#next time I do want to blackout my card

[criibibi]

Synopsis: After losing so much, Spider-woman learns to just keep moving. Only for her to end up somewhere far from home. Her first agenda is figuring out where she is, and how to get back. The only problem is that she ended up somewhere fictional (to her). Playing hero with Batman was not in her bingo cards this year. Hopefully she will be able to make it back home before she catches unwanted attention.

Masterlist: Prev; Next;

Chapter 5 - No Time to Waste

It’s been a week and a half since the last power surge incident and so far everything was quiet. Too quiet for Batman’s liking. It definitely increased his paranoia which in turn causes him to be extra moody. The culprit? Whoever was behind the power surge in the Narrows. They became an anomaly to Gotham. Unwanted, an eyesore in the eyes of Batman.

And the issue is, there hasn’t been any news at all. No sightings, no suspects, nothing. Bruce felt challenged in a way. Something is in Gotham, living in his city and he feels like he’s still so far from discovering who or what it is. For the world's greatest detective is having a hard time solving this case. How frustrating.

With no news of another quantum breach, big or small, nothing. It’s frustrating. What’s even more of a headache about this unsolved case, is another thing that has come to his attention- thanks Jim.

Bruce started hearing more reports of a new ‘vigilante’. But there are no pictures, no camera footage, no evidence, just testimonies, occasional sightings and witnesses. Nothing concrete, nothing solid, just no proof. So frustrating.

And there is a pattern.

What he does know is that they are always quick and efficient, never staying too long, leaving once or before the police arrive, and it’s always low level crooks like muggers or thiefs. Respectful and polite (from those they saved) and they mostly keep to the shadows of the night.

Whoever this new problem is, is trying to stay hidden and Batman doesn’t like that at all. Not. One. Bit. 

Despite the Narrows being Duke’s territory, he is just one person who patrols in the daytime, so some of his sons and daughter help patrol at night. But it seems this newcomer has incredible luck and scurries off everytime they are even close to their location.

But this doesn’t mean Batman will just let it go, oh no. Of course not silly, he’s going to find this new vigilante and see what they are about. He’s going to evaluate them, judge them, and all it takes is one mess up. Just one and he will make sure they are locked up in Arkham.

A bit extreme, possibly. But he will take no chances, not when it comes to the safety of his city. Gotham is his to protect and defend, he’s keeping many eyes out for this intruder. Watch your back.

“Sorry to interrupt your brooding hour B, but I have something I think you want to know. Also you have a message from Commissioner Gordon.” A new voice spoke through his comms.

“On my way.” He replied.

“No, I think it’s best you go with-”

“I am fully capable of handling it myself just fine. I don’t require father’s assistance.” a third voice snapped. “I’m here with Kent, we’re fine Drake.” And the line was turned off.

“Explain.” Batman demanded.

“So you see…”

-

After the failed attempt at contacting Miguel, you spent a couple of all nighters in advancing your beacon. This time, it would require even more energy but now it won’t cause a potential blackout. But it will notify the bats of your location like last time.

You know you have to be extra fucking careful this time. You might have gotten lucky those days ago in not getting caught, but you know your luck is shit anyways and Batman is one paranoid mother fucker. Him and his wards.

You have to be very cautious in where you go and how you will do this. This new connector is a bit more sturdier than the lightweight one you made before, but this time it also won’t require you to be stuck in one place. Actually, your signal will ping in more than one location. It will bounce off the cell towers and throw a fake location. 

This will certainly tip the scales to your favor in avoidance of detection. Now, you won’t have to rely on your (shit) spider luck! 

All you have to do is to connect it to a phone or computer, and connect that to any service in the area and manually set it off- which you can easily hack. There is only one tiny itty bitty problem. Guessed it yet? No? Well it’s simple, the only problem is- YOU DON’T HAVE A PHONE.

You could theoretically use the library computer but with civilians around you is a big major no. You’re also pretty sure the library closes at like 8 or something.

No worries. You have a solution for this baby problem. Is it build one yourself? Pfft- fuck no. You don’t have time to build a phone and even less for a computer, you still have to tweak your god damn watch for fuck sake. So, you’re just going to buy one.

And with what money- I hear you ask. Simple. You’re going to make some. Time to become Spider-woman again.

Only until you have enough for a decent phone- you said. It’ll be easy- you said. Until you were proven wrong.

You spent two days hunting and defeating crooks, webbing the worst ones up, while the not so bad but are making shitty choices were let go (with the promise of hunting them down should they go back to doing bad stuff). Some advice here and there, pickpocketing criminal’s money, you know, the usual shabang.

Can’t forget you’re avoiding all cameras so as to not give yourself away. Though you almost got caught by the police once, haha. You never stick around long enough to get spotted by the bats or the cops.

Until one night, dressed as a normal civilian, you were coming back from a shelter, turning a corner and you were immediately surrounded by a group of thugs wanting to rob you. You literally have nothing, so the only thing they would be robbing is your backpack with extra clothes and your suit. And maybe like two granola bars.

You tried to charm your way out of this situation because first of all, youre fucking tired, two, you don’t have time for baby shit, and three, you’re about to start tweaking. Of course the five men didn’t take your sarcastic remarks lightly and decided that their knives would do the talking.

So you beat them up. All five of them. 60 seconds was all it took. So to recompense wasting a minute of your time, you loot their cash discreetly.

Unfortunately (or fortunately) a well dressed man popped out of nowhere, getting close to you and you warned him you would break his wrist if he touched you- he still came but didn’t touch you. Holding out a black card he presented it to your face.

“You fight well, kid. If you want to make money fast,real money, call me and go here.”

“Um, I’m not a k-”

“You’ll make hundreds.” He cut you off. Rude. ”And if you impress the boss like you did me, you can make more.”

Spider luck?

Oh well that got your attention. Eyes narrowed. “Fast money, how?”

“Did no one ever teach ya about ‘stranger danger’? It’s a fight club, if you will. A tournament if you’re interested.”

Spider luck.

After pondering it for a quick second, here you are, getting a card with a free invite to a ring, probably filled with big, crazy, and most likely wanted criminals, and you get paid to beat them up? Sign me the fuck up. “I’m very interested.” you nod.

The man gave a crooked smile. ��Perfect. I’ll see you tomorrow, kid.”

“I’m not-” The man walked away and inside a white limo car. Fuck you.

So you went the next day. Making sure you wore your normal clothes, just sweatpants, a sweatshirt, and your face mask, you called the guy.

Meeting him was uninteresting, conversations were nothing exciting, just asking you your fighting style, can you take on a big guy, and whatnot. 

Upon entering the place (behind a well known bar) you were led to a ring, two fighters going at it. You watched how one was clearly more experienced than the other, while the other guy was battered and bleeding but still fighting. Blood spraying everywhere with every hit until he hit the ground cold.

It certainly is a sight.

It was that very day that you had your very first fight.

Stepping into the ring with no prep, no bandages, no helmet, nothing, this was a raw fight through and through, you were immediately booed and laughed at. Tough crowd.

Of course you were not going against a stereotypical big muscular guy that looks like he could bench press a tank. No, in fact you were against a young military deserter as your first opponent. Scars and all. Across his neck laid an identification tag (also known as dog tag). Christopher Conner.

The man in front of you sneered, laughing at you. “No way they sent me a kid. I will break all your bones. Don’t start crying too soon.” he cooed.

He taunted you and the crowd loved it. You, on the other hand, were pretty bored and unimpressed. 

“I’m not a kid…” you huffed behind your face mask.

What was able to be seen on your face must have told him that because he didn’t like being ignored. 

So he swung, a clear hit to be a knock out. You swerve.

This time he kicked, you parried.

He did not like that. Soon a game ensued. Hit attacking and you either blocking or dodging. You didn’t even need your spider sense, you got this in the bag, honestly this was quite sad. The crowd went from booing you to insulting Christopher.

“What the fuck man?!”

“Hit the kid!”

“My money’s riding on you dickface!”

“Don’t you dare lose motherfucker, or I’ll shoot you!”

It seems their insults were getting to the man. You on the other hand kinda started to feel bad.

“Stand still you fucker!” Christopher growled, throwing punches.

You scoffed, “My aunt throws faster punches than you Chris.” You can almost taste the bloodlust seeping from his pores. “Hey man, it's been three minutes, surely you can end this, right?”

Chris’s jaw clenched in anger. He was about to explode. A voice called out your name.

“Nada! Stop wasting time and finish it kid. Or you won’t get paid.” What? What a scam! You’re trying to entertain yourself too y’know, guess this will be a way to relieve stress.

Facing the military man you didn’t give him a second to process when you blew him a kiss and then a fist made contact with his chin, effectively knocking him out the second his back hit the ring walls. “I’m not a kid.”

The crowd was silent before chaos broke. Half the crowd booed and threatened the fallen man, while the other half started cheering.

With how unsatisfied most people were, you had to fight three more times. Each time, you won, with no scratches on you (you did pretend to get hit at times for realism). Each victory secures you cheers and hype.

By the end of your last fight, it was dark out and you were walked off by the same man that brought you here. “Good job kid. I know you were the right call.”

“I’m not-” A thick envelope was thrown. Catching it, you opened it up to find money, lots of money. “Woah.”

The man in the suit chuckled. “Like it? You can make more the more you win.”

Still entrance by the stack of green you nodded. “Same time tomorrow?”

“Same time.” The man walked off and you stared at the money.

“Booyah baby!”

You bought a phone the next morning.

And so it’s been five days since then. You weren’t in a desperate need for money anymore, so you cut your fights down from five to two a day. You still needed time to continue fixing your beacon. Spider-woman sightings have also significantly decreased the more you noticed the increase in security.

You were not taking any chances.

Walking towards the somewhat empty bar, you greeted the bouncer and headed inside to an ‘employees only’ door to meet the guy in the suit. He did tell you his name, but you call him ‘Suit’ in your head regardless. 

“Hey there Nada,” He hears a sigh from behind the mask. “Listen, kid, you’re one of my best fighters, but I need you to lay low for a while. Here.”

Catching a burner phone you tilt your head for an explanation, pocketing it. “Cops?”

“Worse.” he sighs, slicking his hair back. “Bats.”

Fucking spider luck.

Like a bucket of ice and cold water was dumped on you, blood turning cold. You froze in terror. You should have guessed that a hidden fighting ring would not be kept hidden for long. The criminals that you fought and were downright nasty, you made sure they were caught outside and far away from this location. 

And it was random from a list you composed. Enough to make sure you weren’t a suspect. But fuck now you have to erase your presense here. You’re a nobody, Nada, nothing. Guess it really is time to lay lower than low, like a ghost. “I won’t come back then.” Voice serious and cold.

He laughed, pulling out an envelope from his suit's inner pocket. “S’that so?” Handing it out for you to take, his eyes burn into yours. “Then I’ll just have ta hunt you down, kid.”

Taking the envelope (it felt thicker and heavier than usual) and placing it in your pocket you chuckled, cold, fake, calculating. “Try. I’m good at hiding.” Walking away, hands in pocket, feeling both the envelope and the burner phone, turning your body to avoid bumping into a familiar guy speed walking in. “I’m not a kid…” you mumbled to yourself.

You didn’t bother glancing at the man you dubbed ‘Suit’, real name Jacob Sullivan Jones. It seems it’s time for JSJ to have a run in with the Gotham City Police Department. 

It is truly fortunate that Jacob doesn’t know where you're staying. Although he might not know about the warehouse inside the junkyard, he does know you are not a resident with no permanent home. He had stalked you for a bit after the first meeting (the bouncer was so easy to spot really), believing you’re homeless, alone, and a nobody (someone who nobody would miss or look for). You’re using that (somewhat of a mis)information to your advantage.

Leaving the desolate bar, thoughts consumed by the written list of criminals you drafted and plan to anonymously give it to the GCPD. How you got the other criminals caught was simple, you always used a payphone and gave anonymous tips. That won’t work here. At least not fully. Knowing the corruption, maybe you should hand it to the one of the cops you know isn’t corrupt.

Now, do you hack the police and email it? Print it/fax it and send it? Or hand it directly but as spider-woman? Well for starters, the second option is garbage because if the right person doesn’t see it first, it will just get covered up. Hacking into the GCPD and emailing it directly doesn’t sound like a bad idea, the only issue is, if they decided to forward that information to the bats, you’re fucked because then you know they’ll dig in and somehow find out about you.

It seems like going in as Spider-woman is the best bet, but then again, the bats are real close, too close for comfort. Should you take the risk? But if you don’t turn these criminals in, it will stay in your consciousness of letting innocents down. Guess you have to suck it up and do it then.

“This sucks” you mumbled, deep in thought. 

Suddenly you felt your body freeze. Feeling your spider sense go haywire, you looked up and hard swerved to the side, avoiding bumping into a stranger.

It seemed that your sudden change in direction caught the stranger’s attention and the person next to him, both heads snapped towards you.

Hands out of pocket awkwardly waving in embarrassment. “I’m so sorry!” Taking a look at the one you almost bumped into, he is tall, with black hair and vibrant blue eyes.

Taking note of your embarrassment the stranger chuckles, looking into your eyes, “No worries! Nice reflexes though!”

The stranger’s partner scowled in your direction and you could feel his eyes burning you alive. “Watch where you walk, you buffoon.” Venom.

“Don’t be rude, Dame.”

“Don’t call me that. We don’t have time for this tomfoolery.”

Alrighty then, guess it’s time to fuck off. “Yes, thank you- again, so sorry.” You don’t even spare the other guy a glance, quickly scurrying off. Your spider sense hasn’t shut off and you don’t like where this is going. “Good bye.”

“Hey wait a minute!”

“What are you doing Kent? Our priority is there.”

Not turning back, you quickened to a brisk walk away from this nauseating area. This whole goddamn experience is so nauseating. You just wanted to go home. Was that soooooo much to ask? Regardless, you did not want to know what those strangers wanted, and you were taught ‘stranger danger’ and it certainly applied here.

After a certain distance later, your senses dulled into a small buzz as you turned a corner and entered the public library. Taking your usual empty seat, you let out a deep sigh. This was what you were used to since coming into this world. Since being yoinked from another dimension and plopped in this universe, your senses never really shut off. It was like everything in this world was a danger, and it only spiked when reacting to blood lust, danger of a certain radius, and people who are incredibly strong. 

Recalling that one stranger, who looked too innocent enough for it to be bloodlust, just that their presence caught you so off guard. But your senses screamed at you, and it terrified you to an extent. This is why you can never really relax being here, even when you’re alone in the warehouse, you just feel so out of place, and in danger constantly. It was beginning to eat you up honestly.

You miss your innocent youthful days. God you sound old. But you really do miss having a home to go back to. A home where once you step inside, it’s warm, and two people would always greet you like a warm embrace.

Now it’s cold and desolate, barely anything inside, empty and lonely.

But now, you can’t even go there anymore. Even if it was painful to live in the same home that had more members, then reduced to just you, it was still home. 

You can’t even go home.

Remembering the words Jacob Sullivan Jones spoke to you earlier, you fish out the envelope. Taking note of the weight, it was decided to open it and find more than usual.

Picking up a small zip-lock bag, your eyes widened. It was an ID, an ID and a passport. Just what the fuck was Jacob going to do with giving you this? Why did he make this for you? What were his plans? No, you can’t think about that. This is a blessing for sure, and you’ll take it- but, you have to put Jacob in prison. Now.

This is a gift and you know that with criminals, all gifts are never for free. This is a ‘you owe me’ gift. “Fuck, this sucks.” You just want a moment of peace.

Think, you have to think. Now you have an identification, but, you don’t know if you’re in the system, since once again, incase you forgot, you don’t fucking exist here. Whatever Jacob was thinking, you definitely don’t want a part of it. You’re going to put a stop to this now.

Though, recalling the two strangers earlier, you don’t bother with the rude one of the two, more focused on the one with blue eyes. Something about him just stuck out to you. He looked vaguely familiar.

Okay, let’s take this from the top. You felt a strong sense of precaution, thus causing your spider sense to alert you. Your sense only went away when you were a considerable distance away from those two, so you know it’s about the strangers. Bases covered, perfect. What’s next?

 You only really focused on the one who you almost touched, so let’s continue from there. He is tall, a welldefine body, black hair, and vibrant blue eyes. That’s all you remember seeing now for what you heard. His friend/partner/acquaintance/fellow party member said ‘Kent’, this could be his name or surname but the name ‘Kent’ makes your throat clogged. You only know of another Kent and it’s a superhero.

It couldn’t be…right? 

Turning the computer on, you started typing away, fingers trembling, heart thumping loudly, head spinning, and body sweating. Please, please, please, be wrong. You prayed.

The window search lands on a somewhat recent news. Superman and Superboy save hundreds during bridge collapse! By Lois Lane Kent.

