#sorry the parasite has taken over again

[anomura]

posing like he wants me to call him baby girl

[ithinkimnormal]

Sorry but It's actually so annoying how much people downplay the crucial role piltover's corrupt council games played in derailing jayce/viktor's work and pretty much putting shackles around their lives. The council is directly responsible for and directly FUNDING so much of the misery that happens in this show, before the story has even started. Before Powder ever finds the gemstone. They single-handedly doom half of the region to death.

Just during the show: Jayce wanted to create magic to aid and uplift the common people, the council wanted trade route instant teleportators to make themselves richer.

Jayce & Viktor wanted to work on technology to help miners and steelworkers and artisans who are trying to survive in the industrial hellscape of piltover and zaun; the council wants it shelved for another 20 years. (yes, heimer is part of the corrupt council - no matter how much his image is laundered by the fandom.)

They are inept and self-serving leaders, elected by themselves and their blood inheritances, utterly obsessed with ultimate profit. You can really see how parasitic their relationship is to the people at the beggining of act 1. Jayce is a token nameless life, so disposable to them that they were going to burn down all of his research and throw out all of his titles, making him not just a lower-house vassal but an EXILE, and the only reason why that doesn't happen is because they realize how much money they can suck out of his work.

This applies to Viktor too. See the way that Heimerdinger tells him over and over again that no other paths can be taken, he has 'fulfilled his purpose' and he should be content to die. See how Mel looks at Viktor like a bug she wants to squash under her palm when he rejects the idea of making weapons for council. See how they speak over him and only address Jayce, as if he's worth less than nothing.

You are only as valuable as the profit you're willing to create. You are a problem that has to be dealt with as soon as you refuse their orders. They have the power to ruin your life, and if they find an excuse, they will. This is a direct threat pointed at Jayce & Viktor during ACT2, when Jayce is pressured into becoming one of them to protect 'the bottom line profit' and, personally speaking, to avoid that ire being redirected towards Viktor. He's pushed into compliance and told a target has been painted on his back.

Arcane jayvik are doomed in big part not for wanting to do harm, but being forced to exist under the beck and call of billionaire leeches. They are both immigrants. They are both struggling to get a degree and keep themselves afloat and they want to help people so goddamn much but they have to keep postponing their dreams to serve uncaring masters. I really wish there was more fan content focused on these very real bonds of understanding and solidarity between them.

When Viktor says 'Jayce will understand' that's not a fluke; he's lived in this environment for years. He knows Jayce is being pushed down the same way that he is and that deep down they've been kept captive by the exact same people. When Jayce agrees that Viktor should do whatever he needs to do to keep himself alive, he means that from the heart.

[arminsumi]

PRIEST GETO

GETO すぐる + fem!reader

Warnings : 🔞 minors do not read/interact : contains 18+ content, smut/erotica, religious themes, sacrilegious themes, solo m*sturbation, unprotected sex, creampies, virgin!Geto, not proofread

Priest!Geto has just one conversation with you, and immediately thinks to himself, "You're gonna be the reason I go to hell."

Priest!Geto's narrow eyes catch on your curves and he feels something click in his brain, then he quickly looks away as if singed by his sinful desires.

Priest!Geto is so taken aback when you outright tell him that you're sexually attracted to him. "Oh... well... I'm sorry I can't reciprocate the feeling... you know why." he tries to sound indifferent, but there's a heat rising up his neck.

Priest!Geto has to hook a finger on his clerical collar to tug at it when he sees you sitting in the pews. Your presence is so strong to him.

Priest!Geto is violently shaken up when you accidentally touch him. You once sat next to him, pressing your thigh to his more muscular thigh, and he could barely think, his brain malfunctioned like he was simply a 19 yr old college boy in need of pussy. You're so soft, you're so soft, you're so fucking soft and perfect he hates it with his soul. He just wants to know what it feels like to sink his pure fingers into the flesh of a creature as sinful as you.

Priest!Geto tries so hard not to think unholy thoughts of you, he clutches his rosary tight in his veiny hands and kneels at his bed every night, praying... but then you enter his mind like a beautiful little parasite and then he feels his cock sitting upright; stiff and leaky and begging for something soft to lay inside. He tells himself "Just once can't hurt..." and jerks himself nervously to the idea of you taking his cock in your sinning hands... sinning mouth... slutty sinning pussy... aw, he cums so hard he shakes and can't catch his breath. His cum is so thick, spurting out his curved cock, decorating his lower abdomen and trail of hair down there.

Priest!Geto inhales sharply when you stand too close next to him, like the proximity offends his whole body; his hands are folded neatly over his crotch as he tries to conceal the outline of his cock as it starts pronouncing itself through his pants.

Priest!Geto loathes the days you don't visit the church or come to enjoy lunch with your friend. He sits there, bored by dull conversations that he shouldn't be bored by, and pokes at his meal... the only thing that's appetizing to him is you, your company, your disrespectful flirting, your unexpected little remarks.

Priest!Geto to you is a steadfast believer, calm and unaffected by your provocations. But you see cracks in his demeanor; how he shifts uncomfortably when you talk to him in that soft voice, how he has to clear his throat before responding, how he zones out after you say something suggestive as if he's contemplating pouncing on you and sticking his tongue in your mouth.

Priest!Geto goes straight into denial about aching for your lips around his cock, even though he's having wet dreams about it. Some mornings he wakes from a dream of you sucking on his thick cock, and he looks up at the ceiling and groans... because he came against his thigh in his sleep... a gooey sticky sinful mess.

Priest!Geto is convinced that God sent you to him to test his discipline... and he knows he's fucked. He hates tying his hands behind his back. Do you know how badly those hands want to nest in your hair and pull on it while he stuffs you up?

Priest!Geto slowly feels his discipline weakening the more he's exposed to you and your charms.

Priest!Geto freezes up when you kiss him one day when you're alone together. "We can't do that..." he's breathlessly talking, hands grabbing your arms to pry you off of him... oh god how is he breathless over one kiss? His hands start shaking when you kiss him again. "F-fuck... we really can't do this..." he's moaning in no time, even whimpering and closing his eyes, letting himself get engulfed in dirty pleasure while you explore his body with your lips.

Priest!Geto whimpers from oversensitivity when he sinks his fat cock into you, telling himself that losing his virginity to a slut like you is forgivable... oh and his animalistic thrusts? Those are forgivable too. And the way he looks at you, like he's consumed by lust? That's also forgivable.

Priest!Geto crawls back to you for more after that, but at the same time pushes you away. He's a conflicted man. But when he's balls deep draining himself in your pussy, calling you a "bad girl" and a "sinner", he's a simple man.

Priest!Geto moans "sin for me, darling..." while cumming so deep inside that not a single drop of his sticky seed drips out. He leaves your pussy a sloppy, gushing mess.

Priest!Geto feels a rush, a dizzying and lustful rush, when you look at him during mass now; your little wink and lick of your lips makes him stutter throughout the passage he's reciting.

© arminsumi

I do not permit the copying/reposting/translation/plagiarism of my works. Do not steal what I've worked hard to create.

This is fictional work.

[alicerosejensen]

Find me

Warning: mention of blood, violence (physical and psychological), mention of viruses, parasites, zombies; kidnapping; the reader has a slight anemia; Fem/reader; established relationship with Leon.

Synopsis: You could have a quiet wedding and a good life with the person you love most in the world. Leon was ready to protect you to the death from his enemies and viruses but… it seems that someone is also interested in you. And the price for life will be very high.

A/N: The idea from this post that I wrote about quite a long time ago. "Together forever" I'm not very good at writing (apparently the Yandere theme is not mine, no matter how much I like it). So I'm going to try this plot. I don't know how many parts there will be, but if everything goes well, then probably a lot (maybe 10-12 or so). I hope someone likes it because I have serious notes on this work in my notebook, as if these are sketches for the 9th part of the resident).

Tags will be added to the following parts. I was very much inspired by the remaster and Haunting ground when I was taking notes. After all, both games were made by Capcom.

Feedback is welcome (but no insults!)

Sometimes the worst horror happens in the name of love. It's not the worst plot for books, films or paintings that are more than a hundred years old and it's impossible not to admit that sometimes we want to be loved until our death.

And maybe after it.

The words sound soft, with a slight taste of regret, as if somewhere between the letters there is a treacherous "I'm sorry". But in fact it was so predictable. Leon hugs you too tightly, experiencing an inexhaustible sense of guilt, because he promised to decide together where you will spend your honeymoon, which is unlikely to last exactly a month, he promised to watch a movie with you that you have been planning for a long time and… and everything went to hell.

Leon nuzzles your cheek and devoutly kisses you gently, leaving a wet trail with his eyes closed. Another sign of his eternal love, his lips are imprinted on the bridge of your nose, making you smile from the slight tickle caused by his stubble. He had no power over not being called to work for at least another week, but the government is not interested in the personal life of his best agent. And yet you enjoy the way he puts his arm around your waist, holding you as tightly as he can.

"Okay, Mr. Kennedy," you joke kindly, inhaling the almost faded scent of his cologne. "I forgive you, once again. Run to save the world" You smile looking into his crystal blue eyes filled with sadness and longing.

"I promise that I will ask the authorities for a good vacation," Leon swears very sensually, continuing to hold you tightly in his hands and look with those puppy eyes from which the soul is torn apart and kisses again this time on the forehead, "If necessary, I will harness Ingrit and no one will bother us. We'll plan everything the way you want, even if it's a tour of all the castles in Europe"

You laugh sincerely, removing the bangs from his face, hoping to stretch the moment of intimacy with him longer. It was so warm and safe next to him that you snuggled up to his chest and he gently cradled you in his arms like a child.

