#intercom cube

[itzzzkiki002]

I FINALY FIGURED IT OUT!!! i made a tire list!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MAHAHAH, watch me be indecisive for 1:32 seconds!! ALSO, I love all these shows. This is just my tier list; everyone has their own opinions!! Tell me yours! Also, if you have any recommendations, let me knowwww. pleaseee, I would love to!! If you have any questions, let me know!

i think this link will work!!

https://tiermaker.com/create/inide-animation-17900216?presentationMode=true

[gender-euphowrya]

replayed portal...... God this game really was a god damn masterpiece through and through

[luvyeni]

❛1-800-SERVICE ME❜ ( z. chenle )

p. ceo!chenle x toplessmaid!reader w. 2.6k+

— 𖦹 warnings. small age gap ( reader is 23 and chenle is 26 ), fem!reader, oral ( m. receiving ), unprotected sex

— 𖦹 ( instead of giving chenle his normal maid cleaning services his assistant gives him a surprise for his birthday ) !

Chenle was a busy man —being the CEO of the top electronic company in Seoul, he didn’t have time to do things, like clean his condo himself, which is why he got his assistant and friend jaemin to schedule maids' services to come do it for him.

“Happy birthday boss man.” Jaemin met him at the elevator, his coffee in his hand. “How are you feeling this morning, the big 26.” He took the cup from the boy, taking a sip. “it’s a regular day for me, meetings, answering calls, meeting with investors.” He said as they walked through the office.

“Yeah, but now you’re a year older.” Jaemin followed behind him into the office. “So i’m closer to thirty, big whoop.” He sat in his chair. “Such a downer, anyways what are you doing later, for your birthday?”

“I’m going home jaemin, that’s all I want to do.” He said, it wasn’t that he didn’t like to party, but he was always so busy, and the only thing he wanted was to get off early and go home and rest. “I want to order some food, drink a cup a whiskey and then crash in my bed.”

“No fun.” Jaemin said, “You’re gonna die alone at this rate.” Chenle shrugged. “Jaemin go prepare for the meeting and leave me alone.” He spoke. “Just trying to help.” The boy said. “That is helping, go.”

“Fine, fine, i’m going.” He said making his way out the door, only to turn around. “What now?” Chenle sighed. “I just wanted to tell you that the maid service you like was closed down, so I chose a new one, they’ll be over later today.” He nodded looking at his computer. “Good, now go.”

Chenle finished his day early, most of his meetings were canceled or rescheduled — so why not get out of here. “Going home early boss?” jaemin asked. “Yup, i’ll see you tomorrow.” He said, jaemin yelled before he got on the elevator. “don’t forget, the maids' services will be there later on today!” Chenle didn’t notice the mischievous smirk that was evident on his assistant's face.

Chenle got home, sitting his briefcase down on the kitchen table — making his way into his bedroom to change his clothes, exchanging his black Prada suit, into some comfortable sweats and a white tee short.

He found a nice Chinese restaurant, picking up his phone, ordering his favorites, it would be an hour and a half wait but he was willing to wait, it would give him enough time to pour himself a drink and wind down some.

He set off the the kitchen, pouring himself his most favorite expensive whiskey in a glass with a huge ice cube, taking a sip, humming in delight — this was looking like his best birthday in a while, just peace and quiet.

His peace and quiet was soon disrupted by his buzzer going off. “That was fast.” He said, “I thought it would be an hour and a half wait.” He pressed the intercom button. “Hello?” He spoke through the microphone. “Oh hello.” A soft voice came through the intercom. “You can leave it there, someone will be down to pick it up.”

You were confused, “Are you not Zhong Chenle?” you were sure this was the address, had you gotten it wrong? “T-the maids services.” Chenle forgotten about that. “Oh yeah, i’m sorry about that.” He hit the button. “You may come up.”

This was a nice apartment, you’ve only been in this line of work for a few months, but most of your clients were rich so you’ve seen a lot of nice houses and apartments — but this was the nicest you’ve ever seen, this guy must’ve been really important.

You made your way to the apartment, sitting all your supplies down, knocking on the door. “Coming.” You heard his voice, then the door unlocking, swinging open revealing a tall guy, he was cute, dressed in the sinful, grey sweats, white tee shirt combo. “Hello.” He spoke.

“Oh h-hi.” You waved, “Mr.Zhong?” you asked, he smiled. “Call me chenle, come in.” You whispered his first name, picking up all your supplies, following him into the apartment. “You can start in here.” He pointed to the kitchen. “Okay.” You said, sitting the supplies down, reaching for your black trench coat, untyping the belt, revealing your baby pink lingerie.

“The bedroom isn’t that bad, i mean I only use it for sle- whoa!” His eyes widened as you reached for the back of your bra. You stopped, looking at him. “Would you prefer of I kept it on?” You questioned, but that was the furthest thing on his mind. “Why are you wearing that?”

You furrowed your eyebrows. “The email said that’s what you requested, is this not the shade of pink you like?”

“N-no it’s very pretty- I mean- never mind that, i’m talking about why are you wearing lingerie?” He said, trying not to look at you, fear of a law suit. “And why are you trying to take it off.”

“It’s just the bra.” You said, he couldn’t understand why you were so calm, he was freaking the fuck out, who did jaemin call. “Plus, it’s part of the services.” You explained. “Service?” He questioned. “Yes, the topless maid services— topless, maid sorta the whole thing.”

That cheeky fucking bastard, he was gonna kill jaemin tomorrow. “I’m sorry, this is all new to me, my soon to be ex assistant hired you, it’s my birthday today, and he has to be over the top.” You nodded. “It’s okay, we can cancel the services if you’d like.” You were sweet, you stared at him with wide innocent eyes, you’ve must’ve been new to this.

“No.” He said, “No it’s okay, just shocked me a bit, you can continue.” He spoke. “You sure sir, I would hate to ruin your birthday with such an inconvenience.” He ignored the way his cock twitched when you said sir. “Who am I to stop you from doing your job, you may continue.”

You nodded, “okay.” You said. “Would you like for me to keep the bra on?” he shrugged. “Whatever you feel comfortable with.” You hummed, his eyes widened as you reached behind, unlatching the hooks, letting your bra fall into your hands, your boobs perky the air from the condo had your nipples pebbling — fuck he was getting hard.

“May I start sir?” He coughed; he loved the way sir just fell from your lips. “Um sure.” He said, you began your job, starting with the kitchen like he told you, he watched from the other room, he gulped watching as you washed the dishes, you weren’t even doing it sexy, he was just being a pervert, wishing the water would spray on you, or a little bit of soap would get caught on your boobs — he felt like a virgin seeing a pair of tits for the first times.

You made your way into the living-room where he was sitting. “You need me to leave.” He still didn’t understand how this worked. “No, the whole point is for you to watch me.” You said, chuckling. “And you clean my house naked?” He said, you nodded. “Topless, not naked.” You corrected, he nodded. “Right topless, and you get paid a lot for it – i’m sorry i don’t mean to pry.”

“It depends – if you have a lot of clients, you get paid a lot of money, and your tips, if you’re asking if I get paid a lot personally.” You reached up dusting his fireplace, giving him a peak of your ass, he palmed himself, stopping when you turned around. “I am able to live way more comfortably than someone my age normally does sir.”

He was gonna burst if you kept calling him that. “A-and how old are you?” You smiled, you could tell you were effecting him. “I’m 23 sir.” You bent down, you heard him sigh.

“What about you sir, how old are you?” He coughed again. “Me? Oh, i’m 26.” He wasn’t that older than you, you hummed. “And what do you do?”

The sudden turn of questions stumped him, especially since it was hard not to stare at your boobs. “I-i’m the CEO of sm tech company.” So, he was a huge deal, that explained the nice house.”

You nodded, getting back to work. “That’s so cool, i’ve never worked with a CEO before.” He smiled, you were cute, had this freshness to you, it was quite the scene change from all the corporate girls he met. “I guess.” He spoke.

You eventually moved to the other rooms, cleaning and tidying up everything until you were done. “You did such a good job.” You smiled. “You did better than any maid i’ve had come here.” He spoke. “Are you saying that because i’m topless?” You were a tease. “Well, i’m mean that is a plus, but you’re also a good cleaner.” He spoke. “Good job.”

Fuck he was really turning you on, your tried to ignore the feeling in between your legs, trying to remain professional like normal, but you were only human, and you could literally see his thick cock stiff in his sweats, begging to fill your mouth. “How much do I owe you?” He asked. “Oh no, I was paid already.” He nodded. “Well then a tip.”

He reached for his wallet, pulling out 5 hundred dollar bills. “Here.” He handed it to you. “This is such a generous amount.” You said. “Well I said you did a good job.” He smiled. “Take it.” He said, pulling at your waist band, putting it inside snapping it, normally that was a breech of contract, and you should’ve called him out for it, but he was fucking hot, and you were horny, you couldn’t help but whimper.

“You liked that princess?” He smirked as you nodded. “Y-yes sir.” He could feel a groan bubbling in his throat. “Fuck princess, you keep calling me sir, it’s getting really hard for me.” He spoke, his voice low. “I’m sorry sir.” You smiled. “Oh, you’re a tease, princess I could do so many things to you.”

Fuck you wanted to drop to your knees so fast. “Sir you know there’s no touching in these services.” You teased. “Yeah, but I don’t see you stopping me, you must want me to touch you.” His hands crept up your waist, you sighed. “See princess, you want this just as much as I do.” He pulled your body flush against his, pulling you into a deep kiss, pulling away. “Fu-fuck my cock is so fucking hard right now.”

You guided him to the couch, pushing him down. “Let me help you.” You sunk to your knees, right in front of his cock, biting your lip, looking up at him. “It’s your birthday after all.” He nodded, you grabbed his waistband, he lifted his hips up allowing you to pull his sweats down to his ankles.

You freed his cock from his underwear, his thick cock springing up, hitting his abdomen. “You’re so big.” You grabbed the base, kissing his tip, he hissed. “So heavy.” He groaned as you sucked on his tip. “Fuck princess, take it into your mouth.”

You engulfed his cock, he moaned out, throwing his head back against the couch. It had been a while since he’d been giving a blowjob, and the the way you were sucking him, hollowing your cheeks, deepthroating him like your life depended on it — he was gonna blow his load.

You worked your magic on his, looking at him through your lashes. “Sh-shit princess of you keep sucking me like that, i’m gonna cum in your mouth.” You released his cock with a pop, stroking it. “That’s what I want.” You kept stroke. “Cum in my mouth sir.”

You took him back into your mouth, deepthroating him. “Fu-fuck, fuck.” He moaned. “Im gonna cum, gonna fucking cum down your throat, ngh fuck!” you felt his cum hit the back of your throat. “That’s it, take my cum down that pretty throat.”

You took him out your mouth, giving his tip a few kisses. “You taste so good.” He groaned; your panties were soaked through, desperate to feel his cock in your cunt.

“Wanna ride your cock.” You climbed into his lap, your pantie clad cunt, sitting directly on his cock. “Fu-fuck, gonna take my cock?” He brought his hand down to your ass, slapping it. “Fuck yes.” You moaned. “Wanna ride it so bad.”

“Fuck.” You were killing him, all he wanted for his birthday was to have a peaceful night in and a clean house — now he has all that and a pretty girl ready to ride his cock.

“Take your panties off, leave those pretty thigh garners on.” You stood up, pulling your panties down your legs, giving him a nice look at your ass. “Fuck, sit down.” You straddled his lap, hovering over his cock. “Mmh, fuck!” you moaned, sitting down on his cock. “Your cock is so big.”

You bounced up and down, his cock stretching you out. “Fuck princess, keep bouncing, fucking taking my dick like a good girl.” He moaned, you grabbed his shoulders to steady yourself, “S-sir.” You moaned, he slapped your ass. “Fu-fuck!” You screamed. “That sir word is gonna get you fucked dumb baby.” He growled. “I want it.”

He planted his feet, fucking up into your, your moans became high pitched, chenle’s neighbors probably heard you, but you didn’t care, not when you were about to reach your high. “S-sir.” You spoke. “Sir i’m gonna cum.” He grunted, grabbing your boobs. “Fuck me too, cum for me princess, cum all over my cock, so I can cum all over those perfect tits.”You screamed, thighs shaking as you coated his cock in your cum. “That’s it -fuck- cum all over my dick.”

“Fuck.” He cursed, he was about to cum, he could feel it. “Fuck get back on your knees, i’m about to blow my load.” You got up, sinking back down on your knees. “Stroke it for me.”

You took his cock into your hand, stroking it, he moaned out. “Fuck!” he groaned. “Fuck I’m cumming, I’m gonna cum.” He moaned, cum spurting from his cock, landing on your boobs and on your lower chin. “Sh-shit.” He breathed, watching his cum drip down your chest, coating your nipples. “So pretty.”

He scooped up some of his cum from your nipples, pressing it on your lips — you took his fingers into your mouth. “Fuck good girl.” You sucked his fingers cleaned.

You chuckled taking in everything that just happened. “I’ve never did that with a client before.” You said, chenle chuckled. “Guess i’m special.” You excused yourself to use his bathroom to clean up, putting your panties back on, and your bra, ready to leave. “Here.” He gave you an extra 200 dollars. “Think of it as a birthday present.” You said.

He nodded, “well then hand me your phone number, so can schedule another appointment.” You smiled, “You’re supposed to book me on the sight.” He rolled his eyes. “Stop being such a tease, i’ll book you on the stupid site, but your number is if I want a personal type of service.” Your smirked, writing down your number. “Here.”

You put your jacket back on, grabbing your cleaning supplies, he walked you to the door. “Happy birthday sir.” You said kissing his cheek, before walking away down the hall. “Shit.” He closed the door, sitting back down on the couch.

His phone rang, he answered it, jaemins voice rang through the phone. “So, did you enjoy it?” he rolled his eyes. “Next time, give me a heads up.” he said. “Did you like it?” He bit his lip. “I should fire you.” The boy laughed. “I see you had a good time; I hear the happiness in your voice, I won’t ask questions.” jaemin teased.

“I know you’ll be booking again though.”

©️LUVYENI

[tlirswriting]

[They Colonized Mars, entry 6 <FINAL> // start here]

Butcher:

v. To slaughter or cut up an animal for food

To kill a person or people indiscriminately 

To ruin deliberately or through incompetence

> Atlas wakes up the next morning with a hiss through his teeth. Pressure behind his eyes pulses with every harsh BEEP of his alarm clock while he watches himself smack his arm in the general direction it’s coming from, until finding a button and pressing it. He slumps back down in the silence, dizzy, admiring the strips of sunlight spread across the floor through his blinds. 

> Finding the wire still attached to his neck, he fixes his fingers around the plug and pulls, firmly, popping it out with a shnk. His body is keenly aware of its absence.

> He runs a hand through his hair, pushing it out of his face, and looks around. 

> Selene sits next to him, apparently conscious but wordlessly watching him. 

