#queue;; time is a curious thing

[adventures-written]

;; Continued from here || @pyramultimuse

Jaskier could not complain, the man was quite good looking. Given his current situation, you know, Witcherless and all, he could use some quality time with a nice individual. A distraction was certainly most welcome. “That depends,” he looked down at the tankard, noting how much alcohol the man had likely consumed, “Are you going to be able to stay awake until I’m finished my show?”

[arsenicflame]

Bonus round! Do you use a queue tag?

[adventures-written]

Valentino had been so absolutely giddy to go to this casino. The man thought this place would be a good spot to expand his ventures, but he got cocky. He underestimated the overlord of this place. Honestly, so did Angel. Val had been going on about how much of a pushover this overlord was -- and to be fair, Husker didn't look much more than a little pussy cat. Small, level-headed, not very intimidating.

At least until the stakes started getting high. Somehow the overlord of gambling had managed to convince Valentino to bet Angel's contract. His soul! If he could have a few choice words for Valentino without getting into trouble, he would have loved to. It was Val's contract to do with as he pleased, but still. This was his soul! It wasn't some hell money to just toss at someone to shut them up.

Then again, when Val looked at him all he saw was that. Money and a whore to use.

He watched with batted breathe as Valentino and Husker played their little card game. He hadn't been paying much attention before, but now that his soul was in the pot, he was watching with a heightened interest.

There was a fear there, a fear that he would get handed off to Husker and something far worse would be bestowed upon him. He didn't know the guy. He didn't know what he would or could do to him. But there was also part of him that wanted him to win. Wanted to be free of Valentino. That part was telling him that nothing could be worse than where he was right now. Anything was better than Val.

And just like that, it was done.

Husker had won the pot and Valentino was pissed. Angel yelped as chips and drinks went flying at him in Valentino's desperate attempt to get at Husker over the table. He pat the front of his outfit, quietly cursing at the drink. He was going to have to go home and change.

Home.

It didn't really occur to him that he no longer had that -- a room of his own. The reality of this whole situation likely wouldn't sink in until Husk started making changes or demands of him, though honestly, he was a porn star. What else could the guy possibly want from him other than a good time?

Looking over at the new owner of his contract, he watched as that golden piece of parchment with his name disappeared. Confident smile appeared on his face as he took his hand. There was no fear showing on the spiders face, making it hard to read. "Whatever you say, sugar. I can wear whatever you like. Including nothing at all~"

@adventures-written the huskerdust overlord au

The despair and panic in Valentino’s face when he lay down his full house brought pure satisfaction to him and the most smug smirk on his face. “No! Fuck you, you cheating bastard!”, the moth yelled at him and Husk was sure the fellow overlord would climbe over the table to strangle him any minute now, but with a simple snap of his fingers, security dragged Valentino out of his casino. The porn directors topstar and tonight's arm candy however was left alone, now that Husk was teaching for his winnings that included Angel’s contract.

Honestly, he had only talked Val into betting the soul of his precious favorite whore on this game out of spite, not because he actually wanted him, but now that his soul belonged to him, he would make sure to make good use of him. 

Handing out a hand to lead angel off the poker table, he let the contract disappear in thin air. “Welcome, Angel. Let's get you out of this cheap fit. It sure doesn't fit the aesthetic of this fine establishment.”

[commandertartarsmoocher]

On this Friday I present to you:

a small batch of today's doodles !

[adventures-written]

;; @infernal-lightning || Continued from here.

"Protection?" he raised a brow, still watching her carefully, "And what sort of protection would that be?"

If this was another situation like Mimzy where she brought trouble to the hotel, she would certainly be very unwelcome.

[adventures-written]

@surevive ;; Continued from here.

Reaching up, he brushed a hand over Vash's cheek. Something gentle, with a certain fondness he only ever showed towards him or their sisters. No one else ever received such a courtesy.

"Good," he spoke softly, "Then we can continue forward, together. Fighting for our paradise." Though, there were humans who wished to stop them. Those who had been privy to Vash before he rejoined him, and those dogs within his own ranks that had wavering loyalty.

