#if you think you can train a lab out of their need to swim you are wrong

[ceasarslegion]

If someone who grew up with a dog tells you they think certain breed is the best it is totally objective and unbiased. The fact i grew up with a black labrador has nothing to do with how i think labradors are the best dog breed and the black ones are the prettiest. Theyre entirely separate from each other. The fact that i had that dog from 6 years old to 22 has nothing to do with how i think large water dogs are the most fun to be around. Or how i think dogs who are powered by tail wags and zoomies are the best addition to a household

[theblueflower05]

The Sweetest Sylaung

A/N: So I def didn’t mean to write a novel long Neteyam smut story but here we are. Debating on making this a mini series. Also the anon that requested a “curvy” reader insert- here ya go!(she’s also an Augustine- buttttt you can only see that if you squint lol)

Word Count: 6k+

Warnings: This is smut. Pure smut. Please don’t read if it is not your jam. You are in charge of cultivating your own online experience, you’ve been warned!

Pairing: Aged Up! Neteyam x Human!Curvy!Reader

Summary: After an “accidental” romp in the forest, you do your best to avoid Neteyam. It’s for everyone’s good, or so you’ve convinced yourself.

“I’m begging for you to take my hand, wreck my plans. That’s my man”- Willow, Taylor Swift

The kaleidoscope of colors explode under your eyes in endless patterns and shapes as you look over the sample of Pandora flora under the heavy duty microscope. This particular piece of the Moons terra had never been discovered before, only blooming at what you estimated to be every ten or so years, under the right monsoon like conditions

At least that’s what you had discovered so far.

The flower, which sprouted into a berry, and then dissipated into a moss like cluster of microorganisms all within its short life cycle had turned into your passion project. You we’re doing your thesis on it, the last step in getting your Masters.

You’d gone through schooling on a computer screen, guided by the greatest minds on Earth that had relocated to Pandora. Scientists of all fields who you’d grown up around. None of them had been surprised when you’d picked up botany. Xenobotany to be exact.

It was in your blood.

The desk your at shakes violently- disturbing your precision like focus. Breaking you straight out of your zone.

“Ugh” you groan, frustrated, raising your head, eyes narrowing at the culprits.

Spider, Lo’ak and Kiri freeze like deers in the headlights of your fury. Spiders arm raised, a wad of paper balled up in his hand, aimed to shoot. He lowers it slowly as the weight of your your heavy gaze zero’s in.

“Sorry, cu-”

“I told you guys, if you cant behave to get the fuck out” You seethe. Your nerves are paper thin anyway. Too much screen time frying your brain something fierce as you focused in on your studies. “Is that not what I said, verbatim?”

“You need to chill. You’ve been so high strung lately. Come hang out with us” Lo’ak suggests smooth and unhelpful. As usual. “When was the last time you left the lab?”

You roll your eyes and bite your tongue, trying not to say anything to scalding to the surprisingly sensitive Sully brother. “No thanks. I’ve gotta focus”

“Maybe Lo’aks right” Kiri starts, her face screwing up as she speaks “Eywa that sounds wrong. Nevermind, My brother is never right- but you should come hang out with us. Let’s go swimming- the watering hole is over flowing from the storms”

The deep sigh through your nose isn't calming, even though you pretend it is. You know they mean well, in the most annoying way. That you’d been buried in books and paperwork in the lab for the past couple months.

Hiding from the outside world within the thick walls of Hell’s Gate.

“Can’t. This is important, Kir- but why don’t you guys head down there? Its closer to Home Tree and its almost curfew anyway” two birds, one stone. Its a smart suggestion- but Kiri’s face falls, shoulders sagging and ears lowing. That look had always gotten you-

“I cant today, but maybe tomorrow? The samples are too fresh and I don't want to put them on ice…But I think Max made those Yovo cookie things” That’s only half of the truth, but luckily Kiri’s always been understanding.

She grabs your elbow in her long fingers and tugs you along.

The mess hall had seen better days, but the large open space still tends to be the meeting ground for the humans that were allowed to stay and inhabit the moon. With twelve foot tall ceilings and airtight exits and windows that lead out to the Avatar Program training yards. Its a common room of sorts, a place where everyone gathers. For meals, for mismatched Holidays. But mostly for gossip.

I mean, what else is there to do?

Like currently, you’re deeply engrossed in the story that Doctor Martinez’s, Xeno-Zoologist is recounting. All dramatics and dirty intimate details “It’s true, they’re gonna bring it before Mo’at and everything”

He’s talking about Trevino and Eital’i.

Everyone had heard the whispers, seen the not so subtle signs. The main Radio Tower operator had turned during the resistance, had fought beside Jake and had been allowed to stay on Pandora- better stuck on a foreign planet then thrown in a familiar jail cell. Trevino’s a cool guy, really.

A cool guy who had been sleeping with a Na’vi woman, apparently. The two had kept it under wraps, really private. No one could pin down how or when it happened,,,but to go to the clan’s Tsahik seeking a mating blessing? That’s major.

“You’re lying” you accuse in a gasp as the table breaks into whispers, all wide eyes and shaking heads. “They’re going to mate?...How?”

“It’s not like it hasn't happened before” Another scientist chimes in casually. Like it’s a known thing.

Which it kind of is.

Taboo, yes. But not unheard of, more like untalked about.

Humans and the Na’vi of the forest had lived in close quarters since the overthrow of the RDA. Jake, the standing Olo’eyktan, just had a little too much homosapien in him. Yeah, he’d survived the soul transfer and fully inhabited his blue body- but he never quite grew out of his human roots.

It had been hard, lots of politicking and good grace shown on both parts, but somehow, like all biomes in the vast perma green forest, all had learned to live in harmony. Most Omitikaya kept their distance. Very hesitant about the human presence. They had every right to be scared, hostile. Scarred by man and its weapons and its destruction.

Others had been raised in close proximity to Grace’s school. Had become accustomed to the nearly two decade long human presence on Pandora. Curious and accepting.

You’d heard about interspecies hookups.

Locker room talks that left your ears burning and your heart racing. It usually came from members of the Avatar Program- It tends to set a precedent, when the quote on quote “royal family” of the Omiticaya is a Jarhead and a native woman.

Na’vi are gorgeous, tall and lean but humanoid enough to be familiar…you’re not exactly sure what they see in humans but you know damn well what you guys see in them.

“How do you think that works? The…physicality of it all I mean. Trevino doesn't have an Avatar. How do they fuck-”

You’re not the only one zoning out from the conversation and it’s lewd turn.

You watch Kiri watch Spider and your heart aches for her. What they have is secret, delicate and forbidden. As a woman with high standing in the clan, you knew that her feelings for the boy wouldn't go anywhere. Couldn't.

When they we’re kids, it was cute. Now that they 're both technically adults, it was just plain stupid.

You tell her of the fact, often.

Kiri tells you to stop projecting.

———

The Sully Kid’s are always late. It’s like no matter how hard they try, they cant make curfew. You throw on an Exopack, hurrying them to the fence.

“Yeah, yeah okay mom. Take it easy” Lo’ak shrugs huffily as you yank hard on his arm. “I’m going, Y/N!”

“Not fast enough you strumbeast’s ass! You’re gonna get me into trouble, who do you think your dad’s gonna blame when you guys end up back at Home Tree super late again? Norm chewed me out for that shit last time!” You man handle the much taller than you alien.

Kiri and Spider a few leagues in front of you, already at the mouth of the giant fence. They’re awkward, not in their usual synched steps. You wonder how much of that conversation earlier had gone to their heads?

You’re bickering with Lo’ak, an extremely normal occurrence. He can be a real douche. and had been kind of insufferable lately. You think its nerves about his impending Iknamaya.

So engrossed with getting them on their way home that you don't even notice him until it’s too late.

Neteyam is a skilled hunter, through and through. The youngest in the clan to ever make a kill. Swift and quiet. Beloved.

But around you he feels out of his element. Clunky and awkward, no matter how hard he tries to play it off its like you can see right through him. Its scary and thrilling, sets his stomach alive with butterflies everytime. This is no different.

Showing up to Hell’s Gate to retrieve his siblings was something he had done since he was a child.

He’d used to bleed hours away playing with them at the scientists fortress, but as he had gotten older and his responsibilities had grown heavier- he had little time for it. Still, when ever his parents would send him out on a one man search party to bring them home, he’d jump at the chance.

At the hope of seeing you.

You’re arguing with his little brother, trying not to laugh at something he said and Neteyam knows. He knows he shouldn't feel jealous but he just cant help it. Cant help the acidic twist of his insides.

Especially when he chirps out his family's familiar call, letting his presence be known.

And watches that pretty smile fall right off of your face.

“You’re late, as usual” His voice has a stern edge. It’s annoying, the role he has to play. Kiri is a woman grown, Lo’ak just weeks away from being the same. He doesnt blame them for the way their feathers bristle, almost viscerally.

“Ah, big brother you didn't have to come all this way to get us” Kiri reassures, patting Neteyam on the chest good naturedly. “We we’re just about to be on our way”

Neteyam notices the way you try to look anywhere else but him. It stings because he cant stop looking at you, cant pry his eyes away from your form.

“You all should start heading back before dad notices” Neteyam starts. His father had been busy as of late, harvest season abundant and fruitful this year because of the heavy rain season “I’ll catch up, I need to speak with Norm”

“What? Dad cant use the coms now, he has to send his messenger” Lo’ak’s nose scrunches a little, always questioning. On a normal day it wouldn't affect Neteyam so much, just a normal jab from his snot nosed little brother.

Not today. Not when he’s stretched so thin. Not when you refuse to look at him but are staring at the side of Lo’ak fat head. It feels wrong, makes his skin heat up to the point that it feels itchy and tight.

“That's none of your concern. Head back to Home Tree. Now” He doesn't normally throw his weight around. But he feels the need to puff up big in front of you “Those are orders. Get out of here”

Lo’ak’s less offended and more surprised. One of his oh so human eyebrows cocks, a sly remark in his throat before he scoffs. “Aye, Aye Captain Kiss Ass. C’mon Kiri let's go. See you later Spider, Y/N”

He deuces up Spider, gives Y/N a pat on her small shoulder and glares harshly at his brother before he disappears into the thick brush of the jungle.

Kiri wraps her arms around you in a strong hug, muttering about ‘swimming’ and ‘promises’. The small impish smile she shoots Spider gives YOU butterflies so you don't blame the way he swoons, before she’s off behind her younger brother.

“I can go find Norm for you, bro. I think he’s still out in his Avv, but Max can radio him back in” Spider is none the wiser. Doesn't notice the heavy tension that simmers on a low bubble. Oblivious, as usual.

“Yeah, sure” Neteyam replies, barely sparing the human boy a glance. He’d feel bad for it later, when he could form coherent thought. When his brain wasn't on Y/N issued override.

Spider chatters, good natured. He never got to see the Olo’eyktan in training anymore. He missed his homie.

“Well, I should be heading back. You guys have a good rest of your night-” You’re already turning on your heels when you make the announcement, eager to get back inside. Back behind the safe walls of the lab- far away from Neteyam.

“No”

Neteyam who stares at you with all too knowing eyes. He looks straight through you like he can see through your clothes, through your thinly veiled escapism attempts. He reaches out, wraps his long fingers around the top of your arm and tugs you back to him. Gentle, but very firm.

He doesn't have to say it- it’s written all over his face. Not this time. He’s not going to let you run away from him.

“Netey-” You start in a whine, tugging on his hold. He doesnt relent, if anything his fingers tighten as his eyes narrow. Dangerous, desperate.

“Just talk to me” it’s a barely concealed plea, his tail twitches anxiously behind him “I'm just asking for five minutes. Please Y/N”

Spiders oblivious, yes. Stupid? No. He doesnt know exactly what's going on between the two of you but has clued into the fact that it’s heavy and he wants no part of it.

The excuse he makes is shit- he’ll just go find Norm. Yeah… he’s so out of there.

“What is wrong with you?” You hiss as you watch Spiders awkward, quick retreating form. Eyes flickering over the empty for now training yards “So much for keeping it lowkey, huh? Could you be anymore obvious?”

“What’s wrong with me?” Neteyam is almost shaking with disbelief “What the fuck is wrong with you? You havent talked to me in over a month. Everytime I make any kind of attempt you bolt. I dont-” He sighs, pinching the wide bridge of his nose with the hand that isnt holding onto you.

He looks tortured. Tired. Run a little ragged.

Beautiful.

“I don't know what I did? If this is about that day in the forest-”

You sigh at his words, once again pulling on his hold. Shaking your head desperately because you can't.

You can't talk about it. Fuck, you’ve been trying not to even think about it.

And failing as you replay the event over and over again the darkness of your bunk. Hyper fixating on the way that his lips had felt against yours. Oh the way that his big hands had worked your body over

“Don’t” you whisper “Please don’t”

You’d never been one to beg for pity, for mercy but that’s what you do now. Beg him to let you out of his tight clutches. Metaphorically and physically.

“You’re all I can think about” It's a gutted admittance, but Neteyam makes it all the same “That night- I can’t sleep. I can barely eat- I’m falling behind on my duties because I keep coming back here. Standing outside this fence and waiting for you. I know you could hear me over the coms, right?”

