#s'ok. i fix it.

[maretriarch]

drawing a lot of jasproses...finally took a proper gander at her canon design....hussie didnt give her either a tail or a ribbon for her princess cone hat...my literal reaction

[ozarkthedog]

𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇 𝐁𝐘 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇

summary: joel drags you onto his lap and consumes you.

warnings: 18+ mdni. joel miller x afab!reader. no physical descriptions of reader. slight dom!joel. cock riding. calling a pussy she/her. no beta. w.c: 835

author’s note: I saw a different gif of Joel sitting on the ground with his thick body and long legs, had a minor black out and this was the result. hope you enjoy!

𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭 ⋅ 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 ⋅ 𝐉𝐨𝐞𝐥 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭

Joel Miller leaning back against the headboard of your bed with his legs spread, completely nude, is a fucking sight.

Somehow, he's still so massive and intimidating in this prone position. He reminds you of a warrior or Viking God who's just come home from slaying in battle. 

Coarse hair covers his broad chest, blanketing his sturdy abdomen, and trails south below his belly button, creating a dark, densely woven path down to his pelvis. His large cock hangs heavy between his burly, spread thighs; his sac is so full and warm that it reaches the sheets. The dusty pink head weeps, dripping pre cum down the girthy shaft as it bobs and flexes at the sight of you on your knees naked before him. 

"C'mere." he husks, fisting his length with a meaty paw while you timidly crawl on hands and knees over to him.   

Your gaze travels up his belly and chest, meeting an untamed, vivid stare as his chocolate eyes bore into you. He makes you feel so small and insignificant, but you know that's a lie when he cups a worn hand along your cheek. He treats you like a goddess; like you formed the moon and stars. He revolves around you. 

"My sweet, sweet girl." he tugs you into his lap, your sensitive cunt brushing against his belly, leaving a trail of shiny arousal in its wake. "Already so wet. Bet I'll slide right in." He purrs.

His words burn wildly through you. All consuming and raging, igniting a searing heat deep in your belly. He taps his crown against your folds, a sharp, sticky 'thwap' bouncing off the walls before he lines his cock up with your tight, fluttering hole tempting a soft whimper to bubble up your throat.

"S'ok, I got you." he consoles you with a deep, soothing voice that slithers into your wary heart.

Joel grips one sturdy hand on your hip and helps you sit on his cock while the other cradles your jaw, fixing his fingers around the back of your neck. "Easy now, slow," he commands with a soft rumble.  

He traces the outline of your ear with his thumb, distracting you from the pressure as your velvet channel molds around him. He sighs, a long, winding breath through his nose, "All the way. Take e'ery inch."

His bearded jaw clenches when he bottoms out and hears your pitiful whines. Your body would loll like a ragdoll if not for his grip as a blissful fervor runs rampant up your spine and his weeping tip presses against your cervix.

Your lips pull into a tiny 'o', brows pinching tight when Joel shifts, withdrawing his cock before slowly, ever so slowly, spearing it back in and splitting you open. He smirks at your glassy eyes, all wide and wild like an animal caught in a trap.

"Thatta girl." he rumbles, thrusting his hips and breaching your cunt again. He tenderly rubs his thumb along your cheek. His cock flexes at the sight of you gradually losing your mind. "so full of cock, ya can't think straight, huh?"

He drives his cock deeper, meaty thighs bracing the backs of your own on every brutal thrust. Slick trickles down his length as he relentlessly sheathes himself in your heat like a sword spearing into its victims.

Your fingers dig into his brawny shoulders, pressing into the dense cords of muscle as they shift with every devastating shove, demonstrating his strength.

"Shh, I'll take care, a'ya." the thumb that framed your ear is now threateningly hooked under your jaw. A blunt nail acutely bites into the underside of your chin. "Always do, don't I?"

When you meet his foreboding stare, a high-pitched cry rattles through your body straight down to your cunt, making your walls clench like a vice around his length.

A chuckle rumbles from the center of his chest. "S'what I thought."

The hand around your hips tightens as his pace quickens. The pads of his fingers dig sweetly into your skin. He slithers his other hand around the back of your neck securing you in a severe grip; the pads of his fingers dig sweetly into your skin, keeping you still and compliant as the rapturous arousal blazing in your core burns brighter and brighter.

You feel him swell, pushing against your insides and forming a new pathway that'll only and always be his.

"Tha's it. Stay with me." he tips your forehead against his own and penetrates your soul with a voracious stare. "Can feel 'er, squrimin'. This sweet pussy gonna come?" 

His torso and balls tighten as you writhe in his hold and hit your peak with an agonizing, blissful cry. "Shit- 'ere ya go." he praises, growling darkly through clenched teeth, watching in awe as you convulse from his unyielding and gluttonous touch. 

He wants you close. So close he can breathe in every needy, angelic breath he punches from of your lungs as he fucks you to the edge over and over again. He wants to watch you fall apart in his arms so he can put your back together. Breath by breath. Whimper by whimper. Orgasm by orgasm.

feel free to scream at me -> 💌

->reblogs & comments are extremely appreciated!<-

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[upsidedownmvnson]

can i request eddie comforting reader after a horrible day at work?🥺

AN: I hope you didn't have a horrible day <3

You could hear the music playing before you even turned off your car. Eddie had begged you to come to the trailer after work, and you'd agreed before you went through the shift from hell.

Understaffed on the biggest sale day of the year. You were berated and belittled by people over things like toasters. As if you had any control over the amount of toasters in the store. Now, all you really wanted to do was eat your weight in sugary cereal and go to bed. But you didn't want to let him down, not after

"Hey baby," Eddie said, facing the stove. He put a lid on the frying pan, and danced his way towards you, making a quick stop to turn the stereo down. He had a huge smile on his face, he'd been watching the clock since your shift ended.

"Hey," you said, your low energy unmistakable. You set your bag down on the chair and started unzipping your jacket without even looking up at him.

"Awh, Petal, what's going on?" he asked, helping you out of your jacket and hanging it up for you while you took off your shoes. He always wanted to be around you, touching, helping, whatever.

"Like a million people called in sick," you said, pulling your shirt over your head to quickly replace it with one of Eddie's oversized tees. He pouted at the lack of enthusiasm but tried not to hold it against you, customer service was last possible choice, but you and Eddie needed the money.

"Come, come," he said, gesturing to the kitchen. "Let me finish making you some food and you can tell me about it."

And you'd sit at the little table and Eddie would listen intently as he cooks. He was making sausages and french fries. He wasn't the world's greatest chef but he took care of you. <3

For a few solid minutes, Eddie let you just rant about your day. You talked about the people who were mean to you, your bosses, until you were out of complaints. Although, it felt like they may never stop.

Eddie would let you talk for as long as you needed to until you felt better, and then he would declare, "no more work!" and aim to make you laugh, or smile for the rest of the cooking time. He cranked the music back up, and grabbed your hand, leading you in a slow, romantic dance. One that did not match the metal playing over the speakers, but you didn't care about that.

And when the food was ready, he'd fix you a little plate, giving you the less burnt sausage and the best looking fries. Eating dinner with Eddie was one of those simple pleasures. The way he just wanted to be around to take care of you made your heart swell. He just wanted you to be the happiest you could possibly be at all times.

After dinner, you and Ed stood side by side doing the dishes, Eddie washing, you drying. This was when Eddie started telling you all about his new campaign and all the turmoil he's about to put his friends through, and you could listen to him all night.

"And then bam!" he slammed his fists without thinking, splashing soapy water into the air. "A dragon appears." He looked down at his soaked shirt and smiled dumbly at you, gooey eyes melting away any remaining annoyance of the day. "And now I'm drenched, but luckily milady remains unscatched!" And finally, you were laughing. Eddie would smile softly, proud that he could help pull you out of a crummy afternoon.

"Eddie," you'd whisper when he starts rattling off a list of fun things you guys could go do, and ask, "can we just snuggle and watch a movie?" Eddie would get one look at you with your soft eyes and adorable pout, and give in to whatever you wanted. Of course, you guys could just do a movie.

"A little sleepy, my love?" he'd asked, "or are you still sad about work today?"

You sighed. "Both."

"S'ok, baby, we can snuggle," he said, pulling you in for a hug first. If there was anything Eddie like to do, it was be connected with you. Hugging, holding hands, kissing, however you would let him.

You two would share a joint, sitting flush against each other - as Eddie always did with you, in the cold, wearing big sweaters instead of your jackets. The last step in settling in for movie night. And Eddie would even let you pick the movie, even if it wasn't your turn.

"I love you," you'd mumble, watching him draw the last puff.

"I love you more," he'd always say. "Now let's go get under those blankets, it's colder than fuck out here."

Hand in hand the two of you would giggle your way to the bedroom, as if you hadn't spent the night a hundred times. But the giddiness never really went away. After all, he'd just turned a terrible day into a lovely night.

You huddled under the blanket, watching him set up the movie and flop back onto the bed when it started. Eddie liked to be the little spoon, he liked to be held, and kissed, and have his hair played with. But today it was your turn, so Eddie would let you tuck into his side, get cozy again his shoulder, and just still enough to not disturb you. He was the kinda guy who would let his arm go totally numb just because of how cute you looked.

"You look beautiful by the way," he whispered, kissing the side of your hair. "I forgot to say it because I was so distracted by how pretty you are."

You made a content noise in response, and he could feel your smile over his shirt where your head was laying on his chest.

For a few minutes, Eddie was just quietly watching the movie, when you fell asleep a few minutes in. He should have known better, you were exhausted from work. But it didn't bother him, he just watched the movie you chose.

[caphayzardous]

update on the last couple months?

things have been good with sweetheart, no longer getting those big big downward mood swings since I got back in early june, so that's great. been seeing them a lot, feel pretty good about all that.

uni... is uni, it's okay, kind of fun, always more work to do and it quickly feels overwhelming, really hard to get started on particular tasks. I'm gonna have to do more energy drinks about it. I also recently found out I can have instant mi goreng again after like a decade of boycotting it lol so I'm getting right on that - it's like reliving the childhood you never had, but instead it's reliving the 18y/o-first-year-uni-student experience I never had?

the big issue has been that I have had no income since I took the leave of absence (in... late-march??), and obvs the trip wiped out my savings as expected, so for the last two months since getting back my money has been dwwwindlinggg... have still been unable to get a job, and was not approved for studentallowance (which was very, very upsetting. I also can't get jobseekerwhile studying).

however! over just this last week I've been in contact with a friend-of-a-friend who seems to have gotten me a job at a supermarket. I'm still very afraid it could fall through, even though it's looking fairly solid... pleeeeease need it to work out, haha.

health... well it's fine, some small things off, my neck is doing something fucking awful for weeks and I have no idea [nor money] how to fix that, and I need to get my thyroid checked again. eating okay at least! still all bachelor meals but that's life. well, bachelor meals, and meals-at-restaurants-with-my-girl, and those I can't afford but I've been doing it anyway. I had a few good weeks of gym, dropped off again since uni started up - not sure how I'm going to fit it back into the sched.

friends good. been nice seeing friends sometimes. one friend left for sanfran a few weeks ago (they come back in oct tho). saw a good friend a couple times last month, tho he's been recovering from surgery lately. smattering of other friends about. seeing my sweetheart a lot. love my best friend; had a boardgame night the other night, and we got drunk at the beach the other day, and im going to her place tomorrow to Read Books haha (and she got me in contact with the person who might get me that job!). obvs I dont have any classes with my fave uni friend anymore, but we do have lunch 2gether on wednesdays when we're both on campus.

alright!

overall: s'ok!

[loverhymeswith]

❛ don’t you know what you’re doing to me? ❜ With Stephen 🥰

Patience is a Virtue | Stephen Holder x F!Reader

Enough

Word count: 2,411 words

Warnings: Swearing, smoking, implied smut

A/N: Thank you to the lovely @a-reader-and-a-writer and @skvatnavle for beta reading, and to @babblydrabbly for the original idea that Reader should get her revenge on Holder after the video call with her parents! <3

Joel Taglist: @bewitchedignition @mayhem24-7forever @weallhaveadestiny @a-reader-and-a-writer @babblydrabbly @skvatnavle @christinasyellowflowers @11thstreetvigilante @yespolkadotkitty @lavenderluna10 @heresathreebee @immyownlittlebitch

The sun is slowly setting on what has been an unusually dry day in Seattle, casting the interior of the car in a warm orange glow. Despite the fact that you are supposed to be watching the hotel entrance for any sign of the suspect leaving, you can’t seem to take your eyes away from Holder. He’s slumped low in his seat, one arm folded across his chest as he sips his take-out soda, chewing on the straw thoughtfully. Unlike you, his attention seems to be fixed on the task at hand for once.

Although your feelings for him are no longer a secret, it’s still rare that you get the opportunity to sit and watch him like this. To study the angle of his jaw and the softness of his lips, the intensity of his gaze. In these quiet moments when it’s just the two of you alone together, you can feel your heart swell with gratitude for the fact that you get to call him yours – that, and another emotion you are not quite ready to put a label on.

After a few minutes have passed, Holder breaks the comfortable silence, his eyes still trained on the front of the hotel when he speaks. “Can feel you lookin’ at me.”

“What? I’m not looking at you.” You make a point to stare out of the window instead, a flush of heat burning your cheeks. The two of you have been intimate in more ways than you could have imagined over the last few months, but he still has the power to make you feel shy and flustered.

“You ain’t as subtle as you think, y’know. Can practically see you droolin’.”

“I’m not,” you repeat, keeping your attention on the building before you, even as you casually touch your finger to the corner of your mouth.

“Don’t worry mama, s'ok. I’m all yours, remember? You can look and you can touch.” He finally turns to face you, waggling his eyebrows to emphasise the point.

You lean back in your seat and cross your own arms, mirroring his body language. Despite a valiant effort, you can’t resist the temptation to smile. Thanks to Holder, you’ve been doing that a lot recently – smiling.

“Wouldn’t want to distract you.” You nod towards the hotel, but you sense that it might already be too late as you feel Holder’s focus turn to you instead. The weight of his attention prickles against your skin, tugging insistently at something deep within your chest.

“You should call in,” you suggest, before he can argue. “Find out where the relief team is. They should have been here to take over by now.”

If you’re being totally honest, you yearn for his touch. The two of you have been sitting here for hours now, ever the consummate professionals, but the desire to feel him under your skin is becoming too much to bear.

“Thought you liked bein’ stuck in a car with me,” he teases.

“I mean, we could be at home right now.” You raise an eyebrow pointedly.

His hazel eyes widen. “Oh snap, I feel you mama. Hold that thought. Lemme call ‘em.” Hurriedly, he digs out his cell phone and begins to dial the ops team.

It’s a struggle to keep the same smile from returning to your face as you listen to him pestering for an update. Every now and then he throws a pained expression your way, making it quite clear that he’s now just as eager to get home as you are.

“Twenty minutes.” He frowns finally, tossing his phone onto the back seat with a sigh. “Fuckin’ idiots. They forgot about us. Can you believe that?”

“It’s OK.” Your fingers ghost over his knee before reaching to swipe the drink from his hands. “I guess we’ll just have to wait it out.”

“Damn, I forgot how much I hate stakeouts.” Holder’s face is still creased with irritation as he slumps back in his seat and folds his arms again. Honestly, you’re a little irritated too, but unlike Holder you’re going to make the best of a bad situation.

“They’re not so bad.” You shrug, taking a sip of soda. “At least we got lunch this time. Do you remember our first stakeout together?”

“The Barton case last year, right?” he asks, eyeing you across the car. His legs have started bobbing where he sits, a sure sign that his patience is beginning to wear thin.

“That’s the one. I picked you straight up from the court case you were testifying on. Then we were stuck in the car for twelve hours.” Shuddering at the memory, you hand him back his drink. As your fingers brush his, you take in a deep and silent breath, willing yourself to wait just a little longer. You’ll be home before you know it.

“Y’know, I was pretty sure you was gonna kill me that day. Or at least put in a transfer request.” He smirks, clearly remembering your time spent trapped in the car just as well as you do.

“You didn’t stop talking for twelve hours, Holder,” you remind him with a grimace. “Twelve hours!”

He shrugs. “Ay, I talk a lot when I’m nervous a’ight?”

“What did you have to be nervous about?” You laugh, trying to recall if you noticed anything odd about his behaviour that day.

“You,” he responds, his expression turning serious for a moment. He rubs the back of his neck before elaborating. “I mean - bein’ in the car alone with you for all that time. Told you already, I had the hots for you back then. Was still tryin’ to decide if I should make a move.”

Your partner’s admission startles you. Back then, you never would have guessed that anything of the sort had been going through his head. He had seemed far too busy, talking your ears off all throughout the day and long into the night.

Fishing a carton of cigarettes from his coat pocket, Holder continues. “But you was lookin’ at me like you wanted to wrap your hands ‘round my throat.” He chuckles lightly at the memory. “So I figured hittin’ on you might not be a good idea.”

Still taken back by his revelation, you pause for a moment to look at him again. He’s being completely serious and you can’t help but wonder what would have happened if he had made a move that day. Sure, you were a little irritated by his inability to shut up, but his incessant chatter hadn’t been the only thing on your mind during the stakeout.

Your response, when it finally comes, is likely not what Holder has been expecting. “That was the first time I ever saw you out of a hoodie,” you tell him.

It had been quite the shock to find him coming down the steps of the courthouse in a dark grey suit and tie, and when he’d climbed into the car, you’d been lost for words. It turned out that he scrubbed up very well. Unlike his regular loose-fitting jeans and hoodie combination, the suit clung to him just right, emphasising the broad lines of his shoulders and the thick muscles of his thighs. And you had been shamefully staring at him, just like earlier today. It’s a miracle he hadn’t noticed.

“Yeah?” His lips quirk into a handsome smile. “You liked the suit?”

“I liked it a lot.”

Holder doesn’t seem to catch the deeper meaning behind your words. His attention has drifted back to the hotel and he’s starting to light his cigarette. A rush of heat floods your body as you remember just how good he looked in that suit, forcing the next statement out of your mouth before you can second guess yourself.

“It was probably the first time I thought you were hot.”

His eyes flick back to you, widening a fraction as your own admission sinks in. Then, with mock alarm, he pulls the cigarette from his mouth without lighting it. “You think I’m hot?” he teases.

“Of course I do,” you slap his arm playfully. “But back then, it kind of scared me.”

He considers this for a moment before returning the unlit cigarette to the packet. “Damn. All those hours in the car together and you were thinkin’ about me the whole time?”

He’s not entirely wrong.

“I thought you were hot,” you clarify, biting your lip. “I didn’t start thinking about you like that til much later.”

Legs bouncing beneath the wheel again, he studies you carefully. “Thinkin’ ‘bout me like what?”

Leaning back in your seat, you can feel the tension in your shoulders loosen, along with your inhibitions. For a while now, you’ve noticed that being with Holder brings you out of your shell - in more ways than one. You enjoy surprising him. You love seeing that look of awe that spreads across his face whenever you say or do something unexpected. And instinct tells you that the next words out of your mouth are going to have that very effect.

“Like imagining you fucking me over our desk.”

Just as you suspected, his jaw drops and after a beat of stunned silence he chokes out his response. “Yo - for real?”

