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sl-newsie · 2 months

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Melted Mind (Dr. Spencer Reid x OC Coworker)

Summary: The team checks into a hotel and one of their coworkers has never used a sauna, leading to late night shenanigans. (Hinting at intimacy towards the end)

“You’ve never used a sauna?”

I’ve had a lot of strange and unusual conversations with the BAU but this has got to be a very random one. I guess one half-mention of never having used a sauna seems to be the hot topic of tonight.

I shake my head at Emily’s question. “Never had a reason to. I can’t stand being too hot.”

Of course now Spencer has to hop in and give his input. “Saunas actually help us sweat toxins out of our bodies and improve lymphatic drainage. They also reduce stress levels and help strengthen the immune system.”

I love him dearly but he can come in at the worst times. Just because he’s my boyfriend does not mean he can drag me into this too.

Meanwhile Emily is looking at the hotel’s brochure. “There’s one in the pool room. We should try it.”

Um, no. We’ve just spent three hours flying. I feel no need to sit in a boiling hot room with my coworkers.

Quick, grab the suitcase and start walking away. “I think I’m going to relax in my room-”

Morgan grabs my arm. “C’mon, it’ll be fun!”

In the corner of my eye I see JJ and Penelope waving goodbye with cheeky smiles. Hotch has already gone to his room and Rossi avoids the situation by heading for the bar. There’s no getting out of this.

There’s no other way to say it. This is Hell. I won’t sugarcoat it.

I don’t care how Emily tries to sell this as a good thing because it’s a ‘steam sauna.’ Spencer’s facts from earlier have completely flown the coop because thinking about the positive health benefits of sweating is the last thing on my mind. All I can think of is drinking water and staying alive.

“I’m melting.” We’ve been here for half an hour and I’m already slumped in the corner.

“You look like a lava lamp."

My glare can burn through walls. “Thanks, Morgan.”

“That swimsuit is really cute,” Emily comments. “But why wear a shirt over it?”

The suit I packed is my patriotic one. A one-piece suit with blue and white stars at the top cascading into red and white stripes. When we met up in the hall I threw on a swim shirt and I guess that raised a few eyebrows. Why? I don’t know.

“Some call it image paranoia, I call it modesty. I will not walk around half-naked in a hotel lobby.” Technically my onepiece could count as a leotard but it’s still not modest.

Emily snickers. “Between you and Reid both you guys could give a lecture on social etiquette.”

“I’m giving a lecture?”

Reid pokes his head in and a wave of cold air washes over me. It’s Heaven! But it’s only a split second because he closes the door and I’m submerged in the moist prison once more. He hops up on the seat next to me and from the look he gives me I can tell he’s looking to see if I’m still alive. I think I am. Maybe.

“Here’s the boy genius!” Morgan claps and gestures to my limp body’s presentation of a corpse. “What do you think of this lovely swimsuit?”

Why? Why did Morgan of all people have to find out about us? I’m honestly surprised Penelope didn’t find out first. If only Spencer didn’t want a picture of me on his desk so badly. Ever since we became official he’s been much more manly about it. Like he wants to make sure everyone knows I’m his. It’s actually cute.

Spencer gives me a look-over. “Very patriotic. It looks nice.”

Those eyes say more than that. He loves it.

“Thank you. I’m lucky I brought it with me. Though this may be what I’m buried in if I don’t make it through tonight. This sauna’s going to be the death of me.”

So the night goes on. My mind dwindles in and out of the conversation but the only thing keeping me awake is Spencer’s occasional squeeze on my shoulder. Though him rubbing my back is definitely not helping. After a while my mind starts to wander.

“Ever notice how radio stations play the same songs over and over?”

The chatter stops and in the corner of my glazed eye I see everyone look at me.

“That’s kinda deep,” Morgan teases.

“I can’t help it. This sauna’s making me think deep.”

Emily waves a hand in front of me. “Ok, I think it’s time to call it a night. You need to drink some water. Make sure she gets to bed safely, Reid.”

Reid gives me a hidden smirk. He’s definitely thinking about that out of context. Thankfully the others are too tired to notice and we all slowly exit the human vegetable steamer from Hell.

“I’ll go get you a towel,” Reid says before walking off.

I’ll finally get to go to my room, rinse off and relax- Uh-oh. I catch a quick glance out the window. A pair of blue sunglasses lies on a patio lawn chair. No one’s outside. I guess I should do the Girl Scout routine of returning them to the lobby desk.

Brr! How is the air outside so cold? The sauna must have really gotten to me. Back inside now- Oh no. Is it my wandering mind or am I locked out? No. No! I don’t have a key card!

Inside Spencer walks around the pool looking for me. The towel he’s carrying might as well be a fur coat.

“Oh- Spencer! Help!” I knock on the glass door. “Please! I’m locked out!”

Reid’s eyes widen and he strides over. “How did you get stuck out there?”

“Someone left their sunglasses out here and I didn’t think about needing a key card to get back inside. Could you let me in?”

He starts reaching for the door but then gets an amused smirk. “Hmm. I don’t know…”

Is he kidding? “Spencer! Please! It’s freezing out here!”

Reid checks the thermostat. “It’s only 65 degrees.”

“I just came out of a sauna! Do you want me to pass out?” I put my hands on my hips.

Spencer’s laughter is muffled by the glass but he turns the doorknob anyway. “Open sesame.”

I sigh in relief at the warm air. “Thank you- oh!”

My temperature spikes the instant Spencer’s lips are on mine. He backs me against the cold condensation-covered door and pulls me close to him. I hope no one’s looking!

“It was hard not to do that in front of the team, seeing you in this suit.” Spencer presses a kiss on my cheek. “It looks very nice.”

If I weren’t so exhausted I’d encourage this. “Ready to go to bed? I’m getting tired.”

“Me too.” Reid wraps the towel around my shaking shoulders and we start walking back. “Would you like me to rub your back?”

“I’d love that very much, Spencer.”

The sight of our hotel room is equivalent to scoring an A+. I speed-wash through the shower and all but dive onto the soft bed. I lift my sleepy head up to look at Spencer, who’s sitting in the lounge chair staring at me.

“What?”

“You know my attraction to you didn’t start from your body,” he murmurs, still looking at me as if examining a piece of art.

I smile shyly and look down. “It was my eyes.”

He walks over and kneels down to my level. “It was your eyes. Those eyes that show a deep wisdom but are always wide with excited curiosity.”

Spencer crawls up onto the bed and rests his head on my chest. “Still tired? I can feel your heart rate elevating-”

“Let me pause the lecture, professor.” I put a finger to his lips. “It’s time to sleep. You can resume tomorrow.”

He sighs but gives in to his own tired state by going limp. I’m too tired to push him off.

“You were right, Spencer. Saunas really do reduce stress levels. Even if I was almost locked out.”

He smiles with his eyes closed and feels around for the bedside light switch. “Goodnight, angel.”

The room goes dark and I give him one last kiss. “Goodnight, genius.”

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jumpywhumpywriter · 10 days

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"The Lost Hero" - Crippled Hero Presumed Dead part 18

Warnings: crippled hero, medical whump/aftermath of operating with no anesthesia, collapsed throat, recovery whump, trouble eating due to excruciating pain

The lights were left on, a minor annoyance, but both teens were exhausted after the adrenaline rush from earlier sapped their stretch, and both of them chased the darkness of sleep.

Logan awoke to find that Noah was already up and pacing, worry lines creasing his forehead. He stopped when he caught Logan's eye, shuffling his feet sheepishly. "Sorry if I woke you up," he mumbled.

"You didn't," Logan reassured. His gaze wandered to Hero, who still laid motionless in the raised bed. "She still out?"

Noah shook his head sadly. "No activity from her, she hasn't moved an inch since I woke up -- I've been checking frequently."

A knot of anxiety tightened in Logan's chest as he stood up and stretched the stiffness from his muscles. He opened his mouth to respond, but suddenly perked up when he heard Hero's steady breathing change, a hint of consciousness to it. Subtle, but not entirely unnoticeable.

"Hero? Can you hear me?" He quickly sat on the edge of the bed she was on, the mattress dipping under his weight.

Hero's fingers twitched, but she didn't react otherwise.

Logan carefully reached out and touched her shoulder to gently shake it, but yelped in surprise when a vise-like grip clamped around his wrist lightning-fast, stopping him in his tracks. His gaze darted up to see Hero's eyes wide open, disoriented and staring up at the ceiling. He winced as the pressure on his wrist increased, bone groaning under Hero's hand. He'd forgotten about her abnormal strength.

"H-Hero... that's starting to hurt... c-can you... let go?" Logan whispered, trying not to spook her. Noah hovered over his shoulder, glancing between him and Hero in alarm.

The charged silence was almost unbearable, each second stretching for an eternity, and Logan's hand was steadily going numb -- he had to bite his lip hard to keep from crying out in pain.

Hero blinked, some of the initial haze in her expression dissipating, and Logan felt her grip slacken and drop, and he snatched his wrist back, holding it behind his back so Hero wouldn't see and feel guilty. After all, it was an accident. But he could already feel his wrist bruising.

"I know this might be too soon to ask since you did only wake up a few seconds ago, but can... can you talk again?" Logan bit his lip hopefully.

Hero sat up with a huff of effort and instinctively reached up and rubbed the side of her neck, face falling, before she shook her head, averting her eyes to the floor.

"What?! But Villain fixed your throat!"

"Yeah, but he hasn't replaced the voice disk yet," Noah interjected knowingly. "The part that magnetizes to the piece near her vocal cords isn't there yet."

Logan's chest tightened with worry. What if Villain never intended to give Hero's voice back? What if his plan all along had been to leave her forever mute?

He jumped when the door to their prison opened, and none other than Villain himself came sauntering confidently in, flanked by two henchmen carrying plates of food.

"Breakfast," Villain announced. The henchmen offered the plates to the three captives - Noah and Logan both got a proper meal of scrambled eggs, pancakes, and vegetables, while Hero got what looked like small bowls of yogurt and applesauce placed neatly on the plate.

"You'll be eating soft foods alone for a day or two while you heal," Villain explained as his henchmen left. But Villain stayed, even as the door to the room locked. "I'm still working on recreating my voice disk invention, I'll bring it in once I'm finished. I may have happened to have your throat device already made, but I didn't anticipate ever needing to use it, so I hadn't put a lot of effort into completing a second model."

Logan and Noah listened closely, cautiously digging into their food after thoroughly checking to make sure it wasn't drugged or poisoned. Villain merely rolled his eyes at their hesitancy, but didn't remark on it.

Hero stared dismally down at the plate in her lap with the yogurt and applesauce, before picking up the spoon it came with and taking a wary bite. Almost immediately, she flinched and clutched at her neck.

