#lunar globe

[kitaston]

Moon Globe by John Russell

[pandorkful]

I painted a map of Lunar (Silver Star era) on a miniature globe last night :3

The continets are not perfectly to scale with eachother, but I did my best haha ^^;;;

I took some liberties with this area of the southern hemisphere... in the few illustrations of the TSS/SSSC/SSH map I could dig up, it was covered by sea serpents or clouds haha. But I believe EB/EBC opens it up as the ocean line dropped considerably over the centuries, so I hinted at a hidden landmass. :3c

[zeeverseconfession]

hihi au lore dump

acid is a former scientist that was so inhumane they got sent to hell and became a demon but was still bad so they locked him in the basement

box was as mentioned cursed with immortality bc they didnt do what he promised to pager but just REALLY likes it

lunar is an assassin that traded his soul for immortality w pager but it was a nokia phone (they werent even invented yet) so pager gets scammed again

some characters just have powers for no reason:

globe, scroll, quill, grenade, pot

ill explane more abt this later

-📟

.

[queen-mabs-revenge]

phase one of project 'the mood light of the spheres' underway

plan is to cover my two brutal overhead lights in lampshades painted to be celestial and terrestrial globes because why not?

gotta find a good celestial globe to work from to sketch out where the gold painted stars will go ✨

[rainbows-but-the-gay-kind]

nina zenik, six of crows cinder, the lunar chronicles sophie, howls moving castle (specifically the book) scout finch, to kill a mockingbird mary poppins, mary poppins katniss everdeen, the hunger games lyra, northern lights beatrice, much ado about nothing morticia addams, the addams family mia, la la land

Name ten female characters you like, you get zapped if it's jsut a male character you call a babygirl or other feminine nicknames because I can't see people calling Lestat coquette again

[ohimsummer]

NO HESITATION YOU ARE GOING TO JAIL FOR BLOWING UP AN ENTIRE CONTINENT

DONT ASK ME WHY ITS JUST THE TRUTH.

BYE WHY WERE YOU ACCUSING ME OF TERRORISM AT 12 AM LUNAR 🤨🤨GIVE ME MULTIPLE CONTINENTS AT LEAST COME AWN IM GOING FOR WORLDWIDE TERROR HERE

[mademoisellejuilette]

It’s a big week for horrible book people (me) I’ve already started reading Frisk and oh boi.

Then number two I GOT AN ENGLISH COPY OF THE LUNAR TRILOGY AND IN GOING TO SCREAM

I mean I also have a copy of Leaves of Grass coming to put some notes in and be emotional about. Oh!!!! A new poetry book by my most beloved Mahmoud Darwish. I’ve already read Unfortunately it was Paradise so I’m excited for In the Presence of Absence

[nasa]

One Giant Leap for Mankind

Millions of people around the globe will come together for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games later this month to witness a grand event—the culmination of years of training and preparation.

Fifty-five years ago this July, the world was watching as a different history-changing event was unfolding: the Apollo 11 mission was landing humans on the surface of another world for the first time. An estimated 650 million people watched on TV as Neil Armstrong reached the bottom of the ladder of the lunar module on July 20, 1969, and spoke the words, “That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.”

While the quest to land astronauts on the Moon was born from the space race with the Soviet Union during the Cold War, this moment was an achievement for the whole of humanity. To mark the world-embracing nature of the Moon landing, several tokens of world peace were left on the Moon during the astronauts’ moonwalk.

“We came in peace for all mankind”

These words, as well as drawings of Earth’s western and eastern hemispheres, are etched on a metal plaque affixed to a leg of the Apollo 11 lunar lander. Because the base of the lander remained on the Moon after the astronauts returned, it is still there today as a permanent memorial of the historic landing.

Microscopic messages from kings, queens, and presidents

Another artifact left on the Moon by the Apollo 11 astronauts is a small silicon disc etched with goodwill messages from leaders of 74 countries around the world. Each message was reduced to be smaller than the head of a pin and micro-etched on a disc roughly 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) in diameter. Thailand’s message, translated into English, reads: "The Thai people rejoice in and support this historic achievement of Earth men, as a step towards Universal peace."

Curious to read what else was inscribed on the disk? Read the messages.

An ancient symbol

The olive branch, a symbol of peace and conciliation in ancient Greek mythology, also found its way to the Moon in July 1969. This small olive branch made of gold was left on the lunar surface during Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s 2.5-hour moonwalk. The olive branch also featured on the Apollo 11 mission patches sewed on the crew’s spacesuits. Designed in part by command module pilot Michael Collins, the insignia shows a bald eagle landing on the Moon holding an olive branch in its talons.

We go together

As NASA’s Artemis program prepares to again land astronauts on the Moon, including the first woman and the first person of color, this time we’re collaborating with commercial and international partners. Together we will make new scientific discoveries, establish the first long-term presence on the Moon, and inspire a new generation of explorers.

Is aerospace history your cup of tea? Be sure to check out more from NASA’s past at www.nasa.gov/history.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space!

[deardarlingthings]

not to mention... he kept blaming the writers and saying 'these aren't my jokes I swear', as if he was embarassed as soon as the tide changed. He set himself up to fail. they were jokes of ill taste. If you want a good example of a swift joke that was good, take the joke that Trevor Noah made when he was at the grammys.

She laughed with him, everyone was laughing too- because it wasn't at her expense. it wasn't a jab at her fans, at her career or success. What Jo Koy did was tasteless. Wasn't funny. It was honestly so many layers of bad that honestly, glad he's getting flamed for it. Good. He deserves the shitstorm he's in. She wasn't being a Brat. I mean you can tell with the way he was literally coming off of the Barbie big boobie joke that turned all of them against him. His joke wasn't crafted at all to be funny, it was to be a jab at her to make her the ass end of the joke.

the only funny part about this situation is his career sinking faster than the Titan Submersible.

she was having none of it and good for her

[dearlawdimasimp]

Master Sorcerer of Kindness and Humility

Pairings: MK System x Sorcerer!Reader, Khonshu x Sorcerer!Reader

Warnings: English isn't my first language, Spanish is from google translate

Word Count: 2.2k+ words

Summary: Things in the Sanctum Santorum has been…pretty fucking hectic lately. To put it simply, chaos is in every fucking corner and as a Master Sorcerer of one of the Sanctums in the world, you have to assist the Sorcerer Supreme. Some things are still the usual, but double the effort. Like teaching the new recruits, now, from three different Sanctums instead of one, keep said recruits from the restricted area of the library, guarding the said restricted area of the library and the whole library itself.

With your growing exhaustion, so did the worry of the moon boys grew.

a/n: Hai so uh it has been awhile since i posted eheh I just noticed i have MANY rotting fics in my docs so decided to post now ( ´∀`)/~~ Enjoy lovelies! (^o^)／~💜 (this fic is crossposted on AO3 under the same title and author name ^-^)

Things in the Sanctum Santorum has been…pretty fucking hectic lately. To put it simply, chaos is in every fucking corner and as a Master Sorcerer of one of the Sanctums in the world, you have to assist the Sorcerer Supreme. Some things are still the usual, but double the effort. Like teaching the new recruits, now, from three different Sanctums instead of one, keep said recruits from the restricted area of the library, guarding the said restricted area of the library and the whole library itself.

The supposed assigned sorcerers for each class told you that they are needed on a mission across the globe and are in need of a substitute, of course being the kind soul that you are you agreed on subbing them for the meantime while they're off to save humanity. The library duty has always been yours though, you volunteered on the job when Wong said he needed someone to take his place as he takes the Sorcerer Supreme, and ever since the world has gone back to its normal state, you remained as the librarian.

Your overloaded schedule leads to early mornings and late nights, and less time with your moon boys™.

To say that they are concerned of your health is a bit of an understatement, they're fucking worried as every time they see you, your eyebags grow darker and puffier than the last time.