"Don't do anything stupid in my absence"

"I still need to do an exhibition and maybe I'll finally clean up the bookcase," you lie knowing full well that the books will still lie randomly on the shelves and you won't even touch them. Actually, your work was the only thing that could save you from the all-consuming longing for Leon.

"Be careful, okay?" with some hidden fear, he asks, reluctantly releasing you from the ring of embraces. "I'll call as soon as I get a free minute and I'll really be back soon"

Leon is already out on the street and you follow him with a sad look, noticing some dark car to the side. Rightly deciding that they came for him, you lower your head, sighing heavily and literally taken aback when Leon's lips abruptly cover yours with a demanding and somewhat rude kiss that you forget how to breathe. At some point you try to seize the initiative, but strong hands push you against the wall and you hit the back of your head a little painfully, allowing him to dominate. As always.

"I would eat you right here," Leon said sarcastically and quietly stroking your hips, "But I really have to go."

And you silently bite your lower lip while watching him move away from you and get on his bike.

Well, that cool car wasn't for him, but this thought quickly leaves your head and in the end, tired of standing on the street, you just go back into the house, closing the door, grabbing the phone and immediately sending him an impatient "I miss you already." However, this does not prevent you from also ordering food with home delivery and watching some movie to pass the evening that was hopelessly spoiled.

The evening really became disgusting, neither delicious food saved him, nor a good movie will save him.

"Complete shit" a quiet curse came off your lips when you looked at the phone screen for the hundredth time in the evening and endlessly reread Leon's last message "My love…" which seems to have been imbued with such despair that tears came to your eyes. He was like a big kid who couldn't live a day without you and besides, only with you his sleep was like a more or less healthy one. You were his only light and he wanted that light to stay with him forever. Well, you could send him a hundred more messages, but it's unlikely that he will have the opportunity to read them in the next few hours or even days. So with bitterness, you just turned off the TV and went to the bathroom to get ready for an earlier than usual sleep.

Hot water pleasantly calmed and warmed the skin flowing down the body. You spent 15 minutes in the shower, brushing your teeth and doing all the usual and favorite cosmetic procedures, smeared your body with a lotion with a pleasant floral scent, waiting for it to soak into pale skin. The mood even improved a little when you changed into pajamas and straightened the bed once more before putting your head on the pillow and looking at the phone.

Nothing.

There's no point blaming Leon or doubting his love. It wasn't up to him. Sometimes he was dragged out of bed late at night and you could not see him for weeks without even being able to talk on the phone for one minute. But when he returned, he turned into a puppy clinging to his beloved owner and covered your body with a lot of kisses, not letting you get out of bed. Not that you mind… You always miss him and worry about him.

Sighing, you turn over on your side, putting the phone on the bedside table and not seeing the desired message from your fiance. Therefore, grabbing Leon's pillow, the lungs are filled with his smell and instead of feeling his presence, you experience only a deep feeling tearing apart that makes your heart beat a little faster.

And closing your eyes, you reach for the switch, when suddenly for a second the phone quickly notifies you of a new message from the addressee next to whose name the heart turns red.

"Don't forget to take the pills that the doctor prescribed for you. I want this sickly pallor to disappear. Love you"

Well, smiling, you took a screenshot of the message for some reason, saving it in your gallery on your phone. After sending Leon the answer, you still remembered that you really forgot about those pills once again, but you didn't want to get up anymore, so you left this matter for the morning. Sighing once again, trying his luck in the hope that Leon would write something else, your mobile was treacherously silent while you were just flipping through the social media feed.networks thinking only about how dependent you are on this man. However, the same can be said about him. The phone went out, as did the light in the bedroom, and sleep slowly overtook your mind when you hugged else's pillow without hearing quiet footsteps in the next room. The uninvited guest, thanks to Leon, had to tinker a lot with the lock of the front door before he unlocked it, quietly closing it behind him so as not to attract your attention while you were in the shower. Merging with the surrounding darkness, it was necessary to wait for the right time and prepare the syringe so that everything went as it should and the target was quietly neutralized without attracting the attention of neighbors.

The order was well paid and the fact that Leon left the house on that day was only to his advantage. After all, a government agent can ruin everything and getting rid of him threatened big problems that were not needed by anyone, but who will remember about his pretty bride, about whom he will probably quickly forget everything himself? The unknown person only needed to stick a pomeranian, inject the substance and quietly take the target out of the house by throwing a fake note with a handwriting similar to yours that you and Leon do not see the future for yourself. Pick up a few personal items and throw them in the nearest trash as proof of the truthful departure of the unfaithful bride.

Not the worst plan, especially since Leon Kennedy will think about your disappearance and how natural it is, no one really cares. Even if he suspects this ill-conceived plan, by that time you will be too far away from here anyway.

The problem was solved by itself because you are a simple art worker did not pose any threat even if you tried to resist. One step, two… the blessed victim will not suspect anything until the very moment when someone else's hand in a black glove closes her mouth and sticks a needle into her body. You fall asleep without suspecting anything, somehow reflexively reaching to the left side where Leon usually sleeps with his back to the bedroom door.

You are separated by literally a few meters from each other before one inept movement spoils everything.

The sound of falling books that Leon has been asking you to arrange exactly for so long makes you open your eyes by squeezing the pillowcase of the pillow and the "guest" freeze without touching the door handle. However, you felt a gaze on you that did not let you be deceived that someone had entered the house.

In Leon's bedside table there is a 9mm pistol fully loaded. It's not that you were very accurate, but Leon took you to a place as entertainment, where you trained shooting at targets under the watchful eye.

"not the worst result for a beginner," he said condescendingly so as not to upset you, but it was fun even if the gun was real.

Except now there are no jokes! You heard another step towards your side and held your breath, gathering strength for a jerk to pull out the gun and remove it from the safety. From fear, the heart beat faster, causing the blood to roar in your ears and before the intruder's hand landed on your face, you abruptly rolled to the left side of the bed, throwing a pillow at the person standing over you, winning for yourself a couple of seconds from his confusion.

Jumping to your feet, you quickly grabbed the gun pointing it at the man with trembling hands, removing it from the safety.

"Your own life is more expensive," you thought when a man of impressive size in a mask stood a meter away from you without a weapon, because his goal is to deliver you alive because you will not be of any use dead.

You held his floor at gunpoint, but your hands were shaking from the unusual weight and you really wanted to lower them down, but you held on trying not to panic. A step towards you and you pulled the trigger without aiming so stupidly hitting the closet, startled by the loud noise of the shot, immediately shrinking and from unaccustomed frightened by the strong recoil of the weapon.

"Fuck," he swore loudly, immediately rushing to you, forcing you to scream at the top of your voice while miraculously dodging. Rushing to the door, the first thought was to run outside and ask for help from neighbors, especially since the sound of a gunshot and a woman's scream certainly did not go unnoticed and someone probably should have already called the police. We just need to hold out. However, you only managed to jump out into the corridor when suddenly a strong man's hand roughly grabbed you by the hand in which you were holding a gun and your finger pressed the hook again making a shot.

Again a loud noise, your screams and a small hole in the ceiling.

Again the bullet flew by.

"Get off me, you bastard!"

A ringing slap in the face and you abruptly fell to the floor dropping the gun somewhere to the side. He immediately hung over you, but grabbing the first book that came to hand, you threw it in her man's face and taking advantage of another hitch jumped to her feet, running on without thinking about how much lip hurts.

And yet, the chances of escape were initially small, especially when shortness of breath began due to anemia and the chest began to ache sharply. A deep breath did not help even if your body was filled with adrenaline, he still knocked you to the floor, pressing your whole body to the floor, taking that ill-fated syringe out of your pocket and sticking it into you by quickly pressing the plunger . It only takes a few minutes, but because of your screams and shots, even they could put the entire mission under the "failed" icon, so without wasting even these precious minutes, the kidnapper grabs you by the hair and just hits your head on the floor suppressing resistance at the root. The world before your eyes becomes hazy and barely audible when a strange and unusual feeling of lightness covers you despite the pain in your head.

"Bitch ruined everything"

This bastard threw you over his shoulder and quickly ran out of the house, leaving the syringe lying there on the floor because there was no more time. Throwing you carelessly like a sack into the backseat, he slammed the door and gave gas to get away from the crime scene as soon as possible and dump the tail by moving to another car. They'll pay him well anyway.

You only blurred vision being on the verge of consciousness silently watched your loss until a long sleep covered you.

[yuzurins]

# reluctant to love

desc: in which rin writes a long essay proclaiming his long suppressed love for you

warnings: not proofread… lots of rambling, maybe ooc, itoshi brothers are not estranged, minuscule amount of angst but majority is fluff, some curse words here and there, rin is still at blue lock btw!

rbs and interactions are appreciated !!

————————————————————————

‘dear y/n,

i am writing this letter to inform you that i have taken a liking to you for a while now and would like to—‘

————————————————————————

rin grumbles to himself as he scribbles out the complete trash of a confession that he had just wrote.

he doesn’t even know why he decided to take this approach at all. it all started because isagi and bachira told him that, “he was beating around the bush,” and “he’d probably win the world cup before being able to utter a word in front of them.”

so of course, rin said some very harsh words in response, leading to isagi challenging him to confess to you before the next match (that was in 72 hours) with his football career on the line.

which is how he found himself sitting at his desk after practice, spinning his pencil around trying to write a stupid love letter for his best friend.

because in the words of bachira, “everyone loves poetic men!”

despite immediately denying the words of his friends, deep down he knew damn well that they were completely right. if he wasn’t forced to, he would probably quit football before ever speaking about his feelings out loud.

but because the itoshi rin can’t risk his ego and pride, he’s reluctantly willing to write a silly letter.

turns out writing that silly letter was harder than any football game he’s ever played.

