Instagram story. Dragging him from his desk to have lunch together and distract him from the thoughts spinning around in his head.

~

December marked eleven months since Seonhee was born. Cruising against the couch and cabinets opening things she shouldn’t. You had invested in baby locks and a small playpen. Neither really did much as she knew how to push the whole contraption across carpet and tiles to get into things. 

Mostly she would follow you to the kitchen hoping to get teething biscuits or any other treats her father would sneak her. He was never able to say no and you often found them sneaking snacks together where he would give you his big eyes and pouty lips claiming that she deserved a snack.

Christmas had your house filled to the brim with presents and boys, Seokjin was cooking in the kitchen with Yoongi’s help while Jimin and Jungkook were playing with Seonhee. Hoseok was helping Namjoon into a Santa costume in the backyard. No one had heard from Taehyung. You assumed he was busy with work and that he would be unable to make it.

There was a knock and Jungkook raced to answer it and laughed, “Finally, I thought you were skipping out on the family Christmas.”

“I wouldn’t skip out on the family Christmas, you are my favorite family,” Taehyung said handing over a suitcase to Jungkook and carrying in some bags of wrapped gifts, placing them under the tree. “Look at you, you have gotten so big!”

Namjoon Santa came in and delivered gifts and ran off getting changed only to come back and watch the gift unwrapping. Jungkook went to collect the two eldest from the kitchen, pushing Seokjin before dragging Yoongi out the two stopping in the archway.

“Hey, you are under the mistletoe!” Jimin giggled, proud that his trap had worked, he was hoping that some people would get stuck under it. “You are going to have to kiss.”

“We don’t have to, we are watching Seonhee open her gifts,” Jungkook said only to be grabbed by Yoongi who kissed the younger male and pulled away.

“Satisfied.” Yoongi turned back to the young girl opening her presents, Namjoon got her some picture books and a few educational toys. Seokjin had wrapped a small toy kitchen that was her size. Yoongi brought her to everyone’s surprise a little clam pool and some plastic toys to play with.

Jimin brought her a whole lot of princess dresses, tiaras, and fairy wings. Jungkook got her a cozy coupe red and yellow plastic car that she could push around with her legs. Taehyung handed her the small gift bag and inside was a night light that made the roof look like a galaxy and played soft music.

After Seonhee’s gifts from the boys, Hoseok brought out a box. He was struggling with it but when he opened it out popped a little dog who began licking her cheeks and wagging his tail intensely amongst the large group. “His name is Mickey.” Hoseok grinned watching Taehyung taking pictures and smiling fondly as she giggled.

Other gifts were exchanged, the most notable was Seokjin giving everyone matching sweaters with his face on it, and Taehyung’s gift to Jimin. It was a small bag and inside was the signature Tiffany blue colored box.

“You didn’t have to,” Jimin said softly and Taehyung smiled.

“I told myself I would support you, and I know you didn’t want to be treated like a sugar baby, I just told myself that I wouldn’t allow myself to date until I got you those earrings you really wanted. I wanted to give you something you could be proud of.” Taehyung explained, “And it was so hard to resist you when you kept inviting me over.”

Opening the box Jimin saw the earrings he had once mentioned ages back, the exact earrings Taehyung had handmade for him. “Now you can get rid of the ones I made you, they look horrible compared to these.

“I still love the ones you made and I will keep them forever.”

“I won’t treat you like a sugar baby anymore, I wanted to ask if maybe you wanted to go on a date.”

“Well, these earrings will get you about five dates.” Jimin giggled cheekily

“Five I thought for sure it would be five and a half?”

“Five and a free butt grab?”

“Deal!”

~

The nine of you were walking through the kid's attractions at the theme park seeing some familiar faces, you were having lunch when some music started playing. It was the theme park's dance parade and Hoseok was dragged into the dance by Taeyong.

You were giggling when WinWin dragged you up dancing with you and turned to see Hoseok on one knee, a ring box opened in his hands. You felt your chest about to explode as you tackled him to the ground sobbing in his chest. “Hoseok really, you mean it?”

“Of course, I mean it, I have loved you for years.”