A shy smile tugs at your lips and you nod. You hadn’t ever planned on telling him about that, but as usual, in these quiet moments when it’s just the two of you, you find yourself opening up to him.

“For real,” you assure him. “Remember when we got back from the D.A's office a couple of months ago?”

“Oh shit. You ain’t kiddin’. Knew you was lookin’ at me all kinds of weird that day. You seriously thought ‘bout me fuckin’ you like that?” Slowly his gaze darkens, making you wonder if he's having that very same thought right now.

You nod again, a flame of desire igniting within the pit of your stomach as you replay the fantasy in your own mind. While those startling daydreams might not have been entirely responsible for the two of you ending up together, they certainly played a part in opening you up to the idea of this – of him.

Holder has started to shift uncomfortably, his watch on the hotel almost entirely forgotten. “Fuck, you can’t drop a bombshell like that on me when I can’t do anythin’ ‘bout it,” he grumbles, throwing his head against the back of his seat as he checks his watch. “Where the hell are these guys?”

With a start, you realise that he’s flustered. Just as flustered as he makes you feel on a regular basis. The shift of power sparks a thrill that runs through your entire body. Tearing your eyes away from him, you return your attention to the building, all the while wondering how you can take advantage of this new situation you’ve found yourself in.

“They'll be here soon,” you assure him.

“Not soon enough,” Holder groans, eyes shuttering. “I gotta get you home.”

“Oh?” A coy smile tugs at the corners of your mouth. “What are you going to do when you get me home, Stephen?”

“Nope. Don’t start that,” he whines, shifting in his seat again with another pained expression. “Not when I can’t touch you.”

You have implemented a very strict rule about keeping your hands off one another when you’re on the job, not least to prevent anyone seeing the two of you, but also to avoid any distractions. Now however, you can’t help but regret it. There’s nothing you’d like more in this moment than to run your hand along his thigh and feel the way he trembles beneath your touch.

“Should I tell you what I’m going to do?” you suggest, careful to keep an innocent tone to your voice, despite your thoughts being anything but.

“Fuck,” he sucks in a breath through his teeth. “What you gonna do?”

Leaning in close - so close he can feel your breath fan across his jaw – you begin to whisper. “I’m going to use these lips…” you brush them over his skin, just the ghost of a kiss, “… to make you feel really good.”

Holder lets out a strangled moan beside you. Instinctively, you glance down at his jeans and find them already straining over his hardening length. A pulse of wicked delight fills your chest.

“Do you want to know what else I’m going to do?”

“Think you’re gonna kill me baby but fuck yeah,” he urges. “Tell me what else you’re gonna do?”

Before you can answer, an unmarked car rounds the corner. Recognising the driver, you release a silent cheer; it’s about time. To your amusement and delight, Holder already has the engine running before the relief team finishes pulling up behind you.

“Halle -fuckin’-lujah,” he grunts, now speeding off in the direction of his apartment.

“You still want to know what else I’m going to do?” you murmur softly. It’s at least another twenty minutes before you’ll make it home, even without traffic, and you’re having fun making him sweat.

“Yes,” he grinds out, fingers clutching the wheel tightly as he studiously keeps his eyes on the road.

“I’m going to take off all your clothes. And then mine...”

Fingers tightening even further around the steering wheel, he clenches his jaw. “Damn mama, don’t you know what you’re doin’ to me?”

“I have a pretty good idea.” Grinning, your eyes drift back to his straining erection. You just can’t help yourself any longer. Reaching over, you gently run the tip of your finger along the side of his thigh. He shudders and moans beneath your touch, but his sounds of pleasure are quickly replaced by a sudden curse as he runs a red-light.

“Holder!” you chastise, although you know full well that you’re really the one to blame.

He flashes you a slightly sheepish expression. "S'ok baby. The traffic cops owe me one. We good."

"Huh.” You shrug, another wicked idea slowly coming to your mind. “So… you don't want me to book you?"

When he looks at you with his brow creased in confusion, you reach out to him again. This time, struggling to hide your amusement, you slip your hand beneath his hoodie and run your finger along the smooth cold metal of the handcuffs at his belt.

It only takes him a second to catch up.

“Fuck, baby. Now you’re really tryin’ to kill me.”

[mwolf0epsilon]

What’s wrong with having curly hair?

Summary: Mae has some strong opinions about straightening irons and self-image.

[I've seen way too many people saying curly hair is unappealing and that people with naturally curly hair should straighten it chemically to look more professional, and honestly that irks me a bit. So who better to vent these thoughts through than Mae who has very thick curly hair?]

[THIS STORY IS NOW ON AO3]

---

The straightening iron gets torn out of the poor Shiny's hands before he even realises what's going on. There's enough time to yelp and jump back (the trooper's shoulders knocking against one of his squad members's chest), before the poor kid is pulled forward by the collar of his body-glove.

"What do you think you're doing?!" The Wolfpack's natborn engineer hisses, clearly upset at something.

It wasn't often that Mae acted so unwelcoming to any of the Shinies, or even to their attempts at figuring out what to do with their appearances, but the sight of the straightening iron had made her freeze mid-conversation with Bully and Jawbreaker.

Something terribly haunted had crossed her face and she'd rushed forward to snatch the offending item from the trooper's grasp. Both ARCs had been caught so off guard that they were just openly gawking at the whole thing.

"A-Ah, I was just... I just wanted to fix up my hair!" The clone Mae had startled stammered as he tried to pull away from the vice grip on his collar. It was a little odd seeing a 5'2" girl pulling a 5'7" man down so easily, but then again Mae was known for being a lot stronger than she looked. You had to be if you had to cart around such heavy equipment all the time, and Mae did take a little bit of pride in working out regularly.

"Your hair's fine as it is." The girl huffed as she let go of the newbie's collar, the hand holding the straightening iron clenching further. "You don't need to ruin it with this piece of junk..."

"But... But everyone else has curly hair! Why can't I... Why can't I have straight hair? It'd, I think it'd look nicer..." The trooper protested.

"What's wrong with curly hair?" Mae cocked her hair to the side. Her own curls bouncing slightly with the motion.

"It looks... It looks kind of messy." The Shiny admitted. "I don't... I don't want to look messy, or dirty or..."

"What's your name?" Mae interrupts, trying not to glare at the explanation he'd been giving her.

"His name is Neatfreak." One of the other Shinies offers.

"Ah.... Look Neat, s'ok if I call you Neat? Of course it is." Mae sighed. "Your hair doesn't look messy the way it is. It looks nice and you obviously put a lot of care into it already... Straightening it will just damage it, and honestly straight hair isn't all that great to begin with. It gets knotted, it looks weird in the wind, and it can get in the way when you're nose deep in whatever task you're doing at the moment..."

Neatfreak frowned, considering her every word and pondering on the pros and cons. He didn't look too convinced.

"Also have you seen Crys of the 212th? Straight piss yellow hair? The guy looks like a clown! The 104th is a badass battalion, if you want to look distinct how about a cool tattoo? Or some piercings? Or a intricate fade? You have tons of brothers here that can make you look both very presentable and very cool."

That seemed to do the trick. Nit-picky about his appearance or not, the prospect of looking like a badass always got the Shinies beaming with excitement. Plus a little sibling rivalry sprinkled in the middle helped push them in the right direction.

Once the squad of newbies was sent off to the barracks with the best inkers, barbers and jewellers of the 104th as a reference, Bully and Jawbreaker finally approached Mae. They both seemed apprehensive.

"Wha' wash dah' all abou'?" Jawbreaker asked out of curiosity.

".... There's nothing wrong with having curly hair." The engineer sighed before looking hatefully at the straightening iron still in her grasp. "And these stupid things shouldn't even be anywhere near the GAR..."

There's no need to tell them about how her mother would straighten Mae's hair against her wishes, claiming that such a prestigious youth as herself (the child of a Senator) shouldn't look like an ugly slums brat.

Her mother who'd long since chemically straightened her own hair so she'd never have to look in a mirror and remember where she'd come from, because that girl was dead and gone and riches and power would surely bring her the happiness her childhood lacked.

Kriffing straightening iron...

[thesunshinebunny]

When the world falls apart, the only thing we can hold onto is ourselves (Part IV)

Series Master list

pairing: canon Eren Jaeger x reader

content: Angst, unstable relationship, breakup, smut/nswf+18, major character death, violence, blood (obviously), war (pretty obvious)

summary: War and hate. It’s what defined the world at this exact moment. You failed your comrades, and by failing them, you failed yourself. Your relationship is hanging by a thread and your enemies will not only be found on the other side of the sea, but also in the mind of the person you love the most. How will you take the reins in the face of so much destruction?

Chapter Summary: Talk doesn´t seem to be like a good attack plan and now reader has to run for their life and avoid being caught by the Jaegerists.

Words Count: 6.1k

Silence reigned in the room. Only our breaths could be heard, some agitated, others calm, as well as footsteps fading at the end of the corridor. I could feel my heart pounding hard on my chest, inwardly wishing that no one could hear it. From the distance that each one was, I doubted it was physically possible; But let's face it, in a world full of humans turned into Titans, whose possessors can regenerate their body parts, listening to the beat of a heart shouldn’t be a difficult task.

"I wanted to speak with you"

Eren's lifeless eyes weren't focused on anyone in particular, I could notice his face even darker than it had been in recent days and a look much duller. My hand on the table was very close to his, threatened with blood staining from the crimson pool that was forming on the beautiful white tablecloth.

On my left side, the little girl was shaking up and down, not looking at anyone or anything at all. She also had her hands on the table, as did everyone. I directed my gaze towards the other companions at the table, the three were reversed in a conversation that I had no intention of being part of. The only thing that interested me was to give a little security to this poor girl.

I made a little movement with my elbow and shoulder toward her, trying to get her attention, but it didn't make her turn around. I tried again, this time launching a breathless and very low 'hey', taking advantage of the voices at medium volume to lighten mine. That did work. The girl had turned her eyes to me, she was still extremely scared and it showed in her eyes and all over her face. I was very sorry to see her like this.

I gave her a slight smile, curling the tip of my lip upward, and nodded. Her gaze locked with mine for a few seconds and I could see how she was calming down, even a little, but it was there. It was a stressful situation for everyone, I didn't even want to imagine what she must feel, and if my possibilities were within bringing her some calm, I would. I made a little "s'ok" with my lips without speaking, not even whispering.

"Are you paying attention?" My gaze turned to the source of the problem again. Eren had his eyes fixed hard on my face. I thought I might have gone unnoticed, but I was wrong.

I adjusted my posture on the chair, now staring forward, but with my eyes fixed on those intense but haggard gray-green eyes. I took my gaze away from his for a second to see the girl next to me, who was again trembling with fear, and I reached my hand towards hers, returning my gaze to it’s previous position. Eren  clenched his fist at this movement and furrowed his brow even more, sending me a silent and mental warning. I ignored his threat and grabbed the girl's hand, at no point taking my eyes off his and accentuating my head up high.

"Keep your hands on the table Mikasa"

His gaze now turned to his childhood friends, standing myself alone at the side of the table, failing incredibly to calm a twelve-year-old girl. And as if there was nothing that could make the situation worse and make the moment much more stressful, they had to touch on sensitive issues, issues that were like putting a finger on the sore.

"Armin, you keep going to see Annie, do you really do it of your own free will?" Was it really necessary? There was nothing, or so it seemed, that could give any indication that Annie was about to wake up, and the fact that Armin wanted to go see her didn’t seem bad at all, or at least that’s what I thought; Indeed, it clearly showed Armin's sentimental attraction to her.

Yes, Annie was an important key to the investigation of the titans, but that was four years ago, now we were just sitting back in the chair and hoping that, by some miracle, the glass that surrounded Annie and left her in a reverie state will unfreeze. That Armin came to see her didn’t change anything in the plans of the militancy, much less the legion.

"Since you inherited the memories, a part of you is now Berthold"

Ah, that’s where the shots came from. It was difficult to understand the powers and responsibilities that came with being a titan shifter. We weren’t only talking about the short life that the owners unfortunately had to endure, but also the memories of their predecessors, memories that could haunt their current owner.

Likewise, blaming Armin for Berthold's memories wasn't going to fix things. Armin was still Armin, the sweet and calm boy, willing to fight if necessary, but always opting for the least violent solution, the most civilized one. He tried it on Annie and he tried it on Berthold, failing both times.

It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair to blame Armin for having the memories of one of our enemies in his mind, memories that I never wish to obtain or see. As far as I knew, Grisha's memories, while they had been an impact towards the general knowledge of the world, hadn’t shaped Eren ... had they?

Nor was it fair to see how the same boy who had so supported his childhood friend in the years as a recruit, was internally unbalanced by the stubbornness of that friend. See how fear invaded his gaze and he was petrified to such putrid revelations.

"Eren ..." I tried to stop him, God, I swear I tried to stop him.

I tried to use the word my comrades wanted to use so badly, the words Armin wanted to use, but they weren't enough. In a thousandth of seconds, horrific ideas flashed through my mind, wishing none of them would come true. If the conversation went this way, it could end not just a friendship of years, but the sanity of all of us. I wasn't important in this trio, I was an add-on, and I couldn't allow Eren to continue destroying relationships and people wherever he stepped.

But I wasn't quick enough to stop him with words. When he finished defenestrating Armin, he turned his attention to Mikasa. Of all the people, the one who I was most afraid was her, the person who would collapse the most if he detached himself from her half-brother.

"You too Mikasa"

My eyes went wide as I heard the truths of the Ackerman clan. Created and genetically engineered to protect and follow orders, without conscience, without free will. Mikasa was devastated and I could see in her eyes how images of her childhood passed through her mind, images and memories that now seemed like a lie, a sham.

"In short ... a clan created to protect others who have no conscience of their own"

"Eren, stop" Armin was just as scared as I was, praying to any God who had been watching us that so much evil stop at once, that those words would stop coming out of that damn viperine tongue. Eren was vomiting word after word, without measuring the consequences, without measuring the damage it could cause to Mikasa's mind.

"In other words, slaves"

The situation was getting out of hand. Nothing we could say or do right now was going to help. The conversation that Armin wanted with all his might to take place was going overboard. If the others could be present with us, they would see clearly like me how the faith in his friend was dissipating with the seconds in the blond's gaze.

"At last I understand why I hated to see a slave who carried out all orders without question"

His eyes were filled with hatred, resentment, anger, contempt, and a thousand other degenerative feelings. His intention was very clear the moment he entered the room: to hurt; and he was succeeding.

He’d done me a lot of damage in the last year, such damage that it reached the darkest and inner corridors of my mind and it was impossible for me to move forward on a gray and dubious course, and now he was willing to continue doing more damage, this time to his closest friends, those people that I never thought, that never crossed my mind, he could destroy internally. He was annihilating their willpower and their desire to fight, and he’s doing so by colossal steps.

"Eren that's enough!" Armin and I shouted in unison. We didn’t necessary have to say a word or look at each other to know that the next words were going to be disastrous.

"Mikasa, I have always hated you"

That was the breaking point. Mikasa's eyes filled with tears and they didn't last for a second on her lids, they were already being spilled onto her cheeks. She was completely devastated and I couldn't blame her. The person who had given her a home after the brutal murder of her parents, the person to whom she was so devoted and would give her life, was turning his back on her, as well as killing sentimentally.

"You damn bastard!"

Armin jumped on the table with the intention of reaching the dark-haired man, but he didn’t get very far, being pulled from the chest to the hard wood of the furniture by Mikasa herself. And that only made the situation worse and agreed with Eren. It was as if fate was laughing at us for trying to pull the strings of our paths, strings that handled us like puppets and over which we had no control.

Mikasa let go of Armin's hand when she realized the act she just did, horrified with herself, and he now had the opportunity to pounce on Eren, throwing a punch in the middle of his face and throwing him to the floor. With that, the table flew backwards and in a reflex action, I also threw myself back, letting the chair fall to one side and avoiding any blow that the table could give me.

Unconsciously I lunged towards the girl next to me, preventing at all times that the table hit her or that some of the two men who were fighting each other to ended up bumping into her. I pushed her away from any crossing point and hid her behind my back, using my body as a shield against any impact that could shoot towards our position. Mikasa had also run to the left side of the wine cabinet, contemplating the scene before hers with complete sadness.

Eren's fist slammed into Armin's face, throwing him straight into the cabinet, knocking a few wines against his back and knocking a couple of ceramic plates to the floor. My instincts screamed I needed to help Armin, even knowing that he could regenerate in a matter of seconds, that the cuts and bruises weren't going to last long, but that wasn't why I wanted to help him.

It wasn’t the pain and physical blows that worried me, but the psychological anger and damage that this was entailing.

"Jaeger-san!"

Two followers slammed into the room, pointing their rifles directly at Armin and Mikasa's heads. They were unaware of my presence, paying more attention to the boy beaten from head to toe and the girl crying like a river.

I took a step forward and reaffirmed my theory, my presence wasn’t being recognized. I took another step, and another, and another, until I was right next to the fallen table and turned around, making sure the girl was still where I left her, that she was safe and sound. I gestured with my finger to my lips for her to be quiet and to stay still and turned to the scene in front of me. Eren kept beating poor Armin, who was unable to defend himself properly. He was right, in a hand-to-hand fight, Armin would be the worst off, even myself, but that didn't mean I couldn't manage to come out victorious.

Next to me, the chair Eren was sitting at a few seconds ago was still in the same place where he felt. With great care and tranquility, I bent down to grasp the back legs of it, without taking my eyes off Eren or the pseudo-guards who still had with their rifles at a shooting position, raised it to the height of my head and then smashed it against the two armed men in the stomach area. I hurriedly kicked each of them to the face, preventing them from having a chance to get up quickly, just as I slung the rifles from their shoulders with the same leg and pushed them away under a window. Without wasting time, I turned around to find Eren realizing the events that were happening next to him, and I wedged a blow in the middle of his face, in the same way Armin had done.

The blow hadn't been quite strong since he didn't fall to the ground, but it was enough to throw him off balance and make him leave Armin alone. The blonde fell to the floor, exhausted and sore from the multiple punchs to the face he had suffered, and I continued to give a new blow to the stomach height to the brunette in front of me. One of his knees fell to the ground, giving me the opportunity to grab his arm and twist him from behind, immobilizing him. I put my other arm over his armpit, preventing him from moving his arms and his upper body.

“That’s enought you fucking bastard. Mikasa..."

My face was on the crook of Eren's neck, preventing me from seeing clearly ahead, but my partial gaze sought out those tear-filled gray eyes to signal her to help me. My voice was already a signal for help even if I wasn't yelling. I could see how those eyes were full of conflicts, a battle was being fought inside her mind and she seemed to not be able to reason what she saw.

"MIKASA!"

This time I did yell, asking with all my will Mikasa could come to her senses, that she could help me with the lost cause Eren was now. I wasn’t going to be able to control him for much longer, I didn’t have the necessary strength and that was why I was trying to reach her. But the fear in my eyes was reflected when I saw that she wasn’t moving, that she was simply watching with tears in her eyes, eyes that would surely be cloudy and couldn’t see clearly. My fear was reflected when I saw that no one was going to be able to help me.

