#if you are implying you would like to come aboard you should

[becausegoodheroesdeservekidneys]

In response to the Mile High Job post, I hate that Parker implies that poor flight attendant slept her way to a promotion/better shift. Her day is super weird but her cat is fine and her life is saved. That rumor, however, might stick and that didn't really feel like Leverage to me.

Agreed!

The thing with Leverage is that it's a show from the late 2000s; it feels contemporary, but actually it is a bit dated. And, like all shows, it had some problematic elements, which get a bit more Obviously Problematic as time goes by (I am just waiting for someone to write a lengthy call-out post in 5 years' time and for the Discourse to start.) For example, Tumblr loves to declare that Leverage has a "canon" throuple, but if anyone read that and then watched the show they would be profoundly disappointed - while it's a fantastic ship with a great many shippy instances, Elliot has a lot of onscreen No Homo moments, and frequently is shown sleeping with random women (I personally read him as aromantic). Similarly, there are two big relationships in that show: Nate/Sophie, and Parker/Hardison. And we all wax lyrical about the brilliance of Parker/Hardison and how healthy it is, and for good reason; but we gloss over how unbearably "I hate my wife/father I cannot click the book" Boomer humour Nate/Sophie is.

(He literally calls her a shrew in one episode. She throws a tantrum and sulks if he doesn't remember the exact details of how/where they met. She's stereotypically 'romantic' and he's stereotypically 'cynical' and she has to Save Him From Himself, and he self-deprecatingly says he should just know when to stop arguing because she's always right. Like... it is a grubby and uncomfortable dynamic; but, it's also aimed at a different segment of the audience that is older than me, and that's okay, actually. It just means I don't much care for the ship myself.)

Anyway, this is one other such instance. Clearly someone in the writers' room thought that was a funny joke, and not enough people disagreed, and so in it went. What's nice is that Sandi McCree, who plays the other flight attendant that stays on the plane, actually kind of saves that joke for me with her performance. When Parker first boards and declares that her co-worker is not coming in, McCree looks disgruntled at the sudden change to her staff list when she wasn't informed; she's annoyed at management. Then Parker makes the sleeping-with-pilots comment, and McCree looks disgusted and furious -

An expression she then pulls at Parker every time she sees her for the rest of the episode, even when Parker is technically not doing anything particularly weird. It's not necessarily intentional on McCree's part (Parker IS very weird in this episode, so it very much can be a response to that), but to me it means you can read it as "This woman is absolutely furious at the lateral sexism of this white girl because We Love And Support Each Other On This Plane." So, for me, between that and the aforementioned revelations of the day (the plane was brought down by the domestic terrorists of a Fortune 500 company, but saved by... a few unexplained Official People who snuck aboard??? And the other flight attendant was made to miss the plane after all under mysterious circumstances and was not promoted??? What???), I don't think Sandi McCree's character wouldn't put those pieces together.

[moodymisty]

Space marine trio gangbang anon read my fucking mind lol (I also have not played space marine 2 yet, but I hc that gadriel is into degrading praise rather than straight up degradation) like, please God, let me be their personal serf for whenever they need me, doesn't have ti be all of them at once. Just a titjob here, a quickie there. Hell, a hand job would probably enough for msot of them because of their repressed sexual desires. (I feel like a freaking beggar running around the univer going "spare cock? Please? Anyone have spare cock")

Author's note: oops?

Warnings: NSFW, Handjob, Very gentle degradation tbh not really much, Implied being shared among the three of them

Surprisingly, Adeptus Administratum tasks aboard an astartes ship are somewhat lacking. Though it is more than possible that one of a few people had something to do with that.

You won't complain however, no one apart from the most vehemently obsessed would prefer writing tax reports over other things that occur aboard a battlebarge as large as this.

-- come to the astartes barracks --

Normally, they don't even bother with sending messages over vox. It's either quicker to send someone to get you, or get you themselves. Knowing the sender of the message had been far more surprising however.

You've known Titus the longest. He has said that he enjoys your company; Perhaps because unaugmented humans cannot bicker and snub him off in the same way fellow astartes can.

Charion was introduced to you by Titus not long after. He seems kind, almost kinder than Titus in a way; Though it's more than likely that he is simply less afraid to show it.

Gadriel... You don't know him well. You know of him, but he seems completely uninterested in you.

Completely uninterested in that.

You don't know if he was simply being obtuse when saying it, or if he genuinely didn't know what the words for what you are doing with his battle brothers are. He didn't seem to care either way anyways.

Which had made it all the more surprising when you huffed all the way to the astartes barracks, only to find Gadriel standing in the entryway of his quarters waiting. You had thought it just coincidence at first, until he purposely calls you closer while you look for Titus.

You come to him and squeeze inside his barracks from the doorway he mostly blocks- sizable even without armor. The door closes behind you with a dull hiss. It's barren other than the basics, and a few trophies.

"My lord... Do you require something?"

The look Gadriel gives you is more than unimpressed, and dare you think almost... Pouting?

"You call Charion Charion, you call Titus Demetrian, but I get Lord?"

You shirk a bit into yourself, shrugging your shoulders. Having to speak with him is more difficult than the others.

"Will all the due respect, I don't know you."

The look Gadriel gives isn't readable- though it could simply be because you really do not know him like you do his squadmates.

The astartes moves to drop himself sitting onto his bunk, and the horrible creak it lets out crying from his weight worries you it might collapse. Thankfully however, it holds. You don't know if it would've if he was any heavier.

"What you do with them, show me."

A vague question.

You stand dumbly and look at him, watching how his robes lay over his shoulders and chest. The longer you're silent, the most irritated he gets.

"Can you, can you be a bit more specific?"

He looks at your thoroughly unimpressed, eyes glancing you up and down. You feel pressed under his stare in a way you don't know if you like or not. It unsettles a bit, for sure.

"You know. The reason you always smell like them."

Oh. You know what he's referring to now.

Titus and Charion while seeming to genuinely enjoy your company, enjoy something else you offer them outside of the things a normal space marine should know of and desire. Titus had been the first. He's an older marine, hardened and stalwart in his duties but independent.

Titus had offered you to Charion, after you agreed. Hence why despite there being two of them, you still are referred to as being Titus'.

But Gadriel had shrugged them both off, content to have little to no interaction with you other than when he stumbles upon you in their company and the occasional requisition order.

You wonder what spurred on this sudden change.

Stepping closer, he watches you intently as you to try and figure out how to even start. Titus always wants to kiss you- to try and shove his larger tongue right down your throat. Would Gadriel even care? Does he even know how? Then again if he knows enough to demand you show him how you fuck his battle brothers, he would know such a thing, correct? Then again you're well aware from experience the gaps in their knowledge are vast crevasses that take a long time and are often, quite embarrassing to cross.

At least he is thoroughly clean, however. The last time Titus and his squad had been deployed it was a two and a half week rotation, and when they had returned, Titus had eagerly come to visit you and chat once out of armor.

He had however neglected to bathe in his excitement, and upon entering the same confined room as him, you had immediately retched all over the floor.

TItus then left to clean himself of whatever ungodly concoction of putrid things he was still covered in, and you scurried away until the serfs cleaned everything.

Gadriel in comparison smells, dare you say quite pleasant. A heady, musky male odor combined with an almost chemical smell hidden underneath. Titus had said it was from their extra organs, one in particular that embarrassingly, you forgot the name of.

You stand unsure as he watches and you can see him getting impatient, as you speak up again.

"Could you, perhaps be a bit more specific?" The look he gives you is insultingly unimpressed.

"Titus always calls you smart. I don't see it."

You purse your lips, a bit upset at the insult.

"My l- Gadriel, in my defense you are being quite vague..."

The astartes sighs and loses a bit of his rigid posture, letting himself slouch just a bit as the muscle and fat of his stomach folds. You don't know why you suddenly realize just how large he is in that exact moment- how he's still almost at your height while sitting.

"Give me what you give Titus."

That you can at least somewhat work with.

Stepping even closer, you can feel the way your heart is nervously stammering. You only know Gadriel a tiny bit, despite being part of Titus' main squad. He never seemed interested in you until now. He would tend to roll his eyes at particularly Titus giving you any sort of affection, or desiring it when you weren't around.

To get any closer however you decide to walk and place his left thigh between your own; His legs are spread decently far apart enough to make it difficult. The moment your hands touch his chest, you can see him glance down to see. One of them pushes higher to rest on his collarbone, feeling the rough scars on his skin as his robe shifts to reveal more skin.

"Titus says a lot of things about you."

You can feel the way his voice rumbles in his chest, incredibly deep. You swallow a knot in your throat.

"I hope they're good things..."

Gadriel's voice is stoic and lacking in obvious emotion, but it's a bit lighter than how he was earlier. You wish you could have any clue on what he was thinking.

"We will see."

Your other hand drifts lower, brushing across his stomach. You hear a small pack of astartes walk around outside, and you unconsciously glance towards the door while your hand twitches away.

"They aren't going to come in here. Quit behaving so nervously. You can do it."

His surprising addition to the end makes your face feel a bit warm, before pulling at the fabric used as underwear.

Astartes clothes are cheap, utilitarian and mass produced, and as it goes quite easy to put on and remove.

When you wrap your hand around his cock you can't even hear Gadriel make the slightest sound, gently dancing your fingers over his skin. You feel his cock twitch in your palm, leaning forward until your own breath is fanning over his skin. Attempting to ignore the way your cunt throbs and brushes against his thigh is a gargantuan task, but you attempt it none the less.

You're close enough that you think you can just barely hear the sound of his hearts, though it could also just be your own blood thumping in your ears. You feel his cock harden in your hand and as your palm drifts up and down his shaft you feel him let out the slightest exhale.

You know from experience that even the slightest slip ups for them are far more dramatic than you would think. If he slipped up enough to let out a heavy breath, you know that it's working.

Only for a moment do you pull away your hand to lick your palm, trying not to have so much dry friction. He doesn't seem to care, but you did. When you wrack your hand around his cock against and move faster, a bit rougher, Gadriel lets out a louder noise before one of his hands reaches to grab your waist.

"Throne girl,"

He grunts out, before you move away. The look he gives you is confused and irritated, as you try and move to kneel between his legs. You think he is about to reprimand him, before he realizes that you haven't decided to just leave him with an aching, leaking erection in the middle of the barracks.

Your jaw aches just at the sight of his cock before your face, wrapping your lips around his tip. Slowly you take more and more of him in your mouth and hear the way he lets out a surprisingly loud groan, feeling the wet heat of your mouth around over half of his cock. It's all that can fit; You wrap your hand around the rest while the other steadies yourself on his thigh.

You can taste the saltiness of skin, sweat and precum in your mouth, bobbing your head on his cock. You treat cautiously- you know he more than likely isn't going to last much longer and you know he will not warn you. While a mouth full of astartes cum isn't the worst thing- at least to you though you're sure it's probably an outlier opinion- you'd rather not end up with and unprepared mouthful so much so you choke.

"So this is what they've had you doing instead of Administratum duties?"

You hum to clear your throat and attempt to ignore the throbbing between your legs, looking up briefly to see his furrowed brow and flush to his skin. He lets out a large exhale through his nose, and you feel his cock throb in your mouth.

You think you hear him mumble something- a swear perhaps you don't know, but moments later he cums in your mouth, filling the pocket of your cheek and forcing you to quickly pull away more lest he do actually choke you. It almost hurts to swallow, but when you look up he's staring at you with that stoic astartes expression; Though something is underneath it.

"The chaplains would call this heretical, whoreish behavior." You pull away and wipe your mouth.

"Are you not the one who ordered me? And who let me do such things?" He watches you closely, sternly.

"That I did. And I order you to show me more."

[grandlinedreams]

You’re like the main reason why I’m active again on tumblr. Like, a billion thumbs up for all your really good work.

I had in idea stuck in my head (blame book Instagram) where YN x Law where YN comes back to the polar tang from spending time with Nami and Robin, and they borrowed some books to read. Law doesn’t think anything of it, until he somehow finds out they’re ✨spicy ✨ books.

Waugdjsns pls you guys have been so nice i'm 😭😭😭 but also bookstagram is always two opposites of an extreme with either inspiration galore or just kind of a '...i'm just gonna...leave these people to it' for me but that's okay!! Everyone is entitled to like what they do but anyways!! Of course I can work with that idea though!! I hope this is to your liking 🥺

[Heads up!: implied suggestive book content, a little suggestive in general]

In terms of people you could hang out with when around the Strawhats, Law is glad you choose to hang around Nami and Robin. Neither seem to attract the same level of chaos as the rest of their crew seems to (neither does Sanji, but there are obvious reasons why Law isn't particularly fond of him) and though he knows you love your crewmates, having familiar faces outside of the Polar Tang seems to keep frustration based squabbles with them at bay.

That being said, you like to test the limits of how long he tolerates your absence before he's reaching out to you via transponder snail. "We do have things to do," he reminds you, and though he does his best not to sound like he's sulking, he can hear the smile in your voice.

"I'll be back before you know it, Captain. Don't worry." He does worry even though he tells himself that he doesn't, tension easing from his muscles once you're back aboard the Polar Tang. This time you have a two bags in hand, ones he eyes with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.

"This is for all of us," you say as you hold up the bag of neatly packed food, "Sanji insisted on sending me back with some new recipes for us to try and said I should let him know what we all think."

"And the other?" Law points and you pull it out of his reach.

"They're books," you say simply, "for me. Nami and Robin had a few recommendations."

And then you're walking past him, conversation apparently finished. He doesn't think much of it after that, would never scold you for wanting to read when he does plenty of it himself, both for studying purposes and not.

It becomes a problem when he realizes that in having new things to occupy your time and attention outside of your job, you've severely curbed time spent with him.

So when you settle yourself on your shared bed with a book in your hand and seemingly no intention to pay attention to him from now until you inevitably go to sleep, he sets his own plan into action.

"Coming to bed on your own for once?" You ask when he settles behind you, long legs bracketing your own as he settles his chin on your head.