> It hits him that what he did was an exceptionally bad idea, settling into the pit of his stomach, but he can’t find it within him to care very much. 

> “Good morning,” She chirps.

> “Morning,” He mumbles. 

> “I am not supposed to be here.”

> “Yeah, I know.”

> He pulls on his braces and staggers to his feet — looking, briefly, at the mattress that would have been marginally more comfortable to sleep in — and finds an energy drink in his fridge, standing and drinking it with the door open. 

> Cold liquid sizzles down his throat and eases his head. 

> He grabs a packet of protein cubes to eat on the train. 

> He gathers his clothes on the floor, pulls on his boots, and heads out into the hazy yellow morning. 

>> 

> Atlas shuffles along, Selene beside him, without comment from his fellow workers. It's quiet, industrial clanking and beeping echoing faintly off the high ceilings, vast enough to not see anyone else once you're all in your places. 

> He keeps stacking crates. 

> Loading a crate onto a platform to lift it up onto a higher shelf, rising through a series of rotating electro-magnets connected to rails, it stalls, stopping and shuddering about 50 feet above him.

> Atlas sighs, swears under his breath, and smacks the control panel. 

> It creaks, metal groaning, a sound like a pained animal.

> One of the connectors snaps, making the platform lurch down, the crate sliding off and crashing onto the floor. It cracks open, the sealed lid popping off with a gust of cold air. 

> Atlas yelps and flinches, frozen for a few seconds, his arms over his head. Slowly, he moves, and looks at what happened. 

> The crate leaks clear liquid onto the polished concrete, a puddle creeping past his boots. 

> Inside, clear plastic bags pulsate, tubes between them circulating fluid. 

> Atlas picks up one that spilled out near his foot and inspects it. The object inside it squishes, pinkish-grey and stringy.

> He realizes what he is looking at is a length of small intestine. 

> He drops it, staggering back with a scream, boots sliding in the slippery liquid. 

> Turning his eyes back to the crate, other writhing shapes come into focus as distinctly human organs — hearts, lungs, livers and kidneys, other guts he doesn’t recognize.

> Whimpering, trying to hold a shriek in the back of his throat, he turns to Selene idling beside him and asks: “What… the absolute fuck is that? I was told we’re storing medical supplies!” 

> She blinks. “These are replacement organs, kept alive to assure optimal freshness for transplantation.” 

> “What, like…” His breath heaves. “Like they’re donated?” 

> The intercom system screeches on above him, a voice coming through, commanding him to a back room.

>>

> Finding the door, it whooshes open. He steps through and it automatically closes behind him, leaving Selene on the main floor. 

> He hesitates, flexing his fingers at his sides, and follows a long, narrow hallway in front of him.

> Atlas walks into an unfurnished room, walls covered floor to ceiling in screens displaying security footage. 

> Over the intercom, the voice speaks again: “You have stolen company property.”

> The screens flicker, switching to the previous day. He watches himself taking Selene outside, the same few seconds repeating, over and over. They all show the same moment from different angles — one from Selene’s own eye, staring up at him before he put his reflective vest over her. 

> He swallows. “And I returned it—” Calling her that makes him feel sick. “What’s the problem?”

> “And your debt to us has far surpassed the value you generate. It has become apparent that you will continue costing more than you are worth.” 

> “Okay.” He taps his foot. “Fire me, then.” 

> 

> “I quit!” He looks around for any cameras hidden in corners. “Ask me if I give a shit!” 

> 

> “Hello?”

> He feels a hard, blunt impact on the back of his head, and falls to the floor.

>>

>Atlas’ eyes slowly blink open, rolling around in their sockets as he fades into consciousness. 

> He’s swimming upside down in a room he doesn’t recognize; he grows aware of tightness around his wrists and ankles, the inability to move them, and he looks down at his feet. 

> He hangs naked from a meat hook, swaying gently as it moves down a conveyor belt. He struggles weakly, the corners of his vision blurry.

> A mechanical arm comes down to make a precise incision into the back of his neck, extending thin metal fingers to grip and pull the implanted wires out of his nervous system, sliding down out of his spinal column and up through his brain. The sensation is more than pain, firing off his concept of sensation itself, like every blinding light and deafening noise slipping through him at once like deboning a fish. 

> He knows he would be screaming, but his mouth hangs open loosely, a long shuddering exhale escaping his throat while the lightning in his nerves fades to pins and needles. 

> A cut is made down the center of his belly, slicing through the layers of skin and fat, pushing aside muscle, splitting open the membranes containing his viscera. 

> His intestines are pulled out, writhing, pinched off and snipped from his stomach and rectum, swiftly moved along to a vat of clear liquid. 

> Blood drips up his body, tracing the sides of his face.

> The arms move to detach his stomach from his esophagus, pick out his liver, dig deeper into his back to his kidneys… 

> He looks away, eyes rolling upwards, watching his blood swirl down a drain in the floor. 

>

> END TRANSMISSION

[aealzx]

With Mom April’s guidance through the headsets the group was able to quickly make their way through the winding halls towards the exit. Mikey had taken point, with Don in the back, and the other four in the middle. There weren’t many soldiers left to oppose them, and those who were in their route were quickly taken out by Mikey alone. He may have been the least serious of them, but they all still knew he was the most skilled out of all of them. Which was easy to see from the way he would sprint forward before the others knew an enemy was there, leaping into the soldiers and taking at least two out before they realized he was on them. “You alright?” Raphael asked, looking to Leo after Mikey bounced lightly on his feet, four more soldiers on the ground. Despite carrying someone, Raphael knew Leo was still breathing heavier than he normally would have been in that situation.

Looking over to Raphel in very mild surprise, Leo eventually just nodded. “I’ll be fine,” he assured. It wasn’t a lie, and that was enough for Raphael. For now at least.

“We should be coming up on the exit on the next turn,” Don announced, ushering them on from their momentary pause.

It was the last stretch, and while they remained tense in anticipation they could feel the bubble of relief starting to build. At least until a flicker of purple light caught Raphael’s eyes, drawing his attention to Donnie’s hand as the teen willed it over to the side to hang limply from Leo’s hold. A small cube of transparent energy dropped from his hand to the floor, crashing into a puddle that rippled energy through the structure, much like it had earlier when the EMP charge had been set off. But the lights remained on this time, which caused them to paused warily.

Looking around, Leo didn’t immediately notice anything different. “...What did you-”

[S’self des- stru- stuct seq-q-q-q- ence initiiiiiiiated. You have f-f-f-f-ive minutes to evvvvvvvacuate.]

The warning announcement blared over the intercom, accompanied by more intense red lights flashing instead of holding a consistent glow.

“SH- WHAT?” Raphael hissed, taking half a breath before shifting to nudge his shoulder into Leo’s back and start shoving him along. “MOVE IT!”

“I didn’t know blowing the place up was part of the plan!” Mikey protested, waiting just a moment to make sure the rest could keep up with him before he turned to start running.

“Not our plan!” Don confirmed, hands reaching forward to rest on Leo’s and Raphael’s backs both so they would know he was there and to help support them if they fell back. “The other Donatello apparently decided to add it.”

“WHY?” Mikey blurted, raising his hands in exasperation. “Now we have to run like crazy men.”

“That’s nothing new for you,” Raphael quipped, grinning when Mikey squawked a protesting noise in return.

“The plane is over that hill. Mikey, you pilot this time,” Don directed, keeping them on track despite the mutual bullying. He was too used to it by now, it didn’t matter.

“Righto!” Mikey chirped, rushing forward and pausing for only a moment to jog in place until the stairs Don had remotely triggered extended enough for him to reach. Swinging onto them, Mikey skipped stairs on the way to the door, leaving it open as he dashed to the pilot’s chair and began flipping switches. “Boys and Gents, this is your captain speaking. Please make sure to buckle in and store any loose items in the compartments provided. This may be a bumpy take off.”

Taking the stairs two at a time to get in and out of the way, Raphael noticed Lil Mikey had been roused from his mild daze by the commotion. Or at least enough to be semi responsive. Looking up with a slow gaze, registering where they were, Lil Mikey gave a soft giggle. “You have a plane? That’s so cool…. I’ve never been on a plane before.”

Raphael could only chuckle at the semi slurred comment from the small teen, hoping he was just exhausted and not actually in that bad of a state. “Thanks to Don,” he responded, allowing the mentioned brother to squeeze past him to start pulling the backs of seats down and snapping latches into place to create beds they could get the two teens secured into. They were all reluctant to separate them, but it would be better to have everyone belted in when the plane took off.

“It’s good to see you’re hanging in there. Let me know if you need anything. I’ll give you some first aid once we’re in the air,” Don spoke white kneeling down between the two beds, half distracted pulling the seatbelt across Lil Mikey’s hips after Raphael set him carefully on the bed. After Lil Mikey nodded, Don twisted to get Donnie secured in, shooing Leo to take his seat across from Raphael.

“Ready for take off?” Mikey called back

“Go for it, I’ll hold on,” Don called back, figuring his place wedged down between the two occupied beds was secure enough, and glaring back at Leo when he made a point to gesture to the fact both he and Raphael were buckled properly into their own seats at the head of each bed. “Not now, Leo,” Don snapped lightly, turning back to check on Donnie as the plane lurched forward to begin lift off. Donnie hadn’t responded at all to being set down and otherwise jostled around, so Don rested a hand against his cheek and checked his pulse once more. There wasn’t any perceptible change from earlier, so Don breathed a small sigh of gratitude. “Looks like he just passed out. Must be exhausted…” he commented softly, knowing that at least Leo was listening closely. There wasn’t a lot he could do for either of the brothers with what supplies he had on the plane, but he could at least get everyone’s lungs fairing better and detoxed from the poison gas. Twisting back to face Lil Mikey, who was also starting to look incredibly sleepy, Don kept his voice low while addressing him again. “Can you tell me how you feel?”

Having been carefully watching Donnie, it took Lil Mikey a moment to bring himself to answer. “I’m……….. Ow,” he responded honestly, giving a pathetic chuckle. It wasn’t the worst thing he’d ever felt, but his arm burned and throbbed horribly, and his lungs felt like a wire brush had been taken to them. “Cold,” he also admitted, realizing ‘ow’ wasn’t that helpful. “Lungs burn. I can feel my heartbeat in my arm.”

“I’ll get you a blanket,” Raphael spoke up abruptly, latching on to the part of conversation that he could do something about and reaching over his own head to the compartment above to pull out one of their blessedly soft, thick, and warm blankets. If Lil Mikey was cold, Raphael guessed it would probably be good to get Donnie covered as well, so tossed the first blanket over to Leo’s lap. “Better get the other kid covered too. I dunno if he’s supposed to be that color, but he looks pale to me,” Raphael huffed, gesturing his head towards Donnie before pulling another blanket from overhead and awkwardly trying to toss it over Lil Mikey. Thankfully Don helped pull the blanket over both of them Lil Mikey, tucking it around the small forms as best he could. When Lil Mikey gave a happy hum at the added warmth Raphael and Don grinned. After that Don was on his feet, popping open other compartments to gather supplies.

“Is there anything I can help with?” Leo asked, unbuckling his seatbelt so he could stand up and be of assistance.They were at a steady altitude now, and while they were on their way home it would still be at least two hours before they got there. He needed something to keep occupied.

“You can stay in your seat and take it easy,” Don commanded bluntly, not looking at Leo while he dug through their supplies, lightly dropping certain items onto the bed next to Lil Mikey.

“Don, you have two patients, I can-” Leo started to try again, but cut off when Don whipped around to look pointedly at him.

“I’m sorry- two patients?” Don repeated, raising a brow and tilting his head. “Just two, Leo? I’m pretty sure I actually have three patients, and two questions. I’m not dumb Leo. Question one: how many soldiers did you fight through on your way to us? And question two: did you happen to have run across your own gas mask specially customized for your turtle face, or did Augustine’s lackeys just happen to not have her favorite cellular corrosion gas on your end?” he half ranted, raising a finger for each question. “Do you want to answer those? Or should I?” They were rhetorical questions, and Leo knew that. Which effectively clamped his mouth shut as he inevitably relented and carefully lowered himself back into his seat. “That’s what I thought,” Don huffed, unimpressed, and Raphael’s shoulders shook in silent laughter for a moment. “How much?”

“..... About four minutes total, I guess,” Leo half mumbled.

Don sighed lightly, thankful Leo was cooperating now, and held a tiny plastic vial out to him. “One of these should do then. Do you remember how to use a nebulizer?” When Leo confirmed he remembered, Don passed him one of the travel sized devices before crouching next to Lil Mikey again.

“....You two argue like Donnie and Leo do sometimes,” Lil Mikey snickered, smiling sleepily at Don.

“He goes by Donnie?” Don asked, smiling softly and admiring how Lil Mikey was still able to laugh at the moment. When Lil Mikey hummed and nodded in confirmation Don made a note in his mind that they could at least have some sort of differentiation between them that wasn’t a full name. “That’s good to know. I’m going to give you an antidote for the gas you breathed in. It’ll help your lungs feel better. Have you ever had inhaled medicine before?” he explained, cracking open three of the same vials he’d given to Leo and emptying them into another nebulizer container. When Lil Mikey shook his head, brows furrowed in confusion at the device Don had, Don just smiled reassuringly. “It’s okay. It doesn’t hurt, but it might smell a little weird. This device is just going to turn the antidote into a mist, and all you have to do is keep the mask on over your nose and mouth, and breathe as normally as you can. Okay? Like Leo is doing.”

Don pointed to parts of the device while he explained, and then also pointed to Leo for an example. Leo just smiled and gave a small wave, this not being the first time any of them had had the same antidote before. Lil Mikey had to crane his head a little to see, but was content with the explanation and visual. “Okay,” he agreed, letting Don get the mask situated on him before turning on the machine. “Donnie too? Is he okay? Leo is usually the one that checks up on us. I don’t know as much as he does…”

“Yeah, Donnie will get some too. I just have to give him partial doses gradually since I don’t know exactly how much he was exposed to,” Don assured, grabbing the next item for Lil Mikey. “I can’t take care of your arm until we get back home. And it looks like you’re really sleepy too. Can I put this on your finger to keep track of your heart rate while you get some rest?”

“Oh- Yeah, I know what that is,” Lil Mikey confirmed, obediently raising his hand to sway in the air. He really was very tired. The headache he had because of the anti mystic machines hadn’t left either. But at least he would have someone watching over them for Leon. He hoped his other brothers were okay. And April. And their dads, and Casey. The soft hum of the plane engine and darkened sky outside was lulling him to sleep. And when Don turned back to work with Donnie, Lil Mikey found it hard to resist letting his eyes close and not open again.

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Previous Next

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I had the day off from work on wednesday and ended up brain barfing like 10 pages for this fic X'DDDD and then I rewrote this section like 4 times.

