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flamingpudding · 1 year ago

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Ouija Board Prompt Idea

A/N: A late night Idea that came to me instead of sleep and I wrote this down during lunch break

Danny was just in Gotham because the city spirit had asked him for assistance with a rather persistent unruly Ghost that didn't understand that this was her haunt and she did not want them there.

So when he got the notice he did his kingly duties and made sure the Ghost was no longer annoying Lady Gotham. He was the Ghost King but even he didn't want to anger a spirit as old as her. He had watched the spirit take a ghostly club and hit Clockwork the Ancient of Time with it without remorse the first time they were introduced. So yea, no messing with this one.

He had been about to portal back home when he felt a strange pull one that was close to when he got summoned but yet it didn't feel as demanding but more like a little kid pulling on his shirt hesitantly. So he checked it out…

… and came across a group of vigilantes investigating an occult side.

Invisible he watched them, curious. He used to do the teen hero stick too before the whole Ghost King business allowing him to get some semblance of a normal life with his rogues, might as well see how others to that hero stick. Besides the pull he felt appeared to come from that tall one wearing a red helmet something was up with that guy.

"Come on, ask the ghosts a question or are you too chicken to do it?"

"I will not participate in this nonsense, Red Hood."

"Come on guys it will be fun!"

"For whom? You, Spoiler?"

"RR aren't you curious?"

"We just gotta ask the board a question and if a ghost is around they will answer by moving it, right?"

"Ghosts don't exist."

Okay Danny was not taking personal offense here but he was a half ghost and he ruled the Ghost Zone filled with ecto-entities that could count as ghosts. So yes, ghosts existed. It was a simple decision then as he floated down invisible crouching next to board still invisible and out of the way from them.

Making sure he made a lot of scraping noises as he moved the small wooden piece on the board to 'YES'.

Someone yelped and someone else shrieked, though Danny wasn't sure if that was a shriek of excitement or not. He still grinned at their reactions.

"Did that just move to 'YES'! It did, didn't it!"

Yea okay that earlier was a shriek of excitement considering how that girl in purple was jumping around. Though the poor kid among them looked a little paler now, Danny decided to keep an eye on the kid to make sure he wasn't overdoing it.

"Okay so a ghost is here?"

Maybe he should have bothered listening to Lady Gotham or Tucker more about the vigilantes of Gotham. Oh well no time better as this to learn. What did the girl call this boy again, RR? Danny wondered what that stood for.

He moved the piece around the board a little making sure they noticed before he spelled something out.

"N-O-S-H-I-T-S-H-E-R-L-O-C-K. No shit Sherlock. Ha! I like this ghost!" The tall one laughed, he believed the kid called him Red Hood earlier. Well the red helmet was a great testament to that sort of code name. Still he wondered about that weird feeling he got from the guy but pushed that aside for later.

"Well since there is a ghosts, what should we ask?"

"Maybe how old he is?"

"Think it rude to ask how he died?"

Danny rolled his eyes. Those were such mainstream questions.

"B-O-R-I-N-G, 1-6 , YES. Guys it looks like we are not were imaginativ."

"Well what do you suggest we ask then?"

"I don't know! Maybe he can show us a cool trick?"

"You know that reminds me of this game that's been out for a while, phasmophobia or something like that?"

Oh Danny knew this one! Tucker had told him about the game, he himself hadn't played it but he had watched his best friend do so, they had a lot of fun joking about how the ghosts were portrayed and the tools that were available to the players.

"So what? We ask the ghost to play Hide and Seek with us?"

"Let's cease this nonsense. This is not something we should mess with."

"Oh are you scared?"

He made a show of moving the wooden piece, doing his best not to snicker out loud as he moved the piece to count down from the number 9. Letting his own powers out a little to cause the already dim light to flicker and the room to cool down several degrees.

The reaction was instant once again. Though he didn't expect them to run for hiding spaces he definitely did not expect these people to pull out their weapons and position against each other's back like they were ready for a fight. Then again they were vigilantes

The poor kid among them looked even paler. Before his count down could reach 0 he decided to not scare the poor kid more. Pulling back his powers the room's temperature normalized and the lights stopped flickering. He moved the wooden piece knowing that at least one of them was watching it in anticipation.

"J-K-S-O-R-R-Y"

"I think the ghost just apologized to us?" The RR teenager said carefully and Danny couldn't help the sheepish smile even if they couldn't see it in his invisible state.

"You know about the game?"

He moved the piece to YES.

"So you thought it was fucking appropriated to scare us like that?"

He moved the piece around and placed it back to YES before spelling out sorry again. The vigilantes shared a look and Danny decided to spell out a question.

"L-I-T-T-L-E-G-U-Y-O-K-A-Y"

"Huh? Uh yea Robin is fine." They looked confused but Danny kept his eyes on the kid. Well the poor boy still looked very pale but he also appeared to try to put on a brave front, it nearly caused a chuckle to escape the halfa.

"Can you show yourself?"

"S-U-R-E"

Not like he was really going to show himself but this was going to be fun, he thanked the Ancients that he was taking lessons with Pandora on how to manipulate his own ectoplasm. He summoned a blob of it making sure he himself was still invisible as he let the green blob be visible, forming it and making it look like a blob ghost.

The reaction was once again instant. They yelled in the chaos all he caught sounded like 'Lazarus water! Moving Lazarus Water!' Before the pale kid, Robin they said, slashed at his ectoplasm blob with his katana, essentially doing nothing to the blob of ectoplasm. The sword just went through it and Danny still holding it confused just instinctively let it reform the shape he gave it.

Danny blinked, okay now he was definitely not showing himself. "This is no a ghost but a Pit Demon!"

From the corner of the eye he saw Lady Gotham appear in the room staring at him disapprovingly and holding that ghost club she had used on Clockwork.

"I can explain, really! I was just joking with them!" He stood holding his hands up to smooth the situation, the green blob fell to the ground splashing against the Ouija Board with a loud splat. His chances of not get hit like Clockwork by Lady Gotham were becoming slimmer.

"WHO SAID THAT?!"

Shit, he hadn't used ghost speech but said that out loud.

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arisuraxz · 5 months ago

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Twinkling Watermelon (pt.1)

summary: you fell in love with beomgyu first, but he fell harder.

warnings: cursing

this is inspired by the show twinkling watermelon! this is my first so please dont hate on me lolz

txt members mentioned, idols mentioned

title track: ditto - newjeans

you were a senior in high school, and beomgyu was too.

a normal day, walking to school, until you see Beomgyu. your crush. but, seeing Beomgyu was a different this time. you saw your friend, Chaewon, with Beomgyu. Beomgyu had a crush on Chaewon, and how do u know? By just watching the scene of Beomgyu and Chaewon.

"hi, Chaewon! Our band is having a concert tonight, and if u come, you'll get to kiss me,"

Beomgyu said, confidently.

While he said that, his friends were around Beomgyu and Chaewon, forming a circle. Choi Yeonjun, Choi Soobin, Kang Taehyun, and Huening Kai. and the other students. While you, you were just standing, like a statue, watching whats happening.

Now, Beomgyu, your crush, gonna kiss your friend? No way. you thought to yourself. is Beomgyu really kissing Chaewon? this cant be.

