#so anyway most of that is what i did today
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peppermintquartz · 2 days ago
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Buck volunteers for the Thanksgiving shift. When Maddie asks, he apologizes, saying, "I don't really feel festive right now. But keep some leftovers for me?"
On the day, firehouses around the country all have similar calls to deal with: kitchen grease fires from frying turkeys, sprains in backyard games of football, people injuring one another because "did you hear what she said about our Emma/Francis/Kailey?". Buck is kept too busy to think, and it's nice having the time to catch up with Ravi, who's thinking of going to school to study law.
Their brothers and sisters in uniform also drop off dishes at the station, so between calls, they get pretty good food. Captain Graham gives them an hour offline after four consecutive calls. Buck collapses into a chair and serves himself pasta salad and a delicious honey baked ham, while his dinner rolls warm up in the oven.
He's scrolling through his phone, diligently avoiding the messaging apps, when a message preview pops up.
Tommy.
Buck almost drops his fork. He scrambles away from the dinner table, even though no one on C shift will try to take his phone from him, and finds a spot in the stairwell to read it.
Tommy: hope you have a good & safe Thanksgiving
As he's reading, another bubble appears and Buck's heart skips several beats, but this time it doesn't disappear. A second message arrives, followed by a third.
Tommy: don't know why I texted that
Tommy: guess I just wanted to say something to you
Tommy: you don't have to reply
Tommy: anyway. Happy holidays
Buck feels a slight loosening of the vice around his heart that has been there since that night. With a smile on his face, he types, deletes, types again.
Buck: happy Thanksgiving to you too
Buck: how many kitchen grease fires you got this year? We had 3
Tommy: you're working today?
Tommy: 4, but one of it was in the backyard
They're having a conversation. They're having an actual casual conversation, as easy as they used to on calmer shifts. Buck wants to cry. But he has to answer Tommy's question or have this conversation end too soon. Thinking about his options, he decides that he has nothing to lose anyway.
Buck: I didn't wanna sit around and smile and pretend I'm thankful for everything
Buck: it's better to keep busy
Tommy: I know that feeling
Tommy: I'm sorry
Buck: I'm sorry too
Buck: I wish we could've celebrated together
Buck: I would've said that I'm thankful for you
Tommy: I would have said that too
Tommy: I'm still thankful for you jsyk. I'll always be grateful to have got to know you
Does Tommy think he can't stay in Buck's life just because they broke up?
Buck: I don't think you know me well enough
Tommy: sorry
Buck wishes he'd run after Tommy that night, or done something since to show that he wants Tommy. Well, here's your chance, his brain reminds him. Do something.
He takes a deep breath. Then he types.
Buck: I want to meet. If I come over after Thanksgiving shift, will you please be home?
Tommy: is that a good idea
Buck: idk. But I can't stop thinking about you, and I miss you, and I wanna know what I did wrong. I wanna meet.
Tommy: I miss you too. You didn't do anything wrong, I just didn't want to... Idk. I didn't want to get my hopes up too much.
Buck: we need to talk in person. Texting is not good enough.
It isn't. He needs to see Tommy again. Tommy with his storm blue eyes and tender smile and broad shoulders and soft clothes. Tommy whose crinkly smile drives Buck a little (a lot) insane. Tommy whose lips he now knows the shape of by touch alone, whose body he has mapped out in detail, who knows how it feels to be inside Buck in the most intimate of ways.
He waits for a response. Hopes there will be one. It comes several minutes after, like Tommy had to really think about it.
Tommy: maybe not immediately after Thanksgiving shift
Tommy: are you off on Monday
The relief that crashes into Buck feels almost as overwhelming as the tsunami he was caught in years ago.
Buck: yes
Buck: your place this time
Buck: I'll bring cake
Tommy: you don't have to bribe me to open the door
Buck: no I just baked too much stuff is all. I'll explain when we meet
Buck: I'm really thankful you texted
Tommy: I'm thankful you replied
Tommy: have a good rest of the shift, Evan
It's Evan again. Buck can't hide his smile at all. Tucking his phone into his pocket, he goes back to dinner. Monday can't be here fast enough.
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iamtired10 · 3 days ago
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what the hell is love anyway!?
synopsis: love is supposed to suck, but damn, she’s making it look good. the things you used to hate? she does them all—and somehow, you’re okay with it.
pairing: pham hanni x female reader
genre: fluffyyy, slow acceptance of feelings
word count: 1.7k
warning: reader’s anti-romantic philosophy, no-touch boundaries, kisses... idk man.
a/n: birthday gift for u gaysss (no for me)
y'all are so lucky i love you guys bc i literally skipped paying attention to my crush's debate rounds to write this. everyone was watching in the auditorium and there i was focused on this instead (btw my crush won the debate 😫)
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you always thought love was a scam—a packaged lie wrapped in clichés and false promises.
people called it magical, but to you, it was just a hassle. all that hand-holding, constant texting, and clinging to each other’s personal space?
gross.
you’d made peace with being alone.
then pham hanni came along.
it wasn’t like you fell for her overnight.
it started with the small things.
her goofy smile, the way she made everyone laugh, how her voice softened when she spoke to you.
she was the type of person who could win over a room with a single joke, and while you weren’t the type to be easily charmed, something about her stuck in your mind like a catchy song.
but liking her didn’t mean you’d signed up for the full “love” package.
or so you thought.
spamming messages
at first, it was cute.
hanni would send you random texts during the day:
“have you eaten?”
“look at this dog i saw today!”
“I MISS YOUUUUUUUUU!!!!”
“where are you? :3”
“let's meet plsssss”
you didn’t mind the occasional check-in or funny meme.
but then it escalated.
your phone buzzed relentlessly during class, notifications piling up like an avalanche.
p.hn
what are you doing?
are you ignoring me??
i bet you’re doing something boring without me
y/n i’m going to cry if you don’t answer
answer me plsss
im dying without your attention...
ok fine
ignore me all you want
bye?
bye????
BYEEE!!!
:(((((
you used to hate it when people bombarded your phone. you had once ghosted a friend for triple texting.
but with hanni?
you sighed, typed out a response, and felt strangely warm when she replied immediately with a heart emoji.
hand-holding
physical touch wasn’t your thing.
the idea of holding someone’s hand always made you cringe—clammy palms and awkward positioning?
no, thanks.
but hanni had a way of breaking down your walls without even trying.
the first time she grabbed your hand, it was instinctive. you were crossing a busy street, and she reached for you, her fingers slipping between yours like it was the most natural thing in the world.
your first reaction was to pull away.
but when you glanced at her, her brows furrowed in focus as she guided you across, your protests caught in your throat.
by the time you were safely on the other side, she hadn’t let go.
“you okay?” she asked, smiling up at you like it wasn’t a big deal.
you nodded, swallowing the lump in your throat.
the weirdest part? you didn’t hate it.
hugs
you had a strict “no hugs” policy.
friends knew better than to even attempt it.
but hanni was a serial hugger.
she didn’t just hug; she wrapped herself around you like a blanket, her chin resting on your shoulder as if she belonged there.
at first, you stiffened every time she came near, your brain screaming, why is she touching me?
but one day, after a long, awful day, she hugged you without warning.
her arms were warm, her scent comforting, and instead of pushing her away, you found yourself melting into her embrace.
“feel better?” she asked softly.
you couldn’t bring yourself to admit it, but yeah, you did.
late-night calls
you hated phone calls.
they felt intrusive, unnecessary, and way too intimate.
so when hanni called you at 1 a.m., your first instinct was to ignore it.
but then you thought about her pouting on the other end, and before you knew it, you were swiping to answer.
“what?” you mumbled, already regretting it.
“i couldn’t sleep,” she said, her voice soft and a little raspy. “wanted to hear your voice.”
you groaned, but your heart betrayed you, skipping a beat at her words. “it’s the middle of the night, hanni.”
“i know,” she whispered. “but you sound cute when you’re annoyed.”
despite your best efforts, a small smile crept onto your face. damn her and her stupid charm.
kisses
kisses were overrated.
sloppy, awkward, and unnecessary—at least, that’s what you used to think.
but hanni had a way of making even the most mundane things magical. the first time she kissed you, it wasn’t planned.
she was rambling about something, her eyes bright with excitement, and before you could think, she leaned in and pressed her lips to yours.
it wasn’t dramatic or earth-shattering.
it was soft, sweet, and over too quickly.
when she pulled back, she looked at you nervously, biting her lip. “was that okay?”
you stared at her, heart pounding. “it was fine. . .”
fine was an understatement.
cuddles
cuddling was the ultimate invasion of personal space. you couldn’t understand why people willingly turned themselves into human pretzels just to feel close to someone.
but her?
she didn’t ask.
she just flopped onto you one afternoon, her head resting on your chest as she scrolled through her phone.
“what are you doing?” you asked.
“getting comfortable,” she replied nonchalantly.
you wanted to push her off, but her warmth seeped into you, relaxing muscles you hadn’t even realized were tense.
“fine,” you muttered. “but don’t move too much.”
she grinned, nuzzling closer. “i love you too.”
nicknames
you weren’t big on nicknames either.
they felt unnecessary and a little too mushy for your taste.
but she was relentless.
“baby,” she cooed one morning, poking your cheek as you sat groggily at the table. “what do you want for breakfast?”
you froze, blinking at her. “did you just call me... baby?”
“yeah. why?” she tilted her head innocently, like she hadn’t just thrown your entire morning into chaos.
“don’t.” you tried to sound stern, but the heat creeping up your neck betrayed you.
“okay, love.” She grinned, clearly enjoying herself.
“stop.”
“alright, sweetheart.”
you groaned, burying your face in your hands. “you’re... a-annoying...”
“and you love me for it,” she teased, planting a kiss on your temple.
and she was right.
watching a movie
movie nights with hanni were… an experience.
you’d always prided yourself on being someone who actually watched movies—no talking, no distractions, just pure focus.
but hanni? she was the complete opposite.
“wait, who’s that?” she asked five minutes in, pointing at the screen.
“that’s the main character,” you replied patiently.
“right, right.”
another ten minutes passed. “why is she crying?”
you sighed, pausing the movie. “hanni, if you’d been watching—”
“i was! kind of.” She pouted, tugging on your sleeve. “sorry, baby. keep playing it, please.”
you rolled your eyes, but when she cuddled into your side, resting her head on your shoulder, you let it slide.
by the end of the movie, she’d fallen asleep, her soft snores filling the room. you looked at her, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
yeah, you couldn’t stay mad at her.
stealing your hoodies
your wardrobe was sacred.
you hated it when people borrowed your clothes without asking.
but then there was hanni, strutting around in your favorite hoodie like she owned it.
“is that mine?” you asked, narrowing your eyes.
she looked down, feigning innocence. “oh, this? it was just sitting there, so…”
you opened your mouth to protest, but then she turned to face you, the oversized hoodie making her look impossibly small and adorable.
“you... can have it,” you muttered, averting your gaze.
her grin was victorious. “i know.”
early mornings
you weren’t a morning person.
waking up early was your personal hell, and you avoided it at all costs.
but hanni had a habit of waking up before the sun and dragging you along for the ride.
“y/n, wake up!” she whispered excitedly, shaking you gently.
“go away,” you mumbled, pulling the blanket over your head.
“but i made coffee,” she said, her tone teasing. “and pancakes.”
your stomach growled, betraying you. you groaned, sitting up reluctantly.
she smiled triumphantly, handing you a mug. “see? mornings aren’t so bad.”
you sighed, glaring at her over the rim. “they are. you’re just annoying.”
“i love you too,” she shot back, pressing a quick kiss to your cheek before skipping away.
singing randomly
you weren’t a fan of noise, especially when you were trying to focus.
but hanni was a walking jukebox, always humming or breaking into song at the most random moments.
“can you stop?” you’d grumble, trying to concentrate on your work.
“stop what?” she’d reply innocently, twirling around the room as she belted out a love song.
you’d glare at her, but deep down, you couldn’t help smiling.
especially when she changed the lyrics to include your name.
poking your cheeks
hanni had an odd obsession with your cheeks. she’d poke them at every opportunity, claiming they were “too squishy to resist.”
“do you mind?” you snapped one day, swatting her hand away.
“not at all,” she replied cheerfully, poking you again.
you huffed, but when she giggled and kissed the spot she’d just poked, you let it slide.
showing up unannounced
you liked your alone time, and you hated surprises.
so when hanni started showing up at your place unannounced, you were less than thrilled.
“don’t you ever knock?” you asked as she waltzed into your living room.
“why would i? it’s me,” she replied, flopping onto your couch like she owned the place.
you rolled your eyes, but the truth was, you didn’t really mind.
because with Hanni, even the things you used to hate felt… okay.
personal space
you were a fortress, a private island, a lone wolf.
but pham hanni was a storm, relentless and impossible to ignore.
she broke through your defenses without even trying.
she sat too close, invaded your bubble, and left her things scattered around your space like she belonged there.
and you let her.
because somewhere along the way, you stopped seeing it as an intrusion and started seeing it as her way of showing she cared.
by the time you realized how much she’d changed you, it was too late. she’d already wormed her way into every corner of your life, breaking down every wall you’d carefully built.
and honestly? you didn’t hate it.
as she sat beside you one night, her head resting on your shoulder and her fingers playing with yours, you finally admitted it to yourself.
you didn’t just like her.
you loved her.
hanni glanced up at you, her eyes sparkling. “what’s on your mind?”
“nothing,” you replied, squeezing her hand. “just you.”
and for the first time, that didn’t scare you.
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a/n: i promised myself i wouldn't write anything this month so i could focus on studying, but i missed writing too much
now i feel like i suck even more than before :'D
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ivystoryweaver · 3 days ago
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It's Everything - Jake Lockley
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Jake + First Date + Haunted Corn Maze
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Fall Fluff Masterlist | Jake Masterlist | Main Masterlist
Word Count: 684 || for @blablabiblejesusmagic and @howellatme
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Jake Lockley's been driving the van for the retirement home you work at for the last few months
He's so mysterious and dashing, always sporting a leather jacket, black dress shoes and trousers, a flat cap
and the most interesting sexy facial hair. He changes it up - sometimes it's a beard or a mustache or realllllly hot stubble
The little old ladies adore him. He helps them in and out of the van with a kiss on the hand.
