#so yes feel free to send follow up questions or whatever but I’m not going to debate any of this with anyone

[housewifebuck]

Do you have any unpopular and/or strong opinions about car care? Products people get or don’t when they should?

I’m in the freaking out about getting a cat soon stage lol

🩵💜🩵💜

hiiii<3 congratulations you have pressed my special interest button! I have extremely strong opinions on proper cat care from the perspective of a rescuer since every day I am faced with cleaning up the messes of people who do NOT take care of their cats properly. I am putting everything under the cut since this will include mentions of animal abuse/neglect etc. And also it’s going to be very long I fear.

First and foremost as I’m sure you will soon be able to tell animal welfare is something I am very very passionate about. Rescue work is my entire life. These are all things I have had to repeat over and over to people who just don’t care/don’t get it and so if some of it sounds aggressive that is NOT directed at you (Michal) 😭 I’m talking to the royal you here since this is advice for everybody.

the most important thing in the world is to make sure your cat is FIXED. if she is coming from a rescue she likely already is, but if shes not, make sure you have an appointment set up to get it + rabies and FVRCP vaccines done asap (I also recommend getting the feline leukemia vaccine, which is not usually done in house by rescues). I would even make the appointment now if you know when you are bringing her home. on top of preventing countless health issues down the road, it will also keep her from reproducing if she ever accidentally gets outside. not only is that awful for the mom cat but we already have enough homeless kittens out there tyvm. PS this is just as important for male cats.

speaking of which, do not let your pet cat free roam outside*. Ever. here is a handy article outlining just a few of the many many reason why it is a terrible and irresponsible thing to do. I dont care if you think you live in a low risk area, or if your cat seems to want to get outside, or if you've had outdoor cats before with no issue. I have had to scrape countless dead cats out of the roadway after being hit by cars because their owners let them outside. Rat poison (very commonly found around peoples houses and in trash cans), if ingested, will literally cause an animal to exsanguinate and die in agony. Other stray cats in the area could be carrying FIV/FeLV or worse. If any of your neighbors grow lilies and your cat brushes against one and licks the pollen from their fur, they will die. There’s just so many reasons to keep your cats indoors I could go on about this forever. if you absolutely must take your cat outside either leash train them (properly, dont just take them out on a leash for the first time and expect them to be okay with it) or get a kitty stroller. But there are PLENTY of ways to keep your cat enriched and entertained indoors. Cat trees, shelves, bird feeders outside, interactive toys, treat dispensers, just to name a few. Go on chewy.com and just browse. They have an excellent selection and great customer service. Another alternative is building a catio! Just make sure your cat receives regular flea/tick treatment year round.

avoid the hell out of those backpack carriers with the clear plastic windows. those are terrifying for cats to be in they feel completely exposed and the ventilation is shit. get a proper hard sided (plastic) carrier. I recommend one with two doors (one on the front and one on top, otherwise known as a top loading carrier). When you travel outside or in the car be sure to cover the carrier with a towel or blanket. This calms them down a lot. The reasons I recommend against soft/mesh carriers are: they are impossible to clean or sanitize if your cat has an accident (very common in the car) or contracts an infectious disease, they provide no protection in the event of being dropped or if you are in a car accident or if you run into a cat-aggressive dog in the vet waiting room, and especially anxious cats can and will fight their way out of them and having a terrified cat loose in your car on your way to the vet is extremely dangerous for both of you.

Expect your new cat to be scared and shy for a few days-to-weeks, minimum. This isn’t always the case, but it is more often than not. I have had so many cats returned for not being friendly enough right away because adopters were too impatient to wait. It takes cats time to decompress in a new environment. I recommend keeping your new cat in a separate room like a bathroom or small bedroom for the first few days so a) it is less overwhelming and b) once you allow them access to the rest of the house, that room will be their “safe space” to retreat to. Also normal when a cat has experienced an environmental shift are: mild vomiting and/or diarrhea (I recommend keeping the cat on whatever diet they have been fed previously and doing a slow transition to your food of choice, + add in probiotics. Proviable and Fortiflora are two brands I like, both available on chewy), hiding in one place for the first 24ish hours, and occasionally stress induced urinary issues such as UTIs. To best avoid the latter make sure their litter box is somewhere they can get to easily without encountering any human or animal traffic. But don’t put it next to their food/water obviously.

And speaking of food/water! Cats tend not to like their food to be right next to their water. I recommend placing the dishes a few feet away at least if not in separate areas of the room. Also, cats by nature do not drink enough water usually so some amount of wet food in their diet is pretty important, and water fountains/bubblers also help get them to drink more. Chronic dehydration can cause urinary issues and more. Dry food is better for their teeth but higher in carbs and a dry-only diet often leads to an overweight cat, and wet food can cause plaque buildup faster but has a much higher moisture content. A balance of both is ideal. Avoid raw diets as well as these food brands: Hartz**, kit & caboodle, meow mix, friskies.

If you keep houseplants, be very very careful. Cats are curious and love to chew on anything that smells like nature and will go out of their way to do so, but a LOT of common houseplants are toxic to cats (for example, every part of the Lily flower, if ingested and not treated immediately, will kill your cat within a day). The ASPCA has a database online to search for plants and see if they are toxic or not.

The rule of thumb with litter boxes is 1 per cat +1. So if you have one cat, you need a minimum of 2 litter boxes, preferably in separate rooms of the house. Corners and secluded areas with little foot traffic are ideal. Make sure the box is the length of your cat standing up + about 6 inches for ideal comfort. Avoid “lightweight” litter; it’s super dusty and very fine and can irritate both your lungs and your cat’s lungs.

Stay on top of your annual vet exams. Even if your cat seems perfectly healthy it’s better safe than sorry, and having a good rapport with your veterinarian makes it much easier to deal with them in the event of an emergency. And on that topic, make sure you know where your local ER vets are + their hours and phone numbers. Cats are tough and resilient but they are also fragile and stupid.

*obviously different rules may apply if your cat is feral or semi feral and cannot live happily indoors. It is not typically a good idea to try and force a feral/working cat to be strictly indoors before they’re ready. But a regular domestic pet cat does not ever “need” to be outside, nor is it cruel to keep them in. This doesn’t always stop them from being interested though, so be careful around doors until you know how your cat will behave around them.

**while the other brands are just low in nutrients, high in filler byproducts, and just overall not super healthy, Hartz brand products (especially their flea and tick medication and shampoos) have been known to straight up kill peoples pets. Like, a LOT. I have seen this happen countless times. Everyone I know who’s ever used a Hartz product has a horror story about it. Do not ask me how they’re still in fucking business.

Honestly that’s all I can think of off the top of my head but I’m sure I’m forgetting some stuff. If you have any specific questions you can hit me up, I don’t mind! Part of my job as a rescuer is educating the public so this is information I am very happy to share. Congrats on your new kitty and good luck!!!!

[runningfrom2am]

Hi, how’s your day been going? Hoping it was amazing. I just saw your post about needing inspo for Coriolanus fics! I’m not sure if you are taking requests but if you are Could you maybe do a touch-starved Coryo fic? Something fluffy/angsty where Coryo can finally fulfill those needs and be himself and vulnerable with the reader. Thanks!

as long as you need me - c.s

pairing: coryo x fem!reader

wc: 1.7k

tags/warnings: fluff, hurt/comfort, he just needs you and you just want to help.

requests (currently closed- feel free to send whatever but it will be a while before I get to them!)

nav / coriolanus snow masterlist

a/n: ahhh thank you for sending this in! it was so fun to write like stopppp i just want to give him a hug omg. also thought i'd post this to hold y'all off until i post the next part of LTPF. anyway, enjoy!

You had a very stable grasp of the limits of your relationship. What was appropriate, and what was not. You were quite shy, and Coryo always carried himself with a high level of decorum. You would eat together at lunch, and he would walk you home most days. The weekends, your study dates, were always your favourite. He was significantly more relaxed, but you could still tell he was just a little tightly wound. By now, you've just learned that's who he is. Not overly affectionate, but he cares for you and you care for him. 

"I can't stay late today, I'm sorry." You said, genuinely feeling bad for having to turn down the request. In your junior year, you started tutoring for younger grades at the academy and it is something you thoroughly enjoyed.

"I have a test tomorrow! Why can't you stay? Just for a few minutes- I just have a couple of questions." The first year, Aelia whined.

"My boyfriend is supposed to walk me home and he has a tight schedule, but I'll tell you what, I can meet you in the library in the morning before class. That way it will still be fresh in your mind, yeah?" You grinned, and she seemed satisfied as you agreed on a time, not knowing that a few of the girls in your grade were listening in.

"Y/N," Clemensia decided to approach you as Aelia walked off, Arachne and Livia following close behind. "Did I catch you telling someone that you have a boyfriend? Did I hear that right?"

"Oh, well, yes." You answered sheepishly, gathering your things to put in your bag before your next class.

"Really?" Livia chimed in, and you just nodded. "Okay, well, spill. Who is it? Do I know him?"

"Um..." You looked around, deciding what to say. You weren't necessarily keeping it a secret, but you just hadn't felt the need to tell anyone you went to school with. "It's Coriolanus. Snow." You cleared your throat, unsure why you even added his last name. It's not like the name Coriolanus was abundantly common.

"Shut up." Clemensia laughed slightly, eyes widening at you. "You're joking, right?"

"No... We've been together for almost seven months now."

"I just... wow. We had no idea. Seven months! I feel like I've never seen the two of you get closer than two feet apart." You weren't sure whether to interpret this response as teasing or genuine shock- so you just gave them an awkward smile and a small nod before walking away.

At the time, you had never considered how your lack of affection in public could be confusing to people- not that it mattered. Rumors had spread quickly after that, which was to be expected when Livia and Arachne were involved. However, PDA just wasn't your thing. General displays of affection weren't really your thing, either. Both of you always had a lot going on, and having been together for almost a year by now, you knew that you loved him and he loved you. You didn't have to prove it to each other or to anyone, there was no pressure for anything to change. On your end, anyway.

Coryo, on the other hand, was feeling something shift. Leading up to the reaping and more importantly, to the prize. You both were in the running, being in the top twenty-four of your class, and you had no doubt that Coryo was a shoo-in, but you didn't know how extremely anxious it was making him. The now constant thrumming of his heartbeat in his chest and his shaky hands were always less around you, and he can only dream of how much better it would be if he could just hold you.

These days, he'd wake up expecting you in his arms due to a particularly calming dream only to be disappointed. He respected you a great amount and wouldn't want to push your boundaries, however unspoken. Still, he wasn't sure how much longer he could go about his day-to-day without testing his theory that holding you could cure his fears, or at least let him forget about them for only a moment. He would happily take just a second of peace.

Coriolanus usually greeted you outside of your unshared classes, seeing that you tended to stay a few minutes late to ask questions or polish off your notes. He couldn't wait to see you, he needed to.

"Coryo." You smile, walking out of your lecture hall to see him waiting.

"Hi, Love. How was class?" Your boyfriend greets you, joining you on your walk towards the exit of the school.

"It was good. Though, I find the topic of the rebellion kind of redundant at this point." You say, books tucked against your chest under folded arms. "Is it not too soon to discuss it in a history class? I mean, I literally remember what it was like to live in a bomb shelter."

Your joke seemingly lands on deaf ears as he just hums, placing a hand on your lower back to guide you out of the building. This wasn't totally unusual, but with the way he was pushing you, albeit gently, was telling you that something was wrong.

"Is everything okay?" You ask him, looking up at the boy next to you as you reach the bottom of the academy's front steps.

"Fine." Coryo nods, attempting a reassuring smile that he isn't aware falls short.

"Okay, well... If you want to talk about anything, I'm here for you, you know. Always."

"I know. Thank you, Love." He drops his hand from your back to hold your free one, turning in the direction of your apartment.

The next afternoon, you're in the same class, one of the rare ones you don't share with Coryo, taking down notes from the lecture when there's a knock on the door, followed by it creaking open. You pay no mind, taking the opportunity to catch up on everything written on the board.

"May I borrow Y/N, please?" Your boyfriend's voice is scratchy and shakey in a way unfamiliar sounding to you, making your head snap up. You'd never seen him cry before. "Only for a moment."

Your teacher dismisses you, likely on account of your and Coriolanus's mutually spotless records and his red-rimmed eyes. Clearly, you were needed urgently. You leave your bag and your books, ignoring the whistles and heckling of some of your classmates as you rush to the door.

Coryo had reached his breaking point. He was writing his third paper of the week, unable to focus on that and get his mind off of how unlikely it was he would get the prize if the Dean had any say. Sitting in the library, the world had started turning around him. People were talking, laughing, even, and he couldn't take it anymore. The floodgates opened and he had rushed out of the room. He couldn't go home, his attendance would be affected and he'd be throwing away the prize most definitely. He had nowhere to go, except for to you.

You close the door behind yourself, thankful that the hallway is completely deserted during class time. "Hey, what's going on?" You ask, and before you can get a good look at him he's pulling you into a crushing hug, shaking around you.

You're shocked for a moment, pulling yourself out of your head to hug him back. Whatever is bothering him must be bad. He'd hugged you before, but never like this. "Hey, it's okay..." You whisper, rubbing his back. "Let's go outside for a second, yeah? Get some air?" You offer, gently prying yourself from his grasp to look at him.

Coryo can't speak, overtaken completely by the tears flowing down his cheeks and the anxiety flooding every inch of his body. He feels like he could be sick, all he knew that he needed was you. He just nods, trying to regain his composure, if only for the couple of minutes it takes to get outside.

"Okay. Let's go." You smile, trying not to show how worried you are as you wrap an arm around his back, still holding him close to you as if he has a broken ankle and you have to carry him. So far, his theory was proving to be correct. Just having you at his side was calming to him, and mentally he's cursing himself for not voicing his fears to you before they broke him.

As soon as the door of the rarely used back exit to the school is closed, he's essentially collapsing onto the ground, tucking his knees up to his chest and crying into his hands. You're quick to join him, draping an arm over his back and trying to grab one of his hands to hold. Your brow is knit with worry, rubbing his shoulder as he allows you to take one of his shaking hands. "Coryo..." You say softly, trying to get him to look at you but he won't. "What's happening? Talk to me, you can trust me. I just want to help."

He sniffles, looking up at you. "What is it?" You ask again, hoping to prompt any kind of information out of him. When he doesn't answer, you curve your approach to yes or no questions, hopefully, to make it easier on him. "Is someone hurt? Is it Grandma'am? Did something happen?"

He shakes his head slightly with every question, once again avoiding your eyes as he looks down at the ground, occasionally trying to cough out the knot in his throat.

"...Do you want to talk? Or do you just need a hug?" You realize, leaning in so he would look at you again.

He pulls you closer, wrapping both his arms around you awkwardly due to the way you are both sitting. "Just need you here." He mumbles, hardly audible as he buries his face in your shoulder and neck.

Relieved to hear his voice again, you place a hand on his hair and on his back, holding him tight. "I'm here, Coryo. As long as you need me."

taglist: @keziahcore, @soulessjourney, @kitscutie, @annaelise, @serrendiipty, @fratboyharrysgf0201, @totallynotkaibiased, @stelleduarte, @klplynn, @secretsicanthideanymore, @bejeweledreverie, @fals3-g0d, @gloryekaterina, @andrewgarfieldsbitch, @queenofspades6, @pepperonipastas, @ladybug0095, @lunamothwrites, @sbrewer21, @mus-tbe-a-weasley, @splxtscreen, @unclecrunkle, @karmaswitch, @rororo06, @coconut-dreamz, @nekee-lilac02, @ooooglymoooogly, @slytherinholland, @riddlerloveb0t, @lovedbalances, @notyourwildestdream, @snowlandson-top, @too-lit-for-fanfic, @utopiakys, @deafeningballoonnacho, @darlingisntit, @roosterschanelslut, @chmpgneprblem, @cosmoetik, @lauravanderbooben20, @dry0campa, @luclue, @lokidala, @urvampgfsworld, @carolanns-world, 

[angstywaifu]

Just One Date - Garrick Tavis x Reader One Shot

So this one came into my asks and I knew I had to do this one first. Thank you for the anonymous that sent this in with some other amazing ideas. I'd say I am sorry for picking Garrick first, but I am not. Hope you guys enjoy it! If you guys have any more one shot ideas feel free to send them through! There will be more of these :)

“Come on Y/N, it’s just one date!” Garrick calls after me as he follows me through the crowd, turning heads as he calls after me.

”As I’ve told you for the tenth time this week, no!” I call back as I weave my way through a small gap in the crowd.