In the photo, on the front page was a scene, both Superman and Superboy. The older one was holding a piece of a bridge while the other younger one was using his heat vision. This was Superman’s son. And you came into contact with him.

You were royally fucking screwed.

Fuck- fuck! No, no nono! 

All the anxiety you tried to lock away came like a tsunami. You were reminded of how small you are in this world. How easy it is to find trouble even without looking. You wanted no part in this world but it seems the gods wanted to fuck you over and over again. 

And, as much as you wanted to curse out the Spot for yeeting you far faaaaaaar from your universe, you only blame yourself for latching onto him and getting lost on the way to his next destination.

God this sucks! You wanted to curl up and cry, but you can’t. You’re a big girl and so, you’ll deal with this fuckery later. After all, your best trait was putting your issues to the side and focusing on the bigger picture. This- meeting Superman’s son can wait. After all, you haven’t run into any bats besides Signal- yes you researched him when you had free time (you only knew of him but not really who he was), so for now, your spider luck has been blessing you thus far.

You need to focus on the bigger picture, getting Jacob and the other criminals caught.

Getting to work, you begin to type away your list that you memorized, the location of the bar, the owner of the bar was still a mystery but the one who runs it is Jacob, schedule of the bouncer shifts, and the names and alias of those who you encountered as well as the situation of misguided teens. You type it all, making sure to keep your real and fake identity out, you did put in your alias Nada, as a picked up street kid. Enough for it to be a ‘misguided’ teen situation but not enough to catch someone’s attention unless they were looking for it.

Now that you know you ran into Clark Kent’s son (a deduction), you know you can’t risk encountering him as spider-woman. Knowing that Superman can (somehow) memorize and identify someone based on their heart beat or whatever, so fuck no are you going to parade as spider-woman any time soon.

You swear to god that you will do everything you can to avoid meeting them in both their civilian personas and alter egos.

Calming yourself, you get ready to hack the GCPD, and leave a message.

‘They know. Scatter.’ 

It hits you. The epiphany of why Jacob had an ID and passport made for you. They were moving locations. Abandoning fort, and taking anyone who they wanted. Basically a trafficking ring for those who weren’t onboard, and a new opportunity for those who they saw potential in. 

Shit, you should have stopped this when Jacob found you, but you didn’t know anything then. Now it could be too late. But Jacob did say to lay low, so they’re mostly biding their time. Probably erasing, hiding, and misplacing real and fake evidence.

They need to get exposed now, ‘strike while the iron is hot’ as the saying goes. 

It seems like it’s time to meet the commissioner of the Gotham City Police Department, James “Jim” Gordon, as Spider-woman. How fun… 

Way to contratic your fucking promise so soon. Well, at least it’s a civilian and not a hero/vigilante. “This fucking sucks.”

-

Damian scoffed when Tim wanted to force his father the Batman into his lead. It’s not that he doesn’t want his father, it’s just this is an undercover sort of situation. He got a lead when he went to interrogate a pathetic military criminal. He can handle this mission on his own.

“No, I think it’s best you go with-”

“I am fully capable of handling it myself just fine. I don’t require father’s assistance.” Damian heard Jon chuckle, most likely overhearing this conversation with his super hearing. What a nuisance.  “I’m here with Kent, we’re fine Drake.” And the line was turned off.

“Well that was something. So, what’s the plan that you didn’t want Lizzie to be involved in?”

“Focus, Jon.” Damian explained their stakeout first, before going to don their costumes. Deep in their conversation, Damian caught sight of one of the suspects speed walking past them. He brings this to Jon’s attention. “It's him, the mercenary Christopher Conner.”

“Okay, so this bar is the place. Let me check real quick.” Using his vision, Jon’s eyebrow furrows. “Next door is styled like a wrestling ring, only two exits. From here and from an office. This is the place.”

“Then we’ll change and apprehend the criminal. Watch and hear what he is saying.” Jon followed Damian’s lead when someone jumped out of his way like he was burning them, causing Damian to also turn his head.

“I’m so sorry!” Despite the mask covering their mouth, their voice of this buffoon sounded androgynous, their clothes didn’t help to differentiate a gender either. But what he can see were this stranger’s eyes, and he can’t look away.

It seems neither can Jon as he chuckles and waves off the encounter. “No worries! Nice reflexes though!” Jon makes it very obvious he’s staring hard.

Just what is it about this total insignificant stranger that caught Damian’s undivided attention? From what he can see, they look normal (can’t really tell with that face mask though), but there is just something that has him unable to take his eyes off of them.

Jon has the same issue, and Damian narrowed his eyes in suspicion and scowls. “Watch where you walk, you buffoon.” 

Jon, without breaking eye contact, scolds Damina. “Don’t be rude, Dame.”

Snapping out of this trance, he snaps back,” Don’t call me that.” That’s right, they are on a mission, no distractions allowed. “We don’t have time for this tomfoolery.”

Jon looks at Damian, as he too, regains his focus, eyes staring into each other as if communicating, he nods. They can come back to this after they finish their assignment. 

“Yes, thank you- again, so sorry. Good bye.” The stranger quickly scurried off.

Caught off guard Jon impulsively extended his arm out to grab their shoulder. “Hey wait a minute!” 

Damian acted faster, grabbing Jon’s arm. “What are you doing Kent? Our priority is there.” Pointing towards the bar with his head. This isn’t good, they’re getting sidetracked.

Jon didn’t turn to look at Damian, no he was still staring at the stranger. “I just wanted to ask…” He trailed off as he strained his ears, focusing on their heartbeat, their breathing patterns, anything he could to commit to memory. “For their name.”

Damian, too, side glanced at the retreating figure, dissecting the way they moved, their tensed shoulders, everything until they were out of sight.

Jon wanted to ask their name. Was that weird? Their situation didn’t require him to ask their name. How would he even go about it, ‘Sorry for almost bumping into you, hey can I ask for your name?’ Yea, no.

“Damian, I-” Jon began before getting caught off.

“I know. We’ll deal with that later,” His eyes narrow, glancing at the bar. “Focus.” But he too was entranced. But he was much better at pushing that to the side, but he knows he won’t be able to hold it off for now. The best he can do is rein in Jon’s attention to the assignment.

Moving to a cafe nearby with a good view of the bar’s entrance, they ordered some drinks. This wasn’t Damians idea but he’ll let Jon have his way for cooperating.

Jon nodded, getting back into focus, using his super hearing to overhear the conversation inside the bar.

His stomach tingles at the thought of asking the stranger for their name.

Hand discreetly on his year Damian spoke, “Drake, look into the time of now and send it over to me.”

“Hey- wait-” Tim was caught off guard, “What’s this about? I thought you didn’t ‘require assistance’ for this.” He teased. 

“I don’t.” He shut the comms off. Now, back to work. “What’s going on Jon?”

“This is our guy. He’s getting assigned to deliver a package. This is serious. He’s upset.”

Damian clicked his tongue. “Tt. Follow.”

Jon tunes into the conversation again.

“The police aren’t the issue. It’s the costumes that have been spotted close. We already lost a couple of our men to the cops.”

“And you don’t think that’s suspicious? We have a traitor!”

“You don’t think I don’t know that, Chris? Ever since Sebastian was caught by the fucking commissioner, the others have been getting caught like flies here in Gotham. He’s spilling, so I need to silence him.” 

“The usual?”

“No, not you this time. We’re leaving so I need you to focus on one more thing.”

“Is it about them, the one you want to recruit?”

“Yes, I want them-” a phone rang interrupting the conversation. “It’s the boss. Dismissed, I’ll send ya the rest later.”

“Understood sir. I’ll deliver the packages tonight.” The mercenary walked off, no longer as upset as earlier.

Jon, processing the information, becomes visibly upset. “They’re recruiting, and based on the conversation, it's the runaway and homeless teens that have been reported by the shelters. This is bigger than just Gotham. I think they’re leaving, moving somewhere else.”

“Let’s follow.” Damian’s attention was caught at the mercenary leaving the bar. “There.”

“The guy he was talking to said he would ‘send the rest later’, I think it will be on his phone.” Jon informed.

Damian absorbed the information. “We’ll follow and catch him red handed.”

“What about ‘the package’?” Jon questioned.

“What about them? I’ll forward the intel to the rest. We focus on this guy. The evidence on his phone is all we need.”

“Dame, I can’t with good conscience leave those vulnerable kids on their own.” Stressed Jon.

“And we’re not. The others will take care of it.” Damian replied. “When we apprehend the mercenary, acquire the intel, we go after this guy while the others detain their accomplices and rescue the runaways. They will all fall tonight, Jon, so focus.”

Jonathan Kent wanted to bite back, but he knows Damian ran this plan at least three times before bringing him along. Damian is just that strategic. And he places his full trust in him, god does this leave him unsatisfied. He knows those kids are trapped somewhere and if taking this mercenary and the manager from the bar out gets them safe faster, then he will do as he is told.

Something just feels out of place, this has been too easy so far. “Alright, he’s heading north.”

Damian nods, slipping away to change into his suit.

As if connected, Damian as well feels like things have been progressing smoothly. And when it comes to crimes committed in Gotham, when things are going good, then something isn’t right.

Ever since the first the GCPD have been arresting some low and decent levels of this new crime syndicate, news of some human trafficking organizations have been slowly getting uncovered as if by overnight. It started around five days ago, low level members were caught, and just two days ago, a higher member was arrested.

Ever since his father the Batman (he tagged along) interrogated him, he spilled like a waterfall. Since they have been cracking down on the case, they know this criminal organization is trying to get on the levels of Black Mask or The Penguin.

The only issue is, this was only exclusive to Gotham, now based on what Jon relay to him, this is just a small base, there are others. He refuses to let this go on any further. Not to his city, or his people. Yet, there is this itch in the back of his head. These captures were by far too easy, and these people aren’t sloppy. No, they had been operating for some time, and yet they were getting caught like moths to a flame due to anonymous tips being called in. Someone out there is deliberately getting these scumbags caught.

And Batman believes it could possibly have a connection to the other pressing issue that’s consuming his thought. There has to be a connection to the quantum disturbance from a little over a week ago. It’s just too coincidental for it not to be. 

Something is happening in Gotham, and he will get to the bottom of this.

-

You know, people say to plan for everything, thus making Batman a force to be reckoned with since he is the master of having contingency plans and backup plans for those backup plans. And yet, here you are, with a plan and life just wants to fuck you over and expects you to just deal with it.

No.

After coming up with spider-woman handing the commissioner Jim Gordon a list of criminals and misguided teens, you just needed to go and change. But here you are, running into a situation if you will. 

You see, after running away from Superman's son, and a printed list folded neatly in your pocket as you head ‘home’, you started to feel the icky sensation of being watched. Years of experience and knowing how not to tip off that you know, you head away from your place of operations and head up north. 

Though despite not giving signs of how utterly fucking tense and anxious you are, you rationalize that it can not be any of the birds because you haven’t done anything suspicious. That, and the fact that your spider sense isn’t screaming at you of danger so for now, that’s calming you down.

On the other hand, you still have no clue who is following you. It was like, thirty minutes since running into the super, and no call from the burner phone. This whole ‘being followed’ is a fucking nuisance, putting a wrench in your plans. 

The only good thing is that, since you are technically surrounded by civilians walking about, they can’t really do anything to you, unless they want to cause panic amongst the innocents. Though, that wouldn’t stop someone from shooting you if they wanted you dead. 

Still, regardless if you are wanted dead (highly unlikely) or alive (for whatever reason) you don’t want to lead innocent civilians into this, so away you go! Informing Jim Gordon can wait (not it can’t), you’ll lose your pursuer and then catch them!

Turning a corner, into alleyways, zig zagging, you hear their footsteps pick up. Persistent.

While running away, you form theories. We crossed out the batsonas, you haven’t done or got caught with anything to be on their radar afterall, it can’t be a random crook because for one, you look poor too, and second, they’re chasing you for a reason. Another idea was maybe it has something to do with Jacob. But that doesn’t make much sense since you just got a burner phone. 

Something just isn’t adding up. 

Your spider sense spiked as you turned down a corner. Despite this, you kept going straight, ready to take on whoever was going to appear in front of you. 

With a very good distance between you and your pursuer you took this chance to discard your mask and sweatshirt (thank god for having a tank top) ontop of a parked motorcycle as you turned another corner, there stood a man near the end of the alleyway, tall and (once again) wellbuilt, with black hair just standing there, phone in hand.

Quickly you jogged towards him (he glanced your way) and grabbed his arm, startling him. “Sorry, please play along!” you whispered and pulled him.

The stranger only had one second to figure out what was happening. In that split second though, he heard a plea for help. The next thing he knew, he had his free hand on the wall above your head while the other one was moved to your waist. Back towards the wall and having his big frame engulf yours, you let his arm go and wrapped them around his neck, pulling him towards your face. 

It's only then that you take in his appearance, handsome from what you can see, and your heart dropped. “I’m being followed,” you muttered, noticing the stranger’s eyes roam your face before settling on your eyes. “I don’t know who they are.”

The man in front of you nodded, kept in place as footsteps hastily turned the corner, running past the both of you. Your body tensed up watching the hooded figure stop at the end of the alleyway. Taking the chance to observe the guy, he pulled out a phone while looking both ways before exiting from your view.

While you were distracted the stranger in front of you pulled back, making your release your hold. He was quiet. “Once again, I’m so sorry! Thank you!” You nervously backed away, in the opposite direction your pursuer went.

He grunted, watching you walk back away. He opened his mouth to speak but the phone in his hand began to ring. He glanced down at the caller before looking back up. 

You were already gone, picking up your sweatshirt and mask, donning them on and running away. Your heart was pounding so loud, it rang in your ear. That was Jason mother fucking Todd. You ran into the Red Hood. What the fuck was he doing in the Narrows?!

Recalling the words Jacob spoke earlier, it echoed through your head. ‘Bats.’ That’s right. The fucking bats are intown, and this was too close for comfort. This sucks balls!

“Focus, focus. Officer Gordon, here I come.” To the junkyard you go.

-

Jason watched the very pretty woman leave him with his thoughts. Getting pulled into caging someone against a back alley wall was not in his cards today, but with Gotham, one always has to expect the unexpected. 

Speaking of the unexpected, he let himself momentarily get distracted recalling the bold stranger from earlier. Something about this woman, rendered him quiet. But at the same time, he took note of just how anxious she was. Tensed body, eyebrows furrowed, worried expression, scared eyes, and over all the way she held onto him while losing her pursuer. He wondered just what kind of trouble found her. It seems crime really doesn’t stop during the daylight.

He committed her face to memory, and will touch upon her situation once he finished his current assignment. 

“You still there?” the voice spoke from his phone.

“Yea, I’m still here. I’m in the Narrows, following the lead.”

“Good, while Damian follows the mercenary, you got the manager. I’m seeing some suspicious moments. Turn on your commlink, Bruce is already moody as he is.”

“When isn’t he like that.” Jason rolled his eyes as he walked back to his bike that he parked further in the alley. Before taking off, he glanced in the direction the stranger went. Her actions and the sound of her voice repeated inside his mind like an echo, burning itself in his memory.

Prev; Next;

I realized everything I wanted for this chapter did not happen. So now it's split into two parts- oops. Side note, this will not be a yandere series, though I do think they get 'possessive' sure, not yandere though. I finally know how I am going to end the Act, the issue is the in between that I struggle with.

Yay, you met Jon and Jason. Next up are Cass, Steph, Dick, and Tim the only ones left.

Web Bound Secret Corner!

Spider-Woman had an eidetic memory.

Spider-Woman does not know about the trafficked kids.

Spider-Woman did not notice Damian.

If Spider-Woman had to choose between saving a life and going home, she'd save the life.

Spider-Woman's is bad at grieving and worse with failure.

[madschiavelique]

A Crown Of Ink : Chapter 7 - Five Of Wands

summary : you've been avoiding viktor, but as your next homework session comes around, he cannot help but be curious. oh and more tyler

content warnings : crude language (not much okay), reader is having thoughtsss

word count : 5,6k

author's note : FIRST OF ALL i was sick and on my periods writing this okay so this is much more of a transitionary chapter than anything for the shitstorm to come, SECOND OF ALL i KNOW it's another 5 of wands chapter i'm sorry i forgot that i had already used this card before THUS i will probably change the card in chapter 4 because i couldn't see any other card working for this one. but i still hope you all will like it <3 (i don't know how many times i wrote "sighed" in this chapter so BEAR WITH ME)

proofread by the lovely @yaffles-world

masterlist : here

taglist : @doctorho @6selkie @yunloyal @kryscent @hypocritic-trash-baby @kapitankarate @a-lovers-card @ababanerb @lolixsstuff @forget-me-not-my-dear @smolanchovy @shugar0cone0alt @harrys--ferret-blog @suuummerrr @stillinracooncity @noxturnalmoth @dlbitch

Friday arrived for another study session between you and Viktor. The week had flown by, with one particularity: your stubborn avoidance of Viktor, and his stubborn search for you.