And you could, a few weeks or so ago.

When he’d begged you to come out. To come speak to him. His voice so appealing that you’d almost caved. You’d had to turn off your receiver. Had sat with your head in your hands for hours as you fought the urge to crawl to him, knees raw and your bloody heart on a platter only he could divulge in.

He shuffles closer, all lean strong muscle. Firm, unmovable. “You heard me”

“Of course I did”

“And you still left me out here” He scoffs, head shaking slightly as his adams apple bobs, his ears are pinned to the sides of his head in obvious distress “I could never do that shit to you.”

“One of us needs to be the adult in this situation” Your voice is as strong as you can make it. Trying to speak reason on to both of you “We can pretend it never happened and go back to the way that things were before. You’re my friend, Tey”

You reach up, stroking at his wrist. Trying to soften him enough for him to let this go. Let you go.

He’s trying to control his breathing, all that training for all of those years for what? One fragile human girl to make him completely unspool? To lose any and all composure he’d worked so hard to gain.

He was always the adult, in all situations. Had been born with a neck cramping crown on his head. Shrouded in pressurized glory.

“If this is me being childish, so be it. Where has pretending gotten you, huh? Look at you, yawntutsyìp. you look so tired. When was the last time you slept? Kiri says you spend days in the lab without resting”

His hands, both of them, come up to cup your face. Huge and calloused. Yet he holds you like you're something precious. A small animal, a rare gem. His whole entire world since he was just a boy.

Neteyam thumbs at the cool glass of your mask, tenderly. The bags under your eyes are sunken and bruised. “Don’t shut me out”

Your body, in its entirety, clenches at his words. Velvet and sincere. He’s a fucking dream. Your head leans into his hands, neck sagging of its own accord as any and all words of protest leave your weak mind.

He makes you so easy.

“Let me in…I dont want there to be this distance between us anymore” He hisses around the word distance. Hating even having to say it “I want to be inside of you again”

Your plump lower lip gets skewered between your teeth, eyes screwed shut as you remember the last time. Your first ever time being full…you’d dreamt of it every night since it had happened.

If it wasn't for the blasted mask and your need for Earth’s oxygen he’d kiss you. Right here right now. He didn't really give a shit who saw or what they had to say.

Instead pulls you into his chest, lets you wind your arms around his lean middle and bury your chest in his diaphragm. Its as close as he can get you, for now. Makes you cling to him the way that he’d clung to every thought of you for the last weeks.

You wish it was lungfuls of his skin that you were taking as you try to bring yourself down from this abrupt shaky high. You dont get it, how your relationship couldve flipped this hard in such a short time.

He had always just been Neteyam. A shameless flirt yes- but that’s all it was.

“Would you like that?” He questions, hands working through your hair. Fingers light and soothing on your scalp. Massaging the thoughts right out of your head.

“Hmm?”

“If I was inside you again?” He presses on. You can feel the tickle of his long, thin, tail as it wraps around the back of your calf and you groan, digging your nails into his back.

“You’re such an asshole. Stoppppp it�� You’re embarrassed and turned on and already feel stupid enough, he doesn't need to rub it in. His chest shakes as he chuckles.

“I’m serious. Tell me you want it-”

“Neteyam! Hey!”

The two of you break apart in an instant. You jump away from him as though struck by lightning. Instantly putting enough distance between you and the Na’vi that maybe, just maybe an onlooker might think that the embrace was friendly.

It’s Norm, having heard that the eldest Sully was looking for him he’d come eagerly.

The smile you plaster on is forced and honestly, Neteyam doesnt fair any better. He’s obviously flustered, just glad that his erection isn't tenting his tweng.

“Spider told me you and your dad are looking for me. I’m not intruding on uh anything, am I?” Norm looks between the two of you.

Your arms are folded tightly over your chest and Neteyam is rubbing at the back of his neck, strong jaw flexing as his teeth grind.

Oh yeah, Norm had definitely interrupted something.

Knows for sure as you scurry away. As Neteyam, always so level headed, has to string together words. Stumbling a little bit as he tries to remember the message that Jake had relayed.

It’s not any of his business, he thinks at the time. He sure didnt want to be the one to shine the light on whatever the hell was going on here. Turning a blind eye to the mysteries of Pandora is the only way to survive the harshest terrain known to man.

———

You dont know that though-

No, you’re spiraling more a little bit as you prepare yourself for bed. Brushing through your thick hair and staring out into space as your mind assaults you with all of the gnarly ‘What If’s’

Norm had seen and he had to know right? Oh god, what if he told Jake?

You balk. Lowering the brush as your eyes bulge out of your head.

What if he told Neytiri?

That's actually a super horrific thought. Like nightmarish. You have a lot of respect for the future Tsahik...

…And a very healthy does of fear. She didnt like humans and made it known. She tolerated them only for her husband's benefit. What if she found out that her eldest son, her golden boy, had fucked one?

You’re freak out is interrupted by static, by the beeping of your com receiver on your night stand.

“Y/N?” its Neteyams muffled voice through the device. You’d ignored it once. You should ignore it again…

“Yeah?” you wonder if he picks up on how shaky you sound through the receiver.

“Tomorrow night meet me at the East Gate. Like when we we’re kids” he’s not really asking. Not demanding either. You could ignore him again, but he has to try.

The line goes silent, quiet for minutes on end.

“Y/N?”

You’re so stupid. “What time?”

You can hear the grin he’s sporting as he replies “0100”

“Got it, over. Good night, Neteyam. Go to sleep”

———

The East Bay is on the other side of the large fortress-like building. It's not that it's forbidden, or anything. but it is deserted. It’s where the military personnel had inhabited, and since most if not all of them had gotten the hard boot off Pandora it was empty as a ghost town in these maze like halls.

When you we’re younger; you’d caught Spider sneaking Kiri and Lo’ak in through the rarely used entrance. You’d demanded the know how, if he didnt want you to rat on him for it. It was a rare occurrence, but the Sully children had all been snuck into Hell’s Gate this way over the years.

You type in the codes, disabling the alarm system in order to usher Neteyam into the pressurized, air lock. You’d toted one of the Avatar Exopacks along for him, they’re heavier then hell but he’d need it.

“Hi” you smile, suddenly shy as the tall Na’vi man stands before you.

That's what he was now. A man, not only in the eyes of his people but as a whole. Broad and muscular, strong. Verile. The next leader of his people. You know that he’s highly desired in his clan. Women fawn over him. Vie for his attention.

It doesnt feel real that he wants to give it to you.

You’re nothing special. Not tall and stunning like the Omaticaya women. Even by Earth’s standards you're short, curvy. Not particularly pretty. Insecurity gnaws at you, as it so often does.

“C’mere” Neteyam urges, boldly yanking you by your waist. Pulling you flush against his body. Grabby and insistent, he wants to feel your bare skin. All plush and soft, hes been dying to taste it since the last time.

Kicking himself over and over for not savoring every bit of your body that you gave to him. He won't make the same mistake again.

He’s not gonna lie, the concrete and metal of the walls inside of Hell’s Gate have always made him a little claustrophobic. But he can't do this outside-

His lips capture yours, demanding and needy from the jump. Big, over powering, he swallows your little chirp of surprise. Devours any and all breath from your lungs. Its messy and so good. You hadn't gotten to kiss him last time.

His mouth tastes amazing, his tongue rough in texture just like you remembered. It grates your lips as you suck on it-

“Hey, slow down a little bit” You giggle as Neteyam paws at your ass, lifting you off the ground until you squirm hard, making him release you “Not here, we can't do this here there’s cameras everywhere”

“I don't care” Neteyam pecks all over your face, trying to recapture your mouth as you avoid him “Let them watch, most of those pervs would like it”

And they would know that you’re his. The thought is beyond heady.

You gasp as his sharp canines ghost over the delicate skin of your neck, nibbling on your pulse point “Please- Neteyam”

You firmly push him away, hand on his chest and maybe if you hadn't cut him off cold turkey he would've given you space. Could've pulled away for a moment to let you say your piece. Instead the idea of letting you pull away even an inch is unbearable to him.

No. instead he tosses you over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. He hauls loads heavier then you every day, your protests mean little to him. With his free hand he scoops up the Avv Exo Tank,

“Where to, yawntutsyìp?”

Where too is an old conference room. Its as good as any, and Neteyam yanks a couple cushions off the old couch to act as a brace for your head as he lowers you to the floor, flat on your back.

You’re so pretty like this, he tells you of the fact.

With your hair a mess behind you, your face free of that damned mask. Grinning up at him as you rub your thighs together. He wishes he had that camera that his dad liked to take pictures on. He wants this moment of you framed, immortalized.

“I hate sky people clothes” He mutters as he tugs on the hem of your t-shirt. It hides you, hides all that skin he craves.

“You want me to take it off?” You offer eagerly, raising up enough to start peeling the piece of clothing off. You’re bare underneath, completely. Your breasts jiggle as they’re freed, nipples peaked in the cool air-conditioned air.

“Don’t ever put it on again” He demands, taking it from your hands and tossing it across the room. He’s dead serious, but by the way you're giggling you obviously think its a joke.

He can’t help it, he dives in face first. Rubbing against your soft breasts, obsessed with the way they feel. Heavy, pillowy. He drags his tongue across all of your bare skin. From your clavicle to your nipple. You always smell so pretty, but its got nothing on the way you taste. It explodes bright and savory on his tastebuds.

You let him explore, until your spit soaked and shaking. Your panties sticky as your hips search for any kind of friction. “I need you”

“You have me, my love. All of me” your eyes water at his words. At the sincerity. At how much you want them to be true.

You grab one of his hands and drag it down your chest. Past your soft, rounded belly and into your shorts. He grunts as you guide him to where you’re wet and pulsing. Rythmetically clenching around nothing.

He circles your clit, feather light. More of a tease then anything and you want to sob. You’d thought of nothing but this, touched yourself imagining him. “Tey-”

He smiles around a mouthful of nipple,tugging on with his teeth. “I missed you so much”

“Then be nice to me” you plead, trying to shove yourself down on his fingers.

“We’re being nice now? Were you nice to me when you ignored me?” he can't help it, hurt bleeds into his voice. It had been so fucking painful, knowing that you hadnt wanted to see him. To be with him.

“I’m sorry” you whine, grabbing his face, pulling it from your bosom. “I’m so sorry. I was so scared- I’m still scared but I need you”

He lets you cup his cheeks, lets you plant kisses all over him. The bridge of his nose, his eyelids, his cheekbones. You dote on him, gentle and caring and he gorges himself on your love.

“You cant ever do that again, okay?” He shivers as you kiss his ear, running your tongue along the hyper sensitive flesh “If you’re scared you come to me, not run from me. Do you understand?”

You nod, eager. “I promise, Neteyam”

It’s all he needs to hear, that you’re his. That you won't deprive him of your presence ever again. He doesn't know what he’ll do. He’s a little scared of the man he becomes when it comes to you, you’re not the only one frightened by the gravity of your feelings.

“You asked if I wanted you inside me again? Yes. So much. I never knew I could be that full” it’s like you know just what to say. You light him up from the inside. His fingers begin circling your sopping clit again, this time with intent.

It’s blurry, the fact that your lightheaded making it hard to think. To track what he’s doing to you because somehow Neteyam seems to be everywhere at once. His big body all encompassing as he takes you.

“No-no marks, baby” You try to remind him and his blazing eyes zero in on you in a glare “you know we cant…not where they can see”

You’re right, and he hates it. He’ll just have to mark you where only you can see. Where you can look at your self and be reminded that you belong to someone. That you belong to him.

He doesn't have the patience, cant stop his hands from shaking- the tear of your shorts and panties echos around the room as he removes any barriers between him and the heat at the apex of your thighs.

You cant help the thrill it sends down your spine. He’d…ripped your panties off. You thought shit like this only existed in bad Earth made Porn that you’d found on one of the labs computers.

“Sorry, sorry” his apology is far from sincere though and you can't help but giggle, patting his braids fondly.

The fingerfucking is rough, your wines and moans spilling from you as he hits spots inside of you that make you want to curl up. It’s too good. Too much-

You screech, back bowing as he bends to kiss you, loud and sloppy, right on your wet clit. His big head burrows between your thigs as he delves on your cunt, his long rough textured tongue lapping at the fat puffy lips. The texture difference has both of you groaning.

It’s heartbreakingly good, the kind of good that you’ll never be able to forget. That you’ll crave and need for the rest of your life. Addictive, as he dedicates himself to making you feel pleasure.

Neteyam eats pussy the same way he does everything else in his life, exceeding any expectations. His instincts sharp as he hones in on how to make you lose your mind.

He keeps telling you how good you taste, breaking away for heaving breaths before he reburries himself. The only sounds in the room are the beyond wet sloshing of his tongue lashing and the pathetic noises your making.

He’s eating you alive, you don’t know how you’re supposed to survive this.

His fingers, two and then three fuck in and out of you. Corkscrewing as he loosens your tightness up for him.