"Something like that," he answers, and you turn the page of your book even as his arms wind around you. He frowns when you don't react, now settling his chin on your shoulder. "Is that book more interesting than me?"

This time you reach up, patting his cheek absentmindedly. "Of course not."

It's not the answer that Law wants, far from it ㅡ and so he switches gears, tilting his head to press a soft kiss to the slope of your neck. And then another, and another ㅡ and if you've noticed what he's doing, you do a damn good job of ignoring him.

Until he starts nipping at your skin, little pinches of his teeth to worry small blooms of strawberry pink on your skin. "Did you need something, Law?"

"Your attention," he says simply, lets himself be petulant like a child behind the safety of a closed door. He reaches for your book, tugging it free and angling himself away from you when you swipe at it. "What is in this book that's so interesting?"

"Law, no! Give it back, please." He has half a mind for a moment to simply shut it without a bookmark just to annoy you (it's the teasingly mean streak he's had since childhood days with Lami) but instead, he decides to scan the page you'd been on himself.

Oh. Oh. So that's why you'd been so interested in these books as of late. He turns towards you, raising an eyebrow. "Never would have thought you to be one to read these kinds of things, [Name]."

"Shut up," you hiss, swiping the book back, though your glare is ruined by how red your face is. "I'm a grown adult, I can read what I want."

"Never said you couldn't," Law fires back before he's reaching, pushing you back until you're beneath him. His gaze flicks over his handiwork from earlier, smirk tugging at his lips as mischief shimmers in his eyes. It's rare that he's in one of these kinds of moods, and he plans to take advantage of it. "It's pretty rude of you to tell me to shut up, though. I was going to suggest we try out some of the things in that book of yours."

[silverameco]

Travel AU - @wolfstarmicrofic - 698 words

CW : suicide joke, implied past abuse

It was a normal friday night. They had a marauders' gathering, but Prongs and Wormy left quite early, like they tended to do these days. So it was just him and Moony. Sirius couldn't be bothered. They were smoking weed on the windowsill. Sirius always loved Remus' apartment because it was close to the train station, and you could hear and see the trains. Sirius found it soothing.

"Do you ever just watch a train about to leave and think 'what if I get into it' ?" he asked randomly.

They were always having weirdly deep conversations when they smoked together. Sirius loved it.

"Err- not really ?" Remus answered, but it was more a question than anything.

"I used to think that all the time when I was still living with my parents. Anywhere better than there, y'know ?"

Remus nodded and gave him a comforting smile. Just enough to make him know he was listening, not enough to make him feel pressured to say more, or weird for oversharing. Just perfect, like it always was with Remus.

"Well, I mean, it was either that or the urge to jump under the train." he joked.

"Oh my god, Sirius !" Remus said with a startled kind of laugh and wide eyes like he didn't know if he was supposed to laugh or not.

But Sirius chuckled so Remus visibly relaxed and huffed, before turning his gaze out the window. Sirius kept looking at him. The night breeze was softly messing up his curls, and the moonlight made his features look softer than usual. He was even more soothing to look at than the trains.

"Where would you even go?"

"Mh ?" Sirius didn't listen, too enraptured by his observation.

Remus looked at him once again and suddendly, Sirius realized how close they were. Their legs were touching because the windowsill wasn't designed for two grown men to sit on it.

"If you took a train. Where would you go ?"

"Anywhere. That's the good thing. The adventure." he spoke the last part with a wild kind of grin which made Remus smile back. So he felt positively adventurous and didn't stop there.

"You know what ? We should do it. Take a train."

"What ?" Remus asked in disbelief.

But Sirius was on a ride that couldn't be stopped. "Yes ! Just, any train, as soon as there is one."

Remus just laughed. "You're mad. You're actually mad. I don't even know if there's any train leaving London we could take. It's literally two o'clock."

"So ? I don't see what the issue is." And then, making sure to look Remus in the eyes and to pout just a little. "Come on, Moony. Don't you want to go on an adventure with me ? It'd be just you and me."

He saw a furtive glint in Remus' eyes at the last part and knew he won. In fact, his friend took out his phone and seemed to be looking for something on it for a few seconds. Sirius was hooked on whatever he was going to say next.

"There is only one train with seats available. It takes off at 6 and goes to some random ass village in Scotland."

Sirius leaned forward, closer to Remus, and whispered, "Let's take it". Remus smiled and whispered back, "Okay, Pads. Let's do it."

After that, Sirius' smile couldn't be larger. He took a drag and blowed the smoke in Remus' face, who swatted at him. That was going to be a good trip.

That's how, four hours later, they found themselves on an old train, ready to leave for Scotland. The seats were rather small so their thighs were touching. Neither were making any effort to keep them apart. They hadn't slept so Sirius was dozing off on Remus' shoulder. In his sleepy and drug clouded mind, everything was perfect.

"Dear travelers, welcome aboard this train to Hogsmeade station, Scotland."

[blackberrysummerblog]

Thank you for the tags @monbons! And to @brilla-brilla-estrellita and @you-remind-me-of-the-babe for the tags on Wednesday. I’ve given up on ever being able to not describe a week as having been crazy busy, but I will say every time I get a tag I’m startled that it’s Wednesday/Sunday already. This year has gone so fast!

Anyway, I do have a little to share from my COBB with @rimeswithpurple, whose artwork is currently the wallpaper for both my phone and my ipad. I’ll add that the character in next chapter’s banner is just so cute I can’t get over it. Here’s a little Dev POV from Baz’s shop:

“I’m stressed,” I say, pointing to the word calming on the label.

The git actually rolls his eyes at me. “For skin. It’s calming for your skin,” he says, snatching the bottle up. “Like, redness? Irritation?”

“If it calms irritants, maybe you should put some on,” I reply coolly, leaning back in the large window seat at the front of the shop and crossing my arms. “Go on, Neal. Slather your whole self in it.”

Shepard sucks in a breath but Gareth snickers. Good man. I slide my eyes toward where Baz is perusing some book at the register, either accounting for inventory or reviewing a recipe, I can’t be sure.

“My name is Niall,” Niall seethes, his complexion taking on an interesting colour as he looks me up and down. It feels unpleasant, like he’s taking a measurement that’s coming up gravely short. I can’t imagine why, though. I look as good as ever today, in spite of feeling utterly knackered. My hair is shiny and lying perfectly as usual, and I’m wearing skintight leather trousers with a long-sleeved sheer top in a shade of blue that particularly flatters me, unbuttoned down to there. I narrow my eyes at Niall and return the judgement in spades. He looks sickly, and his otherwise lovely thick hair is pulled up into a bun that’s giving grandmotherly vibes. His eyes are a muddy shade of blue that can only mean he’s tried to spell the colour, and I’d bet my left big toe that whatever hue of brown they are in reality would suit him much better.

I also did a little writing (finally!) for The Field Trap, which is a sequel to Field Trip of Dreams. This is Possibelf’s POV :)

Davy doesn’t even look up as they push their way through the line to stand in front of him. “Simon, Basilton,” he says as he checks off their names. “I trust you boys kissed and made up.” If he hears the rest of the class tittering, he gives no indication.

The Pitch boy smirks like the cat who got the cream. “We did indeed, sir,” he replies.

“Good,” Davy says in a tone that implies they should move along and climb aboard the coach, but Simon is clearly building up a head of steam. He’s gone red in the face and although he hasn’t started smoking yet, that’s what’s always next when it comes to Basil. I take a deep breath with the intent to diffuse the situation, but before I can open my mouth, Simon has turned to Basil and taken him by the back of the neck.

I hope everyone has a great week! No-pressure tags to: @palimpsessed, @thewholelemon, @hushed-chorus, @artsyunderstudy, @nausikaaa, @larkral, @cutestkilla, @stardustasincocaine, @letraspal, @valeffelees, @tender-ministrations, @mooncello, @youarenevertooold, @imagineacoolusername, @shrekgogurt, @iamamythologicalcreature, @j-nipper-95, @aristocratic-otter, @facewithoutheart, @beastmonstertitan, @drowninginships, @stitchy-queerista, @bookish-bogwitch, @asocialpessimist, @ic3-que3n, @raenestee, @arthurkko, @jasonfunderberkerthefrogexists, @alexalexinii, @fiend-for-culture, @ileadacharmedlife, @supercutedinosaurs, @ivelovedhimthroughworse, @shutup-andletme-go, @roomwithanopenfire, @forabeatofadrum, @prettygoododds @orange-peony, @c0nsumemy5oul and anyone else who’d like to share!

[thelargefrye]

LIBRARY OF ILLUSION : THE TWILIGHT PRINCESS ... mature rated series

PREVIOUS CHAPTER | M.LIST | NEXT CHAPTER

pairing : pirate!mingi x princess!reader

genre: adventure, smut, pirate au

word count : 3k

warnings : language, 8ft tall mingi (implied monster mingi), mentions of death

smut warnings : unprotected sex, monster cock!mingi, size difference, manhandling, fingering, stomach bulge (kind of), princess (both title and pet name)

journeying into the first section, adventure, you soon find yourself placed in the shoes of a princess aboard a pirate ship where she is attempting to take her kingdom back from twilight. without much guidance, you find yourself face to face with the first guardian as you attempt to complete his trial.

you felt like you were teetering from side to side as you made an attempt to stand up. it was a poor attempt as you immediately fell back to the ground. the ground being the deck of the pirate ship you had stowed away on.

wait a minute.

you didn't stow away on a pirate ship.

last thing you remember was being inside that library, you had ventured into the adventure section and then...

huh, you don't remember. you let out a sigh as you once again attempt to stand up. you bunched up the skirt of you dress, your heels making a rather deep click sound as you finally stood back up.

about damn time, you think as you look around the deck of the ship to see not another soul in sight.

this was wrong. there should be a whole crew of pirates running around in order to make the ship sail smoothly. but it was just you. you probably would have felt more unnerved than you already were if you slowly didn't remember that the guardian of the section had to be here somewhere. right?

your eyes drifted up to the main deck of the ship was, where the wheel remained untouched and you couldn't help but feel like someone should have been there. where was-

a loud crash startled you from your thoughts and you turned to see the door that leads below deck is thrown open. you swallow the large lump in your throat as you take a frightful step back. you were stuck with nowhere to go.

that's when you hear the heavy footsteps that first sound from below deck. you can barely feel the thumping of your heart over the thumping of the footsteps against the wooden steps. then you see a head of brightly colored hair before you're greeted with a sharp gaze. you back away just a little further from the person until you're tripping over your edges of your dress and falling to the ground.

no fucking way... was this the guardian of this section? the adventure guardian. your eyes traveled up his large figure and you concluded that there was no godly way this guardian was human. not with how fiery his hair was and by just how tall he was.

fuck, just how tall was this guy?

"you," he starts and you feel yourself getting flustered with just how deep his voice is. it was like something shot through you as you just kept taking in his appearance. "are you looking for this?" he asks before he's holding up a key that looks a little too tiny in his giant hands.

that's when you remember why you're here. why you got transported to this ship. you needed to pass his trial in order to receive his key and mark of the section. that was what the keeper of keys told you anyways.

"y-yes! it is! give it to me!" you say, quickly standing to your feet. you couldn't help but blink in shock by how demanding you sounded.

"my, my princess, you think that after all this time you've spent on board with us, that you would know how to ask nicely for things. especially when it comes to things you desperately want. did captain not teach you enough manners?" oh god, he's taunting you know and this is when you fully take in his height.

craning your neck up even with the distance between you two. there was no possible way he was human. you can't help the way your heart jumps to your throat and how aggressively butterflies start to swarm around in your stomach. you felt your body slowly get hotter and hotter the longer you stared at him, and you know its rude. you know that ▇▇▇▇ would be upset with you for forgetting your etiquette.

wait, why couldn't you remember his name?

"you know..." he trails off catching your attention. "i'm surprised you're here, and that you look the exact same as you did all those lifetimes ago," he says as he took several steps closer to you until he was bending over slightly in order to take your hand into his and bringing it up to his lips. "you still look as beautiful though," he adds before he's kissing your hand.

why did this all feel so familiar? like you've been here before with this guardian, on this ship, demanding him to give you something, his kissing your hand. you're mind feels a little fuzzy as you're starting to see things, see memories that weren't yours... at least you think they weren't yours.

"mingi, give it to me," you demand again and chill is immediately sent down your spine when the pirate grins at you.

his large hand suddenly comes up to easily squish your cheeks together. you can't help the sudden adrenaline that rushes through your body and to your core even when you feel him manhandle you just a little bit.

"what did i tell you about demanding things from me, princess. have you learned nothing, or is it that you want me to teach you a lesson?" he asks, craning your neck up to forcefully look at him and you can feel yourself moving to stand on your tiptoes as he's able to pick you up with just his one hand. his face is extremely close to yours with his hot breath hitting your face.

you have to will yourself to not try and rub your thighs together. you know that if he finds out how turned on you're becoming thanks to him, he will on taunt you more.

"unless..." he says, smirk painting his face, "you want me to teach you a lesson?" he adds before putting you down and letting go your face. you couldn't help but immediately try and rub the cramp that was forming in your neck.

you then have to stop yourself from immediately jumping away in surprise as mingi bends down, face to face with you as he says, "if you want the key so badly, princess, then let me teach you a few lessons in etiquette."

was this his trial? you thought as you watched him stand back up to his full height and turn on his heel before he once more goes back below deck. was allowing his to teach you a few "etiquette lessons" the trail you had to complete. you couldn't help but lick your lips before you followed after him, your heels clicking against the wooden deck and stairs which earned his attention.

mingi turned around with a smirk on his lips before he took in your slowly flustered looking appearance. "i always knew you were a masochist, princess."

"a-ah! mingi, fuck," you gasp out, your hands fisting the sheets tightly below you as mingi fingered you. your back arched high off the bed as your body tried to pull away from the stimulation. the stimulation and pleasure that was slowly bring you to the edge closer than you wanted it to. "a-a-ah– fuck! fuckfuckfuckfuck," you moan when you feel mingi use his free hand to hold you down.