The men love to tell him long stories. He listens to them like they are the most interesting people in the world
So there are many reasons you became slightly smitten
You accompany the senior adults on many outings like the movies or to a concert. Today is a fall festival.
Jake's only job is to drive the van there and back, but he ends up walking around with everyone, helping out, while the seniors shop for antiques and crafts, eat a snack and listen to live music.
That's when the two of you notice the corn maze. Definitely not an activity for the seniors but Jake nods toward it.
"Do you own boots?"
You lift your booted foot, turning it this way and that.
"You're not scared of a little mud, are you?"
"Jake, we cannot take them in there, you know that."
"Maybe we could come back another time. Like tomorrow night?" His dark eyebrows arch curiously.
You point to yourself, mouthing, "Me?"
"Yeah, you." He winks.
So that's how you end up on a date with Jake, at a corn maze.
"I didn't think people liked to do corn mazes at night."
"They do if it's a haunted corn maze."
At the maze entrance, there's a creepy looking clown selling a variety of glow-in-the-dark items to illuminate the maze and make it more fun.
Jake buys you a glowing headband and multicolored flashlight. You feel like a kid again.
"How do I look?" You twirl around once after fixing your headband in place.
"Glowing."
The two of you enter the maze, brandishing your neon gadgets to ward off anything too spooky.
"No one's gonna jump out and grab me, are they?" You whisper, huddling next to him.
"Not if they wanna keep their arms," he quite seriously assures you, taking the opportunity to pull you close.
After enduring more than enough jump scares, you realize you might actually be lost.
"Please tell me you know the way out of here. I haven't been paying attention," you confess, shining your light this way and that.
Jake has finally released his hold on you as the two of you try one path after another.
For some reason you get the giggles and start laughing every time you hit a dead end.
"If we get stuck in here, I'm going to blind you with this flashlight," you warn, brandishing it like a weapon.
"Good luck with that," he cockily teases, holding up his own flashlight and making a whooshing lightsaber-type sound.
This leads to a quick duel, and you're thrilled to learn that the suave, sexy Jake is actually as big of a nerd as you are, at least in some respects.
"Come on, I think we're close to the entrance," he encourages, boldly taking your hand to lead you along.
"There's no way you know where we are," you tease. "You just want to hold my hand."
"Accurate." He grins. "Well, this anyway." He brings your fingers to his lips and steals a kiss.
You turn another corner and realize you're at the exit.
"Jake, we did it!" You cheer, throwing your arms around him in celebration.
It feels good to hug him. To hold his hand. To be close. To have his undivided attention.
"I thought you were just nice to everyone," you admit as you stroll along near the food trucks. "I didn't think you liked me as much as..."
You trail off, realizing what you just blurted out.
"I knew it." He winks. "It's the mustache, right?"
You breathlessly laugh, leaning in to kiss his cheek. "It's everything."
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Fall Fluff Masterlist || Jake Masterlist || Main Masterlist
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quibbs126 · 2 days ago
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So I did some more Transformers drawings, and I figured page was full enough
I mean, it isn’t really, I could have fit more in the corner if I wanted, but I can’t think of anything else to draw there, so might as well post it now
So I suppose, let’s talk through all this
First off we have an Optimus I never finished, because I couldn’t get that bending shoulder to look right. It just looks off, and I can’t finish it until it looks right. So I never did
I think he’s supposed to be sad and yearning after the breakup with Megatron, and talking about it with someone
Anyways, then we move on to the Dinobot section, which I made because I started Beast Wars and like Dinobot, and had been attempting to draw him at work the previous day
I think I draw him too skinny, which is why I made that middle one, to be more accurate. But I also kind of like drawing him skinnier? I know it isn’t accurate, but I like making him so. Like he’s got muscles, but has a lean body type. I don’t know
Then today, I wanted to draw a happy, smiling D-16, who’s doing so at something Orion did for him (this isn’t supposed to be a recreation of the race scene)
I was going to do it more like the Dinobot style, but then I ended up going back to 3D boxes anyways
Honestly I think it’s one of the ones I’m most proud of, look at him and his sweet little face
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Still can’t get the sticker right though
But anyways, on to the last thing, the Bee and Elita
Honestly I think the two of them need some ships in this universe too. Megatron and Optimus got their whole situation, but what about them? Elita doesn’t really have any options presented right now outside of maybe Arcee and I guess Airachnid (but personally I’m not here for the toxic yuri right now), and I don’t really know about Bee
The sequels should give them new characters to have subplots and shipping with. It can’t all be Megatron and Optimus hogging the spotlight (even if I do like them)
As for the drawings of the two themselves, I mean it’s alright. I think Elita came out better though. But it’s also my first time drawing them, and it takes some practice for me to get them right
I’m realizing as I type this that I have a sketchbook, and I got good at drawing Dinobot after drawing him on sauce paper a few times. So like, I could just do that to try and practice the characters without needing to be at work, and having a handy place to keep those references. Hm, well that’s a solution for later
It also does not help that I don’t have good references for them, especially in their cogged forms. These are about the best I got, and they aren’t the best quality either, I do not know how to draw their heads (well mostly Bee’s)
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I also don’t think I’m drawing the Transformers One cast right. Like their bodies and general proportions I mean
Like, I noticed from this random screenshot I saw today that D-16’s noticeably wider than Orion
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And I also know that the quartet have their own distinct face shapes from one another
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I just don’t know how to convey those things in my drawing of them, it doesn’t want to work
Also I don’t think I have the basic structure of how their bodies work down either. I noticed today that almost all of them have more cylindrical shoulders than the rectangles I sketch, and also they have those middle circle joints
This is an observation I’ve had before, but the Transformers One designs to me really feel like action figures/toys with the way they’re built and designed. I don’t really know how to explain what I mean, but it’s how I see these designs in particular, which I can’t say with Animated or I think Beast Wars either. If this makes sense
But yeah, that’s the drawings. I don’t really know how to end this
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November 24: The Black Lake | word count: 786 | @wolfstarmicrofic
Nearly the entire population of Hogwarts is enjoying the warm summer weather on the grounds. Most of them are crowded around the shores of the Black Lake, talking with friends, splashing in the water, or tossing a ball back and forth. It is entirely too loud, but Remus won’t turn for the castle while the warmth of the sun warms the chill in his bones and the clear air fills his lungs.
He sighs and shifts his back against the rough bark of the tree, abandoning his textbook for a moment to watch James and Sirius. They are on the shore of the lake, shirtless, and wrestling in the shallows. At one point, they had a frisbee, though Remus doesn’t see it anymore. Though he can hardly focus on anything else when Sirius is right there. Sirius, who has water droplets scattered across his torso, catching the light and drawing Remus’ eyes in, no matter how much he tries to pull them away.
He is helpless but to watch as Sirius’ head falls back in a laugh, exposing the pale column of his throat. There is a primal part of him that wants to burrow his nose into the crook of his neck and breathe in his scent. Remus desperately needs to know. Does he smell like the scent that always surrounds him, or is that just his cologne? He probably smells really good, like something earthy. Sandalwood maybe, or maybe even something smokey, like tobacco?
He feels heat rush to his cheeks, and forcefully tears his gaze away, burying his nose in his book instead. He’s being foolish. Sirius would never look twice at him that way. Not only is he dangerous halfblood werewolf, but he is a boy. Even on the off chance that Sirius did feel the same, Remus could never risk their friendship, one Sirius would probably be better off without anyway. So he will admire from afar, admonishing himself every step of the way. It’s better this way. It’s better than broken hearts and lonely nights. He doesn’t care how selfish it is. If he can’t have Sirius in the way he wants, he will take whatever he can get.
“Enjoying the view?” Lily asks, leaning against the tree next to him. He hadn’t even noticed her approach. See, this is a problem. There is a war going on. If he is too focused on his stupid crush on Sirius, he could compromise not only himself, but whoever he is working with.
“Bugger off.”
“Still?” She gasps. “Remus, it’s been years.” She slides down the tree until she is sitting next to him.
“I know, Lils. I’m pathetic.”
“Why don’t you just tell him how you feel?”
"We've had this conversation before, Lils. I know you are trying to be supportive, but he's straight."
“What if he isn’t?”
He scoffs. “Are we looking at the same person? Sirius is the straightest boy I know.”
“You said that about James.”
“Yeah, well, I’m right about this one.” He insists. She should know better than to get his hopes up like this. It will only lead to him crying alone in the middle of the night over an unrequited love. Like Echo and Narcissus, one forever forced to live in the shadow of the other who would never look twice and the former.
“Remus…”
“I’m not going to risk him looking at me like I’m repulsive. I’d rather live in ignorance.”
“You never chose ignorance.”
“This time I do.”
“Well, if we are jumping to conclusions today, I also have an unrequited crush.”
“You do?”
“Well, you see, I could ask her, but… you know, I might be disappointed by the results of doing so.”
“It’s different and you know it.”
“Really? How so?”
“She’s not your friend. And you’re not a werewolf.”
“Come on, Remus. You have to get over that.”
“Get over it?! I have to live with this forever Lily! I can’t just… just forget about it.”
“You may not be able to forget about it, but you can’t use it as an excuse. If I used being muggleborns as an excuse, I would hardly be the top of our class, would I? No, instead I used it to prove them wrong about their base assumptions toward me. You are more than a stereotype, Remus. And if Sirius can’t see that, then he isn’t the one for you.”
“Sometimes, you are a bit too perceptive, Lils.”
“That’s why I’m your best friend, because I don’t let you feed me the same lies you feed everybody else, including yourself. You have to stop hiding behind these walls, Remus, otherwise you will be stuck right here for the rest of your life.”
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starberry-cupcake · 2 days ago
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SHORT STORY + BONUSES (read it like when gollum says bagginses) INTERMISSION!!! Today we'll take some time to dive into the Harrow bonuses and a couple of short stories, one of which I should have read before, but such is life.
previously, in the tlt universe:
I finished harrowcita del 9
Bonus 1: BoE google doc for the soldiers
differently from the other recaps, I did these while I was reading them, not when I finished reading a whole chapter/story
so maybe the thoughts are more rambly than usual
sorry about that
ANYWAY I have to give it to the BoE folks, they've got a lot to deal with over here
they're like the audience, coming into this blind
and have to try to understand how necromancers operate on the fly
'bullet to the head but don't be too confident on that' seems to be the most useful tidbit
it's like a resident evil gameplay
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BoE is in resident evil, gideon is in survivor and harrow is in a gothic pulp novel
the advice for engaging lyctors is "avoid them at all costs"
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I keep spelling it BoA instead of BoE because of her
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blood of adam? blood of awake me up when september ends? idk
Pronounciation guide (aka I do what I want, but apparently pronounce nonagesimus like the author)
dr reverend emperor john chose the name gaius for himself, it wasn't his real name
gaius sounds like gallo, the spanish name for gallus gallus domesticus, which in english would translate to cock and alludes to the fact that he is a dick
agustine is pronounced like in english and not like in spanish (agustín), I have been pronouncing that one right but I could have called him agustín all this time
cassiopeia was a queen but we already knew that
sixth house, ceramics, cooking, checks every one of my boxes
"CRIS-ta-bell. Rather than “crees”."
what is the difference oh my god is there a difference there
pyrrah is achilles's drag name, which is cool
valancy and cyrus were like this
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I'm still gonna call the mithraeum mithrandir whatnot the emperor's bolthole, it's in the sacred text
the nonniad is in dactylic enneameter, which is a ninth version of greek epics (which are hexameters) and it's making me send my ancient greek professor from uni good vibes wherever he is
Glossary
we know more about the beasts now, or have more ordered info, the gist of it is this
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so the RBs are only the nine OGs from the nine planets of dominicus that the emperor fucked up
those are the ones that can go from the river to the physical world and viceversa
the other minor beasts can only exist in the river
I still think this is all the emperor's and the lyctors's fault for starting this nonsense and killing planets for power and whatnot
so yeah, Consequences of your Actions, johnny boy
the heralds, as we had established, are kind of like borg, responding to the RBs
necromancers kinda go mad at all this as if they were looking at cthulhu
I wanted to google what the two first verses of wake's name were but the first results that pop up are tlt sources and I'm not looking into that, in case of spoilers
I've already come this far without massive spoilers, I'm not gonna risk that now
what quotes would you like to have as a name if you were one of these folks?
If I could choose three, I'd probably pick: Yo tengo el corazón como la espuma / das Leben Sie nicht vergessen hat, daß es Sie in der Hand hält / Quieto en la tierra y sentir que mis pies tienen raíz
probably un monceau d’idées et un monceau de douleurs would be another contender considered
idk how that'd be shortened though, maybe espie because espuma
house quiz was book 1, boe name assignment is book 2
The Mysterious Study of Doctor [tumblr keeps blocking my post and I'm gonna try to avoid this word to see if this is it]
ANYWAY, SIXTH HOUSE TIME
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from the blurb I can tell that:
1) all this time I thought Dr S was like a funny nickname someone had given palmolive for being correspondence-horny lmao
2) is this the magnus institute???
3) "Enter Palamedes Sextus and Camilla Hect, age thirteen" we're gonna look at some baby picturessss
"Every thirteen-year-old necromancer in the Sixth House is gifted."