During classes, you always managed to find a seat as far away from his as possible. You avoided him in the corridors, ignored him when you crossed his path, and when you were in the library and you noticed him, you packed up your things as quickly as possible to leave.

Since the power cut, you'd been even more keen to avoid Viktor. Although you'd done it before, you'd simply decided you didn't want to interact with him. The last few weeks had been far too full of his presence, and you needed to get away from him both physically and mentally.

The trip to the museum, the lunch with him and Jayce, the hour of detention... Your days were far more filled with him than you would have preferred.

It had been a sudden, almost instinctive choice to get as far away from him as possible. 

There was something in the air of the evening of the blackout, and even today, a kind of disturbing truth was taking up more and more space in your mind: Viktor wanted to be your friend.

In your eyes, there was always a huge worry about making friends. Your circle was small, and most of your friendships were involuntary, and you were fine with it. You didn't need many friends, you simply kept the ones you trusted. But were you ready to place your trust in Viktor ?

Alas, Friday was here, and Viktor was inevitable.

You had arrived a little early at the library, dropping off your things and anticipating by picking up the tomes you would need during this session. The library was already busier than it had been the previous week, with your class mimicking you and Viktor as they set to work on their history topic to avoid working on it at the last minute.

You despised the very idea of doing this assignment, as it brought you too close to your years living in Zaun, to more nightmares every night to more Viktor. You wanted to get rid of this homework, and you knew full well that to do that you'd have to actually deal with it. 

But while he was away, you took the opportunity to take out a sheet of paper and dipped the tip of your quill in one of the pretty inks Eris had given you. You wanted to write to her. You hadn't received any correspondence from her for some time now, and you suspected that she too had other things to worry that were more important than taking the time to sit down and write a letter.

Dear Eris, you began.

The weeks are endless here, and I almost miss the times when the only thing we had to do all day was figure out what to do to avoid dying of boredom till night came. I've welcomed my new flatmate, Sky Young. She's nice, I could have had worse, I doubt I could have had better. Speaking of better.

You raised your feather above the paper for a moment, hesitating over the next part of your sentence. Viktor would be inevitable in this very letter, and the idea frustrated you. No matter what happened, his name was on your mind, always at the corner of your lips, ready to rub against your teeth and sound out like a finger pressing on a trigger before shooting.

Were you going to tell her about your concerns? Were you going to feign disinterest, pretend it was just some guy Jayce had introduced you to?

I'm getting a bit more used to tarot. You write as your sign of progress. This morning I drew the five of wands. From what I gather though, it doesn't look very positive. I should expect it, five guys hitting each other with sticks seems an unlikely interpretation of a general hug.

According to the little booklet, the five of sticks represented: Incendiary events. Protests. Angry people. Drama. Exciting conflicts.

You'd raised your eyebrows as your eyes roamed the rest of the descriptions: New ideas are born of passionate debate. Energy is scattered but if forces work together, powerful results occur. There's a need for unity. You're bothered by people who don't act as you'd hoped. Free yourself by surrendering to the present moment.

Well, that looks promising, you thought. The card was obviously pushing you towards Viktor, and that was bothering you.

You were clinging to what you had, to the past, to the only thing you knew: survival. Viktor was turning your finely constructed ecosystem upside down, as if he were treading on a sandcastle you'd spent hours building on a windy beach.

But something inside you was beginning to creep in, an idea that seemed dangerous, and which a few weeks ago would have seemed quite simply impossible to think of. 

What if you tried?

What if you tried not to be so uptight about working with him? What if, for once, you accepted the possibility that this wasn't a competition for your life?

The idea was bitter, weighing you down with anxiety. You went back to writing your letter.

I think I know what the card is leading me to, you confessed, but it is deeply unpleasant. What more can I say... I don't think this letter is going to be very long. I don't have much to tell you, and if I do, I'd rather say it to your face than on a sheet of the Glorious Academy of Piltover. You added useless curls in your writing for the title of the Academy to emphasize the ridicule of its prestigious status. You knew Eris would laugh. Did you get any new exotic payments? Here I'm drowning in copies and bolts, but your inks and herbs keep me company.

You smile for a moment, but the thought of mentioning Viktor keeps running through your mind. You looked around for a moment, as if he would miraculously appear and snatch the letter out of your hand to read it. But nothing, just the serene calm of the library, only the sound of flipped pages as students tried finding some information were keeping you compagny.

You were right about the Emperor. Of course you were. You confessed. A new pupil has arrived and, to top it all, he's beaten me in the league table. I suppose you can imagine how I felt about the situation. Every day is a tooth-and-nail battle with him. To crown it all, we've both been assigned to a collaborative project. Isn't that great? Anyway. I miss you a lot. I can't wait to hear from you. Say hi to Ekko for me.

Ekko was a childhood friend who you spent a lot of time with. It was undoubtedly through his demonstrations of repairs and your afternoons spent working on tinkering projects that your interest in science and engineering was born. 

You dipped your quill in your inkwell one last time.

P.S: The name of the Emperor is-

"How long have you been here?"

You almost spilled the inkwell on the table as your eyes rose to Viktor, standing in front of you with his satchel slung over one shoulder.

You sighed. He could at least have made his presence known by clearing his throat, not by standing still and watching you like a cat under his amber eyes. You took your letter, writing his cursed name, followed by yours before blowing on the paper to hasten the drying of the ink.

"Long enough for either of us to fall asleep in Devid's classes," you huffed as you finally folded the sheet in half and tucked it into your notebook to send it later.

He wore a small smirk, gracefully relieving himself of his satchel by pulling it off his shoulder and letting it fall gently to the floor. He sat down opposite you, taking out his things.

"Was Demacian never one of your fortes for you to sleep during his classes?" he asked about Devid, your language teacher. "I thought you'd understand with your wide panel of knowledge."

"I do, understand." You corrected him as you picked up a tome to begin your work session. "I'm fluent, I don't need more of what's being said in these classes."

"Why ?" he asked, placing his inkwell and notebook on the table. "Ever travelled there ?"

"I never travelled outside of here and Zaun," you informed him.

He sighed, looking down at his notes. "Then you don't speak Demacian."

You frowned, raising your head. He met your gaze, waiting for your next remark.

"Why ?" you questioned. "Has his royal highness, all full of Runeterrian knowledge, been on a sweet trip to the Great City?"

He arched an eyebrow, his eyes drifting over the small pile of tome to grab one.

"Any idiot knows that learning a language in classes and putting it to practice in the actual region where said language is spoken is a completely different thing."

You remained silent, trying to contain and prevent yourself from giving him the pleasure of answering. You went back to your notes, pressing the binding of your notebook to the table as you jotted down a few more bits of information you managed to find in the new tome you'd selected.

A full minute passed, after which Viktor couldn't help breaking the silence.

"Why are you ignoring me?"

You sighed, was he a puppy in need of constant attention?

"I'm not ignoring you." You confirmed, not looking up from your notes.

"Fine." He said, searching for a way to continue the conversation, to find the keyword to unlock you. "Why are you avoiding me?"

This time he'd hit the nail on the head. Obviously he hadn't been blind to your dodges, but how could he? He was observant, always making the perfect deductions, and was smart enough to get on your nerves.

"Can we focus and work?" you tried to extricate yourself from the situation.

He sank back in his chair, staring at you for a moment. "Not until you answer my questions."

This time you won his gaze. "Too bad there's no candle for you to bargain information with."

"I can find other ways," he remarked, "Miss."

You tensed at the nickname, your lips pressing together as you leaned on the desk, resting your elbows on it.

"Oh yeah?" you replied almost amused, "I hope these ways will be as promising as you and Jayce's attempt at cooking on a heater."

He smiled, approaching you in turn. "You seem to have forgotten that I seem to know more about you than you know about me."

"And then I thought I was supposed to be the obsessed one," you brows knit as a curious little smile tried to stretch your lips. "You're not stalking me, are you ?"

Your eyes crinkled, scanning his continuously. The days were receding further and further into the night, and the sky outside was gradually turning from cyan to indigo. Under the subdued lights of the library, Viktor's eyes stood out, ever more piercingly under his long brown lashes.

"From what I have heard," he continued as you both leant on your elbows against the table as if playing chess, "Madam Selene is truly open when it comes to questions asked by her students."

He had just put your king in danger, your lips parting in surprise for a moment before closing again, jaw clenched.

"Surely she won't mind exchanging on the pride that her legal daughter is to her?"

You inhaled heavily, chewing your cheek as his insufferable sneer spread to the corners of his lips again, raising his mole slightly.

You picked up your quill again, avoiding his gaze and letting yours return to your notebook. You dipped it in with a half-open, hesitant mouth as you considered what you were going to say, both to him and on paper.

"I'm avoiding you because I can't get to be friends with my only rival."

He seemed amused by your sentence, as if you were just a child trying to impress an adult by saying something serious and threatening with the latest big word you had learned. He rested his chin on his palm, watching you write, and for an instant you thought of the paper he'd never passed you back during detention. What was he about to say ?

"Isn't there an old saying about being close to your opponents ?"

"Isn't there this old thing called ‘free will’ that allows me to do whatever I want ?"

He shrugged. "Your free will hasn't decided to make you leave this room so far."

You regained his eyes this time, the latter looking through you, trying to peek through the cracks in your facade for a chance to see the lights that resided there.

"Are you challenging my free will? Because I can give it some physical attributes in the scientifically accurate name of 'clenched fists'."

"I'll pass." He sneered. "I'm sure Tyler has had enough lessons on this concept."

Silence fell again, you scanning the lines of another novel where too little information about Zaun was catalogued, while Viktor had not touched his pen. You could feel him in your peripheral vision, watching you, following you relentlessly.

"Am I truly your rival?" He finally asked.

"What else would you be?"

Viktor pouted, straightening slightly. "Being your rival implies having the same goal and fighting for it. I am uncertain if that definition applies to us in this case."

Admittedly, he didn't seem to have the same devotion to his academic results as you did, which frustrated you deeply. But what about the second option he cited?

"In the Academy, we all have the same goal." You replied, watching him for a moment before returning to your notes.

There was another pause on the table, and you thought that perhaps this time he would start working. But he didn't.

"I want a truce."

You looked up, raising an eyebrow.

"...Okay," you finally say, picking up another book, "good for you."

"I mean it, miss." He insisted. "I think you've had it wrong on me-" But you cut him off.

“What are you implying ?” You asked, annoyed at beating around the bush when you seemed to be the only one working right now.

"I'm not implying," Viktor nuanced, "I am saying."

"Saying ?" you shook your head, waiting for the next part.

"Yes. You know, that thing that one can do with the possession of a mouth and vocal cords ? You've become an expert at it just through this conversation,” he remarked as he straightened up and grabbed his pencil, twirling it between his fingers, "as it is the most we have spoken together in a week."

"Well then, conversation doesn't seem to be such a dying art anymore now does it ?" you remarked.

Viktor smiled. "You seem to like quoting me." 

You stared at him, raising your eyebrows and sighing. "I'm going to use unparalleled verbal condescension: shush." Your eyes returned to the tome you were working on. "This is a library, not a café."

"You've never spat in mine, by the way, reassure me?"

"After wasting my spit talking to you, I doubt I'd waste any more in your coffee."

He didn't say a word, but you knew he was smiling. Facing you, painfully fiddling with his pen as if this whole thing was some meagre task he could afford to procrastinate on.

You hated this attitude, the simple fact that he didn't seem to work to achieve his goals, that it was innate when you had struggled to rise so high for so long.

"I mean it," he said, straightening up, putting aside his teasing tone for a moment, "for the truce."

You looked up at him, his expression unfamiliar to you. There was something gentle in his piercing gaze, as if he saw something in you that was worth seeing. You sighed, thinking for a moment.

Would this childish quarrel last until the end of the year? Would you still consider him an enemy when you could have made a new friend? Friendships didn't come your way every day, and you were well aware of that. But were you ready to put aside your stubbornness after the various humiliations he had put you through?

“What would a truce even mean?” you finally asked, somehow intent on hearing more.

His lips stretched slightly as his eyes widened. He shrugged.

“I don't know,” he admitted, ”I never thought I'd go this far with you, on this topic.”

Your shoulders slumped.

“Then think of something to say next time after we finish working on this.” You returned to your page, rereading your notes. “I'll take the subjects of Boundary Markets, Cultivairs, and Hope House Orphanage. One location for each level. You should pick three too.”

“Hope House Orphanage?” He repeated, mind finally concentrating on the exposé. “That's the only good thing that can be talked about in such a level.”

You turned a few pages of your notes, running through the lines of your research. 

“There's always Old Hungry,” you remarked, voice lower.

The Old Hungry was a gigantic mechanized clock tower that grew from the very depth of Zaun and built itself up till levels that could reach some of Piltover's buildings. It was too imposing to avoid, and too full of history to be left aside in the presentation.

“Old Hungry ? This old scrap doesn't even give time anymo-”

“It's the Heart of Zaun.” You cut. “It's unavoidable to talk about it anyway.”

“Why don't you take it if you're so adamant about it being on our work?”

You remembered its size, the dark wingspan and the wind blowing through the dusty gears of the Old Hungry. 

“I'd rather you be the one to take it.” you confirmed.

“Why ?”

“Because. Don't you want to take it ?”

“Do you want to get rid of it ?”

You exchanged a look with him, urging him not to be picky.

“Why are you being so mysterious about all of this?” he questioned, eyebrows furrowed.

“You seem to have forgotten that you seem to know more about me than I know about you.” you repeated, annoyed.

“Shall I ask Selene?” he said ironically.

“I fear asking her this would be a limit placed both in her knowledge about this as well as your questions for her.” 

He gazed at you for a moment, clearly frustrated by the secrets, the things left unsaid. You stood up, returning the tomes you'd already read to their shelves. Viktor stood up, following you.

“Acting tough will not make it hurt any less.” He said as you climbed the steps of the ladder and he reached its base. “You know this, yes?”

You suppressed a sigh as you placed one of the tomes on the shelf, arranging it perfectly in line.

“I don't need any of your life lessons,” you remarked, placing the extra tomes. “Can you move the ladder to the left?”

“You know the magic word,” he almost crooned.

You scoffed, not intending to give it to him so easily. You leaned to the side, watching, tiptoeing to reach one of the too few tomes on Zaun in the entire library.

Viktor seemed amazed at how stubborn you could prove to be, especially about him.

“Don't tell me your leitmotif resides in what doesn't kill you makes you stronger?” he questioned as you leaned dangerously toward the books.

“My leitmotif,” you pointed out as you almost reached the binding of the tome you were after, “resides in what doesn't kill you disappoints me-”

You'd reached the book, but your sentence was cut off at the end by your sharp gasp of breath. You'd just lost your balance, your feet slipping off the ladder step as you felt the air rush beneath you and expected to slam heavily into the ground.

The sound of something falling to the floor echoed, the sensation of hands on your back and waist catching you off the ground. Your heart pounding with the shock of sudden fear, you realized what had just happened in the blink of an eye: Viktor had caught you in your fall.

You could feel his thin fingers, warm and tentative, resting on the vest of your uniform around your waist. He held you there, firmly, and you felt your back brush against his chest, his breath landing on the nape of your neck and raising the hairs on it.

You released yourself from his grip and turned to face him, suddenly backing away, heart still pounding, but unable to differentiate whether this was due to the suddenness of the fall, or something else.

He seemed just as surprised as you were, lips parted. He didn't seem to be about to make a condescending remark, a joke about your lack of balance that could be matched by his, nothing.

You leaned back against the shelf, trying to calm yourself as your muscles relaxed from the apprehension of your fall.

There was a moment of quiet, a moment when, for once, neither of you knew what to say to the other. Your eyes fell to the ground, where Viktor's cane had fallen. You swallowed on a dry throat, inhaling to try and grain back your thoughts.

You knelt down to pick it up, straightening up to hand it back to him. He studied you for a moment, his eyes fixed on yours. He brought his hand tentatively up to the handle of his cane, stretched out towards him.

“Did you mean it?” you asked in a low voice as his hand reached the pommel, his thin, long fingers a minute ago resting on your waist wrapping elegantly and slowly around his cane.

“The truce?” he questioned, his voice almost reaching the whisper, as if he feared any higher volume would burst the delicacy of this bubble you were both in.

You let go of the cane, leaning back against the bookcase again, like a prop, like your crutch.

“The other night,” you began, eyes lowered to your feet on the floor, ”you said that it seemed impossible to me that you wanted to learn more about me, out of genuine curiosity. And now, you said you wanted a truce.” You raised your head, straightening to look at him. “Did you mean it, all of this?”

You felt very small, as if you were walking and, in the middle of the nettles, had found a patch of grass where you could put your feet without stinging yourself.

