#laid out right there in the episode AND the bait and switch is not enough of a counterweight sorry it’s fully all about eddie

[buffiest]

finally reached buck bothered and bewildered and wow this spin on buck’s bi awakening is soooo twisted

[5-falsehoods-phonated]

March Ado About Nothing

Series Summary - A series of one-shots and  drabbles written based off of prompts posted in the TSS Fanworks Collective server. The goal is to take traditional whump prompts and fill them in the least-angsty way possible every day through March.

A note that though some of these fills are written bait and switch style (written in a way you think is going in one direction but reveals it to be the opposite towards the end) they are all written in a fluffy or silly style with very little, if any at all, actual angst.

Day 2: Stuff Your Secrets

Summary: Stuffed animals are good and normal to have no matter what age you are- except for Remus. Logan quickly fixes that line of thinking.

Prompts: "Please, no more!, Extreme Weather, *Dirty Secret*      

Ships: platonic intrulogical (Logan & Remus)

Warnings: mild angst, guilt for having stuffed animals. Let me know if there are!

General taglist (ask to be added or removed): @/janus-is-an-adorable-snek-boi  @/im-an-anxious-wreck  (in an effort to not flood your inboxes I’m only tagging in the first part ^-^)

WC: 1235

Stuffed animals, with all their innocence and connection to childlike wonder and imagination, weren’t usually something that was defined as a dirty secret someone would desperately try to hide away at all costs. Having stuffed animals was normal and useful to mental health: they were soft and plushy and you could cuddle them for comfort, they were amazing to grip onto when one was sick or in pain and, if you didn’t want to feel odd talking to yourself to work out one idea or other, you could always prop them up as a makeshift audience to listen to you infodump for hours and they would never get annoyed!

So no, stuffed animals themselves weren’t the problem, nor was having them as a fully grown and “mature” adult. The problem came because the owner was Remus, and Remus had come to learn that if he had something it was automatically thought to be something gross or dangerous or disturbing- especially if that’s not what it looked lille from the outside. He was the one that would play stupid pranks of showing someone something rather cute but have it open its mouth to reveal several jaws and a tentacle, or give someone a teddy bear the melted into foul smelling ooze when they held it. Do this enough times and be repressed for a decade or two to boot and you have a reputation that- while fair in its own right if he really thought about it- make having things that were actually innocent in nature a bit problematic if he didn’t want to be scrutinized within an inch of his life.

And so, his dirty secret remained hidden even from Janus, who Remus knew would never make fun of him or judge him for something so trivial but years of hiding made him skittish anyway. The irony of intrusive thoughts hiding something definitely wasn’t lost on him but he only shook the thought away as he continued shoving his well worn friends into a drawer in the closet while shooting a look at the clock. Logan would be coming in any minute now to help him organize a few of his projects that still needed fine tuning if he was going to show his brother any time soon; even though their relationship was still a little rocky...especially after knocking him out for an entire episode and some hateful words were said by the lighter side, they had both scraped up enough indignant reluctance to apologize and begin working together- however tentatively- on a couple different things to test the waters. And Remus wasn’t worried about it all! A second opinion from someone as observant and down to earth as Logan was never hurt was all.

He had just finished shoving everything closed and willing the closet to stay shut when there was a knock at the door. Grinning wide he sank in directly behind the logical side and opened the door from behind, making the other stiffen and then roll his eyes at Remus before walking into the room, immediately going for the desk and paying no attention to the slightly disappointed pout Remus was sporting over not getting a bigger reaction. He knew Logan was just as dramatic as any other side, he just had to find a sweet spot- maybe he’d steal his jam at some point. Appearing on top of the desk he gestured to a few notebooks strewn around.

“It’s a lot so buckle in! I haven’t had an outlet for my ideas in years!”

Logan peered at him from over his glasses. “So long as nothing is explicitly pornographic or sadistic in nature I’m willing to bet most of these will be harmless enough to include somewhere in future projects.” Screwing his mouth to the side Remus simply bounced in place, never having been able to sit still for very long especially when things were quiet. Thankfully Logan didn’t seem to mind, simply skimming through various sketchbooks and notebooks and placing flashcards to mark certain spots for whatever it was he was looking for. He jolted in surprise as something cold and gooey was pressed into his hands, looking up as Logan took his hand away and resumed his task.