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"I was born with four kids in my generation eligible to produce children with me. Palamedes had two"
maybe that's why he went for a correspondence gf
camilla describing that's she's the best and me just going
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this thing of 'being attractive' as a category would get me demoted at the sixth, though
but working in data, I can do that
I am really liking archivist zeta
there's something that was sealed for a lot of years and now is unsealed and that's very exciting!!!!
lost media!!!!
so many stairs would be a problem for me, but there's lost media at the end of the tunnel
archivist zeta: don't touch anything
palmolive: including the bone hands?
archivist zeta: the what now
apparently the hands are younger than the time the room has been sealed
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with the forms being color-coded, I'm starting to think this is less magnus institute and more office of incident assessment and response 
them making references to other houses remind me that other houses socialized, seeing everything from the ninth made me feel like everyone was isolated all the time lol
add to my list of sixth house love the fact that we have murder mysteries now too
gotta love the sixth house
kinda ominous the hand bones now that we know what we know, of camilla carrying palmolive as a tamagotchi in a bone hand after harrow changed the skull
palmolive and camilla age 13 are a whole other book I would have devoured at age 13 myself btw
giving me his dark materials vibes
there was a skeleton in the air vents above the hands
camilla says she's gonna start taking measuring tape with her alongside everything else and I also can relate to going places with 25 million things, just in case
palmolive steals pens, apparently
I've used this meme for palmolive before but it still fits
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the skeleton was possessed by the dr himself, he got kinda stuck on his way there after the fifth person tried to call him and got his hands into his study through skeleton shenaningans
palmolive needs to touch something in order to prove the "why" and everyone votes in favor, because he's on a roll
the cool wooden orb that was in the desk was a cool wooden puzzle, like the Karakuri Creation Group ones
man, I love those
the dr solving a puzzle after his death and coming back to prove it is me with some niche puzzles I used to have a sideblog for
don't ask me
there was paper inside and everyone got outside super fast and started congratulating each other (hello????? you did nothing????) and shaking camilla's and palmolive's hands
they don't wanna give palmolive multiple points for solving a several hundread years old mystery, which isn't fair tbh
"Don’t expire in a fit of hubris." oofffffffff
the paper had letters, which palmolive thinks are love letters
with his years of experience on pining letters
the one at the ends says "Tomorrow you will become a Lyctor and finally go where I can’t follow"
is this about cassie??? aka cassiopeia????
loved the camilla and palmolive murder mystery dinner
As Yet Unsent
this is judith's diary and this is how I imagine she looked while writing it and judging people
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judith assisted the BoE with her own healing but it's kinda tough when you're also handcuffed and with your eyes covered and whatnot
judith is still in the emperor's side
I don't blame her, she hasn't met the man
yandere twin has met him and still saved him so, I can't judge judith too much
there's a corpse that isn't rotting
promising stuff
there's a commander called We Suffer
they're wearing masks and camilla is being "converted" to their cause
and she didn't even meet the man, but apparently BoE had contact with the sixth house at some point in the past
cassie?????? is this you??????? who knows
sixth house though, earning more points
also, camilla says that palmolive would want to find out what they know and, you know what, fair
I would too
camilla is also good at chess, because she's good at everything
they're playing ceiling chess like in queen's gambit
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judith thinks about martita, who will soon do some awesome things next to mati nonnius
judith is also marinating the fact that everyone was fooled by the twinsies and the fact that regina george twin has no necromancy
she also complains about her being too emotional and prone to trust people
every point regina george twin makes about BoE sounds pretty solid to me tbh
the more I see, the more I think the emperor is a dick, like his name implies
judith argues with regina george twin a lot but also notices that her ears go pink when she's impassioned so...why are you noticing that judith????
how did you notice that???? *smirks knowingly*
judith has to deal with the limitations of medical care when you don't have a bunch of people who do body magic stuff
so she's dealing with recovery in a slow way and with machines plugged to her
it's hard for her because she was from the house where necros are also very able to do physical stuff
camilla is giving her strongly worded positive reinforcement
regina george twin and judith have a lot of moments that go from flirty to fighting
I can't keep using smirk reactions images so (¬‿¬)
regina george twin is also being trained to be rambo barbie and I think that suits her
"In a different time I would have found ways to apologise to Palamedes Sextus, whom I at the very least critically misjudged"
palmolive always getting the indirect compliments my goodness
he's so popular
"The princess has by turns tried to charm Camilla, play with Camilla, flirt with Camilla, and cajole Camilla. Camilla is currently unmoved"
nobody's good enough for her, regina george twin, move along
regina george twin is also being kinda aphobic towards judith's response on her being uninterested to romance camilla
I don't think judith is aro at all but that doesn't mean we have to be assholes about it, regina george twin, thank you
judith and regina george twin think BoE is wrong about necros having orgies and I'm here like
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so, apparently, judith propositioned martita because she was pretty much obsessed with her
and martita said no
and she thinks camilla is holding onto tamgagotchi palmolive out of some sense of not wanting to let go of him
unaware of the fact that he's in his river loft waiting for his bones to be womanhandled by harrowcita
also, the BoE has an old ship that judith wasn't helpful with, so they don't really have much patience with her
regina george twin and judith keep flirting in that intense tlt way
I'm starting to think regina george twin has a big crush on judith and I'm here for the dynamics of that
"It said, Ugh! Then it said, Eugh!" is this mercygirl??? it sounds like mercygirl to me
and fixing someone's insides as if they were cleaning a sewing machine also sounds very mercygirl
mercygirl is also curious about this body that doesn't rot and I wanna know what it is because I want so bad for it to be gideon-related but I can't let myself hope
also, she gave them the coordinates to find harrow in the cool planet
"And Camilla said, The Warden and I know they can die like anyone else" 👀
"The corpse of the Ninth House cavalier is as pristine as when Camilla Hect convinced them to take it on board"
YESSSSSSS
YEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
MY HOPES WEREN'T UNWARRANTED
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LET'S GOOOOOOOOO
GIDEON ARMS INTACT BABYYYYYYYY
regina george twin proposes necro-cav marriage to judith and judith says no because no relationship here can be straightforward
"Why would I ever knowingly take Coronabeth Tridentarius’s, having desired her already for twelve long, stupid, fruitless years?!"
DRAMAAAAA
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AND THAT'S IT!!!! FINALLY!!! This took me a lot longer than I wanted it too but I enjoyed the stories ♥ See you in the next one!!
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jellyskink · 2 days ago
Note
The Doc is OUT (For the day.)
"Callie I'm home! And I got you a treeaattt~!"
Irene's voice rang through her studio apartment with a mix of excitement and weariness. She was finally done with work for the day, seeing her child was what she was looking forward to the most after today.
(Hm... I don't see her waiting for me at the door as usual, where could she be?)
Unceremoniously kicking off her shoes next to door, she tosses her jacket onto her sofa, after which she follows suit onto.
Today was just like any other, day in and day out from the medical office. The same car troubles, the same usual bickering with Mr. Ibis, the same dang stress of worrying how soon the world as she knew it was going to end, but on top of it all off, she had another appointment with Dr. Stanford Filbrick Pines that day.
(I just don't get that guy. Nothing about his lifestyle or even state of being makes sense! This is the first time in my entire career I can't figure out SOME kind of pattern with my patient.)
Dr. Pine's entire situation confused her, and the cherry on top was that his medical records were just as confusing and a mess to figure out.
(I just don't get it, there's such a wide gap of time between any kind of medical logs that have information on Dr.Pines. It's almost like he went MISSING for a while in his life.)
Thinking about this all really made her headache worse. Her hands reached up to her temples as she began to massage them gently. It didn't help much, but it was better than nothing.
Irene found herself sighing loudly as an adorably unearthly meow rang in her ear and she felt an otherworldly ball of fur lay on her head.
"mRrowww..."
"Daww hello my little angel! I missed you so much!"
Her hands immediately went from her own to the incomprehensiblely adorable ball of fur that gave her so much reason in her life. She was her baby, her adorable little cat Calamari.
Calamari happily purred in response to Irene's affection. Irene knew she was a walking trope of a lonely cat lady who treated her cat like her own flesh and blood, but she didn't care. Calamari was really the only family she had right now, and the foolish trope was one that was lame anyway.
"Guess what? I got you a treat while I was out today! It's your favorite! A tuna flavored cat biscuit!"
Reaching into her pocket, Irene revealed the cat biscuit to her fluffy friend. Before she had the chance to unwrap it, she felt it dematerialize from her hand like it was going out of style.
"Haha! I knew you'd love it! You're so cute!!"
Alright so Callie rarely ate with her mouth and preferred to absorb most food items into her third eye. It wasn't normal but it was very much still adorable! Even if staring into said eye for too long made you space out and question life for twenty minutes.
Calamari happily rubbed her head onto Irene's hand after finishing her treat.
(I know there isn't a ton of reliable studies that show animals such as cats can thank people, but Callie's a smart kitty, I'm sure she knows how! It definitely wouldn't be the weirdest thing she could do. Hmm, it is getting pretty late now, I should probably get dinner taken care of, I'm pretty hungry right now myself.)
With a sigh and movements as graceful as she could, she picked up Calamari and cradled her as she reached for her phone and opened up her flipphone.
(I... really don't feel like cooking today. You know what? I'm going to splurge and get takeout tonight.
But what? Chinese? No I need to watch my sodium intake... Spaghetti Bolognese from that one Italian restaurant a couple blocks down? Tempting as that is one of my favorite foods, and the owner does owe me a couple of favors themselves, but then again I get that a lot, I don't want to get tired of it by accident...)
Calamari flopped around in her arms playfully as she contemplated what she wanted to eat.
(Ah of course! Why didn't I think of it sooner! Pizza! It isn't the healthiest choice either, but I could seriously go for it right now! Now where did I put that one pizza place's number...)
After what felt like eternity waiting for her pizza delivery order, Irene heard a knock on the door as she opened it. The pizza she ordered placed politely on top of her cat shaped doormat, looking as much as a treasure as an ancient relic in the moment.
(Gotta say I'm glad I'm able to pay by card for this... I'm really not in the mood to talk right now to anyone.)
Happily taking the pizza into her home, Irene flopped down onto her couch, Calamari immediately following suit.
The pizza was as delectable as ambrosia in that moment. The crust was perfectly golden brown and spiced with italian seasoning, the sauce was the perfect balance of sweet and savory, spiced to perfection, and the cheese and pepperoni on top was the perfect way to end the wonderful layers of the pizza pie. And was that basil added on top? It was!!
The pizza was cut into squares, triangle pizza at least for the past year wasn't very popular with establishments or certain people, especially if it was just a cheese pizza, but that didn't matter at all to Irene.
Before she knew it Irene found herself eating the entire pizza, sharing some of the cheese and pepperoni with Calamari since that was her favorite part to eat.
(Ah I didn't mean to indulge so much tonight... well you know what? It was delicious! Who knows how long it's been since I last ate a nice meal that WASN'T something from the hospital cafeteria...)
Calamari at this point was sleeping next to Irene on the couch, satisfied and happily napping.
(Daw... I'm glad she liked it too, thank goodness the ingredients in this are alright to give to her in moderation, I have trouble saying no to my darling little Calamari!)
Noticing the time, Irene decided it was time to get ready for bed. There were patients to see and work for her to do tomorrow.
(I really want to wear my comfiest and favorite pajamas tonight, where are they? I know I washed them and had them in my pile of clean laundry on my bed... aha! Here they are!)
Irene quickly threw on her favorite pajamas, an oversized nightshirt with the words "Live, Laugh, CatMom" printed on it in cursive accompanyed by a silly picture of a cat Irene absolutely adored. Paired with it were her flowy and comfortable pajama bottoms, decorated with pictures of cats with silly mustaches.
(Finally done for the day, I really should fold my laundry and put it away... Ehhh I'll do it tomorrow. For now I'll just put the clothes and the basket on my dinnertable.)
Nighttime quickly began to set as Irene sat at her worn down antique vanity desk. The stars were beautiful at this hour, glittering throughout the night, they were one of the only things that stayed consistent and normal in Irene's life.
(Geez, no matter how many times I look at myself in the mirror I can't help but notice how quickly time passes. Stress really isn't doing your already awkward looks any favors... Maybe I need to change up my look again? But how?
Maybe I should get back into trying to learn makeup and more "modern" fashion... Or maybe a new haircut? Maybe not that latter option, I'm quite happy with my bob, it's certainly been easier to care for my hair lately, and I'm not sure I could pull off anything shorter or more... "Adventurous.")
"Mrrroww??" With a quick leap, Calamari jumped onto the desk, knocking over a few cosmetics, toiletries, and photos while doing so.
"Woah! Careful my dear! Haha you always seem to know when something is bothering me..."
*Sigh* "I suppose I'm just worried about myself again is all. You know me, whenever I'm not worrying about how I look, I worry about my work."
(I guess I just, never expected my life to go this way I suppose. Cipher really did throw a wrench into a lot of my plans in life. I mean, did anyone expect any of this to happen? I'm ashamed to admit I was arrogant in the beginning, I believed this all couldn't be possible, that it'd be solved soon if anything, I believed it couldn't cause as much problems and dangers to the world as it did...)
"You know what they say, every rose has it's thorn, although I certainly feel like I have more thorns than rose sometimes..."
(I'll never forget my first reaction to being sent out as a part of the group of doctors to help the people evacuating Gravity Falls. There was so much panic, so much chaos, and some of the wounds I had to patch up weren't anything you'd ever normally deal with even if you worked in the ER.
It almost seemed unreal, that any moment someone would say "cut" and it would end like a movie.)
(It's these kind of moments of panic that really make me childishly wish that the world of medical science was as simple as we believed it was as kids, that all it really took was being rushed to the infirmary, some rest, a bandaid, and some care to heal whatever was hurting somone.)
(But that wasn't how things were. It was much more complicated than that, and the kicker was that you always held your patient's life in your line like a tether. Whenever that tether broke and you couldn't help fix it no matter how hard you tried, having to tell the patient's family their loved one was gone... It's almost too much to bear sometimes.)
"I'm so thankful I have you though Callie, I really think you're one of the only good things to come out of this mess and into my life."
"Woof!"
"Haha!! That's a new one! You never cease to surprise me girl! That and the weird things you sometimes bring me home..."
(When she was younger it was normal stuff like mice, small birds, and insects. Nowadays it was much more... weird. When it wasn't something like a gnome panicking for it's life or an eyebat, it was random items.)
(At first it was pretty normal, like a sparkly pink ribbon probably used to tie up hair or something, black nail polish, or what I'm assuming is someone's art project for pins of what I'm guessing is a top hat and bow tie??)
(Then it became weirder and more varied. For example, she once brought home a weird plush that resembles Dr. Pines in a way. That one in particular was odd because I don't think I've ever seen Dr. Pines smile in such a showboating way, let alone wear anything that wasn't of any semblance to "his muse". The suit seemed normal but the fez was definitely the weirdest thing.)