————————————————————————

‘dear y/n,

i remember the first time we met.

it was first day of junior high, and you were sitting on a bench in front of the school with red puffy eyes, fiddling with the little kumamon plush on your bag.

i was late to class that morning, and after seeing you i purposely tried to walk faster in order to avoid any human interaction. but you saw me and grabbed onto my blazer, refusing to let go even though i didn’t spare you a glace. you asked for help getting to your classroom, and because i didn’t know what i was getting myself into, i lead you there (like the kind person i am) expecting to never see you again.

but i guess the world had other plans, because it turned out we were in the same class. you stuck to me like a parasite, annoying me every chance you got and never shutting the fuck up. but i enjoyed the company, though younger me would never admit that.

fast forward a few years and nothings changed. or has it? you’re still yapping your mouth off all the time and clinging beside me in every class. except something’s different, and i don’t know what it is. you laze around at my house after begging me for homework help, we occasionally go get food, sometimes fall asleep together and— [this part is illegible because rin drew over it too hard]

i don’t know. i think around this time i started distancing myself from you because i always felt uneasy around you. my heart was always beating rapidly, my stomach felt uneasy, and i just felt anxious. all the time. nii-chan told me it was because of you, so i just stopped talking to you. i’m sorry.

i’m sorry i didn’t tell you i was leaving. that i’d be gone for a while because i got scouted by blue lock. i didn’t mean to because i thought i’d be okay before i left. sorry i’m rambling now. i know i don’t speak a lot in person so i’m writing my thoughts down for you to understand me better.

i was a kid in denial, and sometimes i still am because even now i don’t understand that part of myself. to be honest, i would’ve never confessed these feelings of mine if my friend didn’t push me to. it sounds like a dick move but i swear on my career that everything i’ve written on this stupid paper is genuine and sincere.

and what i am certain of is that i want you to be by my side. i want you to be there cheering for me when i win a game, i want you to be there beside me when i wake up, i want you to spend your afternoons lazing around me, i want you to tell me all about the small unnecessary details of your day,

i just want you

because you make me feel safe

————————————————————————

rin’s biting his lower lip now, feeling super embarrassed about how vulnerable he just let himself be on a piece of paper. he doesn’t read over it at all and shoves it into the envelope immediately. doesn’t even check whether he wrote your address right or not because he’ll chicken out if he looks it over at all.

he’s super anxious about this letter, to the point where he’s fucking up his plays, so imagine his surprise when he sees you sitting on his porch the day he finally gets to go home.

you jump up immediately at the sight of him and run to hug him. rin stiffens at the sudden impact but drops his bags a second later to sink into your embrace.

though as if that wasn’t enough of an answer for him, he’s still uncertain about your feelings. you hear the rapid beating of his heart and look up to give him a lovesick grin.

“i love you too, itoshi rin.”

BONUS: 2YRS LATER.

“i can’t believe you forgot to sign off a letter confessing that you’re head over heels for me.” you giggle as you walk over to your boyfriend, who was staring at his letter that you pinned to your pegboard. “what if i ended up responding to the wrong person?”

rin huffs and turns away, embarrassed that you caught him reading that. “shut up, you have no other friends anyways.”

you smile teasingly at him as you notice his ears turning red. “you never thought about the possibility that someone could’ve liked me during the 10 months you ignored me for?”

he frowns, though you can’t see him, and droops his shoulders down. you know he still feels bad about it, but it’s fun to tease him because in your eyes he looks so adorable, like a big puppy.

and as he still stares at the floor, he turns around and walks over to envelop you in his warmth, resting his head in the crook of your neck.

an endearing smile finds its way on your face as you hug rin back. he’s not a words person; this was his way of expressing his apology.

“it’s okay, you big baby, as long as you’re here with me now.”

[graycomfort]

I have an idea to write something heavy. David naturally has better communication skills than Simon. Simon is more unhappy, which makes him insecure, whereas David does not have this quality and can flirt with Sophie. Girls love bad boys. And as a result, Simon may catch them in an intimate moment or simply realize that he will never get Sophie back and become even more depressed. David may pester Sophie or the reader, or Simon will meet the reader after catching David and Sophie together.

+ "I am adding to the previous post. David makes Sophie fall in love with him. Simon had known David since he found out Sophie was with him. and when Henrikson becomes disabled, he says his signature phrase at a meeting with Leatherhoff. And the reader could call an ambulance for Simon"

Simon Hennrikson x Gn! Reader - Shouldn't - Part 1

Pairings: Sophie x David Leatherhoff, Simon Hennrikson x Reader

Synopsis: Your best friend Sophie falls in love with your brother, David. Simon isn't too happy about that, but maybe something good can come of it.

Everyone in this story is an asshole, but I'm so sorry David and Sophie lovers! I WILL TRY TO MAKE IT UP TO YOU!!!!! Masterlist

A/N: Thank you so much for requesting!!! I'm so sorry for going a bit off-topic from the prompt you asked of me, and for taking such a long time. I had struggled a bit while writing it, and I ain't too happy with the outcome. I'M SORRY IF IT DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE WAHHHHH

Contents: Two best friends drifting apart due to a relationship, everyone is an asshole in one way or another, eating ham pizza (just exchange it for something else if you don't eat meat or don't like pizza in general), one use of Y/N, unhealthy relationship, angst??? Word count: ~2.5k

"Oi, bro bro. Borrow me one of your Wii controllers, please." I said as soon as I entered my brother's room. David got startled, as I didn't even bother to knock, and dropped his joint on the carpet below. "Fucking hell." He muttered as he picked it back up. The carpet was now decorated with yet another burn mark as it wasn't a rare occurrence. "Don't you have two of them yourself?" He answered in a gruff voice of his. "If I didn't need one I wouldn't even waste my time talking to you. But I broke one of them and I need two." I crossed my arms as the conversation could have been very much avoided. "What for?" I groaned as he dragged out the conversation on purpose. "To play the other one with my feet, obviously." I stated with sarcasm seeping from my words. "I'm having a friend over, what else would I need two for, you idiot!" "You're weird as shit, I would have believed the first one." He said with an eye-roll as he stood up.

"So can I have it??" "Yes, Jesus, gimme a second to get it, you fucking parasite." His movements were sloppy, as expected from a guy who has taken more drugs today than I have drunk water this week. "Says you." But he didn't lie and within a minute the controller you needed was in your hands. "Thanks, will return it when she goes home." I was ready to leave, I only got to turn around before David spoke up again. "She? You're having a laddyy over! Is she pretty??" I turned my head at the question. Staring into his red eyes with obvious disgust. "Whatever is going through that drugged-up mind of yours, quit it." He shrugged. "If you're not interested I might be." He said with a cheeky tone. "No." I didn't even bother to argue with a guy who possibly couldn't even see who was in front of him.

But it did make me worried. I prayed all he said was a joke and that he wouldn't advance on her. He would be such a bad influence on a such sweet girl like her. I didn't even get to my room as a knock sounded on the front door. "I'll get it!" Was heard as a black smudge ran past me. The most coordination I have seen him manage to keep in a while. Oh, you motherfucker.

David opened the upper lock on the door and swung it open. Before the squeaky door, which had a "Leatherhoff" doorplate glued to it, stood an average heightened brunette girl. It was the first time I had ever invited her to my house, so she was caught off guard at the sight of a disheveled-looking man. "Oh my, why do I have the pleasure of seeing an angel at my doorstep?" She was not prepared to be hit on the second the door opened. The fact that most interactions she had with men had been bullying from her schoolmates. It weirded her out, yet kinda felt pleasant. What she was supposed to say she didn't know.

"Is this wh-" Before she could finish her sentence, the dark-haired man was forcefully shoved out of the way by a familiar to her face. "Move it, pothead." I stabilized myself after the strong push and made way so the said girl could enter. "Please come in, Sophie. And don't mind my idiotic brother." As I was mentioning him I shoved my elbow into his ribs. Which he winced at.

Sophie looked so unsure of the whole shit show before her, but in the end, she did enter my household. As soon as she took off her shoes I rushed her into my room. I sent one last glare in the direction of my brother before he fled back to his room annoyed. Sophie looked at me and said in a slight whisper "Was he…?" Her hand raised to point at her eyes. "High? Yeah." I said with a tired tone and threw myself on my bed. "I'm sorry that it was the first thing you saw here." I stared at her worried. I really didn't want her to judge me based on my brother. But Sophie just waved her raised hand. "Ah, don't worry about it. He was sweet to me." The worried look quickly got replaced with disgust. I fake gagged. "Ugh, girl nah!!" She laughed at my reaction and sat down next to me.