“I love you so much, hell freaking yes put that ring on me, quick quick.” You kissed his face nonstop giggling between your tears. He was finally able to get the ring onto the designated finger standing and pulling you onto your feet. He kissed you passionately, you pulled back burying your face in his chest squealing.

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[skyloftian-nutcase]

Link's entire body ached. Worst of all, it seemed to be a baseline upon which other wounds were compounded, his left shoulder throbbing painfully, his head feeling like it had been bashed in with a shield.

What had happened? Why did he feel sick and weak? Where was he?

He couldn't quite open his eyes yet, he thought. Somehow it was too hard. His head hurt too much. So he felt instead, recognizing the softness beneath him as a mattress on an actual bed, something he hadn't slept on in ages. The blankets over him were light, but he was somehow still quite warm. He tried to move his arms to test them and his surroundings, and his shoulder screamed in protest, wrenching a pathetic whimper from his throat.

He really hoped no one was around to hear it.

The cool, wet cloth that settled on his forehead indicated that hope was pointless.

Link flinched a little at the touch, his skin unusually sensitive, and he finally managed to pry his eyes open. The room was blurry, bathed in the ruddy light of sunset, staining already orange and light brown colors a harsher red. A woman's voice spoke into the air, a strange melody that held strength like Impa but was contained in softer edges. Sheik, perhaps?

Turning his head, Link blinked a few times, squinting. The image was clearing, but his brain wasn't quite processing the sight quite yet. A woman... tanner than Sheika and Impa alike, with hair so brightly aflame in color it looked like the sun had spilled its rays onto it directly. She wore bizarre clothes, somewhat like Cia or Lana, but with different patterns from either sorcerer.

A... Gerudo? A Gerudo. There weren't many Gerudo left from what he understood. So... was this a holdout of theirs in the desert?

Oh. That's right. I was in the Gerudo Desert. We were... we were fighting Ghirahim's forces, weren't we?

"Wha' happ'n'd...?" he slurred.

The woman watched him a moment, her face indiscernible, and then she sighed, leaning back. "So you're coherent now. Good. It's about time. I didn't think Rodarin hit you that hard."

What? None of this made sense. What was going on?

Link looked away again, pushing his arms against the bed in an effort to sit up. He flopped back down helplessly, hissing in pain.

"Relax," the woman commanded, though her voice was soft. "You're not yet healed. The battle and the desert both took a toll on you."

Link sighed, growing irritated as he came more to reality. He needed to figure out what was going on. Where was Lana? Where were his men? He'd been in the middle of a battle!

"Did we win?" he asked.

The woman barked out a laugh, as if the mere thought were ridiculous. "Ha! You think your queen's army stood a chance against the might of the desert and its allies? We have the Triforce of Power to back us now."

Her words sank in, and Link's world burned with clarity.

He'd been captured.

Link shot into a seated position, his world spinning, his adrenaline chilling his warm body and sending energy to every fiber of his being. He was ripping the blanket off before he'd even realized his stomach was about to revolt. Multiple hands were on him all at once, and he yelled and thrashed against them, his newfound strength giving out quickly as he was unceremoniously held over the side of the bed while he vomited.

When he'd finished, he was laid back down and covered once more.

The blanket might as well have been shackles; he was a prisoner nonetheless.

"He's so tiny and fragile," a different female voice said. "How did they choose him to be their hero?"

Link felt his ire rise as his competency was challenged, but he was far too nauseous to speak. His brow furrowed in response.

"Aw, look, he's pouting!"

"Leave the baby alone," the first woman he'd spoken to said.

"I'm not a--uugghh..." Link tried to argue, unsure if he was miserable out of sheer illness, flustered as hell, or terrified of his situation. Probably a mix of all three.

"Right," the woman quipped, unconvinced. He saw her turn to the other women who apparently had been in the room. "Inform the king that he's awake."

The king? What...

Link felt his blood run cold. He pushed the fear aside, feeling anger swell in him instead. This entire damn war was because that monster had corrupted a sorcerer, after all. He hissed the name as if it were a curse. "Ganondorf."

The woman stood abruptly, crossing her arms. "That's King Ganondorf to you, little hero. You will show our ruler the proper respect."

Link scoffed, "Your king's soul was split into fragments and locked in sealed chests that were protected across time and space. You think that's a normal thing for a good person?"

