#oh membrane come see ya girl

[v3nusplanetofluv]

camp

i; fishbowls

｡･ﾟﾟ･atsumu x fem! reader

｡･ﾟﾟ･college and 90s au

description...

atsumu miya was the bane of your existence growing up. always making it his job to tease and taunt you daily. as time went on you detached yourself from the neighborhood kids, your frequent, unwanted presence merely becoming a thing of the past. however, the summer of '98 causes you and atsumu to face the past.

content!

2.1k words

"ma, when yer son comes home from college yer supposed to keep him in not kick him out!" atsumu groaned as his head fell onto the cold kitchen counter, "especially when i'm your favorite-"

"what-"

it was finally summer vacation, and all the miyas were back in their nest. the formerly eerily quiet kitchen was once again full of life; the sweet smell of vanilla filled the air as pancakes were flipped on the electric griddle; the bright sun warmed the table cloth that covered the glass dining table; and loud hearty accents were doubled in sound as the two boys were back.

"both of y'all are gettin' kicked out," the older woman places the now finished pancakes onto a plate. "it just so happens that samu listens to what I have ta say, and chooses where he wants ta go ahead of time."

the grey haired twin smiles up at his mom with a 'thanks' as she places a stack of pancakes in front of him. "i'm goin' to grandma and grandpa's farm ta help out at their cafe," he sticks his tongue out at atsumu making him roll his eyes.

"whatever," his arms crossed over his chest, "I don't like that stinky farm anyway." atsumu flinches as he feels his mom yank upon his ear in disapproval.

"good! ya won't have ta 'cause yer workin' at a summer camp!" mrs. miya smiles as atsumu's jaw practically reaches the depths of hell. "our neighbor suggested it--"

"which neighbor so i know whose lawn koda can piss on--OW!" mr.miya strikes the faux blond with his now rolled morning paper.

"language," the older man sits beside his son, coffee now in hand. "y/n's mother came up with that great idea--the girl's been working there since high school--ya remember her right?"

"yeah, i remember fishbowls--OW!" osamu was now on the receiving end of the sunday morning paper, the boy now reaching for his battered forehead. the action instantly stifled atsumu's laughs.

the faux blond covers his head, "ya want me to go work with that freak for the whole summer?" he asks through gritted teeth, actively guarding his head.

"y/n is a beautiful young lady who is doin' great things," mama miya points her spatula at the boys, "she's actually in school studyin' biology to become a doctor now!"

"oh, who would've thought that fishbowls was gonna be in a nerdy major?" atsumu comments, sarcasm dripping in his tone, making osamu snicker.

osamu sits up straight, "'do ya wanna come over and see my new experiment?" he mocks a nerdy accent as he pushes his fake glasses up the bridge of his nose making his brother burst at the seams in laughter.

"come on! y'all haven't seen the girl since she changed schools in middle school," the older miya says as he sips his coffee.

"yea cause she was always cooped up in her room readin' or some shit," atsumu mumbles as he messes with the pancakes in front of him.

"well, i guess this summer will be the perfect time ta give her a chance!" mama miya smiles as she brushes her hands off on her apron, ignoring his groans, "and ya better get packin' 'cause ya leave next week."

insane in the membrane by cyrprus hill blares through the stereo setup of the 1989 lexus is 400. osamu's sunglass rest upon his nose as he drives through rural hyogo, fingers tapping on the steering wheel to the beat. atsumu sits in the passenger seat mumbling along to the lyrics, hand resting outside of the window.

atsumu furrows his eyebrows as he looks over at his brother, "is it too late for me ta come ta the farm with ya?"

"...ya called it stinky--"

"but a whole summer--three months with fishbowls--sounds like i'll be slittin' ma wrist with a spoon," atsumu groans as he sinks further into his seat.

osamu chuckles as he glances over at the drama queen, "think positive! what if she's like hella fine now?"

the two look between each other before bursting out in laughs.

"i'll miss yer goofy ass this summer 'samu!" he says as he wipes a fake tear from his eye.

not even thirty minutes later the sight of tall trees completely consumed the car. the smell of marukawa bubble gum was replaced with fresh water and earthy cedar trees. the road got bumpy as atsumu poked his head out of the window, finally seeing the massive sign marking the entrance of the summer camp: ' firefly valley.'

as osamu slowed the car atsumu instantly started to scratch, "i think i'm allergic ta this place."

"they're called mosquitos--now get outta my car!"

"we won't see each other for almost three months and this is how you wanna say goodbye?" atsumu fakes a pout as he unbuckled his seatbelt making his twin roll his eyes. as osamu pulled his bag out of the car, atsumu looked up at the trees that never seemed to end; and down at the dirt that somehow already got onto his white sneakers.

the feeling of his duffle bag shoved into his chest grabbed atsumu's attention as he looked up to be met with the flash of osamu's digital camera. he sighs with a smile as he pulls the camera from his face, "man, grandma is gonna love this! might even hang it on the fridge." he snickers making atsumu glare but the frustrated feeling is instantly dropped as osamu pulls him into a hug.

"ya better not come back with headgear and a new love for readin'" he teases making atsumu laugh.

"no promises!" he says as he pulls away, "call me when ya get ta the farm."

"i will," osamu waves one final time as he gets into the car, driving off leaving atsumu at the camp. dirt kicks up from the wheels making the faux blond flinch back, unfortunately bumping into someone. he swiftly apologizes as he turns around but he's quickly dismissed as the man doesn't seem phased.

"ya must be atsumu miya," the man smiles, "welcome to camp! i'm kyo," he sticks his hand out and atsumu shakes it with a tight lipped smile. "follow me and i'll show ya the leader cabins and around camp along the way."

with wide eyes, atsumu looks around the camp in awe. even though he just moved to a bigger and busier city--tokyo--he hadn't realized how much he missed this. he was instantly transported back to his earlier summers spent at his grandparents' farm. the bright blue sky created a stunning gradient into the shimmering lake. the trees looked as if they could go on forever--as if they were reaching for the sun. the oh so familiar smell of sunblock attacked his nostrils as the smaller versions of his volleyball nets made a smile creep upon his face.

atsumu looked ahead at the sound of kyo's voice, directing him to his cabin that he would share with other leaders for the next three months. the faux blond thanked him as he rested his bags on the floor beside his bed. the brown-haired man was about to leave before he remembered something.

"make sure to stop by the main office to get yer shirts and badge--someone should be in there to help ya out!" and before atsumu could ask him where exactly the main office was, he was gone.

he sighed as he hooked his sunglasses onto the collar of his t-shirt,. atsumu made his way out of the cabin, looking around intently for any resemblance, or sign that could possibly lead him to his destination.

after about ten minutes of wandering around, the dark green and white building came into his view. one could tell it was old with the way the paint was chipping--the intense weathering it endured was evident.

he opened the screened door to be met with a welcomed blast of air conditioning, a content sigh left his lips as he looked around. the sound of a voice caught his attention leading him to follow it around a corner and into what looked like a waiting area.

the back of a spinny chair was what atsumu first saw. the back of an occupied spinny chair! a finger peeked out as it twirled the cord of the phone, looping and unlooping as you talked on the phone.

"yes, ms.tanaka i will personally make sure that hiro has easy access to his inhaler..." you smiled into the phone, adjusting in your seat completely unaware of the nearly drooling simpleton behind you.

he couldn't see you but he could just tell that you were hot. maybe it was the way he could imagine your perfectly manicured nails combing through his hair as you whispered sweet nothings in his ear with your heavenly voice or maybe he was simply deluded.

"of course, you know i've never let anything happen to hiro--i figure you'd want him back in one piece at the end of the summer...yes yes of course! it is my job," you laugh softly making atsumu's heart skip a beat, "feel free to call back if you have any more questions...alright, I can't wait to see hiro!...have a nice day , bye bye."

as you hang up the phone atsumu can barely contain his excitement as dozens of scenarios run through his mind of what he would say to you--a grin kept sneaking up his lips which he quickly pushed away to keep up his cool facade.

he quickly gets into position as he rests upon the desk, instantly grabbing your attention as he knocks down a pen holder. you whip your head around only to feel the wind get stuck within your throat.

it suddenly becomes hard to breathe as you're unable to say anything let alone move, and you think that you could use hiro's inhaler right about now. your horrified expression makes atsumu's heart drop as he quickly scrambles to pick up the mess he had made.

"h-hey it's alright, i can get it cleaned up real quick!" he awkwardly laughs in nervousness and embarrassment as he realizes he had just made a fool of himself in front of one of the prettiest girls he's ever seen. he tries to fight off the blush on his cheeks, and runs through excuses in his mind--the heat!

you finally manage to catch your breath and look up at him. the boy who made your adolescence a living hell. the man who is now invading one of your safe spaces.

"what do you want?" your tone is harsh, but not harsh enough in your opinion. however, the blond doesn't take much notice as he stares down at you with a goofy look on his face.

"atsumu miya," he sighs dreamily, "name please," he grins, completely oblivious to your look of disgust and the incoherency of his sentence. your eyebrow raises and confusion coats your face. you think he must not recognize you and it's a fair assumption considering you made it a mission to avoid the miyas and the other neighborhood kids once you hit puberty to preserve your sanity...and dignity--what was left of it.

on the other hand, it was as if you had no chance to erase his face from your memory. hell, the universe never gave you a chance to.

"look at the twins! they're committing to that powerhouse school!"

"did you see that atsumu's the best high school setter in japan?"

"can you believe that atsumu's ready been offered to join msby?"

"atsumu looks amazing in his media pictures for msby don't ya think?"

you allowed your expression to soften, "so...you don't know who I am?" you cross your arms over your chest, leaning onto the desk making the blond's hands grow sweaty.

"the girl of ma dreams," he bites down on his lip to hide his smile.

you deadpan before rolling your eyes making atsumu straighten up, "o-or i'd like ta get ta know...if ya let me." he suddenly feels bashful? something the faux blond is greatly unfamiliar with...maybe you were a witch.

you look him up and down, making his cheeks heat up all over again, "i think you'll freak when i tell you." you narrow your gaze at him, unknowingly feeding his supicsions.

in one of his boldest moves of the day, he leans down towards you, "try me," he smirks.

you look up at him through your lashes, quickly thinking of all of his possible reactions. your lips begin to twitch up into an almost wicked smile, "do ya really wanna know?" he you lean up closer towards him, making his heart rate increase.

"more than anythin'," he breathes out, tuning out the sound of his beating heart.

your gaze darkens, "does fishbowls ring a bell?" your sickening smile doesn't dare to falter as you watch atsumu flinch back in confusion, his face twisting into multiple emotions as he tries to process the sound of the cruel nickname leaving your lips.

he leans forward a bit to look at your face, looking for any features that may have resembled his insanely nerdy neighbor.

"...y/n?"

"in the flesh."

notes !

☆ mr. and mrs. miya adore y/n. they have always admired her manners and academic ambition. that led to them always urging the twins to hang out with her and also partially ignited their disdain toward the girl.

☆ y/n never picked up the hyogo accent even though she lived there her whole life. immersion wasn't enough as her parents didn't speak the dialect either. this further isolated y/n from the neighborhood kids.

☆ when y/n said her name atsumu didn't buy it at first until he looked at her closer and noticed the scar that she had on her eyebrow. the same scar that he gave her after throwing a ball at her too hard while trying to be funny. the ball broke her glasses and they cut into her face.

☆ y/n honestly thought she was gonna pass out from lack of airflow to her brain when she saw atsumu again in person after all of those years.

i hope you enjoyed! this is a draft from my wattpad that i'm reworking :) if you'd like to be tagged just let me know!

dividers by @plutism

[aliienation]

It’s been a while since I've drawn my dear Mala and it’s hard to believe she’s like ten years old (and those repulsive pictures in the bg certainly look it.) She started in an old maternal apron and honestly even after the revamps she’s gone through she’d still wear tons of aprons and dresses.

I think I’ll try putting her in some other cute aprons and Mom outfits too!

@turbomun

[ink-dreams-ffxiv]

Prompt 7: Speculate

“Blast! Rivvie, help me” “Yes Miss,” said the thin Duskwight girl in response as she dashed from where she was cleaning smaller fish. Rivvie was a Brume Rat who had been at the volunteer station looking for work when Sahxa had arrived at sunrise. At first she wasn’t sure if Rivvie was a boy or a girl, the man’s cable knit sweater hung down to her knees, and though she had rolled the sleeves up, they still hung down over her hands. Sahxa had taken a cook's needle and string, rolled the sleeves until the cuffs were up to the girl’s armpits, ran a quick loop of string to hold it in place, then rolled what was left up to the girl’s elbows and did the same thing. Her canvas pants at least were lined with karakul fleece, and the boots on her feet were sturdy, if new to her. Sahxa had learned she was twelve winters old, and a very quick study.

Rivvie moved towards the head of the large sleek thick scaled silver fish, “the tail Rivvie, let me worry about the head, put yer gloves on, and hold it tight, she’s still warm, so she gonna wriggle” “Yes Miss.” Sahxa grinned, waiting for Rivvie to put on the thick leather gloves and grab the tail with it’s sawtooth bone spines. “Keep it away from yer face ‘kay?” she said, to which the girl nodded, focusing on the tail. Sahxa slipped her claws under the gill plate, then slid her hingan cleave deep into the feathery red tissue. The fish thrashed weakly, “bloody damn,” hissed the Miqo’te sliding her hand deeper into the cut so she could get a good hold. “She’s heavy, ready?” Sahxa used the moment waiting for Rivvie to nod to toss her cleaver to the tray of rinse water, before lifting and sliding her other arm under the head of the fish. The pair moved together well, the wriggling fish trying harder, but it had been in the bin too long, smothered by the layers of fish on top of it. The fat belly sagged like an over inflated balloon. 

“Lean on the tail fer me,” Sahxa ordered, taking up her cleaver again, and sinking it deeply into the flesh just behind the gill she still had her hand shoved into. Once she felt the blade slice through the other side, she set it back in the rinse tray and grabbed the hatchet hanging from a thong at the corner of the butcher table. Moving around, bending the head from the body, she gave solid whack to the intact spine, severing it completely. The body of the fish stopped wriggling.

“Here, remember how I told ya”

“Yes Miss,” Rivvie replied, a smile on her lips and excitement in her eyes. She took the hatchet, laid the blunt side to her hand where it still held the tail, then rolled the hatchet up onto the blade as a measure, her tongue slipped out in concentration, Sahxa could see the focus in her eyes. WHACK! WHACK! WHACK WHACK! It was a messy cut, a boning cleaver would have done a better job, but this wasn’t the time or place to be worrying about it. The girl tossed the tail into the barrel that was already mostly full of mostly fish tails and fins, grinning at Sahxa as she handed the hatchet back to her. 

“Okay, go get a chafing dish, a big one lass,” Sahxa indicated the length of the fat baloonish belly. Rivvie just turned and ran along the back of the stalls to where the head off the cook staff was over seeing things. Sahxa in the meantime, pulled her cleaver from the rinse tray, and began stropping the edge on the leather at her waist. When Rivvie returned with the large ornate serving tray, looking sheepish, Sahxa realized that was what the girl thought was the most wealth she probably ever held in her hands, little did she know though. 

Sahxa ran her hand along the rubbery thick skinned belly of the fish until she located the opening she was looking for, “No Rivvie, this is where ya gotta be really careful, push yer finger in here,” the girl watched, then blinked as Sahxa’s finger vanished into the belly of the fish, then she made a disgusted face. “Isn’t that where the poo comes out?”

“Not on this one Rivvie, this one is different,” Sahxa replied with a grin, not sure if a talk about the birds and bees would be considered appropriate at this time. Resting the blade where she pressed out with a claw tip, Sahxa pushed the blade along the thick rubbery flesh, lightly scoring it, but not cutting all the way through, until she passed the end of the bulge, then she drew the blade back along the same line, slicing a little deeper. “This is gonna be heavy lass,” Sahxa added as the girl moved to place the tray against the edge of the work table. “Not like the other ones we did.” Rivvie nodded, and shifted the tray until her arms were under it, holding it tightly.

Sahxa slowly moved the rectangular blade back down the line she had scored, pressing out with the finger inside the fish at the same time, the skin and flesh under split in a slow controlled manner until she was about three fourths along the length of the belly, then a grayish white bladder spilled from the cut, sliding easily into the waiting tray. Rather than stop, Sahxa kept cutting until she passed the end of the belly, where she cut deep until the blade sliced through the cut end where the head had been attached. Rivvie pulled the tray away from the edge of the work table just before the intestines and viscera spilled from the cavity. Sahxa swiped through any membrane as the girl took the tray to her work table. The offal was pushed into the trough below the edge of the work table with the rest of the guts of the fish Sahxa had cleaned for the soup kitchen. Grabbing the head, as she put her knife back in the rinse tray, she carried it to Rivvie, who was rinsing her hands off and looking at Sahxa. 

“Remember what we did with the small ones?” 

“Yes Miss, cover the bag,”

“Egg Sac,”

“Uh? Wha?”

“It’s an egg sac Rivvie, that’s what it is, so practice calling it that.”

“Okay Miss, I uh, cover the egg sack with salt, then rub it down until it doesn’t feel slimy anymore. Then I put the egg sack in the rinse basin.”

Sahxa grinned, maybe later, she would ask the girl if she knew her letters, she could hear the ‘K’ on the end but it was okay, the girl was learning. “Right, while it’s in the rinse basin, take the dirty salty dish and dump it in the tail’s bucket, then take it to the pot cleaner. On yer way back, ask the potwatch for another chaffing dish, but ask em to weigh it and mark the weight on the tray, okay?”

Rivvie blinked at her in confusion, “We didn’t do that with the others”.

“Nope, this is a special case, we need to know how much the pan weighs, so we can figure out how much the eggs weigh.” Thankfully, Rivvie just nodded, and went to do as she was told. Sahxa took careful looks around. Most had written her off as was usual. Especially when she took out her hingan vegetable cleaver. They figured she was some kind of hack, even more so when she dug out her hatchet. But this job was about speed, not precision. Most of the meat was either being ground up for fish balls, or boiled in the huge stewpots dotting the stalls. Nothing was being cut up to be presented at the tables of the Lords and Ladies of Ishgard. This was food meant to fill the bellies of the workers rebuilding the damage.

The lantern lights were glowing brightly. Rivvie hung close to Sahxa as they made their way through the streets of Ishgard. The girl kept blushing and trying to hide in the thrift store coat Sahxa had gotten from one of the stalls inside the Firmament. She had also gotten the girl a couple more pairs of pants, some small cloths, under shirts, and a couple more of the cable knit sweaters. 

“Relax Rivvie, the guards aren’t going to bother you. They already know I am one of the foreigner’s working the restoration, they just assume you’re either my apprentice or my ward, probably think you’re from Gridania and not the Brume.”

The girl blinked at her, “Why Gr..Grey-dneeah” 

“They think all Miqo’te like me come from Gridania, and a Duskwight with me probably came from Gridania as well, since there are some there.”

“Oh, but, Miss?”

“Yes Rivvie?”

“Miss Sahxa? Why are we going to the Crozier?” 

“Speculating lass, you will understand when we get there.”

The shop was quaint, and it’s wares were anything but cheap. The tall sharply dressed Elezen behind the counter scowled when the pair came through the door, until Sahxa took her hat off, her sunkissed ginger hair and dark tan a very distinguished marking in Ishgard.

“Ah, M’Lady Sahxa, it is a pleasure to see you!” His joy and enthusiasm was not faked, and Sahxa was pretty sure she knew why. He took in Rivvie’s appearance next to her with a curious look. “My apprentice  Rivvie, Rivvie, this is Ser Marcelle DeCroix, this is his shop.” Sahxa grinned when Rivvie did her best to curtsy without a dress, and Marcelle raised an eyebrow as well. “Ahem, yes, welcome Miss Rivvie. Now I believe you wished to discuss payment?” 

“Twenty five ponze of the finest caviar harvested fresh Marcelle, I know for a fact you had it within your shop no more than one bell from when I pulled it from the belly of the still living sturgeon.” 

Marcelle smiled a merchant's smile, “yes, as you can see M’Lady Sahxa, word spread fast,” he nodded to a mostly empty cart to Sahxa’s left. The sign was marked 3000gil. Rivvie gasped and gapped when she looked at the small jars. “Let’s not quibble shall we?” Marcelle began. Sahxa grinned, and took one of the jars from the cart. “Come Rivvie, it’s time you got a chance to taste your hard work.” 

[idontknowijuststartedsomething]

Gravity, Ghost, and Gems

Part 4/???

The Mystery Duo

(Also any weird spacing or spelling is intentional cuz I wanted it to feel like dialogue from the show)

“Dad, do we really have to spend the whole summer at some lame scientist convention. I bet half those guys wouldn’t even acknowledge the real scientific work I’m doing!”

Gaz stares at her brother with contempt for about the eightieth time since they got in the car.

“Oh no son, only I get to go to the science convention. You and your sister will be staying in the town near the science convention. For the. w h o l e s u m m e r. And by near I mean 90 miles away”

“What?!” Dib sprang up from the back seat of the car. “So than why did we have to come? With Zim gone for months I could spend this time getting into his filthy base and learning all his filthy alien secretssssss.”

“ I thought it’d be good for you to get out of the house and experience other things. Also the convention discounts my ticket if I say I have a child in some proximity to me near.”

“Well is there anything to do in this town?”

“As far as I can tell ,no. But at least you’ll taste the fresh woodland air, and get to spend more time with Foodio in the hotel room! Don’t worry kids, I’ll come down from Portland every once in a while to say hello. Just hello.”

Membrane litterally sped off into the distance after he threw his kids and their luggage outside the car. Dib though it was amazing how he could drive so fast and not hit anything, considering this town was really small and compact, with only a few main shops and one shady hotel.

“I’m just glad Zim is away at that InvaderCON in space.”

“Will you be quite for once?”

The hotel room was about what you’d expect from looking at the outside of the building, except ten times worse. As far as Dib could tell he and Gaz were the only actual hotel guests, and the room reflected that. Despite being under the Northwest name, this place didn’t look much better than Skool. After sitting around watching the two TV stations that were available, Dib finally decide he’d had enough and set out to explore the town.

“Some thing is a miss in this town Gaz! Some thing, supernatural. This town is way to normal to be normal. I can smell it, Gaz!”

“I can smell your BO.”

Despite Membrane’s orders that the stay together, Gaz made it very clear she wanted to be left alone with her games. This gave Dib the perfect opportunity to go exploring on his own and sniff out the town’a secrets(if it had any) by himself. He went into a few of the shops on Main Street, and the people seemed nice enough, if not more than a little eccentric. As he made his way down the street he saw a rather odd sight, which for him is saying something. A kid, probably a little older than him, was dancing on the street corner in some costume that looked like a question mark.

“Hey, quick question. Why are you dancing like an moron and dressed like an even bigger moron?” The kid in the costume seemed relieved that Dib said that, since it meant he could drop his weird act.

“I’m supposed to advertise this place I just got a job at. ‘Come to the Mystery Shack, where the worse fears of you and your wallet lie’”. He did a little dance again and handed Dib a flyer.

“A Mystery Shack! That sounds perfect! Just the place to learn the dark inner workings of this unassuming town!”

“Yeah are you done yet kid I’ve got a job to do.” Dib sprinted deep into the woods without answering, and Danny only hoped that his stupid dance didn’t set that kids expectations too high.