He seemed touched, but this emotion seemed to give way to confusion.

“Why wouldn't I mean it ?

Why would you mean it? you wondered. You'd had enough examples of how trust was doomed to fail you. You pulled yourself upright, drawing your armour back over you, closing your heart before it went beyond the confines of your chest.

“Oh sorry.” you resumed sarcastically. “I forgot how through your many gallantries in our discussions you have evidently shown to be the most agreeable young man in the world.”

He smiled, his cheerful attitude back in place in the blink of an eye. “I cannot deny that exchanging with someone like you bring out the more playful part of me.”

“Someone like me?” you stressed, almost offended.

“Yes.” he confirmed. “Your morals are like a legend - rumoured to exist, but no proof to back it up.”

You sighed, rolling your eyes as you started walking back to your table. “My expectations for you were low when asking this, but somehow you still failed to meet them...”

But your sentence had died on its end, as not far from your table, an unfortunately familiar, tall figure with blond curls stood.

Fuck. Tyler.

Seeing you reappear from between the shelves, he noticed you both, a cheeky grin spreading across his face as he strode towards you.

“Ah,” he smiled as he approached you, ”my tormentors.”

You sighed, standing by your table as he reached the height of your chair. “You again.”

“What?” He chuckled, feigning offense as he rested his hand on his chest. “Aren't you pleased to see me?” He arched an eyebrow. “I'm sure you've got another one of these filthy Zaunite, barbaric lessons to give me.”

“You wish you were worth the effort.” You huffed, moving closer to your chair, but he came between you and it. 

You glared at him, who seemed satisfied with your reaction. He turned to Viktor.

“Your dog's got quite the bite, Moravec.” His eyes settled on you again, watching you up and down until they returned to yours. “Where did you get one of those?”

You breathed heavily, the annoyance of his remarks demeaning you to a supposedly docile and pliable being making your blood boil.

“Turns out she has a mouth and proper aligned thoughts that you could not fathom reaching, Tyler.” Pointed Viktor, coming to sit in his respective place.

The blond watched you, not letting go of your eyes for a moment as he took a step back and took his place in your chair. “How noisy insects are this time of year.”

And he was proud, of his insolence, of his overflowing egotism, which he displayed like the most expensive and chic jacket he owned in his priceless wardrobe.

“Tyler,” you began, inhaling as you tried to calm yourself, “‘piss off.’”

“Such a soft language.” He sneered, lounging in your chair as if he'd ordered its manufacture himself. Who knows, maybe all the academy's furniture rested on his family's finances. “Do they all speak like that in Zaun?”

“Why ? Wanna go visit ?” You inquired, crossing your arms over your chest. “I wonder what'll get taken first, your pretty blonde locks, or your tongue.”

You played on his unfamiliarity with the city, his prejudices ingrained in his mind, unfolding a terrain of fictitious threats that could be very useful to you.

It had its effect. For a slight moment, you noticed the concern in his eyes, a very silent ‘... is that true?’ that didn't cross the boundary between his mind and lips.

“My patron came to me.” He confessed, looking away as if ignoring you. “Seems like your detention ran a bit short, didn't it?”

You heard Viktor chuckle, but didn't even turn around. “It's just like you said, Miss.” he remarked, leaning forward on the table. “Looks like he is obsessed with us."

“You're not worth a thought.” Tyler spat, obviously insulted by Viktor's remark. He turned to you, grabbing one of your pencils to play with like it was his. “Didn't know you had your own patron, though.”

“Let me guess.” You sighed, placing your weight on one of your hips as you stood. “Your little clever mind aligned two dots and thought that Zaun and Patron together was an impossible combination of words here in the Academy.”

He was amused, but obviously annoyed. You must have touched a reality in his reasoning that he didn't like you to know.

“This one was a second thought.” He admitted all the same. “The first was,” he leaned in slightly, “how the hell does a girl as irascible as you can manage to pull any social strings to get yourself a patron?”

You giggled, he was trying to push your buttons. Perhaps he was simply a masochist, you considered, perhaps he had a pronounced desire for humiliation. Or perhaps he was just profoundly stupid.

“Funny, I thought the same thing about you when I met you.” You offered him a smile that possessed no warmth. “But I guess walking around with a golden spoon in your mouth and shitting in silk sheets during your childhood up until now must have its advantages. Right, Hoskel ?"

Tyler frowned, hemming his lower lip in anger. His eyes shifted from yours to Viktor's. “She truly is-”

But you cut him off, placing both hands on the table and leaning towards him. “She is in front of you. And she,” your voice darkened, ”can add some new marks on your face to match the blue of your eyes.”

Tyler tensed, the seriousness in your stare convincing him for a moment that your threats weren't empty words, but promises that would come true if necessary.

He let out a nervous laugh, nodding as if you'd just given him a most satisfying demonstration. He was probably thinking, right then and there, that he was safe. That on the floor of the Academy, you wouldn't repeat the violent acts that had earned you an hour's detention.

“You, are a tough one, my friend.” he laughed. “You still have the essence of your hometown so far, you as well as he.” He turned to Viktor. “Paint stripes on a toad, it'll never make it a tiger.

Your blood ran hot, the sentence like an iron that had just burned your skin raw. You gripped his tie, pulling so hard that Tyler nearly stumbled and strangled on it as you pulled him towards your face, your face twisted with hatred. 

His eyes were filled with a new fear as you rumbled, your voice low. “Say that again, and I'll fucking kill you.”

His chest bulged and sagged rapidly as his shoulders were up to his ears in fear, stressing as your knuckles turned white under the tight grip you had on his tie.

He swallowed, staying that way until, in the blink of an eye, his gaze landed on your lips. 

The simple act brought you back to the reality of your proximity, of your two faces so close together that anyone could have considered this something intimate. You let go of his tie as if it carried an infection, as if it had suddenly become so hot that you had to let go of it at all costs. You frowned, stepping back, watching Tyler as he breathed just as heavily.

The great doors of the library opened, and the tiny silhouette of Heimerdinger poked his pink nose into the room. This was enough for you to put aside the previous event, same for Viktor and Tyler who both turned to the professor in surprise.

You eyes widened, straightening up as he strode contentedly towards the center of the room. What was Heimerdinger doing here?

It was unusual to find teachers in the library, and obviously all the students around you seemed just as confused about the situation. He trotted on, making his way to the very center of the room under the curious gazes of students.

“Young folks,” he called, “I have an announcement to make. Please gather around me, so that I don't have to see you all one by one in the immensity of this room."

The students exchanged surprised glances, approaching him. You looked at Viktor, who was frowning. He stood up, you approached Heimerdinger. When a small arc had formed around the professor, he cleared his throat.

“ I would have liked to have waited until our next class to tell you,” he admitted, “but with the news just in and the weekend coming up, I thought it wiser to tell you as soon as possible.”

Everyone was hanging on his every word.

“You see, we've been communicating for some time, the Academy members and myself, with The Great Demacia University.”

Murmurs began to rise in the tiny group of students, whispers about the white region running through the air.

“And we have concluded, after many very promising exchanges, that a few classes from the Piltover Academy will have the privilege of traveling to Demacia as part of a school trip.”

Surprise filled the room. A school trip? 

"The Academy and I,” continued Heimerdinger as he walked hands behind his back, the two elements of his sentence simply inseparable, ”consider it a real cultural benefit to be able to organize such a program to link our two schools. The trip will therefore take place in a month and a half's time.”

Some of the students laughed, the joy of the news filling them. The idea of a school trip puzzled you. You'd never left Piltover or Zaun. You'd always clung on to those two towns, and upsetting that perspective was something you hadn't quite figured out yet. But it would undoubtedly be a good way of discovering new horizons, of not having to confine yourself to the same landscape of two cities you didn't like for different reasons. 

However, your thoughts paused for a moment, as you sensed that Heimerdinger hadn't finished with his announcement. 

“Yes, I know.” He chirped. “The excitement of a new journey is not a small thing in young souls. However, an event such as this deserves an organizational rearrangement.”

And that's where things got complicated.

“First of all, your duet presentations that were due in two weeks' time have now been determined by myself into an overall assignment for your year.”

The majority of students rejoiced, but your heart fell into your stomach. An assignment, spread out over the whole year, that you were to do with none other than Viktor as your sole partner in this work?

You exchanged a glance with him, the latter seeming no more affected than that, neither hot nor cold.

“And...” The professor resumed. “The planning of this event alone will eat up a good two weeks of this year. Consequently,” silence fell, everyone waiting for the end of his sentence, "the exams in each subject for this semester have been brought closer together, and will therefore take place in two weeks’ time.”

Your lips parted, as if the apocalypse had just been added to your diary. 

Two weeks. You had two weeks to study everything. Two weeks to get to know everything. 

Two weeks to overtake Viktor and regain your place at the top of the ranking.

✦﹒ previous chapter

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[asdfghjklmals]

MORNING ROUTINE✩༶‧˚

GENRE + T/W: sfw, fluff. suggestive joke. WORD COUNT: 0.9k words. TAGS: satoru gojo x fem!oc. boyfriend!gojo, established couple.

SYNOPSIS: satoru gojo's morning routine is waking up next to oc gojo girlfriend and making her coffee before he leaves for work. AUTHOR'S NOTE: thanks for the love on my last two posts. here's the start to satoru's day with oc gojo girlfriend. 🥹 counting from 1-5 while pouring my coffee creamer is something i actually really do, so i thought it would be cute to add in. REMINDER: if you want to imagine yourself in oc gojo girlfriend's character descriptions instead, please do!

your boyfriend’s morning alarm started to ring. you furrowed your eyebrows as satoru sighed himself awake. he had his left arm behind his head and his right arm around your shoulders. you removed your hand that rested on his chest to rub the sleepiness from your eyes. satoru stretched his long legs and arms. although you shared a king sized bed, it sure didn’t feel like one with how tall satoru was.

“morning babe,” satoru whispered softly in your hair.

you smelled like your orange hibiscus shampoo from your freshly washed hair last night. he sat up on his side of the bed. he didn’t dare open the blackout curtains in your bedroom, he knew you hated that.

two things that weren’t allowed in the early morning routine: stealing blankets and opening the blackout curtains until you woke up for the day. luckily for you, you didn't have to go to work at jujutsu high until later in the day unlike your boyfriend.

you watched him sleepily make his way to the bathroom. the light from the bathroom crept into your bedroom as he didn't shut the door all the way. you curled up in the duvet covers, his warmth still there between the sheets as you stole the duvet completely to your side. you could see his soft smile as he turned on the bathroom faucet to brush his teeth and wash his face. you had told him many times that lukewarm water was the best way to wash your face so that your skin wouldn’t got into shock. before he met you, he was always washing his face with cold water to “wake up”. there were a lot of little things he learned to do after he met you.

you reached your arm out, feeling around the glass nightstand to grab your phone. 6:07am. you plopped your phone down on his side of the bed and closed your eyes until you heard satoru shuffle over to the closet. he was shirtless, wearing his gray sweatpants. that was his form of “pajamas”. god, you were lucky he was your man because he was beautiful. his arms were toned and his abs were well defined. it was a shame it was always hidden.

“you like what you see?” satoru teased as he grabbed a black t-shirt to shove over his head.

“shut up,” you giggled from the bed and admitted, “i watch you change every morning, babe.”

“creepy,” he teased and chuckled as he changed into his work pants and put on his way too large jacket, “but you’re my little creep.”

you always told him his jujutsu high uniform was too baggy, an opposite from when you were students. he liked to say he was hiding his body so that no one would try to steal him away from you. that always earned a playful, soft slap across his chest. he knew he would never entertain another woman’s attention. he loved you deeply. hell, you were the only one who put up with him besides principal yaga and shoko. they gave you thank you cards every year for dealing with him.

satoru made his way to the kitchen and started up the coffee maker. he had spent a hefty price tag on this coffee maker to replace your single cup coffee maker when you moved into the apartment. satoru’s morning routine looked like this: get up, get dressed, make coffee for the both of you, kiss you goodbye, and teleport to work. he wouldn’t have it any other way.

the warm embrace of coffee scent started to fill the kitchen. you could smell it from the bedroom since satoru left the door open. you knew that you could get an extra hour of sleep if you tried right now, so you closed your eyes.

in the kitchen, satoru poured himself a cup of coffee and added far too many sugar cubes and more than enough creamer in his. he sipped it slowly while he stepped outside onto the apartment balcony to check his surroundings quickly before he left for work. he shrugged after finding nothing and walked back into the kitchen to pour you a cup of coffee.

fortunately, you and satoru were the same when it came to coffee tastes. you both liked extremely sweet coffee. he took out your favorite coffee creamer and counted from 1-5 as he poured your coffee. another little thing he learned while dating you. you had told him counting to 5 would give the best amount of coffee-to-creamer ratio. he stirred your coffee while smiling at that memory and made his way back to the bedroom with your cup and his.

satoru kicked open the door gently, announcing quietly, “good morning, sweetheart. satoru’s special delivery.”

he sat down on your side of the bed, grinning as he handed you your coffee mug, “coffee for mi’lady.”

you glared at the mug he gave you. it was a gag gift from the jujutsu high employee white elephant gift exchange last year. satoru ended up getting a mug that said “best dick ever”.

“thank you, my king,” you joked back. you grabbed the dumb (but funny and correct) mug from him and sat up in bed.

he leaned down to kiss you, but you backed away from him, covering your mouth.

“nope. i have morning breath.”

“baby, we have been dating for years. i'm over that stage.”

“well, i’m not and i don’t think i ever will be.”

“if you loved me, you would let me give you a kiss before i leave for work.” satoru laughed.

you and him went through this every morning. instead of a kiss on the lips, he’ll settle with multiple kisses all over your face. he kissed both your cheeks, the tip of your nose, and lastly, your forehead.

you took a sip of your perfectly made coffee and looked him straight in the eyes, “and if you loved me, you would let me sleep in in the mornings.”

© 2023 ASDFGHJKLMALS — ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PLEASE DO NOT COPY, TRANSLATE, OR REPOST MY WORK.

DIVIDERS PROVIDED BY @/ANLIAN-AISHANG

[writingoddess1125]

I Fell in love Alone pt.2

Are you guys okay!? Why do you want more sad stuff?! Hugs you all

Buggy x GN reader

Sad Angst

No warnings just sadness

Enjoy depression part 2!

It had been three weeks... three weeks since you had stopped speaking and visiting Buggy and he was a wreck... at first he played it cool, acting like he had dropped you for a few toy even betting people to join him in bed but- it wasn't the same.. he had never felt so empty before- not since Shanks betrayed him and that was a feeling had never wanted back.

He was snappier and his temper somehow worse- almost of his late night partners he had tried to fill his space could t even step into the room or touch him before he snapped and sent them away as their presence didn't provide the same comfort.

Buggy couldn't help but watch your every move, Waiting for some indication that you'd come back- That you'd get jealous or maybe lonely like he was.. but that didn't seem to be the case- you seemed okay without him.

You were starting to heal- despite having to see Buggy almost everywhere or see people leaving his room when you past by to get to the crew sleeping quarters, oddly you felt like you were getting better. The cracks were still their but slowly filling with a self love you weren't sure was their before.

You talked to some friends you hadn't spoke to in a while since you had been so into Buggy that he occupied your everything. It had been nice, even if at night you'd feel that same ache or hollowness but it was shrinking...

Tonight had been a party, for what reason you didn't know but it just ment slightly better food and more alcohol for everyone. So seated on a barrel you and your friends play some cards and drink, laughing and just talking.

"(Y/N) I dont want to ruin the mood but...You know- I never did ask, How was your relationship with Buggy?" They ask, You taking a breath as you sip your own drink.

"In the beginning it was great... the passion, the feeling of him being with me- I thought it was love but I think it was just infatuation and easy access for him- while for me it was obsession" You admit, a bitter taste going over your tongue at such words.

"It was when I realized that- he left first always.. never kissed me and used me like some prop..how he never asked about me, never cared and... I wasnt what hebreally wanted- I was just his status symbol" You wince at your own words, hot tears welling in your eyes.

"It was my fault however. I should have never fell in love with him. Cause now I have to learn how to fall out of love with him, thats why next time we dock im leaving..." You admit, your friends looking on you in sympathy as they pour you another drink.

You and your friends cheered together at 'Learning to fall out of love and till the next adventure' And drank together the rest of the night. You had a higher tolerance due to spending so much time with Buggy- so by the time the rest of the crew had retired for the night you went up to get some fresh air on the main deck still raw from the conversation that took place with your friends.

You walk out to see Buggy, drunk off his ass and barely able to stand against the rails of his ship, the almost dozen rolling bottles clued you in he was most likely had binge drank and was close to blackout. Reaching over quickly to grab him before he accidently went overboard and pulling him back-

"Captian what are yo-" You stopped as you saw him, he looked a reck.... His makeup was flaky and old, his hair a awful mess and he looked like he had been fished out of some sewer drain then your Captian.

