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

[whereisthedamndaddymanual]

How do you know when I like a girl

Well, your mother would say if he eats something he doesn't like for you to make you happy that is a pretty good sign.

(i'll eat my women's enemies souls I will)

And look for seconds.

[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."

[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

[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

[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)

[desultory-novice]

Okay, so, the Kirby "Encyclopedia" should really have been called the Kirby "Directory."

I mentioned I would translate it, but there's not much worth translating in here. Most of it is less interesting than your average pause screen lore. Thus, I'm not doing the whole book…

Here are translations for all the ones I found interesting though!

-

Adeleine

[Mid-Boss, Helper, Ally]

A girl whose hobby is painting. She seems to have come from some place quite far away to study painting. She has the power to bring the creatures and food she paints on her canvas to life.

[Re-appears as a Dream Friend]

Adeleine, who had been on a journey to someplace far away, appears alongside Ribbon to support Kirby.

//Interesting that they imply she was on a journey elsewhere between 64 and Star Allies...

Bandanna Waddle Dee

[Mid-Boss, Helper, Ally]

A Waddle Dee recognizable by their trademark blue bandanna. They were an enemy in the past, in service to King Dedede, but in recent years they've made more appearances as an ally of Kirby's. Can perform a variety of techniques with their spear.

-

Marx

[Boss, Helper]

A mischief-loving jester. Manipulated Kirby in his very first appearance in an attempt to make everyone's home, Popstar, his own. When it's time for a fight, he shows his fangs and spreads his large wings to attack.

Marx Soul

[Boss]

The form that the defeated Marx takes after he is resurrected by the power of the Galactic Nova. Appears at the end of the True Arena after defeating all other bosses.

//I like the phrasing “resurrected by the power of the Galactic Nova :files away in my “Clockwork Marx” theory file:

Magolor

[Boss, Helper]

The "magician of falsehoods” who came from another world aboard the spaceship called the Lor Starcutter. He meets Kirby and the others after crash landing in Dream Land. In truth, he planned on acquiring the Master Crown Landia was guarding to take control of Halcandra.

//I normally translate “magician of falsehoods” as “lying wizard” based on the English game, but they put it in quotes here, so magician of falsehoods felt more appropriate. Also, Magolor? Did you REALLY want to take over Halcandra? You know that planet's awful, right? (Ticks another box in the "Magolor isn't as smart as he makes himself out to be" checklist.) The rest of the stuff on his page is completely useless, btw. Just saying Kirby et al help gather ship parts and that you can recruit him in KF2 at Rank 39

Magolor Soul

[Boss]

This grotesque being was once Magolor, before he was swallowed up by the limitless power of the Master Crown. He is saved when the crown is destroyed.

-

Kine

[Helper, Ally]

The droll jokester Kine looks identical to an ocean sunfish. His speciality is moving in water. Normally, Kirby can't inhale enemies in water, but with Kine, that's not a problem.

Coo

[Helper, Ally]

Flying is his specialty, and he can even fly through strong winds and gales. Grabs Kirby in his claws when he and Kirby unite. Is apparently quite the star in Dream Land.

Rick

[Helper, Ally]

A friend who looks just like a hamster. Kirby can hop on top of him to travel across land. Rick doesn't slide on ice, and he can climb sheer cliffs by continually jumping. And he jumps quite high. Has a girlfriend named Pick.

//Found it interesting that they go out of their way to say they resemble these animals but are NOT these animals.

Gooey

[Helper, Ally]

Kirby's friend. The same species as Dark Matter, but Gooey does not possess a wicked heart. Can catch and swallow enemies using their long tongue, but Gooey can't use inhale.

-

Nightmare Wizard

[Boss]

Arrived to bring bad dreams to the residents of Dream Land. Takes this form after you defeat Nightmare Power Orb.

//It seemed up in the air as to whether Nightmare was keeping Dream Landers from having dreams, or actually giving them bad dreams. Turns out, he was actually giving them bad dreams.

Dark Matter

[Boss]

A member of the Dark Matter tribe. Starting with Popstar, where Kirby and friends lived, Dark Matter spread a dark fog over the star to turn it into a world of darkness, so it would be more hospitable to their tribe. Dark Matter's name refers to the substance known as dark matter.

//Interesting that Dark Matter was trying to...terraform Popstar? Sounds like Necrodeus, to be honest. That last line about the name is mostly there for Japanese speakers who might not connect the word with the concept, because the concept is written in kanji.