Dib followed the signs stapled onto trees, making his way deeper and deeper into the ever darkening woods. Then, he saw it. The rustic building in the middle of nowhere seemed like the perfect place for dark secrets to hide. He didn’t even mind the hokey signs all over the place, until he got inside. His excitement for the truly paranormal faded as soon as he took one look at some of the exhibits in the gift shop. The corn-o-corn? Really? And that thing in glass was obviously a monkey torso poorly stitched to a fish tail. “Ah, come on! Where’s the real paranormal exhibits. Does no one here want real?!” He shouted to the other gift shop patrons, but none of them seemed to care.

“Sorry dude. Nothing’s every really real at the Mystery Shack. I’m amazed Grunkle Stan was able to trick people for so long.” A kid in a blue hat and vest and about Dib’s height appeared behind him.

“Oh so all that stuff was just cheap advertising?”

“You couldn’t tell by the guy in the question costume?”

Dib scrunched up his face and tossed the flyer in disappointment. The kid next to him sort of felt bad, and with quick thinking offered a solution.

“Ya know, I do know a thing or two about real paranormal stuff in this town. Maybe I can show you some of it.”

“Really?” Dib’s face lit up.

“Uh huh. I’m kinda considered the big paranormal investigator in town.” A girl’s laugh came from the other room.

“Thank goodness there’s some real stuff in this town. And I thought I was the only one who could see through the noise. Seek the truth when the truth isn’t there. Could find the diamond under all..”

“Ok calm down dude. If you want I can show you around town. I also have some stuff in my room that’s pretty cool.”

“Yeah sure. It feels nice to meet a fellow believer. I’m Dib, by the way”

“Dipper Pines. Nice to meet you”

[descendantofthesparrow]

Remember your past life - Prince! Harry Hook x Chosen Knight!Reader - part 19 - Hateno

*note I’m trying to include the game mechanics because I can lol. such as inventory, paragliding, and teleporting*

=

You glanced down at Harry as you climbed the membrane-like ladder that connected the pillars of the sheikah towers. He paced back and forth, glancing up at you every other moment, the small egg-shaped anatomic thing (which they learned was called a guardian, thanks to the tablet) followed closely, the top on its head shooting up as it tried to talk to the worried pirate teen.

You sighed and turned to look back up towards the top of the tower, huffing as you leaped to the side and planted your foot on one of the platforms sticking out the side. You sighed in relief as you fully stepped on and shook your arms.

These things were too damn tall, and it was going to be hell trying to get down from them if they were at all like this one. You glanced to your right, grimacing at the thorns that covered the tower.

You rolled your shoulders and jumped back onto the tower wall, grunting as the top came in sight. You lept to the platform on your left to give your legs one more quick rest before starting your climb again.

Finally, you made it to the top, groaning as your legs thumped from overexertion, you had never climbed that much since….probably 500 years ago heh. You smirked at the dumb thought and unclipped the tablet from your hip and placed it in the pedestal. You felt the wind from the activating tower as the blue glow surrounded you. You heard the mechanics on top of the tower lift and set in place.

The stone above the pedestal glowed and trailed down until a drop of blue “liquid” splashed on the tablet and downloaded the area map onto it. You picked it up and nodded to yourself as you looked over the map, to the right of the tower seemed to be where you were heading next. Hateno Village.

You looked up and to the right, nodding as you spotted the village from the top of the tower. Shouldn’t be more than a ten-minute ride at most.

You clipped the tablet back on your hip and overlooked the area around you before walking to the edge and looking down at where harry and the mini guardian were. Both of them looked back up at you, Harry’s arms crossed as his foot tapped on the ground.

You backed up and started for the openings, you jumped as the tablet suddenly started sounding off. You unclipped it and rose your brow. “what is this?“ you muttered to yourself, eyes widening as you scrolled through the empty slots of…inventory? That’s what the top of the screen said it was at least. The first block had a picture of the sword on your back, the next had your bow, and then your shield. It looked there was also a slot for the random items you were hauling along, and….a whole ass paraglider? What?

You tapped on the picture of the paraglider and rose your brows at the description.

An item you received from the king on the great plateau, it allows you to sail through the sky. Bring it forth from the sheikah inventory to use it.

“bring it forth?” you muttered, well the sheikah slate was probably thousands of years old, the old type of speaking was probably normal for…its time? Welp, no time like the present to try it out and scare the living daylights of out Harry!

You clipped the tablet on your hip again and took a couple steps back from the ledge, taking a deep breath to calm your nerves, and ran forward. You jumped off the ledge, hearing Harry's yelp of terror and the little guardian's high-pitched screech as they watched you plummet towards the ground.

You tapped the tablet on your hip and brought your hands up after it, a bright blue untouchable substance following your hands and forming a glider above you. It caught you mid-air about 20 feet above Harry and the little guardian.

Harry dropped to a crouch, holding his face in his hands “HOLY SHIT LASS DON’ DO THA’ TA ME!” he cried, peeking back up at you through his fingers “yeh scared meh half ta death!”

You gave a sheepish smile and hit the ground with a light thud. You jumped back as the little guardian started to scream at you, pointing one of its little claws at you accusingly and jumping in your face.

“um- ah!” as you backed away it followed you, continuing to seemingly tell you off.

Harry snorted as he watched the thing chase you around and screech, with you trying to calm it and avoid it headbutting you.

You rubbed the back of your head and glanced back at Harry. “uh, sorry bout that, OH! I have something to show you!” you unclipped the tablet and shoved it in his hands. He rose his brow at you and held the tablet limply in his hands. You rolled your eyes and pointing at the top right button. He sighed and pressed it, eyes widening as he finally looked at the “inventory”

“huh” he muttered, swiping through the screens and beginning to mess with the buttons. “that’s cool, so this...allows us to keep more on us than normal?”

“I guess so? I mean, look” you leaned over to look at the screen, pointing at the slots for his weapons “you have one sword right now, and then there's four more slots, and I’m guessing we can summon the other weapons we have to us from it, doesn't tell us how to put em in or retrieve them though.” Harry shrugged, clipping the tablet to your hip and walking towards mercury. “eh, we’ll figure it out when we need ta’ that’s how yeh figured out that paraglider thing righ’?”

“yep, we could also go to the scientist girl Regina told us about, Purah, I think her name was” you chirped, climbing on (H/N) and snapping his reins to lead him towards Hateno “come on, we got daytime burning. Let's go little guy!” the little guardian chirped and ran after you and harry, its gears in high motion as it kept pace with your cantering horses.

Less than two minutes later you had arrived at Hateno. ‘looks like ten minutes was a bit much’ you thought, turning in your saddle to look around at the village.

A clothing store, general store, a…dye shop? And an inn near the end of the main path. ‘good, we’ll have a place to sleep’ you nodded to yourself, you gestured for Harry to follow you and headed towards the Inn, sliding off your saddle and setting (H/N) into the small stable. Harry set mercury next to you and sighed, setting his hands on his hips and letting out a low whistle.

“quaint town isn’t it?” he wondered aloud, following you as you walked back to the clothing store.

“I guess” you hummed, pushing open the door and glancing around the small shop. Your eyes drew towards the set at the front.

A red tunic with leather armor on the arms and chest, connecting to the left shoulder, tan pants, and a dark blue hood/cape.

You walked up to it and looked over the price, nodding to yourself as you un-did your money bag from your hip and looked towards the woman overlooking the shop.

“excuse me?” the woman jumped at your sudden voice and spun around to look at you, her hand over her chest “sorry, I would like to buy the set of leather armor please”

“I-“ she let out a breathy laugh, shaking her head “yes, of course, I’ll need his size though, that particular set” she glanced at Harry, her eyes traveling the length of his body “will not fit him”

Harry rubbed the back of his head as he shuffled through his brain files, remembering Evie's measurement mumbling from when she made his first set of clothes.

He relayed it and the woman nodded, walking to the back and grabbing what she needed. You and Harry simply stood and awkwardly stayed quiet as the woman shuffled around the back. “I haven’t seen the two of you before!” she called, her head peeking out from the door “where ya two from?”

“um, nowhere in particular?” you shrugged, smiling as she simply nodded.

“I getcha, don’t worry, I’m not the nosy type, but may I ask why you’re in Hateno?” she emerged fully from the back and handed harry a pile of clothes, the leather cuffs and armor resting on top, then handing him a pair of tall brown boots.

“we’re looking for a woman named Purah, we need to talk to her” the woman nodded and turned to write down some numbers on a notepad.

“you’ll find her at the top of the hill directly east from the door, hard to miss” you nodded and took out the amount of pay the woman had given you for the clothes and carefully placed them into her hand. “thank you, if you wish you can change in that room right there” the woman pointed behind harry to an empty room. Harry sighed and nodded, walking towards the room, the little guardian close behind.

“I’ll be in the general store okay?” you called, nodding as Harry waved his hand at you in dismissal.

You walked out of the clothing shop and across the path to the general store, you pushed open the door and looked around. To your right was a bunch of arrows and….bomb arrows? They looked to be arrows with a packed cloth on top of them.

You brushed it off and looked to the left, nodding to yourself as you overlooked the food stock.

“welcome! You buyin’ or sellin’ “ the shop owner asked, his beady eyes staring directly at you.

“buying” you muttered, walking over to the food and grabbing a couple handfuls of everything, setting them on the counter, and pulling your money bag back out.

“Alright then….that’ll be, 96 rupees” you nodded and quickly pulled the amount out, setting it in the man's hand. He poured the money into a drawer and bagged your items, passing them off to you and heading to the back to stock what you had purchased.

You muttered out ‘thanks’ to the man and walked out of the store, looking around for anything of interest. Your eyes caught a flash of red and blue as Harry exited the clothing shop, the little guardian running towards you as it sang and pointed back at Harry.

You smirked, realizing what it was trying to say “yes he does look good” Harry turned red and puffed his cheeks, looking into his shoulder “alright come on, let's go put this with the horses and go see Purah” Harry sighed and nodded, taking the lead and walking towards the horses.

A few moments of struggling to put everything away to where it wouldn’t comically bulge out of the bags later, you and Harry were off to see the sheikah scientist.

You snorted as you looked back at the huffing and puffing Harry, who was a good 15 feet behind you on the steep hill. You stood still as you waited for him to catch up, glancing down at the little guardian who chirped and sang at harry. “I’m comin’ I’m comin’” he breathed out, giving the thing a slight glare “how are yeh not bothered by all this lass?”

You laughed and shrugged “I guess my body is used to all of it even after more than a century in that chamber thing” Harry rolled his eyes at you, finally catching up and leaning over to catch his breath.

“I guess so….that’s still so fuckin weird by the way” you rolled your eyes back at him and harshly patted his back, sending him forward on his feet a bit.

“Yeah yeah, you’ve mentioned that about a thousand times, let’s go” Harry groaned and looked up, the two of you still had a bit to go, but he just huffed and continued after you, groaning again as the little guardian easily kept pace with you and even walking circles around you.

There were a couple of times where you would have to stop again and wait for harry to catch up, and he was thankful you had never audibly teased him about it, he guessed his old self…..Prince Harry had been able to keep up with her but as the person, he was now, completely unused to walking uphill for such a long time, of course, he would be falling behind a lot.

He also guessed the more the two got further into their journey he would soon be easily able to keep pace but for now, he would be falling behind with her stopping for him.

He would keep the fact that he liked the way she would always notice when he fell behind, she always had her mind on him, always kept track of him.

It helped him feel safe, wanted.

Finally, you had arrived at the lab, you looked up at the tall tower that possibly made up the main house, while the larger square-shaped house below it made for the lab. You and Harry glanced at each other and shrugged, you walked up and pushed open the doors.

A smaller child, with a tan dress with red lines, whirled around to look at you, her eyes wide as she looked at the two-three of you behind her glasses. “(y/n)?!” she screeched, eyes trailing to harry as she leaped off her chair and into the air “Prince Harry!?! You’re awake?! You’re here?! How?!” she ran toward you and pulled you down by your sheath and examined your face, her amber eyes flashing around. “amazing, it looked like the shrine hasn’t aged you a single day! Heck, even more like you look younger than you did! And you!” she turned, grinning up at the extremely confused harry, and pointed up at him “you’re supposed to be in the castle! Did you do it! Defeat the dark one?!”

“um-I’m, uh” Harry stuttered, hands wringing together, you stepped in front of him, arm out to shield him.

“the prince's soul split into two, this is a different person than the prince you knew” Purah gasped and took out her note pad, muttering herself as she scrawled something down.

“interesting interesting~” she glanced back up at the two of you and blanched, throwing the notepad on the table behind her “sorry! I have a bad habit of taking notes at inappropriate times! Now how’ya been (y/nny)!” you just stared at her with furrowed brows, her brows rose and her eyes widened. “what's with that face? Do-do you not remember me?”

You shuffled in place, shrugging your shoulders as you shook your head “um, no, sorry, I hardly remember anything from…back then, Harrys the same way, we’ve picked up a few things but everything's pretty much blank about all this stuff” Purah nodded and grabbed the sheikah slate from your waist.

“Alright then, I’ll keep my explanations short! And hello Terrako!” she patted the little guardian's head and beamed. “nice to see you! I thought you were still in the castle in the prince's study!” the little guardian, Terrako as it just was named, started spouting off with a melody of notes and whistles, the scientist nodding along and humming “my my, so you heard the princes voice and ran to look for him? Well, I think you succeeded” Purah laughed, glancing up at harry who rose his brow.

“Yeh can understand it?” Purah shrugged. “not personally, but~” she turned the tablet towards you and harry, where a good paragraph had been written down. “the tablet can translate what he says!” “he?” you echoed, crossing your arms.

“yep, he!” Purah chirped, walking over to a pedestal and a long stone that hung from her ceiling “anyway, I’ll be checking on this thing for a minute, and while we wait, Symin!” an older man in the corner of the room, near all the books turned, smiling at your odd group “could you please make us some tea?”

“of course,” he hummed, setting down his book on a small table near him and walking out the door to his left, presumably to the kitchen.

“Now we wait! And while we wait, you two are gonna tell what’s happened during your time awake!” you and harry shared a glance, sighed, and decided to just give her the bare minimum of information of your recent lives, at least on Harry's side, who didn’t want to talk about his life on the isle.

Purah’s eyes sparkled as Harry started, her hands twitching every few moments. Something told you it was going to be a long night of explaining.

-end of part 19-

set of armor that Harry is now wearing 

permtaglist

@queer-cosette @sephiralorange

@lunanight2012 @daughter-of-the-stars11

@musicarose @rintheemolion

@remembered-license @random-thoughts-003

@imtryingthisout​ @verboetoperee​

taglist for RYPL

 @the-walking-daryl @dpaccione

@redryderdesigns @forever1313 

@itsmysticalmystery @adamsbubblegumbitch

[ryqoshay]

Putting on Hairs: Favorable Dress

Primary Pairing: YohaRiko Hinted: KotoUmi Words: ~2.4k Rating: G? Maybe mild T for one of the implications...? AU: Theater, Werewolf, Werebeast, Monster, Cryptid, Angelic, Demonic

----------

Author’s Note: I honestly can’t remember the last time I’ve written this much in this short of time...

Summary: Riko is hoping Kotori and Yoshiko can make a dress for her. But nothing is free...

----------

Riko approached the costume department with severe trepidation. Her heart was actively trying to pound itself out of her chest at the thought of facing her. Well, not her specifically, she knew she would feel this way about anyone of her kind. But right now, she was the one here.

But, of all the places in this amazing, wonderful world, why did she have to fall here? In this country? In this city? And now she was working at the same theater where Riko had just recently been hired.

Of course, the very same thing could be asked of Riko herself. Why did she have to flee to this particular island off the main coast? Choose this particular city? Accept a position playing the piano in the orchestra pit of this particular theater?

Was this all His idea of a cruel joke?

It was bad enough that she had stood so close during the meeting earlier in the day where the theater’s premiere patron was introduced. Why did she have to do that? Did she not sense Riko like she sensed her? Was she not uncomfortable with Riko’s presence as Riko was with hers?

Riko sighed. Why was she even doing this? Well, she needed a dress. But surely, she could just go find one at a local shop, right? Did she really need to deal with her to have one made special? But the examples she had see so far were just… otherworldly; so much better than anything she had seen window shopping around the area.

“Ah, Riko-chan!” An ashen blonde head poked into the hallway, startling Riko. “Yoshiko-chan was right when she said you were coming. Welcome! Come on in!” Kotori ushered the redhead into the room.

“Pardon the intrusion…” Riko said as she stepped through the door, immediately needing to resist the urge to turn back and run.

There she was, black wings spread wide in all their glory and looking as powerful as any other angel, despite her fallen status. And she was… trimming fur from a black kitten in her lap? What?

Yoshiko looked up with a surprisingly cheerful smile. “Welcome to Hell Zone, Riko!”

“Hell… Zo… eh?” Riko’s gaze flitted fervently around the room, seeking hellforged artifacts or demonic runes or something, anything that might imbue the area with the powers of Hell. And while she certainly sensed auras radiating off most of the equipment and tools, nothing appeared to be of infernal or divine origin.

“Or would you prefer I call you Pirum?”

“Eehhh?!” Riko aborted her vain attempts to scour the room as Yoshiko uttered her true name.

“Kind of a strange name for a demon, though…” Yoshiko continued as if she hadn’t noticed Riko’s reaction. “Do you guys even have pears down there?”

“Now, now, Yoshiko-chan,” Kotori chided playfully “we shouldn’t scare our clients like that. Now, what can we do for you, Riko-chan?”

“Uhm…” Riko fidgeted with her fingers, trying desperately to resist fleeing. “Kurosawa-san recommended I check with you about having a dress made for an upcoming recital?”

“Of course!” Kotori chirped. “We would be happy to make something for you.”

“She, uhm, didn’t give me an idea about pricing though…”

“Oh, don’t you worry your pretty little head about that.” Kotori smiled. “You’re in the orchestra here, right?”

“Yes… but…”

“So, we’ll make the dress for you and you can just owe us a favor.”

Something about the sparkle in the costume designers eye made Riko feel a bit ill at ease. More so than she already was.

“I’m not sure…”

“Surely you know about favors, right?” Yoshiko spoke up. “Your boss’s boss is fond of them, right?” She offered a decidedly devilish grin.

“Uhm…” Riko felt her knees start to shake.

“Don’t mind them.” A deep, masculine voice said from… somewhere. Riko couldn’t readily identify the source. “They’re just teasing you.”

“Phobetor.” Yoshiko gently swatted the kitten in her lap.

Wait, that had been the cat that spoke? But its mouth hadn’t moved. How… Then again, it wasn’t the strangest thing Riko had seen, here or down below.

“Sorry if we scared you.” Kotori giggled. “I am serious about the favor, but don’t worry, it won’t be anything beyond what you’re capable of giving.”

“What… did you have in mind?”

“Hrm…” Kotori considered for a moment. “Would you mind show me your wings?”

“Eh? My… my wings?”

“Yes, please.” Kotori nodded. “You’re a demon, right? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a demon’s wings. Are they feathered like Yoshiko-chan’s or leathery and bat-like or skeletal like in some movies?” She seemed to be getting pretty excited about the concept.

“Uhm… could we maybe… close the door first?” Riko requested meekly.

She realized that was closing off her easiest route of escape, but unless it was imbued with some anti-demon inscription or blessed or whatever, it wouldn’t actually prove much of a barrier to her. Also, despite her persisting fear, something in the back of her mind had begun insisting she could trust these two. Or three, really.

Yoshiko hadn’t attacked her on sight. Kotori obviously knew her nature and wasn’t afraid or hateful, rather she seemed genuinely intrigued. And while they had both teased her, neither had been malicious. Even Yoshiko’s mention of her true name had seemed more like an honest, if again teasing, question than some attempt to wield power over her.

Slowly, ever so slowly, Riko unfurled her wings.

Kotori’s eyes grew wide in awe. “They’re beautiful…” She marveled.

Riko blushed. She’d never heard that word associated with her wings before.

“Can I…?” Kotori reached forward.

Riko offered a weak nod before flinching a little as the designer’s hands began exploring.

“Definitely bat-like.” Kotori murmured, moving her fingers gently across the membrane. “A little drier than I expected, but still, lovely material. These will do nicely.”

“M-material?” Riko instinctively snapped her wings back in. “Are you saying you want me to trade my wings for a dress?”

“Not in their entirety.” Kotori replied. “Just a clipping. A little goes a long way, especially when imbued with such power.”

“Uhm…”

“I’m not sure that’s the best idea, Kotori.” Yoshiko spoke up.

“Oh?” The lead designer asked.

“Because demon wings are different than those of an angel, or a crane.” The blue-haired girl explained. “I mean, I’m no expert in demon physiology, but I’m pretty sure she’s got veins and nerves and stuff running throughout. It’s probably hurt her more than when you or I just pluck our feathers; certainly more than trimming Phobetor’s fur.”

“Although,” Phobetor spoke again “with her regeneration, she could very quickly heal the amount I assume you would be taking.”

“Yeah, but…” Yoshiko started.

“And if I recall correctly, that Kanata girl can adjust her abilities to numb rather than put to sleep. She’d be fully regenerated before she actually felt anything.”

Kanata? “Konoe-san?” Riko asked. “I thought I felt another demonic presence here.”

“Indeed.” Phobetor stood and stretched before yawning. “Although she is here for different reasons than you. While she is here to feed, you seem more interested in music. Pray tell, did you grow weary of playing Hell’s music and came to Earth for a change of pace?”

Riko blinked. “How… how did you know?”

“One of my primary duties is to run reconnaissance and monitor all local entities that could pose a threat to my master.” The cat explained. “Celestials, especially demons, are always worth investigation.”

“I see… wait, so you’ve been spying on me?”

“Indeed. And I have determined that you are not a threat to my master, Ms. Pirum.”

“… Oh…” Whatever was left of Riko’s fear was displaced entirely by embarrassment. “I see, well… uhm… Anyway, Riko is fine…”

“Very well. Riko it is.” Phobetor gave a single, curt nod. “Though it must be said that my assessment is not an indictment upon your power. You are still a demon after all. Rather, I have determined you to be far too… demure, for lack of a better word.”

“… Oh…”

“Also, your reading proclivities are quite… interesting, I must say.”

“Eh?”

“Oh? What kinda books do ya read, Riko?” Yoshiko perked up suddenly. “Earth is filled with a ton of strange tomes and some of their ideas on magic and such are utterly baffling. Though there are some amazing artists who create some amazing manga and doujin. Humans can tell such wonderful stories.”

“D… doujin…” Riko felt herself blush.

“Yeah, have you ever been to Comiket? Mortals sure know how to celebrate their hobbies.”

“She has attended.” Phobetor confirmed.

“Phobetor…” Riko whined.

“Really?” Yoshiko became even more excited. “Maybe we should go together this year.”

“… Maybe…”

“I do believe your tastes are vastly different, though.” Phobetor said.

“Oh? What kinda stuff do you like, Riko?” Yoshiko asked again.

“Uhm…” Riko hesitated.

“Her preferred reading material is…”

“<Stay thy tongue, meddlesome furball!>” Riko snarled in an ancient demonic language.

The other three occupants in the room stared at her in stunned silence.

Riko’s hands flew up to clamp across her mouth as heat exploded across her cheeks, spreading quickly to her ears and down her neck.

Yoshiko snorted.

“I’m… I’m so sorry…” Riko cried, her voice muffled through her fingers. “I didn’t mean…”

Yoshiko burst out laughing. Kotori giggled.

“I thought… you said… she was too demure…” Yoshiko managed get out between bouts.

“That seemed like the best description at the time.” Phobetor stated matter-of-factly.

“Are you… sure… she’s not a… threat?”

“My assessment remains unchanged.”

Why in the nine circles did you have to go and do that, of all things? Riko berated herself. She was so embarrassed she felt she could die and go back to Hell. Well, maybe not. She really had no desire to return.