“To fidget with if you like, I know sitting quietly can’t be easy but I appreciate your patience.”

Blinking in surprise Remus began idly stretching the goop around, the bright green slime enveloping his hand and sticking in a way that was oddly very pleasing as a tactile stim. He’d have to make more of this at some point and see if he could bathe in it; surely Roman wouldn’t mind one of their lakes turned into slime as long as it was for creativity's sake. He was so engrossed in the wonderful new thing he held in his hands that he didn’t hear the closet food creaking until it was too late, the overstuffed doors bursting open and spilling various items out onto the floor, multiple phallic shapes and odd body pillows were the least of his worries as he watched all of the stuffed animals he had shoved away spill out into the open in all their cute, fluffy glory. His chest constricted painfully as he shot a panicked look to Logan who was regarding the plushies waily as if they would come to life and maul him at any moment- which, while as in character as that might be- for some reason he couldn’t bear the thought of them being perceived that way.

“They’re safe I swear! Just stuffed animals I uh- there’s nothing- I just like-” His throat refused to cooperate and he was left gaping stupidly as Logan set the notebook down and stood up. “No, please!”

Remus reached out for Logan, knowing what he was pleading with him for but suddenly very aware of his racing thoughts telling him to make sure he wouldn’t get into trouble- what if he told Patton, or took them away because he wasn’t meant to have them? Or-

“I’ll be right back Remus. I promise, I’m just going to get mine.”

His? He was gone before Remus could question it as he ripped and pulled and mashed the goop in his hands nervously, wishing the other had left him with more of an explanation. He didn’t have long to wait however as Logan came back in with an armload of...something that was prompt laid on his bed. As he came closer he realized they were stuffed animals- Logan’s he guessed from the teddy bear adorned with a tie and a snail with a lab coat. But there was also a well worn fluffy purple dog, a calico cat with galaxy print for spots and a stegosaurus with a rainbow scale print on it. He looked back to Logan who smiled warmly.

“You don’t have to keep them a secret, Remus, at least not for me. I’d be a hypocrite to judge you and I’m very willing to bet the other’s would be as well.”

“Bet you my bug collection!” Remus shouted before he could think. Logan pulled a face. “I’m not trading you again- last time you didn’t say they spit acid and my desk was ruined.”

Cackling he twitched a finger and the toys were back on his bed where they belonged, though he did sneak a small squid plush in with Logan’s- as thanks.

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[shy-magpie]