"such a foul mouth, princess, don't you know better than to say such things," mingi tsk'ed at you and you found it quite ironic how him, a pirate, was telling you to watch your mouth. you couldn't help but moan at the pressure on his hand on your stomach as he presses down on you, stopping you from moving as he abused your poor pussy.

fuck and this was only his fingers, you couldn't help but clench around them at the thought of when he finally puts his cock in you. how big you know he'll stretch you out like he's done before.

"m-mingi, it feels so good please! let me come!" you say as mingi's long fingers hit your sweet spot over and over again. you cry out when he does the 'come hither' motion. the heat in your lower stomach keeps growing more and more, and you swear you think you're about to rip the sheets from how hard you're pulling at them.

"mingi– mingi, please let me come!" you beg again, tears welling up in your eyes from how you're back your orgasm. waiting for him to tell you it's okay to come.

"do you think you've been good enough to come, princess? think you deserve to?" mingi is teasing you as you feel him slow his fingers in order to taunt you. fuck this guy.

"yes! yes! i have been! please let me come! let me have your cock, please!" you beg, tears streaming down your face. mingi can't help but chuckle at how desperate you are. he hovers over your body and you feel a pleasured chill run up your spine as he licks one of your tears.

his lips then hover close to your ear as he whispers, "go ahead and come, princess." and just like that you feel the heat in your body snap and you're coming around his long fingers.

you come with a loud, almost ear-piercing cry mixed with a strangled moan and you feel your body shake from how long you had been holding your orgasm. mingi can only grin at how much your body is falling apart just for him and he's quickly leaning over and capturing your lips with his own.

"my princess, you've done so well. are you ready for my cock?" he ask and you immediately nod your head, a mantra of yes's leaving your lips and you feel yourself falling more and more in a fucked induced state.

mingi's grin never leaves his lips as he undoes the buttons of his trousers, your eyes falling his every movements like a hawk. he notes how flushed you look, a layer of sweat covering your whole body as you're trying to catch your breath. he can see the dazed look in your eyes and he's reminded about how he's seen you like this many times before. his princess. their princess.

"mingi," your voice comes out in a whine as you watch him remove the finally layer of his clothing. you can't help but clench at how his hard cock stands proud and almost angry looking. fuck, he's big, you think as you take in his size. the thought of will he fit floats in your head before you're pushing it in the back of your head.

like your body moves on its own, you spread your legs beckoning him between them. mingi notes how despite you coming only moments ago, you're already ready to continue. already ready to take his cock.

"oh, princess, don't look so eager, or else i won't hold back," he says as he moves between your legs and he swears that you spread your legs even further. the inhuman pirate towers over you and you can't help the whine that leaves you when he rests his cock on top of you.

it rubs nicely against your leaking folds as the both of you see how big he is compared to you. his tip resting past your belly button and it sends a shiver over your body from not only his length, but also from it heavily rests against your body and his thickness.

"f-fuck," you moan out as you move your body, your arms hooking underneath your legs in order to hold them up. basically presenting yourself to him. you felt some of your juices run down your pussy and over your ass. "p-please fuck me mingi! i'm up, please mate press me," you beg, voice shaking from how desperate you're feeling.

"oh princess, look at you. not very lady-like of you, did you forget what you were taught or has being on the sea with pirates stripped that away from you," mingi laughs as he reaches over you easily in order to grab a pillow before stuffing it under your lower back. "as much as you like feeling the pain, i don't want to snap your spine in half," he says before he's taking your legs easily with one of his hands and bending you in half.

you let out a surprised cry as you feel mingi enter you, his thick girth stretching you out. you throw your head back, mouth hanging opened as incoherent noises escape you. you feel a line of drool spill out of the corner of you mouth as mingi eventually bottoms out inside of you. your lover lets out a few curses as his entire body towers over you, his one hand pressing holding your legs up as his other hand rest above your head to brace himself.

"fuck, princess, you're so tight," he sounds a little surprised by his words as he begins moving his hips, slowly dragging himself against your walls before pushing back inside you. you feel him rub against your womb nicely, warmly every time he thrust inside of you. the two of you let out a string of moans as he continues to fuck you, his speed picking up with each thrust.

you let out a few shuddered gasp as the thoughts of only mingi and his cock cloud your mind. the thoughts of what you were doing before sits in the back of your mind and this reality and your own start to blend.

are you really a princess who ran away after her kingdom was taken over. running away with your guard and advisor after you watched you're father be killed by the magical army. how ▇▇▇▇ had to rip you away from your father's body, as he carried you away. fuck, why couldn't you remember anyone's name? why only mingi's?

your guard, no he wasn't just your guard but your best friend... your lover. just like your advisor. ▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇, no why couldn't you remember their names. why couldn't you remember the captain's name? captain ▇▇▇▇. his face was right there, but blurry and unrecognizable. you feel frustrated for not being to remember your lovers' faces. what kind of princess and lover were you.

"ah, mingi," you say, feeling the tears running down your face as you crane your neck to look at your fiery lover.

"yes, princess?" he doesn't halt his thrust, but you can tell that he's listening and waiting for you to speak.

"why can't– fuck– why can't i remember their names. why can't i see their faces?" you cry out and you can hear how shaky your voice is.

"because that's not how the library works, princess."

"library?" that's right. you weren't actually a princess. you're inside a library, trying to finish the trials of each guardian. trying to find the treasure to save your friend. "ah, mingi! the key!" you say as you suddenly start to remember why you were here.

mingi only grunts as he picks up the speed of his thrust, and you can't help but clench around his cock. the wet sounds of your juices mixing together fills yours ears as you feel them leaking out of your hole more and more. your hand immediately comes up and tangles into his hair, you give it several tugs here and there as you feel yourself coming closer and closer to your second orgasm.

"m-mingi! can i... can i come?" you ask as your other arm grabs a fistful of sheets.

"fuccck~ go ahead, princess, come around my cock," he says as you finally come for the second time. you were basically held in place thanks to mingi holding your ankles in a tight grip. your pussy clenches around him as your juices leak out and it's only moments later when mingi is stilling and filling you with his seed.

you feel his cum fill you up and paint your walls nicely, leaving your mind dazed as the pirate slowly moves his hips a little bit before he's slowly pulling out of you.

you felt out of breath, chest heaving as you watch mingi slowly lower your legs – which feel like jello with how shaky they are. mingi remains sitting on his knees between your legs. his hands come up to rub over your body as he leans over you, face to face.

"mingi..." you trail off feeling your eyes starting to get heavy.

"it was nice seeing you again princess," he says before pressing his lips to yours. when he pulls away you feel like a part of you leaves as well when you can no longer feel his body heat against yours. you try to reach out to him, to pull him back, but it's no use. your limbs are all like jello, and your eyes soon fall shut.

when you wake up, you find yourself back in the library. you're laying on a velvet couch, a small blanket thrown over you and you can't help but wonder if what you just experienced was all a dream.

"ah, you're awake," a familiar voice says and you look behind the couch to find the keeper of keys standing there. you watch as he walks up to you, his hand digging inside his pocket before he showing you a rather large ring-looking thing.

"what is this?" you ask as you take the ring from him.

"its a key holder," he says before gesturing behind you and you turn your head to see a key – the one mingi was holding – resting on the table. your heart beats loudly when you reach for, taking the metal in your hands and you note its a lot larger than what mingi made it look like.

"congrats on passing your first trial," the male says and you turn to look back at him as walks around the couch, but you note how he keeps his distance from you. not getting too close.

you can't help but think back to all the emotions and thoughts that had went through you in the adventure section. how your memories were getting mixed with that of the character you were put into. how upset you were not being able to remember any faces or names.

"would like some tea before you start your next trial?"

"yes, please."

tag list : @sanjoongie @yoonguurt @anyamaris @kwanisms @kpop-stories-21 @stardragongalaxy @flowerboykun @pyeonghongrie

network : @cultofdionysusnet

[tvimagines221b]

Where Paths Converge (Prometheus Fanfiction)

CHAPTER ONE

Six Months Later...

"All systems online, and operating at 100 percent."

The tips of Sarah Anderson's fingers tapped and swiped against the holographic screen of the console of her workstation, as she leaned against it. Her eyes then darting from left to right, as she analyzed the various data from a diagnostic test. A simple procedure that was conducted routinely, vital to ensuring the safety of the ship and the crew. Life support systems, stable. Power supply, stable. Shield generators, stable. Engines, stable. The list continued, as she did well to pay attention to even the smallest of details. No anomalies. No irregularities. Nothing. Everything was running smoothly. Just as it should be. Good. Very good. That's exactly what she liked to see.

These routine tests, were important. Vital. They were required, to keep the ship in pristine condition and keep the journey on track. M

To avoid any accidents or potential problems. To prevent anything from going wrong.

The journey had been very long and tedious. The mission, meant a deal to many. It was of great importance.

There was no room for any sort of errors. Any kind of complications.

Not even a simple mistake.

Six months. That's how long she had been doing this on her own. Since, the malfunction in her Cryo-Pod had forced her to wake prematurely. Making her, the only conscious human crew member aboard.

Giving her all the responsibilities.

The fate of the mission? The fate of the entire crew? It had all come to rest on her shoulders entirely.

But it was not her choice. It was not something she was able to change.

She could only accept, and adapt.

And, that's exactly what she did. No matter the challenges. No matter the obstacles. No matter how hard it had been for her. She had managed to pushed herself, through it all. To get herself to where she was now.

And her vigilance? It was why she was here. It's why she had managed to make it on her own the way she did.

So, it didn't hurt to get a second option.

She glanced over, looking toward the figure at the work station beside her. David.

The ships android.

He was the one who had been there for her. Ever since the beginning. Her was her crew mate. Her partner. And perhaps? Someone, who had over time been able to call a friend. "David, you have anything to report?"

The sound of Sarah's voice, graced David's ears. He glanced away from the screen at his own workstation. Turning his head. To look in Sarah's direction. "Nothing to report at the moment, Miss Anderson. As Mother stated, all the ships systems remain fully intact. Do you have concerns?" David tilts his head. "If so, I would be more than willing to run a thorough diagnostic of the ship for you."

She let out a deep breath. The tension in her shoulders relaxing slightly. "No, it's quite alright. I trust you know what you're doing."

David then inclined to his head in reply to her. "Very well, then."

"What about any messages?"

"Messages?" David swiped the screen, giving it a look. No messages, it appeared. He then, looked back over to her. "It seems that there are no messages to report, Miss Anderson. Are you expecting one?"

"Oh you know, just my employer." She huffed. "Making sure I haven't blow up anything or gotten anyone killed by now."

"Weyland Cooperation." He stated.

"Yeah. Those people. Who've been bugging me this whole time." She said.

"What you call 'bugging', I would call simply merely ensuring the status of the mission and the safety of the crew and assets." David took a moment to reflect of her words. On what she was implying. "I imagine their routine contact can come off as a bit irritating to you. I can understand your concern. But rest assured, their actions are only out of good cause."

"Yeah, I know." She muttered.

"Although..." David then seemed to trail off in thought.

"Although?" She narrowed his eyes, as she studied him. It was clear, something had stuck his thoughts.

"If their routine contact was to heavily interfere with your job?" David began. He looked back to her. An amused smile gracing his lips. It seemed he had some sort of idea conjuring in his systems.

"Which it does. A lot." She nods.

"Then perhaps, I could make some sort of suggestion?" David tells her.

"Suggestion?" She raised a curious eyebrow.  "Okay. Well, what kind of suggestion were you thinking?"

"Shorten the frequency of their contact." David took a step in her direction. Then clasped his hands together. Placing them, behind his back. "In doing so, the number of contacts would lessen significantly. This, would in turn give you far less interruptions. Thus, allowing you to continue your job with little interference. It is no secret, you feel the overwhelming pressure of Weyland Cooperation's expectations of your job. So, I could also propose it would decrease your stress levels to allow for more optimal performance. As well, as to ensure your health isn't compromised by your prolonged shifts. How does that sound?"

She pondered the thought.

She had to admit. It did sound quite appealing to her.

It would be nice. To not have Weyland Cooperation hovering over her. To have more freedom over her duties.

She was being overwhelmed by the stress. More, than she'd like to admit sometimes. As much as she tried to not like it get to her? Well. It did, because she had to bare more weight than she had ever asked for.

Maybe this was best?

"Okay. I suppose that sounds like a good idea."

She let out a breath.

"Very well." David inclined his head. "I'll make up a proposal and get it sent to Weyland Cooperation as soon as possible."

"Thanks, David."

"You are most welcome, Miss Anderson." He gave her a slight smile.

Her words.

They were simple. And yet? They had held more meaning, than perhaps even he could possibly understand. Because, she wasn't just thankful for David's help. She was extremely grateful for it.

If it wasn't for David's loyalty? She wasn't sure she'd be here.

If he hadn't of been there to help keep her sane? Well. Let's just say, there may not have been a ship or a crew left in the long run.

He had been there, since the beginning.

Standing by her side. Offering her guidance and encouragement.

Companionship, even.

It never mattered that David wasn't human. It never mattered that he didn't fully understand her kind. What did? Was that David had been there when no one else had.

And that? It had absolutely counted for something in her book.

"Is there anything else I should know about?" Sarah asked. "Anything that I still need to do for the day?"

"No, Miss Anderson. There is not."

"Well, it doesn't seem like there's much left on the schedule for today so..." She pressed a couple buttons on her console. Closing the program. She then, let go of the table work both of her hands. Straightening her posture, slightly. "How does a break sound to you, David?"

David took a moment to consider, before replying. "A break does sound pleasant."

"Good, then it's settled." She gave a playful grin. "We are both done with our duties for today, yeah?"

"If that's what you wish, then yes."

"Good." She walked out from around her workstation. Making her way over towards him. "I was thinking of hitting the kitchen for a snack. Wanna join me?"

"While I myself do not require sustenance..." He nodded. "Yes. I would love to accompany you, Miss Anderson."

"Okay then, come on." She then took the lead down the hallway.

David followed behind as always...