Eren hit his head against mine, right on the septum of my nose. My head jerked back involuntarily and my arms lost support on his. He grabbed my left hand, holding it high, much higher than my head, uncovering my stomach and his knee hitting it’s pit, not just once, but twice. His leg hit my knee, yanking it back and knocking me off what little balance I had left.

His grip on my hand released and I fell hard on my knees and hands onto the wooden floor. My stomach was spasming and I regurgitated bile, struggling to take in some air that I was deprived of in a matter of milliseconds. I coughed all I could until my stomach settled back, but I was unable to get back to my feet. I felt two pairs of hands grab my arms and I stood up abruptly, grabbing my hair even and looking up as the turquoise eyes set at my point of view.

"Why do you always have to be in the middle? Why can you never stay quiet in a corner without sticking your nose in someone else's butt? " Without my noticing, his fist slammed into my nose, hitting the septum back and most likely breaking it. My head cocked to the side and I could see drops of blood falling to the ground and a stream spreading from under my nostrils to my chin. "It was frustrating to see how in all the missions you were there, being a useless without importance"

Useless? I was the one who treated his wounds in training, tying his head when he hit the stone floor in his practice with the movement equipment. I was the one who put cold water on his ankle when he bent it while running through the lush forest on a rainy day. I was the one who pushed him to the side when he was going to hit a stone face down for not looking where he was going. I was one of those who saved him when he was captured by Reiner and Berthold. I was the one who pulled him out of the middle of an onslaught of titans when he first activated the coordinate, even with a wounded and bleeding shoulder.

I was the one who slapped him to make him stop crying inside the cave when Rod Reiss was transforming, claiming this wasn’t the time for his tantrums and that if he wanted to make a change in this whole twisted story, he better put down the crocodile tears for when he was in the quiet of his bed.

It was me who warned him of dozens of Marleyan soldiers when he shed from his titan back at Libero.

“And yet you continued to stick to me like a lap dog to the leg of it’s owner. Yet another slave. Makes me gag just looking at your face"

I turned my face to him, fixing my eyes on his, conveying all the hatred and contempt he was making me feel. I felt my heart shrink at such crude words, but my duel had started several weeks ago and they didn’t achieve the same effect as with Mikasa. What he did was get me to give him a contemptuous half smile and laugh in his face. His eyes darkened when he saw my reaction. Whether he expected it or not was no longer important to me. He gave a slight nod to the men behind me and I noticed how my arms were gathered around my back and tightened so that I couldn't move. One of them walked away from me and went straight towards Mikasa and Armin, pointing his rifle at their heads.

"Take them, the brat who killed Sasha too"

I wasn’t going to allow it.

My two comrades were pushed into the corridor outside while I glared at them waiting for my turn to go out with the man behind me. The girl was completely scared and she had walked to the door of her own will, perhaps avoiding being further hurt. The moment Eren was about to leave, I slapped my head against the man's face repeatedly until his grip weakened and I was able to move freely again. I turned to him, kneeing him in the face and stomach. When I managed to reduce him to the ground, making him roll into a ball and couldn't move without causing him pain when he breathed, I wanted to turn towards the door with the sole intention of getting the poor girl out of the conflict. My hand was halfway searching for her when Eren grabbed it and yanked me back violently, slamming me against the table.

I lost my balance for a second and as an involuntary act I grabbed the tablecloth, but that didn’t do much, making me fall to the floor in the same way. Eren lunged at me, his body falling completely on top of mine and pinning me to the ground. His legs were positioned at each place of my torso and his fist hit my face not once, not twice, but three times, noticing how the cheek bone began to burn. I lifted my knee to the side of his ribs, my nails finding the skin of his face, and pushed him toward the table, hitting his back against the hard wood and tangling with the tablecloth.

I got up to run, but his leg hit my ankle causing me to fall on my face and hands. When I wanted to turn around again I felt his weight against mine, his legs now better placed on my knees and both hands holding my neck. He squeezed, I felt like the air was beginning to thin, my vision was turning white and I could feel my face redden. I tried to hit him in the face, but I wasn't strong enough to make him stop. I reached the same hand towards my side visualizing one of the chairs thrown by the fight with Armin but Eren was faster and his knee was now pressing against my inner arm.

I was running out of air and at any moment I was going to lose consciousness. In a desperate attempt I turned my eyes around me as best I could and found a bottle of wine broken in half lying a few inches from us, though too far away for me to just reach out. My fingers couldn't even touch the surface of the glass and on my last attempt before I fainted, I pushed myself towards the bottle, grabbed it by the spout, and pulled it towards Eren's face, driving the broken surface onto his cheek and eye. 

Eren grunted in pain and released his hands from my neck, giving me a chance to push him back with both legs and barely get up to run. With cloudy vision and an incredible urge to cough thanks to the pressure on my cervicals and thyroids, I could not make out the whereabouts of the Marleyan girl and ran out the door to the corridor. As I passed the threshold slamming the door wide, rifle bullets were aimed at me, miraculously failing to hit my body. I shrunk my body as much as I could without stopping my feet and looked towards the end of the corridor, finding the second man who was with Armin and Mikasa shooting at me from behind them.

I was about to fall to the ground when Mikasa slammed her shoulder against his, causing him to stagger backward and she struggled to get the rifle out of his hands. In those few seconds of advantage, Armin stepped between the line of fire and me in case any bullets were fired and yelled from his position.

"Go!" I don’t know if it was due to lack of air that I couldn’t react at all quickly and when seeing my indecision to run to where the two of them were or go through the back window, Armin again shouted angrier and more determined "Just go!"

Behind me was a window with broken glass, I assumed due to the bullet holes of the rifle, with a simple blow with my elbow I could break a large part of the glass and jump to the side of the street, but not before giving one last look at Armin and Mikasa, who were still battling the man and Eren coming out of the room half healed and with smoke coming from his wounds.

I fell onto the cobbled street and started running towards the main avenue. My legs were on fire and my lungs were about to collapse, every step I took was a stronger pain in my throat. I wanted to stop and cough to regain normality in my breathing, but I heard behind me the footsteps of people running and yelling to stop me. They were chasing me and if I kept on foot I wasn't going to get very far. I put my fingers to my mouth and whistled as best I could, calling out to Phillip from afar. I had left my horse right at the front door of the restaurant, on the other side of the avenue, so I ran in that direction in order to find him early.

The so-called Jaegerists kept firing behind me, a bullet struck my leg and hit the stone on the ground and ricocheted to the left side against a house. Multiple bullets continued to brush my body, some passing very close to my face and others aimed directly at my legs. In the distance I could see Phillip riding towards me, getting closer and closer. When he came to my side, without stopping, I grabbed his leash and jumped on his back, leaving half my body hanging from lack of strength. I grabbed his neck and motioned for him to turn around and head straight for the avenue.

Phillip was always a fast horse, I thanked the universe for entrusting me to this horse from the first recon mission. He was always there for me, a loyal, strong and very audacious horse, banking me on every expedition and whatever madness crossed my mind to save my companions or myself. I always thanked him for his swiftness and now more than ever I was thanking him in a shaking voice as he continued galloping through the crowd, heading toward the wall’s gate.

Having left the Jaegerists at a considerable distance, I positioned myself correctly on his back, grabbing onto the leash and leaning forward to stroke his head for his great work. I gave myself the freedom to cough and clear my throat of any discomfort, but multiple blows and a firm rumbling behind us made me realize that nothing was over yet, as they were still chasing me, now with their own horses. There weren't many, maybe five or six people and a coach from what I could make out from the hollow of my shoulder, but they were armed and that was what made them dangerous.

I told Phillip to keep riding, to go even faster, to get to the gate as soon as possible. With the riding, the saddle hit my legs and crotch, annoying and hurting me at the same time, but I had to hold it and keep going; we had to get to the gate and fast, very fast. We were a few blocks away when I saw the gate in the distance, wide open and with their respective guards on either side of the threshold.

"Close the door!" I screamed as loudly as I could, feeling my vocal cords tear in the attempt and made my throat hurt even more. The guards turned their heads towards my figure, but none deigned to do what I asked them, they just stared at me stupidly.

"CLOSE THE FUCKING DOOR!" I coughed as I let out such a scream hoping it was clear enough in the message. Seeing me continue to gallop towards the gate and now hearing the bullets being fired, the guards ran towards the internal mechanism and began to close it, giving me enough time to pass through it without being crushed.

The gate ended up closing when Phillip had already traveled about ten meters outside the wall, leaving the Jaegerists on the other side.

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I dipped my head into the clear water of the river. The cold of the current massaged my battered muscles and cleaned the still bleeding wounds. It was already the third time that I’d put my head in the water and I could notice how little by little the pain was dissipating, but knew that the next day I would have a remotely swollen face and a septum to treat.

We had gotten quite far from the wall, maybe forty minutes or an hour galloping, and we had stayed by the river so as not to get lost. Phillip took the time to drink plenty of water and eat some of the dry grass that surrounded the river; I owed my partner a big one and if it was necessary to spend the little savings I had on a better chair and care for him, I would give it all… but when things were calmer and we could go home.

I lay on my back on the grass into a star-shaped possition and gazed up at the clear sky except for a few fluffy clouds. If it din’t for the recurring events in the last month, I would have taken the liberty of enjoying this beautiful day and the days before that surely there were, but I was too blind and busy to notice them.

The grass felt soft except for a few small stones scattered unevenly and the small field insects that landed on my arms and face and then flew off. It was relaxing, too relaxing. The heat of the sun's rays hit my skin and gave me a comforting sensation that soaked down to my bones, generating a pleasant interior warmth and tingling; I wanted to sleep, I wanted to rest, my body was forcing me to take a break, and this place, this moment, seemed like the perfect one. I closed my eyes, wishing sleep and tranquility would come as quickly as possible, but a vibration in the floor and Phillip's screaming snapped me out of my trance.

I raised my head, surveying my surroundings, the vibrations getting stronger as if they were getting closer. I looked at Phillip and followed his line of sight, far over the horizon, there was a litter of horses galloping over the stone paths that had been built a couple of years ago between each wall. Green overcoats could be distinguished over the horizon of the clear blue sky.

"Fuck, I was hoping to be calm for a couple more hours, come on Phillip"

I got on the back of my horse for the third time that day and directed it to the opposite side of where the other horses were riding. Being in the middle of an open field, there weren’t many houses where to take refuge, even though they had built a lot of houses between both walls. A little in the distance was a lush forest of tall trees, but not as tall as those of the Forest of Giant Trees, that enormous nature of fifty and eighty meters.

We stopped right at the entrance, hoping we had distanced ourselves from the litter of horses, but when I got off Phillip to rest my legs, I saw the path we had come from, and in the distance the same horses that he had seen on the stone path were approaching. There was no longer any doubt that they were the Jaegerists.

I turned my head towards the forest, from what I could see from the entrance the trees weren’t at a considerable distance from each other and the small dirt roads were too narrow. I didn’t know this forest at all and the mere fact of entering without knowing the terrain through the narrow corridors didn’t give me much confidence. But going around it wasn’t a good option either and I would end up being visualized in a matter of seconds. We were in a dead end, in a maze, and I had to play the few cards I had cleverly. I unbuttoned the coat which was already very badly placed on my shoulders and tied it on the strap.

"Phillip I need you to keep running, go as fast as you can and as far as your legs can reach" I pulled the saddle off his back, dropping it to the ground and tried to hide it inside a nearby bush with my foot. I brought his head closer to mine, resting my forehead on his muzzle and stroking his side one last time before saying goodbye.

"Go!" I smacked him on the back and Phillip ran down the narrow forest paths. As for me, I tried to dispel the footprints the horse had left behind before sending me to run down another path and go as far as I could into the heart of the forest.

I ran, ran and ran, my legs were on the edge, branches and thorns were digging into my skin making it burn every time other scratches were created in the same place. At this fact, I was resigned to the fact my clothes were bleeding and torn, as well as the matted hair and bruises on my body. My foot made contact with a tree root and I fell between the others, right in a hole, hitting my head and shoulder in the fall. I scraped my arm too, and my shirt was now full of dirt and dry leaves; surely my hair was the same. I heard heavy footsteps near me and I rolled into a ball in the hole, hiding behind the tree and seeking its protection.

"Find them, we can't let them escape"

Six people broke up and each one ran in a different direction in search of me. For an instant, my heart skipped a beat and my breath hitched when I saw one of them pass by the side of the tree where I was. At no point did he turn towards my location so I was able to breathe again. Minutes passed until I stopped hearing nearby footsteps, I got up leaning against the bark and kept walking inward, finding myself up a steep hill down.

I let gravity guide me and my feet unconsciously ran downward, avoiding rocks and bushes along the way. As I reached the low surface of the hill I tripped over my feet, losing my balance and colliding with a small tree that was right in the middle of where I was walking. As I stood up and turned it around, I came face to face with a Jaegerist, hooded, rifle in hand.

"Hey! You- "

My reflexes acted on instinct, my leg went straight to his ribs, hitting him squarely in the side of his stomach. I grabbed the rifle with both hands and hit it with the butt on both sides of the face and discarded it to the side when blood began to come out of his mouth. My hand went straight to his head, slamming it against the tree over and over again without stopping until his body fell unconscious on the grass. The interaction lasted no more than fifteen seconds, but it felt like I was about to explode. So many blows received and produced were leaving collateral effects on my body; at any moment I would pass out.

During the three years of training I have gotten used to physical confrontation and body training that lasted more than five hours, not to mention the months we spent annihilating each Titan within the walls. Those missions that lasted all day, if not more, were nothing compared to what my body was going through right now.

I sat next to the body, trying to catch my breath and rest my eyes. I rested my head on the tree and when I opened my eyes I saw a black figure in the middle of a grove a few meters away. He didn’t carry a rifle and seemed to have no intention of running to any specific place, he simply deigned to look around him, at the ground and towards the treetops. I froze to see Eren staring down at the body.

I shrank as much as I could to the left, hiding in the middle of the bushes, body to the ground, without taking my eyes off that figure that was now heading towards the unconscious body of one of his followers. I crawled back until I found a tree wide enough to hide.

"I know you are here"

It was the only thing I heard him say. My blood ran cold and a cold sweat began to form on my forehead. I was scared, very scared, I wasn’t going to deny it, but this wasn’t the time to sit and watch how they corner me little by little until they capture me. If this was the moment, I was going to give everything to get out of here. I stood up resolutely, taking a deep breath, and showed my face to my perpetrator.

"Do you want to pick up where we left off?"

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[stargirlfics]

Chris getting you a little gift, just bc youve been busy with school and havenr been able to be little all that much and in your excitement......you break it whilst trying to open it..........his heart has never shattered to quickly

"I- I broke it daddy.....didn' mean to! M sorry da" you blubber while holding the pieces in your soft hands. Looking at chris who jumped up from the couch, where he was picking a movie for the two of you to watch, the second he heard the soft gasp and sniffle leave you. A whimper pushing its way through your chest at the site of the broken gift. Pretty pink paper bag still sitting on the floor by the bar, where your sit in your special stool.

"S'ok bubba, it'll be fine. Want daddy to see if he can fix it for you?" Chris offers, already taking the bits from your and not waiting for the subtle nod you give him. Slightly confused by the contraption but determined to get his precious girl to stop crying, not that you didn't look good crying. He just preferred other reasons to be behind your glistening tears, mainly his cock.

(I hope you dont mind the little drabble!) -🦇

I’m big soft 🥺 he would really be so understanding and reassuring and comforting plssss, like the way you’d be able to calm down and feel better after the devastation of that happening! Yeah that really hits different!

[undertalethingems]

I mean, you could post the sad one, (s'ok all we need is a band aid) and maybe the happier ending here on tumblr? Or just in the end notes of the fic? Idk

Anonymous said to undertalethingems: You probably have your choice in mind, but perhaps if not maybe write the better ending, then release the other one at some point as a "this is what it could have been" similar to that spin off you did where paps gets hit with spears instead of Sans blasting them.

Anonymous said to undertalethingems: You could definitely post it now and let us suffer in sadness or you could post it later but we DON'T suffer... Hard to choose, hard to choose.

Yeah, posting the second part later is the other option! Several folks voted for pain, so i’ll probably post the first part soon, because i want to post new fic >>;

And then the fix-it half will be posted when it’s done ^^

[ask-the-riders]

Famine meets Mortem

Idk what this even is, but it's a bit of a train wreck. I tried to cushion some of the slight angst with some fluff toward the end, so yeah ^^"

"Famine?"

The tallest of the group of riders momentarily tensed in surprise, before beginning to relax again. He knew that voice, so he knew he had nothing to worry about. Looking up from the rubiks cube he'd been trying to solve, he offered Conquest a lazy grin, "Yeah? What's up, sunshine?" The female rider smiled at the nickname and hummed, "I have someone I would really like you to meet. I've introduced him to everyone else already, and I didn't wanna leave without making sure you got the chance to meet him, too."

Famine arched a brow bone curiously, "Uhh... ok? Who am I supposed ta meet?" Conquest's smile remained the same as she stepped to the side, revealing a child. The kid's expression very briefly became one of slight panic as his mother stepped aside, no longer concealing him from view, but as he locked gazes with Famine, his panic dulled, and seemed to morph into curiosity as his single visible eye light flickered upward to the rider's head injury.

Conquest hummed softly, her hand gently resting on the child's shoulder and giving a gentle squeeze, "Famine, this is my son, Mortem. And Mortem, this is Famine." The kid looked up at his mother with a look of confusion and she added on, "He's my friend, and I do work with him. He's really nice, I promise." Mortem seemed to accept her words, seemingly unaware of the reaction Famine was having.

Still seated at the kitchen table, Famine's eye light had constricted until it was only a small blue speck, his grin now a taut line. His fingertips had begun to dig into the rubiks cube he held, and he felt his soul begin to race. Children... There was a child here. One who couldn't be more than eight or nine years old. The same age as him... The same age as Tobias. Images of his youngest brother weakly trying to drag himself through the snow flickered in his mind, the sound of his pleas and his sobbing making his nonexistent ears ring.

"S-Sans, brother, please! Please stop, it hurts! Please Sans, I love you, please don't do this!"

Famine curled his hands tighter into the rubiks cube, unphased as it shattered, the individual pieces whizzing in different directions. Mortem flinched at the sudden loud snap, his visible socket widening. Donning a look of uncertainty, he looked up at Conquest and whined, "Mom?... What's going on with him? Is he ok?" Conquest registered the clear look of panic on teammate's face and offered her son a weak smile in an attempt to give him some reassurance, "He'll be ok, sweetie... Sometimes he remembers things that upset him, and he reacts like this. It'll take a bit for him to relax, but I promise, he'll be alright."

"So he's... just really upset right now?..." Mortem's voice lowered a bit, and his brow bones became knit. Conquest hummed in confirmation, and watched as her son seemed to battle with himself for a moment. She glanced between him and Famine and frowned; She hadn't counted on a reaction like this. She'd known about his story and had seen his file, even, but this? She had no way of seeing it coming, and the thought of upsetting her friend made her frown.

Stepping past Mortem, she approached Famine, leaning down to very gently wrap her arms around him. He flinched at the contact, his entire body locking up, and she drew in a deep breath, sending out her magic in the form of soothing pulses in an effort to help calm him as she squeezed her sockets shut; If she focused enough, she might also be able to use her aura to help him, the way Retribution had taught her to as well.