“There, all done.” Kotori suddenly announced.

“Eh?” Riko came back to reality. “Done? Done with what?”

“Your measurements.”

“Measure…”

“For your dress.”

“Yes, I know, but… when did you…?”

“While you, Yoshiko-chan and Phobetor-chan were talking.”

“I didn’t even notice.” Riko admitted.

Kotori smiled. “I’ll draw up some proposed designs and give them to you tomorrow.” she explained. “Once you decide on one you like, we can get to choosing fabrics.”

“Alright.” Riko agreed. “Oh, uhm… about the favor…”

“Oh, don’t worry about the wing thing.” Kotori dismissed. “We’ll think of something else, it’s fine.”

“Well, if you don’t mind my asking, what did you intend to do with the trimmings?”

“Make leather of course. There are a lot of costumes and accessories that need leather, belts, shoes, jackets, all sorts of things.”

“So, it would be used for the theater?”

“Of course!” Kotori chirped. “Everything I do is for Umi-chan’s theater.”

“Unless someone else like Riko comes and wants something made for a non-theater event.” Yoshiko pointed out.

“Well, yes, but the favors we ask in return always benefit the theater.”

“That’s true.” The fallen angel conceded.

Riko steeled herself for what she was about to say. “I’ll do it. You can use some of my wings to make costumes for the theater.”

Kotori’s eyes widened as she inhaled with excitement. “Really?” She grabbed Riko’s hands and pulled herself closer. “You’ll let me make celestially imbued leather?”

“Y-yes...”

“Oh, thank you, Riko-chan!” Kotori surged forward and wrapped her arms around the redhead.

“Hey, Phobetor,” Yoshiko addressed her cat “you wanna go tell Kanata she’s on notice for numbing duties?”

“Will do.”

With that, Phobetor blinked out of existence. Is he a teleporter? Riko wondered.

“Well, we don’t have to do it right away.” Kotori said, pulling out of the hug. “I won’t collect payment until I know my customer is satisfied with the product I am selling them.”

Yoshiko shrugged. “We’re only putting her on notice.”

“Message has been delivered.” Phobetor’s voice sounded before he popped back into the room. “She said it would only take her a second, so we can have her do so whenever we are ready.”

“Only a second, huh?” Yoshiko pondered something for a moment. “I wonder if her sleep spell works that fast too.”

“I would imagine it takes effect quickly, for the sake of facilitating faster feeding.”

“You mentioned feeding before.” Riko said. “She’s not… eating people… is she?”

“Their dreams.” Phobetor responded. “She calls herself a Somnophore, though I believe Somnophage would be more accurate. But who am I to judge such things?” The cat seemed to almost shrug. “I am surprised you did not know.”

“I sensed she was a fellow demon.” Riko admitted. “But I hadn’t had a chance to determine what kind.”

“I’d let her feed on my dreams…” Yoshiko seemed lost in thought.

“Why, do you want her to put you to sleep, Yoshiko-chan?” Kotori asked.

Yoshiko chuckled. “It would help some nights.”

“Well, Kanata-chan seems to love the pillow I made for her.” Kotori explained. “It’s stuffed with a special blend of our feathers and she says it works wonders.”

“A pillow, huh?” Yoshiko turned her head and shifted one of her wings over for inspections. “I never thought about making one of those.”

“I’d be happy to show you how.”

“Alright.” Yoshiko agreed. “Although I’m surprised you didn’t make one for your precious Umi.”

“Of course, I made one for Umi-chan.” Kotori giggled. “But that was years ago, long before I came here. So that one was made with just my feathers. I made one for Honoka-chan then as well.” Her eyes sparkled as she seemed to be reviewing fond memories. “They still have them to this day.”

“Anyway, we should probably get back to work.” Yoshiko hopped up to her feet and moved across the room. “And I know you have rehearsals coming up. It was nice meeting you, Riko.” She smiled and reaching out a hand.

“Likewise.” Riko agreed, accepting the handshake.

“Phobetor tells me you’re quite good on the piano. Which makes sense, given who you serve under.”

“Well, not really.” Riko shook her head. “Not anymore.”

“Ah, I see.” Yoshiko nodded. “I can empathize completely. I haven’t served Him in a good long while.”

“Mm…”

“Anyway, I still look forward to hearing you play.” She grinned. “Maybe Kotori will let me out of this hell every once in a while, so I can head upstairs and listen a few times.”

“Awuuu…” Kotori pouted. “Yoshiko-chan, don’t make me out to be like some hellish taskmaster.” She blinked and turned to Riko. “No offense.”

Riko chuckled. “None taken. There’s certainly no shortage of taskmasters down there. That’s part of why I came up here.” With that said, she turned toward the door. “I’ll see you two… sorry, three, later.”

Words of departure and well wishes followed Riko into the hallway, and as she walked, her thoughts remained on the individuals she had just met. They were an interesting group, to say the least. But friendly, even to a demon like her. Maybe… perhaps, just maybe, working in close proximity to an angel wouldn’t be all that bad after all.

----------

Author’s Notes Continued in Followup Post

[i-need-a-life-from-life-2-0]

Professor Membrane X F!Reader Smut

Ok so I am still thrisy for Membrane rn soo 🤷🏽‍♀️ enjoy. Also low key to tired to think of a title soo

THIS IS SMUT

THIS WILL HAVE FRICK FRACK HAPPENING ALSO UNPROTECTED SEX SO LIKE WRAP THAT SHIZ UP FAM! ALSO DRINKING

I head cannon Membrane speaking Spanish when he’s intimate with someone as a sign of trust so yea 🤷🏽‍♀️( All Spanish will be translated at the end. Also I used Spanish dictionary cause my Spanish teacher said it was way better then google translate soo)

18+ PLZ

(GIF not mine)

“Thank you again Y/N for joining me. I know you aren’t obligated.” The Professor said watching you pull your suitcase as the both of you walk. You smiled and slightly shook your head.

“Mem, it’s no problem! Besides if it means spending more time with you.” Professor sighed looking at the girl. When he invited her to this conference he was hoping she’d refuse. Seeing as she works just as hard as him. This week was her 1 week off.

“I’m aware you like to spend time with me. But this was your one week off, you could have stayed home and relax.”

“And miss spending time with my sexy scientist boyfriend. Nah this will be better” Membrane blushed upon seeing y/n sweet innocent smile. He thanked the stars that his lab coat covered most of his face, concealing the blush.

This was gonna fun weekend.

~Few Hours Later~

“I don’t understand how you can go to these all the time. Just being by your side and hearing all these questions. Whoo makes me want a drink, you want one?” You asked chuckling softly wrapping your arm around his.

“Oh I don’t know.” He said thinking about everything that could go wrong.

“I’m not gonna force you to have a drink but a drink could help lighten up. You’ve been looking a little tense. But there is no pressure.” You told him looking into his goggles lovingly. He looked down at your vibratent (E/C) eyes. He sighed before realizing 1 drink won’t be so bad.

“Alright, your right one drink won’t be so bad.” He said rubbing the back of his neck. You smiled lovingly at him as you slowly turned towards the hotel bar.

“Alright then big guy, I’ll be right back.” You said winking at him. Membrane’s eyes slowly wandered down to the curves of your body. Your (F/C) dress did nothing but help you look sexy. He’s been trying so damn hard to be intimate with you. But either work, the kids, or Clembrane got in the way. Membrane slowly wondered to thoughts of you and him. What you sound like, what you feel like. He was so down the rabbit hole of inappropriate thoughts he didn’t see you return.

“I didn’t know what you want so I took a guess. Hey you ok? You look like lost.” You said holding out the drink. He snapped back into reality and took the drink before clearing his throat.

“I-I’m fine.. Have I told you that your look amazing tonight?” He said looking away from you. You looked at your outfit and laughed.

“This old thing? I’ve had it for years, but thanks! You know you don’t look bad yourself. It’s hard not to be jealous of when you get so much attention.” You said smirking taking a sip of your drink. Membrane quickly took a sip of his drink as well hoping to calm his nerves. You slowly started noticing how he was acting and grew concerned.

“Hey, mem you ok?” Before you can retrieve an answer some of Membranes co-workers came up to him and started talking to him. Slowly feeling yourself getting pushed back you left him for the bar. You sighed and took a seat and took a long sip of your drink. Unknowingly Membrane had his eyes on you. Especially when someone sat next to you and strucked up a conversation. As the man sat next to you, you just continued to drink your drink. Until he started talking to you.

“I hope you don’t mind if I sit here. There isn’t a lot of places to sit.” The man said smiling at you. You shook your head giving a small smile in return.

“Oh no go ahead! I down own the seats or have a name tag on them or anything!” You said trying to make a joke but blushed in embarrassment as it didn’t come out right. The guy laughed and quickly ordered a drink.

“I guess that’s fair. I’m Lee by the way” he told you holding his hand out. You smiled and shook his hand.

“Y/N, so what brings you here?” You asked forgetting about your drink. He laughed nervously.

“My fiancée is a doctor who works for Professor Membrane. But she’s currently talking to other doctor people. I started feeling suffocated.” He said sipping the drink he ordered. You chuckled more then understanding the feeling. He turned back to you and asked.

“How about you? What brings you here?” You smiles and pointed to the crowd surrounding your boyfriend.

“My boyfriend is being mobbed by that crowd so I guess you can say I also felt suffocated. Just needed a minute to breath.” You said drinking your drink again.

You lost track of how long you’ve been talking. But you and Lee sorta had a lot in common and it was refreshing. You both had a few drinks but you knew you went buzzed or anywhere near it. You laughed at Lee’s joke and put an arm in his shoulder to help you not laugh your way in the floor. Just then you felt a hand on your shoulder. You turned and smiled.

“Speaking of the devil. Hey Mem! I was just talking about you!” You said smiling up at him. He looked at you and Lee. He was trying very hard to keep his jealousy under control.

“Oh right! Lee this is well you probably know, Membrane this is Lee! His fiancée works for you!” You beemed while looking at him. Lee smiled and held his hand out.

“It’s nice to meet you Professor” Membane politely shook his hand.

“You as well. I hate to cut in but I’d like to go to bed and have my girlfriend join me. Considering we have a long day tomorrow.” He releasing Lee’s hand turning his body to you. You smiled and got off the stool.

“Oh yea of course. It was nice meeting you Lee!”

“Oh you too Y/N!” Lee said waving you off.

It was a sorta awkward walk back to your shared hotel room. There was the arora around him that you couldn’t quite figure out. You couldn’t tell if he was angry at your or tired, or both. You both reached your shared room and he reached in his lab coat pocket and grabbed the room key. He opened the door and let you in.

“Hey Mem? Are you mad at me? Cause I’m getting-“ Before you can finish your sentence you where pushed up against the wall with his lips harshly against yours. A gasp left your mouth allowing his tongue to roam your mouth. His hands firmly on your hips as her grinded against you. He pulled away slowly trailing kisses down your neck.

“M-Mem?”

“No debería estar celoso de él, pero Dios soy” he mumbled against your neck and he started sucking the skin between your ear and neck. Your hands gripped tightly on his lap coat.

“M-Mem we where just talking.. I swear you have no reason to be jealous.” You breathed out trying to calm down the raging fire of arousal. Membrane pulled away and took off his goggles.

“I love you Y/N, I just hate thinking someone can take you away from me.” He said slowly removing his lab coat. You never fully saw what he looked like under his lab coat. He always had it up after he’d kiss you. You noticed scars on his lips and face. That didn’t mean he wasn’t sexy. Nor did it help the burning arousal that was slowly burning your entire body.

“Membrane... I love you too. Believe me when I say this.. I’d never leave you. No one can take me away from you, nor your amazing kids. Now shut up and kiss me again you stupid sext scientists.” You said before grabbing his lab coat again and smashing your lips on his. Membrane pushed his body against yours again and picked you up and slammed you against the wall. You pulled away from the kiss and started kissing all his scars.

“God Membrane your beautiful. I’m so happy I get to see your face.” You moaned moving further down his jaw. His hands started digging into your ass and letting out a low animalistic growl.

“Ten cuidado con mi amor, ya no podré contenerme.” He said deeply into your ear. You moaned before smirked.

“Then don’t. Make me yours Membrane... Remind me why I belong to you.” The moment those words left your mouth a switch flipped in Membrane. He threw you on the bed and crawled on top you. Like a predator hunting his prey. His brown eyes bore into your (E/C) as you saw all the feelings he’s feeling through those eyes. Jealousy, love, and most dominant lust.

“Your so beautiful Y/N... such beauty and it’s all mine.” He said has his hand trailed to the zipper on the back of your dress. You blushed at his comment before reaching up and touching his face.

“I’m all yours big guy.” You lowly mumbbled slowly helping him push down your dress leaving you in nothing but your underwear. You shivered slightly as the cold room air hits your chest.

“No te preocupes mi amor, pronto estará caliente.” He mumbled as his still gloves hand cupped your right breast slightly massaging it. His mouth suddenly attached to your jaw as he slowly kissed and sucked his way down your chest finally latching on to your left breast. You moaned quickly grabbing onto his shoulders tightly. Your body felt on fire. The way he was lovingly touching you and kissing you made you feel like you where in heaven.

“Membrane! Oh god” You softly moaned out as you started trusting your hips up to try to release some friction. Membrane took notice of this and smirked against your skin. His lips left your left breast and started making his way down your stomach and stopped at the hem of your underwear. His eyes looked into yours as if waiting for approval to go on. You nodded and watched him smirked as he pulled your underwear down. You lifted your hips up to help him remove your underwear.

“Oh Dios tu hermosa...” He said staring at your slick pussy. You blushed and resisted closing your legs knowing fully well he can easily pry them open.

“Don’t tease me... Especially when you got me this worked up.” You said slightly stuttered blushing. He let out low chuckle as he pulled off one of his gloves to his mouth and pulled it off. You swore your soul left your body at that moment. He brought up his metal fingers to your mouth. You opened your mouth and slowly started sucking on his metallic fingers as if it was the last thing you will ever do.

“Eres una buena chica...” He said watching you closely. He decided that you’ve sucked them enough and pulled them away. He then slowly teased your now soaking wet entrance. He slowly started pushing in one finger to slowly start stretching you. The feeling of his thick metal fingers painstaking slow moving in and out of you.

“Jesus Mem... please...” you pleaded as you tried to thrust your hips up. He used his free hand to push your hips down and held them there.

“Please what? What is it you want mi amor?” He said huskily looking at you dead in the eyes. You growled at him teasing you like this.

“I want you to go faster please! God please!” You pleaded needing him to just finger you had hard as her can... and he did. He smirked and started roughly thrusting his finger in and out of you and then added another finger making a scissor motion. At this point you where a moaninh mess. Writhing on the bed as pure pleasure that your lover gave you took over. Each time he fingered you the knot in your stomach tightened. Membrane then leaned in and started slowly licked long your pussy lips and lightly licked your cilt. With his tongue and fingers working you over your limit you where just about to get the release you so desperately desired! Untill he removed himself from you. You whined and looked him with half open list filled eyes.

“W-Why?! God I was so close Membrane!” You groaned needing to feel the release. Membrane quickly silenced you with a kiss and you tasted yourself on his lips. He pulled away and pulled his shirt over his head and took his pants off only leaving him and his boxers on. His errection very hard to miss, basically begging to be free.

“There’s so much I want to do to you Y/N... but I just need to be deep inside you or I’ll lose my mind.” He said slowly removing his boxers. You blushed upon seeing his beautiful cock in all his beauty. He quickly lined himself up with your entrance.

“If it hurts at any point tell me...I refuse to hurt you in anyway.” He mumbled lightly kissing your jaw. You smiled and made him look into your (E/C) eyes.

“You’ll never hurt me.. but I will. Now please... I need you.” You moaned kissing him passionately wrapping your arms around his neck. Has your lips moved in sync with each other he slowly started entering you. You gasped starting to feel the pain and started gripping his neck tightly. He pulled away groaning from the pain. Something you’ll have to remember.

“S-Shit your so tight.” He groaned still slowly pushing himself inside you. Once he was fully inside you he was trying so hard not to just violently thrust in and out of you in a fast pase. Once you gave him the ok he slowly moved in and out of you.

“Oh god Membrane! Shit you feel so good!” You moaned letting your hands roam his back. With your encouragement he slowly started speeding up till he was full on ramming into your body. Your mind was nothing more then mush as you just moaned his name and any incoherent sounds that come out of your mouth. Membrane kept letting out small pants or groans. As well as slipping Spanish here and there. All of a sudden Membrane stopped but before you can utter a word he grabbed your leg an threw it over his shoulder and began to ram into your body again.

“O-Oh fuck! Membrane!!” You moaned as he hit that spot that made you go wild.

“S-Say my name again!” He groaned gripping your leg tightly as continued his movements.

“Membrane!”

“Louder Y/N!!”

“MEMBRANE PLEASE FUCK!” You said feeling so close to releaseing. Membrane could tell how close you where to coming and he wanted to get you off. He wanted to be the reason why you became so undone. That enough was driving him wild. He leaned in close to your ear

“I know your close Y/N. I know you, fuck your so tight.” He mumbled biting your ear.

“Oh god Membrane I-I can’t! I just want to so bad!” You moaned clawing the blanket beneath you. Membrane looked at you dead in your eyes.

“Then come Y/N” and just like that you came hard around Membrane. You let out a loud moan as your brain went blank. Membrane thrusted a few more times before coming deep inside you. As you both care back to your senses you reached up and caressted his cheek with your thumb.

“I love you Membrane. Thank you.” Membrane raised his hand to rest on top of yours as he let out a smile.

“I should be thanking you. I know I’m not normal. But yet you stay.. I wouldn’t know many people who would.” He said slowly pulling out of you. Your body shuddered at the loss of him inside of you.

“Right I should clean you up-“ your grabbed him and just shook your head.

“I honestly just want to be held by you. Please?” You asked yawning. He sighed and helped you pull the blankets on you both. He kissed your forehead and held you close. He was about to make a comment but saw you had already passed out. He smiled and just admired your peaceful sleep before slowly falling asleep himself.

Translation:

No debería estar celoso de él, pero Dios soy = I shouldn’t be jealous of him, but god I am

Ten cuidado con mi amor, ya no podré contenerme = Be careful my love, I won’t be able to hold back anymore

No te preocupes mi amor, pronto estará caliente = Don’t worry my love, it will be warm soon enough

Oh Dios tu hermosa = Oh god your beautiful

Eres una buena chica = You’re such a good girl.

So it’s 2:03 rn and I’m just finishing this. So yea.. enjoy this awful thing Ive created

[saintheartwing]

Invader Zim: The Pigshit Troll, Part Three

"So it's coming from Dad's lab?"

Gaz was now very intrigued indeed. She sat across from Dib in the living room as he pulled open his laptop, Gaz pulling open a can of "Mountain Spew" and drinking away. Dib glanced over at the black can, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah…but why are you drinking that new flavor? Aren't you more into the original?"

"Yeah, but I wanna give the new flavor a try and I gotta be honest, it ain't bad for a zero calorie soda. It tastes like the way Mountain Spew used to way back in the day. A LOT better than their diet one, I'll tell ya that." Gaz remarked. "And it ain't given me diarrhea yet, so that's a plus."

Dib did the very best he could to suppress his laughter. When it came to Gaz's diet, her constantly going to Bloaty's Pizza Hog had real consequences. The cheese round the clock was getting her blocked, but when the levee finally broke, well…frankly, so did the toilet. Many, many times. And she would make him clean it.

There had been a positive to this though. Dib was now amazingly good at plumbing and mechanical engineering and he was actually picking up some decent money loaning his services out to the neighborhood as a plumber…provided nobody told the local trade unions about what he was up to, because compared to them, he was real cheap. So now he could afford a VERY nice laptop with all the bells and whistles as he showed it off to Gaz.

"Yeah, the IP address was traced back to Dad's lab. Unfortunately, I can't track it down to the very computer, Dad does have enough security in place to keep me from seeing that and no way am I risking jail time by cracking that open. They almost busted me last month when Dad tried to install the "Parental Controls" on our new television and I don't want Officer Krupke giving me that lecture again."

Indeed, in one of the very few times Dib and Gaz had been bound by common strife and pledged to work together for a common good, Professor Matthew Membrane had installed parental controls on their television because he was concerned about the damage being done to them from exposure to new Netflix series. Especially with all the brand new true crime dramas popping up all the time, it turned out to be something both Dib AND Gaz positively loved, the chase, the investigation, the grisly details, it was so engaging. They would watch together on the couch, eyes glued to the screen, binge-watching for hours and hours and then eagerly chatting about ALL they'd seen at dinner.

Well, Membrane had been determined to stop them from having their minds all twisted up by violence and at first it worked really well.

"C'mon! I wanna watch "The Ken and Barbie Killers!"

"Fat chance. You're gonna watch Cupcake Wars and you're gonna like it."

"Damn it, lemme watch Don't F—k with Cats, it's a classic!"

"No way. You're going to watch "Masterpiece Theatre"."

"Well…if it's got Patrick Stewart in it that might not be so-"

"Featuring Brian Blessed in the star role of Macbeth!"

"OH GOD NO!"

"Hey, what gives?!"

"That's enough cartoons for you today. You're gonna watch some Animal Planet…no, wait. Better. C-Span. It's good to be involved in politics these days."

"Oh c'mon, it's just hearings on air traffic controllers! You fiend!"

So finally, Gaz had insisted Dib get rid of the thing.

"I'd be risking major jail time!"

"Dib…it's recording the best of Fuller House."

"…I'll go get my screwdriver."

Dib had indeed almost got caught and had to listen to a very irritating lecture from the police. It was rather astounding they got to the house so quick over that, but whenever Dib tried to let them know Zim was up to something, it was "Yeah, we'll get to you when we can".

The good news was the parental controls issue got solved soon enough. Professor Membrane himself decided to get rid of it, saying that though he was worried about the things they were watching, it was his job, not some machine's, to judge and curate what his children saw.

Translation: the parental controls wouldn't let him watch "The Mandalorian" because it was too violent.

"Well can we look up who's working at Dad's laboratory who might have a grudge against you?" Gaz asked as Dib grinned.

"Luckily, that's not protected health information, Dad lists all the employees on the website and under "Contact Us"!" He remarked as his fingers flew across the keyboard and he then turned the laptop to fully show Gaz the list. "Look at who's listed? Keef, of all people is one of the assistants, he's an intern!"

"Hmm. I've always thought there's something off about him…and his stories, well…" Dib cringed.

Keef was definitely, one hundred percent not allowed to write anything even remotely close to sexual. The school had no problem with stories about, say…Zim skinning people alive in one of HIS work. For some reason, that was just fine. Oh, but a bit of soft sex, nakedness? No no no no no! Bad!

But Keef had found a way around that and did stories with lots of innuendo, and a ton…a ton of stories involving Dib, Gaz, Zim…and romance. He called the ones between Zim and Dib "ZADR" and with Gaz and Zim "ZAGR". You could find them cute if you were into that sort of thing, after all, many were astoundingly well written, lovingly detailed, and your heart would begin racing as you kept reading his creative writing tales.

But Dib didn't much like the idea. For one, Zim was over 150, he was waaaaay too old for either him…or Gaz. Two, EW. Three, a lot of the stories had Dib's own personality being ignored just so he could smooch it up with Zim! It didn't come across as a natural evolution or a progression or character development that made sense, it was just "I want this person here, so I'm just going to force them to be there, even if it makes no sense, because the plot is pretty much porn".