"I think its meaning could be gleaned if you took the time to examine it, rather than believe everything your queen tells you."

Link felt his anger rise even more, indignant at any slight to his queen. "Don't you dare--"

The rest of his response was cut off as the damp cloth the woman had used earlier to soothe his illness was shoved into his mouth.

"I don't care to hear about your dedication to that woman," the Gerudo said flatly before pushing him to lay down. After a moment, she pulled the cloth back out, seeming satisfied that he'd grown quiet. "Rest, hero. Perhaps someday soon you'll actually wake up."

With that strange remark, the woman turned to leave, allowing Link to examine the room a bit more. His fight or flight response kicked back in when he saw a familiar white head of hair peek around the doorway.

"Well, well, look who's awake," Ghirahim hummed with a smirk.

The woman shoved the demon out of the entrance. "Shut it, Ghirahim. Let him rest."

With a scoff, the demon lord closed the door, leaving Link in utter confusion and horror at his situation.

There are not enough fics (or any I guess) out there with an Evil Zelda and a Good Ganondorf and Link captured by Ganondorf trying to figure out what the heck is going on while Ganondorf slowly shows him that Zelda is actually evil but it’s found family and not romance and I think that’s a shame.

[dontcallmecarrie]

Justin Hammer was almost ready for the upcoming gala, but these cufflinks were fiddly and so, without thinking, they picked up the box even as they started to call, “Hey, Steph? Can you—”

And then they remembered, and let out a slow breath.

Right. 

They’d known it was bound to happen at some point, but it still—

Justin gave a single, sharp nod, and turned back to the mirror. 

.

“Hey, where’s your sister?” Tony asked as he sidled up to Justin, and started to scan through the crowd. 

His first clue something was wrong was the way Justin’s smile froze for a second, but even that was nowhere near enough to prepare him for what his rival said next.

“Haven’t you heard?” Justin answered with a strangely serene smile. “Legally speaking, I’m an only child now.”

Tony dropped his flute of champagne. “What?”

.

Tony had seen quite a few different types of family dynamics over the years. 

Not many, granted, but...his mom had shown him the ropes, before, and now everyone alternated between acting patronizing and treating him like an adult even though he couldn’t legally drink. Which meant he got roped into a lot of socializing, and it’d been eye-opener after eye-opener since.

Tony knew people could be assholes, but...it was mind-blowing, just how many people could be so terrible to their own family. Apparently the Pym’s divorce after her return wasn’t as amicable as he’d thought, even though Hope hadn’t acted like she’d given a crap about changing her last name and moving in with her mom; certainly, she’d seemed perfectly normal when she’d playfully punched his arm last time they’d met. But that was just the tip of the iceberg, and most of it was— how could these people be parents? 

Howard had been a better father than some of these people, for crying out loud!

For all his faults, at least he had never pitted his children against each other for control of the company, and just like that Tony had a new appreciation for the people he’d unintentionally been using as his baseline for sibling relationships because apparently, that wasn’t normal.

Which, okay, made sense in retrospect, but that just raised a whole lot of other questions because for over seventeen years, Tony hadn’t really seen anything unusual with the way Justin acted.

The dad jokes and fussing about whether they’d all eaten, the constantly asking about how they were feeling— that was just Justin being Justin, wasn’t it? He’d always been like that, in all the time Tony knew him. 

But apparently whatever it was, ‘acting like a third parent’ or whatever, that was...unusual. Even more so, considering how Hammer Senior was apparently like if the rumors he was now privy to were anything to go by.

Which led them to where they were now: sitting in increasingly-awkward silence in the coat room after Justin told him about Steph.

About how his parents were like, at home, and the fights. About Steph’s dream of being an artist, and Tony remembered that conversation, and how Hammer Senior had looked, and oh.

“—so, yeah, apparently I’m an only child now. Legally speaking, anyway.” Justin finished, that strange smile still on his lips even as he stared at the opposite wall. 

Anyone else would’ve mistaken the softness in his voice as nothing but heartbreak. 

Tony knew better.

In all the years he’d known his rival, he had never seen this level of carefully-controlled rage. 

“What are you going to do about it?” He asked, morbidly curious despite himself. 

Another moment of silence, as Justin closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. Then—

“Oh,” Justin gave him a single, telling glance, “you know me. I like to play the long game.”