I hear Garrick mumble some swear words as he struggle to get through the crowd as he follows behind me. Yet again Garrick had cornered me between classes, asking me out on a date for Valentines Day. Which was tomorrow. I will give the boy one thing, he was persistent. But nothing about our friendship indicated more than friends. Did I find him attractive as hell? Gods yes. But we weren’t exactly close. I only knew him because of my friendship with Imogen.

”Why won’t you say yes?” He asks. He’s getting closer.

I turn around and he nearly slams into me, stopping himself at the last second.

”Because I won’t” The worst excuse ever. I mentally slap myself for it.

He cocks his eyebrow at me as he looks down at me. “That has got to be the worst excuse ever.”

I roll my eyes and start walking through the crowd trying to get to lunch. We’d all had battle brief so the hallway was more packed than usual. He swears again as he tries to follow me. Unfortunately our interaction has caused on lookers and they easily move out of his way to let him through, obviously wanting to see what happens. He reaches out and grasps my shoulder, spinning around as I lightly smack into his chest.

”Please Y/N, I’m just asking for one date.” He asks, his eyes pleading at me to say yes. “You might even want more than one by the end of it.”

I roll my eyes at the cockiness in his voice at the last part. Behind him I see our friends watching anxiously at the interaction.

”You really think one date is all it’s gonna take to win me over Tavis?” I reply sassily earning a smirk from him.

He steps back and leans down to look at me, still smirking at me. “I won’t even need to finish the date to win you over.”

I close my eyes and sigh. One date. It was just a date. There was no way Tavis was that good. I’d never even seen him go out with a girl here before. All I had to do was go on one date, and then he would leave me alone. It was probably just some dare from Bodhi or Xaden anyway.

”Fine.” I tell him, opening my eyes to look up at him. “Just. One. Date.” Emphasising each word clearly.

”You wont regret it.” And before I can respond he turns and runs back down the hallway.

What the hell did that boy have planned.

The next day comes quickly, and every time I catch Garrick’s eyes he smiles at me, clearly excited for whatever he had planned. We hadn’t spoken since I had said yes to the one date, so I had no idea when or where he wanted to meet me. My questions were answered not long after classes ended. A loud knock on my dorm door signalling someone's arrival. But I already knew who it was. I open the door to Garrick standing there holding a bouquet of flowers. And not any flowers. My favourites. White Orchids. I try to rack my brain of any time I would have mentioned this, but come up blank. How the hell did he know?

”Already left you speechless have I?” Garrick teases as I stare wide eyed at the bouquet of flowers in his hands.

I roll my eyes at him and take the flowers. “Don’t get too ahead of yourself Tavis.” I turn and place the flowers on my desk.

I turn back around to him leaning his arm on top of the doorway as he looks down at me. I swear my jaw nearly hits the floor at the sight. The pose perfectly shows off his arm that is braced on the doorway.

He smirks, clearly aware of the effect he's having on me. "Ready for our date, Y/N?" he asks, his voice laced with confidence.

I take a deep breath, trying to regain my composure. "I guess so," I reply, trying not to let his charm get to me. "But don't think this changes anything between us. It’s just one date."

He chuckles, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "We'll see about that," he says, extending his hand towards me. "Shall we?"

As I take his hand, a mix of excitement and nervousness washes over me. I can't deny that there's a part of me that's curious to see where this one date will lead. Maybe, just maybe, there's more to Garrick than meets the eye. But I won't let myself get too carried away. After all, it's just one date.

As he leads me our of the dorms I catch our friends off to the side watching us. Smiles all plastered on their faces. I go to let go of Garrick’s hand but he tightens his grip as he leads me towards the flight field. As we take the last steps into the flight field I see his dragon waiting for us. He leads me over to him and motions with his head towards him.

”Up you get Y/N.”

I look at him wide eyed. No way did he expect me to mount his dragon. Riders only rode on their own dragons.

“No way. Not happening. My dragon will chuck a fit if I go up there.”

Garrick’s dragon chuckles at us, hot air blowing over the both of us.

”I’ve already sorted it. Chradh is happy to let you up there, and your dragon has agreed as long as she can be nearby. Now up you get.” He playfully shoves me towards Chradh.

I huff but begin my climb up Chradh’s leg, Garrick close behind me. I settle into the spot on Chradh’s back, and freeze as Garrick sits right behind me. His legs either side of mine, his chest pressed up against my back. He rests one of his hands on my thigh, his breath tickling my neck.

”Breathe Y/N.” He whispers.

I let out the breath I had unintentionally been holding, but I yet again freeze as Garrick places a blindfold over my eyes. I go to take it off but Garrick quickly captures my hands in his.

”You will take it off when I tell you to.” He whispers harshly in my ear.

I can feel my heart racing as the blindfold cuts off my vision. The sound of the wind rushing past us lets me know we have taken off. Garrick wraps an arm around my waist, holding me close to him so I don’t fall. I was an experienced rider, but I had never been on a dragon blindfolded, let alone a dragon that wasn’t my own. A mix of excitement and uncertainty fills me, wondering what Garrick has planned for our date. I don’t have to wait long before we land. I feel Chradh lower himself down to a ground. Garrick keeps his arm firmly around my waist as he removes the blind fold with the other. It takes my eyes a few seconds to adjust to the light, but for the second time today my jaw nearly hits the floor.

In front of me is a clearing that overlooks the valley. The view is gorgeous as the sun starts setting, casting a yellow glow across it. Next to the edge of the cliff is a blanket with pillows set up and what I swear are all my favourite foods, and a neatly wrapped package.

“You sure it won’t take me one date to win you over?” Garrick whispers in my ear, startling me and sending a shiver up my spine.

I glare at him over my shoulder. “I’m sure.” I say sarcastically as I remove myself from his grip and dismount from Chradh.

Shortly after Garrick lands next to me, grabbing my hand and leading me over to the blanket and pillows. My thoughts on the food are confirmed as I see all of them are foods I love. Strawberries that I have every morning at breakfast, the cupcakes that Quinn makes when she can find the time, my favourite chocolate from the town near the college, and the sandwiches I make if the kitchen serves the right things. I let Garrick pull me down to the blanket with him, kneeling on my knees as I take it all in.

I look at him and raise my eye brow. “How the hell do you know all my favourite things? Imogen helped you didn’t she?”

I already know she didn’t. And Garrick’s shake of his head isn’t needed to confirm.

”I know you better than you think Y/N.” He starts as he leans forward, arm resting on his knee as he looks at me, “You have those strawberries every morning with breakfast. Everytime Quinn makes those cupcakes you practically jump up and down in your seat. Everytime you go to town you always go and buy that chocolate straight away, and you’re always sad the day after you finish the last piece. And every weekend when they put stuff out to make sandwiches, you always make the same one.”

I stare at him wide eyed. He was right. Down to the very last detail. But how did that explain the flowers?

”What about the flowers? I’ve never told anyone.” I ask, barely above the whisper.

”When we did our RSC training and they stuck us in the woods with the other quadrants, we made camp the first night near a clearing with flowers. I remember you wandering over the the flowers as we set up camp and picked a few. You took them back to the Quadrant with you when we were extracted.” He tells me, not skipping a beat.

But my heart does. He remembered a detail so small from our first RSC mission nearly two years ago. Clearly Garrick has paid more attention to me than I had thought. He reaches out and grabs the package I had noted earlier and hands it to me. The small nod he gives me, signalling me to open it. I open the package carefully, almost scared as to what is inside. I know it is going to be something I love. Theres no denying that after everything he’s done so far. I tear away the brown paper to reveal a jewellery box. I look up at him confused and he motions for me to keep going. I don’t miss the nervous look in his eyes as he watches me. I open the box and my heart skips a beat again. Inside is the ruin stone Liam’s mum had given me. Given to all of us marked ones. Mine had been one of the smaller ones, and I always kept it on my desk. And as I rack my brain, I hadn’t noticed it on my desk for the last week. Ever since Garrick had started asking me to go on a date with him. I pick it up and notice and black leather cord it is now attached to. A Necklace.

“Garrick.. I-” The words get caught in my throat as I look between the necklace and him.

He smiles before he takes the necklace from my hands, leaning forward to fasten it around my neck. As it necklace settles on my chest, his hands move to cup my cheeks, angling my head to look up at his. I feel like my heart is about to burst out of my chest as he leans forward and brings his lips to mine. The kiss starts of slow and delicate as I recover from the shock of the moment. But I quickly wrap my arms around his neck, pulling me closer to him. His arms grab me by the waist as he pulls me into his lap, deepening the kiss. After a long time he pulls away and rests his forehead against mine, both of us breathing heavily as we stare into each others eyes.

”Told you I wouldn’t even need one date.”

[luimagines]

Ok hear me out I just thought of something.

We’re all familiar with the swan princess, right? If not, look it up it’s awesome. I love any and all iterations of that story.

ANYWAY!!!!!!! We all like a little romance in the fandom right? So lemme explain this thought I just had… a swan princess-ish type of LU story?

Basically, what if the Chain find a bird (you can pick any bird you want but I recommend a crow.) being injured by a small group of monsters. The Chain save the crow and heal its wounds before going about their business.

The crow then starts to follow them. It’s a little awkward at first but the crow eventually becomes like another member of their group like Epona and Wolfie (if this is pre Wolfie reveal. I’m not picky so anyone can say yes or no on that.) the crow helps them scout and navigate new areas, warns them of threats in the distance, and even brings them trinkets from time to time.

Anyway, one day after the Chain settle down for the evening they noticed the crow is on edge like its nervous… the Chain are wary because normally that means danger is around. But what actually happens boggles their minds. Once the sun has completely set and darkness falls upon the land… the crow turns into a girl (or whatever gender you want. I’m personally gonna go with a girl) who immediately is hiding in the bushes and asking to borrow a cloak. (Not everyone has magical clothes when they transform lol)

Turns out, the crow is actually a girl who was cursed! An evil warlock cursed her to forever be a crow except on the nights of a perfectly crescent, half, and full moon. When she can return to her human (or Hylian. Take your pick.) form. Basically, the warlock loved her beauty (or handsomeness.) and asked her hand in marriage three times. On the nights of a perfectly crescent, half, and full moon. She refused all three times. As revenge, he cursed her to take the form of a crow, a bird which was unanimously hated for being associated with evil. As far as she’s aware, she has to accept to warlock’s ‘love’ and marry him for the curse to break.

When questioned on her reasons for sticking around and helping them out, she simply told them that they saved her life. Anyone else would have left her to die… or finished the job themselves. She was grateful and wanted to repay the favor. Of course, she also wanted to see if the journey they were on could help her find another way to break her curse, but that was just a bonus. She really did want to repay the favor of helping her. She’s been through so much as a crow… like I said, they’re associated with evil so people aren’t the kindest towards them.

Obviously there’s another way to break the curse, but only the warlock knows that. I haven’t EXACTLY thought of the details, because I don’t wanna copy Swan Princess too much… but finding true love is the basics.

Alright lovelies, that’s as far as the idea has run. Plz feel free to take this idea and run with it! Pick your favorite boy and let your imagination run wild! Or commission our wonderful Pinky here (yes I’m advertising for you. Accept it!) to continue this little idea for you.

As for you, Pinky, plz give feedback! Love your content so much! Have a great day!

You know, I've actually never seen or heard the story of the Swan Princess. So if I do get commissioned for it, I guess I have some research to do. XD

I thought it was going to go the route of Kiri from CR Campaign 2, but I was delightfully surprised by the change! OR! Maybe I can twist them both together to avoid ripping off the Swan Princess as a whole.

I think this is a stellar idea. I like it! So cute! <3

Thank you for sending this in!

[drakestwin]

hi sweetie! i wanted to request anything with aj honestly, maybe like him struggling to confess his feelings or something like that? tysm in advance, feel free to add whatever you want 💗 no pressure 🤚

“Let me love you”

Summary: Aj wants you to love him but hes not sure how to tell you....

Warnings: None :0

a/n: like i said you guys are the absolute sweetest. if you send me a request or like any of my shit i love you with all my heart 😭 also whoever sent this request is the best cause theres not enough stories of aj and i’m in love with him!

Ajs pov:

I was sitting on a chair during set waiting for the rest of the beta squad to get here. i was waiting for a little bit but i was also waiting for y/n and filly to get here since they also were gonna be in our vid.

i had known y/n since i first started youtube and making vids with chunkz. she was in our videos and was well known by everyone. i had liked her back then and i feel the feelings coming back. i know people can tell since they always have to open their mouths and say something in the comments.

when everyone finally got there we got sorted into teams. basically the video we were filming was guessing the police officer. we all got situated and obviously i sat next to her. (😝)

your pov:

i was on set to film a beta squad video. i’ve been in some videos and the past and ofc ppl love me. one small thing i noticed were the comments about me and aj so i want to keep my eye on him. i do like him and i figured he liked me too by the comments 🤷‍♀️.

i arrived on set and gave everyone a hug. lastly, i went up to aj and surprisingly he let me hug him so that suddenly made me remember the comments and keep an eye out. i sat down and waited for everyone to get their stuff on so we could start!

when the video started i took a quick glance at aj and noticed him staring at me but i ignored it and decided to ask the people in front of us questions.

time skip..

ajs pov:

we just finished filming the video and i was lowkey exhausted but since i didn’t have a license i had to wait till sharky was done since i came with him. (let’s pretend they all live together still cause i miss when they did😓)

while i was sitting on a chair, y/n came up to me. “hey you want me to take you home i’m already taking niko?” she said. i sat there for a minute but finally snapped out of it. “yeah sure ofc” i said and shot up. i looked next to me and saw chunkz snickering at me. i flipped him off and followed her and niko to the car.

niko lets me sit in the front so i sat there and played music i knew y/n likes 😝. i looked at her for a sec and wanted to tell her right then and there that i liked her but niko was in the back and i was very very nervous.

your pov:

i was driving both niko and aj back to our house (btw you guys also live there pretend ur close with one of the best squad members and they let you live there 😘) i pulled up and waited till both of them got out so i could lock the door. while they were both getting out i made eye contact with aj and lowkey got butterflies cause he’s such a cutie.

i always wanted to know if aj really did like me based off the comments i read and the videos i see. i mean who wouldn’t (jk unlesssssss) he seemed like he did but i wasn’t gonna make the first move. if he initiated it i would obviously say yes.

ajs pov:

it’s been like two hours and all i’ve been doing in my room is debating on whether or not i wanna tell y/n how i feel about her. it’s taken me a couple of weeks to to even acknowledge the feelings i had towards her and now i think i finally made my decision.

i got up out of my bed and finally decided to go and walk to her room. when i made it to her door i knocked on it and quietly stood there waiting for an answer. when she finally opened the door she looked at me and said “hey aj, what’s up?” i quickly answered back “uhm… i wanna tell you something that’s been on my mind for a little while.”

she let me in her room and told me to sit on her bed and sat next to me. “so what’s up” she asked me curiously. “i don’t really know how to say this , i’m not rlly good at it but i’ve had feeling for you for a while and i just wanted to get that of my chest it’s fine if you don’t like me back-“ i ranted but quickly got cut off by a pair of lips on mine.

“who said i didn’t like you back” she giggled at me. i blushed and said “sooooo” i said nervously. “ofc ill be ur gf 😝” she said and i hugged her while she went to lay down with me.

———————————————

HEY GUYS THIS IS ANOTHER FIC BUT I LOWKEY THINK ITS BUTT. anyways idk if this is good or not i really rushed cause i knew j had to get a knew fic out but here it is for you guys 🙏🙏🙏

i rlly do hope you guys like it and ignore how many times i used emojis okay. some parts are sarcastic too 🥲🥲

[countrymusiclover]

15 - Message from Little Brother

Part 16

Dr. Redheaded Neighbor

Tag list - send an ask to be added @annieradcliff @watermeezer @zaidatorcuatomorgado @kmc1989 @tallrock35 @melvia-ito @dreamgemini09 @anonymousmuffinbear

Will was heading out to his car swaying his car keys in his hand until someone flashed their headlights in his direction where he raised his hand so he wasn’t blinded by the lights.  He finally noticed it was his brother Jay sitting in the driver's seat.  “Come here!” 

“Jay, what's up?” He asked his brother. 

Jay snapped back not saying another word till the passenger door was closed.  “Get in the car.  What do you know about Ray Burke?” 

“He does some real estate, owns a bar and a construction company-“ 

Jay cut his older brother off.  “And a reception hall.  You went to see him.” 

“He wasn’t feeling well so I made a house call.  How do you know?” Will sent him a confused look. 