But, somehow, even with all the things going on with you (only knowing what you are allowed to talk about), you still insert a little bit of your time to cook Steven his favorite breakfast before he goes to work, you still brew up Mark's favorite coffee, prepare Jake's uniform for his side-job during the night as a limo driver, and bring Khonshu offerings on the small altar you've made for him that is purposefully placed on the windowsill where the moon usually shines.

They are thoroughly impressed, but at the same time endlessly worried as your eyes grow weary and exhausted each time you enter the flat.

However, you still have the same warming smile on your lips every time you greet them after work. Joy was etched into your tone as you kissed them and mingled with them for a few hours, dismissing their worries with gentle eyes and kept on insisting that you love your job. You even still have the fiery stare whenever they tell you to rest and let them handle the dishes, which diminishes when Khonshu lays his hand on your shoulders, coaxing you to rest. The god pulls you to the shared bed and once your head hits the plush white pillows, you're out like a light.

The system continues to take care of cleaning the kitchen before joining their sorcerer in deep sleep and joining you in the dreamworld for a while before the Lunar deity of Egypt pulls them to another night of being his fist of vengeance. They would be back and join you once more in bed, and let sleep pull them to its cocoon. And you wake up not an hour later to start the day.

And this went on for a few more days before the moon boys decided to put an end to this. Their last straw was when you had fallen asleep mid-conversation while in front of your food. You were in that level of exhaustion to the point that you couldn't keep yourself awake while eating. They drew the line at that.

They carefully laid your slumbering self down on the bed before donning on the suit, “We'll be back, hermosa.” Jake held your hand and kissed your knuckles tenderly. “We just need to have a bit of a word with them, love, don't worry.” Steven gently lays your hand down on your stomach and leaves a kiss on your forehead before Marc leaps out of the window and out to the London air as Khonshu guides them with his wind to the London Sanctum.

The trip wasn't long before they landed on the Sanctum's roof. The place was brimming with magic and the system could feel it. Marc tries to enter through the window but the scenery changes before his foot lands on the stained glass. A confused and ungraceful landing led him to curse under his breath as he observed his surroundings.

“Be vigilant, Spector.” The god throws caution to the wind, his rumbling voice echoing in the minds of the system. Marc keeps his snarky remark to the god to himself, wanting to tell the god he knows what he's doing. He rolled his eyes instead as he composures himself, and inspects the room they are in.

The place is reminiscent of those temples that houses holy relics, it was old but in tip-top shape. The floor below him looks furnished and one that can be compared closed to an old mansion, and the slabs holding what he thinks are relics had intricate wood carvings were carefully placed on both sides of the hallway he's in. It was leading to an illuminated room and so he took no more than a second to head to the light.

His eyes wandered around the hallway he's walking down in, Steven was gushing at the designs while he and Jake kept silent and kept an eye for any threat.

The room they entered was spacious, save for the relics enclosed in glass and the big circle window that allowed the moonlight to fill the space. It had intricate swirls which Marc remembers, was the same design of the brooch you have on your collar.

However, it wasn't the window that had caught their attention but rather the man behind it, who was eerily calm while peering out the glass. The London night visible to the man that had a red cape that's barely touching the wooden floors.

“An unexpected visit from the Knight of Khonshu himself. You know, you're lucky you're under the protection of the Master Sorcerer here in London.” The man states with a booming voice, bouncing off the walls and glass in the room. It was humorous, but full of threat.

“Or else what?” Marc quips inattentively, keeping distance from the sorcerer who had yet introduced himself.

“Or else I would have thrown you to the ocean the moment you stepped foot on the Sanctum.” The man's baritone voice lowered an octave as he turned to finally meet Moon Knight's glowing eyes.

He had a goatee and the robes he wore were akin to their beloved but in the deep shade of blue instead of your favorite color.

Goatee. Red cloak. This was the Stephen Strange you can't stop complaining about.

A dry chuckle escaped his lips through his masked face. He believes the sorcerer's powers alright, he just can't keep a straight face after the memory of you audibly cussing Strange out had just played in their minds.

“Right,” Marc takes out his crescent daggers from his chest, “I'm only here-”

“Trust me you don't want to fight me.”

“Let us finish, pendejo!” Jake growls as he fronts, not wanting to waste more time and to get out of the place as soon as possible.

They weren't planning to fight. They weren't stupid. They can feel every ounce of energy and magic in the building. They stepped into a lion's den. But if it is what it needs for these sorcerers to hear them? They will face these magic wielders head on.

It seemed that Strange was a bit perplexed at the alter's rage or maybe it was the suit change, but they couldn't care less.

“We're only here because that Master Sorcerer you talked about is always on the verge of passing out every time they go home.” Marc's jaw clenches under the mask as he continues with a step forward to the sorcerer—who promptly took a step back— as his fingers flex around the sharp gold crescent on his hand, “For the past weeks they have been wrung out and just a while ago, had passed out while eating.” When he finished his sentence the room was suddenly swept with a wild draft, with no windows open.

They were not able to notice the confused and worried squint of the former sorcerer supreme's eyes as Marc continues, his tone nothing but purely scathing.

“My point is, We will not be allowing them to come to work tomorrow and until she gets the proper rest she deserves, and not until you fix her schedule that is ethical and appropriate hours of work.” He ends his spiel right in front of the sorcerer, looking up to him with a keen glare, his glowing ivory eyes illuminating the sharpened features of Stephen Strange.

“Or else?” The sorcerer rasps as he stares right back at the avatar, standing his ground, and using the exact words back to the stark white cloaked man.

As if on cue, stronger gusts of wind shakes the glass covers and uncovered relics. The Egyptian God of the Moon materializes behind the sorcerer and with a booming, bitter voice, he answers, “Then you will face the consequences of causing harm to one of whom is under my protection, Stephen Strange.”

The said sorcerer turns his body to the side to glance at the moon god. In all his glory he was towering over him, moonlight was illuminating his monstrously tall and slender figure as the bronzed crescent end of his staff that is nearly scratching the ceiling reflected it. His loose, darkened, silk robe was flowing and whipping around without the presence of the wind, his crouched figure wrinkling the bandages on his torso as his bleached bird skull head tilted down and gave Stephen a hollowed stare.

With a sigh, which had displeased the moon collective and took it as an insult, he nodded to accept their terms. He honestly had no idea you had worked yourself to the bone and will consult the other Master Sorcerers and Wong of your schedule. He knew you were humble and kind, but he didn't know it would be up to the point that your.. acquaintances.. had to show up and tell them of your over-extended goodwill.

“I will inform our masters of such, thank you for bringing this to our attention.” He ends the conversation as he does not want to deal with whatever this is. He was not intimidated, not one bit—okay maybe a bit but he has faced much worse! What's intimidating him is the fact that a literal god has taken you under his wing and has gone out of his way to announce his displeasure.

“As you should.” And with that, the moon party calmed down before they vanished in a swirl of blur and whirling sand. Let's just say you were confused when you woke up late, about to dash to the bathroom before you were stopped by your moon god and gave you a letter that was sent by the Sorcerer Supreme that basically said take a break. You were perplexed as you stared at the paper then up to the moon god, who ushered you back to bed and lulled you to sleep. When you woke up you were pampered by the boys with food and cuddles, all gently forcing you to stay in bed and to let them service you for the day as they had also taken the day off. You couldn't help but tear up at their tender loving care all day and being such gentlemen for doing such. Your love for them was overflowing and you kept promising them that you would do the same to them if ever need be, which they dismissed because as they said, “Today is all about you, love. So you better descansar(take a rest), and we'll take care of the rest, sweetheart. And not just today, up until the last day of the week or maybe next couple of weeks, you got that baby?”

This has earned a heartful laugh from you and an affectionate shake of your head before pulling them into a kiss. You were puzzled and have a lot of questions as to how or why you were given a large amount of time off but you really couldn't complain especially if it meant more time with your moon boys.