.

aka in which I was driving to work and an anon ask from a while ago came to mind again. It sounded like they wanted family drama, which I was not in the headspace for at the time but— anyway. 

Consider this venting from bs I see at work, because holy crap people can be assholes and family drama in fic’s sometimes interesting to poke at but also not generally my cup of tea.

[phoenixyfriend]

Rex and Anakin Raise a Family: Part Two

Part One

------------------

Anakin takes the news with... not grace, really, but an odd sort of resignation.

"Room to fix things," he mutters to himself, eyes set unseeing on Luke's tiny form.

Twins are often born smaller than single births, Rex remembers hearing somewhere. He hopes that's the only reason these two are so small. Leia feels absolutely minuscule in his arms.

He wishes he could ask Kix.

"Do you want to find Jango?"

Rex lifts his head to find Anakin staring at him with an earnest kind of depression. It's strange, and sad, and not helping with the question. "What?"

"You... you grew up with a lot of family," Anakin mutters, eyes cutting away to the side. "Fett would be a kid right now, yeah? He's... young. And you don't have the family that you used to have, but--"

"I'm not going to go out and find Fett to adopt him," Rex says firmly. "He was a genetic donor and once or twice a teacher. I have no interest in forming any bonds there."

He hesitates, but that was--Anakin was trying. Not succeeding, but trying. "Thank you for asking. It's... maybe if my childhood had been a little different, I'd have wanted that. But I don't, here."

Anakin winces. "Right."

Rex watches his general bounce a newborn, and thinks this is my life now.

There is no GAR to fight for, no brothers to save, no Empire to fight against. They'd thought there would be, but there isn't, not yet. They could find and warn the Jedi, but none of them would know Anakin. Nobody is going to look at Rex and see a clone. He's older than Fett, now.

"We're staying here," Rex decides. Anakin looks up from Luke's little face. "I'll figure out how to get us some Republic Idents. We'll get the twins registered. This planet is safe and out of the way, and we can figure something out for the money. You're a good mechanic, that's honest work, and I'm... I don't know. We've got a ship, so I can maybe do what Fett did and take bounty work. We'll figure something out."

"I can't ask you to stay with me."

"You're not asking," Rex says firmly. "I'm telling you. You don't get to push me away, sir. We're all the other has left, and you're not getting rid of me that easily."

"Okay," Anakin says. "If that's what you want."

------------------

They don't have a whole lot of money personally, but this was Padme's ship. She'd been rich, and prone enough to danger to know the worth of hiding money where she could. They may not have more than a few weapons on here, but they have money.

For now.

Rex knows his general is itching to go to Tatooine, sees the man muttering and twitching about it, needing to do something, and that the something has to do with Tatooine.

"Can it wait?" Rex asks.

Anakin stares at him, uncomprehending.

"Your kids are only a week old," Rex tries to explain. "They need you right now. Is this something that can wait a few months, where I can watch them while you take a week or two to handle what you need to do?"

Anakin takes Leia from Rex, and doesn't bring it up again.

------------------

Rex goes with Anakin, when they visit the nurse. He catches gossip about the two of them, but people don't go out of their way to approach. Mostly, people are just repeating the 'died in childbirth' cover that he gave before, telling each other who the strangers are, and why they shouldn't try to get involved.

The nurse asks only enough questions to get a medical baseline established for the twins. Anakin doesn't volunteer much, and when the Twi'lek woman asks if they'd like her to set up medical files for either of them, Rex has to immediately decline.

He has no idea what his blood is going to turn up. Genetic fuckery and something to deal with the advanced aging, maybe. He's not sure he wants to know, but either way, it's probably not going to be something this small clinic can handle.

"I'll have to set one up if you want to take the lactation aid," she tells Anakin.

"Yeah, okay."

She takes blood. Almost everything is mostly normal, except.

"Your midichlo--"

"I know."

"Are you--"

"Jedi aren't allowed to marry."

She doesn't dig further, just glances at how Anakin's holding Luke, and nods.

"It doesn't seem like there are any complicating factors. I can write up a prescription right now and you should be able to get it filled same-day. There will be a list of instructions and side-effects on flimsi when you pick it up, but I'd like to go over it in person first. Do you want Mr. Torrent to stay here with you as we do that, or to wait in the hall?"