Chaewon giggles.

"How cute are you, hey? Choi Beomgyu?"

Beomgyu was blushing.

"Well, Beomgyu, if you didnt know, im wearing your concert shirt to support you guys!"

Chaewon was taking off her blue , uniform with her name on it to show Beomgyus band shirt to him.

"Woah!! Really??!?!??!?!?!?"

Beomgyu said excitedly. Even his members, getting excited and smiling.

"Well, Chaewon.... are you really going to our concert later?"

"Well, Beomgyu, it really depends. maybe. maybe yes, maybe no."

"Okay than. we'll wait for you at the concert later!"

Beomgyu ran, and the other members followed him.

Since you heard that their concert will be going on later, you decide to book a seat. But firstly, you check the weather. There will be a storm. Really? A storm? Why would they perform at their concert later while there is a storm? You need to tell Beomgyu that. Not just a need, you have to. You were now going to the gate, but your also thinking about the scene that happened with Chaewon and Beomgyu. It flooded your mind.

"If your going to the concert later, you'll get to kiss me." it said to your mind all over again. And you kept saying, "NO WAY NO WAY NO WAY NO WAY" all over again. You wish you were just Chaewon and going to the concert to kiss Beomgyu.

Chaewon was going to walk up to you, to say something.

"Just to tell you, Im not going to that concert later. There will be a storm. Who wants a concert while a storm is happening?"

Atleast she was honest, tho.

"y-yeah! your right. who wants a c-concert with a storm h-hap-happening?"

you stuttered.

"Y/n? Are you okay? Why are you stuttering?"

"oh! Its because i-its cold h-here."

"what do you mean? yn? its not cold here,"

"i have a f-fever, and i think i-im having c-chills."

you lied.

"oh, i have a jacket here, use it so that your chills will go away!"

And of course, Chaewon always cares about you. since you have been friends with her ever since. you and Chaewon is walking to the school building now, going to your class.

🪢

Finally, school ended. you were about to tell Beomgyu about the weather, but were too nervous. But why not give it a shot? So you were about to find Beomgyu, then there he is. So you came up to him.

"Hey, Beomgyu."

"Oh, hello, young lady! You must be y/n, right?"

He was looking at you with his puppy eyes, and his gray, hair. Gosh, hes so pretty.

"oh, yes i am..! B-by the way, i heard about your concert later. T-there wi-will be a storm. Are you sure your going to perform?"

"oh, there is?!?!?!?!? oh shit! but i cant just cancel the concert!!!!! thanks y/n for telling me, but no way theres a storm later!!!!!"

Beomgyu ran away as he said that. you saw him ran, and he was so cute. you were smiling. After that, the scene hit you again. But the concerts gonna get canceled, right? you didnt care about that. "If you're going to our concert later, you have to kiss me" is all over your mind. you felt dizzy. you were walking outside and saw beomgyu again. but you were about to collapse. your vision is fuzzy, all that is happening is because of the scene that happened earlier. Beomgyu turned around, and saw you.

"oh, its you agai-"

you collapsed in beomgyus chest.

"y/n? hello? hurry, take her to the hospital!!"

Beomgyu was carrying you, you were in his back, and beomgyu was holding you, and running, rushing to the hospital.

this actually sucks, but this is part 1 for now, hope you enjoyed it folks!

#ari writes #txt #beomgyu x reader #txt scenarios #tomorrow x together #story #part 1 #k-pop

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blinddreams24 · 2 months ago

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Monster Under the Bed

Night 5. Error

Inspired by @starzeah123

(Language warning)

(First)

(Previous)

(Next)

Thud.

“FU-U-CK!!¡!”

You sat up. That was definitely a different voice and they didn’t sound… reasonable. After meeting Killer last night, you were hesitant to show yourself until you knew your new guest wasn’t directly dangerous. Killer hadn’t hurt you but he’d implied that he wanted to. You were just trying to be safe.

“D-D-Disg-gusting…” said the glitchy voice. “Wh-Where the he-he-hell did h-he-?” There was a pause and then you heard cloth shifting and the telltale squeak of your rubber ducky plush. He gasped. “O-Oh my sta-sta-stars! M-M-Mine n-now.”

Okay, maybe this guy wasn’t so bad.

“Hello?”

Nevermind!

Blue strings shot onto your bed and yanked you onto the floor by your soul. You cried out in pain at the fall and the tight strings on your soul. This was not at all what you were expecting.

A monster stood over you. A skeleton with a void black skull and odd bright colors decorating his body. His sockets were a piercing red instead of the hollow black you were used to. His yellow teeth grinned at you menacingly but it was difficult to take him seriously while he cradled your duck plush in one arm.

“Gr-Gr-Great. Ano-o-other anomaly-y to de-delete.” He growled.

“Wait!” You couldn’t move anything but your head and it scared you. It probably had something to do with your soul not sitting in your chest properly. “Wait, I’m not a threat to you!”

He scoffed and rolled his eyes. “As i-i-if y-you could b-be.” The fingers of his free hand which held the strings attached to your soul started to curl. You felt immense pain in your entire body.

“AH!!! Wait!!” Ditch effort but here goes. “I know the guys!!”

The strange skeleton paused. “…Th-The g-guys? Be m-m-more specif-if-ific.”

“Cross! And Killer and Horror and Dust! They’ve been coming by every night!” You said, trying to keep the pain out of your voice.

The skeleton raised a brow. “You m-met Ki-Killer? An-An-and survi-vi-vived-d?” He laughed and the ducky squeaked. “I-I-I’d say I d-don’t believe-eve y-you, b-but…” He looked under the bed and his eyelights seemed to lock on that location. “I-I-I c-can see th-the c-c-code. H-Hmm.” He turned back to you. “W-What did y-y-you do?”

“Uh… I fed them spaghetti.”

The skeleton burst into laughter. “Sp-Spaghet-et-etti?? Those sym-sympathetic id-d-diots!”

“Would you like some?” You offered.

He paused and looked at you. “E-Eat y-your stupid fr-friend-endship spaghet-etti? F-F-Fuck n-no. The o-only th-thing of in-interest y-you could po-po-possibly have i-is choco-colate.”

“Oh. I have some chocolate too.” Oddly enough, you immediately regretted saying that.

His eyes locked on you and you suddenly felt a strong sense of dread. “Wh-Where?”

You glanced at the door and then your bound soul. “Uh… I can go get it if you-“

The strings fell off your soul. “Get it.” He demanded. Not asked. Demanded.

He was probably used to getting his way. Despite that, you didn’t see a reason not to get the chocolate.

You stood and walked into the kitchen, your guest right behind you. “A friend gave me some a few weeks ago and I never got around to eating any.” Opening a cabinet, you pulled out a box of chocolates.

The box was immediately snatched from your hands by the greedy gremlin.

“Geez. Warn me next time?” You chuckled as he practically inhaled the chocolates. You could have sworn you saw multiple tongues scoop the chocolates out of the box but it was dark so you weren’t sure.

When he finished, you spoke again. “Was it good?”

“Psh.” He scoffed, tossing the empty box aside. “N-Not even m-my top fifty-ty-ty.”

