#in the meantime here is my humble offering

[weemssapphic]

Lipstick Stains - Pt. 5

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Larissa Weems x fem!reader

summary: the one where reader takes Larissa on a stargazing date.

words: ~3.1k | ao3 link in title

chapter-specific warnings: none / fluff

A/N: chapter 11 of 'in my head' will be out in the next two days - in the meantime, enjoy this humble offering <3

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

“Are you free this weekend?” you asked. You were splayed across your bed, cell phone pressed to your ear. It was a Tuesday evening and you’d been over the moon when Larissa had called you out of the blue, claiming to simply want to hear your voice.

“What did you have in mind?” Larissa’s voice was sultry and suggestive, and a heat began to pool in your belly.

“I mean… I was thinking maybe we could go stargazing or something?” You held your breath as you waited for a response that didn’t come - the silence that came from the other end of the line was deafening.

“Okay, nevermind, that was a cheesy idea, forget it. What about-”

“Darling,” Larissa cut you off. “It was a wonderful idea. It’s just…”

“If you don’t want to, we don’t have to, it’s okay!”

“It’s not that. I would love to. But perhaps somewhere closer to Burlington?” Larissa sounded nervous and you furrowed your brow.

“Yeah, sure. There should be some good spots near Shelburne or something?”

You heard Larissa let out a shaky breath. “Yes, we can do that.”

“Are you sure? Is everything alright?”

“Yes, love, everything is fine.” Larissa paused, and for a moment you thought she was done speaking. “I’m sure you’ve heard of the… incidents that have occurred here in Jericho recently.”

“That bear that’s been mauling hikers?”

There was a beat of silence.

“Yes. That one. I wouldn’t want to put you in harm’s way by going out into Jericho’s woods at night.”

“Don’t worry, Larissa, we can go here. It’ll be fine.” You tried to sound reassuring, and you weren’t sure you were entirely successful, but then you thought you heard a hint of a smile in her voice when she next spoke and it made you grin.

“Quite the little romantic I’ve found myself here.” You could picture the way Larissa’s eyes would close slightly as she spoke, the way her nose would crinkle and her cheeks would turn rosy. 

“Don’t act like you don’t think it’s a cute date idea.” Larissa could hear the scowl in your tone and she laughed, her voice filling the phone like a melody.

“I do, darling. I wouldn’t have agreed to it otherwise.”

“Good. I can pick you up Friday at 10?”

“You want to drive me?” There was surprise lacing Larissa’s voice, but she didn’t sound displeased.

“Is that okay?”

“Yes, of course it is. I’m just pleasantly surprised.”

“You know, you don’t have to take charge all the time. You can give up the reins for a bit.”

The silence that stretched between the two of you was so long that it had you wondering if Larissa had hung up.

“Larissa?”

“Thank you.” There was an emotion in her voice that you couldn’t quite place. Before you could probe her further, she changed the subject to some prank that her students had pulled that day, and the subject was quickly forgotten.

When you hung up nearly an hour later, you were tired but your heart was full.

~~~

Larissa wasn’t able to call you every day, but the texts she would send you sporadically throughout the day more than made up for that fact. They ranged from a simple “I do so wish you were here right now” to a picture of her hot chocolate one afternoon at the Weathervane, and they made your heart flutter gently against your ribcage each time her name graced the screen of your phone.

Friday night finally rolled around and you left for your date in black pants and a thick sweater - it had been a surprisingly warm day for this time of year, and you were sure it couldn’t get much colder.

You pulled up Nevermore’s winding drive just as the clock in your car changed to 10 pm. As your headlights illuminated the castle-like building, Larissa stepped out of the shadows, and you found yourself suppressing a giggle at her choice of clothing - a sleek gray dress and matching wool coat, complete with black gloves and black kitten heels.

“Do you always dress like you’re attending fashion week when you go stargazing?” You jogged around the car to open the passenger side door for her and Larissa snorted.

“Only when I’m trying to impress a beautiful woman,” she retorted, matching your teasing tone.

“You don’t have to impress me, Larissa,” you said pointedly, raising an eyebrow at the older woman as she ducked her head to get into your car. 

Larissa smiled gratefully up at you. “I always dress like this, I feel quite comfortable.”

“I can’t fathom how.” Laughing, you made your way back to the driver’s seat. 

“Aren’t you going to be cold in just a sweater?”

“I’ll be fine.”

Larissa raised an eyebrow. “If you’re certain…” She leaned over the center console, taking your chin between her fingers and holding you firmly in place. Her mouth was mere inches away from yours, her breath warm on your lips, and her eyes glittered like sapphires even in the darkness that had enveloped the car.

“Kiss me,” you whispered, and Larissa closed the gap, still holding you firmly as her lips moved against yours.

The drive to Shelburne was a quiet one - Larissa’s hand rested on your thigh the entire time, her fingers drawing little patterns on the fabric of your pants. Occasionally you looked over, each time finding Larissa looking back at you, lips curled up into a blissful smile.

Pulling into the parking lot at Shelburne Pond, you were delighted to find you’d be alone tonight, as not a single other car was parked in the lot. You opened Larissa’s door for her again, then busied yourself by opening the trunk to grab the bags that you’d brought. As you fumbled with the clasp of one of the bags, you felt Larissa’s warm body press into your back, her arms snaking around your torso to tug you closer as her chin came to rest on your head. 

A contented hum vibrated throughout Larissa’s chest - you could feel it against your back and on your head, and your entire body began to tingle. 

“What did you bring?” Larissa’s voice was low, thick like honey, curious - this woman was going to be the death of you.

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” you teased, hefting the bags out of the trunk and taking a step back. Larissa moved in tandem with you, not once loosening her grip on your body as you slammed the trunk closed. You turned in her arms.

“Do you want to find a spot or do you just want to stand in the parking lot the whole night?”

Larissa grinned down at you, baring pearly white teeth. She stepped back then with a nod, allowing you to lead the way to a small clearing at the edge of the pond and pull a large picnic blanket out of your bag. Larissa watched as you set up the space with a fuzzy blanket and a few throw pillows that you’d convinced Cassandra to let you borrow. 

You turned then as you plopped down on the blanket, craning your head back to look up at Larissa and reaching out a hand for her to take. The blinding smile that you were rewarded with as she gingerly kicked off her heels and placed a gloved hand into your own made your heart do a somersault against your ribcage. She lowered herself carefully next to you, tucking her legs underneath her and looking fondly down at the arrangement of blankets and pillows.

“You put a lot of thought into this.” She stated it as a fact and you nodded, sucking your bottom lip between your teeth.

“Is it okay?”

“Oh, darling, it’s perfect.”

Your heart swelled as Larissa lifted your hand to her mouth, placing soft, warm kisses to your knuckles. Flipping your hand over, she kissed your palm - you giggled, and you could feel her smile coyly against your skin, her eyes darting up to meet yours. She kissed her way up to your wrist, pushing the sleeve of your sweater up your arm as far as she could to chase the exposed skin with her lips, never breaking eye contact as she did so.

You could feel the heat in your cheeks, which were certainly scarlet by now - you were sure Larissa noticed this as well, even with the moon as your only source of light, because she leaned in and kissed you, smiling so brightly that you mostly ended up kissing her teeth.

“I brought something else,” you whispered as you pulled back from the kiss.

“Oh?” Larissa watched you curiously as you reached into one of the bags and pulled out a large thermos, unscrewing it carefully and holding it out for Larissa to take. 

“It’s not as good as the Weathervane’s but I hope you like it anyway.”

Larissa sniffed the beverage cautiously - her lips curled into a grateful smile as realization dawned on her. She looked so radiant in that moment, moonlight kissing her cheekbone and the tip of her nose (her perfect, kissable nose), casting a silvery glow over her blonde locks, making her teeth sparkle as she grinned at you.

She took a careful sip of the hot chocolate, eyes fluttering shut as the sweet taste exploded on her tongue, a hum of delight reverberating in the quiet space.

You leaned back on the picnic blanket, finding a comfortable position against the pillows to look up at the stars. Larissa gingerly screwed the thermos shut and set it aside, laying down next to you on her side and propping her head up on her hand. Her other hand cupped your cheek, long fingers gently pressing into your face and turning your head to face her.

“Thank you,” she said quietly, sincerely. Then she leaned down to kiss you, chastely, softly, before settling on her back, scooting close until her arm was pressed against yours and lacing your fingers between her own.

You broke the silence. “I’ve always been shit at identifying constellations, by the way.” 

Larissa laughed, squeezing your hand. “Don’t worry, darling, I’m not here for an astronomy lesson.”

“Oh, thank God,” you joked, unable to stop the wide grin that had broken out across your face at the sound of Larissa’s laughter - you would do anything to hear her laugh more often.

The view was nothing short of breathtaking. It was a clear night, the stars twinkled brightly like jewels in the inky black sky. The only sounds were the occasional chirping of crickets, the rustling of the wind in the trees, and Larissa’s deep, rhythmic breathing beside you. 

“I wonder if there will be any shooting stars tonight,” Larissa mused. 

You turned your head to face her. The stars were reflected in her eyes as she gazed up at the sky as if hypnotized. “Have you ever wished on a shooting star?”

Larissa’s lips quirked up slightly, her head still turned up to the sky. “I have, a long time ago.”

“What did you wish for?” you breathed.

Larissa chuckled, her eyes fluttering shut briefly. “I wished for the girl I liked to like me back.”

“And? Did she?”

Her eyes opened, searching the night sky as if it held the answers to all the questions in the universe.

“No. Not that girl, not then, anyway.”

“Oh. She missed out, then,” you whispered, your heart clenching for Larissa - how could anyone not like her back? You couldn’t fathom it, not when you liked her so much you’d give her all the stars in the sky if she only asked.

Larissa turned her head to the side, tearing her eyes away from the stars and searching your face, a wistful smile painted on her lips. 

“What would you wish for now? If we saw a shooting star?” you asked. You held your breath as Larissa contemplated.

“I would wish for tonight to never end, I think.”

It was your turn to smile. “I would wish the same, I think.”

You turned your head back to the sky, feeling Larissa’s gaze boring a hole into the side of your head.

“The stars are very beautiful tonight,” you murmured.

“So are you.” Larissa’s voice was soft, so soft you barely caught what she’d said. You felt your cheeks go pink and turned to face her again. Her painted lips were pulled into a small smile as she regarded you through her lashes, her expression so soft that you felt your heart flutter in your chest - you were falling harder and harder every time you looked at her, that much was certain.

Larissa adjusted herself on the picnic blanket and opened her arms to you. You scooted closer until you felt her arms wind around you, pulling you snugly against her and tucking your head under her chin. She was warm and soft - she made you feel safe as she held you tightly, absentmindedly stroking your arm as the two of you looked into the night sky.

A gust of wind rustled in the trees, washing over you and causing you to shiver - okay, so maybe it was a little colder than you’d anticipated, as the temperatures dropped with each passing hour.

“Oh, darling, are you cold?” Larissa’s worried voice vibrated against your cheek where it rested against her sternum.

“It’s fine, Riss,” you murmured, but then you shivered again and Larissa chuckled.

“I won’t say I told you so,” she teased, letting go of you for a moment and propping herself up.

“What are you- no, don’t take off your coat, you’ll freeze!”

Larissa shrugged off her coat and draped it over your shoulders. “Hush.” She pressed a kiss to your lips and pulled you flush against her again, taking care to ensure the large coat was wrapped fully around your body. “I’ll be fine, I promise.”

You snuggled into Larissa’s chest again.

“I’m buying you a proper coat.”

“But-”

“No buts,” Larissa chuckled. “You’re never properly dressed and it will only get colder.”

“I have a coat,” you grumbled, though the thought of going shopping with Larissa had piqued your interest. You could feel Larissa’s smile against your hair, though she said nothing further.

Minutes felt like hours as the two of you held each other, occasionally pointing out certain bright, twinkling stars or little (mostly made-up) constellations and patterns. You’d never felt such peace before as when you felt Larissa’s warm, soft body against yours, as when you could hear her steady breathing and smell the familiar scent of her perfume all around you. Her presence grounded you like no other, and you could only hope to provide her the same comfort. It was only when you yawned against Larissa’s chest that she brought a hand to your cheek, tilting your head up to look her in the eyes.

“Tired?” she teased.

“Maybe a little…” You reached for your phone and checked the time - 2:47 am. You glanced sheepishly at Larissa, turning your phone screen towards her. She squinted against the bright light, then covered her mouth with a gloved hand.

“Oh, dear… I can’t ask you to drive me back to Nevermore this late, I’ll just-”

“You could stay with me?” The words left your mouth before you could stop them. Larissa looked a bit hesitant, so you hastily continued. “Only if you want to of course - my roommates shouldn’t be home, Robin and Christin are out of town for the week and Cass is out, she’s gonna crash somewhere else. But if you don’t feel comfortable I compl-”

Larissa shut you up with a firm kiss. “I will stay with you. I have to say it’s not often that I spend the night away from Nevermore but… I do want to, and I would hate for you to drive back through Jericho alone at this time of night.”

You were reluctant to entangle yourself from Larissa, but you were certain that you’d fall asleep if you stayed there another minute. You packed up the pillows and the picnic blanket and Larissa helped you carry the bags back to the car. The drive back to your apartment was short without traffic and you were grateful for it - you could feel your eyes threatening to shut as you drove and you so wanted to get back to cuddling the older woman as fast as possible.

A proper tour of the apartment would have to wait until morning, you reasoned, though you showed Larissa where the bathroom and kitchen and, of course, your bedroom were.

The two of you got ready for bed as quickly as possible. You didn’t really have any clothes that you thought might fit Larissa, not without looking a bit ridiculous, so you offered her her own Nevermore shirt.

“I’ve been sleeping in it every night,” you admitted, cheeks tinged pink.

Larissa looked at you with so much affection you thought your heart may burst.

“It’s alright, I can shift my clothes,” she said, thrusting the shirt back towards you. “You wear it.”

In an instant she had shifted on a pair of lavender silk pajamas. 

“Way to be all fancy,” you grumbled, pulling your own sweater over your head and unclipping your bra. Larissa watched you with parted lips as you shimmied into the Nevermore shirt, then shed your pants to pull on a pair of shorts.

You slipped into bed and patted the space next to you, smirking at the blonde. “Well? I know it’s not as big as yours but it’s pretty comfortable.”

Larissa joined you - she seemed both out of place in the small bedroom and as if she belonged there and had never belonged anywhere else. A divine being, sent directly from heaven just for you, somehow simultaneously too good for you and exactly the sort of person you’d spend an eternity with.

You leaned back against the pillows and opened your arms to Larissa, who snuggled against you immediately with a gentle sigh and propped her chin on your chest. She slipped a hand underneath your shirt, her skin warm against yours. Her fingers flexed against your abdomen, brushing against the waistband of your shorts and causing your breathing to stutter.

“Riss,” you mumbled sleepily, looking down at Larissa who was watching you with a devilish smirk.

“I’m sorry, darling,” she cooed, sliding her hand away from your shorts and resting it on your belly.

“In the morning?” You could barely keep your eyes open, your eyelids shutting of their own accord as sleep fought to welcome you into its embrace.

“In the morning,” Larissa said softly, an inexplicable warmth settling in her chest as she watched you drift off.

x

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[starfall-spirit]

Summary: After his rescue from King Benedict’s dungeons, The Villain finds himself forced to make a difficult declaration.

AN: The characters in this fic may not be familiar to all of my readers, as some of you haven't read Assistant to the Villain. Again, I highly recommend it. It was so much fun and I'm dying for book two. In the meantime, I humbly offer slightly unhinged Evie and pathetic simp Trystan.

Read on Ao3

Evie

I. Beg. You.

Heartless, stoic, cold, brutal, ruthless.

Countless words could be used to describe The Villain, each one as horrible as the last. They were whispered to children as warnings. 

Stray from your bed and The Villain will snatch you up.

How many times had her father said those very words to her and her sister in her childhood, threatening them with the dark of night and a faceless beast? Evie scoffed, refusing to think of the man she’d called a parent for twenty-three years. He was the heartless one in this story.

But The Villain—Trystan… She wrung her fingers, letting her worry finally show within the privacy of his office, her rising emotions making her more claustrophobic than any tight space could. That constant flutter in her stomach had grown as the months passed, morphing into a great writhing thing that curled around her heart, squeezing. 

An endless drumbeat. A reminder.

I. Beg. You.

Ruthless. “No,” she snarled to the darkness around her. That squeezing eased, if only a fraction, and she raised her chin once more. “If the world wants ruthless, I’ll be the one to grant that request.” 

Though the declaration was made to nothing more than the empty air and a sign-wielding frog, there was a shift all the same. A shift in power. For now.