RQG 121

OK so the last one was actually pulpy fun,  so that means this episode will be high stress right? The soft episodes are like finding a health potion in a game, might be a nice bonus much more likely that you will need it Poor Alex,  he sounds so distressed even as he tries to joke about the sound issues. Tbf Rusty Towers has me spoiled rotten when it comes to sound editing/design Oh that is different It was awesome but NEVER DO IT AGAIN Lydia has a point about the NPCs: only reason Alex is letting us have 2 is so he has a spare Ben/Grizzop regard the deal with Barret as a win-win: either they get useful info or he gets to kill Barret early If I feign ignorance can I avoid learning how to spell the Awesome Engineering Cult's name? Because I had a hard enough time catching all the different ways I spelt Apophis Grizzop time Barret delivers info re: Japan. I really hope that math doesn't come back to bite us. Good, Grizzop thinks the same Wilde would care about the aesthetic of the cuffs saving his life UNSPLIT THE PARTY NOW Harlequin time? Pls Alex we've been ever so good (I miss Zolf) Is Ben altering his Grizzop voice or is the sound problem working in my favor? Because I'm having an easier time than usual getting every word rather than missing some every few sentences. Not that it was a problem especially with context. Singing Lydia is good Alex sounds pleased, what is in there? Love it when Hamid gets leaderific. Good plan is good. Ring tones are nice Hamid tries to explain having to lie to Ed. It goes about like you'd think. I would have tried "its not lying, I'm playing pretend" except you probably go to the special hell for directly lying to someone like Ed. Please be a jammer Grizzop time This isn't trap like at all/s Gosh I love how direct Grizzop is I love how delighted Alex is at Grizzop catching the new NPC Poor Ben, Grizzop catches this guy so easily but is defeated by language Grizzop would start caring for the kid seconds after trying to scare him Right we're adopting this kid right? he's dehydrated and nesting in a beer garden Oh trap door Sasha time Lydia's metaphors are the best Was that Alex blowing a raspberry at her roll? I really hope Alex doesn't squish her trying to re-calibrate his baddies Can't help but worry about what he has planned if he is making it this easy to get in Ben points out Sasha is channeling Assassins Creed World building time Yes this is suspicious Flying creatures? Bad Sasha does not appreciate the having to deal with invisible creatures Love singing Lydia Alex seems almost hurt they don't trust his flavor text Calimagi? Fair point Ben, I think the haunted house in Prague was the last time he laid it on this thick Blowing up magic sounds dangerous Will save? Alex you switch now! Ed is so great Thank you for armoring up Hamid. Bets on it blowing up when Alex pans back? Very pretty, is Sasha going to die fancy? Bad bad bad tear in the universe is always bad Helen has to defend Azu Ed tries to kill the tear in the universe, of course he does Is Ed obliterated or transported? Sasha? This is RQG so you aren't allowed to be a victim of The Spiral Oh dear? No more will saves! So does Hamid learn anything or not? Lydia and I don't trust Alex being "generous" Not dangerous? Is Sasha ok then? Don't GM bait, Bryn, he will punish you Alex, joking: Sasha is over there, over there and over there Fair Alex, Helen as a Greek chorus sounds great

[frangipanidownunder]

Stranger Twins pt 2

Inspired by the Doppelganger episode. Tagging @today-in-fic and @fictober. Read Part One here.

Part Two

Skinner leant on his elbows and switched his gaze from Mulder to Scully before taking off his glasses and sighing.

           “So, this Visser character has somehow convinced Agent Scully that she’s still in 1993? And now you want to track him to…do what? See if he still has dial-up? Weigh and measure his cell phone? Check if he’s upgraded to CDs? Ask him if he prefers Back Street Boys or NSync.”

           Mulder turned to Scully, expecting to see her eye-roll at Skinner’s attempt at a dad joke, but her lips twitched. Damn. Maybe she really did only reserve that kind of impatient despair for him. Perhaps if this thing turned out to be irreversible he could retrain her reactions towards him and their future years could run a little smoother. But then again, he kind of liked the way she treated him. Expected it. Baited it. He turned back to Skinner.

“I think you’ll find they came a few years later. Boyz II Men were big in 93.”

           Scully rolled her eyes. Skinner rubbed the bridge of his nose. Mulder uncrossed his legs and offered a conciliatory smile. “And he hasn’t convinced Scully she’s in 1993. She really does believe she is. This is Scully from 1993.” He held out his hands towards her, like a showman offering up his guest star. Gung-ho, a little naïve, sceptical on acid, pre-abduction, pre-chip, pre-cancer, pre-Emily, pre-trial, pre-on-the-run, pre-break up. Pre-break up. Shit.

           “And why would he do this?” Skinner asked, staring at Scully.

           “I’m not sure it was something he planned. Maybe he has no control over it.”

           “So how did he defraud those people? By accident? By taking them to a David Copperfield show?” Skinner stood up and walked around the desk, perching on the end. “Mulder, I cannot authorise any stakeout on this man. There’s no judge in the district who would believe that this is Agent Dana Scully from 1993 – no offence, Agent - and that Arnold Visser caused this…this…”

           “Doppelganger effect,” Mulder supplied. “And maybe his ability to control these powers is affected by stress. I mean, he was being interrogated. He’s had years getting away with his deception, so maybe being under pressure was the difference this time. Perhaps he was trying to control his lawyer? Maybe he felt he could affect the outcome of the charges laid against him if he could somehow control the lawyer?”