You raised an eyebrow. “How often do you have chocolate?”

“A-A-All the t-time.” He walked past you and his strings pushed you out of the way though you weren’t even close to him or the duck. “Th-The r-room is m-m-mine n-now. H-Have f-f-fun on the c-c-couch.” The door to your room shut and locked before you could even process what happened.

So… the couch.

Without so much as talking back to the skeleton who obviously thought the world revolved around him, you got settled on the couch. Despot the initial scare and soul grab, tonight had gone by a lot faster than the last few encounters.

He’d be gone in the morning. You were sure of it.

He was not gone.

You were roughly yanked off the couch by your soul, again. And looked up to see the dark skeleton standing over you, again.

He let go of his strings and they released your soul. “Oh m-my st-stars! J-Just get up-p!” He growled impatiently, the ducky still under his arm.

You stood, stretching and holding back grumbles and groans at the rough treatment. “Morning.”

He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms around the plush, making it squeak softly. “Sh-Shut up. You’ve c-c-caught N-Nightmare-are’s attenti-tion. H-He’s a th-thousan-sand t-times w-worse than Ki-Killer a-and he’s af-after y-you. S-So don’t b-be an id-idiot an-and actually l-lock y-your d-d-doors.” He gave you a manic grin. “O-Or d-don’t. I-I w-would enjoy-joy s-seeing m-more vi-violence in th-this world. It’s-s b-boring-ing.”

You blinked. “…I’ve caught whose attention?”

He grinned. “I-I th-think I’ll le-leave that-at t-to y-y-you.” A glitchy white rift opened up behind him and he stepped through.

“Hey! Wait! You can’t just drop that on me and leave!” You sputtered in frustration.

He just grinned at you and the rift closed with a glitchy pop.

. . .

“Great.”

#undertale #undertale au #error sans #monster under the bed

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teacookiesandpeace · 11 months ago

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( Sounds of pencils doodling, students talking )

Part 5

... Mr Garrison: Okay yall, any questions? ?: Craig is drawing Craig: What- Mr Garrison: Sigh Let me see Craig: That was literally a few minutes ago, I've already stopped Mr Garrison: I don't care, give me your notebook Craig. Craig: ( Damned snitch... ) Mr Garrison: What did you say?? Craig: Nothing ...

Mr Garrison: … Craig: ... Mr Garrison: ... Okay Craig I ain't going to deal with your today, go see Mr Mackey- DID YOU JUST FLIP ME OFF?? Craig: No ... Mr Garrison: GET OUT OF HERE. Craig: Ok ...

I need to stop doing these things, when father Maxi finds out he's going to throw me out the window. ?: ..H...Hey Craig: ...What? ?: Are you in trouble too? Craig: Yeah, I was distracted in class ?: With what? Craig: Personal Stuff ?: I s...se...see Craig: What about you? What did you do? ?: Hahah, s...so...some atrocities, w-with my... pals Craig: ... You don't seem like a bad guy ?: I'm not

?: But m-make no m...mis...mistake, I'm t-tough Craig: … Okay, okay, I believe in you Jimmy: I'm Ji...Jimmy, what about you? S-Sorry, I've seen you a few times, but I don't think w...we ever got to t-t..talk, right? Craig: Yeah, I'm Craig Jimmy: It's good to meet you C...Craig, wa...wanna do something cool? Craig: ...Huh Jimmy: D-Do you want to escape school wi...with ...me? I don't feel like going to detention today Craig: ... You're kinda nuts, Jimmy Craig: ... Jimmy: ... Craig: ... Jimmy: ... Craig: Okay, I'm in Jimmy: :D Jimmy: But first, c-can you do me a f...favor? Craig: Ok? Jimmy: C...Can you get those things on the flo...flo...floor for m-me? ...

...

I've never noticed how agonizing being hidden is, this wardrobe is pretty small… I wonder what Craig is doing now At least I'm safe, It's good not to be in danger, at least not as much as before, at least I'm... Free

... I wouldn't be sure about that

Tweek: ... What-

?: Greetings Tweak

Tweek: … HOW... THE HELL DID YOU GET HERE??- ?: Speak softly, in case you want to stay there like a frightened rodent hiding inside a hole Tweek: ..AGH!- G...Go away!, I already told you I don't want n-nothing to do with you guys anymore!... ?: I know, I remember you're a coward

Tweek: ...I'm not a coward, I'm just not going to let these guys go back to using me the same way they're using you and others ?: I'm not being used, I'm just following the rules, you should do the same, we were all doing so well until you escaped and threw it all down the drain Tweek: All I've done is get out of the place that hurts me, and another, you're no punisher! I don't care about dumb spells, I don't want to be a part of it anymore, I finally had the chance to have a better life, not normally, but at least happier ?: I feel sorry for you, you really think you've finally got control of something Tweek: ... What do you mean ?: Mccormick thought he could have a normal life too, he really thought, you know what happened to him, don't you? Tweek: ... ?: Do you recognize the jacket you're wearing right now? ...

?: ...

?: Now you don't want it anymore Tweek: Why are you doing this to me? Tweek: I'm not doing this to hurt anyone, I just want to have a happy life, we were friends before, Red Red: Don't try to be my friend now, and your life is over, it's not my problem if you're a traitor. Red: You still have a chance to patch things up, if we're really friends, think about it

Jimmy: This was easier than I ...t..t..thought! Craig: Hey man, like, thanks, you saved my life Jimmy: You are welcome! That was f-fun, I know a lot of shortcuts, and thank you for... h-helping me jump o...over the wall Craig: No problem Jimmy: So, where are you g...going now? Craig: Home Jimmy: That's cool! I'm going to tell my gang not to mess with you, we're friends now Craig Craig: Okay, uh… Wait, what the hell do you mean gang, where you're going?

Jimmy: Going to m..mess ar...around! ;D Craig: I'm getting scared of you Jimmy, I'm gonna kick your crutch Jimmy: Please don't Craig: Ok Jimmy: B...B..Byeee! See you t...tomo...tomorrow! Craig: Bye

Craig: ... I'm home Craig: ... Craig: Tweek?

Craig: I left school early, you can get out of there if you want to ...

... Craig: ...You can talk to me if you need to, I'll be out here

Red: Mccormick, can you hear me? ... Red: That coward really got on my nerves, I don't want to waste time

Red: ... Red: There you are

Red: I don't need your filthy coat anymore, you can take it back if you want

Red: How do you feel now? Kenny: Mhhpr mhhrp Red: I didn't understand a word.

Red: ... Red: … You look like an Inuit *sigh* Red: Anyways, it's getting dark, let's go back to the barn, where the hell is Kevin?

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matthewfuckinggraygubler · 2 months ago

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· T H E A R T O F G E T T I N G T O K N O W | S P E N C E R R E I D · PT 2

· Pairing: Spencer Reid/OC · Category: Fluff · Warning: None · Words: 5098 · Parts: Pt 1 · Pt 3 · Pt 4 · Summary : Eli, a psychology expert and old friend of Luke's, joins the UAC as a consultant and quickly bonds with Spencer Reid. As they delve into a complex case, Eli and Spencer find themselves drawn to each other on a deeper level. · Note about Eli: Her neurodivergence (She is autistic) is implied but it's never really said.