I also had a moment of reading comments on the last one and going "shhhhhhhhoooott I forgot to add that part" and had to fenagle it in the beginning of this one X'DDD One of the reasons I love doing live first drafts XD

[thescaryhyperfem]

"I craved you for so long"

My own little SCP-106 (Lawrence) x SCP-913 (Mr. Hungry) fanfic hah i hope you guys like it

note: i made this at midnight, sorry if its bad

—

1941, two closeted young gay men in the US lived together in a small apartment. Things were tough since the US joined WW2, as one of the men had been forced to going to the war. The lad was in his bedroom, getting ready to go, his worried boyfriend next to him.

"Larry, please tell me you're going to be okay..." His boyfriend said.

"I really don't know, maybe I'll end up to the paleontologists to find my bones." Larry replies, chuckling a bit. His humor was a bit crude.

"Don't say that!" The boyfriend replied, exasperated. He sighs, wiping sweat off his forehead.

"I'm just joking, honeybuns." Larry said, smiling with a snarky attitude towards his lover.

"This is no laughing matter, you idiot. You know going to the war isn't a funny thing, especially because there's a chance of you dying!" The boyfriend said, standing back up and grabbing him by the uniform.

"You're overthinking. Of course I'm not going to die... I cannot die!" Larry laughs, holding his hands.

"Honey, you are not God." The boyfriend said, grasping his hands.

"But you treat me like one." Larry says, smirking.

"...Whatever, just... Just be safe, okay? I don't want to see your name in a grave." The boyfriend said, kissing him on the lips.

"I will, my love. I will." Larry replies. "By the way, before I go... I made you a batch of sandwiches in the kitchen..."

Then, a sudden knock is heard at the front door. It's time to go. Larry walks downstairs, his boyfriend giving him a last kiss on the cheek.

"Please, stay safe, Larry..."

—

80 years or so later, a man stands in what seems to be a metallic cube. He uses his fingers to draw on the walls of the cube, as his body was covered in some weird, corrosive liquid. He wasn't a human of any sorts, this was SCP-106, 'The Old Man'. He was bored out, it seems, he was just yawning and doodling... Until sirens started to blare. A man started to talk into an intercom.

"SCP-913 has escaped his containment cell! Refrain interacting physically with the anomaly until it is fully fulfilled! I repeat, do NOT interact with the anomaly physically until it is fully fulfilled!"

Great... Another containment breach, coming from an unexpected anomaly, a dude who just eats, eats and feasts... SCP-106 decides to commit some tomfoolery, as he does not follow whatever rules the higher ups set for him. He easily passes through the walls, jumps to the floor and makes his way up the stairs of his containment. He started to melt everything with his liquid, step by step, it all went away with his touch.

He walks down the foundation's hallways, people take notice of him. The same man in the intercom starts to blare again, it just made SCP-106 laugh.

"These big pussies can't handle shit... Now where's that guy..."

SCP-106 kept walking down the hallways, on the search of SCP-913. Meanwhile, SCP-913 was munching down entire tables in the cafeteria, straight up plastic and metal. It was fascinating and terrifying. Personnel and others in there started to run away from there, they didn't want to be eaten too after all, yet some unfortunate souls were too late. SCP-913 had a blank face the whole time, yet maniac eyes were apparent.

The screams of the personnel were enough to attract SCP-106 to the scene. He walked through a wall, right behind a shotgun-armed man, who screeched like a little girl when he realized what was behind him. SCP-106 laughed sadistically, and came in the room, leaving a corrosive mark in the wall. Although he could, he did not harm anyone, he was focused on the man who ate another table.

"Well, well, well... What do we have here? A hungry caterpillar?" SCP-106 asked the man, 10 feet away from him.

"SCP-106, do not approach the anomaly in front of you!" The man in the intercom spoke again.

"Wow, you think im a scaredy kitten? You think I, SCP-106, AM SCARED, OF A MAN-EATING MA—"

Before SCP-106 could finish his sentence, SCP-913 grabbed his hand and bit his finger. He was not affected by the corrosive liquid, shockingly enough, but the bite hurt a lot.

"OWW! What the hell, man?!" SCP-106 steps away, his fingers quickly regenerating. "Who do you think you are?!"

SCP-913 started munching on the fingers... But, suddenly, he looked up at SCP-106, with rather shocked eyes.

"...You taste so... Familiar..." SCP-913 says. "...Sandwiches..."

"What... What is that even supposed to mean, you fuckin' lunatic?!" SCP-106 was not amused.

"...You..." SCP-913's eyes suddenly became wide, his blank face became a mouth drop, a bit of corrosive liquid comes out of his mouth. It seemed like the effects of the liquid were acting, which made SCP-106 laugh for a second, but that wasn't the case.

"...L-... Lawrence?" SCP-913 blurts out in a moment of shock. SCP-106's eyebrows go up, in confusion.

"...How the hell do you know my name?!" SCP-106, now Lawrence, is now exasperated. This interaction was getting into his nerves.

SCP-913 suddenly holds Lawrence's face. "Larry... Larry it's you..?"

Lawrence, now Larry, was more confused, even if things were becoming clearer. "How... How do you know my nickname?! Only my partner called me... Huh..?!"

Larry slowly started to realize what was going on, but refused to believe it. "You... No. No, this can't be..."

"Larry, please... It's me..." SCP-913's hunger frenzy was now gone, replaced by held back tears and shocked feelings. "Oh my God, you're alive... You're alive, you bastard... I missed you so damn much..." SCP-913 touched Larry's face all over, to see if it wasn't all just too good to be true.

Larry just fell into his touches, he was also in shock. The sadistic anomaly suddenly fell into tears, and hugged the other anomaly. Personnel around them just watched in shock, a scene that's never been seen, a dangerous yet emotional re-encounter. The two broke the hug after what seemed like eternity, and just stared at each other.

"...I can't believe you survived for this long, you bastard... I craved you for so long..." Said SCP-913 smiling and wiping away his tears.

"I can't believe either, you even kept your old, weird eating sprees..." SCP-106 laughs, and so does SCP-913. "Shut up... Shut up..."

SCP-106 and SCP-913 walk out the cafeteria together, arms wrapped around each other's shoulders, laughing and eventually, kissing one more time after so long.

The man in the intercom speaks again, sounding like he's holding back tears. "SCP-106 and SCP-913... Have been successfully bonded and contained once again..." He said.

The End

[a-fluffer-nutter]

An Elite (Found) Family

A/N - A bit late because this fic was much longer than any I have ever written before, here is Day 18 of Tickletober. The prompt was "tickle fight" and there is so much tickling in this, your teeth will rot from the fluff of it all.

Pokemon is my favorite fandom ever and Silver was my first game ever. I have always adored the Johto Elite Four and Lance, this this fic was decades in the making. Koga, being my first love, gets to be in the spotlight like he deserves. With the background being a mix of the games and the manga, along with my own headcanons mixed in, here is my favorite fic that I have ever written. Please enjoy and I'm going to go to bed.

Word Count: 8,038 (wtf)

            The day had been quiet, with only one challenger arriving at the Indigo Plateau that morning and after a hard fought battle, they lost to Will. Having received the announcement over the intercom that the challenger had lost, the rest of the elite trainers let out sighs of disappointment.

            Legs crossed and eyes closed, the ninja sat near the exit of his room, the rise and fall of his chest slight and even as he meditated. Phone buzzing in his back pocket, Koga opened his eyes and let out a sigh. Feeling relaxed after an hour of meditation, the notification on his phone from his daughter let him know that she was a few minutes away with his lunch.

            “Be there in a few,” the text read, and Koga replied his standard, “see you soon,” in response. Janine never needed to bring him food, Koga always bringing food for himself, but Janine insisted that he was “as thin as a rail” and needed to eat more. Ignoring her concerns about his appearance, Koga never minded when Janine showed up with food, as it was a chance for him to see her. It wasn’t an everyday thing, but whenever there was a large break in challengers at the Fuchsia City Gym, she would swing by the local restaurant and pick up their favorite meals. Utilizing her Crobat’s speed, Janine was able to soar across the Kanto region in under half an hour.

            Joints creaking as he stood, Koga rolled his shoulders to stretch out any knots that had formed during his hour of stillness. Walking through his forested arena, Ariados perked up from his sleep and slipped down one of the trees, using his web to land gracefully. The bug type followed his trainer as Koga arrived at the door. Placing a palm on the sensor, the door into Will’s room opened and he stepped inside.

            “You’re evil!” a yell bounced off the walls and startled Koga as he walked further into the room, ducking around one of the levitating transparent cubes that circled Will’s arena. Interest piqued, Koga stopped at the edge of the battlefield, standing in crudely drawn box that Will would stand in at the start of a battle. The chalk around this edge of the arena was faded, needing to be gone back over after the battle Will had had that morning. Fiddling with his scarf, Koga’s eyes fell upon the psychic master sprawled out in the center of his battlefield, legs pinned by the woman on top of him.

            “Hello Koga,” Karen looked up at the man, her Houndoom having let out a soft yip to notify her of his arrival.

            “Koga! Help me!” Will squeaked as Karen continued to dance her fingers over his ribs, digging into the gaps between the bones as if she was a pirate hunting for treasure. Will’s laughter was reminiscent to that of a squeaky toy that one would buy for their Pokémon to play with. It fit Will’s playful demeanor well, a side of him few people outside the Elite 4 ever got to see.

            “Whatever you did, you likely deserve this,” Koga flashed the younger man a soft smile, holding his hand up to give a short wave. “Be sure not to kill him, Karen. We wouldn’t be able to find a replacement fast enough if another challenger comes through that door.”

            “We’ll see,” Karen teased, kneading into Will’s belly to elicit a shriek.

            Turning away as fast as he could, Koga continued to the door. Gently patting Will’s Xatu that always kept watch at the entrance as he passed, Koga scanned his palm to exit into the lobby, hoping that neither of them had seen the blush rising to his cheeks.

            “Salamence, use fly!” Karen lifted her arm up as the giant dragon took off into the air, just narrowly avoiding Umbreon’s Foul Play. Umbreon’s powerful tail slammed into the ground and bounced back onto her feet, looking up to gauge Salamence’s next move.

            Koga sat on the steps leading to the Hall of Fame room, Will sitting in Lance’s golden throne behind him as Bruno sat a few feet away from Koga, running his fingers through Koga’s Skuntank’s fur. The three of them watched as Karen and Lance battled, the two of them having swapped Pokémon as a way to learn new skills and strategies. At that moment, they were evenly matched, each of them having three fainted Pokémon and two waiting to be sent out to battle.

            “Go!” Karen called and the Salamence dove down, folding his wings in tightly to gain speed.

            “Confuse Ray!” Lance yelled. Instantly, the yellow patterns on Umbreon’s silky black coat began to glow. Bracing herself, Umbreon’s crimson eyes focused on the dragon barreling toward her. Once Salamence was a few feet away, Umbreon let out a scream and a purple ray of light left her mouth, hitting Salamence. The Salamence struck Umbreon, and the smaller Pokémon was launched across the field. Panting heavily, Umbreon hopped to her feet, favoring her back right leg as Salamence stood up.

            “You doing okay, bud?” Karen asked, provoking the Pokémon to turn around and face her. Eyes drifting and unfocused, the Confuse Ray was kicking in. “Okay, let’s give you a rest.”

            Withdrawing the dragon type’s pokeball, Karen returned him back to her. Withdrawing a different pokeball with other hand, Karen tossed it into the air and unleashed Lance’s Altaria. With a majestic call, Altaria’s cloudy wings flapped gracefully as she stared down at Umbreon.

            “Assurance,” Lance demanded, gesturing to his beautiful Pokémon that seemed eager to fight.

            “Cotton Guard,” Karen beamed as the flying type poofed out her wings, the clouds growing dramatically to protect her slight body as Umbreon rammed into her, claws lashing out with a shadowy aura surrounding them.

            “Hey,” Koga’s attention was drawn away from the battle before him as he heard Bruno chuckle. Turning his head to see what was going on, Koga watched as his Skuntank rubbed his muzzle into Bruno’s bare abdomen. Whiskers twitching, Skuntank shook his head playfully as Bruno squirmed away from the giant poison type, letting out a few chuckles as he gently pushes the Pokemon’s face away from his skin. “Watch it. It tickles.”

            Cheeks growing warm, Koga snapped his head back around to try to focus on the battle in front of him. Having sensed a slight change in the ninja’s emotions, Will’s Slowbro bounded from his spot beside Will and sat down next to Koga, his eyes staring right through the man.

            “I’m fine,” he muttered, reaching out to scratch between Slowbro’s ears. Content with this answer, Slowbro closed his eyes and leaned into the touch. Sighing, Koga resumed his observation of the battle, trying to take mental notes of how Altaria was able to maneuver so quickly in the air while it readied a powerful Dragon Claw.

            “Good job,” Koga smiled with a bow. “Better luck next time. I am looking forward to our next battle.”

            “Thanks, sir,” a boy around Janine’s age replied as he recalled his fainted Mandibuzz. The boy had mentioned that he was an immigrant to the Kanto region, having come from Unova. The battle was relatively easy, but Koga still admired the kid’s spirit and enjoyed having the chance to see Pokémon he would rarely ever see in his arena. Koga couldn’t remember the last time he battled a Cryogonal or a Zebstrika, but he had a bit of fun with it. While obviously preferring when a challenger had a poison type that wasn’t native to Kanto or Johto came through, he still liked to see the diversity of other trainer’s teams.

            The PA announced that the challenger had lost and with a ring of a bell, the door between Koga’s and Will’s rooms opened for the trainer to exit.

            The moment the boy was out of sight, Koga let out a deep sigh. Ariados chirped up at him, walking over from where he had landed his final Cross Poison that had secured Koga’s victory. A fond smile rising to his lips, Koga lead Ariados over to the trunk that sat by the door into Bruno’s room. Rooting around inside, Koga grabbed the Full Restore he needed and crouched down to spray the medication over Ariados’ wounds.

            “You did a great job,” Koga praised his first ever Pokémon as he scratched the underside of Ariados’ chin. With his free hand, Koga reached for his phone to check his calendar. He had to go see Lance to discuss the champion’s plans on incorporating a Dragalge on his team for special battles with other top trainers from the other regions. This was a discussion Koga had actually been looking forward to having, as Lance’s type specialty rarely intermixed into Koga’s.

            “Let’s go,” Koga said and waited for Ariados to climb up his back. Front two legs hooked around Koga’s neck, Koga stood back up and piggybacked Ariados into the next room.

            Koga’s childhood had been an unpleasant one. An abusive father and a mother that didn’t dare stand up to her husband, Koga ran away from home as soon as he could. The little Spinarak that had helped him find his way out of the woods became his lifelong partner that he would do anything for. Spinarak’s fondness for being carried like a backpack stayed with him once he evolved, and thankfully as Koga got older, he was big enough and strong enough to carry the weight of seventy-four pound Pokémon on his back.

            Heat washed over Koga’s figure, nipping at his skin as the door into Bruno’s room opened. Stepping inside, Ariados shifted uncomfortably as he eyed the lava that poured out of the walls. Patting Ariados’ legs with a comforting touch, Koga walked through the walkway and into the battle arena.