"Up to him."

"I'll stay," Rex promises.

------------------

Three pills a day, one with every meal. Tissue stimulation by massaging the pectoral area, and allowing the twins to suckle even before there's anything to actually drink. Expect soreness and increased appetite, don't drink caffeine or take any form of stimulant while nursing. Here's a list of possible side-effects, the best way to handle the minor ones, and which ones to contact a medical professional about.

All very normal.

Anakin's rarely ever done anything with less than his whole heart, and Rex isn't surprised to know that Anakin is this dedicated a parent as well. He's... he was proud to serve his general, but he thinks there's something just as fulfilling as being by his side here and now. There's something better about helping raise the little ones that would never be found on a battlefield.

"Do you want them to call you Uncle Rex?" Anakin asks during a feeding. "Or... ba'vodu? Or do you want to just..."

"Just what?"

"...we're going to be co-parenting," Anakin says, not meeting his eyes. "And every time I try to suggest you go and find something for yourself, something that doesn't revolve around me, a person you were literally tube-grown for, you say you don't want to leave. So if you're going to be sticking around, really staying for years and years... we could tell them to call you buir. If you want."

"Oh."

Oh.

It's a lot. It's something Rex has maybe fantasized about before, getting to be a parent instead of just a soldier, but he'd also resigned himself to the fact that it wasn't really an option. Even now, he'd just expected to be a friend of the father, maybe an honorary uncle if he was lucky, or--

"Are you sure?" Rex asks, before he can start to hope. "I don't--I don't want to take Padme's place."

"You're not," Anakin says, fierce as anything. "You won't--nobody can ever take her place, but there are people with five parents, or none, and I'm not going to--I don't want to--"

Anakin squeezes his eyes shut and breathes harshly for a few moments. Leia fusses, like she's seconds away from crying, and Rex watches as his general holds the child in his arms closer to his chest, visibly focusing on calming down in a way he rarely, if ever, had during the war.

"It's okay, Papa just got a little upset, it's fine, we're calm, I'm sorry I got sad, honey, I'm sorry you had to feel that," Anakin whispers under his breath as he bounces the baby.

(Raising Force-Sensitive children was never going to be easy anyway.)

"You're sure about this?" Rex asks again.

"You want to be involved in their lives," Anakin mutters. "So... yeah, you should get to be their dad in name, too. And if you use Mando'a, it'll be easier for them to have different names for us."

"People are going to think we're together."

Anakin shrugs. "People think a lot of things."

Rex wants this. He wants to imagine the twins toddling up to him, grins on their faces, calling him buir and meaning it. He wants to have what he saw at the Lawquane's, where a lack of blood connection and a half-sliced age hadn't stopped those children from claiming Cut as their father. He's only thirteen, technically, but he wants to have a family, even if it's as broken as what they've found here.

"I'd be honored, sir," Rex says. "I... thank you. I can't tell you how much this means to me."

"You don't have to," Anakin mutters, refusing to meet his eyes. "I can feel it."

Right.

"They already love you," Anakin continues, as if his goal today is to just smash Rex's decorum to pieces. "Part of that is just baby stuff, I think; they don't exactly know more than us yet, but you're around them all the time and are primary caregiver whenever I'm not... not okay. So they love you, so much, and I just... I'm not going to ignore that when you already love them too. So you should get to be their dad. If you want."

He does want.

"I'd like that," he says, and knows that he hasn't bothered shielding in days, so Anakin knows just how sincere that is.

Anakin hesitates, visibly so, and then stands and crosses the room to join Rex on the couch, each of them holding a twin.

A head rests lightly on Rex's shoulder. He lets it.

"There are rites," Anakin says quietly. "On Tatooine, for the slaves lost to the desert. People that died in search of their freedoms, where there's no body to bury but you still need to mourn."

Rex knows this. He says, "the clones had mourning traditions for the brothers who died in explosions or behind enemy lines, the ones we couldn't retrieve."

Anakin knows this as well. He nods.

They sit together, quietly, as calm as they can be for the too-perceptive children in their arms, and they know they need to mourn properly.

Rex can only hold his jagged edges in place for so long.