"Yes, that's obviously going to hurt for a while," Villain chuckled impassively. "That's what happens when you have a crushed throat reconstructed by someone like me. But you'll have to power through it if you don't want to starve. Unfortunately I can't give you any pain pills for it because I want to study how you naturally heal for my own research."

"That's cruel!" Logan blurted angrily.

Villain shrugged casually. "Hey, I'm a villain. I said I would save Hero's life, nothing more. If I were you, I would be abundantly grateful for the rare show of hospitality."

Logan didn't miss the threatening undertones to Villain's voice, becoming viscerally aware of the boundary line he wasn't supposed to cross. Villain was letting him go with a subtle warning, and he got the distinct feeling that it wasn't something he gifted regularly.

Logan took the hint and clamped his mouth shut grimly, averting his eyes away from Villain to where Hero was struggling to choke down her meal with the agony blasting through every spoonful of food. It was painful to watch how she had to take frequent breaks after every few bites when it hurt too much to swallow. She looked hollow and weary, and relieved when she'd finally managed to get through breakfast.

⏪️ Back Next ⏩️

Masterlist

@scoundrelwithboba @lumpofsand @isikedmyself878 @iamheretohurt @fleur-a-whump

@ay5ksal @otterfrost @sausages-things @i-don't-know-sal @togzy

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gingergofastboatsmojito · 2 months

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The Bear's legacy

The series finale has already been announced

I still think Sydcarmy will be endgame, of course. But most importantly, I also think that all Carmy said in this scene in regards to HIS LEGACY (because that's what he was talking about, not just legacy in general but his own based on what he learned from the legends that taught him well) is the clearest foreshadowing of what Storer has in mind to wrap The Bear up.

I say all of this now because I believe S4 will be the last one and after this S3 we were just served my mind keeps wandering to: HOW CAN WE GET OUT OF HERE?!?! HOW WILL STORER GET US OUT OF THIS. HOW WILL HE CLOSE THE OPEN LOOP HE LEFT US STUCK AT IN THE SEASON FINALE:

I already went over my idea of how the endgame for the entire series may look like here, before watching S3. But that was just an assumption (yet fully compatible with what I will elaborate on below).

These previous posts of mine, also tap into The Family tree concept and I suggest you check them out for context as well:

The tree

Found Family

What I think will happen in whatever way Storer wants to go about it is that even though The Bear, the restaurant will not go under, at least not as a result of this bad review:

Eventually, it might close its doors like Ever did (after getting 1 or more stars for Sydney), so Carmy can live and escape the prison of his own design that Richie mentioned:

Now, I'm prepared to make a formal prediction based on the script presented in ep 03x07 → Legacy, which I cross-referenced with LWTH.

And the parallelisms, which would take a way longer post than what I have time to make right now, all point in this direction:

The team will spread around the world/country to open their own restaurants/bakeries, etc. - This happens either in the post The Bear era or even if The Bear remains open.

Or in other words, like Storer Carmy said:

This will be the case for each member of the family:

And because the show is about "found family", they still find a way to remain together, even if at some point they go their separate ways to carry on with The Bear's legacy elsewhere as Carmy foreshadowed and just like Carmy carried on with Michael's at some point, which was the kickstart of the whole series.

Thus, it will be a full circle.

IMO, and this is unrelated to the book, The Bear will close its door eventually or change its name and Sydney will open her dream spot, maybe where The Bear once was or elsewhere. Carmy will change careers and will crossover into other arts, such as painting. Let's not forget that he's already an artist of the culinary arts, so it will not be too much of a stretch. He seemed to have found his peace once in Copenhagen doing this and he keeps coming back to it, even now, as he hits rock bottom, he keeps turning to this type of art to try and cope:

He never seems to drift too far away from it.

I think this is where he's headed post The Bear. Back to his solace (which will include Syd too).

And this is what comes to mind → an Austenian happy ending for the entire family that was foreshadowed in 03x07 "Legacy".

The ending will be all about carrying on with Carmy's legacy or better yet, "Sydcarmy's Legacy", one way or the other. Kinda like this fic narrates here.

And I can't wait.

Bonus track: I hope they leave the door open to continue telling this story on the big screen, which if you didn't cheat and carefully read the Found Family context post I linked at the beginning, you now know was Storer's original idea for The Bear. This, unlike all I mentioned above, is indeed a stretch. But... a girl can dream.

#the bear #the bear season 4 gingerpredictions #gingerpovs #sydcarmy endgame #love story #found family #happy ending #the bears legacy

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captain-mj · 1 year

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I'm begging for a second Ghoap Outlander part

Of course!

Ghost tried to escape this weird place. Keyword was try.

Soap brought him food and untied him again. Ghost waited until he wasn’t looking to grab a small piece of wood to stash up his sleeve. He watched Soap back, getting annoyed with the staring. Soap softened when they made eye contact but Ghost looked away.

Once he was done eating, Soap set the plate aside and gently tied him up, doing his best not to touch him. It was a small detail, but Ghost appreciated it nonetheless.

Soap had a pensive look on his face, clearly thinking of something. He scanned over Ghost’s mask before smiling. “Ye look better. More color in your face today.”

Ghost paused before realizing it was a joke, failing to stifle the small chuckle it got from him. He got flustered and glared at Soap who looked thrilled to get a reaction.

“Sleep, okay? Ye look tired.” Soap put a blanket over him and left him.

Ghost started to cut through the binds immediately. It took longer than he would’ve liked, but he managed. He slipped out of the door, surprised by how easy it was to simply break the lock. The hallways were mostly clear, but he still moved quickly. He didn’t want to stick around too long if he could help it.

The Exit.

It was so close. Right fucking there.

Soap caught him just as he saw it and glared at him, arms crossed like he had caught a kid stealing food and not a grown man trying to regain his freedom.

“Listen up yo-” He started to threaten Soap.

Soap grabbed him and threw him over his shoulder. Ghost was… surprised to say the least. They were the same height and he wasn’t exactly a small person. Soap started to carry him but he noticed he didn’t bring him back to the infirmary room he had been in. Ghost immediately started to fight again. He had no clue what this… deviant was planning on doing with him, but he wanted absolutely no part.

Soap brought him to a bigger room. It had a bigger bed and it had a flag of some sort on the wall. The flag had a similar pattern to Soap’s clothing and Ghost tried to remember anything about tartans that he could.

He dropped Ghost on to the bed and shook his head.

“Ghost, you really should not trito escape. You opened your wound again.” He sounded so admonishing that Ghost resisted the urge to salute him.

Ghost looked down, realizing there was blood dripping through his shirt.

“You need to let me leave. I have people who will be looking for me.”

“No one has yet, so you’re going to stay with me for now.” Soap growled at him, stepping closer and Ghost instinctively leaned away. He roughly moved Ghost so he could lift his shirt and check the wound before rebandaging. The entire time, he kept a steady hand on Ghost’s chest. If Ghost started to breath a little heavier or pant, Soap would order him to breath. It was… odd. Worked like a charm though. Ghost immediately started to breath normally again each and every time.

He glared at Soap who looked amused.

“Once your people come, I will let you go. ‘M keeping ya safe, ya know?” His accent thickened as he looked away. Soap looked almost embarrassed.

“Am I in your room?”

“You are in my room.” Soap confirmed.

Ghost realized he was sprawled on his bed and quickly sat up.

“You’ll be staying in here since ya don’t know how to behave on yer own.” Soap patted him on his thigh and went to his desk to start drawing again, which is what he was doing before someone told him his prisoner was wandering the halls. He sketched out the landscape quietly, allowing the scratching of the pencil to be the only sound in the room.

Ghost stayed quiet as well but eventually, the softness of the bed and the bone deep tiredness he had been experiencing since he woke up that morning finally got to him, dragging him into sleep.

Soap glanced over, seeing him curled up and snoring. He should’ve brought him in here ages ago. Poor guy already seemed more relaxed.

Soap wished he would take the stupid mask off though. He’d have to think of a way to convince him. Maybe he could beg him. What little glimpses he got of his face meant he knew he was pretty. Very pretty. Even now, where Soap could only see his eyes, he knew he was gorgeous.

The landscapes could wait. He started to draw Ghost, making sure to include each eyelash, the soft slopes of his body. Soap knew it was all muscle, bastard was heavy but Soap refused to set him down or show weakness, but he had never seen a man with such a…. Small waist in comparison to the rest of him. Despite how big Ghost was, Soap was sure he could fit his arms perfectly around him, pull him flush against his chest.

Yeah. Ghost was really pretty.

And Soap was going to make him his.

#cod #cod mw2 #call of duty modern warfare #call of duty #call of duty modern warfare ii #soap call of duty #johnny soap mactavish #soapghost #ghostsoap #simon ghost riley #simon riley

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dathomirdumpsterfire · 10 months

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Chat writes the plot! Time for more 👑🐲🐟 KotD!

Want to be on the tag list? Have an idea for next chapter? Clicked the wrong option? Reblog or Comment! New? Check the very bottom for the Ao3 link. Chapter 4 is down below the cut. 🔥

~Chapter 4~

"Did you…” the jedi trails off, approaching the steaming black ball as it begins to slump in place. “Is this lava?”

Maul sways around the orb of it, pleased with himself. “There are geothermal vents near here. The source of the Naboo’s prosperity. Surely you knew this? We fought in a plasma generator complex."

"You'll excuse me if I was too busy trying to save the monarchy from the meddling dregs of an ancient, dead order to pay attention to the decor," Kenobi drawls as he approaches.

The jedi's face goes slack when he gets close enough to feel the radiant heat. He tests the surface temperature with the side of his wrist, but pulls back the same as Maul had. It is still very hot.

The reborn sith smiles a wicked smile, and says nothing about his order. Master's secrets were not his to reveal.

Kenobi reaches out in the force, and starts rolling the slowly demorphing ball over to his corner. He watches the man make a sad little barrier of it, getting his back to the cave wall and sliding down in range of the heat.

The jedi sighs in relief. “Thank you, I suppose.”

He snorts, neither wanting nor needing such wasted words. “What else?”

“Mnn?” the jedi asks, eyes closed and head leaning back against the stone.

Maul smacks his leg with a fin. “What else is killing you?”

The other man chuckles wearily, “Besides you? Exhaustion. Leave me be.”

The dragonfish sith is instantly in his space, draped heavily across his legs, hands around that pale throat and squeezing. "Rrragh!"

Kenobi chokes, grabbing at his forearms with a furious glare. “Gnh-!”

“Weak jedi should remember their place,” he hisses. “You are my prisoner, and I am in control.”

The warm body beneath him struggles, trying to push him away. “Gnn mau- hhnkk blast, khgh-!”