She grabbed her bag and took out a few crinkly pages. "I got you the notes you wanted. Sorry, they're kinda smugged… got pushed into a puddle…" Her mood suddenly dropped at the mention of the accident. I sighed with anger. "Fuck. That's the second time this week, I wish I was there to pay them back." Sophie smiled at the sign of care and looked up at me as I took the papers. "Don't worry, Simon was there and stood up for me." She paused for a second. "I should introduce you two to each other, I feel like you two would have a lot in common. And he could use some socializing…"

I recognized the name, but couldn't pinpoint it to a face though. As it was mostly obscured by the hood of the hoodie he always wore. It surprised you when Sophie said he stood up for her or let alone that he's her friend, as he seemed very reserved and mostly kept to himself. Usually spending breaks and sometimes even classes, listening to music, or sleeping. I couldn't blame him, I would have probably done the same thing. Yet I really wanna show the school am I better than my deadbeat brother who used to go to this school. Most of the teachers had a sour look on their faces the first time they read my last name while taking note of the attendance. I feel like I have succeeded in showing them I'm nothing like him. But the pressure to keep up the good act was still there.

"Yeah sure, I will gladly meet him. He seems like a good guy." Sophie smiled at me, she felt glad. "He is, he is. I mean yeah, he can get a bit too much sometimes. But I'm guessing that's mostly because he doesn't have any other friends than me." I hummed back at the information. The conversation diverted into many different topics before we could even get to the main point of our hangout. Playing on the Wii. Just dance, Wii Sports, etc. We played any party games we could find in my library of games until we got tired. Sophie was pretty skilled at playing those even tho she doesn't really own any gaming equipment. I was glad to give her access to mine as she seemed to enjoy it very much. The room was filled with movement, laughter, and overall fun.

It was all interrupted eventually by the door getting swung open by David. I was about to tell him off before I noticed that he actually had a reason to come in here. "Mom ordered pizza. This one's for you two. It's ham, I think." I stood up from my bed and took the pizza from his hand. Sophie was right behind me. "Great timing! I'm starving" She leaned over my shoulder, placing her hands on them. "It smells so good!" I looked at David, who's focus was on Sophie. "Tell Mom we said thanks." And with that I went back to my bed, taking the pizza with me. Before Sophie went back herself, she turned to David. "Thank you for bringing it to us." She smiled, which was replicated by David. "No problem, beautiful." I groaned before Sophie had a chance to reply. "C'mon. It's gonna get cold if you keep chit-chatting." David signed and grabbed the door handle. "Maybe another time." With that he left, closing the door behind him.

I was very much annoyed with the forceful flirting he was showering Sophie with. The girl didn't see anything wrong with David's actions. As she was appreciating all the positive words sent her way. As it wasn't a common thing in her life. Sophie came back and opened the pizza box as I was too deep in my thoughts. I was brought back to reality when I felt a warm scratchy texture in my hand. As Sophie put one of the pieces in it. David was right, Sophie was an angel. He was right about the pizza too, it is indeed ham.

It started to get dark once we finished eating. "I should better be going. It's getting dark." I glanced outside only now noticing the dark grayish sky. "Man…" "Yeah…" Sophie didn't look too happy about it just like me. I stood up and Sophie grabbed her things. "I had a lot of fun, we should do it more often!" She beamed as I replied with a nod. "Definitely!"

As we got out of my room, we met my mom in the hallway. "Ah miss Leatherhoff. Thank you for the pizza and for having me!" Mom waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it, my dear. It got late, why don't Y/n's brother drive you home." She smiled sweetly. Sophie started to get worried, as she had just seen him high a few hours ago.

"I don't know, ma." I said worried about Sophie's safety. My mom didn't really listen as she called out for David to come to the hallway. It didn't take long till he came out of his room. "Yeah? What is it?" David seemed better, his eyes less red as if it wore off. Yet I still didn't trust him. You couldn't bring it up to Mom, it was a very sensitive topic. She chooses to be oblivious to her son's obvious addiction.

"Could you give Sophie a ride back home?" David looked confused at who she meant. Looking next to her, he saw his annoyed sibling and the brunette girl he hit on earlier. Just now remembering that it was her name. "Yeah, sure. Lemme just grab my keys." David disappeared again and then appeared back in the hallway quickly with his car keys in hand.

I was so displeased with the situation at hand. "Something happens to Sophie and you're fucking dead, David." I glared at him. "Y/n! Language!" My mom said before David spoke up to his defense. "Chill, nothing will happen. You know I'm an amazing driver." I raised my eyebrow. "Oh, are you now?" David sent a glare back at you. "Enough of that." Our mom spoke up.

I signed and went to hug Sophie goodbye. Before I let them leave I spoke up one last time. "Text me the second something happens or when you get home, okay?" "Okay, okay. I should be fine." She said as if she wasn't sure herself. They both put their coats and shoes on and left. I stood there looking at the door a second longer. Worried thoughts filled my brain.

And I was right. I couldn't stop David from entering my room while Sophie was there. But I couldn't stop the text messages. I don't know when they started texting. Possibly they exchanged numbers when he drove her home. It didn't matter. What mattered was that my conversations with Sophie started to get filled with 'You will never guess what David said' 'David did this' 'David' and 'David'. I would have been happy for her. If it wasn't my druggie of a brother she was talking about.

I suggested to her plenty of times that maybe she could go for Simon. "Have you seen how he looks at you? He definitely likes you!" At this point, I started to sound desperate. "Maybe… but I just don't see him that way. I like him, just not like that." I felt defeated.

Then the unavoidable happened. It was a very quiet break, there was maybe one more person in the classroom besides me. Sophie came so excited to my desk. "You won't believe it!" I looked up at her from my notes. "What?" I should have been already prepared for what she was about to say. "David and I are dating!" But I wasn't.

"Åh, cool!" I tried not to show how displeased I was with what she just announced to me. My eyes made a connection with the notes again. "Something wrong?" She asked and I really wanted to tell her the truth. I didn't wanna be a bad guy in her eyes. She was love-struck, and David made her happy. So I lied. I looked up at her with a fake grin. "Åh, nej. I'm happy for you two! I'm just a little tired and studying for today's exam is killing me.'" "Åh, I'm sorry! I will let you be! Good luck!" With that, she was gone. I watched her leave as if it was gonna be the last time I saw her. When she was out of my sight I sighed.

Hangouts at my house changed from just us two hanging out. David started joining us more and more often. With time it was David who invited her, not me. I didn't have to, she was here at least once a week anyway. At some point, I stopped going out of my room to them. Lying that I wasn't feeling too good.

Sophie did realize after a few times that I didn't come out of my room on purpose. So she decided to make plans in advance that involved going outside. So I couldn't hide in my room. She came up to me at school. "Hej, are you maybe free this weekend?" I pondered for a second. "Um, I don't think I have anything planned, why?" "How about we get some coffee this weekend? Me, you, David, and I will also invite Simon!" I really wanted to decline the offer. I was hoping it was gonna just the two of us, but of course, David had to be there too. But I do remember agreeing to meet Simon tho. Maybe he being there with us was gonna make it at least a bit less awkward, so I agreed.

"Yeah, sure." She seemed to relax at my answer. "Good! I will send you the details once I invite the rest." I was glad she still cared about our friendship. I felt a bit of an asshole for avoiding her when she came over. But I had my reasons.

A few classes later I felt my phone buzz. 'Saturday 1 p.m sounds alright to you?' was a message sent by Sophie. I replied with a thumbs-up to it and put my phone back in my pocket. The thought of regret filled my brain, but I couldn't back out now.

A few uneventful days went by till it was Saturday. It was Saturday at 12 a.m right now. I got ready for the day early, trying to look at least a bit decently since it's not gonna be just you three. I wondered what kind of person Siomn was, as Sophie's description and my own observations didn't give me much to work with.

The door to my room was open, and he stood in it. I chose to ignore him until he spoke up himself. The person in the hallway did not cross the threshold and spoke to me from where he was standing. "Are you ready to go?" It was David who, despite your relationship souring even more since he met Sophie, offered to give me a lift. "Yeah." The room was filled with an awkward silence as I picked up my things.

He moved away from the door and waited for me to put on my coat and shoes. My pace was clearly too slow for him as he passed by me and went straight for the door. "We're leaving!" He shouted to our mom who shouted back to us about being careful. And then he left. Shortly after I left the house myself, locking it behind me.

[aces-solace]

Help

Pairings: hobie brown x kid!venom!Male!reader

Warnings: fluff, cussing, bad British slang, reader has dreads, mentions of running away, suicidal thoughts. If any of these things make you uncomfortable don't read! Let me know if I missed anything!

A/N: kinda self indulgent I also love the idea of hobie helping a kid with a parasite venom.

You gagged slightly as the taste of blood filled your mouth. You blinked away the tears before walking away from the former strangers. They were strangers anyway. Why you should care? Why does it hurt? You somehow ended up on top of building the guilt and built up sadness from over the years screaming to do it. The anger and the hatred from over the years screaming something entirely different. They deserved it. You deserve to live. When a thought came to mind. Spider punk.

you've seen him use his guitar on tons of police men and women! Sure they might have died but still. It's gonna hurt. He probably won't do it. Yes he will, who are you kidding. You won't be able to find him though. Plus what if venom tries to stop you? Or worse. You let out a shaky breath "I have to at least try..."

It's been hours and you have yet to find him. And this damn-... Venom is getting hungry 'HUNGRY!' he growls you roll your eyes "ok, ok! Chill the fuck out! I'm looking for someone you can eat" wait... You could just let venom eat now... Spider-punk is more than likely gonna stop you then. No. Not right now... You shake the thought from your head and find a person in an alley way. "'s a kid like you doin' here?" He asked. you let out a shaky breath before speaking "Mask". The single word that has killed so many already.