Galacta Knight

[Boss]

The strongest warrior in the galaxy, who, out of fear of their tremendous power, was sealed in crystal long, long ago. Galacta enjoys strife. Summoned by Galactic Nova when Meta Knight made a wish to fight the strongest warrior in the galaxy.

//Interesting about Galacta actually LIKING strife/conflict. Don't know if we'd heard that before.

Landia

[Boss]

Four dragons living in the depths of Halcandra, and the last boss you face there. They normally take the shape of a single large dragon with four heads. Attacked Magolor's ship, the Lor. They can fly and spit fire and move about freely at high altitudes.

//So Landia are in fact four dragons that just enjoy chilling as one dragon? That's cool.

Necrodeus

[Boss]

The boss of the Skull Gang who plotted to cover the world in darkness. At the beginning of the story, he uses his staff to split Kirby into 10, defeating 9 of them.

-

Fecto Elfilis

[Boss]

An invasive species from outer space that invaded the forgotten land. Possesses the ability to travel through dimensions. After an accident, they were split into Elfilin and Fecto Forgo. Called "ID-F86"

//I always thought the "Elfilis was an invader" might have been narrator bias from the Forgotten Landers, so it's interesting to have confirmation they were a hostile invader.

Chaos Elfilis

[Boss]

A new life form born when the souls of Soul Forgo, Morpho Knight, and the primeval beasts mixed together.

//...Where is Morpho Knight now, I wonder...? :files in the “multiple Morpho Knights” theory file:

Fecto Forgo

[Boss]

What was left when Fecto Elfilis's benevolent heart split off. Kept in Lab Discovera, they were controlling Leongar.

-

Gryll

[Boss]

A magic user riding a broom. Attacks by hitting people with their broom. Followed by their three companions, Sugar, Salt, and Pepper.

Queen

[Other]

The queen of Ripple Star where Ribbon and the other fairies live. She's a bit of a scatterbrain and not always the most reliable.

Shopkeeper Magolor

[Other]

Magolor, only he runs a shoppe. If you buy all of his equipment, the shoppe gets an upgrade and he dresses like Magolor.

//I translated this because the writing was hilarious. "He dresses like Magolor." Also, the first line could also be read as "A Magolor who runs a shop." I’m just imagining all these different Magolors now…

[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.

[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)

[animereaderinsertwriter]

Previous - Chapter 2 - Next - Masterlist - Playlist - Art - Ao3

Pairing: Izuku Midoriya x Reader

Rating: Explicit

Tags/Warnings: princess bride!AU, pirate!izuku, reader is in an arranged marriage with someone else, angst, smut, brief mentions of alcoholism and drinking too much, izuku spends some time as a prisoner of war, specifically as a galley slave, implied SA but not to yn or Izuku

into the movieverse! collab masterlist

“Must’ve been hard for (Y/N), being all alone,” said the girl, chewing on a nail. “She must’ve had to be brave.”

Her mother raised a brow with a cheeky smile. 

“And Izuku didn’t?” 

The girl thought for a moment, then shrugged. “I guess.”

“Well, I think becoming a soldier of fortune is a scary thing,” the mother replied, leaning back in her seat, watching the distant ocean waves. “There’s always someone trying to kill, maim, or cheat you in that life.”

“But he didn’t even make it that far!”

The mother laughed. 

“Am I telling this story, or are you?”

Her daughter pouted, comically poking out her bottom lip as she crossed her arms. “It’s just that he didn’t, is all.”

“Of course not,” her mother replied, still watching the waves. “He scarcely spent a week aboard the ship meant to carry him off to the front lines of Gildur before disaster struck… ”

***

By his fourth day aboard The Dragon Maid, Izuku decided that he didn’t much care for people outside his village, even if they were all from the same Florin stock. 

The Dragon Maid was a Florin ship of the line, with eighty guns and a mean, smelly crew. They were certainly an unpleasant lot by anyone’s standards; they screamed, they cursed, they gambled, they drank, and they hated anyone who wasn’t one of them. Whenever Izuku passed, they’d spit and swear, always ready to start a fight— but strangely enough, Izuku had gotten so used to Bakugou’s prickly personality that their treatment hardly fazed him. Hatred and vitriol were nothing to him; rather, it was the disdain and scorn of his fellow soldiers— especially the officers— that galled him more than anything. 