Redness rises to Kenobi's cheeks, a pretty flush in response to suffocation. Maul holds it for longer than he had meant to, smiling with teeth as he watches the jedi struggle for air. Kenobi’s weakened force signature is flailing. He kicks at Maul's scales, but the sith is too enraptured by the sight of his suffering to really feel it.

When tears start to build at the corners of blue eyes he lets go. There is barely a sign of where he had pressed, just a fading whiteness. Hmm. Hopefully it bruises. He likes the idea of leaving marks.

His prisoner glares up at him, rubbing at his throat and coughing, mulishly silent. A droplet falls from the corner of one eye, trickling down into his ginger beard. Maul gazes at the trail it leaves, fascinated.

“What?" the jedi spits when he's stared too long.

The sith blinks several times, recoiling. “Hnn… sleep then, jedi. I will return.”

As he's slipping back into the water, he hears a disgruntled, “I'm sure you will. You're unfortunately very good at that.”

In truth Maul does not go far. He too needs sleep, and the odds of Kenobi attempting an escape are high. Likely to fail and kill him regardless, but high.

The sith dares not rest in the seaweed and moss in the sunken sections of that room either. It would be just like the cowardly jedi to strike when he is unawares. His personal cave is too far away as well, with it's comfortable sand bed and myriad treasures.

As a compromise, Maul wanders the tunnels nearby until he finds an underwater knoll of bubblegum pink coral and neon yellow sea sponges. The sith coils himself down onto the sandy floor of it. The arrangement is… less than comfortable, and he prefers to sleep in air pockets rather than underwater, but, it will do.

The dragonfish sith dreams. Vivid visions of angry blue eyes lined by tear tracks, then and now. The biggest difference is whether it is facial hair or metal floor that catches the drips. The afterglow trial of rapidly moving lightsabers. The distant lava fields of Mustafar overlay with newer memories of oceanic magma geysers.

He twitches in his sleep, muttering scraps of thoughts, eyes moving under his lids. As he sinks deeper, old nightmares and lost hopes lead him around in circles. Dreams blend into horrors, and horrors wash into nothingness.

It is in a still space between one ephemeral vision and the next that the force twinges, hard, knocking the sith up out of sleep. Maul uncurls muzzily from his sandy knoll, feeling around in the force for the source of the disturbance.

Nothing nearby…

Just in case, he goes to check on Kenobi.

The sith swims into the prison cave, and pokes his head out of the water, expecting to be met with a jedi fast asleep too close to slowly melting stone. Or perhaps it has cooled too fast, and he is cold again?

Instead, he emerges to a battle.

The purple-black tentacles of a giant gorogoro octopus writhe around the cave, trying to catch a Kenobi who is too fast, dodging with the liquid acrobatics of a jedi master.

Maul snarls.

How dare this creature invade his caves and try to steal his prey!

With a roar worthy of his zabrak heritage, Maul propels himself from the water and barrels down on the offending mollusk. He lands on its bulbous head, and starts clawing into colorshifting skin. Pink and green spots bloom across it's pebbled hide.

He assumes that color indicates fear.

Tentacles flail and ink spills across the rocks as they fight. Utterly incensed, Maul finds it's beady little eyes and shoves his thumbs into them. They pop like grapes. Then, he rips into the body of the beast, finding and tearing out each of it's three hearts, and digging to crush all nine lumps of it's grey matter. Maul screams his fury and desecrates the corpse, sundering and smashing until it's all just so much pulp.

It's blue blood coats everything by the time his wrath is sated.

The dragonfish sith withdraws from the corpse, dripping with gore, panting, his eyes a luminous green.

He turns to seek out the jedi, swaying his way around the rocks. The man has tucked himself down behind his radiant barrier again. Maul comes about the side of it to find him clutching his shoulder, expression set to a grimace.

“It,” the jedi breaks off, coughing, “It got me.”

-Tag list- (Comment if you want added!)

@obimaulartfire (<- the artist who inspired it all) @savageopressbignaturals

New? Start from Chapter 1! 👇🏽

🔥 PLEASE REBLOG FRIENDS! TYSM💕 🔥

enjoy the adventures of mermaul & kenobi this holiday season✨

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wolf-among-mechs · 3 months

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Clan Wolf Dropship Elysium Coreward Periphery 24 August 3049

Asuka closed down the Chatterweb function on the computer.

“Good to know that the trial of grievance is just a very roundabout way of punching out the problem with someone.” The room was sparse and mostly built for function and quite small. It wasn't a great room to have claustrophobia in. It was better than a brig at least. But not by much. It had a table currently occupied by the computer. The bed wasn't very comfortable and a bit of a mess.

“I never understood the point of making the bed anyway.” She thought to herself looking at it. The last thing of note was a nightstand next to the bed. An empty water bottle stood on it.

“Might as well go fill it up while I look for something to substitute for a candle.” She picked up the water bottle and stuck it in her pocket for now. “Sometimes I forget how big these pockets are.” She said to herself.

The last couple of days hadn't been very good. The bed was far too hard for her, the food was taking a lot to get used to and she had been captured by enemies who for some reason didn't treat her quite like a prisoner. She was free to walk the ship as long as she didn't go somewhere sensitive such as the bridge, engine room or armoury. It was like she was a passenger. But they treated her somehow with more respect than that. Like an invisible set of arbitrary rules she had no control over. To the credit of her captors, they seemed interested in telling her the rules when she was able to identify them, which was quite a bit better than similar experiences in the past. Nevertheless it was making her frustrated. They kept using words, terms and rules that were completely alien to her and yet expected her to follow and know them! So when she couldn't and didn't they got upset and talked down to her. Some of them clearly tried to start fights with her, as a matter of fact they postured like drunk mercenary hotshots at a bar trying to prove who was the toughest and roughest mechwarrior. Yet when she tried to call them on it they fell back on alien rituals and words and if she stepped out of it, then the performance had to be called off. Yet there were people here who nearly walked on eggshells around her, like they were afraid of making her angry. It just didn't make any sense to her. Thinking about it was giving her a headache.

Acknowledging that headache made it worse. There was a soft ringing noise in her ears and Her fuse and temper were growing shorter. She pinched the bridge of her nose. It had been a really long time since she felt this irritated. She needed to keep it in check before snap, lose control of herself and lash out in anger to force the world to make sense. Every act felt like she needed to reason it out with her anger, her beliefs and even sense of self. It was like attempting to move an Atlas through a swamp. She took a deep breath. It didn’t help. Sleeping wasn't going to help. Resting wasn't going to help. She needed to do something. Find a way to meditate and clear her mind. Push all the errant thoughts out of her head. She was going to need a candle or a substitute. With that in mind, she stepped out into the walkway outside her room.

“I am going to need a piece of string to act as a wick…” Asuka said to herself as she wandered The corridor between the Mechbays and the crew quarters. A sign crosses her vision pointing to the mess hall. An idea enters her mind. Cooking oil. That would be flammable enough to burn. But also not enough that it would immediately flash. She could make an oil candle of sorts. She walked in that direction.

The mess hall was empty and quiet. It was made for feeding maybe around a hundred people. As far as Asuka was concerned it followed the conventions of a normal army mess hall. A flag of a wolf with stars hung on one side, she had identified that as the emblem of Clan Wolf. It was kinda cool as far as Asuka was concerned. She had always liked the wolf imagery since she was a teenager. She even had a tattoo on one shoulder of a wolf's head. She made the mercenary company she founded have one as its emblem too! There were also some posters of people she had never seen trying to convey some sort of inspiring message.

On closer inspection the tables were marked. Something she hadn't noticed earlier during lunch. Some of them had more cushioning and were marked with some sort of starburst symbol. It looked familiar somewhere but she couldn't place it. When she had taken a seat, or attempted to, on the cushioned starburst tables the warrior Karen had confronted her. Only now did it occur that maybe she had taken a seat somewhere she wasn't allowed to sit. She surmised that the fancy tables were for warriors. As a bondswoman it wasn't her right to sit there… but she couldn't rule out that Karen was just a bitch.

There was movement inside the kitchen.

“Hey!” Asuka called out as she approached the counter. A man with long black hair tied back looked over. He had a hat to keep the hair from the food.

“Aff? Are you looking for something? Lost?” He sounded a little stressed but ultimately trying to be helpful.

“Oh no. Well actually I was looking for the kitchen.”

“Why?” The man asked.

She tried to snap to an excuse. Something to get ahead. But her mind was unfocused, scattered and in turmoil.

xxxxxxxxxx

“I doubt he will hand you cooking oil. What you are doing is a fire hazard.” Her mechtech heritage said.

“Who cares what he thinks. He is just a cook. Shove him into a locker and take what you want. He is nothing to you.” The feral wolf stirred within her.

“He is not a warrior. He may not be a target of your anger, to assault him would be a great shame upon you.” Her bushido spirit spoke calmly.

“There is a strong smell of food here. A lot of food. Some of the spices are really good. Stuff that would be good on the food. Something sticks out. It is souring the rest. Its presence causes interference” Her autistic sensor suite reported.

“The smell reminds a bit of pizza, doesn't it? Oregano or something. That'd be great by now. Something a bit greasy and just slightly overcooked would be so good right now. Do you think these deep periphery weirdos have pizza?” Her inner sphere pride distracted her.

“Lunch was pretty bad. The spices tasted like vinegar. I could only eat the rice, the sandwich and the cucumbers. I am pretty hungry.” Her autistic sensor suite had logged earlier in the day.

“But the thing you truly hunger for is a fight. Especially with the fucks who took our guns and our swords.” The feral wolf growled.

xxxxxxxxxx

The world felt a bit heavier from the thoughts swirling in her head. She felt slow and unresponsive as a mech operating with the blank setting on the neurohelmet.

“Because I was assigned to help cook dinner! You know… the whole bondsperson thing.” Asuka held up her bondcord and tried to smile.

“Really? How come you are not assigned to the mechbays? That is where warriors taken as bondsmen usually are assigned.” The man in the kitchen said.

“Uh well.” Asuka hesitated. “I do not know. I was just told to report to the kitchen.” She shrugged.

“I had not been told nor will I require extra hands. It is tomato soup tonight. There are only so many hands that can aid with it.” The cook said and moved a pot up on a desk. Asuka felt her shoulders tense up. The consistency of soup had always been difficult to keep down. Usually it just came back up again. The taste and feeling of tomatoes like that too felt vile. She would rather eat a stale military ration. She'd hate that too but at least it would stay down. She forced her shoulders back down.

“Are you alright?” The cook asked, seeing her tense up.

“I… do not like soup. Would it be possible to cook something else for myself?” Asuka frowned slightly. The cook stared at her.

“You are not assigned to the kitchen quineg?” He raised an eyebrow.

“No…Neg.” She swapped to the words they used around here.