(Most recently she brought home some kind of sentient gummy lizard-snake thing. It had jumped out of my hands when I had tried to take it outside to release it, and I still haven't found it to this day. Sometimes I swear spot it moving around somewhere from the corner of my eye while I'm at home...)
"Anyways, how about we head to bed? I know I'm tired today after an exhausting day!"
(I'll clean up my vanity later, it's certainly getting way too late for me to be up at this hour...)
With that, Irene promptly headed to bed with Calamari following in tow. She promptly fell asleep quickly after laying her head down, despite wanting to spend some more time thinking about things.
Unbeknownst to her though, up high in a corner of the wall of her apartment, was a cute little housespider sitting on it's web.
Of course the next morning Calamari would be found by Irene playing with this exact spider.
A cute little spider, with a strange pattern that strangely looked like a certain evil dorito with an eye. :)
(I'm really glad you and others liked my cringey fanfiction! It definitely surprised me and had me smiling ear to ear!
I hope you don't mind I kinda winged it with Oleander's character. I thought she kinda gave off the vibes of a tomboy/tomboy in her youth while also the vibes of the "determined doctor" trope. Hopefully this doesn't clash with your actual ideas for her? I love the idea too of her being a dorky cat lady too lol.
I seriously loved the details you made about Calamari! I thought it'd be funny if her teleporting power also let her travel dimensions for funsies, because imagine all of the mischief she could cause! Especially if she likes to steal Bill and Ford's stuff the most lmaoo.)
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I LOVE cat mom Oleander!! And Calamari stealing stuff from other universes? PERFECT. I DEEPLY hope she steals things from other AU Fords!
And, Ford. Honey. Baby. Calamari isn't the reason you lost the cat show.
(I think I'll call this ask fiction! I'll put these in that tag, for those who want to find them again!! c: )
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guksvault · 3 days ago
Text
HOUSE OF BALLOONS | JJK
02- & The After Party
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synopsis: fleeing the pressure and pretense of your elite life, you stumble into the seductive chaos of the House of Balloons. There, Jungkook waits��� ready to make you question everything you thought you knew.
w/c: 2.6k
warnings: drug/alcohol references/usage, jk is a big ol' meanie pt 2, reader grows some balls, lil intro to how the boys met!!
a/n: jjk made todays lil scrapbook!! isnt he so!! <33!! (making each chapters scrapbook is sm fun!! gives u another pov of the characters me thinks!!) i also have like 8 more chapters written already :/ anyways!! enjoy!!
minorsdni
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✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
You made your way up the stairs, determined to find Yoongi. Determined to get the fuck away from the creeper whose stare made you wish the couch would open and swallow you whole.
Being stared at had never been a problem for you, granted it was normally out of admiration. Never had it ever been a look that made you want to absolutely shed your own skin.
You reached the end of the stairs, 4 closed bedroom doors, not game enough to open any of them, didn't fancy walking in on Yoongi balls deep in some girl or anyone else for that matter.
Spotting a bathroom to the right of the stairs, you slip in and take the time to fix yourself up, ready to return home.
Jungkook on the other hand had still been watching, hadn't stopped since he first saw you circling the street until you grew enough balls to step inside this mad house. Told himself he was only watching incase you just so happened to leave that pretty Chanel purse unattended, knew you'd have a shit ton of cash in there, probably wouldn't notice if he took some.
Watched you head towards the bathroom from downstairs, stood up and made his own way there. Stood opposite the door.
He was surprised you were still here. Betted with himself that you'd only last an hour, 2 at most. But, it's almost 4am now, and you are still here.
Out of place and unwanted.
As you finished your touch ups, opening the door you couldn't help but jump at the man opposite you. Arms crossed, the light making his tattoo's a little more visible now, his face too. Didn't understand why assholes always got the prettiest faces.
"Fuck, sorry" You say, assuming he was waiting for the bathroom.
"Daddy know you got a mouth on ya?" Jungkook says, eyes locked on yours, tongue slightly playing with his lip ring.
"Does yours know you're kind of a cunt?"
Jungkook scoffs. Scans your body, meets your eyes again. "I can tell Yoongi you had to leave, we both know you shouldn't be here."
It's your turn to scoff now, "Have I done something to upset you, Jonathan, was it?"
His jaw clenches, a quick exhale through his nose, "Jungkook?", shakes his head and steps towards you. "Yoongi left that world for a reason, doesn't need it following him. Matter a-fact, none of us want it around."
You tilt your head slightly, turn your body to face Jungkooks, "Didn't really ask if you wanted me here or not, don't really give a fuck if you do or not either,"
You understood that you were probably a constant reminder of what everyone here doesn't have, but fuck, how much longer did they have to tell you it.
"If Yoongi wanted me out, I would've been out. Don't think he needs some little coked up emo to speak for him, hm?" Your tone was calm but you knew it had hit a nerve by the way his jaw clenched, just how you intended.
"Watch your fuckin' mouth, yeah? Might be worth something back in Seoul, but here, where you are right now? No one gives a fuck" Jungkook spits back.
"You seem to be awfully concerned though," You feign a pout, shrug your shoulders slightly and turn on your heels.
You retreat back downstairs, not to the banged up god awful couches, but to the table by the kitchen, down a shot and lean against the counter.
The crowd is a-lot more sparse now, few people passed out here and there, cups and balloons still scattered over the floors. The music that was blaring, is now playing dark instrumentals at a much softer level.
An arm slings over your shoulder, "Still kickin' Bee?"
"Apparently."
"Welcome to the House Of Balloons." Yoongi snorts proudly, placing a cigarette between his lips.
"House of balloons?"
Yoongi gives a small nod, as he lights up the end of his cigarette. "Throw these fuckin' parties every weekend and the people, they love the fuckin' balloons."
"Every weekend, hm?"
Yoongi nods, tells you it's a tradition. Tells you they've never missed a weekend since they started. Doesn't tell you why it started, doesn't tell you how much he fucking loves it, but you can feel it. Can see there's a light in Yoongi's eyes that he didn't have when he was attending galas and charity events, although that may just be the snow racing through his bloodstream.
Once upon a time, around the time Yoongi gave you your first blunt you used to think that perhaps you and Yoongi would have ended up together. Had the fattest crush on him until he broke your tween heart when he lost his virginity to Kim Soyeon in a bathroom of a Four Seasons during a High Society gathering.
He looks at you, "You really thinkin' bout leaving it all?"
You shrug slightly, "Not if it's going to lead me here. No offense."
He laughs, nudges your shoulder and takes the cigarette back from you. "Do it better than I did. Get your hands on some fuckin' cash or some shit, keep contacts. I ain't got shit now, never been happier but fuck it could have been easier."
You stand with Yoongi, listen to him mumble about something to do with his music. Fucker can barely string a sentence together, heads rolling, his jaw too.
It only takes you another 20 minutes, one uncalled for squeeze to your ass by some horned up freak and a death stare by Jungkook until you realise, it's home time.
"Another party tomorrow night, always welcome here Bee. Friday through to Sunday, the House Of Balloons will always love to have you" Yoongi says before he closes the door to your uber.
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
It's half past 5 by the time you arrive back to the penthouse.
Quiet, clean, bright. All the things the House Of Balloons wasn't.
The only noise being the chef in the kitchen preparing too much food for a Saturday's breakfast.
Managing to retreat to your own room without your parents questioning where you've been and why you're strolling in at fuck ass O'clock.
You lay in bed. Soft noises coming from your vanilla bean diffuser thats refreshing your room. Eyes on the ceiling. Thoughts on the House Of Balloons.
What the fuck was that? Why did I see 4 people getting it on in the open? Did I really look like a hooker? I would make a decent hooker- no. Shut up. Wouldn't go to Daegu if I was a fucking hooker. What hooker wears Hervé Léger pulled from the archive specially for you? Was the party still thriving?
It was. Yoongi wasn't lying when he said Friday through to Monday. It's simple really;
Friday will come, the house is open at 9pm, people roll in for their Friday night start off. House is normally cleared out by 8am, except for the few passed out around the house or the girls letting the guys use their bodies.
Repeat on Saturday's.
Sunday is come down day. Still a rager, just less pussies who can't handle it.
By 10am on a Monday, the house is clean and ready for the week to prepare for the next weekend.
Hoseok will have worked on his set to Dj from a shitty DJ deck, (which he stole from a college music room he broke into one night). The House of Balloons isn't the House of balloons without his dark, seductive and occasional mix of early 2000s&90s club bangers.
Yoongi organises drop offs from his dealer. The money that everyone drops in that rusted bucket? Yeah, that's their Snow Stash. The House Of Balloons isn't the House of Balloons without its fair share of coke, weed and god awful cheap booze.
Jimin is mostly in charge of the people that come to the parties. A charmer, knows how to make the night seem like it's not worth missing. Tells a pretty desperate stranger, who tells a friend, who tells another friend. The House Of Balloons isn't the House Of Balloons without a crowd full of depressed, desperate delinquents.
And Jungkook, is in charge of- well, being Jungkook. The female's will stroll on into the House Of Balloons, see him and decide that coming every weekend is worth it just to see him. The men want to be him, women want to be with him.
Which is no problem to Jungkook, can't stand sleeping with the same girl more than once- hates the idea of getting comfortable with someone. Prefers to spend the night learning their body and then never having to revise the information again.
The House Of Balloons isn't the House Of Balloons without Jeon Jungkook.
He loves it. Thinks the feelings he feels when he's inside the walls of his home that are shaking from the bass, when his line of vision is slightly warped from the white powder he snorts through his nose or the girl he's picked from the crowd is on her knees in-front of him must be the best feeling in the world. Nothing can compare, he thinks. This is what love must feel like. This is the feeling that people spend their life searching for, in the palm of his hand.
And just as deeply as he loves, his hate will always run deeper. Whether it be, losing, things being out of place or you.
Well, not you. Doesn't actually give a flying fuck about you. But, he hates people like you. Who come from money, stability, a safety net below them every time they slip. You just happen to fit exactly into that category, your fault. Not his.
Jungkook was raised by a single mother, father left and died from an overdose. Mother worked two jobs to be able to afford food.
Jungkook was 9 when his mother took her own life, leaving him with his grandparents who passed together 4 years later in result of a hit and run.
A life of loss and grief led him here. Right to the doorstep of the House Of Balloons. Well, technically it led him to Jimin.
Jimin and Jungkook met when Jungkook went to try to steal food from Jimin's father's run down (but the tastiest) Korean BBQ restaurant. Jimin saw him, made him a plate. They decided from that day that they would be best friends from then onwards and to only score five-finger-discounts together.
By the time they turned 17, they met Namjoon. Local Cannabis grower. Joon, only two years older, promised unlimited smoke sesh's if Jimin promised to get his father to feed him. Easy deal.
Three of them started going to shitty house parties, none of them were really any fun. More like a place to find someone to empty themselves into and if they were super lucky, find something laying around to steal and sell for some quick cash.
Half the reason why they continued to stop by these parties was because Jungkook had taken a liking to the DJ's music.
Hoseok was constantly, practically begging people to let him play music at whatever house party was the spot for a night. Thought, maybe just maybe someone would see his talent and know someone who knows someone and set him up for life. Hopeful.
Jungkook had extended an invite to Hoseok to join them for a meal, and wanted to convince Hoseok to teach him how to DJ. Wanted to be cool like him. Quickly realised he much rather listen to music than make it.
Then, two years ago, enters Yoongi. Introduced himself at a party. Bonded with Hoseok over music, plants with Joon and drugs and women with Jimin and Jungkook.
Jungkook and Jimin had planned on jumping him after Yoongi told him where he was from, but decided not to after they realised he really was just as broke as them.
The five of them, inseparable now. Living together in a run down shit box they scored with Yoongi's only available money. Decided to throw the party they always dreamed of, was a hit and has been a part of their lives since.
So, sue Jungkook for hating you and your lifestyle. Ungrateful for running away he thinks. Too scared to actually run away, is sure he won't have to see you again. If he has to see another pink dress shining in the crowd of monochromatics, he might just rip his own eyes out and stomp on them.
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
Jungkook is enjoying his night so far. Saturday's are always a little more chaotic than Friday's or Sunday's. More people, more drama, more women, more orgasms.
He sat in his usual seat, the brown leather couch facing towards the entryway. Can see everyone who enters, see's his options, notices any potential danger, can spot any glittering pink that dare enter.
He's listening to Joon dramatically ramble on to him and everyone within close proximity about how some dickhead stole his bicycle last night, reckons his gonna find the sneaker fucker and shove the handle bars up his ass. He won't, will just have to steal someone else's. Circle of life.
Jungkook's half interest is completely stripped from him once he looks towards the door and spots a glittery nepo baby wearing a baby blue dress. Corseted at the waist, puffs out just at the middle of your thighs.
"Fuckin' hell" Jungkook breaths out, the smoke from his cigarette clouding around his face.
Jimin and Joon, a few of the girls surrounding them all look in Jungkook's line of vision. You. Dressed for a tea party with the elite but stood with the delinquents of Daegu.
"Round 2? More interesting than I thought she'd be." Joon shrugs, turns back to the blunt he was rolling.
Jungkook's eyes are narrowed in on you, watching you laugh and down a shot of vodka with Yoongi. Jaw clenched, his cigarette burning towards the filter.
"Why the fuck do you care so much? About her? Did she reject you or something? Ignore her, it's not like she's here for good." One of the little groupies who had been trying to score a second lay from Jungkook for the last 2 weeks by Jungkook's side speaks out.
Jungkook's eye's move directly to her, brows pinched together. "Fuck you just say?"
She sits up a little straighter, has been begging for Jungkook's attention for weeks, not this kind though.
"No, no, I just mean, you know. You seem worked up, we can go upstairs? Maybe not seeing her and focusing on someone else could help?". She runs her fingers through the back of his slightly curled wolf cut.
He scoffs. Sucks his teeth and elbows her arm away, "Only place I want you to be, is somewhere not fucking around me. Fuck off."
Harsh, too harsh probably.
"What? Jungkook, babe-"
"Fuck off."