But like all idiots he just had to ask "w-what are you!?" Venom hums before pulling back to reveal half of your face "we. are. venom" you say in unison before he covers your face again. You welcome the familiar taste of blood in your mouth as venom leaves. 'sorry nibble' he says. He knows you hate seeing your victims face before death. Maybe, just maybe he isn't so bad "it's fine V". Then you heard it. The infamous voice of spider-punk. The blood covering your mouth and some of your shirt didn't help "hey mate. See you got one"

You backed up slightly. Why? You wanted to get rid of him. But he helped you find places to stay and sleep... Maybe.. just maybe you were too harsh? Screw it. "Got one?" You repeat slowly. "Yea. A parasite. Pesky lil tings" you nod slightly. Yes they were pesky. "Yeah well this one's currently being nice and letting me keep my vital organs as long as I feed him. So.. do me a favor and hurry up. Blood doesn't taste too good" he seems surprised at this but doesn't hesitate to move his guitar to his front.

Your ears are ringing and your head is pounding. Venoms screeches of pain covering over your own. When you do finally separate everything hurts. "Fuckin' hell.... Thanks..." You say slowly standing up leaning on the wall. Truth be told he would have taken you home then and there but he couldn't rush his identity being known. He nodded and swung away.

It's been days since the encounter and you've been running from the police. Due to the fact you ran away and killed a few police officers (it was the parasite's fault) you've been running for a while. Venom helped with the police a lot. This time was no different. You've been running for at least 15 minutes and you were running out of breath and your legs were starting to hurt. You were suddenly pulled into an alley way by a stranger. You were fully ready to fight when they spoke "calm down mate".

You sighed "didn't expect t' see you again anytime soon" You say pushing yourself off of him. "I've been lookin' for you. Where you been mate?" "In another dimension glitching out, you?" Hobie chuckles at this thinking you were joking. You weren't but whatever.

You've been staying at Hobies boat house for a while when he suddenly decided to bring you to 'work'. "Why am I here again?" You ask "'s bring your sibling to work day" you roll your eyes. "Hey, this is [name]" he says you glance at the one you already knew. "[Name!?]" He gasped "hi pavitr" "you know each other?" "You thought I was joking when I said I was in another dimension?" You said smirking. You continued to talk to the group before Hobie got called into 'the principles office'. You watched as the platform slowly moved down.

"So... He can build high tech dimension travel devices but he can't make his platform go faster?" You ask bluntly. "Hobie, you can't bring normal people to HQ" you eyed him "i take it back hobie, your boss is a real bitch" you say taking back your statement from earlier. "You said 's take your kid to work day" "for SPIDER kids. Not homeless runaways". Oh. "Tf did you just call me you egotistical, selfish, manipulative, self loathing, bitchy, asshole!?" He seemed shocked. "Listen here and listen good you fuckin' vampire".

You say staring him down "I couldn't care less what you've been through cus 's no fuckin'excuse to take your anger out on others you piece of shit. And if you pull sum stupid shit like this again I will fuckin' declaw you, do it again and I'll defang you too"

Hobie has never been prouder. You guys also stole a fuck ton of shit from Miguel's office.

Idk... Feel like it's a bit.. too much?

[respondedinkind]

Okay, okay, so... the new year isn't here yet, but 2023 is coming to an end very soon and I have planned to make a post - so here it is.

What this post is about? You!

I just want to be here and say thank you to everyone who has joined me here on my blog, even though I haven't been around for long. I am insanely grateful for each and every single one of you being here, for all the good memories you allowed me to make, and that so many of you welcomed me - and my muse - with open arms. I am so happy that you gave - and still give - me opportunities to explore my own writing and my muse's behaviors, and I just cannot stop saying it enough: THANK YOU!

I met some incredible people over the last months - some of which are people that I have RPed with before and where I was oh-so-excited to have them met again, after all these years of me having been separated from my Khan-muse because of fandom-changes, interest-changes, whatnot; For those of you who don't know, I first started to write Khan in 2012, BEFORE Star Trek into Darkness even aired, solely based on speculations and a teaser trailer lol. It wasn't very serious, but then definitely developed into what is my most-written muse after the movie finally came out and Khan just invaded my brain like some kind of parasite.

Since then, I have made a few blogs, kept writing Khan for a couple of years, then went on hiatus - remade, revamped, wrote for a few more years, disappeared... and now here I am again, with an AU-Version I was very, very scared to just put out here but now I am so, so glad I did. Thank you all for allowing me to write it, and yeah, I'm repeating myself, but... the opportunies I got and still get? So wonderful. Thank you so much for giving my Khan a chance.

Besides that, I also expanded my horizon a little and made two more blogs: One is on a little hiatus right now, while I am very active on the other thanks to some wonderful human beings who basically set my love for that character into flames. I hope that, and I mean that with the utmost sincerety, my choice of 'second and especially third muse' is not taken as a will to replace anything or anyone, but rather me being so immensely starstruck by other writers that have given me such a great insight and made me want to explore the depths as well.

Okay, okay, this is already insanely long and I am so sorry (I am unsure if anyone will ever read this lol), but now I want to give a shout out to ALL OF YOU, who are here, writing with me! All of you are so, so amazing and I am so glad to have met you, and I hope we can continue to write for as long as our muses and our creativity will let us. Thank you, again, and please take a look at those awesome people in case you aren't already following each other:

First of all, amazing writers and amazing people in general that I look up to (in no particular order), who are inspiring me in so many ways, make me feel a bit like a teenager gazing at their favorite star (lol) and just... are great people, yes, that I just want to mention separately for varying reasons:

@ssolessurvivor (Friend! Omg! When you first followed me, I could never imagine how things would ever develop - and how well Logan would fit to Khan, how their story developed into what it is now, so deeply plotted and filled with so many sub-stories and little moments that push both our muses along, allow me to explore my Khan on so many levels... it's insane how attached he is to your Logan, and I am so, so happy about us being in so much contact and just keep plotting and talk about everything! You are such a friendly mun and I am so, so grateful that you indulge me, even over on Stephen (hehe). I hope we can keep writing for a long time; Thank you so much for letting me throw in all my ideas about Khan, all the quirky things about him, I am so, so grateful!!! ♥)

@darehearts (I felt insanely welcomed by you, giving my Khan *and* my Bones such a chance to interact with Kirk ♥ Thank you so much for that, and thank you so much for indulding in my Khan-joins-the-crew idea as a Kirk-writer. That's definitely not something you need to do and yet you allow me. Ahhh! I was so blown away when you asked me if I wanted to become mains sdfasadfasd. Still am honestly because I am just a potato haha. Thank you for being here and being such a kind person ♥)

@strxngetimes (seriously, I was so nervous approaching you first but I am so glad I did; I do look up to you like you're some kind of superstar (haha) and I am still amazed that you gave me the chance of exploring things the way we do. Thank you for indulging me AND enduring me (and my muse lol), and you really, really inspire me in so many ways when it comes to your Stephen, it's amazing. You actually caused my interest for him to go back up into flames and for me to join the MCU fandom lol (and I would also bother you on your tony BUT i am SO UNWORTHY hahaha). Thank you - I hope we can keep writing for a while longer ♥ And I look forward to everything that might further develop between Khan and Stephen. Very much <3 Love them a lot!)

@mehrere-musen (Ok but really, of course I have to mention you. The way you accepted me, the way we started to write and things just??? Happened??? I love interacting with you and your Stephen and I love the way he works with Khan too, and I am so happy that you allowed me to be with the two where they are. Our thread has almost 800 notes by now which is insane, and with how we keep having ideas, it might go further than that lol. Thank you so much for indulging me - and thank you to Stephen to make Khan so insanely happy. :) ! I hope we can continue to write for a long time! ♥)

@fasciinating (SPAWK! I know we don't do a lot of OOC chatting in any way but our thread??? You are so good for just throwing us into that mess and for you to be like 'lmao ok here let Khan do whatever' and where are Spock and Khan now??? A NIGHTMARE LOL. I love the creativity and how you maneuvered us into that mess of a situation and how we can just seriously fuck moments up and go 'ah yeah somehow there's a rabbit also the world explodes'. I also love the way you write Spock! Thank you so much for giving my Khan a chance, despite his 'AU-ness', and that I get to explore such an interesting storyline! I was also very happy to have found you again, because I remember you from a long time ago (even though we didn't write much back then I think? But I remembered your name!)).

@sxbaist (MY BELOVED! God, you have no idea how insanely happy I was when I realized you were still there. Vega has stolen Khan's heart back when we first wrote so many years ago and when I rebooted him with his AU Version, my heart almost stopped when I saw you were still active and around. I was so, so nervous to approach you - but you welcomed me back, so did Vega welcome back my Khan, and honestly... I love them so, so much, and I adore you so much as a person. Thank you for doing all of that, for allowing me back, for Khan to have his wonderful woman back and for them to enjoy each other. It feels like as if they never got separated at all and I cannot express my gratitude enough, really. You as a person are so awesome as well and I will forever wait for your return! You are also the only other Khan I write with, so I will mention your @paramounticebound here too because your Khan is insanely great and I look up to him so, so much, people need to know!!!)

@vuulpecula (OK but listen, I know we also don't do much OOC chatting at all BUT!!! I just have to mention you here too because the things we do are just so??? SO??? HNNG like lmao we just write each other like 'ok what should happen' AND THEN DOOM HAPPENS to either Khan / Fox and Stephen / Fox LOL as if we got no chill really! I enjoy it a lot to explore those plots and see where things will go! Also you are such a kind person and so easy to talk to!!! Thank you for also indulging me on Stephen hehe ♥ and also all the things on Khan ofc!)