“You are the bondswoman who had the brawl around lunch with Warrior Karen quiaff?”

“Aff.” Asuka nodded.

“If you want to hide in my kitchen I will allow you on one condition, bondswoman. The power connections for my equipment are damaged somehow and I need them fixed. Since nobody else is helping me, could you get some equipment? I will require a multimeter with probes and wire cutters. I can at least figure out the problem then.”

“Multimeter and wire cutters. Got it. I will go look around the mechbay.” Asuka said and headed out again.

++++++++

She wandered into the mechbays of the dropship. The noise of welding, cranes and drill machinery met her with an overwhelming salvo along with the fluorescent lights attached to the ceiling and the flood lights mounted in mechbays.

In the first mechbay she entered was a single technician currently fitting armour plates on a mech's legs. Changing and moving an armour slab and welding and cutting. She looked at the mech in question.

“Looks like a Thunderbolt.” She said to herself. The mechtech stopped his welding and looked back at her.

“Thunderbolt? This is a Summoner.” The mechtech folded up his welding mask.

“Sorry. I am not familiar with your mechs. I am Asuka Hoshi, Bondswoman.”

“I am Jin. Technician. I have already heard that you might be working in the mechbay with us during your time as bonded. I also saw you caused a bit of trouble with Warrior Karen.”

“I think it is more fair to say she was causing trouble for me. But yes. I was told I need to be of some use around here.”

“Aff. You do.”

The words felt sharp and pointed. Something about them pierced through her in the moment. Part of her knew that wasn't the case. Yet it sparked something inside her. A deep anger roared to life.

xxxxxxxxxx

“The fucking mechtech does not know his place. He maintains warmachines. You are a warmachine. Show him what you are made to do. Destroy him.” The feral wolf within her snarled. She could already feel her hand clench to a fist.

“He is of a different path. It intersects with your own. If he is to respect you, Asuka-dono, you must respect him.” Her bushido spirit pointed out.

“Hey wait, look. There's something strange in this mechbay. One of the gunpods is empty and hollow. That looks like a pulse laser hanging on the crane. Is it in the middle of a refit?” Her mechtech heritage was excited. It dispelled the anger she felt. Curiosity took its place. A distraction she welcomed.

xxxxxxxxxx

Asuka's nostrils flared as she narrowed her eyes at Jin. However, a distraction presented itself. The gunpod of the Summoner had a really strange design to her.

“Is this "Summoner" undergoing a refit?” She asked after a moment's thought.

“Neg. The omnipods are being changed. Warrior Sean changed his mind five minutes later so I had to tell him to make his mind up. As well as if he wants to put an autocannon there instead he should also make sure there is ammunition.” The mechtech Jin responded. He shook his head as if dealing with a rookie mistake.

“Is that why there is a large hole in the gunpod?” “Aff. Thanks to the Omnipods all we really need to do is remove what is there and put another pod inside. Maybe fit it a bit and just slot it back in, wire it and connect the ammunition system. As long as the tonnage and spacing fits you can do it pretty quick.” “So you could swap a Medium laser for a pulse laser? Or… SRM for LRM rack? How long would it take?” “Aff. As long as the weight and spacing works out. It would take about two hours maybe? The gyroscope computer realigns and balances the myomers and the chassis on its own. If you need to put on larger weapons such as gauss rifles or PPCs it will take a bit longer.”

“Owing to their much higher power demands.”

“Aff. You are from the inner sphere quiaff?”

“Correct” Asuka nodded.

“Then you have probably never seen this kind of thing before.” technician Jin leaned against the scaffolding.

“No. It is actually quite amazing that you could change the weapon loadout for an entire mech in a single day. The ones I am used to require extensive calibrations.”

“I bet. But I am pretty sure you will get the hang of it. If you can maintain mechs the old way, this should be a breeze.” Technician Jin grinned.

She felt taunted again. A heat rose in her as a result and her shoulder and hands tensed up.

xxxxxxxxxx

“He's calling you backwards.” Her inner sphere pride told her.

“All the more reason to fuck him up.” The feral wolf concurred.

“Then let us go forward instead. Show them how much you have to think on your feet in the inner sphere.” Her mechtech heritage grinned.

“Accept his challenge and win. It is the way.” The bushido spirit calmly nodded.

xxxxxxxxxx

“Probably. If nothing else it must make repairs easier. Which must be pretty useful. But I suppose in the inner sphere they know exactly what goes where regardless of what the mechwarrior thinks.” Asuka shrugged one shoulder and grinned back.

“So what? The modularity allows us to refit it for anything. Whatever the warriors want.”

“I do not doubt that, Jin. But a well drilled technician team can put a torn apart Warhammer-6R in a couple of hours. Saw them work in the stock battles on Solaris 7. Made it into a form of art.”

“But they would have to rebalance it then quiaff?”

“Indeed. But surely so would you if the pods were blown off.” Asuka smirked.

“Are you under the belief that the inner sphere technicians are superior then?” Jin crossed his arms, shooting the warrior a very slight glare.

“I would not know. How quickly do you think you could remove an armour plate and replace it?” Asuka shrugs. “Like on the side of the other leg there?

“On my own? A single armour small piece of ferro-fibrous armour like that will just take me fifteen minutes... But I could do it in maybe eight.”

“Engineer time dilation huh? Well how I about I time you, see how quick you can do it?”

“It is a bit of a waste of time to start the repair on that leg already.” Jin looked annoyed that she didn’t believe him. But there was definetly something stirring in him. It sounded like fun.

“It would however be very instructive to see a skilled technician in action and compare to what I already know quiaff?” Asuka put a hand on her hip as she looked down at the technician. He thought for a moment and then nodded.

“Aff I suppose.”

“Think you can do it in seven minutes?”

“That would be a fun challenge... Bargained well and done bondswoman. Let me try. Grab the noteputer and use the timer.” Jin grinned. Asuka looked at the work table and grabbed the noteputer.

“And… Go!” Jin worked furiously removing the armour plate with deft hands. While the workmanship of such experienced hands was impressive and the tools being used among the clans were interesting her eyes drifted to the work table. A power pack laid there on the tool table. Charged too. While Jin was busy, Asuka’s hand swiftly slipped over and grabbed the power pack and pocketed it. She could easily use it to light something. Or at least use another tool if need be. They were a dime a dozen in any mechbay, nobody would miss it.

“Done!” Jin held his arms up as the armour plate was fully attached on the Mech's foot.

“Six minutes. Thirty six point eighty-seven seconds. Impressive.” Asuka nodded appreciatively. As she was concerned it was a genuinely good time.

“Told you!” The technician pumped his arms victoriously.

“Very good. You have some very interesting tools here. I look forward to using them as well.”

“You should see the tools we use for the omnipods.” Jin grinned to Asuka.

“I am certain I will in time. Oh! By the way, Jin. The kitchen needs to borrow a multimeter with probes, wire cutters and some spare wires. Kitchen power connections are apparently broken and if they cannot repair them soon it will be rations tonight. I was asked to find some tools for it.” Asuka said, remembering why she was in the mechbay in the first place.

“Why did you only bring that up now?” Jin laughed. “That cabinet over there. The yellow one.”

“Sorry I got really lost in looking at the cool omnipod things. Thank you Jin. Much appreciated.”

“Just make sure they get the kitchen fixed so we get dinner.” Jin turned to return to his work. Quite satisfied he had shown her what he was capable of.

++++++++++++

Asuka continued through the mechbay. She passed by another work desk on wheels and had a look at it. In front of another mechbay, she stopped and looked at the mech inside it.

“Looks like an Enforcer 4R. Except bigger. And two autocannons instead of one. Bore is smaller than on the 4R though. And a missile pod underneath it. Original setup. I was going to say it looks kind of striking and cool but from underneath it almost looks like it has a giant jaw or moustache and I cannot unsee it.”

She looked at the yellow work cabinet in order to distract herself from the moustachemech.

“Let me see here… There is the multimeter. Wow, that looks more advanced than the ones in the company. Wirecutter and some wires… I think they might need some insulated gloves for working with electric stuff in a kitchen. Better safe than sorry.” She grabbed them and put them in a robust looking blue toolbox to carry them in. A few excess pieces of wire she pocketed for herself. She could use that to create a spark for ignition easily enough.

“Nobody is going to miss it.” She nodded to herself.

She walked back through the mechbay with her direction set on the kitchen. While on the way she kept an eye out for other useful items in her candlemaking endeavour. The other mechbays were filled with mechs she had seen already. In the far end a timber wolf. The same one she had trampled before. Although it had been repaired by the looks of it. It must have taken a better part of the week. In the gantry above the mechbay she could make out two people talking. It looked like Maddix, the mechwarrior who had piloted the timber wolf in the group of mechs that she fought the other day. He was talking to another she didn't recognise. The uniform suggested it was a mechtech.

xxxxxxxxxx

“Those two people up there are talking. But what about? It is the warrior Maddix and a technician. There is a clear pecking order at work here. One is higher than the other. The mechtech looks almost servile.” Captain Obvious surmised.

“Maddix is annoyed at you. He called you dezgra before. That must be bad. It sounds bad. It sounds like something you call someone you hate.” The Feral Wolf observed.

“Their discussion is not about you. Maddix has yet to see you. This must be instructions to outfit his mech.” Captain Obvious told her. She squinted to better see.

“The floodlights are causing damage to the eyes. The glare is interfering.” Her autistic sensor suite reported. Her entire vision grew out of focus and blurry for a moment by the light.

“That bastard took the other of your guns. Take it back. Tear him apart. Assert your dominance and claim it back.” The feral wolf snarled.

“By trial of grievance? That seems to be the path to do those things.” Asuka questioned her own words.

“Trials? Fuck the rules. He took YOUR GUN. Take it back.” The feral wolf countered.

“The people here appear to abide by tradition. Playing by the rules will not only give you the firearm back, but also respect. If you can walk the same walk they do. They will also learn to respect you.” The name in blood advised her.

“No. They are still human. They claim to follow these rules and ideals. But they will betray you and stab you in the back just as easily as anyone with a noble title would.” The Feral wolf snarled again.

“The Chatterweb has been the most telling. The warrior Rose seemed to be in disbelief that Karen would turn on you if adopted. They seemed excited for you to get a chance to join the clans. They speak highly of it. The warrior Jehan seems very impressed by what you spoke of. They consider it a waste if you were not adopted. Perhaps even to the point that he may very well issue a challenge to gain you for themselves. This is consistent with what Arvidia told you as well. You are neither slave nor prisoner here. Far more than both. You have been given the chance to become one with them. A member among them. That is what they hope you will be. Even if you were to somehow fail to be adopted among the warriors. You may find peace in another task.” The name in blood laid out for her.