And off she fucked. Was no point arguing or begging him to let her suck him off to show him how she truly didn't mean to upset him. Never was with Jungkook, once he had his mind made up about you, that was it.
"Bit harsh J." Jimin smirks, throws him a new cigarette, Jungkook's previous one had burnt to the filter and put itself out.
Jungkook takes a light to his fresh cigarette, says a quick "be back in a few." and walks out. Straight through the sliding door, that is barely on the hinges, to the back yard.
There's less people out here, he still decides to sit towards the back of the garage that Hoseok had turned into a bedroom slash studio for his mixing.
Quiet. Less stuffy. Air is breathable. All the opposite to what he normally craves. Blames you, you're the one piece that doesn't fit.
And it only makes him want to bring his own clenched fist straight to his own face and knock himself out when he looks up from the ground and see's you standing in-front of him.
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
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umlewis · 1 day ago
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lewis hamilton, p2, is interviewed in parc ferme after the race, las vegas - november 23, 2024 (transcript under the cut)
Terry Crews: "Wow…" Jenson Button: "I'll jump in." Crews: "Go ahead!" Button: "So, Lewis, obviously yesterday it was a tough one to swallow, I'm guessing. You've been quick all weekend. But then starting P10, chasing down George at the end, it was fun. We were biting our nails. There was some action out there." Lewis: "Yeah, that was great. Well, firstly, I've got to say a big congratulations to Max, winning the championship still with several races to go. And no, yeah, if I'd done my job yesterday it would have been a breeze today. But it's okay. I had fun coming from the back, coming from tenth, and the team did a fantastic job. We don't know why we were so quick this weekend, but that's the best the car's ever felt, so I'm grateful to have been a part of getting it to that point." Crews: "I do want to ask, though, in regards to the climate in Las Vegas, did that make a difference in your preparation for what you were going to do here?" Lewis: "The climate doesn't… It's not the… It's just that the race is so late, so you're going to bed at five, six AM, waking up and starting your day much later, which is quite difficult. So you don't get a lot of sun during the day, so that really messes with your rhythm. But otherwise, it's cold, yeah." Crews: "Yeah." Lewis: "And maybe the reason that we did so well is 'cause it's cold. If we're in a hot climate, that's where we struggle the most." Button: "Qatar? Night race?" Lewis: "Yeah. I mean, if the car drives like that in the next couple races then I think we'll be in a good spot to challenge the guys up front. And the championship's done, so now it's just all-out, fight for the best positions possible." Button: "Enjoy your last two races. It was ten years to the day, yesterday, that you won your first championship with Mercedes." Lewis: "We both looked a lot younger then, didn't we?" [laughs] [to Crews] Anyways, big fan of yours, dude." Crews: "Oh, man, big fan! Awesome! Thank you."
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blu3-ja3 · 3 days ago
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Did I plan to write a feral/murderous O'Connor and how she nearly breaks completely... No! Not at all. But the idea of watching my most stable character slowly breaking is interesting to me so enjoy! This will in first person pov not the usual third person limited that I tend to rock. Enjoy!
!TRIGGER WARNING! Graphic Depictions of Torture and Murder, Psychological Break, Guns, Forceful Drug Use, Sleep Deprivation, Starvation, Sexual Harassment, Severe Disassociation
I'm telling y'all this dark. I don't know what's wormed it's way into my brain but it's not leaving till I have this out. Should I probably not post this? Yes! Am I going to anyways also yes!
🕊️!DEAD DOVE DO NOT EAT!🕊️
Day 1: It's to be a simple week-long mission, my team and I are going into Urzikstan to render aid to civilians. Laswell made it abundantly clear this was just to help where we could, if there's combat we are not to interfere. Farah assured Laswell nothing has occurred and that this is purely to assist with the aftermath. So none of the other 141 came with me. I was a little worried for them as they're being sent on a few low intensity missions also, but I've always enjoyed working with civilians so I took the mission and calmed myself. I'm currently sitting in the large red cross tent updating Price and Laswell. Today was mostly for setting up and preparing nothing too intense.
Day 2: It's been busy, there's plenty of work for me and my team to do. Everything from simple injuries like scratches and to complex burns and stitches. We're mostly treating infections and illnesses but it's been nice talking with the locals and learning of their rebuilding efforts. Alex and Farah help with translation and organization, keeping everything flowing nicely. It's been exhausting but fulfilling, I try to give Laswell an update but I can't seem to get through so I'll try again tomorrow. Probably have to get closer to a long ranged receiver but that's a tomorrow problem.
Day 3: A young man came to my tent asking if I could do a house call, his grandfather was very sick and in no shape to travel. I agree to help before informing my lieutenant of where I'll be and to radio me if something urgent needs my attention. He's a fast kid but I keep pace well enough, my basic medical bag is with me along with my pistol; visible at my side, and my knife; hidden within my clothing. We arrive at a small metal shack with no windows and a small door.
The young man enters before me, holding the door open and waving me in. I have to duck to get through the door. I spotted the old man instantly, he's laying with his back towards us so I can't get a good look at him just yet. I move over to the laying figure and sit on my knees next to him, placing my aid bag down to my right.
I hear rapid shuffling as something hard is pressed to the back of my head. I know that feeling anywhere, this isn't my first time being robbed while on call. Closing my eyes, taking a deep breath and raising my hands slowly. When I open my eyes again the figure in front of me rolls over holding a rifle, it's hard for me to make out in the dim lighting.
"There's only mild pain relievers in my bag, I don't carry anything stronger when on a house call." I try to keep my voice calm and even as the barrel of the gun moves a bit lower towards my neck.
"We're not here for the drugs, we're here for you; Captain Maevis O'Connor: Second Commanding Officer of the SAS's 141 squadron and dear friend to one Captain John Price... That is you no?" A man's voice with a thick Russian accent comes from the room to my left. I don't recognize the voice but they know me which is worrying.
"You are going to be very helpful and tell us all we ask... Or you die! Understood?" I nod my head slowly trying to catch a glimpse of the figure talking but I can't see him.
"Now take her away, we'll talk in better conditions!" Before I can respond I feel a cloth cover my mouth and nose as the man in front of me reaches out and holds the cloth there. I try to struggle, to reach for my radio or gun, anything, but my limbs go weak and my vision fades.
I wake up to cold water splashing against me, bright lights on my face causing me to squint. I try to move my arms but they're bound, my legs are free though. I'm stripped down to just my tank top and cargo pants, no boots or socks. I blink against the light as a masculine figure moves in front of me. He reaches towards me to grab my face, I try to pull back before he grabs my chin.
"You lamb are going to tell me everything you know willingly... Or we'll break you and you'll tell us after. Which would you prefer?"
I turn my head into his hand and bite as hard as I can, I can taste blood in my mouth but I continue biting. A heavy blow to my gut caused me to release my hold. I hear the man cursing in Russian as I receive another blow to my stomach.
"Don't do this Lamb, it will not go how you plan. Please I hate to beat a woman with such a pretty face but I will if I have too."
"Go feck yourself..."
"I just want to know about your wonderful Captain, you see he knows about the location of a very good friend of mine and I would like to see him. Now you're his second in command and a very close ally to John, you must know something about where my friend is, no?"
"Doesn't ring any bells"
"Ah! But I haven't told you my friends name yet! Aren't you a little bit curious?"
"No, don't care either..." Another punch this time higher just below my sternum. I wheeze a bit from the blow.
"Hmm, so you truly haven't heard about the failings of Price to Vladimir Makarov?"
I freeze a bit at the name, I've never heard anything from John himself but Laswell gave me the operation file. There was a lot of blacked out text even at my clearance but from what I could read it's a good thing he's in some unknown black site prison. This isn't going to go well for me, even if I tell them everything I know I doubt they'll believe me nor will they let me go.
"I know of him but they never let me read the operation file. Wasn't interested in reading about a mad man who's dead in a ditch somewhere..."
"AH! But he's not dead, he's very much alive Ms. O'Connor... And you will tell me where."
Another punch, harder this time, the man says something in Russian and I only pick up a few words. Nothing helpful, I feel stupid for never taking Nikoli up on his offer to teach me more than just the basics.
The figure punching me laughs and walks out of my field of view. It's a small field of view due to the bright light shining directly into my face. I feel myself being grabbed by my arms and pulled up, the light in front of me moves and I can see I'm in a very simple concrete cell, no bed, bathroom, nothing just a pipe coming from over top all the way through to the other side and a small table with a chain on it.
The Russian man who was talking has his back to me as he opens the door. I throw my head back hard into the skull of the man holding me from behind and his grip loosens. I take my opportunity to bum rush the man, slamming myself hard against him and the open door. He's knocked prone as I continue to run. Blood pumping in my ears to turn a corner and come face to face with two very heavily armed guards. I try to rush past them but they grab me and pull me back, I kick and flail trying to get another opportunity to escape.
"Oh how I wish you didn't do that Lamb, now my friend will have to teach you a lesson. Demetrius?" A figure steps out of the cell I was in, he has a bloody nose. I feel a small twinge of satisfaction from seeing it bleeding and swelling.
"Teach her well!" With that I'm tossed back into the cell after a guard bounds my ankles, I trip forwards causing the air to be knocked from my lunges. I hear heavy footsteps as the man, Demetrius, looms over me. He steps onto my left leg putting heavy pressure on it, then his full weight as he kicks my side once, knocking the little air in my lungs back out. I watch as he pulls out something shiny and metallic, before placing it onto his hands. I feel a hard blunt pain as his boot connects with my side again, once, twice, three times before he stops. The man over me chuckles darkly as he reaches down and pulls me up by my hair causing most of it to fall out the bun it was tied up in.
He drags me towards the back wall, he grabs something from the table and ties the chain around my wrist. He gets the chain over the pipe and begins to pull me up higher and higher, my toes barely touching the cold cement ground. My arm high above my head stretching my arms and shoulders in an uncomfortable and painful way, there's already a bull ache in my shoulder.
"Such a lovely body." The man's hand begins to caress my hips as I try to move away. He clicks his tongue before stepping away again, he removes his jacket and turns to me with a sadistic smile. He approaches, before landing multiple punches to my stomach and sternum.
Each blow I can feel the brass knuckles he's wearing. There's a slight throbbing pain after every hit, I know I'm going to bruise. He continues to beat me to near unconsciousness before stopping. He leaves me chained up as the first man comes back, he grabs the chair I was in originally and turns it towards me sitting down in front of me.
"Interesting, Demetrius didn't touch your face. I have to say I'm happy about that, you have such a lovely face Lamb." I just stared past him not once looking at him but keeping my head up.
"Come now Lamb if you tell us what we want you'll be free to walk your cell. I'm sure your arms are hurting now, no?" I keep my mouth shut and continue staring forwards. He mumbles to himself before standing to leave.
"Give her half rations and water, you will get more if you speak Lamb."
This cycle continues for a while, Demetrius comes into the cell beats me to near unconsciousness then Wolf (This is the only name I hear anyone call him) comes to try to talk to me. I just stare past him, keeping my head high and my mouth shut. I don't know how much time has passed. I guess a few days but I know Price and the 141 will come. Farah and Alex know I left the area and I've not come back... Unless something has happened to them as well.
I'm not given much food or water, my stomach keeps growling and there's the faint gnawing sensation in my abdomen. I'm kept in the same position, hanging by my bound wrists from the chain above me. Demetrius walks into my cell and drags in a little medical cart. Wolf follows closely behind him before approaching his chair and sits down crossing legs.
"Oh little Lamb you've made this very difficult for us. You've held out well against Demetrius and I must commend you for that." He gives a little clap as Demetrius chuckles darkly next to me.
"But we need the information Lamb so Demetrius is going to start using his favorite tools. Now I'm being kind and giving you one last chance to speak." I see Demetrius picks up a blade and wince as he pulls it across my cheek. I hiss as the pain spreads through my face. I can feel the warm blood trickle down my cheek, it's a stark contrast to the cold cell I'm stuck in.
"Feck. You." I hiss, I know I just have to hold out. My team is coming for me. Price won't abandon me no matter what anyone says. I've seen him do it before for people he's known for less time. Las Almas and Alejandro's team come to my mind as it's the most recent example.
Wolf waves a hand and I feel the sharp dragging pain as Demetrius drags his blade across my upper left arm along the underside. The blade is sharp so I don't feel the pain until after the wound is made, a thumping pain that matches the beating of my heart. I can feel the rapid dripping of my blood, the sound of my blood hitting the ground echoing through the room.
"Lamb? Do you have anything to tell me?"
"You're feckin stupid if you think a simple cut will get me to tell you anything." I stare straight ahead as I try to distract myself from the pain. I can feel another slow pull of the knife across my upper hips ripping through my skin and tank top. I bite my tongue refusing to make any noise.
"Oh come now Lamb let us hear you at least." I keep myself as calm as possible as another cut is pulled across the same hip slightly above the first one. I hear him sigh as Wolf stands up and walks out the cell, turning around to look back towards me.
"If you wish for Demetrius to stop his work all you have to do is talk Ms. O'Connor. Cut her rations again, maybe delirium from starvation will help our little Lamb loosen her lips."
Demetrius continues to slash through my skin and I focus on anything else but the pain. So I start to pull back into my mind. It's like I'm slowly carving a little hole in my consciousness, it's safe and warm there. I can't talk when there as well so I can't let anything slip. Falling into the little cave helps me deal with the pain and hunger, I know I won't have to do this much longer. Price is coming, he'll be here and he will help me get out of here.
I'm dragged out of my head as I feel a hand grab my chin and something slimy drag across my cheek. Demetrius licks up my cheek, collecting my blood and groaning. I feel sick as he meets my eyes and the same maniacal grin spreads across his face. I scream as a piercing pain radiates from my lower right hip, another scream is ripped from my chest as the knife is twisted sharply before being pulled out harshly. The hammering pain matches the rapid beating in my chest.
"Oh so pretty when you cry, I'm going to burn this picture into my mind for later. Thank you Maevis."