A/N: Hey everyone! I was originally going to post Chapter One and Chapter Two. But I write on Wattpad, and it’s glitching. So I can’t see the screen when I’m writing. But will have it up as soon as possible?

[deepspacedukat]

Festivities And Fraternization

This is specifically for a very dear friend. I'm sorry, bb, I know this is late, but I do lysm and I hope this will be a good start to the next chapter of your life. Happy (Belated) Birthday! 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙

Cross-posted to AO3 here.

~*~

Thy'lek Shran (ST:ENT) x Reader

[A/N: This has a bit of innuendo and flirting, but there's nothing blatantly smutty.]

Warnings: Implied interspecies romance, implied Human/Andorian romance, hugging, birthdays, pre-relationship, fluff, forehead kisses.

~*~

For the third time that morning, Commander Shran heard your name being whispered by a secretive looking group of officers. The first two times, he was walking through the corridors of Enterprise, heading for the bridge to get a status report. This time, he was grabbing his midday meal and had just retrieved a glass of some kind of juice to go with his food when he heard the distinct sound of lowered voices.

As with the previous incidents, he noted that one of their number was keeping watch as they conspired in a quiet corner of the otherwise deserted Mess Hall.

What reason did a group of suspicious looking officers have to say your name in relation to whatever they were scheming? He recognized them, of course. He'd made a point of getting to know all of Enterprise's officers when he'd been allowed to serve aboard Captain Archer's ship.

Hoshi, Trip, and Travis - the latter of whom was the lookout - all claimed to be your friends. So why would they be whispering about you while taking care not to be caught? Thy'lek pulled himself up to his full height, feeling his antennae flatten backward in tune with his simmering frustration.

Travis's eyes widened, and he tapped the shoulders of the other two, prompting them to break off abruptly when they spotted Shran sidling up to their table.

"Oh, don't let me interrupt," he crooned as he pulled another chair over and took a seat. With a slightly wooden smile, he set his lunch on the table. It was rude of him to cut them off, but it was even worse for them to be talking behind your back when you weren't there to defend yourself. "How are your shifts going today, hm? Everyone keeping busy?"

The trio looked at each other in confusion, and Hoshi began to stammer out a response.

"I...Yes, sir. We just finished eating–"

"Well, then there's no sense in languishing in here, is there?" He suggested rather bluntly, and the two younger officers grabbed their trays, practically falling over themselves to clean up and get back to their posts. Shran took a sip of his juice, and turned his gaze toward Trip.

"What's got your antennas in a twist, today? Poor Hoshi was as pale as a ghost when you snapped at her, and Travis looked like he wanted to stick his head in the sand. There was no need for you to talk to them like that," Trip said frowning at the still irritated Andorian. Shran respected him for standing up for his officers, but knowing that he'd been just as guilty of talking about you behind your back wiped any feelings of neutrality that Shran had been harboring for the Commander.

"I would expect childish behavior from junior officers, but from you, Tucker? I'm disappointed."

With a look of confusion, Trip shook his head and left the Mess Hall without a word. Finally alone, Shran pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a heavy sigh. How would he be able to tell you that people were talking about you? For that matter, should he tell you in the first place? Wouldn't that just hurt your feelings and make the situation worse?

A familiar, gentle hand rested on his shoulder, bringing him out of his thoughts.

"Thy'lek? What's wrong?" He hadn't heard you come in, but there you stood as beautiful as always, looking at him with wide, concerned eyes.

A smile - a genuine one, this time - crossed his lips, and he covered your fingers with his own.

"It's nothing. Just a strange day, that's all," he murmured, gesturing for you to join him. You set your tray down, but you didn't start eating right away, keeping your gaze fixed squarely on him. "I mean it. I'm alright."

"...If you're sure," you replied, and Shran promised that he was before changing the topic. It wouldn't do for him to act rashly on this, no matter how strong his protective instincts were when it came to you.

--

When Shran was making his rounds on the Bridge later that day, he saw Trip make his way over to the Captain's chair, Hoshi trailing quietly behind him. The only word he could catch from their whispered exchange was your name, and that was the straw that broke the camel's back.

"Captain," Shran called, "may I have a word with you and Commander Tucker in private? Now?"

Archer looked a little perplexed at the palpable anger in his tone, but he smiled and nodded his head in agreement regardless. As soon as the door closed behind the three of them, Shran narrowed his eyes and allowed all of his righteous anger come spilling out.

"Captain, there is a disciplinary problem on this ship. Three times today alone, I've noted groups of crewmen talking about a particular crew member behind her back, including Commander Tucker," the Andorian seethed, glaring at the Engineer.

"If you'll just let me explain–"

"What is there to explain? A senior officer shouldn't be gossiping or spreading rumors behind someone's back when they aren't present to defend thmselves! Such behavior lacks integrity and honor! I expected a member of Starfleet to comport themselves better," Shran snarled, but Captain Archer cleared his throat beside the two.

"Commander...have a seat. There's been a misunderstanding, and I'd like to clear it up." When the Andorian did no more than turn his glare on Archer instead, the Captain sighed. "I know you care about her, and we do, too. It's her birthday tomorrow, and the whole crew has been trying to plan a surprise for her."

Shran looked at him blankly, some of his anger fading away in the wake of his confusion.

"...'Birthday'?" He'd heard the term once before, but he didn't know what it meant. You couldn't possibly be pregnant. Shran had seen an image of a Human who was with child, but you didn't look like that at all. Reluctantly, Shran took a seat, and Jonathan dismissed Trip, allowing him to go back to his duties.

"Humans have a tradition. Every year on the anniversary of the date that we were born, we acknowledge the passing of another year. It's a celebration, a...a way to mark a person's increasing age and wisdom," the Captain said. "A lot of people, including most of the crew, try to give surprise parties for the person whose birthday it is. That's what Mr. Tucker and the other officers have been trying to do. They were talking about the Lieutenant, because they wanted to plan a party for her without her finding out and ruining the surprise."

Thy'lek's shoulders relaxed, and his antennae lifted the rest of the way upward.

"I apologize for my outburst, then. I just thought..." Shran trailed off with a vague wave of his hand, but Archer just laughed and sat at his desk.

"Don't worry. The whole crew knows how you feel about her, and, hey, I get it. If I thought somebody was talking about the person I loved behind their back, I would've reacted exactly like you did," the Captain commiserated, offering him a small smile. "Now...something else I should mention, is that typically people end up giving gifts to the recipient of the party, but obviously, since you're Andorian, you wouldn't be held to that standard."

"No. I have something that I've been meaning to give the Lieutenant," Shran said picturing the object he had stashed in his quarters. Just picturing the sweetness of your smile made him relax in his seat. "So, how can I help with the party?"

With a wide, enthusiastic smile, Archer leaned forward.

"I'm so glad you asked."

--

As soon as he and the Captain had exited his office, Shran offered his apologies to the officers he'd snapped at and made his way to Sickbay to speak with Phlox. Apparently, the Doctor was in charge of organizing this particular surprise party.

Shran received and carried out his orders well, keeping you distracted so that you wouldn't grow suspicious while the cargo bay was being decorated. That wasn't exactly a hardship for him. The Commander relished any time he got to spend with you, even if it was something as simple as a quiet evening staring out a viewport together at the passing stars.

In fact, he was quite certain he liked those nights the most. There, in the solitude of your quarters, something soft and vulnerable unfurled in his chest as he beheld your face bathed in starlight. The way you snuggled up against his side, trusting him with the vulnerability of such moments, only reinforced the notion that Starfleet was the right place for him - that being at your side was his real home.

So, the evening before your birthday, the two of you curled up together in your quarters talking late into the night. Eventually, you both fell silent, and a gentle weight settled on his shoulder just after midnight. The Commander looked down at your sleeping face and couldn't suppress a smile. You looked so peaceful resting against him.

Carefully, he lifted you into his arms and carried you to your bed.

"May your dreams be as sweet as you are," he whispered as he pulled the covers up just the way you liked them. Shran debated with himself for a long moment before finally leaning down and kissing your forehead. "Happy Birthday, Lieutenant."

Normally when you'd fallen asleep during their calm evenings, he'd gratefully allow himself to pass out on your sofa for the night. The Commander claimed it was too far to walk, but, truthfully, he just wanted an excuse to be a little closer, to protect you while you slept...and to rest atop a pillow that smelled like you.

Tonight, though, he had one final duty to perform for the party tomorrow. He had to get your gift ready.

Keeping secrets from you was not something he'd ever planned to do, but Thy'lek knew that you'd enjoy what was waiting for you in the cargo bay the next day. Still, his heart gave a pang when he thought of you waking up alone and wondering why he'd left.

--

"Thy'lek, shouldn't you be on duty right now?" You asked, but you didn't show any signs of releasing your grip on his arm as he led you through the ship.

"I assure you, Captain Archer won't mind if I spend a few minutes with my favorite girl," the Commander said patting your hand where it rested on his forearm. He'd been guiding you slowly, in a meandering path toward the decorated cargo bay, diverting your attention from the crewmen hurrying down the corridor with a few last-minute details. "Do you have any special plans for today? After all, it is your day off."

"Oh, um...not really," you murmured giving his arm a gentle squeeze. "Why? Did you have something in mind?"

Oh, if only you knew. The pair of you were approaching the doors, so instead of answering, Shran simply paused before the control panel and turned to face you.

"Why don't you find out?" He asked gesturing to the controls. You gave him a quizzical look but ultimately opened the doors. The whole bay was bathed in darkness, but you still took a step inside. You knew Thy'lek wouldn't let you get hurt. With him at your back, you walked a few feet forward.

"What are we–"

"SURPRISE!"

The lights flicked on to reveal all your friends standing in the middle of the cargo bay. Some makeshift streamers and decorations were strategically placed throughout the space, and atop a table comprised of a large storage container stood a cake.

"Happy Birthday," Shran murmured from right behind you. When you turned to face him, tears had gathered in your eyes and a giant smile stretched both your lips and his. You threw your arms around him, and he caught you effortlessly. "I hope you enjoy your party, sweet girl."

All the while, the weight of the small pendant that he'd wrapped up for you the night before rested squarely in his pocket where he'd placed it. It had been in his family for generations, and he hoped that it would prove how serious he was when he finally told you how much he cared for you.

He didn't know if he'd have the courage to do so tonight, but the pendant was a start. Shran had thought he'd seen affection in your eyes more than once when you looked at him. He just hoped he was right.

For now, though, he was eager to see you enjoy yourself. After all, this was your day. He wanted you to make the most of it.

~*~*~

Taglist:

@akamitrani @android-boyfriends @attention-bajoranworkers @bigblissandlove1 @darkmattervibes @emilie786 @horta-in-charge @live-logs-and-proper @slutty-slutty-vulcans @starrynightgardens @toebeans-mcgee

[peachymilkandcream]

My Prize|Part 7|Viking Levi x Evelyn

WARNINGS: implied noncon/dubcon, big age difference, kidnapping, slavery, violence, power imbalance, implied somnophilia, forced pregnancies, mind breaking, yandere behaviour, yandere themes, forced exhibitionism, sexual coercion, blackmail, etc.

================================================

Levi was nothing if not a man of action. If he couldn't convince anyone to come to his aid then he would save Evelyn all on his own. His attempts at rallying those in his village yielded nothing, they feared him, they feared that he was lying and that once aboard his vessel of death they would be slaughtered. Even when he promised payment, they still refused.

Fine. If he was to save his woman, then he would save her on his own. Wounded or not, a few stitches and he was ready to set sail again. Although not fully recovering before attempting a bloody conquest was not advisable, he would still do it to make sure that he would come out on top. The time that was being wasted preparing for his journey was more time for Erwin to defile her. Who knew what he was doing to her even now? His sweet Evelyn, his reason for living, barefoot and pregnant at the hands of some woodland scum.

"Hang on my love, I'll rescue you."

================================================

Evelyn stared out into the woods. Just beyond the forest borders lay the sea, and the cottage by its shores where all this started.

She didn't look on that night particularly fondly, terrified, in pain, and used. Not knowing if this man was to cut her throat and make her bleed out. He had been barbaric and cruel, a savage animal with an insatiable lust that only she could tamper. That night, she lived to forget.

But all the others, the nights of calm and silent understanding of the other person's plight. Those are what she longed for now. Ever since her first night with Erwin he had given her the cold shoulder, when asking how she had offended him the answer was simple.

"Still as a beam."

"What?"

"I didn't expect my wife to be so unenthusiastic in our marriage bed."

So that was it. He didn't find her pleasing. But how could she be? Taken so violently, only able to find enjoyment in it when picturing he was another, still something she felt guilty of. Levi had been no different, but instead of a possessive claiming, it was a desperate need. A desperate need to be close to someone, anyone. In that she could bear it, Erwin didn't need her, he could have his pick of women, anyone would throw themselves at him. Levi had no one, no friends, family, or lovers. It was just the two of them in the world, and he clung to her like she would vanish from his life too.

A soft tear rolled down her cheek. Poor Levi, she took pity on him, she always had. Whether it was a jealous lust or true love that he felt for her she didn't know, either one made her wish for him to have a good life. One where he learned to smile instead of a sad frown or an arrogant smirk, she had hoped, when she thought no one would come for her, that she could bring him that smile. That she could make him experience real joy. But that was all for nothing now, he was most likely dead or dying from his wounds and no one to care for them. It was all her fault, she should have never met with Erwin that night, and should have made him promise not to hurt him or kill him.

"Evelyn! Wake up girl you're wasting time!"

The voice snapped her from her thoughts, bringing her back to the present. It was her mother's voice that had called her, the two had been collecting firewood and it seems she got distracted with her reminiscing and regrets.

"Sorry Mama, I was just thinking."

"Tch. The only thing you should be thinking of is how to have the Great Leader's son. You'll only be young for a short time, and to secure your place in this world you need to give him an heir."

The idea of more repeated nights of her wedding night made her nauseous, to the point she bent behind a tree and retched. All of the contents of her meagre breakfast came right back up, earning an annoyed look from her mother.

"I swear if you're getting ill- a husband doesn't want anything to do with a sick wife."