· Spanish on Wattpad. English isn't my first language, be kind!

· Masterlist

The case we were working on kept progressing, and with it, the pace at the BAU was becoming increasingly hectic. They had been intense days, but the truth is, I was starting to feel more comfortable within the team. And amidst all the pressure and workload, Spencer and I had begun sharing small gestures that, though seemingly insignificant, were starting to mean a lot to me.

· P O V E L I ·

That morning, I arrived at the building earlier than usual. I hadn’t slept well, my mind restless from the case and how it was affecting my daily life. I walked into the office with a desperate need for caffeine. "Ugh… My God… I’m wiped out, I need like 18 coffees…"

When I entered the bullpen, I dropped my backpack and a couple of books I was carrying onto my desk with a bit of a sigh, but when I looked up, I noticed something: a black coffee waiting for me with a small note that read, "For a great start to your day – S."

I had to make an effort to contain my smile, knowing exactly who the thoughtful gesture was from. "Okay… Relax, it’s just a coffee." Spencer and I had been working late the night before, and at some point, we had started taking turns bringing coffee or snacks for each other. What began as a practical, casual gesture had become something more meaningful, at least for me, though maybe I was just imagining things…

As soon as I finished reading the note, Spencer appeared at the door, with his usual calm stride and a book in hand.

—Good morning —he said in a relaxed tone.

—Hey… thanks for the coffee. —I replied, raising the cup in a gesture of gratitude.

—It’s nothing —he shrugged casually. —I figured after the night we had, you’d need it as much as I do.

—You guessed right —I said, taking a sip and raising my eyebrows. —You remembered how I like it.

—Remembering things is kind of my thing. —he joked —You taught me how you like it, so I just remembered —as if he needed to clarify that, maybe it was a joke, I’m not sure.

—I guess… Yeah —I responded, acknowledging the obvious. —How are you? Looks like you’ve been here since before dawn.

—Actually… I never left, I couldn’t stop thinking about some inconsistencies we found yesterday —he explained, slightly shaking the cup in his hand.

—Really? I could’ve stayed… "I definitely would’ve stayed" Did you find anything interesting? —I asked, leaning in a bit to take a look at the documents spread out on the desk.

Spencer nodded, pointing to a couple of notes scribbled in the margins of one of the sheets.

—Look at this, I was reviewing the witness statements and noticed there are discrepancies in the timelines. Two of them, who claimed to have seen the suspect at the same time, described completely different things.

I leaned against the edge of the desk, taking a sip of my own coffee as I processed the information.

—Oh… Yeah, I see. It could mean we have more than one suspect, or that the main one is manipulating events in some way to confuse us.

—Exactly —Spencer said, and I could see that gleam in his eyes, the one that always appeared when a theory started to take shape in his mind. I hadn’t been at the BAU long, but I felt like I’d known him for ages. —Let’s not rule out the possibility of an accomplice.

—I think I’ll see if I can find any similarities in past crimes, I’ve got a few ideas swirling around in my head —I suggested, feeling the satisfaction that I might actually be onto something with this and could contribute. —Maybe there’s a connection we can follow.

Spencer nodded again, his attention returning to the documents, but not before giving me another one of those small smiles that I was starting to crave seeing and, dangerously, made me feel warm inside. "Damn it, Eli, enough, get it together."

—That would be great, Eli. Thanks for your help, I think I’m a bit overwhelmed lately… and you… well, just, thanks.

My blush was completely unavoidable.

—It’s… teamwork, right? —I replied, ignoring the fact that my face probably looked like a tomato in the sun. At least I didn’t stutter. I didn’t, did I…?

The next few hours passed in comfortable concentration. Every now and then, our eyes would meet from across the room, sharing small, knowing glances that no one else seemed to notice. Although we remained focused on the work, the atmosphere between us felt different. There was a pleasant undercurrent, something that was starting to grow within those small gestures that seemed insignificant but, in reality, were becoming more and more meaningful.

My phone started ringing; it was García, asking me to join her to review some notes I had made on the profiles. I assured her I’d be there in a moment, but before I could hang up, Spencer stood up and took a step forward. I felt my throat go dry, and I had to swallow when I sensed his gaze on me.

—"Would you… like to have lunch together today?" —he asked, with a slight hesitation in his voice. —"I'd like to talk to you about an article I read on the relationship between psychopathy and impulsivity; I think it could give us some clues for, for the case."

—"Sure, I'd love to." —I replied, trying not to sound too excited ”YES, I WANT” —"Shall we meet in a bit?"

After that last brief but intense interaction, "she's always so dramatic", I headed to García’s office. I was starting to realize that things were changing; I was no longer just interested in coming to work for the challenge of solving a criminal case… The small acts of kindness and the conversations we shared had begun to build a bridge between our seemingly different yet so complementary personalities.

I went to see García, not wanting to keep her waiting. She was, as always, surrounded by screens, with her mechanical keyboard producing a soft click as her fingers moved at lightning speed.

—"Ah, Eli!" —she exclaimed when she saw me walk in. —"Come here, little genius in the making. How’s everything going?"

—"Oh, well, I’m managing better, I’m getting the hang of it, thanks for asking ‘Penélope is so nice’." —I replied, placing some reports on her desk.

—"I’m so glad! You’re adjusting quickly, aren’t you?" —García looked at me with a mix of interest and a hint of mischief.

—"Yeah… I think so. Honestly, I’m more comfortable than I thought I’d be."

—"I see…" —she said, letting her comment hang in the air while her eyes sparkled with amusement. —"And how’s it going with Doctor Genius? Still all work and no play?"

—"With… Doctor Genius…?" —I wasn’t liking the direction this conversation was taking, to be honest. —"What’s that about? We work well together, that’s all. ‘Oh my god… Am I that obvious?’"

—"Uh-huh, sure, sure," —García replied, smiling like she knew something I didn’t. —"Well, whatever it is, I’m glad you’re fitting in well. Spencer isn’t easy to impress, unless you’re me, of course. I’m a genius too, maybe even more than him."

—"Oh… uh… Thanks, I guess, Penélope. But really, we’re just working together, although I have to admit, it’s a pleasure to work with him. He’s incredibly brilliant, well, you are too, but you know what I mean. ‘A pleasure? Damn it, don’t say that! Well, it is, actually… What’s wrong with that…?’"

—"It sure is a pleasure…" —García nodded with a little grin.

· P O V S P E N C E R ·

The day went on, and as lunchtime approached, I found myself thinking about how to start a conversation with Eli. I wanted to get to know her better, but I wasn’t sure under what pretext that didn’t involve work. When we finally met in the cafeteria, I felt a bit more relaxed.

—"I hope you’re hungry," —I said as we sat down at a table by the window. —"I brought some of my favorite books on the topic I mentioned earlier."

Eli smiled, taking one of the books I offered her.

—"I thought it was an article," —she replied with a soft smile as she flipped through the book. —"Not that I’m complaining, I actually like it, always prepared."

—"Well," —I said, feeling a bit awkward with the compliment. —"Yes, here’s the article, these books expand on the information, these are related, and these... Well, these just seemed interesting." —I couldn’t help but laugh, I think I can be a bit intense sometimes.