Jay reached inside his jacket pocket showing him a small recording device before hitting the play button and playing a conversation between his brother and Ray.  “Hey, Ray.  I just wanted to let you know that your blood work looks good.  But I do recommend you follow up with a cardiologist.” 

“I’m not going to a cardiologist.  I want you, Will.  You know, I’m giving you that hall for two grand.  That’s practically for free.” 

Will shakes his head at his brother.  “Yeah, wh - are you listening to my calls?” 

“Rays.” Jay replied. 

Will raised a brow.  “Rays?”

“PD and the FBI have been investigating him for, like, two years, and look who waltzes in…my brother.” 

Will questioned still not following why he was involved.  “Why are you investigating him?” 

“Cause he’s a gangster.” Jay rolled his eyes. 

Will raised up a hand not believing what he was hearing from his sibling.  “What, he pays off a building inspector every once in a while?”

“Try money laundering, fraud, embezzlement.  Now you’re involved with him.” Jay throws his hands up in the air. 

Will brought a hand up to his forehead, sighing heavily.  “Oh, I’m not involved with him.  Hey I’m using his hall.  It’s not a big deal.”

“Yes, it is.  So whatever you’re doing, stop.” Jay sternly looked at his brother needing him to understand how serious this situation could get if remained involved. 

Will’s phone vibrated in his pocket where he took it out seeing it was an unknown area code phone number.   He pressed the cell phone to his ear to figure out who was dialing him.  “Is this William Halstead?” 

“Yeah, this is him.” 

The caller was a male voice that responded back to him.  “This is Lieutenant Griffin.  Ms.  Easton has you listed as her emergency contact.” 

“Is everything okay with her?  Is she injured?” Will asked in a very nervous tone in his voice. 

Lieutenant Griffin began explaining the situation to the civilian doctor.  “She was brought back to the medical tent after she passed out from an explosion.  She has regained consciousness but we are formally discharging her until further notice.” 

“Why?” He glanced at his brother who was listening to their conversation. 

The Lieutenant avoided the question.  “I can’t disclose that information.  You’ll just have to ask her when you see her tomorrow morning when she’s returned home.” 

“She’s coming home tomorrow?” Will still couldn’t comprehend the fact that his fiancé would be coming home sooner than they both anticipated. 

The higher officer responded before hanging up the phone.  “Yes, Mr.  Halstead.  She will arrive on a helicopter at the Chicago International Airport.  Have a good night.” 

“Hey, look at me Will.” Jay grabbed his brother’s shoulder once he had put his phone in his pocket.  “You need to stop dealing with Burke, especially if Mallory is coming home.  You don’t want this guy coming after her if you don’t hold up your end of the deal you have with him.” 

Will shook his head no pushing open the car door, shutting it and heading over to his car leaving the hospital parking lot.  “I’m helping him out to let her have the perfect wedding.  I’m not gonna stop helping Burke.” 

Mallory’s pov

Taking a nap in the seat of the helicopter I had been getting more tired than I used to and now I knew why.   I didn’t want to tell Will the reason through the phone or in a letter that would take months before it even made it into his hands.  

“We’re about to touch down, Easton!” The driver of the helicopter got my attention when he called over his shoulder causing me to wake up and he woke Maxon up who was asleep on the metal ground too. 

Leaning up in my seat I unclipped my seatbelt, reaching over and shrugging my backpack on.  Picking up my duffle bag I glanced out the door when we lowered the chopper down onto the landing platform of the airport.  The ladder dropped down where I slowly walked down the steps with a huge smile spreading across my face when I saw the man who was my fiancée. 

“Mallory!” Will called my name running across the rooftop until my body collided with his.  He wrapped his arms around my waist lifting my feet off the ground, twirling me around in circles.  “Ohhh I’ve missed you so much.” 

Maxon barked at us once I was back on my feet and placed one of my hands on the side of my fiancés face.  “I missed you so bad too.  And there’s something I gotta tell you -“

“Awe don’t worry, Maxon.  I missed you too.” Will heard my dog bark again meaning he wanted some attention so he bent down on a knee running a hand through his fur, receiving a happy tail wag. 

Brushing hair that the wind blew in front of my face I cleared my throat gaining his attention again.  “Will, can we head home now.  I’m kinda tired and there’s something I need to tell you.” He nodded in agreement where we grabbed our stuff driving back to our apartment. 

Once we had gotten everything unpacked and Maxon was laid down on the wooden floor taking a long awaited nap.  Slipping a sweatshirt over my head I plopped down on the couch simply wearing leggings watching Will warm up some leftover chicken and rice we had bought on the drive home.  He hands me my bowl sitting down beside me, focusing his gaze on me.  “So you had something you wanted to tell me.  What's going on, Mal?” 

“It's not exactly something we've talked about so I totally understand if you're not ready.  I mean we're not even married yet.  So the idea of me being pregnant with your child is like crazy-” 

Will cut me off causing me to drop my hands from being up in the air not realizing I had just blurted it out like I did.  “You’re pregnant!” 

“Y-yeah I am.” I chuckled lightly, taken back by the fact that he seemed so overjoyed about this.  “Wait so you’re okay with this.”

Will quickly scooted across the couch capturing my lips with his own.  I hesitated for a moment before I began kissing him back, wrapping my arms around his neck. I deepened the kiss until he broke it by putting his forehead against mine.  “I’m thrilled, Mallory.  I - I didn’t want to pressure you into anything too soon.  But I want all of it Marriage, kids, a family with you.” 

“I want all that with you too, Will.  And now we can have that cause I’m back home.” I nodded with a cheeky grin on my face. 

My fiancé leaned forward kissing my forehead where I nuzzled my head underneath his chin.  “We’re gonna be a family, all four of us.” Laying my head against his chest he wrapped his arms around my waist while Maxon jumped up on the couch and laid at my feet. 

[deke-rivers-1957]

Deke's Path To Peace

AN: I've had this story idea for a while now. I just can't look at Deke without thinking "this boy had trauma." If you have any requests feel free to send them in.

"Fire! Fire! Everyone out! Out!"

I wake up gaspin for air and see boys runnin out of the room. I don't even think before runnin too. I can smell the smoke but I keep runnin until I find some bushes to stop in. I can see the orphanage burnin to the ground. It's so horrible I start runnin again. I feel so scared that I don't even realize I'm in a cemetery. I trip on somethin and fall to the ground. I look up and see a tombstone.

"Deke Rivers: He was alone except for his friends who missed him."

There's somethin about it that connects to me. I didn't know who this Deke was but I feel that he and I were the same by bein as lonely as me.

"I'll find some friends. Maybe I can make your name a name worth rememberin."

I yawn and lay down right by his grave. I don’t want to be Jimmy Tompkins anymore. I’ll just bury him here and wake up as Deke Rivers.

"Good night, Jimmy Tompkins."

I look up at the sky and see a lot of stars. There's a very nice breeze that helps me fall asleep. The next mornin I wake up and realize I can't just stay here.

"Ok Deke. Time to find somethin to eat."

I find my way out of the cemetery and start walkin. After not even an hour I start feelin scared about bein lost. Then I see a sign.

"Next town 5 miles away."

I sigh then start walkin again. I'm feelin tired from not eatin.

"Hey now. Where did you come from son?"

I turn around and look spooked to see a man comin towards me.

"Where're your parents?"

I fidget with my hands a little.

"I. I don't have any."

"I see."

I find the courage to look up at him.

"Can I ask you somethin?"

"What?"

"Is this town far from the orphanage that just burned down?"

His eyes widen.

"Oh you're from un-incorporated Allen. This is Lucas. Such a shame the orphanage burned down. Everything's so chaotic nobody can tell if all the children made it out. All the records of those poor kids're gone."

I realize just how serious this fire was. I don't have anything to my name anymore.

"What's gonna happen to the kids who made it out?"

"They're all being sent throughout all of Texas. Allen simply doesn't the money to rebuild it."

I don't wanna go back to be sent away like all those other kids. I wanna stay here if I can.

"Do you have a place to go boy?"

"Yes I'm goin to my aunt's house."

"How far is it?"

I don't like lyin but I don't think I have a choice here.

"Oh it's not far. Just a few miles up the road."

"You mean up in Fairview?"

I nod but I feel very nervous. I don't want this man to ask anymore questions because that'd mean havin to lie more. My stomach starts growlin and I feel embarrassed.

"Alright. I'll tell you what. I'll buy you breakfast. Then you can go on your way."

I start smilin and nod my thanks.

"Thank you sir."

I follow him to a diner and he orders a plate of bacon and eggs for me. I really needed the food and it tastes way better than anythin. I ever had at the orphanage.

"Thanks again for the food."

"You're welcome. Good luck finding your aunt, kid."

I get out of my seat and wave as I leave the diner. As soon as I get outta his line of sight I start feelin nervous about what's gonna happen to me now.

Time Skip

The next 5 years have been rough. I'm I think 16 years old now and I've been wandering across Texas to avoid police puttin me back into the system. I've been livin on scraps and whatever spare change I can find. I'm just so lonely and want somethin to go my way.

"Well this equals 50 cents. I can probably buy somethin to drink."

I manage to find a bar and decide to head inside. I know it's run down but I don't have that many options.

"What'll it be boy?"

I try not to shudder at bein called boy since it makes me feel like I’m still a child at the orphanage. I just look at the bartender.

"Umm. I only have 50 cents. Do you have anythin inexpensive?"

"Yeah. I got something for ya."

"Thanks."

I look around the bar and nobody wants to deal with me. It's mostly older men drinking heavily. The bartender doesn't seem to mind me so I decide to take a seat and wait for my drink.

"Bottoms up kid. A club soda."

I look at the drink confused. I've never heard of a club soda and I don't even know if it's alcoholic. Either way, I'm thirsty and decide I might as well take a drink.

"Thanks."

I never tasted anythin like this but I'm still goin. When I finish I try to count my coins to pay for it.

"Ah don't worry about it. It's on the house."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah."

I'm not used to anyone bein nice to me. I'm actually a little suspicious of this bartender now.

"Well uh. Thanks again for the drink."

"Don't mention it. You're gonna get a lot more out of this soon enough."

I start to feel nervous but try not to show it. I try to leave the bar when I suddenly feel dizzy. As much as I try to keep my balance I end up falling to the floor and pass out. I don't know how long I've been unconscious but I wake up in a random bed.

"Ugh. Where am I?"

A man comes in the door and I feel scared again. I don't know where I am or what even happened. I don't want anyone to hurt me.

"Oh aren't you a cute one."

I start to shiver. I'm not used to having anyone compliment me. People usually ignore me.

"Listen doll face I get it. You're done on your luck and need money."

I just look at him as he's making me even more nervous.

"Well yeah. I do."

"Now believe me you'll be making a lot of it."

My heart starts beatin fast.

"You mean like a job?"

"Oh I wouldn't call it a job. You won't even need to do anything but look wonderful."

I don't feel any better after hearin that. What could he possibly mean by "looking wonderful"?

"Do you. Do you mean like a model?"

"You can call it that."

Even though I should feel relieved by that, I also feel a sense of helplessness. All I can do is accept my fate. I have nowhere else to go.

"Ok."

Time Skip

These were the worst two years of my life. This man broke me. I've been robbed of my youth and my innocence. I've had to do such unspeakable things just to have food to eat. Money doesn't even matter because I can't leave the house. What's worse is that no one even cared about my situation. Every man and woman I've been with didn't even care about me.

"Good news. The boss is going to meet with you."

I don't even say anythin as I'm lead to the boss' room. I have nothing in me anymore. The boss looks at me and I just know things are going to be worse.

"Your services are no longer needed honey. I'm letting you go."

Somehow I feel so frustrated. I've been nothing but this monster's sex slave. He made me think I was nothing more than a pretty face. Now I have nothing!

"This will get you to Missouri sugar. You can buy a guitar and use that pretty voice."

I look at the money. $50. That's all I'm worth?! Even though I take it I'm just so bitter.

"Just where am I supposed to go in Missouri?"

"Plenty of places to go in Kansas City doll."

Ah tense up but say nothing.

"Fine. I'll take my chances then."

I practically run out of the building. I don't even pay attention where I'm goin as I run. I'm just like I was about 11 years old: just runnin away until I end up lost in the middle of nowhere. That's when I stop to breakdown and cry. I just wasted so many years of my life only to be violated by everyone I've ever met. The only thing I can do's try goin to the police.

"Alright Deke. Time to man up and tell the police what happened."

I get up and try to find a police station. I'm lucky that one isn't too far away. I walk inside and see the officer at his desk.

"Um excuse me. I'd like to report a crime."

He takes the cigar out of his mouth.

"What's the crime?"

So I explain my whole story in full detail. I end up fallin into the chair and sob as I get up to what happened to today. The whole time, the policeman looks at me and puffs his cigar. Once I finish talking he sighs and looks at me with pity.

"We've had complaints before. This has been an ongoing investigation for the past couple years. The bar you mentioned unfortunately went out of business 6 months ago. Unless you know how to get back to the house you were in or any names you might've heard, there just isn't anything that we can do about it."

I look at him good and hard. He doesn't look like I'm a disgusting person for having experienced this.

“No. I can’t. I just ran off as soon as he said he was lettin me go. I didn’t pay attention to anythin like the address. I just wanted to get out of there as soon as I could.”

I feel like such an idiot. I look up at the policeman and take in his face. He genuinely feels terrible that I was hurt.

"Ok. Now what I can do is ask if you have any papers?"

"Papers? Oh. No. I don't have any papers sir."

The policeman groans and puts out his cigar.

"How old do you think you are now?"

"I guess I'm 18 years old."

He looks right at me.

"Of course you are. That's going to make this a little difficult."

He pulls out a blank birth certificate.

"Ok. We've had plenty of safe haven babies brought here without any papers. So my job's to make 'em papers so they can get stuff done in the world."

I just watch him get his pen ready.

"Why did you say that about my age?"

"Because unless you have proof of your age, you could still be viewed as being part of the system. So it's best I fill this out now while you still have ambiguity on your side."

"Oh. I guess it does make sense."

The policeman picks up his pen.

"So. Name?"

"Oh. Deke Rivers."

I watch him write it down. Him easily accepting that as my name on one hand feels great. On the other hand, I feel like I betrayed my birth parents by getting rid of the only thing I have of them. But I know I can't be holding onto that anymore. This birth certificate is how I can make a new start.

"Assumed date of birth?"

"Um. Let's go with July 7th, 1935."

The policeman writes that down. Somethin about that date just feels right.

"I know you're an orphan but do you have any clue on who your parents are?"

"No sir. All I ever had was my birth name."

He sighs.

"I'll have to put it down as unknown. As for place of birth, I'll have to put it down as right here in McKinney, Texas. You can get this registered with the state."

I can only nod. I'm just amazed that after all this time, I finally have paper to my name.

"There you go. I can take ya to the courthouse. That's where you get your state ID card. You'll need that for a lot of things in life."

"Oh. Yes sir!"

I start to feel hope that my life is finally coming together. I follow the policeman to his car.

"By the way, do you feel like you need to go to the hospital from what happened?"

I really think about it. I think about doctors and nurses pokin me. Then I shake my head.

"No sir. I think I'll be ok. Thank you for helpin me get my papers situated."

He nods and drives me to the courthouse. I walk with the policeman up to the man at the counter. By the time we finish all the paperwork, it's 8 pm and I'm hungry. The policeman drives me to a bus station and hands me a sandwich.

"Here you go, Deke. This'll hold ya over while you wait for the bus to Kansas City."

"Thank you sir."

I start to eat the sandwich and I almost cry. It's a warm BLT with the perfect amount of mayonnaise. I'm so thankful that this nice officer's taking his time to stay with me until the bus arrives. It makes me feel so cared for.

"Well there's your bus."

I look up and see the bus stop.

"Thanks again for the sandwich."

I shake the policeman's hand.

"Good luck Deke. I really mean it."

I smile and mouth thank you as I go to board the bus.

"One way trip to Kansas City, Missouri."

I nod and pay my bus fair. The doors close behind me as I take a seat at the back of the bus. It's gonna be a long trip and I wanna get some sleep. I don't know what I'll do once I get there but for now I'll just get some sleep.

Time Skip

"Hey pal get up. It's the end of the line."

I yawn and stretch as I wake up. I can't believe I slept through the bus ride all night. Now I'm scared of what I'll do next. Either way I have to get off the boat and count how much money I have.

"$45. At least it's somethin. I can get breakfast now."

It's just my luck that there's a diner just down the street. I step inside and take a seat in a booth. A waitress hands me a menu.

"Passing through stranger?"

"Uh no ma'am. I'm plannin on makin a new start here."

She pulls out her notepad and pencil.