Gaz, however, kinda thought it was cute in a funny sort of way. She also knew it wasn't like Dib had never thought about kissing Zim, Dib was still discovering himself, after all, and he had had dreams about…that sort of thing.

"And there's Mr. Elliot!" Dib added. "Wow, why did he decide to work there?"

Gaz smirked and chuckled inwardly. Nobody would EVER know how she got rid of him, and she wasn't gonna tell anyone. And if she wanted you out of your job at the school, it would happen. Now, there were three ways to stop her from doing what she do.

…what? You think imma TELL you?

"He could have finally snapped." Gaz mused aloud. "I mean, when the nice ones snap…they really, really go wild. It's the nice guys you need to watch out for, you can trust a jerk to always be a jerk. But when a decent person goes bad, they go baaaaaad."

"Yeah, that's possible." Dib confessed. "Hmm. Look, our janitor works there too." He murmured. "Johnny."

…Johnny. The one and only Johnny. A slim, slender man, messy black hair that was just downright ugly and grimy. A pale body, sunken eyes, and he smelled strange too, like meat that had been left out on the counter for far too long. He liked making little snappy remarks at people too.

"Did you wash the bathrooms like we asked?"

"I'll wash the walls with your blood!"

"Well before you do that, wash the bathrooms."

On top of that, there were rumors that he caked blood on the walls of his janitorial closet to feed a monster that laid within. He was always seen sinisterly smoking at the very edge of school property at night, an anti-social, creepy figure indeed. Him being the actual troll…it wasn't unreasonable to think of Johnny, curled up in his closet, hunched over his laptop, spewing hate out into the world.

"Wait. Wait, wait, wait, look!" Gaz pointed at one of the names. "…Tassirak. That girl's name's Tassirak Doe."

Dib frowned, and he examined the photo that went with the name. "Doe" was a common name for a dead body you hadn't identified and-wait. Wait. Those eyes. The facial structure. The hair may have been different, the skin tone less pale, but Dib recognized those eyes instantly, and that faint Mona Lisa smile too.

And he knew that name, because Tak, Irken Invader, had divulged that to him.

Dib had gotten really close to Tak when she'd first arrived, the purple-haired British-accented girl had been charming, intelligent and clever, and they'd had similar interests. He'd soon spent weeks with her, the two just…talking. Making fun of Zim, chatting about their favorite books and movies they'd read, sharing stories about adventures out in the wild…

And of course, that Valentine's Day dance. "No, no. One-two-three, swing! One-two-three, swing!" Tak had insisted to him.

"Ouch! Don't drag me!"

Her lessons on dancing were harsh but in truth, that time spent with Tak had probably been the happiest he'd ever been.

And that's how he should have known it was a lie. Because Dib knew he wasn't meant to be happy. He'd known that…for a long time.

She'd revealed her real name. They'd eaten lunches and even a dinner or two together. Seen movies and he'd walked her home. And then, just a few days later, she'd turned out to be an Irken invader.

It had hurt. A lot. He'd lost a friend. And maybe someone more. It had really…really hurt.

"Does SHE have an account on the website?" Dib murmured as he examined the school's creative writing website. "…oh wow, yeah, she does, she's using her old username and password she got when she first enrolled, there's not much, but they're there. Wow." He examined them. "She wields metaphors like blunt instruments. You can feel Tak in every single sentence, so much of it is in first person and there is a lot of really biting, cynical wit in here. It feels almost nihilistic. And it's super petty, too. A lot of really nasty stuff happening to folks she doesn't like."

"Wow, one story has her as the Tallest." Gaz remarked. "…damn, she cooked and ate the last ones. That's hardcore scary."

"It's beautifully written though, I'd like to shake her hand than recommend her to therapy." Dib admitted. "I mean, she's going into really grisly detail on every minute they die. She must be super bitter. I don't even wanna imagine what happens to Zim when she updates this story, she just finished catching him and she's got him tied up in…Japanese rope bondage? She's into BDSM?"

"The safe word is "eine kleine nachtmusik"." Wow, somebody's letting their inner Hannibal Lecter out, alright." Gaz said with a whistle. "…still, I kinda WANT her to update just to see what happens. It's like watching a train wreck, you kinda can't look away."

"It could definitely be here. We need to go to the lab and sneak onto those computers. If they saved their work on them at any point, I could prove they were behind it." Dib reasoned.

"I dunno, Dib. Not sure I wanna help you with this. I mean, don't get me wrong, it's not really fun anymore watching you get dragged again and again for what the troll's doing, but…" She shrugged. "I mean, it's not my problem."

"What if I paid you?" Dib offered as Gaz rubbed her chin.

"…keep talking, Mr. Moneybags."

"My new job is paying me verrrrry well. To plant roses, I've shoveled a lot of manure, as it were." Dib remarked. "So how about it? Is there a new game you want me to buy?" He offered as Gaz thought to herself.

"Hmm. Well…now that you mention it, there is one game that's coming out that I really want. It's Sekiro: Shadows Die Thrice. Comes out in a week. You buy me that, I'll come with you."

"Deal." Dib insisted.

And so, Dib and Gaz made their way to Professor Membrane's lab that weekend as a quilt of dark clouds obscured their stealthy approach. Slinking on inside through the ventilation shaft as Dib temporarily looped the footage of the nearby camera watching the southern side of the laboratory, they crept through the vents and finally deposited themselves in, of all places, Johnny's closet in the lab.

There was a laptop there, hidden by a bucket. Gaz picked it up, gazing through it as she nodded over at Dib. "I'll look over this one, you go look for Keef's. Then we'll meet back here in…half an hour and go look for Mr. Elliot and Tak's."

"Deal." Dib said with a nod, quickly exiting the closet, getting his camera-hacking tool ready as it was clasped tight around his wrist. The lab was almost utterly closed for the moment, most people were heading home, there was just a skeleton crew left over. This meant it was easy for Dib to sneak around, avoiding spots in the security camera's vision and using his hacking tool to loop footage when he couldn't.

At long last, he reached a work station, the same station Keef had been said to be working at, since the website had said he was paired with a "Dr. Jones". Dib looked about, listening intently. No cameras here, and nobody was inside or anywhere nearby. So he slunk over to the computer and booted it up.

Ha! Keef had been the last one to use the PC, his username was on display. And Dib had a feeling he could guess the password.

Yep! Sure enough, it was "ZADRZAGR". "Oh, Keef…ya basic." Dib chuckled as he looked over Keef's internet history and-

"…hoooooo boy."

Well, Keef definitely, one hundred percent was not the one who sent the reviews. But now Dib knew where Keef got so much help in…inspiration…for his work. He had no idea Keef swung that way!...and that way, AND that way and THAT way.

"Well, um…whatever does it for you, Keef." Dib decided, quickly deciding to erase the internet history and log off, shaking his head. Meanwhile, Gaz had finally guessed Johnny's password. She'd had a feeling it was "Mammon" and yep…it was Mammon. Johnny may have been a loyal, devoted Satan-worshipping weirdo…but he wasn't very smart. He'd left a post it note reminding himself to change his last password since it was too easy to guess, and he needed a better one, and to pick a better demon lord. Unluckily for him, not only had he tossed that post it note in the trash can in the very closet Gaz was in, she'd realized the password hint immediately. "Greed is Good". Well, there were a few Demon lords best known for Greed and one of the best had been what she'd picked.

PING! She was in. And my oh my, Johnny had been a naughty boy. He'd taken selfies to share on the Internet of him and the bloody wall he caked gore on, selfies he was sharing on the Dark Web. Nasty stuff indeed. One particularly "funny" one showed him making a kind of macabre "snowman" on the wall with some exposed ribs and a bashed in nose and two eyes burned up like coals!

And then there were his uploads to "Bestgore". Yeccchhh. Gaz was fine with dooming the deserving wretches, but Johnny was just an outright creep about this-

Wait.

Wait, was that a cat?

He wouldn't.

…he WOULDN'T-

Gaz's mouth fell open and then she darkly glowered, shutting the video off and going through the rest of the janitor's internet history. No, he wasn't the one leaving those reviews. But he was guilty, alright. Just not of the sin Dib thought he was guilty of.

A few minutes later, Dib knocked on the closet door and she exited it, giving Dib a solemn look. "He's not the one. He's a piece of shit, but he's not the one."

Dib could see something was very, very wrong, Gaz had a look on her face he'd only seen when she'd seen crime specials on killers who hurt animals. He thought it best not to ask about it. "I understand. It isn't Keef, either. He's into a lot…but not into that sort of thing."

So now it came time to check the other computer stations. Luckily for them, both Mr. Elliot and Tak were working in the same wing.

Unluckily for them, they were still there. A fact the two found out when they opened the door…

Just in time to see Mr. Elliot AND Tak currently hunched over a computer screen. "What the?!" Dib gasped out as the two wheeled around, seeing Dib and Gaz, staring in surprise as Dib and Gaz looked behind them and-

…Jackass? They were watching Jackass videos?

"You're into those stupid stunt videos where the guys get, like, basketballs bounced onto their balls after they're launched onto trampolines?" Gaz inquired as Tak and Mr. Elliot deeply blushed, Dib racing over to the computer, gaping at the sight before his eyes. He couldn't believe it.

"But it's so…lowbrow! So…STUPID!" He remarked aloud.

"But it's funny." Mr. Elliot said with a shrug. "I can't help it, I find it funny."

"Yeah, something about it simply clicked with me." Tak admitted. "I mean, I do enjoy watching stupid humans suffering for my amusement."

"Yeah, the Germans have a term for it. Schadenfreude." Mr. Elliot confessed. "Happiness at the misfortune of others." He added as Dib looked through their internet history. Yeah, they'd hadn't left the reviews either. All that work, all that effort for…nothing! Except now he knew stuff about his classmates he really, REALLY wish he could unlearn.

"It's not that funny." Gaz said, though she chuckled as she saw a video of Johnny Knoxville soaring off a motorcycle and into a ball pit, groaning loudly…because he was butt naked when he did it. "Okay, maybe a LITTLE funny."

"Sometimes you just wanna indulge in something nice, simple and a bit stupid. Not everything has to be Shakespeare, after all. It fills a need and it doesn't really harm anyone." Tak remarked. "Well, except them, but they get paid for it, so…" She shrugged.

Dib moaned. "Damn it. Damn it, damn it, damn it. I thought for SURE…"

"You're really not that Pig Shit troll, huh?" Tak wondered aloud. "I thought maybe you were doing some kind of false flag, Dib, but…no, it really isn't you." She commented dryly. "Hmm. Well, best of luck with that. Unless another classmate of yours, like, pees their pants or something in front of everyone in school, nobody's going to forget this anytime soon. The good news is that people have short memories. A month or two passes by, and you'll be fine. Folks are like GOLDFISH. Best and worst thing about them!" She laughed.

"…yeah, maybe if I slip Zim some ex-lax under the guise of it being a candy bar I can trick him into taking from me…" Dib mumbled as he slunk out of the room. "This sucks. This totally sucks."

"Cheer up, tomorrow Dad's going to treat us to breakfast, remember?" Gaz offered. "You always like that." She told him as they headed out the office door and down the hall to exit out of the building.

"Yeah, him making his pancake and eggs combo with bacon always-"

Dib stopped. Wait.

…wait.

Could it be?

"…I need to check one more computer." He quietly muttered at Gaz, his voice sounding cold and dead.

…

…

…

… "You liking your delicious breakfast, son?" Professor Membrane asked as Gaz stared at Dib, waiting for the other shoe to drop. He'd said absolutely nothing since their Dad had begun making breakfast and now he was halfway through his meal when he slowly finished chewing and looked up.

"…it's really nice." Dib remarked. "Can I ask you something, Dad?" Dib wanted to know, as he put the fork down and folded his hands in his lap.

"Of course, son! Anything!" Professor Membrane said as Dib took in a long, deep breath.

"Why did you do it? Why did you do those reviews?"

Professor Membrane dropped the plate of bacon he had in his black-gloved hands, looking astounded. Dib went on, speaking quietly. Softly. Soft…but with an edge.

"I thought about it, long and hard. I remembered you were the one who encouraged me to come see you if I kept having problems. The IP address was also traced back to your lab. And then I thought about how…ridiculous the reviews were. They were so badly written but…not badly written enough for someone in my class to have done it. I mean, even a 9 year old knows not to write in all caps. It had to be somebody older, trying to be over the top. And then when I checked your computer, just to be sure…I found out…yes. It was you." He remarked. "…so Dad…why'd you do it?"

Professor Membrane sighed as he sat down at the table, and held his head in his hands. "I…I did want to try and…push you into my arms, as it were. That if I put a little pressure on you in your school setting, you'd keep coming back to me to talk about how you felt. It allowed me to feel like I was the only person you could truly trust, and that felt good. But it wasn't just that, I…" He took a deep breath. "It was…funny to write those reviews. Sometimes it just feels good to be…so lowbrow and coarse and nasty." He admitted. "It was like I tapped into some dark, twisted part of me that'd I'd been ignoring for so long, and when I finally got a chance to let it run wild, it felt amazing!"

He rose up a little and went on. "I have the weight of the world on my shoulders. I need ways to unwind myself. I didn't really think I was actually doing any harm. Or maybe…I didn't want to believe it, because I didn't really mean all the things I said, so how could it be anything that bad?" He murmured as Dib took off his glasses, Gaz taking in a short, sharp breath.

Dib never…ever did that. Him doing that meant he must have been really furious.

"…I don't think I want to talk to you for a while, Dad." He quietly muttered.

"…I thought as much." His father sighed as they sat across from one another in silence at the breakfast table, and Gaz quietly sipped on her orange juice.

Come the next day, it was a school day again, and Dib was making his way down the hallway before he overheard a rather familiar accusation.

"I'm telling you, he's writing about your fic in his fic. He's trashing your fic and making fun of it and you as a writer. He's a troll but pretends he isn't and just blames it on another troll when he keeps trolling."

Dib turned around, seeing Zita talking to the Letter M and he frowned a bit as he stared at the girl and the African American boy she was talking to.

"You know, you're just plain wrong." He said aloud, as other kids began to look at him. "It was my dad all this time. Not me. And I don't really care if you don't believe me. I've said my piece. You don't like it, tough." He told her, walking off.

"You think that'll convince us?"

"No. But maybe there's no point in casting pearls before swine." Dib said with a shrug as he walked off. "And people like you who just plug their ears and won't listen to any counterarguments are real pigs indeed." He remarked as he walked off, Gaz walking alongside him.

"Pearls before swine, huh? Nice Bible quote." She remarked. "But I wouldn't be too worried. Tak was right. Just wait a month or so, folks will forget."

"Oh, I don't doubt it. I thought about sneaking Ex-Lax to Zim but…I'm not going to lower myself to that." Dib insisted. "Even if it would be really funny."

"Well, I've got something that'll cheer you up." Gaz offered. "I copied the videos Johnny the Homicidal Maniac did for the dark web and I sent it to the police and now he's in jail! So we're gonna need a new janitor."

Dib stopped in the hall. "…wait, is this because of how good I am at plumbing now? Look, there's no way I can be the new janitor. I'll be a laughingstock! Dib, the janitor!"

"Yeah…but you will get keys to every single room in the school." Gaz added. "And paid twice what those neighbors pay you."

Dib chewed his lip. "…well…when you put it like that…I mean, it would be nice to be able to literally go anywhere I want in the school at any time…and I could use the dough…"

"You could rig the toileeeeets so that they always act uuuuuup whenever Zim goes to use iiiiiit." Gaz added in a faint, singsong voice.

"…I KNEW there was a reason I respected you." Dib said with a big grin.

[ckret2]

How would Nido react to newly hatched rodans? Would he be a sort of older brother type figure? How would Ghidorah react to Nido suddenly teaching glassblowing lessons?

I’ve put thought into this! Uncomfortable thought!!! Due to the fact that Nido and his species are in a really awkward position! So let’s cover that elephant in the room first so we can move past it and on to the cute parts.

First off, we know that like, Nido is currently the only living Rodan, right? There are eggs waiting to hatch, but none have hatched yet. Which means, if he’s got any interest in ever reproducing—and there’s a chance the future survival of his species may depend on that, considering that the gene pool is small and who knows how many of the waiting eggs will actually hatch—then, due to the lack of any alternatives whatsoever, he’s gonna have to reproduce with someone who hasn’t been born yet.

That’s more than a little bit uncomfortable! That’s like! Hella uncomfortable.

So if he hears that new Rodans have hatched, he’s going to be absolutely thrilled to bits, like completely ecstatic, over the moon—and then he’s going to ask whoever told him this news if the flapling’s a boy or girl.

If it’s a girl, he’s steering the hell away from that volcano. He’s not making friends with a baby that someday he might be required to save the species with. Once she’s grown and starts exploring the world, if she comes to his territory, they’ll be introduced then—and she’s taking the lead on what kind of interaction that’s going to be. But he’s not going to be her mentor as a kid and he’s not going to visit her first.

(Rodans are self-sufficient from the moment they hatch, so she won’t be like, totally defenseless if she’s fending for herself. She lives in a volcano. She’s fine.)

“There’s only one Rodan alive right now” (or “there’s only two or three alive but they’re not reproductively compatible” or “there’s only one of breeding age and the rest are too old���) is a common enough threat in their species’s history that “if this happens, avoid hatchlings of the opposite sex until they’re grown up” is hard-coded in their Instincts™.

Did you know that a species automatically qualifies as Critically Endangered if there are less than fifty mature individuals in the wild? Like, imagine Earth supporting fifty Godzillas at once. Can the ecosystem take fifty Godzillas? And there’s never more than one Mothra at once. The MUTO life cycle involves massive swarms of MUTOs whittling themselves down to a single individual that’s responsible for spawning the entire next generation of MUTOs. All titan species are critically endangered at all times. They just… live in a constant state of critically endangered.

So anyway.

If it’s unavoidable that Nido and a baby girl Rodan have gotta get to know each other while she’s still a juvenile—maybe she’s constantly being hunted by sea serpents, maybe her volcano explodes and she comes to him for help, whatever—then Rodan will be thrilled and eager to take her under his wing. But they’re siblings now. She’s his sister from now on. Sibs.

If the flapling’s a boy, then Rodan is immediately zooming straight to the volcano, no detours, no scenic routes, he will dart straight across the deepest depths of the Pacific if he has to, and he’s gonna land on that island and go “HI MY NAME IS NIDO I LIVE AT NIDO I’M SO HAPPY YOU’RE ALIVE!” (Girl Rodans get the same greeting. They just get it like five centuries later, which means he’s had five more centuries to build up his excitement.)

If there are multiple hatchlings within a short period of time, then the pressure’s off Nido and he can relax. He’s no longer responsible for saving his species. He’s just gotta defend the hell out of these kids until they grow up and get to it themselves. They are all his siblings now.

Family relationships between Rodans—whether siblings or parent/offspring or random adult/random child—are usually super loose. Since hatchlings are self-sufficient, they don’t have parents or older siblings taking care of them and raising them. Rather, the people that children are closest to aren’t based on blood relation, but on neighborhoods. They’re closest to whomever they live nearest. Sometimes that does happen to be blood family; but sometimes an egg was dropped in a volcano between two total strangers’ volcanoes.

Neighbors usually view nearby flaplings as “also neighbors, but ones who are clueless and weak, so check up on them once in a while to make sure they’re doing okay.” Like if An Adult is living in an apartment next door to an elder with dementia or a clueless 18-year-old who was forced to move out alone and get a job with no support system, The Adult might check in on them every once in a while to make sure they’re healthy and fed and haven’t, like, accidentally clogged their toilet with no idea how to unclog it.

So, to some extent, Nido’s relationship with a bunch of newly-hatched Rodans would be like that—hands off, they’re taking care of themselves, he’s just checking in on them. But at the same time, oh god he’s never met another member of his own species he’s so happy someone else is alive now, he’s going to be checking up on them much more than necessary. He is an emotionally needy big brother. He’s gonna make up excuses to visit them.

“Oh, I knew there was a hurricane in the area, I wanted to come by to make sure you’re fine—”“The hurricane is the dude you live with.”“Ya.”“There’s a hurricane because he came with you to visit.”“… Yeah?”“You wouldn’t have needed to check up on me if you hadn’t decided to visit and brought him along, causing the hurricane.”“……… Okay so I came up with the excuse when we were five minutes away from your nest, but—”

Mentoring the flaplings in everything he knows is definitely among his excuses to spend time with them. Glassmaking counts.

“How would Ghidorah react to Nido suddenly teaching glassblowing lessons?”—like, Nido mentoring kids in glassmaking wouldn’t come across to Ghidorah like a “suddenly” thing. There’s a new generation that lacks skills, of course their elder’s gotta teach the kids what they don’t know. That’s obvious. That’s natural. (Dorats have more parenting instincts than Rodans do.) They’ll also probably sit in on lessons just because they wanna see what Nido’s doing, but their wing membranes aren’t as durable against heat as Nido’s Badass Lava Rock Wings, so they can’t do it themselves.

[suffering-and-happy-about-it]

Busy Earning (Pieces of the People We Love, Part 1.)

Description: Not many people had the chance to see a vault or to mean anything in the world of Pandora. Will a hardly built relationship in the loneliness of the desert would have the potential to change anything in the world of anarchy and chaos - or will the friends try to murder each other?

A/N: If you're not familiar with Borderlands, this series will most probably won't make any sense to you. But that's alright! I am thinking about releasing a small thing called Vault Hunters Vocabulary and I will try to explain the lore and everything used IN the story but not explained in there. Whaddaya say?

A/N 2: Also, I AM MAKING NEW-U STATIONS LEGAL AND YOU CAN'T STOP ME. So I guess this is an AU? ALSO: the Bandits, Psychos, and Fanatics will speak only in the ancient language of Vine!

Warnings: A lot of guns, violence, reader is a tough badass - not a vault hunter tho. They're badass and don't give a fuck. And Scooter is a dumb bitch, as always.

Word count: 4.5 K

Tagging: @notaliteraltoad​

Series master list:  H E R E

It was one of those days when you took a deep breath and it almost burns your whole mucous membrane. Most of the days were like that in this particular part of Pandora, yet some of these days were too much. The desert around you was dry, the rocks were so hot that you'd burn your whole palm if you'd touch it. No plants or water source insight; it was just you, the asphalt road, the heatwave, and the complete silence.

If you wouldn't be aware of sweating like a living fuck and of the fact that your trousers were pretty bloody then, you'd most likely have the suspicion that you most likely just pissed yourself. On the other hand, you also knew that you had to be dressed from your head to your toes - if you wouldn't have every inch of your body covered, the sun would burn your skin down in a matter of minutes; that was how strong the sunlight was. It wasn't the most practical choice to cross the desert in a long coat, long boots, and a huge cowboy hat; it was, in fact, very much impractical, but you really didn't have much of a choice. That big, cowboy-ish hat became your personal trade over time - you were easily recognizable. If someone would've asked you to describe your personality, the hat itself would be one of your personality traits. Ever since you started wearing it, almost everyone was calling you the Cowboy, even if you were pretty sure that you're a woman. Why would you or any of the people you've been living in this hellhole with being obeying any of society's rules if you were leaving at the edge of civilization itself? Something like grammar and other constructs didn't have any value in the world you knew and were living in.

Back to you. You were pissed at the moment; very pissed. For some random reason, the Catch-A-Ride station near your house was off for the last three weeks and anyone cared enough to repair it. You were hunting Skags for a living and believe it or not, having the chance to get a functioning car was making your job very much enjoyable. But because anything could work on Pandora, you had to hunt down two Skags and drag them to the man living in the nearest town, where you had your contract signed.