Since the day he boarded the ship, Izuku had never fancied himself above any sort of work. Often, found himself swabbing the deck in lieu of learning other skills to make himself useful on board during the journey, and he took every possible opportunity to learn as much as he could from anyone who would teach him. His peers, with their noses in the air and their thumbs up their arses, would laugh and jeer at him, tossing around under-handed insults to everything from his appearance to the question of his legitimacy, and more than once, he’d had enough cause to demand satisfaction, should he have desired it. Even so, he’d kept his mouth shut. It was of no consequence whether or not he was well-liked. His earnings would come with or without the acceptance of his peers, and once he had those, he would return to (Y/N) just as he had promised. 

Still, being in the company of such unbearable pricks with no reprieve was almost torturous, and Izuku found his patience tested to its limit and beyond. It was on that fourth day of the journey— a hot, sunny, bloody miserable day— that Izuku finally lost his composure, giving insult the dignity of a reply.

It all began with a man named Shoto Todoroki. 

Todoroki was a quiet man, calm and serene, with two-tone hair and a scar on his left eye. Ordinarily, Izuku would have preferred his company to that of the other officers— silence was far better than jeering, after all— had it not been for the air of superiority that followed the prick like a dark cloud, heavy and oppressive in every move, every breath he made. As it was, Todoroki reeked of entitlement and daddy’s money and a military education, and Izuku despised him.  

“Why are you here?”

The question came out of nowhere. Izuku was belowdecks, helping the cook— an old, greasy, gnarled man with a missing leg and withered arm— with his duties, chopping onions, cleaning pots, anything to make himself useful, when Todoroki came down to fetch a meal for the captain, with whom he’d been in conference all morning. As soon as the chef was busy preparing the meal, Todoroki turned to Izuku and asked that singular, pointed question like a quarterstaff to the head. 

“Excuse me?” Izuku asked, wondering if he’d somehow misheard.

“You are a farm boy with no education,” said Todoroki, his expression impassive. “You have no fighting skills that I have seen, and you’re too meek to defend yourself against the others when they harass you. You have no rank, no name, and no fighting spirit— so I’ll ask again. Why are you here?”

Izuku blinked. He blinked again. Todoroki was still standing there, so Izuku figured he’d better make some kind of reply before he was deemed a more of a fool than he already had been.

“I don’t see how that’s any of your business,” he shrugged.

Todoroki’s eyes narrowed. 

“It’s all of our business.” Todoroki’s hand drifted to the cutlass at his waist. “When we go out and fight, you may end up being the man that watches my back. If you’re worthless, then I have a right to know why you think you’re worthy of guarding my back, or anyone else’s, for that matter.”

Since his arrival on the ship, Izuku had done nothing but work to prove himself. He had endured all with a steel spine and iron balls, and he had kept his tongue carefully in check. Somehow, this insult, delivered so matter-of-factly, was worse than all the others. This was cold, impersonal. 

This was unbearable. 

“I’m not worthless.”

As you are, you're unfit, unworthy—

Todoroki raised a brow. The cook was wisely silent, and stood as much apart from the two of them as he could in such cramped quarters. 

 “Are you not?”

You're not someone who can provide for her.

Izuku’s hands balled into fists at his side. 

“No,” he replied. “I am not.”

Todoroki hummed.

“I don’t believe you.”

Izuku’s vision went white. He felt his hand close around the handle of a cast-iron pan, freshly hot from the fire, and he swung it wildly, connecting it to Todoroki’s face once, twice, three times before he was pulled away and shoved to the floor. 

“Madness!” cried the cook, fury in his gnarled face. “Bloody fucking madness! Were you born without brains, you stupid bastard, or did you give it away to some poor beggar?”

Across the way, Todoroki was holding onto the counter, pulling himself upright. Izuku’s blows had dazed him, struck him down, but not downed him entirely. Briefly, the urge to lunge once more washed over Izuku, but he did not succumb to it. Instead, he put his head in his hands, and he felt hot tears begin to form in his eyes.

He’s right, Izuku thought miserably. I have no place here. These people have trained their whole lives to be killers, leaders, professionals— and I’m as green as summer grass. I should have a plow in my hand, not a sword. What the hell am I thinking?

Who knows how long he would have sat there in his misery, or what would have happened, had there not been a timely interruption? Certainly, striking a ranked officer like Shoto Todoroki would have resulted in severe consequences for someone like Izuku— but in that very moment, a series of whistle blasts sounded, and the three men in the kitchen looked at one another, frozen in place. 