~~~~~

The Villain

She had been exquisite.

Trystan’s pride was in shambles, and yet he couldn’t bring himself to care. Not when the only thing he could picture was his sunshine assistant dressed in his colors, executing a flawless rescue mission. “I told you you can’t always be the one to do the saving around here.”

If he hadn’t been in so much pain, he would have laughed. But all he could feel in that moment was agony and awe. Tatianna had managed to eliminate the first, thankfully, but the latter was another matter altogether.

And now—well, now his brain refuses to process anything productive. For example, running his equally honorable and nefarious empire. Well, perhaps not equally.

There was a hesitant knock on his office door and he found his heart rate climbing. Sage—Evie wasn’t exactly prone to knocking, but she was one of the few employees who lingered beyond the closing bell these few days he’d been back. He supposed she didn’t have anything to rush back to, with her father held prisoner and her sister living here with her on the west side of the manor. The door opened just a few inches. “Mr. Maverine?”

Ah, not his little tornado, but her miniature. He clenched his jaw. Evie wasn’t his anything.

“Lyssa, what can I do for you?”

“I just thought—” She twisted the toe of her shoe in front of her awkwardly. “Never mind. I’m sure you're busy.” He raised a brow. He thought the girl had been accepting of his newly revealed identity as The Villain. But then, there was probably a reason she still addressed him so formally. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that, or why he cared about a child’s opinion at all. “I just thought… My sister has been acting very strange the past few days. Maybe it had something to do with work. And you could, um, help her?”

He cleared his throat. “Lyssa, if your sister has a work concern, believe me, she’d make it known.” Unless it didn’t have a thing to do with office tension. He sighed, resting a stiff hand on her shoulder when her worry seemed to linger. “We have a meeting every morning. If there’s an issue, it will be solved.”

“Hey,” a familiar voice called from outside. “I’m going to track down my sister and head off. Was there anything you… Well then. What’s going on here?”

“Nothing,” Lyssa said, the picture of innocence. “Mr. Maverine was just saying he wanted to talk to you before we went home. Right?”

He frowned at the girl, seeing his assistant take a step closer in his periphery. “Sir?”

“Indeed,” he conceded. “If you don’t mind waiting outside, Lyssa.”

“Oh, Tati said she’d take me back to my room.” She batted her lashes, turning to her older sister. “Take all the time you need. I’ll be fine.”

Of course this started with that meddlesome healer. Her retribution, he supposed, for dragging her into his business with Clare. Things on that front were “progressing”, he supposed. Now, it appeared his oldest friend thought it was his turn. Turning to the window, he gave Kingsley a pointed look, and for once the creature granted them true privacy, tailing the ten-year-old to who knows where. 

He wasn’t concerned. She knew the lower levels where his torture was conducted were off limits, and the foyer was now clear of any evidence of decapitation—a small courtesy he could grant Evangelina. After all, he wasn’t a complete monster. Then again, the office rumor mill had brought word of a little incident involving a certain village blacksmith’s head. He let his lips twitch up at the thought. He always knew she had a little ruthlessness to her.

“Sir. You wanted a word?”

“Right. Yes.” Her fingers grazed the back of her chair before she sat. It was an effort to not think back to those same fingers brushing his face as she marked his lack of sleep or slipping into his own when they sat knee-to-knee. Again, he found himself clearing his throat—by the deadlands, stalling.

“Sage, it would appear some of those closest to you feel something is wrong at the moment.” She stiffened. “You’ve been as diligent as always, but not quite yourself.”

“Sir.” Her shoulders slumped. “I suppose I haven’t. But it’s nothing that I can’t put behind me.”

He hummed. “I haven’t quite been myself either. I’ve heard a brush with death makes you a little more keen to express your feelings. I didn’t believe it was true. Until now.”