           “Mulder,” Scully said, touching his hand. “You’re reaching.”

           He chuckled. “Scully, even after two cases together you must have realised that’s what I do.”

           Skinner stood up. “Agent Scully, do you need some time? Are you in need of some counselling? We have a more diverse range of employee assistance these days.”

           She shook her head. “No, Sir. I’m fine. I’m sure…we’ll work it out.”

           A brief smile flirted across Skinner’s face. “You two always do. Just don’t let me find out that you’ve worked it out by following or harassing innocent citizens.”

           Mulder shot up out of his chair. “You won’t find out, Sir. I guarantee it.”

Mulder parked the car and turned off the engine. Scully sat next to him, elbow on window, fingers on mouth.

           “Do you have a plan?” she asked.

           Her eyes bore into him. This was the intense and disbelieving Scully that had worked him so hard back in the day. There was something irresistible about the way she scrutinised everything back then. Now. She had yet to allow him a little leeway for his crazy theories. She just automatically believed there was a scientific explanation for everything. She had yet to see enough of the arcane and the phenomenally horrific to reluctantly agree that the elasticity of science only stretched so wide.

           “When he leaves, we’ll go in. See if we can find out any more about him.”

           “Mulder, that’s breaking and entering. We have no warrant. If we’re caught…You heard AD Skinner.”

           He raised his eyebrows. “What AD Skinner doesn’t know, won’t hurt him.”

           Then it hit him. She had no memory of working with Skinner. She would certainly know of him, but he didn’t figure in their working lives until a little later in that first year.

           She rapped her fingers against the glass. “Mulder, we need to act by the book. If not, this Visser character may never be brought to justice.”

           His grin was wide. “Scully, I can tell you that nothing good ever came from acting by the book. That is a lesson you learned pretty early on. Under my direction, of course.”

           Her hair was backlit by the headlights of a passing car, obscuring her face for a moment. He imagined her back then, all fiery indignation, but he knew right away that under that bubbling disbelief lay a woman with the same deep desire as him to push against the mundane and ordinary, to find the spectacular and miraculous; she just came at it through science and faith where his path had been through mystery and tragedy.

           “How long have we worked for AD Skinner?”

           “More than 20 years. On and off.”

           She frowned. “That’s the second time you’ve said that. On and off. What does that mean?”

           How to explain the past 23 years? Was it possible to make it sound even remotely plausible? “We had a break from the FBI. And now we’re back.”

           “A break?”

           “It’s a long story, Scully, and I’m not sure you’re ready for it yet.”

           She laughed. “I’m not sure I’m ready for anything yet, Mulder. This stakeout, this body,” she ran her hands down her legs, “you…us. I’m struggling to see a way forward.”

           He twisted towards her, watching the movement in her face. Despite her poker-face capacity, Scully’s eyes had always betrayed her deepest emotions. He saw sadness, fear, anger. “Scully, we will work it out. We will get you back to now. Intact. But we have to get into that apartment. Work out why Visser did this to you.”

           She reached out and touched his hand. “I get the feeling that you’re leaving out a lot of important information, Mulder. And I know you’re trying to protect me in some way. But I don’t think we can make any headway on this case, if you don’t tell me everything. And there’s this…this burning sensation in my stomach, in my veins. I can’t explain it, but it feels like secrets need to be revealed, like the tiny details of my life are rushing through my body, itching and scratching at my skin, trying to get out. It’s hot. I need to let them out.” She sniffed back tears and squeezed his fingers. “I know there are big things too. That there are aspects of my past that are vital to my present. I feel it. It’s like something my sister would experience. Maybe I should just call her, ask Missy for help. She’d love this.”

           He squeezed her hand and shuddered out a sigh. This was the barrier he hoped he wouldn’t have to butt against.

           “Mulder?” Her anxious whisper hung between them. “Mulder?”

The door to Visser’s apartment flung open and he lurched through, out on to the sidewalk and headed towards the park at the end of the block. Mulder opened his door and followed, listening to Scully’s footfalls behind him, reluctant at first, then determined to catch him up.