He moves away and I quietly cry trying desperately to crawl my way back into the safe little cave in my mind. But this seems to have caved in a little, I can't pull back as far. I can still feel every drag of Demetrius's knife across my chest, arms, thighs, and back. I keep telling myself that it's okay, they're coming. They're going to get me out of here and I'll be safe.
This cycle doesn't last as long as the previous one, or at least I think so, it's hard to tell time. My stomach stopped growling, but the gnawing had spread from my lower abdomen to my chest. Every time I breathe I can feel it biting down on my ribs, like it's trying to eat it way out of me. A wild feral beast chewing at bars of metal in desperation to flee.
Wolf walks in with another man's and Demetrius. I don't bother looking at them keeping my sight fixed on the same spot as before. I've pulled myself out of my head, out of my cave, just a bit to listen to what Wolf has to say. He gives away more than he knows by talking to me. A great little bit of information he's revealed is that he's not the one in charge. He's a middle man.
I keep replaying Ghost's words in my head when he talked to me about combating interrogation. 'Never look at your capture but always listen. If you give them nothing they'll get desperate and will show their hands more often than not. That information can be used and could be more deadly than a weapon. The real task is surviving long enough to know how to use it against them.'
"Lamb, you're being unnecessarily stubborn. You're forcing my hand but again I'm giving you a chance to talk before Ivan is put to work. So I'll ask you again, where is Makarov, what do you know?" He sounds like he's begging, but I'm not stupid and keep my mouth shut.
Wolf sighs and shakes his head, gesturing to the shorter man, Ivan. He approaches me holding a needle with liquid in it. I feel my heart rate spike as I try to move away. I feel a pair of hands grab me and hold me still, I glance back to see Demetrius smiling that same disgusting smile. I start thrashing hard ignoring the pain as I reopen wounds and the strain in my arms and shoulders. I feel a slight prick in my neck and something warm spread through my neck, shoulder, and upper skull.
I retreat into my mind, as far back as I can get hoping that whatever was pushed into my veins would have a harder time affecting me. I know it's unlikely but it's all I can do to comfort myself.
It takes some time for me to feel the changes, everything is brighter... sharper. I can feel every dull ache and thrum of pain across my skin. When Wolf talks it's loud and the lights seem to flicker brighter when he does. He asks his same questions, using the same leverage that isn't that going to change my mind. I'm acutely aware of Demetrius's hands still on my hips, his thumb rubbing circles into my hips. Then he squeezes them and I thrash away from him. Wolf barks something in Russian and Demetrius leaves the room.
'Price is coming, they'll save me. I just have to hold out.' I can feel myself mumbling away, slurring my speech as I keep saying my little mantra. A part of me is very aware saying this out loud isn't a good idea but I can't stop the part of my brain that's blabbering. It's strange how aware I am of myself but unable to control my body. It's because I'm in my safe little cave in my head, just barely keeping my head above the water that has rapidly started flooding in. The pain and drugs mixing with me retreating into myself is dangerous but I'm not drowning. So I stay, breathing calmly, hoping I can pull myself out before I drown.
"Oh Lamb, you truly think Price will come for you? It has been eight days, they do not care for you. Though your little American friend tried to come get you with a small group. We have him in another building, he's faring far better than you. He holds no information that we need so we haven't touched him... Much."
"You're... Wrong! Price... Never! He wouldn't... They'll come... They have to... They will..." I feel something warm slide down my cheeks... Tears, why am I crying? I know they'll come to get me. So why am I crying?
"Poor Lamb is so loyal to someone who has abandoned you, Makarov would never repay such loyalty with this betrayal... Just tell me where he is and I'll personally inform him of your part in his escape."
"No" I hear Wolf goan in frustration before standing and leaving.
"Ivan dose her again when this round wears off. Keep doing so while Demetrius does his usual routine."
Wolf leaves me to Demetrius and Ivan. Demetrius seemed all too happy to continue his work with his knives. He raved about all the foul things he's going to do with me in mind, what he'd like to do to me, how he's more than happy to have such a resilient woman break to him. Every word made me sick and I couldn't handle listening to it anymore. His perverted words mixing with the pain is maddening.
I'm taking a risk, I know it but it's the only way for me to feel safe. I stop trying to float, stopping wading in this water, letting myself sink into thick liquid miasma of drugs and pain. It's calming in a way, everything is muffled and muddy. I feel myself drifting deeper into the strangely numbing cocktail. Safe and comfortable...
I don't know how long I drifted in the cocktail mixture of pain and drugs. I know it's been days, eventually though I resurfaced. Ivan and Demetrius eventually leave as I slowly come down from the drug. My head is pounding and my body feels like it's on fire so I stay tucked away in my flooded cave, head barely above the water. I have to crawl back out a bit as Wolf returns to my cell.
"I tried Lamb, I tried very hard to keep you out of Sergey's room but you are too stubborn. Demetrius get her down."
My ankles are untied and the chain holding me up lowers. I can't help the sigh of relief as my arms fall in front of me. I stumbled forward as I felt a hand shoving me forwards, I got the hint and started walking. There are two armed figures in front and behind me, Demetrius and Wolf to my left and right.
I'm forced to walk for a bit, passing other cells most are empty or impossible to see in. The ones with people in them aren't looking any better than me. Eventually we reach a door and I'm shoved through. It's another cement room with a small window at the top of the far back wall. It's dark I can see there's outlines in the dark of items but I can only make out a few things. There's a light on over a single chair and there's a man standing next to the chair. That's the one thing I can see clearly.
I'm shoved into the chair, my hands are rebound behind the chair. My legs are bound together and then tied to the front two legs. Wolf sits down in another chair in front of me, Demetrius leans against the wall next to the door, and the other man, Sergey walks behind me, draping a rope around the front of me and placing both hands on my shoulders.
"I suggest you speak up now Lamb, Sergey isn't going to give you much time to speak" I stare straight ahead mentally preparing myself for what is next. I don't know if I can fully retreat into myself but I have to protect myself and going there is the only way I know how.
Sergey's hand moved to grab the rope and hold it taunt. I take one last deep breath as the rope is wrapped slowly around my throat. I try to keep calm knowing that if I panic it'll be exactly what they want. But I also know that not panicking will be more difficult as this goes on.
"Last chance Lamb, all you have to do is tell us what you know. You'll be taken back to your cell maybe even get to visit your American friend, yes?"
I say nothing, slowly I feel the rope get tighter and tighter. At first there was not much of a change, it's like breathing with my compression bra and full kit tactical vest. There's a restriction but if you know how to compensate for it, it's not that hard to deal with. Then it's like running for too long, I'm bringing in air but it's shallow. Wheezing and panting, it's not pleasant but it's not enough to kill but it's uncomfortable.
As the rope gets tighter I can feel burning around my throat, the rope rubbing and cutting into the skin making it raw and tender. I can hear my heart beat, feel it thrumming in my skull. You know that feeling when you're holding your breath under water, those last moments of desperation before you push yourself out of the water? Imagine that but there's no surface to break through, I'm just sitting with the feeling. I force myself to retreat deeper into myself.
As soon as I do my body reacts, leg and arms twitching trying to fight against my restraints. My vision begins to blur and blacken around the edges, I can feel my lunges burning like there's fire slowly engulfing my chest. My whole body is thrumming and pounding in tune with my heart, like everything is pulsing. I can feel a cold sheen of sweat across my body, I think I'm crying but it's hard to tell. I think I'm too dehydrated to cry but I'm sweating so I can't be too certain. It's hard to think, to move, to do anything except gasp desperately for air.
I'm teetering on the edge of oblivion, I know if this keeps up I won't be around to see salvation. A part of me is hoping for that little push, to have this all end. I wonder if it would be the same as when I retreat into myself, just floating in the miasma of distant feelings. I wonder if I'll feel the pain of my body slowly fade or if it'll just all disappear at once...
Suddenly the pressure is gone, I'm shunted out of my brain into the driver's seat. I gasp for air, gulping and heaving trying desperately to air in my lungs. The feelings are still there but faint like I'm drifting when I know I'm not. I'm very much in the middle of all of this and I can't retreat to find comfort.
"So are you willing to talk? Because the next thing isn't going to be as nice as this Lamb."
"Go. Feck. Yourself... You can all go rot..." My voice is horse and strained.
"I really do wish you would just cooperate Ms. O'Connor, it's been eleven days... Price is not coming for you. Why protect him?"
I say nothing keeping my expression stoic, but inside I feel something begins to bleed. It's been slowly cracking slightly oozing something into my veins and to my heart. I'm losing hope, I don't want to think of Price abandoning me but it may be my reality. I get nauseous at that thought, because surely at least one of my team is fighting to come and get me, right?
No, this will get me nowhere. "Go eat a bullet"
"Sergey, you have 3 days with our Lamb here. Why not demonstrate the other event she's going to enjoy with you."
Demetrius walks behind me, grabbing the back of my chair and tilting it back holding it there. Sergey ties a cloth over my face and I instantly know I'm going to have to fight. I hear metal creaking and water rushing, footsteps and splashing getting closer and closer. I take a deep breath at the last possible second.
The water splashes over my face covering the cloth. As soon as I can't hold my breath for any longer I begin to move my head taking deep gasping breaths before moving again. Water invades everything, burning as it goes down my nose and throat, stinging as it rushes across the cut on my cheek. I hold my breath as the water moves across my face, I try to keep my movements subtle. I don't want them to be able to predict me. Eventually the water stops and the rag is removed, the rope around my shoulders is being picked up again.
"Good luck Lamb, Sergey doesn't find pleasure in this work so he'll be changing frequently between the two. I'll see you again in 3 days, hopefully after your time spent with Sergey you'll be more talkative."
I watch as Wolf leaves the room and I feel the rope tighten. There's searing pain all across my neck and a pounding in my head. I'm also incredibly cold, being wet causes the rope to slip and a soft cry escapes my lips as more tears fall from my eyes. I hear Demetrius chuckles darkly and fresh tears fall as my air supply is stolen from me again.
The next chunk of time is numbing. Going back and forth between retreating into my mind to being shunted back out in order to survive drowning it breaks a small part of me. I don't want to give up hope but I can't wait any longer, if I stay any longer I'm going to die. Escaping on my own is just as likely to kill me but there's a chance and I can't hold out any longer.
Wolf drags me back to my original cell, putting me back into the same position as before. He sits down in his chair, dismissing Demetrius and bringing another soldier to stand beside him.
"Oh little Lamb you're losing hope, I can tell. There's a dying spark in your eyes. Do you know how long you've been here?"
I keep my head down, refusing to meet his eye but too tired to keep my head up. I'm so tired, I just want this to stop... But there's only one option that will truly make this stop, I have to escape.
"14 days... Two weeks and nothing from your captain or team. I will leave you for now, let you recover for a few days and think about where your loyalty lies Lamb..." Wolf leaves and so too does the guard.
I have a rough plan on how to get out, Wolf has been true to his words so far. Because of that I've had plenty of time to think and realize that the pipe I'm strung up on is loose. If I can just get enough leverage I'd be able to get myself out. Beyond that it's survival but it's my only chance.
I'm receiving a meal again, once a day or at least that's what I assume the cycle is. There's multiple guards when the meal comes so I can't spring the plan then, but it may be my only hope.
I hear the shifting of my cell door and as I look up through my hair I see Wolf approaching with my food. It's just him in the cell but Demetrius is standing outside smiling at me. I feel nauseous again.
"You've had a day to think Lamb, how are you feeling? Maybe a bit of food will help you better come to the right answer."
"I'd think a lot better if I wasn't strung up like a butchered pig."
"I'd let you down if I could but sadly it is not my call Lamb. If you gave us what we needed then we could let you down Lamb." There's a commotion as multiple armed guards come rushing towards the cell.
"Sir! There is multiple armed soldiers invading cell block A! What should we do?"
My heart leaps to my throat, is it them? Are they finally here? Was I right that they'd come for me!?
"Who are they?"
"Mostly armed militia sir, they're only trying to get to cell block A. Its not the men you warned us about!"
No... No that can't be. Why aren't they here... Why have they left me? What did I do wrong? Surely they're here right? They haven't abandoned me... It's Farah coming to Alex... But do they even know I'm here... Does anyone know... Do they think-
"Send all squads except for A and B squads, they will guard the halls here."
My vision pulls back, back into that safe comforting area of mind that I've scraped and clawed at to keep myself sain. That dark bleeding feeling becomes a flood. I'm not in control, I can't be anymore. I'm not capable of it anymore, so float and sink. The flooding of the black fluid emotion seems to be what's moving me now.
The soldiers rush away and Demetrius turns his back to the cell. Wolf is still sitting in front of me with his back to me and he looks distracted. I grab the chain, pull myself up, swing my body forwards and wrap my legs around Wolf's shoulders. I pulled him towards me so I have better leverage and used that to pry the pipe down.
Once the chain and pipe becomes loose I loop the chain tight around Wolf's neck. And then I pull, putting all of my strength until I feel a pop then keep going until there's another pop and Wolf stops flailing. I drop onto the ground with the body of Wolf underneath me.
I stand, dropping the chains, and grabbing the pipe. Demetrius still has his back to the cell, I move towards the bars. Quickly I get the bar out of the cell and in front of Demetrius, I grab both sides and throw my entire weight back. I can feel him thrashing and clawing at my arms.
"Not so fun being on the other side is it?" I can see the panic in his eyes as he tries to turn his head towards me, something inside me purrs with satisfaction. I throw my weight back once more and hold it until he's no longer moving, until he's no longer breathing, there's a purr again. I check both bodies finding Demetrius's brass knuckles and a knife left in the cell. I cut my hand loose of their bindings and take a moment to let relief flood my system.
I open the cell door and go the opposite way the soldiers ran. My body is moving on its own, going from shadow to shadow. It's like I'm watching from a distance, through a thick fog. Everything is murky and hard to see or hear, but I still know what I'm doing.
I know that I'm currently pressed against a wall listening to three lightly armed guards talk to each other. I can feel the excitement and joy as they split off two and one. I can feel the strain of my body as I grab the guard and pull him towards me. The swift movement of my knife across his throat, the warm coating of blood across my hands. The ache and pain from moving the body to better be hidden.