“Was that—”

The words were barely out of Izuku’s mouth before Todoroki was bounding across the kitchen and up the stairs, taking them three at a time. 

“Enemy ship!” said the cook, pulling Izuku to his feet with more strength than Izuku would have given him credit for. “Up lad— go, go, go!”

Izuku scrambled up the stairs and onto the deck, and out of the confused throng of sailors and soldiers, Bakugou grabbed him by the arm and pulled him to the starboard side of the ship. 

"Get ready," Bakugou told him, nodding across the water to a speck of a ship a good ways off. "She flies Gildur's flag."

Izuku swallowed. 

"You're sure?"

Bakugou nodded. 

"She's a big ship. Bigger than ours."

"Well," said Izuku, "How do we counter that?"

Bakugou turned to him then, his russet-red eyes sharp. 

"I don't know," he said, "but if I had to guess, we'll need to get the fuck off of this ship and onto that one, especially if they have more guns than we do."

Izuku huffed a panicked laugh. 

"Better to be on the ship with less holes in it, I guess."

"And better to take out the other men aboard before they can take more of us."

"And how do you plan to do that?"

Both Izuku and Bakugou turned to find Shoto Todoroki standing behind them, still as regal and princely as ever he was, despite the fact that he should be growing a goose-egg on the side of his head even now. Dark thoughts passed over Izuku, and his hand gripped the dagger he kept strapped close to his breast, ready and willing to finish what he had started— but Bakugou stepped between them and into Todoroki's space, his nose inches from the nobleman's. 

"It's impolite to eavesdrop, my Lord Cunt," Bakugou snarled. "Fuck off elsewhere quick-like, before I start feeling antsy."

Bakugou's hand went to his pistol— a less quiet solution than Izuku's dagger, but one that would prove just as effective— but Todoroki raised his hands in a surrendering motion. 

"It's a genuine question. If you don't want to die, listen closely."

Todoroki explained their situation in no uncertain terms. The gunners belowdecks would be doing all they could to destroy the other ship, and the captain would be giving orders and steering the ship so that they would be in the best strategic position to strike. Under no circumstances were they to board the other ship without the captain's orders. At best, they would cause confusion among the men, and many would follow them, leaving their own vessel undefended before it was time. At worst, they would simply die. 

"But," said Todoroki, "there are things a man might do to make himself useful, and there are exceptions to every rule when a ranked officer is among your company."

His meaning suddenly became clear. If the two of them stuck with him, Todoroki would take what they had to offer, and with his knowledge and experience, he would put them to their most effective use. 

"Very well," said Izuku, releasing his dagger. "Lead on, Midshipman."

Izuku could have sworn he saw Todoroki's mouth tick upwards— the first expression he'd seen from the man— but it was gone before Izuku could be sure he hadn't imagined it. 

In hindsight, Izuku should have realized that the conflict would not commence immediately. Rather, it took several minutes for The Dragon Maid to come close to the other ship, and even longer for her to draw alongside. The wait was unbearable— not just for Izuku, but, it seemed, every man aboard as well. All were twitchy and tense and silent as a graveyard, and even Todoroki seemed to have a darkness about him that had not previously been present… but when the action finally began, it became impossible to tell one moment from the next, and Izuku was glad of Todoroki's earlier direction. 

The deck was in chaos. Muskets were firing, men were dying— and Izuku was standing there, gaping like a fish out of water. He stood behind Todoroki, who was screaming orders above the din of the cannons— Fire! Quickly, you sons of bitches, load! Fire!— and from all that he could tell, there was nothing more that he could do. 

That was, until a man a few feet from himself was blown backwards by a cannon blast, his left arm lost to the blow. 

Izuku's body moved on its own. He was over to the man in an instant, flinging the soldier's remaining arm over his shoulders.

"Take him to the surgery!" Todoroki commanded him. "Iida will know how to staunch the bleeding!"

Izuku lifted the man with strength he didn't know he had, and by himself, he dragged the man belowdecks and took him to the serious, severe-looking barber-surgeon. When Izuku entered, Tenya Iida was shoving a biting stick into a sailor's mouth, and a second later, the barber surgeon began pulling out a large, cylindrical piece of broken, jagged wood out of his shoulder. 

"Iida!" Izuku called out over the screaming of the wounded sailor, "This man needs immediate medical attention!"

"One at a time!" the medic barked without looking over. "I have no one to triage—"

Izuku wasn't there to hear excuses. He hefted the man he was carrying to the operating table, then grabbed Iida's shoulder and roughly made the medic face him.