Back to the sanctum however, the former sorcerer supreme was fuming at the how fucked up your schedule was and how fucked up you were for taking it even though you were literally doing the impossible, and the fact that none of the other masters pointed it out to Wong, who was also equally fuming to the masters that had asked you to cover for them for a ‘mission’ when they were just taking a fucking vacation.

"You are lucky their patron didn't know of your whereabouts, or gods knows what he will do to you.” Wong warned them, displeased and infuriated, written all over his features.

Oh but Khonshu heard, of course he did, and made those masters’ month a living hell through inconveniencing them at every chance he gets. To which Strange and Wong only but gave them a deadpanned stare of ‘deal with it’ when they asked for their help.

[svndaysaweek]

Aftermath — {Feat. Kazuha}

1.8k words

A/N: After math is science. Hope y'all like this one too,, Also thanks to everyone for 200 followers and big big support on e^(iπ)+1=0!! I hope I've improved a little. Inclined words are scientific terms so google it if look unfamiliar!!(Certainly will help you understand this)

Tag: Science (?), Loving sex, creampie

******

The ride's finally over. Even before you turn the car off she eagerly hops off. Kazuha opens the door for you.

"Zuha–Owff!"

Now she hops on your arms.

You are suddenly burdened with her body, but not the weight. As if she is violating the law of universal gravitation. Although you weigh her much more than the Earth you two are stepping on—in fact Kazuha isn't—this time Earth just lets her go.

"Carry me inside,"

That famous position—arms around your neck, both legs on your arms, face right in front of yours—and that cliché progress, which is to carry the girl inside and then make love. You follow just that, but with a kiss it's clicheic no more.

You were wrong then, to allege that Kazuha violates the law of universal gravity. You are now pulled into an absorbing kiss, like the light and a black hole, like an apple and the Earth. A kiss that does nothing less than force your eyes shut.

Almost blindly you open the main door to enter her house.

"Which one?"

You detach from the kiss and gaspingly ask her.

"First,"

Inertia—Newton's first law. There's no turning back from here. Even if there's extrinsic force it's from Kazuha, and it only adds positive acceleration to you.

You open the first door you see as told, carry Kazuha to the bed and toss her onto it. Accelerated, you hastily take your shirt off. Kazuha successfully gets rid of your pants and boxers while you take your bare torso out.

A supernova itself—a breathtaking explosion to leave the core only. Kazuha takes her own clothes off, to leave the cruelty of her body only. As she brings her hands behind her back to unclasp her bra, you stop it.

"Let me,"

Chest unlocked.

Without anything to hinder the observation, you now get an immaculate visual on the pulsar. Heat beaming in tandem with her heartbeat is the clue notifying you of her anticipation.

Then the formation of a black hole—your hands are driven wildly toward those breasts. This close to her beautiful mounds, time doesn't make sense. You touch eternity, immortality, permanency, to tip yourself over the event horizon, into oblivion.

Her hot breath steams your face up, and you feel the ultimate need to devour her tits. The inclination to Kazuha's breasts is far above scientific explanation.

It's a lunar globe, you would say, faced with how her spit-glistening tits reflect the dim moonlight. Not so big, not too small. One in your mouth, another grabbed firmly by your hand. You thoroughly clean them both by dirtying them with your saliva, which is flooding with your instinctive intention full of filth.

"Baby, I need you down here."

Kazuha takes your hand softly down to her hot crotch. Her both pairs of lips have their energy right on you. You kneel on the floor to find her gushing core. Kazuha eyes you approval with her lower lip tucked in by her teeth.

Newton's third law—action and reaction. Your tongue presses on her third nub to draw such a raw response. An agonizingly addictive taste blesses your nerves, as Kazuha makes a wild reaction to the electric action you take. She pulls you in and she is definitely being pulled in, too.

Even the slightest actions of your tongue make her reactions go crazy. Her squirming even almost feels like struggle not to reach the wanted high—or the opposite.

"Fuck, baby just like that…It's so good,"

Like the Moon orbiting around the Earth. Like the Earth rotating around the Sun. Your tongue draws an imperfect circle around the very centre of her system. Not too far, not too close—you've found the Goldilocks Zone on her clit.

And as you remember, Goldilocks Zone is where liquid water can exist–

"Haa, I-I'm cumming…!"

Kazuha herself proves it, as she proudly waters your face with her cum. Ironically it tastes fatal. You lap up the remnant of her godly liquid, readying to truly fuck her.

You detach your mouth from her pussy and raise your hand to wipe your mouth but, no.

"Give me a taste,"

She holds your arm from going further and calls you in for a kiss, a wet one. Kazuha needily licks over your mouth with a long, low, satisfied moan, which turns you on too much to let her continue.

So you challenge her.

"Mmm…"

During the kiss you bring your dick to her waiting pussy and rub it on her entrance, collecting the wetness needed. Kazuha's arms slowly lock behind your neck, simultaneously with her legs around your hips.

She bites your lower lip, pleading you to push inside her.

"Mmm–!"

As you smoothly push in your cock, her animalistic response hits back.

Kazuha's entire body is becoming an undeniable proof that Earth is round: Her tongue curls inside your mouth, around yours. Her back arcs upward to form a sexy curve you can't unsee. Just like what Magellan did, you could wrap your arms around her body.

There's only space for you to fill up, but you are pulling back—same reason why Mars retrograde occurs, how heliocentrism was invented. Nothing in the universe works straight, not even light. Things curl, get absorbed, go back, and those are the most basic, the most natural things to happen, even when written rules carry straightness only.

(Besides, to such a perfection of a body, who wouldn't dare to break the rules?)

You gradually up the pace of your pistoning, in the second time of asking—Newton's second law: F=ma. With your accelerated, massive cock making love inside Kazuha, she is forced to cum.

And you've experienced it so, so many times. Tachyon flies slower than you, as you travel back to every night you shared with Kazuha. You are fucking her until time runs backwards, not giving even the slightest bit of fuck to the theory of relativity—actually, you are giving all the fuck to Kazuha right now.

Oh, Be A Fine Girl, Kiss Me. Kazuha's lips always remind you of this phrase. You can't just let them stay idle. She already came once so the main sequence starts now. Like protons undergoing nuclear fission, you two in bed are tangled, synthesized, fused into one—into a totally new individual.

"Come on, baby. You need to cum, too."

Your body that once was over Kazuha's is now reversed and under hers, but again, you feel no weight at all. Like she is the light itself.

With almost no mass, she feels light—maybe that's why it was named that. That however, is not the only reason you compare Kazuha to the light.

The horny side of Kazuha, sexy, hot, wet and curvy. That's a wave. The lovely side of Kazuha, on the other hand, cozy, comfy, cheerful and straight. That's a particle, a photon. The duality you love, you adore. Whenever you notice the deviant changes in her eyes in bed it enlightens you, makes you wonder what her real nature is—that's what even Einstein wouldn't be able to discover, of course.

"God, Zuha… You–"

You bring your hands to her ass to start your thrusts, but then Kazuha stops you by pressing your arms down on the bed.

"Let me."

Hypnotized, you let your arms down in compliance with her direction. She then puts her hands on your heaving chest, readying herself to start riding you.

"I can feel your heart,"

You too. Your head is thumping loudly at your heartbeat, as if your brains are now working as another blood pump. And Kazuha raises its rate so easily.

"How does it feel?"

You ask, putting your hands softly on hers, on your chest.

"I don't know,"

The last thing you see is Kazuha's divine smile, before your eyes are forced shut by her sudden tightness descending to the base of your cock.

You feel her fingers dig into your chest as she gradually accelerates the speed of her ride.

"You, maybe."

You smile and look at her. What a cheesy girl, you think to yourself. And at the same time the lust-filled look on her face is so cute—opposed to what's going on down there.

"Baby…"

Kazuha breathes out her word then halts.

"Go ahead,"

You give her the knowing smile.

"I love you."

Yes. Love. Love is the only correct word to be spoken right now.