"D-Dont call me that- I hate it when you c Hic Me Capitan! Buggy- Only you can call me Buggs!" He said angrily, swaying opposite to the pull and push of the waves.

"Sir you're drunk let's get you inside" You say softly, reaching out to grab his coat to pull him inside but he grabbed your hand hard and held it in an iron grasp.

"No! I want you back (Y/N)! You need to come back now!" He yelled, scaring you a bit at the tone of voice but in truth you were scared he was going to hurt himself..

"Cap.. Buggy- Im here i dont" You were cut off again as he staggered forward- almost falling on you if he hadn't caught his own weight slamming into the rails again. You pulling him back.

"No! I want you back with me! I- I want you back...you have to stay..." He mumbled, Your face blooming in surprise by the words coming from his lips.

"I learned them! I learned them all! I know your favorite colors, your birthday, the village you came from and what foods you like and dislike... T-That I embarrassed you..." He started to trail off as tears welled in his eyes and he staggered to the side.

"How you didn't feel like I cared for you... i-i didn't hold you at night and tell you how important you are to me.. how you thought I never kissed you or would leave you in the morning cause i didnt care-" He said the last sentence angrily and tossed the mostly empty rum bottle on the ground watching how it shattered. "How you're going to leave..."

"I.. Buggy how did you-" You mutter, before Buggy stammered towards you and reached into your coat pocket with a heavy hand and pulled out his own ear- you never knew it was missing to begin with and forgot how often you wear this coat. Smacking it to the side of his head as he stumbled at reattaching his limb.

"I kissed you every morning before I left.. I don't get much sl-sleep and so I'd wake up and just watch the sun hit you're face.. kiss you gently before leaving for the day..." He admitted, you feeling your heart squeeze at his words as well as the slight embrassment that he heard your woes to your friends about himself- or worse he drank himself like this cause he did hear you.

"I... don't know what love is.. I don't think I've ever truly felt it.. familial bonds... brotherly kinship.. but never love- B-But I think what I feel for you is it? I-Im not sure but I feel like my chest is being cut open when I look at the bed and you're not there with me... when I dont feel your warmth on my hand... or your voice telling me anything" tears began to roll down his tears fully, He looked so sad and lonely...

"Buggy..." You say softly, Watching tears run down his face washing what remained of his tattered makeup. How he hiccups both from crying and being drunk.

"I-I miss you (Y/N)..." He admitted, falling onto his knees finally as he ignored the pokes of the glass entering him. Tears continuing to flow freely as he bowed his head.

You couldn't watch this... reaching down you help him to his feet, feeling how heavy he was and the sour smell of BO that radiated off of him. Bringing him back to his quarters you set him on the bed to get him cleaned up.

He almost looked comatose, tears still running down his cheeks silently as you clean the makeup from his face and pull off his sour dirty clothes. Getting a wet rag to give him some sort of bath like he was a child- it wasnt like you hadnt seen him naked before, babbling drunk nonsense leaving him as you did so and help him into fresh underwear which he stumbles and ends up just detaching his legs lazily to help. But his hand always an iron grasp onto you in some way.

"Alright let's get you into bed..." You say softly, still fairly conflicted about all of this. Ready to just make sure the captian is safe enough to were he doesn't choke on his own vomit in his sleep and return to the crew quarters but he sobs and grabs you.

"Stay- please!" He begs, Having never heard this level of total panic from him- He looked so vulnerable.. in boxers, drunk, without his makeup of mask and emotionally a open book... you couldn't leave him like this.

So you removed your coat and climb in next to him. He held onto you, like what he would do every night you two had shared together. However now you understood, feeling that desperation in his grasp you had never understood before.

"Please stay with me (Y/N)..." You hear him whisper, burying his face into your neck further like he could hide from the world against you.

"...I know I'm not much... I'm not the strongest... not the smartest and-d not handsome but... I'll do anything for you... just please- don't leave me too" You feel your heart break at the softness of his words and how broken he sounded. How you had manages to crumble this paper lion- you held him tighter and rubbed circles in his back to lull him to sleep silently.

Tag List:

@starsali @nerdisthenewcool @aleisha127 @delectableworm @aleracrovn @myhubbyisbuggy @d1ner @soft-mafia @foggyturtleknightangel @devils-blackrose @valentinass-whotookmyname @onelatenight-longago @natalieisfreeziing @straightedgegoth

[holylulusworld]

Blackout

Summary: Lights out. Steam on. What if Steve Rogers is a filthy man in secret?

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Neighbor!Reader

Warnings: blackout, Steve acting like the golden boy, but he’s a filthy man in secret, dirty talk, smut, protected sex (tap it…),making out, dirty talk, a hint of fluff, language

A/N: As you voted for Steve in this poll here we go...

“No…no, don’t go in there” you huffed as the girl in the movie you were watching ran right into the murderer. “Great. Now you are—” you threw popcorn at your tv as it turned black. “FUCK! NO!”

You hit the buttons on your remote control. “What’s wrong with you?” you looked around your living room to find the lamps were out too. “Not another blackout.” You whined.

It wasn’t the first time the lights went out that month. “What’s the fucking problem? I only wanted to watch that movie.”

You grabbed your phone and activated the flashlight to walk toward the kitchen. You always store a flashlight and candles in one of the cupboards just to be safe.

“Y/N?” you frowned as someone harshly knocked at your door. Whoever it was, you wouldn’t let him inside your apartment during a blackout. “Doll, are you okay? It’s me, Steve from down the hall.”

“Captain?” you turned and walked toward your door. “Uh-is there a problem? Do you need help?”

“I kinda locked myself out,” he chuckled. “I wanted to do my laundry. I accidentally put my keys inside the washing machine. Now, it won’t open because of the blackout.”

“Oh, that’s…wait,” you unlocked the door. “Come in. I can’t let Captain America spend the night on the floor. I got wine, popcorn, and…well, we can’t finish the movie I was watching but we can play cards or something.”

“You’re very kind,” he softly said.

“Everyone else would’ve helped you too, Steve.”

He laughed at his stupidity. “That’s so me. Buck would laugh about me and tease me.”

Steve sheepishly looked around your apartment. Or at least he tried as there was barely any light.

“Don’t sweat it, Captain. It’s the least I can do,” you grinned and guided Steve into your living room, using your phone. “Do you want some wine, or water…or beer?”

“Nah, I’m good,” he straightened his shirt with his left hand. Steve cleared his throat to get your attention as you were busy watching his hand.

It looked like the shirt wanted to burst open. It was too small, just like most of his shirts and you swallowed thickly as you imagined ripping it off of his body.

“Doll, is something wrong?” damn him. He smiled that irresistible smile, making things worse for you. “Do you need something better than wine and popcorn?”

You whimpered as he stepped toward you to take the phone out of your hands. He shut it off, carelessly dropping it onto the couch. “I-uh…”

“It’s quite alright, doll,” he lowered himself to whisper in your ear. Your breath caught in your throat as you felt his lips graze your cheek. “Just tell me what you want. I saw the way you always look at me.”

“You did?” you gasped.

Steve moved his hands to your face, cradling it gently before his lips pressed against yours. It was an innocent kiss at first. You know the kind of kiss making you weak in the knees.

Soon it turned into something different. His mouth latched on yours, tongue delving into your wet cavern to explore and conquer.

“Do you know what I want?” he cockily purred against your kiss-swollen lips. “Answer me doll.” His voice dropped dangerously low. “I expect you to answer me.”

You squeak when his hands grabbed you by your waistline to hoist you up and carry you toward your bedroom. He stopped beside the door, pressing you against the wall to devour your mouth once again.

His taste and scent were intoxicating. One moment he was the golden and charming Captain, and the next, he shoved his hand down your pants to toy with your clit.

“What do you want, Captain?” you panted against his lips. “Please tell me.”

“I want to fuck you so good your legs are shaking,” he dove back in, lips and teeth attacking your neck. “Do you want me to fuck you?”

What do you say when a godlike man asks for permission to fuck you?

“Hell, yes…Captain!” he grinned before carrying you inside your bedroom.

You ended up making out like horny teens, laughing as you were as desperate as Steve.

Usually, you are into foreplay and taking things slow but that night you pulled your panties to the side, giving Steve easy access to your dripping cunt.

He didn’t hesitate. Steve pulled his jeans down, rolled a condom over his length, and drove right into you, making a noise sounding like a wounded animal.

“Fuck, I wanted to do this for so long, Y/N,” his deep voice purred in your ear, as he slowly started to slide in and out of you. “You feel so fucking good.”

You giggled as he wouldn’t stop talking dirty. Who would’ve thought Steve Rogers is a dirty talker and a filthy man?

Steve licked into your mouth as one of his hands slipped between your bodies to rip your panties off of your body.

You wrapped your legs around his waist. “Fuck me, Steve. I want to thank you for your service.”

“Damn…fuck…this cunt,” he cursed as he started to move faster, bottoming out with every deep thrust. “I wanted you for so long.”

You wrapped your arms around his shoulders, holding Steve close to your body while he stuffed you over and over again with his thick cock.

“Steve…I’m gonna…” it was too late to stop the dam from breaking. You clenched tightly around his cock, dragging Steve with you over the edge.

Steve moaned your name and kissed you hard. He stayed inside as he looked you deep in the eyes before saying. “I want to do this again.”

“Same,” you laughed. “But…I need a break. And maybe, we can do it without our clothes on next time.”

“Oh, yeah,” he laughed too. “Sorry. I was…”

“Needy?”

“Needy…”

He gently pulled out to discard the condom. “I like your needy self, Captain,” you purred as he lay next to you, still panting. “…I mean…I like you.”

“I like you too, doll. A lot,” he dipped his head to look at you. “Next time, I’ll buy you dinner first…”

“Or we can order takeout and eat in bed…”

“I hope he got laid,” Tony grumbled. “It was a hard job faking a blackout. Why couldn’t he just ask her out? That’s just stupid.”

“Uh-Stevie is a little shy when it comes to a woman he likes,” Bucky shrugged. “I knew he needs a little push. And he got laid. I just know it…”

Tags in reblog.

[tiedyeflannels]

BTS Headcanon || The Members Playing Loteria

OT7 x reader

Word count: 1k

Masterlist

A/N: Hey! I just wanted to write a little blurb while I'm working on the next installment of Blind Date(s)! @maple-leaves-in-the-wind and I came up with this and it was super fun to think about how they would be if they played loteria.

For those who don't know loteria, here's a quick run-down: It's basically bingo, but with betting. You have a set amount (usually a few cents) that you pay per "bingo" card (you can have multiple cards) and you pile the money in the middle. You, then, have someone calling the cards (numbers in bingo) and you win by filling a row either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally and get the money from the middle. Basic bingo rules. At the very end of the game, there is one last round where you pay a good amount of money for each card. The higher the amount, the bigger the pot, the higher the stakes. You win the final pot by filling out the ENTIRE card (think blackout bingo).

Playing loteria with the members would best be described in one word…

CHAOTIC

If RUN BTS has taught us anything, it’s that they are competitive

I’m talking shouting

Blaming

Demanding recounts (looking through each card that was called)

Demanding their money back if they think that the person who’s always winning every round (most likely you) is cheating

The WHOLE nine yards

And speaking of money…

Broke millionaires

When you said that everyone would be buying a card at 25 cents a pop, they immediately start running around whoever’s house (or the shared dorm) that you’re playing at and digging in between the couch cushions for change

Though you had told them about this game DAYS in advance

“Spare change? Spare change, ma’am?”

And don’t even get me started on how much is going into the final pot

Someone Tae suggests that they should pay 5 bucks a card and everyone becomes DEFENSIVE

Get ready for some arguments to break out

"Alright, should we do one final round before we call it a night,” I asked, looking around the table, slightly chuckling at some of the members' hair.

It was mainly the maknae line that had their hair sticking in every direction from the amount of times they had run their hands through it. I collected the cards from near the middle of the table so I could shuffle them as Namjoon pushed the pot money over to me.

Everyone nodded at the question.

“Alright! How much should we pay per card,” I asked as I shuffled the deck.

Taehyung was quick to answer, “5 bucks!”

Everyone’s head shot up at the suggestion while Jungkook, Jimin and Hobi abruptly stood up, almost knocking over their chairs.

"Absolutely not!” “That is too much money!”

I giggled as Jimin and Tae started to bicker and the others sat back down.

“5 bucks? Do you know how many ramen packs I can get with that,” Jungkook argued.

“I’m gonna have to side with Jungkook on this one. I don’t want to pull from my retirement fund yet,” Yoongi said, leaning back and crossing his arms.

“Yeah we don’t want to do that, he’s gonna need it soon,” Jin chimed in.

Yoongi threw a glare at him, “You’re older than me, you know that?”

I bursted out laughing at the disgusted face Jin made before Namjoon started telling us to calm down.

We looked over to him as he stated a proposal, “How about we do 2 dollars a card?”

“I’m down,” I said, taking out 2 dollars from my wallet.

Everyone followed my lead and started to dig around for their wallets before pulling out the amount they were going to pay. I put my two dollars in the middle of the table and got rid of my other two cards, leaving me with the one. I looked around as everyone was sorting their things and stopped at Jungkook.

“I only have a 5 dollar bill,” he said with a pout.

“Do you want 3 cards because I can give you a dollar or if you don’t, just take the change from the pile,”I offered.

He nodded, placing the five in the middle, “I’ll take three cards!” I nodded and pulled out another dollar from my wallet, throwing it in the middle.

Looking around, Hobi, Jimin and Tae had two cards, Jungkook had three, and Namjoon, Yoongi, Jin and I had one which made the grand total: 26 dollars.

“Alright, are we ready,” I asked as everyone nodded. I was about to call a card, but Hobi stopped me.

“Wait, can someone else call the cards?”

I looked at him, confused, “Why?”

“Because you’re the only one that’s been calling cards and you’ve won almost every round.”

“That’s because no one wants to call the cards, but if it makes you feel better… I’ll let you shuffle,” I said, moving to hand him the cards, “And Namjoon can call out the cards, okay?”

I looked over to Namjoon for confirmation as Hobi started to shuffle the deck, he nodded. Once Hobi was done shuffling he handed them over to Namjoon, who started to call out the cards.

It had been a while and no one had cleared their entire card yet, so I looked over and saw that Namjoon had already gone through half of the deck.

“How has no one won yet,” I asked, looking down at my car, that only needed a few more spots to be filled and then looked around.

“I don’t know, but I only need a couple more to win,” Jimin spoke up and the other nodded in agreement.

A few more cards were laid down and the tension was building. Everyone was on the edge of their seats as Namjoon started to near the end of the deck until…

“Buenas!” I cheered as I covered the last spot I needed to completely fill out my card. The guys groaned and fell back into their chairs as I happily collected the money.

“That’s not fair,” Tae groaned.

I laughed, “That’s how it goes.”

I grabbed my wallet and got up, “Well I’m hungry, so I’m gonna go to the convenience store.”

Jungkook and Tae shot up, following me immediately.

“Can you get us something,” Jungkook asked as they both looked at me with puppy dog eyes.

I squinted before sighing, “Fine.”

I was about to step through the door, but stopped and looked at the others, “Are you guys gonna come too?”

They all got up and followed me to the door. I sighed again as we started to walk to the convenience store.

“I’m only getting you ramen, okay?”

“Yay," they all cheered.

[onesidedradiostatic]

Personally I think they're both huffing a bit of copium about one another (Vox and Alastor) but Alastor is better at hiding it/maintaing his cool. We know that at least Valentino feels confident enough to goad Vox into taking the bait, that Alastor "almost" beat him last time. It's an interesting attitude compared to Vox's. Even Velvette doesn't seem all that concerned with Alastor, both her and Valentino are confident in the Vees current status and it's only Vox's personal insecurities that prevent him from sharing that mindset.

Vox's medium IS the victor in the grand scheme of things, he (along with the other Vees) ARE more relevant than Alastor/radio. And Vox is also capable of upgrading/improving himself over time in a way Alastor (from what we've seen) is not. It's so interesting seeing Vox unable to fully realize his strength/power - he can say it all he wants, but I don't think he really believes it. We the audience, however, know that visual media is king... case in point we are watching this series as a show on screens. Vox's hypnotism and electric powers are also pretty OP, he's got a good deck of cards (even though we haven't seen the full extent of how he can really leverage these yet).

And let's not forget Alasor BOOKED IT across town to get back at Vox during Stayed Gone. I think Alasor is (and should be) somewhat nervous (maybe "cautiously aware" is a better term) about the influence Vox and the Vees have regarding the future of media. He doesn't crack easily, as we've seen, but he cares enough to engage with Vox which he doesn't bother doing with outright "lessers".