"We can work towards humanities destruction -- which reminds me....I have a present for you." He paused, offering him his hand. "Come."

[adventures-written]

;; @thirium-blue || Continued from here.

Seeing the almost human-like concern on the androids face gave him pause. If he didn’t know any better, he would assume her to be human. She acted so like them, after all. It was easy to allow himself to slip into a soft smile around her, a hand reaching up to touch her face.

He wondered what she was thinking. He wondered about all that code running through her, calculating his body temperature, acknowledging he needed more rest. “If only I could be healthy like you. Unable to get sick or grow old...” He brushed a thumb over her cheek, soft and subtle.

The moment was quickly broken as a fit of coughing overtook him. He turned away, covering his mouth with his arm as the fit rattled through his chest. He could feel the mucus loosening, but he certainly was no where near being done with this cold. “...Can I at least make myself some tea?” he offered her a meek smile, admitting his own defeat. At least until he returned to bed and found his tablet.

[solarpunkani]

Y'know someone's probably waxed poetic about this already but it's on my mind so I'm gonna do it again.

When it comes to encouraging people to learn about native plants and habitat and involving themselves and their yards in the wider ecosystem, you gotta meet them where they're at.

And maybe that means they won't go as far into it as you are or would like them to in your wildest dreams. But even small steps count towards the bigger picture and I think we need to appreciate that more.

An example from my own life is my mom and the current gardening project we're working on. We're planning out the garden beds in the front of the yard by the mailbox--my mom's previous plantings for the most part haven't worked out, so I'm taking a crack at it.

I'm a pollinator gardening enthusiast who cares more about attracting as many butterflies bees and hummingbirds as possible than keeping things 'neat' and 'tidy'. However, not only do we live in an HOA neighborhood (though not as intense as some other stories I've heard), but I know my mother--an interior designer who has a deeply vested care for making sure the exterior of the house looks as Nice as possible.

We're still getting a pollinator garden in the front though. How? I'm meeting her where she's at, I'm making some concessions, she's making some concessions, but ultimately we're making something that works for the both of us. She doesn't want the plants too tall and messy? We'll trim them back in fall and winter--the insects can use the backyard garden to nest in. She doesn't want things too wild and bushy and weedy? We'll add a nice mulch to the beds, keep things a bit spaced out until they grow in to their larger sizes. She doesn't know the latin names for the plants I'm asking for, let alone how to pronounce them to ask for them at a garden center? That's fine, I don't know the Latin names for most things anyways, let's just use common names.

Does she care that the garden will attract butterflies and hummingbirds? Not intrinsically--she sees it as more of a bonus, if anything. She just cares about what color everything will be and if it'll be easy to maintain. The fact that they're native plants barely registers as a plus side to her. And honestly? That is fine.

If I approached this problem with a hardheaded attitude on how I wanted it to be just as wild and free as my backyard garden? There wouldn't be any native plants in the front beds. It's not like I didn't teach my mom things, but I didn't lecture her like she was lesser just for not knowing or caring as much about native gardening as I do. And that, ultimately, made her more open to the idea than she would've been if I looked down on her like I've seen too many people do to others.

Not everyone is going to develop a deeply seated care about native plants and Latin names and I don't think it's reasonable to expect that. Meet people where they're at and you just might get a lot more done. Meet people where they're at and you just might find they'll get excited enough to learn more--but if they don't want to learn more, that is fine.

We can't expect everyone on the globe to suddenly become plant experts rattling off Latin names left and right and professionally ID'ing native and invasive plants. In the same way we wouldn't expect everyone to suddenly learn the ins and outs of learning code, or how to synthesize medicines, or how to properly build a house. And that is fine. Because we can lean on those who do know when these things come up.

I lost track of where this was going but. Y'know????

[adventures-written]

;; @thirium-blue || Continued from here.