Her body grew a bit warmer to the touch and she let out a soft sigh, murmuring to the other rider, "Famine... I'm not sure what's going on right now. What happened, what's going on in your mind... I don't know. I feel that I'm responsible though, and I'm so, so sorry." Through the nearly overwhelming fear that had hit him so suddenly, Famine very loosely moved an arm, reaching around Conquest to lightly pat her back as he let out a deep sigh of his own, "S'ok, Connie... Ya didn't know. It's not.... it's not your fault." Her aura grew thicker, waves of warmth washing through him and practically drowning him with positivity as she softly whispered, "But what if it was, though?"

Famine drew in a deep breath, attempting to clear his mind as his body began to relax. Countering her worries, he lightly nudged her, "It's not. I promise you, it's not." Her grip on him tightened, and he flinched in surprise as he felt another hand on his arm. His gaze redirected itself, and he stared in surprise as he watched Mortem. The child had gently touched his arm, a look of determination fixed on his face as he began to send out his own pulses of magic, the way his mother had done.

He was trying to help him.

Famine let out a shaky breath, still watching as Mortem's free hand shifted, and he wrapped an arm around Conquest, trying to send pulses of magic to her, too. Famine couldn't stop the words that left his mouth, "K-Kid, hey... what are you doin'? You're gonna hurt yourself if ya keep forcin' out magic like that." Mortem looked up at him, meeting his eye, "Mom said you're upset, and I wanted to help you. Then she got upset, and I wanted to help her too."

Famine's entire disposition seemed to soften; That kindness and desire to help others... He thought back to before the horrendous act he committed, remembering Tobias again. He was starving, losing so much strength that he couldn't move on his own. He couldn't sleep and he cried so much over the way his body hurt. And yet... whenever he'd gotten his hands on a scrap of food, he always shared it with his two elder brothers. He was always concerned for them, even as he was slowly withering away.

Offering a tiny smile, Famine rasped, "Try ta focus your intent more... The more ya focus on it, the bigger the results." Mortem nodded, confused but willing to try what he'd suggested. Breathing deeply, he pushed more of his intent into what he was doing, and Famine felt as though the air had been knocked out of him for a moment; The pulses of magic that Mortem sent out were chilled, almost like the air on a fall morning, when the ground was still covered in a thin layer of frost. It was cool, but warm at the same time, and it confused him, but at it's very core, he could feel genuine concern, and he could feel how hopeful Mortem was that he'd be able to help the two adults.

Famine was brought back to the present moment as Mortem spoke, "Am I doing it right?..." Famine hadn't even noticed the tears that pricked at his sockets until one rolled down his cheekbone, and he wiped it away, "Yeah, kid. You're doin' great." Mortem's sockets widened and he beamed, excitedly nudging his mother, "Mom! Mom! I'm doing it!" Famine frowned as Conquest remained silent, all of her weight now leaning onto him. At the lack of a response, Mortem frowned, "Mom?... Are you ok?..." Connie still remained silent and he began to panic, his eyes wide again in fear, "Mom?! Mom, come on! Say something, Mom!"

Famine's magic honed in on the female rider's soul, and he let out a deep sigh in relief as he felt the soft waves of magic it continued giving off. Scooting back in his chair and standing, he lifted Connie's limp form into his arms, wincing at the dull aching from his spine. Mortem, seeing his mother completely limp and seemingly lifeless, stared at her with wide, fearful eyes. Unable to contain his fear anymore, he began to sob, trying to cover his face with his hands. Well aware of what was probably going through the child's mind, Famine's magic activated, helping support Connie to lessen the strain on his back.

Shifting her in his arms as he began carrying her into the living room, he offered Mortem a hand without thinking, and Mortem latched onto it, walking beside him as they entered the living room. As Famine's magic helped him lower her down onto the couch, Mortem sniffled, his voice soft, "Is she gonna die? Is this because of me?" Now with Connie lying down and not in his arms anymore, Famine sighed, glancing at the child, "Nah, kid, she'll be ok. It's not because a' you." Mortem whimpered, "How do you know?... Maybe I killed her and it's not showing yet. Maybe I used too much magic and hurt her really bad. Maybe she just hasn't dusted yet."

Famine shifted his full attention to Mortem and slowly moved to sit on the floor, offering him a tiny smile and choosing not to answer his question, "Kid, hey... Mortem, listen. She'll be ok, I promise. Ya didn't kill her. She's not dead, and as long as she has you to fight for, I don't think she'll be dustin' anytime soon. She's a tough lady... A little extra magic isn't enough ta hurt her."

Mortem frowned, sniffling again and suddenly blurting out, "What's wrong with her then?!" Famine furrowed his brow bones, "She started doin' some new magic thing with her aura. It was somethin' your uncle was tryna teach her, and I think maybe she just used it a hair bit too much. That's an easy fix though... For now, she just needs ta rest." The child attempted to blink back more tears, "So... She'll really be ok then?..."

The rider nodded and smiled weakly, "Uh huh. Pinky promise, even." Mortem used one of his sleeves to wipe the tears from his face and Famine hesitated another moment before speaking, "How about this... You can go get your uncle, and I can stay here ta keep an eye on her for a little bit? Your uncle's real smart, and he's better with this kinda thing than me." Mortem seemed conflicted, and before Famine had any time to react, he found himself being caught in a surprisingly tight hug, nearly being knocked over in the process.

Awkwardly returning the hug, he gently patted the skeleton child's back a few times, sighing softly. He hadn't counted on having to coexist with anymore kids after what he'd done, and truth be told, the thought of being around kids scared him. He didn't trust himself, and he was worried he could hurt them too easily. Mortem had come out of nowhere, his first appearance almost sending Famine right into a full on panic attack. But now that he had Mortem in his arms, albeit a bit awkward and unexpected, he attempted to swallow his building anxiety.

Maybe... Maybe he could try to give it another shot. Maybe he was different now. He would have to adjust to being around kids whether he wanted to or not, seeing as Connie planned on moving her son in with them eventually. And then there were Pest and War. It was no secret to anyone there that if anybody was the most hormonal, it was probably Pest. With that going on, it was only a matter of time before he turned his poor soulmate into a living, breathing, baby factory.

Famine's thoughts shifted to Retribution, and he stilled. His small, delicate looking lover. The former prince had somehow stolen his heart, just as he'd stolen the shorter skeleton's first kiss. He briefly wondered what Ret might look like with a round, pregnant belly, and if it was possible that he might want kids one day. Something about the idea of Retribution carrying his child was both exciting and terrifying all at once; He wanted it, and damn, did he want it badly... but if they had a child together and he hurt them, he would never be able to forgive himself.

Mortem slipped out of his arms and darted down the hall, and Famine sighed. He hadn't even officially asked Ret to become his life mate yet, so what was he doing, thinking about having a family with him? He shook his head, trying to disperse the thoughts; Of all the times he was grateful that his partner couldn't read minds, this was probably one of the most recent. If Ret was capable of reading minds, he would've likely had some choice words for Famine right now. Famine knew that whatever he'd spout off would be his attempt at hiding his ever-growing embarrassment, and he couldn't help but smile faintly as he pictured that beautiful cyan blush on his partner's face.

Maybe someday, they could have a family together. Maybe after he learned to trust himself again. He wasn't sure how long that would be, but that was fine. Famine was a patient guy, and if he had to wait, he would.

[timeaftertime-chriscornellfanfic]

Chapter 34 - Remember To Let Her Into Your Heart Then You Can Start To Make It Better

Houston Texas, May 25 2017

(Chris is 52, Andi is 29)

CHRIS: Swiping the steam from the mirror in the hotel bathroom, I grab my shaving cream, pouring some in my hand then pat my cheeks and grab the razor to clean up this stubble a bit. I rinse my razor a few times and continue on, leaning in close and gently swiping it across my cheek when I suddenly hear my acoustic in the other room being softly played for a few chords. I stop for a second to listen, and hear Andi softly singing and strumming.

I missed that voice of hers, no matter how much she always said she never had one, that playing was her thing, she always sounded so beautiful when she would just let go and sing. I close my eyes for a moment and just focus, listening to her then turn my attention back to finish shaving. Once I've rinsed my face and gently slap on some after shave, and with the white towel around my hips I make my way out of the bathroom.

"Happiness is like an old friend I miss, How can I tell you what it feels to be like this...?" She sings, sitting on the bed, leaning against the headboard with my guitar across her lap, in one of my white v-neck t-shirts with the collar slipped off her shoulder, and nothing else. She stops for a moment and picks up her phone, typing something and then glances up to see me.

"Hi," She smiles and bites her lip nervously.

"Hey," I chuckle as I approach her.

"Sorry, I just had an idea, or a melody... something, and I just didn't want to lose it," She says, setting her phone back down beside her.

"S'ok baby, don't stop on my account," I smile at her. She then dismissively waves her hand and sets the guitar aside on the bed, moves to her knees and crawls over to me.

She places her hands on my chest as I reach out for her, leaning down and placing my lips on hers. My hands cup her face holding her to me as she begins to suck on my bottom lip.

"Chris?" She says when she pulls away from me but I touch my forehead to hers.

"Yes baby?" I breathe. It was all I could do to not just lay her back down on the bed and make love to her again... for the third time today.

"Am I coming with you, when you head home this afternoon?"

I lift my forehead from hers and look at her confused by that question.

"Um, yea, why? Do you not want to?" I ask, raising my eyebrow and she flicks her eyes to mine.

"No, I mean, yea I want to, I'm just worried is all,"

"Worried about what?" I ask.

"I don't know... I think I'm just worried about us. Me... specifically. I don't want to slip again," She says as she studies her hands on my bare chest.

“I don't want you to slip again either," I say as I brush a few curls out of her eyes. She stays quiet for a few moments and I touch my forehead back to hers, her fingers reaching up and playing with my damp curls.

"I'm so sorry Chris - "

"Shhhh, you need to stop apologizing to me," I chuckle.

"But - " She starts.

"No,"

"Chris - ?"

"Shhhh," I hush her again and she starts to laugh.

I take her hands and bring them up to my lips, placing soft gentle kisses to her fingers, then lean in and place my lips back on hers determined to convince her that I've long forgiven her for whatever it is that she feels guilty of - her time slipping. I deepen the kiss, making it long and passionate while my hands make their way down her sides, to her hips, slowly inching up my t-shirt that she's wearing so that I can feel her perfect ass in my hands. She then presses her body to mine, her fingers lacing through my hair.

"Ok, go on and take your shower before I end up back in bed with you again, making us late for our flight," I say pulling away from her. She giggles that cute little laugh and places a quick kiss on my chest, then climbs off the bed as I watch her remove my shirt. Her curls falling down around her as she sets my shirt on the bed and heads into the bathroom.

*****

A short while later, we meet with Kim Matt and Ben down in the lobby of the hotel to make a plan to meet up in Seattle in a week to start more work on the new record. Once we say our goodbyes, Andi and I head out to the airport.

Oh, I forgot to mention that Martin Kirsten is no longer in the picture. I fired him just after Andi had figured out that he was slipping me unknown pills. I still don't know the motive as to why he would do that and after an argument with him privately, I fired him. I am determined now to fix every mistake I've made over the last 18 years, starting with getting back to my roots like Kim said.

"Alright, Mr. Cornell here is your exchanged ticket and you'll be boarding at terminal 11" The receptionist says to me as she hands the tickets over to me.

"Thank you," I say and turn to Andi to hand her one of the tickets.

"I thought you had set up the private jet to fly us back home?" She says sweetly.

"I try not to fly in that thing too much. It freaks me out sometimes. Anyways, this is more economical," I explain as I take her hand in mine while we head over to the waiting area.

"Wait... Chris, these are for New York?" She says as she looks over her plane ticket.

"Uh huh," I say as we find a few empty seats in the waiting area and set our luggage down.

"You live in New York?" Andi looks up at me as I fumble with my jacket for a second.

"Uh huh," I say and slide the luggage handle down then flip my curls out of my eyes to look at her. She looks back at me with an inquisitive expression but I'm not quite sure how to explain how I don't exactly live in Seattle anymore, at least I haven't lived there fully since 2001.

"Flight 52 to New York City, now boarding. Flight 52 to New york City, now boarding"

"Well, that's us babe," I smile at her and she gives me a half smile back as I pull up the luggage handle and she takes her bag, slinging it over her shoulder once more. I take her hand in mine and place my lips to the back of her hand as we walk to the board the plane.

*****

New York City, New York

(Andi is 29, Chris is 52)

ANDI: Pulling up to Chris's house was an unreal experience to say the least. Never mind me time slipping 18 years in the future, I never even thought that he would find himself living in New York of all places. It wasn't exactly right in the city part, more so just on the outskirts in a small suburb. The house was beautiful. A dark red brick 2 storey home and very upscale. Different from the gothic home that he and I bought around '97 in Seattle. It was large, 4,500 square feet to be exact - from what he explained - and it definitely looked that way on the outside.

"Come on babe, let me show you inside," He says as the cab drives away and he picks up our bags. I follow him to the porch, while he takes a few minutes to find his keys and he opens the door.

Once I step inside, it's just as beautiful as I had thought it would be, and so entirely different than I thought. There is a large foyer at the front door with an incredible chandelier that hung over head. Straight ahead was what looked like a sitting area/living room that was completely made up of black and white furniture with a white shag throw rug underneath the glass coffee table. Once he sets our bags down and hangs up his jacket, he takes my hand and shows me the rest of the house. He first leads me into the kitchen which was also large and very white, with stainless steel appliances, the dining room which again was white with white leather dining room chairs and a black steel framed dining table. He then leads me to another room that was more of the living room than the first one, with a huge 60 inch TV and surround system - still in the pattern of black and white but mostly white.

Upstairs were 4 bedrooms and a Master, 2 of the rooms once again very white and 'clean'. The other two you could tell were a little more lived in, sort of like a teenagers room, but looked like no one has lived in those two rooms for months. Then there was the Master bedroom that also had an ensuite bathroom with a jacuzzi tub. Again, so much white. I was beginning to get the coldness feeling from this house. I think Chris could tell what I was feeling so he saved the best room for last.

Down in the basement, was one of the most beautiful studios that I had ever seen. It was warm and inviting but yet so simple. Hardwood floors throughout, sound proofing on each wall, inset warm lighting and his guitars lined beautifully along one side. At the far end was a drumset and opposite of that was a desk with a mixboard, and a computer for mixing and recording. Along with the soundproofing hung each award for each album that had gone Gold - selling 50,000 copies or more, Badmotorfinger and Superunknown. There were also plaques and frames for all the soundtrack work he did, and even ones for...

"Audioslave?" I ask as I turn and face him, pushing my curls behind my ear while he stand near the doorway.

"Yea it's uh... The band I had after Soundgarden. After you um... y'know, Susan helped get me in touch with the guys from Rage after Zach left. Apparently Rick Rubin  really wanted me to work with him and the guys since they wanted to try something different I guess," He explains.

"You did three albums?" I say looking at each one framed. The first record with a 3 x Platinum award for selling more than 3,000,000 copies in the U.S and Canada. The  second - Out Of Exile - and third -Revelations - with Gold awards much like Badmotorfinger and Superunknown did when they were released.

"Uh huh," He says as he watches me walk to the other side of the studio and see his original pressings for Ultramega Ok, Screaming Life and Fopp, Louder Than Love and Down on the Upside all framed.

"I remember these though," I giggle and he smiles as he walks over to me. I then find the record that he was working on before I slipped, The album cover with him on the front, exactly how he looked before I lost 18 years with him  and framed with a dedication plaque on the front.

"You finished it?" 

"I did," He says sweetly.

"To my disappearing one: forever and always, this is for you,"  I read the plaque more to myself than to him, hearing my voice shake.

"It's uh... that's also written in the album credits too," He says quietly as I glance down and see the row of guitars in which the first three catch my eye.

"You kept them?" I ask as I run my hand along the first - the silver sparkle Gretsch I got for my 20 birthday - then the one that he stole for me when he was 15 - the jet black Gibson Standard and the next one, the one  that my dad had given me for graduation.

"Well yea, I mean... they're yours, what am I gonna do get rid of them?" He chuckles.

I turn and look up at him, my brow furrowing as I desperately try to not bawl like an absolute baby in front of him. I really had no idea what to say. He should hate me. He should never want to have anything to do with  me again for all the times I left him alone and all the years that I wasn't with him.

"Chris I - "

"No, don't say it. I told you I don't want you apologizing anymore," He says and he cups my face in his palms as I look down, still feeling so guilty of everything that's happened. "Hey, baby look at me... you saved me remember?  You saved me from the biggest mistake I could've made remember?"

I glance back up into those beautiful blue eyes of his and he presses his lips to mine. Softly and gently at first then once again quick becoming passionate and full of hunger as he draws me into his arms. He then lifts  me up and I giggle against his lips while he carries me out of the studio.

[hisakata-resutomoshibi]

Altered States

Oh hey there, so I accidentally wrote a whole fic for that comic I made a few days ago LOL

~

The eighth time Kuro flinched when Mahiru looked at him, he snapped.

"What's your problem?!"

Kuro peered at him over the top of his manga, looking for all the world, guilty. 

"Nothing."

"What a load of bullshit!" Mahiru exclaimed, throwing the dish rag back into the sink. "Every time you look at me you cringe like someone's kicked you!"

Laying his head down on the table, Kuro closed his eyes and sighed gustily. "No, I don't."

"Yes, you do!" Mahiru stomped over to where he sat and slammed a hand on the table. "And I'm sick of it!" 

The force of the gesture bounced Kuro's forehead against the rough grain surface and he grimaced, gingerly touching the red spot that had formed. Mahiru frowned and tucked his hands behind his back.

"Sorry."

"S'ok." Kuro mumbled, hunching back over as he looked everywhere around the dark kitchen but at Mahiru. "It's to be expected."

"Is it?" He asked, surprised. Behind him the clock ticked over the new hour, three AM, and the coffee pot beeped on.

"Of course." Kuro muttered sourly. "What do you expect when your strength is suddenly a hundred times what it was?"

Mahiru crossed his arms, thinking as he tapped a finger against his inner forearm. "I dunno. I guess I figured I'd just kind of.... get it?" He laughed and shrugged, pulling out a chair and sitting facing Kuro's tense form. "So is there something I should be doing? To learn better?"

Kuro finally glanced at him, his eyes wide in what looked like disgust. "How can you be so nonchalant about this?" He demanded, lips twisting in a way that had Mahiru feeling rather sick to his stomach.

"What do you mean? There's nothing to do but get used to it, right?"

Suddenly, Kuro jumped up, his chair screeching back as he stepped away from the table. "Mahiru." He spit harshly. "You're dead.

"Mahiru watched him calmly, arms resting on the table in front of him. From the corner of his eye he noticed he'd forgotten to switch the brew strength to strong. "Not really." He said casually. "I'm still sitting here, talking and doing the dishes."

Kuro crept farther away, shaking his head softly from side to side. "No. It's not the same." As he reached the threshold of the kitchen, he actually tripped, his heel catching on the jut of the carpeting and he stumbled. His arm shot out, bracing against the archway and he clenched his teeth so hard, Mahiru heard it from across the room. "You'll see." With those dubious words, he slipped around the corner and melted into the blanketed shadows of the living room.