Every single morning, you had to get up super-early to track some pack down, hunt at least two of these animals, and then drag the dead bodies through the entirety of the desert. That was the pain in your ass. To drag two damn heavy animals in that goddamn weather. Not that you had a chance refuse to hunt for that day - the meat was rotting quickly in this part of the planet and also, Pintley had quite a lot of customers he had to feed - you being one of the said customers. Also, funny enough, there wasn't that much meat on Skags. It was a doubtful business, to say the least.

A sudden, quiet mechanical noise threw you out of the train of your thoughts. It was easy to tell what was the problem since you could feel your right shoulder tensing up. - "Please no, please no." - You mumbled as you felt your right arm getting stuck and letting the bag go. A hiss left your lips as you felt the metal limb giving you a slight electric shock, sending it down your body. You sighed and sat down on one of the dead Skag's body, carefully taking the coat off just enough to reach the small panel, so you wouldn't tear the arm of your body. It took you almost half an hour of sitting there with a small wrench in your hand as you re-organized the small cabled inside as the metal whole arm was made of got hotter and hotter. Just a small moment longer and you'd burn your damn fingers.

In the end, you somehow managed to connect all the cables on the upper arm and attached the small piece of metal back on its spot again, rolling the coat back on your shoulder so it would cool down a bit. You were good to go again, so you took the bags your Skags were put in and walked forward again, dragging the corpses on the road behind you. At least, the buildings of that God abandoned city could be seen in the distance.

Hell's Cauldron. That was the name the locals gave it. The barely-a-town was raided by the bandits so often that they became more of your neighbors and maybe even friends over time. You knew a mentally unstable bandit named Bernie, who sometimes gave you a drive home - a ride from a Psycho was never a good one, but do as they say and don't look on the teeth of a horse that was given to you. You also became friends with Blind Billy, who was a better driver than Bernie and his one-man crew. This psycho was the man who always tried to buy your Skags. But you were persistent against selling them for Eridium.

Just as you thought of your favorite boys, the roar of their car could be heard in the distance as the machine got closer and closer. You smiled when you heard the sounds of their cars; they were very specific sounds breaking the utter silence around. The cars themselves were... Something. It wasn't a model rentable in Catch-A-Ride stations, so their cars were working just right at the moment. Also, this meant that you wouldn't have to the last few miles on foot, which would be simply great.

"Y/N!" - It was Billy's voice that could behear through speakers placed on the back of their car. In the next moment, the machine stopped next to you. You gave him a smirk and a nod through one of the windows. - "Ya still huntin' down those bunnies, ha? Come in, Cowboy girl, we'll give you a ride, whatcha say?" - The man opened up the door and invited you in. You gladly accepted and gave him the first bag containing a dead animal so he'd help you with dragging it inside the back of the car. Blindy threw it on the ground next to two benches before giving you a hand to drag you in as well.

"I guess I do, yeah. You know, Blindy, everybody needs a way to survive. You rob and kill, and I hunt. Everyone's doing great." - With a sigh, you sat on one of the only clean spots on the bench, getting a hold of it as you felt the engine shaking with the entire car.

"TO HELL'S CAULDRON YOU FUCKING DEADBRAIN!" - Billy yelled into the microphone so it could be heard at least miles from you. The car started so abruptly that it almost knocked you to the ground. - "Ya still don't wanna gimme one of those delicious creatures? I'm sick of eating bugs and sometimes people, when necessary, of course." - Billy asked and dragged his hand along one of the Skag's body. You were disgusted to say at least, but you also were careful enough not to display it in your expression. In the end, there was nothing to wonder about - these men were classified psychopaths.

"We've talked about this more than once, Blindy. Pay me the cash and I will give you one. If you don't want to pay for the work... Well..." - You laughed and touched the Jacobs shotgun attached to your back, sending him a clear message. - "Let's say that we've talked about this, shall we?" - "Oh, yea, Cowboy! Do ya get good money from it? I told ya I can pay ya in Eridium." - The psycho smiled and leaned in closer to you. You leaned to him as well, putting your metal palm on his mask.

"Eridium is worth only if I am a siren or if I have someone who deals Eridium to someone else. So... Do I, a), look like an Eridium dealer or do I, b), look like a siren to you?" - Your metal wrist patted the mask, and right after, you leaned away. Billy chuckled at what you've said. Eridium was an extremely valuable material - for some sort of people. If you weren't that sort of person, Eridium were just violet glowy stones in your eyes. Why would you even need that shit in this hole? The most ridiculous thing in this matter was the fact that psychos of Ham's Creek had a ton of Eridium on them; piles, probably. Hyperion jerks excavated many shafts in the proximity of your homes before they left; and while Hyperion guys were gone, the Eridium was still there and ready to get mined. You've heard that the guys from Ham's Creek, the bandit colony, were trading the stones to doubtful people for less than half of its value... But who were you to judge them? You were all doubtful people, you were all doing shady things. Any of you could be considered innocent.

"You may not be a siren, but you're ma muse in everythin' I do, Cowboy." - Blindy chuckled as the car stopped right in front of Hell's Cauldron's pub. There were seven more buildings in the city if you counted the toilette cab...  The least pleasurable place in the proximity of fifty miles radius. - "Don't ever dare to repeat that, dear God. If you do, Imma shoot your ass off, okay?" - Your laughter filled the air as you watched Blindy and Rayray dragging Skags into the local.

"I SMELL LIKE BEEF!" - Rayray yelled and threw the Skag body next to the bar. It was a greeting, a very polite one if you might add. Rayray was still learning how to grasp the rules of being police and sometimes, he really hit the ballpark. With a small smile, you entered the pub as well and nodded at Pintley, the local pub keeper, who shrugged his shoulders. - "You've been making the boys busy again, Cowboy?" - Pintley, an old man with white hair and a missing eye, asked kindly and controlled the Skag. One day, Billy's crew accidentally took out a bag with a dead human body instead of the Skag one and when Pintley wanted to cook his famous Skag goulash, he almost threw up. This time, it was really the dead animal.

"Oh, yea. And I would get the bags to the freezer as soon as possible, it is probably already grilled at this point." - With a grunt, you finally took off the coat as you leaned into and took your enormous hat off to look at Pinty. The man was still looking at the animals, trying to set an amount of cash to pay for this catch. - "That's fifty dollars for each one of them... Maybe even sixty, they're huge. Good call today, Cowboy." - He hummed in the end, opening the cash register and handled you the money. It was not much... But it was something at least.

"Something must be happening out there again, huh?" - It was a quiet, suggestive mumble as you looked at the banknotes in your palm. Pintley asked a silent "What?" because he hadn't heard about anything going on. - "I mean... Marcus Munitions charges for bullets are off the charts since Jack had... You know." - You peeked behind the bar, pointing at a slice of bread. Without you having to pay for it, Pintley gave it to you to chew on it.

To your surprise, Blind Billy nodded at you as he too leaned into the countertop. Even the bandits of Ham Creek could see that something's going on when they were buying their bullets for another raid - it cost almost two hundred dollars more. All of the things you've mentioned happened over five years ago, maybe even more. Handsome Jack, the CEO of Hyperion, was allegedly murdered by Lilith and the Crimson Raiders of Sanctuary. Since then, Hyperion Corporation was filled with social climbers who tried to become the new CEO - but before everything ended, Elpis' lunar station Helios was blown up, meaning that the days of Hyperion ruling over Pandora were over. Not that any of you would particularly care about any of that.

After that, there were some rumors about a new vault key found and about the existence of many new vaults all around Pandora and its sister planets. And as you heard, it was usually a joke, the vault key ended up in a desert where two jackasses found it. That, in fact, led to the creation of a pain in the ass known as 'The Calypso twins' and their cult; the Children of the Vault. Now, allegedly, Crimson Raiders and their leader Lilith had left Pandora and created Sanctuary 3, a spaceship flying on the orbit of Pandora.

Honestly, as far as you cared, all of this could be just a bunch of made-up stories. How the hell were you supposed to know what happened in space or on the other side of the planet? Who were you supposed to be? A fortune-teller? A telepath to know all of these things for certain? There was one sort of people on Pandora about which everyone seemed to forget - normal people. Normal people like you. Yes, people who only tried to live their lives and who owned only one gun existed. People who pursued normal jobs, calm life without all of the vault hunting business.

You've personally never seen the infamous Handsome Jack (only his posters and billboards) or the alleged vault hunters scattering through Pandora, searching for new things to kill and new loot to find. You never have seen Lilith, Roland, or any of the Crimson Raiders with your eyes, nor you've visited Sanctuary, Haven, New Haven, or Helios - and you surely had not visited the Concordia spaceship. You never saw any of those rumors for yourself, thus, you didn't know what was real or fake.

"Look at it like this, Pintley... The Catch-A-Ride stations aren't working in this part of Pandora for God knows how long and now, Marcus is charging up for rounds again? The last time he did that when the last bunch of the vault hunters came to Pandora? I tell you, something's going on." - Now, you rose your eyebrows and stopped everything you were doing. A loud bang blasted through the Hell's Cauldron. There was silence for a moment, but then a loud song started to play. With a long sigh, each of you stood up and grabbed their gun to get ready for a fight. The Children of the Vault decided to pay you a late-afternoon visit.

This, unfortunately, meant a shootout in the middle of the sun-parched square of the Hell's Cauldron just for the laughs. Those guys were just fine most of the time, but on some days, they came to the town and all they wanted to do was fight with guns blazing. By now, you all knew the drill - a short shootout while letting them spawn back in their base and then, you could continue with your daily program.

No matter what you told those jackasses, no matter what you did, no matter anything - they just drove into the sun-parched square and started to shoot. They were idiots without a single functioning brain between them, to say at least. To your good luck, Blindy and Rayray were on your side. These two were pretty reasonable bandits. Billy was also unusually smart for living with psychos, midgets, and more for as long as he did, yet he still kept his brain working.

The shooting which happened in Hell's Cauldron that day was louder than usual. Maybe it was just the way you've been laughing or the COV's new summer playlist, but this one was unusually loud. People were throwing grenades just as they were yelling some nasty words at each other. Some of them dropped dead in a matter of seconds because they were just standing in plain open. A car blew up accidentally, the trunk almost hitting you in your face and the face. When everything was done, there was only you, Rayray, and Pintley standing in the settling dust. You and Pintley were usually a great team - since he had a slag sniper rifle and you had an orange tier Jacobs shotgun, you were good to go any time. The rest of the COVs slowly disappeared - they started spawning at the New-U stations back in their small cultist town fifty miles away from Hell's Cauldron.

But something wasn't right. Blindy was still laying on the ground, bleeding out with a blank stare. His body wasn't moving and there were even small droplets of blood as he coughed before he passed away. This wasn't supposed to happen. As you approached the body, you've been growing through how did you get into the town in the first place. You've driven in our of the eastern exist, which meant you've driven around a checkpoint. That led you to a conclusion that the Hyperion Checkpoint Station, those were all over Pandora, must've written his biometrical data down. Blindy was somewhere inside the database, hidden in the code; but New-U station wasn't, for a reason, reconstructing his physical body.

"What's going on? Why isn't he respawning, Pintley? Don't you tell me that he wasn't registered by the Checkpoint." - Without giving a single fuck about the blood and dust, you kneeled and took off Blindy's mask to look into his scarred, lifeless fave. He wasn't the most handsome lad you've seen, but he had a good heart and that was all you cared about. - "Billy, man, don't you play games with me now. Get the fuck up, man. Come on." - You begged silently. You couldn't lose him because of a routine shootout. You've survived hundreds of these - he was a good bandit, a good friend, and a significantly good gunman.

"I think the New-U is cut out of the electric network, Cowboy." - Pintley yelled at you, while Rayray was opening the database in the Checkpoint station next to the pub. - "We might as well put it back to use. Stop with the nonsense and get to work, come on!"

The New-U stations and Checkpoints were a special thing that Pandora needed to have any population surviving on it. It all started way back when Atlas, Dahl, Hyperion, and many more were supporting the golden era of vault hunting; those hunters got their own Echo devices to stay in touch all the time and in case they'd accidentally die or dismember, the New-U stations were meant to render a new body for them. As soon as you arrived or was born in this sector of the universe, the corporation implanted a chip to the nape of your neck; you wouldn't respawn only in the case someone would be using jammer or took the chip out of your body. There was a whole lot of things that could get you killed - psycho in a bad mood, hungry Skag, angry friend, bad food, accidental fall into a volcano... You could choose, really. Sometimes, it could take a while to respawn, it also cost you some money, and before the transaction was sent... It could be a whole lot at times.

Since there were no laws and anarchy and chaos ruled the planet hand by hand, this system came in handy at all times. The Checkpoint stations were the smaller ones, saving up your data like DNA and memories to have all of your personal information in the systems in case anything happened to you. New-U was able to resurrect a person after paying said charge - they constructed your body from the DNA and cells of your dead body, implanted the memories back into your brain, and even construed the clothes you had on. It was truly a miracle of modern age science - but also a necessity for Pandora and its moon Elpis.

Rayray nodded when he read Billy's name in the database. He was there; he was there, safe and sound. You only had to make the New-U work. Without giving any fuck, you just threw the dead and useless body on the ground, walking to the machine, next to Pintley, to look at the cables leading out of the back of the machine to the charger on the wall.

Luckily, you were quite handy with this sort of stuff. Really, you had to restore the electricity circuits inside your metallic arm; handily, you opened up the machine and started to work on it, searching for the problem. Pintley was kneeling next to you, so you were only telling him what you needed - like a wrench or a hammer - and he fetched it to you. New-U was mostly unused in Hell's Cauldron, so it was really no wonder that it wasn't working; it was out of order for quite some time now. If Blindy wouldn't have died, you wouldn't even notice the malfunctioning machine.

It probably was out of order for the last five years - since the last time Bandits provoked a gunfight was... You couldn't even remember. Maybe, Pintley himself pulled the cables out; you wouldn't let the electricity bill getting bigger if you hadn't need for letting the New-U running, right? The Calypso fanatics couldn't be considered a threat at all. Each of them was dumb and couldn't shoot for shit, so the only ones getting killed were them. Even more so, they usually started to talk about some of their damn fanatic nonsense in the middle of the fight. In the beginning, you listened to those jackshit rambles; then you just murdered them without blinking. It wasn't that easy. Rayray looked at you from the database's screen. Bandits, believe it or not, were sometimes pretty smart. Yes, they had their bright moments. The only thing they couldn't do was to speak like a normal human being.

"THAT HURTS LIKE A BUTTCHEEK ON A STICK!" - Rayray yelled at you and you furrowed - it was too late to stop the respawning process since the machine started barking loudly in front of you as it came back to life. What did he say? Someone else was written down in the system except the normies of Hell's Cauldron? You looked over to the bandit boy, but it was too late to pull the cable; the New-U already started to build a human being. And that person definitely wasn't Billy. You made Pintley step back since he hadn't any gun on him and took out your Jacobs shotgun again, pointing at the stranger. The man, it definitely was a man, was looking at his hands in wonder, opening his palms, closing them right after, playing with his fingers. He slowly pulled an Oz kid used in the vacuum off the back of his head, so he could take some normal, hot breath into his lungs. The breather was old as hell, probably six to seven years to your estimations (given it was an ultra-old Vladof Oz it). Who was that man, you didn't know at all; you just assumed he must've been dead for quite some time.

The Hyperion nice-ass lady was telling him something, but she couldn't quite finish her speech - Billy started rendering right next to the man. You exhaled and thanked God for Billy, but you didn't let the mysterious man go out of your sight - you didn't know who he was, what his intentions were, or if he was a bad guy or not. The only thing you could clearly tell was that the man was super-happy to be alive. "I'm alive! I'm alive! Would ya believe it, man, I'm alive, breathin' and stuff and I'm feelin' just fine!" - The stranger exclaimed and looked over to you. - "Wait... Wait. Man, man, ya not Lilith or Moxxi or one of their vault hunters. Who are ya?" - He tried to come closer to you, for some reason, so you only rose the barrel of the shotgun and watched the small laser light hovering on his forehead.

"Ya not any friendly folks, ha?" - The man asked and laughed your barrel off as if he barely noticed the danger he was in. There was... Something about him. You felt like you knew him from somewhere. That face was basically burned deep into your brain and it was so detailed, that it was freaking you out like shit. Those eyes, sharp lips... But his name was a remaining mystery to you; not for too long, unfortunately. - "Hey, name's Scooter. Ya know me. Most of the folks on Pandora do." - With that, he offered you a palm to shake, and because of that, you took the barrel of your shotgun down from his forehead. Scooter. Scooter. That face, that name... Jesus that man was reminding you of someone and you couldn't just remember who. Eyeing down his clothes covered in old, dry oil (which was clearly powering engines, or some other machinery), you straightened and watched Pintley approach Scooterboy. You exhaled slowly and put the shotgun on your back, shoving it back into the covering.

"Name's Pintley, young man. Come here, I'll give you a cold Dr. Bob and some food." - Pintley patted his shoulder and you carefully watched Scooterboy with a frown. You were inclined to believe him just after he looked like isn't about to kill you, yet it didn't mean you'd be particularly fond of the stranger just yet.

"Scooterboy?" - Your voice was firm and cold as you looked at him. - "Don't you do something with cars? I get the vibe you do, look at your clothes." - It was a short explanation, but it did work. Scooter looked down quickly, raising his eyebrows. Blindy was now standing next to you and he didn't have a clue about what was going on.

"Catch-A-Ride!" - Scooterboy exclaimed with a big smile. Oh dear, you got your mindset straight on who he was. It was like a blast inside your brain. You knew his face from all the commercials you've seen with his face - it was a big thing when he supposedly died on his way to Helios. Ellie, his big sister and the other big mechanic of Pandora, was paying him many respects and missed him dearly. She was mourning for a long time.

"How the fuck are you alive?" - With a frown, you stormed past him and Pintley, entering the pub first. - "This is one wild evening Pintley, I tell you. Give me, Billy and Scooter some cold Dr. Bob and some bread with cheese you have there because I'm about to faint." - You sat at the nearest chair, massaging your own face.

Scooter was alive.

[aliypop]

Eye’s Without A Face

So this is a bit of a trial story between Yonah (my oc) and John Constantine based off of two Billy Idol songs, It was pretty fun to work with the concept of a Young John so with further ado enjoy! (I honestly recommend listening to both Rebel Yell and Eyes Without A Face  while reading they’re both good songs!) 

Word Count: 2,393 

Warnings: Abusive past relationship, feels trip

A/N: some parts are based on a RP with @demonologist-jconstantine​

Last night my little dancer came dancing to my door

Last night my little angel came pumping on the floor

"Drinks on me,"  Catalina said sitting next to him, John had yet again found himself at Gothams elite club the kitten's corner where the alcohol was hot, but the girls were hotter, 

"You're too kind!" one of the men at the bar said touching the young woman, she looked as though she was about 19 years old at most, but then again he wasn't that old himself he was only 25, but that wasn't the issue, he had cares he wanted to get rid of. 

"Only to the ones I adore.." Catalina said sitting in the young man's lap, it was a routine that the Owner, her girlfriend Myra trained her to do, be seductive and the money comes flowing in, She had to make them want her and know that they couldn't have her, 

She said, 'oh come on baby, I got a license for love!

And if it expires, pray help from above,

But there was one man she had her eyes on, he was a regular that much she knew, yet something was telling her to be courageous tonight. As she made her way to him, John could only see the looks of an Angel walking her way to him or at least he thought, 

"Come here often?" she asked, sitting next to the empty seat beside him, 

"Yeah.." he replied, trying to keep his eyes on his drink, 

"You're not much of a talker, are you?" she asked, looking at his features, "Has anyone ever told you, that you look a lot like Billy Idol," she suggested as he looked up at her, 

"I usually get told Sting," he smirked at her, "But thanks love,"  he said, picking up his guitar from beside him, he knew to ask her for just one night with him would give her just as much heartbreak then she could endure, "Wait.." her big brown eyes staring up at him, as she placed a hand on his thigh. "Stay.. " she asked, rubbing slow circles "For me at least,"

"Innit something love, I was gonna ask ya the same thing." 

She don't like slavery, she won't sit and beg But when I'm tired and lonely, she sees me to bed What sets you free and brought you to me, babe What sets you free, I need you here by me,

"Catalina sweetheart," Myra said walking towards her, gripping on her arm hard, 

"Yes snookiecakes?" she replied, John, snarled at the other woman before taking his guitar and walking out the club, he never liked being apart of drama besides he had his own to deal with, "What were you doing with that blond man.." she squeezed her arm harder,  "You're hurting me.." she looked behind her noticing that he was gone.

"What did I tell you about "Your ways" " she asked as her girlfriend only trembled in fear of her,

"Y- You'd kill me.." 

"Excellent love, now get your sexy ass in the back someones waiting for you." her smirk sinister.

I walked the ward, for you, babe

A thousand miles, for you

I dried your tears, of pain, babe

A million times, for you

Coming from the closed building was a dripping wet and badly bruised woman, John who hadn't let yet was smoking a cigarette as usual, under the Gotham moonlight when he saw the young woman walking towards him bloody and beaten it nearly broke him,

 "Shit .. do you need help?"

"No need to fuss over me." she turned away from him, revealing a fresh cut on her neck.

"Let me at least help you?" he offered her his hand. 

"How do I know I can trust you?" she asked glancing at him, then at his hand, "How do I know you're not like them?" she pointed towards the club, as she turned her back towards him, he noticed something on the back of her leather jacket.  

"She's a fan.," he mumbled to himself.

"What was that? " she asked him wanting an answer to her question,

"Names Constantine, John Constantine .." he said, her face in complete shock, "Yeah, the one from Mucous Membrane love." he winked at her, "And what about you? " 

"I'll tell ya when the times right." she cracked a little bit of a smile at him, "I love a girl of mystery" he smiled leading her back to his car to get her some help, 

I'd sell my soul, for you, babe

For money to burn, for you

I'd give you all, and have none, babe

Just to, have you here by me, because

"Yonah.." she mumbled, as they drove back from the hospital, her head laying on the window of his car, the city lights passing by as the radio played softly behind them a bit of 80's rock,

"Hmm?" he said, he was in his own world contemplating on maybes and what can be, 

"My names not really Catalina, it's Yonah .. Yonah Shanel Wayne.." she sighed as he blinked at her, 

"What's a rich girl like you doin around someone like me then?" he asked with a cheeky grin, "Innit unladylike for a girl like you to be-"

"I'm a rebel myself," she smirked, her hand on his chest, as she snapped her fingers lighting his cigarette with it, biting her lip the moonlight illuminating her perfectly, 

"Do you have any idea what I want to do to you right now? " 

"Depends on what's in it for me, Mr. John Constantine."  

In the midnight hour, she cried more, more, more

With a rebel yell, she cried more, more, more

I'm all out of hope

One more bad dream

Could bring a fall

"Maybe one day in my dreams, I'll find that perfect person." Yonah joked as she was sitting on the floor of their shared hotel room, 

"Well, you must be dreaming, cause I'm right here," he said, watching her strum a few chords on her guitar, it had been a few months since they met and the two couldn't be happier, or so she thought

"Hey don't think about her," he tilted her chin up,

"I see you're letting your hair grow out," she said, strumming the guitar again looking away from him, "You're changing the topic love, " he teased, trying to get her to pry open, but nothing would work she was always dedicated to writing new music and performing alongside the band, and John knew it, but he didn't want to lose her to his hectic world. 