Because, as always, you feel how wonderful, how powerful it is. Within just a night you've witnessed so many examples of how easily love ignores laws of physics like they're nothing.

After saying that she never loses eye contact with you as she almost hazardously rides you out. Her tightness is fatal, fatal enough to vitalize your throbbing dick inside.

"I'm close, Zuha… Keep going,"

She knows you are. You try to sit up to kiss her but her arms sternly deny it.

Let me make you cum, her eyes tell you.

You can just stay there, let me serve you, her lips whisper.

Let me pay your love back, Kazuha's love speaks for itself.

You can even hear it, as your ears go numb. You see the ecstasy itself, as your eyes slam shut. You breathe loving words out, as you stop breathing.

"Zuha, I'm cumming…!"

You grab on her ass and begin to pour your seed into her.

"Go on, baby. You deserve it."

Kazuha doesn't stop grinding on you for a little more until you ease down completely. She then climbs down and lies beside you.

That is when you again admire her presence. Her black hair, dark enough to absorb any light except herself. Her blushed face and even redder lips perfecting the angelic façade of hers. Her perky breasts heaving up and down to indicate the intensity of the love between you two. Her toned, tight abs, wet crotch and both silky legs that are on yours.

How did I even end up next to this girl?

She deserves much more love than I can possibly give her.

"Zuha, I–"

Lack of strength out of the aftermath haze blocks you.

"Go ahead,"

This time she throws a knowing smile back to you.

You can only laugh at this moment. Kazuha being such a perfect partner, you can't help but say–

"I love you, Zuha."

Beside her is the best place on the planet, you could proudly announce.

You look at her in awe, and she turns her head to you with a grin.

"What, wanna go for another round?"

[zeeposting]

HEY GAYS, GUESS WHO MADE A LIST OF ALL THE ZEEVERSE CHARACTERS. lmk if theres one not on here and ill add them :3

zeeverse accomplices (tagging people): @gabedoessillystuff @ryuatewater @cloudstongue @millylostintheosc @zombieefish

Scroll

Quill

Fire Extinguisher

Globe

Azriel

Xen

School Bell

Paperclip

Lunch Tray

Eraser Cap

Box

Charger Block

Heartbreak Anon/💔

Grenade

Ace

Mic

Prism

Briefcase

Ornament Anon

Pot

Brick

TV

Pinwheel

Sharpie

Felt-Tip Pen

Mop

Notebook

WFS

Protractor

Glitchy 

Recorder

Beaker

Rapier

Wine

Cocktail

Mug

MG

Soda Bottle Cap

Cork

Anon that sent (fake) coords

Bucket

Basket

Nuclear

Ciel

Nyx

Dolphin 

Triangle

Spade

marxson 

Pinata 

Slasher

Mask

Acid

Taffy

Dynamite

VHS/Pager

Lunar

Ambulance

Milly

Debt Card

Danger

Exclamation Mark

Mango Juice

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Fries

Cheeb

Lemonade

Curly Fries

Onion Rings

Potato

Lunar

Inkwell

[starheirxero]

[rez]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Anyway

Hope Castor can help Lunar.

Or atleast point him in the right direction.

I think Lunar is finally facing himself really.

And I understand wanting him out of the house but like- why are they surprised he ran away?

Thats like what Lunar does? He ran for months after he died, him running away is par for the course. And he was gone for three days because he was in jail? They didn't even accept that, they just got mad at him for running. As if Monty hadn't actually decided he was gonna kill Lulu.

Like Lunar would probably be dead if he'd stayed, or atleast injured.

'We do still love you and youre still our little brother'

-They say as they irepibly damage any and all trust Lunar had in them at the moment and in the future.

Moon I understand you want him to actually face consequences but there's no going back from this!

Lunar will never trust you, or anyone else in this family, again.

Castor pleasepleaseplease be the one who finds him.

Ohhh how I want to see more Pollux and Castor interactions bc as I said in another ask that idk if you received Cas almost seems to be avoiding talking to her specifically about Lulu.

That or Lunar gets kidnapped again.

More specifically by the creator so gem (or even just Cas) have to save him

But with Gemini separate there's also the possibility rez or someone else targets one of the twins while the other is away so thatd be neat.

ALL OF THIS NODNODNOD!!!!!!

I think Castor choosing to help Lunar while Pollux doesn't would be really interesting from a Gemini perspective. They're the twins, they make up one astral, one constellation together. If they truly become divided over this, I would be deeply fascinated to see where it goes from there since we got so used to seeing them as Gemini—a collective entity—rather than themselves.

And YEAH LIKE. Listen. I know that to the family, because they don't actually have the full picture, it looks like Lunar is just a loose canon that attacked Earth in a fit and then dipped. But also LUNAR TRIED TO EXPLAIN THAT THEY WERE IN LITERALLY INCAPABLE OF RETURNING SOONER BC THEY WERE JAILED AND THEN REZ PUT THEM ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GLOBE. AND MOON JUST WENT "I DON'T CARE." LIKE CMON 😭 "why were you gone for 3 days" "i was jailed and then left in russia" "whatever i dont care" MOON WHEN I GET YOU.......

THE "I LOVE YOUS" BETWEEN IT ALL YEAH.

I'm sorry but no amount of "you are family and we love you" is going to lessen the blow of "you have basically been squatting in my house (that i invited you into and you've been paying rent for) and you're a danger to this entire family so I want you to never speak or get near any of us until you sort yourself out." ESPECIALLY WHEN MOON SAID "YOU'RE LUCKY I EVEN STILL CONSIDER YOU FAMILY" LIKE I'M SORRY BUT THAT'S WILD. Again, I understand Moon in this situation. That does not mean I don't think he wasn't insanely rude LMAO 😭

Exactly like you said, Moon cannot undo this. Lunar has always looked up to old Moon and so I cannot imagine how much more it hurts coming from him. I honestly can't imagine a clear future where Lunar is going to feel safe amongst their own family again, knowing that they all viewed them as dangerous enough to be kicked out. Honestly, I'm half expecting this to end up as "Lunar lives independently and then realizes they actually feel better not living around their family and that they were kinda awful for them on accident" HDKSHDJS

YEA MORE CASTOR N POLLUX INTERACTIONS WOULD BE GREAT...... Yesyes I have received ur other ask and I'm actually gunna answer it after this one but GHOD yeah. Seeing them disagree abt smth is so interesting and I need more of it....... If one twin is hurt tho,,,,,,, ouhg. The Angst........

[enidsinclair]

The house of Givenchy is pleased to present a brand-new capsule collection in collaboration with Disney, starring Oswald, the Lucky Rabbit, in celebration of the Lunar New Year 2023 and Disney’s 100th anniversary.

Creative Director Matthew M. Williams sources inspirations around the globe, from New York and Paris to Los Angeles, Shanghai, Tokyo and beyond. For this collaboration, the designer worked with Disney to create a “one-of-a-kind world tour,” that fuses Oswald’s mischievous, high-energy spirit with his own directional aesthetic for Givenchy, in a capsule of collectible statement pieces that capture the spirit of adventure.

                                                                            ♡

[rambleonwaywardson]

Clegan Astronaut AU - Part 8

Masterpost

AU Summary: the boys as modern day NASA astronauts. Taking place in 2025, Bucky is about to head to the moon as mission commander of Artemis III while Buck is CAPCOM at NASA. Established relationship (obnoxiously in love).

Author's Note: We're going to the moon!

Definitions since NASA loves acronyms

---

A house looks big until you climb a tree. The first time your little human limbs carry you up that rough wooden bark, so you can perch high on a branch with the breeze hitting your face just so, you feel like you’re on top of the world. An adventurer, off to discover and conquer new lands. All you need is a telescope and you’ll be a modern day Shackleton. A kid can dream this way. Can see a whole heroic future laid out before them, with the world at their disposal and the wind in their hair.