“O-ooh” you whine high and reedy as you feel your tummy tightening, the pressure building in a way that makes you feel like you cant breathe. You cant your hips, shoving them down at that perfect angle “Oh, sh-shhhhit. I’m gonna, I’m-”

He doubles down and you’re a goner.

The orgasm is devastating. Sofuckinggood you think you might see stars for a minute there. You can't even scream, you keep letting out these little cries that are more like wheezes. A desprate attempt to get some kind of air back in your lungs-

Which reminds you.

Even though you’re in a daze you wiggle away from him, he hisses at you about it but you swat the top of his head as you reach for the Exo Pack.

You shove the mask in his face, between your legs.

”Breathe, Neteyam” you demand him to gulp down the Pandoran air. Yeah, he could go longer in your environment than you in his but still. Death by giving head isn’t the way you’d like him to go out.

He takes long breaths and you try not to be embarrassed by how soaked his chin is.

When he pulls away his eyes are a little more focused “Thank you, sweet girl. Always thinking about me, huh?”

You nod, dropping the mask. Closer this time for easier access. His eyes quickly zero back in on your swollen pussy, on how wet he got you. On how pretty it looks. His mouth is watering all over again-

When you try to close your thighs, the burning of your cheeks getting to be too much he hisses again. It’s not a sound he often makes and it’s a revelation, he’s so sexy. Almost feral.

“Who said I’m done?”

You’re never going to be able to get over this man “I already came?...”

“Yes? So?” he rolls his eyes, lowering his head, nuzzling at the damp juncture of your inner thigh “You’re still so tight, here feel”

His fingers slip back in you and you mewl, baring down as he scissors the long digits.

“We have to get you loose enough to take me, I don’t want to hurt you” He explains it like you need convincing. Like he has to convince you to let him eat you out. You just re-spread your thighs, relaxing back onto the cool floor as you let him do as he pleases.

It takes two more orgasms that you scream and shake through until he deems that you’re ready. By the time that he begins to slide his cock into you you’re a blubbering, oversensitive mess. You’re crying rivers of tears as you cling to him.

“Hold my hand? Please ” You request and he smiles, kissing your tear streaked cheek as he interlaces his longer fingers with yours.

Humans and Na’vi can fuck, but we’rnt designed to. His dick is overwhelimgly big and will really injure you if the two of you aren't careful about this.

You both gasp sharply as his tip breaches you.

It hurts, it’s agonizing. It’s the kind of pleasure pain that you didnt even know could exist. Everytime you think you can adjust, he pushes in another inch. But oh, how you missed it. Being so full it feels like you’re going to burst. You’re pussy flutters as it fights to take him and you focus in on his face.

It’s all scrunched up in heavy concentration. His lips speared between his sharp teeth in a way that has them almost bleeding.

You can't have that. You tug him into a kiss, soothing the abused flesh with your tongue.

“I-I dont want to hurt you” He whimpers as his forehead rests against yours.

“It’s okay, you’re okay” You hum to him, grasping at his hand even tighter “I love what you do to me. I love how you feel”

When he bottoms out you think he must be in your ribs. Hes still, letting your body get used to him. Trying to be kind. You want to tell him that there’s no getting used to his size. That he could fuck you every day for the rest of your lives and he would still feel just as massive.

“Please” you wail instead “please”

The first gentle snap of his pelvis has you both reeling. Your thighs lock around his thin hips, urging him. You can take it. It only takes a little urging for him to lose himself. The harsh stretch of it has you shaking as your over sensitive pussy tightens. You’re coming again, less intense the the previous orgasms, thankfully.

Neteyam had been so focused on making you feel good that he’d neglected his hard, weeping cock. His balls are so full that he knows he’s not going to be able to draw this out.

You know you have to look stupid, mouth hanging open as you raggedly gasp for breath, letting out punched out sounds as Neteyam pounds into you. You cant look away from his face though.

It’s mesmerizing, all of it. The sounds he lets out. The way that his braids sway with the rhythm of his pleasure seeking body. His broad shoulders, bulging biceps and forearms- you are so fucked.

You’re so in love.

“Please Y/N” He wheezes as you squeeze around him, letting go of your hand so he can wrap both of his arms around your lower back “I can’t hold it. W-where should I?”

Oh. Oh, he’s the sweetest man. He always has been.

You peck his lips, not minding that he’s too lost in his own pleasure to really kiss you back

“Come inside me. Come inside me. Come inside me” it’s a heated chant, broken and breathy by the erratic rhythm of his hips and he buries his head in your neck, wailing in the skin there.

Just for a moment, lost in the haze of sex, you can tell he forgets his own strength. Thrusts into you so hard that you scream out in pain, the mushroom tip of his long cock batters your cervix relentlessly. Its a sharp, startling sensation that you’ve never known but you ride it out for him. Desperately trying to keep your whimpers of discomfort at bay.

When he comes, his whole body goes still and ram rod straight. He hugs you tightly to him. You wish you could see his face. Next time, hopefully.

He’s Neteyam, the mighty warrior. The dutiful son. The next clan leader but as he shakes and twitches and basks in the afterglow you can't help but want to baby him. But stroke his back softly, rubbing the residual tension out of his tired muscles.

He’s your big ol’ pussy cat, you’d always teased. He purrs like one every time you’re affectionate with him.

You can’t help but run your hands along his sensitive spine. Let the length of his tail run through the loop of your fingers. He grins and flicks it from side to side. He’d always thought your fascination with it was amusing.

“Are you okay?” he mutters, still hidden in your hair as he starts to come back to himself and you hum, moving up to pat his braids.

“Mmhmm” you’re maybe not as capable of making words as you though you were. He chuckles and hugs you. Holds you in his big arms in a way that makes you feel untouchable.

The two of you lie in that room for as long as you can, until he has to start heading back to Home Tree, it’s almost morning and his parents are early risers. They’ll look for him if hes not in his tent…

It's hard. Letting him go. Even though you know he’ll be back. You keep pulling him back in for kisses, holding onto his muscular arms until he laughs and peels you off of him.

“I’ll be back my love. I’ll always return for you”

You frown but agree, pushing him away to get re-dressed- “How am I supposed to go back like this! Neteyam I don't have any pants!”

He’d shredded your shorts and panties. Literal tatters of cloth are all that’s left.

Neteyam cracks up, almost keeling over. Thinking he’s oh so funny. It lightens the situation and makes letting him go- watching him disappear back in the forest a little easier.

You end up having to pull your fortunately oversized t-shirt down as far as it can go as you make a mad dash across the facility, back to your dorm. You fall asleep grinning, thinking about how the panties had been a necessary sacrifice.

———

Norms on late night watch, keeping a bored, admittedly not sharp enough eye on the security camera’s feeds. With the rainy season, came an influx of Slinths’. It made sense to have a lookout, and somehow he’d gotten saddled with an overnight shift.

He’d definitely fallen asleep for a few hours. Not that he’d tell anyone of that fact.

There is nothing that could prepare him for what he see’s on the screen, over in the desolate East Bay. First, he thinks that he’s hallucinating, his sleep bogged eyes playing tricks on him.

He rubs them hard with his knuckles, not believing the image that is large and clear on the security footage.

It’s Neteyam. Inside the facility which almost never happened. And he’s bending down, his lips locked with Y/N’s . Kissing her hard and long before she punch’s in the code, and opens the air locked door to let him back out into the shadowy eclipse.

Norm’s learned a lot living on this strange moon- Pandora was mysterious. Full of things his brilliant mind would never understand. So he does what he does’ most of the time.

Minds his own business.

So I’ve had this idea cooking for months, but didn’t have the bandwidth to get it written down. The ideas wouldn’t translate to page and I still kind of feel like they didn’t butttttt whatever. This is pure self indulgence. I am so much more in love with Neteyam now. He is SUCH a good guy. Ugh.

Also, please remember that my requests are OPEN! Send in all that good shit. Come blue alien brain rot with me!

[fictionalafvsmybeloved]

So your blog is the land of non-credibility right? And you review tanks? So could you review this 'gem'

I haven't done one of these in a while, so why not start off with this Wonderful design by Blacktaildefense.

(also I'm gonna change up my standard format a bit)

I'll let you know right here, this thing is more of a dumpster fire than you think.

Let's start with the basics, size. It's too big. 4 feet wider and 10 feet longer the M1 Abrams. It's longer and wider than the Maus and Char 2C, the two tanks known for being ridiculously big. It's too wide for standard US highways and railroads so the only way you can transport it is by air or sea. And its "amphibious", with almost no way to propel itself through the water.

Next is the engine. It gives the tank a mindboggleing 55 horsepower per ton, leading to a ludicrous 65 MPH top speed at an equally insane 1 mile to the gallon. BUT THAT IS A LIE. Because this uses a wankel engine, AND WANKEL ENGINES HAVE LAUGHABLY BAD EFFICIENCY. But that's not all! This is a diesel wankel engine, and you see a diesel engine works by compressing the air with its pistons until its super heated, then injecting the fuel into the chamber, causing it to combust. A WANKEL ENGINE CANNOT DO THAT, SO THE ENGINE DOESN'T EVEN WORK. And I just noticed that the drive sprocket is either missing, or half the size it should be.

20% Chobham

20% Titanium

60% Fullerene (misspelled, of course)

This is the absolute nonsense that supposedly makes up this thing's armor package. Chobham.... is not a material, it is a LAYOUT for composite armor (and an outdated one too). Titanium is very expensive, and also what the Air Force makes their planes out of. So now you're competing with the Air Force for materials, good job. Fullerene, oh boy every 2-bit sci-fi writer's favorite nanomaterial. Nanomaterials have two big problems. First, they are extremely expensive to manufacture, even on the "nano' scale. Second, the physical properties of matter change as they are scaled up. YOU HAVE NO GUARANTEE THAT THE IN-LAB NANO-SCALE SUPERPROPERTIES WILL TRANSLATE INTO 20 TONS OF USABLE TANK ARMOR. As for the thickness, it's listed in just plain inches, with no way to tell if it's talking about RHA equivalence or the actual thickness of the armor elements in that area(nor does it differentiate between hull and turret armor). If its RHA equivalent, then the armor is weaker than the Abrams. The armor at the rear is ten times thicker that it needs to be, and is just increasing cost and maintenance complexity for almost no benefit.

As for the guns, why don't we start small. Two 7mm MGs, I'm sure he means 7.62 NATO, right? Those two machineguns have twice the ammunition they need. A 20mm autocannon for firing at aircraft (not pictured but still listed). The original design plan for the M1 Abrams had one too, but the Army removed it for being "superfluous", that should tell you all you need to know. The primary armament is a 145mm smoothbore... howitzer? Howitzers are lower velocity guns designed for indirect fire, what the hell is one doing on an MBT? And it comes with- SWEET MOTHER OF GOD! WHY DOES IT HAVE 85 ROUNDS OF MAIN GUN AMMUNITION? With no blowout panels?!? If this thing takes a hit the entire vehicle will scatter itself over a 200ft area! And here I though Russian tanks where explosive. And why does it have 40 degrees of gun elevation? Is it meant to pull double duty as an artillery piece? You're just making the crew training times longer.

This overgrown, overbudget do-it-all abomination has sci-fi super armor, a magic nonsense engine, and the ability TO SWIM; but no thermal sights. Absolutely moronic.

They packed the crew in there like sardines. Six crew members, SIX. Does it have THREE loaders? Is one of them pulling double duty as an old fashioned radio operator? Do they need that many because they're using single-piece brass cased ammo? Are they using stackable charges to pull double duty as an SPG!? Do not tell me, I don't wanna know.

The final two features of note are: The "full 3d stabilization" of the drivetrain, hull, turret, and gun. I have no idea how or why you would stabilize those first three. And the smoke mortar. Mortar, not launchers. smoke mortar, like one late WWII German tanks.

FINAL SCORES

Credibility: 2/10 - Just Stupid

Coolness: 3/10 - WarThunder Sad Eyes Tank

BONUS

War Thunder for the PS1

The Areo-Gavin is up next, and I think it might drive me to alcoholism. See you soon(ish).

[cloudy-osc]

THE VOTES ARE IN! TIME TO INTRODUCE WINTER AND SPRINGS TWO OTHER SISTERS! but this will be a loooong one because this needs contex.

First we have Autumn!

Shes 13 years old and has a robotic eye...let me explain.When she was five she was snooping inside her parents lab. She accidentally pushed a button that set off a lazer that shot her in her left eye. When her parents saw this they did the only thing they could do. Make her a cyborg. Around this time her mother was pregnant with winter wich gave them the idea of doing this to all of there future kids. Unfortunately for them winter was completely healthy and it would look suspicious to do that for no reason so instead they made spring 3 months later there first full robot child.

But enough of that this is about autumn. Shes the typical angsty teen. She used to be a kids next door operative (numbah 4.10) and is currently a fugitive. She doseint really like the other teenagers (like chad cree ect) and is seen as the weird girl.

She loves Halloween and goes ALL OUT. Its the one time a year that she generally smiles the most. She always dresses up even though the other kids say its for babys.

She actually has a decent relationship with her parents. Like sure she acts out but she idolizes her parents. Her mentality is "they saved my life they cant be evil" and to that i say...ha

Every fall she drinks around 3 pumpkin spiced lattes a day...she has a problem.