My body doesn't grab his gun, a part of me understands. I have the element of surprise right now and guns are loud, but I can hear another part of me screaming to grab it. That gun is a safety net and we need that small comfort, it sounds desperate as it please. But whatever is in control doesn't care and keeps moving.
Again finding shadow my body approaches the two guards, they stop and turn their backs to each other and stand facing down two opposite directions. Slowly approaching the one on the right and grabs them. Pivoting so the guard so he's facing his buddies as they scream and shout in Russian. The one not grappled turned and sprayed a spread of bullets hitting his friends. There's warmth spreading across my lower abdomen as the body's blood seeps out all over me and the tattered dirty clothes I'm still wearing. He's still alive so my knife and hands get a fresh coat of red.
Grabbing the dead man's side arm and shooting it twice at the chest of the female guard. The two bodies drop and my body is on the move again. It's odd how different my body is on auto pilot, running purely on instinct, adrenaline, and that dark flooding feeling that is all around me.
I know what it's called, what it is but saying it, acknowledging it feels like it will break something in me. Permanently changing something I could never get back. She knows it and I know it, we both know as well that this is the only way to protect us. So She stays in charge, surviving on feral instincts while I sink slowly deeper into our mind. Escaping further and further away from everything because this is how I'll survive.
She finds more guards, four solo roaming the halls. Each one painted our hands and arms with more red, with each kill I can feel myself sinking further and further away. It's odd I've never allowed Her full control like this, She's always there when I kill. That overwhelming emptiness I feel when I pull the trigger... It scares me every time, so I focus on their humanity and the sadness of ending them. Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.
She finds another two soldiers, dragging the first one away into a shadowy alcove. As soon as the blood on our arms started to cool the other soldier appeared opening fire. The sharp, crystal clear, stab of pain pulls me up to the surface of everything. I have the chance to pull myself into the driver's seat again but it's so comforting to be just drifting. So I let myself sink again, because if I'm going to die then I want to die with whatever comfort I can get... And being adrift in this lonely sea of my mind is the greatest comfort I have.
She moves again tackling our assailant and stabbing into his throat. Standing and moving again we continue down the halls. Then there's the unmistakable sound of rapid gun fire down the hall in front of us. She ducts into the shadows again, slowly moving us towards three figures... All of their backs turned towards us. Distracted by something else and not paying attention to the danger right behind them. I can feel the deep satisfaction She purrs out as it echoes through the waters I'm floating in.
The one furthest back is the first to go as She launches herself onto the back of the first guard. Our knife finds a home in his neck, three times as more red coats more of our body. He's still holding his rifle and all it takes is for her to aim towards the second soldier, his friends impulses do the rest it unloads into number twos back.
I feel myself slipping further away, I can't handle being so close. I can feel everything, the thrumming of pain, the pumping of adrenaline, the warmth of blood soaking my body... The lack of emotions... There's nothing, just death. And that scares me so I sink further below, into the comforts of my mind.
Still holding the body She turns towards the last soldier as he fires repeatedly into his fellow guard's body. Only once he starts to reload his rifle does She begin to move, surging forwards and tackling him to the ground. It's only once we're on the ground that it seems to register that our beloved knife is in the neck of the first guard. Thankfully though we have the brass knuckles from Demetrius's cold corpse.
There's a difference between slicing someone's neck open and beating someone to death. It's a difference I never wanted to know but I do now, I can't seem to slip far enough away. I can feel everything, every crack of bone, every splitting of skin, and every splatter of blood. I force myself further away, I can't deal with this.
She grabs the soldier's knife and stabs it into his chest. I can hear the movement even through the pounding of our heart and our heavy breathing. She turns pulling our new knife from the guard's chest and begins to move towards the last living guard. She stood over him before falling to our knees, one on either side of him.
"No, please... Please! PLEA-" His begging is interrupted as the first stab goes into his back, puncturing a lunge. A lung being stabbed while some is talking isn't a pleasant sound. There's a rushing of garbled air that escapes the mouth. His pleas get quieter and quieter as her stabs get louder and more frequent. Only stopping once the guard stops moving. Something moves in front of us and I can feel the blood thirst spike again.
"O'Connor are you okay?"
Wait I know that voice! We know that voice!
She stands up gripping the knife tightly, that the same purr echoes around me. Excited for more blood...
"Calm down you're hurt, we can get you out!"
No no no no! Stop! We know him! It's Soap! He's a friend! He's our boy!
I try desperately to swim up, I have to gain control. I can't stay here but it's so hard to get out. Why? It's been so easy before to pull myself to the surface and out into control, why has it changed? I can't get to him in time. I watch in horror, trapped in my own mind, as my body moves to kill Soap.
Something large, dark, and strong grapples my body dragging Her away. I see the white skull and panicked blue eye of Ghost. I continue to claw desperately in my own mind. What once was a comfort, a way to keep myself sane and safe, now feels like another prison for me to escape... Because if I don't I may kill my boys.
Ghost gets the knife out of our hand and prevents Her from grabbing his knife attached to the vest he's wearing. I can hear Soap begging for me to calm down and every part of me is screaming the same thing. Ghost is a formidable opponent when sparing but we're evenly matched, though he tends to win a few more rounds. I hope more than anything that today is one of those days that he predicts the winning move right.
She goes to lunge again and Ghost predicts it, dodging to the side before moving to pin our body against the ground. Positioning himself better, he puts me into a headlock before sitting back. He wraps his left leg around and pins our left leg, properly preventing Her from getting any leverage.
"O'Connor please, calm down. It's just me and Johnny, we're not here to hurt you!"
She continues thrashing and growling, I can feel Ghost squeeze harder. I can feel our nails dig into Ghost's arm. At first there was only fabric but then I heard something rip and I could feel flesh. Ghost squeezes harder and the same suffocating feeling overcomes me but this time I truly hope I don't get the chance to resurface. Because I'm not sure I can get back into control in time.
"Calm down O'Connor!"
Slowly the thrashing stops and I can feel myself slipping into unconsciousness. Finally I resurface but I know it's too late so I give into the oblivion of sleep.
I'm floating again, but there's something wrong. This isn't me shielding myself from something happening, this is the familiar in-between of conscious and unconscious. That state where your mind is awake and your body is still out. I focus on what I can remember and panic floods everything, the torturing, my escape, the disconnect getting worse, my feral frenzy, Soap and Ghost. Suddenly the curtain is lifted and I can hear myself screaming.
I'm sitting up, pushed far back against the bed, breathing heavily. I'm in a hospital room not a concrete cell and all the tension and panic is gone. I look to see everyone here, Laswell, Price, Ghost, Soap, Gaz and Roach. I feel tears streak down my cheeks as they check in on me and indulge me in a group hug.
Eventually I was discharged and learned I was kidnapped by the Russian ultra nationalist extremist group. They were keeping tabs on Farah hoping to catch Price the next time they interact together... But I was the second best opinion. Farah and Alex visited me in the hospital and explained what happened.
My lieutenant never informed anyone about me going out for a house call despite regulation. It got chaotic and busy very fast. It took Farah going to look for me about two days later to realize I was missing, it was only then that the lieutenant spoke up. Alex manages to track down the young man who lured me away. He learns the young man's sister was being held hostage and that luring me away was the only way she'd be set free.
It took four days to find the prison sight, only for their attempt to break in to fail and gets Alex captured. Farah the entire time was trying to get ahold of someone from the 141, anyone but nothing was going through. By the time Farah managed to get something through Price was already on his way. I feel relief knowing they were looking for me, trying to find me but I feel a bit of resentment towards how long it took. I know logically why it would've taken so long but I can't seem to shake the bitter resentment that has made it's home next to my heart.
Everyone was with me as we had to drive and again I felt myself crying. I hate that I doubted them but that small dark part was whispering that it was a reasonable thing to do. Before we leave the hospital to go back to base, Laswell stops me.
"Maevis, before you return to base I have a massage from Quinn..." There's anxiety in Kate's voice as she hands me a small envelope. "I'm sorry she's had a change of heart. I wanted to tell you before you got to base... You usually try to talk to her and I know you'd likely try..." (My friend no longer wants her OC to be in a lesbian relationship, is okay that happens! Love you Jules)
I spent the ride back to the base thinking; about Quinn, about my most recent experience, about those who've stuck beside me and tried to save me... About the shame and frustration I felt and still feel. There's a whirlwind of a million thoughts and emotions in my head and I can't focus on a single one.
Once back on base Price calls me into his office, we walk together into the room. I sat in front of his desk chair expecting him to sit there, instead he sat in the chair next to me. He had his hands clasped together with his head down causing the shadow from his bucket hat to cover his face.
"John? Wha-"
"I'm sorry it took us so long Maevis... There's no excuse for it. I should have known something was wrong the moment our communication stopped. As soon as you didn't come back from the week deployment I should have pulled everyone back from their ops and looked into it."
"John... You couldn't have known, Farah already told us that their communication was compromised. You also had multiple small operations going that you had to pay attention to. I was the one least likely to be in danger, I had Farah and Alex with me and a full squad dealing with injured civilians. I'm fine now..." I try to keep the tears in but I can feel the warmth of them falling onto my cheeks.
"15 days and 12 hours... You had multiple lacerations, bruising, and rope burns. You were severely starved and was extremely close to death by dehydration. Not to mention the lack of sleep and the cocktail of drugs in your system... You were tortured within an inch of your life and you managed to escape. You don't experience all of that and walk out fine." Price looks at me with that look. The same look he gives he'll give one of the youngsters after a particularly rough day. Thankfully this isn't the first time I've cried in front of Price so I don't feel ashamed or embarrassed.
"That's not the worst part for me though John! I... Sweet Jaesus I thought you'd never come. That you'd left me or that you couldn't find me." Price placed a hand on my shoulder and squeezed it slightly to comfort me.
"Then Farah's team broke into the wrong cell block and something snapped. I was so confused and hurt... I was angry... I felt... Hopeless like no matter what I was going to die so I at least wanted to die trying to get out of there..." I was struggling to breathe as the words kept tumbling out, I just kept blabbering about everything that happened. Everything came out, I told Price everything that I experienced and how I coped with it.
"I'm sorry Maevis, I'm so sorry..." John pulls me into a long hug after I finish talking. We stayed like that for a while John holding me while I cried into his shoulder. It reminds me of when we were younger, all those rough nights with Will, questioning if I made the right choices. Eventually though I calm down and I leave to debrief some random Superior Officer with everything that happened and what I learned.
An hour and a half of me going into graphic details and some high ranking general asking stupid questions. Once I'm finally dismissed the cantina is closed and I'm not in the mood to go to the rec room so I just walk to my office. I have to replace my bandages anyways. I open my office door to see Gaz sitting in front of my desk. He turns and smiles at me as soon as I close the door.
"You didn't come to dinner and Price told us you had to talk to your COs and answer questions... I noticed you still weren't out of your meeting as the cantina was about to close so I grabbed your dinner..." It was then that I noticed the tray of food on my desk, still warm.
"Thank you Gaz, that's very thoughtful of you." I walk over and sit across from him. We chat for a bit while I eat, he tells me about the mission he and Roach were sent on. It was just some simple recon with plenty of gorgeous views.
"Would you like help with some of your bandages? I know they're difficult to replace alone and I'm already here..." I smile at Gaz before nodding. I'm wearing a tank top with loose pants because of all the bandages and how uncomfortable they are when I wear a turtle neck. Though I have been wearing my hoodie.
It takes a bit and by the time Gaz finishes helping me with my arm and neck it's late into the night. I tell him I can get the rest on my own and that he should go to bed. After Gaz leaves and I finish replacing my bandages I go to bed.
It's been a few days since I've been dismissed from the hospital and put on medical leave. I'm having trouble sleeping consistently so I'm currently out for a late night walk. It was raining earlier today and now it's the perfect weather for a night walk. I'm slowly walking around the outside of the furthest hanger.
I don't see or hear anyone when suddenly there's a figure behind me. I feel myself shunted out of the driver's seat and into that same miasma from before, my vision loses focus and my body reacts before I can even comprehend. I spin and grab the figure shoving them hard against the building. I look to see Roach is who I have pinned.
Roach who has a look of shock and pain written across he face... He has fear in his eyes, he's scared of me. And that realization pulls me back so fast I wonder if I can mental whiplash. I quickly let go of my hold on the boy and step back. Shame floods senses and blurring my vision.
"I- I'm so sorry Roach... I don't know what came over me! Are you okay?" I can hear the fear in my own voice and the tears welling up in my eyes. I try to keep them at bay but they start flowing freely. Because instead of saying or signing anything to me, Roach steps forwards and pulls me into a hug. I cling to him as the tears continue their journey.
"I'm so sorry...I didn't mean to hurt you, to scare you... I don't know why I did that, I've never done that before... I don't know what came over me, I'm sorry. I'm sorry!" It's getting harder and harder to breathe.
"Mom, calm down... Breathe for me yeah?" Roach pulls back a bit and places my hand onto his chest above his heart. I can feel the faintest thumping of his heart and the inhale, exhale of his chest. I unintentionally start breathing in sync with him, calming me down.
"I snuck up on you, you reacted. You didn't hurt me, I was just caught off guard. I wanted to ask if you'd like to walk with me?" I nod not trusting my voice.
We walk together in relative silence, occasionally being broken up by small chats or Ripley barking at Roach to throw her ball. We eventually make our way back into the barracks and split up to go to our different rooms. I'm physically exhausted which helps me shut off my brain a bit and fall asleep easier.
I'm sitting in my office catching up on paperwork when two figures appear in my doorway. I look up to see Ghost and Soap walking in and sitting across from me at my desk. I set aside what I was doing to give the duo my full attention.
"I wanted to say thank you for getting me out of that prison and I'm sorry for attac-"
"Don't apologize Doc" Ghost cuts me off and Soap nods in agreement. Soap stares at me, like he's looking for something before speaking.
"LT said it best, you weren't yourself. Whatever attacked us was running on pure instinct alone... Though that was scary as hell, you were horrifying. I'd say almost as scary as Ghost!" Soap was smiling as Ghost gave the sergeant a slight shove on his shoulder.