In this way the dynamic is more even (in my opinion) than many give it credit for, which I personally prefer, but to each their own... for me, if it's not more equally matched, I struggle to see how the Vees will be worthwhile antagonists in the next season and that would be such a shame for characters that have so much potential. I just love the Vees!

(prev ask)

ehh I mean I do feel that they are on more equal level than some of the fandom may make them out to be but I still don't feel like they're exactly on the same level. like every time I see takes about mutual stuff between them I still can't fully agree cause to me, it's still on some level imbalanced. I do think they are of roughly equal power yes, but I think alastor being able to keep his cool is in fact a point towards him having the upperhand. it's the fact that vox is literally incapable of keeping his cool when it comes to alastor that spells more of his weakness when it comes to him I think. but yeah I mean how the vees, or rather vox will be a proper antagonist when he's so easily defeated by alastor is what I've been asking for a while LMAO.

and the thing is, we've seen instances like alastor being somewhat scared when zestial pops up, his mask slipping when starting stupid beef with lucifer (his eye is literally twitching the moment lucifer steps into the hotel LMAO), and of course with his fight with adam. we don't see any of that when it comes to the vees/vox, alastor waves them off as "nobody important" when niffty asks, easily tramples vox in stayed gone (and yes, he did immediately go back to his radio tower to bite back, but I don't think that's necessarily out of fear, could've easily just been he saw he was being insulted on live tv and HAD to bite back because he's a petty bitch), and gloated to him about having to "try harder than that" after failing to spy on him.

in my view, he doesn't see the vees or vox as a serious threat. HOWEVER, I do think that could easily be a point against alastor. his cockiness and not taking them seriously could very well come bite him in the back (JUUUUST like with adam!)

but when it comes to his current season 1 dynamic with vox, I do think he has the upperhand because of their different attitudes. if vox was able to keep his cool like alastor he wouldn't have caused a city-wide blackout over stayed gone LMAO. they're definitely more leveled power-wise though I think, the difference comes in their attitudes. if vox won the idgaf war a bit more they'd be more leveled, but he has chosen to obsess over him 24/7 so here we are.

[perplexingluciddreams]

An average day in my life

I want to make a post about an average day in my life, with higher support needs nonverbal autism (with continued late regression), severe ME/CFS, low mobility, hypotonia, and other health things. I need a lot of help with most things, and due to my conditions my everyday life probably looks quite different than many people's.

I tried to write this several times. I started with AAC, but I couldn’t see what I just wrote, so I got lost and jumped about too much. This time I made myself some questions to answer, so I can still use AAC to help with the words, but not get so mixed up. Some of this is written with AAC, some is typed.

Where do I spend most of my time? How do I spend most of my time?

I spend the large majority of my time in my bedroom, and the most of that time is spent in bed.

In bed, the things I do is: watch DVDs or other things on laptop, edit AAC, practice/write with AAC, play games on phone, listen to music.

When I am not in bed, I am listening to loud music in my swing! Best way of regulation for me, keeps me calm.

What does my bedroom look like, how do I have things set up?

I sit up in bed with a big wedge pillow and two normal pillows behind me. I usually have my laptop, iPad, AAC device, DVDs and DVD player, and fidget toys (dummy, chewy, tangle) on the bed with me. I also have an overbed table which always has my glasses and case and juice bottle on it. I change around what is on the table depending on what I am doing at that time.

My LED lights in bedroom is usually on orange or yellow colour, with lights fairly dim. The curtains and blackout blind is always closed.

I have a fan and book light always next to my bed. I have a weighted blanket as my duvet, with five other varying types of blankets on top of it.

What are the other activities I do?

I have some other activities I occasionally do with help and prompts. Sometimes I go downstairs (with stairlift) to watch TV and/or do walking (physiotherapy, walking back and forth with or without AFO braces). I also do walking upstairs, because getting downstairs is a real challenge.

I rarely remember that I have options other than the things I see in front of me, so my parents have to give me choices.

Occasionally Mum ask me if I want to play cards, or do something else not normally do. It depends on how I feel and how loud my brain is, but sometimes I say yes.

What are the few things I can do independently on a daily basis?

I can put shoes and socks on, and take off, by myself! Only with same pair of stretchy shoes, just pull on. I do this several times a day because I wear shoes in swing, but not in bed. So it is a strong motor path.

I can change my hoodie/take it on and off by myself.

I can go between my bed and swing by myself, no prompt. I can walk to go to the toilet and change nappy (diaper) by myself.

I can brush my teeth as long as my toothbrush and toothpaste is brought to me. Sometimes I also need a reminder, or I forget. I am more likely to forget in the evening. I remember better in the morning because I don’t like the taste of my own mouth.

I can drink from my juice bottle and feed myself.

I can put DVDs in and out of DVD player and plug it into laptop. I can choose what I want to watch on a few streaming services. I can navigate a few social media apps, and can even post/message on a couple.

I can use the two different remotes to control my LED lights and sensory light projector.

What is my main struggles and difficulties in an average day?

I can't do much without prompts so these two things (bed and swing) is basically all I can do on my own (I can also go to the toilet without a prompt most of the time, but sometimes I get stuck). I struggle to initiate tasks and transition between tasks. I also can only make my body go on strong motor paths (movement sequences that I do over and over that is strong in my muscle memory), and there is only space in my brain capacity for a small amount of these motor paths at a time. Learning a new motor path and making it strong can make me lose a previous motor path (usually whichever is weakest at that time). This is very limiting.

Even with the pillows I have, it is not enough support. My body is too weak and floppy. My posture is bad and I slide/slump down so I am closer to a lying down position than sitting. I am always in a lot of pain, so I shift around a lot trying to get comfy, but it is never quite right. This is even more for when I sit in swing (or anywhere else), there is next-to-none support there.

If I could, I would be in my swing all the time! But unfortunately I have very low energy due to ME/CFS so a lot of rest is necessary. I find this hard because I need to stim and regulate constantly.

It is necessary that I spend much time alone in my room. If I didn’t, the smallest things would send me into immediate shutdown or meltdown. I can’t be around people much at all, even voices noises is too much. Usually I am only around people for the time when they help me with something, or bring me something.

When I do be around people, even with AAC it is very very difficult for me to communicate - I can do a handful of simple signs but anything more complex is so hard to get out that it usually has to happen when I am on my own in my room (like when I write a post like this). I am sad that I can’t have important or deep conversations with a person in the same room. Most of the important things I communicate to Mum is through Tumblr or WhatsApp.

I am oversensitive to so many things because of sensory issues. I am always dysregulated and I spend so much time trying to keep myself calm with swinging, with out making my health worse.

Often I am much too tired and sore to go downstairs so I am stuck in my bedroom most of the time.

I don't feel many body signals, like my bladder. When I don’t feel the signals at all (or not until too late), combined with getting stuck and not able to initiate go to toilet fast enough, I have accidents. This used to be something I could just about keep on top of, but with regression I no longer can manage it, so I have to wear nappies (diapers). This also adds another task (change nappy) that I have to use my limited brain capacity to learn and hold onto.

I am so fatigued and in pain from doing small things, and my body response to fatigue is often a big trigger for many sensory issues. This often becomes a downward spiral of fatigue response -> sensory bad -> big stim to calm down -> stim makes fatigue worse -> more body fatigue response, etc.

What is my morning routine like?

The first thing that happens in the morning (approximately 9am) is Mum or Dad comes to my bedroom with breakfast and medication. They help prop me up in bed with a big wedge pillow, and two normal pillow behind me. They give me my headphones (I wear almost all day, every day) and help put all my things around me on the bed. They also give me my toothbrush and toothpaste. In the mornings I can’t communicate much at all (only occasionally a few signs), can’t look at another person or do anything that would overwhelm me even a wee bit. It would cause immediate shutdown or meltdown. Shutdown is more likely for the morning time.

What is my mealtime routine like?

Mum or Dad (or very occasionally sister) brings me my food, and if it is a messy food then I put a tea towel over my chest so I don’t get covered in food. I eat while watching something usually, because I need the distraction to not get so stuck. Every time I get new meal or snack brought upstairs to me, I get a fresh bottle of juice also. The bottle is approximately 450ml, and I have 3 meals plus 2 snacks each day. I also get a bottle of water (not juice) brought up with evening meds, so I don’t get sugar on my teeth after I brush them.

I eat the same snacks at the same times every day. I have the same exact breakfast every day, and it has barely changed since I was quite young. I have two lunches, it is the same except for sandwich filling - I eat one for weekdays, one for weekends. Dinner varies, but there is still a predictable amount of choices, and often I eat the same dinner for the same day of the week. Mum sometimes tells me what is for dinner, if it will be different than the usual dinner for that day of the week, or if I ask. But I usually forget by dinner time anyway! 🤷🏻‍♂️

What is my bath time routine like?

With bath, Mum always helps. I need a lot of prompts. I get confused and lost with all the steps. But I have gotten better with practice, and each step have a stronger motor path now. I need Mum to tell me what part comes next.

I use a bath lift to get in and out of the bath.

I can do the physical washing part mostly on my own, sometimes I ask for help with my back. Mum gives verbal prompts and puts the right soap/shampoo in my hand or on washcloth.

Sometimes even with prompts, my brain confuses the steps or the motor paths, and my body does the wrong thing. This happens more recently, because when there is a complex sequence of separate (at least it is stored separately in my brain) motor paths, I can go into “loops” of do same thing over and over. Or my wires get crossed and I simply do the wrong movements.

I can also mostly dry myself (I sit on toilet seat to do it), but Mum always does my back. I can’t dress myself, so once I put on nappy by myself, Mum puts my top on. Then I walk to bedroom and Mum puts my trousers on while I sit on the edge of my bed (it is a better height that sitting on the toilet seat). Then Mum opens deodorant and clicks it up, I put it on myself.

What is my evening/bedtime routine like?

I have poor sleep, usually, and a really weird sleep schedule! My parents go to bed at approximately 10pm (sometimes Mum a bit earlier), and Dad always comes in to tell me goodnight. But I am awake much much after that (usually between 1-3am is when I finally go to bed for sleep). Sometimes I still swing when my parents is in bed, but I try not to swing too late because it can click and make noises.

I stay up and watch things, or play games on phone and listen to music. I often get stuck and cannot transition to go to bed, so I force myself awake for long after I could probably already go to bed.

When I finally manage to force myself to do the bedtime routine (or when my body is so tired it force me), I have to move all the things off the bed (some go on overbed table, some go to charge on the other side of the room). I also then change hoodie from day hoodie to sleep hoodie. I also move big wedge cushion and extra pillow down onto the floor. And put special cushion under my sleep pillow so it is at the perfect angle. Then, finally, I can lie down.

Sometimes I still go on my phone after that, usually to read fanfiction, if I can’t relax enough yet. I also rock back and forth on my side to soothe myself, I have done it since I was very young. I have to put my fan on to sleep, the noise and the feeling on my face is necessary to fall asleep, and it helps keep my temperature okay.

Then, the cycle of morning starts all over again!

[blessphemy]

@comment-bingo get me on that Blackout Prize List!!

These are all AO3 fics I commented on because.... I like fics. What about it. Perhaps on my next bingo card I'll remember to comment on some fanart and fanvids...

List of what I commented on under the cut! Because I'm a nerd.

Action/Adventure: Slapdash Neural Wiring by potatoturnipbean. This fic is part 2 of a series, but you can start by reading this one no problem. (That's what I did.) Featuring original construct characters set in the Murderbot Diaries universe, amazing heist fiction, drama, emotional turmoil, cool scifi gadgets, and line after line of hilarious, snappy prose. Do you want to be mercilessly punched in the emotions while laughing at the same time? Have you been craving a book that's exactly like Murderbot in tone and setting, but a littttle bit different? Do you want something gripping and fun and affecting? This fic is incredible and I'll tell anyone who listens. For free. Pleaes read Slapdash Neural Wiring it's an amazing work that needs love.

Poetry/Filk: Poetry installation: Untitled ("my friend always chooses the media") by borth. Very cool stuff. You have to actually read it to appreciate it I think... it's difficult to describe why I like it. In-universe poetry written in a bathroom stall.

Outsider POV: Cinema Verite by BoldlyNo. BoldyNo does it again with sensitive writing that explores canon and characters from various angles, this time it's Ratthi's perspective of creating The Video in System Collapse. Very good. Emotions.

Fave Trope: Road Trip For Science by Thirteen Primes. I don't know what my Fave Trope is, but I love Road Trips, and this fic has got a road trip. The author was inspired by a scene that came to them in a dream. There's something charming about this fic that is difficult to put my finger on. Featuring Mensah who'd done trucking to pay for school when she was younger, and Murderbot, driving a truck through a planet recently opening up to outside trade and which is being courted by corporate rim.

An Author You've Never Read: An Audacious Undertaking, Even to God by lumpy_space_princess. Featuring SecUnit 3, who is desperate to restore and re-upload the consciousnesses of SecUnits 1 and 2. Experience emotions from this fic or your money back. This fic is a multichapter and still updating!

Respond To Other Comment: On Constructs And Cats by ForestWren. Murderbot finds a kitten. What more do you want? It's exactly what you want.

Original Character: Happy Birthday by Jewels9162. Part of a prolific series about rogue Barish-Estranza units and their human handler. Bit of a nice slice-of-life here. About friends and birthdays.

Character Study: Sense of Belonging by ArtemisTheHuntress. Listen. I don't care what plans Martha Wells herself has for SecUnit Three. This fic is what truly happens with it in my heart after the events of System Collapse. It's such a good character study, about finding yourself in the context of a new strange social scene, about grieving what you've lost, about making a positive difference in the world using your specific skills and interests. So good.

Multi-Chapter: Slivers of Existence by musicofthespheres. A collection of loosely-connected ficlets. About Murderbot. It's very nice, okay. A bunch of pleasant scenes you can sip tea over as a pick-me-up. Enjoyable.

Long Fic (5k+ words): Family Portrait by ramshackle_fey. Are you ready to experience emotions about Murderbot and The Mensah Kids? Prepare yourself. Gird your heart.

Bharadwaj's Documentary: If You Want To Write by borth. This is a very neat concept. Chapter 1 is Murderbot and Bharadwaj talking to each other about the illiteracy enforced upon Murderbot by the company, and how Murderbot sneakily learned to read, and how its secretly-gained literacy is what allowed it to hack its governor module. Chapter 2 is a meta text exploring themes of literacy and worker control.

Old Favourite: In Another Life by Lick. Frankly it's impossible for me to pick only one favorite fic, so this is just one of many favorites. Frankly anything written by Lick is a favorite. This one is an AU in which Murderbot continued on its adventures for 4 years before returning to reunite with its humans on Preservation. The shifted dynamics with ART, SecUnit 3, and its humans, are a delight.

Free Space: do humans even dream by BWizard. A 4+1, times Mensah experiences nightmares, as noticed through the eyes of the people close to her. :')

Make a Rec Post: This post.

Crack: mining for copper (or ways to annoy your construct friend) by friendoftheJabberwock. Short and silly. Murderbot must do a very important infiltration at a costume party.

Canon Continuation: In Defense Of What I Never Had by Thylacine_Wishes. You ever want to ruminate on the Implications of Murderbot's shitty creation in comparison to ART's state-of-the-art University birthplace? Welcome. We have baby AIs.

Posted/Updated Pre-2023: precious cargo by FiannlyPhoebe babyfic. Fast forward some Years: Iris and Amena generate a human baby.

Fluff: people look east the time is near by BWizard. The secular space X-mas cookie making vibes. Sweet. Cookie decorating.

Hurt/Comfort: Memory Fault by Yellow. Murderbot and ART in the wake of the difficult events of Network Effect... talk it out.

Bot POV: Hints by i_have_loved_the_stars_too_fondly. Technically this is SecUnit POV. But I'm counting it. An exploration of how Amena may have come and done Murderbot's hair, pre-System Collapse. Made me feel a little sad :') I want them to feel connection and careeeeeee please.

Additional Canonized Tag: Third Dorm Mom by BoldlyNo. The canonized tag in question is "#Pansystem University of Mihira and New Tideland." Y'all this fic is AWESOME. If you love slice of life. If you love character and relationship studies. If you want a fic that is alllll about the relationship between Murderbot and Amena. It's this fic. Warm your heart over the coals, go on.

Fanart with <50 Notes: This collection of drawings by paging-possum. It had <50 notes when I reblogged it with commentary tags. You should check out this artist's works if you like Murderbot. Very nice drawings.

Podfic: [Podfic] Cog in the Machine, by FlipSpring by CompassRose and mistingsidekick on AO3. Come ruminate on the nihilistic POV of the Combat SecUnit that Murderbot faced off against in Exit Strategy.

Funny/Silly Tags: a comforting presence by afjakwrites. The tag in question: "#featuring secunit carrying ratthi bridal style." Consider, if you will: what if Murderbot is Objectively Hot.