When I'm far from home

Don't call me on the phone

To tell me you're alone

It's easy to deceive

It's easy to tease

"Go on tell me you don't love me,"  Emma said to him "John..." she said, as he hesitated, 

"I.. wish I could say-" and with that he watched her leave out of his life,

John had his secrets that he didn't want to talk about, one that he thought he hid very well, but apparently not enough,  

"Yeah, I've been thinking about cutting it,"  he said standing up as she still kept going with the blasted pink guitar, "Look when you're ready love, talk to me.." he said as she said absolutely nothing to him, 

(Les Yeux sans visage)

Eyes without a face

Got no human grace

You're eyes without a face

"John," she said, hours had passed, and it was dark out. She couldn't find him anywhere, and then it hit her, he'd be exactly where he always was on a Saturday night. Somewhere at a bar, putting on her leather jacket and heading outside she saw something that she wished she hadn't, lips locked together, hands wrapped around another woman's waist was John Constatine, 

"Well, I guess I should go .." he pulled away from the other woman as he turned his head to see Yonah running off crying, "Shit.," he mumbled to himself knowing he had a lot of explaining to do,

I spend so much time

Believing all the lies

To keep the dream alive

Now it makes me sad

It makes me mad at truth

For loving what was you

"Yonah what are you doing?" he sighed, watching her pack, 

"Maybe we're just meant to be alone.." she turned away from him, "I thought I could trust you... I thought I could love you .." as he walked towards, her she only began to back away, "let me explain!" he asked,

"I gave you, your chance and you stabbed me in the back with it!" she growled using her fire powers  as he blocked it, catching her off guard, "How did you ..." she looked up at him, a bit confused but intrigued, 

"It's a long story .."

" Well, I would have listened if you didn't," she was stopped by the taste of cheap booze and cigarettes, her words caught in her throat as her eyes closed shut, feeling the heat between the two rise, John lead her over to what felt like a bed behind her, her head landing on a pillow, "John.," she whispered still a little mad at him.

"Yonah you have no idea how much I need you, in every shape of the word, emotionally, physically .." he smiled seeing her crack a smile too, " and at this exact moment, sexually," he whispered in her ear, 

"Are you trying to seduce me?" she asked, "Cause it's working.." Yonah smirked kissing him hard,

When you hear the music, you make a dip

Into someone else's pocket then make a slip

Steal a car and go to Las Vegas

Oh, the gigolo pool

Hanging out by the state line

Turning holy water into wine

Drinking it down, oh

I'm on a bus on a psychedelic trip

Reading murder books, trying to stay hip

I'm thinking of you and you're out there, so

Say your prayers

"Pull over let me drive magic man," Yonah laughed sitting in the passenger seat of the possibly not stolen car, It had been a year now that they'd been together, they were partners in occult crime and becoming lovers at the next, "I'm sure I'll last a couple hours," he began nodding off, "Are you sure about that?" she asked, "You were nearly beaten by a bloody demon!" she said as he pulled over to a gas station, letting her take over,

Pulling over in a motel for the night, Yonah couldn't help but worry about John, feeling beside her, she noticed that he wasn't there, looking outside the window, he was sat outside playing the guitar.

"It's three in the morning, what's on your mind?" she asked, taking him by the hand, 

"The fact I love you.." he mumbled, "Just never mind don't matter what I say really," he sighed turning away from her, 

"You're thinking about her aren't you?" she asked,

"Why don't you get some rest.." he  kept strumming away, 

"Maybe a trip to that one vegas pub could help?" she smirked.

"Well, would you look at that, it's John Constantine been awhile mate... " Chas said, as he then looked over at Yonah, "Who's the girl?" he asked, 

"Yonah .." she smiled, "Nice to meet ya.." 

Now I close my eyes

And I wonder why

I don't despise

Now all I can do

Is love what was once

So alive and new

But it's gone from your eyes

I'd better realize

It was another moonlit night in Gotham, Yonah was sitting on the rooftop of Wayne Manor strumming her enchanted guitar, it was something she did when she was missing a certain demonologist, bright lights were shining from a car turning into the driveway of the said mansion. "You know there's a certain tug right ere," he said pointing towards his heart  "When ya miss someone so bloody hard," he shouted from the rooftops just so she could hear him,  "Why don't ya come down Juliet," he smirked watching her flip off the building and land on her feet,

"Impressive..." he mumbled to himself,

"What brought you to Gotham city Romeo.," she asked, noticing his new change of clothes, she was 25, and he was now 35 figuring out the whole demon business still,

"You did, I was driving an suddenly I know I'm headed towards Wayne manor," he kissed her, "It was that damned Guitar of yours.." she kissed him back laughing hard, the taste of a life she missed once more lingered, "You wanna maybe go out for a few drinks or something.." she groaned looking to see the Bat-signal "Good for nothing hero ! " she shook her fist at it, 

"What about our old spot on 7th street?" he suggested as she got in the car.

"You know me so well," She said looking over at him, "Treat to myself for sobriety for a year, when you left I.." she stopped talking as he held her hand "I already know what happened," 

When they arrived at the bar it reminded him of the night she first walked into his life, Gotham cold air blowing, and gothic buildings everywhere, Yonah placed her hand on top of his, "It feels like it's been ages, you and me alone. everything just has gone wrong since I made my return and when it hasn't it's been press conferences and the damn spotlight in my face everywhere I go!" she slammed her fist 

"I missed the taste of you on my tongue, the way you feel so smooth and hard an-" she  then stopped talking, 

"You really do miss my lovin." knowing that she meant the whiskey rather than him, "Well, get your ass out the spotlight then," 

"I can't, it's in my name, the way I walk and talk." she sighed, " I was born into it, to be wild and free the daughter of a playboy millionaire.."   

"Runaway with me then, Hellblazer.." he winked looking back at the door "We could go to Florida, fall in love, "

"We can't John, I'm not a rebel like you." she sighed, seeing Alfred outside the pub window,

"I thought .." 

"I'm sorry... I can't.." 

You're eyes without a face

Such a human waste

You're eyes without a face

"Love you.." John sighed,

And now it's getting worse

[twitchesandstitches]

Karkat’s New Life

Commission of an AU where Terezi is the heiress and gobbles up the wicked, and is romance-y with Karkat!

-----

The tale of the epic romance of the second coming of the Sufferer and the empress to overthrow the draconic tyrant who had doomed Alternia, was embellished in the tales.

Great loves, and stern rulership, began like this: ‘oh hey, something shiny!’

And so it began.

----

Karkat Vantas had been stoically quiet and doing his best not to panic throughout the entire trip from his hive, and internally he was freaking out.

Years, he had been waiting for this. Grimly expecting that sooner or later, the hemospectrum would come down on him, and that would be that. Even the whole time he had been on a wagon and then the submarine taking him to the bottom of the sea, he had bundled himself up in his sweater, daring the two guards to say something, or taunt him.

Let him show a bit of pre-culling spite; let him die with that, at least.

But they hadn’t said a word to him; not the huge and burly blueblood with a broken horn, not the absolutely massive and curvy purpleblood with horns like wavy step ladders. They didn’t seem particularly threatening. No taunts, no vicious little cuts where it wouldn’t show, just politely escorted him into a massive undersea palace that had apparently been built into the biggest dragon skull he’d ever seen.

‘Would you please come with us?’ they had been so polite when they had come to his door. That was not how a culling went; no drones, no mayhem, just a very polite, if quiet trip.

Karkat looked around, trying not to annoy the two giant guards beside him. He fidgeted and restained the urge to flee, fearing that this would mean instant death. He glanced aside at his lusus, and saw him still lounging in the submarine, clicking contentedly.

“Useless little grump flick,” Karkat grumbled.

“Keep goin’, little one,” the purpleblood rumbled, with just a hint of chucklevoodoos there. It was difficult to see her face past those humongous rumblespheres, but she wasn’t painted like a mirthful cultist; she wore red paint, emphasizing her eyes so that she looked a bit like a dragon.

Red, Karkat noticed, was something of a theme in this palace. It sprang up in unexpected color palettes, typically around whorls carved into bony pillars that…

That…

Looked just like his own sign. He paled. Where they going to kill him and use his blood to paint up the place?

Come to think of it. Deep beneath the sea? A dragon’s skull? And that symbol, that many whispered the mad heiress was so enamored of?

Oh no. He was in the lair of the Heretic Heiress.

They brought him into a huge, resplendent chamber that was mostly filled with random beds, small piles of what looked like obscure tabletop RPG handbooks to him, mountains of dice, and a beanbag chair. Sitting upon it was a sea dweller, and recognizing her, Karkat’s stomach did a funny twist. “Your Draconic Benevolence,” said the blueblood gravely. “Your guest is here.”

The beanbag turned around with some effort. Facing them now was a startlingly short troll girl, perhaps half a sweep older than Karkat but not much more. Her angled horns were the longest he’d ever seen, the facial fins of her caste sticking out like quills, and her wide mouth was a massive of grotesque fangs. Short as she was, though, she was thick; a sports bra in royal colors stood out against rumblespheres bigger than Karkat’s head, her waist was broad and her plump belly ripened by many rich meals, and from the sheer wideness of her hips, her backside was clearly massive. That all she wore was a sports bra, a swimsuit bottom and a skirt tied over her wide hips was a royal affectation.

Terezi Peixes. The heretic heiress conquering Alternia, and presumptive conqueror of the empire if she lived long enough. The most terrifying troll in existence.

She stood up and moved over to him, not so much walking as using a mobile swagger. “Maenad, Zahhak! You can go. I think we’ll do fine.” She grinned widely, putting a webbed hand on his shoulder and playfully pushing him into the bean bag. The guards left, to do guard-y things.

She sat down next to him, inexplicably smug. Her hip brushed against his body and he instinctively blushed.

She turned, facing him, and her claws patted his arm in a friendly way. He looked into her eyes, and realized two things. She couldn’t have been an inch taller than him, and he was short; fuchsia girls took a long time to hit the leviathan size of the empress, it seemed. And two, her eyes with red. The membrane that should have protected her eyes had sealed over them, clouded by some terrible injury. She was blind.

“Name’s Terezi,” she said nonchalantly. “And you, my loyal subject-” she chuckled. “Smell cute.”

He gaped.

“Also, you are Karkat Vantas.”

He wouldn’t be him without a contrarian impulse. “You can’t prove that!”

She tugged at a tag in his sweater. “It’s got Karkat on this tag here.”

“Lies and vaudeville! It’s a gremlin, hiding false names on innocent clothing to lure me to a culling.”

The Heiress laughed at that. “A culling!? You think this is a culling? Oh man, what did those meatheads tell you this was ,huh?”

“They… didn’t say much?”

“Guppy, I outlawed culling when I took over!”

“...Huh?”

She grinned and patted her belly mysteriously. “Anyone who tried to keep up those bad old ways, uh, got what was coming to ‘em.” She leaned in. “I just wanna talk.”

She reached into her very ample cleavage and pulled out a little pendant, and she showed it to him. Dangling from it, carved of fine coral, was the sign of the Shackles. His own sign, a perfect mirror to the one on his shirt.

Her claws touched hiss shirt, his chest. She was so cold, that it was electrifying, and she was so close to him…

She pulled back, and smelled embarrassed. “Your blood is something of an interest of mine.” She grinned. “Wanted to have a chat with someone who knew how bad things can really get up there. An expert opinion.”

Karkat glanced again at her pendant. Don’t stare at her cleavage, DON’T. “That’s all?”

“Yeah. But maybe, you know. If you wanted to know about what that blood means…?” she left the unspoken invitation dangle. “And I’ll keep you hidden from the empress’ goons. The ones still loyal.” She held a hand out. “I swear.”

Uncertainly, wondering why she bothered asking, he shook her hand. “Okay.”

She sniffed him. “Been a long time,” she said carefully. “Since I had anyone in here full time except me.” Her hand lingered on him, not quite squeezing, but close…

A voice coughed. Both of them jumped.

Standing in the back was a… a… Karkat didn’t know what it was. An alien? Smaller than a troll, dark skinned but just as curvy, with features like a woofbeast that felt oddly out of place on the hominid frame. She bowed, her body crackled with green flame and cybernetic implants. A similar alien, much smaller and with odd avian traits, waved mildly. “Sup, ya empress. Me and Jade rounded up that guy who was trying to sell out your guest here to the loyalists.”

“Thanks, Dave, Jade,” the Heiress said. She aimed her face with odd intensity at the chained troll between them; a massive purpleblood, his face streaked in paint. How had two aliens managed to contain THAT?

The two aliens left. Karkat cleared his throat, and the Heiress interrupted. “Couple of friends I met when I was doing some space travels a while back. Nice planet. Conquered by the empress and those guys got experimented on; hoping to free their planet once I get my war on.” She smirked. “Would just love for you to see there. It has a pleasing symmetry.”

Karkat frowned as she stood up, wondering what that meant.

Slowly the Heiress approached the prisoner, and he began to wail. “No, no no, get away from me, get away you freak!”

She tugged on his chains, forcing him head to his knees, head down so that his eyes were level with hers. “You serve a corrupt authority, and your sentence is execution. How shall you plead?”

“I am a loyal servant, you sick traitor!” he snarled. “I’ll not allow any of the Sufferer’s blood to burn the empire-”

She put a finger to his mouth. The touch was soft, but he flinched in sudden, overwhelming terror. “It deserves to burn,” the Heiress said evenly. “Understand that you will make me stronger, and with your aid, I will fix this empire, and save everyone. You will, in some way, redeem our blood.”

“No, no no!” He strained against his, roaring and trying to bust his way free as she leaned forward, her mouth wide, wider than trollishly possible-

What happened next, as she swallowed him whole in a single gulp, was too quick to accurately parse, and Karkat needed a long time to let it register. But this was the technical process.

The Heiress’ mouth opened wide, wider, impossibly wide, seemingly bigger than she was, and a massive tongue curled around the prisoner. With impossible strength that could break a ship in half with one finger, she grabbed his face and pushed his head into her mouth. Incredibly flexible and strong throat muscles gripped on him, and she swallowed.

His horns, big as they were, slipped down without a problem. His head, bigger than her torso, descended as smoothly as a marble down a cliffside, briefly visible through her skin. She slurped up his hair like noodles, tilted his head up as her gulp took in his massive shoulders, those body-breaking biceps.

Down her throat it all went, and into her belly.

His muscular torso, his strong-fat gut, his huge hips. She could have sat in his lap, he was that much bigger than her.

Her belly ballooned as she swallowed him down, several tons and nearly eighteen feet of subjugglator beef slipping down into her digestion sac. She rose up on it as his legs and feet vanished into her body, and it became clear why her belly was exposed; easy access as she flopped onto it, rising upwards and jiggling faintly.

But, to Karkat, it looked like one moment he was there; the next, the Heiress rested on a water matter of a gut, a masculine body still faintly visible in her belly.

She made a small burp. “Whoof. Hope the chucklevoodoo boost doesn’t screw with my psionics any,” she muttered to herself. There was a small noise as Karkat stood up, more baffled than afraid, and she turned to stare at his direction. “Oh. Oh shit, you weren’t supposed to see that yet! I mean…”

Karkat thought to run… and stopped.

He gulped. “Is that… painful? You need help?”

She froze up… and smiled. “Little company would be nice. I’m gonna eat the entire empire if that’s what it takes to stop it. But a little company is nice.”

He walked up and sat beside her. Her mammoth belly felt as big as a room from his old hive, and he cautiously touched it. She giggled and her belly sloshed. “Hee. Tickles.”

“Yeah. I can do that.”

She smirked at him, with a hint of something genuine and lonely there. “Call me Terezi, Mr Vantas.”

“...Hey, if there’s no formality here, call me Karkat?”

“...Nah. I’mma call you something stupid instead.”

“PLEASE DON’T.”

She stuck her tongue out.

And that, as they say, is the beginning of a beautiful romance.

They stuck more fancy sweet stuff in the epic poems, though.

[theblueskyphoenix]

Grid Ghost Chapter 6: Person of Interest

“Time?”

“At the two hour mark.”

“Good. All going smoothly.”

Kim narrowed her eyes as she focused on the visual she had of the tumor.

“Vitals?” she asked.

“Stable.” Takashi answered.

“Alright… beginning extraction.” 

Kim worked her tools with grace, cutting as gently as she could into the membrane of the tumor without causing harm to the brain matter it clung to. 

Eboni watched the process that was being displayed on a monitor through a camera that was attached to one of the tools. She grimaced a bit at some parts but still couldn’t help but watch.

“I don’t understand how you guys can stomach all this.” Eboni shudder. “Guuuh that thing looks like it's moving.”

“Well, to a degree tumors do have some life to them.” Takashi commented.

“It’s just really warped and parasitic.” Shaylin added, focusing on handing Kim the tools she needed as she went on with the process. 

“Considering how tumors are formed, that’s basically it.” Kim clipped more at the membrane. 

“Still, bravo to you guys.”

Things went quiet, everyone wanting Kim to be able to focus on her task. The only sounds that could be heard were the beeping of the monitors around them and the movement of Kim’s tools. 

After a few minutes, the moment of truth arrived.

“Forceps.”

Shaylin handed Kim the tool, immediately getting a tray ready after doing so.

Kim held her breath as she reached in, gripping tightly at a piece of the tumor.

I cut it into 3 sections. Each should be small enough to fit through the incision area and not tear at any grey matter. 

With a gentle and smooth pull, the first piece came out… then the second… and then the third.

Kim finally took a breath as the last piece came out, putting it into the tray.

“Extraction complete. Vitals?”

“Stable.” Shaylin smiled. “Good work, Kim.”

Kim nodded, smiling behind her mask, looking at Obake’s face.

We’re not done yet but… I finally did it Bob. I finally fixed you.

Kim composed herself, grabbing up her tools.

“Alright, I’ll close up my area then Shaylin and Eboni can start work on the implant.”

Eboni saluted.

“I shall prepare my tools.”

Kim nodded, getting to work.

“This… is going to be interesting.”

And I just pray things go smoothly.

oooooo 

Trina did her best to keep out of sight as she patrolled around the hospital. There weren’t too many shaded areas for her to hide in thanks to the afternoon light of the sun so she had to settle for hiding around corners, ambulances, cars or whatever else she could use for cover. At the moment, her hiding spot was on the roof. It allowed her a good view and she could easily hide behind the ventilation system fans.

So far, it had been a quiet morning and afternoon. Nothing suspicious, just the usual sites for a hospital… least, this hospital.

That one sucker really should’ve stayed out of Maria’s way. Everyone knows ya don’t mess with that hot head of a paramedic. Made for an interesting watch though… probably more than it should’ve.

Trina shrugged, turning her attention back to the hospital surroundings. 

And here comes Dr. Vaughn and Dr. Blaylock… Yeesh, he looks like he hasn’t slept in hours with Dr. Blaylock tugging him along like that. Should he even be coming in today?

And there’s Dr. Cunningham kissing his wife goodbye before heading in. Cute.

And there’s Dr. Muller trying to pry his daughter off his leg again so he can get to work. Dude, just walk in with her. She’ll let go eventually- Ah there ya go. Nicely done sir. Besides, she’s your cute little duckling. Why would you deny her that?

Thud thud thud!

Trina turned head towards the sound, chuckling at seeing what was causing it.

And here comes the big guy that is Dr. Freebird. Late as usual. Wonder what kept him?

“Hey! Watch it!”

Trina’s head snapped towards the sound. Maria had been cut off by someone who was making a beeline for the hospital front entrance. Trina narrowed her eyes at this, taking in what she could of the person.

It was a woman that had long sandy blond hair that was pulled back into a tight ponytail and piercing green eyes. They had a labcoat on and wore a black and green turtleneck with dark colored slacks.

That’s definitely not one of ours and last I checked, we weren’t hiring.

Trina quickly made her way down to the lower levels, gunning for the lobby. By the time she got there though, the woman wasn’t present. 

Where’d she go?

Trina growled in frustration, bolting off to begin a search around the hospital. She tried to be quick as she could as she checked every room she was allowed access to. 

Come out, come out wherever you are-

Trina stopped short as a shock of sandy blond hair wisped down a hallway.

There you are.

Trina followed after it quietly, keeping her footsteps slow and gentle. Sure enough, it was indeed the woman she had seen out front. Where they were currently was where some of the operating rooms were… in particular, where her father was being operated on… and the woman was making a beeline for said operating room.

Trina quietly pulled the bo staff that was clipped onto the shell armor she had on her back, narrowing her eyes.

Pass that OR and I don’t make you see stars.

Sure enough, the woman stopped at the OR, pulling out a set of goggles from her pocket, putting them on. Trina moved closer, readying her bo staff. The woman was silent as she stared at the entrance of the OR. While Trina couldn’t see her eyes, she could most certainly see the smile on her face.

“So this is where you’ve been hiding.

Trina’s eyes widen at this.

No… She… She couldn’t have figured it out that quickly… No way in heck… How could she have…?

“Oh just wait till Liv hears about this.”

Oh… HECK NO!

Trina lunged forward, bringing her bo staff around the woman’s neck, whirling her around and slamming her into a wall before pinning her with it.

“She won’t be hearing about anything!”

The woman was stunned at what had just occurred, staring at Trina in shock before it turned into a sneer.

“Oh great, the turtle girl likes to hang around here too.”

Trina tightened her grip.

“Cut the crap. Who are you and what do you want?” Trina growled.”And more importantly, what’s your connection to Liv Amara?”

The woman was taken aback by this.

“Since when does Kame take interest in her? She’s not even your problem!”

“She is now.” Kame narrowed her eyes. “Since you have your eyes on someone in there that clearly she has an interest in.”

The woman narrowed her eyes as well.

“I don’t have to tell you anything, little girl”

The woman pushed back, sending Trina into the adjacent wall. Trina grunted, trying to recover from the impact but not fast enough as the woman grabbed her by her left arm, throwing the girl over her shoulder.

Trina cried out, grabbing at her upper arm where her now popped stitches were. 

Oh… Mom is not going to let me hear the end of this.

The woman looked down at her, sneering.

“If you know what’s good for you, Turtle Girl, stay out of Liv’s business.”

Trina growled.

“Don’t plan to.”

The woman grinned at this.

“Then your bird boy friend will pay dearly.”

The woman left without another word, disappearing from sight. 

Trina got up slowly, holding her wounded arm. She wanted to chase after the woman but doing so wouldn’t be wise with her injury. 

Could lead to major blood loss if I’m careless and could lead to infection if I’m REALLY careless.

“The heck happened out here?!”

Trina looked to the operating room doors, seeing they were open and Takashi was present, a confused and slightly horrified look on his face. Trina glanced to the side, gripping tighter at her injury.

“We… had an intruder. I tried to stop her but… it didn’t end well…” Trina lowered her head. “She was looking in the operating room and it seemed she was interested in someone in there…”

Takashi’s eyes shrunk. 

“Oh no…”

“Takashi?”

Takashi looked behind to Kim and Shaylin, who both had looks of concern.

“What’s going on, Sweetie?” Shaylin asked.

Takashi sighed, lowering his head.

“We… might have a problem.”

oooooo 

It was hazy as Obake regained consciousness. Last thing he remembered was Kim telling him to relax and count backwards from 100. He didn’t make it past 95. 

There was soreness in the left side of his face, which was expected with the surgery. 

Just hope they were able to do what was needed to adjust the implant… though I guess the bigger question…

Obake focused on a thought, needing to test something.

Destroying San Fransokyo so I could be immortalized as the man who was revered by all by rebuilding the city into a place built on learning and no limits….

… What was I thinking!? That’s a terrible idea! So many people would have gotten hurt who did nothing wrong! And what was I thinking saying the tumor was good for me!? It could’ve killed me-

Obake mentally smiled at this.

I… I can actually… tell right from wrong… and it’s not a chore to do so…

I can… 

Oh, Kim you’re a genius!