"Now then what can I get ya honey?"

I close the menu.

"Well uh what do you recommend?"

"We have a steak and egg special for only $3.99. It's your choice of egg and comes with a side of hash browns and a fruit bowl."

I think it over and it sounds like a reasonable amount of food for only $3.99.

"Alright, I'll have that then with sunny side up eggs."

She writes it down on her note pad.

"What do you want to drink?"

"Just some coffee please."

She pours me some coffee and sets down some cream.

"Be out in a minute darlin."

She takes the menu and I try not to shudder at the pet names. I'm not in that house anymore.

"Order up."

I look up when I hear the bell ding. My waitress comes up to me with my food.

"Enjoy your meal. You can pay when you're ready darlin."

She sets my bill down and pours some more coffee.

"Thanks ma'am."

She walks away and leaves me with my food. I start with my steak first. Somethin tells me I'm gonna need the protein. I take a look at my bill as I eat and I see that it's only $4.75. I try to figure out what I oughta tip my waitress and decide to use a $5 for the bill. That'll give me a quarter in change and I can just use that with $1 as her tip. This is the first time I've ever had to figure out a tip so I hope what I'm giving her's enough.

"Uh ma'am here's the money for my bill. Keep the change."

"Thank you. Hope you come again."

I nod as I go back outside. I wander the streets for a couple hours and try to give the appearance of knowing where I'm going. I stop at the crosswalk and see a pawn shop across the street. There's a guitar up for sale in the window. I cross when it's safe to do so and talk to the owner.

"Excuse me sir, I saw that guitar in the window. How much is it?"

"Well how much ya got?"

I don't like havin to lie but I really need to save my money in case I can't get a job right away.

"I've only got $5."

"Tell ya what. If you watch the store while I'm out to lunch, I'll let you have it free. It's a wooden piece of junk so I was about to throw it away. You'll be doing me a favor."

My eyes widen. I'm gettin a good deal. I look around the store and feel that it's safe enough to watch it alone.

"Ok I can do that. Thank you, sir."

"Alright pal we got a deal. I'll be back by 1."

I smile as I go behind the counter. The owner leaves and I'm alone in the store. I count how much money I have after the breakfast and realize I have $35 left. I put it away and try to figure out how to make it last as long as possible. I hear the door open and see the owner come in.

"Well the place ain't burned to the ground. I'd say ya filled your end of the deal. Any customers come by while I was gone?"

I smile as I come out from behind the counter.

"No sir. I came a close eye on things the whole time. Nobody came by."

"Alright then the guitar's yours. If you wanna make it a career your best bet's to start with the Country Club Plaza. It's one of the hottest places in town."

I grab the guitar and shake his hand.

"Thank you for the advice, sir. I'll be on my way then."

I walk out of the pawn shop and try to find my way to the Country Club Plaza. Along the way, I become a street performer so I can build up some money. By the time I get to the Country Club Plaza, I end up having a total of $50.

"Alright, Deke. Time to give it your best shot."

I walk inside to try talking with the owner.

"So you're a guitar player?"

"Yes sir I am."

He looks through his papers.

"I have an afternoon group coming in a half hour. You get one song as an audition for the opening act. If I like what you do, we can talk about your pay in my office."

"Thank you sir."

I go backstage and start to practice my best material. I'm still not the greatest guitar player, but I make up for it with spirit.

"And now ladies and gentleman. Before we start our main show, I'm auditioning a new act for one song. Let's give a round of applause for Deke Rivers."

He turns to me as if to say "you're on kid." I get on stage and look out into the audience. I start to sing one of the only songs I know. It's a very lively song that the audience mostly loves. I can barely hear someone saying I'm not Hank Williams but I don't feel discouraged.

"Bravo, bravo."

I'm glad the audience loved my song, but the owner comes up to me not looking happy at all. He drags me backstage and grabs my guitar.

"Get out!"

"But. But they liked my song."

He starts pushing me out the door.

"I will not be having this devil's music in my club!"

I try to get my guitar back but he keeps it out of my reach.

"Get out! Get out! Get out!"

I end up outside on my butt as the owner closes the door. Once again, I've been rejected just when I thought I found the right job. I sit down at the nearest bench. I know I still have $50 but that can't possibly last forever.

"Excuse me son."

I look up and see a man come up to me.

"Yes sir?"

"I was in the audience during your song. I'm very sorry about getting kicked out like that."

I can only sigh.

"You don't need to be sorry. I wish I knew what I did wrong with the owner."

"Yes I didn't want to rub it in. What I did want to do is offer you a job."

I don't want to get my hopes up but I look up at him.

"As a singer?"

"Well no. Not as a singer."

I sigh and rub my face. I start talking to myself when I hear the man sigh.

"I know a guy in St. Louis who works at a junkyard. He's been complaining about an old Ford Model A taking up space. If you're up to it, I can send a telegram that you'll help him."

I look up at him and see that he's serious.

"Oh. Yeah. I. I can help with that the best I can."

"Splendid. I believe Howie's willing to give it to you if you can fix it."

My eyes widen at that. I've never had a car before. If Howie does want to give it away, I'd love to have it.

"I'd love to do it. Do you have the address?"

"Oh yes I'll write it down. By the way do you have money to get there?"

I realize that things went wrong by lyin. So I decide to tell him the truth even if it means not havin as much money.

"I have about $50. Will that be enough to get to St. Louis?"

"Oh yes. The train can take you there easily."

He hands me a piece of paper with the address.

"Thank you sir. I really appreciate it."

"No problem at all. I best be on my way to send that telegram. Good luck."

I watch him leave as I decide to take the chance and call for a cab. I just hope my luck will change for the better.

Time Skip

As soon as I get to St. Louis, my boss Howie's already waiting for me at the train station. Even though I never met him until now, he's holding a sign with my name on it.

"Hi. Are you Howie?"

"That's right. Are you Deke?"

I shake his hand.

"Yes sir. I appreciate this offer."

"I have lunch at the junkyard. My car's just outside the station."

I nod and follow Howie outside and get into his car. The drive to the junkyard wasn't long at all. I immediately get to work after eating lunch. Even though I don't have any experience working on cars, Howie's surprisingly very patient with me. After only a couple weeks, I managed to get the hang of going through the trash.

"Deke I'm taking stuff to the scrapyard. You're on break while I'm gone."

"Thanks Howie."

He drives off with the truck while I spend my break drinking a coke. I look over the Model A when a couple garbagemen come in and unload some trash.

"Howie off to the scrapyard again?"

"Yeah. He just left about 5 minutes ago."

They look over my work.

"How's the car coming along?"

"It's comin along. I still got a long ways to go, but I hope I'm gonna get it runnin at some point."

They start gettin back in the truck.

"Well you know what to do. Good luck."

"Thanks. I'm sure I'll get it done soon enough."

They leave and I get back to the shed for some tools. I hear Howie come back and I see him holding a bag.

"Eat up, Deke. We got a lot to look through today."

I grab a sandwich out of the bag.

"Thanks for the sandwich Howie."

I start eating while I look over the pile of trash that we need to get through. I can tell by lookin at it, this is gonna take a while.

"Well Deke what do you think?"

"I think there's gotta be somethin we can use for the car here. We just gotta keep diggin through this pile until we find it."

When we finish our sandwiches we open up the first trash bag.

"Alright be careful now. Can't have you getting tetanus."

"Oh yeah I'll be careful."

By the time the sun goes down we manage to get through the entire pile. Howie goes into his office while I wipe the sweat off my face.

"Alright Deke it's pay day. Come get your cut."

I walk into the office as he hands me some money.

"We had a great week with the scrapyard. Made a lot of money on the metal."

"Thanks Howie. Today was a pretty good day. I found a couple spark plugs and some hoses too. Maybe if we fix them, we can use it for the Model A."

"Alright then we can work on it tomorrow. I'll see you in the morning. You know where the key is."

I wave as I go to the garage and grab the key to my room. Thanks to Howie lettin me stay here, I've been able to save another $20. Even though it's only a wooden shed with nothing but a cot in it, I'm very thankful to have this room at all. This has been my best job yet. Maybe I can dream about driving a Model A. Either way as soon as I lay down I fall asleep.

"Bang. Bang. Bang."

I wake up early the next morning to Howie knocking on my door.

"Deke there's a storm coming. We gotta get the car into the garage."

"Alright I'll try gettin it into neutral."

I go over to the Model A and try to start the ignition. I managed to get it done.

"Howie I got it!"

"Good now keep the wheel steady while I push."

Since the garage isn't that far we easily manage to get the car into the garage.

"Howie I'm nervous about shuttin it off now. The engine sounds like it's runnin perfectly for once."

Howie listens to the Model A as it runs.

"I'd shut it off so we can work on the brakes after breakfast. Once this storm passes we can give it a test run to the gas station."

"Alright I'll shut it off. I can't believe we're this close to gettin this car fixed."

I shut off the engine. It sounded good shutting off so me and Howie rush back to his office for breakfast.

"I think this storm should pass soon. A heavy rain like this usually does."

"How do you think the brakes'll work if we drive it today?"

Howie thinks it over as he makes some eggs.

"I'll take it slow on the brakes. If it can't handle wet conditions it'll start to skid."

I nod as he hands me a plate.

"Thanks. I'm so excited that we might've actually done it."

"I get it. You spent a lot of time helping me work on it. It's always worth the effort if you can get it to work."

As soon as we finish eatin the sun starts to come out.

"Alright Deke grab a towel. We need to make sure the brakes are as dry as possible."

I put the plate in the sink and grab a ratty towel as we head back out to the garage. As soon as we make sure the brakes are dry, Howie gets in the driver's seat.

"Get on in. I'll take her to the gas station and see how she runs."

I climb into the passenger seat. Howie starts the ignition and I'm relieved to hear it start smoothly again.

"That's a good sign."

"Now let's test this on the open road."

Howie starts to drive us to the gas station and back. The whole time I'm shakin like a leaf. When we make it back to the junkyard, Howie turns off the engine.

"Well Deke you did it. She runs like a dream."

I start beamin.

"You really think so?"

"Sure. For this car's age it's as smooth as can be. So long as you don't slam on the brakes, there's not a thing wrong with it."

I can hardly believe it. I actually fixed this car. I did it.

"Now then I have a question for you."

"What is it?"

"Do you have a driver's license?"

I start to feel very nervous. I hope this isn't a trap but I have to be honest since honesty got me this job.

"No sir. I never had the chance to get one. Do I need anythin outside of an ID to get one? I have one from Texas if that helps."

"Alright then I'll help you get one. After all you're gonna be keeping this car."

I look up at him.

"You mean it?"

"That was our deal. You fixed the car so you get to keep it. You saw that I have plenty of cars here already. This is just taking up space."

I shake Howie's hand.

"Thank you. I'll do my best."

"That's all I can ask for Deke."

After many months I finally get my driver's license. Howie let me drive us back to the junkyard after buying me dinner and takes me to his office.

"Well Deke, I'm gonna have to let you go."

As much as it's sad to be jobless again, I feel good this time. Howie's done so much for me. I knew this job was only temporary and managed to make the best out of it.

"I understand. Thank you for everythin, Howie. There is just one last thing I wanna ask you."

"Oh? What is it?"

"Is there anyway you can help me last the winter? I only have $120 saved and I don't know where to go next."

Howie thinks before countin out some money.

"All I can do is give you, your final cut of the scrapyard trip totaling $30. I also have an address for a motel at the edge of town. I know it isn't much but it's a start. I'll even let you stay the last night here so you won't be wandering around in the dark."

I take the money.

"Thank you so much."

I wave as I go to the shed one last time. I’m gonna miss this place but I know Howie’s done his best. That’s all I can ever ask for as I fall asleep in my cot one last time.

Time Skip

When I leave the junkyard after my last free breakfast, I buy a road map and get a room at the motel.

“Alright Deke. Time to figure out how to get back to Texas by car without dyin.”

After spendin 2 days at the motel, I figure out a rough idea on where to go. I also decide to take the financial hit and get myself some new clothes.

“Excuse me how much would it cost for a couple shirts, jeans and these shoes?”

The man behind the counter rings it up.

“That’ll be $15.”

I sigh since it could’ve been worse. I pay him the money and immediately put it in a bag.

“Have a good day.”

“Thanks you too.”

I head back to my car and start driving south. I’m already down to $100 and I haven’t even left St. Louis yet. It's not the most ideal situation, but I gotta sleep in my car if I can. Food wise I’m managin to get by. I get somethin to eat when I stop for gas.

“What’ll it be man?”

“I’ll take some chili if you got it.”

The man takes out a metal bottle and pours some in.

“This here’s a thermos. It’s reusable so you can keep it when you’re done with the chili.”

“Sounds good. How much?”

“$5.”

Only $90 left but if this keeps hot things hot I’ll need it.

“I’ll take it.”

I give the man the money and he gives me the thermos. I head back to my car start driving again. Once it gets dark I try to park where I’ll be covered from any snow.

“Ok let’s try this chili.”

I open the thermos and somehow I can see steam comin out. I take a drink and realize it’s still warm.

“Wow. This’ll keep me warm for a while.”

And it did at least for tonight. The next few nights I wasn’t as lucky. One night there was such a horrible storm that I thought I was going to die.

“It’s ok. You’ll get through it. You’ll get through it.”

I end up bein just fine. As soon as I get to Texas I end up in a small town called Delville. It’s not McKinney or Fairview but I’ll take it. I find that I have about $5 left and decide to spend it on food. Now that it’s spring and I’m in Texas I don’t need to worry about stayin dry.

“Howdy all.”

I turn and see a short chubby man come in just after I find a table.

“Howdy.”

He turns to me and sits down at my table.

“Ah ain’t seen ya round these parts. What’re ya here for?”

“I just came back from a long trip up north and I'm just tryin to get myself situated. Is that alright?”

“It sure is. Can’t help but check out the swingin antique outside.”

I look outside and see that he means my car.

“Oh that’s mine. I got it up north in St. Louis a while back and I just spent a few months fixin' her up, bringin' her back here. It took awhile, but I managed to get 'er fixed up real good.”

“Ya mean that’s yer car? Shoot ya got a pretty good deal then.”

After talkin with this man while we eat I start to feel comfortable around him.

“Mah name’s Teddy by the way.”

“My name’s Deke.”

We shake hands.

“So where do ya plan on stayin Deke?”

“I don't know. I didn't really have a plan for that. I was just gonna figure somethin out. You live around these parts?”

He gestures up the road.

“Sure do. Ah work for the Highway Brewery Company.”

“Wow. For how long?”

“Been workin there the past 5 years. It’s a livin and ya get to travel all across the county.”

That sounds like fun to me. Maybe this is how I can make friends like Teddy. I see him look at the clock.

“Well time to start walkin home. Ah got work in the mornin.”

“Oh. Yeah I gotta get goin to.”

The waitress comes by with the bill and I start to pull out my $5.

“Ah don’t worry about the bill. It’s on me.”

“You don’t mind payin?”

“Heck no. You’re the first guy that’s really listened to mah chatter since Ah’ve been comin here so it’s the least Ah can do.”

Teddy looks at the bill and goes to pay it.

“Thank you, Teddy. This ain't somethin' I'm used to.”

“No problem.”

We head outside and I see Teddy startin to walk home. I realize I can’t do that when he’s paid for me.

“Hey, Teddy, wait up a minute.”

“Yeah what’s up Deke?”

I take a deep breath and sigh.

“I was just wonderin if you would let me drive ya home. You got your job and everything, and I don't wanna disrupt that. And it’s the least I can do when you paid for me.”

“You’d really do that? Well if you’re sure then alright.”

We get in the car and I start drivin him home. By the time I find his house it’s too dark to really see anythin.

“Hey thanks for the lift. Now since it’s so late and all Ah was thinkin that ya should just room wit me. Ya don’t have anywhere to go so it’d be wrong for me to let ya be wanderin round by your lonesome.”

I admit I gotta agree with that.

“Ok you’re right. I appreciate ya lettin' me stay with ya.”

He gets out of the car and starts to open his door.

“Now Ah know it’s gonna be small so Ah hope ya don’t mind sharin a bed.”

“Oh, that's no problem for me at all. As long as it's a roof over my head, I'll be more than grateful.”

We head inside and Teddy’s right about it bein small. But it’s still bigger than the shed at Howie’s junkyard. I look up and see Teddy takin off his shirt. Suddenly I’m not in his bedroom anymore but in… that room…

“Deke? Ya awright? Why were ya lookin at me like ya saw a ghost?”

I shake a little and see Teddy in front of me again.

“Yeah. Sorry I was just reminded of somethin.”