And that gose for anything with pumkins or cinnamon.

Her favorite cereal is cinnamon toasts crunch

She loves rock music and as you can see she loves gothic fashion.

She dyes her roots 3 times a month.

She hates hot weather

Ok next is summer!

This is summer shes 5 and shes also a robot.

Ok so basically once spring was made impatiently they starting to design summer. When winter and spring were four summer was built. She was also made to be what spring couldn't and to fix any bugs they had on spring. Like for example spring constantly glitches (she calls it a stutter) but summer dose not. Spring isint water proof summer is you get the idea.

Speaking of water summer loves to swim. She swims like a fish! She loves going to the pool,beach and has a great connection with sea creatures.

Shes training to be a knd operative.

Her eyes were a mistake. They were supposed to be blue but they used the wrong color. She thinks its cool though.

She love drinking coconut water!

She has a collection of the beach/ocean themed rainbow monkeys and there her prized possessions.

She has a raspy voice

She loves hanging out with her sisters and there friends.

Fun fact autumn babysits her all the time. She also babysits the rest of sector n/d (plus julia sometimes but only when shes hanging out with Aubrey)

She loves anything with sea salt (chips cant ect) and her favorite candy is taffy

I think thats it for now feel free to ask anything about them!

[ronanceautistic]

Either the writers drop the ball or its was on purpose for characters to not see Nancy as even a potential victim if Nancy herself was adamant they just trusted her judgement.

Oh it's for sure the writers dropping the ball but it at the very least makes for some interesting headcanon opportunities. Nancy would very much not like to be the person in grave danger, I think she thrives better when other people are and she can save them lol, so I think it would make sense if she was living in some kind of denial about actually being cursed and being like no no guys this one was different.

It was a lot different to previous visions, I'll give them that, but it was also so Nancy, through and through, the same way Vecna preys on other people's insecurities and trauma, he pulled out all the stops for her. Forcing her to escape the swimming pool literally filling up with her blood is basically re-enacting Barb's death but forcing her to survive it, that re-enforces survivor's guilt for sure.

Saying "you were so close to the truth." is sort of mocking her 'quest for knowledge' in a way, the thing Nancy said in S3 about how she's scared of being wrong. And then he shows her his past, satisfying the need she has to know everything, while also torturing her at the same time.

And then, the icing on the cake, throwing her into the Lab, a place she canonically absolutely fucking hates and going "hey! I hate these guys, too!" and then tying her up in the same chair used to torture him, and showing her the future. A future where everyone she loves is helpless, and she can't do anything to save them. Honestly, props to him, he's pure evil genius LMAO I do not need to make Nancy character studies Vecna wrote the damn book.

I completely lost my train of thought, but my point is, he went hard and heavy with the first one, and it'd make sense if Nancy would refuse to believe that she was actually well and truly cursed. And we'll never know! Max baited Vecna less than 24 hours later, if that hadn't have happened, who knows who the fourth victim would've been?

I do, it would've been Nancy. No one can take that from me!

[zenoiredottore]

HOYOFAM headcannons

ZZZ

Before their release they were being carried around in a baby basket, while they were floating around in this glass ball [cuz obvs they don’t have parents and I like to think of them as being grown in labs]

When zzz was born/released everyone was waiting patiently, watching as the glass was about to break

Their birth was probably also live streamed yk cuz they were a new addition to the hoyofam

First words were definitely mother fucker

A bit disobedient towards everyone during the toddler years

Genshin was the one who primarily took care of them before and after birth

Literally attached to the hip to genshin

Would be taken on business meetings, character designing, and just other stuff lolol

The fam would fight on who gets to take them for the day when they were still in the glass ball

But once they were born and especially after they started talking no one wanted to babysit

Spends most time with genshin but prefers to be with hsr

TOT

Born and developed almost as the same time as genshin, which technically makes them twins kinda

Genshin was developed for longer, but tot got released sooner.

But then they needed to be kept in the hydrophonics lab even tho they already got released. [kind of a reference of how tot was released a year earlier in china, a couple months before genshin. Then tot was released internationally like a year later]

I HC tot as a girl, and to be blonde and blue eyes like davis,,, but virtually it doesn’t rly matter cuz these are games and are genderless! Just a hc

Very smart, might be the smartest …?

Has zero combat abilities

Problem solver of the bunch

Debate queen

Hi3 [sorry idk much abt hi3]

Spoilt as hell when she was the only child,,, lowkey disses genshin cuz he stole her spotlight

The golden child, can do no wrong

Claims she’s too old but still has that child-like wonder

A lot more mature now!

Def looks like kiana 100%

RAISED genshin but not rly in like a maternal way more so like master oogway,,,, trained and taught that mf the ways of life and such

Dresses like a grandma at home

Had an embarrassing emo phase that the people online still bring up til this day

Often visits the grave of her predecessors before her, [flyme2themoon, houkai gakuen, gungirlz]

A lesbian

Gossips with tot

Annoys her lil bro genshin while he’s working cuz she kinda feels guilty pushing him away when all he wanted was to hang out with her, and now that he’s this big responsible finance business guy and that he’s no longer the angsty teenager who won’t just stfu

HSR

The funniest

Looks like caelus and stelle

No sense of fashion, same pair of black pants and white tshirt all day…when he’s feeling fashionable he puts on his black jacket T^T

Games on his phone 24/7

The game that is a gamer

A bit dumb cuz he was dropped in his glass ball as an infact

Now makes more money than genshin, and rubs it in his face

Not academically smart but loves solving puzzles

Can RUN

Can’t jump, climb, swim, or fly.

Almost the same height as genshin now [he wears THICK soled shoes]

Embarrassing to be with in public

Autistic

When he gets into a fight he lets his opponent hit him first and when he thinks their done he’ll unleash his full power on them

A surprisingly good dancer

Doesn’t like speaking in front of large crowds

A bit upset that he isn’t the baby of the fam anymore

Can cook but makes the WRONG recipes… [he saw a recipe online for a chocolate-sardines cake and it’s his favorite thing to bake]

Doesn’t want to admit it but he loves his siblings very much

Disses genshin a lot despite having a lot of respect for him [he doesn’t want anyone to know that]

Train and space nerd

Genshin

Hell spawn

Evil

Problem child

Was an angsty teenager

A colorist [deathly allergic to melanin]

As time went on he grew up and became more mature [still evil]

Toxic love

He knows that no matter how hard you run you’ll always find your way back to him one way or another

He’s become a bit jaded over the years

HC appearance as a lookalike of vyn richer but with blue eyes

A man in finance, trust fund, 6’5, blue eyes.

I based their heights on hm gb they have in total and just kinda ruled it out

The most hated game/person obvi

Despite this many people still play his game

Popular but not well liked

The people that hate him worship the group that he walks on [this is mostly me]

Manages all the finances. Pays the bills in time, does everyone’s taxes

Doesn’t really mind that his lil bro is out earning him, it ends up in their same shared bank account anyways…

Best friends with pjr despite their differences

While hi3 is the golden child genshin is more like pillar that holds everything together, despite his relationship with the people around him

He’s very proud of his siblings

Has made a lot of enemies over the years

Occupies himself with work

A bit cold, but kind nontheless

Thankful for hi3 for working hard to earn resources for him, making him the man that he is today and a bit apologetic for being such a pain in the past

In turn he also worked hard for hsr and zzz’s funds

STINGY AS HELL. [GIVE US MORE FREEMOS!]

A convo between hsr and genshin- “you know… you should give more free rewards for your players… it’s really not that hard. Plus you have like, nothing to lose!” says hsr. “Haha. NO.” Genshin says while watching the chaos of the 2nd anniversary. “Let them eat cake.” He says while smiling like a maniac.

Literally all eyes on him during award shows…

So many people hate him, like REALLY hates his guts

Not really nonchalant he just doesn’t care about much stuff

Loves nature and exploring

Literature nerd

Very religious [let’s take this moment and pray to RNGesus]

[fumikomiyasaki]

Favourite Date Spots of my ocs

Leroy: Arcade, Sushi restaurant, Cafe, lazer tag, if you are also into his hobby anime cons Henry: Fancy ass restaurants, Expensive parties, Beach dates, Renting out places, Mellow: Forrest walks, Cafes, his room, likely a less crowded place Carol: Study dates, Nature strolls, swimming, Resting in flower fields, small city trips, Brid: forrest strolls, build a bear, introducing her to new things Odel: Crystal caves, old castles, comfy antique baths, Lyla: Night escapades, small clubs, chilling in her Lab, City at night Camilla: Rose fields, ball rooms, Hiking, Bengal: Horror movie marathons or cinema, Nights in the woods, days working out, scary places or comfy places Eiji: Catacombs, Cemeteries, Halloween themed places, goth castles Kumo: Star themed places, Planetariums, desert walks, Stargazing in nature, Fuan: He wouldn't even think he get that far... maybe a potion shop, a sea trip? Naomi: Light shows or fire works, Shopping, concerts, swimming and diving Bolt: Concerts, Neon light places, Lazer tag, amusment parcs Grey: Book stores, pencil stores, wacky clothing stores, comic stores, Bianca: anywhere where its fun and not boring :) Eve: You could take him almost everywhere he likes learning new things Barry: Fancy restaurants or dates, Showing off at games or flexing his money, cinema, comic stores and conventions Francine: Shopping or small restaurants, ice skating, Winter sports Gilly: Music stores, Coffee shops, Clubs to dance in, a swing with their net date, Osyron: Showing you incredible spots he knew from the past, strolls, hot springs baths, Cultural ruins, Lydia: Training together, Fighting together, hot springs, Volcanos, Saneria: Getting her stuff, Showing her new fun things, mainly you have to impress her she won't give you ideas herself, you have to figure out or suffer Lennox: Sea and beach dates, underwater dates, nightly water cave dates, Fabio: Forrest field walks, much in nature, planting things or collecting fruit, tending to chocobos together, Ione: Calm and peaceful dates, sometimes sparring, she is unsure about dating so help her a little on picking things Agni: Volcanos to Saunas, he loves hot places, deserts too, as long as its not circus please Zariyah: Motorcycle rides, Amusement parks, beaches, sword training, jungle trips, just adventures Izar: drinking at a bar, shady venues, abandoned houses, night walks among fancy parties, Louis: Picnics, tea parties, Castle walks, gardening with his veggies, cooking dates Yuzuha: He will more appeal to you taste but he can be your host, go to restaurants or karaoke, read and discuss together, and more Kaeru: Fishing, dates on a boat, swimming and beach dates, actually lots of water related dates Kuze: telling stories over food, sparring, walks through melancholic places, Yasuno: Walks through the green House, neon clubs, Sparring Joel: He is fine with a lot but he would take you to art galleries, street artists and unique shops Serena: she travels all the time, imagine visiting a fancy town each day Elvira: You mostly find her in church and probably need to help her picking something Phobetor: He doesn't really care... in his eyes he has no right to say but... he would adore a cat cafe,

Flynn: Fancy places, Night sky's and escapades, movie scene like locations Nanoya: A walk at the shrine, midnight moon light, Asian restaurants Rubina: Cinema, Cafes, nightly walks Peko: Very cutesy cafes, amusement parcs, you can often take her to childish places Emma: Training with her in the gym, getting food, staying at her room being close Gregory: Has a hideout to chill at and play games, odd clubs and places, big party person but his disguise is not the best so be wary Tyler: Coffee and reading dates, helping him with work, strolls Rachel: Um if you wanna die Gabrielle: fighting in the courtyard, flying in her dragon form around, castle walks, chess dates or dnd Tesadelle: Chilling under the tree, nap together, tea parties Aiden: Making you food, Forrest walks, going to other restaurants, Media: collecting fruits, making things together, Tenera: enjoying food and rest, if you wanna play tennis with her Sindren: hero movies, parcours, walking around and strolling , sports Mythra: Parties, clubs, Showing off her outfits to you, fancy places Feena: ummm…. Dragiselle: Playing her model, showing you the animals, better you take charge if you two wanna go outside. Inessa: Ice skating, walks through snow, ice cream venues, waterfalls, Taron: Arcades, tech areas, playing things together

Tiam: Watch him scream in Panic not knowing what to propose Kayne: He serves, he goes any where you wanna go but, on itself he will make you a nice meal Quora: Watching sports games, Eating fastfood, doing sports, just comfy hugs or being close Kome: Many luck games or chess, book store, Ame: Clubs, very open social places, cinema, cemeterys, Emil: hard to know he would follow you.. but he likely would enjoy buying some things for what he makes or cute aesthetic places Vanessa: Parties, Wineries, restaurants, fancy venues, Macie: Electronic shops, Pet shops, walks through the city April: Casino nights, playing games, strolling through gardens, Julian: Dancing together, clubs, just anywhere he can flirt well with you Taylin: She can't see much so rather you lead the way, she likes getting tea though Eikichi: watching street artists, showing of experiments, hoverboard rides, going through cities Alioth: Stargazing, concerts, just places where he actually doesn't have to shrink down so outdoorsy Beelby: He knows some fancy places, bars, doesn't mind some outdoor activities too Zyan: Aesthetically pleasing places, far away from water, neon clubs, lazer tag Paula: cute diners, rollerblading, shopping, hanging in retro places Brenda: as expensive as you can, go as fancy as you can, Jin-Lou: Ramen shops, bars, fighting clubs and mma shows, chinatowns, mountains Sylva: beach, boat, fancy parties, golden places, anything extravagant