“Asuka-dono. Yours is the path of the samurai. To you there must be no other path. Between act and thought there is clarity. In that, your path will forever be that of the honourable warrior. You will not fail. Instead, welcome the challenge. Be tested. Become a better warrior.” Her bushido spirit concurred.

“It may mean waging war on the people you fought for though. Remember what Jaimie told you? That the clans would come and wage war against the inner sphere. How can they expect you to pick up arms against them? That's part of who you are isn't it?” Her inner sphere pride told her.

“The inner sphere was happy to raise arms against you when it suited them. You owe them nothing. Least of all our loyalty.” The feral wolf snarled.

“Did somebody just yell?” Captain Obvious wondered.

xxxxxxxxxx

“Hey!” Maddix shouted out from atop of the mechbay gantry. Asuka snapped back to the moment and looked around searching for what he was yelling about. “I mean you, bondswoman.”

“huh-What?” Asuka snapped back from being lost in thought for a moment.

“Get back to work and pull your weight!” Maddix yelled out.

“I have not received any orders.” Asuka shrugged. “It had been mentioned she would work with the mechtechs. But no direct orders had been given”.

“Do you believe that gives you permission to be a lazy surat?” Maddix looked annoyed.

“I have no idea what in the hell surat is. What do you want me to do you, dummy? Grab a hammer and bang the mechs with it and sing blessed chants of Blake like a fricking comstar Acolyte?” Asuka gestured towards one of the mechs. “Besides I am running an errand for the kitchen, asshat.” She showed the toolbox in her hand.

“An improvement on starting a fight with Karen at least.”

“Karen started a fight with me. The bitch.”

“Karen has issued a trial of grievance against you. Who started it is immaterial.”

“Well she immaterially started it so there! Oh yeah! Actually. I want to issue a trial of grievance towards you! You took my gun. I want it back.” Asuka almost huffed.

“I took it as isorla at your defeat. You are lucky I stopped there, had it been up to me I would have seen you killed for your dezgra tactics and killing Star Captain Stefan. But William had other plans. Somehow.” Maddix narrowed his eyes. He clearly was angry with her. He was following the rules even when his spirit told him to go down and beat her up.

“You did not defeat me idiot! I knocked your mech out first thing in the battle! If anything I should be claiming isorla from you!” Asuka glared back at him.

“You did not fight by the rules and made a mockery of our traditions. As I said. You are dezgra.” Maddix crossed his arms.

“So what do the rules say about taking isorla from someone you did not defeat?” Asuka put a hand to her hip. Maddix narrowed his eyes. “At least I had the excuse that I did not know the rules. What is yours? Or are you the real dezgra here huh?”

“I will make you eat those words.” Maddix said and walk towards the lift.

The grip on the toolbox in her hand tightened. She felt anticipation and even a feeling of fun and joy at the notion of using it on Maddix.

xxxxxxxxxx

“Smash his head with the toolbox when he comes down. He will not stand a chance. You will enjoy it.” The feral wolf growled.

“Wait. Challenge him! Follow the tradition and the rules. He will have to respect you if you do.” The name in blood told her.

“But do not hold back. Assert your dominance. Conquer him. Beat him at his own game.” The feral wolf snarled.

xxxxxxxxxx

The sudden idea that rose in her head felt better. To fight in the best kind of way. The most suitable way. However fun it would be to smash Maddix’ face. But to return to the seat of a mech and pilot it in a battle, that felt much more fun.

“How about a trial of grievance instead of a brawl? Let us settle it as mechwarriors. Like true warriors.” Asuka yelled out. Maddix stopped in his tracks. He thought about it for a moment.

“Aff… I would love a rematch against your sorry hide. If only to put you in your place. But there is one problem with that. Your mech is in tatters.” Maddix returned to the railing. “You will have to borrow one. I will find you a spare mech and our circle of equals. Then I will put you in your place.” Maddix pushed himself off the railing to stand. “Tomorrow we fight.”

“Had this been the inner sphere I would cast doubt on you picking a mech for me. But I believe you are an honourable enough warrior to not saddle me with a Stinger against that Timber Wolf or whatever.” Asuka called out before he had a chance to leave.

“Aff. We will fight as equals, available mechs permitting. It will be a field of honour, bondswoman.”

xxxxxxxxxx

“You know the word that sits on your tongue. You have heard it among the Dragoons, your kin. Speak it and he will know you will fight as warrior to warrior.” The name in blood told her.

xxxxxxxxxx

“Seyla.” Asuka said. It felt like instinct despite never having spoken it her entire life. It felt natural. It probably wasn’t correct looking at Maddix’ expression. But it felt right.

“Seyla.” Maddix replied after a short pause. He flashed a surprised look at her for but an instant. He wasn't sure how or why. But clearly his foe was trying to play by the rules. She simply didn't know them. An earnestness he couldn't deny. She wasn't trying to mock him or traditions. She was trying to learn. He nodded to himself and then wandered off to prepare for their battle.

“Well that went well.” Asuka told herself.

+++++++++++++++++++

“Hey! I got your multimeter.” Asuka cried out from the counter to the kitchen. The cook appeared.

“Here. Everything is in the toolbox. I brought some extra wires and tools while I was at it. In case you need It.” She handed the blue toolbox over. The cook looked through it. Grabbed the multimeter and the toolbox and stepped into the kitchen.

“Great work bondswoman. Come on in and hide from the warriors. Try not to make a mess of the kitchen though.” The cook smiled at her.

“So is there a cook caste or something?” Asuka asked as she stepped into the kitchen and closed the door after her.

“What? Oh wow you have no idea how it works around here do you?”

“No-Neg. Fuck. Sorry. I am still getting used to the whole… Aff and Neg thing around here.” Asuka grumbled.

“Avoid cursing Bondswoman. It will rile up most people in the clans. The kind of people who have never hammered their own thumb working anyway.” The cook snickered as he put the toolbox next to one of the stoves and pulled it out to reveal the power connection. “You will want to put the gloves on. So you do not get shocked.” Asuka said as she followed to look.

“Oh good thinking.” He stopped what he was doing and did just that.

“So no cook caste then… Quineg?” She tried to fit in.

“Neg. I am of the labour caste. Lifting, carrying, farming, cooking and cleaning. Stuff like that. Lowest of the castes.” He sounded like he didn’t really care about that last part.

“So who is at the top?” Asuka crossed her arms in thought.

“Warriors.” The cook answered.

‘Huh. Well that explains how they act.” She leaned on a counter.

“What do you mean?”

“Just the way they posture and talk like they own everything. Just rubs me the wrong way is all.” She shrugged one shoulder.

“They do. They are the ones keeping the rest of us safe. Without them there would be no safety at all!”

“Yeah but that is no reason to be dicks to people.” Asuka rolled her eyes. “I have had to cut down so many people to size for acting the same way. So maybe I am biassed.”

“Well it is their right to be. But make no mistake. Every caste is important. In clan Wolf we get treated pretty well. I hear in some clans it is far worse.” He says as he works with the power connection. Asuka looked at him with a tilted head. “Well that is good.” She nodded. All the warriors she had encountered thus far had acted a lot like bullies though. She couldn’t let that thought go so instead she chose to focus on something else instead.

“Hey. Do you mind if I make something for myself to eat? I am not a good cook but I am pretty sure I can make something for myself.” Asuka pushed herself off the counter.

“Sure. Go ahead. Tara should be around here somewhere. She can probably help you if you need something.” The cook said.

“Tara… Alright. What is your name by the way?”

“Fei.”

“Nice to meet you Fei. I am Asuka Hoshi.”

“Uh. I think you are just Asuka now. But nice to meet you too.” Fei said while unscrewing something

“What do you mean?”

“We do not have last names. We are part of the clan so it is the same family. Warriors can earn the right to have a bloodname. The right to have one of the founders’ names.”

“Huh… That is a new take. I will keep that in mind. Thank you Fei.” Asuka said and scratched her head. “I will go and see if I can find something to eat.”

xxxxxxxxxx

“What? You have to give up your last name? That sounds like a freaking cult!” Her inner sphere pride exclaimed.

“Even if it is not. Hoshi is from mom and dad! You cannot give that up! It is important. You are family!” Her mechtech heritage said.

“Hey look! Cooking oil!” Captain Obvious pointed out.

“They were part of the Dragoons’ founding. That means they are of Clan Wolf. They told as much. You are not being made to give anything up. You have a chance to be part of the same family.” The name in blood pointed out.

“But… It is still part of who you are. All the times you have written down Hoshi as your last name. The idea of giving it up… That feels weird.” her mechtech heritage shuddered.

“There is an awful smell here. Source unknown. It may be the spice from lunch.” Her autistic sensor suite reported.

“According to teachings, your last name is your parents' gift. It would be inappropriate to give it up. In the current circumstances however, you may dishonour them more by not striving to achieve the rank of warrior. That would make them proud.” Her bushido spirit noted after contemplation.

“There is no apparent source of the smell. It feels like it should be a lot more visible.” Captain Obvious searched around.

“The fluorescent flicker of the kitchen lights is causing interference again. The artificial light they use is causing damage.” Her autistic sensor suite flashed an alarm. Her vision blurred from the lights and she winced.

“What are the Dragoons going to do now? What about Warsong? If you become a warrior of Clan Wolf and join their war. You have to fight them do we not? You do not want to do that.” Her mechtech heritage said.

“Then you fight them. They are your pack so you can offer them mercy but if they fight you must not hold back.” The feral wolf snarled.

“There is a fridge over there. It is labelled something. Cannot make it out from here.” Captain Obvious thought.

“Picking up an electrical hum from the lights. Auditory buildup detected. Acoustic filters over capacity. Noise levels affecting other processes.” Her autistic sensor suite warned. A low ring started to sound in her ears again.

“Fucking rip the lights out or something and shut the fuck up.” The feral wolf barked.

“They may be your kin. But this is your kin too. Every step you have taken has been one to bring us to where maybe we were meant to belong.” The name in blood thought aloud.

“No fuck that. They have fought every step you have taken. They are enemies. To be torn apart.” The feral wolf snarled again.

“A water faucet. We can refill the water bottle there.” Captain Obvious interrupted.

“There are rules here. They are clear. They spell them out to you. The inner sphere never told you where the lines were, except for a map. And even that depended on who you asked.” The name in blood was snarling too now.

“New contact at two o'clock” Captain Obvious reported.

“You must meditate and learn more. Only after considering all of this and more may you achieve wisdom.” Her bushido spirit spoke with determination.

xxxxxxxxxx

Inner turmoil raged inside her and her head was starting to ache. The entire world was starting to feel like too much. The train of thought was interrupted by a voice repeating itself.