She nods, mentally reminding herself she should care what her husband thought of her and not to chastise him, even mentally.

================================================

Since her marriage, the village treated Evelyn with a sense of both respect and jealousy. As if they were annoyed that she had been so awful as to steal the spot as wife to Erwin. Many voiced loudly that they hoped Erwin would have the sense to take a few wives, so that more of his line would come forth.

Evelyn kept it a secret that she had made him promise fidelity, it was no one's business but theirs, and they would find out soon enough should they try and make a move towards him.

As she returned to their tent, her thoughts still drifted to Levi, hoping that he was well enough and not bleeding out somewhere. It distracted her so much she didn't even hear the sounds coming from within until she pulled back the flap.

There, her newly wed husband was in the process of making love to another. Evelyn knew the girl, and knew that she was just old enough to be considered of age. It disgusted her that after his promises, after all of this, that he would be with another in their own tent who barely had a mind of her own yet.

"Husband-" The word felt dirty coming out of her mouth, he didn't deserve to be called that. He deserved to rot in hell.

Without remorse he sighs and finishes prematurely, waving off the girl who gives Evelyn a nasty smirk. "What is it."

"You promised-"

"You should know that as the leader of this village I can't make such a promise or be expected to keep it."

"How could you-"

"The girl was to be wed soon, I had to bless her so that her and her future husband could have many children."

"But you promised-"

His eyebrows furrowed. "Are we going to have an issue?"

"You promised! How could you!?"

"It is my duty-"

"Bullshit!"

The comment caught him off guard, where had she heard that? It only took him a minute to gather the pieces, that bastard had given her the use of foul language and the boldness to actually swear at him.

"Excuse me?"

"Bullshit! It's a lie you spin! It's not normal! You should be faithful! It's cheating!"

"I don't like your tone-"

"It's cheating!" Tears pour down her face now, enraged that she had trusted him, betrayed because everything she had known for her whole life was just as Levi said, a lie. "You never cared about this village! You're in it for yourself!"

"I have poured all I have into this village-"

"To use it to get what you want! I hate you!" She screamed at him now, throwing her basket of firewood at his feet.

A dark expression came over him. "What will you do then? Hm?"

"I want Levi! I'm going back to Levi!"

He reached out and slapped her face. "How dare you say you want that barbarian! After all of this you want to run back to the mutilated son of a whore who took you in the first place!? From your home!?"

"This isn't my home, not anymore. My home is with Levi on the mainland!"

Unable to withstand it anymore he grabs a bit of rope and pushes her to the floor, tying her to the tent post so tightly that the ropes dig into her skin.

"You'll stay there until you learn how to be a good wife to your husband. You want Levi hm? Then have him come and get you."

[americasass81]

Good Lovers Lie

Warnings 18+ for the following:- Mention of Past Trauma, Implied PTSD, Implied M/M Smut, Implied Choking, Male Masturbation, M/M Oral, mild Angst, Mild Fluff.  Seriously do not read if any of this upsets you, the warnings are there for a reason. Feedback is welcomed and any mistakes are my own.

By proceeding you are acknowledging that you are over 18 and are consenting to the content below the cut.

Synopsis:- Finding Loki's scepter seemed like an unconventional way to bring Steve Rogers and Tony Stark together but now the consequences stemming from it may very well be the thing that tears them apart.

Author’s Note 1:- Written solely for my love of these two flawed individuals as well as the wonderful movie that is Avengers: Age of Ultron, I also incorporated a nod to the fabulous @caplanbuckybarnes who gifted us with the amazing Titles For Caplan Writing Challenge.  I think this title choice fits so well here.  Thank you.

Author’s Note 2:- As always, all images have been found through google search.

Pairings:- Steve Rogers x Tony Stark

Total Word Count:- 4,351

Standing in the barn after his talk with Fury and the wounds it had opened up, Tony tried now to remember the last time he had felt so untethered, but the memory wouldn't come.  How could it?  Closing his eyes and trying to focus, his mind instead kept him firmly rooted on what had occurred outside with Steve and what Clint had just told them ... some of them would have to share a room.

Of course, that didn't really surprise him given what little he had discovered about this place and its occupants since their arrival.  But why then did he have to get him as a bunk mate?  Why did fate, or more specifically Mrs. Barton, have to hone in on what the smarter ones of them had already suspected and suggest his ideal sleeping buddy Banner share a room with the ravishing Auntie Nat.  And what the hell was that even about?  Auntie?  Had she known about Clint's situation all along and simply not said anything?  What else did she know that even now she kept completely to herself and what did this mean for the team's ability to fully trust her going forward?

Not that that question really bothered him as much as it should have right about now though given what Strucker's enhanced experiment had shown him, what camping out here meant and all the resulting issues that now played on his mind.  For Laura's matchmaking between his teammates, well intentioned as it was, had landed him in a situation he had slowly been avoiding since New York and his verbal sparring match with Steve aboard Fury's helicarrier.  A situation that their new verbal spat by the wood piles had simply enhanced further.

After all, he had grown up in the shadow of the great Steve Rogers, his own father having revered him so much that Tony often wondered if any man could ever live up to the legend.  But the more he'd gotten to know him, while setting aside all that history and everything his dear old dad had made of the man, the more his own opinion of him began to change.  Though not necessarily in a good way.

Despite the man's self righteousness and clear cut stance on right and wrong, there still seemed to be a genuinely decent man at his core who valued loyalty and friendship above all else.  And his other assets weren't so bad either.  After all, though he would never admit it to anyone, images of Steve using his tongue in sexually creative ways, rather than telling him off, seemed to be the only thing at present that kept the nightmares of New York at bay and now it seemed the log chopping session would also feature in that therapy too.  But why?

Why had so much of what had been done and said out by the log piles stuck with him and affected him on such a primal level?  After all, he had seen Cap fight before, so swinging that axe and watching it cleave the timber in half really shouldn't have been all that amazing.  But damn, when his bare hands had ripped that log apart, Tony couldn't stop the feeling going straight to his neither regions or the new images that sprang to mind now and joined the old ones already visiting him in his dreams.  And what graphic images they proved to be.

What would it feel like he wondered to have those same hands manipulate his body into any number of positions that suited their needs?  Would Steve's aforementioned dark side be agreeable to choking Tony to near unconsciousness with those same hands or biceps to increase the high that would inevitably come from their coupling?  Hell, was the super soldier even capable of holding Tony upright off the ground on nothing but those impressively strong thighs while his cock ripped him apart and helped him forget everything except the blond's name.  Tuning out the world around him now as all these questions and images blended together and sparked the fire within his loins to life while his hand firmly stroking his cock tried to work the tension out of his system, the barn door opening failed to distract him from what he was doing ... but that voice however did.

"Hey Tony, Laura asked me to tell you that ...," Steve had started, but now all the super soldier could do was not tear his eyes away from the startled superhero before him or the feelings assaulting every nerve ending in a body the log splitting session had primed for action.

"What the fuck, Rogers?" Tony now barked out as his hand left his member while his panicked fingers worked frantically to tidy up the jeans and boxers wedged haphazardly around his thighs.  Not that he got very far with that task however.

Closing the door behind him now and moving cautiously towards the Iron Avenger so as not to spook him further, Steve dropping to his knees now and looking up at Tony while uttering the words "May I?" may very well have knocked the dark haired man off his feet if a nod from his head hadn't given the blond all the permission he seemed to need however.  It seemed Steve's dark side was coming out to play after all and Tony was going to be the one to witness it.

Placing his hands securely on Tony's hips now and as such ensuring he indeed remained upright, Steve next took advantage of his teammate’s previous actions, opened his mouth and slipped it forwards onto Tony's semi-hard erection.  And got exactly the kind of reaction he was hoping for.  Holding as much of him as he could in his throat while his lips held the rest of the muscle in place, Steve's tongue now lapping at the underside of Tony's cock while he breathed in and out through his nose might have felt like the realization of all his fantasies since he had first woken up in this time and met the man above up, but it paled in comparison to the reality his actions actually brought forth.

For that was better than his dreams.  Far better indeed.

Panting and moaning above him now as Steve's name slipped past his lips every second or third breath, Tony's hands now moving down to grab hold of the blond's head indicated that he couldn't handle much more.  The teasing had to stop.  Pulling that head completely off his member now and allowing Steve to breathe properly for a moment, there were so many questions Tony wanted to ask him, but it seemed his higher brain functions had temporarily short circuited leaving only the reality of his fantasies coming true.  Gazing down at the image before him instead now as Steve's tongue shot out and made contact with the head of his cock once more, the sensation gnawing at his loins took priority and guided his actions once more.  It needed taking care of and Steve it seemed was only too willing to offer his assistance so he gave in.

Slotting his erection back into the other man's mouth again as Steve once more opened himself up to swallow as much of Tony as he possibly could, the billionaire now began a steady rhythm of short thrusts into the man below him until it seemed Steve too couldn't take anymore either.  Fighting against the hold on his head now as Tony seemed cautious of hurting the super soldier kneeling before him, Steve took control once more however and threatened to bring the younger man to his knees again.  Placing his hands over Steve's on his own hips now as the man out of time set up his own furious pace, Tony couldn't remember the last time he had ever been sucked off so deliciously hard, but he hoped it wouldn't be the last.  Now he just had to survive it.

So egging Steve on now, though breathing became harder while his lower body began to tremble, the pressure building in his balls finally told his brain he'd had enough.  He was only human after all and the last thing the world needed to wake up to tomorrow morning was the news that Tony Stark was dead from the best blowjob ever received in human memory.  Never mind how such a thing would look to the other occupants of the farm.  Holding on to this thought now and finding reserves of strength he never thought possible, Tony took hold of Steve's head once more, let loose every profanity known to man and simply prayed no one in the vicinity had heard a word he uttered as his knees shook and his balls sent rope after rope after rope of warm cum shooting down the waiting super soldier's well used throat while both men held on for dear life.

Detaching from said super soldier then as both of them collapsed to the ground under the weight of what they had just done, their labored breathing seemed to be the only sound for miles around now as each of them tried to compose themselves enough to figure out where they went from here.  Of course they weren't really thinking in terms of friendship or relationship or anything even remotely related to the activity they had just partaken in, no their primary concern at this moment in time was more of the functional variety.

Steve after all had left the log splitting and entered the barn simply to tell Tony that Laura was in the process of making dinner if the Avengers wished to satisfy their hunger.  At least, that had been the plan before their unscheduled interruption.  The way things stood now meant that if they didn't get their asses moving, someone might come looking for them and this was not a scene they wished to explain to themselves let alone anyone else right now.  But then again, their asses didn't seem all that willing to move.

Continuing to try to come down from the high of his release as the ghostly feeling of Steve's throat still kissed his softening cock, it was Tony who somehow managed to grab onto a semblance of functionality first however to reach out his hand and grab Steve's attention as the words he now spoke slowly broke through the sex-hazed bubble hovering all around them.  "Laura ... wanted ... something?" he wheezed out and it seemed this was just the spark the super soldier serum running throughout Steve's veins needed to finally push the two men into action.

"Damn it, yes.  Dinner," Steve blurted out quickly now as he lifted himself up off the barn floor before reaching down to do the same for Tony.  Watching a moment longer then to make sure now that the other man wasn't about to end up back on the ground from the sexual act he had just endured, a quick smirk from Tony with a nod of his head once more as he put himself back together was all the sign Steve needed apparently to tell him things were perfectly fine.  Well at least as fine as they could be given the circumstances.

Catching Tony off guard once more then with a swift peck on his lips and a stern reminder of dinner, Steve next left the barn and hurried back to the house in the hopes of at least heading off any questions that might be leveled against the two men for any possible tardiness on their part.  As it turned out, their tryst hadn't actually gone on as long as they had thought as Fury now entered the kitchen from elsewhere at the same time that Tony walked through the back door and Steve through the front.  It seemed fate had smiled on them this time at least.  Too bad it couldn't last however.

Eating dinner, discussing what was known and unknown with Fury and then coming up with the bones of a plan to handle Ultron and his lackeys, night now called out to them and with it the sleeping arrangements that had earlier seemed problematic enough before the barn incident had complicated everything further.  Now it seemed the longest night of their lives was only just beginning.

Heading up the stairs now and stopping momentarily to watch Natasha close the door to the room she would share with Bruce, Tony thought of heading back downstairs and camping out in the barn instead, but that solution was just as awkward as moving forward ... for many, many reasons.  First off, what would be his explanation when dawn's light woke them all up and questions were asked as to why he had chosen to bed down out there instead of in the house.  Then of course there was the memory of what had happened out there earlier to contend with.  How was he supposed to sleep in the very location where Steve Rogers, the same man who earlier that day had admonished him on the battlefield for slipping out a swear word, had all but sucked the life out of him through his dick.  No way he was getting a decent night's kip there.  So that just left moving forward and sharing a room with the very same man.  Now that would be the definition of awkward.

Casting these thoughts aside though and opening the door now on whatever lay ahead, what greeted him inside however was not what he expected and shook the foundations of his world in a way that what happened earlier had not ... for with nothing else to do but watch him, Steve looked absolutely stunning.  Leaning angle ways against the window as the moon's glow cast him in beautiful shadows, Tony didn't need him to say anything to know the blond was lost in some memory.  Perhaps a powerful one too given that he didn't even move when Tony closed the door and walked farther into the room.  He did finally acknowledge his presence however when Tony came to mirror his stance on the opposite side of the window and the words he spoke threw the Iron Avenger for yet another loop.

"She showed me the past," he started, turning his gaze to meet Tony's now and this time the brunet thought his friend looked haunted.  But if that was a result of the moonlight or the memory that held his current focus, he couldn't be sure.  But he wanted to know more.  So nodding his head in encouragement now as Steve struggled with what he had seen, he eventually figured things out it seemed and spoke again.  "Peggy Carter.  She told me the war was over.  That we could go home," Steve now confirmed but Tony was surprised when the blond didn't stop there.  Admitting to his teammate that the vision was a lie, that there were things and people here that he refused to walk away from, he further confessed that he couldn't even reconcile returning to the past and sitting on the sidelines to watch the world struggle on when he could do so much to help.  When he had all but signed up for it.