[upgrade-your-enclosure]

Upgrading Lab-mouse cages

This topic goes close to me bc I work in a lab and have hours every day to think about what I can do for these tiny creatures

Lab mice are kept in these cages by standard:

The minimum legal enrichment (at least in germany) is a nest, something to climb, something to chew, and a way to socialize. This cage has a hut for a nest, the top bars for climbing and the hardened pellets for chewing

In my opinion that's both unfitting and not enough. There's some very simple changes and a lot of bigger/harder changes:

Simple changes:

Using wooden or paper huts. It's commonly believed that mice can't see red, but in reality they will always choose darker colours and more natural materials as hides

lowering the light in one part of the cage, eg simple cage sleeves, lowering the general room light, shading the rack

raising the temperature. Mouse are generally kept at 21 - 24°C, but really prefer 26 - 30°C

scanning the room for ultra sounds

scattering some grains for foraging (this is also perfect for training the mice to make health checks easier)

Other still very simple changes:

adding nesting materials. Mouse prefer paper scraps, paper towels, etc, but there's also cotton squares and wood wool commercially available

adding wood for chewing. Again there's many options ranging from wooden bricks over wooden huts to whole branches

adding a running plate or wheel (I know running plates are said to cause spinal deformity, but in my experience that is a very low chance as opposed to the negative effects no movement has)

adding more bedding so digging is easier

adding tubes, boxes, swings and climbing structures

Changes that get closer to pet keeping:

add diggable bedding for builing nests and tunnels

add more huts. More! Mooore! (seriously mouse love a cluttered space and feel most comfortable walking along walls)

add a second layer (most easy part is just wedging a wooden board in there) and raising the top bars (there's raised cage tops for more height)

adding a maze/labyrinth to allow the mice to compartimentalise their cage/hide from light, sounds, movement, etc

stopping to feed ad libitum. In comercial setting, this can be done with feeding machines, privately this can be done by feeding like any other pet (adding a bowl of fresh food twice a day and removing after an hour or two)

scatter feeding instead of having the food in a rack

adding a digging box

Changes for pet keeping:

Going at least one, better two sizes up with the cages

adding toys

adding more mice to the group (in research most mice are kept in groups of 2 to 5. Mice prefer bigger groups though (plus "two" is a pair, not a group))

adding a big, big layer of bedding (see previous category)

adding toys, including food toys, smell toys, etc

giving food treats like yogurt, comercial treats, varied food, dead or life insects (mice are good hunters!)

feeding grains and similar (if you're unsure about a balanced diet, feeding grains additionally to pellets is totally fine)

adding a bigger wheel or running plate (a wheel is better, if you can provide a good one with appropriate size)

offer a free run time. This could for example be in a bath tub. Lay it out with linen or carpets, fill the tub with toys, treats and cardboard boxes, and offer the mice to go there (eg by builing a stairwell, or by training them "taxi" with a travel box)

spend regular time with them to aclimate them to humans

Changes for a near perfect enclosure:

Upgrate to an aquarium with a grid top

add more climbing options. Like way more!

Put heavier huts on stilts

Add even more tunnels

provide fresh food

change up their enrichment (eg digging box, swimming pool, fresh plants, offer tea additionally to water)

All these images have good and bad items, and imo all enclosures can be adapted to the housed animals needs. I'll try to add credit, but please message me if you have questions about specific images

I was about to add sources but found some great in a single site: here

I also always recommend bin cages as they are cheap and very very customisable. The best example I found is this one

[luimagines]

(Beach day continue and dark history imagine)

Ethan blink to get splash by wild so he pick wild up out the water and throw him making a loud splash as wild have star in his eyes seeing this a a new game tho Ethan feel danger and may have chose the wrong thing and try to get away only to be stop by hyrule.

Hyrule: hey Ethan, do you mind if you show me on how to swim?

Ethan nod tho see hyrule star at his scars but show hyrule the base of swimming first so hyrule can get to understand and the book stay on dry land tho can feel time and warrior stars.

Book: what are your questions since some of you star at Ethan like a lab rat.

Four: you say that the hero fail to appear how?

Book: the hero link, like I say *fail to appear* is because he wasn't born. And if we all end up in his *ethan* hyrule. I hope you don't attack the bloody king?

Time: why do you think we'll attack the king? Did he?-

Book: the king is the main reason for hyrule self destruction and to destroy many young children childhoods even Ethan.

Warrior: how so?

Book: Ethan was only six when the knights came to take his four year old brothers *three of them* to put them in cruel training. Many kids don't last long so Ethan *volunteered * in order to protect his family even the punishments are worse.

Four: worse as how??.....

Book:......the knights would beat the kids even to the point to unconscious or stave them......Ethan was a big target for those punishments in order to protect-.. but if you all hurt that boy or harm him..I'll make sure you all pray to that damn goddess-

Wind: ethan!Ethan!! Throw me next!!

Ethan throw gently throw wind to the water tho relax but wind and wild tired him out faster every time.

Warrior sigs and shakes his head. "No need to threaten we've all gotten the point long ago. We shall.... remain civil in regard to your king."

Legend scoffs. "Don't speak for all of us."

"It's either that or we die." Warrior points out. "Or Ethan gets the blunt of it."

Legend snaps his jaw shut with a soft click. "Touché."

Time rubs his forehead feeling the beginning of s a headache coming on. "He's not the only one with troublesome kings. It's always that way when Zelda isn't in charge. Maybe the golden three have mercy on his soul."

"Whose?"

"Ethan's. And may they protect him."

"Didn't take you as the religious type." Warrior mutters.

"I'm not. Time flexes his jaw. "But I'm aware there are things beyond my power and control."

[bbpsmanesar]

Discovering Excellence at Bal Bharati Public School, Manesar

When searching for the perfect educational institution for your child, the quest often leads to seeking out a school that not only promises academic excellence but also fosters holistic development. For parents in and around Manesar, the name "Bal Bharati Public School" stands out as a beacon of quality education and all-round development. If you’ve ever found yourself searching for a Bharati school near me in Manesar, look no further. Bal Bharati Public School, Manesar, offers everything you could wish for in a modern educational institution.

A Legacy of Excellence

Bal Bharati Public School, Manesar, is part of the larger Bal Bharati family of schools, which has a rich legacy of over 70 years in the field of education. Founded by the Child Education Society, Bal Bharati schools have become synonymous with quality education that blends tradition with modernity. The Manesar branch continues this legacy, offering students an environment where they can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

State-of-the-Art Infrastructure

One of the key features that make Bal Bharati Public School, Manesar, a top choice for parents is its state-of-the-art infrastructure. The school campus is sprawling and well-maintained, providing students with ample space for both learning and play. Classrooms are equipped with modern teaching aids such as smart boards, projectors, and interactive learning tools that make the education process engaging and effective.

In addition to academic facilities, the school boasts a fully-equipped library, science and computer labs, and art and music rooms. The sports facilities are second to none, with expansive playgrounds, a swimming pool, and courts for various sports. These facilities ensure that students have the resources they need to excel in both academics and extracurricular activities.

Holistic Development

At Bal Bharati Public School, Manesar, education is not just about textbooks and exams. The school believes in the holistic development of its students, ensuring they grow into well-rounded individuals. The curriculum is designed to foster creativity, critical thinking, and leadership skills. The school offers a wide range of co-curricular activities, including debates, quizzes, music, dance, and drama, allowing students to explore their interests and talents.

Furthermore, the school places a strong emphasis on physical education. Regular sports events, inter-school competitions, and physical fitness programs are integral to the school’s routine. The sports curriculum is designed to inculcate the values of teamwork, discipline, and perseverance among students.

Highly Qualified Faculty

The backbone of any great school is its faculty, and Bal Bharati Public School, Manesar, prides itself on having a team of highly qualified and dedicated teachers. The faculty members are not just educators but also mentors and guides who are committed to nurturing the potential of each student. With a low student-to-teacher ratio, personalized attention is guaranteed, ensuring that every child’s unique needs are addressed.

The teachers at Bal Bharati Public School are regularly trained in the latest teaching methodologies and technologies. This continuous professional development ensures that they are well-equipped to provide students with a high-quality education that is both relevant and effective in today’s fast-changing world.

Focus on Values and Ethics

In today’s world, where academic success often takes precedence, Bal Bharati Public School, Manesar, places a strong emphasis on instilling values and ethics in its students. The school’s value-based education system teaches students the importance of honesty, integrity, respect, and empathy. Regular assemblies, workshops, and community service programs are conducted to promote these values.

The school also organizes various cultural events and festivals that help students appreciate and respect India’s rich cultural heritage. Through these activities, students learn the importance of unity in diversity and develop a sense of social responsibility.

Technology Integration

In keeping with the times, Bal Bharati Public School, Manesar, has seamlessly integrated technology into its teaching-learning process. The school’s smart classrooms are equipped with the latest digital tools, enabling interactive and immersive learning experiences. The use of technology extends beyond the classroom as well, with the school’s website and app providing parents and students with easy access to important information, homework assignments, and announcements.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the school quickly adapted to online learning, ensuring that students’ education was not disrupted. Virtual classrooms, online assessments, and digital collaboration tools became an integral part of the school’s functioning, showcasing its adaptability and commitment to continuous learning.

Community and Parental Involvement

Bal Bharati Public School, Manesar, believes that education is a collaborative effort between the school, parents, and the community. The school regularly organizes parent-teacher meetings, workshops, and seminars to keep parents involved in their child’s education. These initiatives provide a platform for parents to share their feedback and suggestions, ensuring that the school’s policies and practices are aligned with the needs of the students.

The school also engages with the local community through various outreach programs and social initiatives. These efforts not only contribute to the community’s well-being but also teach students the importance of social responsibility and giving back to society.

Admissions Process

For parents looking for a Bharati school near me in Manesar, the admissions process at Bal Bharati Public School, Manesar, is designed to be smooth and transparent. The school follows a merit-based admission process, ensuring that every child has an equal opportunity to join the Bal Bharati family. The school’s website provides detailed information about the admission criteria, required documents, and important dates, making it easy for parents to navigate the process.

Prospective parents and students are encouraged to visit the school campus and interact with the faculty and administration. This helps them get a firsthand experience of the school’s environment and facilities, making it easier to make an informed decision.

Conclusion: Why Choose Bal Bharati Public School, Manesar?

Bal Bharati Public School, Manesar, is more than just a school; it is a nurturing ground for future leaders and innovators. With its robust academic program, focus on holistic development, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and a commitment to values and ethics, the school offers a well-rounded education that prepares students for the challenges of the future.

If you are in Manesar and looking for a Bharati school near me in Manesar, Bal Bharati Public School is the ideal choice. The school’s unwavering commitment to excellence ensures that your child will receive the best possible education in a supportive and enriching environment.

Bal Bharati Public School, Manesar, truly stands out as a place where young minds are nurtured to achieve their full potential, making it a top choice for parents who seek quality education and holistic development for their children.

[sakurachan7734]

Nothing but a lab rat

Chapter 6: my final escape

Tw: gun shot wounds

Kim POV 

For the next few months’s I did nothing but train and exercise in order to build muscle my anger towards everybody that worked in the lab group bigger she realizes what they were trying to use her for how could i be so blind? Even a five-year-old could realize what they were trying to do I should have released when they threw me in acid and now that my first love is gone I must get out of here before I die here too I remember there being a large pool for the kids here that were injected with marine life blood I asked them if I could practice swimming in case I need to swim to get home and they let me I plan on leaving a big enough hole in the wall so a bunch of the other kids can get out now I’m aware that a lot of them here were taking it from orphanages but maybe somebody will find them and take care of them or they could choose to stay i’m not gonna force them to leave but everybody here seems miserable and I plan on making enough chaos that will hopefully get somebody in the laws attention that the place will be shut down no child deserves to go through what I went through being ripped away from my dad and pretty much being tortured

Gabby: so what’s your plan Kim? 

Kim: I am planning to release everybody here and hopefully get somebody’s attention so this place will be shut down 

Jim: how do you plan on doing that? There’s no way that all of us would escape 

Kim: I’m aware of that like I said I wanna cause as much chaos as possible so maybe somebody will see it and that you are free then you guys would ever go back to your families or be put back up for adoption

Jenny: what about you? You are part of the older kids.

Kim: I will go try and find my dad

Gabby: and what will happen to you if you don’t? 

Kim: well I might die because it’s gonna be a long journey in order to find him but I have a feeling he’s still in the house that I was taken from

Jim: but what will happen if your dad doesn’t recognize you?