“Going soft?” Her voice didn’t have its usual teasing lilt. In fact, she sounded downright nervous. “Sir, that night the king intercepted us. I think of it often.”

Trystan nodded, clasping his hands behind his back before they could curl and reveal his anger. “I could imagine an event like that would leave a scar.”

“No. I mean, yes, but… What I meant was, you were under no obligation to protect me and you tried even when…”

He could see the question in her eyes. A decade of hatred, seeing Benedict as nothing more than a beast, and Trystan had fallen to his knees before the man for someone he claimed was just an employee, her death a mere inconvenience to him. Now he had to explain himself. “I find now that you’ve become important to me, Evangelina.” 

She startled at the use of her full name. He could count the number of times he’d said it in the past six months on one hand. A few steps and he was around his desk, perching on the edge, just shy of crowding the chair she occupied.

Who was he kidding? Any employee who crossed the threshold of his office had coined it “Evie’s chair” and knew better than to seat themselves.

“Sir?”

“I find when you are near, my emotions are not as easy to control, nor any sort of severity.”

She smirked. “Sir, I think that’s a fairly common affliction when it comes to people as optimistic as me. Not grounds for increased protection.”

“Sage,” he almost growled. Her smirk fell. “Perhaps you’ll let me continue. This isn’t particularly easy for me to confess.” She nodded, a signal for him to continue. “I find myself pleased that you are comfortable enough to touch me. That you seem to enjoy my company and want to know me, as you put it before. I knew when I hired you that you would be an exceptional addition to my empire. I did not realize I would develop feelings beyond a general appreciation.”

Her brows flicked upward. “You’re beginning to see where I’m going with this. Good.”

“I wouldn’t want to make assumptions, sir.” 

Her words were hardly more than a whisper, but he heard something vital in them. Hope. He could only pray that meant what he thought it meant. “It isn’t exactly professional for one to have feelings for a coworker, let alone those in our positions. But then, I can’t say I’m terribly concerned with textbook professionalism in this line of work. Also, I’m exempt from any and all rules when I choose to be.”

She laughed at that, likely wondering if she could get away with calling him audacious.

As if she wasn’t well aware she could quite literally get away with murder, in his eyes.

For the third, perhaps fourth time he cleared his throat. He never realized he had a nervous tic before he met this woman. “That said, I would not wish to pursue you if you were uninterested.”

She laughed again, high and sudden. “Sorry, it’s just… Kissing you was certainly no hardship. Nor was anything else, for that matter.” She bit her lip. “Even so, people will talk.”

“Ignore them.”

“You don’t.” His jaw clenched. “We both know there was a little more than impertinence to whatever Joshua Lightenson said. I’m not so naive that my imagination is lacking. And you threw him out a window.”

The crass accusation made against Evie wasn’t one he’d easily forget, and he felt no remorse for his response. He hadn’t been truly in love with her then. Imagining the reaction he’d have to a rumor like that now… The woman before him, so full of sunshine, thought she had seen the darkest parts of him. But if she saw the reality, she would come to truly fear him at last, he was certain.

How easily would she shy from him if she heard how Trystan truly felt about her father’s deceit? The pain he wanted to inflict when he heard she’d been sold off Warsen like an animal brought to market. He couldn’t bear to consider it.

“If there comes a day when you wish to punish those who have slighted you, I’d be the last person to stand in your way. Until you’re ready to take that action, love, I’ll wield the blade in your stead.” He thought back to her infiltration of Benedict’s fortress a few days prior, letting his lips curl. She’d never looked more beautiful. “Perhaps we aren’t too far off.”

She flushed slightly, due to the endearment he used for a second time now or his mention of her budding ruthlessness, he couldn’t be sure. Regardless, he found himself leaning closer, his right hand reaching to stroke his thumb across her heated cheekbone. There was a slight quiver to her next breath, cementing the rocky ground he stood on. Would he spook her if he leaned down?

The things he’d give for just one more taste of this woman, to have that soft vanilla linger on his tongue once again.

She stood, shifting forward. “Sir—”

“Trystan,” he murmured.

“Trystan.” Head tipped back to meet his eyes, lips slightly parted, her invitation was clear. Call him what you will, he had no intention of wasting it. For a moment there was nothing but the warm softness of her lips, seconds later the darting of her tongue gave him the courage to bring his arms around her, her own tentatively winding to the back of his neck, the fingers of one hand playing at his nape. 

Groaning, he broke the kiss, leaning down further to press a kiss to the pale skin of her throat, earning one of those soft little sounds he’d been blessed with at his father’s soirée. “You’ll be the death of me,” he panted. “I know it.”

She gave a sweet little giggle that lit up something inside of him. “Is this a good time to mention that dream you overheard me mentioning was truly filthy, and didn’t have a thing to do with mud or blood?”

He chuckled. “Little tornado, I’ve known that since the moment you said it. If there’s one thing you can’t do, it’s tell a convincing lie.” She squeaked as he spun them around, lifting her to sit on the edge of his desk before claiming her mouth once again. It was a perfect moment and it felt like nothing could touch them.

Until the seventh hour bell chimed. Once again, a precious moment interrupted by an ill-timed sound. Evie was the one to pull away, her withdrawal hesitant. “My sister. I might not have a two hour walk home anymore, but I still need to see to her care.”

“Of course. And I’m sure I’ve given you much to consider. Let me walk you back?”

She nodded, flitting back to her desk to gather what she’d left there originally. He only offered his arm. “Shall we?”