            “How was the battle?” Bruno called once Koga’s outline emerged from the steam and smoke. Near the back of the room, Bruno was practicing his kicks alongside his Hitmontop and Hitmonlee. The punching bag swung behind him, the chains squealing out in hopes of being oiled.

            “Saw a Gurdurr today. I figured you’d like that,” Koga said nonchalantly, as if he was discussing something as trivial as the weather. This sort of discussion was quite common, though it was usually Will that had the chance to see the foreign Pokémon, being the first Elite 4 member that trainers had to face. Will’s battle record had been quite high in the last few weeks, with only five or so trainers beating him compared to the fifty or so challengers he’s faced. This was a great thing for the league; however, it made everyone else’s lives boring, hence the daily battles between them all whenever no one was too busy with other matters.

            “It wasn’t even a Conkeldurr? Was it holding an Eviolite?”

            “Choice Band,” Koga replied quickly, shrugging as Bruno seemed taken aback. “Locked into Hammer Arm too. Made my life easy.”

            “I need to have a word with this trainer. Need to teach them how to truly harness the power of a fighting type,” Bruno clenched his hands into fists, eyes fiery with passion and from the general ambiance of the room.

            “He’s probably still in the lobby if you want to catch him,” Koga let out a quiet chuckle, always amused by Bruno’s readiness to teach a trainer a thing or two about fighting types.

            “I think I will,” the buff man crossed his arms, then looked back at his Pokémon. Both nodded as he waved at Koga, heading toward the door into Koga’s room.

            Biting back a fond smile, Koga headed in the opposite direction toward Karen’s room. Beads of sweat had begun to drip down the back of his neck beneath his scarf and he could feel Ariados’ discomfort as they had stayed in the room longer than he had planned. Jogging up the steps, Koga placed his palm against the sensor and stepped through the door.

            “Hello, dear,” Karen purred, smiling up at the man as he let out a sigh of relief, thankful to be out of Bruno’s sauna of a room.

            “How’re you doing Karen?” Koga asked politely as he approached.

            The woman was seated in the center of her battlefield, a majority of her Pokémon surrounding her. Brush in hand, Karen ran the bristles through Absol’s fluffy white fur. Purring contently, Absol kneaded into the floor like a Skitty kitten, his nails scrapping along the packed down dirt.

            “Wishing you’d lost your battle, so I had something to look forward to,” the woman teased. “These guys are getting antsy.”

            As if confirming her statement, Karen’s Houndoom stood up from behind his trainer and propped his chin on Karen’s shoulder. Playfully growling, Houndoom nuzzled into Karen’s face and began to lick wherever he could access. Joyful giggles gushed from Karen’s lips as she scrunched up her shoulders, trying to protect herself from the onslaught of Houndoom’s love.

            Ears heating up in a way that felt like he was still in Bruno’s room, Koga instantly looked down at the floor and sped up his pace, passing Karen without any further acknowledgement. Karen, finding this action odd, turned to watch the man leave.

            Koga had always been a bit more closed off than the other Elite 4 members and he had reasons for that. While the five of them had villainous pasts, Koga had been part of Team Rocket as one of their leaders for quite some time. After the team was defeated by Red, Blue, and Green, the team disbanded, and Koga was left with no where to go but back to the gym. He, Lt. Surge, and Sabrina had to show that they could be redeemed, which proved to be true when the previous Elite 4 threatened to liberate all of Kanto’s Pokémon. Once Agatha and Lorelei were apprehended and Bruno and Lance had recovered from being under their influence, the duo invited Koga to join the Elite 4 after besting Lance in a battle at the Fuchsia City Gym. After the disbandment of Team Rocket, Koga had adopted his daughter, Janine, from an orphanage that had been directly impacted by Team Rocket. Initially rejecting their offer to be with Janine, Koga eventually accepted his position as an Elite 4 member to bring Karen and Will under his wing, them too having escaped the influences of Neo Team Rocket. By then, Janine was old enough to run the gym alone and had taken the role as the Gym Leader for quite some time at that point. While the Elite 4 had become a tightknit family over the years, Koga still didn’t share much about his life unless directly prompted.

            Having noticed Koga’s behavior a few weeks before when he had walked into her tickling the daylights out of Will and how he was behaving the exact same way he was now, Karen’s interest was piqued, and she had a mystery she planned on solving.  

            “Let’s go!” Karen pumped her fist into the air as Lance’s Dragonite had landed a Hyper Beam, knocking out Koga’s Crobat.

            Sitting off to the side, Will officiated the double battle that was taking place in Lance’s room. While the quintet took turns hosting battles in each of their rooms, Lance’s room was the favorite of them all. Not only was it well lit, compared to Karen’s and Koga’s rooms, and there was no environmental hazard to avoid, as there was in Will’s and Bruno’s room, but the battles that took place in Lance’s room felt more official. Besting Lance in his own room made it feel like they were about to be champion. While this would never be the case, it was still a delight to poke fun at Lance for losing in his own arena.

            In the middle of the golden arena, Lance’s Dragonite landed beside Karen’s Weavile with a thud. Bruno’s Machamp panted, recovering from Weavile’s Ice Shard. Disappearing into his pokeball, Crobat was withdrawn by Koga, who placed the ball close to his mouth to whisper praises to his Pokémon. Placing Crobat’s pokeball back onto his belt, Koga’s hand ran over a few others, assessing his options. Making eye contact with Dragonite made a metaphorical lightbulb switch on in his head.

            “You okay with playing defense?” Koga asked, clicking the top of the pokeball he selected to increase its size to standard.

            “It looks like you have a plan,” Bruno wore a determined smile, “By all means.”

            “Good,” Koga tossed out his pokeball, revealing his Toxicroak. A shrill shriek was emitted from the Pokémon’s throat as he crossed his arms, brandishing the brilliant red spikes on his knuckles.  

            “Ice Shard!”

            Weavile leaped into the air and quickly began to shoot icicles down at Toxicroak.

            “Protect,” Bruno yelled, his Machamp going into action immediately. Leaping in front of Toxicroak, Machamp took the attack head on, though the icicles landed uselessly onto the ground as a near transparent forcefield coated his four crossed arms.

            “Toxic!”

            Toxicroak hurdled over his partner and opened his mouth. As he was practically on top of Weavile, a sticky purple sludge poured from Toxicroak’s mouth, drenching the dark type completely. Sneering, Toxicroak wiped his lips off with his arm, the leftover sludge dripping onto the floor.

            “Ready Dragonite?” Lance called, his Dragonite letting out a roar in response. Flying into the air, Dragonite was readying himself for another Hyper Beam.

            Turning to Bruno, Koga lifted one finger in front of his face, then glanced up at the giant dragon. Nodding, Bruno held his arm out.

            “Give him a boost, Machamp!”

            “Ice Punch!” Koga shouted. As if reading his trainer’s mind, Toxicroak ran over to Machamp and leaped onto the top pair of arms. Once contact was made, Machamp threw Toxicroak into the air toward Dragonite. Arm now coated in ice, Toxicroak threw his limb back to gain momentum.

            “Dragon,” Dragonite let out before Toxicroak’s balled fist and claw impacted his face.

            “No,” Lance and Karen yelled simultaneously as Dragonite plummeted to the ground. With a loud thud, Dragonite landed on his face as Toxicroak landed easily, his limber legs meant for jumping and landing from great heights.

            “Oh,” Bruno’s mouth went slack as the Dragonite struggled to stand up, wincing in pain as he pushed his large body up onto his hind legs.

            “Wait,” Koga smirked, watching as the Dragonite managed to stand back up. With a victorious roar, Dragonite flexed his arms before letting out a squeal of pain. A purple hue coated his body and in an instant, Dragonite fell back to the floor; fainted.

            “Poison Touch.” Bruno let out a huff of a laugh, “Good job.”

            “Used an Ability Patch this morning,” Koga grinned, crossing his arms as Lance withdrew his fainted ace Pokémon. “On Crobat too, since someone here likes to use Safeguard.”

            Both men looked over at Lance, a man notorious for setting up as many protective shields as he could on his Pokémon, especially Dragonite and Altaria.

            “Sorry,” Lance looked over at Karen, wearing a frown. “I’ve let you down.”

            “Why would you say that?” Karen crossed her arms, her Weavile mimicking her on the field. “You’ve still got Garchomp.”

            “Who is also quad weak to Ice Punch,” Lance looked at the floor. The man didn’t exactly hate losing, but he hated dragging his team mates down in a double battle. “Your Weavile has been badly poisoned and your Absol is weak from Lucario’s Aura Sphere.”

            “Where is your fighting spirit?” Karen rolled her eyes with a sly smile as Lance continued to drone on about the ways he could’ve handled his last few plays. The champion didn’t notice as Karen slipped behind him and hugged his waist.

            “Karen? What are you – nohoho!” Lance squealed as Karen began to flutter her fingers into his belly, doubling over as he squirmed around in her arms. His loud belly laugh filled the room and the three Pokémon on the field let out gleeful cries.

            “Remind me to never be upset around Karen,” Bruno let out a short laugh, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. Watching Lance fall onto the floor with Karen following him, Bruno did not see Koga quickly turning his head around and staring at the floor. Lifting his scarf, Koga hid his blushing cheeks. “Help cheer him up, guys!”

            With Bruno’s permission, the three Pokémon in the center of the field quickly made their way to Karen and Lance, who was now being pinned down by his arms so Karen could tickle all over his belly without any obstacles. Once the three Pokémon arrived and began to poke and prod all over Lance’s body, his laughter spiking as it all tickled too much, Karen looked up and saw Koga turned away. Body language completely closed off, Koga fully turned himself around and began to inject Revives into Crobat’s and Muk’s pokeballs.

            “Hm,” Karen let out a pondering hum, before being distracted by Lance’s wild laughter becoming wheezy. “Okay guys, he’s had enough for now.”

            Scarf covering his face to muffle his breathing, Koga hid in the branches of a tree in his room. Eyes closed; the ninja listened for any noise that could suggest one of his Pokémon were nearby.

            With the room being filled with trees, Koga used the miniature forest as a way of training himself and his Pokémon. Since he was unable to use his own training dojo back in Fuchsia City, Koga opted to create his own in his room. While Bruno used his room to help him sweat more while he worked out, Koga used his to train his and his Pokémon’s stealth capabilities. A form of training that both he and his Pokémon all enjoyed was when he ran off to go hide amongst the brush and his Pokémon had to work together to find him. Right now, it was Ariados, Venomoth, and Muk that were training with him.

            Travelling together, Venomoth lead the other two as he used his psychic abilities in the same way Crobat would use echolocation. By focusing his psychic energy, the waves bounced off each tree to show him the shape and sizing of each tree. As all the trees in Koga’s room had been planted at the same time and are of the same species, Venomoth was able to conclude the trees were all similar enough that if there was a difference in the shape of the branches in a specific tree, that his trainer had to be there.

            As they walked, Ariados would climb a tree every few feet to create webs between them. Like fishing nets, these webs were meant to capture their trainer if he was on the move. By training with Koga over the years, Ariados’ webbing was nearly invisible, so while Koga knew what to look for, if he was too careless, he would get stuck. These webs also show the Pokémon where they have been, in the event of them getting lost. Becoming too focused in looking for Koga could result in them wandering in circles.

            Muk was a wild card, not being the stealthiest of Koga’s Pokémon. While the other two were able to silently travel through the trees, Muk was stuck on the ground, slowly slithering his way forward. Muck did have a role to play. After numerous training sessions just like this one, Koga’s Pokémon adapted to being paired with each other, when they normally wouldn’t be. Muk had taken a role that Janine had nicknamed “the floor is lava.” This was when Koga was found, Muk would stretch his body out as much as possible, his goo spreading along the ground in a large circle. While Koga was adept at leaping through the trees, if Muk was paired with a Pokémon that could set up traps like Ariados or a Pokémon that could fly, like Crobat and Venomoth, Koga’s means for escape was severely limited.

            Smacking against a tree that was only a few yards behind him, Koga heard Ariados’s web connect to the bark as he began to construct another trap. Venomoth’s flapping wings became louder as Koga could feel the psychic energy resonating through him, making his skin crawl. Muk let out a low rumble, Venomoth certainly having given the other two the signal that Koga was close. Thus, it was time for Koga to act.

            Dropping a smoke ball to the ground beneath him, Koga leaped forward and began to dart through the trees. Withdrawing three shuriken, Koga tossed two behind him in different directions. Once the shuriken hit their targets, the base of two trees, the smoke balls that had been planted within them burst, three clouds of smoke rising in different directions.

            Disorientated, the three Pokémon were at a crossroad. They all knew these clouds were meant to distract them, but he clearly had come from one of them and he definitely moved elsewhere. The question was, did he keep going so he was along the far wall, or had he used the cover to loop back and was now behind them. If they chose wrong, Koga could easily cross the arena, so he was hiding in the other section of trees.

Venomoth had a plan. Nodding to the other Pokémon, he flew up above the grove of trees, so he was nearly at the ceiling. Focusing all his energy, Venomoth began to wildly flap his wings. A high pitched noise emanated from his wings, the soundwaves flowing through the trees, shaking the branches and loosening the dark leaves of the canopy.

“Good job,” Koga muttered, praising his Pokémon for his quick thinking. Covering his ears, Koga tried his hardest not to sway too much on the branch. Venomoth’s Supersonic discombobulated his mind and made his eyes unfocused, his brain no longer able to keep all his muscles still and his breathing even. Managing to stay in place despite the soundwaves resonating through his body, the ringing in his ears and the fog in his mind lead Koga to slipping. Granted, Koga was able to catch himself almost instantaneously, the sound of his foot sliding against the branch caused all three of his Pokémon to whip around and look toward the source of the noise.

Wings beating fast, Venomoth descended toward Koga’s position. Hearing him coming from above, Koga knew he needed to act fast. Throwing the third shuriken, the star sliced through the smaller branches of a tree to his left, the shuriken having curled around the two trees immediately to his left to hit the third one. Hoping this new sound would divert their attention long enough that he could escape, Koga leaped into the tree behind him. Figuring he could get the jump on them and traverse the trees above his Pokémon, Koga retraced his steps so he could see the position of Ariados and Muk. After hopping through five trees, Koga figured he would have seen his Pokémon by then. Smirking to himself, Koga realized that they had gone to the tree he had thrown his shuriken into. Seeing the clearing through the branches, Koga just had a little further to go before running across the arena and being in a different section, away from his Pokémon so he could reposition himself and strategize his next move. In the clear, Koga silently dove into the tree diagonal to the one he was in, but before he had landed, something slapped against his back.

“No,” was all Koga could utter as Ariados’ webbing pulled him down, the bug Pokémon having spotted him and shot a web at the ninja, the webbing hitting Koga precisely and yanked him to the ground. Instead of landing on the hard grassy surface, Koga’s fall was cushioned by his Muk, who raised itself up to catch Koga in his arms.