“Oh Ah don’t sleep in the buff if that’s whatcha mean. Jus had to change outta mah work clothes.”

He lays down in bed.

“You got anything to change into Deke?”

“Oh. No these are my sleepin clothes. The only other clothes I got are my business clothes so to speak.”

“Awright then. Ya wanna take off your shirt go head. Ah don’t mind.”

I know Teddy doesn’t mean what I think he means but I can’t help but feel a shiver. I take off my shirt and lay down with my back turned to him. I just can’t handle him starin at me like they back-

“Hey man why ya so tense?”

I take a breath and slowly turn my head.

“Sorry I just ain’t used to this sorta thing.”

“What do ya mean?”

I take a full look at Teddy and realize he just doesn’t think somethin awful like what I’m about to say can ever happen. So I tell him in a way that he can understand.

“Oh. Ah think Ah’m puttin together what yer sayin.”

I can’t even look at him. I’m so used to bein judged and I just know it’s gonna happen.

“Well Ah’m just a normal guy Deke. Ah ain’t gonna be touchin ya while ya sleep.”

I look up at Teddy and for some reason I believe him.

“Yeah. I know. I was just rememberin what happened back then.”

“Ah think Ah get it now. Just try calmin down so ya fall asleep.”

I start by layin down next to him. After takin some deep breaths I feel myself dozin off. I think bein with Teddy helped me out because I wake up curled against him. I start to feel scared when I hear him wakin up.

“Mornin Deke.”

He gets up as if nothin happened.

“Morning.”

“Listen Ah gotta get to work. Yer free to whatever’s in the fridge for breakfast.”

I sit up and put my shirt back on.

“Alright thanks.”

“No problem Deke. Where do ya plan on workin?”

I remember that I never figured that out myself.

“Oh. I was thinkin of lookin around town after breakfast and see what’s open.”

“Awright then. See ya later.”

I wave as Teddy leaves to go to work at the Brewery. I make good on trying to get a job and look around town before heading home. I figure that if I’m gonna stay here I should at least make dinner.

“Deke Ah got good news for ya.”

I look up from the stove.

“Really? What’d you hear?”

“Tomorrow ya got a meetin wit mah boss.”

I turn the gas off so I don’t burn myself.

“Your boss?”

“Yeah Ah took yer car today and the boss liked it so much Ah told em it was yours. Gives the company a classic look. So he said he wanted to meet wit ya tomorrow.”

I can barely stand so I sit down in the chair.

“Y-You really got me a meeting with the boss… over my car…?”

“All ya gotta do is drive us to the brewery and go to the boss’s office.”

I can’t even believe it that Teddy managed to make it happen for me. I hope it’s not some type of trick.

“Thanks a million Teddy. You did me a real favor.”

“Ah don’t worry about it. It ain’t like you ain’t returnin the favor makin me dinner like this.”

I look back at the stove top.

“Oh.”

I get out of my chair and finish cookin. After makin two plates I sit back down at the table.

“Thanks Deke.”

We start eatin and I ponder how this will work out. In the end it ended up bein exactly what I needed. Even though it was a bumpy road I made a good friend in Teddy. I end up meetin a nice girl named Susie and become one of the biggest names in the music industry. Lookin back I know I had a sad, horrible beginning but now I finally lived up to the name Deke Rivers. I can sleep peacefully now as all of the pain I experienced is gone. Finally I’m at peace.

Tagging: @arrolyn1114, @peskybedtime, @smokeymountainboy, @vintagepresley, and @thelonelyheart.

[handspunyarns]

You Were Marked: Days Twenty-Seven to Twenty-Nine (Din, Part II).

pairing: din djarin x *reverse age-gap* *plus-size* fem!O/C       

word count: 7.4K   

chapter summary: Din returns to Unmanarall to search for Marathel. 

warnings:  angst, medical emergency, animal death, mention of physical illness / blood / violence / murder / suicide / rape / child rape / child sexual abuse / child death / object rape, English and Mando’a cursing      

***Please feel free to comment, kvetch, or otherwise speak your mind about my work. ***   

You Were Marked: Masterlist      

You Were Marked: <- Previous Chapter 

Din had the sudden sensation that a TIE fighter crash-landed on his chest, and he lurched upward towards what he believed was the excessively rude pilot who apparently couldn’t land worth a damn, uttering a gurgling rebuke as he grabbed his blaster. 

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, WHOA!” yelled the pilot. 

“I’ll blast you both apart!” shouted Din, leaning on his elbow and alternating his blaster between the two men who hovered over him, his brain misfiring in every direction. 

One of the men, wearing a light blue uniform, looked at the spent hypos in his hand and muttered, “Holy shit, I can’t believe that worked.” 

Din’s heart pounded painfully in his chest, and he groaned.  “What happened? Where am I? Who are you?  Are we enemies?  Where’s Marathel?” demanded Din of the man wearing an X-wing uniform. 

The X-wing pilot held up his hands, and said, “Okay … Let me take those one at a time.  You had … a cardiac-type … episode.  We gave you a series of hypos for that.  We didn’t expect you to react so quickly, though.”  The pilot took a breath.  “You’re on your ship.  When you didn’t answer our hails following your distress call, we tractored your ship on board the Luisitz.”  Din stared at the pilot.  The pilot continued, “Yeah, it’s a dumb name for a ship.”   

Din lowered his blaster, not because he felt safer, but because he couldn’t hold his arm up anymore.  He was also too weak to keep himself up on his elbow, so he lay back down on the floor.  The pilot visibly relaxed, and the man in blue — who was apparently a medic — held a scanner over Din’s chest.   

The pilot continued, “That there is Corpsman Ka’nab.”  The medic waved. Din nodded slightly in response.  “I’m Captain Carson Teva.” 

Din grunted.  “My name is …” 

“Din Djarin.  Guild Bounty Hunter, Mandalorian.  Yeah, we scanned you.  Got your chip.”  Teva pulled out his holopad.  “Going back to your original questions, I can safely say I sure as hell don’t want to be your enemy.  And as far as where is Marathel … I can’t say, because I don’t know who Marathel is.  Is Marathel your cat?” 

“My what?” 

“Your cat, or whatever pet you have on board.  Look, you said you were the only one on board, but we scanned your ship as we tractored it in…” — Din groaned inwardly — “… and there’s obviously a second, small, life-form aboard, but it’s in a shielded portion of the ship.”  Din remained silent.  “Hey, if I could have a pet in my X-wing, I would.   So what is it?” 

“A … pet, yes.” Sorry, kid.  “Not Marathel.  She’s …” 

“That her?” Teva pointed at the console, and Din looked up to see that his holopad was now projecting the image Cobb had sent.  Din nodded, and grunted in the affirmative.  “Pretty.  Heading out to see her, Djarin?” 

“Something like that.  Am I done, now?  May I go?” 

The medic said, “If you can sit up on your own, now, I’m done with you.” Din slowly pushed himself up and shifted so he could lean against the console.  He looked down at himself and saw that the medic had pulled off his pauldrons and cuirass, and had sliced his flight jacket and his underthermal open to get at his bare chest, which had several adhesive sensors stuck to it.  Din looked at the medic.  “Hey, I only know not to remove a Mandalorian’s helmet. That, I did not do.  You can take off those stickers yourself, and chuck them out.  Captain, I’ll send you my report.” 

“Was it a heart attack?” asked Din. 

The medic frowned.  “No … not as such.” 

“Not as such?” 

“Well, your blood pressure went to zero and your heart rate was spiking at 200.  But the scans showed no heart damage whatsoever.  Then you had some sort of seizure, like maybe you shot a clot through your heart into your brain, but nothing showed on neurological scans.  So the only idea I had was to hypo you with what I would use on someone who was having a heart attack and a neurological seizure.”  Din turned his head to look at Teva, who shrugged and continued tapping on his holopad.  Din returned his gaze to the medic.  “Hey, it worked.  And I removed that bacta bandage you were wearing, you obviously didn’t need it.” 

Din looked down at his chest again, looking for the bite mark … which was gone.  Not just healed, but gone, as if he’d never been bitten at all.  “What the …” Din looked up at the medic.  “What did you do?” 

The medic and Teva exchanged glances.  “I … removed a bandage.  If you had a wound under there, it’s obviously healed now.”  The medic tossed his equipment into his bag.  “I think I’m done here.  Safe travels, sir.  May the Force be with you.”  The medic left. 

“This is the way,” muttered Din as he looked again where the bite wound had been, looking for a pale scar, anything that would prove that Marathel had bitten him.  “It’s like … it never happened.” 

“Are you sure you were wounded, Djarin?” asked Teva, leaning in to look closer at Din’s chest. 

Din looked up at Teva, then hurriedly closed his thermal shirt and flight jacket over his bare skin.  The helmet was the most important part, but bare skin in general was still … difficult.  Even in a medical emergency.  “Would you believe that I had a human bite there?” 

Teva went back to his holopad and chuckled.  “This Marathel of yours gave you a what-for, did she?  Or was it … your pet?” 

“My … pet … is not human.” 

“Djarin …” 

“Mando is fine,” snapped Din. 

“… Mando, look, I don’t care.  I only care about weirdness on my patrol, and you brought me weirdness.  For the second time, I’m pretty sure.  You’re one long way from Nevarro.  And from Maldo Kreis.” 

“So are you, Captain.” 

Teva chuckled again.  “I said it first.” 

Din looked up at the holo of Marathel.  It occurred to him that he’d only seen her looking like this for seven days. Seven days.  He’d known her almost three times as long in her injured state.  It felt almost unfair. Which Marathel did I fall in love with?  Was it the Marathel with the clear skin and the bright eyes, who called him Bounty Hunter and baked him bread?  Or was it the Marathel who almost died in his arms and had nearly lost all her blood twice?   

Whichever Marathel it was, she had given him his first kiss with a woman.  And had broken his heart over and over and over.  And had gotten him the closest to not only removing his helmet, but to leaving his Creed altogether. 

Teva noticed Din staring at the holo.  “Tell me about her.” 

“It’s complicated.” 

Teva nodded.  “It always is.  Believe me, I  understand.” 

Din considered the Dahls and a lifetime of torture starting with being sired by a murderous pervert. He sighed and said, “No, Captain, I don’t think you do.”  He looked back at Teva, who was still tapping on his holopad.  “Aren’t you done, yet?” 

“Not even close.  I would have fewer reports to process if you’d died.  But then, I would have never known that lovely woman’s name,” he said, pointing at the holo.  “And I’d also have to be responsible for your … ‘cat’. 

Din went back to looking at Marathel’s holo.  “Captain, let me ask you something. Say … say someone found a planet where women and girls … little girls … have been generationally tortured in the most reprehensible ways.  Just how many need to suffer, or die, before the New Republic does something?” 

“Is it a Republic or Empire-era planet?” 

“Dank ferrik,” grunted Din.  “Are you taking the piss?” 

“I wish I were, Mando.  So which is it?” 

“It’s neither.  The settlement is the only site of civilization on the entire planet.  Everywhere else is … inhabited only by animals. But there might be artifacts from other planets within this settlement.  And let’s say that one of those artifacts was … Old Republic.” 

Teva frowned at Din.  “Where is this planet?” 

“I’m only speaking hypothetically, Captain.” 

“How many hypothetical generations are we talking about?” 

“Possibly two thousand Basic years.” 

“Kriff.”  Teva pinched the bridge of his nose.  “Little girls.  How young?” 

Din swallowed.  “Her first memories.” 

Teva’s eyes flicked up to Marathel’s holo, then he harrumphed.  “Have you ever heard that there’s always three ways to do things in the military?  There’s the official way, the right way, and then there’s the way that us grunts take care of things.”  He did some final taps on his holopad, then stood up.  “It sounds like you know about the official answer to your query.” 

“Primitive culture … blah blah blah.” 

“Blah blah blah, indeed.  Now, the way that a grunt — like myself — would take care of this … l would search for any artifacts on this hypothetical planet that give a clue where these hypothetical people might have come from, originally.  That might be enough for some … hearsay … to get in the right ear, for the right thing to happen.”  Teva sighed, and shook his head before he held out his hand to help Din up from the floor.  “My report is good enough for government work.  Let me see what I can do to speed up your release.” 

Din nodded. “Thank you, Captain.” 

“You’re welcome, Mando.  May the Force be with you.” Teva stepped on the ladder out of the cockpit.  “Don’t forget to get your pet out of the hold.  And, uh … keep me updated on this hypothetical planet of yours.” 

Shortly after that, the Razor Crest launched and exited the landing tunnel of the Luisitz, Din thinking to himself that it was indeed a ridiculous name for a ship.  He set the coordinates back to Unmanarall, and throttled into hyperspace. 

Once they were set on their way, Din dropped out of the cockpit and pulled the access panel open.  “Kid?  You can come out now.”  He heard Grogu chattering, and then the boy jumped out of the access panel and into Din’s arms, bawling.  Din was still unsteady after experiencing whatever it was that had happened to him, and he sat down hard on the floor, hugging Grogu.  “It’s okay, kid.  I’m okay.  Everything’s okay.  We’re going to get Mama back.  We’re on our way to Mama.” 

“Mamaaaaaaa…” wailed the tearful Grogu, and Din would have rather cut off his arm than to see Grogu cry.  “Bah daws! Bah daws!” 

“Bad Dahls, you got that right, buddy.  We’re gonna show those bad Dahls a thing or two.” 

Grogu stared at Din with his tearful eyes, runny nose, and trembling lip.  After a couple of hitches, the child quietly asked, “Patu … Mama?” 

Din sighed, and found a cloth to wipe Grogu’s nose.  “Blow,” said Din, and Grogu complied. “Ad’ika … I wish I knew what to tell you about Patu Mama.  The first thing to do is to go back and find Mama. We’re on our way back now.  We don’t know what we’re going to find when we go back, so we need to be ready for anything.  It’s time to be Mandalorians. This is the way.”  Grogu made a bleat in the affirmative, but still looked incredibly sad. 

With the time skips his mind had taken, Din figured they had a day or so to get back to Unmanarall.  He stripped off his sliced jacket and thermal shirt and inspected the damage.  He had some needle skills, but he didn’t think even Marathel could fix this. Din noticed that this jacket was one that Marathel had embroidered the Mudhorn signet, so he ripped off the embroidered pocket and deposited it into the bin with his other keepsakes.  Getting full in there, he thought.  He rolled up the cut shirt and jacket and shoved them down the back of his clothing bin, still loath to toss out something Marathel had held in her hands, despite his confusion regarding his feelings for her.  He grabbed a clean thermal shirt and gathered it in his hands to pull over his head when his eye caught the yarn bracelet he’d bought. He’d originally intended to give it to Marathel.  Now, he decided he’d wear it until it fell off, or until he and Marathel figured out just what the shab there was between them … if anything. 

One thing at a time.  For now. 

Din redressed and collected all his armor.  He cleaned and polished every surface and every crevasse of every piece of armor, saying each Mando’a incantation out loud. He did this not only for his own benefit, but also for Grogu’s, for it was high time the boy started learning these things.  Din used one of the new felted wool cloths Marathel had made, and perhaps he was biased, but he thought the handmade cloth was far superior to anything he could have purchased for the task. 

That chore completed, Din then moved on to his weapons.  He’d been far too distracted recently, and he hadn’t been maintaining his weapons cache as he should have.  Ni ceta, Manda’lor.  He dismantled each weapon in his armory, cleaning, polishing, and calibrating each part to working perfection.  He even tinkered a bit with his antique bolt blaster and vibro-blade, both inherited from his buir.  Both weapons had been handed down in buir’s family for several generations.   

When Din was a boy and still relatively new under buir’s care, buir had taken him out to the canyon the covert used as a shooting range, and let him fire the old bolt blaster.  It was the first time Din had handled a weapon, and the recoil landed him right on his ass. Once buir stopped laughing, he began weapons training with Din.  Buir had been the most patient of teachers, and it was his calm and positive reinforcement that Din always tried to emulate as he passed on the Mandalorian traditions to Grogu.   

By the time the chores were completed, there were only a few hours to go until the Crest reached Unmanarall.  Din made bone broth for both himself and Grogu, and they split a ration bar.  Din decided that they both could use a nap, to be fresh for whatever awaited them when they returned to Marathel’s planet. Din put his feet up on the console, and Grogu curled up against him, murmuring Mama before he dozed off.   