“We shall.”

~~~~~

AttV Taglist: @shallyne // @captain-of-the-gwynriel-ship I thought you might be interested too. Feel free to tell me if you're not.

[ifievertoldyou]

i finished drawing thaw!charlie y'all :D

i will probably post it once my friend who's catching up on thaw gets to The Part™, since she follows me on here and i don't want to risk spoiling it for her

but in the meantime, i humbly offer the drawings of me trying to figure out how to draw just regular cc!charlie that i did on the same page

[rosejigglypuff76]

Cookie Run Kimura AU - Chapter 7 (Preview)

Author's Note

My deepest apologies for being unable to write for a while. Due to me being busy with a lot of writing for my 2nd Term of my 1st Year of College I ended up getting a bad case of Writer's Block, due to my mind becoming mentally exhausted from various homework and projects. 😅🎀

Luckily the 2nd Term of my 1st Year recently finished a few days ago, and I'll be returning to my 1st Year's 3rd Term this coming May 8. But in the meantime, I'll try my best to complete Chapter 7 for my Cookie Run Kimura AU!

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Cookie Run Kimura AU 🪴 Episode 7 (Preview) - Full Experimental Alchemist 🧪

Grandmaster Hotel, Sparkling's Juice Bar Wednesday, 5:41pm  in the Afternoon

"Hehe!! I supposed that was one dance within the starlights!", Herb politely chuckled while watching the reel that Sparkling posted on his Instagraham Page (Cookie Instagram Page) that ended up getting a lot of views within the first few hours alone.

As promised, Vampire sent the video he recorded on his phone to Sparkling. With the blonde teen himself both posting it and also adding the red-haired teen as a collaborator of the aforementioned reel.

"Wow! And it's crazy that you and Rockstar chose to stop the crowd from betting on either of you!", Cherry Blossom pouted in disappointment, "You won that match yet…"

Sparkling served the usual drinks to the rest of his friends, ending with serving Cherry Blossom her usual Sakura Milkshake. He sighed before replying with, "Even if Rockstar won instead of me, we both had the same idea regardless of the outcome. That being that there shouldn't be any bets, and that in the end we chose to dance for fun and sincere enjoyment."

"That's one reasonable and truly humble answer, Sparkling. It's cruel to see that there's not many cookies who have just as logical of a mindset as you, Herb, Cream Puff, and most of the cookies here...", Cocoa Butter (Dark Choco) calmly joined in the conversation as he drew on his calligraphy sketchbook.

The dark-haired teen gave an oblivious Cherry Blossom one silent side eye, drawing a quick sketch of one cute blue bear jelly plushie. The one that Herb won for him earlier in the arcade, which is also sitting right in front of him on the table.

Mango showed one big warmhearted smile, giggling at the amount of fun his friends are having. At the moment he was writing down the remaining few things on his notes from his phone, listing down everything the Student Council needs to do for the Science Fair.

"That looks like a lot of work that you wrote down.", Cream Puff spoke, taking a small little peek on Mango's list and overall sets of notes, "Working hard as ever, I see! Hehe!"

The young Student Council President himself nodded, double checking if there's anything that he needs to add or remove. Smiling kindly with complete satisfaction and happiness, "Everything is written down, and assigned the required things for each of us to do. Each is given a couple of tasks that's best suited for the five of us, both as individuals and as a team!"

One thing led to more chain reactions within the Blooming Friend Group. Most of them involve Herb and Sparkling offering their help to Mango and Cream Puff. A couple of times would have Cocoa Butter give some ideas as well, and Cherry Blossom followed along every so often.

Vampire would join in at times, recommending what the Student Council can do to promote the event in the Lotte World Tower and even make the event more widespread but reasonably limited to those in Cookie Biscuit City for a less stressful but amazing day.

That's when another idea sparked up in Mango's mind, "Hey Vampire? You're the Leader of the Science Club right?"

"Of course, Mango!", Vampire kindly replied, "If you need more help for the Science Fair, you can come to me or any of the members."

"I actually was about to ask!", the upbeat blonde cheered at the easy-going redhead, "WellyouseeweareveryopentobothofferinghelpandalsoreceivinghelpfromeveryonebothcookiesandcreaturesalikesoifyouarefinewithisitokayifyouandtheScienceClubhelpusoutwiththeScienceFairnextweek?"

"Let's just say everyone has that "Chibi Awe Face", that originated from those iconic Cookie Run Kingdom Korean Videos!", Herb thought to himself (and you) the moment Mango spoke that fast.

It took at least a few or so seconds until everyone was able to process what Mango just said. Ironically he's still easy to understand despite talking in one breath at times due to excitement.

"Mango? Is it okay if you talk a little slower please?", Cream Puff asked, blushing in embarrassment for her fellow Student Council member and silly-sweet love.

Mango blushed in embarrassment as well, chuckling with the same embarrassed look but was reassuring nonetheless, "Heh heh! Sorry about that Cream Puff. I guess it was hard for you guys to understand when I spoke that fast."

Vampire shook his head with reassurance, "Well actually, we understood what you said Mango. But we also don't want you to say it all in one breath, for your safety."

"Ah!", Mango showed a "Chibi Awe Face" of his own, kindly understanding the situation and in full agreement, "I'll try my best to keep that in mind. Thanks for telling me, heh heh!"

Everyone had a nice fun laugh, simply enjoying the times they have with each other and just in general having a great amount of fun times.

Needless to say, the red-haired boy eventually responded to the slightly younger of the two blonde teens in the room, "From what you mentioned Mango, that sounds like a great idea! I'll make sure that-!"

*beep boop*

Vampire briefly jumped out of his seat the moment he felt a sudden buzzing sound in his pocket. Calming down almost in an instant though, before proceeding to pull his phone out. Getting a recent notification of someone sending him a text message.

He sat there for a couple of seconds reading the text he was sent, before giving one deep but calmly chill sigh, "Sorry guys. But my little sister wants me to help her with something urgent at home."

*SWOOSH!!!*

It was ironically followed by Vampire putting down his payment for his drink at the counter, before immediately dashing out of the Juice Bar like his life depended on it.

This raised a bunch of eyebrows for the rest of the Blooming Friend Group. Both confused and worried of what urgent thing Alchemist texted Vampire moments prior to him bolting out of the Juice Bar. Of course, Sparkling and Herb are the most concerned. But Cream Puff was even more concerned and even scared for Vampire, "Is it just me… Or did Vampire look like he was hiding how afraid he's currently feeling about that text message Alchemist sent to him…?"

[morimyth]

Hey so I'm a disabled enby living with my ex and shit's fucked, and I need to leave, so I am once again humbly asking for aid.

HEPA Filter Short Term Goal: $90

Moving Out Long Term Goal: $1200

I have a kofi shop that will launch soon. I make lace shawls and pouches, gemstone runes, omens, and sigils, custom digital bindrunes and sigils, as well as many other witchy/fantasy/dnd style goodies and digital art.

I'm setting the launch date for September 20th, so while I organize my filing systems thru all this brain fog, any help in the meantime would be amazing, and help me feel like this is an avenue I can pursue to make ends meet.

Pypl

Kofi

I'll happily do a channeled tarot or rune reading for any donation of $10 or more. Donate $20 or more and you can request a custom omen, bindrune, or sigil.

To request any of these services, just follow the links above and send one of the corresponding amounts, or tip this post, then send me a private message to this account with the ID for the platform you used so I can verify it.

For a tarot or rune reading, please include the preferred format (shapeshifter tarot, clay runes, or gemstone runes) and the question you want to ask. I'll include photos of the sets I'm using as well as interpretations for each rune/card.

For a bindrune/omen/sigil, please include any iconography or runes you'd like to be included. I will also do a bindrune of your name as well upon request, just lmk the vibe you're looking for. I'll respond with a high res file of the custom work once it's complete, but this may take a day or two to complete.

Physical items will not be availaible til after I launch, but some examples of my work both digital and physical are included here:

If you have any questions about other custom services/offers I have available, pls lmk in a message or ask, and I'll be happy to answer!

Many thanks!

[youredreamingofroo]

Not so Berry, a long recap (1/3)

prev / next

Feel free to read this whether or not you're invested in the future of my Not so Berry save, if you are, i also encourage you to check out the intro cards for all these sims

There are images at the end of each recap Alt text very briefly explains the scene

Humble Beginnings.

We start the story in Henford-On-Bagley, in Fall, with Coral. Simon Scott decided to visit, and ended up asking to stay over, Coral let him stay (despite the shitty living situation), they also hit it off. Sometime later I (not coral) found out his wife, Sara, was PREGNANT… 

They start dating (he's married btw!!! 😐), but during dinner one night, Sara finds out about the two, they both get chewed out. The next day, Simon "apologized" to Coral in a very intimate way.

Later on, Simon tells her that Sara and him got divorced, Coral proposes to him later that night. Since the proposal, he’d become silent, but one day, he asked her out on a date, the date goes poorly, they're both distant, and a man catches Coral's eye, she was drawn to this man, Simon tries to get her back, fails and leaves, the man, Don, and Coral go back to her place to tango. Coral turns out to be pregnant. 

She has a discussion with Don abt the baby, and in the end, she decides to keep the baby, she’s still engaged atp. she gives birth to a girl, the heir, named Cataleya.

Coral finally decides to tell Simon what’s going on, Simon was enraged, but offered her a second chance, she didn’t take it.

(A.N) I left my game unpaused when I went to make dinner and i came back to Coral being pregnant.

Love fest comes around and Don takes Coral to the festival, after a ton of damning signs, he proposes to her (and also swaps traits, Non-committal to Loyal).

Don realizes how much he loves being a father, Coral gives birth to triplets, Peregrine, Constance and Emmett, and while taking care of the newborns, Don has another self-discovery (became Family-oriented)

Coral begins a sub-plot where she tackles her self-esteem issues, specifically on how she's gained weight from all her pregnancies.

In the meantime, the triplets age up, Coral argues with Don about wanting attention, how they still haven’t gotten married, however he didn’t retaliate because he didn’t want Cataleya hearing them argue, and then Cataleya aged up.

(I changed the lifespan to normal at this point)

Coral finally loses enough weight to be happy with herself, but she wonders if she’s actually doing this for herself or for someone else…

The triplets age up to toddlers!

Don and Coral have an argument, they sit in silence for 10 minutes, then Don tells her what she needs to change about herself, and she reluctantly agrees

Cataleya ages up to a child- And Coral ended up pregnant AGAIN (don't remember/know how it happened)

Although she’s two pregnancies and four kids late, she finally goes to counseling for this unwanted pregnancy. She also decides to get her tubes tied.

The last gen 2 baby is born, Callum Meadows, who turns out to be an Albino.

Don and Coral finally get married (Don also invited Simon to the wedding 👀)

Peregrine begins his sub-plot where he fears failure and wants to be like his sisters, he starts locking himself in his room and doing homework and extra-credit work as much/often as possible. 

Coral and Don FINALLY age up to Adults, and Cataleya ages up to a teen.

Later on, Callum ages up to a child (I stopped caring about this kid when he aged up to an infant, so from here on, don’t expect much abt him at all)

[tennessoui]

Hello! I am primarily a silent lurker online (so apologies if I’m doing this incorrectly), but I wanna thank you for the treasure trove that is your blog! Your aus are wild and beautiful and absolutely delicious. Over the past few days I have spent oodles and noodles of time scrolling through all your different tags—I’ve become a bit obsessed. Normally I stick to reading on ao3, but I’ve learned how to use the tumblr app for this blog and only this blog. I’ve turned on notifications (again, for this blog and only this blog). I’ve saved thirty-something screenshots. I’ve made designated bookmark folders. I have essentially built an underground bunker-archive of tennessoui content that can withstand the apocalypse.