A town looks big until you get in a plane for the first time. Little buildings, little cars, little people shrinking to tiny specks, like ants roaming back and forth across a brick patio. The first time you get into a plane, you feel like you’re on top of the world. The first time you fly one, nothing will ever be the same. A young pilot can dream this way. Can look back and see the little kid they were, swinging on a tree branch, and say look where we are now. Can look forward and feel invincible.

A planet looks big until you look down on it from a space station, orbiting the world 16 times in a single Earth day. People, houses, towns are invisible, insignificant, but they’re all there, in one perfect picture through a space station window. The continents stretch across the globe between vast expanses of ocean that feel endless from the ground but look so inconsequential from the heavens above. The first time you go to space, you don’t really feel on top of the world anymore, because the world, suddenly, doesn’t feel so grand. And yet it’s beautiful, breathtaking, perfect all the same. An astronaut can dream this way. Can look backwards and forwards and think, nothing has ever been, or ever will be, better than this. 

Until they go further, faster, in search of something new, somewhere that no one else has ever been. Twelve people have stepped foot on the lunar surface. Only twelve. Not a single one since 1972. And never at the lunar South Pole. In just a matter of days, all of that will change. 

–

November 6

Cape Canaveral, FL

The Space Launch System, 322 feet tall with millions of pounds of thrust capability, looms over Florida’s space coast in the sunrise, an all-powerful presence that will hold the fates of four men in her hands. The rocket stands quietly on launch pad 39B, her main engines and solid rocket boosters just waiting to be brought to life. It’s been under development for many years at NASA, designed with the explicit purpose of getting humans and their cargo to places they’ve never gone before. That starts with returning to the moon. This time, the missions are longer and more complex. They’re meant to test the limits of human survival and create a sustained human presence beyond low earth orbit. Artemis 2 already successfully orbited the moon. Now if Artemis 3 can get the job done, it may open up a new chapter for the human species. 

The esteemed mission commander meant to accomplish this feat is currently dressed in an Artemis crew polo-shirt but still has bed-hair, which he’d hopelessly tried to tame for the photos NASA wanted of the four crew members this morning. He’s also trying not to burst out laughing at the sight of scrambled eggs stuck to Curt’s nose. Eggs that Bucky, said commander, had just flung at him off of his fork.

“Oh, real classy,” Curt says, wiping the eggs off his face. He pops a piece into his mouth and swallows before sticking out his tongue.

“You takin’ my sloppy seconds, Curt?” Bucky asks.

Curt raises an eyebrow and points his fork at the commander. “Don’t talk about your husband that way.”

Bucky scowls. “Fuck off about my husband.”

Curt gathers some of his own eggs onto his fork and takes aim. Bucky squeezes his eyes shut in resigned anticipation, but Rosie shoves Curt’s hand down before he can fire. “No fair,” Curt whines. “He hit me.”

Rosie levels a hard look at him, and Curt angrily shoves the eggs into his own mouth. They both glance over, though, when they hear a gasp followed by a barking laugh. Alex, at the other end of the table, has one hand clapped over his mouth, the other holding his fork in the air, as he stares at Bucky, who is glaring right back at him, egg stuck in his messy hair. There’s a tense, slow-motion moment of the four men staring each other down, like they’re in a western face-off instead of NASA quarantine. Just as they’re scrambling for a weapon in this food fight, a bellowing voice shouts “NO!”

They all freeze and look at the doorway to the kitchen, like four children caught doing something naughty. One of the poor chefs who had prepared this meal had come in to see if there was anything else they may need, and the look of horror on her face is enough to make the astronauts slowly lower their utensils and apologize. “Sorry, ma’am,” Rosie says sheepishly, even though he hasn’t even done anything.

The chef sighs, crossing her arms. “Is it that bad?” she asks, knowing full well the food is the furthest thing from bad. “Nothing better to do with it than throw it at each other?”

Alex shakes his head and pointedly takes a bite. “No, ma’am.”

“It’s perfect,” Bucky says sincerely. “Couldn’t ask for a better pre-launch meal.” 

Despite being given their choice of what to eat for breakfast this morning, the crew had decided to keep with an old NASA tradition that had started with Alan Shepard, the first American man in space. Before his inaugural flight, he’d been served steak and eggs, something filling and rich in protein. And so they’re eating steak and eggs, washed down with some orange juice at Curt’s request.

“Delightful,” Curt echoes. He nods his head enthusiastically as he takes a massive bite of perfectly seasoned steak.

The chef rolls her eyes and waves her hand at them dismissively. “Eat up, boys.” It’ll be several hours until they’re able to eat anything else.

–

Houston, TX

There’s a quiet sort of clamor around Mission Control, papers rustling and coffee makers gurgling and men and women hustling about as flight controllers prepare themselves for every possible outcome of today. As the last dregs of hurricane season refuse to slip silently away, the NASA meteorologists have been diligently keeping an eye on the stormy weather threatening to hit the Florida coast. As of early this morning, they were still go, but mission control continues to wait with baited breath for a call that could put a pin in the entire day.

For now, business as usual.

Gale runs a hand through his hair as he walks to his console. He takes a sip of his coffee, which is fresh from the coffee maker in the back of the room, and it just about scalds the taste buds right off his tongue. With a grimace, he sets the ridiculously hot cup on his desk, and that’s when he notices the plain white box sitting on his chair. Skeptically, he reaches down and removes the lid, revealing a neatly folded, navy blue Yankees sweatshirt, the lettering worn but the fabric as soft as ever. A note sits on top: “Happy Launch Day.” He’d recognize Bucky’s messy scrawl anywhere. 

Looking around at the other flight controllers, Gale’s eyes land on Dr. Huston, who arrived back in Houston from quarantine last night. They make eye contact, and Dr. Huston nods to him. Bucky, evidently, had requested that the flight surgeon personally ensure Gale get this today. 

He sets the box at his feet and sits down in his chair, the sweatshirt gripped tightly in his hand. With another glance around the room to make sure no one is watching him too closely, he presses the fabric to his nose. It no longer smells like him. Instead, it’s all Bucky. Smokey and sweet. Bucky couldn’t take the sweatshirt with him, so instead he did for Gale what Gale did for him two weeks ago: gave him something to bring him peace. Gale’s mouth can’t decide if it should smile or frown, so instead he just stares at the piece of clothing laying limply in his lap with a weird, thoughtful sort of twisted expression that totally won’t make the other flight controllers look at him suspiciously at all.

Out of the corner of his eye, he clocks someone sitting down at the console next to him, and it’s not who is supposed to be there. Marge slides into Croz’s seat and leans way too far into Gale’s personal space.

“Can I help you?” Gale drawls skeptically.

Marge hums, pursing her lips and tilting her head innocently. Gale glares at her, not liking the concerned look in her eyes. She glances at the sweatshirt gripped in his hands, then back at him. “You doing okay?”

Gale is tired of that question. Or at least, he’s tired of the general implication that he may not be okay. The rocket hasn’t even left the ground. John is not even in low earth orbit, much less on his way to the moon. He doesn’t know if he’s sick of the notion that he can’t handle his job, or if he’s sick of being reminded of the fact that he may eventually have reason to not be fine. “Yes,” he says curtly. “I’m good.”

She fixes him with that same look she’s been giving him for days, the one that says she doesn’t quite believe him and she knows he doesn’t know if he believes himself. But he is a professional. He is good at his job. And that isn’t going to change now. He levels her with a look nearly as intense and pointed as her own. “We’re not gonna talk about it. We’re all just gonna do our jobs. I told them I can handle it and I can.”

Marge leans back and crosses her arms, but she nods at him. Croz appears behind her, his own cup of coffee in hand, and leans against the back of the chair. He ducks his head low conspiratorially. “Is there a reason you’re having a secret meeting at my desk?”

“Well, that would be a secret now, wouldn’t it?” Marge smirks at him, and he chuckles, motioning for her to get out of his seat. 