"But seriously I don't ever want to be in your sights like that again. You looked ready to tear my head off and play football with it, if Ghost hadn't jumped in when he did." Soap got this far off look before he continued to speak. "I really hope none of us have to see you like that ever again... It felt so wrong to watch you act so ruthless."
" I'm sorry you had to witness that... It scared me too, I didn't feel in control at all. It was like I was locked away in my own head watching my body react without my input... I hated it." Ghost nods his head with this knowing look in his eyes.
"Doc... Roach told me about last night, he told me you had the same look in your eyes..." I look at Ghost and he has a familiar glint in his eyes.
"While I was..." I make a vague gesture. "Anytime it got to be too much I slipped into my head, it was the only place that felt safe." I focused on a spot behind their heads. I felt like I couldn't look at them as I talked about this.
"Eventually I just stayed there, only resurfacing to listen to that bastard talk. But there was something breaking that I couldn't fix... And then the dam broke and I just kept sinking further and further down..." I felt the warmth of fresh tears on my cheeks and I just want to curl into myself.
"Is it fixed? The dam?"
"I don't think so, there's still a leak I can feel it slowly oozing near my heart. It was worse the first few days in the hospital..."
"What will it take for that dam to break again? Will it break again..."
"I don't know honestly... It will... Now that it's broken I don't think I can go back to normal." I look at Ghost and we maintain eye contact, silently acknowledging each other.
"How do we help you when it happens again Doc?"
"Knock me out, after that... I'm not sure... I've been struggling to figure out how to cope with everything. I'm still physically recovering so I can't really do what I'd normally do. I can't workout or go to the range and I can't just throw myself into a mission because I've been sidelined." I rub my temples as I think a bit more before sighing.
"Usually I'd read but I haven't gone into town to buy any new books... Though I suppose I can, now that I'm sidelined for a bit."
"Then that's what you do Doc... Trust me it takes some time to get back to some form of normalcy after something like that. You won't be the same, there's permanent changes from what happened." Ghost has the same sad look in his eyes, every time I look at him since I've woken up in the hospital.
It's not a look of pity, it's a look of understanding. Like he knows exactly what I went through and I know he does. He probably understands better than anyone even me. There's a sense of camaraderie between us now... A camaraderie that neither of us wanted the other to understand, but sadly that's not the case. Instead it's nice to know that there's someone here who can intimately understand the why behind something.
I'm not alone, a sad but comforting fact.
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brightlyburningstar · 7 hours ago
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guess who made it to the Black Sea arc today :D
kill me kill me kill me kill me kill me kill me kill me kill me
(rambles bellow vvv)
Anyways ensa has become one of my favorite NPCs and I think Lizzie and Ava’s backstory is gonna have me throw myself over the boat railing. I’m very normal about the past 7 episodes and did not watch them all in one day. Who do u think I am, what do u take me for (I totally did) also Lizzie’s “I loved her” had me physically ILLLLLLL AHGAFAHAGAGAGGA I WAS GONNA CRY. I WAS JUST CASUALLY LISTENING AND HAD MY GODDAMN HEART RIPPED OUT. I need more caspian content……. Please god…… I beg…… also the fucking pin I can’t that was the funniest shit at like midnight last night. Also drey my love I actually adore this stupid mothefucker so much. I don’t even know WHEN he snuck his was into my top npcs but Jesus Christ he will not go AWAY FOR FUCKS SAKE. HES SO SILLY. I LOVE HIM. also MAY FERRIN MY BELOVED HOLDS HER GENTLY IN MY PALMS. I’ve never felt more fear then the boat ride of e98/99 (I think at least it might be smth else idk I’m tired) that shit had me SCAREDDDDD. anyways I remembered this one poly pirate fic I read that took place during that episode so now ima go back and reread it soon so I can suffer. Also I fully see pistol whip and I also see navy seal. I’m just, quite honestly, in love with Lizzie and think she needs a hug from just somebody. CHIPS CASUAL I LOVE U TO HER MY SON GET OVER HERE IM GONNA CRY. also THIS JUST IN, WERE RECEIVING REPORTS THAT A NEW FAD IS TAKING THE NATION BY STORM. ITS NAME. JORTS. BUT IT APPEARS AS IF THEY BREAKTHROUGH IN JEAN SHORT SPLICING TECHNOLOGY IS CAUSING IRREGULAR WEATHER PATTERNS ALL ACROSS THE GLO- WOOOO ITS THE WARMER SEASON SO I CANT WEAR JEANS I REALLY LIKE THE DENIM, BUT NOT THE LENGTH OF THE SEAM. MY MOM DRESSES CAS AND MY DAD LIKES TO PREEN IM NOT LIKE EITHER OF THEM I GOT THE RECESSIVE JEAN. JORT STORM. JORT STORMS COMMIN TONIGHT. A JORT STORM ITS A CATEGORY 5. JORT STORM. JORT STORMS COMMIN TONIGHT. I SAID A JORT STORMS COMMIN SO RUN AND HIIIIIDE. JORTICANE. JORTNADO. JORTNAMI. JORTQUAKE. JORTRUPTION. JORTALANCHE. JOOOORTPOCALYPSE. THE JORT STORMS COMMIN. JORT. SO YOU BETTER START RUNNING FAAAAAST ITS A CHASEEE. BUT BE CAREFUL CAUSE THESE JORTS WILL CHAFFE YOU YEAH. THEY’RE THE NEW SENSATION. JORTS. WEAR EEM TO EVERY OCCASION JOOOOORTS IN THE POOOOLL. OR EVEN BETTER WEAR EM TO A FUNERAL YEAH. MY PERSONALITY IS 99% JORTS I GOT A GENETIC TEST BUT ALL MY JEANS WERE SHORTSSSSS A JORT STORM. JORT STORMS COMMIN TONIGHT. JORT STORM, ITS A CATEGORY 5. JORT STORM. JORT STORMS COMMIN TONIGHT I TAKE OFF MY FUCKIN JORTS I GOT ON JORTS INSIIIIIDEEEE. BREAKING NEWS, MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ARE BEING SUCKED DIRECTLY INTO THE JORTEX, AND ITS HEADING STRAIGHT FOR THIS STUDIO. TO MY WIFE CHERYL, AND SON TIMMY, I LOVE YOUUUUUU. JORTS. THE ELDERS FORETOLD. JORTS. OF A FASHION SO BOLD. A NEW GOD OF THE EARTHHHHH. TO SEAL IT IN DENIM AND TURN IT INTO JEARTH. kazoo.
anyways back to the boat I go. Time to binge the suckening. I will most likely write more about jrwi eventually
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umbracirrus · 1 day ago
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WIP Wednesday-!!💛
It's Wednesday again! I swear it was only just Wednesday... But anyway! This is a two part WIP, both a sketch and some writing. The writing can be described with a single sentence - Elyse is in Denial™️. The drawing is an attempt at designing a new outfit for Balgruuf - one that seems fancy and formal but isn't as difficult to draw as his usual clothes.
I've been tagged by @hircines-hunter and @skyrim-forever and I will be tagging @thequeenofthewinter and anyone who wants to share a wip (I'd tag more people but I'm absolutely exhausted and not many names are coming to me right now... But if anyone wants me to tag them let me know-!! ;u;)
So first of all, the drawing! It's a partially coloured drawing of an outfit I've started designing for Balgruuf... I wanted to have him wearing something other than his usual outfit, but still has some similarities (it's such a hassle to draw what he wears on his torso aside from the fur over his shoulders!). You get some of my little notes too :) I've not settled on the remaining colours aside from there being a yellow accent somewhere, hence why only part is coloured. I think it's going to be what I'll have him wear in The Perfect Storm when he marries Elyse ;3
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And now, the writing-!!! >:3
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“Is that all of them?”
“I... I think so?” Elyse let out a quiet sigh as she leaned down and placed her hands on her knees as she attempted to catch her breath. “By the Eight, I’m more out of shape than I thought I was.”
“You still did well though, even if you have spent most of winter hibernating in Dragonsreach.”
Her eyes darted up as she glared at her friend, who was now quietly laughing at her reaction. “I swear, that is what – the third time you’ve brought that up today?” Elyse stood up straight and folded her arms over as she raised an eyebrow. “Why do you keep trying to tease me about staying there, Lyd?
Lydia walked over to her and placed her hands on her shoulders. “Please don’t tell me that you’re blind to it. Please.”
“Blind to what?”
“The Jarl has eyes for you!”
Elyse frowned at that statement, before tutting and shaking her head. She then broke free from her grasp. “He’d do the same for any other Thane if they were in a situation like mine.”
“But those Thanes aren’t the Dragonborn. Those Thanes aren’t you,” Lydia grinned, which just made Elyse scoff and turn on her heel. “Come on, you can’t be that naive-“
“I love you Lydia, you’re like a sister to me, but by the Divines, you are annoying when you get these sorts of ideas in your head.”
“Jarls wouldn’t just get expensive jewellery for the birthday of any old Thane, you know. Nor would they shut themselves away when they upset any old Thane either. Invite them to join them at a festival. Or throw everything down when they hear that they’ve ended up under the care of the Temple of Kynareth! Divines, Elyse, he’s trying to court you!”
Elyse momentarily tensed as her face heated up, then shook her head. “No... That- He isn’t-“ She clenched her fists. “He isn’t... Couldn’t. Not me...” She then began to walk away. She didn’t want to handle any of this, not right now.
“I served Jarl Balgruuf for a few years before he assigned me to be your Housecarl... And trust me when I say that he acts different around you, in a way that he does nobody else.”
Pursing her lips together as she continued walking away, she tried her best not to dwell on what Lydia was saying. They were friends, of course she liked to tease her – though it was normally over her abysmal cooking skills, or how easily she got drunk... Not this.
But at the same time, did she have a point? She couldn’t possibly count the number of times he had sat with her to have tea, held her close, or wiped away her tears-
“Elyse!” The sudden yell from behind her made her flinch, before she quickly turned around and gasped.
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moxxiemisfire · 2 days ago
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“That’s Millie for you~” There was a fond warmth in his voice that flowed into a soft chuckle of amusement, “I heard you took it like a champ though - I’m not sure I would’ve survived a beating like that from Mills,” Truly, the woman was a force to be reckoned with. Was it bad that he found that undeniably hot? Ugh. It really ought to be embarrassing how whipped he was for his wife. The smaller imp nodded his head slowly, agreeing with the sentiment, “Sharing shit IS hard” he confessed, “I’d be a huge hypocrite if I judged you for that, sir, considering how I never told you that my dad was a shitty mob boss,”
Moxxie did, unfortunately, know how possessor demons worked — luckily, not through personal experience. It was…well, fucked up, there wasn’t really any more articulate way to express it. A little unsure if he was allowed, but accepting any fall out and following his instincts anyway, he reached up a hand to place comfortingly on Blitz’s shoulder. “Blitz, possessor demons, for the most part, are, like, preprogrammed to be parasitic pieces of shit…” he paused a moment, clearing his throat softly to keep his voice steady, “I just…Millie was there to step in, right? and if it were to happen again…If anything were to happen…I mean, you know that we’ll always be there, right? I…maybe I don’t say it enough, but we all have your back — I mean, I-I have your back”
A soft, thoughtful, frown crossed Moxxie’s features as Blitz more or less apologised for all the shit that’d happened in the past few months. The fall out with Stolas and that party had really impacted him. “It’s been a wild ride,” he admitted with a small sigh, “You’re wild and erratic…and-and sometimes I have no fucking clue what’s going on in your head. You drive me fucking nuts…but, you want to know something? If you weren’t you…with all of your scars and your harebrained schemes, then…well, we wouldn’t be where we are today. I...well, I might not even be here…like, at all.” What kind of imp was insane enough to create their own company? Navigate a deal to traverse the human world to boost profits? Who else would pour all of themselves into their stupid, little, dysfunctional family? To give a chance to the heartbroken, cry-baby, gunslinger that happened to fall into his path? “So, trust me when I say, if you being less of a mess would make you less…well, anything, then I guess I’ll just have to suck it up and deal with your bullshit.” he then paused for a moment before adding, “…anyway, most of the losers at that party barely know you, Blitz. I’ve been at your side for years now, I like to think I’m the leading expert in Blitz bullshit, so take my word for it, okay? They’re full of shit”
A deep, concerned, frown etched itself on Moxxie’s face as he stared across at Blitz — he didn’t believe him. Not in the slightest. However, he’d come to expect the dismissive way that his the taller imp would dodge any display of genuine vulnerability. That why, when Blitz took a moment before amending his previous statement, Moxxie know just how huge of a deal that was. In all the years Moxxie had known Blitz (and truly, it had been quite a few at this point) the assassin had never admitted when he wasn’t coping well. It was a step. A significant one.
Moxxie let out a soft hum of affirmation, “Mills told me some stuff…” he began to explain, “I’m aware the two of you went ghost fucking…you know, in spite of them not existing…and that you stumbled into a possessor demon — who you both, and I directly quote, ‘beat the ever lovin’ crap outta’” There was a gentle calm to Moxxie’s words, his eyes focused intently on the taller imp as though the back of his head could provide any kind of clue as to how he was feeling. “I figure there’s a lot I don’t know,” he admitted with a loose shrug of his shoulders, “Despite what you might think, Mills doesn’t tell me everything — I think, maybe, she understands that there are things you probably don’t want her sharing…things that you’ll share with me in your own time if you want to..?”
It was weird to think that there was anything the couple didn’t share: considering how they were joined at the hip. However, the pair had a rich and varied relationship with Blitz and generally agreed that they weren’t owed any of the information the other was privy to. Moxxie agreed with Millie, he didn’t want to know personal details about Blitz because Millie had brought him into the loop. He wanted to know because Blitz wanted him to.
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madegeeky · 7 months ago
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Me: You don't need to do this much stuff for the party. It's just you and a couple friends.
Also me: GO BIG OR FUCK OFF, SELF.
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hinamie · 5 months ago
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7/3: pov u r nanami kento pleased that i managed to pull smth together in time for your bday
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obsob · 8 months ago
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one thing u can count on me for is being normal about Some Guy
process under cut where u can see me losing my mind trying 2 figure out what i was doing in real time! :3
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