Crossover: We Provide... Security by Blue_Bees. Very very good very good crossover!!!!! You don't need to know Leverage. Case fic + screw over Corporations time!

[ac3-76]

Cole Brookstone Headcannons

warnings: slight cussing? mentions of racial stereotypes/discrimination

General

He was the sexiest man alive 3 years in a row

He also dabbled in modeling

he didn't even try either, a modeling agent saw him and gave him a business card

Cole went to one interview, the next thing he knows he's walking down the runway with Bella Hadid

he's a thought son

does a lot of stuff on social platforms to spread awareness for racial discrimination, politics, and cancer reaserch

if they were to have BLM protests in Ninjago, he would throw tear gas back at cops

He has the BIGGEST resting bitch face ever

obviously he loves cake, but he loves brownies with caramel drizzle and a sprinkle of sea salt on top even more than he loves cake

he really loves Dolly Partons Carmel Turtle mix

He loves Dolly Parton in General

He only drinks water

He HATES those "make my water of the day with me" videos

like JUST DRINK WATER THROUGH OUT THE DAY!?! HELLO?!

Gossip/debrief sessions with Nya are a weekly occurrence

the reason Nya was so confused abt Jay vs Cole in season 3/4/5 is because of how close Nya and Cole already were

But after she stepped away from both of them and thought about her relationship with each of them, she realized Cole was like a sister to her

And I mean sister

She's never had a sister before but her relationship with Cole is exactly how she imagines sister relationships

Nya introduces him as her sister and he's chill with it

He works out with Kai

but unlike Kai, Cole LOVES rest days

he goes to yoga 3 or 4 times a week and is besties with his yoga instructor Andy

Andy and her girlfriend got married and he went to the wedding, that's how close they are

I feel like he's friends with a lot of lesbians

idk they just kinda gravitate towards him

Cole is 6'3

he's also black

he has snake bite piercings

his mom's favorite tree was a maple tree, so he got a maple leaf tattooed behind his right ear

his mom would always tuck his braids or dreads behind his right ear.

he also has a hand tattoo that looks something like this:

I'm not saying Ninjago has a lot of racial stereotypes or discrimination

but, when they see 6'3, muscular, tatted, pierced, black. resting bitch face Cole walking down the street people tend to label him as scary or dangerous

because of this he's always afraid of coming off as creepy or weird when he tries to talk to someone

Dating

His body is so large, solid, and muscular and it's perfect for hugs and cuddling

He doesn't care about cuddling position- if you guys are comfortable and can fall asleep, its perfect

his favorite place to kiss is your forehead and your shoulders

his love language is acts of service

"my room is too bright in the morning, even with my blinds shut" the next day he has blackout curtains installed

"I always hit my head on that one cabinet" idk how but thanks to his handy work you no longer bump your head on that cabinet

"I wish my kitchen had sodalite counters" You have sodalite counters now(the good thing is, it was mostly free too, he just used his earth powers to find enough sodalite for your counter)

You guys met when the ninjas went out to a restaurant to celebrate whatever victory they had just had

and because he's used to being stereotyped as scary or weird for the way he looks, when you approached him to ask for his number he was shocked and supprised

he was happy about it tho because he had been glancing at you the whole time the team was at the restaurant

You're first date? Mini golfing.

He's been thinking about the perfect first date FOR. YEARS.

why is mini golfing the perfect first date?

Public setting for both parties feeling safe

mini golfing is fun and fairly inexpensive

mini golfing provides plenty of time to talk and chat, but if an awkward moment arises there's something to do

done golfing and now we're hungry?

cheap and decent food inside

done eating but don't want to end the date?

most mini golf places have arcades

AND most arcade games are meant for 2 people

want to take some cute photos?

Most arcades have photo booths for taking cute pics

Cole has been planing a mini golfing first date for years, and just needed someone with the right energy to do it with

Romcom type relationship

You guys meet in a cute romcomy way, have a cute romcomy first date, then you have some sort of romcomy problem, then work things out and live happily ever after

I feel like the romcomy problem wouldn't be very romcomy tho, maybe you guys met before he was a ghost, and him being a ghost was the problem you worked through?

he would keep 1 flower from every boquet he gives to you so he knows when the bouquet is dying, then he gets you fresh flowers

You always have fresh flowers from him, for the entirety of ur relationship

he's a thought son so you would stay up talking about what you guys want your future to look like

He's used to you waking him up in the middle of the night because he was snoring

He gives great advice, but before he gives it he asks if you want comfort or advice

he's also really good at comforting you

he just knows exactly how to make you feel safe and understood

you'd go to yoga with him, Andy and her girlfriend(now wife) would love you

if you guys did want kids, Cole would be the perfect dad

Physical touch is his 2nd love language, but he doesn't rlly like PDA

most touches in public are pinky or hand holding(he would do the thumb thing), putting his hand on the small of your back when going through crowds, maybe a peck on the temple here and there

but in private he can't get his hands off you

he just wants to touch you in any and every way possible

he's infatuated by you

he sends you tiktoks of an orange cat(him) and some other cat(color/type depending on ur personality) and says us

he sends you couple trends and says "we should do this"

"if I every won the lottery, oh wait, I already did" yeah. he did that, first 2 slides were him, and the other 30 were pics of you

"oh that's pretty, imma take a picture" yep.

he has life 360 with you

not in a weird way, obvi, in like a oh this fun way

You're like the parents of the team

Jay and Nya are the uncle and aunt

In another universe the four of you are drinking wine and talking about how annoying some coworkers have been recently

[theresattrpgforthat]

Hey! Do you know of any adventures / adventure paths that features and supports non-violent scenes as the majority of the play content?

I've seen games that have so many rules/moves/etc for non violent resolution, but the actual supporting material (like, rooms/locations/characters/their routines/cool information) is very light, so the players have to generate pretty much all of the content themselves.

Theme: Non-Violent Adventures

Hello friend! I’m going to put a disclaimer here and say that I think that it would technically be possible to introduce violence into pretty much everything that I’m suggesting today - if the players really want it. What I’m presenting today are adventures that have the option to be non-violent, and it’s important for the table to be on board if they want to keep it that way. I’d recommend setting up a Session 0 with your group to make sure that everyone is able to talk about what they’re excited about, and what they’d rather avoid.

Second Sight Homicide, by Hendrik ten Napel.

They didn't see this coming… Twin clairvoyants put it to the audience: who is the real medium? When only one sister survives the show, this night out turns into a different mystery all-together.

The Sibyl Sisters have a long-running rivalry. Each claims the other sister is a charlatan and not a medium at all. To settle the score, Saige, the youngest, has challenged her sister Prudence to tour the United States with her. Every evening, both will try and contact the spirits of the dead. It's up to the audience to decide which sister is really making contact with the other side.

When the show reaches Brindlewood Bay, the Murder Mavens can't resist. Whether you believe in the afterlife or not, it's bound to get interesting. One of the Mavens even gets invited to the stage, together with a couple of other seemingly random theatergoers. While Prudence is busy summing the spirit of the Maven's deceased loved one, disaster strikes. A brief blackout. A murdered mystic.

Each story arc of Brindlewood Bay presents the characters with a mystery, and a series of clues for them to uncover. Together, the characters will assemble a theory, and then roll to determine whether or not it is correct! This means that planning for the GM is much easier, although the nature of the game does require a good bit of flexibility and improv.

While Brindlewood Bay deals with violent content (murders), the characters themselves, as elderly ladies, are not really expected to get into a fight. This is also a game with a lot of really good support, with adventures like this one made by third parties (like my Copper Shores supplement), but also officially-created supplements like Nephews in Peril, which comes with multiple mysteries, as well as a few new rules for folks who want to shake things up.

The Spring and Sprocket Express, by TTRPGkids.

An all-age focused steampunk themed premade tabletop RPG setting that can be used with any system that you want!  It takes place on a magical train made of a wild variety of train cars that defy time and space!  Make your way from one car to the next to save the train from bots, Dr. Wyverstone, and more!

This is a system-agnostic adventure that puts your characters on a steampunk train and pits them against the (villainous?) Dr.Wyverstone. Because this adventure is aimed towards kids, I would expect there to be plenty of opportunities for characters to find non-violent solutions to the problems presented to them. This game comes with a deck of cards that detail challenges, characters, locations and puzzles, such as tiny robots that steal bits of metal, or a large lever in the middle of the room, with no indication of what exactly it does.

This creator has plenty of train-themed adventures, such as The Midsummer Mischief Express or the Fall Fright Express, but they also have a game called Glyfi Scouts, a game about inter-dimensional scouts, earning patches and learning magical abilites. They’ve also written adventures for this game!

To Rob Death’s Dominion, by Xavid.

It is said that in a golden age long ago we of the world were not yet beset by uncertainty and doubt. The exalted beings who lived in those days knew their own worth, saw their own meaning. For held in the center of the world was the cintamani, a brilliant jewel of red and black and orange. It was the answer to all the sorrows of the world, the key that allowed desire free of suffering. It is the very jewel that proved that existence was worthwhile; in its light was illuminated a virtue and purpose within us each. It was made available to all, there in its temple in its shining city, and the miracle of that age was that none in the world sought to claim it for their own.

To Rob Death's Dominion is an introductory one-shot (one to four sessions in practice) mortal Adventure Fantasy campaign for the Chuubo's Marvelous Wish-Granting Engine RPG by Jenna Moran. Play one of seven variously-queer international criminals from Earth's notorious Breaker One-Nine gang who've come to steal the cintamani, the answer to all the sorrows of the world, from the Headmaster of the Bleak Academy. Or play their dogged recurring antagonist, Inspector Bao! Or play Leonardo de Montreal, the Heartless Researcher, or Jasper Irinka, Death's Daughter, who seem to have gotten swept up in the shenanigans.

Chuubo’s Marvelous Wish-Granting Engine is a diceless ttrpg that focuses on slice-of-life stories. The base game comes with guides to playing very different kinds of genres, from Gothic, to Epic Fantasy, to Pastoral. To Rob Death’s Dominion contains quests and prompts that fit in many of these genres, but provide extra support for Adventure Fantasy in particular.

For Pastoral gaming, you might want to check out Fortitude: by the Docks of Big Lake, while Fortitude: the Legendary 139 is more suited for Immersive or Gothic play.

Gothic Society: Monastery, by Martian Machinery.

The sound of thunder echoes outside the walls of Verges Abbey. You raise your head, the sanctity of matins shattered by the voice of the heavens. You attempt to disregard the unease that echoes in your mind, stilling your thoughts with the recitation of familiar mantras. All is quiet.

The sunrise brings news of the death of the abbot. The refectory is rife with worried looks, and innumerous whispers follow the prior's announcement of the performance of last rites that will be held later in the day. Apparently, he died of unnatural causes. 

Gothic Society: Monastery is a setting expansion for Good Society and Gothic Society. Games played in this setting take place entirely in a monastery in the Middle Ages, with the players playing members of a monastic order - monks or nuns.

Good Society is a game all about romance, scandal, and maintaining the proper reputation in polite society, and the supplements created for it, such as Gothic Society, place a lot of similar restrictions but change the setting in some way. This supplement places your characters into a middle-ages type of monastery, and while it’s meant to be horrific, much of the prompts ask you what your characters do after violence has already occurred.

If you want something a bit more goofy, you can also check out Bird Society, which turns all of your Good Society characters into birds, or Drama Society, which is all about the actors and artists in a movie or stage production.

Sister Escape, by KTPie.

In this Blades in the Dark score, a rich noble hires your crew to break out the love of his life out of a convent of the Church of Ecstasy. However the high bounty for what he explains as a "simple breakout" seems to be too good to be true.

In this convent of the Church of Ecstasy you will find hollow servants and sisters alike roaming around the courtyard and participating in both public and private rituals. Should you enter its library of hollowing you might find the convent's Head Mother, Mother Erma, doing her own research on Cleansing rituals.

Blades in the Dark doesn’t necessarily need pre-written scores, but they can certainly be helpful in providing you with a pre-set list of NPCs, obstacles, and set description. This is one such example.

Because this is set in a grim, Victorian-era, ghost-ridden steampunk city, I can’t guarantee that these will be non-violent, because the methods involved are up to your table more than anything else. If your players want to focus on infiltration and deception, then they’ll likely choose methods that are more focused on stealth and subterfuge. If you as the game runner want to keep the game non-violent, then you’ll also want to make sure you’re introducing threats that can be dealt with in non-violent ways. If you feel like this is the setting for you, then I’d also recommend checking out the Hour of Chains collection of unofficial scores by A Couple of Drakes: you’ll get a lot of really interesting, diverse scores to play with for any motley crew of criminals.

Some Rec Posts You Might Find Interesting

Magic School Mysteries

Tavern Games

Studio Ghibli Games

Drama Drama Drama

Woodland Community

Non-Gritty Low Fantasy

[skzhocomments]

Broken hearts can heal - Choi Minho SHINee Fanfic - Chapter II - Gifts around the dinner table

Story masterlist - please consult it for the summary of the story, trigger warnings etc.

Wattpad link

AO3 link

Chapter I / Chapter III

---

Chapter II - Gifts around the dinner table

word count: 1.9k words

"Helloooo! Look who I brought!" Taemin sang, balancing four wine bottles in his hands, Onew following him shortly behind.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the guy who said he can't come." Minho exclaimed and got up to hug the older. You got up as well, to greet them properly.

"I have so much work to do! But Taemin basically dragged me-" Onew started, before getting interrupted.

"Da-Eun!" Taemin exclaimed and ran to you, hugging you tightly. You got along with him a lot, since he was such a happy, open person. You truly liked him, maybe also because he was the closest to you in age.

"Yah, let me meet her too, will you?" Onew laughed then came over to you with a bouquet of various spring flowers. "I'm Jinki, it's nice to meet you!"

"The pleasure is mine, I'm happy that all of you managed to come today after all."

"Let's sit down." Key instructed everyone.

"Wait, I'm gonna go get a glass for Jinki." You remembered. Since you were about to play host for the whole night, you had to play the part right.

"Wait, I'll go get it. Is Key still keeping them in the top cabinet?" Minho asked you, and as soon as you nodded, he ran to the kitchen. He apparently had other plans in store, seeming to be mindful of you.

~

"Okay, okay, let's see. Da-Eun, give us your best, cheesiest pick-up line." Minho laughed, reading the small card in the deck.

You've been playing 1000 questions for a while now, and the boys already managed to down almost 2 bottles of wine.

"Hmmmm, let's see. Let me think." You rubbed your chin with your fingers for a couple of seconds until you remembered what one of your customers told you that made you cringe for the whole day afterwards, partly because of the pick-up line itself, partly because the dude was a creep.

"It's okay, take your time." Kibum nodded empathetically.

"What's on the menu?" You looked at Minho.

"I don't know, what?" He asked, tilting his head.

"Me n U." You winked and smirked, making the boys laugh.

"Y'all she got rizz!" Jinki exclaimed, and Kibum was already wiping tears from the corners of his eyes as Minho burst out into laughter. The joke wasn't that funny, but they were all getting drunk pretty fast, and drunk men are the easiest to amuse.

"Ok, next card, to Jinki: tell us your best joke."

"Hmm, okay. What do clouds wear?"

You smiled and urged him to continue.

"Thunderwear."

"Wow, that was lame." Taemin laughed, soon followed by everyone else.

"Wait, since you're going to have a kid, does that mean that next year you'll compete against Jinki at saying dad jokes?" Minho laughed at Kibum, who burst out laughing again.

"No wayyy!"

"Come on, they're funny!" I playfully slapped Key's leg, who grabbed my hand lovingly and kissed it.

"You're all mean." Jinki pouted. "I have another one! Da-Eun, how do you get if Key disappoints you?"

"I don't know. How?" You chuckled.

"You get Ki-bummed out." He laughed, and this one actually made you snort.

The boys also seemed to find it funny as heck, as Taemin started holding his belly from laughter and Minho was already on the floor, literally, rolling.

"Okay, I know I have the best jokes in the world, but let's take a small break please, I gotta go take a piss." Jinki stood up, and you were thankful since you really wanted to do something before everyone got blackout drunk, and as things seem to go by, it was going to happen sooner rather than later.

You stood up and went to Taemin, tapping him on the shoulder two times and whispering in his ear.

"Can you come with me real quick?"

He nodded and stood up, and you guided him to your bedroom. You were glad Key went to the kitchen to bring some more snacks, and Minho was scrolling on his phone and didn't notice you and Taemin leaving the room.

"What are we doing here?" Taemin smiled excitedly, as it felt like you two were sharing a secret and doing a secret mission.

"Look, there are five small boxes up there, behind those clothes." You opened your wardrobe and pointed to the highest shelf where you hid gifts for the boys. "Can you grab them please?"

"Sure." Taemin smiled and took the boxes with ease, following you back to the living room.