Your creche rivalry au in particular has seized control of my body, mind, and soul.

(I imagine that baby Obikin pre-Valentine Disaster Day would have had the most disgustingly sweet greetings for each other every single morning, even if they had a sleepover and saw each other ten minutes prior. I can see them walking into the same room and making eye contact and—the air purifies. The flowers bloom. An angel choir starts singing somewhere in the background. Their creche mates need to get checked for cavities daily, their creche masters express concern to the doctors about diabetes, and any Sith within a three mile radius of Obikins’ twin megawatt smiles are instantly vaporized. Palpatine is only able to move in on Anikin after the boy starts hating Obi-Wan. In the meantime, it’s blindingly bright, hopelessly besotted, puppy-love-smiles all around.)

I place this humble offering at the altar of your divine authorial temple (and I can all but promise I will be back with more). Please have a wonderful day.

omg omg omg this is an ongoing omg

first of all this is so sweet and also incredibly flattering 🥺 thank you so much for trying to understand how tumblr works just for my blog i honestly still don’t know how to work tumblr and I’ve been here for years!!! and omg the idea of screenshots 🥰🙏 what is worth screenshotting on this blog I promise you can find shit posts anywhere lol

BUT omg no I love the crèche rivalry au and I haven’t thought about it in so long but this art and headcanon for it is just so absolutely beautiful ……

Like holy shit holy shit?? I love their expressions and they’re so cute and innocent and he says “hi obi” which is pure Anakin characterization and then obi-wan says “good morning Anakin” which is in turn just as perfect of a characterization for obi-wan!!!

You’re incredibly right these two babies were just in such puppy love that it had a similar effect as radiation poisoning, and everyone around them had to take shifts to not overdose on it all

Gosh this is so incredibly cute—I think there are only a few posts that focus on them as babies in the crèche in that AU tag, but you’ve given me an amazing reason to try and write something for that era of them (maybe a ficlet/fic that is equal parts their disastrous Valentine’s Day as absolute babies and then the Valentine’s Day they have when they’re older and adults who hate each other) because holy shit I’m obsessed with how cute this is!!!

Thank you so much for drawing and reading and subscribing for notifs from me even though tumblr is a weird place even for people who have been on it forever (me) —if you ever wanna come out of lurkdom again I’ll welcome you with open arms this is amazing work and I’d love anything you could draw for the obikin fandom!! You’re so talented 🤩💙 and so sweet 🥰🥺

[godsofhumanity]

Do you want to do headcanons on Pontus and his wife Thalassa?

hullo! i don't really have any hc's about Thalassa. i consider "Thalassa" just as an epithet of Tethys (orphic tradition), and i like the idea of Gaia being Pontus' only consort. i've already done Gaia hc's here. sorry!

if anyone else has thoughts, feel free to reply/reblog :-))

in the meantime, maybe i can offer you some Pontus and Gaia hc's instead?

Pontus is created after the fall of Ouranos, so Ouranos and Pontus never have any interaction in my storyline.

also, i've said this a billion times before, but i like the idea that Ouranos is so strong and powerful and on par with the Primordials despite NOT actually being a Primordial because he was the "first" creation EVER, so Gaia never really intended to make him, she just accidentally "willed" him into existence in her desire for companionship.

and because she never really thought too hard about it, she wished for a being who was her equal completely and entirely, and in doing that, she imbues some of her Primordial strength in Ouranos' design and that makes him very powerful.

but after Ouranos, Gaia learns to have a little discretion when creating other beings-- the Titans aren't nearly as powerful as Ouranos and they don't NEED to be because their primary duty (originally) was simply to toil and take care of the earth.

anyways, seeing how dangerous it was for a non-Primordial to have that great strength, i think Gaia creates Pontus a little more carefully. i don't think he has the strength of Ouranos.

also, Gaia doesn't ask for someone to be her equal in strength, but her equal in heart.. someone with the same love for creating and creation as she. and that's Pontus.

i like the idea of Pontus being very elegant and peaceful... he might be a bit of a brooding sort of guy. but he is the opposite of Ouranos.

where Ouranos is loud, prideful and possessive, Pontus is calm, humble, and generous. he would love all his children, and be protective of the sea and the creatures housed beneath his waves, and he would deliver fierce vengeance on anyone/anything that threatened them, i think.

also i think it's poetic that the sea "waters" the earth to bring forth life; water is so important for creation, and so i think it's really fitting that Gaia's true "soulmate" should be the personification of the Waters and not the Heavens.

[usedtobeguest123]

It is very unlikely that I will finish this animatic tonight in time for the #wdtajn deadline, but I will post it late when it is done!

In the meantime, here is my humble offering of a couple draft stills. The song will be Never Love an Anchor by the Crane Wives. It's coming together!

[troublesomemix]

CLOSED with @rennisaturate || continued from here || ft beta editor

in his not so humble opinion, ryan thought that the previous night had actually went rather well. all things considered. it wasn’t the first time that he had had a strange woman in his quarters alone. but it absolutely was the first time that he had someone that he was engaged to spend the night with him. someone who was absolutely a stranger. he was still wrapping his head around the whole situation that he had gotten himself into. every time he thought that he needed to back out of it, he reminded himself what he been saying for weeks before emica‘s arrival. this was going to give him the cover he needed a sheriff until he was able to get out of dodge. because what good self-respecting man con man had relational attachments like a wife? none that he could think of. so-- this had to be the perfect cover. in the meantime, he had to be ever the upstanding gentleman, at least to a decent degree. that included things like preventing, someone who was now his lady from falling onto the ground. and therefore making an awful embarrassment of herself, and away him. he wasn’t about to have it. ryan was very well aware of how much appearances mattered, especially when he was living a life that was currently all about existing appearances. he offered a beautiful girl ( he wasn’t blind! ) a smile as he held her upright.

“ it’s no trouble at all sugar. i was hoping you’d fall in my arms, one way, or the other, eventually, but i didn’t expect it quite so soon  ” and even while he smiled, the man grimaced internally. was that a little bit of bile in his mouth he was tasting? ryan didn’t do sugar sweetness. and yet here he was being the flatterer that he was so damn good at. to save face, he gently let go, coughed into his hand, and started to walk in the direction of the residence of the town’s priest.

[bethestaryouareradio]

Cheers for the New Year!

CYNTHIA BRIAN

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[terrifickid]

How is this helpful? Your wishful thinking and non-grasping of the basic fundamentals here is more demented than my own schizoaffective delusions.

They de-enrolled me because I could make my appointments. I didn't offend them. They already said I could come in. You haven't seen me in 10 years and I've never been doing great. There's no reason to go back on medication that I went off of after 1 months because meditation was more effective. Grace's brother was never able to function and was granted SSI, but I will not.

I am completely alone.

On Thu, Dec 21, 2023, 6:59 PM Sunny Elizabeth <frenchcowgirl@att.net> wrote:

Please try again with Permiacare again… consider an apology if you caused any uncomfortable situation with them, not meaning to and humbly ask them to help you with your treatment.  You really do need them to help you.  They have history with you and they are close enough by to help  The medication, though you may not like gaining weight is the most helpful Ive seen and witnessed you be the most functional on. Once again, Grace’s brother struggled with taking the medication until he went on the monthly shot and this has made the biggest difference for him, he really likes it and never forgets to go get the next shot it helps him so much…please consider trying this route…you might be pleasantly surprised!  In the meantime we can work on getting your application in once you get all documents needed to apply…it will work out, you will get accepted.  I’m sure of it and so is Grace.  OK?  We are here to help you thru this process and you are not alone.  I see you have many people that care about you and want to be supportive.

On Dec 21, 2023, at 4:03 PM, tk <tk@terrifickid.net> wrote:



Looks like Daniel Gregory is out. Can't/ won't help.

I don't know why it's so difficult to fathom that help for people like me is unavailable.

On Thu, Dec 21, 2023, 4:30 PM tk <tk@terrifickid.net> wrote:

Hello!

Well I can't get rides there and they already de-enrolled me for not showing up. Also I don't know what magic world everyone is living in that permiacare is going to save the day. My positive symptoms are already under control.

I'm going to attempt to enlist the aid of cowboy faith alive church after the New Year to carpool me to my appointments since they go back and forth every Sunday.

I've already been ignored in my statements that I will 100% go back on medication that didn't improve my situation. This is as a formality to prove medical treatment isn't available for my incurable and terminal degenerative neurological disorder.

I'm doing all of this and documenting it all to attempt to qualify for AD because the alternative is completely horrifying and unacceptable.

I don't believe I will qualify for AD - and that will put me in a very precarious and adversarial relationship with everyone else I'm sorry to say. Where I would be born a political criminal for having a health condition.

For the love of God, I fully encourage everyone to deeply consider their commitment to denying me health care I can afford today.

Richard 

On Thu, Dec 21, 2023, 4:16 PM frenchcowgirl <frenchcowgirl@att.net> wrote:

Dear TK...

Have you been able to get an appt at permiacare?  Possibly consider getting back on meds they offer and getting documents needed from them in order to apply and fill out ssi paperwork?  I can help you on monday if you want to set up an appt or just have a conversation what to do next?  I will fill out the paperwork for you if i can get each document i need, one at a time if that helps.  At least get you in the line.

Were you able to talk with dr Grier?

I care...Mom

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

-------- Original message --------

From: tk <tk@terrifickid.net>

Date: 12/21/23 1:19 PM (GMT-08:00)

To: dignitas@dignitas.ch

Cc: Sunny Elizabeth <frenchcowgirl@att.net>, Aaron Rhoades <am_rhoades@yahoo.com>

Subject: Fwd: Welcome to the SOAR Online Course: Adult Curriculum

Hello!

This is Richard Croft again. I'm making slow progress putting my justification together. I've still not been able to work/find work. I've started hearing voices. I have reached out to everyone I know and the best plan anyone has is to somehow qualify for US disability benefits from the federal government - according to our resident expert a random disability lawyer it just isn't that simple. 

Meanwhile I'm falling apart and headed into homelessness. It's not reasonable to expect family friends to take care of me and it isn't a long term solution. I noticed you hadn't replied to my last email - are you still able to provide AD assistance in switzerland? As documented I'm enlisting the help of a local church to get transportation to nearest ward in the next city over to re-enroll in their program and get the paperwork of their diagnosis. 

So far nothing has really surprised me and I still think AD is my only humane option for a future.

Thanks!

Richard



---------- Forwarded message ---------

From: SOAR Works! <soaronline@samhsa.hhs.gov>

Date: Mon, Dec 18, 2023 at 4:38 PM

Subject: Welcome to the SOAR Online Course: Adult Curriculum

To: <tk@terrifickid.net>



Hello SOAR Online Course Enrollee,

Thank you for your interest in the SOAR Online Course: Adult Curriculum!

As you begin the course, be sure to review the Course Introduction. It provides important details about the course along with troubleshooting links.

While you are free to read all the information in the course to learn about SOAR and the SSI/SSDI application process, submission of a Practice Case Application Packet is geared toward case workers who will be assisting with disability applications using the SOAR model.