If I could, I would write every single one of you such a text, but alas... if I were to, I wouldn't be finished in 2025 (lol), so I hope you take my gratitude and my love for you as a combined package as well; You are all wonderful people and I am so glad to have you here, and it has been a joy - I hope it will continue to be a joy in the future too, and I cannot wait to see how things will develop (once again, in no particular order):

@whydotheykeeptakingmine ♥ @noblehcart ♥ @resignedworkaholics ♥ (also over on Stephen) @he1msman | @spacesk1pper | @entrpz ♥ (also on Bones) @ensnchekov | @cosmiicheskaya ♥ (also on Bones) @vulku ♥ @onlybonesleft ♥ @wtsns | @agntross ♥ (also over on Stephen) @goodheartedfool ♥ @oceansfirst ♥ (also over on Stephen) @kingofthewebxxx ♥ (also over on Stephen) @fallenregent ♥ @danversiism ♥ @nursc ♥ (also over at Bones) @nightmdic ♥ @brooklynislandgirl ♥ @defectivexfragmented ♥ (also over on Stephen) @haiiling ♥ @gcldenratio ♥ @hiippocrates ♥ @tangleweave ♥ (In case I have forgotten someone: I am so, so, so, so, sorry!!!!)

Also, last but not least: Should you not be named on this list, this does not mean I am not grateful for you or don't appreciate you! I thank you for being here, especially if we have already written something... and even if you follow me and I do not follow back, I am still immensely grateful that you're here in the first place, even if you might not stay ♥.

Thank you so much for every single one of you, really - everyone I mentioned here, everyone I did not. Because of YOU my experience on this (and my two other blogs) is what it is. Without you I wouldn't be where I am now, I wouldn't be able to explore my Khan, my Bones, my Stephen, and I wouldn't be able to have such a good time.

I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST FOR 2024 - MAY GOOD LUCK, LOTS OF LOVE, HAPPINESS AND FORTUNE COME YOUR WAY! No matter where you are, or what your plans are... you are valid, you deserve to be here, you deserve to do what you want to do and you deserve all the good things coming for you.

THANK YOU.

L. finally over and out. (and if you read up this far, you'll get a cookie from me!)

[cosmica-galaxy]

Hi, hello! Sorry to bother again but can you tell me more about the Drill mimic species? I don't see you talk about them and the Clock mimics enough so am curious to know sm about them ☕👀

-PART 1- Drill mimics: -Drill mimics are similar to Speaker Mimics; in which that they are very social to other remembers of their species and they have a close relationship with their sky bound counterparts, the speaker mimics. -Drill mimics live in the deep parts of the underground and inside of deep connecting burrows, similar to moles or ants. They raise young, drag prey down into their lairs for feeding, and they have underground citadels that they do all of their communal living in. Since they nearly all have liquid diets due to their proboscis, they feed mostly on liquids from plants and fluids of living creatures, like Skibidis. -Drill mimics can actually "lose" their "drill" when they start getting older while they are young. Their underdeveloped "drill" falls off when they begin to become an adolescent, which is quickly replaced by the sharper and more efficient adult-variety. The discarded "drills" can even be harvested for equipment usage, like using them for needles, crowbars, or chisels. Even while young, the "drill" is quite strong and can last for a very long time! -Drillets are raised among other drillets for safety and when a parent comes to find their baby, they will make a series of "drill spins" in a certain way or tone to find their baby, similar to penguins. -Some Drill mimics are able to venture out on the surface with little effect from the sun. These drills are usually darker in color and have "shiny" aspects to them. Like their drill being a solid color, usually black or yellow, and the "drill part" will take on an ore-like sheen. Some have even been documented to have some themed after precious gemstones, like rubies, gold, or even diamonds! -Drills find precious gemstones to be mostly building materials or overall useless. They have limited visual input, so the "beauty" of the gems don't seem to phase them. However, they are more than willing to trade the 'useless rocks' for something that can benefit them; such as fruits, processed goods, juices, skibidi hostages, or even fabrics. Which makes them a great source of trades for ores and gems! -As a result of these easy trades, the alliance has made a great deal of getting ores, material, and gems for their equipment for the war effort from these mimics and the drill mimics get a bunch of unique and delicious deliveries of organic food right to their own personal domain! A win-win! -Drill mimics are also quite friendly and like having their underside of their "drills" scratched gently. They are easy to bond with and will quickly warm up to you if you offer them a nice juicy piece of fruit, soft vegetable, or even a small animal to eat on. -Drill mimic "venom" has also been harvested for studying purposes and to be weaponized against the skibidis. A single dart loaded with even a few ounces of their venom is enough to paralyze a large skibidi in moments. Perfect for stealth-based missions and silent killings. It has also been reversed engineered into a vaccine for parasite afflicted units. Similar to a stun-gun, the darts are capable of killing a parasite and freeing a unit. Even large or "special parasites" can be killed with a single dart. Sharpshooters have been given these special vials for their missions and have had major successes in ambush missions. -Drill mimics are also very adamant about defending their territory. Skibidis that trespass over their claimed lands will not be taken lightly. The moment the drills feel threatened from above, they will form a pinch maneuver from under ground and come at the invaders from multiple directions. Pulling each victim underground, drain them of their fluids, and spit the drained corpses back out as a warning to any other trespassers.

[omentranslates]

Owari no Seraph ch 137 english fan translation

Hey sorry I'm late. Hopefully everyone's already read the official release, but if you'd like to read it again this baby can fit so much fan translation in it.

Please note though, I did put dialogue breaks when they switch from thinking to speaking out loud, but I couldn't find a good way to differentiate between the two textually, so this tl will pretty heavily depend on you having seen the panels themselves so you can tell for yourself. Thanks for working with me!

A showdown between the two of them......

Owari no Seraph chapter 137: Time for the Queen

Krul: It's obvious that he's different from before.

Ferid: Shall we get started as well then?

Krul: Which one of us is stronger? I feel like it's still me but....

Krul: Started on what? What's your goal here?

Ferid: Ah, that. Well it's-OH OOPS.

Ferid: Of course the third progenitor would notice the shrinking gap in our strength right awa-....ACK.

Krul: Fool, if you won't leave I'll just have to torture you to death like this.

Krul: After all the more powerful one is still-

Ferid: Spell complete. Commit the Parasitic Mantra*

Krul: Hm

Krul: Well I can't cut my arm off

Ferid: Wowwww, that got me tired.

Ferid: But in order to eat from a higher rank, you really do need some pain in the ass spell to prevent them from just possessing you in return.

Ferid: Ahaa, hey check this out! Am I hot again?

Krul: I can't break the chains, what is this for?

Krul: Is this some kind of slow-acting poison?

Ferid: What???

Krul: How many of these before it kicks in? You'll be stronger than me if you just wait long enough?

Ferid: Of course not, these are but red threads meant to connect us two from our past lives!

Krul: It's faint, but you smell like Crowley Eusford.

Ferid: Ahhh, you've discovered my affair? But I really am on your side, my queen-

Krul: You've been absorbing vampires.

Ferid: YOU'RE SMARTER THAN I THOUGHT, YOUR MAJESTYYYY

Krul: I feel fine, I guess the chains aren't poisoned. In that case, is it something he needs in order to eat me? In that case this victory is

Krul: Already mine.

Krul: You've taken the third progenitor too lightly.

Ferid: Noo, I would never!

Ferid: You can come out now, Guren!

Krul: -AHCK

Mahiru: Is the spell complete?

Ferid: Enough time has passed that she's good to eat, I won't lose myself to her!

Guren: HURRY UP AND GET EATING, THEN.

Ferid: It's not that simple, y'know. But of course- THAT WAS THE PLAN.

Krul: Taking on an unarmed vampire three against one, and yet you still underestimate me.

Krul: O Arukanu**, drink my blood

Ferid: *coughing* Well that's no good, she's far stronger than I'd expected...That did a lot of damage, I might not be able to salvage this...

Mahiru: Guren, fall back! With full effort!!

Krul: Arukanu is drinking a lot of my blood. And when there's no blood left to drink, I'll be unable to move. So I suppose I should end this quickly? Either that or find some blood to drink and prolong my strength. Which one?

Ferid: Ah, shit.

Krul: Wait there. I'll hear whatever you have to say later while I'm torturing you.

Mahiru: Shit. Shit shit shit.

Mahiru: Damnit. We misjudged her strength by so much. I thought her usual strength was already inclusive of her "sword's" power. Why hasn't she ever used it before now?? Is there some kind of limit on when she can?? Maybe it harms its user as a result? With the unusual way the level of her abilities just shot straight up like that....

Guren: You miscalculate something?

Mahiru: ...

Guren: You can't have thought even at the start that it was possible to get a free hit in on a third progenitor.

Mahiru: HEY, COULD YOU BE ANY LESS CONDESCENDING ABOUT IT??? I'M BUSY OVER HERE!!

Guren: It is what it is.

Mahiru: I CAN'T STAND IT WHEN YOU'RE IN DANGER! YOUR DEATH MEANS THE END OF ME!!

Guren: Yeah but...

Guren: We've both already....8 years ago with everyone else anyways....

Mahiru: YOU ARE NOT DEAD!!! I WON'T EVER LET YOU BE!!!

Guren: Mahiru

Mahiru: Shut it!! Just shut up!!!!

Guren: Mahiru, if we end up dying here it'll be just like last time. We can die together, the two of us.

Mahiru: OUT OF THE QUESTION!!! WE'VE DONE SO MUCH TO MAKE IT THIS FAR!! JUST A LITTLE LONGER, WE ONLY HAVE A LITTLE MORE TO DO!!