Din projected Marathel’s image again —the one that Cobb sent — and he stared at it for a while.  Din worked out what she had been doing at the time this image was captured.  Marathel was making bread at the palace while all the others watched and did their best to convince her to not return to Unmanarall.  He was the only one not there.  She had revealed to him her sad life, and he had rejected her because of it.  But he’d always known, deep in his heart, the depth of her lifelong suffering, who her father was, but he wouldn’t admit it to himself.  He’d been such an unmitigated asshole to her.  All she’d wanted was kindness.  He’d granted her some kindness, but not enough.  Only enough to suit him.  Only enough so that he could remain comfortably within his Creed. 

Din absently put his hand over the bite mark — scratch that — where the bite mark used to be.  Okay, why did the bite mark burn like I’d been dipped in lava, sending me into a ‘cardiac episode’ … and then disappear? 

The bite mark burned on the second night of the Dahl’s mating, and then in the Hold, when Marathel told him to be still.  Actually, any time she told him to be still. Din had believed that she controlled him through the bite mark, which … might be only partially true.  She had told him to be still in order to make him remove his weapons, so that she could sacrifice herself.  To make him take her back, and to leave her behind, in essence, to sacrifice herself again.  And she made him be still to prove to him she was nothing more than a … body to be used for his pleasure. 

The other times the bite had burned, he’d attacked her, brutalized her, frightened her, both awake and in his dreams.  But in all those times, she never told him to be still … instead, she begged him to let her go. 

But if she controlled me, why would she beg me to let her go? She could have just told me to do that!  And once I’d taken her back, then why would the bite still burn?  Why did I forget her?  And why don’t I … love her anymore, for kriff’s sake! 

Did I have a not-a-heart-attack and lose a scar because … Marathel is now …? 

Din flat-out refused to complete that thought.  He refused to believe it even if he did.  So, instead, he decided to follow his buir’s advice:  take a nap; things will be clearer when you wake up.  It wasn’t until he was an adult that he realized what buir was actually saying: kid, shut the fuck up for a while; I need to rest my eyes.  Din gently patted Grogu’s back and watched the little green boy sleep until Din dozed off himself. 

Din woke up to the hyperspace alarm going off.  We’re here.  We’re back, Marathel.  You told me to leave you here and not come back, but I’m not one for following orders. And I’m thinking about ignoring your request to not take revenge on that Hold.  Especially if you broke the promise you made to me and leapt off that cliff after all.   

Din dropped the Crest out of hyperspace above the planet, and his thoughts about the best way to reduce the Hold to rubble were suddenly stopped.  He had entered orbit just above the Hold coordinates, and the atmosphere above that point was a cloud of grey smoke.  The shab?  Din looked down at Grogu, who looked back up at him, asking, “Mama?” 

“Looks like Mama’s been busy, kid. Hold on.” 

Din circled the Crest into the atmosphere and landed where he had the first time he’d been here. It was pointless to prevent Grogu from going with him; the boy was in his floating pram and waiting by the ramp door before Din could get out of his chair.  As they made their way to the Hold gate, Din could smell something distinctly chemical in the air.  He associated it with hot springs and geysers, which confused him as he did not recall this odor here before.  They came out of the woods to see the large wooden gate leaning against the stone pilaster, and part of the stone wall collapsed.  But these sights didn’t confuse Din as much as what he didn’t see, and that was the Round Building. 

As Din stepped through the gateway, he could now see the where the Round Building had been was now a smoldering ring of rubble, blown from the center out.  Dank ferrik; Marathel didn’t mess around.  As he came forward, he heard a couple of shrieks and noticed some women scattering at the sight of him.  One came forward, braver than the others.  The blonde woman wore a light green gown that was torn and dirty … a Duke, thought Din.  “You ... You came back.”  She held what looked like a fireplace poker in front of her.  “Stay back, metal man.  You brought her back; are you here to finish us off?” 

“I wish you no harm, madam, I am only looking for Marathel.” 

To Din’s surprise, another nearby woman, this one with the curly black hair of a Captain, spat on the ground.  “The Belwhyn bitch wrought this destruction.  She and her demon creatures have killed us all.”  This woman wandered off, wringing her hands and muttering. 

Din returned his attention to the woman in green, asking, “Did she mean the Dahls?” 

The blonde woman nodded, and lowered her poker.  “They came in after her … we knew she’d gone into the Round Building, looking to kill the Elders.  The building began to burn.  The men were running out.  But she’d left the gate open, and all the Dahls ran in, running straight to the men trying to escape the fire, and killed them all.  Men were going back inside, preferring to burn than to face the wrath of the Dahls.  The Dahls ripped them limb from limb.  Then ... they went after the children ...”  The young woman sobbed.  “The children.  The babies.  Gone.  The children ran to us for protection.  The Dahls snatched them from us, and killed them too.”  The woman continued to cry. 

“All the children?” 

“Just the boys.” 

Din looked at the destruction around him.  Bodies — parts of bodies — were still everywhere.  Women wept, holding the corpses of infants.  One, he saw, no longer had a head; but the woman cooed to it as if it were still living.  Two other women were gathering remains of men to put into another pyre.  A little girl, hardly larger than Grogu, helped the two women, carrying smaller human parts: a hand, something that looked like a child’s leg.  Other females merely sat on the ground, rocking, their faces blank slates of horror.  Grogu whimpered in his pram.   

“So it’s true.” 

Din startled; he had been focusing on the destruction around him.  “I beg your pardon?” 

The blonde woman pointed at Grogu.  “Olba said you had a child with you.  She only saw it from a distance.  She said it was sweet.  And green.  And Marathel loved it.”  She sniffled.  “My boys are dead.” 

Din reached out to the woman in green and she recoiled from his hand, brandishing the poker again. “Please, good lady, can you tell me what happened to the Round Building?” 

The woman spread her arms wide.  “Big boom.” 

“Why did that happen?” 

“Marathel.”  The woman looked at his visor again.  “You’re the one that brought her to the Hold.  You took her away, and the marchwyl.  I was whipped, because I wouldn’t tell them it was Hylma who stole the marchwyl, even though I was glad it was gone.  But the others ...” The woman’s voice dropped to a whisper.  “Others told.  Then the Elders killed Olba and Hylma and Tymfy and Lorica.   They’d brought her out, they’d taken the marchwyl, and she still had the Dilimgau.  The Elders do not suffer thievery,  but… I’m glad the Dilimgau is also gone.” 

Din wasn’t sure whether this woman was going to remain relatively calm or not.  So far, she’d been very helpful, but she was also using the same flat, unemotional tone of voice that Marathel used when she catalogued the terrible things the men did to her.  This woman seemed to be unafraid of him as well as Grogu, and she didn’t seem to want to use that poker on him, and he wanted to keep it that way.  “Marathel is not here now?” 

The woman scrubbed her nose with the back of her hand.  “She left and took the Dahls with her.”  Din was relieved to hear that at least Marathel left here under her own steam.  Then Grogu quietly whimpered Mama, which startled the woman.  “That thing can speak?  It can say mama?”   She dropped the poker and sat down on the ground, weeping.  “I’m not a mama anymore.” 

Din knelt in front of her, not wanting to get closer.  “I am so sorry.”  He let her cry for a few moments before he asked, “Madam, may I look through the debris?” 

The woman looked at him in confusion, as if she’d never been spoken to with deference before, which was most likely the case.  “Why?” 

“I want to help you.  I can tell people to come and help you.” 

The woman frowned at him.  “Come from where?” 

Din pointed skyward.  “From up there.  You saw my flying metal box?  There are others out there, many others, and I think your people came from somewhere else, long ago.  I need to find some evidence of where your people might have come from.”   

The blonde woman looked around her in despair.  “We are beyond help.  We are all dead.  No more men means no more babies.  Some women have killed themselves already.”  She began weeping once more, and dropped her poker on the ground. 

Din muttered apologies again, but moved away from the blonde woman as quickly as he could towards the wreckage of the Round Building.  Grogu stuck close and remained quiet, seemingly affected by everything around him.  Din leaned over and touched his head to Grogu’s.  “I know, kid.  Some very bad things happened here.  But no one will hurt you.  I promise.”  Grogu looked dubious.   

Din peered down into the hole left by the apparent explosion.  The chemical smell here was much stronger, and burned Din’s nose.  Grogu began coughing, so Din closed the pram lid, and sealed his helmet.  The smell was familiar, somehow, but he couldn’t quite place it.  He carefully stepped down into the crater, sliding down what must have been a large door.  There seemed to be a lot more metallic debris in the crater than he anticipated.  He’d figured this building had been constructed of stone and wood, which it was, but it appeared that there was a large metal component. 

The blast had obviously disintegrated the stone, and the wood had burned away, but the interior layer of the Round Building had been sheet metal that broke apart in panels, curling against the intense heat that had occurred from the fire. He moved towards the center of the crater, balancing carefully on the rubble.  He turned in a circle, finally realizing that this building was not engineered in a circle, but was built around a metal cylinder. Din pulled out his holopad and began taking stills.   

There is no way these people made a metal cylinder this large.  They don’t have the means to make sheet metal like this. 

Din moved towards a section that was still fairly intact and attached to other pieces.  Riveted together.  

It’s a ship.  This was a ship. 

Din nearly pumped his fist in the air.  He had been right, after all.  He got closer to what was undoubtedly part of a fuselage when some markings caught his eye.  Bending down, he wiped some soot off the wall and saw what was unmistakably Aurebesh lettering.  He could only make out a couple of letters, however. 

Din then looked down to his feet, and he could see a sublevel below him.  He picked his way to an area he could access, and dropped down.  The flat surface he landed on shifted under his feet, and the section began to fall further into the hole, so he fired his jetpack so he would not fall with it.  As he lifted into the air, he noticed some of the women shrieking and running again at the sight of him flying.  Din sighed, remembering how jumpy Marathel had been when she first saw him and Grogu.  He took a few holo stills from this vantage point, as it showed the fuselage/building well.  A panel had fallen inward, and from here he could now see lettering on it, in both Aurebesh and an old script he did not recognize, but the inscription was obviously the name board of this ship: 

DRESO LLONG’WYR  SYSTEM LEW’EL 

Lew’el.  They came from the Lew’el system!  There was also a string of numbers, and Din was unsure if it was the old style dating system, or the ship’s registration, but in any case, it was old.   

Din then noticed several round objects behind the building, near the uprooted tree, the tree Marathel had nearly fallen out of.  He touched back down to the ground, picking up one of the round objects, recognizing it immediately as a lid for a chemical storage barrel.  There were quite a few of them on this side of the wreckage, making Din think that the blast was more directional than just up.  As he dropped the lid, he noticed that his glove was coated with a blue-grey dust.  What the … Mist?  He looked over the area around him, and realized that this whole side of the building was covered with Mist dust.  Why in Frith were they … 

“Are you a machine?” 

Din had not been expecting to hear a voice, and he whirled around to see a small girl standing behind him.  She was a sweet-looking child, with long brown hair that was seriously in need of a good brushing.  She also had large, dark brown eyes and a face full of dirt.  Her dark green tunic and skirt were stained and torn,  and her bare feet were utterly filthy. If he’d been running around this dirty at her age, his mother would have had a conniption and hosed him off in the front garden.  His buir, meanwhile, would have simply drop-kicked him into the river.  “No, child, I am a person.” 

“Why are you made of metal?” 

Remembering that Marathel didn’t understand the concept of religion, he said, “My people wear armor and a helmet.  Those are the rules my people live by.” 

Seemingly satisfied with this explanation, the little girl said, “Belwhyn Marathel did all this.”  Din nodded.  “The Elders made her a Belwhyn because she fucked you, and she was only supposed to be fucked by the Bishop.”  Din could not reply, as he was stunned by these words coming from this little girl.  She didn’t seem to mind, as she went on without prompting.  “I was there when they made her a Belwhyn.  She screamed as they all fucked her.  The Captain kicked the Dilimgau into her cunt.” 

“… What?” 

“She came back and killed them all.  The Bishop is over there,” the little girl said, pointing.  “I was supposed to be the Hunter’s Whyn,  but he’s dead now.  I was branded and everything.  See?”  The child lifted up her skirt to show Din, and she was naked under her skirt. He turned away as she exposed herself to him. 

“Lower your skirt, child,” Din muttered. 

“But I don’t have an Elder anymore.  Are you going to be my Elder?” 

“No.” 

The girl dropped her skirt and began to cry.  “But … I’m supposed to suck your cock now, aren’t I?” 

Din backed up from her.  “No.  No!  Go back to the women, child.  Just … get away from me.”  The girl ran away, crying at being rejected by him, leaving Din feeling both repulsed and saddened.  Mostly repulsed.  It made him think of Marathel’s brand, made him think of her as a child just like the little Hunter girl.  No wonder Marathel was so damaged in her mind. And hearing that the Captain had … His hands curled into fists, and he wished the Captain was still alive so he could kill him.  Din considered burning down the rest of the Hold and killing the remaining survivors as a mercy to them.  He took a deep, shuddering breath, knowing that he could not do that.  Perhaps these women could be rehabilitated ... Perhaps their minds could be repaired ... 

Perhaps I could just give up my Creed and join a traveling underwater circus! 

Din lined up several barrel lids and took holos.  He believed he had enough.  Now he needed to find Marathel.  He walked around the fallen tree and back out to where the women still milled around.  He didn’t see the little girl, and he was thankful for that.  Din approached Grogu’s pram, still closed, and he gently maneuvered it away from the fallen Round Building.  “Kid?  Are you okay in there?”  He heard some shuffling inside.  “Knock once for yes and twice for no.  Are you doing okay in there?”  There was a light, single tap from within.  “Okay, buddy, just stay in there a little longer, alright?”  Another tap.   

Din looked over the yard again.  Nearby was a dead body that was oddly enough, still intact.  He went over and looked down at the corpse of the Bishop.  His eyes were gone, and his mouth was open and full of blood.  There were multiple stab wounds all over his body, a couple right in his crotch.  Too good for you, you son of a bitch.  Rapist.  Child rapist.  You carved a gash down a beautiful woman’s face.  You destroyed her before she was even born.  You broke her mind so much she dreamed I was you! And I wish you could come back to life so I could kill you myself, you … “MOTHERFUCKER HU’TUUN!” growled Din as he drew both blasters and alternated firing shots into the corpse, over and over.  Din holstered his blasters, reared back, and kicked the corpse in the groin.  He then raised his helmet enough to spit in the corpse’s eye socket before stepping back and setting it on fire with his flame thrower.   

Finished now, Din turned, placed his hand on Grogu’s pram, and walked them both out of the Hold gate, not looking back at the women and girls who stood staring at him.  “C’mon, kid, let’s go find your Mama.” 

Din decided to return to Marathel’s hut on the Crest.  On a normal hunt, he’d leave his ship where it was and walk.  He liked having the time to settle his thoughts, make a plan, and creep up on his mark quietly.  Right now, however, he felt the need to hurry.  Although Marathel walked out of the Hold, he wasn’t sure how long ago she did that, which direction she was going, or what state she was in when she left.  The rest of the women were still shell-shocked by the explosion and the Dahl’s attack, but they didn’t go on a rampage like Marathel had, fighting off and killing however many men. 

Din and Grogu went back to the Crest, lifted off, and touched back down in the grassy field just outside Marathel’s yard.  From here he could not see anything too out of the ordinary, but as he and Grogu approached, he could see that the brown panels Marathel had hung were no longer there.  Then he saw her bag lying on the ground where she’d dropped it.  Hoping she may be still in the hut, Din hurried forward but stopped short at the four rounded piles of flowers.   

Four.  The four women who brought her out.   

“Stay here, Grogu,” muttered Din.  He went up to the steps.  There was a burned-out torch — Marathel must have intended to burn the hut down — a whetstone, and bloodied footprints.  He looked up to the ridge pole to see the four ropes the women had been hanged from.  He did not wish to unwrap the women to see what they had suffered. More of Marathel’s footprints went through the large blood spill under the four shroud-wrapped bodies.  Din could smell the decay of flesh, and flies buzzed everywhere. 

Olba, Tymfy, Lorica, Hylma.  I am so sorry.  Ni ceta.  Thank you for being good women to Marathel.  Thank you, Olba, for mothering Marathel the best you could.   

Din took a step back and chanted the Mando’a prayer for the dead, something he hadn’t spoken since the death of his buir.  He believed these women were fully deserving of this honor, and that Manda’lor would accept their souls for their sacrifice.  This completed, Din stepped up into the hut.  He decided that there were certain items that he needed to collect before he left this place.  He rummaged around until he found what he wanted as well as a bag to carry the items in. 

Din stood in the center of the hut and looked around one last time, feeling as if he were seeing ghosts of lifetimes past: Marathel cooking at the fire, Marathel playing with Grogu, Marathel in his arms.  He took one last look at the post near the corner.  Her leaning post.  He closed his eyes, took a breath, and walked down the steps to the yard.  Once there, he turned, aimed his flame thrower, and set the hut ablaze. 