“Good work,” Koga let out a playful huff and flashed a small smile at his Pokémon, Venomoth fluttering down beside him as Muk released him, allowing him to stand back up. Ariados let out a chirp of joy and blinked twice. Once his eyes were back open, Koga felt the sticky webbing draped across his back dissolve and evaporate into nothingness. Reaching into his pocket to withdraw his phone, Koga paused the stopwatch that had been ticking since Koga first darted off into the trees. “Just over ten minutes. Not too bad for a team that has never worked together before.”

Cheering, the three Pokémon let out enthusiastic cries. Muk clapped his hands, splattering violet goo around him as Ariados wiggled his thorax. Wiping off a bit of the sludge that Muk had sprayed onto him, Koga turned around on his heels to head toward the door to Will’s room. Next to the door was a small container that housed various berries and food for him and his Pokémon. Koga only managed to take a few steps until he was stopped, Muk grabbing onto his legs and yanking him to the floor.

“Hey,” Koga yelped as he gently landed on his back, Muk covering his legs up to the middle of his thighs, so the fall was controlled. Clicking his pincers, Ariados stepped forward, so he was only an inch away from Koga’s face, his blue eyes glittering excitedly. With a shake of his head, Ariados climbed onto Koga’s torso and stared down at him.

“Vee!” Venomoth let out a shriek, releasing a ray of psychic energy. Wrists tingling with an almost pleasant sensation, Koga watched in horror as Venomoth used his psychic powers to pin his trainer’s hands above his head. Eyes wide, realizing why Ariados was so excited, Koga uselessly tugged at his invisible restraints.

“Ariados. Don’t,” Koga warned, trying to remain as stoic as possible despite the fright in his eyes. “You won’t get your extra treats if you do this.”

“Rai-do. Rai-do,” Ariados raised his front legs into a shrug, then clicked his pincers again. As Koga opened his mouth to speak, Ariados pressed his front legs into the hollows of Koga’s arms and began to wiggle them around.

“No,” Koga squeaked, unable to hold back his laughter since he was immobilized. Turning his head, Koga hid his face into his arm, face warm as he laughed.

Muk, not wanting to miss out on the fun, localized sections of his slime that surrounded Koga’s knees. Focusing on these sections, Muk rumbled, sounding like he was purring. The vibrations, centered around Koga’s knees, had the man cackling in seconds.

“Muk!” Koga choked out, attempting to kick out and dislodge both Pokémon. Seeing how this new sensation had a maddening effect on his trainer, Ariados came up with a new plan to kick things up a notch.

Pushing himself backwards, Ariados flopped down onto Koga’s chest, with both sets of legs dangling over his trainer’s body. Once in a comfortable enough position, which took a minute to do as Koga kept bucking his hips thanks to Muk’s attack of his legs, Ariados used his back legs to wiggle around Koga’s belly, while his front legs went back to tormenting Koga’s under arms.

“Oh, Arceus,” Koga cried out between peals of laughter. With three spots being targeted at once, Koga’s laugh was loud and boisterous, a deep belly laugh that was laced with an occasional snort or hiccup. Enjoying the ability to not think of anything and just laugh, Koga didn’t try to hold it back. While he was struggling under his Pokémon, it wasn’t something he could help. He knew they just wanted to make him happy, to make him laugh, as it was Ariados’ main way to help Koga relax when they were both so much younger.

Over the sound of his laughter, Koga nor his Pokémon heard the door into his room open. Once through the doorway, the person froze at the sounds they were hearing. As quietly as they could, they crept over to the edge of the tree line and peered in.

“No way,” Karen smiled to herself as she inched closer, Koga and his Pokémon now in complete view. Lips almost stinging from how wide she was smiling, Karen soaked in the sound of Koga’s laugh, his real, unfiltered laugh. It was something she had never heard before, something she guaranteed the other trainers in the Indigo Plateau had never heard either. And after watching for a few minutes, Karen realized something crucial, something that solved the question that had been bugging her for months now.

Koga wasn’t telling them to stop. Koga never tried to get them to stop. Koga didn’t say a single thing as they tickled him mercilessly.

Koga was enjoying it.

Excited by this newfound knowledge, Karen retreated from the trees and as quickly and quietly as possible, made her way toward Will’s room. Karen and her best friend had some work to do.

            “That movie was so boring,” Will let out a yawn, stretching his arms over his head in dramatic fashion. “Hey Lance, I am never letting Clair pick out a movie for us ever again.”

            “It wasn’t that bad,” Karen rolled her eyes, then reached out to poke Will’s exposed armpit. With a squeak, Will flinched away with a glare.

            Once a week, the five trainers would get together in Karen’s room to watch a movie. With the natural darkness of her room and the wall space, a giant screen dropped down from the ceiling and a projector was brought in to show movies. When these weekly movies started happening, Will and Karen had gone shopping and bought a ton of pillows and blankets for them all to be comfortable.

            “He had a Whiscash! He didn’t need to drown; he could’ve just used his Pokémon to swim him to safety!” Will countered, laying back down against the pile of pillows he had constructed before the film started.

            “Jack wasn’t a very good protagonist,” Lance added as he leaned over the projector to turn it off. “Nothing he did was reasonable.”

            “He thought with his dick,” Bruno stated flatly, which caused the three to erupt into laughter. Beside him, Koga was flat on his back, staring up at the ceiling, his back leaning against a pillow as he let out a short chuckle. Bruno always had the best comedic timing, whether he knew it or not.

            “Exactly!” Will turned around and pointed at Bruno. “Thank you.”

            “Just because Jack shouldn’t have died at the end, doesn’t mean the movie was bad,” Karen let out a huff.

            “Um, yeah it does,” Will replied, words dripping with sass. In response, Karen threw a pillow into his face, earning her an, “Oof!”

            “Ass,” Karen stuck out her tongue.

            “You’re the one that like every romance ever.”

            “Not true!”

            “Your favorite movies ever are The Hoppip’s Notebook and Lumiose Hill!”

            “They’re good movies.”

            “They most certainly are not.”

            “Rude.”

            “Arceus, you too bicker like children,” Lance rolled his eyes as he plopped back down onto his throne of pillows. No one knew how Lance always ended up with over ten pillows each movie night, but the man was going to be as comfortable as possible no matter what.

            “She started it,” Will said while crossing his arms and turning away.

            “Did not,” Karen refuted with a frown, “But I’m gonna finish it.”

            Karen launched from her fluffy blanket next and crashed into Will, her fingers instantly wiggling into his ribs and sides. Instantly falling into a fit of laughter, unable to help it as his ribs were his most ticklish spot, Will squirmed around and looked over at his colleagues for help.

            “Bruno-ho-ho,” Will squeaked out, reaching his arm out to the larger man, but then quickly retracted it as Karen began to rake her nails gently along his newly exposed armpit.

            “I will save you, little buddy,” Bruno teased before crawling forward and tracing his fingers along the back of Karen’s neck. With a loud squeak, Karen’s shoulders shot up to block his fingers. Using this well timed distraction, Will lurched forward to knock Karen onto her back, gently collapsing onto a stack of blankets. Kneading into her exposed belly, Will began to tease Karen about her shrill giggles.

            “For someone with such a ticklish tummy, wearing a crop top is the worst idea,” Will scribbled his blunt nails along the tiny bit of fat just beneath her navel.

            “For someone with such ticklish ribs, letting your guard down is the worst idea,” Karen managed to say through her sweet giggles.

            “What?” was all Will managed to say before Lance snuck up behind him and began to run his fingers over the gaps between his ribs. Doubling over, Karen grabbed Will’s wrists and pulled him into her, hugging him tight enough that Lance was able to continue his onslaught. Wanting to join in on the fun, Bruno teased the back of Will’s neck, which brought out a muffled shriek.

            “Hey, Koga,” Karen let out as she released Will, wriggling out from underneath him like a Magikarp on dry land. Lance had pinned Will down to continue his ticklish onslaught on the younger man’s ribs, until Bruno decided it was time for Lance to laugh.

            Koga lingered behind them all, having rolled over to face the other way. Ears pink, Koga had subconsciously pulled his scarf over his face so just his eyes and above was visible.

            “Guys,” Karen’s voice rose above Lance’s hysterical, booming laughter as Will and Bruno both tickled his belly, twenty fingers dancing all over his middle. Both pulling away, the three men turned to look over at Karen. “Did you guys know that Koga’s ticklish?”

            Heart stopping, a cold shiver straightened Koga’s back as Karen’s words sunk in.

            “I doubt it. He’s got all those ninja skills to block it out,” Will let out a laugh, then shot Karen a knowing grin.

            “He’s too serious. I bet he doesn’t know how to laugh,” Lance teased, knowing that his words also applied to himself in most contexts outside of the four people in the room.

            “How do you know he’s ticklish?” Bruno asked, staring at the man as he sat upright, then brought his knees up for his chin to rest on them. Hugging his legs tightly into his chest, Koga’s heart pounded as a swarm of Combee buzzed around his mind as Butterfree fluttered in his chest.

            “I saw his Pokémon tickling him the other day,” Karen proudly stated, puffing out her chest like she was a reporter that had uncovered the scoop of the century. “He seemed pretty ticklish from what I saw.”

            “Is that true?” Koga nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt Bruno’s hand on his shoulder. Flustered beyond belief, Koga didn’t notice Bruno shuffling across the floor to reach him. While overwhelmed, Bruno’s touch was a calming presence.

            “Um…” Koga’s words sat on his tongue, not knowing how to answer.

            “It’s okay if you are,” Bruno was an absolute saint, Koga was sure of it. “All of us are.”

            “Yes, I am,” Koga felt like his face was going to melt off from how hot his cheeks were.

            “Do you like it?” heart stopping, Koga froze at Will’s innocent words, “Oh, I didn’t…I meant, do you like enough for us to tickle you?”

            “Yes,” Koga couldn’t believe what he was admitting to. Glancing up at Bruno, his gaze kind, Koga nodded without looking away. Turning to the other three, Koga pulled down his scarf so they could see the entirety of his face, “Yes you can.”

            Eyes lighting up with excitement, the three clambered over the mess of pillows and blankets to get closer as Koga let Bruno guide him onto a stack of pillows, wanting him to be comfortable. Carefully propped up, Koga voluntarily slipped his hands beneath him, nestled between pillows, so he couldn’t block anyone. With a shaky nod, Koga gave Bruno the go ahead as the others circled the two of them like a pack of Mightyena, wanting to see everything.

            A light laugh lit up the room as Bruno slowly tapped his fingers up and down Koga’s ribcage. Stay as still as possible, Koga turned his head to the side, his smile shy and his laugh quiet, not fully restrained, but not too dissimilar to the quiet laugh he would make when he found something funny.

            “His Ariados got a good reaction out of him when it when for his belly,” Karen’s voice was quiet as she offered her advice, fondly recounting the moment she had stumbled upon in Koga’s room.

            Curling his fingers so his hands resembled claws, Bruno slowly vibrated both of his hands into Koga’s belly.

            “Shihi!” Koga’s laughter went up a notch, fully unrestrained now. Enthralled by this new reaction, Bruno began to vibrate his hands faster, then as fast as he could, which earned him a squeal, then loud, cackling belly laughter.  

            “Oh, I definitely want a turn,” Karen cooed, rubbing her hands together. Beckoning her forward with his head, Bruno pulled his hands back to let Koga breath as Karen shifted herself as she was by Koga’s head. “If I remember right, here is a good spot too.”

            “Yehehes it ihihis!” Cackling laugh returning, Koga leaned his head back so Karen could fully view his bright smile and scrunched up nose, while she teased the hollows of his arms.

            “I need to get in on this,” Will said with a sharp laugh, simply amazed by the scene unfolding in front of him. Ever since Koga had taken the younger man under his wing, Will had always seen Koga as a knowledgeable older brother, but rarely got to see Koga’s playful side. Sure, Koga would occasionally tease Will about something stupid he had done, when he deserved it, and Will always cracked jokes to see what would make Koga laugh, which wasn’t much, but he never figured Koga would allow him to rough house. Koga always had an air of seriousness or formality around him, so seeing him like this made Will happy.

             “Will,” Koga said as the aforementioned man dug into his belly.

            Letting out a loud bark of a laugh, Koga went limp as his laughter was as loud and boisterous as it was when his Pokémon were tickling him. The two most sensitive spots on his body were being attacked at once, leading Koga down a path of mirthful hysteria.

            “Let’s not kill him,” Lance said, the voice of reason. Both Will and Karen nodded, Will withdrawing his hands and scooting backward, Karen moved her hands so her nails gingerly along his jawline and the little bit of neck that was exposed. Much to her surprise, Koga pulled out his hands and tugged at his scarf, loosening it enough that Karen could easily slip her fingers inside.

            “So cute,” Karen whispered to herself as Koga broke out into pitchy giggles. Looking up at her, Karen could tell he was fully enjoying himself; the sensation of the tickling and the touch performed by his friend.

            After a few more moments of lightly teasing his neck, Karen withdrew her hands, but not before ruffling her hand through his hair, something she wouldn’t have dared done only an hour ago. Recovering quickly, Koga sat up, rubbing his neck sheepishly, and to drive away the phantom touch that continued to make his skin tingle. Unable to wipe the smile from his face, Koga looked around at each of the four trainers in front of him: his friends.

            “Do you like being tickled?” Karen’s tone was gentle and non-accusatory. “You never fought back or told us to stop.”

            “I do,” Koga admitted, frowning slightly as the redness in his cheeks returned, “It’s not even just the tickling. I like being tickled, yes, but the touch. I’ve never had anything like that before.”

            “I wish you could’ve told us sooner,” Will chimed in. “I-I know it’s hard to talk about, but I get it. I’m sure all of us do. None of us really had good upbrings, you know. Aside from Karen, I’ve never had friends before, not like this.”

            “You guys are the only ones I’ve ever been close to,” Bruno admitted with a shrug.

            “Same here,” Lance spoke for the first time in a while, “Aside from my Pokémon, you all are the only friends I have.”

            “It’s okay to be open with us, Koga,” Karen cupped the man’s face, her soft touch causing him to shiver. “We’re here for you.”

            “Thanks,” Koga muttered, turning away. “I’ve never had anyone before. Janine, I love her to death, but she’s just a kid. I don’t want to bother her with any of this. Ever since adopting her, I’ve always vowed to give her a good life, no matter what.”

            “You have us now. You’re not the only one who needs and wants love,” Karen laughed, pointing at Will with her thumb.

            “Rude,” Will stuck out his tongue, “but she’s not wrong. Touch-starved, that’s the term I use for it. All I want is to feel loved and touched and be able to talk to anyone about anything, no matter how stupid it is. That’s what all of us here want. We’re misfits, but we’ve got each other.”

            “All of this. It means a lot,” Koga looked up and smiled. “I really appreciate it. All of you.”

            “Is it time for a group hug?” Karen asked excitedly, and without waiting a second for a response, she draped herself around Koga and squeezed the man as tightly as she could.