Mahiru: Ahhh, what do I do...the queen is on her way.

Guren: MAHIRU!!

Mahiru: HEY, JUST WAIT! WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A DEAL!! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO LEND US YOUR POWER IN EXCHANGE FOR TURNING ASHERA BACK INTO A HUMAN...

Krul: You're no use. I've just decided, you're even more dangerous to let live than Ferid Bathory. So I'm done with you.

Mahiru: WAIT-!! GUREN!!!

Guren: Springtime Eclipse

Guren: *screaming*

Krul: You're too slow.

Guren: Wh-

Mahiru: STOP-

Krul: Die.

Mahiru: No-NOOOOOOOOOOOO

Before the queen she can do nothing but watch......

*The literal translation of the spell is Parasite Mantra. For the first part, I mean to write commit as in how we would use it in commit a crime, commit an atrocity, commit a sin. The word is tied to these meanings. I wanted it to be read as him commanding the spell like "commit this atrocity on her" or "commit this sin on her" but in English it just gets clunkier the more words you add and I'm a little pressed for time atm so I'm just leaving a note.

**Arukanu is her sword, the kanji for sword is written like usual with a special pronunciation Arukanu. I'm just noting this I think everyone got the meaning.

[cyberaxolotl]

had ideas for a bugsnax mafia genre game. doodled a layout inspired by Slaughter Horse. wrote down some roles. might not touch this idea ever again

the role ideas (very inspired by slaughter horse sorry i’m bad at ideas)

The Prophet (Good)

A grump who isn’t really magic, but has decent intuition. Can give you two options for who a grumpus might be. Can help identify the queen

The Conspiracy Theorist (Good)

A grumpus who swears people are after them, and in this case, they’re right. Can theorize on who a grumpus might be and kill them with a “grumpinati trap” but will kill themself if they killed an innocent role

The Snoop (Good)

A grump with a knack for details. Can look into a grumpus and tell you if they’re a parasite with 50% certainty or the agent with 100% certainty

The Doctor (Good)

A caring, kind doctor, whos doing the best they can. Can protect one grumpus from death but will die themself in the process. Does not kill the grumpus that attacked them

The Popstar (Good)

An overzealous performer. Will perform a song at night for a grumpus that role-blocks them. Prevents the parasite and the agent from killing, but the popstar will be killed by the queen if performing for her.

The Archeologist (Good)

Someone with a knack for bodies. Has a 20% chance of being able to tell how a grumpus died and who did it. Only works on the dead

The Farmer (Good)

A hardy old farmer with shotgun experience. Can only be used three times. When active, will shoot anyone who enters their proximity. includes the snoop, the popstar, and the doctor if assigned to them, and the mayor if they wander by.

The Mayor (Neutral)

The mayor of the town, wandering around being a buddy. If the mayor dies, the town morale drops

The Scientist (Neutral)

The smartest, and simultaneously most snarky grumpus in town. Can be easily mistaken for a parasite by the snoop, does not die to the conspiracy theorists’ traps, and will bring another grumpus down with them if executed.

The Parasite (Bad)

A grumpus taken over by bugsnax. Targets one grumpus each night

The Agent (Bad)

A grumpus sent to eradicate the remaining ones. Targets one grumpus each night

The Queen (Bad)

Ruler of parasites and the biggest threat. Targets one grumpus each night and cannot be killed by the conspiracy theorist’s trap

The Fake (Bad)

Fakes evidence against a grumpus in an attempt to get them falsely executed. The prophet can tell when a faking has happened, the snoop cannot.

[stellewriites]

hey stelle! I’m still thinking about the johnny western horror au you wrote and was wondering if I could ask some questions that have been rattling in my head??

does the new ‘johnny’ visit ghost/does this johnny even know about ghost? since he doesn’t have the same memories as the original Johnny, it’s making me think of how isolating it might be for the reader to be stalked by this ‘johnny’ and how she thought she was already free of this marriage. Like she if she does close the door on him and doesn’t let him, I can just picture him showing up every night and hearing his horse when she tries to sleep and the sleep deprivation turned into paranoia 😵‍💫😵‍💫 I picture this ‘Johnny’ as more like a body snatcher or something looking for a new body to inhabit, doesn’t matter who so she’s just the most technical option for him

But also! what if reader goes to ghost thinking he’s also getting stalked baring her soul on Johnny harassing her but ghosts not and he almost gets jealous? And angsty, not clicking that this isn’t the real johnny but just hearing that Johnny is back sends his brain in a spiral and that he has to back to him, flash forward some time and Johnny stops showing up at the house and ghost starts walking a bit weird

Okay sorry for the word vomit but I really liked this story hahah you did a great job on it!!

of course!! i love questions about my fics 💓 i’ve got to be honest tho and admit that i haven’t fully thought about the ins and outs about this oneshot further than what was written lmao so this might be all over the place

does he know about/visit ghost?

i’d say no

you’re right that he doesn’t have the same memories, i’d say whatever has taken his body might be going off vague recollections of places and where the scent of johnny is strongest. this was johnnys home before he got his wife, he’d have likely stayed there with ghost often until reader arrived, so it’d make sense to the parasite (?) to go there first. i’d argue that johnny and ghost travelled and camped all over once he had his wife move in, hence the long time spent away

how does reader feel being stalked by johnny?

stalking is the least of her worries - parasite johnny IS getting inside her home that night whether she likes it or not. he’s not fucking around waiting for her to let him in after she shot at him, he’ll force his way in if he has to. it just might’ve been easier for him in the long run if she’d gone along with it all sweet like he’d originally tried to play it.

reader knows this isn’t her johnny either (if he could’ve ever have been considered hers) so the pressure of a marriage holding her hostage again isn’t even on her mind - she’s got bigger fish to fry.

yes absolutely similar to a body snatcher to me too! i left it open in case people prefer possession or ghosts or zombies - but to me it feels very ‘supernatural parasite has taken over the freshest body in the graveyard’.

does reader go to ghost?

ghost isn’t in town anymore! he left as soon as johnny was buried since there’s nothing else there for him, just too many memories.

gaz or price would still be there but after they suggested medical help (read: getting her institutionalised for ‘hysteria’) i don’t think she’d be willing to go back and tell them an undead version of johnny is walking around 🥴

BUT!

i’m a sucker for aus of aus,, so i think if she survived the night (maybe she made a break for it out the back and got on her horse) and she found ghost on the outskirts of town while he was laying low after the train robbery then he’d know straight away from her story that it wasn’t his johnny too. however i think he’d want to confront whatever wasn’t letting the love of his life rest peacefully and would be off like a shot to reader’s house despite her protests.

idk if i think the parasite would move bodies or not - i like the visual of simon wandering the dusty roads acting like edgar in men in black and the concept that the parasite logically wants a bigger healthier body - but i also like the thought of parasite johnny managing to convince simon it is him. and that he just needs simon’s help to get back to normal 🥺 won’t he help him, his johnny? and simon would just cave (even if that means killing strangers to feed him or whatever,, simon can justify it to himself given the people they’d hurt before - he’d killed for money, he can kill for love)

and thank you lainey!! i’m so glad you liked it :D

[rect-bibi]

what kinda universe does your oc’s live in?

SO SORRY FOR A LATE REPLY i wanted to draw the mcs for each universe but,,,, gave up lmao ANYWAY i have a lot of oc universes, most of which i share with my partner and on which we both work on. there is a LOT of em, so forgive me but i will talk about the main 4 we put the biggest amount of thought into this might be a bit long ngl ^^'

"TO BE NAMED" - This one had a name before but we and my gf decided we don't like it anymore but we haven't found a replacement yet T-T EITHER WAY - This univese is set in a world not unlike our world, but it is ruled/watched over by different Gods, each of them related to different attributes (such as Art, Time, Light, Knowledge, the list goes on) and each of them having a separate region to watch over. Same Gods granted humans with certain powers a long time ago, and nowadays (for the storyline) people simply inherit the powers granted to their ancestors. The powers all circle back to the Gods themselves - if your ancestors were granted powers from God of Time, then the powers would be time-based in one way or another. The main storyline for this universe focuses on Special Academy students who are being trained into soldiers who are meant to deal with the main source of threat in the universe - Alters, who are deformed monster-like creatures, as well as the very person creating them.

"BETROTHED" - A more lighthearted universe storyline wise, with the main one focusing on the arranged marriage of the current rulers of the Valley Kingdom, King Lyra (the Valley Kingdom is heavily inspired by late medieval Poland! We had a female ruler bear the title of a 'King' for a while and I thought adding that to the universe itself would be nice) and the Forest Kingdom, King Orion. It's very 'slice of life' kind of story, with the world around it being a fairly simple fantasy setting, with the main gimick being Kingdoms being named after the terrain they reside on (genius, I know)

"SALEM'S DISSONANCE" - Or 'Ilrah' for short as we like to call it with my partner. It is a story revolving around a postapocalyptic-like world, overrun by an alien, parasite species by the name of 'Ilrah'. Those monsters are known to either eat or take over the bodies of humans, which led to the downfall of most of the population. Ilrah take over human bodies by basically forcing themselves into the host and then replacing the body's consciousness, killing the person in the process. However! Sometimes that process may go awry, and the human's consciousness isn't killed, while the Ilrah is still there. The main character of the story is one such case, and the main storyline follows him being forced into fighting Ilrah so that he wouldn't get killed for being half-taken over by the parasites the humans try to fight off.