Eli looked at me with curiosity, as if she was evaluating me, then glanced at all the material. After a moment, she smiled like she genuinely appreciated that I had brought all of it, not in a way to make me feel better, but because she was truly interested.

—"You know?" —she said, looking up from the book. —"I never thought I’d get along so well with you. At first, I thought you’d be... I don’t know..."

—"Hard to deal with?" —I asked with a self-deprecating smile.

—"Something like that," —she admitted with a soft laugh. —"Well, we all have our prejudices."

I couldn’t help but laugh too, surprised at how easy it was to talk to her.

—"I’m not the best at socializing," —I confessed, fiddling with a napkin. —"I feel more comfortable with books and data than with people, but... I don’t know, with you it’s different. It’s easier."

I could swear my comment made her a little embarrassed, that half-smile she sometimes had, which I loved, appeared.

—"Data provides security, I get it, I also find refuge in it, but..." —she said, pausing as if reflecting on her own statement. —"They’re just collections of information made by people, and people make mistakes... sometimes data, statistics, books... can be wrong, or the information evolves with society, there are advancements... etc. Maybe I’m rambling, I don’t know where I was going with this, really. I meant to say that... Well, I don’t know, I don’t remember, sorry." —She let out a small laugh as if laughing at herself.

Her brief reflection made me smile. Every little interaction we had helped me get to know her a bit more in detail, to understand how she worked, and I liked that.

—"No, no, that makes sense," —I said, looking her directly in the eyes for the first time in what seemed like a while. —"I liked your reflection, it makes me feel uneasy, but I enjoyed hearing it."

We continued talking about the case, about books, and about our personal experiences. Before I knew it, it was time to head back to the office. Eli stayed behind, reviewing some data.

The day went on, and I had an unsettling feeling in my stomach or maybe in my throat, like a knot. I couldn’t stop thinking about her. There was something about the way she worked, her willingness to help without expecting anything in return, her kindness… But there was something more, something I couldn’t quite identify.

I decided to step out for a moment to clear my head. As I walked down the hallway, I ran into Luke, who was reviewing some reports near the coffee machine.

—"Hey, Reid," —Luke greeted me when he saw me. —"How’s it going?"

—"Uh… Fine, fine," —I responded, though I knew my tone wasn’t entirely convincing.

Luke raised an eyebrow, clearly noticing that something was bothering me.

—"Alright, Reid, something’s spinning at full speed in that head of yours, and it’s already smoking. Is it about the case? We’re making good progress, honestly I’m glad Emily thought it was a good idea for Eli to collaborate, she’s being helpful."

—"Yeah, well, it was definitely the right call, she... she’s incredible." —Maybe I was being too obvious.

Luke smiled, a gesture that indicated he already knew where this was going.

—"She is... pretty incredible," —he said, nodding with a satisfied smile.

I shrugged, feeling a mix of discomfort and relief at the same time.

—"I’m not sure what’s going on, it’s just that... I’ve noticed there’s something different about the way we work together. And I don’t just mean her professional skill, which is impressive. It’s more... personal."

Luke listened silently, letting the words flow as I tried to organize my thoughts.

—"Wow, you really needed to talk..." —He said in a teasing but friendly tone, leaning against the wall to show he was ready to listen. —"Don’t worry, whatever you say stays between us."

I took a deep breath before continuing, knowing it was time to confront what I had been feeling.

—"I guess… It’s hard to explain," —I began, choosing my words carefully. —"Eli is... different. I don’t know if it’s because of the way she sees things, or because she has a way of connecting with people that makes me feel more... " —I paused, searching for the right word. —"Comfortable. It’s like, for the first time in a long time, working with someone doesn’t feel like an obligation, but like something I actually enjoy. I’ve been so... I don’t know, but with her..."

Luke nodded, as if he understood perfectly what I was trying to say.

—"So, you like spending time with her," —he concluded, without judgment. —"And that... scares you?"

—"Yeah, maybe, I’m not used to feeling this way at work. Really, anywhere. I’ve always kept a certain distance, but with Eli... it’s like that barrier just doesn’t exist. And I’m not sure if it’s something I should be worried about, or if I should embrace it."

Luke crossed his arms, thinking for a moment before responding.

—"Man, connecting with someone like that is amazing, it’s not something that happens every day, it can be a bit scary, but on the other hand, if you push it away, you might miss out on something great. You don’t have to decide anything right now. Just let things take their course. If you enjoy her company, keep going and see what happens. Although..."

His words gave me a certain sense of calm. Maybe Luke was right, maybe I didn’t need to have all the answers right away. I could let things evolve naturally, without pressure.

—"Although..." —That made me nervous.

—"She’s like a sister to me, a pain in the ass sometimes, but like a sister, so I’m warning you, if you hurt her... She can take care of herself, she’s worryingly strong and sometimes scary, so run. Especially if she looks you directly in the eyes, intensely, like... seriously, you know?"

—"Thanks… For the… warning?" —I said, feeling a bit more... concerned. Though I think I was laughing at the way he explained the intense look —"Well, aside from the danger of death... I’ll try to just, I don’t know, not overthink things, I think, if I’m even capable of that. Thanks for listening."

—"Always, man," —Luke replied with a little laugh. —"We’re here to support you. Anything you need, you know where to find me, but never tell her I told you that, okay? Eli can be a bit... well, just don’t tell her."

After our chat, I went back to the office feeling more centered but also a little confused about whether Eli might actually end my life. I reminded myself that I didn’t have to analyze every detail, something I often struggled to accept. Sometimes, things just happen, and that’s okay. Although it’s really easy to say, making it happen…

When I returned to my desk, I found Eli still working, her focus entirely on the screen. I realized there was something calming about her presence, something that made the chaos that often surrounded our work seem more manageable. I approached and sat down next to her.

—"How’s the investigation going?"

Eli looked up and smiled at me, a smile that seemed to light up the entire room.

—"I think I’ve found some patterns that could be useful," —she responded, turning the screen to show me what she had been analyzing. —"I was going through old cases, and there’s a series of crimes where the suspects used disguises or altered their appearance to confuse witnesses. Nothing exactly the same, but there are similarities that could help us understand how our unsub thinks."

I leaned forward, examining the information she had gathered. Her analysis was detailed and precise, and I could see the effort she had put into it.

—"Oh… This is really helpful, Eli," —I said, admiring her work. —"This might be what helps us move to the next step."

She nodded, satisfied with my approval.

—"I’m happy to help. Working with you has been great; I’m learning so much in such a short time. It’s like an intensive internship or something," —she joked.

I felt a warm sense of pride hearing her words. Knowing that my presence and support were helping her grow professionally made me feel like we were building something important together.

—"It’s a pleasure working with you too," —I tried to be sincere.

Eli looked at me for a moment, and suddenly I remembered what Luke had said—maybe he was right. Maybe it wasn’t just professional admiration I was feeling, and maybe I didn’t have to resist it.

When the workday finally ended, I realized I didn’t want our interaction to stop there. We had spent so many hours focused on the case that we barely had time to talk about other things, to get to know each other better outside the office environment. I decided to take a risk. Now or never.