"If you don't do something for this man, he will die," Izuku said, fury coloring his words. "He's losing a lot of—"

Roughly, Iida shoved him away, and told Izuku that he would not be bossed around in his own surgery— but even as he did so, he began to prepare a tourniquet for the wounded man Izuku had brought in, so Izuku figured his part was done and made his way back to the deck of the ship and into the fray. 

The scene he rejoined was not pretty. 

In the brief moments Izuku had been gone, enemies from the other ship had boarded The Dragon Maid. Everywhere he looked, Izuku saw cutlass locked with cutlass, strength matched with strength; across the way, he could see that Todoroki was back-to-back with Bakugou, each of them fending off Gildur's soldiers for all they were worth, and he cursed himself for not being at their side when things turned ugly. Soon, however, he would find that there was no time to worry with such; for the moment he placed a single foot forward, Izuku found himself engaged with defending his own neck. 

It took three deaths for Izuku to reach his former position. The first death came quick, easy; a man came running headlong at him, screaming like a banshee, and Izuku side-stepped instinctually, just like Aizawa had taught him.

"Momentum is a hard thing to stop," Aizawa told him weeks ago at their first training, "but an easy thing to counter. Its strength is its weakness, and once a man's back is to you, it's easy after that."

As Izuku plunged his sword at an upward angle into the small of the charging man's back, he reflected on the truth of those words. Aizawa had taught him to think first, act second— but he was now so practiced that the thinking bit was almost subconscious. 

How's that for worthless? he thought somewhat smugly— but that pride only lasted as long as it took to take three more steps, and then he was engaged once more. 

Izuku caught an overhead blow with the blade of his saber, using two hands— one on the hilt, one on the blade— to brace against the crushing strength of his opponent. The man before him was burly, strong, but it made him slow. Izuku danced easily around him, dodging slow, heavy blows, waiting to land his own strike until the big, ugly fool was enraged enough to overextend himself in a desperate swing, and Izuku shoved his cutlass directly through the man's throat. 

The third death, however, was not so easily won. 

Izuku had nearly reached Bakugou's side when a slender, almost skeletal sailor from Gildur's crew came at him with a knife. The man was too fast for Izuku to dodge or counter, and it cost him blood and flesh— a gash cut from his left jaw to his right eyebrow. Izuku stumbled backwards, raising his cutlass in his best attempt at defense, but the other man was damned fast. He swung again, and though Izuku moved fast enough to avoid the knife being plunged into his temple, he couldn't avoid the bite of the knife, mirrored this time on the opposite side of his face, from his left eyebrow to his right jaw. Blood flowed from both of the wounds, blinding him; Izuku felt sure he would die as he wiped furiously at his face, trying to regain his sight, but by the time he managed it, he heard a solid thunk, and he opened his eyes to find the knife-wielder dead at Todoroki's feet. 

He opened his mouth to thank Todoroki, but he could scarcely say the words before Todoroki's eyes widened, fear coloring his usually expressionless face. Before Izuku could turn to see what had frightened his comrade so, he felt pain blossom at the bottom of his skull, and he knew no more.

***

"But he wasn't really dead, though," said the girl, looking up at her mother with those beautiful, sea-green eyes she'd gotten from her father. "Right?"

"Right," the mother agreed. "Fate wasn't finished with Izuku Midoriya. He still had much farther to go before he would find his rest."

The girl nodded, satisfied— but that was not all of the story that there was to tell. 

"Even so," the mother continued, "No one was there to tell (Y/N) that. She waited anxiously for news of her lover, hoping for word of his safe arrival— but what she got instead was a letter detailing his demise, and the sinking of The Dragon Maid…"

***

The parchment fell from her hand and onto the floor. 

(Y/N) stumbled backwards until she felt her hip touch the table in her kitchen, and she threw out a hand to brace herself against it, her chest squeezing her lungs empty and her stomach churning with the sickness of sudden, blindsiding grief. 

"No," she breathed. "No."

The word felt right, so she repeated it again and again until it lost all meaning. 

Her father simply watched her, his brows drawn together in quiet concern. Only moments before, he himself had handed her the parchment, not telling her what it would say. It was with no warning and no compassion that she had received the news of Izuku's death, and it cut her to the core. 

"I want to make you happy," he'd told her before he left. 

The memory galled her. With stinging nose and tear-filled eyes, she looked at her father, and instead saw the man who had sent Izuku away, who had forced him to leave the farm in search of gold. Malice rose in her then, and she said things no daughter should say to her father. 