That to him he further explained would be tantamount to playing a part in any atrocities that took place should it even be possible to send him back there in the first place.  And that was something he just couldn't live with.  No for better or worse this was his time now and he had finally made peace with that while finding some bright spots to rebuild his life around.  Possibilities he never had before, that he was now willing to explore with the right person.  And it was this statement above all others he had uttered so far that now seemed to trigger something in Tony as he joined in the confessions as well and blurted out his own vision as he had done with Fury earlier that day.

Listening intently to every word and shocked now that Tony had carried this secret around with him since before their encounter with Ultron, it triggered, at least for now, a bit more forgiveness regarding his friend's messing around with the scepter in the first place, while also making Steve want so badly to remind his friend that this was probably nothing more than residual trauma from what he had gone through in New York.  After all, Tony's heart had stopped momentarily as a result of his heroics with the missile and the wormhole that day and Steve would be lying if he didn't admit there were still nights that he woke up with the image of Tony's lifeless body lying in the street.

But that was a path he didn't need to walk right now.  Instead he simply needed to be there for his teammate, so moving to stand before the other man now, his heart skipped a beat and he hoped he was doing the right thing as he then closed the distance between them and placed his forehead against Tony's before pulling their bodies flush against each other.  Waiting a heartbeat more then to see what reaction he might receive, the other man placing his arms around his back was all the sign Steve apparently needed to carry on however.  So that's exactly what he did.

"That vision was a lie also Tony.  We're both standing here, our hearts are both still beating and as long as we stand together we cannot be defeated," Steve explained and as they continued to stay as they were and hold each other tight, it was as if their presence grounded the other and moved them away from all that had gone before to anchor them now in where they were.  But that still brought its own problems.

Remembering momentarily now the dark side Steve had intimated at during their log splitting session, what he had done afterwards in the barn and the time period he had grown up in, Tony could easily see now how conflicted the blond might be regarding what was possibly happening between them and what had already happened, but the truth was Tony was intrigued.  And when Tony Stark was intrigued, interesting stuff usually followed.

So leading on from this idea now while hoping it ended up exactly where he wanted, Tony now pulled back from Steve and winked at him cheekily before dropping to his knees as the super soldier had done with him earlier.  Undoing his belt and jeans then before helping the other man out of the clothing, Tony got to fully focus now on what lay before him and he had to admit it almost rendered him speechless.  But not for the reason he would have thought a moment ago.  Prim and proper to the point of watching his own language as well as that of his fellow Avengers, here stood the pinnacle of human perfection in all his science enhanced glory and it seemed the man was ready to go at a moment's notice.  Quite literally.  Going commando now that the jeans had been removed, his member wasn't fully erect but as Tony reached out his fingers to connect with the muscle ... it wasn't far off.  He simply needed to nudge it along.

Gliding his hand along the rod now as he warned the blond above him not to make a sound, he so wanted to repay the favor Steve had visited upon him earlier ... but Tony Stark was no fool.  Impressive as the other man's cock was beneath his fingers, Tony knew, at full mast, now was neither the time nor the place to fully experience or enjoy such a weapon.  But he still wanted to see it all the same.  So pumping the other man firmly then while his other hand came up to caress the sac twitching beneath, Tony glancing up to catch Steve biting his lip in a so far successful attempt to silence his pleading, replaced his own momentary sense of jealousy at seeing how well the blond was hung with a new found sense of pride instead that he could pull this reaction from him.  Which in turn spurred him on to do more.

Continuing the movement of his hands, he now placed his mouth around the cock before him and cursed silently to himself at the strain he felt throughout his jaw as his mouth moved forwards and enveloped as much of Steve as he could without choking.  For the man was the thickest he'd ever experienced and he wasn't even fully erect yet.  Casting this observation aside quickly however as it only distracted him with his earlier thoughts of this substantial phallus ripping his ass apart once more, Tony now concentrated on using his mouth and hands to jerk the other man off and it seemed his skills were more than up to the task.

Hollowing out his cheeks and taking as much meat as he was comfortable with, his hands continuing to squeeze Steve's remaining shaft and balls soon had the desired effect as the super soldier grabbed hold of the billionaire's head, held him in place and emptied an all merciful load of warm liquid down his waiting throat.  A load that actually made Tony thankful he wasn't able to yet take more of Steve's length given that he also still liked breathing as well.

Removing his top then before collapsing on the floor as Tony swallowed down every last drop of cum his friend had released, Steve meanwhile tried to control his own breathing along with the urge to do more.  But he knew that would have to wait.  For one, looking at Tony stripping off now before joining him on the floor, claiming this man fully deserved to be done in a setting where both of them could totally let loose and hear the effect their actions had on the other.  On top of that, tomorrow the world needed saving and Clint's property had already been generous enough to provide them sanctuary without defiling it further like two uncontrollable teenagers.

No, moving whatever this was onto the next phase could definitely wait, but talking about things was still a reasonable activity and as they now lay side by side and began to drift back down from the high both of them had just experienced, if the liquid leaking from Tony's cock was any indication, it was Steve who broached this subject now as he seemed to be the first of them to get his voice back this time.  "So Tony, was this a one time thing forged in the heat of whatever this mess is, or will we follow where it leads regardless of what tomorrow may bring?" Steve whispered and as the brunet finally relaxed and looked at the man he had now had a sexual encounter with twice in one day, he knew what they both needed to hear despite his reservations.

"We ride this to the end Steve, you and me together," he whispered back before reaching up on his elbow, moving forward and placing his lips gently against those of the waiting super soldier.  Kissing him deeper then the longer their lips remained joined, air called out to both of them again and as they parted once more Tony decided to further cement their new relationship with what he spoke now.  "I love you Steve.  I know this is all new, I know we haven't really always seen things the same way and honestly," he laughed slightly now before continuing, "I don't even know how you feel about me.  But I do love you and if you feel the same way then I promise you nothing or no one will ever rip us apart."

Staring at Tony now as a thousand thoughts clashed with a thousand more emotions within him, Steve fought the fiercest internal battle he could ever remember having to focus all that turmoil into a single cohesive structure and then blurted it out before all rational thought took over and the man who longed for a life like everyone else was replaced once more with the soldier who put duty and sacrifice above all else.  "I love you too Tony.  I don't like all the things you do and honestly, sometimes your ego does get in the way of your good intentions and screams at me to take you to task for such foolishness.  But god help me if I don't see your heart and want to lay claim to it."

And that confession it seemed was enough to do the Iron Avenger in and reveal the same heart that Steve not only cherished now but had forced Tony three years previously to face his own mortality and set him on the path he currently trod.  Wiping away an unexpected tear then as a result of their exchange before moving forward and kissing his now lover again, Tony then spoke of his promise of forever once more before turning over onto his side and slotting himself back against the bigger man and the comfort he offered.

Spooning with Steve on the bedroom floor then between the window and the bed, while the blond threw a blanket over both of them and peppered his shoulder with the softest of kisses he could ever remember touching his skin, Tony knew in his gut however that the words he had spoken had been the real lie.  But right now he didn't really care.  Though he didn't know for sure what lay ahead, the events in New York and the vision he'd had all spoke to him of a tragedy that would change their world forever.  What that meant for Steve and himself specifically and the love they had now found, well in this moment they needed the lie far more than they needed to know what their futures might hold, so closing his eyes and sinking back into his lover's embrace, he let go of the worry just this once in favor of experiencing how much joy the lie brought them for however long it was fated to last.

[silver-tooth-the-panther]

Project: Abandoned

Identities!

We are halfway through the contest for the TADC comic! Next Sunday, I will choose the artist who I will collaborate with! Remember, if you wish to be eligible, you must comment under the original post AND dm me an artwork either of the characters or one from your collection.

I feel like I should’ve said this in my original post, but there are going to be some triggering topics in the comic. These topics include: Violence, blood, gore, physical and mental abuse, child death, and implied suicide attempt.

If these topics make you uncomfortable then I recommend to stay away from this with a ten-foot pole. This comic will be 18 + for these reasons.

I hope that you amazing artists would love to come aboard! See you next Sunday!

The ships in this will be: JesterDoll (Pomni x Ragatha), GummyBunny (Gummigoo x Jax), and PartyRibbons (Party Animal x Gangle)

[ronsenburg]

WIP Wednesday- here's the first seven pages of the next chapter of tactility for anyone following along:

“Dimitri hasn’t been made aware, yet.”

It’s the first thing that Profess—that Commander Eisner says as she strides across the room to the replicator installation on the wall, leaving Sylvain floundering from where he stands, a mere two steps through the office door.

For a long second, Sylvain thinks he might be hearing things. Not only for the words—which make less than zero sense to Sylvain, actually—but because he’s not sure he’s ever heard her refer to them all by their first names like this before. It feels like she should still be calling them ‘cadet’ and chiding Sylvain for the lack of effort on his latest report. The sudden familiarity is off-putting. He blinks, still a little shell-shocked. “What?”

“... Bergamot?” Commander Eisner asks instead, and glances back over to him with a mild and expectant look. It takes an additional two full seconds for Sylvain to realize that she’s asking for his tea preference, that he hasn’t just quietly lost what was left of his mind standing there in the entryway to her office. Eventually, though, Sylvain catches on. With no mental energy left to marvel at how she remembers something so specific, he nods.

The lack of articulacy doesn’t seem to be a problem for someone like the commander. She simply gestures to the empty chair in front of her desk—as austere and uncomfortable looking as they come—and says, “sit.”

Replicators really are incredible things; it only takes five seconds or so to materialize the tea Commander Eisner requests, the molecules arranging themselves obediently into existence with a whirl of machinery and sparkling lights. In that time, Sylvain has somehow managed to will his feet into movement. They carry him dutifully across the floor and deposit his body into the waiting chair in a motion that, while overall effective, is distinctly lacking in grace. When the commander joins him, placing a delicate porcelain teacup down on the surface of the desk before him, it’s all he can do to watch her take her first sips with metaphorically bated breath, the steam from his own untouched cup rising in swirling plumes between them. Eventually, however, her teacup rattles back down against the saucer.

It’s only then, when the silence is reaching critical levels of unbearable, that she speaks.

“I wasn’t sure that Ensign Fraldarius would be coming,” she begins, her tone still flat and even, like she’s remarking on the state of the weather, not upending the last five years of Sylvain’s life. “When he and I last spoke—well. You know Felix. He was adamant that this ship was the last place he ever intended to step foot on. I chose not to burden Dimitri with his refusal.”

“When you last spoke?” Sylvain repeats, dully. Someone is going to need to cut him a little slack, here, if they’re expecting to get anything coherent out of him anytime soon. It sounds a lot like the Commander is implying she’s been talking to Felix regularly over the past five years, but that’s crazy, isn’t it? Felix was gone without a trace—Sylvain would know. He’d exhausted a good amount of hours and one too many favors that first year, only to come up empty handed every time.

But, impossibly, Commander Eisner nods. “About eight months ago. He was with the Klingons, then, on Zuva Bon. But there’s been nothing since. We weren’t anticipating his arrival this morning—I thought it best to speak with him myself before making Dimitri aware of his presence aboard. You would have been the next to know, I’m sure.”

There’s a faint roaring in Sylvain’s ears that seems to have nothing to do with the nacelle engine partially visible outside the window to his left. His gaze drifts toward the expanse of space stretching behind it, thoughts unmoored, as the sound grows louder and louder with each passing moment. Eventually, the volume of it blankets the rest of his senses, the rhythmic thunder overriding any lingering, rational thought.

But, of course, it’s not really a noise at all. Just the sound of his own pulse rushing rapidly past his ears.

“—Sylvain?” the commander asks, at some length. When he glances back to her, she’s watching him with her head tilted to the side again, as though his reaction is a puzzle she’s tepidly interested in attempting to work out.

“So you’re saying this whole time,” he starts, voice forced into what Sylvain can only hope would be called a casual cadence, “you knew where he was?”

The angle of Commander Eisner’s head sharpens only fractionally, her eyes unblinking. “I keep track of all of my former students, yes.”

“Commander, you had to know that I—that we were trying to find him. You could have said something.”

“It was Felix’s direct request that I keep the knowledge of his whereabouts to myself. As his life was never in any real danger, I saw no necessary reason to betray that trust.”

“That’s not–” Sylvain cuts himself off, feeling more than hearing the anger building in his voice. Of course, it would be someone like the commander that Felix would reach out to. Someone as blunt and unbound by traditional social graces as Felix, someone who would keep a secret as a matter of duty. Prophets, they had so much in common; Sylvain should have considered it from the very beginning. He could posit all day over why Dimitri, infinitely higher than any of the rest of them in their former professor’s graces, wouldn’t have chased down that particular lead… but shifting the blame was never going to change the fact that Sylvain hadn’t even thought to ask.

Commander Eisner blinks her mild eyes in his direction, once, and then once again for good measure, waiting with a blasé politeness for the impending conclusion of his sentence. For a second, Sylvain considers it; imagines letting all that anger spill through the cracks of the fingers so desperately trying to hold it back.

…But what would be the point?

“You know what, never mind,” Sylvain says instead, standing. There’s an edge to his voice that he can’t quite smooth away behind his smile, as cooled as the untouched cup that sits on the desk between them. “Thanks for the tea, Commander. Think I’m gonna make it an early night, lots to do tomorrow. You get it.”

Her face shows no surprise; she simply offers him a perfunctory nod and moves to walk him out.

“Sylvain.” Commander Eisner says just as the door slides open before him. If his demeanor has had any effect on her, she doesn’t show it. Her tone is as businesslike as ever. “The ship that Ensign Fraldarius arrived on this morning was the S.S. Palinurus. The docking permit might be of some interest to you.”

Sylvain doesn’t respond.

The door closes behind him with that same, decisive sound.