—"Hey, Eli," —I began, trying to sound casual. —"I was thinking… I’ve been wanting to go to an exhibition at the Contemporary Art Museum that ends this weekend. I was… thinking of going, and I wondered if… if you’d like to join me…" —I could feel my confidence waning as I spoke.

Eli seemed surprised by the invitation, but her smile let me know she didn’t dislike the idea at all. Yes, it was that smile I liked. And her reaction… Well, I didn’t expect it, to be honest.

· P O V E L I ·

At the end of the day, as we were getting ready to leave the office, Spencer approached my desk. He seemed a bit nervous, which made me want to smile. "He’s adorable when he makes that face…"

—"Hey, Eli," —I think he was trying to sound casual. —"I was thinking… I’ve been wanting to go to an exhibition at the Contemporary Art Museum that ends this weekend. I was… thinking of going, and I wondered if… if you’d like to join me…" —His nervousness was becoming more and more evident.

I stayed silent for a second, surprised by the invitation. It was such a spontaneous offer that it caught me off guard, but at the same time… The truth is, I was really excited.

"Sure, sounds great" —No, that’s not what I responded, although I would have loved to sound that calm and mature for my age, let’s not forget I’m 29. What actually happened was:

—"REALLY??" —I got way more excited than I thought when he asked if I wanted to go to the museum; I’d been wanting to go for weeks and hadn’t found the time. I wasn’t really aware of my excitement, it’s hard for me to control my intensity sometimes, and I found myself in front of him, touching his arm. —"Of course, I want to go! I didn’t realize it was the deadline already, I’ve been wanting to go for weeks!"

Spencer’s smile widened slightly, his eyebrows raised, and his expression was more like disbelief. "Way to go, Eli, he invites you out, and you act like a ten-year-old with a lollipop, ugh… stop, stop being yourself for a moment and act… act normal, damn it…"

—"I’ll pick you up on Saturday at… ten, maybe?" —He had one eyebrow raised and a slightly amused smile, as if my reaction entertained him.

—"Sounds perfect," —I replied, this time containing my absurd excitement.

We said our goodbyes, and as I walked to my car, I couldn’t help but smile. "AHHHHHHH" —I got into the car, and when I grabbed the steering wheel, I think I screamed a little, I probably looked like a teenager. Even after acting like an idiot, he kept the invitation, I couldn’t believe it.

Saturday took an eternity to arrive, but we both seemed eager for it. He sent me related articles, and we talked about the subject during meals. When Saturday finally came and Spencer arrived to pick me up, the initial awkwardness quickly disappeared. The museum was fascinating, full of pieces that sparked interesting debates between us. We talked about the meaning behind the works but also veered into more personal topics at times.

—"I’ve always found contemporary art hard to understand…" —Spencer admitted while we observed an abstract sculpture. —"It’s like it’s designed to confuse rather than communicate something concrete." —He said with a confused expression.

I smiled at his comment. “I love it when he makes that face… Aww” —"That’s what I like about it. It forces you to think outside the box, to question what you see and feel. Abstract art was born to oppose established norms. The birth of photography was a huge revolution; when it was no longer necessary to faithfully represent pompous society… Artists could be free to challenge social conventions."

He looked at me with an intensity that made me feel a little nervous. But since he didn’t interrupt me, I let myself go.

—"Sometimes art… the beauty of it, is letting yourself be carried away by its forms and colors, assuming that you can’t control it and that what it tells you might not be what you perceive because your sociocultural and emotional context isn’t the same as the artist’s. I mean… I’m talking too much, but y-you get my point, right? “You don’t even understand it yourself, how is someone else going to understand it…” I wasn’t sure if what I was saying was convincing him or boring him. I usually held back when I liked a topic; I always had the feeling that I bored people when I talked, so I got used to that, to being quiet more than talking. I don’t know why I felt so comfortable with him. “Of course you’re talking too much… shh”

—"You mean that maybe I need to learn to stop trying to find a concrete meaning in everything, a reason, and just enjoy it."

—"Yeah, I guess so, that sounds good." —I laughed. —"When I talk, it sounds much more… chaotic."

We continued exploring the museum, but as we went on, the atmosphere between us became increasingly relaxed and comfortable. There was something about the way our conversations flowed that made everything seem natural, as if we had always been friends.

When we finally left the museum, we decided to continue the afternoon in a small nearby bookstore. Spencer and I shared a fascination for books, and spending time in a bookstore was the perfect ending to an already special day.

· P O V S P E N C E R ·

The walk after leaving the museum was pleasant, full of conversations about topics that had nothing to do with work. In fact, work was the one thing we didn’t talk about all day. We discussed books, music, places we wanted to visit someday. I was surprised by how easy it was to talk with Eli, without any effort.

—"Do you have a favorite book?" —I asked as we walked leisurely, without any particular direction.

—"Yes, I do," —she responded quickly, smiling at the question. —"The End of Eternity by Asimov."

I don’t know why it surprised me that she liked Isaac Asimov.

—"It’s not one of his most highly regarded books."

—"Are you surprised, or is it just me? That book is amazing, it has everything, it’s… perfect."

I couldn’t help but be completely captivated, always so enthusiastic about everything she likes, you can’t help but feel infected by it. —"It’s a great book, that’s true."

The sun was starting to set, tinting the sky with shades of orange and pink as we continued walking peacefully.

—"Thank you for inviting me today, Spencer," —we were heading towards the subway station. —"I really needed this. Starting at the BAU has been intense, and this… I needed it."

—"I cleared my throat, looking away for a second, feeling a warmth in my chest that I hadn’t experienced in a long time. —"I needed it too. Sometimes it’s… easy to forget that there’s a world outside of work."

We stayed silent for a moment, walking side by side, and I couldn’t help but think that there was something more in this silence, something that didn’t need to be said but that we both felt. It was a connection that was beginning to take shape, but we didn’t dare express it in words.

When we reached the station, Eli and I stopped, realizing that our routes diverged here. However, neither of us seemed ready to say goodbye just yet.

—"Spencer," —Eli said, breaking the silence. —"Um… I wanted to tell you something…"

—"You can tell me anything," —I replied softly, leaning slightly toward her to show that I was ready to listen.

Eli seemed to hesitate for a moment, as if searching for the right words. Finally, she took a deep breath and spoke.

—"Well, it’s nothing special, just…" —she said, nervously —"Since I joined the team, I’ve felt a bit out of place, and I… sometimes feel like I have to prove something. But with you, it’s been different. I feel comfortable, like I don’t have to try so hard to be accepted."

The sincerity of her words touched me more than I expected. I knew how difficult it could be to fit into a team like ours, where the pressure was constant and the expectations high. I felt a wave of empathy for her and a need to let her know that she wasn’t alone.

—"I understand how you feel. But from day one, you’ve proven to be a valuable part of the team."

Eli smiled, but it was a shy smile, as if she wasn’t used to receiving that kind of praise.

—"Oh, okay, well… Thank you," —she said quietly. —"…For making it easy for me…"

—"I haven’t had to make it easy, it’s been easy." —I admitted, my voice barely a whisper. —"It’s not common for me to feel comfortable with someone. Usually, I’m pretty… reserved," —I added with a conspiratorial smile, scratching my neck. Eli laughed softly, nodding.