"You did this."

Her father blinked, impassive, and rage blinded her to aught else. 

"You as good as killed him when you sent him away," she continued darkly, her tears coloring her voice, "You're as much of a murderer as if you had cut his throat yourself!"

Her father shook his head. 

"Oh, my daughter— I know you're upset—"

"He was the love of my life, and he's dead because of you!'

Her father sighed.

"He knew the risks when he left this farm, girl—"

"And so did you!" (Y/N)'s chest heaved, and her vision began to fade at the corners. "You knew the risks, and you still sent him away! You know he's a good man, father— he loved me, he would have been so good to me—"

"He couldn't have provided for you—"

"I would rather starve with him than feast without him!" 

"That's foolish talk," her father said, but (Y/N) had heard enough. 

"Get out," she told him— nevermind that this was her father's house. "Get out!"

The farmer left. 

(Y/N), alone with her grief, succumbed to it, let it pull her beneath its murky waters, and drowned there. 

[walkingstackofbooks]

DS9 3x20 Improbable Cause and 3x21 The Die Is Cast thoughts (I'm re-watching, so beware spoilers for future episodes!)

(25/05/2023)

Garak!

Shakespeare! The first mention of this Garashir-fic staple XD

Garak is so obviously flirting XD this is the exact same way Gilora was talking to Miles!

G: "I'd be more than happy to bring some by the Infirmary later this afternoon." B: "Why thank you, I'd like that." His smile!

Kira's "Garak. :/". She's just so annoyed by his existence and it shows XD 

Oh, this is where he fakes his assassination attempt!

"But who would want to kill me? A simple tailor?" Always with the tailor identity.

G: "And of course, there's always Major Kira." B: "This is serious, Garak." G: "I'm being serious. I don't think she likes me." O: "She doesn't. But if she wanted you dead, you would be." Everything about this is 👌👌

Julian is so fed up with Garak's lies, isn't he

And the moral of the boy who cried wolf is... "You should never tell the same lie twice." Of course, Garak. Sigh

"I have bad news for you. Major Kira has an airtight alibi." Garak's tight amusement at this

"What makes you think I haven't already looked thtough [your security files]?... I'm joking, of course." Needing to mollify Odo.

"Odo I -" Miles is so stunned to see Garak there XD

"They're known to be favoured by Flaxian assassins, and it just so happens a Flaxian came aboard the station just this morning." Oh, Garak is gooood

This guy, the Flaxian, is not acting innocent, he's being super slippery and suspicious - but if Garak blew up his own shop, it can't have been him? Unless he was hired by Garak, I guess...

Odo's surprise to see Garak in the shuttle XD

Okay so Garak is genuinely stunned by the other ship exploding? I'm so confused!

"Because if he did know, he'd already be spinning out an elaborate web of lies to cover up the truth." Odo knows Garak's MO too well.

"Considering those uniforms of theirs, you'd think they'd appreciate a decent tailor." XD Odo has an opinion on this?

The unusual Romulans activity, as though they're getting ready for an invasion - this is them getting ready for the Dominion attack with Train?

Another five Cardassians were assassinated? But I'm almost certain Garak faked his! 

"I am not Doctor Bashir and we are not sparring amiably over lunch." Love this outside perspective on Garak and Bashir's lunch dates.

"You blew up your own shop, Garak!" The shock on Garak's face! And Odo's pleased, "Welllll, heh heh."

Ohhh, so there was a real plot to kill Garak

"He retired some years ago. He was, I might add, the only head of the agency ever to live long enough to do so." The fact that Garak is still showing pride at Tain's accomplishment

The emotion on Garak's face seeing Mila :3

"Is there anything you need me to do while you're gone?" Oh, sweetheart!

"Eat it? You're joking." "Yes I am." Julian's fond smile coming out there <3

CHOCOLATES

THEY'RE IN LOVE

"Is it so hard to believe that there's one person in this galaxy who could regard me with a certain affection?" "I could believe there's one (BASHIR cough cough) but I wouldn't expect it to be someone who worked for Enabran Tain."

"Tell me, is there one person in this universe you do care for? One person who's more than just an interesting puzzle to be solved." Interesting that it would just be the one. Why do they care so much about Odo only caring about Kira, because that's what's being implied, isn't it?

Aaaand I've only just realised that this isn't just setting up for The Die Is Cast, TDIC is the next episode! I'd thought it was the end of the season for some reason ..