Obake focused back on waking up, his senses coming back to him. He could hear voices faintly, along with the beeps and whirs of machines busy at work with monitoring him and his status. As things became clearer, who could make out someone hissing in pain.

“Moooom! A little gentler please!”

“Sorry, Tri, I’m doing what I can but you kind of made it worse than it was last time.”

“Not my fault a demon lady decided to show up at the hospital and throw me against a wall.”

WHAT!?

Obake’s eyes snapped open. It only took a moment for his vision to clear, seeing Kim hard at work with patching up an injury Trina had on her upper arm and… What was that armor she was wearing? He didn’t remember ever seeing that before.

It looks like… a turtle…?

“Uh guys?” Obake heard Takashi speak up.

“Not now, Takashi, busy.” Kim said, still focusing on her task.

“Yeah, let her continue the torture.” Trina grimaced.

“Guys, he’s awake.”

Both straightened up, looking at Obake, stunned.

“Oh… that was a fast wake up recovery.” Trina gulped. “Thought it would’ve been longer.”

“Indeed.” Kim turned to face Obake, making her way over to him. “How are you feeling?”

“Confused.” Obake still had his eyes looking over at Trina. “Care to tell me what happened? … And what the costume is all about?”

Kim sighed.

“Straight and to the point…” Kim shook her head, going back to Trina, finishing up her work. “You want me to explain or do you want to?”

Trina sighed.

“Let me. It was my idea after all.”

Trina looked to her father. Obake crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow.

“I’m listening.”

Trina glanced to the side.

“... After you disappeared… we were on a mad search to find you. By any means possible we were going to find you. Which meant going into dangerous places and possibly dealing with dangerous people.” Trina gestured to her armor with her free hand. “And so… I built a suit of armor and adopted an alias as a means of keeping my real identity safe and keeping shady figures off my trail and thus… Kame was born… and it just kind of snowballed into becoming a protector of Saga and… yeah… that’s all there is to it. All because I made a promise to myself.” Trina looked to Obake. “That no matter what, I was going to find my father and bring him home.”

Obake’s look softened.

“Trina…”

“You meant everything to me, Dad…” Trina smiled. “I wanted my best friend back and I was determined… and I made a new one along the way.” Trina eyed Takashi in the corner.

Takashi gave a sheepish look as Eboni elbowed him a little.

“Yeah, but his origin story is a topic for another day.” Eboni smirked. “But to level with ya a little, he’s her partner in crime as a fellow vigilante.”

“Yep… The Phoenix.” Takashi rubbed the back of his neck. “Again, we’ll explain later.”

“I see…” Obake looked over at Takashi.

Liv mentioned a “Bird Boy” while I was Sycorax… Is he…?

Obake mentally shook his head.

No, no, I’ll let them explain on their own time but… if he’s the fire mutant Liv was going on about then… Well, I just have more questions.

Obake turned his attention back to Trina. 

“That explains the armor. Now…” Obake’s look turned dark. “Who do I need to track down and bury the corpse of?”

Trina covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

“D-Dad! Geeze!” Trina composed herself. “I don’t know who it was but it was some weird lady who is cahoots with… well… Liv Amara.”

Obake’s eyes widened.

“What?”

“Yeah and that’s all I know. She seemed very interested with someone in the OR and I’m afraid it might be you she was looking at… least I think… I’m not sure since I don’t even know how Liv would’ve figured out you were here… She couldn’t have… right?”

Obake brought a hand to his chin, thinking over what he knew.

As far as Liv knows I’m dead… and while I caused a mess at Sycorax I made sure not to leave a trail… and the implant doesn’t have a tracking device… Wait…

“I have a message from E. Bailey. It’s important.”

“Ah, I see she has made progress in her studies with the fire mutant in Saga. Very interesting… I’d assist but I’m a little busy with some other matters at the moment. Do tell her to continue her research and send her my regards. I will speak with her once I’m available.”

“... No. It wasn’t me she was looking at.”

Everyone looked to Obake confused.

“Then who was she looking at?” Kim asked.

Obake glanced around at everyone before stopping at Takashi.

“I don’t want to make assumptions but… based off something I heard, I believe she had an interest in a certain… “Bird Boy.””

Takashi groaned, bringing a hand to his face.

“I only know one person who refers to me as such.”

Trina’s eyes widened.

“Oh gosh that was…”

“Yeah…” 

Takashi lowered his head. 

“Dragoness.”

[lillaxtrigger]

Faded land: Chapter 1

A woman slowly opens her eyes as she awakens from the cracked ground beneath her. Rain pouring down her back as she gets up. “Ah...What happened?” she says as she rubs her head. Looking ahead, she saw a gray wasteland, dead trees and stumps laid strung about the rocky terrain. “Where am I? How’d I get here?”. Her mind flashes to the last thing she remembers before waking up. Both her and a blonde man were in a science laboratory. The man was messing with a metallic sphere sat on a table with the labeled: “Time sphere”. The woman rushes over to the man as sparks start to fly from the sphere. Trying to pull the man away, a white flash consumes the both of them. “Arthur!” she exclaims. Looking around, she couldn’t find a single sign of life anywhere. She starts to walk ahead, the ground crinkling beneath her feet with each step. “Oh Arthur. What have you done? I knew building the time sphere was a bad idea, but nobody listened.” Stepping on a big rock, she looks upwards towards the sky. The gray rain. clouds in the sky blocked out any sign of sunlight. She lost her balance and fell down on her back. Looking over, she saw the rock she was standing on was shaking. Coming out of the bottom was a slimy slug, which slithered along the ground. The woman crawls backwards away from the rocky snail. “Wha?.”. Backing up into a tree, she looks behind her and sees a human face molded within the bark. She gets up and back away slowly before bolting it as far from the tree as possible. Running up to a cliff, the warm winds blow in her maroon hair. She looks out and sees a massive crater in the distance, about as big as a small town. From the cracks shined a green glow among the circumference of the crater. “What is that?”. Looking closer, she’s able to make out a small building just beyond the crater. She could see something walking out of the house, though she couldn’t make out what it was, it being a speck when viewed from afar. Adjusting her glass, she looks closely and questions: “Is that a person?”. Downward, she saw the cliff was steep, but had enough jagged rocks to climb down. Slowly taking her time in climbing down the cliff, she makes sure she has a firm grip on the rocks before she lets go. She peeked down and saw the tall drop from below. Quickly closing her gaze, she tightened her grip on the rocks. “Take it easy. It’s just a fall into certain death. Just take your time and you’ll be okay.”. Grabbing onto one of the rocks, the stone began to move, making her loose her grip. Before she could fall, she swiftly grabbed another rock. Looking at the stone she let go, she saw that a slug came out from the rock and began to slither around the wall. Looking along the cliff, more and more snails began to pop out of hiding, slithering along the face, varying in size. She takes a deep breathe and says: “Okay.”. Climbing down the cliff, she grabs any of the rocks that are still left. She then steps on a snail and starts to fall. Grabbing onto whatever she can, she grasps one of the snails and finds that the slug sticks to the wall. The membrane stretching out a couple of yards, but still holding on She looks down at the other snails, some which are moving along the wall. “Hmm...”. The woman then swings off the snail like a vine and grabs on to another. She then lets go and lands on a big snail. This slug doesn’t stretch out when she lands, firmly hugging the wall as it slithered down. She looks down and sees a trail of giant snails leading down. The woman jumps down the cliff, landing on snail after snail. Finally, she lands on the bottom of the cliff, taking a great big sigh of relief as she stands on solid ground. Looking out, she sees the crater not far, only a brisk walk away. Approaching the wide crater, scientist looks in and sees the hole was very deep, half as big as the cliff she just climbed down. Inside, she saw the cracks within glowing a bright green light, so harsh in fact that she could stare them for a few moments without squinting. The rain hitting the irradiated cracks evaporate as soon as they touch them, making it look like the crater was smoking. The dimming sky made the glowing cracks stand out in the encroaching darkness. She looked away and took off her glasses to rub her eyes. Putting them back on, she looked over to the other side to see the small house. As she started her trek around the crater, she began to ask herself: “Why is their so much radiation coming from this crater? Just staring at it makes my eyes hurt.”. She then trips on the ground, looking back, she sees a piece of wood, buried in the ground. Kicking it in frustration, she saw the plank didn’t move an inch. Curious, she started to dig around the wood and was surprised how deep it was buried. Pulling it out, a sign popped out from the ground. Looking at the front, it read: “Welcome to Barge front. The most peaceful town in Tennessee”. The woman puts down the sign and turns towards the house in the distance. Approaching the humble home, the woman saw a truck parked beside the house. She sat down on the porch to catch her breath. As she was breathing, she felt the cold touch of steel on the back of her head. She turned to see an old woman pointing a shotgun towards her skull. Shocked, she falls to the ground and backs up as the elder aims her shotgun at the girl. “The heck is a lady you doing out here. You not Canadian, are ya?”. “Canadian? I-I just got here. What’s going on?” “Barbra, what’s going on out there?” a man’s voice rang out. “Nothing Berry. Just taking care of some varmits.” the woman said as she focused on the girl. An elderly man quickly came out and gasped. Pushing the old lady aside, she said: “Barbra, put the gun away! Can’t you see this pour girl’s scared?”. The old woman reluctantly backs off, pointing his gun away. The old man approaches the scientist and takes her hand out. “I’m so sorry about that. My wife can get paranoid around new people. Eh...would you like to come in?”. In her heavy breathing, she said: “That would be nice, thank you.”. Inside the small home, the lady sat down on a seat beside a dining table in the kitchen. Berry poured two cups of tea on the counter and carried both of them over to the table on a plate. He passed one of the cups over to her shaking guest. Sipping a bit of the tea calmed her nerves, taking a little sigh after drinking. She looks to the man sitting across from the table and asks: “Um, thank you for...not letting your wife shoot me.”. “Think nothing of it. She can’t really help it. Living out here’s made her a little twitchy.”. “By what?”. “Oh you know, Mutated monsters, bandits, those sorts. “Why live out here in the middle of nowhere if it’s so dangerous.”. “Believe it our not, this is actually one of the safer places in the country. Well, there is the refugee town a several miles down, but...it’s a little too dangerous for people like us. Heck, Barbra has to bring a pistol whenever she goes into town.”. “Even with the big irradiated crater?”. “Oh it’s not so bad. The radiation gives us free energy that never even flickers.” Berry said as he looked to the light over head. “About as nice as it can get honestly.”. “How did a giant crater like that pop up?”. “Oh, it’s always been there. Ever since the bomb dropped on us.”. The guest spurt out tea back in her cup, lowering it from her mouth to say: “Bomb?”. “Oh yeah. Came right above the sky. I believe I was 20 when it hit? Memories are a little fuzzy though.”. “Where did a bomb come from?”. “Hmm...Oh, you know what, both of us are sitting here talking about my wife and I, when I haven’t even got you’re name.”. “It’s Clara.”. “Well, Clara. You look rather well dressed for someone out in the middle of Tennessee. Where’d you come from?”. “Well, that’s...honestly a long story. I’m not even sure about all the details, really.”. “Oh that’s alright. We all have stuff that we don’t want to talk about. Whether it brings out painful memories or unsure of what’s happening around us. It’s fine.”. The young lady takes a sip of her tea and says: “This tea’s really good.”. “You like it? It’s an old recipe passed down from my grandma. I even figured out how to make them into packets. I was gonna plan to sell it someday, but uh...you know.”. “Hee...Right.”. Clara looks down at her tea and back to Berry, asking: “You said something about a refugee town. You know where I can find it.”. “Oh, it’s north from here. Going from the right side of our house. But it’s about 15 miles away. It’d take about a day or two to get there on foot. Why don’t you stay here for a couple days and Barbra can take ya when she goes out for food.”. “Um, I don’t mean to rush thing, but I think I might be in a hurry. Not to be rude, but can you guys drive me there now?”. “Heck no!” the Wife shouted out in the other room. Berry put his tea down and got up, saying: “Excuse me for a minute.”. He walks out of the kitchen and shuts the door behind her, after which yelling could be heard. The walls muffled the arguing between the spouses. Clara looks around the kitchen and sees some small photos on the counter. Getting up, she starts to approach the counter, but stops when she hears both of them shout through the walls. “The truck doesn’t have enough gas for two round trips and more won’t come in til next week!”. “She can’t just send her out there all by herself, she could die!”. She begins to slowly walk up to the counter toward the frames. Looking closely, she saw one of the photos was that of two young boys standing in a lush field. Next to it was a young couple standing together in front of a recently built house, the man from the picture looked a bit like one of the kids in the previous photo. Another showed the both of them, but not really interacting with one another, instead reading books on their bed. Two more showed Berry and Barbra sitting in rocking chairs in individual frames. She picks up the photo with Barbra and takes a closer look. Small numbers seemed to be at the top of the frame. “11-9-2083”. Looking back at the picture with the family, she looks above to find another date in the corner. “3-17-2022.”. Suddenly, the door knob started to open. Clara rushed back into her seat just as Berry walked in. “I-I’m sorry. I can’t really, convince my wife to go into town right now. Seem you’ll have to wait a while.”. “Alright” Clara said, looking disappointed. She then got up and started to head for the door. “Where are you going?” Berry asked. “I gotta get moving. Thanks for the tea.”. When she steps outside, she notices that the only light left was the light from the glowing crater and the light coming from the house. Everything beyond it was nothing but pure blackness as far as the eye could make out. Walking back inside, Berry was still standing in the kitchen. “So do you guys have I guest room I can maybe stay in?” Clara ask. “In the back.”. Clara opens the door to the room she would be sleeping in. The room consisted of only a drawer, a lamp, and a bed. She put her hand on the bed and felt that the fabric looked untouched, but rather old. A shadow emerged on the bed. Clara looked behind her and saw Barbra standing in the doorway giving her a piercing glare. “Oh! Uh-Um hey there. Uh, sorry about, um...You must have thought that I was a bandit or something.”. Clara gets up and starts to approach the elderly woman. I “didn’t really knock or introduce myself or anything. Thanks for-”. “You listen me and you listen good. So long as your under my roof, you won’t eat anything, you won’t go anywhere, you won’t do anything, without my consent, you hear me.” Barbra said in a threatening manner as she approaching her guest, making Clara back up onto the bed. “Food is scares for us. And I only got so many bullets for my gun. And I don’t want to waste them on a scroungy brat like you.”. Standing over the edge of the bed, Barbra stares at Clara, saying: “When I have to go back into town and I take you, you better not think about coming back here.”. Barbra walks out of the room and slams the door shut. Clara takes her lab coat and shoes off and put them to the side, laying down on the soft bed. Looking out the window, she could only make out the feint light that was coming from the crater. She stares up towards the ceiling leaving her alone with her thoughts. Too many questions were floating around in her mind to let her simply drift off. “What am I gonna do? Where am I even gonna start? How much of the world is left?”. As she stared at the ceiling, all she could hear was the sound of the wasteland winds blowing through the humble abode. “So much happened all at once today. So many questions going through my head. I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep.”. The next morning, little light shined against the clouds, illuminating the lands and the home. Clara was sound asleep, her snoring echoing through the whole room. The door suddenly swung open, waking the scientist and making her fall off the bed. “Alright, time to get up.” she heard as Clara was coming out of her daze. When her eyes focused, she saw Barbra standing right above her. “Ah?” Clara mumbled as she got up. “Come on. Ain’t got all day.”. “Wha...What’s going on?”. “You’re gonna get to work is what’s going on. If you wanna be fed, you gotta earn your meals.”. “Work? What kind of work.”. “Just the usual stuff we do around here. Wash dishes, sweep the floors, set up traps. Those sorts.”. “And what just what will you be doing?” Clara asks. “Oh, I’ll be doing what I’ve always been doing. Make sure we stay alive.” Barbra says, as she shows off her shot gun. With a clipboard in hand, Clara started to count the number of cans inside the cabinet. She wrote down how many she counted down on the clipboard. She then started to sweep up the floors in the house, gathering the dust and sand. Clara started to sweep under a couch, but jumped when a rat scurried out from under and into the kitchen. Clara then was outside setting up a bear trap on the side of the house. After opening up it’s steel jaws, she said to herself: “Don’t really know why you’d have to set up traps around here. Nothing around but snails.”. She then looks over to the house and sees something on the side. Looking behind the home, she sees a little shed several meters from the house. Opening up the little shack, she saw several tools hanging up against the wall. Hammers, a saw, drills, a pistol, a shovel, a rake, some chains, a big mallet, several pillars and Screw drivers. Under the rack of tools, Clara found boxes of screws, nails, bullets, an empty beer bottle, and a backpack labeled, emergency supplies. Looking inside the pack, she finds some cans, crackers, can opener, flash light, water bottles, a cup and box of matches. She heard the sound of a gun cocking and looking behind her to find Barbra pointing her shotgun at her once again. “B-Barbra, hey. Uh...Did- Didn’t you want me to check in here to keep stock of all the tools?”. “Nice try. Git!”. Barbra forces her guest out of the tool shed and says: “If I catch you in here again. I’m stuffing you full of lead, got it?”. As she was helping Berry wash the dishes, Clara couldn’t stop shaking. Berry saw how frightened the pour girl was and handed her a cup of tea. “Here, drink this.”. The scientist grabbed the cup and started sipping, her shaking gradually stopping as she drank. Taking a sigh of relief as she put the cup down. “Thank you.”. “Think nothing of it. I know when I feel scared or stressed, a cup of tea always calms the nerves right down.”. After taking another sip, she then says: “Um...if you don’t mind me asking...how did you and your wife meet?”. “That’s actually goes a long way back. We used to be high school sweethearts actually. We used to sneak out of our parents houses all the time, go up to the tallest building in town and just gaze a the sunset for hours on end. Used to be one of our favorite spots.”. “What was she like?”. “She was actually very nice. Really caring. I saw her take a nest up a tree when it fell down. Even checking if the eggs were fine. We had our spats every now and again. But it wasn’t really anything serious, until...” Silents fills the kitchen, giving Clara a sense of heaviness that fills the room. The silence is then broken by the sound of a shot gun blast. Clara looks out the window and sees a monstrously mutated wolf outside. Barbra could be seen shooting at the wolf as it lunges at her. The old lady shoots it into a bear trap, where it struggled to get free. As it did, Barbra slowly approached, pointing her fire arms at the monster. Clara sees her point her gun at the beasts head and looks away before she pulls the trigger. The loud gun shot echoed through the lands. The night falls on the humble shack. At dinner, she ate plates of beans with the elderly couple on the kitchen table. While Berry and Barbra ate, Clara stared at them, eating very little off her plate. The air was thick as not a single word was being said. Clara tries to pierce through by saying: “So...Any- anything interesting happen around here?”. “Nope.” Berry simply said. “...So Barbra, I saw you fighting that monster out there. How-how often to they come around?”. “About once a month.” Barbra said. “You know, we’d probably not be so low on food if you’d bring stuff like that in for dinner instead of burning the carcasses.”. “I’ve told you for the 27th time. We can’t eat the animals around here. They’re irradiated and could kill us.”. “Well, it’s just that I’m tired of eating beans all the time. I’d be nice to eat something else for once.”. “What do you want me to do? All I can get is beans.”. Clara ate a little more of her beans and said: “You know what. I think I’m gonna hit the hay a little early. I’ll see you two in the morning.”. “So all they have in that town is beans, huh!? No canned fruit or vegetables of any kind?”. “None that I’ve seen.”. Clara started to slowly back out form the kitchen. “Well maybe you’d find some if you stayed in town for more than two hours.” Berry said. “I’d like to see you drive into town and scrounge for food.”. “You know very well I can’t drive!”. As Clara walked into her room, she found a small box on her bed. Looking inside, she found a note which she reads aloud. “Wanted to give you this. If I can’t sell it, I can at least give it to somebody who likes it as much as me.”. Putting the note aside, she find a bunch of tea packets. She then heard the couple arguing out in the hall. “I burn both ends of the candle to make sure that were safe and well fed. I don’t see you doing anything around here.”. “Oh yeah, cause driving to a beatnik town and shooting wild animals every month is so hard for you. You know I responsibilities too around here, I make sure the house is clean, the dishes are washed, the clothes cleaned, the inventory stocked, the rats out of the cabinet, and I have to all of this everyday, year round.”. “Please, anybody could do that stuff. I’d like to see you wrestle a bear with four heads.”. Maybe if you didn’t drink so much then you could actually help me around here.”. The sound of punching could be heard from the hall, followed by Berry exclaiming: “Ow! Why would you do that!? Why would you do that!? Why would you do that!?”, followed by a door slamming shut. Another door opens and closes. It was the middle of the night, Clara could not get a wink of sleep in, the domestic incident still fresh in her mind. She got out of bed and put her coat and shoes back on. The scientist peeked out of her door to the hall. Coming out, she looks around and sees nobody. In the other bedroom, she see’s two lumps on the bed. In the kitchen, the single light shines on the empty bottles on the table. Clara walks out the front door and heads towards the tool shed. She walks in and takes the back pack. Reaching for the boxes of matches, she notices it open with a couple of shells taken out. She looks on the wall and notices the pistol missing. “Where-”. She hears the sound of a gun cocking and looks behind her and sees Barbra aiming her gun at her. “And where do you think you might be going?” she asks. “Um, I was going to head to town.” Clara says nervously. “What’s your hurry for?”. “If I told you, you’d probably never believe me.”. “You know what I think. I think you really are a dirty Canadian. Destroyed our country in the war, now you want to take the scraps that are left. Wasn’t it enough that you bombed us and left us with barely nothing!?”. “W-What!?”. “Don’t matter now. Least I’ll get my two sense in.”. Barbra aims her shotgun towards Clara. “This is for ruining America, you maple witch.”. Clara shuts her eyes as she waits for Barbra to fire. She hears the sound of a gun going off. Opening her eyes, she fines herself completely fine, no bullets wounds on her person. She then looks at her attacker and gasps to find a bullet hole in the middle of her chest. Barbra feels her chest and looks at the blood on her hands before she falls to the floor. Clara looks above Barbra’s body and see’s Berry holding the pistol, smoke coming out the end of the gun. Berry breaks down in tears and breaks down next to Barbra’s body. The scientist slowly walks past the both of them and picks up the pistol on the ground as she walks out. Clara shines her flashlight down the ground as the light from the crater and the home, fades away as she walks into the dusk.

[hobeemin]

Natural Born Assassins: Part 2

Genre: Thriller/Crime/Assassin AU

Pairing: Yoongi x OC  

Rating: 18+

Word Count: 4k

Warnings: Language

Mood Music: The Academy

Part 1 |*| Part 2 |*| Part 3 |*| Part 4

 ~=~=~=~

“Motherfucker.”

Ros pulled the trigger letting the bullets hit the targets flying into her sight. Her mood hadn’t improved since the day she lost the sparring match. Not only did she walk away with a nasty looking bruise on the hip and her ego deflated, but Yoongi hadn’t the decency to apologize yet. He just kept that smirk on his face every time he passed her in the halls. She held back the temptation to punch him in the jaw. Instead, she found solstice by releasing the tension at the shooting range. Though maybe putting pictures of Yoongi on the targets was a bit much. Jimin watched with concern. Namjoon joined not long after. Both watched from afar with noise-canceling headphones to protect their hearing as she shot bullet after bullet into the targets. Seeing them in her peripheral, she ceased the firing and holstered her gun. After slipping off her glasses and earplugs, she glanced at them curiously.

“What?”

Namjoon gave her a weary look and gestured to the targets. "A bit dramatic, even for you, Ros.”

Ros shrugged, playing around with the set of guns in front of her. "This isn't dramatic, Namjoon. I'm centering my chi.”