Din stood for a few minutes, watching the hut burn.  The roof thatching went up like a rocket, and soon it collapsed, leaving just a burning shell of posts.  Now, he was finished here.  As he and Grogu returned to the Crest, Din snagged Marathel’s bag, hoping that she would need it back.   

Din flew the Crest low, searching for life signs on the scanner and wondering where she would go.  How far could she get?  Din assumed she was injured in some way; Marathel was not a trained warrior and had probably been running on adrenaline.  He felt fairly sure that she was heading for the cliff, but he had no idea where this particular cliff was.  It was within running distance from her hut, he knew that.  Grogu stood on the console, peering through the view screen as Din followed the coastline, searching for this cliff of hers.   

The scanner began beeping.  Din looked at the monitor to see a large convergence of life signs coming up ahead of them.  As they got closer, the sensor picked up one single additional weak life sign.  Din steered the Crest in from the high ledge, fifty or so meters above the crashing waves.  The ledge was a mostly a grassy field with the foliage growing right up to the edge of the cliff.  There was a large, flat boulder some ways away from the edge.  Din was thinking he could see a couple of small objects on the boulder, when Grogu suddenly shouted “Mama!” 

Din immediately brought down the Crest, and was out of his chair before the ship had fully settled, and practically leapt through the ramp door.  He ran to the boulder, where he saw a cracked wooden cup, the remains of a spear, and a bloody handprint.  Din immediately panicked, thinking, damn you, Marathel, you promised me you wouldn’t kill yourself! You promised me that you would live out the rest of your days on this fucking rock! I promised I wouldn’t take any revenge, and I promised that I would leave you behind.  Well, I broke both of those promises and you’ve broken yours.  We are just a fucking pair, aren’t we? 

Din flicked the heat sensor on his helmet, and detected a life sign a few meters away.  He ran over as fast as he could, sliding to a stop next to the crumpled form of Marathel.  She lay in a heap, not far from the dead body of Rodanthe.   Marathel’s arms were twisted beneath her as she half-curled into a fetal position.   Under her hips was a pool of thick, half-dried blood.  No, not again, thought Din as he leaned over her, touching her exposed and sunburned cheek with his gloved finger.  Her eyelids flickered, and Din whispered, “Oh, ma’mwsh ha’laa.”  He couldn’t tell where she was injured or where the blood pool had come from, but she wasn’t dead, oh, thank you, thank you, she’s not dead. 

Din carefully turned her over, realizing that her collarbone was broken and her shoulder was dislocated. She had a gash on the side of her head, with maggots in the wound. She was terribly sunburned where her skin was exposed. How long had she been out here?  But before he could fully assess any of her injuries, he heard Grogu cry out, “Patu!  Bah Daws!” 

Din straightened up, seeing Grogu standing on the flat boulder, pointing at the tree line at the edge of the grassy field.  He looked at the tree line, and the heat sensor on his helmet showed many signatures, many living creatures, and they were coming straight for him.  Din ran forward, brandishing his blaster as hundreds of Dahls charged.  He skidded to a halt, firing at several Dahls, killing them, causing the creatures to trip over each other, but still they came.  Din holstered his blaster and fired his flame thrower, but he’d been fire-happy recently and he could only swing the flame once along the front line of the Dahls before he ran out of fuel.  It did, however, bring them to a stop, and they stood their ground, chattering their keh-keh noises at him, clawing at the dirt. 

Din screamed at the Dahls, “Get away from her, you fuckers! You leave her alone! You’ve taken her entire life away! Get out of her head, get out of my head, and leave us both alone!”  He grabbed both blasters,  shot several more times at the feet of the closest ones, and the pack began to move backwards.  “That’s right, you back the fuck up and LET HER GO!” 

Unfortunately, this infuriated the Dahls, and they charged forward at Din once more.  He lifted his blasters again, intending to strafe the front line for as long as his blasters held out, when the Dahls simply stopped, as if they were crashing into an invisible barrier.  Yelping in pain, the Dahls clawed at the air, at each other, confused.  Din was just as confused as the Dahls, and he looked back over his shoulder to see Grogu holding out his little hands, holding back the Dahls with the Force.  Din returned his attention to the Dahls, who were backing up once more, now fearful of the metal man and the little green creature. 

“Go away from here!  Get out of her head and leave her alone. You’ve had her for thirty years!  You’re done with her now. She doesn’t want you anymore. You let her SUFFER!  You NEVER loved her!  NOW LET US GO!” 

Snapping, hissing, the Dahls continued their retreat as Grogu released the Force barrier and sat down in exhaustion.  Din kept his stance, brandishing both blasters, firing a warning shot at the feet of any Dahls that attempted a forward move.  Eventually, the Dahls disappeared back into the tree line, but Din held his ground until the creatures were out of range of his visor’s sensors. 

Din slowly backed up himself, scanning the tree line for any sudden movement, until he was back within range of Marathel.  Holstering his blasters, he turned to Grogu, sitting on the boulder.  “You okay, kid?”  Grogu bleated weakly.  “You did good, buddy, I’m proud of you.”  Din went to one knee beside Rodanthe, hoping that at least this one last Dahl had been true to Marathel.  He stroked the animal’s head, wondering if his cardiac episode had occurred at the time of her death.  If so, then what was the reason for him to lose his love for Marathel? 

Not having any answers, Din decided that the best course of action was to care for the still-living woman.  He carefully lifted Marathel from the ground and carried her to the boulder where Grogu sat.  “Hey kid, grab that cup and spear, would you?” asked Din, figuring that if Marathel meant them as a suicide note, they were important to her.  Grogu did as his Patu asked, and looked up wearily at Din.  Din nodded his head at the ship and said, “Going my way, pal?  Hop on.  Mama won’t mind, I don’t think.” 

Grogu leapt into Marathel’s lap, whimpering Mama, curling against her.  Din carried them both into the Razor Crest, closing the ramp behind him.  The Dahls moved forward again to the tree line, and watched as the small ship lifted off the ground, and winked away into the sky, leaving Unmanarall for what Din hoped was the final time. 

Day Twenty-Nine point Five ->

[mollywog]

i have regency!lark questions!

how is the writing process different from other fics (for example, canon-compliant or in-Panem AUs)? how much research goes into it?

do you feel immersed in the world that their mannerisms, speech patterns, etc come easily to you? or does it take conscious effort to regency-fy these things? (as a non-native English speaker, this is the thing i am always curious about when reading historical AUs!)

what are your non-fan media recs for someone who knows next to nothing about regency era? (sorry if you shared something like this and i missed it!)

thank you!

Hey!!!

Thank you for the ask @thesunpersists!!

Oof! My husband jokes that the only history I know, I learned from American Girl Doll books, which is some what accurate: I absorb history best when it’s the backdrop of fiction (especially a romance)

A few years back I went on a ‘classic’ author binge. I would read/listen to a book and follow along with the shmoop/cliff notes/spark notes, then finish off by watching any screen adaptations I could find. (I wish I had known about tumblr then *stares wistfully off into the distance*)

With that in mind, I’m not sure I have a full grasp of what each time period is… Regency is more a vibe than a historically accurate set of dates in my mind; An amalgamation of the things I read and watched and very light research… Idk I don’t want to take the fun out of storytelling by getting too caught up in that stuff, which I understand may not be for everyone.

Anyways…

I’ve enjoyed a lot of adaptations of old books. If we’re talking specifically Regency - in addition to the novels, Pride and Prejudice 95, Emma 09, Persuasion 95 are my favorites! I also love Lily James and Matt Smith so Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was fun!

I know you said non fandom but I’m going to mention cwmilton because I adore their Emma FanFiction so so much!

I think War and Peace is technically Regency Era though not set in England. I slogged through the novel and there were parts I enjoyed, but not enough to do it again. Again my love for Lily James and James Norton had me watching the 16 BBC adaptation and enjoyed it for them and the costumes.

I’d like to check out and Tom Jones is on my list thanks to @wildwren and Mr. Malcom’s List is another I hope to read/watch!

I went through Dickens, Brontë, Hardy, Gaskell so if anyone wants to talk adaptations!

Okay. So I’m not sure I’ve answered your questions 😳… so I would say: usually my desire to write a historical AU comes from recently consuming a peice of media from that period - So I’ve already got the vibe fresh in my mind. But also yes - I do think it’s difficult to write and stay in that time periods speaking pattern and vocabulary.

Anyways, feel free to send an ask or DM if you want to talk fics or historical fiction, or adaptations or whatever!!!

[butteronabun]

Hallo Butter!!

I'm really ecxited to talk with you, I'm new on Tumblr, and you've been one of the only who I followed from the start, the second I gave a glance at your account I felt in love with your writing style and ideas!! Your basically an writing idol for me. I am really shy to talk with others since I'm new tho, I've been wanting to talk with you for months now, hence, I've got the courage now and here I am. ILYSM <3

So, now introduced myself, I wanted to ask... 1)How would Luc react if we sang to him the song "All I want for Christmas is you" while wearing an Christmas deer costume? Lmao

2)As a newbie I've got some ideas to write as well, I need tips in how to write, to post, to settle yourself into the community, etc. Basically a tut for newbies. Could you help me, pretty please??

OMG OMG OMG !!! seeing this for the first time made me so happy! i feel so honored!! it’s so nice to meet you !! 🫂

i have no words. i feel flattered. and i feel shy. for you to be in love with my writing and consider me as an idol? wow. that’s— i’m just so speechless rn, i’m not even kidding! i didn’t really expect this ?? WAAAAAH ( long response under the cut )

ilysm too 🥹🥹 i’m so glad you’ve got the courage to send me an ask & finally talk to me, or else i wouldn’t have known this. because wdym for months??? i just started this blog since july!!! GKDHDKD feel free to send many more asks my way, and i’ll try my best to answer them ASAP!! whatever they are, i’ll respond!! HUGSSS

okay, now for your questions:

1. it would honestly depend on the situation 🤭 what does the deer costume look like? would it be cute or sexy? if the reader wore a deer onesie, diluc would definitely be endeared and would find the reader adorable.

however, if it was one of those. . . lowkey revealing deer costumes, i’d say diluc would be flustered LMAO

but omg, back to what i was saying, i just love love the idea of wearing a deer onesie and just singing to diluc that he’s everything you want. yes. man will definitely fall in love with you again because he’s so pathetic and so romantic and gosh he’s besotted, someone help him

i could picture this so clearly omg. inside the manor there’s the cute reader up to their teasing again, and of course, beside the christmas tree, singing their heart out to diluc — “i just want you for my own, more than you could ever know” / “make my wish come true”

and archons diluc will indeed make your wish come true. if it’s within his power, he’ll give you what you want.

( though is his being really enough for you? are you sure you do not want anything for christmas? ) 🎄

he has lots of mora. he’ll buy you anything!!!

“BABY ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS—MMPH!?”

yeah. diluc just can’t contain himself anymore and kisses you right there and then.

2. as for writing tips, bear with me - i’ll try my best to help you!!! ❤️

i know it’ll be cliche of me to say this but ig you’ll have to 1) practice and practice? i wrote ever since i was like. 9 or 10, and i’m still practicing today. i still have to improve some parts of my writing, and there are still errors that i miss out on GJDHDK

buuuut. . .since i kind of lowkey wanna get into my own personal lessons, i’d say 2) write for yourself. i’m not kidding.

like sure, it’s already the obvious but if you always write for yourself, if you always write from the heart, it’ll make things easier. and it will help you get through it. remember, if you ever get frustrated over your first draft, just remember that you can always go back to it next time and edit it. just write and write and write. go barf. go crazy. your first draft will not be perfect immediately but look at the bright side!!! ✨ you have written something, and that’s enough! ✨

no need to fret over your first draft because after that, you have the freedom to revise it and make some improvements ~ and if you have the urge rn to write, GO WRITEEEEEEE !!! writer’s block is such a pain and if you have the Writing SpreeTM, don’t waste it. you might create something good 😘

then 3) try to imitate a writing style that you really like. to put it simply, if we were artists, try to like, find a reference or an artist’s art that you adore and create your own piece with it.

( it’s the ✨ POWER OF INSPIRATION ✨ )

in my experience, i read lots of books and from there, i met who my favorite writers were. i met my own writing idols! i loved how they wrote, and even studied how they tell their creations. i could gush how i’m inspired by them sm like - there’s this one particular writer who was really great at describing or imagery that i’m still trying to achieve it? like if you just read their pieces, there’s a movie playing in your mind! that was the effect they’ve given on me, and i want that !!

ofc you’re not gonna copy ( nuh-uh! ), and i do think it’s impossible to copy someone’s style because you’ll have your personal touch with it. but that’s what’ll make it unique, since it has your branding :) also, won’t it be amazing that in your writing, you’ve brought your favorite writer along the way because they’re part of your very own mosaic? 🌸 eventually, you’ll have your own writing style. 🥰

and lastly, 4), regarding the community, just seriously be yourself!

i’m kind of a newbie as well to tumblr ( since there are still things that i DO NOT KNOW and DO NOT UNDERSTAND - skill issue for me honestly / j ) but yeah. be kind, be friendly, and be respectful - your typical internet etiquette! ✨

fun fact, i actually planned to just post some of my fics here & dip ( since i’m so busy irl 😭 ) but then life has its own mysterious ways and now i’m interacting with awesome diluc lovers :) hopefully, you’ll get to interact with others too 🥰

i’m gonna end it here now since it has gotten long. again, thank you for this ask, it was really sweet!!! your ask made me so happy!!

i wish you well in your future endeavors. i can’t wait to see you post your own diluc ideas ( if you ever plan to! )

have a great day! 🫂🫂

[bwabys-scenarios]

Hey I have a question.

Why are you mad that people are starting to become a little mad that your only writing for one person if your a hunter x hunter writer then I believe you should write for more than one person and don’t get upset when people start asking for character that they like and yes I know you write them for yourself but I do think if your growing an audience you should at least see what other people might wanna see too and you don’t have to do it of course it’s up to you I just think that you can’t be mad at people for asking.

(I’m not trying to come off as mean or rude) Sorry for asking

I get mad when people DEMAND I write for other characters and complain. I write for free, I don’t have to write for anything I don’t want to. And just imagine people complaining you don’t write for a character you honestly don’t like at the moment. That’s fucking annoying. Fanfiction authors are treated so poorly, when we are giving this content out freely.

I’m going to write what I want, and I honestly don’t owe anyone anything. I’m already nice enough to allow people to send requests, WHEN I DON’T HAVE TO! I could just permanently turn off requests if I wanted to, but I don’t!

It just feels like some people think I owe them. I don’t, you get to read my fanfiction for free. You can follow me or reblog, that’s nice, but that doesn’t mean you’re instantly owed content when you’re already being given free content. I take requests and I write what I want. Like I’ve literally written something with Illumi in it recently even though I said I’m not writing for him because I care about my fans.

I write for hxh, yeah, but just because I do doesn’t mean I have to write for every single character?? And idk if you just don’t realize this, but this is my personal blog where I can write whatever I want. People can CHOOSE to follow me if they want to, I’m not forcing them. I also won’t bend over backwards to please them. Idk why y’all expect fanfiction authors that already give y’all free shit to keep giving and giving.

Like I know not a lot of people write for HXH anymore, but you’re just going to push even more people out of the fandom by begging and being rude. I’ve honestly considered quitting writing on here because of how fucking AWFUL some people have been to me, all over fanfiction. Fanfiction writers are treated terribly, and I’m just about sick of it.

This is pretty much a final warning. Stop begging me for shit. I am already considering leaving because of the death threats and awful messages I’m getting, so the begging does not help.

Thank you, please have some common decency and treat fanfiction authors like they’re people. I write what I want, when I want.

If people harassed an artist saying to draw them free art because they already draw hxh stuff and they have a large audience so they need to draw more, that would be wrong, wouldn’t it? Don’t do the same thing to fanfiction writers.

[thegreatobsesso]

Word find tag (smile, cry, laugh)

Thanks for the tag, @winterandwords​; oof, these are doozies. 😅🤩

smile

Simon POV

“Keys, of course.” Grace held her own up from where it dangled around her neck; the blue stone flashed in the daylight. “What else?” 

Flora still looked unconvinced. “How many are you planning to make?” 

This was the best part. 

Arguably, also the worst part. 