Unsure whether Kuro had turned into his swifter cat form, or had just bolted down the hall, Mahiru stood slowly, pacing over to the coffee pot and punching the brew button. The little green light immediately flipped to red and he sighed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "What's wrong with you two?" Misono asked, waving his finger idly over several different chess pieces as he decided which to move.

"What do you mean?" Mahiru asked nervously, his eyes tracking the movement of Misono's finger, and consequently the gentle flow of blood through the thin veins.

Misono glanced up, his brow raised, completely unimpressed. "Don't play dumb with me. That idiot cat won't come within ten feet of you." When Mahiru remained silent, he continued. "He used to drape himself over you like an out of date smoking jacket. What's wrong?"

Twirling his fingers around each other, nervously, Mahiru rolled his shoulders in surrender. "What do you think?" He flicked his red gaze up to Misono and blinked. 

Misono, to his credit, did not flinch, but his eyes did narrow momentarily. "I would think he would be relieved."

This was a new take on it to Mahiru and he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Why do you say that?" He refused to let his expression change when Misono touched a piece, peering over at him to see if he found it worrisome.

Scoffing, Misono finally pushed his knight forward. "Oh, please. Do you have any idea what kind of state that bastard would be in if you had died? The town would be destroyed, no doubt." He tapped his fingers against the table a moment and sat back, satisfied. "And I imagine-" he fixed Mahiru with a look "- it's because he's rather fond of you."

Mahiru waved a hand through the air in dismissal. "Of course he's fond of me. It's been three years."

Misono rolled his eyes. "Not at all what I was referring to." 

"Then what did you mean?"

"Let's just leave it with this- I think it likely that Kuro feels responsible for you, in more than one way. No doubt he's feeling guilty for not protecting you."

"How long did Lily have to coach you to get that right?" Mahiru asked humorously, ignoring the glare he got in return. "Besides, I'm fine." He gestured down at himself. "Here I am, all limbs intact and breathing!"

Misono paused, staring at him as though he were an idiot. "I don't think they see it the same way we do, Mahiru." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "So, you're upset that I'm not human anymore?"

After a dizzying amount of thought, Mahiru had decided that the simplest approach was best, and that meant cornering Kuro when he least expected it and just going straight for the kill, as it were. He had bided his time, pretending not to be upset every time Kuro flinched back from him, or turned away, and waited until after dinner. Kuro was sprawled across the couch with his usual lack luster enthusiasm and Mahiru had used the distraction of a new drama series to make two steaming mugs of hot chocolate. It was unlikely, but he hoped that the drink would prove a useful deterrent in Kuro claiming a busy schedule to go running off again.

Jumping at the question as though shocked, Kuro dropped the remote, his gaze, for the first time in days, meeting Mahiru's. "What?" His voice was rough and uneven, serving only further to remind Mahiru of how far apart they seemed to have fallen. "What did you say?"

"I said, so, are you upset that I'm not human anymore?" It took every ounce of self control in his body to keep a straight face, to keep any inflection or bias from his tone, when all he really wanted to do was curl up next to Kuro and beg him to tell him that it wasn't just that a possible eternity of Mahiru's company didn't sit so well with him.

"What do you want me to say?"

Mahiru shrugged. "The truth." Setting down the two mugs, he perched gingerly on the edge of the cushion, as close to Kuro as he dared. Not only had their communication dropped to almost zero over the last week, but now Kuro seemed to have developed a distinct aversion to any and all forms of "nearness". It was made all the more grating to Mahiru's nerves given the new subtle smells he could pick up, one of which was a soft, almost pine like scent that seemed to come from Kuro. It was distracting and interesting and he found himself constantly fighting to keep from drifting closer to get more of it.

Kuro scoffed, the first sign of a real emotion that he had shown in ages and Mahiru almost smiled. "It's always so simple for you, isn't it?"

"What is?" Mahiru asked in surprise.

"Everything." His tone was bitter, but Mahiru could still just barely hear a sense of exhaustion dancing along the borders.

"Not everything." In disbelief, Kuro turned to him, mouth twitching to the side and this time Mahiru did smile. "In fact, most things are complicated. Which is why I choose to just go about it simply. The best way to deal with trouble is to face it head on, right?"

Instead of answering, Kuro shrugged, closing off as he looked away, his gaze skittering around the room and through the piles of magazines and comics and games he had amassed since his arrival in Mahiru's life. "I'm going to bed." He stood and without ever turning, walked swiftly down the small hall and to his room. 

When the sound of the door closing and the lock clicking echoed, impossibly loud, back to Mahiru, he reached out and picked up the far mug, the one with the little black cat on it. Leaning back, he took a tentative sip, willing the tears crowding his throat to stay hidden away. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On the bright side, Mahiru thought, as he slid down the wall, the pain this would have normally caused was seriously dampened by his new body. Looking up, shocked by the size of the dent in the siding that he had left behind, he blinked. Yup. It was kind of amazing. Not to say that it hurt less, he amended, wincing when the man took another lunging grab for him and scraped back the skin along the length of his arm. It was more like his senses had been tuned and refined, allowing him to sort through and choose which sensations to focus on.

"Wish it came with some cheat codes, though." He muttered, throwing himself to the side just in time to avoid a steel tipped boot to the face. His reflexes may have improved a hundred fold, his speed and strength unparalleled to his former, his body resilient and healing almost from the second it was damaged, but that didn't mean he knew any better how to take advantage of any of that. His years of rigorous training and experience had transformed him into the very warrior that he had so desperately wanted to be, but that had been his human body. Now, finding his soul trapped within the murky wavering confines of this strange new territory, he couldn't seem to recall a single block or defensive move. "Fuck!"

The man, sensing his irritated distraction, had taken a running leap and thrown them both back, over the edge of the roof they had ended up on. As they tumbled through the air, Mahiru went for broke and spun himself, levering his leg out and praying it connected. When he felt a solid thump, he risked looking over his shoulder to see that he had in fact landed a hit and the man- the vampire- was now unconscious and angled away, falling farther out of reach each millisecond. Miraculously, he crashed through one of the large windows of the neighboring factory building and Mahiru sucked in a deep, relieved breath.

"Yes!" He shouted and then closed his eyes, praying, probably in vain, that the pain of breaking perhaps all the bones in his legs upon landing wouldn't put him into shock. He didn't really fancy passing out in the alley to be found by his new rogue vampire friend, or worse yet, happened upon by some poor, terrified mother walking home from the grocers.

"You're still a total moron." 

The voice hissing in his ear and the arms circled tightly around his waist were all achingly familiar and Mahiru's eyes flew back open to meet Kuro's, staring at him in mournful anger. Somehow somersaulting them gracefully in the last ten feet to the ground, Kuro landed lightly on his feet, Mahiru still clutched against his chest. 

"What were you thinking?" He demanded, seeming to forget, for the moment at least, that his strict rule of no touching was being blatantly neglected.

"Well, I was hoping that I wouldn't break all my bones." Mahiru said cheerfully, trying desperately to keep himself from leaning into the soft cotton of Kuro's jacket.

Kuro sighed explosively, rolling his eyes heavenward as though seeking divine intervention. "I can't deal with you." He finally looked back down, gaze wandering gently over as much of Mahiru as he could see. "Are you ok?"

Overcome with joyful panic at the show of concern, what had once been so commonplace and was now unheard of, Mahiru could barely answer, the words tumbling from his mouth like warm stones. "Thanks, Kuro." He swallowed, and forced his lips into what could be described loosely as a smile. "How did you know where to find me?"

"Lucky guess." He muttered stiffly, remembering himself and stepping back, his arms falling coldly away from Mahiru's sides. He sighed, staring down at the ground where the first few drops of enterprising rain were beginning to fall. "Let's go. It's going to be a storm." Without waiting for an answer, he turned and walked jerkily away.

Mahiru couldn't help but notice that he was dragging his left foot just slightly and he was rushing to catch up, reaching out to grab a swatch of warm blue jacket and return the favor of inquiry, when at the last moment, just inches from the weaved cotton, his fingers froze and dropped. He stopped, standing still in the middle of the alley as he watched Kuro slowly disappearing into the increasing fall of water from the clouds. Looking up, he forced his eyes, red and inhumanly sharp, to remain open, even as the small chill drips landed against them. In the dropping temperature it was impossible to tell if it was his tears or just the rain that was tickling across his jaw and down his neck. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "What am I supposed to do?" Mahiru asked softly. He couldn't bring himself to turn from where he stood at the counter, though whether it was shame or fear or embarrassment that stilled him, he didn't know.

"Why are you asking me?" Hyde tossed the remaining melted ice from his cup out the window. "Why don't you just tie him up until he talks to you?"

Shocked into forgetting his mortification, Mahiru glanced over his shoulder. "Are you kidding me? Sometimes I don't think you know Kuro at all."

Hyde shrugged, hands splayed and eyes wide in mock confusion. "What do you want from me? I'm supposed to be meeting Licht at the mall right now, you know." He peered crookedly over the rims of his glasses. "Do you know Kuro?"

The question took him by surprise and Mahiru fumbled the whisk, splattering eggs across the counter top. "Of course I do!" He fell silent, worrying his lip, wincing when one of his fangs sank into the soft skin and a small splash of sweet blood landed on his tongue. 

Hyde laughed, crossing his legs and tipping back in the chair. "If you say so!" When Mahiru just continued to stare morosely down at the frothy bowl of eggs and milk in his hands, he groaned and stood. "Look. I know you've got this crazy obsession with being simple or whatever lame thing it is you're always yelling." He grinned when Mahiru turned to glare hotly at him and slapped a hand on his shoulder. "But sometimes you're terrible at taking your own advice! I can tell you the best way to talk to Licht, but Kuro, well, Mahiru, you're the expert." He paused, smirking pointedly. "Because you're the only one Kuro will let be the expert."

Mahiru didn't answer, instead pulling a spatula from the drawer and dipping it contemplatively into the egg bowl. Perhaps Hyde, although still almost unbearably annoying, was right. Maybe it really was that simple.

"These are my words of great wisdom for you." Hyde said, interrupting his thoughts and bowing lowly. "And with that I leave you to your newly eternal teenage angst!" Mahiru rounded on him in ire and he laughed uproariously, darting back. As he fled the room, he leaned back in through the door way just long enough to snag a handful of cookies from the jar on the far counter, and, shoving two in his mouth, winked. "Like I shed Mahroo, jush tahk to 'im. E'll lishen to yoo." Crumbs flew from his mouth and Mahiru unthinkingly whipped the spatula at his head. He ducked at the last second and his laughter bounced down the hall as he danced away, the utensil leaving a huge stain of yellow batter like goo dripping lazily down the wall. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dinner was always quiet nowadays, something Mahiru had come to sullenly accept, so when Kuro scraped his spoon softly around his bowl and asked him what the splotch in the kitchen was, he choked on his water, spilling half of it down his shirt. Hacking into his hand, he turned away, aware that his face was most likely bright red. Kuro did nothing as he gasped and finally he cleared the burn in his sinuses. Sitting back, he still somehow managed to feel surprised when he was neither short of breath nor light headed. It must be true he didn't need to breath then, he thought numbly. Oh, sure, he'd tried going without several times when he was bored and on his own, but his instincts seemed to have survived along with his character and always around the two minute mark he panicked and sucked in a huge whooping breath ruining the experiment.

"What did you say?" He asked choppily, willing his voice to hold steady. 

"I asked you what met its end on the kitchen wall."

"Ah. I threw a spatula covered in eggs at Hyde."

"I see."

There was a short, palpable beat of quiet as they stared at each other and then, suddenly, they both broke down, laughing into their plates. Mahiru took the brief lull in tension to study Kuro across the table, who was still chuckling softly as shook his head. He looked the same. Technically he had looked the same for several centuries, but to Mahiru it was something to be taken note of day to day. Seeing that despite his newly altered state, and Kuro's less than stellar response to it, he was not fraying completely apart at the edges, was a relief. He looked more tired, perhaps a little disenchanted beyond his usual veneer of casual distaste at the state of existence, but it was nothing that some ramen and a movie couldn't fix. The dawning hope that perhaps this was something he could still salvage bubbled up viciously in his chest and before he could stop himself he had reached across the table and grabbed Kuro's wrist.

"Do you want to-"

Kuro jerked back, ripping his arm free, and fixed Mahiru with a look of revulsion. In the loud static silence that followed, Mahiru could tell that he was finally going to lose the battle with his tears and just a second before they spilled down his cheeks he smiled, a fleeting brittle thing.

"Sorry." Was all he got out before he felt his face grow warm and wet and he saw Kuro's eyes widen in a stunning mix of astonishment and dismay. "I think I'm going to go to bed." Amazingly, the flood waters did nothing to shake his voice and the words were stark and clear in the needle like atmosphere of the kitchen. "Good night."

Unconsciously, he poured on a bit of his fascinating new preternatural speed and was at the kitchen door before he even knew what he was planning. As he turned the corner, deciding to throw himself under his quilt and sob and ponder until he could dredge up and piece together a way to fix this, a long fingered hand curled over his tightly clenched one. Freezing up, too scared to pull away but unable to look, he simply stood, his back to the quivering mass of warm nerves that was Kuro behind him. That gentle pine smell came to him again and he almost screamed in frustration; he could count on one hand the number of times they had been this close since that day. It had just been two weeks ago but it felt like a torturous eternity, Mahiru thought dizzily, how could it have only been two weeks since-

He glanced wearily over his shoulder and met Kuro's steel gaze.

-since he'd died.

"Mahiru." 

His name on those lips was enough to pull a startled sob from his lungs and he felt his heartbeat, an inconsequential thing now, quicken, the unexpected sensation almost painful. Kuro reacted strangely, his brows pulling down, lips quirked in sardonic amusement, and he lifted his free hand slowly, so slowly to Mahiru's now heightened vision, and lightly touched the feather brown hair layered over his forehead.

"I'm sorry." He murmured, his fingers still resting between the strands. "I really am a monster."

The statement bounced around Mahiru's head, trying to find a definition, but it was to no avail and he frowned through his savagely drying tears. "What are you talking about?"

It was Kuro's turn to look confused, hand dropping to his side. "How could you even need to ask?" His voice broke in anguish, faltering back a step as though someone had struck him, and it was only surprise that kept Mahiru from reaching out frantically to pull him back in, closer. "Look what I've done to you."

Words failed Mahiru in his upset and so he only shook his head minutely, unable to believe what he was hearing.

"You're- you died." Kuro whispered haltingly. His hands came up to run through his hair in distress. "I couldn't even-"

"Hey, hey! Hold on just a second!" Mahiru exclaimed, finally finding his voice and lunging forward, digging his fingers aggressively, deeply, into Kuro's shirt in a mad attempt to keep him from running. "This isn't your fault! Kuro, what are you talking about?!"

Eyes flashing eerily in the dim evening lighting of the hallway, Kuro studied him solemnly. "Whose blood did you drink, Mahiru?" A tremor ran down Mahiru's spine and Kuro almost smirked. "And why did you drink it?"

"I-" Mahiru faltered, fear staining his hope a hazardous, familiar black, and ran his tongue across the two small teeth in his mouth that seemed to be the root of all this trouble and pain.

"That's what I thought."

The resignation in Kuro's voice broke the chains of dread tying him down and suddenly no worry or terror could be worse than the reality that Kuro thought he had somehow failed. "You're wrong." He said it too quietly, but was heard clearly all the same, both of them stilling as the street lights flickered on, bathing everything in a warm yellow. "It's my fault. Not yours. It's mine." He laughed brokenly. "It's my fault because- because I couldn't stand to lose you. I couldn't stand to think I'd never hear your voice again. That I'd never see y-you agai-" His tears had begun anew, pouring down his face in an unabashed flood. "I thought- that I couldn't leave you here alone. I thought that, all I wanted was to be with you." He reached out, running his trembling fingers over the thin, delicate skin of Kuro's neck in the place where just thirteen days ago he had ripped it open himself, and whispered what he'd been hiding. "So I took it from you."

In a fit of madness, Kuro threw back his head, the warm skin under Mahiru's touch pulling taut, and laughed. "You really think that?" He asked incredulously once he had managed a breath. "Are you shitting me?" Eyes wide, Mahiru started, staring up at him, perplexed. "Ah jeez, what a pain." Kuro sighed, running a hand over his face. "You really think you, laying there with a walnut sized hole through your puny chest and half your blood soaking the dirt, could in any way have taken something from me?" His tone was dangerous and Mahiru had to stop himself from faltering back in a kind of instinctual fear. "Mahiru. I gave it to you. I leaned over you like a weeping villain and pretended not to see my blood falling into your mouth. You were more than half gone, from the second you raised your arm and scratched me, I knew you were dead. I let it happen. I did it."

Something equally dangerous was unfurling and spreading in Mahiru, something hot and white and sharp and beautiful and he couldn't help the wavering smile that tiptoed across his face. "You mean you wanted-"

"What I want and what's right is not the same." Kuro interrupted him. "You're- you were- You should have grown up." He paused, watching Mahiru with a kind of empathetic mourning and suddenly he looked all of his six hundred years, head bowed under the weight of such an endless journey. "You should have grown up and graduated college, gotten a job, married, traveled, grown old. And now all you have is this half life, this pathetic excuse for living and it's all because I let myself grow complacent. I took from you, exploited you beyond what you offered and in the end I couldn't even save you."

Latching onto the only thing he currently had a response for, Mahiru shook Kuro's shoulders roughly, heedless of his recently unfettered strength. "You didn't exploit me! I wanted to help you!"

"You're still a child if you really believe that." He retorted, subtly rolling a shoulder and wincing. "You turned to me in desperation because-"

"Because you saved me! Of your own free will! You saved me and my friends lives! You did that, Kuro, you!" Mahiru shouted. "It had nothing to do with blood or contracts! It was you." He paused, waiting warily to see if Kuro would deny it. "And that you is my best friend. Everything I've done is because I wanted to. Everything has been because it's what I wanted."

"And dying?" Kuro asked tartly. "Was that what you wanted too?"

"I don't know what might have happened." Mahiru said quietly, loosening his iron grip on Kuro's shoulders, wondering if he'd accidentally cracked any of the bones in his panic. "But that doesn't matter because we can't change the past." He ran his hands over the lapels of the now worn denim Kuro had first appeared in. "And all that does matter is what we do from here on. Maybe I made the wrong choice. But I would do it again." He heard Kuro's little intake of breath and closed his eyes, smiling sarcastically. "Go on, call me stupid, or a hot headed moron. Maybe I am. But I'm not a liar."

Like ash from an angry gods volcano, deadly quiet filled the cracks and spaces in the room as they stood, like statues, facing each other in dawning comprehension. The first to move and break the spell, Mahiru sighed and stepped back, hoping that his expression didn't belie his turmoil and fear and heart wrenching love.

"So please don't ever call yourself a monster. Because you're my hero."

As though he were about to fall to the ground, Kuro stumbled, staring at Mahiru like he'd never seen him before. "What did you say?" He whispered, a hand clenching so tightly in his shirt that the fabric began to stretch. Stony and unflinchingly, Mahiru raised his chin, meeting Kuro's horrified gaze. "I said you're my hero."