The computer doesn’t have a cabin assignment on file for Felix, yet, and can’t locate him when Sylvain asks. Unsurprisingly, Ingrid is also no longer on the ship. For a moment, Sylvain considers the absurd: sprinting off the ship and back onto the station, searching every lounge and hangar and temporary lodging assignment until he finds them, until he succeeds in cornering Felix like the spooked animal he insists on imitating and forcing some kind of explanation. It’s an impossible fantasy for any number of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that Spacedock One spans a truly insane amount of, well, space—searching it thoroughly would take more hours than there happened to be between now and departure. With Sylvain’s luck as it currently stood, he’d still be trudging through some maintenance corridor, unaware of the passage of time, when the ship took off into the vastness of space with Felix tucked away onboard.

And anyway, if chasing after Felix was what Sylvain truly wanted to do, he should’ve gone with Ingrid in the first place, right? Pulled himself together, staunched the cocktail mixer of emotions that Felix’s appearance had pierced through him like a knife wound, and got on with the interrogation. But Sylvain had learned a few things from chasing after Felix for a good chunk of their adolescent life: namely, that Felix never gave up shit if he didn’t want to. You could run and beg and throw yourself on a metaphorical funeral pyre right in front of him and it wouldn’t change anything… until Felix decided it did. Stubborn wasn’t a strong enough word for it; Sylvain wasn’t sure there was a word strong enough for it in any language in the entire galaxy. What good would it do, chasing him again, except to have the pleasure of watching the exquisite angles of Felix’s face turn away from him yet another time? How many times can you swear devotion to someone who clearly doesn’t want you before it becomes downright pathetic?

But that’s kind of the person Sylvain is, when you really got down to it. The kind who never learns, the kind who’s always game to throw themselves against those rocks just one more time, in case the outcome is somehow different.

At least, that’s how it was when it came to Felix.

Sylvain sighs, slides his fingers up through the mess of his red hair, and leaves his head right there in his hands.

He should sleep.

Instead, he sighs and shuffles over to the computer panel at the desk to send a communication to Ingrid that says, simply:

?

It’s about the only thing he can do. That is, until he remembers Commander Eisner’s words.

It’s simple enough to pull up the permits for the ships currently docked at the station, to find the ship that she’d named. The fact that it’s a simple civilian transport ship is somewhat surprising to Sylvain—it feels more in character for Felix to have boarded a passing cargo freighter or commandeered a war bird right out of the sky. Most of the details listed are so numbingly standard that Sylvain has to wonder what the commander could possibly have thought would be relevant. In fact, he reads the permit in its entirety three times before he sees it. Subtle, two words, completely insubstantial to anyone that isn’t Sylvain; they make his heart suddenly start to race.

Port of Departure: Ashalla, Bajor.

—

STARDATE 62354.08

“This is a shovel talk, isn’t it?” Sylvain asks, trying valiantly to keep his voice light as they duck through a disguised maintenance door in the main corridor. A panel just beyond warns ‘DANGER! Authorized Engineers Only Beyond This Point’. When he swallows, Sylvain’s throat is unusually dry.

Glenn is smiling as he glances back over his shoulder; Sylvain doesn’t need to be a telepath to understand that it isn’t actually a friendly smile, despite appearances. Glenn may be the more outwardly agreeable of the Fraldarius brothers, but Sylvain has no doubts that, if he wanted to, Glenn could kill him just as easily as Felix. Easier, probably. Less of that pesky sentimentality to get in the way.

Oh well, it was a good run. Mostly.

“Not sure what you’re talking about, Gautier. There a reason for me to be giving you a shovel talk?”

There isn’t, which is the most ridiculous part of all of this. At 17 years old, Sylvain has already had more than his fair share of angry older brothers threatening to push him out an airlock when he invariably broke their baby sisters’ hearts. He’d deserved those talks. Mostly because none of those little sisters had ever actually meant anything. Glenn, though… Sylvain would laugh, but he’s pretty sure he’d only end up choking on the irony.

Instead, Sylvain steps gingerly over a four inch wide cable that snakes its way across the path and says, “depends on how often you’ve been reading my mind, I guess.”

About as honest as it gets, for Sylvain. There doesn’t seem to be much of a reason to lie when the person you’re lying to can (literally, telepathically) see right through it. He could try—it might make him feel better about the mess he’s been making of what was formerly his personal life for the past four months—but Sylvain has a new policy when it comes to his feelings for Felix. Namely? That they exist.

Sylvain isn’t blind; he’d always known Felix was pretty in an angry, pointy sort of way. But that was his best friend, you know? Seemed weird not to shut those kinds of thoughts down right away. Only, it'd become an increasingly more difficult task as the days went on. It wasn’t Felix’s fault, but he sure as hell wasn’t making things any easier on Sylvain, either.

It’s little things like this: Felix starts tying his hair up one day, so Sylvain spends an unintentional half an hour staring at the tiny hairs that escape the bun and fall along the skin of his bare neck instead of taking a test. Felix misses a spot of gravy in the corner of his mouth during lunch, so Sylvain spends an embarrassingly long moment imagining himself climbing over the table and licking the spot clean before he gets ahold of himself and points it out instead. Felix goes for a run on the promenade early one morning, his face flushed with exertion and a sheen of sweat beading on his forehead, so Sylvain spends half the day wondering exactly what he’d have to do in exactly what way to get Felix looking like that for him. And that’s just the physical stuff, things hormones can explain away.

Sylvain tries even harder not to think too long on the way his pulse starts fluttering even more irregularly when he catches Felix laughing faintly at one of his stupid jokes, when Felix grabs for his wrist to pull him out of the path of an open maintenance hatch. It’s a problem that no amount of meaningless sex with strangers seems able to scare away so, for the past three weeks, Sylvain’s stopped trying. And see what it’s getting him now?

“Don’t be stupid,” Glenn says, and for a second, he sounds enough like Felix that Sylvain has to blink. They take a left at the next fork. “I can’t do any of that stuff.”

… which is exactly what a secret telepath would say in this situation, Sylvain imagines. But if that’s the story Glenn is sticking with, what’s he gonna do? Torture it out of him?

“So we’re just two guys, going on a walk through the off-limits maintenance corridor of a Federation starbase. You know, like guys do.”

The look that Glenn throws back over his shoulder, while still not quite warm, is at least not especially murderous. “Something like that.”

Finally, after what feels like an hour of avoiding live power conduits and engineers alike, they exit the maintenance corridor into a large room that houses one of the station fusion reactors. It glows faintly in front of them, unnaturally blue-tinged and humming, better than any sign for saying ‘hey, watch the fuck out!’ But all that imminent danger is lost on Glenn; he steps forward and out onto the balcony platform, draping his arm casually over the edge of the metal balcony.

After only a moment of hesitation, Sylvain joins him. When he glances over to Glenn with his eyebrows lifted in question, the light in the room has tinted Glenn’s eyes a bright, radioactive blue.

“I’m… worried about him,” Glenn says at length, voice halting, as though he isn’t sure whether he should be admitting this out loud. He isn’t looking at Sylvain anymore, either, his eyes fixed on the reactor buzzing below them. Ever the Fraldarius. “The inhibitor injections aren’t working anymore, he’s developing a tolerance too fast. If they keep upping the dose, it’s going to kill him. But if they stop…”

Glenn doesn’t need to finish that thought. Sylvain’s seen first hand the agony that Felix experiences on the days before the next doses, when there isn’t enough of the chemicals left in his system to help filter out the emotions of everyone else around him. One or two people, Felix might be able to handle. But a whole station? A thousand plus people all experiencing the full gambit of emotions at any given moment? No chance. On those days, Felix mostly stays cloistered somewhere down here with the fusion reactors, as far away from everyone—including Sylvain—as possible. It’s probably for the best, even if it has always made Sylvain feel like a shitty friend.

“I’ll be joining the crew of the U.S.S. Duscur next week. There’s not much I’ll be able to do for him from there, especially with him off on Bajor for who knows how long.”

Sylvain is frowning now. “Bajor?”

“He didn’t tell you?” Glenn asks, eyes sliding over to meet Sylvain’s with the kind of contemptuous incredulity that makes Sylvain feel like the biggest idiot to ever leave orbit. “There’s a betazoid there who Dad thinks can help. The transport leaves this afternoon.”

The weight that settles into Sylvain’s stomach is less like a stone and more like the entire planet of Jupiter and the gravity well surrounding it. Glenn is saying something else, something about keeping an eye out and communications but Sylvain’s brain is a little hung up on the complicated calculations surrounding distance and time between the maintenance corridor, his rooms, and the station docking ring.

“Hey, great talk,” Sylvain says suddenly, probably interrupting as he backs up quickly with a salute that’s meant to act as a hasty goodbye. “Let’s do it again sometime, yeah? When you get back. Good luck with the tour!”

Halfway through the door and about half a step from tripping over the nearest cable, Sylvain almost misses Glenn’s sigh.

“Guess you’re both idiots, then.”

It takes Sylvain less time than calculated to pack a bag. Makes sense, though; this is the kind of idiotic plan that only works so long as you stay in motion, your brain too focused on the act of putting one foot in front of the other to recognize the whole foundation is built on presuppositions with just a dash of selfishness mixed in. If he stops, he might have to wonder if Felix will really want him there. If he hesitates, he might have to guess what kind of message this split-second decision will really send. So, yeah. No time to wonder what kind of weather they’ll be having on Bajor in the spring—Sylvain throws the essentials hastily into a duffle before slinging the whole thing over his shoulder and starting off down the corridor.

It turns out Glenn’s idea of ‘afternoon’ is a little more broad than Sylvain might’ve anticipated. Hard to make a sweeping maybe-romantic gesture when the civilian transport you’re trying to catch moments before take-off is actually a cargo freighter delivering a few dozen pallets of self-sealing stem bolts before hightailing it back out to Ferengi space. The few weird looks he gets from the crewmen who watch him scramble through the doors are nothing compared to the relief Sylvain feels when he realizes he hasn’t actually missed the transport entirely—it just happens to be docked one platform over and isn’t leaving for another two hours.

That’s how Sylvain ends up in the doorway of the Fraldarius’s quarters twenty minutes later, blithely ignoring the knowing smirk on Glenn’s face when he steps aside to let Sylvain through. Not a telepath my ass, Sylvain thinks loudly in his direction, just in case, as he makes his way to Felix’s room in the back.

Well, no going back now.

“Heard you’re headed to my neck of the quadrant, huh?” Sylvain says, letting a shoulder fall against the door frame beside him with a soft thud, the perfect picture of feigned nonchalance.

[rachelbethhines]

60 Years of Doctor Who Anniversary Marathon - C. Baker 2nd Review

A Fix With Sontarans - Mini Episode

Now this is more like it.

A Fix With the Sontarans is a cute special that aired right after the The Two Doctors.

A young fan at the time basically won the chance to participate in a mini episode of the show and meet the Sixth Doctor.

What really makes the story work however is the return of Tegan.

While trying to get rid of some Sontarans, who is implied to have boarded the Tardis during the last story, the Doctor accidentally teleports Tegan aboard, and it is glorious.

Tegan and Six are a perfect pair. They're like two exs taking the mickey out of each other every chance they get. Unlike Peri, (who I must stress, I do like) Tegan doesn't take Six's shit. She confidently fires back when he tries to talk over her.

Contrariwise, Six won't let himself be steamed rolled over by Tegan's brashness. Unlike Five who seemed to cower under her anger, Six just dismisses her grouchy complaints.

That is until things get serious and they have to work together to protect the child that accidentally gets teleported up next.

Apparently, in the Doctor Who universe, Gareth Jenkins is a prodigy. He can keep up with the Doctor's technobabble and helps him fly the Tardis.

Not only that, but according to the Sontarans, he will be the one to stop their invasion of Earth come the year 2021, and if they can kill him now then they can prevent that future.

Now we did get a Sontaran invasion in the year 2021 in the show. There was no mention of Gareth Jenkins in Flux at all, however, and I think "super-fan" Chibnall missed a trick.

I mean, all it needed was a brief in-joke about the Doctor contacting an old friend off screen to handle some technical mumbo jumbo, but oh well. I guess that's what fanfiction and short trips are for.

Now I suppose I should mention the two different versions that exist of this short.

The original aired version involved a different show called Jim'll Fix It. The host of that series interrupts the story at the end and breaks the forth wall entirely. To make matters worse, said host would later be accused of multiple sexual abuse scandals years later.

For these reasons, the DVD version features an alternate ending where the host is edited out completely and instead the heroes spy an army of Sontaran spaceships outside the Tardis.

This effectively removes the forth wall elements, which is a plus, but it also ends things on a cliffhanger that will never be resolved.. so eehhh...

Also I haven't a clue where Peri is supposed to be during all this... Maybe she went traveling with Two and Jamie for a bit... or is just taking a nap in her room or something.

Anyways, I recommend checking this short out when you can, just for the Six and Tegan match up.

[sunnwalker]

Talk about Thomas 50000 times NOW !!!!!!!!!! my telekenisis sends everything around the room but then immediately arranges it back to normal. Because it doesn't have to be now and you also don't have to do it. But it WOULD be cool

Thank you thank you friend... I love an excuse to talk :) I am going to use this to talk abt the year-ish long window between Jack dying and Helios crashing because I have been thinking abt it all dayyy. I was gonna just spit out random facts but that felt too ermmm easy I guess. I think this is more of an outline than I really intended for it to be, but who care.

Jack dies while Thomas is on Helios. It was a hastily made decision to even have Thomas there in the first place, and he was definitely not first-pick, but he’s there.

Thomas doesn’t really have the ability to leave. Doubles aren’t expected to be anywhere but the Jackpot at this point, and as a precaution in the event that Jack dies, none should be allowed to board Helios, should one return seeking to take advantage of their status. This also applies to any departures, though this is due to oversight rather than intentional design. Either way, Thomas is trapped aboard Helios.