Kim: oh don’t worry he will We’ve been communicating through letters and I’ve been sending him pictures of the process of me becoming this

Jenny: will we be left on our own? We can’t defend ourselves

Kim: don’t worry other bigger kids here will try to guide you to safety

Jenny: ok

A couple months later Kim feels like she is really for her plan so when she knew that the scientist weren’t around she grabbed her music box, the. thew herself through her cell window instead of running around opening any containment so she can find and having the kids follow her Kim stole some explosives but then all the guards start shooting at them a few bullets hit Kim in the arms legs, and chest

Meg: Kim your bleeding! 

Kim: I know but I’m fine we got to get out

Kim fines a big enough wall and puts the explosives on the and light them up and hides the other kids so they don’t get hurt then Dr James shows up

James: where do you think you are going? 

Kim: I’m going home and I’m taking the other kids with me you aren’t going to hurt us anymore

James: you really think you’re all gonna live out there on your own? You’re probably gonna die before the month is over

Kim: I know but that is a sacrifice I’m willing to take for everyone here not to hurt anyone anymore

The wall explodes and Kim yells with the other kids to run out then she runs out after them it was a very foggy day so when the scientist in the guards got out they had already lost them 

Kim pov

It’s so cold and foggy out I stepped in some glass on my way out so it hurts every step I walk I feel like I’m gonna pass out because I’m bleeding so much I don’t see anybody in sight I don’t have any way of calling my dad i’m hungry i’m thirsty I might just except I’m gonna die out here I clung to my music box 

A few hours later Kim finally finds the Las Vegas sign but before she can find anything to eat or drink she passes out right at the sign somebody finds her and calls a ambulance and she’s taking to a hospital 

Linda: so what am I dealing with today? 

Nea: well there are some kid passed out and bleeding by the sign in from the city

Linda: how badly is she injured?

Nea: very badly she might not make it she just got done with surgery She seems to be breathing a bit and she was holding onto a box when we found her

Linda: ok

Linda:* enters in the room and stops* Kim? 

Kim:* wakes up* hmmm where am I?

Linda: you are in the hospital

Kim: why is my face covered?

Linda:* sits down next to Kim* you had a bunch of injuries on your face and do you know where your parents are? 

Kim: so you sewed up my eye and the hole in my face? 

Linda: yes do you know where your parents are?

Kim: I don’t know where my mom is but I think my dad still lives in the house I was taking from

Linda: alright do you know his name?

Kim: John Linson

Linda:* mind* so this is John’s daughter. She looks so different I don’t even wanna think about what this poor baby went through

Kim: can I see my dad? 

Linda: yes but if you don’t want me asking where were you all these years? Your father claims you got kidnapped

Kim: I did I was put in a lab and have horrible test performed on me that’s why I look like this can this be reversed? I don’t wanna look like this anymore I want to be a normal human girl again

Linda: well I don’t think we can because you’ve been missing for about 10 years because you were six when you were taking right?

Kim: yes

Linda: alright let me go call your dad 

Linda steps outside and called John

John:* answers* yes Linda? 

Linda: I found your daughter Someone brought her to the hospital

John: really?! Is she alive? Is she ok?!

Linda: yes she is alive but she has very severe injuries to her face and the rest of her body but she looks completely different she looks like a reptile

Linda then hears John put the phone down and runs out the door

Linda: John?

A few minutes John runs into the hospital and into Kim’s room and hugs her

John:* hugging Kim really close* oh my little girl i thought I would never see you again!!

Kim: hi dad!

John: how did you get out?! I was told I had to pay them in order to get you back

Kim: well…

End of chapter





[prvtocol]

@badtrigger “ You don't deserve this position. ” // quaritch disgusted by her empathy 👀 | 5-Word Sentence Prompts ( accepting ) ᠂ ⚘ ˚

Holographic displays illuminate the floor of the Ops center; maps, drone surveillance footage, ground recordings all visually accompany the briefing by General Ardmore to the division heads. It’s succinct enough to bring the corporates up to speed on the Resistance’s ongoings but also more notes on the failures of Project Phoenix in the Reef People territories. What happened there shook SecOps to the core, further destabilizing the RDA’s interests. How bleak everything appears, no relief to this war in sight, and now another friendly benign territory gone hostile — Dr. Garvin’s bereavement matched her own when they last met. At least, the casualties on that side were fewer. 

After dismissal, Brianne lingers at a terminal, blue fingers filtering the data on those who lost their lives in the skirmish to see any updates on bodies identified. Several of the scientists stationed on the SeaDragon are outstanding, killed most likely. When scanning their files, she notices they are flagged as possible defectors to the Resistance; the same courtesy was not given to CetOps's deceased.  

“Who ordered this?” Sharpened sight cuts through her proximity before her question reaches out to Ardmore. Thanks to reflex training, she manages to keep her tail under her. “Defected? General, it’s obvious they are dead. How would they just swim off and expect to be taken in by a supposed Resistance cell in the area?”

The interruption has Ardmore turning on her combat boots; hands folded behind her back as a soldier. She gives Brianne a look over; at least this one wears shoes, she thinks in passing. Then, without inflection, “We need proof Director, until then, we keep them on our radar.”

Disappointment is silently exhaled through her nostrils; her thoughts on this are jarring and she is willing to state as much. “This is the wrong radar to have.” 

“The number of SciOps defectors is high. It’s a precaution.” Ardmore returns, her manner unaffected as usual. Nothing stirs that woman.

With a face still pocked by battle, Quaritch steps closer, foolishly thinking he has a voice in this matter — or more so a bone to pick with her subdivision. He nears and Brianne offers him her attention. “It seems you need to keep your lab coats under control. Or maybe you don't deserve this position.” 

The dig has her brows tensing over eyes that stare in disbelief at the yellow orbs of the recom. How can he remain so bold considering his more recent mistakes were just on display? She knows everything she needs to about Miles Quaritch during his prior campaign to gauge his thoughts on SciOps. The subdivision has its history of being problematic to the RDA’s interests, but in this case, Brianne will not allow the thought.

“Perhaps you should share your opinion with HR, Colonel, but my qualifications are not under review here. Besides, it is not my scientists who need to be controlled. Ardmore,” her attention departs Quaritch for the commander, the one who is actually in charge and no doubt grappling with her ill-planned losses. “These were loyal men and women. I hate seeing their names tarnished even temporarily. And if I may be frank.”

Through pursed lips and a stretched moment in consideration, Ardmore gives a curt nod, conceding to let the director speak. 

“SciOps may not be tasked to find a diplomatic solution and we are far past that point anyway, but we need to continue functioning. Our discoveries are what’s paying for this operation but now harvesting amrita is in jeopardy thanks to the decisions made by Project Phoenix. But it’s not just about what we can sell back home, but in making this place a new home. We want to terraform Pandora, do we not? I need to send my people into the field to study it, to find solutions to the problems we face living here. We can’t do that if every territory gets even more hostile than it is." How many times she is told this is a war, there will be delays and casualties, but all she sees are senseless acts that end up costing them more in the end.

"But more so, these men and women we flagged are not our enemies. They died because of our mistakes and now they get reprimanded post-mortem. My other scientists see this and they lose faith. I’d appreciate it reconsidered.” 

Sight glances expectantly over at Quaritch, wondering if he might have something to add — in some ways, she counts on it.

[vishwavidyapeeth8]

What makes Vishwa Vidyapeeth the Best CBSE school in Yelahanka Bangalore?

A wise person once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world.” At Vishwa Vidyapeeth, we consider it our mission to provide a well-rounded educational curriculum that facilitates our students to reach their maximum potential.

Our school is a one-of-a-kind educational institution in Bangalore. Established in 2004, the school has been providing quality education to students from pre-primary to 12th standard.

Parents and students of our school understand the importance of quality education and this is what makes us one of the best schools in Bangalore. Whether it is the infrastructure, the teaching staff, or the extra-curricular activities offered here, we provide an all-around learning experience to our students in order to groom them into successful individuals.

Here are some of the factors that make Vishwa Vidyapeeth the best CBSE school in Yelahanka:

Facilities & Infrastructure:

We have state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure. The classrooms are spacious and airy with comfortable seating arrangements, enough lighting, and ample natural ventilation. Other amenities include an independent library housing thousands of books, a computer lab fitted with the latest computers, a science laboratory, and a gymnasium.

Sports:

Our objective is to leave a legacy for our young students by providing a truly sporting experience and teaching them about sports as part of a comprehensive education.  We have partnered with CAPSA (Come and Play Sports Academy) to equip our students with world-class sports infrastructure. We teach Badminton, Cricket, Swimming, Football, Basketball, Taekwondo, Skating, Yoga, and many more sports.

Experienced and Dedicated Faculty:

At Vishwa Vidyapeeth, education is managed by a team of experienced and dedicated faculty members. They are highly qualified and trained professionals who have graduated from renowned universities. They are adept in their subject knowledge and also help with academic enrichment as well as extracurricular activities.

What sets us apart is the emphasis on learning beyond classrooms. We make sure that the students are always engaged in activities that are beneficial to their academic performance as well as overall personality development.

Wide Range of Co-Curricular Activities:

We ensure that its students are exposed to a wide range of co-curricular activities so that they can hone their skills and talents. The school provides art classes where students can explore and develop their skills in painting, drawing, and sculpting. Other activities include yoga, theater, and leadership training skills.

Regular School Trips & Excursions:

At our institute, students are taken on educational trips and excursions to give them a better understanding of the world around them. These trips help students to explore their fields of interest and develop knowledge and understanding of their subject.

Talent Development and Promotion of Innovation:

We encourage the students to think out of the box and promote innovation. The school trains students in areas like research, projects, observations, etc. They provide a platform for them to showcase their skills through competitions and exhibitions.

Comprehensive Assessment System:

Our school follows a comprehensive assessment system through which the progress of each student is tracked and monitored. This makes sure that every student gets the attention and guidance they need so that they can improve and excel in their studies.

These are some of the things that make us one of the best CBSE schools in Bangalore. Whether it’s the infrastructure, the teaching staff, the extra-curricular activities offered or the comprehensive assessment system, our institute has it all. That’s why parents trust us with their children’s education and future. It has successfully helped its students to reach their full potential and of our alumni have become successful individuals in their chosen careers. We welcome you to be a part of our institution.

[kinevart]

starcaller

She offers no further explanation; and Starcaller will keep his curiosity checked for now. Despite a few mutants crossing the threshold that he regretted every bringing in—he actively doesn’t let the betrayal jade him. He’s been alive long enough to know there are bad eggs in every batch. Even his own. Helping her to her feet, her hands are much daintier than their own. Kinevart moves with the same grace her appearance implies. Starcaller can’t help but think she’d make an excellenta addition to their home. “I was in the same before I created this place. It can become addictive—belonging somewhere after so long alone.”  Hands return to his pockets as he begins to fall into step with her towards the barrier. It shimmers, the once hazy inner grounds clear besides the iridescent film they walk through. The air inside is cleaner, fresher. Imogen’s hard working bees often buzzing through and the ground likely to spring up sporadic, strange flowers to accommodate them before the disappear into the earth once more. Growing and dying with the speed of small mushrooms, taking from and nourishing the grounds. “Anyone can walk out of the barrier,” they explain, given her propensity for isolation he assumes that can also be mistaken for a need for freedom, “Not everyone can come in.” “Welcome to the Sanctum. Where would you like to start?” coming to a stop, he gestures, pointing out the general area of each. The buildings don’t instantly give way to their function, having adapted to the old factory he built the sanctum upon. A natural growth over unnatural forms: like an artificial reef. “Mutants can live an entire lifetime in here without leaving. We have the main building, a shared space with the kitchens. The residences. A school, my labs. Something like a hospital, mainly with others that share your ability. A few who are trained.” @starcvller

She wants to disagree; that she could never find belonging addictive, because solitude is her choice and her preference. But she hasn’t really tried belonging anywhere but her forest, so it isn’t really her place to disagree. Kinevart has always been quite resistant to change.  And in any case, it is difficult to want to be disagreeable in a place like this. Starcaller leads her forth and Kinevart takes in the shimmering world; shifting in lucent rainbows like the belly of a trout swimming upstream in sparkling sunlight. It feels very special, very different. Alien, yet comforting, which is how Starcaller feels, too. “It feels as though the city is very far away, suddenly,” she says. As though the barrier is not a barrier, but a portal. 

They point out the main buildings, and one in particular catches Kinevart’s attention: labs, like hospitals. She has an immediate distrust of that; her prey sense alerts her to danger, so she knows there is none here, but the traumatised part of her brain is afraid anyway. She will not be comfortable until she has seen it, and concluded it is not a place of cruelty. “The labs,” she says levelly, betraying little of her discomfort bar a brief swish of her head; much the same way as a horse might swish its tail when suspicious, sending a lock of dark hair tumbling behind her shoulder. “You have mentioned my ability. What do you know of it?” Suspicious, again. So much is suspicious, and the fact that Kinevart’s prey sense tells her it is safe only makes her feel more suspicious still. 

[babycharmander]

Okay, I hope I'm not intruding here, though this was posted to the tags. I wanted to break down a few things in this thread here:

D'you ever think about how no-one except his own family ever seem to go out of their way to help him?