She gets to her feet and smooths her skirt. “Best of luck Major Cleven.” Stepping closer to Gale, she gives him a gentle kiss on the cheek and squeezes his arm. “Give Major Egan my regards.” When she turns around, she gives Croz a quick hug before returning to her own desk, where she will spend the day translating mission control speak for the public.

Harry Crosby, the Flight Dynamics Officer, or FIDO, takes his seat beside Gale. “How’s it going, Buck?”

Gale narrows his eyes at his computer screen, trying to analyze Croz’s tone to determine if that was a legitimate question or another ‘how are you feeling now that your husband is about to go to the moon and the odds of him returning are not as high as you’d like?’ Knowing Croz, he could mean it either way. 50/50. 

So Gale just nods. “Good, Croz. How are you?”

“Yeah, yeah good,” Croz replies. He’s the best flight dynamics officer NASA has. He’s been a flight controller on countless missions. He was FIDO for Artemis 2, even. This is standard… except it’s not. The stakes just keep getting higher and everybody knows it. It’s just that no one will say it out loud unless they have to. “I’m good,” Croz repeats. He raises his cup of coffee to his mouth.

“I wouldn’t,” Gale warns him. When Croz looks at him funny, he explains, “hot as hell.” Croz nods gratefully and gently blows on the coffee instead.

–

Bucky, Curt, Rosie, and Alex keep exchanging meaningful glances with one another across the suit-up room. Each of their suit techs is running them through a series of checks as they put on every single piece of their OCS suits. They had these suits custom-fitted months ago, but sitting in the chairs in the suit-up room at Kennedy Space Center, everything is feeling more and more real by the second. They’re doing this. It isn’t any sort of dress rehearsal, or a fitting, or an extremely detailed dream. It’s real. 

“Looking hot, Egan,” Curt calls out from his chair.

“Not as hot as you, babe,” Bucky says back as his tech helps him get the bright orange and blue outer pressure garment on over top of his liquid cooling garment, which is essentially glorified long underwear with cooling capabilities.

Suiting up is not a short process, and it’s highly detailed and redundant. These are the suits that will be worn inside Orion, including during critical mission phases like launch and reentry. It’s the suit that’s meant to keep them alive in case of a catastrophe in the spacecraft. NASA is taking no chances that one of them could fail. The techs tell them to sit, stand, clench their fists, crouch, bend, twist, and just about any other movement that could be inhibited by the suit or that could damage the suit if incorrectly worn. They do up buttons and zippers one by one, demonstrating after every single one that it’s secure.

Before putting his left glove on, Bucky rubs his thumb over his ring finger – already a habit after only a month of being married – only to remember that the ring isn’t there. No jewelry can be worn while in the space suit. There’s a brief pang in his chest, but he knows the ring is safe in his Personal Preference Kit, which he’ll take with him on board Orion. His suit tech raises an eyebrow at him and asks if he’s alright.

“Yeah, all good.” He nods at the tech, who helps him slip the glove over his hand and secure the pressure seal. 

–

Gale checks the time. L-2 hours and 30 minutes. He knows that right now, the crew is disembarking from the holding room, suited up and ready to go. They’re being met with flashing cameras, the world’s first launch-day look at the first men to step foot on the moon in this century. They’re saying goodbye to their families – from a distance, to avoid any potential contamination. Saying goodbye to parents and siblings. No spouses this time, though. 

Gale is the only spouse of an Artemis 3 astronaut.

A small part of him longs desperately to be there on Cape Canaveral, the SLS watching over them in the distance, the silver transport van waiting to take the crew to the launch pad. Bucky in front of him, so close he could almost touch him but just a hand’s breadth out of his reach. He wants to see those beautiful blue eyes staring into his own, that messy brown hair blowing haphazardly in the rising wind. He wants that last look.

He wants to watch the rocket climbing into the cloudy afternoon sky, watch as it carries a part of his heart away to the stars. 

He’ll be with John almost every step of the way, the angel on his shoulder and the voice, quite literally, in his ear. He has nothing to complain about, really. His job is here. His job is to keep his husband safe. He’ll hear his voice again soon enough, and he’ll settle for the mere vision of John’s wild grin as he looks to the heavens, the phantom feeling of fingers brushing over his own. 

Gale takes a breath and reins his thoughts in. He flicks the mental switch that pushes him into work mode, his focus nowhere but on the mission.

At KSC, Bucky doesn’t have any family to say goodbye to. He stands by as the others speak with their parents or siblings, says a few words to them himself. He takes a breath, tries not to dwell too much on the pressing need to see Gale’s face just one more time. One more time before he climbs into that spacecraft. 

It won’t be long until he hears the comforting sound of his voice. Gale will be with him through the whole mission, at least when he’s on shift. He’s lucky, that way. Few other astronauts have the luxury of that closeness to a loved one. So this has to be okay.

With one final wave, the crew climbs into the astrovan, and they set off towards launch pad 39B.

–

As the crew finishes suiting up, mission control starts buzzing, flight controllers chatting, checking the telemetry data coming in from the SLS and Orion, and ensuring they can properly communicate with the spacecraft. 

“Weather is holding, Flight,” a voice comes in from KSC. There’s a brewing storm off the Atlantic coast, but it doesn’t look like it will hit until well after launch. The wind isn’t against them yet. Visibility is good. Flight director Albert Clark hopes this stroke of luck will bode well for the mission.

Gale thinks about Bucky, ranting to him the other night about how this better not play out like last time. When he went to the station, the launch had to be scrubbed three times due to bad weather before they finally got off the ground. And every scrub occurred after the astronauts had already boarded the spacecraft. “Three times, Gale!”

A lot of launches get scrubbed; that’s just how things are. Whether its inclement weather or a technical concern with the spacecraft or the rocket or the ground systems. Any abnormality, and the rocket might not leave the pad. The crew has to come back down, a process in itself, then suit up and do it all again another day. In the end, everyone would rather that than a launch gone awry.

“Would you rather not go?” Gale had asked.

“You know the answer to that,” Bucky had replied, rolling his eyes. He’d give an arm and a leg to go to the moon. He’d just prefer if he didn’t have to go through the entire hours-long process of launch prep several times over like some weird version of Groundhog Day.

Gale would prefer that, too. A scrub or two could mean up to two more weeks in quarantine for the crew. Two extra weeks of Gale’s house being too empty. Two extra weeks of being on the defensive, thinking about every single thing that might go wrong and how they’ll work through it.

But the weather is holding. Now it’s up to, well, everything else.

–

Four astronauts, clad in OCS suits, rise slowly above the cape in the launch tower elevator. Destination: the Orion crew capsule, stacked at the top of the SLS. They could see for miles, if they cared to look, but their thoughts are on nothing but the rocket they’re about to board. It’s alive now, fueled and ready to go in its launch configuration. It creaks and hums in front of them, daring them to climb on.

Alex chuckles as they walk across the access arm at the top of the launch tower, 300 feet in the air. “Are we crazy?” The others can’t blame him for putting into words what they’re all thinking. They’ve all thought it before, too, the last time they each voluntarily strapped themselves onto a gigantic rocket literally meant to eject them from the planet.

“100%,” Rosie assures him.

At the end of the access arm, a few members of the closeout crew, dressed in white NASA flight suits, greet them as they enter the White Room.

“Ready to fly, boys?”

One of the closeout team members approaches and claps Bucky on the shoulder. Bucky looks at him before breaking into a grin. “Kenny, what are you doing up here?”

Ken Lemmons is one of the lead engineers for the Orion capsule and a good friend of the crew members. Bucky has known him for years, since junior year of college when Kenny transferred to the aerospace engineering program at the same university that he and Gale attended.

Kenny grins. “Wanted to personally see you off. And make sure you don’t fuck up my spacecraft.”

“Our spacecraft, now,” Curt says cheekily, even as Kenny pulls him into a one-armed hug.

“She gonna take care of us?” Bucky asks, motioning to the open hatch of Orion.

Kenny gives the same half-hug to Alex and Rosie before stepping back. “Oh yeah,” he promises. “Smooth ride, guaranteed.” 