They can’t show their face in public now that Jack is dead, so they remain cooped up in their little apartment at first. They have nobody to confide in, because the circle of people that they’ve been allowed access to wants little to do with them (Because nobody wants to deal with Jack in any way now that he’s dead, even if “Jack” isn’t actually Jack)

He cycles between his usual highs and lows (mental illness be upon ye) on top of experiencing some level of real genuine grief for the man who had consumed much of his adult life to this point despite the abuse that he’s endured directly from Jack. Time continues to pass, and every aspect of his well-being goes mostly unchecked, by both himself and others around him. Around the two-month mark, he has led himself to truly believe that he was left on Helios to “fill in” for Jack post-mortem, as though nothing happened. That he was actually important to anyone with more power than himself. Emboldened by his (misplaced) conviction, he reaches up and directly threatens [whoever the fuck is in charge idk we’re never given this information], fully intending to get his hands on Hyperion proper, and is subsequently laughed at and shut away into his apartment (by force this time). He’s not really ready to confront it in the state he’s in at this point, but he is still forced to accept nowhere near as untouchable as Jack was, and even Jack wasn’t truly untouchable.

They spend a lot of the remaining year in hiding. They start growing out their hair on purpose. They haven’t styled it since they tried (embarrassingly) to demand control of Hyperion. They will sometimes go out to face the public, but tend to hang around less populated areas. They like people-watching a lot. This is the real start of their healing process I think (not to imply that it ever ends, but I assume you get it). They are beginning to earnestly and truly detach themselves from Jack.

A lot of his remaining time on Helios is spent going through the motions. He repeats the same half-baked routine whenever he feels like dragging himself out of bed. He doesn’t really need to worry about money.

Nearly a full year later a couple guys pull a wacky stunt of some kind, disappear for a while and holy shit Jack is back for a whole hour or so. Thomas never gets in contact. Not for a lack of trying, but rather by the time they figure out that they can just. talk to him directly without any special input (if they can find him), Helios is being dragged down to Pandora. It is a miracle they survived.

Helios crashing is like Jack dying a second time to Thomas, except this time he’s not particularly overcome with grief. He’s almost upset that he survives, believing himself too lucky. When he crawls out of the wreckage, it’s not long before he comes across a strange little man but idk who that would be. Awkward interactions and beautiful bonding experiences ensue.

And then they kiss like forever later

Maybe I'll post bits of the thing I'm writing up so I can get more familiar with this fellow but prob not because it's not great okay thank you for listening ❤️❤️

[monstersqueen]

virtuosa's file tho

Arturia Giallo, Laterano-born, is an active and renowned musician across all Terra. Rhodes Island has entered a tripartite agreement as requested by the Imperial Court of Leithanien and the Lateran Curia to authorize—given strict supervision by relevant personnel—her provisional onboarding at Rhodes Island as Operator "Virtuosa." (profile)

'strict supervision by relevant personnel' do you mean executor ? is that what it is ? is he just following her around in case she needs shooting and we're calling that 'supervision by relevant personnel' ?

"The Empresses' Voice is still reviewing the report on the subject. Is the Notarial Hall in such in a rush?" "Does Leithanien require that report to understand the subject?" "[COUGHING]" "We have three hours reserved for our initial conference. Abide by the agreement, Federico—the Empresses' Voice has the right to read through the report first." "Three hours. I will begin timing." (archive file 1)

he's so fuckign funny but also i'm noting the participants checklist just said "Notarial hall, Laterano : present"

Virtuosa will continue to require supervision while at Rhodes Island: all conduct will be subject to consistent scrutiny, anything spoken must be logged, and she is forbidden from performing anything without authorization. (archive file 1)

"supervision" : are you saying there's an actual system in place or is her cousin just following her around so she doesn't cause more chaos ?

we have been pressured to request that the associated operator—i.e. Executor—follow her during her time aboard, "so as to keep her safe." (archive file 2)

oh wow they do mean federico and just federico

love the 'to keep her safe". arturia is highly dangerous and volatile material, keep her safe !!

also the "we've been pressured" question who did the pressuring : laterano ? leithanien ? or executor and executor only ?

honestly i'm tempted to think it was mostly discussions but federico was standing there and it was very clear he would supervise whether they decided he should or not.

This restriction comes not just from Rhodes Island, or even the ever-present, ever-close, gun-toting Executor; (archive file 2)

"the ever-present, ever-close, gun-toting Executor" *headdesk* yeah so apparently yes. he's just there.

...'ever-present, ever-close' so apparently her oprec happens in a rare moment where he isn't 'supervising'. whatever that means. i'm choosing to call it bonding with his estranged sister via death threats. well, actually it sounds more like execution promises when he gives them, so.

(the rest of that quote is very good ! arturia doesn't try to change a person's nature with her Arts not just because she knows it to be impossible, but because she knows it to be an undesirable outcome. and the way it's implied that it's the only thing stopping her; she is stopping herself, not any external pressure. but i'm mostly in this file because apparently me sticking them in the same dorm even since i rolled her is actually. exactly what's happening)

[pixelwixard]

"Crisis Variable," Chapter 1, by UnhumanRights

Just in case you don't want to go to AO3 to read it, here's the first chapter of my fic. Although, if you would like to do me a kindness, you could go to my work on AO3 and leave kudos/comments. Just saying!

Teaser:

"Tendi, I have witnessed your combat prowess firsthand. Mariner, I have...read about your combat prowess in your file, and I am certain I will see it someday. I must know. In your expert opinions, what did I do wrong here? What should I have done differently?" T'Lyn asks Mariner and Tendi to analyze her combat performance after her encounter with the Betazoid Intelligence operatives.

Notes:

This story takes place a week after the events of Lower Decks S04e05, "Empathological Fallacies." It's the first real fanfiction I've written in a very long time, so please be kind. One last note: I decided to write it as a script because I was trying to emulate the feel of the show as closely as I could. Call it an experiment in style. Sorry if you don't like reading scripts!

Okay, story under the cut!

[Aboard the Cerritos. Tendi and Mariner enter the holodeck, where T'Lyn is already waiting, a cup with a straw in her hand and a PADD tucked under her arm. The room is empty except for three chairs to the side of the arch]

T'Lyn: I thank you both for coming.

Mariner: Anything for our girl, right, Tendi?

Tendi: You bet! You didn't tell us what this is about, and the mystery's been killing me.

T'Lyn: I require external input on a project I'm working on. You two are ideal candidates for objective third parties.

Mariner: Stop, you're making me blush.

T'Lyn: Please have a seat. Computer, load T'Lyn program "Betazoid Combat Simulation, iteration 342."

[The three women sit, T'Lyn between the other two, as the scene unfolds: the sickbay of the Cerritos. Present are holograms of Mariner, Captain Freeman, T'Lyn, T'Ana, and the three Betazoid intelligence operatives who were passengers during T'Lyn's episode of emotional projection. Mariner recognizes it immediately]

Mariner: Ooo, really? We're gonna revisit this?

T'Lyn: "Revisit" implies a span of time between this event and the creation of the program. I made this on the same day.

Tendi: Wait, did you say 342 iterations? You've been working on this all week?

T'Lyn : Correct.

Tendi: And...how much time do you spend on it each day?

T'Lyn: Only the time I am not sleeping, performing necessary hygiene, or working. [A pause] Correction...most of the time I am working. You would be intrigued to discover how many spare seconds you can reclaim between tasks. The time has been worthwhile and not excessive. Computer, begin program.

[The program begins. Dr. T'Ana discusses the results of the medical scans performed on the Betazoids, the volume muted as the focus is on the three women observing]

T'Lyn: [She sips from her cup as she watches] I have been able to devote more time to the project since discovering this nutrient shake recipe in the replicator. It provides all the nourishment I need without wasting time with mastication.

Mariner: Damn, girl, you don't have an off switch. Do you run simulations in your sleep, too?

[T'Lyn pauses mid-nutrient-sip. She looks away from the holograms long enough to peer at Mariner from the corner of her eye]

T'Lyn: I had not considered that possibility. Very efficient. Thank you for the excellent suggestion, Mariner.

Tendi: Oh boy.

T'Lyn: [She leans forward, attention back to the simulation] This is the portion that requires your utmost attention. I've reset all the variables I've added over the iterations, so your observations will be untainted by my experimentation.

[Mariner and Tendi glance at each other, but say nothing. The combat between the Betazoids and the crew begins, and Mariner's and T'Ana's holograms are knocked out in short order. Soon after, the Betazoids overpower holo-T'Lyn]

T'Lyn: Computer, freeze program.

[The program freezes. T'Lyn puts her nutrient shake down on the floor beside her and begins tapping away on her PADD]

T'Lyn: I have a questionnaire for you both. Please be as detailed as possible. It should not take you more than an hour to answer every question to my satisfaction.

Mariner: Look, Tee-Lye, babe, as much as I love the idea of taking a full-ass exam right now, maybe we can start with something more...informal?

T'Lyn: I suppose we can try it.

Mariner: Great, beautiful. First of all, I kind of thought we were done with this whole thing a week ago? Heartfelt moment of self-acceptance? Ring a bell?

T'Lyn: Ah. You misunderstand, Mariner. That was a crisis of faith regarding my racial identity. This is a different matter.

Tendi: Which is...?

T'Lyn: A crisis of faith regarding my combat skill. I will explain. Computer, please rewind simulation to marker two and resume program.

[The simulation returns to the point after the Betazoids have knocked out Mariner and T'Ana, leaving T'Lyn to face them on her own]

T'Lyn: As you can clearly see from my stance, I have trained in Suus Mahna. I do not claim mastery, having only taken enough to satisfy certain requirements for joining the Vulcan Fleet, but I am by no means defenseless. In addition, Vulcans are naturally faster and stronger than Betazoids. And yet...

[Holo-T'Lyn is knocked out again after a brutal triple-attack from the Betazoids]

T'Lyn: ...I am the one on the ground. [stands up and walks over to her doppelganger's unconscious form, then turns to look at them both] Tendi, I have witnessed your combat prowess firsthand. Mariner, I have...read about your combat prowess in your file, and I am certain I will see it someday. I must know. In your expert opinions, what did I do wrong here? What should I have done differently?

Mariner: Seriously? Look, T'Lyn, you're being way too hard on yourself. I mean, check me out. Stone cold badass, but I was the first one down.

T'Lyn: You were compromised by my psychic influence. It was not a fair fight.

Mariner: [stands up, gesticulating wildly] It was never a fair fight! I know Betazoids aren't known as the galaxy's greatest warriors, but those three were Betazoid Intelligence, not some drunken socialites. Although they could really party. And you tried to take three of them on by yourself. And you lasted longer solo than I did with backup, if you can count my mom and the doctor as backup.

Tendi: [surreptitiously takes a sip of T'Lyn's nutrient shake, makes a face] I bet it's hard, fighting people when you're an empath. Every time you punch someone, you know it hurts. I mean, you'd know that already, duh, but you'd sense it. I'd hate if if it were me. I...don't think there was anything you could have done differently. Those ladies were just hardcore.

T'Lyn: [strokes her chin thoughtfully] Logically, I know what you say is true. Three to one odds were not in my favor, and they were not truly my enemies. However, this...feeling...that I failed my ship is disconcerting.

Tendi: You didn't fail, though. Everything turned out fine!

[T'Lyn says nothing, staring at her unconscious avatar for a few seconds]

T'Lyn: It could have ended differently. Computer, resume program.

[The events that follow mirror what happened after the sickbay encounter. The Betazoid intelligence agents take Captain Freeman to the bridge, where they alter the Cerritos's course to take them through the Neutral Zone]

T'Lyn: I misspoke earlier, when I said I had reset all the variables I had added. I left just this one.

[At this point, the security team should be showing up to retake the bridge from the Betazoid operatives. However, they never appear. Instead, the Cerritos crosses over into the Neutral Zone, where it is summarily destroyed by the Romulan Warbird that lurks cloaked within. T'Lyn stares at the explosion, the orange highlighting her impassive expression until the light fades. She blinks.]

T'Lyn: It could have ended like...this.

Tendi: But that's not what happened.

T'Lyn: Had events unfolded in a way that varied even slightly...my failure could have been final, and fatal. This modified timeline illustrates the possibilities we did not experience solely because of one variable. Had the security team not been isolated from my psychic influence, they would have been compromised like the rest of the crew, and would not have retaken the bridge. I dislike thinking about it, but I cannot stop myself. One variable.

[Mariner looks thoughtful, then her face lights up. She goes to T'Lyn, and puts a hand on her shoulder]

Mariner: Do you trust me?

T'Lyn: [an arch of one eyebrow] Yes.

Mariner: Let me take a crack at modifying your program. I have an idea. I think you'll find it...therapeutic.

T'Lyn: I see no harm in it. Very well. I look forward to it.

Tendi: [almost too stealthy for words, she is out of her chair and hooking an arm through T'Lyn's] You know, you started out great! Put them on the defensive so they had to respond to you, ducked that swing. Maybe we could spar sometime? Just a little, and I'd go easy on you. But first, let's go to the mess and get you some real food, okay? I know a few Orion dishes I bet you'd like...

[Tendi's words fade as we turn away from them and focus on Mariner, looking quite devious]

Mariner: [to herself] This is perfect. Boimler thinks he can write a sequel to MY movie? Well, boom, bitch, Crisis Point 2 just became the direct-to-video sequel that nobody cares about, [muttered] you know, besides all your important personal struggles with mortality or whatever.

[Close-up on Mariner's face, eyes narrowed]

Mariner: Coming to a holodeck near you...Crisis Point 1.5.

[END, CHAPTER 1]

End notes:

Well, I hope you enjoyed it! It started out as a much different idea: T'Lyn wanted to learn to fight, and Mariner wanted to learn the Vulcan nerve pinch, and they were basically doing a "cultural exchange." (Man, quotation marks makes that sound dirty). After the episode "Empathological Fallacies," though, it evolved into a new thing. Basically, the episode ruined a punchline I had in mind. I guess I should be happy because it's becoming something I like even better. Heck, Tendi even got involved, which I hadn't expected. Also, I had intended it to be a one-off story, but now I need to do at least one more chapter after that teaser at the end (and probably an epilogue with some nice fluff). I've written too much here, haven't I? I'll stop now.