Colin stared down at Gavin, his mouth opening to respond, but paused when the man said he did not wish to hear him speak. He accepted the silent invitation, stepping inside of Gavin’s private home. Gaze scanned his surroundings, analyzing various items to get a read on the Detective he was working with. It was not as if the man was an open book. His desk was pretty bare bones at the precinct, save for many coffee stains. This place was more personal. It was where Gavin retreated to after a hard days work, where Colin assumed he felt safe and able to relax.

The android turned his attention back to Gavin as he made his way to the kitchen. He could hear the sounds of the kettle going off, indicating the hot water for coffee was complete. To the androids credit, he actually listened to Gavin for once. He did not utter a word, not until he saw Gavin take a single sip of coffee. That sip was almost like being given permission.

“I know last night was not the result we wanted,” he began, “I wanted to ensure it did not interfere with our work -- your emotions.” It was very blunt, and matter-of-fact like. The android had trouble processing human emotions or assessing them appropriately. It was a feature missing when they made him to succeed the RK800 model. Human emotions were found to cause more deviancy.

Although Colin did not fully understand the emotions that Gavin had expressed the night before, this was his way of showing concern for the man. Even if it was an off-put way of going about it.

[adventures-written]

Tesla turned her gaze back to Colt as he cleared his throat. He looked at him, nervous about trusting him. Humans were dangerous, but he didn't know what she was. Maybe that was ok?

She looked towards Ghost now, the beast being the most trustworthy thing out of all of this. He wasn't human, but he trusted a human and didn't look abused, so maybe it was ok.

After a long moment of thinking, she finally looked back at Colt and gave a slow nod. It wasn't as though she had any other options.

adventures-written​:

’ to say, kiddo. If you’re askin’ if I was in the city like you, then no. I heard some weird shit was goin’ down,” understatement, “An’ came to investigate.”

She let out a small sigh when the other didn’t seem to understand what she was trying to say to him. She supposed it she wanted that kind of answer, she would have to use her words. Something Knives always tried to push from her. Use her voice, speak up. All she found herself wanting to do though was stay quiet. Especially around those she did not know. They couldn’t be trusted.

Tesla looked back at the crater again, almost wanting to go and see if she could find Knives. Though, if he had been alive then he would have likely made it out. She couldn’t feel any sort of Plant life anymore in the crater.

“…” She was at a loss as to what to do with herself now. This world was unfamiliar to her. She didn’t believe anywhere was particularly safe either.

…Dammit, he was getting soft.

The girl looked so lost, he couldn’t just leave her here. Colt coughed under his breath to get her attention without startling her.

“You know… if ya don’t have anywhere else to go, Ghost seats two.” He nodded towards the beast, whom gave a single tail wag, stirring up sand as his tail thumped. “Least ‘til we get to some place safer? Bandits are jus’ as likely as rescue teams to show up soon.”

[badnikbreaker]

@fortruechaos / rouge & a memory? & shadow!

Rouge called him and said, "I need you here, as soon as you can." She hadn't worried he wouldn't show — he always does, when she really need its. And she had needed him here; the normally unflappable thief is clearly on edge when Shadow arrives in G.U.N. headquarters. More surprisingly, she's not bothering to hide how shaken she is for him. She barely bothered to greet the hedgehog when he'd arrived — she'd just guided him deeper into the facility, using the small tablet in her hands to hack the cameras as she went.

"Sorry to bring you here," she says, finally, as they stalk down a hallway. "I know you're on your way out." It inspires a little jealousy when she thinks about it too long — that he can leave — but it's not the point today. "But I need a favor that'll piss off G.U.N., and you're the only one who could do it."

She reaches a large door; high security. The thief pulls a keycard from within her top and swipes through twice, then types something into the tablet. The door opens. Rouge shoots Shadow a look — this one careful, almost guilty — before she enters the almost - lifeless room.

It's full of computers and medical equipment; tools for taking samples and examining them, exam tables with restraints attached. In the center is a large tube — a container of sorts, thick glass shaped like a cylinder filled with liquid and ———

An alien. A girl, almost.