—"Yes, I’ve noticed," —she said in a playful tone. —"But I like that part of you. There’s something comforting in knowing that you don’t have to talk all the time for things to make sense. Silence with you never feels awkward."

We stood there, at the entrance of the station, while the flow of people came and went around us. It seemed like the whole world was in motion, but the two of us were in a bubble, a moment suspended in time.

Finally, I broke the silence, finding the courage to go further.

—"Maybe we could do this more often," —I suggested, hoping I didn’t sound too eager. —"Go out and talk about things that aren’t related to work, I mean… It doesn’t have to be anything formal, just… more of… well, this."

Eli looked at me, and I could have sworn there was a small smile on her lips.

—"I’d like that," —she replied, her voice soft, almost shy.

I nodded, and I think I held back a sigh of relief and joy. I had the feeling that in just a few hours, something had changed between us. Something that, though still subtle, was taking shape with every small gesture, with every word shared.

We said goodbye with a smile, knowing that what we had started today wouldn’t stop there. There was a mutual understanding.

As I headed home, I couldn’t stop thinking about Eli, about how easy it had been to open up to her, about how much I wanted to spend more time together. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I was on the right track, not just in my career but also in my personal life. Although it might be that I was getting ahead of myself, at that moment, that’s how I felt.

· P O V E L I ·

On Monday, when I arrived at the office, I found a small note on my desk next to a coffee. The handwriting was Spencer’s, and as I read it, I couldn’t help but smile, biting my lip. As if that would somehow contain the redness of my cheeks.

"Thank you for Saturday, it was amazing. Here’s a little gift, something I thought you’d like. - S"

Next to the note was a book, carefully wrapped. I unwrapped it with curiosity and found a beautiful edition of my favorite book, "The End of Eternity" by Isaac Asimov. I think my heart was beating so fast that I almost had a heart attack. “Oh my god… I’m dying…” Not only had he listened to what I said, but he had also made an effort to let me know that he was willing to share something that was important to me.

“…He’s adorable.”

· Requests via DM ·

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ijustreallylikecaptainamericaok · 10 months ago

Note

How about 1, 15, 23 for the air your grievances ask game?

Hi! :-)

What's your biggest __[insert fandom]__ pet peeve(s)?

Oof, okay... I think my biggest pet peeve with the M/C/U fandom is how greedy certain pockets of it can be. When 80-95% of either the canon or fandom is catered to you, I don't get complaining so hard about the slim percentage that doesn't. It's infuriating. But I've talked about that a bunch in the past.

Something I don't think ever talked about is how this fandom drives me up the damn wall as a music nerd. The biggest example is folks describing the Guardians soundtracks/"Qu*ll's taste in music" as "80s music." No. No, they're not. They're mainly the 70s. I know, I counted, after the fandom nearly gaslit me into doubting my own knowledge. In fact, out of the trilogy, IW, the Gro/ot shorts, and the Holiday special, only Vol 3 and the Holiday special contain any 80s songs. (And for record, this isn't me shitting on the 80s or anything. I'm an 80s baby and love tons of music from that era. This is just me being an insufferable know-it-all, lol.)

Another one is constantly framing Sam's recommendation of Tro/uble Man as some kind of come on. Like, first of all, that album is mainly a score and the few lyrics that do exist on it are not sexy. Second of all, oh my God, there's more to Marvin than just sex jams, holy shit. It's very obvious that some are only familiar with stuff like "Let's get it on" and "Sexual Healing" and that's it and... I can't help it, that makes me so sad.

youtube

15. Name an aspect of __[insert character]__ that you think gets frequently overlooked in fanfiction characterizations/deserves more attention/exploration

I think fandom's really dropped the ball with post-EG Steve. We could've had sprawling epics with Steve creating timeline after timeline where he had full lives with every Av*nger and Guardian and whoever else and having D*ctor Who style adventures across space and time. But, noooope. Nada.

I'll also never understand how I've only ever seen one fic where Professor H*lk and Steve raise Baby!Scott. That's comedy gold, right there. And how the hell did Sh*-H*lk not spawn a ton of St*ve/Jen? Not to mention all the cool concepts WI? has given the fandom on a silver platter only for them to be completely ignored.

23. Share an unpopular opinion you have RE: __[insert fandom]__

At the risk of being skinned alive, I know that even people who don't ship St*cky romantically will say that they still love them as friends instead. And I... don't. I can't get into that dynamic, even platonically. Most of their relationship is told rather than shown and what little we are shown doesn't endear it to me at all. Fandom can scream "till the end of the line" until it's blue in the face, but that doesn't make up for its problems in the slightest. (And frankly, I think that was the main purpose of the line to begin with, but that's a whole other rant.) I mean, B*cky spends most of T/F/A coming off (to me) like a condescending prick towards Steve and then spends the rest of Steve's time in the films deliberately staying as far away as humanly possible. It feels very one-sided to me, overall. And why should I revere that period, but especially so when dynamics like the ones Steve has with S*m, N*t, and P*ggy exist? Dynamics where the love and respect is quite clearly mutual and they actively want to be in his life? There's just no contest as far as I'm concerned.

Now, in fairness, theirs isn't the only dynamic in the films that's way more tell than show nor is it the worst offender in terms of the discrepancy between what's told and what's shown, but again, those are other rants.

Sorry about this getting kinda long. I'd been holding that first rant in for a loooong time, lol, so thank you for sending this in and giving me the chance to finally get that off my chest. XD

Air Your Grievances Ask Game

#bulkyphrase #replies #fandom woes #fandom wank #long post cw

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just-horrible-things · 1 year ago

Text

‘Verse: Box Boy Universe Story: A Girl Called Spider Timeline: Spider has been with her owner for some time

Shower, Redux [Prev | Next]

When Spider comes back for him, Rayce is huddled miserably against the back wall of the shower, body twisted to try and keep as much of himself out of the water as possible. She can hear the cuffs rattling against the pipes.

He looks at her with dull apprehension, and her stomach does a little flip.

"Hi, Handler," she says, sweet innocence with just a hint of huskiness beneath. "I missed you. I told you I would, do you remember?"

He's silent.

Despite her earlier failure, Spider feels fantastic. She feels like a caped villain about to take over the world.

Up close, she can see him shaking. The water lands across his chest and runs down his stomach, trickling over the tense, trembling muscles.

She's never seen anything sexier.

"W-w-where… a-am I?" he asks. He has to force the words past chattering teeth, and there's a hint of hoarseness in his voice that there never used to be. "Home," Spider answers.

She reaches a hand into the water – it really is cold, running at the temperature of the pipes in the ground – and lets it run down her fingertips to fall on his neck where he’s pressed it back against the wall out of the cone of the shower. He flinches, and his face scrunches up with renewed discomfort.

"D-don’t d-d-do that," he protests. Maybe she's just too keen to imagine it, but it sounds more like a plea than a demand. He’s frowning, though, as if he still gets to disapprove of what she does.

So she does it again, trailing freezing water out along one leg. Rayce shudders, a brief spike in the intensity of the shivering.