“Hey! Can I help you with anything?” A small woman spoke up. Asuka almost had to crane her neck down to look at the short thin woman. She was like a mouse.

“Oh. Hey. I was just looking for something… I am trying to make something to eat.” Asuka smiled. “Fei let me in.”

“Well we are serving tomato soup in a few hours. I can get you something in the meanwhile if you would like.” The woman returned the smile a little awkwardly.

“Aff. I know. I just cannot partake of it.” Asuka sounded strained.

“Are you allergic?” The woman frowned.

“Well… no. I… soup just does not agree with me I am afraid. So I was looking to make something else… I was honestly hoping I could get my hands on a pizza because I am starving.” Asuka chuckled.

“Pizza? Huh…” the woman said, sounding even more surprised. “Well… I could make one for you if you want. Oh I am Tara by the way.”

“Pleased to meet you Tara. I would appreciate it if you could… I am not very good at cooking. I can microwave. That is as far as my skills go.”

“Most warriors usually are. But that is okay. Wh-”

“Oh no I am just a bondswoman.” Asuka held up her wrist with the bondcord.

“You look like a warrior so… Well anyway. What would you like on it?” The woman offered a small smile.

“Well… Just ham, cheese and tomato sauce would do.” Asuka shrugged.

“Oh. Simple! I can make that in 15 minutes.” Tara smiled.

“That… would be most welcome Tara. Thank you.” Asuka smiled too. “I… will wait in the mess hall then.”

“Very well. I will get on it then.” Tara scurried off like a mouse through the kitchen to begin cooking. She was nothing if not quick and effective. She seemed happy at getting something new to do.

Asuka took a few steps to continue her search, but stopped to close her eyes and shook her hands almost as if they were wet. It usually helped when her head was like this. Her brow furrowed in frustration. Shaking her hands like this usually helped her bring back some focus. Right now it felt like it barely did anything. She grumbled and opened her eyes again, doing her best to filter everything out. Didn’t work. The engines reverberated through the entire ship. The artificial lightning. The hum of the electricity passing through it. Noises of the kitchen appliances. A bad speaker playing music. Somebody humming. The far noises of steps. The ventilation system fans and the refrigerator. It was draining to hear. There was nothing to focus on.

She looked around again. She finally found cooking oil standing in a small pantry. She looked around making sure she wasn’t observed and pocketed it. It felt greasy. But it would do the trick.

“Now I just need something to keep it in… and a string.” She had a look around. She didn't see anything that fit either of those criterias right now but she did see a water faucet. With that in mind she found the water bottle from her pocket and filled it up and took a drink. She breathed a small sigh of relief. It cooled her down for a moment. A couple of small empty glass jars stood upside down in an attempt to let the last water run out. Asuka pocketed one of them and the lid for it.

“That will do nicely as a container.” She told herself. “If I can find a knife and punch a hole in the lid that could hold the wick.”

Finding a knife proved easy enough. It was reasonably sharp even. She brought out the lid and made a few holes in it.

“There.” She nodded to herself and was about to put the knife away when she suddenly saw something. An apron. A thin piece of fabric hung from it to tie it back. With the knife in hand she went to cut it off. Sure the apron wasn't usable now, but she did have her wick. She put the string in her pocket and put the knife where she found it.

“Might something to secure the string…” she searched through a drawer and found a fork.

“That will have to work.” Asuka said to herself and pocketed it. It made a lot of noise as it clicked against the glass jar in her pocket. They felt a bit full. Only one thing struck her now. A paper towel. She was going to need one of those. She had everything she could want now. She took another sip of the her water and went to find Tara again

“Hey. Miss Tara. I have to return to my quarters for a little while. Keep the pizza warm for me if it is not a problem for you.” Asuka asked after she found Tara. The small mousey girl almost jumped in surprise as she had rolled out a dough on a platter.

“Oh. Aff. Certainly. If you would like I can come with it to your quarters if you would like.” Tara offered.

“You do not have to do that. But… you know what? I would greatly appreciate it if you could so I can eat in peace and quiet.” Asuka had a grateful smile on her face.

“Aff! I will take it there. You are probably in corridor C2?” She asked just to be sure.

“Yeah that sounds about right. Thank you very much Tara. I owe you one.”

+++++++++

After returning to her room. Asuka tied a knot on the string, filled the jar with cooking oil. Drenched the string and pulled it through the lid and screwed it on. The fork helped hold it in place. With the wires and power pack she made a small spark and ignited the string. It produced a flame. It was a bit bigger than the kind of candle she was used to but it would do well. She killed the lights in her room and sat on her knees in front of the candle and stared at the flame that sat on top of the desk. It danced around vividly and it looked almost blurry. She focused on the flame and its dance. She slowed her breathing. The flame's dance lessened. The sound of the engines, of work and chimes disappeared. She, the flame and her thoughts were all that existed in this moment of time. She drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes.

Her thoughts continued to flash in her head. But the chaos lessened with deprived senses. It helped her straighten her other thoughts and much like her breathing. Calm them, focus them and seize control of them. With each inhale she soothed one thought and with each exhalate she felt calmer. Her breathing slowed down further. Over the course of a few minutes it slowed even further. She felt at peace with the world and in control of herself again. She opened her eyes. The flame was nearly still, it was . It still danced gently to her breath. But it was far more calm. It mirrored how she felt in the moment. She rolled her shoulders, they felt less tense than a few minutes ago. Her ears didn’t ring any more and the flame had a clear outline.

There was a knock on the door. That must be the pizza. She blew out the flame and turned the lights back on. The world didn't feel as heavy or as difficult. She didn't have to push through her own thoughts anymore. She was focused and ready to begin unpacking whatever all of this was.

#battletech #mechwarrior #revivalposting #story event

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cammie-morgan-goode · 1 year

Note

Hello i'm new here, can you pretty please make a blurb/prompt on how Zach "went crazy" looking for Cam? Thanks!!!!!!!!

The moment the words left Rachel Morgan’s lips was the moment that my world tilted on its axis. (Had Liz not reminded me by saying that the world was still in fact spinning at roughly 460 meters per second, and that it was in fact not tilting on its axis.)

I stared at her. I really stared at her, sitting across from me at the table of a safe house. What did she mean that Cammie wasn’t here? Wasn’t safe in her room? What did she mean she wasn’t here with her? With Bex, Liz, and Macey? With me?

“What do you mean?” I said. The words felt like they got stuck in my throat.

Rachel Morgan folded her arms across her chest and looked at the table. I noted how tired she looked. Her hair was a mess and even though she looked fine, every good operative could tell that she was anything but. She took a deep breath and then continued. “Cammie didn’t check in. She just… Rebecca was the first to inform me. I know just about as much as you. She left a note and a CoveOps report from last semester and…” Headmistress Morgan blew out a breath.

“She’s gone, Zach…”

And the only thing that kept repeating in my head was that she was gone.

And she didn’t take me with her.

•••

I tug my jacket tighter, wandering the streets of the small town of Roseville Virginia. There’s shops and families wandering around, the bustle of a small tight knit community. I watch as a mother picks up a small child and kisses him on the forehead. The father laughs and pushes a stroller. I frown.

I never knew my father. And my mother… well. I wonder if Cammie is there, wherever my mother is. The thought makes my stomach turn. I had gone to her usual hiding places and counterparts but I knew that if I got too close, Catherine Goode would not stop until I was “home.” Home being the Blackthorne Institute for Boys. Home being a prison facility training assassins. Turning boys into cold blooded killers. Like Joe. Like me.

I keep walking and find myself at a fork in the road. A crossroads if you will. To my left, I would find myself heading out of Roseville. To my right, I would find myself going deeper into the sleepy town.

I knew then that I had two options. I could go to the Gallagher Academy and practically beg Rachel Morgan to allow me to help look for Cam… Or I could try to find her myself.

I didn’t give it a second thought.

•••

2 weeks later

My feet hurt, my body aches, and I feel as though my head could burst if someone so much as touches me. I know I look ragged. I can’t remember the last time I had a proper meal or a proper haircut and I know for a fact that I probably smell as though I lived in a dumpster. But I walk up to the giant school anyways.

I consider trying one of the secret passageways that Cammie told me about but I know that Rachel probably upped the security of the school since her daughter left. I probably shouldn’t risk it.

I take another step and watch as the doors fling open. My heart leaps in my chest thinking it’s Cammie. But it isn’t. And I try not to wonder if that day will ever come.

“Zach,” Bex says, throwing her arms around me. The sudden movement throws me for a moment but I regain my composure. A small smile tugs at the corner of my mouth. I hug her back and Bex let’s out a breath I didn’t know she was holding.

And then another set of arms wrap around my waist and Liz rattles off something at the speed of light. (Obviously not really) Her tiny body seems like it’s even tinier. I’m suddenly afraid that if I move, I’m going to break her.

She pulls away and I look up at Macey. She has her arms wrapped around herself and she looks angry. She stares at the ground and doesn’t make any move towards me. Macey McHenry looks at me as if she wants to kill me. And I know she could do it. And I probably wouldn’t put up a fight.

“Any news?” I ask, knowing the answer before I even asked.

Everyone shakes their heads.

Rachel Morgan ushers me inside and it’s nothing short of protocol. Bex is with me the entire time. She seems eager but utterly pissed off too. Macey is worse. But Bex… she’s just itching to do something. Anything. Deep down I know she’s upset even though she hides it well.

I get debriefed and once that’s over, Rachel offers me a place here. And so does Bex. I want to be out there looking for my girlfriend but I know I won’t be any use to her if I’m dead. So I comply.

It feels like I’m going crazy. It feels like I’m losing my mind. It feels like the world is coming to an end. But I know that if roles were reversed, Cam would do everything in her power to make sure I came home safe.

And that’s what I was going to continue to do.

For as long as it takes.

Until she’s safe in my arms and with the people who love her most.

(Written by: @cammie-morgan-goode)

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percy-ils · 2 years

Note

Percy I always been super fond of the idea of c!Aimsey and c!Dream becoming friends more so after the stream where he defended him from c!Sapnap and c!George and now that we know c!Aimsey's legs suffered permanent damage after the fall to the point he was inspired to create the cane and now uses it on the daily

I'm currently obsessing over the idea of them randomly meeting again, maybe c!Dream comes back because he really can't bare the prison right now, but he can't be bothering his allys all the time, Punz needs to be kept away from him, needs to be kept safe.

So he just wanders around and gets the idea of checking if Aimsey's animals actually survived and when Aimsey sees him there of course she's afraid, and of course she's heard the stories about him.

But, she just sees in that moment, a person who resembles him a lot, a person who also limps at every move, and is missing two lives too.

So, he very quietly offers the cane, they can always make a new one after all, and if he doesn't do it right now, then she might never will.