            “Yeah, no,” Lance rolled his eyes at how sappy Karen was being.

            “I thought you said you liked us,” Koga let out a huff once Karen unpeeled herself from him. Without thinking, Koga leaned forward and squeezed Lance’s knee.

            “Hey,” Lance halfheartedly slapped Koga’s hand away. Face flushing, Lance’s eyes widened once he saw Koga begin to inch toward him, eyes full of mischief. “We can talk about this.”

            “We can talk later,” Koga scoffed before pouncing, his fingers dancing over all of Lance’s most ticklish spots as if he had been doing this for years.

            “Help!” Lance called out, flailing beneath Koga’s feather light touch, his laughter booming.

            “I’ve got you, Lance,” Bruno took heed, hooking his arms under Koga’s and pulling the ninja into his lap. Fingers descending into his belly, Bruno beamed as Koga slipped into hysterics, his legs kicking out uselessly.

            “Will,” Koga locked eyes with the younger man. “Help!”

            “I’m coming!” Will leaped and knocked Bruno off Koga, a flurry of fingers fluttering along Bruno’s neck as the larger man instantly began to cackle.

            Turning around, Koga spotted Karen, who had Lance pinned to the floor, her nails scribbling all over his belly. Despite being his enemy less than a minute ago, Koga wrapped his arms around Karen’s waist and softly tossed her into a pile of pillows, saving Lance from her wrath. Once the champion recovered, both he and Koga began to tickle the woman wherever they could reach, until Will and Bruno snuck up behind them and smacked them with pillows, dislodging their fingers from Karen. Once disorientated, Bruno pinned both Lance and Koga to the floor and let Will have at both of them, Will’s fingers dancing over both of their bellies as the spot was devilishly ticklish for them both. The duo flailed and squealed, laughing hysterically until Karen launched herself on top of Bruno.

            With no true alliances being made and there being no clear goal or way of winning, the tickle fight between the five of them went on for over an hour until they had worn themselves out. Resting on the comfortable pillows and blankets, the five ended up falling asleep, nestled close together like Rookidee chicks in their nest.

The five snoozed while the lady that manned the front desk came in looking for them, doing her last rounds before locking up for the night. Having not seen any of them leaving to go to their houses right nearby the Indigo Plateau, she had become concerned, until she walked in on them. Figuring they were comfortable; she exited the room and left them alone to sleep peacefully through the night, with none of them being tormented by their recurrent nightmares.

[awholenewkhaos]

MK characters and OCs as O-Os (Original-Owner's) favorite snap cube lines

Spoilers. Possibly

Tag list: @theelderhazelnut @mids-stupid-shit @roselyn-writing @mixed-bag-of-fandoms

Shao Kahn: First sin idea, kill an elder god!

*Sees Nozomi at the tournament*

Shao Kahn: New sin idea. Adultery!

-----

Fuyuka: GRR SHUTUP! *panting a bit*

Fuyuka: I am gonna kill the next person I fucking see, I swear to the gods!

*Fuyuka sees Raiden rounding the corner and freezes up*

Raiden: *noticing his first favorite goddess* Hello! Hi! I'm so happy to see you!

Fuyuka: *calming down* Hey... Oh my gods.

Fuyuka: *kneels down* Hey... What's going on?

Raiden: Wow, I'm so happy to see you! abababababawababa!

-----

Fukuya after getting out of the time loop: I can finally leave! Quan Chi, sweetie, I'm coming home

Fuyuka getting banished to the in-between: I'M BACK IN FUCKING IMPRISONMENT AGAIN! OH MY-

-----

Melantha: Really cute that you think I'm gonna accept your proposal and all, but again, I am the goddess of death, so-

Hotaru: my goddess, you didn't let me finish!

Melantha: uh huh. Yeah go ahead.

Hotaru: We have all this power in our hands-

Melantha: yeah yeah yeah. Shut up! Shut up! SHUT THE FUCK UP! I DON'T CARE! I DO NOT CARE!

Melantha: I came over here to help you out with the rebellion crisis. This- *gestures to the romantic dinner and rings* means nothing to me! Ok?

Melantha: You mean nothing to me! You and your little soldiers are fucking annoying?

Melantha: give me that! *Swipes the contact card from him* You lost your stupid little privileges, dipshit! Fuck you!

----

Quan Chi: *takes a long sigh*

Quan Chi: I miss my wife, Xiu Ying. I miss her a lot

Quan Chi: *gets up and leaves his chair* I'll be back

Xiu Ying: ???

Drahmin and Moloch: *Snickers and laughs*

----

Kid Xiu Ying, lying on the floor paralyzed: I can't move my eyes. I can't see the end of the horizon-

*Another kid runs up to check on her*

Kid Xiu Ying: HANZO HASASHI!?

Kid Bi Han: hey is that Hanzo Hasashi?

----

Nozomi over the intercom to Reiko and Havik: It seems you two bitches have come to a stand still on my mother's island.

Shang tsung: *tapping her shoulder* hey just to let you know, that is what's gonna happen.

Nozomi: You have 13 seconds before the island fucking explodes, you Shao Kahn wannabe and you fucked up son of a bitch! I hope you both die!

Havik: Wait, Shao Kahn?

Reiko: No! My secret!

Nozomi: *turning away from the intercom* what!? Oh my stars! I was just messing around!

----

Kano: *eye twitching* So you're flirting with Klaudia? The special forces gal. The one with an eye patch?

Johnny: I mean, if that's what you're gonna call it, then, yeah, I guess?

Kano: *looks him up and down*

Kristy: *Snickers*

Kano: Yup! I could kill ya!

Kristy: *busts out laughing*

Kano: Rip your guts out and wear it as a neck tie!

[importantgalaxyrunaway]

Chariot rides (Part 3 Finnick x y/n

CONTENT: fluff, lots of kissing 💋, pov shifts, a little everlark, finnick being hot in the gif lol 🥵 also this one is longer than the others

Part 1 is called nightmares and is on my account part 2 is called the ring and is on my account I would link them but I don’t know how so if you do please reply and tell me.

On the train ride to the capital we had all been discussing our tactics for the arena. After all we still had to survive the arena first. We couldn’t use the same strategy’s as last time. Well not for me. Last time I pretended I was innocent and sneakily killed my opponents via poison. But they know my tricks now. I don’t just use poison I’m good at using a dagger and throwing knifes to. Me and finnick and other tributes would make a very good team. I thought about this as laid in finnicks arms in my bed. We have been almost inseparable the whole time since we have been reaped. I’m scared I’m going to lose him.

——————

The train pulled into the capital station of strangers in bright clothing. They were particularly happy that Finnick was here. However I have my share of admirers. But soon after we arrive we are push in different directions to be prepared for our stylist.

“they have something special planned for you” my prep team tells me. Apparently my stylist cordia a woman in her 30s with long blue hair. “Oh darling you are beautiful you look like such a goddess in this.”

“you really think so?” I ask nervous. I have always been insucure about how I look.

“trust me everyone will love it!”

(This is the dress you wear)

I go to the chariot chart where finicky was standing. Wow… he looks so hot. He is wearing something that shows of his whole chest and muscles. I bit my lip.I look him up and down while blushing heavily. He noticed me staring at him.

“like my outfit?” He teases with a smirk seeing the blush on my face “my god, y/n your so beautiful” says taking in my outfit. I smile as I grab his hand.

“looks like the capital made us both pretty” I laugh. “I’m going to see if I can make an ally with other tributes.” I add in my normal tone

“okay” he responds as he kisses my hand as he smiles looking into my eyes. He then let’s it go. I decided to walk over to district 12. Particularly katniss. She seems so genuine so I decide to go over to her. She is alone next to her chariot petting her horse.

“hi katniss” I say petting the horse with her. She looks around and sees it’s me

“I’m y/n l/n”

“hello” she says. We keep petting the horse in comfortable silence for a little bit but then she notices my ring on my finger.

“nice ring” she says honestly

I smile sadly “well your wedding isn’t the only one to be canceled because of these games”

(katniss pov)

Now I felt bad. I was just trying to make small talk but I brought up a sad memory for her. Unlike me and peeta’ Love witch had been mostly for the cameras she must have been truly in love. She looked a bit sad as she had said this. And there was nothing in that cameras of her dating someone.

“Oh I’m so sorry. Is there any chance if you get out of the games” I quickly added

”well katniss it seems we are in similar circumstances” and she left leaving it at that. As she walks away in her stunning dress, I can’t help but wonder.

who was she going to marry? We they going into the arena too? She said we were in similar circumstances.

(Back to y/n’s pov)

I walk over to a few other tributes. I go over to see my old friend Joanna. But I make my way back to finnick after visiting them all. “Y/n! Want a sugar cube?” He asks playfully. “Sure” I laugh.

I put my hands on his chest carefully traceing his muscles. He is so attractive.

“I guess my costume’s got you distracted huh” I look up to see he is blushing. His face is red and he is smiling. I put my arms around his neck “you could say that” I chuckle. Then the intercom backstage tells us that we need to get in our chariots and get ready.

He holds my hand as he helps me get in the chariot. But I don’t let go of his hand. Everyone’s looks good in their costumes. Especially finnick, I thought. However district 12 blew them out of the park. District 12 was wearing something that designed to look like flames again. It was absolutely stunning. Eventually we get to the end and I state snow down as if to say,….

Let’s see if the odds are in your favor president snow.

—————

we quickly slip away into a hallway near the elevator and finnick pushes me against the wall. We passionately make out. I just couldn’t wait any longer. Not with how he looks In that outfit and he felt the same about me. My hand in his hair. He then starts to tail hickeys down my neck. I moan a little as he sucks on my neck. I giggle into the kiss I give him. he picks me up and I wrap my legs around his waist. He carries me still smiling. Then we wrap our arms around each other. Our arms move around each other’s as we kiss each other as if we’re never going to see each other again. For a bit We are lost in our own world. A world where it is just us together and no games. Our lips on each other, him holding me. We are so distracted in each other that we don’t even notice the elevator ding.

“You need to make sure that your teaming up with someone. People work better as a team they get more sponsors” I hear the voice of haymitch say to his tributes katniss and peeta.

Peeta is out of the elevator first “well I- oh” he clears his throat “am I interrupting something?”

finnick quickly puts me down and we break apart. I was bright red both with embarrassment and what I was doing before.

”oh my god! I’m sorry! I was just- uh- I- I- uhhh—you—-I was—“ I stutter out. “Sorry” I manage.

peeta chuckles “it’s alright” and Katniss and haymitch shoot me a knowing look. Haymitch actually let’s put a bit of a snort. After that I walked back to my quarters with finnick. Where we finished what we started.

(Katniss pov)

“you think y/n is marrying finnick or she’s cheating?” I said to peeta as I got in bed. The light was on and he was wide awake.

“what do you mean?”

“ I saw a ring on her finger and asked her about it. She said she had her wedding canceled because of the games and we’re in similar circumstances.”

“I think he really loves her. I mean, did you see the way they looked at each other?”

“I did trust me. I’m just saying that with Finnicks reputation with his capital lover I’d be surprised if he settled. Let alone marry. But you’re right the way they looked at each other…. They differently weren’t acting.”

“I’m tired” peeta yawns he turns off the light on the bedside table. I snuggle up next to him and rest my head on his shoulder. And I thought about y/n. If I want allies she should be one of them. She seems real. Not an actor putting on a front for the capital. Or a very superficial person. No she seems like an actual human who has empathy.

TYSM FOR READING!!! This took me much longer than the first two I really hope you like it!!! I worked hard so please like. As always my requests are open. Tell me your thoughts and ideas PLEASE. Also what do you think about y/n’s outfit? Please be nice if you comment though. And a positive reminder to-

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜💗 stay safe, get some sleep, drink some water, you are amazing! 💙

[l1ghtfromthecloset]

"Mr. Kaiba! Mokuba, sir!"

Mokuba snaps awake, rubbing his eyes as Roland calls him on the office's intercom.

"Damnit, Roland." he mutters, straightening himself as he directs his vision towards the intercom speaker he installed on the desk, pressing a button next to it to reveal a hologram of Roland's face.

"It's news about your brother, sir," Roland pauses. "We found him."

Mokuba immediately stands up at this, now more awake.

"Is he alive? Where is he?!" Mokuba demanded, already feeling the lump in his throat growing, his voice booming through the room just like his brother's used to when someone would mess up in his company, or when Pegasus was meddling with KaibaCorp business.

Roland's voice returns through the hologram, "W-well uh sir.. We are getting him to the best hospital in Domino City." The man's voice sputtering with stress.

'Damnit Seto... You better be alright I swear to God I'll kill you if you aren't already dead!' Mokuba thinks, his face scrunched with anger and tears stinging the corner of his eyes.

"Send me the location that you're sending him to. I'll be there in 7."

Mokuba shuts off the hologram before Roland can respond, grabbing his black trenchcoat and rushing out of Seto Kaiba's office. He had been utilizing it to run KaibaCorp when Seto disappeared off to... God knows where. The man had been missing for nearly two years after he first started using the Quantum Cube to travel to the afterlife to battle Atem, but when he returned he was working on some project to do with alternative realities. That's when he went to the KaibaCorp space station one day and.. Disappeared.

Mokuba gets into the car, immediately starting it and rushing down the highway, weaving between slow cars, and far surpassing the legal speed limit. He tried focus on driving responsibly, but the tears welling in his eyes kept distracting him from being able to see the road.

'Ugh... Hell I have to stop crying. I can't see what I'm doing. Focus Mokuba, focu-'

His thoughts were cut off, as he felt millions of sharp cold knives hit him everywhere, his breath knocked out of him as he was uplifted from his seat, and he could see and hear the blaring sirens of an emergency ambulance.

The last thing he felt as he hit the cold wet pavement was being lifted up by paramedics, and the muffled voices of doctors.

"Isn't that his brother..?"

"I guess they're both together now."

"We must get them both to the hospital, we don't have time!"

"But sir the ambulance has been rearended-"

Mokuba couldn't think of anything else except the doctor's voice booming:

"NOW!"

...and then silence.

[sicksucculentz]

There are some newbie scientists at a large lab being introduced and toured around the lab for the first time during an orientation. The scientist leads them to a large room with a large glass window and inside is Bive! walking in aimless circles squeezing and squishing a stress toy in one hand and fidget cube in the other.

????: "my god what the hell is that!?"

???? scientist: "this is one of our greatest and accidental successes! this is Bive!"

????: "you made that!?"

???? scientist: "not 'that' 'her' she's like a daughter to everyone here in the lab"

????: "why is she contained then?"

???? scientist: "they are about to run a few small tests on her. Don't worry they wont hurt her. Lets introduce her why don't we"

The scientist presses a small button that crackles an intercom inside the room startling Bive and snapping her head to the group of people staring at her.

???? scientist: "his b- oop! sorry! These are the new techs that we just hired! say hi!"