In his eyes, the look she’s been waiting for. Dawning distrust. The creeping revelation that she isn’t here to be nice to him.

“Do you want to get warm, Handler?” she asks, still sweet as sugar. She knows he does. Reading minds is easy when you control the inputs. The response isn’t immediate. He’s not quite sure anymore if what he wants will matter to her. “... ‘C-c-course I-I d-do,” he says sullenly.

It’s not a Pet’s respectful answer.

She’s not sure what she’d have him say instead. Yes, Spider. The thought almost makes her laugh.

“D-d-did y-your o-owner s-s-send you?” “Our owner,” she corrects, almost without thinking. She tilts her head, an elegant parody of the way a doll expresses innocent confusion. “No,” she says. “It’s all me.”

All of me. He’s never seen all that she is before.

“Then… c-c-could you … t-t-turn the, the w-water uh-h, ho-ot…?” She watches the muscles of his jaw and throat move as he tries to grit his teeth hard enough to stop the chattering, swallows, and gives up. “I could,” says Spider.

Expectation. Uncertainty. Annoyance, tempered by wary fear.

Is he really so easy to read, or is she imagining what she wants to see?

"Do you even remember me?" she challenges. "'C-course I-I d-d-do." "What's my number?" A hoarse, wet sound, somewhere between a tch and coughing up phlegm.

He's never learned to suffer prettily. Spider's blood boils beneath her skin.

"I-I was n-n-never any g-g-good wi-ith the, the n-numbe-ers," he stalls, trying to force a casual, conversational tone despite his violent shivering. "You're, u-uh, t-t-two six, uh, fo-our? F-five?" "You don't remember," Spider hisses. Her attention drifts to the controls for the water, an idea starting to take shape in the back of her mind.

It's falling from the rainfall shower head on the ceiling right now, a wide cone of gentle water that's hard for Rayce to avoid. The traditional showerhead rests on its supports, inactive.

"I d-do," Rayce insists. "Y-you're, you w-were p-p-pretty g-g-girl, you were m-my favour-rite, c-c-c'mon, you w-wanted me t-to buy yo-ou." "Favourite," Spiser repeats, tasting the word for poison. "Do you say that to all your trainees, Handler?" "Y-you're the, the sma-art-t-test train-nee I ev-v-ver had."

Perhaps he does remember.

As she looks down at him, head slightly cocked to the side, he tries to press his body an inch further back against the tiles, away from the water. She’s not sure he realises he’s doing it.

"Y-you g-g-gotta have a, a n-n-name now," he suggests. "No-ot j-j-just a, a nu-umber." "I do," she says. "It's Azalea." "That's p-pret-tty," he tries lamely. "S-s-suits you." "I think so too," she agrees. "Did you know they're highly poisonous?"

He has nothing to say to that.

Spider takes the regular shower head off the wall. She turns the control handle firmly away from her, and feels the kick as the water switches from above to the head in her hand.

She's definitely not imagining the apprehension in his eyes now. It feeds something cold and hard inside her.

His skin is slick and cold under her thighs as she straddles his hips. He gasps a deep, tight-throated gasp as the jet of water hits his stomach. It's shockingly cold on Spider's skin too, soaking her dress in an instant.

He understands what she's about to do the instant before it happens, and his eyes go wide as saucers.

Then she turns the water full force on his face.

He fights harder than she'd have thought possible. His hips buck, throwing her forwards. Her head smacks against his thrashing arms, then against the tile between them. She drops the shower head to try and grab onto him.

"No!" he is choking out, "No, no way, no, why!?"

The cold water slices across both of them as the showerhead spins wildly. Rayce is twisting under her and he's too strong to pin with her body weight so without thinking she grabs a fistful of his hair and slams his head back against the tiles.

He's still for just a second, stunned, then he starts struggling again. But Spider has locked her legs around his waist, ankles hooked around each other, and now when he lifts his body from the floor she moves with him but she isn't thrown off.

She grabs behind her for the shower head, and, without letting go of her death grip on his hair, turns the jet full strength on his face again.

Again he bucks wildly, almost inhumanly strong, as the water is forced up his nose and into his mouth. Spider feels the tiles scraping the skin from her feet where his thrashing crushes them against the wall, but who was it who taught her never to flinch or give up no matter how it hurts?

This is not the sly thrill of playing villain, not the spine-tingling excitement of having him at her feet. This isn’t sexy, and it’s not a game.

This is violence. It’s knocked knees and elbows, raw and savage, pain lancing through her skull. This is skin burning against skin, ice cold fury, intimate hate and the world goes away, there's only now, only the two of them and the struggle and the knife-sharp satisfaction of winning.

He gets his air in brief, wet gasps in the moments he manages to jerk his head away from her, and in the moments when she hesitates and shows mercy because the motion of his body has turned too much like spasmodic seizure rather than like fighting.

One time she turns the water away from him and he brings up a torrent of water, more than she imagined could come out of a person's mouth. She's not sure if he's coughing it up or vomiting.

His eyes are screwed shut tight, his face scarred with deep creases. His mouth gapes obscenely, trying to suck in air while it lasts. Each breath whoops and gurgles wetly in his throat.

She could kill him like this. The icy fury shaking in her core is okay with that idea.

Avon would be unhappy if she broke her new toy so soon. She would be unhappy.

She clings to her Handler, legs still locked around his waist, hand still knotted in his hair so tightly that the strands cut into her fingers. She watches his chest heave as more water spills from his lips.

She tries to remember the good times, the kindnesses. The things he’d do that made her wonder if she really did want him. The times she was glad to see him at the door to her cell.

All she can remember is – relief never lasted as long as she needed. His voice waking her when all she wanted was sleep. His voice commanding her to hold, hold, hold when every muscle in her burned. His cock bruising her insides, his hands bruising her arms. Him forcing her back under the cold water when she was so cold she couldn’t face it, just this one time...

She turns the jet back on his face, and he bucks underneath her again. Weaker this time.

She needs to stop.

She does stop.

He doesn’t deserve it, but she stops.

The showerhead spins again as it drops from her half-numb grip. Cold slices across their bodies. Spider lets go of Rayce and half-falls away from him to catch it.

He heaves and wheezes and coughs messy, violent coughs and brings up more water. He makes eye contact for a second, eyes wild and streaming with – either tears or shower water. His mouth moves like he's trying to speak, but another wave of hacking, puking convulsions overtake him.

Spider turns the water off. The choking sounds instantly louder. It sounds like things are tearing wetly inside his chest or throat. Spider feels a pang of worry. Can you actually cough up chunks of lung?

Reluctantly, she unlocks the cuffs. He yanks his arms away from her, but then just flops forwards onto the tiles, trying to get his hands under his shuddering shoulders as he brings up yet more mouthfuls of water.

Spider watches, insides churning with a hundred emotions she cannot name, until he finally starts to take real breaths again.

"Why?" he croaks, struggling to get the words out between coughs. "-- wasn' – I – n-ngh – nice – t'you!?" Spider swallows, hard. “No, Handler,” she says flatly, “you weren’t.”

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#my writing #bbu #noncon mention #a girl called spider #654261: spider #handler rayce

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