Jimin's eyes widened and pointed to one of the targets. Its head was in pieces. "You call this centering your chi?! I’d hate to see what you would do to me if I piss you off.”

Namjoon removed his glasses and wiped the smudges off. “Whether you hate him or not, Yoongi is still going to be your partner,” he warned.

Suddenly she felt tiny in front of her friend. Still, it only made her temper rise more; she was just smart about where to direct it. “Whatever,” Ros mumbled.

Namjoon gave her cheek a pinch and chuckled. “You’ll be fine. Anyway, dinner plans have changed. You’ll be going with me to the Board meeting.”

Ros gripped the gun tight as it almost slipped from her grasp. “The Board? They want to have dinner with me?”

Namjoon nodded. “Yes, you, Yoongi, and myself. Dress nice.”

Her expression darkened. "What are they up to, Namjoon?"

He shrugged. “Hell, if I know. Just be ready by six. I’ll come get you from your room.”

Jimin gave her a reassuring smile. “It won’t be so bad.”

She scoffed as placing the guns back in the cage. “Right.”

=*=

Sure enough, Namjoon knocked on her door at precisely 6 o’clock. She ran to open the door, shoes in hand. He nodded in approval.

“You clean up nicely.”

Ros scowled, punching him. "I can look nice when I want to," she snapped.

He chuckled and held out his arm. “If you say so.”

They walked to the east wing of the Academy, where the Board members resided. Ros could feel her heart fluttering in her chest. She hadn’t seen anyone from the Board since the accident. With a small gulp, Namjoon reached the double doors as a butler gave them a short bow.

"Ah, yes. The Board is expecting you all. Mr. Min Yoongi is already present.”

Ros held back a groan as they followed the butler into the dining room.

Six individuals mingled with drinks in their hands, talking to each other quietly. The conversation ceased when the tallest man held his hand up, bringing their attention to the two newcomers. Ros felt the heat in her cheeks as she bowed to the Board members.

The man stepped forward with a quiet smile and taking her hand into his. “I speak for everyone here to say that we are pleased you’ve agreed to come back, Ros.”

She mumbled, looking away from his gaze. "Director Jung Jihoon-nim, it's an honor, but I don't need the praise."

He chuckled, squeezing her hand. "So formal Ros. Please, you make me feel old.”

She nodded with a smile looking around the room. "Forgive me, Director Rain, it's been so long."

One of the women stepped forward with a light chuckle. "You don't need to be modest with us, Ros.”

The sounds of crunching ice brought Ros’s attention towards Yoongi. He returned a dull expression. She clenched her jaw before stretching a smile on her face. "I would feel strange being informal with you, Director Kwon Bo-ah-nim."

Bo-ah sighed, shaking her head. "Ah ya. Use my nickname. The formalities are making me feel like an ajumma."

The second woman let out a giggle and walked over to you with a mischievous grin. “Now none of that Director Kim Taeyeon-nim nonsense Ros. You used to call me Unnie back when we were students, so I expect you to use it.”

Taeyeon was a Director now?!  She let out a laugh as they hugged. “Time has gone by.”

A voice cleared behind Taeyeon as two other men stepped forward. She bit down on her lip as Directors Choi Seung-hyun-nim and Kwon Ji-yong-nim stepped forward. They gave her a bow with a smile. "We are all pleased that you've recovered and ready to work again. And use our code names. You are making us all feel old."

“Of course, Director T.O.P. and Director GD.”

Namjoon chuckled. “She’s just happy to be back. Ros has been doing great with her training.”

Bo-ah gave a small clap. “I’m glad to hear. Now let’s sit down for dinner. I know everyone is hungry,” she went over to one of the chairs and beckoned her over. “Ros, you sit here," she looked over at Yoongi and smiled, "Yoongi, you sit next to her.”

He scowled darkly and stomped over, taking the seat she pointed to.

~Great. Just fucking great.

The rest of the board took their respective seats as Namjoon sat on the opposite side. The staff began to bring out the salads for the meal. She sipped her water, avoiding Yoongi at all costs making sure to only giving attention to Namjoon and the Board members. Yoongi ate in silence, only speaking when prompted. GD whispered to Taeyeon, and she nodded in silence while the staff served the main course.

“Namjoon, have you spoke with Ros yet about that assignment?”

Namjoon’s fork slipped from his grasp as his face paled. “Oh, I thought we were waiting until after dinner?”

Rain chewed quietly and nodded. “Of course. No need to jump the gun so soon. Let’s continue our meal.”

The two young agents gave the table all curious looks. What did they mean? On, dessert followed. She picked at the tart absentmindedly. Suddenly Yoongi slammed his fork down in annoyance and scowled them all.

“What are you hiding from us? As a senior agent, I have a right to know if something pertains to me.”

GD wiped his mouth with his cloth napkin and gave T.O.P a nod. The man sighed and gave Yoongi a quiet smile. “Agent Min, you are correct. Please follow us to the board room.”

Ros gave Yoongi a surprised expression as her mouth gaped open. Silently, they followed behind Namjoon and the board members into an adjacent room with a rectangular table and various weapons adorning the walls.

Bo-ah clicked a button once on a remote, and the lights dimmed. With another click, a projector came into view. Everyone filed around the table and took a seat. T.O.P and Rain remained standing on each side of the table. Taeyeon brought out files and passed them out to the board, Yoongi, and Ros. She gave them a nod, and Bo-ah handed Rain the remote. He clicked a button, and three pictures popped up on the screen. Yoongi scrunched his nose up, staring at the trio. "Should I know who they are?"

T.O.P smiled and shook his head. "Not yet, but you will. It's your next assignment.”

Ros looked up from the file in shock. “M-Me? You want me back in the field that fast?”

Yoongi frowned, shoving his thumb towards her. "Isn't this a bit overzealous? She just got back."

"I believe I can speak for myself, Yoongi,” she snapped.

Bo-ah and Taeyeon chuckled to each other as they watched them argue. GD cleared his throat. “Can we continue?”

He pointed to the first picture. “Follow along with the files, but Namjoon, I want you to lead after I give a brief rundown."

Namjoon nodded as he opened the file. GD crossed his arms as a map of Europe popped up with pictures of Greece, Barcelona, Amsterdam, and Prague nightclubs. In the next image, police reports of bodies with pills littered around them.

“Wonderland,” he chirped.

Her brow quirked. “Wonderland?”

He nodded as more pictures of overdosed bodies appeared on the screen. Their eyes open as if they were in a trance. A bluish hue painted the corners of their mouths, eyes, and ears.

"It's a new party drug that has hit the club scene by storm. So far, it hasn't hit the street, just the clubs. Symptoms include hallucinations, manic episodes, violet acts, and seizures. You can tell by the bluish hue that forms at the mucus membranes."

"Age?" Yoongi knitted his brows, scanning the files curiously.

“18 to 25,” Taeyeon answered.

"What do you expect us to do about it? Why should we care about a new drug," he argued, leaning into his chair.

GD nodded in agreement. “You’re correct Yoongi, but it’s an issue if the supplier and distributor are of Korean descent.”

Rain pointed towards the screen as three faces reappeared on the screen. “Back to the first slide. I’d like to introduce to the Kim family.”

Namjoon cleared his throat and got up from his seat, taking the remote.

"Name Kim Taehyung. Age 24. He's heir to Kim business. Family has deep pockets in international politics. Mother was an ambassador; the father is now deceased. Now that he resides in Europe with his siblings, they've delved into less than savory business ventures. He's known for being a playboy,”

Ros glanced at the picture quite taken back with how attractive he was. His eyes pierced right through the image. The next photo revealed a woman. Yoongi sat up straighter, making Ros roll her eyes.

"Name, Kim Hyuna. Age 25. Socialite, known party girl. Likes to spend money." Namjoon adjusted his frames. "It was her suggestion to go into the drug business. She has a close connection with whomever else they do business. Though quite the 'wild child,' her IQ is exceptionally high. Makes her even more dangerous."

The next picture was another male, just as attractive as Kim Taehyung. "Name, Byun Baekhyun. Age, 26. He is the older step-brother of Kim Taehyung and Kim Hyuna. Their father had been married previously. He took on his mother's maiden name. He passed on the legacy to Kim Taehyung, preferring to be more hands-on in the business with Kim Hyuna. Known for his temper, manipulative ways, and insane."

He clicked the remote ending the slide show. Ros gazed around the room, digesting the information. "Alright. So, where do we come in?"

Bo-ah smirked before answering. “You’ll be going undercover long term. We want the targets expelled; however, we need intel. Drugs are complicated, and there might be more involved with this family. The diplomatic side could easily be a front. Find this out."

Yoongi sighed, giving a bored expression. "Disguises?"

Namjoon smirked and gave him a look. "Check your files. These are your covers."

She scanned the file going over the information. "Ahn, Jia. I look like a Jia to you?" She muttered, reading down the list. "Daughter of a CEO...popular abroad and in South Korea…socialite and partier…known heartbreaker?!"

Namjoon smirked. “We needed some sort of scandal.” Ros sighed with a frown reading over the articles. "Did it have to be this graphic, though?"

Yoongi read his profile quietly. “Nam Woojin. Personal detail of Ahn Jia. Blah blah. Martial arts background. Weapons specialist...blah blah. Possible relations?!”

“WHAT?!”

=*=

“I quit.”

Jimin looked up from his grading and laughed at her expression. She flopped down on the couch, angrily. Jungkook let out a grunt as her legs fell into his lap. "I'm guessing the dinner didn't go as planned," he asked, rubbing his stomach with a frown.

“Worse. I have to be a snobby rich girl and his fuck buddy,” she snapped.

Jimin threw his pen down and began to laugh. Jungkook joined in only making her temper rise. They stifled their laughs once seeing Ros’s face. “Ah, Ros, it won't be so bad. I mean you already boss him around- "

"Shut up, Jimin."

He shrugged, giving his famous eye smile. "It's kind of cute. -Don't give me that look- Remember you wanted back in. And from what I know, this assignment isn't going to be easy. Namjoon said this was the only way you both could get into the Kim family."

She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Don’t you think I know that?” She bit her lip nervously as her voice wavering. “What if I fail?”

Jungkook and Jimin looked up in surprise, stopping their work. Jimin got up from his seat and pulled her into a hug. "You're not going to fail, Ros. I’m here. Kookie’s here. We’re gonna make sure you’re ready by the time you leave for Europe. I promise.”

She couldn’t help but smile as they wrapped her up in a hug. “I don’t know what I would do without you both.”

Jungkook grinned tousling her hair gently. “Be stuck with Yoongi.”

She scoffed and punched his stomach, making him grunt as Jimin laughed. "Besides, I'm gonna need your help. I don't know the first thing about seduction."

Jimin’s eyes widened as he pointed to himself. “What makes you think I know about that?!”

Jungkook snorted. "Oh please. You of all people don't need to play innocent. I know, for a fact a handful of girls from our year got visits- "

Jimin elbowed Jungkook in the stomach. “Takes one to know one,” he growled. “You made your point.”

She gave them both a frown. "I'm aware of your ventures as much as it makes my stomach churn, but I need help, so let's get started. We have three weeks."

Jungkook shook his head. "Three weeks, Noona? I can’t create miracles- “

He dodged her fist, scrabbling to the other side of the couch, giggling. "Seriously, we need to bring in the big guns."

Ros sighed in exasperation. "Who's gonna help me with this so far along?!"

“We are,” two voices spoke up in unison.

The trio turned towards the door as Namjoon stepped in with Taeyeon and Bo-ah. The ladies gave you a kind smile carrying in two large suitcases as Namjoon stood against the wall with a smirk. “I thought you could use the help.”

She ran up to him, engulfing him in an embrace. “I could kiss you about now.”

He blushed, clearing his throat. "Uh, right. For now. Let's get to work."

Taeyeon pulled her into one of the seats and ran a hand through her hair. “Tsk. Ros, did Namjoon only send you on kill missions? Have you seduced anyone before?”

The blush on her cheeks was evidence enough for her. Bo-ah opened the suitcases and pulled out an array of makeup, from eyeshadows, eyeliners, blushers, bronzers, brushes, the works. "What about cosmetics?"

“Does lotion count?” she murmured as Taeyeon ran a comb through the knots in her dark curls. “Ow!”

Jimin elbowed Namjoon watching in amusement. “Bullets and punches she can handle. But a comb she cringes at.”

Jungkook snorted, looking through the stuff curiously. "I-Is that a thong?!"

Bo-ah scowled, standing up from her position. "Alright, gentlemen out you go. We have a lot of work to do if you don't mind. Ros is now our pupil for the next three weeks. We’ll see you at the hangar then.”

The doors shut on them, and they stood out in the hallway, looking like lost lambs. Jungkook scratched the back of the neck. "Well, now, we wait."

Jimin shrugged. “That’s all we can do. Taeyeon-ssi and Bo-ah-ssi are the best. Ros is great hands. Right Namjoon hyung?”

He sighed, wiping his glasses. "Yoongi will have his hands full. But let's hope they don't kill each other."

Back inside, Ros yelped as Taeyeon attempted to style her hair. Things weren't going as planned. "I'm not trying to kill you, Ros. It’s just a flatiron!”

Bo-ah shook her head. “This is getting us nowhere. Let’s skip the hair and try walking in heels.”

She pulled out a pair of simple black stilettos. "Put these on. They shouldn't be a problem. I've seen you in those boots."

She bit down on her lip nervously, slipping the on heels. “My Doc Martens? They don’t have a heel-AH!”

THUD

“I-I’m okay~”

"No, you're not," Bo-ah observed, looking at Ros face planted on the floor.

Taeyeon twirled a piece of her hair around her finger. "Three weeks, huh? We gonna need all of Buddha's help."

“Better. Much better,” Bo-ah commented. “Swing your hips. There. Land on the sole of your foot. Mhmm.”

She nodded, listening while walking up and down the room. For last week, Taeyeon and Bo-ah had her practice walking in heels. Painful as it was. They made her do everything in them. Walk, run, fight.

“You never know what could happen.”

Frankly, she would have been fine throwing the bastards off and kicking ass either way, but still, she listened and did as instructed.

Taeyeon nodded, watching her run the track in the heels. "Alright. I think I tortured you enough, Ros.”

"Really? Do you think? I could have sworn it was the last three miles," you called, kicking them off in disgust.

The look on your face was enough to make Bo-ah's shoulders slump. "Listen, Ros; I fought hard for your return to the Academy. Namjoon and Taeyeon as well. People want to see you fail. Some don't think you have it in you after what happened on your last mission. I wouldn't give you something you couldn't handle. It's just a test."

Now the guilt set in. Ros flopped down next to Taeyeon with a groan. "I don't want to let anyone down or myself. I promise to do my best,” she mumbled.

Taeyeon gave her hip a bump as she smiled and tossed her a bottle of water. “Bo-ah-Unnie is right. We’re rooting for you.”

She sipped it quietly as she thought of her next question. “So…what has Yoongi been doing the past week?”

Taeyeon gave her a smirk. “Any particular reason you want to know?”

She shrugged, looking away with a frown. "Well, Yoongi is my partner for this mission. At some point, I'd like to discuss logistics with him."

“In due time. For now, you need to focus. Namjoon, Jimin, and Jungkook are working with him. The next phase is starting soon.”

"What phase, Tae-Unnie?"

Taeyeon grinned, pinching her cheek. “The art of seduction.”

~Oh shit…

=*=

Namjoon, Yoongi, GD, T.O.P., Rain, Jimin, and Jungkook all stood by the private jet. By the looks of things, these men weren’t happy.

“She’s late,” Yoongi spat. “All three are. We’re on a schedule!”

Jimin’s face formed worried lines. “I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation. Maybe Ros- “

"I don't care," Yoongi interrupted. He slung his bag over his shoulder, giving them all a sour look. "I'm going inside the jet. If she doesn't show within the hour, I leave without her."

He climbed the steps and walked inside. Namjoon watched him shaking his head. He turned to the other board members, and they gave a sigh or rubbed their foreheads. Jungkook walked over to Namjoon with a smirk.

"You know she's only doing this to annoy Yoongi Hyung."

Namjoon pursed his lips as his eyes went to his wristwatch. "It isn't like her. Sure, she doesn't like him, but Ros wouldn’t purposely be late- “

A car pulled up, silencing the group as they looked curiously. T.O.P.  stepped up as the tinted window slid down. "Bo-ah?"

She smiled, giving them a wave. "Morning, gentlemen. Lovely day for a flight?"

Rain crossed his arms. “That’s beside the point. Where is Ros?”

“In the car. Taeyeon, I think we’ve kept them waiting long enough.”

GD nodded in agreement, “Just a bit.”

The driver got out and began removing the luggage from the trunk, having the pilot load it in the compartment. Bo-ah and Taeyeon were next standing by the car door. Each was grinning from ear to ear. Taeyeon opened the car, and a pair of heels stepped out first, followed by a couple of toned legs. Jungkook gulped, looking at Jimin then back at the car.

“N-Noona?!”

She gave him a tiny wave. The dress she wore clung to her body, making almost near impossible to move freely. Bo-ah watched the male's expressions quite pleased with her handiwork. "We're sorry for the delay; however, you did want her to look the part…"

Namjoon shook his head in disbelief. "Uh…w-well er yes. You look the part Ros,” he murmured.

"I take that as a compliment, Namjoon," she giggled.

She turned, raising her brow. “Where’s Min Yoongi?”

“On the jet,” they answered.

Jimin stepped forward, giving her a smirk. “I didn’t think you could pull it off Ros…ouch…I’m teasing. I knew you could!”

“Is she still not here? It’s time to leave! Time is up!”

She crossed her arms as Yoongi exited the jet in a fury, ready to explode. Clicking her tongue, she walked up to him, making him stop in his tracks.

"Not necessary, Min Yoongi. I’m here. Shall we be on our way, yah?"

He looked like a fish with his mouth gaped open, staring at her. Smirking, she put her finger on his chin, closing it gently. "You'll catch flies that way, dear," she whispered before climbing up the stairs into the jet.

Silently, he followed behind much to everyone's surprise. Namjoon gave Jimin and Jungkook a look as Bo-ah and Taeyeon burst into laughter. "Well, the tables have turned."

GD, T.O.P., and Rain just shook their heads. “You three might have to join them. We can’t have them killing each other before their mission is successful.”

"Or they end up in bed," Jungkook muttered to Jimin, causing the oldest male to kick him.

Namjoon pinched the bridge of his nose. “My heart can’t take this.” He walked in after them to explain the working of the jet for their flight overseas.

Ros looked in awe staring at the interior of the plane. The Academy spared no expense to travel in style. She ogled the new contraptions. Yoongi had already set up his spot in a corner. She placed her carry-on bag down on the opposite side just as Namjoon caught up.

“Like it?”

“Better than business class,” she answered, still looking around.

He chuckled. "It is nice. The flight is long, so you’ll be comfortable. Also, I thought you might need something else for your trip.”

Yoongi scowled at Namjoon, receiving a grin. "What other surprises could there be?"

“Noona!”

Jungkook and Jimin bound inside carrying bags. “Surprise!”

“Ah! Wha?”

Jimin beamed. “The Directors thought we should accompany you two for extra help. Besides, espionage is my specialty, and Kookie can give an extra hand with security."

She turned to Yoongi with a chuckle. “Guess you won’t be the other protective detail.”

Yoongi mumbled under his breath, turning away.

Namjoon handed out a set of phones “This how I’ll keep in contact. I’ll be in touch. Have a safe trip. Stay alert.”

He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze and curt nod to the others before walking off the jet. Ros, Jimin, and Jungkook squealed happily as Yoongi's expression darkened. He plopped down in his chair, putting on his headphones.

The intercom came on a few seconds. “Welcome passengers. We will be taking off to our destination to Athens. Please make your way to your seats and buckle in for takeoff. The light will turn off when we’ve hit altitude. Thank you.”

She sat down in her seat, buckling in as Jimin and Jungkook sat near. Her eyes darted over to Yoongi. He didn’t look the least bit interested. Shaking her head, she closed her eyes as the engines roared to life.

~=~=~=~

[call-me-jennn]

jenntistry

Sparklesparklesparkle. That’s how I feel. Eeeeep! Surgery yesterday was amaaaaazing. Not to mention the surgery the week before was also amazing. But lemme just talk about this one. 

I had seen the patient months ago when he came in with tooth pain. He had two rotting teeth that needed to be extracted and he did not like what he was hearing. Wasn’t having it that both needed to be extracted, didn’t feel pain on one so didn’t think it needed anything, didn’t want to have the teeth pulled, wanted to keep his teeth, yada yada yada. Didn’t want to hear about implants cause they’re “foreign objects”. The doctor was over it kinda quick, she gave him his diagnosis, explained his options and left.

I remember his exam really well because I remember spending way more time with him than I usually do. I just was suuuuuure I could get through to him. I sat and took intraoral photos and explained over and through every step of the procedures, why he needed the treatment. I talked about things from a biological standpoint, a personal standpoint, I used models, I played him videos. I tried to relate to him and get him to use a waterflosser, saying “I know how it is, my hands are big too and a waterflosser has a tip that can reach farther!” (I had a friend once refer to my hands as “Hagrid hands” -- why even have friends? -__- ) He kinda perked up at that one and asked me if I used a waterflosser. I said yes even though I don’t. It’s the only time I’ve ever lied to a patient and I still feel guilty about it, but I believe it was for the greater good. anyways. By the end of things I felt like he at least understood what was going on and was open to starting treatment and I had done all I could do. Buuuuut I passed him off to the treatment coordinator and found out after that he didn’t schedule for anything. BOOOOO. Welps, that didn’t help my case acceptance numbers. And yes, I was aware it’s a $10,000 case but a girl can hope. Whatevs.

I didn’t follow his case but I guess he eventually did schedule. I saw his name for a pre-op appointment but he wasn’t my patient and I didn’t remember who he was. 

Fast forward to yesterday, he comes in for his surgery! I didn’t handle his prep because I was already with two patients but somehow I ended up getting passed into his surgery. His blood pressure was SKYHIGH. We weren’t sure if the surgery was happening, he wasn’t either. We all just agreed that we were going to attempt to sedate him to bring his BP down and if not we’d send him back to his MD. Gave him an oral sedative, put him on laughing gas. He’s just chillin like nothing is having an effect on him, blood pressure’s not coming down. I was like I gotta get this guy relaxed somehow, the Dr was ready to give him a second pill. I ask him if he’s liking the music we’re listening to on the radio and if I can play him something else. We usually listen to 80s-90s hits radio which I dig but he was like it’s okay… So I press him for what he likes to listen to and he says slow jams. OH HAIL YAS. So I put on a 90s-2000 rnb slow jams playlist on youtube. I recline him, talk to him for a little, turn the lights down. Everyone walking by the room is like wtf are you guys listening to. And slowly but surely, after an hour and a half, his blood pressure is down and he’s dozing off. Surgery went smooth; only hiccup was the phlebotomist couldn’t get a vein so we had to use a collagen membrane instead of an LPRF, meh. But Dr. was awesome and everything is awesomeeeee. 

Sparklesparkle. Euphoria. Purejoy. Hearteyesemoji. Heppyheppyheppy. I can’t help it, I love it so much. I love helping people, I love surgery, I love my job. I like working with my team and my Doctor and it makes me ecstatic that we worked together and convinced this guy who was a hard no to invest $10,000 into his health. I’m excited to see the results and to help him. And I get to work with people who are just as excited as me. YEYY. And shout out to the true heroes of this story: oral sedatives, nitrous oxide, and Trey Songz.

“Thanks for being my bodyguard Jennifer” /sparkle.