Bive: "I CAN HEAR SOMETHING IN THE WALLS WATCHING EVERYONE! PLEASE WATCH HER BACKS AND DON'T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN!!!"

???? scientist: ".....she's uhhh....she's a bit on the unhinged side"

[idril-la-wiccan]

Out of the Abyss - Act 1 Part 7 - A dive into Darkness

Aboard the Mercury Retrograde, the young captain was checking on what looked like a bike of sorts, the only striking difference was the evident lack of any wheels in its design. Two of his crew members were assisting him on the maintenance of the vehicle.

   - “Has the stabilization module been changed since last time ?”

   - “Yes sir !” chimed the first crew mate, “I even ran a test with it as soon as it was replaced to make sure everything was in order !”

   - “Good. What about the battery ? When was it last charged ?”

   - “Well,” the second crew mate replied, “technically it was last week. But just to make sure, I had verified its state before our first attempt at traversing the black hole, Captain. It was, and should still be fully charged. I also made sure it had sustained no damages from our failed mission, but I suppose a test run shouldn’t hurt.”

   - “Alright. Let’s see, then.”

SPACEBOY turned the key in the ignition. The electrical engine roared as the vehicle then floated in place. The control panel displayed everything it should, no abnormal sounds were heard from within, and a quick scan of the hoverbike said as much : all was fine. He smiled.

   - “Perfect.”

ABBI had been observing them work from a small distance. She approached as the captain almost seemed ready to mount on the futuristic bike.

   - “I wasn’t sure at first when you mentioned it, but now, I guess this can indeed come in handy once we’re in Black Space. Some of its areas can be long to traverse and a few places can be hard to access if you’re grounded. But I still think it might be cumbersome in situations where we won’t need it at all.”

SPACEBOY chuckled.

   - “That is not a problem actually, this model has a portable mode.”

He pressed one of the buttons on the panel, resulting in the hoverbike shrinking and folding into a cube that could fit into one’s palm. This display of technology amazed the octopus lady.

   - “Well I stand corrected.”

As he picked up the cube, a crew member entered the maintenance room.

   - “CAPTAIN SPACEBOY, we’re now right over the black hole ! So… we’re ready when you are, sir.”

   - “Thank you, GUY. We’ll head to the airlock, then. You can go back to the bridge.”

He and ABBI walked past the space pirate, who didn’t seem like he wanted to go back to his post. While hesitant, he did manage to speak up.

   - “Um… Captain ?”

SPACEBOY halted and turned to look at him.

   - “Yes ?”

   - “If I may… Uh… Are you sure of what you’re doing ?”

   - “Absolutely certain. Miss ABBI here says I cannot be harmed by what plagued most of you. And she will be my guide in this cursed place. You do not have to worry.”

He continued to walk, but added this as he did :

   - “Oh, and make sure to tell as much to the FIRST OFFICER ACE. Knowing him he must be just as worried but kept quiet about it all.”

   - “Ah- Will do, sir !”

The young captain could hear the crew mate walk back towards the bridge, albeit slowly. ABBI looked back, smiling a bit as she saw the space pirate walk away with a bit more confidence judging by his much less hunched stance.

   - “Your crew is like family to you. Are they not ?” she asked SPACEBOY.

   - “They are.”

They had now reached the ship’s airlock, waiting for it to be opened.

   - “So… jumping right in like that is harmless, you say ?”

   - “And is the fastest way to actually get somewhere.”

   - “Hmm… “Black Space” seems to be working under very strange rules…”

   - “Oh, trust me. It does.”

A voice resonated through an intercom.

   - “Opening of the airlock in 3… 2… 1…”

Light and wind entered the ship. They stared at the rift below, its darkness inscrutable from here. ABBI asked :

   - “Ready ?”

   - “More than ever.”

Waiting no further, both of them jumped off the Mercury Retrograde.

As they plunged, first was absolute obscurity. Then was a thick fog, that thinned out more and more as they kept falling. And when they finally landed, the moderate crackling of sturdy wooden planks punctuated the feeling of the solid ground under their feet.

The young lady looked at their surroundings. Wooden platforms and walkways connecting them, floating in the middle of a sea of clouds. A light icy wind blowing, propelling grey-scale pinwheels. Birds could be heard, but not seen. Somewhere in the distance was a waterfall. Somewhere in the proximity of the two explorers was a bench, and what looked like a person standing next to it.

   - “The Cloud Walkway…” she muttered.

The captain was also observing the landscape, but looking for what wasn’t there rather than what was.

   - “... My father’s ship is nowhere to be seen… And they could have gone anywhere from here. What do you suggest we do ?”

   - “There are a few… “denizens” of this place that would have seen the ship if it did pass by here. We can always try to ask them.”

   - “Denizens ?”

   - “Yes. As far as I know, there are no shadows in this part of Black Space. All there is here are mostly… what I would call lost souls, I suppose.”

ABBI approached the person standing by the bench, just a few meters from them. The person was faceless, yet you could feel despite their lack of features that… they were staring blankly into the distance. It was hard to tell if they even had acknowledged the presence of the pirate and the octopus until spoken to.

   - “Hello.” she began, “Do you happen to have seen a spacecraft travel through this area ?”

The Faceless did not answer immediately. They slowly turned their head towards ABBI.

   - “... Do I… know you ?... I… I have the feeling I know you…”

   - “Oh… Uh… Well, it is possible. What is your name ?”

The Faceless stayed indecisive for a moment.

   - “... I… I do not recall…”

She felt her three hearts sink a little. She once knew how it feels. Not quite remembering who you are.

   - “My apologies… I should have known how harmful this place has been to you.”

   - “Yes… Will the Dreamer come back one day ?”

That too she should have expected. That the Dreamer would be mentioned. She’d rather not talk about it in SPACEBOY’s presence.

   - “... I don’t know.”

   - “Oh… Well…”

A silence rang before the Faceless spoke again.

   - “I saw no spacecraft… However, I heard the sound of an engine… I think…”

SPACEBOY took a step closer.

   - “And in which direction did this sound go ? East ? West ? South ?”

   - “None of the cardinal points… or their inbetweens…”

The Faceless slowly turned to the void behind them. The only thing separating them from it was a railing. They pointed at the sea of clouds under the walkway.

   - “The sound vanished further down here…”

   - “Alright ! Then I suppose all we have to do now is jump down-”

   - “NO !” practically screamed ABBI as she held him back from climbing the railing, “Captain ! This rule about not being harmed when you jump down only applies if you enter Black Space, not if you’re already in it !”

   - “Oh.”

He took time to think about it.

   - “These rules seem a bit arbitrary.”

   - “I concede, they are.”

He sighed.

   - “Then I guess my hoverbike is the only solution. It would allow us to go down safely.”

   - “True. But I suggest we try to find a proper door first. Surely this place must be connected to whatever area is down there.”

ABBI talked again to the Faceless.

   - “Do you know what area is under here ?”

   - “... I never left this one… I wouldn’t know…”

   - “It’s ok. Thanks for your help.”

   - “... You’re welcome.”

As they left the Faceless, the young woman was wondering what were the odds of the area below the Cloud Walkway to be a new area she never saw or heard about. The chances certainly existed, and that was enough to worry her a little. Would a brand new door be there ? Or would an old door now lead to such a place ?

Well, there only was one way to find out ! She and SPACEBOY first went through a path to their left. As it branched, they went left again, finding a door. Locked.

They backtracked and found another faceless person. They asked them for directions, but they didn’t know anymore than the other faceless.

Our explorers had to go back to the main platform and take another path, continuing to pick left at every turn they found.

Which led them to soon find a funny looking… creature… who was near a toilet bowl.

   - “Oh boy !” exclaimed the creature, “If it isn’t ABBI ! How are you doing, old friend ?”

ABBI didn’t know this person. But she didn’t want to come off as rude, so she pretended to.

   - “Oh, I’mmmmm… doing great, thanks, ha ha ! Uh, how about you ? You good ?”

   - “Meh… I saw OMORI some time ago and he has been very mean to me ! I actually don’t even know how I’m still alive !”

“Oh, mood” ABBI quietly told herself, while SPACEBOY was absolutely gobsmacked by the news.

   - “OMORI, you say ? The young taciturn boy ? That seems really out of character coming from him !”

   - “And yet, that’s the truth ! He threatened me with his knife ! I myself was so shocked that I had lost consciousness right there and then !”

ABBI wondered if he really did faint or if he got stabbed and then got reset… As for the young captain, the tale from the creature made him shake his head in disappointment.

   - “If I see OMORI again I shall have a word with him about it on your behalf, mister… Mister ?...”

   - “LOOMY.”

Welp. This saved the octopus from the embarrassment of asking it.

   - “Very well, MR. LOOMY, I, CAPTAIN SPACEBOY, promise you that OMORI will be held accountable for his actions in one way or another. Now, if I may, do you happen to have a good knowledge of this place ?”

   - “Oh, yes, my good Captain ! I am in fact an expert in transportation through toilets !”

SPACEBOY and ABBI shared a glance, silently agreeing not to question it.

   - “Um… Alright, if you say so. Ahem. So, would you happen to know if there exists a way to go down to the area under this walkway ?”

   - “Hmm, let me see…”

LOOMY pulled out a very large map out of nowhere.

   - “So um… Hmm, no… Not that either… Uh, HA ! There ! Right under us are the Cardboard Ruins.”

   - “The Cardboard Ruins ?”

   - “Yes, yes, yes ! Unfortunately there are no toilets in that area, so I’m unable to take you there…”

   - “Oh, it’s alright, LOOMY.” said ABBI, “You’ve helped us plenty already.”

   - “Ah, very good, very good, in that case, I’m happy ! You know what ? Have this.”

He held out the map to them.

   - “I have duplicates of this map so please, take it.”

   - “Really ? Thank you very much.”

Map of Black Space obtained !

   - “Good. Now we just have to see how we can get there.”

   - “Hmm, I’m not too sure -since this isn’t my domain of expertise- but I believe that cardboard boxes can get you there ?”

   - “Cardboard boxes ?... Oh, of course ! It would make sense ! Thanks again, LOOMY. See you later, perhaps !”

ABBI was already running off elsewhere as SPACEBOY quickly waved goodbye to LOOMY before running after his guide.

   - “The Cardboard Ruins…” she thought out loud, “This is the first time I hear of this place, but I believe I know what kind of place this must be.”

   - “... How could you know what a place is like if you’ve never known about it ?”

   - “Well… I told you. I know this place like the back of my hand.”

The captain squinted.

   - “Wouldn’t you have known of these ruins already then ?”

   - “No. Because they didn’t exist yet last time I was here.”

SPACEBOY felt like ABBI was purposefully being elusive about it. But he had no reason to argue with her about how Black Space worked and quickly let it go.

Soon enough, they arrived in front of a cardboard box. The same kind one would use when moving to a new home.

   - “Well.” she chirped, “Now, let’s see…”

ABBI took a look inside. This box was empty and seemed perfectly ordinary. Though, she did not let that fool her.

   - “Now, now, in what way could you be used as a portal ?...”

She went around it, trying to spot anything that would seem out of the ordinary. SPACEBOY was silently watching as he didn’t want to disturb her, but then came a point where he had to : something had caught his attention.

   - “Wait… Do you hear that ?”

   - “Hear what ?”

He got closer to the box, leaning towards it.

   - “I could swear there’s a sound coming from this box… Hold on.”

He crouched, placing his hands on the bottom of the box's insides and was this close to plunge his head in there too.

   - “I recognise that sound !”

As soon as he had said that, the bottom of the box gave away under him. He fell through it with a startled cry.

   - “CAPTAIN !”

Without thinking, ABBI jumped into the box, holding tight to the edges with her tentacles and miraculously managed to catch the pirate by the ankle.

   - “Captain, are you ok ?”

   - “Y-... Yes, I am… Thank you… Oh.”

He looked down and noticed the ground wasn’t as far from the entrance of the portal as they thought, his cape effectively brushing against it.

   - “... I think I should be able to land without any issues now.”

   - “Alright.”

She let go and followed him down. They could now take in the view of the Cardboard Ruins.

Gigantic cardboard boxes, scattered here and there. Some were open, some were closed, and some even had square and rectangular holes cut into them, like a child would have to play with them as makeshift dollhouses. Numerous arts and crafts accessories were also spread throughout the ruins.

   - “I’ll be honest,” said ABBI, “I’m surprised this area did not exist sooner…”

   - “Hmm… If you say so.”

   - “... Is something wrong, captain ?”

   - “You know that sound I talked about ? I don’t hear it anymore…”

He seemed concerned about it.

   - “And what was that sound ?” she asked.

   - “I’m sure this was the sound of the Nebula Marble’s engine. My father’s ship.”

He shook his head with a defeated look.

   - “Maybe we arrived too late and they already left somewhere else…”

   - “... Maybe not.” she pointed far up in the distance, “Look at that crescent moon up there. Isn’t this a ship I see next to it ?”

SPACEBOY looked, and sure enough there was the faint shape of an old-timey looking spaceship, standing still next to a moon that looked quite bigger in comparison.

   - “No way ! This is it ! The Nebula Marble !”

   - “Very well ! Then we only have one thing left to do.”

The young man nodded.

With no obvious way to go up on their own, he got the small cube out of his pocket, deploying the hoverbike. He mounted it, revved up the engine, and once his guide had joined him on it, they departed, slowly speeding up. Once they were fast enough, they took off, going towards PINKBEARD’s spaceship.

ABBI couldn’t help but look around them. The more they gained altitude, the more the ruins below looked like regular sized boxes. The crescent moon, she noticed, was closer to them than the ship. But it also has some strange strings of white light covering it almost completely. As they passed it, she had realised those were actually chains.

A deep feeling of sadness overtook her as she stared at it. However, she had no idea why this solicited such a response from her.

   - “Miss ABBI !” SPACEBOY warned out of the blue, “Hold on tight ! We have a welcoming committee.”

Sure enough : a horde of weeping shadows was heading straight to them.

SPACEBOY was able to skillfully dodge a good amount of them, but it took only one blow from the shadows to completely lose control of the vehicle, leaving the duo at their mercy.

The shadows charged them again, and again, and again, until they started falling.

One last hit, and they were plummeting down to the moon.

*****

<< Previous Part || Next Part >>

Will ABBI and the CAPTAIN SPACEBOY find a way to reach the Nebula Marble ? Why is that mysterious moon covered in chains of light ? Could those chains be more than chains ?

In fact... could they be useful ?

*****

Like my art ? You can commission me !

Buy me a coffee ?

[surpriseattack]

He's forgotten how blinding it is to set foot in Nueva York but that's why the added shades within his goggles came in handy. After his recent incident he made sure to install the tinted lenses right away. Being out of commission for nearly a month or two makes a person sensitive to a lot of things when adjusting back into society but, there was an order from a certain redhead that he stay in bed and rest up after being riddled with bullets. The doctors mentioned that he was extremely lucky that no vital organs were damaged otherwise he probably wouldn't be standing on one of the many bridges of futuristic New York right now.