This is untrue. Ford helps Raz as much as he physically and psychically is able to in Psychonauts 1. He can't leave his sanctuary while retaining his proper memories and persona (or well, he can with the psitanium chunk, but it's risky to do so, and the psitanium crapping out on him while he's trying to help Raz would cause massive problems), so he knows the best way to help Raz is from afar, giving him all the advice he needs whenever he's called upon, and even training Raz in new abilities. Even then he DOES finally take the risk when Oleander steps out in the open to attack. (Ford couldn't do that before, since Oleander's whereabouts were unknown.) Then, to a lesser extent, the campers help him after being rescued (if you rescued their brains, they impart their power onto Raz and help heal him, which is vital in Meat Circus).

Then in Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin, Oleander swims through the Rhombus to deliver Raz his Psi-Portal so he can go into Loboto's mind and stop him before Loboto conducts brain surgery on him. Given Oleander was afraid of the water before this, and given the levels of psitanium all around them, this is a HUGE risk on his part, but he does it anyway to help Raz.

In Psychonauts 2, all of the characters are incredibly busy with all the wild stuff going on, but Sasha and Milla both take time to talk to Raz and listen to his concerns, and Otto invites Raz to his lab and uses a loophole so that Raz can use some of his spy gear. There's admittedly not a lot ohter than that, but the characters didn't really have much of an opportunity to do anything more given what was going on (aside from his family, as you mentioned).

Do you ever think about how this kid’s been working his [rear end] off for 3-5 days, and the only sleep he’s really gotten was that time he fell unconscious after a plane crash?

All of this is wrong. Raz slept at Whispering Rock after arriving. After that, we don't know how much of a time gap there is between the final boss fight and the final cutscene (with Oleander giving his speech at the end of camp), but given Oleander had enough time for a cat scan to be done on him and he had a multiple-page-long report written about him, I think it's safe to say that they had a day to rest up at the very least. After that, Raz falls asleep on the plane BEFORE the crash. He's woken up several hours later. He does pass out during the crash, but before that he did get at least some sleep.

I do think it's fair to say that he probably didn't get a lot of sleep overall, but this isn't anything life-ruining, and it's something the fandom remarks on a lot. I've made multiple references to it in my fanfics, myself.

About how that ended with him thinking he was being left behind in a building about to blow up because no-one thought to mention to him that he was safe until he was on the jet?

I mean, to be fair, they were all hurrying to escape, and Charlie Psycho Delta was literally seconds away from exploding. All of their mental energy was probably being spent on trying to use their limited powers (remember, they're surrounded by psitanium) in the Rhombus to carry the people who couldn't move (Oleander, Raz, and Truman) and get onto the jet safely before they all died. They likely didn't say anything until they were on the jet because they were spending all their energy and power on trying to get to the jet in the first place.

Ever think about how there’s a divide in his family? About how his mother still doesn’t like to think about psychics, and his brother seems to get angry every time psychic powers are brought up?

This is completely untrue. Donatella outright says that she's learned to be more lax with her children because, and I quote, "they have psychic powers they can use to crush all who oppose them, hm?" And she says it with a smile on her face--she's proud of her family's powers. As well, Dion is happily talking about psychic stuff with Gisu, and telling Raz all the new stuff he's learned about psychics.

Do you think he’ll help Gristol, and realize that sometimes you can’t  fix a person’s mind in a day, that they require a long process of  healing, and even after that, they still might just not be good people?

I mean, Raz already learned that the Psychonauts don't "fix" people--that was a pretty major theme with the game. And, yes, Raz already did learn this. You can go talk to Gristol in the psychoisolation chamber AND in his mind, and Raz realizes that Gristol is not willing for anyone to help him and just... kinda sighs.

#and it's never really acknowledged that like. hey maybe we shouldn't make this ten-year-old feel like the scum of the earth.

They didn't do that. Raz did something massively dangerous and massively violating to Hollis. Hollis was well within her right to be angry about that, and her infuriated reaction immediately upon finding out is entirely reasonable, and she honestly handled the situation with a lot of tact and care once the immediate anger calmed down. Sasha also never did anything unreasonable; he confronted Raz and made him understand the seriousness of what he'd done. As for Milla, she was half-joking, but to me it felt like her way of putting her foot down--she acts motherly and is probably willing to comfort others, but she wanted to be clear that she was very much not okay with what Raz had done. 

Did what they said upset Raz? Well, yeah! No-one likes being reprimanded! But in some cases it's very necessary to do so. And in Raz's case, it helped him learn his lesson to not mess with people's minds, and that lesson is cemented throughout the rest of the game--he learns the importance of consent, and always asks permission before entering someone's mind, with the exception of Gristol's and Lucy's at the end, and also Helmut's when he first entered his mind, but those were very different situations.

#and he never really gets a big congrats after the back to back nightmares of the first game and rhombus of ruin

Yes he does. He has that entire ceremony dedicated to him at the end of Psychonauts 1, with Oleander directly thanking Raz for helping him, and Ford making a grand speech about how great Raz is, and how he was great even before coming to the camp, and then promoting him to the level of Psychonaut. Then in Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin, Milla proclaims that Raz was amazing in how he was able to help everyone, and asks him to "rest his body and his head."

#and like as soon as he shows up Sasha and Milla [#@$%] off to who knows where leaving him to fend for himself

What? No, they directly tell Raz where they're going, and Raz is able to visit them repeatedly throughout the game (until the Motherlobe briefly becomes inaccessible toward the end). Even when Milla is trying to find Maligula and Sasha is trying to interrogate Loboto, both of them will stop what they're doing to talk to Raz if he visits.

[everything here about Ford]

Yes, Raz is ultimately left with mixed feelings about Ford by the end of the game, but Ford was also put between a rock and a hard place. It's not like he messed with Lucy's memories just for the heck of it--it was the only way to keep her safe, and reworking Augustus's memories so he could be with Lucy, while EXTREMELY questionable, at least had a reason for happening. The series has already shown that some of the institutions in the world that take care of children (like the place Gloria grew up in) can be awful, so getting Augustus out of there was ultimately probably the lesser of the two evils. Like, don't get me wrong--all the stuff Ford did was wrong,  but it was a wrong choice where there was no possible right choice to make.

Let’s not forget about how Raz literally saved a number of [lives] [...] BUT HE STILL HAD TO PROVE HIMSELF AGAIN??? TO BECOME A PSYCHONAUT???

Because Hollis didn't know that. She knew nothing about Raz, and with the mole stuff going on and with Lili being very understandably worried about her dad, no-one really had a free moment to inform Hollis of everything. Sasha even offered to do so, but said it would have to wait until he was able to finish interrogating Loboto, because people's lives were at stake.

Like, yes, it did suck, but no-one can really be blamed in this situation.

And the teens were HAZING him???

Yes. Like, I'm not going to defend hazing--it's an awful practice IMO--but I really feel like everyone is missing that this was, and often still is, a very common practice, and one often not done in malice. In Norma's case, yeah, it probably was malice because she's just Like That, but for the others, this was just an accepted social behavior at the time.

He never turned to an adult to demand that Norma return his clothes

What was he going to say? "uh hey I know you're busy and I know tons of people's lives are at stake but could you please go over to this mean intern and get my clothes back." Raz knows there's a lot more important stuff going on and he's not going to demand an adult step away to help him with something comparatively minor. (and also I think he was just embarrassed about the whole thing and probably didn't want any more attention drawn to it than needed)

(Also as an aside, why is NOBODY bringing up the fact that Otto  snapped a picture of Raz in his underwear when he showed up in Sasha’s  office?? Literally no-one ever mentions it but like. Bad Vibes ™️ )

Okay so like, there is a deleted line where Otto explains that it's a habit of his to take "photographic memories" when he's startled. Even without that, though, you can clearly see from the scene that Otto didn't even really have time to process what he was seeing--he heard Raz fall, was startled, and turned around and snapped a photo on reflex. There's nothing creepy going on there.

like there’s almost no acknowledgment that like “oh hey it’s cool that we’re making raz a junior agent and all but we should probably get that boy some therapy asap and probably a few other things so we don’t get sued”

The dust is still settling post-credits, and everyone is still processing what's happened. Raz will probably eventually get some help that he needs.

They're the Psychonauts. Their whole thing, minus the spy part, is practically therapy.

but i feel like none of them ever go deep enough with the self-deprecating trauma?

When does Raz ever self-depricate?? Like, he admits when he's wrong, like with what happened with Hollis, but he never once beats himself up. I cannot think of a single instance of it.

more raz being like “what did i do wrong”

Why? What would he have to say that about? He acknowledged what he did to Hollis was wrong, and he learned from it. He has no reason to mope about "what did I do wrong?" He knows pretty well already, learned from it, and bounced back from it.

or more raz going “i did so much and i suffered so much and you are the adults, what are you doing to help me/why did you do nothing to help me”

But they did help him, which I already explained. Raz is not going to feel like he wasn't helped.

YES, someone get this boy some THERAPY and a NAP. He hasn’t eaten  anything in three days except suckers and dream fluffs!! ARE WE JUST  GONNA IGNORE THAT FACT?

He's eaten squirrel and bird, haha. But I will say no-one is ignoring the fact that Raz has gotten very little sleep and had very little to eat during his adventure--this is very frequently referenced in both fanfics and fanart.

and now they’re leaving for whispering rock again without lili or raz?

Well, yeah? Sasha and Milla have jobs. Lili and Raz don't need to be babysat.

literally the only other person that’s been with raz through the entire series is lili and obviously she should probably be getting therapy too, but she’s already at an advantage because she’s known sasha and milla and oleander probably more of her life than she hasn’t known them, and then at the end of everything she has her dad (for real this time) to confide in. even considering Raz’s family, who are either super traumatized, upset at him for psychic stuff, or both, there’s just really no one for him to fall back on who understands just how much [bullcrap] he’s been through in the past 3 days.

But... none of his family are upset at him about psychic stuff anymore. Raz can still confide in them, and he's with Lili, who also understands what he's been through. I don't understand what Lili being established at the Psychonauts and having her dad has anything to do with this??

I know that was a lot, but I read through this thread and I had to say something.

Raz did go thorugh a lot, but I feel like some of you guys are missing a lot of stuff here.

Hey do y'all ever think about how Raz's love language seems to be 'Acts of Service', and how he goes around helping literally everyone he can get ahold of, even people who have objectively been assholes to him?

D'you ever think about how no-one except his own family ever seem to go out of their way to help him? It's always just an exchange, he does a quest and gets a reward, but the only people who go out of their way to do something for him are when his own family lends him energy to let HIM combat whatever major threat is happening. This ten-year-old who somehow has Gifted Kid Syndrome without even going to a public school.

Do you ever think about how this kid's been working his ass off for 3-5 days, and the only sleep he's really gotten was that time he fell unconscious after a plane crash? How he immediately went right back into saving the day, a ten year old among adults and people with way more experience than him? About how nothing is ever going to be more exciting than his first 3-5 days knowing the Psychonauts? About how he's earned the respect of Sasha Nein, his favorite agent ever, and probably can't fully process how impossibly cool that is? How Sasha Nein is probably losing his damn mind at how a ten-year-old child has managed to save the day (AND his ass) at least three times, virtually unassisted? About how Raz didn't know how to levitate exactly, but managed to get through training courses meant for levitators purely because he's an acrobat and he never thought "I'm not able to do this because I don't have the right skills", he just assumed this was what people did?

About how Raz has been parkouring nonstop for 3-5 days and probably the most rested he was during all of it was in the Rhombus of Ruin wen he was kidnapped and strapped to a dentist's chair? About how that ended with him thinking he was being left behind in a building about to blow up because no-one thought to mention to him that he was safe until he was on the jet?

Ever think about how Raz, brand-new psychonaut at 10, probably the youngest psychonaut ever, is probably too excited to sleep? Probably immediately wants a new case? Is confused by the lack of spy action available? Doesn't have the training or adult experience to handle so many possible traumas? About how Raz knows, intellectually, that his nona killed people but has never seen a dead body? About how this job will make him confront the harsh realities of his work? About how he will see true evils and traumas he could not possibly know existed at ten, and will see more? About Raz having to process other peoples' traumas in his sleep, because god only knows he won't realize them when he's awake.

Ever think about how there's a divide in his family? About how his mother still doesn't like to think about psychics, and his brother seems to get angry every time psychic powers are brought up? He's still a big brother to his little siblings, but he works away from the circus now, and they'll all drift apart. About how he has to process that people will still hate him for having psychic powers no matter what he does or how many people he helps?

Do you think he'll help Gristol, and realize that sometimes you can't fix a person's mind in a day, that they require a long process of healing, and even after that, they still might just not be good people?

Idk, I have a lot of thoughts and feelings about Raz.

[dragonmuse]

(AsIsHerRight requested Lucius and Charlie hanging out when things were lower stakes, then in I Wanna Sink to the Bottom With You. Charlie is 17 here.) 

“Stede!” Lucius called from the front hall, keys jingling. 

“He’s not here!” Charlie called back from the couch. He was sprawled there, book on his stomach and dozing off.

“Of course he’s not,” Lucius sighed, stepping into the living room. He was holding dry cleaning, shiny in its bags. “They left you here?”

“I didn’t want to go shopping,” Charlie shrugged. “Want me to take that up to their room?” 