"Ah, Garak. It's good of you to come. It spares me the trouble of having to send someone else to kill you." ... Whoops

"Like I used to say. Always burn your bridges behind you. You never know who might be trying to follow." I always find it fascinating when aliens have a twist on an English proverb. 

"You blew up your own shop? You, my friend, are a true original."

"I never betrayed you! At least, not in my heart." The emotion!

"You'll pardon me if I appear a little startled." This episode has sure been a tough ride for Garak's emotional control...!

321 The Die Is Cast

Julian's babbling on over lunch :3

Miles trying to pretend he was listening and failing miserably XD

His soft smiles leading into a sad face at remembering Garak

"That's not entirely bad news." *hopeful eye contact*

The slow realisation it's not just one ship out there...

Garak's so happy! 

"I was good wasn't I?" Garak still needing that validation

"I've missed you too, Enabran." Very deliberate pause there

"Next thing you know we'll be crying over our lost youth." Oh that was very pointed, and you can see Garak knows it.

Dr Parmak mention - "When we get back, you should look him up." This is where all those fanfics start?

"Mila may not be around much longer." Garak's quick head turn. He's so easy to read?

"Is this a request I hear?" "Not at all! Just an observation :)" oh Garak. I guess protecting Mila is another reason you want to stay on Tain's good side.

G: "And believe me, if it were my decision, things would be-" O: "I don't believe you, Garak..." Yeah, legit

"You are imaginative, Constable, I'll grant you that. But I would suggest that you put those creative powers to better use. We would like you to share your unique insights on the Founders." Garak's trying to tell Odo to make it up, tell him anything.

"It sounds like you're hoping Tain will succeed." I mean, I can see why - the Dominion bring home would be beneficial, probably.

Eddington >:(

"I'd like permission to take the Defiant into the Gamma Quadrant and try to determine if he's still alive." No of course not. But you tried, Sisko <3

"I am not going to just abandon one of my officers." YES, Sisko, I should have known you'd not take no for an answer

"I consider this a volunteer mission, but don't volunteer yet. There's a good chance you won't be coming back." But it's still worth it to him to try to get Odo :3

Eddington is Not Enjoying This. I guess he wants to fly under Starfleet's radar and not get court martialled? I wonder why he volunteered... It would make more sense to me for him to remain on the station and get more entrenched there

Ah, so that's why Eddington came, to sabotage the mission. He IS sucking up to Starfleet

"You've turned us into sitting ducks for the Jem'Hadar!" Miles trying to attack and Sisko restraining him.

"Because I give you my word." "I make it a policy to never question the word of anyone who wears that uniform. Don't make me change that policy." Oh Sisko.... This hit harder knowing what Eddington will do

"Ohh, no, you're going to torture me, aren't you?" The sarcasm, Odo's so confident Garak can't do anything to him

"Tell me, what will happen if you can't revert to a liquid?" "I don't know." The fear in Odo's face.

"I can wait. The question is, can you?" Chills

"Major, leave the chief alone." XD

"Odo! Talk to me!" The emotionn. "Lie if you have to, but say it now!" He's saying the quiet bit out loud?!

Garak is so transparent! He cannot hide his need to keep Odo alive!

There's definitely something about Garak quoting the Shakespeare he disdained just a few days ago to Tain.

"Why are you doing this?" "Because no changeling has ever harmed another." You kind of let Odo be significantly hurt though... Like, that is a thing that just happened.

"To the Bridge, to get Tain." Odo's bewilderment, yeah we're all with you there!

"Odo, I hope you will accept my sincere apologies for all this." Always with the quest for forgiveness.

Odo's breathless, astonished "What?" as the Defiant appears! 

What a pilot! Jadzia dodging all those phases like they're nothing!

"It's good to see you again, Constable." "Likewise, Major." They are both looking at each other with heart eyes I swear.

This is very similarly shot to Odo's conversation with his Cardassian informant last episode, I like that choice. 

"Do you know what the sad part is, Odo? I'm a very good tailor." Oh, Garak.

[unhumanrights]

"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.

[iviarellereads]

Full TLT series to date thoughts on rereading Gideon the Ninth, chapters 6-10

A probably semi-regular weekly bonus to my reread blog, since sometimes you realize things on reread that just make you need to yell in a full spoiler space.

It still amuses me that no matter which planet is which House, the whole series is an elaborate way of taking four books and perhaps 2000 pages to say "you can never take Pluto from me".