And Dream doesn't say a word just shows his shield hopes Aimsey gets the hint that he really really doesn't want to fight

He's confused when he receives the cane, he's never seen this before, this wasn't a thing that existed in his Server previously, after all, he doesn't even know what could possibly be an equivalent to it

He decides a Totem of Undying must be a pretty close contestant in either case

Aimsey is very surprised at seeing it, she stutters trying to thank him but as per usual Dream dissapears as soon as he possibly can

She decides to keep the Totem hang it up next to her Daisy a reminder and a safety net Tubbo did say Eret wasn't quite so trustworthy after all

Afterwards when Dream comes with the cane in hand to meet up with Punz he feels a little bit better he relinquishes in the feeling -Beloved

I only now got the time to read this and awwwwwhhhhhhhh cDream is such a wet cat I want to protect him with all I have :((

Aimsey offering the cane to him and he immediately takes it that it’s some sort of threat, but it’s not and it helps him actually function and it’s a gift from someone who isn’t his ally, who he never payed, who he never fought with or against. Someone new.

And Aimsey does know about him, of course they do, who doesn’t. And he’s friends with Tubbo and Tommy and Ranboo, and the kind of stories they all tell about Dream aren’t the most pleasant ones, but she still doesn’t harm him. It’s someone like them, someone with something wrong that they can’t quite fix, and she offers help instead of using it against him with no gain they’re seeking. Maybe it’s not just the cane that prompts Dream to give him a totem, not fully, because yes he is amazed by it, but it’s also the act itself, the kindness. It’s a distant thing to him now, but Dream can still recognize it.

Then he starts coming by more, checking up on Aimsey, maybe even strike up a conversation here and there. It’s always small things, but they both slowly learn to somehow trust the other, and they become something that can be called ‘friends’ and it’s special. It’s small and it’s mostly secret but it’s special and Dream has someone that he can just be with, sitting quietly on stairs and slowly picking flowers, clearing the stem away and getting them on between his fingernails and not caring, just being

#sorry for taking too long #but this is so sweet #:((((( /pos #dreblr #he needs friends and I think Aimsey would get along with him very well #:(((#he gives them a totem for the cane because it’s so meaningful it’s not just a cane it’s way more than that to him #AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH

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my-head-is-an-animal · 1 year

Text

Problems With The Heart

Greg House x Dr Anna Harding (OFC)

Story Masterlist

Chapter 32 - Parole

House finally got out of jail on parole thanks to Foreman. Wilson wasn’t impressed, he’d spent long enough trying to help Anna get back on track, she finally called him two months after House had crashed into Cuddy’s house. She was losing the plot, she was in tears and closer to death than she’d ever been.

Wilson picked her up from a hotel room in Vegas and for two weeks she lay in bed going through withdrawal and struggling to get her weight back up to a reasonable number. She did well and she stuck to her treatment plan, she showed the signs of wanting to get better that he wished House had shown. She had a couple of slips, but she always called Wilson when it got to be too much. She was being responsible.

Anna got back to work and no one was the wiser, she told people she had family stuff to take care of back in England and took some time to go rock climbing again, which covered for her weight loss. She agreed to let Wilson be her doctor and they had regular check ups.

However Anna was more resistant than House had ever been when it came to talking about her feelings. She still cared about him, enough that she kept up with what was going on at the prison. She had briefly worked with a doctor who was there and occasionally took a phone call that made her heart hurt.

Wilson was unsure whether he should have told her that he was coming back to the hospital, but he couldn’t exactly let him just reappear in her life like that.

‘We don’t have much choice,’ Wilson said over dinner in the cafeteria. ‘None of us have been able to figure out what’s wrong with these lungs. Even you can’t do it-‘

‘And he is a better diagnostician.’ She nodded in agreement. Anna ran her hand over her face and breathed out.

‘You okay?’

‘I don’t know.’ She shook her head. ‘I have no idea. But she needs these lungs. What about you?’

Wilson shrugged. ‘Our friendship is over. I don’t feel anything about it.’

‘Liar.’ Anna smirked. ‘You going to punch him?’

‘What? No!’

‘Yeah, you are.’

‘I am not.’

‘Fifty says you do.’

Wilson chuckled and agreed.

House needed to think. Park was okay, but she was far too fresh for his liking. Wilson was being distant with him and the only person he hadn’t seen yet was Anna.

‘She’s around.’ Foreman assured him. ‘Probably dealing her own patients.’

‘She okay?’ House asked, trying to seem casual.

‘She’s fine. She’s the same as ever.’

House nodded and wandered up to the ICU to try and come up with a new idea. He caught a glimpse of her walking with a file toward the elevator, she was engrossed in what she was reading and House didn’t have the heart to stop her and talk to her again. She looked good, healthy and revitalised.

Anna was the one person he didn’t want to disturb or to be upset from his presence in the hospital. He stood and watched her step into the elevator, closing the file and looking up just as the door was about to close. Those bright blue eyes found his and he felt his heart stop for a moment, she was still beautiful and he felt his anger flare. He never deserved her in the first place.

He solved the case, occasionally his gaze would connect with Anna’s, but he couldn’t find the courage to speak to her.

He was glad Wilson punched him in the face, his friend was back and maybe his life could get back to normal.

‘You should talk to Anna.’ He said, handing House some Chinese. ‘She doesn’t say it, but she misses you.’

‘I don’t think so.’ He shook his head. ‘She’s better off without me.’

‘Maybe, but she still misses you.’ Wilson said again. ‘She’s the only doctor at the hospital who does. She’s been doing well and she’s been clean for four months tomorrow, you should congratulate her.’

House shook his head again. ‘She won’t wanna talk to me. I think it’s best I just leave her be for a while.’

House knew he was right, but Wilson had other plans. He’d managed to find a way to bring them together over lunch. It was awkward and brief, Anna getting paged the second House actually sat down.

‘She obviously doesn’t want to talk to me,’ House said, lowly. ‘Why can’t you just let her be?’

‘Because she hasn’t been the same since Vegas.’ Wilson sighed. ‘She was focused before she left, but now she’s quiet. Sophia left, something about her brother in New York, but since then I’ve been the only one she has had to talk to when things were tough, when she felt like using again, but she doesn’t actually say anything. She’s been having episodes again that I don’t know how to handle. House she needs you, whatever it was she got from you before, she needs it again. Help her.’

House thought about it, he really didn’t want Anna to suffer, but he also didn’t want to upset her and make things worse. He should’ve just talked to her.

House had had a good week. Cardiology needed some new equipment and he decided it was as good a time as any to finally talk to Anna. He went up to her office at the end of the week when there was hardly anyone around and put a cheque down on her desk.

She cleared her throat and picked up the cheque, barely reacting to the amount.

‘If this is compensation,’ she started. ‘You’re going to need to double it at least.’

‘I heard you needed some new equipment.’

Her blue eyes scanned him suspiciously. ‘Okay, I’m a little rusty so I’ll bite. Why are you giving money to my department.’

‘It’s a good conversation opener.’ He tried. ‘And Wilson thinks we need to talk, but I think you’re better off without me hanging around so the cheque is just an excuse to say that. It is however, convenient that that is the exact amount you need to replace a few things.’

Anna again, looked at him curiously. ‘Okay. Thank you.’

House nodded and went to leave, but he couldn’t go without saying what Wilson urged him to say. ‘I don’t want you to get upset or angry because I mean it, but congratulations on four months clean. I’m happy you’ve been able to focus without me being here.’

For a moment he thought she might have cried, but she held onto it and sighed, featuring to the seat in front of her. House cautiously sat down.

‘Wilson has been telling me to talk to you as well.’ She said. ‘I’m not upset or angry with you congratulating me, so I would ask for the same in return…’ House nodded, he’d do his best. ‘I had another miscarriage… it was a little after you and Cuddy got together and I’m sorry I never told you, it just never seemed like a good time and I convinced myself that as long as patients didn’t suffer, everything would be okay.’ She swallowed hard, but House just felt his heart stilling before beating harder than it had for a long time. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell my parents that we broke up, I’m sorry that I ran away to Vegas, but if anyone understands what I was feeling, it’s you. And I’m sorry I never visited you in jail. I should have done.’

House took a moment to take in everything she said, she looked relieved to have gotten things off her chest and that made him focus his attention.

‘You had other things to worry about than coming to see me.’ He shook his head. ‘Did you tell Wilson? About the miscarriage?’

Anna slowly shook her head. ‘No. He doesn’t know anything.’

‘You should tell him at some point. He’d want to know and if there were any lasting effects, you should at least get yourself checked out.’

‘I know.’ Anna nodded and for the first time since jail, he was happy to see a small smile appear on her face. ‘You’re giving me that look.’

‘What look?’

Anna shook her head again. ‘I can’t talk anymore.’

House understood and soon left her office. He didn’t upset her and that was the point, he couldn’t say for certain if he made things better, but she wasn’t angry and that was good.

If you liked this, please consider supporting me ☕ thanks for reading!

#Greg House #greg house x reader #greg house x original female character #greg house fic #house md

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serotonincemetery · 2 years

Text

Platonic!Bench Trio + Reader

The basic rundown of it is that its an AU where Tommy doesn't get freed from the main cell and its Ranboo, Tubbo, and your, not really "responsibility" but you feel like its up to you to break Tommy out of prison and still keep Dream in there somehow.

NOTE// I used the idea of Eburnean Tommy for this story, but it's more like gonna be Eburnean!Reader, but please go check out the creator of EB!Tommy by @Blublu_by On youtube! All credit goes to them!!

TW//Angst, Profanity, Blood, Death, Manipulation

Pronouns: He/They

You were antsy, you were restless and irritable beyond belief. Everyone around you could see how the absence of one of your best friends affected you. You were constantly surrounded by Ranboo and Tubbo, but the absence of Tommy was indescribable. He was such a big part of your guys' little quadrio, he always had a way to make everyone smile and laugh, but now with Tommy being stuck in prison, it really hit everyone hard.

You had the greatest urge to get up and do something and you could tell Tubbo and Ranboo did too, but none of you acted on it. You were all too scared to do anything just in case if it backfired and somehow put the rest of you in danger.

You had been living in Ranboo's house which was on the same property as the infamous Technoblade, also known as "The Blade" and the "Blood God". He seemed scary and brooding on the outside but in reality, he was a softy once he warmed up who loved romance movies and chick flicks.

Philza was like a father to you and the rest of both the Bench Quadrio and the Sleepy Bois. You were grateful for him once you had found out Tommy was locked in with Dream for an extended period of time. He held onto you and cradled you as you cried out for Tommy and didn't criticize you for it or judge you in any way.

You were thankful for both of them, and ever so grateful for Ranboo and Tubbo. Everyone was at a loss currently.