“Yeah, thanks. Just hang it on the back of Stede’s closet door. They can sort it out when we get back.” 

Charlie got up and took the hangers from him and did just that. When he got back downstairs, Lucius was still standing there,  texting with a slight furrow to his brow. 

“My date is ditching me for work,” Lucius glanced up. “You know, you might like this gallery show. It’s seasonal.”

“Spooky?” Charlie guessed. 

“Probably. The collection is called The Body Exploded.”

“Sold. When?”

“If you can be changed in the next ten minutes, we can get dinner and go. I’ll tell them that I’m borrowing you.” 

“Awesome! ….what do I need to change into?” 

“Anything that’s not your superhero underoos,” Lucius eyed his current attire.  The t-shirt had seen better days and was about three sizes too big with a faded Spiderman leaping across it. His boxers matched.  

“Buzzkill,” Charlie sniffed, but went into his room to change. Not wanting to make Lucius regret the offer, he put on slacks and the only shirt he had here that didn’t have a logo on it. It was a light blue collarless t-shirt and a little tighter than he remembered. Probably fine. 

“Good?” He stepped back out. Lucius glanced up, the. Back down at his phone. Paused. Then slowly  looked back up again.

“Where did that body come from?” He cocked his head to the side.

“What do you mean?” 

“You’re ripped. Shredded. What other destructive word is there for muscles?” Lucius hit send and shoved his phone in his pocket. 

“Oh, it’s all from cross training,” Charlie shrugged. “I can’t get too bulky, but I do some lifting. Mostly squats and running though.”

“Ugh the gym,” Lucius wrinkled his nose. “Well it’s working. You look fine, let’s go.”

“Where are we eating?” 

“With you? There’s an Italian place that basically gives you a bucket of pasta and the meatballs are the size of my fist.”

“Hell yeah,” he said happily. “Who ratted me out?” 

“Eddy was impressed by your annihilation of all their leftovers.”

“I’m just keeping things neat. Their fridge is a nightmare lab.” 

“I know. I’ve seen it. Good job taking the potential botulism on the chin. Let’s go, we want to get to the restaurant in time for happy hour.” 

“You’re drinking while taking care of a minor?” Charlie tsked. “Bad role modeling for impressionable minds.” 

“If I don’t get a drink in me, I will be a way worse role model. It has been too long a week and it’s only Tuesday.” 

“So it was Izzy that ditched you?” He held the door for Lucius. 

“I-yeah. You know my schedule?” Lucius asked suspiciously. 

“It’s not like that part is hard. You guys have done Tuesday date nights the entire time I’ve known you,” Charlie scoffed. 

“I will bet you a hundred dollars that Stede doesn’t know that.” 

“Wow, yeah, I think that says more about Dad than it does about me.” 

“Why can’t it be both?” Lucius glanced at him. “Can I ask how college applications are going or is that a no go?” 

“Oh, uh. I got in already,” he said to his shoes. 

“How? It’s October.” 

“Yeah, it’s the whole swimming thing.” 

“Explain,” Lucius demanded. “Also we’re going to take the subway, you’ve got the app, right?” 

“Of course I do, how do you think I get around?” 

“Figured you went web slinging.” 

“Spiderman is awesome, you can’t shame me about it.” 

“I’m married to a comics nerd, so it’s really only a light bit of pretension,” Lucius informed him. “So. College?” 

“Schools have to recruit for swim early cause of how our seasons fall out.  I got some offers and then it was just choosing.” 

“Offers? As in more than one?” 

“Uh, maybe,” Charlie mumbled. 

“How many?” 

“...four.” 

“Four?!” Lucius slapped him lightly on the bicep. “I thought I was impressive for getting $500 a semester to cover books. How good were the offers?” 

“Full rides?” he said sheepishly.  

“Congratulations, I think I might actually expire out of retroactive jealousy,” Lucius decided. “Not that you don’t deserve it, but fuck, that’s a lot. So you chose already? 

“Yeah,” Charlie warmed to that part of the topic. “I did a few weekend campus visits last month, met coaches and some of the teams.” 

“And?” 

“And it made me realize that I wanted someone who would get me to the next level without taking years off my life. Most of the coaches just brag about how hard they work everyone and then numbers. There was only one guy that talked about regimes and break times, and how low injuries were. I was into that.” 

“I’ll bet, so where are you headed?” 

They trooped down the stairs to the subway station, the familiar rush of hellish noise and smells rushing to meet Charlie. He was almost fond of it by now. 

“Southern State.” 

“But...that’s a plane ride,” Lucius frowned. “Not even a super short one.” 

“Yeah,” Charlie shrugged. “None of them were close. And I like the idea of it being warm year round.” 

“Gotta follow your heart,” Lucius looked away, "but we’ll miss you.” 

“I’m barely here anyway,” Charlie protested. “And I’ll come around for holidays and stuff.” 

“Not the same,” Lucius put on an old lady voice. “Our babies! All grown up! Sunrise, sunset!” 

“Shut up,” he laughed. “You’ll all live just fine without me.” 

“Debatable, but fine, go spread your wings or whatever.” 

“You went to college, right?” Charlie checked. “For fine arts?” 

“Uh huh. Learned how to hold a pencil and everything.” 

“Any tips?” 

Lucius came to stop on the platform. He stared down at the tracks, biting his lip then said, “Put some energy into making friends and keeping them. It won’t just happen on its own.” 

Charlie didn’t say that he’d figured that out. Because he was still pretty fucking bad at it. 

“So...you didn’t like it much?” 

“Yeah, no, I won’t lie to you,” Lucius sighed. “I’m glad I stuck it out and I did make good contacts, yada yada yada. I mean, that’s who’s show we’re seeing tonight. One of my college buddies curates this edgy kind of gallery and they put the show together.” 

“But...”

“But I never figured out how to connect,” he said distantly. “It’s kind of funny now. Like I’m living in a suite with a bunch of dudes, working in a bar, and acting like an asshole on stage. Sort of went in reverse, but better.” 

“I don’t know how college it is to be married to one of the ‘dudes’,” Charlie pointed out. 

“Upgraded experience. Anyway, point is: no, I’m not your college tips guy. Don’t ask Roach either. He doesn’t like to talk about it.” 

“Noted,” Charlie grimaced. “I’ll ask Buttons.” 

“Buttons?” Lucius frowned. “Why?” 

The train rolled in and they lost a minute getting on. They both laid hands on a pole. 

“Buttons has a Ph.D.” Charlie reminded him as the train finally pulled away. 

“He does?” Lucius swung around the pole to face him. “Stop...no. Really?” 

“Uh, really?” Charlie raised his eyebrows. “How do you  not know that? You know everything!” 

“I’m not omniscient and I didn’t know because he never said. In what?” 

“Philosophy.” 

“That makes more sense,” Lucius allowed. “But he was definitely on the carnival route for a while.” 

“Yeah, he won’t tell me how that happened. He says it’s a story that belongs to the sky,” Charlie admitted. “And only after I asked him a bunch of times.” 

“I wonder if Pete knows? Hold on, fact checking.” 

“I’m a reliable source!” 

“Remind how long it’s been since we had to debase you of the notion that you couldn't put hand soap in the dishwasher?” 

“Hey! That as a perfectly reasonable-” 

Lucius held up a hand in his face and Charlie considered it for a second then did the only thing little brotherhood had trained him for. 

“Fucking gross!” Lucius groaned and rubbed his licked palm over Charlie’s shoulder, who snickered. 

“Better than Alma, she almost broke my nose over that.” 

“As she well should. I’m voting for her rights on that, you’re disgusting,” Lucius determined. “I was right, being an only child is the only way to go.” 

“Hey, it was this or not being born, so.” Charlie considered that. “I guess I wouldn’t know if it didn’t happen.” 

“Great, you have an existential crisis, slime boy, give me a sec.” 

Lucius texted, waited then frowned, typing quickly again. “Well then.” 

“Ha! In your FACE!”

“On my hand, actually. I need to boil my flesh now.” 

“I’m clean. Ish. I mean I brushed my teeth since the last time I put my mouth somewhere questionable.” 

“When did you-”Lucius started, caught the look in Charlie’s eye, then stopped dead. “No. Nope. We are not having fun hook up gossip. It’s too fucking weird and you’re a child.” 

“I’m almost 18.” 

“Not almost enough,” Lucius grimaced. “I’m too young to be a dirty old man.” 

“What age makes someone a dirty old man?” Charlie asked merrily. “Cause you hang out with a looooot of old guys. Maybe you’ve become one by injection?”  

“Fuck. Off. You. Asshole.” Lucius groaned. “Why did I want to take you again?” 

“Cause you got ditched and I was five feet away? Be more proactive next time.” 

“A pox on me,” Lucius agreed, but he was kind of smiling, so Charlie figured it was fine. 

The Italian place really did have enormous portions. When Charlie scraped the bottom of his plate and sucked down the last noodle, Lucius golf-clapped. 

“Truly horrendous. Amazing. Dessert?” 

“Yeah, absolutely. I need coffee and cannolis.” 

“I was...joking, but okay,” Lucius said gamely. “I like cannolis. I’m getting my own, I’m not interested in losing a finger.” 

“I haven’t mauled anyway recently,” Charlie leaned back in his chair, pleased. “So how many of my selections have wound up on your shelves recently?” 

“Very few,” Lucius admitted. “Izzy knows my tolerance levels and apparently you’ve been on a body horror kick. I liked that one though...Weaveworld?” 

“Clive Barker,” Charlie said appreciatively. “I thought you might.” 

“You had me at Nimrod”   

They lapsed into book talk, an easy meandering around the few titles they had in common as they polished off the cannolis and Charlie drank two cups of coffee. 

“You won’t fall asleep.”

“Good,” Charlie sighed. “I’m sleepy by ten, how is that gonna fly in college?” 

“Life finds a way,” Lucius said wryly, taking out his wallet. Only to find Charlie already holding the billfold out to the waiter. “Charlie, no.” 

“What? You asked, I’m paying. Who cares?” 

“Charlie-” 

“Trust fund. Full ride. Spoiled brat. Plus side for you: I pay.” 

“You’re not spoiled.” 

“Say I’m not a brat with a straight face.” 

“I don’t lie to children.” 

“Maybe you should start,” Charlie smiled at the waiter as they took the check. “Thanks!” 

“You’re welcome,” the waiter stalled out for a second. 

“Seventeen,” Lucius said flatly. 

“Have a good evening!” The waiter’s eyes went wide and he took off toward the register. 

“I do actually need my debit card back,” Charlie laughed. 

“I’ll get it, menace.” 

The gallery wasn’t far from there, a nice space, with big white walls. Currently covered in fever dream of gore. 

“Oh this is awesome,” Charlie said reverently, stepping closer to a painting of a ribcage. 

“It’s definitely inspiring awe. Like the old school, fear of the lord kind,” Lucius muttered, but he didn’t rush Charlie along, or snap at him for skipping ahead and rotating back. He let him do his thing while he paused at his own interests. 

“Come see this one,” Charlie circled back around him, tugging once at his sleeve like he really was an eager little kid. “It’s a knockout.” 

“Mm, if you say so,” Lucius followed after him. 

He took him to a large canvas at the back. The artist had sketched out an anatomical heart with felted yarn in shades of blue and green, laced through with yellow veins. Tucked into the weave of yarn were coins, buttons and some safety pins. 

“Fountain Wishes,” Charlie pointed to the plaque. 

“Huh,” Lucius took a step back. “That’s...huh.” 

“Right?” Charlie grinned. “Like I know it’s not the most profound thing ever, but I dunno. I think it’s something.” 

“I like it better than the rest of this. Blood for the sake of blood never does it for me, but...yeah. I like this. It’s a little...dreamy.” 

“I think it’s kind of sad,” Charlie offered. “Like those wishes don’t come true. Wishes just don’t.” 

“Don’t know about that. But...maybe not the kind of things people ask for on coins most of the time.” 

“We’re asking too much of our hearts,” Charlie concluded. 

“Or not enough,” Lucius countered. 

Either way, they stood there for another minute or so, before Charlie was off to the next thing. When he turned around though, Lucius was still there, but no longer looking at the art. He was watching Charlie, brow furrowed. Like he was trying to solve a puzzle. 

He shrugged it off. He was used to adults tracking his movements. He wasn’t going anywhere. At least not tonight.  

Lucius: Returning your offspring shortly. 

Stede: Thank you for taking him out. Did you both enjoy the show?

Lucius: Yes. Him more than me. Did you see the dry cleaning? 

Stede:  The blue dress is missing.

Lucius: It’s at the bar, you said you’d use it this Friday, figured it would be easier. 

Stede: You’re right. Thank you. 

Lucius: Charlie told me where he’s going to school. Are you okay with it? 

Stede: He picked a place? He told me he was still considering it! Mary too as far as I know. 

Lucius: oops. 

Stede: I won’t tell him you slipped. Where did he choose? 

Lucius: Forgot already! You’ll have to ask him. 

Stede: Fine. I wonder why he told you first? 

Lucius: Don’t know. Just asked?

Stede: I'll do that then. I was trying to give him some space.

Lucius: sure. Subway now. See you in ten.