"That's what I thought you said." He sounded winded, as though he'd run a hundred miles, looking pale beneath the moon glow tan fanning across his face. "I can't handle this."

The old worry came digging back into his bones and Mahiru winced, looking away. "Do you not-" He hesitated, unsure if he wanted the answer, but the question had taken on a life of it's own, twisting and slithering in his stomach, eating his sleep and peace of mind, and he pushed on. "Do you not want to, I mean, not want me around that long?" He laughed stiltedly, realizing how awkward the question sounded when spoken aloud.

Kuro opened his mouth, looking shell shocked for a moment, and then closed it again, shaking his head. "I'm not dignifying that with an answer. Mahiru, listen to me." He stepped forward quickly, instantly destroying the boundless distance that had at some point stretched between them. "What matters is, regardless of anything else, I should have protected you. I wanted you to live."

"I am alive!" Mahiru protested, brows furrowed in outrage. "I'm right here!"

"You're a vampire." Kuro said flatly. 

"So are you!"

"Precisely." He enunciated each syllable as though speaking to someone hard of hearing, though they both knew Mahiru could now hear a pin drop across the room.

Frowning, Mahiru reached out, tugging on a lock of Kuro's forever unruly hair. "If you're implying that you yourself aren't alive, I find that very insulting. Not to mention you would be insinuating that I have made a mistake in judgement. To me you've never been anything but a very sturdy, very lazy guy who snuck his way into my house."

The crumbling, perpetual look of almost fearsome anguish that graced Kuro's delicate features suddenly began to transform, morphing into what a more distinguished member of society might call mortification, but to Mahiru just looked dumb and he couldn't stop the small chuckle that punched it's way out of his throat. Kuro shot him a sulky look, just further ruining his image and Mahiru covered his mouth, trying valiantly to muffle the full on laughter now leaking free.

"I'm sorry. I can't believe it, but I don't think I've ever seen you looking so embarrassed." He explained, smiling timidly. "Which is really saying something considering how long I've known you."

"I am a paragon of unflappable apathy." Kuro muttered distractedly, still staring at Mahiru with something akin to worry. "So you mean to tell me that you're fine with all this? Being murdered and turned into a vampire."

"I've been trying to tell you that from the beginning." Mahiru crossed his arms in annoyance. "But you seem to have trouble hearing over the sound of your own angst."

Kuro glowered at him, then frowned softly, his fingers digging and twisting in the ruins of his shirt. "I'm sorry, Mahiru."

"Me too." He said kindly. "But I'm not sorry to still be here with you."

What looked like a gentle blush misted over Kuro's cheeks before he shook his head. "No, I mean I'm sorry that I- I let this happen and then just ran from you. I left you to figure all this out on your own, when I should have been here to-"

"Don't worry about it." Mahiru cut him off, holding up a hand. 

Kuro still looked unsure, the tendons of his fingers pulled tight against the creamy expanse of the backs of his hands; Mahiru couldn't seem to tear his gaze from them, wondering if his looked just as crystal perfect now too.

"I won't." Kuro said suddenly. "I won't let you suffer any more."

"So you'll help with the chores?"  Mahiru asked brightly, smiling when Kuro blanched. "I'm just kidding. I know you can't be trusted to do the laundry." He made to turn, to wander back to the table, his hope that Kuro would follow an almost all encompassing fog, but stumbled when a hand tugged on his wrist, holding him back, and he glanced over his shoulder warily. "What is it?"

"How can you be real?"

He felt his brows raise in question, unsure how to interpret Kuro's words, and so settled for shrugging. "I don't think I'm all that special really."

"You're doing the impossible." Kuro insisted, leaning forward in earnest, his face open and wondering. 

Mahiru laughed. "It's not impossible. I think I just have a better incentive than most."

"And what's that?" Kuro was still staring at him, but now he looked almost hopeful, as if  he were hoping for the chance to hope, and Mahiru felt that dangerous something, so solid and bright and distracting, respond in kind, unfurling and reaching out to wrap around the endless, terrifying entity that was Kuro's existence. As though feeling it, Kuro took a small, indecisive step toward him, his eyes locked on Mahiru's like he feared if in looking away he would disappear into the void.

"Don't you know by now?" Mahiru asked softly, smiling as he turned back. "I think I've made it pretty obvious."

"You know I'm not good with all these guessing games." Kuro muttered, taking a half step forward.

"It's because you're too lazy." Mahiru snuck one foot forward as well, shyly. 

"They're no fun." Kuro argued. Another step and he was almost directly in front of Mahiru, watching him cautiously from half lidded eyes.

"So only fun things keep your attention?" Mahiru said jokingly, reaching out and slowly sneaking his hand beneath Kuro's arm.

"Only things worth the effort." Kuro corrected, allowing his arm to be pulled up and almost wrapped around Mahiru.

"What kinds of things are worth the effort?" He took a final step forward, his other arm curling around Kuro's steady shoulders, the teasing touch of inhumanly soft hair tickling over his forearm.

"Don't you know by now?" Kuro echoed, his free hand coming to rest under Mahiru's chin and nudging his face up just a fraction. "I think I've made it pretty obvious."

"Just a bit." Mahiru conceded, raising up on his toes and bringing himself within reach, waiting.

The sudden, anticipated touch of Kuro's lips was like a jolt through his nerves and Mahiru almost gasped. Though he had thought that perhaps this was the course they had been set on, it was still a shock, something that he didn't think he could have expected even if he'd been warned. Unsure what to do, he remained still, allowing Kuro to slowly explore the fragile expanse of his lips in that gentle, probing way that only he seemed to possess. When he finally drew back, eyes clouded with both fear and a kind of deep ember passion, Mahiru smiled brightly, locking his fingers together behind his neck.

"Was that the answer to your puzzle?" Kuro asked quietly, tightening his arms around Mahiru's waist.

Pretending to think, Mahiru let his face pull into a faux pout, barely holding back a laugh when he noticed Kuro tracking the movement raptly. "Mmm, one of them, yes."

"And what are the others?" Kuro whispered, his breath ghosting across Mahiru's open mouth as he slowly drew back in as though pulled by a solid force.

"What if I made you guess?" Mahiru murmured, the movement brushing the sensitive skin of their lips together, mingling the colors of their shared essences.

"I suppose for you I'd be willing to try." Kuro fell forward, letting that blatant power that Mahiru had always sensed in him flow freely, pulling Mahiru's feet free of the floor and crushing the air from his lungs; if he'd wanted to, he wouldn't have had the ability to complain.

When he was allowed to fall back to the floor, his legs steady only though instinct, he sucked in a heady breath, rejoicing in that spicy sweet scent, now, finally, near enough for him to really experience. "Should I feel honored by your offer?" He asked mischievously. "You don't know what kind of guesses you'll have to make."

Kuro sighed, resting his chin on the top of Mahiru's head. "That sounds like a lot of trouble."

"Yes, it does." He agreed sagely, grinning. "But I have complete faith in you."

For the barest moment, Kuro froze, his back tensing under Mahiru's palms, but after a few frantic heart beats he relaxed and slid back a step, keeping a hand on Mahiru's forearm. "Don't you always." Their fingers soft around each other as he twined them together, he pulled Mahiru out and away from the dark kitchen, leaving the coffee pot to blink its soft red light into the approaching night.

[evans-maxed-out]

Promises Ain’t Enough-Samcedes Chatzy Flashback Xmas 2016

Who: Sam Evans and Mercedes Jones

Where:Sammie’s Christmas Pageant and Samcedes Apartment

When: A few days before Xmas 2016

Notes: Sam struggles with guilt, when he realizes he must break a promise to Sammie and not attend her Christmas show. Mercedes attempts to make things better.

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Sam: "Shit..no no no!" he shouted as he watched all his work disappear as the computer in front of him froze. "Piece of shit fucking crap.." he muttered, defeated as he rebooted, the awful sinking feeling that he hadn't saved his work pervading his body. Hadn't he learned his lesson, with the damn sketchy machines in the college library? Bad enough for it to have happened on campus, but now on his own computer at home? Fucking joke.He glanced at his watch, shaking his head as he realized he wouldn't be able to complete his assignment before Sammie's performance in the Christmas Pageant. There was no way Figgins would give him any slack either. He had to give it in before 10pm or he was screwed. Pulling out his cell, he called Mercedes. "Hey..I can't make it Cedes..The computer crashed on me and I didn't save the assignment.."

Mercedes say shaking her leg nervously as she looked towards the entrance to the auditorium once again. He was late. Samara has been so excited to be the lead elf in the play. Mercedes and Sam both took turns helping her memorize her lines till she was practically saying them in her sleep. The lights began to dim and she checked her phone for time seeing it was two minutes till start. “Come on Sam,” she said worriedly to herself. “Where are you babe?” Just as she went to text him she saw a message flash on her screen. He wasn’t coming. She knew he had to be crushed not to come seeing that he was just as excited as Sammie was. ‘I’m so sorry Sam, focus on your assignment it will be fine.’ She sent her reply and removed her purse from the seat next to her that she no longer needed to save.

Sam: This was shit..his whole life was going to shit..Sammie had been so looking forward to both of them coming to see her in her play. And he had wanted to, so badly as much to say a fuck you to all the other parents who cast censorious looks at him and Mercedes just because they were young parents, as to see his baby girl perform on stage. He hated the thought of Mercedes having to sit there alone, enduring the whispers. Kitty, had made things worse by regaling the parents at the school, with all the sordid details of how exactly they'd ended up together even though she had herself trapped Mike, first year of college, by getting pregnant deliberately. He’d promised her, promised his baby girl faithfully, he’d be there and he was having to break that. "Fuck my life.." he muttered, as he painstakingly began typing out the assignment again.

Mercedes tried to remain calm throughout the pageant when she noticed the not so subtle glances in her direction. This was beginning to be a normal event whenever she would go to places or events with Sam and their daughter. She wished so much she could just yell, “yeah I had a kid young and I’m married to the guy you bimbos gawk at” but for her child’s sake she kept quiet. Her anxiety wasn’t as bad when Sam was there because he always tried his best to keep her calm and unbothered. Kitty was the worst of them all, the ring leader. Mercedes knew it was all because of her jealousy. She wanted Sam and a single one night stand between Mercedes and Sam halted all that. She smiled widely as Sammie took the stage so adorable in her little costume and began to say the closing words of the play. She hadn’t missed a single line. She was super proud of her and bias or not the star of the show. The whole room including Mercedes stood and began to clap loudly as the curtains closed and the light came back up. When the little tikes came out for the curtain call she made sure to snap a photo of Sammie and sent it to Sam as she waited for her daughter to come from the back.

Sam: He smiled sadly as he saw the photo of his daughter come through. She looked amazing and he could see the excitement shining in her eyes, and felt just like an absolute heel for not making it there for her big moment. No one had ever told him it would be this hard..Knowing that this was the way forward to being able to support his family and give them everything they deserved, but in turn having to sacrifice precious moments like these..He was tired, it just kept getting harder, and knowing that this wasn't the life Mercedes would've chosen just seemed to make everything worse. How could you love someone so much and not connect with them? He felt her pulling away every time they were together, she was so reserved, so careful to make any demands on his time that he wanted to shake her at times. But then again, he knew that he didn't have the right to ask anything from her. He'd gotten her pregnant, and now she was trapped. Sighing, he began reading over the assignment, making minor corrections as he went.

Mercedes laughed at how giddy Sammie was the whole car ride home. She kept going on and on about how’s my complements she got from her friends and even the teachers. She was a little sad when asked where her daddy was and Mercedes had to explain that he needed to finish an important homework or he wouldn’t get a gold star. Sammie seemed to be okay with for now but Mercedes knew there would follow up questions later on. “What do you say we take Daddy some food home to help him?” She asked and the little girl nodded her head with a toothy smile. She reminded her so much of Sam that sometimes she had to just take it all in. This may not have been the ideal life for her but she loved her little family. She often wondered if Sam felt the same way. He was pulled into this marriage like she was and maybe he was just playing along to please their folks. She made a quick stop grabbing some food and headed home. Once inside Sammie ran straight to where she knew Sam would be. “Daddy!!!” She yelled running into his arms. He looked so tired and worn out. She giggled at the pen sticking out his mouth, hair disheveled. “I figured you were hungry,” she greeted him. She took a chance sitting in his lap and placing the food down next to him. Feeling even braver she placed a chaste kiss to his lips and raked his hair fixing it. “Any progress?”

Sam: He heard the sound of Sammie's little feet running into the apartment, smiling as he realized his livewire daughter and his wife were back. He hugged Sammie tight as she launched herself into his arms and ruffled her hair lightly. "Hey Sparkie, how was your show? I'm so sorry I couldn't make it.." he said sadly as a wave of guilt washed over him again. "S'ok Daddy! Mommy vid-i-ohd it for you! It was awesome!" she exclaimed before flinging herself around the room renacting her starring moment. His arms closed around Mercedes the instant she sat down on his lap, face nuzzling her neck, breathing in her scent. Times like these were rare, times when they actually touched like any normal married couple would, instead of the awkwardness that always seemed to linger at the edges of any interaction they had..except in bed. There, they connected fully on an almost ephemeral level-it was just this day to day stuff they seemed to have trouble navigating. His eyes darkened as she pressed a kiss to his lips and his tongue automatically, swiped her bottom lip gently. If Sammie hadn't have been there, he'd have had her up against the wall, screaming his name no matter how tired or stressed he was. "Thanks, Cedes.." he said nodding at the food. "It's done.." he said looking away, frustrated. "I missed her show..I'm such a shitty father.."

Mercedes felt sorry for Sam. She could tell he was beating himself up for not making it to her show and she wanted him to know she completely understood. He did so much for them. He worked and tackled school so she didn’t have to work while she took care of Sammie. She was grateful for everything that he had done for them and even if he only did it out obligation she would show her appreciation. “Hey, don’t say that.” She rubbed a soothing hand down his back. “You did what you had to do and there is nothing wrong with that. You’re an amazing father Sam. Did you see how happy she was to see you? She thinks the world of you, and so do I.” She realized what she said before the words could be stopped from coming out. He did mean the world to her tho, even if they had a funny way of showing affection of any form in their day to day life unless it came to sex. This moment was actually a rare occasion for them but she was going to enjoy it for what it was. “Here,” she pulled her phone out going to her videos. “She was the star Sam, I could be bias but those others kids had nothing on her.” She pressed play one arm wrapped around his shoulder as the other held her phone.

Sam:”I think the world of you too, Cedes, you know that right? I couldn’t do this without you..” It was as close as he’d ever come to telling her he loved her. He grinned as she held her phone up and Sammie came on screen. “Nah, you’re not biased baby. She lights up the stage,” he agreed wholeheartedly with her assessment adding mentally, the way you light up my whole life..

[verdigrisprowl]

June 19 Dancitron Movie Night - How It’s Made

Frenzy and Ravage picked How It’s Made segments for everyone but didn’t warn them what the videos were going to be.

There were hysterics over How It’s Made: Giant Valves.

Prowl discovered fossils are really cool, and Soundwave wants Prowl to help make a kaleidoscope for him.