"Where were you?" Jinki asked curiously, and you were glad that everyone was once again seated.

"So, since all of you came here... I have an announcement to make." You grinned and grabbed the first box, giving it to Kibum.

"Don't open that yet." You scolded him as you noticed his fingers already playing with the small ribbon that was holding the box in place, and he just nodded with a small smirk, as if he was caught under the Christmas tree too early in the morning by his parents.

You gave the second box to Onew, you placed the third one on the table, the fourth one went to Minho and Taemin ended up holding the remaining one.

"Okay... you can open them at the same time." You said and kneeled down in front of the table, opening the box you just placed there, as the person who was supposed to do it wasn't present.

Key was the first one to finish opening up his box and pulled out the custom T-Shirt you created from it, reading it out loud.

"You're going to be the most awesome dad. Signed, your future baby boy." He read it out loud, and as soon as the words left his mouth, he started sobbing and stood up to come and hug you.

"We're going to have a boy?!" He cried, and you became emotional and started crying as well, hugging him back as both of you kneeled on the ground.

The rest of the boys pulled out their T-Shirts as well. Onew's read: "Best Uncle #1", Minho's read "Best Uncle #3", and Taemin's read "Best Uncle #4".

"You... you made one... for Jonghyun?" Minho started tearing up as well, his eyes trailing over to the T-shirt you pulled out on the table that read "Best Uncle #2". Of course you couldn't forget someone who was so important to them. Even if he passed away so many years ago and you never got to meet him, Kibum still talked about him fondly, so you felt it was absolutely necessary to include him in this as well.

Minho put down his box on the table and stood up as well, kneeling next to you and hugging you and Key tightly.

The other two boys followed immediately, and came around the three of you, in a group hug.

The gesture made you feel accepted, and you were sure your baby was going to grow up being loved by so many wonderful people, which you were so grateful for.

~

You woke up early the next morning due to the terrible nausea that didn't let you sleep, even if you went to bed late.

The boys all got drunk and decided to crash over, so you got out of your bedroom and walked as quietly as possible towards the bathroom, where you managed to throw up every little snack you ate last night.

You were feeling horrible and knew you couldn't go back to sleep, so after finishing throwing up your bowels, you washed up a bit and went to the living room, where you were surprised to see Minho sleeping uncomfortably on the couch. You had two guest bedrooms because you didn't have time to make one of them the nursery yet, so you weren't sure why he was out here.

Still, you didn't want to wake him up. It was barely 9 AM, and they stayed even later than you did. You started grabbing the empty wine glasses on the table with care and then came back to also get the few plates with leftover food.

He was still asleep by the time you finished grabbing what you wanted to clean up, so you carefully closed the kitchen door and poured yourself a glass of grapefruit juice, hoping it's going to help with the horrible nausea.

It didn't.

Still, you got up from the kitchen table and turned on the water, starting to wash the glasses.

You didn't hear the kitchen door open, so you got shocked to see two large hands grabbing the glass and kitchen sponge from your hands.

You turned your head around and saw Minho, who started to push you away from the sink with his body.

"Morning." He said, his voice raspy, and he looked so obviously tired, you felt bad he didn't sleep more.

"Did I wake you up...? Sorry, you should go back to sleep..."

"Let me wash these and sit down." He instructed you, making you frown.

"But-"

"You need to rest too, we've been loud until 5 AM. So please..."

"Okay..." You nodded, and it somehow felt like you were being scolded.

"Pregnant people should rest more than drunk idiots." He concluded, making you laugh.

"Don't be mean, you haven't seen each other in a long time." You smiled. "Should I make you a coffee?" You remembered, and wanted to stand up again before he threw you a killing glance.

"Just sit down, I have two arms and two legs, which I'm very grateful for, and they are great at making coffee. I'll just make one when I finish the dishes."

"You don't have to hand wash them, by the way... you can just put them in the dishwasher..."

"Why haven't you, then?" He laughed.

"It's getting harder to bend down..." You chuckled, looking down lovingly at your cute bump that was starting to get pretty big already.

"Kibum should be doing the washing then." Minho laughed. "I'm gonna scold him for you."

"He usually puts them in the dishwasher."

"He's still lazy. I swear. Whenever I would come visit, I would have to do all sorts of jobs around the house. Laundry, cleaning up tables, washing his dishes, gardening, you name it. I was shocked to see the house so spotless yesterday!"

"Come on, it wasn't that bad when I moved in." You laughed. "It's just that I'm a clean freak and I hate stains..."

"I'm the same! Clean freaks club united!" He laughed and raised a small fist in the air, splashing you a bit with water.

"Oh my god!" You laughed, making him turn around and notice.

"Oops, sorry, sorry!" He laughed as well and gave you a box of tissues to wipe up the bits of water.

"Thanks."

"By the way, Da-Eun..."

"Yes?"

"I really wanted to thank you... for last night. What you did was very thoughtful, and... thank you." He looked straight into your eyes, and you smiled kindly, understanding how much the simple gesture you did meant for him and the other guys.

"I should be the one to thank you for accepting me and for supporting me and Key's relationship... and I hope you'll also... love this baby and be there for him as his uncle..." You let your head down, feeling grateful.

"Of course! I'll be the best uncle. I'll play football with him, sing with him. You can count on me, Da-Eun!" He smiled kindly at you, then continued to wash the dishes.

---

Chapter I / Chapter III

[thegodthief]

There are two tarot decks that I have no conscious memory of purchasing but here they are: The Acacia Tarot and the Sola Busca.

The Kickstarter for the Acacia Tarot was joined in a feverish blackout several years ago. I had seen the offer, passed on the cards, went to click on something else but woke up in bed instead. I didn't realize I had joined the Kickstarter until the next day when I received the email announcing the successful funding of the project.

That deck kicked off no few shenanigans when it arrived and eventually became an inspiration for a book.

When the Sola Busca had become available as a limited edition, I had been through some shit and had sworn off "unnecessary purchases". I knew I didn't have the budget nor the space for wild speculation, and I was determined not to let myself get caught up in FOMO. Not to mention, the whole "The Game of Saturn" business was also far outside of my reading and understanding. The last thing I needed was a tarot deck that came with other people's sandbags.

I closed the tab and went to do something else but suddenly I was smelling burning metal and then... Well... Let's just say there was a visitation and leave it at that.

By the time I bothered to check my email later in the day, the order was already set in stone and cancelling wasn't an option. When it arrived, I read the accompanying book cover to cover and poked at the slates cards now and then, but I could never do anything more than look at the images and feel the inside of my scalp turn in uncomfortable ways.

I've low-key been wanting to sell or pass the deck along for some time because I felt really bad about having something (initially) limited in nature but doing nothing with it. But then I remember how it got to me in the first place. Even after last year's challenge to do something with the Sola Busca and the TrueBlack Tarot, I was able to work the TBT into regular rotation at Noxporium, but the Sola Busca defies being used as a mere divination deck.

According to Peter Mark Adam's "The Game of Saturn", the solstices have no small importance to the designer of the Sola Busca. I'm not surprised in the least that even in early May, I was getting poked to use the Sola Busca for something solstice related. The poking just got harder and when @graveyarddirt announced Solstice Squad 2023, the poking became an unbearable itch.

This post isn't an update to Solstice Squad 2023 - Summer.

More of an explanation why when I do post about the matter, why (1) it's not going to make sense and (2) it's going to sound made the fuck up. Granted, I know that 99.9% of what we wooish folk write already falls into both categories, but everything has a limit.

[zanzindorf]

Office Tour! I recently added some new thingies to my office, and thought it'd be neat to do a photo tour. Completely disregard my color scheme for my walls and curtains lol. I don't like purple and green together, but they were the only blackout curtains I had.

Picture 1: On my main desk a have three computers hooked up. The big one on the left is my main machine. It runs Windows 10 right now, but that will soon change to Linux Mint once I upgrade my storage drives. The two machines behind the monitors are older machines for special tasks. The Windows 7 machine is for running games that run poorly on newer machines, like Gruntz! It's an old dentist office computer I bought from a thrift store for $20. The other is a banished office optiplex I salvaged and upgraded. It runs Linux Mint, and will one day be my home server for my website (I hope).

The two older computers only display to my second monitor, but I'm fine with that. Each computer has it's own pair of mice and keyboards, which is kinda annoying, but I can deal with it. I recently upgraded my main computer keyboard from an old office membrane board to an even older office membrane board. This new older board is PS / 2, and I had to fight Windows to get it to function, but it works. The older membranes feel nicer for some reason. Still super spongy and terrible, but it's nice for a free upgrade. One day I'll upgrade to a quiet, mechanical keyboard.

Picture 2: All the way to the left of my desk is my pen display for drawing. It's an Artisul product, which was way cheaper than a Wacom. I'm happy with it, but I haven't got to use it very much. Hopefully that will change with this new job I got.

Picture 3: To the left is the fourth and last desktop I have set up. This one runs Windows 98 for even older games that won't run on Windows 10 or 7. Well, with emulators and virtual machines, you can get almost anything to run on anything, but real hardware is nice. My brother helped me set this one up. The main upgrade I'm looking for on this machine is a better sound card for DOS compatibility.

The tube TV is really nice for playing my Playstation games. One thing you don't see in my office, unfortunately, is a CRT monitor. The LCD next to the TV is my monitor for the 98 machine. It's a good LCD, but I'd like a real CRT. I may have to reinforce the table if I find one lol. The desk in this picture is an old door that was left in my basement from the previous owners of my house. The door is resting on two end tables.

Picture 4: Pusheen is enjoying playing on my PiBoy. I think Hamtaro: Ham Ham Heartbreak is Pusheen's favorite game. My PiBoy runs on a Pie 3 Model B, which a friend of mine gave me.

Picture 5: This is my one and only bookcase in the house. It's mainly picture books and text books. Lots of Where's Waldo, I Spy, game development books, art books, and a few novels. I'd like to get more into reading now that I have more time. Feel free to judge my library. One book I have on my list to read is Etidorhpa. Not entirely sure why I got it, but it reminds me of Journey to the Center of the Earth meets Dante's Inferno. It's fairly old, like 1897 old. I'll do an update if I read and enjoy it.

Outro: That's it for my tour! I have more computers, but that's enough computers for one post. Maybe I'll do a tour in the future for just my laptops. Hope you enjoyed. I think my Ask Me Anything is open. If you have questions about something pictured and want more info, I'm happy to expand :)

[izzy-b-hands]

daisy, plumeria, and lavender!

Ella!! Thank u 🫂❤️!

Daisy— what is your idea of the perfect date?

I want to say something fancy, because I do have Dream Date Ideas that are v fancy (a night to the theatre, or going on a slightly longer drive to visit something interesting, a nice dinner somewhere normally neither person could afford but you can if you split the bill, etc) but all of those rely on me being in the right frame of mind and prepared to deal with any new or weird sensory stuff. And unfortunately, my brain isn't doing so hot in regulating that at the current time.

So for now, I would definitely lean towards something like a regular movie date, or even better for me personally:

Rent a hotel room, split the cost (so neither of you have to know where the other person lives if you aren't at a stage to be trusting them with that info yet), and have a movie night and/or gaming night there. You can order room service, be comfortable and assured that if the person winds up being an ass, you can call downstairs and get the fuck out of there. Plus, if it gets to the point of fucking, you're already on the bed and can multitask with whatever you're watching.

It's admittedly a weirdly lazy one (or so I've been told lmao), but I don't like the idea of putting high expectations on this stuff if you don't have/want to. It should be enough to want to hang out together at all, see how you feel abt each other, and go from there to different/fancier/etc date stuff.

Plumeria— are you currently working on any creative projects? if so, what kinds?

I'm working on my Izzy Hands Bingo Card prompts (six done! But more to go if I want to get a blackout on the card!) and also plan to do some of the prompts for the Our Flag Au-gust post that's been going around.

Aside from those I should really be trying to make a video poem for Button Poetry's video contest (opens in a few days!), but I've such low confidence in my writing at the moment that I'm not sure i can be vulnerable enough to write a decent poem lmao.

Lavender— what is currently on your mind (aside from this ask game)?

I'm stoned off my ass, so a stupid number of things, which is only slightly more than when I'm sober, but-

I want to be more productive, but I keep burning out whenever I even vaguely try to put the metaphorical pedal to the metal and I don't know how to fix myself. There are dishes I need to do. I need to remember how to be vulnerable and a little more stupid and vapid so I can get out of my own head and be brave enough to post more writing, original and fic. I need another tattoo. I need to ace my job interview tomorrow so I can make more money faster and be able to afford said tattoo. I need my grandfather to be okay after his knee replacement sx this fall (he probably will be but he's got high blood pressure and our family has an unfortunate pattern of dying during routine medical procedures, and he already nearly did that once with his appendix while he was in the Air Force, but who's to say that doesn't mean this time it would be The Time?) I should be better. I want to learn to be okay with being worse.

And I have a slice of cake Housemate bought for me tonight, sitting beside me. If I can manage even three more calls on my next shift (930-1215) then I'll let myself eat it as a reward, even though I need a lot more than three calls. But I'm trying not to think about that last bit too much.

[lavenoon]

Warning: My brain will narrate dreams instead of showing me when music is playing. This got very long. sorry

Every covert mission. Every high state high security gathering and party. Every time there is intel to gather. He's there. A bright blue animatronic.

No matter how they go about it, no matter how many times they check the lists, he appears without fail and yet he doesn't exist. The Agency has been trying to track them for months now and yet it always seems he is one step ahead of them.

At gatherings for targets of shady businesses he is always there and yet no agent can get close. He always seems to just be out of reach, never interacting with the agents; dismissing himself from a group before an agent can get close to him.

The only times he's not seen at events the Agency 'attends', there ends up being nothing to collect or gather. These events always end up being busts, sometimes these events end badly.

Agents have started considering it to be a bad omen when he doesn't appear.

Undercover missions aren't the only ones being affected. Stealth and infiltration missions to steal information have their own mystery target.

Stakeout Agents will spend days to weeks planning on how to create a distraction, disable a security system, find some way into their target's location only for the perfect opportunity to present itself to them time and time again.

Sudden blackouts, guard schedule changes, false alarm security alerts calling for guard backup leaving high guarded rooms empty.

All thought to be coincidence, until an agent hacks into a target's computer to find a strange program running. A program that starts appearing on more and more missions that agents hadn't noticed before then. A game of Snake.

At a glance, it simply looks like someone left a game running. It isn't until you look closer that you realize the game is playing itself with the snake getting shorter, not longer. The score appears to count down with each passing second instead of raising.

The poor agent to see the score hit zero had realized too late what it was.

The building's lights and systems that had been previously shut down had been restored. The "game" deleting itself with the reboot erasing any proof of its existence. The score had been a timer, and the agent was out of time.

Missions after that, agents kept an eye out for any devices that were stilled powered on despite these 'blackouts'. Didn't matter what the device was, a computer, a tablet, a digital clock or watch. It was there. A game of snake counting down.

Agents learned to not stick around for the end of these countdowns, getting out as soon as possible knowing what will happen if they don't.

Months pass with no luck catching their mystery animatronic or mystery hacker. No knowledge of what they could want every found.

It isn't until a field Agent reports a high priority target they've been tracking, who had gone into hiding awhile back, has been found knocked out next to a mysterious crate.

The crate was filled with files of many of their targets that they never could quite catch; pictures, reports, evidence that would let them catch these people all inside the crate.

However, that is not what caught their eye. What had caught their eye was a simple card on top. The card said:

We all pretend to be the heroes on the good side, but what if we're the villains on the other

and just below the phrase, signed in bright Neon Blue letters:

Viper : )

-

The dream ended there. It was such a trip having this narrated inside my own head while sleeping but was really fun. Makes me wish i knew how to write stories; this would have been so fun to continue.

Anyway, I hope you have a wonderful day/night dear, Take Care!

: )

OOOHHHH

Okay okay I finally have time to give this the attention it deserves - and ooooooohhhhhhhhh!!!!

I'm vibrating in my seat - do I spy (hehe) an animatronic agentsona? I am LOOKING so very very intently at that ooohhhh that's so cool. AND OFC IT'S SNAKE OH MY GOD snake as timer is so so cool I love that I am. Ohh mischievous chaotic guardian angel, I love love love that!! Can't wait for the Viper to join the agency hehehe <3

Also also hell yeah grey morality!! The Agency is definitely shady and mingling amongst people acting in kind, I love that reminder as a little greeting card!!

(Also wdym you wish you knew how to write stories - you wrote this down, too, it came from your brain! Write that continuation, if it's not up to your own standards, remember that without you, it wouldn't be there at all! <3)

Been having a really nice day so far! Got paperwork done, took a walk, found a rock, and am now back home and cozy, writing some and answering asks! Hope the day has been kind to you too, you take care too! Food, water, rest, stretch - self care check! <3