Harrow saying "Twins are an ill omen" really puts weight on the "necromancy comes from death of a sibling in the womb" theory for me. Twins are a sign that necromancy didn't develop, and triplets and more being even more rare, twins with necromancy in either or both would be almost astronomical odds against. So, twins are an ill omen to a society that depends on death in the womb to perpetuate its power.

Oh my god, Cytherea's shuttle probably got delayed in landing permissions because the scans came back "no living humans aboard". Pro is already dead before landing, as we establish later. The whole "drawing sword on Gideon" debacle is just Cytherea having a laugh. Incredible. "you'd end up a mausoleum centrepiece" yeah and without any further work on him past what you've already done, milady. Bravo. Also, there's such a strong hint about how his skin has a tinge like hers. We know from Corona and Ianthe that necromancers are paler, less vital than non-necros. The fact that Pro is dead and being held together necromantically may very well be what gives his skin that tinge of death, not some tendency of the Seventh.

Adjacent thought: Gideon getting sad about "Dulcinea's" illness killing her, while Harrow is likely to live forever. What fun when none of these things are accurate! A true joy of this series is finding all the little unreliable bits and poking at them to see what they further imply.

Sneaky sneaky, "eight new Lyctors joined with their cavaliers" not "joined by their cavaliers".

If anyone wants some insight into my process: the one thing I can recognize from the Chapter 9 wanderings is what I think might be the pool, the chemical-smell room that's extra nasty inside the "pit", but how does one describe how they think it's a pool without implying that the pool comes back? Especially when my reason for not describing a lot of stuff besides quoting straight from the book is because I don't have mental images so I can't interpret a lot of descriptions. But I do know that a pool, if not this pool, comes back later.

It gives me great joy to call Babs a third wheel to the twins given how they act in Nona at their reunion via Babs's corpse.

Fascinating how Cytherea knows, in chapter 10, to ask to see Gideon's eyes. Have you realized it yet? That the names of the original Lyctors and cavaliers are erased from history, so there should be no one named Gideon, ever again, unless it's outside Jod's dominion. Cytherea knows this, and knows that this means our Gideon poses quite the little mystery. And then, when she sees the gold… Well. WELL. Mercy and August guess how she must have felt, at the end of Harrow. Incredible. This one question holds so much portent, but looks SO innocent at first pass. Muir, you mad lass.

[nemesis-is-my-middle-name]

apocalypse in space au! your choice of fandom

apocalypse... space... my two FAVORITE things to au. im doing pla naturally (5 things that would happen in an au)

so the obvious thing to me is "apocalypse on an alien planet" since apocalypse generally implies the end of A World but wait we're just describing subnautica. so what about... apocalypse on a spaceship? or space station. whatever. big space construction that people live on u get it. so you've already got the difficulties of living on a space station—needing to keep life support systems on line, managing the mental struggle of being trapped in this manmade structure—and then there is some sort of an Apocalypse. perhaps zombies. those are always fun.

actually better yet new idea we divvy the cast up btwn different spaceships/stations, and this is a whole society of people in space-traveling crews... and then this zombie virus starts slowly, slowly spreading through any ships that make contact. docking with another ship/station is always risky bc you never know if they're safe or not. imagine boarding a ship and wandering around and coming to the slowly dawning realization that everything's cold, and quiet, and empty. nothing's running that should be running, even the engines have gone silent. you're standing in a grave drifting through the abyss... and then you hear footsteps...

i think the central point of the au is the galaxy team, who are a spaceship crew maybe doing long haul transport? like the people in alien. and the clans are stations in a similar point in space. and everyone's simultaneously trying to manage this threat, working together as the only safe survivors, but simultaneously never sure if they can trust the other two

AND THEN the galaxy team finds an escape pod drifting through space... with protag aboard.

kamado's afraid they're infected. actually very fair. however they were kept in quarantine for a long while without anything happening, so...? they get let out and conscripted into keeping the ship in working order, but he's still very suspect of them

...especially bc they may or may not be the source, but they were the most recent person to arrive before other people started showing symptoms. all 3 groups have been incredibly cautious thus far and were able to immediately catch it, so the spread is very slow so far... but it is spreading.

suddenly laventon's group is under even higher pressure to find a treatment or cure. and protag is expected to help. naturally. they're probably the only ones consistently visiting both stations for research purposes actually. so you get that "meeting & bonding with the wardens" vibe in there