If you choose to complete the Practice Case, please note that when you enrolled in the course you agreed to the following: “In completing the Online Course Practice Case, case managers are required to do their work independently and not copy others or submit “joint” work. This is a requirement to receive a SOAR Certificate of Completion and 20 CEUs from the NASW.”

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact us at soaronline@prainc.com or 518-439-7415 x2.

Sincerely,

SAMHSA SOAR TA Center





SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and is a national program designed to increase access to the disability income benefit programs administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) for eligible adults and children who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and have a serious mental illness, medical impairment, and/ or a co-occurring substance use disorder.

--

tk@terrifickid.net

4322350178



[jdgo51]

Reflections on Psalms

Today's inspiration comes from:

The C. S. Lewis Bible

by C. S. Lewis

Praise Befits the Humble

"'But the most obvious fact about praise — whether of God or anything — strangely escaped me. I thought of it in terms of compliment, approval, or the giving of honour. I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise unless (sometimes even if) shyness or the fear of boring others is deliberately brought in to check it. The world rings with praise — lovers praising their mistresses, readers their favourite poet, walkers praising the countryside, players praising their favourite game — praise of weather, wines, dishes, actors, motors, horses, colleges, countries, historical personages, children, flowers, mountains, rare stamps, rare beetles, even sometimes politicians or scholars. I had not noticed how the humblest, and at the same time most balanced and capacious, minds, praised most, while the cranks, misfits and malcontents praised least.

— from Reflections on the Psalms

For Reflection: Psalm 33:1-22

Taste and See

William Law remarks that people are merely “amusing themselves” by asking for the patience which a famine or a persecution would call for if, in the meantime, the weather and every other inconvenience sets them grumbling. One must learn to walk before one can run. So here. We — or at least I — shall not be able to adore God on the highest occasions if we have learned no habit of doing so on the lowest.

At best, our faith and reason will tell us that He is adorable, but we shall not have found Him so, not have “tasted and seen.” Any patch of sunlight in a wood will show you something about the sun which you could never get from reading books on astronomy. These pure and spontaneous pleasures are “patches of Godlight” in the woods of our experience.

— from Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer

For Reflection: Psalm 34:8

Every faculty you have, your power of thinking or of moving your limbs from moment to moment, is given you by God.

Noticing the Dirt

I know all about the despair of overcoming chronic temptations. It is not serious provided self-offended petulance, annoyance at breaking records, impatience etc, doesn’t get the upper hand. No amount of falls will really undo us if we keep on picking ourselves up each time. We shall of course be v. muddy and tattered children by the time we reach home. But the bathrooms are all ready, the towels put out, & the clean clothes are in the airing cupboard.

The only fatal thing is to lose one’s temper and give it up. It is when we notice the dirt that God is most present to us: it is the v. sign of His presence.

— from a letter to Mary Neylan, January 20, 1942

For Reflection: Psalm 40:1-3

I Delight to Do Your Will

Every faculty you have, your power of thinking or of moving your limbs from moment to moment, is given you by God.

If you devoted every moment of your whole life exclusively to His service you could not give Him anything that was not in a sense His own already. So that when we talk of a man doing anything for God or giving anything to God, I will tell you what it is really like. It is like a small child going to its father and saying, “Daddy, give me sixpence to buy you a birthday present.”

— from Mere Christianity

For Reflection: Psalm 40:6-8

You Thought I Was One Just Like Yourself

I have often, on my knees, been shocked to find what sort of thoughts I have for a moment, been addressing to God; what infantile placations I was really offering, what claims I have really made, even what absurd adjustments or compromises I was, half-consciously, proposing. There is a Pagan, savage heart in me somewhere. For unfortunately the folly and idiot- cunning of Paganism seem to have far more power of surviving than its innocent or even beautiful elements. It is easy, once you have power, to silence the pipes, still the dances, disfigure the statues, and forget the stories; but not easy to kill the savage, the greedy, frightened creature now cringing, now blustering, in one’s soul— the creature to whom God may well say, “thou thoughtest I am even such a one as thyself” (Psalm 50.21).

— from Reflections on the Psalms

For Reflection: Psalm 50:19-23"'

Excerpted with permission from The C. S. Lewis Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

[theriu]

I’ve tried to teach myself before but obvs it’s hard and I didn’t know things I was doing wrong. But today we held Day 2 of our August Alpaca Days at my parents’ farm, and I was manning the facepainting booth for our 4H club, and I was next to this lovely lady who is an expert knitter and member of the local guild. (More under the readmore)

And she made me a starter! Which is way easier to practice on than starting yourself! And because we were sitting there for NINE HOURS (minus breaks and facepainting/demonstrating fibercraft), I had lots of time to practice! She was very patient with me and seemed impressed with my progress at the end of the day, and her young granddaughter was lovely and encouraging and kept complimenting my efforts (and also offering good-natured and quite correct observations about my bright yellow very haphazard first creation resembling cheese).

Anyhoo, I think I can knit and purl reliably enough to practice without supervision now, though I keep adding stitches, somehow. I need more practice with casting on and off. But it is neat to learn a new skill!!!

I forgot my pieces at my parents’ so will update ya’ll with photos of my humble efforts tomorrow. In the meantime, here is an alpaca I painted on my father’s arm (which was a fabulous moment ‘cause he NEVER does this XD)

Look at this handsome hard-working owner of 90+ alpacas. I hope he got to bed at a decent hour tonight after our day-long event followed by his having several ailing alpacas to tend to (NOT ailing from the event!)

Hey knitting circle guess what? I learned to knit today! :D

[nightofthemeteor]

We Just Kind of Assumed

(A ficlet for Mitoka Melee Month - also here on AO3. Warning for implied/referenced homophobia, but this is happy fluff, I promise)

In hindsight, Mito could see how things had turned out this way.

The start of the term found Mito fresh out of high school and new to the city, nervous and excited and as determined to make friends as she was to succeed in her classes. It wasn’t like she’d ever had real trouble making friends before, but this wasn’t her hometown – she didn’t know how things worked here. So Mito studiously attended the welcome events her university sponsored, politely introduced herself to the other girls in her dorm, and cautiously checked out a few of the parties big enough for the invitations to trickle down to freshmen.

It was at a truly terrible house party in the second week of the term where everything started, and it started in a way Mito absolutely hadn’t expected.

She spotted the frat boy several seconds after he’d spotted her, and by that time he was already weaving his way through the crowded, noisy room to come talk to her. Mito, who had been nursing a drink in a corner and pretending she wasn’t acutely aware that she didn’t know anyone here, looked away quickly and tried to look busy – completely impossible, given that she was at a party and had nobody to talk to, aside from the frat boy sidling up to her.

“Hey,” said the frat boy. He was tall, with enough brown hair to shove into a messy bun under a backwards snapback, and by Mito’s assessment, probably good-looking enough that he was used to getting his way. “Are you a new student? I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.”

Mito bit her lip. She had a feeling she knew where this was going, but she was in no position to pass up conversation. “Yep,” she said, still not quite committing to it.

“That’s cool,” said the frat boy. “I’m in second year.” He leaned his weight on the wall beside her, clearly aiming for casual but coming off as slightly awkward, and said, “You looking for someone to – uh – show you around?”

At least that was quick, thought Mito, wincing internally. That come-on had been about as artful as the moving truck she’d seen crash into one of the dorms last week, but at least this ordeal had been brief. “Sorry,” said Mito – and then found her tongue stuck to the roof of her suddenly dry mouth. She could easily have said I’m not interested, or It’s getting late, I was about to leave, or I suddenly have a case of horrible diarrhea, but…this wasn’t her hometown, and things were supposed to be different here. Mito steeled her nerves, looked the frat boy in the eye, and said, “Actually, I’m a lesbian.”

The frat boy blinked. “Really?” he exclaimed – and then his face lit with an enormous smile. “Me too!”

“What,” said Mito. Shit, had she read this situation totally wrong? She’d just assumed –

“Oh, no – I mean, I’m bi. Sorry. Uh,” the frat boy stuck his hand out towards her, still grinning hopefully. “My name’s Hashirama.”

“Mito,” said Mito, shaking his hand bemusedly. This was – not the reaction she’d expected.

“Sorry about…” Hashirama waved his hand vaguely at the space between them.

“No worries,” said Mito, “But if I’m being honest, your flirting could probably use some work.”

Hashirama clutched his heart with the melodrama of a stage actor, hung his head, and gave the deepest sigh Mito had ever heard. Then, before she could react, his head popped back up, this time with a rueful expression. “Not my best attempt, I’ll admit,” he said. “But in my defense: flirting with girls is extremely scary.”

Mito laughed. She was still reeling from the turn this conversation had taken, but she was also immensely relieved – this was much, much less awkward. “It’s not that scary,” she said, almost automatically, though it wasn’t like she’d had much experience in that department herself. “Is it worse than flirting with boys?”

“Yes,” said Hashirama, and then held up a finger to say, wait – “But boys are terrible at flirting back.”

It only took a couple hours for Mito to find herself on the back steps of the party house, sitting beside an extremely tipsy Hashirama, admitting her fears about this new city, and in return listening to him rant about the guy in his classes he was sure would never like him back.

“Honestly, I was trying to find a way to take my mind off him,” Hashirama told her, big brown eyes shining tearfully in the glow of the streetlamps.

“By trying to pick up random people at this shitty party?” Mito asked. “That’s a terrible idea, Hashirama.”

“Yeah,” said Hashirama, and nudged her shoulder with his knuckles. “Good thing I met the right one, huh?”

They were best friends from then on.

---

Hanging around Hashirama meant that Mito was quickly introduced to his entourage. His friend group was a mix of eclectic and not always exactly harmonious personalities, but at least getting to know them helped reduce Mito’s lack-of-friends problem. There was Hashirama’s brother, Tobirama, who was reserved and cantankerous, but did offer to help her edit her essays, despite being in the same year as her. Then, there was the object of Hashirama’s admiration, Madara, who was loud and cantankerous, but also nice to her in kind of a brusque way.

And there was Hashirama’s cousin, Tōka. Tōka, who was on the women’s softball team, but was also studying engineering; Tōka, who liked to wear flannels and dark red lipstick; Tōka, who was a head taller than Mito, and was even taller than Hashirama in her thick-soled combat boots; Tōka, who had big hands and a sharp wit and a soft smile. When Hashirama introduced her to Tōka, Mito told the story of how Hashirama had introduced himself to her, sparing none of Hashirama’s feelings in the recounting, and Tōka reached out and squeezed her shoulder.

“I like this one, Hashirama!” She declared, and Mito, overwhelmed by Tōka’s dizzying grin and Tōka’s warm hand on her shoulder, nearly melted into the floor. In her desperation to conceal the blush she could feel heating her face, it never occurred to Mito that she hadn’t explicitly said she’d turned Hashirama down.

It didn’t take long for Mito to formulate a plan. It was simple, but then, nothing complicated was called for in this circumstance – not like Hashirama’s convoluted attempts to get Madara’s attention. Mito’s plan was as follows:

Become friends with Tōka.

Flirt with Tōka.

Ask Tōka out on a date.

It was simple; it was straightforward; and the first step was successful almost immediately. Tōka and Hashirama were roommates, so just by virtue of hanging out with Hashirama, Mito ended up spending time with Tōka. Over the course of a couple weeks, Mito learned that Tōka’s easygoing attitude was shot through with a serious competitive streak – just like Hashirama, although, as Mito learned, Tōka had better alcohol tolerance. She wasn’t as outgoing as her cousin, but it took very little effort on Mito’s part to strike up conversation. But most importantly, Mito learned that just like her cousin, Tōka gave physical affection as easily as talking. She’d casually brush aside a strand of Mito’s hair from her face, or sling an arm around her shoulders, or run a hand up Mito’s back to get her attention. Mito wasn’t used to that kind of casual closeness – it was driving her insane. Not that she really minded.

The problem was that Mito couldn’t tell if Tōka’s touches indicated interest, or were purely friendly. After all, Hashirama also had a habit of resting his hand on Mito’s shoulder, and of ruffling her hair (especially when she’d just finished tying it up) – and despite the way their friendship had started, Mito was certain he wasn’t interested in anything other than friendship. And here was the reason Mito’s plan was stalling on step 2: she could return Tōka’s touches, she could lean close to her over the study table or cuddle next to her on the couch, or reach out and tangle their hands together…but Tōka accepted all this without so much as blinking. Mito couldn’t tell if she even noticed.

Other people, however, certainly did notice. Hashirama picked up on what was happening almost right away, and immediately offered to be Mito’s wingman. Mito, having observed her friend’s own bumbling attempts at romance, politely refused this offer, but was privately relieved that he didn’t seem to mind her interest in his cousin (and was secretly elated that he thought she had a chance). Unfortunately, she couldn’t prevent him from sending her exaggerated winks from behind Tōka’s back. As supportive as Hashirama was, it came as an unpleasant shock to Mito that his brother, Tobirama, was most certainly not on board. More than once, Mito would put an affectionate hand on Tōka’s shoulder or laugh at one of her jokes, and feel Tobirama’s glare like ice on the back of her neck. Mito couldn’t figure out what his problem was – did he not think she’d be a good fit for his cousin? Or, was it possible…he didn’t approve because she was a girl? Mito couldn’t believe that was the case – Hashirama was pretty open about his bisexuality, after all, and Tobirama didn’t have a problem with him – but against all logic, Mito found she couldn’t shake the specter of doubt.

Then, three weeks into the term, Mito’s roommate came down with the flu, and Hashirama offered to let Mito crash at his place for a few days. Mito expected to be sleeping on the living room couch, but Hashirama insisted that, as the guest, she should take his bed. They compromised with Mito on an air mattress on Hashirama’s floor, and Mito spend the next couple of nights enduring his truly awful snoring. Yet again, it never occurred to Mito that this decision might have unforeseen consequences (aside from the snoring), and so, two days later, when Mito tried to join Hashirama and Madara for a study session at their local coffeeshop, she was absolutely baffled when Madara snapped his textbook shut and announced, “I’m leaving.”

“What the hell?” said Mito, watching his retreating back.

Hashirama heaved a sigh so pitiful that it reminded Mito of the way her dog would sigh if you stopped petting him for a moment. “Something’s been up with him for a while,” he said, miserably, “But it’s gotten worse all of a sudden. I have no idea what it is.”

“I mean, you probably did something to piss him off,” Mito informed him, reasonably, “But what did I do?”

Amidst this weird hostility from both Madara and Tobirama, Mito was relieved to find that Tōka, at least, was still friendly with her. That was a side benefit of crashing at Hashirama’s place – she got the chance to spend a lot of extra time with his roommate. Mito had plenty of time to work herself up to step 3 of her plan: ask Tōka on a date.

She dropped the invitation oh-so-casually, with calculated thoughtlessness; no sense making it out to be a big deal. “Want to grab a coffee with me tomorrow?”

“Sure thing,” said Tōka, barely looking up from her phone, and Mito, despite the apparent success of her invitation, felt her heart sink. That wasn’t exactly the response she’d expect from someone who’d just been asked out.

Still, she forged on: “Maybe at 4? You’re out of class by then, right?”

Tōka looked up at that, and then, to the confused delight of Mito’s heart, gave her one of her long, slow smiles. “Yep, you got it. I’ll see you then,” she said, and Mito once again began to hope.

She was thinking of that smile as she agonized over her outfit the next day – it had to be casual, ordinary, but still perfect – styled her hair extra carefully, debated over whether to wear lipstick, and finally headed to the coffeeshop exactly on time. Tōka was already there, waiting in line. Mito’s heart began to race – she called Tōka’s name, and Tōka turned around, saw her standing there –

And a look of unease passed over her face. It was just a flicker, just a moment, so that Mito could almost believe she’d imagined it; even so, Mito felt her heart drop. This wasn’t what she’d been hoping for at all. But it was too soon to back out, and so Mito pasted on a cheerful smile and went to meet her friend for coffee.

The drinks were tasty, but the conversation was stilted, awkward in a way it never had been before. Mito had been imagining taking Tōka’s hand across the table, stealing her drink, maybe even sliding into the same side of the booth – but now she could only watch as Tōka’s eyes slid past her face. Mito could only think of one explanation for this change, and it didn’t take long for her worst fears to be confirmed.

“Um, I’m really sorry for asking,” Tōka said, for once looking uncomfortable instead of self-assured, “But…is this a date?”

Oh no, thought Mito. She had no choice but to be honest – no point in lying to her friend – but this one was seriously going to hurt. “I was kind of hoping so,” she admitted, and wondered if she could make it back to her room before the tears came. "But it's fine - " her voice choked a little; she forced the words out, "If you don't like me that way - it's fine."

“Mito…” Tōka no longer looked just uncomfortable; she looked wretched, so much so that Mito was a little taken aback. She seized her short black hair in both hands and said, as if the words were torn from her: “I like you – I like you so much. You’re beautiful and smart and fucking great and I just – I don’t – why are you doing this to me?”

“What?” said Mito, startled enough to forget her impending tears. She’d been expecting Tōka to at least let her down gently.

“I thought Tobirama was insane when he said you were flirting.”

“Wh…why would that be insane?”

“Because it’s wrong,” said Tōka, with such conviction that Mito felt as though she’d been slapped. Wrong? Mito hadn’t expected to hear that here, not from her friend, not from Tōka. She felt as though her stomach was trying to climb out her throat. Had her suspicions about Tobirama been right after all?

The words came out low and angry, in a voice Mito barely recognized as her own. “What do you mean, ‘wrong’?”

“Hashirama’s my cousin,” said Tōka, anguished, “I can’t do this to him.”

Once again Mito was thrown for a loop. Why would Tōka think that Hashirama would disapprove of her dating a girl? “Hashirama’s bi,” she said, utterly confused.

Tōka leveled an accusatory look at her. “Just because he’s bi doesn’t mean he’s polyamorous.”

“Wait – what?”

“What?”

The two of them stared at each other across the table. Then, finally, the pieces began to fit together in Mito’s frazzled brain. Slowly, she asked, “Did you think I was dating Hashirama?”

Tōka’s eyes were locked on hers. “You mean…you’re not?”

“Oh my god,” said Mito. She slammed her hands on the table, startling them both, and practically shouted, “NO! No, I’m not dating him! I’m gay! GAY! One hundred percent lesbian!”

Out of the corner of her eye, Mito could see the people at the nearby tables staring at them; in front of her, Tōka covered her mouth with her hand and let out an uncharacteristically high-pitched giggle. “Okay! I get it. But…I don’t understand…”

“Did Hashirama say we were dating? If he did, I’m going to murder him.”

“No, he never told us, exactly, but like – he went out hoping to meet someone, and then suddenly you were always with him. I guess we just kind of assumed?”

“Oh my god,” said Mito again. She jabbed a finger at Tōka. “You nearly gave me a heart attack, you know! I thought you were homophobic or something!”

“No, no!” said Tōka, waving her hands in front of her, “I like girls! I swear!” She planted in face in her hands and said, through her fingers, “I like you! I felt so guilty when I realized.”

Mito, grinning so hard her cheeks hurt, reached out and tugged Tōka’s hands away from her face. “You like me?”

“Yeah,” said Tōka, breathless and holding Mito’s hands, and looking at her with the same expression of disbelief and joy Mito could feel on her own face. The world spun; the only thing holding Mito to the ground was the feel of Tōka’s hands in hers, and then –

Mito suddenly had a thought. “Wait,” she said. “Who’s ‘we’?”

“Huh?”

“You said, ‘We just kind of assumed’. Who else thinks Hashirama and I are dating?”

Tōka blinked at her. “Uh, definitely Tobirama, but probably most of his friends too.”

“Holy shit,” said Mito.

[thewildwaffle]

Humans are Weird: Antibiotics

A story prompt from a user on a03. Apparently, this is my 50th short story, or at least the 50th installment of m humans are weird short stories. Hurray!

****

Ni Andu watched a dried sickle leaf roll across the empty courtyard from her window. A deep sigh made her breath fog up the glass. The courtyard wasn't supposed to be empty. Especially not this time of year. The Gauru Ni Moon Festival usually brought visitors from around the world and across multiple star systems right about now. But the disease meant no bright banners were hung. No music echoed cheerily through around the corners and down the streets. There were no wafting scents of fresh fruits and fried breads.

It was amazing and terrifying that something so small that it couldn’t be seen had done all this. The Ni were a proud race, rich in culture, and until now, seemingly sturdy in constitution. Diseases had come and gone in the past, but in such small and freak cases that they were hardly given much attention. It was assumed that Ni immune systems were the best in the galaxy and many other races had even requested to study how they were so effective.

Those prideful memories felt hollow now as Ni Andu sighed and pulled herself away from the dreary sight outside. As a new and reluctant head of the house, she had more pressing things to deal with than moping in the past. Several members of her own family were still sick, two of her hatch mates had been very touch-and-go as of late. She slowly made her way to the cushions where they were sleeping to check on them. To her relief, she saw the soft blankets they were wrapped in rose and fell slowly. She stood there, watching them for a bit in the gathering darkness of their shared humble abode. Matki’s breathing sounded like gravel stuck in a child’s rolling skiffer.

“What are we going to do?” Andu’s wide nose scrunched up as she begged the silent house. “What am I supposed to do next?”

She wasn’t sure how long she stood there trying to think of everything and nothing all at once. It was a good while though and was only interrupted when a small light turned on in the meal room. Andu looked up at the light streaming out of the door’s archway. With a sigh, she gathered her strength to move again to see who was up. As she approached, she heard small claws scrabbling on the stonework floor and storage pods opening and closing.

Sure enough, when she peeked in, Andu could see little Piri shuffling through food storage pods that looked even less stocked than she thought they’d been. There were a few bottled foods, a few containers of ingredient-prepped soup containers, but certainly nothing immediately ready for consumption. Most easy and ready-to-eat foods had been eaten long ago or destroyed when they began to decay and grow dangerous molds. And to a small three-year-old Ni, that basically meant there was no food at all.

“Hey Piri, are you hungry?” Even though Andu had kept her voice quiet, little Piri still jumped and tucked his small thin tail like he was ashamed he’d been caught. Andu smiled comfortingly and stepped into the room to pick up one of the soup packs.

“It’s okay, you’re fine,” she patted him on the head softly, “I think it’s time for a meal too. I’m sure everyone else would agree once they wake up and smell the food.”