Today ItsyBitsySpyers 7:50 pm *Soundwave's in a not-quite-but-very-close-to-a sprawl on his usual seat, feelers massaging his arms. He tremble-laughs to himself. Tonight should be amusing.* Ratchet 7:51 pm *pops in* ItsyBitsySpyers 7:53 pm *Bobs his helm in welcome.* Bevel 7:53 pm *looks around to see which of SW's crew are here tonight* ItsyBitsySpyers 7:53 pm *Just him and Rumble.* Ratchet 7:53 pm *is there a bug* Ratchet 7:53 pm *aww, no bug :c* Bevel 7:54 pm *will sit wherever Rumble's at then* ItsyBitsySpyers 7:54 pm *Rumble's stretched across the back of a relocated booth seat. Unfortunately, Zori is busy helping melt some rubble over in one of the settlements tonight.* Ratchet 7:56 pm *sits butt down on an empty couch* Bevel 7:57 pm *then she will take the actual booth seat, he can have the back* Bevel 7:59 pm *waves to the Ratchet* Hi! Ratchet 8:01 pm Heya. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:01 pm [[We will be doing something... different, tonight. Consider yourselves warned.]] *Not quite time to start, but very soon.* Bevel 8:02 pm *different sounds interesting* boomtank 8:02 pm -peers in- ItsyBitsySpyers 8:03 pm *Nods hello.* boomtank 8:03 pm -and then in he goes, waves at Soundwave before sitting- ItsyBitsySpyers 8:06 pm ((ok soon as puff is back with food we get goin)) boomtank 8:07 pm ((kaaay Me 8:10 pm ((am here and fooded!)) Me 8:11 pm *arrives just slightly late* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:11 pm //Weapons?// Sits up. *Immediate ping hello from the noodle and his miniature nerd.* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:13 pm //Jus' so ya know, Frenzy 'n Ravage picked alla these. Boss said "find scrap for every mech what comes here Mondays," 'n they said they done it, but we dunno what they got.// Bevel 8:13 pm *is super into this movie even if she knows all this already* Me 8:14 pm *pings back. is soundwave still sprawled?* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:14 pm *He is. Would Prowl like to join him?* Me 8:14 pm *well, he's not going to sprawl. But he'll sit with Soundwave. *he IS somewhat slouched, though.* boomtank 8:17 pm -perks at instrument- ItsyBitsySpyers 8:17 pm *Soundwave tests whether or not he can place an arm behind Prowl. He's not surprised by the slouch. Can't expect an instant mood fix.* [[You're familiar with this, Blaster?]] Me 8:18 pm *no complaints about the arm* boomtank 8:18 pm Huh? Oh, no, not making them I would like to try though...if I ever get time ItsyBitsySpyers 8:19 pm [[Just this or any?]] boomtank 8:20 pm Any really Christine 8:20 pm *plops into a seat with snacks from home* hi guys! ItsyBitsySpyers 8:20 pm //Yo, Impact!// Rumble waves from the back of a seat. Christine 8:21 pm *Return waves!* Bevel 8:21 pm Making instruments is really hard. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:22 pm [[You've tried?]] Bevel 8:22 pm *waves to Impact, actually sees her this time* Christine 8:22 pm *Even more exuberant waving! Is a Bevel!* Bevel 8:22 pm *is indeed!* boomtank 8:23 pm -oh, instruments gone now- ItsyBitsySpyers 8:23 pm *Don't worry, there will be more later. Ravage knows the audience.* Ratchet 8:23 pm [[ there was some kingwood in there too!! ]] Christine 8:23 pm Ooooh, purple heart! ItsyBitsySpyers 8:23 pm //I thought that was a metal.// boomtank 8:24 pm -awesome- ItsyBitsySpyers 8:24 pm [[Visually appealing.]] Bevel 8:24 pm Purple wood 😄 Me 8:26 pm ... That's so inefficient. Christine 8:26 pm But it's pretty! ItsyBitsySpyers 8:26 pm [[...It is? How would you do it?]] Bevel 8:27 pm [[My boss does this as a hobby/side-job boomtank 8:27 pm ...they are pretty Christine 8:27 pm Trains!! 3:D Me 8:28 pm Create a single tool that cuts out the designs for the barrel of the pen in one go. Like a... a mold, except it's for a lathe. Bevel 8:28 pm *oh yeah trains, sits forward a little* Me 8:28 pm That way the creator doesn't have to individually carve each one with multiple tools, and they wouldn't be so inconsistent. There's no way that he can get any sort of consistency if he's making them one at a time. boomtank 8:29 pm That might be the point? Ratchet 8:29 pm It's art, Prowl. Humans like that they're not all the same. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:29 pm *Rumble snickers and makes scissor fingers near Bevel's audials.* //Snip snip, big bit.// [[But he would be able to produce more of them.]] Bevel 8:29 pm Ow. No snipping. Me 8:29 pm The sword was art too, but they used molds and a cutting program to make them all consistent. Christine 8:30 pm I APPROVE OF THIS COLOR CHOICE ItsyBitsySpyers 8:30 pm //How ya feel about bein' a train?// boomtank 8:30 pm I think it might have to do with material used? Bevel 8:31 pm Some swords are made without molds and stuff. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:31 pm //Yeah, sometimes a big fragger jus' whacks crystals until they're all pointy.// Snicker snicker. Me 8:31 pm Yes, the narrator mentioned that blacksmiths used to make them slowly and inefficiently by hand. Bevel 8:32 pm I make them like that. Christine 8:33 pm *smol gasp* You do?! Bevel 8:33 pm Uh-huh ItsyBitsySpyers 8:33 pm //An' you ain't given me none?// Me 8:33 pm *... Prowl is going to shut up now.* Christine 8:33 pm Can I watch you do it sometime?! 3:D Bevel 8:33 pm *it's ok Prowl she ain't mad* I can make you one, Rumble. *nods to Impact* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:34 pm [[Is this how you began your Dinobots, Ratchet?]] Ratchet 8:35 pm Heh. I guess, but the humans did all the fossil digging. We found the bones in a museum. Bevel 8:35 pm Not using molds means I can do custom work and make really cool designs that never look the same. Sometimes consistency is good because if you know a design really works well and need to make a bunch. Like outfitting a whole army or something. Me 8:35 pm *watching in fascination* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:36 pm //Ya stole the bones?// Me 8:36 pm *he's learned more about fossils in the last two minutes than he learned during all his years on Earth.* Ratchet 8:36 pm Of course not. They just gave us the idea, when we saw them. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:37 pm [[What is this? It's beautiful.]] Christine 8:37 pm I think it's a ray! Ratchet 8:37 pm [[ that ind of tedious work is what i live for tbh, i would love doing that.... ]] boomtank 8:37 pm Oh wow Christine 8:37 pm i win! ItsyBitsySpyers 8:37 pm //Oh, pfff. Stealin' woulda been more fun.// ...And Prowl's in the room. //But, uh, illegal. 'Course.// Bevel 8:37 pm Pretty. boomtank 8:37 pm Yeah ItsyBitsySpyers 8:37 pm *Soundwave nods at Impact. So she did.* Me 8:38 pm I don't understand how they don't rot. Ratchet 8:38 pm Can't do much with fossils, though. They're good for looking at, not building off of. Christine 8:38 pm *Has gained the acknowledgement as is delighted.* Bevel 8:38 pm *helicopter and Whirl's not here aw8 Christine 8:39 pm awww Me 8:39 pm ... The helicopter segment is clearly for Whirl's benefit. He's not here. We could skip this segment and watch something else about fossils. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:39 pm [[Perhaps whatever causes disgusting organic rot does not get through layers of rock.]] Bevel 8:39 pm *laughs* Me 8:39 pm *just a suggestion* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:39 pm *Soundwave taps his chin in thought.* Bevel 8:40 pm I was a helicopter once. Me 8:40 pm ((... did it crash?)) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:40 pm [[When we have worked through the list, he will find more videos on fossils for y--]] Me 8:40 pm ((i mean. it DID crash for me. did it crash for others.)) Bevel 8:40 pm [[yes it did Christine 8:40 pm ((did for me)) Ratchet 8:40 pm [[ yes ]] boomtank 8:40 pm ((yup Me 8:40 pm ((okay cool im not alone)) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:40 pm *Soundwave sighs and stretches his feelers out to poke at the wires.* Christine 8:41 pm *takes the opportunity to sit closer to bevel* 3:D boomtank 8:41 pm Um...? Need help? ItsyBitsySpyers 8:41 pm [[No, he doesn't need help.]] Instant Blaster reaction. But... if he wants to butter Blaster up into eventually telling him about That Thing. [[But he would not mind it.]] ((i'm sorry y'all ;; give it a sec, it's obvs bein slow tonight)) Me 8:42 pm ... Whatever's wrong, it's not the projectors. Bevel 8:42 pm :3 Christine 8:43 pm *bounce bounce bounce bounce* Me 8:43 pm Otherwise I would have disappeared. boomtank 8:43 pm -will get up to help then- Christine 8:44 pm *cheers* Me 8:44 pm *there it goes* boomtank 8:44 pm -and there we go- ItsyBitsySpyers 8:44 pm [[Thank you.]] *Pings Prowl a thank you as well for that bit of info.* Me 8:45 pm *return ping* boomtank 8:45 pm Welcome! -and sitting back down- ItsyBitsySpyers 8:45 pm [[Let us try that again.]] Me 8:46 pm *are they skipping the helicopters to see more fossils?* *oh, apparently not* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:46 pm *When the main run is done, Prowl. He won't forget.* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:47 pm //It's a helicopter 'n it got an airplane on a dial.// Me 8:48 pm *watching a bunch of organics assembling what's basically an insentient mech is... bizarre.* Bevel 8:48 pm This is a really small helicopter. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:48 pm *This was probably Frenzy's pick, to be honest.* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:49 pm //Eugh. Imaginin' all them little hands all everywhere - poor Breakdown. Musta been horrible.// Christine 8:49 pm *stiffens* *:(* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:49 pm //...Oh scrap. I'm real sorry, Impact.// Me 8:49 pm You get used to it. Christine 8:50 pm *mumble* s'ok Me 8:50 pm ... The hands, I mean. Not the... *vague gesture that may or may not allude to Breakdown* Bevel 8:50 pm *pats Impact gently* Christine 8:50 pm *leans on Bevel* Ratchet 8:51 pm Hmm. *slides off couch onto feet* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:51 pm *Soundwave looks at Prowl. When did he have human hands all over him?* //You goin', doc?// Ratchet 8:51 pm Time for me to head out, folks. Seeya next time. Bevel 8:51 pm *looks over at Ratchet* Aw, ok. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:52 pm //Aw. Hey, I'll tell Bug you was here, yeah?// boomtank 8:52 pm G'night Ratchet Bevel 8:52 pm Night! Ratchet 8:52 pm Tell him be here next week. Christine 8:52 pm *small wave* Me 8:52 pm Evening. *... that's it that's the only word he's said to Ratchet all night* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:52 pm //Sure! Watch yourself, 'n all.// Ratchet 8:53 pm *it sure is, Prowl* Me 8:53 pm *he's watching how glass lab equipment is made, no time to talk* Bevel 8:54 pm *makes a promise to self that she'll talk to Ratchet the next time she sees them* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:54 pm *Soundwave is learning so, so much. Whatever humans made these shows have his approval.* Christine 8:55 pm Oh! I know about human oil! It's made of old dead stuff! Me 8:56 pm *crude oil! is this more fossil stuff?* ItsyBitsySpyers 8:56 pm //Gross.// Bevel 8:57 pm Messy. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:57 pm //Hey, Boss. Ain't this one of them places ya went to? That whole fossil fight thing.// boomtank 8:57 pm Ew ItsyBitsySpyers 8:57 pm [[Yes. ... It made him slightly hungry.]] Me 8:58 pm Wouldn't this whole drilling process destroy a lot of fossils? Christine 8:58 pm ((bless u prowl)) Bevel 8:58 pm Bet it does. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:58 pm [[Most likely. The humans have an obsession with this product, though. He overhears many, many... MANY political arguments about it.]] Christine 8:59 pm ((sister: prowl is a gift. become soundwave if you agree)) ItsyBitsySpyers 8:59 pm [[It is strange. They do not even consume or inject it.]] Me 8:59 pm I'm well aware. It's a shame. ItsyBitsySpyers 8:59 pm ((*soundwaves stronger*)) Me 9:01 pm ... I'm sorry, what did they say they make with it? Crayons, perfumes, what...? boomtank 9:01 pm What the.... Christine 9:01 pm gross! Bevel 9:01 pm Ugh human food. boomtank 9:02 pm .......... ItsyBitsySpyers 9:02 pm [[Crayons, perfumes, plastic, lubricant, fuel...]] *Soundwave is so not looking at the screen. He'll just listen to this one.* boomtank 9:02 pm -hide face behind data-pad- EW Me 9:02 pm *completely unbothered by the meat slurry* Christine 9:02 pm *just gonna focus on her own snacks, yes* *offers bevel some* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:03 pm *Rumble is both grossed out but totally fascinated, judging by his mixed up expression* Bevel 9:03 pm *forgot to bring anything to distract herself with tonight nooooo-oooo snacks yes plz* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:03 pm //Meatsacks eatin' meatsacks. That's fraggin' great.// Bevel 9:03 pm *...expression? is there an emoji on the visor?* [[never mind reading comp fail XD Me 9:05 pm They can't eat gasoline, even though it used to be meat and plants. And yet WE can eat it—again, despite its origins. Even though it's basically liquid fossils. *yes he's still on about the fossils.* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:06 pm [[It makes sense for our timeline. Given who Earth is.]] Me 9:06 pm *oh! facial reconstruction!* I've seen this done. Christine 9:06 pm ((oooh, true)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:06 pm [[On humans? Or mechs?]] Me 9:06 pm Humans. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:06 pm [[Can you do this?]] Me 9:06 pm Well—I haven't seen it BEING done. But I've watched videos. No, I don't know enough about human anatomy. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:07 pm *Thinks and nods.* Me 9:07 pm Besides, I'm given to understand that there's as much art to it as science. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:08 pm *Soundwave saves this one for Buzzsaw, just in case that's so.* Me 9:08 pm The videos I've seen didn't explain it in this much depth. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:09 pm [[It is most fascinating. Is it -possible- to do... something like this, with mechs?]] Bevel 9:10 pm This looks cool Christine 9:10 pm mmhmm! Me 9:11 pm Something sort of like this, yes. Although the process is very different. No clay. Christine 9:11 pm EEEEEGS i have eggs! boomtank 9:11 pm ...egg? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:11 pm //The menagerie goin' again?// Christine 9:11 pm Always! ItsyBitsySpyers 9:11 pm *Soundwave takes notes on this.* Christine 9:11 pm My chickens are way happier than these chickens, though ItsyBitsySpyers 9:12 pm //How can ya tell?// Christine 9:12 pm Their noises! And Papa gave me a translating thingy on my birthday so I know they say they're happy Me 9:12 pm Mass-produced faces like mine are very easy to identify by frametype, but once it's identified you can't tell which mech of that frametype the face belongs to. boomtank 9:13 pm Those cages look kinda...tiny Me 9:13 pm Forged mechs are harder to identify, but once they ARE identified the face typically allows you to identify an individual person, rather than a batch of hundreds of people. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:14 pm [[How else were they identified, then? Paint?]] [[The mass-produced victims, he means.]] Christine 9:15 pm D:< Me 9:15 pm Paint, after-assembly kibble, treads. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:15 pm *Soundwave glances at the list and sits up a bit.* Christine 9:15 pm I DISAPPROVE ItsyBitsySpyers 9:16 pm [[Ah. Bevel, would you mind going upstairs and asking Laserbeak where he left his datapad?]] Christine 9:16 pm MY CHICKENS GET TO RETIRE ItsyBitsySpyers 9:16 pm ((*Impact sorry not Bevel)) Christine 9:16 pm Okay! *scoots* Bevel 9:17 pm *sees what you did there SW* Christine 9:17 pm ((CACKLES)) boomtank 9:17 pm -confused noises- ItsyBitsySpyers 9:17 pm *SMALL ENOUGH TO FIT INSIDE THE--Rumble squawks and falls off the couch* Me 9:17 pm *... poker face* Bevel 9:17 pm *covers her mouth and tries really hard to not laugh* Me 9:17 pm *his poker face gets even more neutral every time they say the word "valve"* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:17 pm *Soundwave leans forward.* boomtank 9:17 pm -he doesn't get it- Bevel 9:17 pm *snorts* Valve body. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:18 pm //Make sure the holes're-- fraaaaaag// Christine 9:18 pm ((penetrating)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:18 pm //Hard fachhghghdjdhaahaha// *He's not even gonna try to stand up right now* Bevel 9:19 pm *stay there it's for the best* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:19 pm [[Primus, there's a human in that one.]] Me 9:19 pm *mumbles* MINE didn't get smoothed... boomtank 9:19 pm -STILL confused- ItsyBitsySpyers 9:19 pm *Soundwave's vents stutter just a smidge at that mumble* Bevel 9:20 pm *giggles* Me 9:20 pm *poker faces even harder* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:21 pm //I'm dyin'. Somebody tell Frenzy he's an aft 'n Bevel can have my games.// Bevel 9:21 pm I do not think this is anatomically correct at all. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:21 pm [[...He was not informed that was a function they performed.]] Bevel 9:22 pm The world is safe. Yay. Christine 9:22 pm *returns with a datapad* What'd I miss? Me 9:22 pm *he pokerfaced all the way through "giant valves"* Bevel 9:22 pm Boring stuff. Christine 9:22 pm *sees Rumble on the floor* You okay? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:22 pm //Ah, jus' some pipe stuff.// Me 9:22 pm *but he sees "retractile cords" and barks out a laugh* Bevel 9:22 pm *cackles* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:23 pm *Soundwave just. Fwooshes. Bright indigo.* Bevel 9:23 pm *SW gets such an amused ping* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:23 pm *He doesn't know which of the two picked this one but they're both in so much trouble.* boomtank 9:23 pm Soundwave? Are you okay? Christine 9:23 pm Soundwave? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:24 pm [[Yes, he's fine. Incoming messages about the latest dinobot riot. Many of them.]] Christine 9:24 pm Uh oh. Well, here's the datapad! ItsyBitsySpyers 9:25 pm [[Thank you.]] *Reaches for it and pretends to read.* @Prowl: (txt): Prowl also flame-resistant? Impact 9:25 pm *Goes to plop by Bevel again.* Me 9:25 pm *affirmative ping* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:26 pm *Small nod. Good to know.* Me 9:26 pm @Soundwave «I don't have that extra layer for electrical shielding, though. Less sensitive.» *points at the drill reversing the coils' directions* For the record, that's VERY uncomfortable. Impact 9:27 pm *found that one kind of boring* boomtank 9:27 pm .... Impact 9:27 pm *if the tubes one was like that she's glad she missed it* Bevel 9:27 pm Cop stuff. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:27 pm *And another small nod.* [[He would imagine so. Ah! Human police work.]] Me 9:28 pm *ooh, handcuffs* Bevel 9:28 pm *the most boring, Impact* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:28 pm *Rumble crawls over the couch again and nudges Bevel and Impact. Scoot over, you two.* Impact 9:28 pm *obliging scoot* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:28 pm //Ratchet's teeth don't look nothin' like that.// Bevel 9:29 pm *laughs* Impact 9:29 pm *giggles* boomtank 9:30 pm -reading now, bored of all this- ItsyBitsySpyers 9:30 pm //Huh, humans must be nicer. Ain't no swivels on any I been clapped in.// //Least I don't got doors or wings or nothin'. I hear Starscream got a super nasty cramp that time he tried goin' Autobot.// Bevel 9:31 pm Not stasis cuffs either. Just cuffs. Impact 9:31 pm He tried going Autobot? 3:o Bevel 9:32 pm [[Naughty children get put in the handcuff wiggler ItsyBitsySpyers 9:32 pm ((LOL)) Impact 9:32 pm ((XD)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:32 pm //Yeah, once. Didn't work.// Impact 9:32 pm Huh. Bevel 9:33 pm Lord Starscream makes a good Decepticon. Even when he's a really nice one. Me 9:33 pm *... slouches a bit further* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:33 pm *Soundwave glances over again, confused.* @Prowl: (txt): ...Clocks: bothersome? Me 9:34 pm *negative ping* Bevel 9:34 pm *oooo pretty clocks* Impact 9:34 pm Oh! Oh! Bevel, you and Whirl talked about clocks! Tiny geeeears ItsyBitsySpyers 9:35 pm *Tilts his helm. Well, he's learned that particular lesson. If Prowl wants to tell him what it really is, he will.* //Cuckoos don't got wings, or what?// Me 9:35 pm *it was the handcuffs, actually. And the reminder of his old job.* Bevel 9:36 pm The tiniest. I want to see a video about automatons. Do they have one? ItsyBitsySpyers 9:37 pm *Soundwave's started skimming the list to make sure there's no more Surprises. He checks again.* [[Not this time. Perhaps another.]] Me 9:38 pm *... although the clock also makes him think about Whirl's job, and the conversation he had about it with Whirl, which... admittedly doesn't help things* Bevel 9:38 pm Aw. Ok. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:40 pm [[This is strangely discomfiting to watch. More than the assembly of a helicopter.]] boomtank 9:41 pm ............ Impact 9:41 pm brain bits! Me 9:42 pm *little bit, yeah* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:42 pm [[Still. They do make decent audio equipment.]] Impact 9:43 pm 3:D Bevel 9:43 pm Armor! ItsyBitsySpyers 9:44 pm //Heh, that looked like that purple guy. Uh. Tornadus?// Bevel 9:44 pm Chain mail looks really cool when you wear it. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:45 pm //Ratbat useta have a cape like that.// //Wouldn't never shut up about it.// Bevel 9:46 pm Ha. Me 9:46 pm Really? Metal capes were considered... gauche, in my universe. A senator wouldn't be caught dead in one. Bevel 9:48 pm *this makes her miss her old suit of armor look* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:48 pm [[It -was-, if you ask him. But we no longer had access to fabric by then.]] Me 9:48 pm *so this is when humans first decided they wanted to be robots. with suits of armor. disconcerting to watch.* ItsyBitsySpyers 9:49 pm ((i'd meant this one for windchill cuz of their grub, but sadly they are not here today ;; )) Impact 9:49 pm COloooooors ItsyBitsySpyers 9:50 pm [[Hm. Crayons, perfumes, plastics, lubricants, fuels... bricks.]] [[They are creative. He will give them that.]] Me 9:50 pm All that with ancient slurried flesh. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:51 pm *Tiny huff.* [[You have a way with words.]] [[And 'deli meat' with the fresher form. We must not forget that.]] Me 9:51 pm ... So I've been accused. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:52 pm [[Complimented.]] Me 9:53 pm ... That's less frequent. Me 9:54 pm ((who was the lipstick for?)) ItsyBitsySpyers 9:54 pm ((we are on the last few, do not worry y'all)) [[The loss of whoever didn't see.]] ((nobody in particular, i just thought it was interesting)) //...Paint?// Impact 9:55 pm paint to make faces fancy! ItsyBitsySpyers 9:56 pm //Oh! For scarin' opponents. Gotcha.// Me 9:56 pm Wouldn't it be easier to just tattoo their lips? Bevel 9:56 pm Human blood is red. boomtank 9:56 pm Looks interesting Bevel 9:56 pm I think the paint is less painful. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:56 pm [[Perhaps they do not know how to do that.]] Impact 9:56 pm And you can change up your colors! Me 9:57 pm I've seen humans putting on lipstick. They have to continuously reapply it. They know how to tattoo everything else. ItsyBitsySpyers 9:57 pm *He points to Impact.* [[Then it may be what she said - color changing. Wanting more than one choice.]] //What's the pointa colors though? Ain't like they got... I dunno, blue 'n purple blood.// Bevel 9:58 pm Looks cool. Impact 9:58 pm Exactly! Me 9:59 pm Maybe it helps them tell each other apart. *all humans look the same.* Impact 9:59 pm and also tasty! ItsyBitsySpyers 9:59 pm [[Hm. That does make sense.]] And he's snapped forward. *Great. He's hungry again.* boomtank 9:59 pm Oh! Showing food again? Bevel 9:59 pm Yay food Impact 10:00 pm Foooooood~ ItsyBitsySpyers 10:00 pm //Next time, I wanna see gold.// Impact 10:00 pm Yeah! Me 10:00 pm *... mental note, Soundwave likes silver.* *if that snap forward is anything to go by* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:01 pm *Prowl has no. idea.* Bevel 10:01 pm Mythril. Impact 10:01 pm Mithril!!!! ItsyBitsySpyers 10:01 pm [[....Hm?]] Bevel 10:02 pm Silver looks kind of like mythril. Impact 10:03 pm *nodding* Me 10:03 pm What's mythril? ItsyBitsySpyers 10:03 pm [[Tastes better, he'd think.]] Impact 10:03 pm It's a metal from middle earth! Me 10:03 pm *okay, well that answers whether soundwave likes silver aesthetically or culinarily.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:04 pm *It's both, actually, but shh...* Me 10:04 pm ... The equator? Bevel 10:04 pm Middle Earth is a place. Impact 10:04 pm With mithril! Bevel 10:05 pm It is a really light and strong metal that is really valuable and great for armor and swords and stuff. Impact 10:05 pm I like to lick it. Bevel 10:05 pm It tastes good too. *nods* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:06 pm ((plot twist: mithril is ununtrium)) Me 10:06 pm ((LOL)) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:06 pm //It's so... squishy.// Bevel 10:06 pm [[pft ItsyBitsySpyers 10:06 pm //...I kinda wanna stick my hands in it.// Impact 10:06 pm ((only destroyed by hungry child robos)) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:08 pm //I mean, not really, cuz it'd get all in everythin', but it looks kinda fun.// Bevel 10:08 pm Take forever to get clean. Impact 10:08 pm Mmmhmm ItsyBitsySpyers 10:08 pm //Seriously.// Impact 10:09 pm Bedtime for meeee! G'night everybody! Bevel 10:09 pm Night, Impact ItsyBitsySpyers 10:09 pm //Seeya, Impact!// Impact 10:09 pm You can have my extra snacks, Bevel. Bevel 10:09 pm Thanks! Impact 10:09 pm *Waves on the way out the door* Bevel 10:10 pm *appreciates gift from tiny child friend* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:10 pm *Another kind of insect thread? He settles back to watch.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:13 pm @Prowl: (txt): Tarantulas' method seems simpler. Me 10:13 pm «I'm sure he made it that way.» *Prowl wonders if Tarantulas's could be used for fabric too* Bevel 10:14 pm How do they keep it from getting tangled if it is so thin and they just pile it on that plate at the beginning? ItsyBitsySpyers 10:14 pm //Wait. So humans wear worm goo?// [[...He does not know why it doesn't tangle.]] Bevel 10:15 pm *ah well* Me 10:15 pm No, they wash the worm goo off of the worm threads. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:16 pm //Still weird.// Me 10:17 pm *points* See. That. Computer-guided milling. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:17 pm *Wonders if Cybertron ever had a version of this.* Me 10:17 pm That's what they should have done with the pens. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:18 pm [[He did wonder what would happen if the human making the pens carved them for too long. They shrank very quickly.]] [[Your solution would ensure that did not happen.]] Me 10:18 pm *nods* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:20 pm @Prowl: (txt): Last file next. Prowl wants fossil information afterward? Me 10:20 pm ... If you still have time. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:20 pm *Nods. He does.* *Ohhhhh that's pretty.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:22 pm [[...Fascinating.]] Bevel 10:22 pm Cool! Me 10:22 pm *math!!* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:22 pm *Things to look into more often for his work: mirrors.* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:25 pm *Tap tap taptaptap.* Bevel 10:25 pm That was awesome. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:25 pm [[It was. As were most of those. He would like to see more, eventually.]] Me 10:26 pm *fossils!* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:27 pm ((wait do we want this or the bill nye one)) Bevel 10:27 pm *has videos about cool swords if SW is ever interested* Me 10:27 pm ((bill nye is great but also 25 minutes)) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:27 pm ((this one it is)) *Soundwave is still lightly tapping Prowl. Hey. Hey.* Me 10:28 pm *what huh that's him?* Yes? ItsyBitsySpyers 10:28 pm @Prowl: (txt): Kaleidoscope. Math art. Prowl could make? Me 10:29 pm ... I could do the math part. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:29 pm *Soundwave is sorta stunned that these weird print fossil things have survived longer than he's been alive.* *Nods. Okay. Okay, if Prowl can do the math part... nod.* Me 10:29 pm I probably wouldn't have the finesse to... assemble it... or, uh... do the aesthetic bits. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:30 pm [[It -is- insulation.]] Me 10:30 pm *sorry he's also being distracted by the age of these fossils. They're ten—thirty times older than him* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:31 pm [[...Dead statues?]] Me 10:31 pm So it's not the creature at all. Bevel 10:31 pm It turns into a rock. Cool. Me 10:31 pm The creature DOES rot away. It leaves behind a mold that's filled with stone. Bevel 10:31 pm Earth made a copy! ItsyBitsySpyers 10:31 pm [[Fascinating...]] Bevel 10:32 pm Frog. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:32 pm //Praise!// boomtank 10:32 pm Awesome Me 10:32 pm ((praise)) Bevel 10:33 pm These are really old. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:33 pm [[...That fish is 240 million years old?]] Me 10:33 pm *that rock is almost fifty times older than Prowl* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:33 pm *He. He needs a minute, here.* boomtank 10:33 pm Holy.... HOW Me 10:34 pm *almost EIGHTY times older* Bevel 10:34 pm *these things are like 100x older than her or more* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:35 pm *Beeps quietly. He didn't know this cephalopod was that old a creature...* Me 10:35 pm *... did that noise just come out of soundwave* Bevel 10:35 pm Some stuff looks the same. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:35 pm *...It might've.* boomtank 10:35 pm -all of these fossils are older than him- ItsyBitsySpyers 10:36 pm [[The plants can be fossilized as well? But they are not meat.]] Me 10:36 pm *............... cute* Bevel 10:36 pm I think they are made out of the same stuff that turns into rocks in the fishes and stuff. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:36 pm *Shakes his helm. That was - he's - that's gonna take some processing.* [[Does anyone else have anything they wanted expanded on?]] Me 10:37 pm *restrains self from asking for more fossils* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:37 pm *Well, I mean, Prowl -could- ask again.* Bevel 10:37 pm I think everything on Earth is, um, cardon-based so maybe everything can turn into a rock. I want to see more swords. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:39 pm *While we figure out swords and whatnot* Me 10:39 pm *he got more fossils anyway* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:40 pm //Oh, hey, I remember this scrap. That's the Jurassic Park stuff. The bug rocks.// Me 10:41 pm ((I like the "penis -->" label)) ItsyBitsySpyers 10:41 pm ((i'm so sorry oh my god i didn't know)) Me 10:41 pm ((IT'S OKA Y IT'S JUST A BUG DONG)) Bevel 10:41 pm Whoa. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:42 pm [[One last video on Bevel's request, and then he will return us to music for the night.]] Me 10:42 pm *one looks like tarantulas. tarantulas is emulating a species that's at least twenty times older than tarantulas himself* Bevel 10:43 pm ...Gimli is cooler than Aragorn anyway. *accepts this* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:46 pm [[...Unpleasant.]] Bevel 10:48 pm Awesome. Thanks, Soundwave! ItsyBitsySpyers 10:48 pm *Nods.* *Soundwave stretches.* Bevel 10:49 pm *well she has a favorite yt channel now* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:49 pm [[A pleasant break from fiction. He appreciates the indulgence.]] boomtank 10:51 pm That was fun ItsyBitsySpyers 10:51 pm [[It pleases him to know you thought so.]] Me 10:52 pm *it's soothing to watch something designed to plainly and clearly help you understand something new, rather than something designed to confuse you for 75 minutes and then try to make sense of it all in 15 minutes.* *... or maybe his tolerance for recreational confusion has just been shot* *probably by the jet pack umbrellas* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:54 pm *Everyone needed a Sensibility Break after THAT one.* boomtank 10:54 pm -stands and stretches- Bevel 10:54 pm *it's fun being educated about stuff* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:54 pm [[Departing, Blaster?]] boomtank 10:55 pm Yeah. I got a few things left to do before tomorrow I may have kinda put them off... Bevel 10:55 pm I should go too. ItsyBitsySpyers 10:56 pm *Nods.* [[He will not keep you from them. The assistance earlier was]] technically unnecessary no no don't say that [[appreciated.]] [[And farewell to you too, Bevel.]] boomtank 10:57 pm Thanks for the videos, and you're welcome. G'night. -waves and then off to home- Bevel 10:58 pm Night! *waves to SW, Rumble, and Prowl before leaving* ItsyBitsySpyers 10:59 pm *Rumble looks around and... uh. He'll just. Follow Bevel outside, maybe go play poker with some of the minis out back.* Me 11:00 pm *... wait, that wave was in his direction. vaguely nods back after Bevel's already gone and can't see it* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:00 pm *Soundwave pings Bevel with a shot of the nod.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:01 pm (txt): Question postponed earlier: If Buzzsaw assisted, Prowl would perform precise mirror adjustment? Me 11:03 pm ... If you want? But the math can be done just by eyeballing it, he could probably adjust the mirrors as well himself. Perhaps better, since he's got the fine motor skills for it. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:06 pm (txt): ...Would like, when Prowl: able. If willing. *It might be nice to have something visually pleasing come out of this alliance, just in case it ever falls apart. A tangible memory of a good time. Has to be stolen instead of just erased or lost.* Me 11:07 pm ... Sure. All right. *doesn't see WHY, but okay* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:08 pm *Dips helm.* (txt): Appreciated. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:10 pm (txt): Prowl time: limited? Returns home? Me 11:13 pm It doesn't really matter. *work isn't for a while.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:20 pm (txt): Understood. Stay welcome if wanted, not unwanted. Presence: soothing. *He's gonna get comfortable curled up on his 2/3rds of the seat and just watch Prowl contently. If all he's got is the avatar, he's gonna work on memorizing more about it than he already has.* Me 11:23 pm ... *slouches more* *leans against soundwave* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:24 pm *Tug tug.* Me 11:25 pm *is tugged?* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:29 pm (txt): Thought: Soundwave given Prowl assistance permission. What best skill, surveillance? Me 11:29 pm ... Delegating to other mechs who actually know how to perform surveillance. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:30 pm *Trembles* (txt): Soundwave accepted delegated work long before. Second best? Me 11:31 pm *... thinks.* *gets tired thinking. gives up.* It's not really one of my skillsets. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:33 pm *Small nod.* (txt): ...Prowl can read monitors, multiple? Me 11:33 pm ... I suppose. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:34 pm *Soundwave taps a nothing pattern, thinking.* Me 11:34 pm ... You don't have to find me more work, you know. Or—different work. Whatever you're doing. You don't have to. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:37 pm *He flicks a hand.* (txt): Starscream gave new opportunity. New opportunity: interesting. Idea forming. (txt): ...Prowl would see station setup? Game information, when played. Personal curiosity. Potential replication reserve. Me 11:39 pm *"opportunity"? was that what it looked like to soundwave? as far as prowl was concerned, all work was the same now.* ... I... No. Not this time, I don't think. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:40 pm *That's - surprising. He would have expected Prowl to jump at the chance to see where he does his work, even in this state. But, all right.* Me 11:41 pm *the thought of preparing for a game left him feeling prematurely exhausted. That wasn't the state of mind he should see it in.* ItsyBitsySpyers 11:41 pm (txt): Understood. Perhaps later. *Bunts shoulder with helm.* Me 11:41 pm *and he felt just a little bit worse, knowing that he couldn't appreciate an offered gift. a small nod.* ... I should head back. ItsyBitsySpyers 11:42 pm (txt): Acknowledged. Acquire passable rest level. Me 11:43 pm *another nod.* *flickers and disappears*