“About five thousand?” he ventured, pressing on through the sound of Ken nearly choking. “Enough for everyone at all six schools to start using them all at once. Imagine: suppression, nationwide, simply stops working, with no explanation. If that doesn’t make a statement, I don’t know what does.” He allowed himself a smile. “No one gets hurt. There’s no war. All that happens is, the world sees we’re not going away. That magic’s insuppressible.” 

Behind him, Callie lashed her magic across the piano from left to right, sending an escalating cacophony of notes tearing through the room before jamming her pinkie finger into the thing’s rightmost key in joyous punctuation.

cry

Callie POV

The magic shifted almost imperceptibly, its taste changed; physical magic like hers, like Peter’s, but frightening in its precision, the way it clung to her muscles and left her brain free to cry in protest as Riley pulled her gently from the bed. 

No, she tried to say. No, no, no. She felt feverish; the robe clung to her clammy skin but whether it was from the bath or her fear, she couldn’t say. Riley took one of Callie’s hands in her own and held it out, away from their bodies; she took Callie’s other hand and placed it on her shoulder, smiling when it stuck there. 

“My mother made me take ballroom dancing lessons when I was a kid. Amazing,” she hummed thoughtfully, low in her throat, “how all that muscle memory sticks with you. Have you ever done it? Nod yes or no.” 

The bonds around her head and neck loosened a fraction but she didn’t use the temporary freedom, refused to give Riley the satisfaction until- 

“I asked you a question,” Riley said softly, her voice laced with a different kind of magic. “Answer me.” 

The answer was no and to her chagrin, her head moved side-to-side to indicate it. Riley smiled - just a hint, a subtle pleasure at a tiny victory. 

Acid rose in her throat and she closed her eyes. Even if she had to feel it, she didn’t have to look. Riley’s hand, soft on her waist; her own feet moving over the tile. Riley led, and she followed. 

laugh

Simon POV

“It isn’t like nothing happened,” he said calmly. “Everything that’s happened is always there, it colors every moment I spend with her, Rich. And so does everything that’s happened since then. I know this sounds trite, but it’s complicated.” 

“Are you fucking her?” 

“What?” 

“You heard me, are you fucking her?” 

“No, I’m not,” he said flatly, amazed at how quickly his brother’s tone changed back - mean and simple again. “And you know what? If I was it’d be none of your business.” 

“I’m just tryin’ to understand how you could be so stupid, bro.” 

“I don’t have to be fucking somebody to show compassion!” 

Rich made a noise on the other end of the line – somewhere between a cough and a laugh, a hard sound that signaled the impending shutdown of the whole conversation.

They weren’t going to fix anything this round. Maybe next time. Maybe not. 

Tagging @harps-for-days, @starlit-hopes-and-dreams, @diphthongsfordays and @cilly-the-writer with the new words fire, water, air, and user’s choice of any word that’s got to do with nature, earth, trees, dirt, or whatever’s in your WIP for the last element :D

[weeklyberenafix]

Info

I've copied this directly from the updated About/FAQ page, please comment/message/inbox if you feel anything is missing or have any suggestions

his event runs from January 1st to December 31st 2023 (and maybe longer or shorter depending on how it all goes). Every Monday around 9am BST, a new one word prompt will be revealed.  The mission, should you choose to accept it, is to write a fic (any length) create some art, make some gifs, anything you like!

For links to all of the prompts and round-ups, click here.

*

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to sign up? A: No, everyone is free to join in at any point.

Q: Do I have to join in every week? A: No! You are free to join in every week if you like but you do not have to join in every week. 

Q: How can I get involved? A: It’s simple!  Every week, a new prompt will be posted containing a one word prompt. You can participate through any form of creativity, be it writing a fic, fanart, or any other creative endeavour.

Q: Does my fill have to be a fanfic? A: No you can fill in whatever form you prefer. Fics, manips, gifs, artwork. Whatever takes your fancy.

Q: When are prompts being posted. A: Prompts will be posted on Monday at 9am GMT, and then reblogged at different times during the week. If you haven’t seen the post please come over to the blog and have a look.

Q: Does it have to have a theme? A: Nope! Muses can be fickle so just let your inspiration take you where it will!

Q: Will you reblog it? A: All fills that are tagged will be reblogged by this blog. In order to make sure you’re contributions get reblogged, please tag your post with ‘Weekly Berena Fix’ or, if you prefer, send me a link to the post via our submit box and I’ll see that it gets reblogged!

Q: How can I find fills for a specific prompt? A: A weekly round-up will be created every week and posted to the blog. A list of weekly round-up posts is avaliable here. This may not always happen instantly at the end of a week, but Roundups will always come. 

Q: Can my fill be NSFW? A: Yes, following a discussion on this blog is was decided that while prompts would all be SFW that fills can be NSFW. If you fill is NSFW please make this clear. 

Q: If I am a writer can I write in my own language? Do I have to offer a translation? A: You can definitely write in your own language, just please state somewhere what language. It would be nice if you could also put somewhere what the prompt word translates to in your language. It would be nice for you to translate the fic but this isn’t required.

Q: Can i suggest a prompt A: Yes my inbox and messages are open for any prompts and you can submit as many different prompts as you like. 

Additional Info: 

How to participate - No need to sign up - there will be a one word prompt a week.  Remember this is supposed to be fun. There are no minimum word counts or limits to what you can do (just make it Berena-centric, of course.)

Tagging! I am asking that you please add the following TWO tags to your post! This is to allow for masterposts to be created.

Weekly Berena Fix Berena Fix [weekly prompt] (without the brackets) I am also asking that everyone tags @WeeklyBerenaFix (due to the issues Tumblr seems to be having with tagging)

If you want to add additional tags go right ahead, but I’m hoping to make it easier to find the fills to reblog this way. If you think I’ve missed reblogging your fill (or you’re just excited!) please drop me a link in the submit box and I’ll make sure your fill gets reblogged to the blog!

(please keep in mind that I am working mum, I may be super busy with work, I may have a busy day with my children or your day might be my night, so be sure to give me time to get to all the fics!)

Any questions/suggestions, please feel free to send a message or ask 

[leclercsbf]

hello!! i know you posted about this a while back but i just wanted to tell you that i honestly would love to see you write that charlos + landoscar fic (the roommates au) i just know for sure that the entire fic would be CHAOTIC because they’re all oblivious lovesick idiots at the end of the day (pls feel free to add in a splash of maxiel as well if you would like too)

and the amnesia au!! YES YES YES. i love the fact that they’re husbands too, i think it’ll be really interesting to see the dynamic between them and that like whole ‘oh’ moment charles would get when he gets his memory back (pls tell me he does gets his memory back because i cannot handle pure angst in this context)

i am so on board with the idea of the set it up au as well, i haven’t watch the film but i did watch the trailer and small parts of it and i feel like it would just make perfect sense to have lando and oscar in that context. and also the idea of having charlos and maxiel as their bosses *chefs kiss* you’re an absolute mastermind

and that line from pierre in the “woke up with lady parts” au is EVERYTHING. it’s just so pierre coded and typically like charles said there’s always an element of “fucking the other person back to normal” so i cant wait to see the direction you’re going to go in with this fic

and of course the whole jack frost and pitch idea is literally so intriguing i love your mind so much

im so sorry if this feels like added pressure i really don’t mean for it to come off that way!!

i just absolutely adore your ideas and your whole thought process and if you do plan to write these fics i hope this gives you somewhat of a motivating boost :)

sending you so much love <33

hi there! please don’t apologize. you’re free to send me asks about whatever, whenever, because asks are generally appreciated. thank you so, so much for letting me know that the ideas i mentioned piqued your interest! if anything, i’m probably going to start with the roommates fic because it seems like the lightest fic overall, but we’ll see how it goes because i haven’t written up a proper outline for either pairing. your boy has unfortunately been too busy to write. i miss it. looks off.

to be honest, i haven’t really figured out whether or not charles is getting his memory back, but angst isn’t currently on the roadmap for the amnesia au. that might change once i start writing it, but i’m not planning on any tears for now! i feel like i owe my ao3 account a bit of joy after the last charlos fic i wrote.

set it up is a very good movie, and i’m not just saying this because i have a massive crush on zoey deutch. i’m not really a romcom kind of guy but this had me very entertained, so i definitely recommend checking it out if you’re in a romcom kind of mood. that said, i don’t plan on following the movie to the letter. i’ll basically just be taking the general premise and maybe a few details here and there, because the kiss cam scene? actual genius.

you know i just had to make pierre say it, anon. i absolutely had to, because it’s a very pierre thing to say. the direction for that fic is basically homosexuality (as per usual) and i’m very excited to write it! the question of when i’ll be able to write it is an entirely different matter, but the motivation is there. believe it. i’m similarly intrigued by my own brain because i feel like it was onto something with that jack frost and pitch thing… i just wish i knew what my brain was cooking because i completely forgot. HELP. glad to know that it sounds interesting to you as well, though!

and don’t worry, it doesn’t seem like you’re pressuring me in the slightest. i really appreciate that you went out of your way to express your enthusiasm for the ideas i’ve got lying around. fic writers do what they do because it’s fun, but it always helps to know that people enjoy reading our work, too. gives us a much-needed boost. sending you just as much love, anon! i’m wishing you the best day. ♥️

[horangkwon]

⭐ Veinte: Praying to the gods of broke college students.

wc: 950

ㅤ

ㅤ

—I don’t know what’s scarier… the debt, or the fact that we are blindly following Y/N—.

—Shut up, Seungkwan—.

Your hand hesitated before reaching for the knob, but you told yourself that things could not get worse than they already were… unless you got arrested. “No!” you thought to yourself “It’s not the time to be negative, if the police come we can just send them to meditate with Vernon and… Right, the door” you opened it and entered the manager’s office with quivering steps.

Nothing could have prepared you for whatever was waiting for you and your friends inside.

—Why is it so dark in here? Did the manager leave already?— Jiwon asked, completely ignoring Chan’s complaints about Jisun stepping on his foot.

Her question was answered when the lights suddenly lit up and the chair on the opposite side of the desk turned around to reveal a man wearing sunglasses and petting… a rock with a cowboy hat?

—This was definitely not on my bingo list for this vacation— Seungkwan whispered, to which you elbowed him before taking a step closer to the unknown man. Something about him seemed familiar to you, but you were not entirely sure what it was.

—Excuse me, Mr…— you squeezed your eyes to read his nametag —Choi, I’m here to discuss this— you carefully placed the ticket on the desk for him to see.

—Ah, yes, my staff warned me about this and told me that you might show up at my office— he said, not sparing a single look at the ticket but rather taking turns to analyze you and your friends from head to toe —I’m assuming that you are not here to pay what you owe us, and instead you want to convince me that this was all a big misunderstanding, or a mistake you made while being incredibly drunk…— he placed the rock on the desk, crossed his arms and looked at you, or at least you assumed so since you could not clearly see his eyes.

—I have to correct you there, Mr. manager— you said, earning confused looks from your friends who had started to believe that your plan was to beg on your knees for forgiveness. —I was planning on requesting an alternative way of payment…—.

—Are we gonna strip for money now— Chan said before getting his foot brutally stepped on once more by Jisun.

You closed your eyes a few seconds and took a deep breath to stop yourself from hitting your friend with the rock —If you let me, I can work here for as long as needed in order to pay off my debt—.

Silence.

You and the alleged manager Choi Seungcheol stared at each other, you could feel Jiwon burning holes into the side of your skull, but it was fine, there was no other way you could get out of this particular situation while keeping your name clean. —Fine— he finally said —Work diligently for six months here and you’re free to go—.

—Excuse me?!— Chan meddled again, and you were starting to regret letting him accompany you —How low does the salary have to be for Y/N to need six whole months of work?—. Well, he had a point. The rest of your group started murmuring in agreement, not fully believing their ears.

—Can all of you shut up?— Jiwon spoke, her cold and merciless tone making everyone, including the manager, go silent on the spot and look at her —Isn’t it obvious?— she pointed at the manager with her chin —He wants all of us to work for a month to help Y/N, that’s why he specifically said six—. You swore that you saw the man’s eyes shake for a second behind the glasses.

—You’re right— Seungkwan added —Also, his voice sounds exactly like the one that announced the party that night— the atmosphere was starting to get tense by the second; you could tell Vernon was craving some popcorn to watch the drama at a safe distance.

—Indeed, that was me, but I don’t see any problem with that— the manager said —I mean, it’s a part of my job to be in charge of announcements, and the reason we announced the party so late is that I accidentally messed up the schedule, but we could not let the food go to waste so we took a risk— he explained, effectively calming down some of your friends; needless to say, Seungkwan and Jiwon were still staring at him like angry mothers defending their kids from a tired McDonald’s employee who had added pickles to all the burgers. At some point, your team leader had even placed a hand on your shoulder in a protective manner.

—The reason why all of you should work for a month here instead of letting your friend take all the responsibility…— the man continued, completely unfazed by all the negative attention that was directed his way —...Is because I heard from one of my staff members that you guys are working on a project together—.

—Mr. TikTok star, that snitch…— Jisun mumbled under her breath.

—So I offer your team a place to stay together for a whole month, and also working only the morning or night shift, at your choice, so that you guys have time to do your project— he turned to Seungkwan with a smug smirk adorning his face and crossed his arms —Does it still look like I’m the bad guy here?—.

You glanced at your teammates for moral support, but all of them were completely speechless. —Fine— you said, praying to the Gods of Broke College Students so that you would not regret this later —We have a deal—.

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❝⭐Five Dollars and a Dream.❞

Soonyoung's plan was perfect: get a degree in contemporary dance, upload covers on YouTube, perform on the streets, ???, become rich, and live in a gigantic mansion with a family of tigers. Well, there might be flaws in his logic, but his passion (and a lucky encounter) will push him to make his dreams a reality.

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A/N: Today I offer yall a chapter after almost a whole month🙏 med is hard i wish i was bukkeu and could make a living out of barking at seungkwan everyday

⭐ Taglist: @mitchieki @rubberduckieyourtheone @winterwallacehenderson @brook0310 @merapehlapyaarwaapasaagaya (Send and ask to be added<3)

[mpc-unofficial]

Introductory post!

Hello! My name is Kalani. I’m 17 and go by any pronouns. I accidentally got stranded in between universes a couple of years back and got picked up by the Multiversal Pokemon Center, also known as the MPC. They’ve tried to return me back to where I’ve come from, but after failing to find my home universe for a year, I ended up deciding to join their team while continuing to search for my home universe.

The MPC is a relatively unknown organisation located somewhere between multiple universes. We specialise in the rescue of pokemon (and occasionally humans and other creatures!) who accidentally find themselves stranded either in the wrong universe or floating around between them. Upon finding these Pokémon, we would nurse them back to health if needed and attempt to release them back to their home universes. You’ll see a lot of strange pokemon in the center, or really, they’re only strange if you’re not used to seeing the same pokemon in multiple different types and other unknown mons that may not exist in your world.

I work as a helper around the center, and my job is to help out with the miscellaneous tasks I get assigned here.

This is by no means the official MPC account. This account is technically still a personal account, even though no official MPC account exists.

The rascal on my shoulder is Astra. She was the first rescue I’ve helped out with and is now a personal member of my team. We did manage to find her home universe, but she decided to stay with me instead of returning back there. She’s a chimchar, and her typing’s Fairy/electric.

If you guys have any questions about our center, are looking for a pokemon you’ve lost a while back, or just want to chat with us, feel free to type them in our ask box!

OOC info below (and some potentially important stuff):

Kalani is an oc.

I’ve been on the fence for making a pokeblog for a while, but I’ve finally decided to make one! I still don’t quite know how this works, so I may make mistakes. Feel free to point them out to me if I do.

If you have a Pokémon concept you want to see Kalani interact with, feel free to write those in the ask box as well! I’ll like to keep this blog interactive, because there’s only so many type swap/ fakemon concepts I can come up with as a single person. If you want to send in your ocs, that’s allowed as well, just note that this would mean that you would be giving me permission to draw and post them on this blog unless you state otherwise in the ask.

All art is drawn by me unless otherwise stated. Yes, I’m aware that they can look really different. My art has like 0% consistency.

Not everything sent in the ask box will be answered. Sometimes I may accidentally miss out on an ask or simply choose not to reply for whatever reason, please do not spam the ask box.

Ooc tags that would no longer be warned unless there are other ooc tags are in the post as well:

Unreality, Pokeblogging, Rotumblr, In person, (any arc tags), pelipper mail, ask game

The following are open:

Pelipper Mail!

Strange happenings/transformations whatever they’re called (mainly because the MPC is so unstable anything could happen)

Interaction posts (like a new pokemon/type swap/creature infiltrating the center)

Anything else you can think of that isn’t too crazy.

@mpc-unofficial