“There’s not much left,” Piri’s small voice was so sad and only made the words themselves feel sharper to Andu’s hearts. She tried to think of something she could say to make their situation seem less dire, but nothing came to mind. Instead, she scooped up Piri’s small form and waited until his thin arms latched securely around her scruff before she walked over to get a pot to cook in. She was going to have to add quite a bit of water to this if it was going to make enough to sustain everyone for a meal.

Cooking, even making something simple, helped ease Andu’s mind. There was a sense of normalcy in standing in front of a firebox and stirring a bubbling pot of soup. She tried to ignore how thin it was. Still, the smell made her feel warm and it must have wafted across the house as she could soon hear the tell-tale signs of her hatch mates waking up. She gathered bowls and filled each one. Lowering Piri back down, she handed the young Ni a bowl and carried the rest to the cushions where the rest of the family was slowly waking up.

They ate together slowly, trying to make the contents of their bowl last and talking quietly about anything they could to distract themselves from their situation. Matki was recalling a story from four lunar years ago when Andu had entered a fried bread pastry into a competition. Between Matki’s coughing and Andu interjecting to defend herself, the story kept getting interrupted! She’d worked on the recipe for her pastry for so long and was so proud of it, but the night before, something went wrong when she was making her entry. Whether it was nerves, exhaustion, oversight, or Jentala above forbid, sabotage, it went very wrong. From the way Matki described the judges’ reaction, one might have thought Andu had purposefully tried poisoning them! As everyone chuckled, Matki claimed he still had the video recording from the competition and pulled it out, much to Andu’s chagrin.

Andu pretended to be exasperated by the teasing, but really she was just glad everyone felt good enough to laugh again.

It took a while before she and the others noticed that Matki hadn’t pulled up the video. Instead, his eyes locked on the comm tablet screen.

“Matki?”

“Hey, did you find it?”

“Matki are you okay?”

Matki finally looked up, eyes still wide from whatever he’d been looking at. “They’re coming to help.”

Everyone shared a worried look. What?

“Who are you talking about? Who’s coming?” Andu broke the confused silence.

Matki tapped something on-screen with the pad of a finger and a holographic projection display rose up.

Everyone watched enraptured by the newscast. It was about humans. From halfway across the galaxy, they’d heard about the Ni’s plight and had come claiming they had a cure. They were offering aid and resources to run tests to make sure their medicine was safe and effective for Ni use and make alterations if needed. They were even claiming they’d help distribute the finalized cure the moment it was given the go-ahead. In the meantime, they were also sending ships of food and supplies.

Andu could feel the back of her throat tighten. Was this real? Did she dare hope? There’d been so many reports before about help being promised, well, not help to this extent, but help nonetheless. They’d ended up being just for show and were proven empty once those who offered realized how impossible the situation really was.

But humans? She’d heard they were tough. And stubborn. Maybe they were stubborn enough to see their promises through?

The embarrassing video of Andu’s failed pastry was long forgotten, the conversation instead jumped between wild rumors her family had overheard about humans and speculation about how long it would take for the humans to actually lend aid if they were really coming at all. Andu could see a shimmer in the eyes of her hatch mates as they spoke that she hadn’t seen in a while. Although she wished she could feel the same optimism, she could also see how quickly they were all tiring out. Although they’d slept most of the day, the disease was still taking its toll on them all.

Once the meager meal was finished, she stood to gather the now empty bowls. She noticed Piri quickly scrape a finger along the side of his bowl to snag any last morsel before she came along to collect it. ‘Jentala above,’ she prayed mentally, ‘if help truly is coming, send it along soon.”

With bellies no longer completely empty, everyone settled in, and soon the room was full of sleeping or near sleeping Ni.

Andu slept fitfully. She dreamed, but it was fractured and confusing. Even before the disease came, she had a hard time remembering her dreams once she woke up. It was near impossible now. She did remember a loud humming noise though. As she blinked her eyes and lifted her head, she realized the humming was still there. She rose and searched for the source. It almost sounded like… engines? But that, that had to be impossible - the quarantine…

She looked out the window. Dried sickle leaves were flying around wildly as a large shuttle slowly came in for a landing in the courtyard. Andu opened her mouth to call out to the rest of her family, but nothing would come. How were they still asleep with this racket? Apparently, it managed to wake up Piri, who nearly made Andu jump when he bumped into her side while trying to climb up for a better view out the window.

“What’s going on? Who’s outside?” Piri waited to ask until Andu had resettled herself after being startled.

“I’m not sure yet,” she answered as they both watched the shuttle’s doors slowly work through the unsealing process. Across the courtyard, she could see other Ni’s faces peeking out their windows. As far as she could tell, expressions seemed to range anywhere from fear to curiosity to… was that hope? Wait, had they seen the newscast last night? Did they think this was… there’s no way the humans could be here already, right?

They both watched intently as the doors finally opened and a ramp extended. Soon a line of creatures she’d only seen on screens filed down wearing yellow vests and hauling huge boxes in their arms or on carts they pulled behind them.

“It is the humans!” Piri yelled and jumped down from his perch. He ran to where everyone was stirring on the cushions, “Wake up! Wake up! The humans are here!”

Andu wasn’t sure if she should reprimand Piri for disturbing them, or if she should join in. Instead, she watched as the humans in the courtyard started setting up stations and continued hauling load after load filled with what must have been hexaheebs of food, clean water, and various supplies.

She turned to look back at her family who were trying to rise as fast as their weakened bodies would allow. Matki began coughing violently and had to rest against the wall. Andu went to help support him when a knock at the front door startled everyone. They all stared at the old chirrowood door, then around at each other. It had been so long since quarantine had started, they’d almost forgotten what a knock on the door sounded like.

After a pause, the knock came again, this time followed by a worried and drawn-out, “Hello?”

Once she was sure Matki was standing stable, Andu, being the least sick among everyone, walked to and slowly opened the door.

A human from the shuttle stood in the doorway. They were wearing a mask over their mouth and nose, but it was definitely a human! Their eyes closed slightly and creased in the corners as they nodded a greeting. “Hi, my name is Ali, I’m part of the relief team that’s been assigned to this district. We’ve got food and essentials to distribute and I just need to know how many are in this household and if anyone here is in critical condition.”

Andu blinked at the human for a moment as she took in what they’d said.

“We, uh, we have four adults and one child. There, there were more, but…” she couldn’t finish that sentence. From the look the human gave her, she didn’t need to finish it. Her sinuses stung as she fought to not cry. The first visitor in how long and here she was almost crying in the doorway?

“I'm so sorry for your loss,” the human’s head bowed and their shoulders dropped. “I wish we’d known and could have helped earlier. Is anyone here in need of immediate emergency care?”

At that point, Matki started coughing again. Andu and Ali looked back to see him sit back down until his coughing died down.

Andu sighed and turned back to the human. “None of us are great right now. Matki’s probably the worst out of all of us. He sounds bad, but he actually has started to stabilize in the past few days.”

Human Ali gave a short nod and started writing something on a tablet in his hands.

“Do you,” Andu’s voice trembled, “we heard a report last night about you. That you were coming. That you… do you…” she swallowed and fought back desperate tears, “do you really have a cure?”

The human’s eyes creased again. “We do.”

Andu didn’t need to turn around to know the effect this had on her family. She heard it. She felt it. This time, she didn’t fight back the tears.

“Right now,” Human Ali continued, “it’s in the final stages of approval for Ni use, we’re just waiting for the ‘go-ahead’ and we’ll help distribute it as soon as it arrives. Until then, I’ve got some food and supplies for you. I can help unload and unpack if you need?”

“That… that would be... thank you,” she wiped at her tears. “Thank you so much.”

Over the next few days, more shuttles came and went, bringing more supplies, food, tools, and just in general, a brighter outlook and mood to the entire neighborhood. The humans really were here to help, and they seemed happy to do so. Not only were they good with their promises of aid, but they also delivered on the cure they said they had. Ni were instructed on the drug’s use and administration directions thoroughly for both the tablet and liquid forms of the cure. The effects were quick, and from the reports on the newscast, overwhelmingly positive. The Ni were cured! The plague that had once threatened to wipe out their entire population was gone! Celebrations larger than even the Gauru Ni Moon Festival were planned, songs were written, stories shared and spread. It was wholly agreed by all that this was a historic time in Ni history that they all survived through, and all thanked Jentala above for sending the humans to help.

It went without saying that everyone wanted to know more about the cure itself. And that meant everyone, not just the Ni, but the rest of the galactic community who before, had written the Ni off as a lost cause because of the horrific disease. What was this miracle cure? What other things could it do? Where, by all that is bright and shining, did the humans get it, and could it be easily replicated?

The humans, for their part, were again as open and gracious with their information as they had been with their aid. It was an old medicine they’d discovered long ago on their planet. Considered to be the first “antibiotic,” it was widely used on Earth and had saved millions of lives since its discovery. It worked by interfering with bacteria cell walls and destroyed them by causing them to burst.

It was called

Penicillin.

“Amazing!” “Spectacular!” “So simple, yet so ingenious!” many in the galactic community praised. “How ever did you discover this amazing drug?”

The initial answer wasn’t too surprising, for humans at least: it was an accident.

Andu almost snorted as she read the report to the rest of her family. Granted, the end of the plague was the first time any of them had come in direct contact with humans, but they all had heard many of the stories about human escapades. Wild experiments that on paper seemed more like a drunken brainstorm party that ended up advancing rocket fuel technology by at least 8 lunar years. Crash-landings on category 3 death worlds and they ended up liking them so much they decided to set up colonies. Half of what they did seemed to be mistakes that just went right for them. Apparently, the miracle drug penicillin was included in those stories.

She looked up its history and manufacturing.

Andu felt claws dance down her back as she read more. It came… from mold? Mold?! She looked up from the tablet to the faces of her equally horrified hatch mates. It took them a moment to remember how to close their mouths.

"You mean like mold on old bread?" Piri broke the shocked silence.

Andu blinked and looked back at the report. Old bread? How many times had they not eaten bread fast enough in the warm humid seasons only to pick up a bul of bread and find mold growing on it. It was dangerous, it had to be carefully disposed of, it was… able to save lives?

She returned to the report. The more she read, the more comforted she became in the safety of the miracle antibiotic. That, and she couldn't argue with the results. Her family was around her, now loudly being altogether boisterous together as they "discussed" the humans and all the ways they played with death in order to save life.

Matki snatched the tablet from her claws, wanting to read the report for himself. As Andu was jostled by her now healthy, energetic family, she was just happy and eternally thankful that the humans were crazy enough to play with something as dangerous as fungus, and then kind enough to share what they discovered.