There’s an energy in the White Room, this camaraderie between the astronauts just itching to get this mission going and the closeout team whose job it is to see them off safely. This is the last human contact that the crew will have, other than with each other, for a month.

The team members do another set of checks on the OCS suits, and they help the four astronauts get their com caps situated on their heads before conducting a com check.

Bucky, as commander, is the first to climb into the spacecraft, and a support person helps him get into his seat and check that his communications gear is still properly configured. Then the bulky space helmet is sliding down over his head and the support person makes sure it’s properly sealed. She makes sure he’s strapped in, coolant hooked up and oxygen flowing, and then squeezes his shoulder and looks him in the eye. He smiles and gives her a thumbs up before shaking her hand.

Next is Curt, sliding into the seat beside Bucky before going through the same process. Then Rosie, and lastly Alex. With all four astronauts strapped into the capsule, Kenny pokes his head in through the hatch, grinning with the same excitement and anticipation that is palpable in the atmosphere around them. He takes a deep breath, taking in the sight of his friends, these four brave American men, off to make history in the spacecraft he helped design. “Godspeed, boys. Have a safe flight.”

Then the hatch closes the four of them inside.

Curt reaches over and taps Bucky on the arm, pulling Bucky’s focus away from the console in front of his face. They grin at each other and Curt lifts his fist for Bucky to fist bump. They’re really doing this.

“Whaddya say, Curt?”

Curt turns his head to face forward again. “Gonna fly like an angel,” he says. “Not die like one.”

–

Inside the launch control center at Kennedy, the test director gives the final briefing. The weather is holding. The vehicle is in good condition, telemetry is good. They relay to Houston that all systems are nominal. Houston relays the same message back.

“How we lookin’?” Bucky asks Gale over coms.

“So far so good down here,” Gale tells him, relieved to hear his voice.

“How’s that damn weather?”

Gale leans back in his chair and watches the room around him, the flight controllers running through last minute checks and monitoring every single system. “Sounds like it’s going to cooperate for once.”

On Orion, Bucky is already thinking about how his legs are going to go all numb from sitting in the same position in this seat for hours. But he tries to look out the window. All he can really see is gray-blue sky, clouds for the most part leaving Cape Canaveral in shadow. “I sure hope you’re right.”

“Launch control says the storm is still far off the coast,” Gale assures him. “And wind speeds aren’t high enough to mess with you yet.”

“Then it looks like we’re doing this, huh?”

Gale nods, even though Bucky can’t see him. “We’re doing this.”

–

L-15 minutes. 

Albert Clark, standing at his console in the middle of the room, takes a good look around mission control. “Alright flight controllers, give me a go/no-go for Artemis 3 launch. Booster?”

“Go.”

“Control.” “Go.”

“GNC.” “Go, Flight.”

“Prop.” “We’re go.”

“CDH.” “Go.”

“FIDO.” “We’re go, Flight.”

“FAO.” “Go, Flight.”

“MPO.” “Go.”

“EECOM.” “Go.”

“INCO.” “We’re go.”

“CAPCOM?”

Gale, leaning on his desk with his chin resting on a fist as he follows the go/no-go, smirks to himself and nods. “We are go, Flight.”

“Launch control this is Houston,” Clark says. “We are go for launch.”

“Copy Houston.”

Gale listens in anticipation to the callouts from Launch Control. T-10 minutes. The automated Ground Launch Sequencer has taken over the official launch countdown. 

T-6 minutes. “GLS go for core stage tank pressurization.”

“Orion ascent pyros armed.”

“Copy, pyros.”

“Orion set to internal power.”

“Copy, Orion internal.”

T-4 minutes. “GLS is go for core stage APU.”

“Core stage APU start.”

T-1 minute. Gale is drumming his fingers on his thigh as the chatter in Mission Control wells up to a crescendo and then dies down. They’re ready. Launch control confirms, “we are go for launch.”

Outside, at viewing areas far from the launch pad and all up and down the Space Coast, excitement bubbles as the loudspeakers echo the countdown. Thousands of spectators join in. “15, 14, 13, 12…”

Inside mission control and launch control, the launch director’s voice counts over coms “10, 9, 8, 7, 6. Main engines start.”

The rocket on the pad explodes to life, the main engines spitting gas and flames into the chamber below. 

“Holy shit,” Alex mutters. The entire stack is shaking, jostling the crew inside Orion. This is by far the most powerful rocket any of them have ever been on and they can feel it. Bucky is grinning like a maniac as he flexes his fingers in and out, in and out in anticipation.

“3, 2, 1. We have liftoff.”

There is no doubt of the exact moment that the rocket is released from the pad, charging into the air. The crew feels themselves pressed back into their seats with incredible force as they accelerate upward, clearing the launch tower in a matter of seconds. 

“Here we go, boys, the clock is running,” Bucky says to his crew, and Curt whoops loudly as they pick up speed and the rocket begins to reorient. Over coms to Houston, Bucky informs them, “Gale, we’re into roll.”

As CAPCOM, Gale acts as the go-between for the crew and mission control. As mission commander, Bucky is the primary contact on the other end. “Okay, John. Thrust good on all four engines. SRBs good.”

Bucky: “Looking good here… roll complete. Pitching now.” 

The rocket adjusts its angle, setting it on a trajectory to reach orbit. The crew can now just barely see the world disappearing below them. 

Curt: “Fuuucckkk”

Gale: “Good, boys?”

Bucky: “Good here. Curt’s just having a moment.”

Gale: “Artemis 3, Houston wants to remind you that everything you say will be transcribed and available to the public.”

Bucky: “Curt, Gale wants you to stop saying fuck.”

Curt: “Fuck Gale.”

Gale: “Thanks.”

Rosie: “Jesus, look at that.” They can see the horizon, a rainbow stretching over the ocean as the incoming rain slowly approaches the coast.

Gale has to remind himself to keep breathing as he watches the live video feed on the big screen at the front of mission control. Perfect, he thinks, willing it to stay that way. He tunes in to Croz’s calm voice. “Trajectory is nominal. Straight down the middle, Flight.”

Clark nods. “Copy FIDO.”

Gale: “You’re looking great, John, right down the line.”

Bucky: “Roger, all good from here… Hey Gale, you’re looking great, too.”

There are collective groans in the background, both from Orion and mission control. Gale can’t be bothered, at this point. Bucky grins at his console.

“Approaching max q,” Croz states, about a minute into the flight.

Gale: “1 minute 15 seconds. Coming up on max q.”

Bucky: “Copy. Come on baby, get us through.” This is, presumably, said to the rocket. Not Gale.

The entire room seems to hold its breath as the dynamic pressure on the rocket reaches its maximum, shoving its way through the atmosphere at high speed. Nothing happens. The rocket keeps climbing, and everyone can exhale. It’s not common that a rocket actually fails at max q; it’s a major design constraint that every single part and system is engineered around, created specifically to survive launch conditions. But there is undeniably a reason why it’s a major design constraint. If the slightest thing is off, everything can fall apart in the blink of an eye.

Curt: “Two and a half G’s. Trajectory good.”

Gale: “You’re through max q. All systems nominal.”

Bucky: “Engines good. We’re goin’ boys!”

Gale breathes a little easier with every second that passes, even though he knows this mission is just getting started. His eyes track the trajectory on the big screen as the rocket flies over the coastline.

Gale:  “Artemis 3, you are feet wet.”

Bucky: “Roger. Feet wet.”

Gale: “2 minutes. Artemis 3, confirm SRB separation.” The two solid rocket boosters jettison from the core stage, their job done, and they plummet into the ocean below.

Bucky: “Can confirm SRB separation. Still going nicely.”

Gale: “Engines look good.”

Next the service module fairing and launch abort system are both jettisoned.

Bucky: “4 minutes and we are still go up here, Buck.”

Gale: “Roger, we’re checking systems here.”

Clark runs through the go/no-go again.