[redandpointy]

KISS FROM THE PAIRING PROMPT FOR J AND K CAUSE I JUST KNOW ITS GONNA BE CUTE!

Not the first kiss ‘cause that was in the book but have something hopefully cute, entirely inspired by how adorable Laura Baily is and Imagery laden.

Kiss:

The air smelled like jasmine.

Jasmine and stir-fry greenery and flowing water and people. So many people. Kalec turned and saw he was surrounded on by a semi-circle of people of  every description. Some he recognized, like Alexstrasza and and Nozdormu and Khadgar and Modera and Baine Bloodhoof and Vol'jin. So many faces he knew. Others were shadowed or he couldn’t quite make out who they were in this light; trolls and worgen and humans and dwarves and dragons seated behind the smaller people or sailing in lazy spirals above. One was immense and blue.

Senegos? No... not him.

His father? No... Perhaps it had been Senegos? He was gone but where-

A smaller blue shape darted by with a quick grin and curling horns, followed by a blue even bigger and broader than he, his scales several shades more pale and a host of little ones, their scales flashing in the light.

Kalec’s heart lifted on seeing his favorite brother and sister and his nieces and nephews. So many…

“Bet you’re not nervous at all. After all this is kinda… extra.”

Kalec turned to see Anduin, his hair much longer, his eyes nearly as high as Kalec’s own, standing close by. He looked rather regal though his robes were simple and official. A priest of the Light.

“I am,” the Prince admitted. “Haven’t done this before, you know. Still time to ask Queen Moira,” he smiled, perhaps a bit strained.

“You’ll be fine,” Kalec heard himself say.

A shadow passed overhead and a small black whelp dove out of the sky to land near… Aggra? and Go'el beside her? The whelp turned into his human form and crossed his arms, tapping busy fingers impatiently.

He was suddenly aware of the tall boughs above him and the great lake beyond the orc couple. His peers, the other Aspects stood by as well as the same mixed crowd. Across the way was a willowy woman with long golden hair and shining blue eyes. The air smelled of jasmine and magic. The Well of Eternity sang joyously in the back of his head.

The winds shifted as the orc couple embraced and Kalec turned back to find Anduin tugging at his collar. A woman with long dark hair batted his hands away and fixed it for him while another in armor laughed quietly. Kalec felt as if he should know these additional people but he did not. The light had shifted from morning to noon. Had it not just been morning?

Had Yu'lon been curled around the tower before, her great muzzle held in her paws? And beside her…

“Father?”

A massive blue dragon, his muzzle silvered in age, reflecting the light like snow, his remaining horns resembling deep blue crystal under bands and wings and strands of gold with laugh lines around his golden eyes. Under his wing a smaller, slim blu,e with dark scales, her legs encrusted with glowing sigils where they were visible under the battle barding, her figure fine and honed like a knife, her eyes the same color has his own, eyes the color of magic, eyes he had not seen in millennia. “Mother?”

“What?”

Kalec turned back to Anduin. The others were gone. Had there been others? “What?” Kalec asked him.

Anduin smiled. “Sorry I thought you said something. Ah, there’s father and Auntie Jaina.”

Kalec turned again and there was a crowd but he couldn’t tell who they were. He didn’t care. They’d become a kaleidoscope of colors and scents and sounds and were utterly irrelevant. There was a vaguely Varian-shaped man in a finely cut tunic striding through the crowd, but Kalec’s eyes were on who he was escorting.

The dress was blue and something gauzy that floated like a cloud serpent. Her hair flowed, long and white and shimmering and alive and warmed by the bold lock of sunlight remaining at the front. She who was First in Love grinned at him and he felt himself grinning back. Her eyes glowed blue with magic.

He walked to meet her because it was simply idiotic not to meet her part way so he could be with her sooner. The light and sound of the crowd now circling them fell even more distant. He wished to sing in joy and so he did, sweeping her into a dance as he did so. His mate hated to be the center of attention but she laughed at his antics, light and carefree and unburdened as he drew her around.

And the others danced.

The skies were full of dragons and cloud serpents and riders on Wyverns and gryphons. Modera swept by with a bewildered Varian, followed by Khadgar and a night elf he didn’t know, and Alexstrasza and Aysa and his class of students and Horde and Alliance and druids and shamen and mages and paladins and dragons and mortals. Light shone on them all, keeping away the growing dark as night began to fall on the courtyard.

Alexstrasza and her sister broke from the dancers and laughed as they raced away like whelps. Despite being full size in their enormous true forms, no one was harmed or knocked down. Ysera tossed her sister something and the red grabbed it then leapt into the air. She flew until she was lost into the gathering dark above. The crowd stopped dancing and drew close.

Then the air exploded in fire and light and color and sound. The fireworks shook his chest and rattled his teeth and the crowd cheered. The red flew down followed by so many dragons Kalecgos could not count them all; reds and greens and bronzes and blues and even blacks. They winged away into the darkness trailing colored lights which swirled in their wake.

Jaina tucked herself in close to him and nuzzled his chest. She smelled like jasmine.

Kalec tilted her head up and leaned down…

Hair.

His mouth was full of hair.

Sputtering and spitting Kalec leaned back on one arm, looking around in confusion. He was on a plush mattress inside a tent. Illumination and warmth came from a single crystal in a lattice nearby. Ah. Right. Vacation. Time for just the two of them. Remote and alone. He and his prime consort.

“Hwa?”

Jaina rolled over and blinked up at him owlishly. She sat up. In the low light he could see she had impressive bed head, her long pale hair mussed and twisted. He reached out to groom it into place for her with careful fingers.

“Sorry,” he murmured.

“S'ok,” she said, smiling sleepily, eyes closed, face turned towards him. “Y'kay?”

“I am. Strange dream,” he said.

His First in Love leaned rubbed at her eyes, yawning. Her nose scrunched when she yawned. She blinked again, looking around then back at him.

“Wanna talk about it?” she asked, leaning into his fingers, her eyes falling shut again.

Kalec knew if he asked, she would wake up and speak with him, but the last remains of the dream were already evaporating like smoke. he trained gentle fingers down the side of her face and she  smiled up at him, warm and falling back to sleep.

“Go back to sleep,” he suggested, leaning down. He kissed her softly then again on her nose. “Back to sleep.”

“M'kay,” she said, slipping back under the covers and cuddling against his side.

Kalec drew her into his arms, burying his face into her hair intentionally this time. She smelled of jasmine. Kalec fell asleep.