Recognition comes easy though, he'd prefer it didn't. His palette always gave him away in a sea of red and blue. Or was it purple? He was still unsure between those two colours. There was mention once that he should just settle to calling the colour indigo but he isn't given much of a moment to himself to reevaluate his surroundings prior to the 'good morning's and 'hey brother' from his spider brethren. Not much time to fully settle his feet on the ground until there's a beep! from the intercoms and LYLA's voice greeting him. He notices two things: that she mentions he's gone dark and that she's surprised to see him which means there's been some check up in his apartment and he hasn't been found. That's good, because he didn't want to be disturbed.

And the second thing: is that he needed to report to the big man himself. There's a literal slap on his wrist when his arm is taken and a day pass is snapped around it via the kiddy looking bracelet, and Jessica dismisses him with a wave of 'you're welcome' over the crowd as she disappears into it. Noir would roll his eyes at the fact that he still needed to report in but he's still a bit groggy from the antibiotics and he should really take it easy. So why did he jump into the portal when it appeared in his apartment? Boredom, really. And a rubix cube that has gone missing from his desk back at home. MJ is going to kill him.

"No offence but unless you're returning what you took from me I'd rather be sitting at the cafe reading the daily paper." Noir shoots as he enters the office.

@iobartach !

[blue-sleeps-in]

and the kid that learned riding a bike without training wheels before i did and the enclosed balcony in the kitchen and the rooftop and the monument that was so climbable and the wall-e bedsheets my grandma got me and her old angry cat and the gap between the garages near her house and the skiing training and the little wooden house we used to change into ski clothes before money came in and they replaced it with a big building and the restaurant that was there overlooking the ski tracks and i miss being able to climb in between the cushions and into the couch and i miss the old fridge that didn't make ice but made a funny noise when you pressed the button and the video house intercom that never really worked and the depression in the side of the doorway that was there because mom's dog that i've never seen used to always lay there that she ended up carving it with her nose and i miss the old desk that had a sliding tray that kept sliding in and out and the old shelf that had a place i almost never opened that just had old bedsheets and the lights in our room that had these stained glass things around them and had a cable you could pull and the bathroom sink that made a rainbow out of the ceiling light and the little pillars around the big room that had their broken wooden bases and i miss the tree that was righr by the building exit and the weirs patch of almost forest right behind the playground and the 3 tall buildings i could see out of the window and i miss our elementary school teacher thst was always so nice to me and the girl in kindergarten that would pull on my hair during quiet hour and the soft cubes the dogs would play with and the wooden floor that kept giving me splinters and the old matrix grocery stores and the washing machine that scared me by giving an error message sometimes and i miss when i would go to the bathroom at night near new years time and see that the pine tree with the lights was still on and it was glowing softly alone in the darkness of the living room and i would go to my room knowing it'll still be there glowing all night

[harispranavaconstructions]

Top 5 Features of Rukmini Pranava 101 for First-Time Real estate Buyers

Stepping into the world of real estate for the first time? It can feel like you’re trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube—exciting, but challenging. 

That’s where Rukmini Pranava 101 comes in, offering the perfect blend of modern living and investment potential. If you’re a first-time real estate buyer looking for a home in Hyderabad, especially in the ever-growing LB Nagar area, this project ticks all the boxes. 

Let’s explore why.

Prime Location with Connectivity at Its Best

One of the biggest pain points for first-time real estate buyers is finding a property in a well-connected and thriving neighborhood. Rukmini Pranava 101, located in LB Nagar, offers exactly that. 

Strategically placed, this project is only 1.2 km from the LB Nagar Metro Station, giving residents seamless access to Hyderabad’s transport network. With proximity to NH 65 and the Inner Ring Road, commuting is a breeze—whether you’re heading to work, school, or a weekend getaway.

For first-time real estate buyers, it’s essential to consider not just the present, but the future value of the area. LB Nagar, with its mix of residential and commercial developments, ensures you’re investing in a future-ready property. If you’ve been searching for an apartment for sale in LB Nagar, this is where your search ends.

 2 & 3 BHK Apartments with Thoughtful Design

For many first-time buyers, space and layout are significant concerns. Rukmini Pranava 101 offers 2 & 3 BHK apartments in LB Nagar, ranging from 1,458 to 2,131 square feet, designed to meet modern family needs. These spacious layouts are perfect for growing families or those planning ahead.

What makes these apartments stand out? The design is 100% Vastu-compliant, ensuring harmony and positive energy in every corner of your home. Additionally, the apartments come with well-ventilated rooms, large balconies, and modern finishes, giving them a luxurious yet practical appeal.

Recent studies have shown that Vastu-compliant homes can appreciate in value faster due to growing demand, which makes this a smart choice for investment as well.

World-Class Amenities for a Modern Lifestyle

As a first-time buyer, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the choices in real estate. What should you prioritize? Well, amenities play a huge role in enhancing your lifestyle and property’s long-term value. Rukmini Pranava 101 comes packed with features that elevate your living experience:

A family swimming pool with a deck area for relaxation.

A fully equipped gymnasium and yoga area for fitness enthusiasts.

A multi-purpose clubhouse for social events.

Children’s play areas and a separate kids’ pool, making it a great choice for families.

Landscaped gardens and walking/jogging tracks for outdoor lovers.

These amenities aren’t just about comfort; they ensure a balanced lifestyle, which is increasingly becoming a priority for first-time real estate buyers. According to recent real estate trends, properties with wellness-focused amenities tend to have higher appreciation rates, making Rukmini Pranava 101 a solid long-term investment.

Security and Safety Measures

Safety is often a top concern for families and first-time home buyers alike. At Rukmini Pranava 101, state-of-the-art security systems are in place to ensure peace of mind. The entire property is equipped with 24/7 CCTV surveillance, intercom facilities, and trained security personnel, making it one of the safest residential complexes in LB Nagar.

With rising concerns about safety in urban areas, properties that offer advanced security systems are in high demand. For those seeking an apartment for sale in LB Nagar, Rukmini Pranava 101 delivers a secure living environment that makes it a sound choice for first-time buyers.

Affordable Luxury with Future Value

Investing in a home, especially for the first time, is a big financial commitment. But with Rukmini Pranava 101, you’re not just buying an apartment; you’re securing your future. The project offers 2 & 3 BHK apartments at competitive prices, starting from ₹1.05 crore for 2 BHKs and up to ₹1.50 crore for 3 BHKs. Given the high demand for apartments for sale in LB Nagar, these prices offer incredible value, especially when you consider the luxurious amenities and prime location.

With LB Nagar’s continuous growth as a residential and commercial hub, property values in this area are expected to rise. For first-time buyers, this presents an excellent opportunity to invest in a high-potential locality, ensuring that your property grows in value over time.

Why Rukmini Pranava 101 is the Perfect Choice for First-Time Buyers

If you’re a first-time real estate buyer in Hyderabad, you know how important it is to make an informed decision. Rukmini Pranava 101 ticks all the right boxes: prime location, spacious 2 & 3 BHK apartments, top-tier amenities, and security—all at competitive prices. Moreover, with LB Nagar rapidly developing, you’re investing in a home that will only appreciate in value.

As real estate markets shift toward high-quality developments, choosing a project like Rukmini Pranava 101 ensures you’re not just buying a home—you’re making a smart, future-proof investment.

Secure Your Future with Rukmini Pranava 101

Whether you’re looking for your first home or a sound investment, Rukmini Pranava 101 is an ideal choice for first-time real estate buyers. With spacious 2 & 3 BHK apartments in LB Nagar, world-class amenities, and excellent connectivity, this project stands out as one of the best in Hyderabad’s real estate market.

Ready to make the next move? Schedule a visit to Rukmini Pranava 101 today and see for yourself why it’s the perfect home for you. Your dream home awaits!

[local-idiotic-texan]

This series and its contents contain references to gore, psychological torment, torture, suicidal tendencies, and more. If these topics are triggering to you, please leave.

This episode, in specific, contains:

Gore and Depictions of Psychological Stress

Thank you.

“...do you think we’ll even survive this show?” Friendship Bracelet asked.

“Of course we will!” Flashlight would reply. “..what makes you think that??”

“It's just…” Friendship Bracelet tugs at her self - her own skin - her hair. “I… I don't… we…”

“Hey.. hey, it's gonna be okay.” Flashlight pats Friendship.

“Well… sure, but… every single time you try to say that - someone just.. ends up dying. First, Crowbar… then Funfetti… followed by Ornament, Bunsen, and then Alarmy and…” Bracelet would groan. “It's like.. no matter what we do - we'll ALWAYS lose someone.”

Boba Milk Tea joined. “Hey, hey.. it's fine, okay? We may be losing people, but at least we’re here, right?”

Friendship Bracelet looked at Boba, then curled up. “..but how much longer do we have?”

“...I don't know. but… does anyone know the answer to that question?” Boba asked.

Unfortunately for her?

The intercom began to crackle.

“HI GUYS!!” The Hostess giggled, giving out kisses. “Awww, you all missed meeee~?”

C4 timidly replied. “..n.. no?”

The Hostess chuckles. “Too bad! I’m back! With a game, too!” She cleared her throat.

“Within this room, I’ve left a key! How exciting…!”

The contestants remain silent.

“...look for the key to open the next door!”

The contestants exchange glances.

“...the door isn't rigged.”

The contestants now begin the search.

“...hey, wait, why are you doing this? Don't you usually just… OPEN the door??” Melatonin Gummies asked.

“Well, yes! ..buuuuuut I wanna add finishing touched to the next room over! ;p”

“..okay.”

Melatonin now joined the others.

“...hey, Birdfeed, how come you're always gruffed??” Newspaper asked. “...whaddyamean?” Birdfeed replied.

“I mean… it seems like after some deaths you just… find out what the person did wrong?” Newspaper asks as Birdfeed began to compare keys.

“...history is doomed to repeat itself if the root gets away.”

“Huh?” Newspaper tilted his head.

“If we didn't figure out these halls are death traps…” He now uses a key on part of the room to figure out there's a tripwire present.

BAM.

“...that would've killed me where I stood.”

Birdfeed hops over the tripwire and grabs the key.

“..c’mon.” Birdfeed calls for the others by whistling. “KEY’S FOUND! LET’S GO!”

Birdfeed now uses the key, triggering The Hostess to speak again. “Oh wow! Birdfeed found the key! and just in time!”

The room behind them suddenly shoved everyone in, before the door closed.

“HEY, WHAT THE FUCK?!” Birdfeed yelled.

The Hostess giggled. “Is it cold? Damp? Wet, even?”

“Very?!” Heart began to curse in Spanish.

“Good! This is an industrial freezer. =)”

“WHAT??” Flashlight yelled.

“Oh god. I was right. We’re all going to die. This was her plan. We were never gonna live.” Friendship Bracelet began to break down as Moth tried to nurse Ice Cube Tray - who was slowly becoming unresponsive.

“Don't worryyy, I left a key in there! ..somewhere. This is your game today, though!! Fun, right?” The Hostess asked.

“NO?! LET US OUT! WHAT THE FUCK??” Boba Milk Tea.

“I-I mean, you can't seriously kill us all, right? We're the CONTESTANTS! ..y-you NEED us to have a show!” C4 pleaded.

“Mm… no, I can kill you all off if I want to, y’know?” The Hostess giggles. “Now, stop wasting time… and warmth… by getting angry. =)”

Newspaper groaned. “She’s right. Fuck… it's so… slippery in here. How are we ever gonna find anything in here?”

“I know!” Flashlight shook herself before turning herself on. “Use me!”

“...that's… uhm…” C4 shuddered at the idea, but then Melatonin Gummies just… picked her up.

“Okay.”

Melatonin began the search. “...box?”

“Hmm…” Birdfeed begins to search the box. “..nah.. nothing in here… wait, what's—” He now groaned and began to hiss.

“W.. Birdfeed??” Boba Milk Tea came over.

“...Birdfeed, what's going on?” Flashlight saw it then, though. So did Newspaper.

“WHAT THE FUCK?!” The Box was a trap. It had triggered around his wrists and was now bleeding him out.

“Sh-SHIT!! DON’T MOVE!!” Flashlight and Newspaper try to pull him out, he begins to scream.

“STOP!! DAMNIT!! FUCKING STOP!!” Birdfeed yells out. Birdfeed would take a breather, before pulling. “Sshh.. FUCK! Okay.. okay…” Birdfeed exhaled. “Chinese Finger Trap.”

“What?” Flashlight asked.

“..Chinese Finger Trap.” Newspaper said. “The trap won't let him out, but it will let him touch his own hand as a failsafe.”

“..so.. we need to let his hands go deeper into the trap?!” Flashlight asked.

Suddenly, Friendship Bracelet came over and just.. did it herself.

…and it worked. The Razorblades fell into the box, and Birdfeed was freed. “Fuck.. ow..”

Newspaper sighs a breath of relief. “...hey, uh… you have more scars to tell stories about. Right?”

Birdfeed scoffs, then sighs. “...they'll look disturbing for a while, but you're right.” He chuckles. “..they’ll be badass.”

“You guys take too long.” Melatonin Gummies says, leaving to the next room.

“H.. huh? When did..?” Flashlight tilts her head.

“Come on. Let's go.” Friendship Bracelet says. “You… we… sigh.” Flashlight follows along.

The intercom crackles.

“You’re forgetting people… or two!” The Hostess says.

There was suddenly some chirping from the room over.

“..MOTH?!” Newspaper ran back in with Flashlight.

“MOTH, WE’RE SO…” Flashlight gasps. “Oh..”

Ice Cube Tray had succumbed to hypothermia, and Moth was slowly entering hibernation.

Newspaper now grabbed Moth, before leaving Flashlight to stare at Ice Cube Tray’s corpse.

“...y’know… it's funny.” Friendship Bracelet came right behind Flashlight.

“I was right. Someone did die. Like always.”

She tilts her head.

“...but… somehow? …he seems relaxed.”

Flashlight paused, thinking about it. “...yeah. I.. I guess he was.”

The two sigh before leaving for the room over.

“..good! Now that everyone is here, it's everyone’s favorite time!!” She dispenses the usual food and water, but gives some blankets and pillows too.

“Sorry if you're all cold, but hey! At least I’m giving you all blankets… for now. Ehehehahaah!!! =)” The Hostess leaves, symbolized as the intercom crackled one last time.

“...what do we even do now?” Friendship Bracelet asked.

“We care for each other, damnit.” Birdfeed began to smoke. “Notice how Newspaper is carrying Moth into her bed?”

…

“...do shit like that. Check on each other. Make sure we’re all fine, goddamnit.” Birdfeed coughed his smoke now.

“...” Friendship Bracelet stared at Flashlight.

“...listen, I know it's scary, but we’ll be fine - really, we will!” Flashlight hugged Friendship.

“..yeah… we’ll be fine.” She repeated it one last time. “We’ll be fine.”

END.

The Smileshow was written by TheWiseGuest.

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