Gale: “We’re go here. Looking good, boys. Right where you need to be.”

Bucky: “Thanks babe.”

Alex: “Oh man, Buck. You really gotta feel what this baby is capable of.”

Gale: “I plan to. Glad it’s a smooth ride. You boys are doing great.”

Around 8 minutes in, the booster and control officers give Gale the thumbs up.

Gale: “Go for core stage MECO.”

Bucky: “Roger. MECO… Core separation confirmed.”

The core stage, which includes the main engines, cuts off right on time and disengages from the spacecraft, falling back through the atmosphere. 

Bucky: “Entering LEO… and we can feel it up here.”

After main engine cut off, as the spacecraft enters low Earth orbit, the crew finally feels weightless. Rosie laughs as he grabs their zero-g indicator, a small stuffed bear with a NASA shirt, as it floats up and around the capsule, letting them know with zero doubt that they are, in fact, in zero gravity. He tosses it gently towards Alex, watching it float effortlessly in a perfect, straight-line trajectory, no forces to inhibit its motion. 

“Bucky, check this out,” Alex says, leaning over to pass the bear to his commander.

Bucky grabs the toy and stares down at it for a moment before he scoffs. “Where did this come from?” The bear has a tiny name tag sewn onto his shirt that says ‘Beary Egan.’ Except last he knew, their zero-g indicator was a little Earth plushie. 

“Happy launch day,” Gale’s voice chimes in over coms, making Bucky laugh.

“Buck,” Rosie says. “I want you to know that Bucky is currently hugging the zero-g indicator with an undue amount of force.”

“Excuse you,” Curt says dramatically. “The zero-g indicator has a name.”

Rosie nods in understanding. “Sorry. Buck, I want you to know that Bucky is currently squeezing the life out of Beary Egan.”

“I believe that’s Commander Beary Egan,” Alex corrects.

Gale chuckles, knowing that this exchange will appear in the official mission transcript. “John, please let zero-g indicator Commander Beary Egan do his job and indicate the zero-g.”

“The zero-g has already been indicated,” Bucky retaliates. But he lets go of the bear and tosses it to Curt, who bumps it around in the air, back and forth and back and forth like a tennis ball.

“Never fuckin’ gets old,” he muses. 

Now that they’re in low Earth orbit, the interim cryogenic propulsion stage undergoes a burn that raises the spacecraft’s altitude, preventing it from re-entering the atmosphere so they can later perform a trans-lunar injection burn. With this maneuver complete, the crew spends the next hour or so performing systems checks and deploying and adjusting solar panels, preparing for the journey to the moon as they orbit the planet.

Bucky looks out the capsule window, where he can see the curvature of the Earth, the blues and greens and browns that make up the planet they call home, the wispy white clouds in the atmosphere that’s now below them. He’s seen this view before, from the space station, but it’s just as breathtaking the second time around.

Gale: “Okay 3, we’re coming up on TLI.”

Curt: “Copy. Go for TLI.” The ICPS fires to perform the trans-lunar injection burn, which takes several minutes, kicking Orion out of low Earth orbit and onto a path to the moon. 

Gale: “Looks fine… yep we have you on target. Burn looking good.”

Curt: “Burn baby burn.”

Rosie: “Can’t believe I’m stuck in a tin can with you for a month.”

Curt: “Likewise.”

Gale: “Go for staging.”

Bucky: “Yep. We have ICPS separation.” He glances over at Curt as the ICPS kicks off as well. “We’re committed now.” 

They are officially en route. 

Curt reaches over and claps Bucky on the shoulder, jostling him enthusiastically. “We’re going to the fuckin’ moon!” Rosie and Alex high five through their bulky OCS gloves. On Earth, mission control is exchanging similar congratulations. Croz reaches across his desk to shake hands with Gale, and they’re both grinning from the overwhelming excitement and relief of a successful launch and TLI burn. The excitement of achieving a trajectory that’s going to put humanity back on the lunar surface.

–

That night, Gale steps out of JSC’s building 30, which houses mission control, and into a world where his husband is no longer on this planet. While he’s not inside mission control, he has no way to contact him. In this day and age, that feels like such an unthinkable thing. No texting, or calling, or emailing. Or anything. Except for the occasional video call, the only way to hear John’s voice is when he’s on shift as CAPCOM, and that’s how things are going to be for the next month.

Gale will spend an 8 hour shift on coms with Artemis 3, and then he will go home to Pepper. He will eat alone, go to sleep alone, and wake up alone. He will worry about his husband walking on an extraterrestrial body, alone. 

Gale sighs and takes a deep breath, closes his eyes, and lets the sticky Gulf Coast air fill his lungs. He opens his eyes when he hears footsteps beside him, and he doesn’t have to look over to know that it’s Marge. She takes his hand in his, and they just stand there. You’re not alone, the touch says, and Gale squeezes her fingers. Thank you. They stare up at the night sky together, at the stars pockmarking the blackness like little beacons in the night, at the moon that his husband is heading towards at this very moment.

Gale inhales again, bites his lip, lets himself smile the littlest bit. “It was a beautiful launch.”

And it was. If only that could guarantee a beautiful mission.

…

…

Part 9

[lgbtqreads]

Do you know any LGBTQ+ holiday books or winter books?

Sure do! You can find these here: https://lgbtqreads.com/romance/by-tropearchetype/

F/F

Matzo Match by Roz Alexander

Higher by Roz Alexander (Rosh HaShana)

A Masc for Purim by Roz Alexander

How to Excavate a Heart by Jake Maia Arlow (YA)

Snow Globe by Georgia Beers

All I Want for Christmas by Georgia Beers

Checking it Twice by Lucy Bexley

*Make the Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake

Take Me Home by Lorelie Brown (Thanksgiving) (Amz)

*Most Wonderful by Georgia Clark

Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun

Mistletoe by Lyn Gardner

Season of Love by Helena Greer

Mangos & Mistletoe by Adriana Herrera

Under a Falling Star by Jae (Christmas)

Under the Mistletoe by Everly James

In the Event of Love by Courtney Kae (Christmas)

Collie Jolly by Leigh Landry (Christmas)

All I Want for Christmas by Clare Lydon

All I Want for Valentine’s by Clare Lydon

Christmas in Mistletoe by Clare Lydon (Amz)

Holly and Ivy by TB Markinson and Miranda MacLeod

Stocking Stuffers by Erin McLellan

Party Favors by Erin McLellan

The Holiday Trap by Roan Parrish

The Christmas Ball by Lily Seabrooke

Silent Night by Lily Seabrooke

Eight Kinky Nights by Xan West (Chanukah)

M/M

The Geek Who Saved Christmas by Annabeth Albert

Catered All the Way by Annabeth Albert (Christmas)

A (Fake) Boyfriend for Christmas by Sean Ashcroft

Faux Ho Ho by ‘Nathan Burgoine

Felix Navidad by ‘Nathan Burgoine

Hearts Alight by Elliot Cooper (Hanukkah) (Amz)

Real World by AJ Cousins (Christmas)

Glass Tidings by AJ Cousins (Christmas)

You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince by Timothy Janovsky

Candy Hearts by Erin McLellan

His for Hanukkah by Reese Morrison  – T (Amz)

A Boyfriend for Christmas by Jay Northcote

A Family For Christmas by Jay Northcote

What Happens at Christmas by Jay Northcote (Amz)

The Longest Night by EE Ottoman – T

The Holiday Trap by Roan Parrish

Finding My Elf by David Valdes

Kissing Santa Claus by Max Walker

Red Envelope by Atom Yang (Lunar New Year) (Amz)

M/F

The Mistletoe Motive by Chloe Liese – DF

Bottle Rocket by Erin McLellan – BM

F/NB

Christmas Inn Maine by Chelsea M. Cameron (Demigirl)

NB/NB

A Very Enby Christmas by Eli Wray

M/F/M

Her Christmas Cookie by Katrina Jackson