Hair made of green leaves framing a wide, pale face. A dress, or organic matter that looks like it. The strange creature's blue eyes widen upon seeing the pair — it presses a hand the glass, head tilting as it floats within the strange liquid. It's a little taller than it had been, the many years ago when it had been loved. Wires extend from its back, though no pain is visible on its face or in its eyes. Its lips part. It's curious. It doesn't remember having a name.

Rouge lets the scene sink in for a moment. She remembers the alien's name and feels a kind of sickness when she thinks of it. She knows Shadow will, too.

"They haven't begun conducting any real experiments yet — she's only been up and sentient and person - shaped for a few days, based on the data I managed to dig up. But that won't last, and we both know they won't be gentle. I'm not letting G.U.N. cage her —" like it had caged both of them, "— but I'm sure I don't have to tell you why I can't just break her out myself."

"Myself," the creature says, echoing what little she can hear from the bat, the liquid distorting the sound. "Experiments?"

"She's amnesiac. The scientists didn't seem to think that'd last. She didn't remember me when I found her earlier today. Doesn't look like she remembers you, either."

[quietlyblooms]

@hehosts | ♡

she doesn't dare stand from where she sits, legs tucked beneath her. she isn't entirely sure she could stand right now, as unreal as this feels. a forgotten god approaches, questions her; she never dreamed her actions would lead to such a meeting. " i don't know much, " the artist admits, unable to keep her eyes from straying to the snake that gazes down at her. " i couldn't find any information about this place, and locals could only tell me you're a god of death. no name, even. " her eyes find his for a brief moment before falling to the ground in front of her, head bowing. she's afraid of being rude.

" i thought it was sad, that being forgotten sounded lonely. so i... cleaned the temple, tried to restore it. and then i just kept coming for some reason. " because something about it felt comforting. now she wonders if it was the god's presence rather than the peace and quiet.

[adventures-written]

 “ the cost of victory. “ -For Colin

Tis Not A Scratch

They were saving those kids, the orphans. The ones Nick was so attached to and the reason he wouldn't leave the Eye. Hank had setup somewhere for them all to go, where they could be safe. The plan had gone off relatively smoothly. They got all of the kids out, and now it was just to get themselves out and gone before anyone could question it.

That was until it happened.

Even the android was not fast enough.

Nick had been shot multiple times in the back, a number of the bullets had shot clean through before there was even a moment to react. The second Colin realized what was happening, he grabbed Nick and ducked behind some old crates. He was holding Nick, LED whirling red as he tried to comprehend the situation.

His systems began to calculate the number of different options they had. How they could work through this situation and how he could get Nick somewhere safe. Nothing seemed to work out. All of his calculations ended with errors. "Nick..." he spoke, "Stay with me. They still need you." He could hear the sounds of someone coming their way. They wouldn't be safe there for much longer, but Nick was dying.

"Stay with me."

[springcatalyst]

WAIT I havent done a poll b4 but I'm curious so my writer homies... . .

as in u write that much and you're like wow! that was pretty successful. in one sitting

[akai-anna]

*cracks knuckles and rolls up sleeves* it's Q time

[adventures-written]

The android was snapped from his thoughts as Nick nudged him. Looking back at the man, he took his words into consideration. They were still..confusing. How could a human not act human?

"Why do the people in this Eye of Michael reject their humanity?" he asked, "It sounds...Uncomfortable."

adventures-written​:

The LED indicator flashed yellow and then red as Nick spoke about his own ‘programming’. It was a curious thing to think a human could have ‘programming’. “It is…difficult for me to break away from my coding. I was not made with the intended human interaction adaptations as Connor was. However, I am..trying.” His LED continued to hold a steady yellow color as he contemplated himself and his coding.

“Hm…” Wolfwood considered Colin for a moment, tilting his head before smiling and giving him a light, affectionate nudge to the shoulder.

“…Well, I’ll admit you’re doin’ better than half the humans I know.” At least the ones at the Eye of Michael. “So whatever you’re doin’ seems to be working.”