You didn't sleep last night, the constant restlessness and tossing and turning on your mattress on the floor of Phil's home, wanting to try and sleep peacefully without the interruption of Ranboo's enderwalking and randomly talking throughout the night, but in hindsight it wouldn't've mattered because you couldn't fall asleep anyways.

You sigh and roll out of bed and find your change of clothes on the kitchen table, having been laundered the evening before, you quickly changed and went out into the cold winds of the early morning.

You wandered aimlessly throughout the property until the idea struck you. You had to break Tommy out. With or without Tubbo and Ranboo's help. You had thought of this before but never wanted to act. In total honesty. You were scared if you made a mistake and ended up hurting Tubbo and Ranboo in the process. But you now were craving the adrenaline.

You had no idea as to why you did, but something - or someone, was telling you to do it, your brain was switching onto autopilot as you scampered back to Phil's home and grabbed a few of your things and then rushed to Ranboo's home and geared yourself up even more. You organized extra armour into your ender chest and took a few golden apples from Techno, silently reminding yourself to replace them later. As you closed the chest you looked towards the stairs to come into eye-contact with red and green mismatched eyes.

"What are you doing?" Ranboo asked.

You opened your mouth to speak. Nothing came out. You really didn't think up a lie to tell them if the found you before you left, hell, you didn't plan for them to find you in the first place. You sighed and opened your mouth to speak but only let out your saddened and broken voice. "I need Tommy." You whispered out. "I can't keep living with out him Ranboo." You sighed.

Ranboo pondered for a moment on how to handle the situation. How should he react? One of his best friends is sneaking off and taking gear that isn't even theirs and using it to get one of his best friends out of prison? Ranboo thought for another moment before sighing.

"Let me get my things and we'll go get Tubbo, he'll wanna help." Ranboo muttered as he went back upstairs and shuffling and things moving could be heard.

You let out a sigh of relief as you reordered stuff in your ender chest one last time to make sure there was some extra room for a few other things just in case. You turned back around to face the stairs when you heard Ranboo shuffle down them again, seeing him all geared up and a messenger bag full of clinking potions and required items like milk for the elder guardian and Efficiency V pickaxes.

You smiled and closed the chest and spoke softly. "Thank you Ranboo."

"Let's go get Tubbo, we don't have lots of time." Ranboo said as he walked past you and pat your head and grabbed your hand and pulled you along as you then both were marching your way to Snowchester, which was a new country Tubbo was building up currently.

You and Ranboo walked for at least 20 minutes in silence before you got relatively close enough for Ranboo to teleport closer. Teleportation made you dizzy and you struggled to stay on your feet once you realized you were at your destination quicker than it should've been.

You and Ranboo walked up to the door of the smaller house and knocked on the door and opened it to find Tubbo slinging a backpack over his shoulders. He made eye contact with the both of you and you all had the same idea. You nodded and so did Ranboo, Tubbo followed suit and nodded as you all left the house and made your way to the prison still in the relatively early morning.

It took a while to walk to the prison itself but soon enough the dark shadow of obsidian and blackstone stood before you and you all took a mental note on which side you would be digging into.

"Ranboo, potions and pickaxe?" You ask.

He nods and pulls out two drinkable potions of fire resistance and the Efficiency V pickaxe and an Axe and hands them to you. You read the labels and they're marked as 8 minutes and you look over the shiny pickaxe and axe. You smiled softly.

"Ranboo I want you to follow Tubbo and watch the escape, I will dig in the side, it will cause the alarm to go off and they will rush to over here while you and Tubs dig another exit further away in the lava chamber and I will guide Tommy to it once I get to him. You will lead him out and to a safe place. I will be a bit behind because of the warden and the guards." You explain.

"Alright." Tubbo breathed out. "Let's get Tommy back." You and Ranboo nodded and you departed from the group as you found the side of the lava chamber and took the pickaxe and set a few things aside and started digging.

When you thought earlier, on how it would be easy to mine through to walls, once you broke the last block to the inner chamber a loud alarm blared through the SMP. You internally panicked before you quickly downed the potion and slowly swam through the lava to the main cell.

Tommy watched as you emerged from the lava. The molten dripping off your shoulders and down your arms without a single burn or scratch. You made sure all the lava was off before you quickly ran and embraced Tommy. He quickly wrapped his arms around you and you tightly clung onto him.

No words were spoken as you buried your face into his shoulder. You both stayed like that until you were interrupted by a slow clapping. You both pulled away to look at Dream.

His mask gone and face revealed with a wide grin. "So touching." He mocked.

"Im not here for you Dream. I'm only here for Tommy." You said firmly.

"Oh I know, but I'm leaving with you too." He said as he walked forwards. You felt as Tommy grasped your arm and shifted so he was hidden behind you.

You tried to make sure Dream had no way to grab Tommy. You narrowed your eyes. "Not happening Dream. Tommy shouldn't be in here, you deserve to be in here."

You took steps towards Dream until you were right in front of him. Your eyes met and you scowled. You heard the voice of Sam on the other side of the lava walls.

"The walls are coming down! Prepare yourself, men." He spoke most likely to his guards.

You turned to face Tommy. You shoved Dream back with as much strength as you could and you sent him into the back wall with a loud thud. You pulled out an ender chest and grabbed a few things and handed them to Tommy so you two could make your escape.

As you were reorganizing your inventory to give a few things to Tommy. You realized Ranboo only gave you two potions. You checked your watch to see you only had a minute thirty left. You pulled out the potion and looked to Tommy.

You smiled and handed it to him. "You'll need this."

He took it in his hands and looked to watch you take out everything in your inventory and hold it out to him. "What?" His accent shown through. "What are you doing?"

"Only one of us can make it out of here, my potion won't last long enough to get through the lava. And frankly, I came here to rescue you." You explain.

"Wait, wait, no, you're supposed to get out of here too." Tommy muttered as he looked distraught at the idea of leaving you behind.

"Tommy Innit, you are to drink that potion and take my gear and get out of this god forsaken cell. Swim towards the back and in the bottom right corner there should be an opening that Ranboo and Tubbo mined out." You said as you gave him a hug.

"No, no, I'm coming back, I'll get to Ranboo so he can give me another potion and I'll bring it back!" Tommy said hastily.

"No, Sam will be here by then. Now drink the potion and go!" You ordered. You never raised your voice at anyone, you were a calm, collected person. Tommy would be lying if he said you didn't frighten him.

As Tommy opened the bottle, Dream lunged at Tommy and tried to grab the bottle from his hands. You acted quickly to pull Dream off Tommy and to throw him back. Only to watch him get up and charge at you. "Dream, you bastard!" Tommy exclaimed as Dream tackled you to the ground. "Let him go!"

"Tommy stop! Drink the damn potion and go!" You shouted at him. Tommy's eyes looked fearful. He quickly nodded and drank the potion and checked everything before facing the lava.

"I'll be back [Y/N]." Tommy said as a tear cascaded down his face.

You watched Tommy push himself through the lava as you felt Dream straddle you and wrap his hands around your neck. Your eyes widened and you reached your hands to try and move Dream's hands.

You couldn't breathe.

By the look on his face you could tell that he couldn't control his movements, he was in a pure blind rage.

You gasped for any kind of air as you struggled to get his hands off your neck. You started to struggle. You wiggled your body to try and get him off or to get away but nothing was working.

You felt your consciousness slip away and you let your head fall to the ground and let your hands fall and your body go limp.

A single mistake Dream had made. The moment he watched you go limp, his brain was telling him you were dead. So he had stood up and removed his hands from your neck and turned away from you only to hear you gasping for air and pushing yourself away from him.

Dream turned and watched you push yourself into the wall behind you. He smiled maliciously. "You know why you're here?" Dream asked you. You were gripping the sides of your neck. "Because Tommy just left you, Tubbo and Ranboo didn't even try to help you break him out, they left you to go on your own to come here."

"No-" You croaked out. Trying to explain you came in here on your own.

"No, they knew something like this would happen, they decided to stay back because they didn't want to end up like poor little mister [Y/N] here." He taunted. You knew better than to believe him, but as the human brain does, you actually thought about what he said.

"Now that you're in here with me, I can do whatever I want, I could kill you over and over again, I could torture you, I could revive you as much as I want. I could break you." Dream said the final sentence and he turned to you with a insane look on his face.

He knew you had been in here in one spot already your respawn point is already somewhere in this room. Dream shuffled over and quickly swung his foot to your gut.

You let out a strangled cry as you gripped the area and let go of your neck. Dream quickly crouched down and wrapped his hands around you neck once again. By the time you were struggling for air again, the lava had gone down all the way and your turned your head to make bold eye contact with Sam.

Everything sounded like it was underwater. You could hear Sam barking orders at Bad and Antfrost to hurry up and you watched as Bad and Ant run to the platform. You feel Dream pull you up, but he pushes you over the ledge and holds onto you by the struff of your shirt. You're now dangling dangerously close to the lava. You were gasping for air once again but you couldn't focus on that right now.

You tried to lift your arms to hold onto Dream's hand so you wouldn't fall but all of the strength in your muscles disappeared and you were left there helpless. "If any of you as so take another step I will drop him into the fucking lava and you can watch them burn." Dream threatened.

That made Sam, Ant, and Bad stop and stare. "Sam." You croaked out, loud enough for him to barely hear you, more tears falling from your face as you kept eye contact with Sam.

"Back down Sam." Dream ordered. You watched as Sam pulled out an ender pearl. "Ah! No! No fucking pearling. Stay over there and go away! This is a situation me and [Y/N] have to resolve, you're just in the way." Dream said. "If you put down the lava again I'll let them live." Dream said with a smile.

"No! We know that's a lie!" Bad exclaimed. Not caring for Dream's language at the moment.

"Sam, please." You whimpered. You didn't wanna die, and if you did, you could be killed once more, you're on your second canon life. After that. You would be dead.

"Alright! I'll put down the lava, pull them up, the lava comes down quicker than it goes down." Sam said to Dream, which Dream replied by pulling you up and throwing towards the back of the cell. You watched as Sam pulled the lever down and you watched as the lava fell again.

Dream laughed and turned back to you, he grabbed the from scruff of your shirt and reeled his fist back before it collided with your face. You raised your hands to block the incoming hits, it didn't do anything Dream still continued to beat you. And quickly you knew you were losing the fight, your hands fell to your side for a fourth time and let death take you.

You never know how fast someone respawns, everyone respawns at a different time. For you though, it was just enough that the rest of the SMP got the alert on their communicators:

[Username] was slain by Dream

Everyone had been in shock.

You had died? You were well loved so everyone was on edge and unhappy the moment they got the alert. They didn't know that the alerts would still be coming for days on end

[Username] was slain by Dream

[Username] has left the game