"ETHTERIA" - My original passion project that my partner now helps me build better (she is an amazing world builder I couldn't be more grateful for her tips and feedback and whatnot). It is a story about aliens coming to Earth again, but this time their nature isn't parasitic like with Ilrah. Ethterians are essentially a refugee race, brought to Earth with the remaining strength their dying Gods had after their original planet has been attacked and fully destroyed by one of their own kind. The best way I can describe them is cosmic elementals, devided by the elements they can wield in a manner similar to magic - Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Light and Darkness. The story itself takes place centuries after Ethterians were brought to Earth - the closest planet that had almost the same climate as Ethteria. After years of (partial) peace, their new home is found and attacked by the very same person who caused the downfall of their original homeland, and now, without their Gods to aid them like they did before, they are now forced to face the source of their despair head on and get rid of it

that should be it!!! if you have any other questions, feel free ^^

[alpydk]

Cabinet of Oddities (Part 12)

TavxGale (Custom)

Angst incoming again - Feeling in a slump recently writing-wise.

Ao3 Link Ao3 link (Full)

Summary: “Oh, but this sounds so much more personal than that. Maybe our little redhead has had her own dealings with the Lady of Magic, hm?” She glared at him as if to tell him to drop the subject and turned back to the piles of books looking for anything to take her mind off her thoughts. “A for Azure, Antimagic aura, Mystra. How can I trust? How will I ever know? / How can I show myself, my darkest me?” Nana slammed the book back down on the table in front of her. “Is nothing in this tower just normal!?” she shouted loudly. 

.“…Mystra.”

Nana’s heart had broken as she heard the name. Of course, those words could not be meant for her. Nana who had kept everything from him, who had almost got the man she was falling in love with killed. Nana the monster. She had returned to her tent fighting back the tears before falling into a restless slumber.

“My sweet little mask.” His voice stirred her and this time she did not resist him. She threw her arms around him as she sobbed. I missed you, why did you leave me? Why did you have to die?  Thomas stood taken aback. His golden studded armour shone under the glowing of the astral planes that surrounded them. “Do not cry. You are stronger than this.”

His words confused her. She tried to shake the thoughts that plagued her, the memories of the deception that had occurred after his death, of the time when she had lost herself completely to him. She released her grip on him and stood looking at the man she once knew. The scar across his eye was the same, his half smile which had lured her in so many times before. He stared at her with the steel-toned eyes which brought her such security. Everything was the same, so why couldn’t she just accept him?

“You haven’t been using the parasite's potential. You think you don’t need it.” Thomas’ voice was as cold as it always had been. A soldier used to giving orders had meant that Nana had always felt compelled to listen to him, to trust him. But she couldn’t shake the memories.

She stepped back from him as he spoke. “Who are you?”

“You know who I am, sweet mask. I’m here to protect you.” His voice continued. He spoke of the tadpole, of how useful it would be in aiding her, of how a battle was raging, and of how she needed to continue to the Shadowlands. You’re not him. “You must trust me,” he spoke, hearing his concerns.

She woke in her tent, the smell of the Underdark filling her nostrils, earth and fungus. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and left for the campfire. Wyll was already awake and offered a cup of something warm and fruity smelling.

“Same dream?” He asked knowingly.

She nodded, unable to find the words to explain what she had seen. She took a sip of the liquid he had offered, sickly sweet, and placed the cup aside. Nana turned her view towards Gale’s tent. “How is he doing?”

“Better but he needs to rest today. I’ll be staying with him whilst you explore the tower.” Wyll hesitated a moment before speaking further. “It wasn’t your fault, with what happened. It was but an unfortunate accident. You know that, don’t you?”

Nana looked over at him. She couldn’t accept what he had said but she didn't have the energy to argue with him. “When he wakes up… Could you tell him that I’m sorry?”

Wyll gave her a smile. “You can do that yourself when you get back.”

-----------------------------------------------

Lenora’s tower. The deep loneliness in the air could be felt by all as if a dark shroud hung over the area. Books and letters were found but there was no sign of the occupier. Nana turned over a letter and read out loud. “...That I would be called back to Baldur's Gate to confer with the other clerics of Mystra.” She knitted her brow with frustration. “Mystra… Of course, it has to be bloody Mystra.” 

“Having some troubles with the Goddess, are we darling?” Astarian playfully spoke. “Or is it all the gods?”

Nana grit her teeth trying to avoid the venom she wanted to spill. This goddess had cursed Gale, groomed him, loved him, and discarded him like he was nothing but a broken plaything, and yet still he loved her. She breathed deep pushing down her anger. “I guess I’ve just never understood the devotion to them. They never answer no matter how much a person pleads, they never help, they’re never there-” Her voice was rising, growing more high pitched, more irritated. “-so why are people so blindly loyal to them?”

“Now now, dear. No need to get so emotional.” Astarian gave a tap of her arm and watched as she tensed up. “If it makes you feel any better, I agree with you on this, although maybe not as passionately.” He smiled over at her suggestively. “I am, however, a little surprised though. I didn’t think you’d be one to question another's personal beliefs.”. 

Nana caught herself before another wave of frustration was released. “They can believe what they want, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.” She was short with him, her temper briefly showing through.

“Oh, but this sounds so much more personal than that. Maybe our little redhead has had her own dealings with the Lady of Magic, hm?”

She glared at him as if to tell him to drop the subject and turned back to the piles of books looking for anything to take her mind off her thoughts. “A for Azure, Antimagic aura, Mystra. How can I trust? How will I ever know? / How can I show myself, my darkest me?” Nana slammed the book back down on the table in front of her. “Is nothing in this tower just normal!?” she shouted loudly. 

They explored the rest of the area mostly in silence and thankfully it had remained uneventful, nothing but battling a few constructs and collecting mushrooms. Nana had mumbled to herself throughout about her dislike of the Underdark. “It’s just too dark. Would it kill them to just dig upwards? Maybe let a little sunlight down here?” The party made their way back to camp glad that their days in the area were coming to an end, and yet concerned about what the following part of their journey would bring.

-----------------------------------

Astarion followed her as she entered her tent. “May I join you?”

He saw her think it over before relaxing onto the bedroll. “Go ahead. It will actually be nice to talk to someone who lies to my face for a change.”

“Oh darling, would I ever lie to you?” He sat down next to her innocently placing a hand on her arm. He noticed that she bristled at his touch but had made no attempt to move away from him. He was trying to provoke her, trying to engage her as had before the party.

She spoke, her voice was as if she had given up the fight, weak and spiritless. “Astarion, what is it that you want from me? I don’t have spells, I don’t have a connection to a devil, hells I don’t even have the arms to lift a great axe. Why would you even want to be around me?”

He turned over the thought. What was it he wanted from her? It had all originally been about protection, about not having to watch his back around another member of the party, especially one who was initially so unhinged, but now, after this long? He wasn’t sure. He removed his hand from her and gazed at her trying to figure it out. “Honestly, I’m not so sure.”

He watched as her face lowered and he considered leaving, her usefulness questionable, before he heard her voice. “I didn’t always hate the gods, you know.”  

He turned to her. Now this was interesting. This was much more than mindless banter and swooning. This he could actually relate to. “Hate?”

She nodded. “I used to be like anyone else, I accepted that the gods were there and if I ever needed help I’d just pray and they would come. That’s how it was meant to work, right?”

“That’s what people say. In my own experience, none of them answer.” He thought back to his years under Cazador’s hold, the nights of torture and the many many gods whom he had called out to. And yet nothing had changed, he had still been a slave, tortured and beaten with no hope of redemption.

“And that’s how it was for me too. It didn’t seem to matter what I offered, who I prayed to, or how many tears I shed over their altars, they all remained silent. As if they were mocking me.” She brushed back her hair as she spoke. He watched as the red locks were pushed out of her face only to fall back again instantly. This wasn’t to help her in any way, it was to distract him from the words she spoke.

He couldn’t help but see her differently now. She wasn’t just some ditzy idiot they had grown to put up with. Was this all an act, a ploy, just as cunning as his own charming persona? “And so something else answered, didn’t it?”

He noticed the look in her eyes change briefly as if the walls had gone back up, a topic touched that she was not willing to indulge in, and then again appeared the empty-headed smile he’d grown so familiar with. “You make it sound like I found myself a patron. Haha, I didn’t.” She grinned at him and he finally knew. His defences had been flirting, jokes, and even aggression. Hers were different, she acted positive and gave people the image that they wanted to see, she deflected everything thrown at her. But now he knew she was hiding something and it would only be a matter of time before he figured out what her secret was.

[thisisnotacampaign]

Some basic backstory notes because if I try to write anything with a plot I will actually die very much to death so-

- The campaign is basically Baldur’s Gate 3 without being bg3. I don’t know enough about bg as a series to make it take place there, and I haven’t finished the game yet either, so most of the story elements are just very vague and made up.

- The gist of it is that Lyra starts as the main protagonist, a half elf warlock who has been captured and experimented on by a group of mindflayers. Lyra recalls very little of the capture and experimentation and wakes in a forest feeling incredibly weak. Over the next several days she encounters many other victims. Larkspur, a half elf bard, child of a nobleman in the royal city of Hawk’s Rest. Enoch, a tiefling warlock and scholar from the mage city of Civitae. Sparrow, a human paladin and former soldier dedicated to light and the preservation of life itself. And Wren, a drow fighter who, before this, had never left the Underdark.

- They learn of a dark sorcerer, a Lolth-sworn drow, named Cael who is rumored to be working with the mindflayers in a bid to take over the royal city and insert himself as Emperor.

- Convinced that Cael is the one behind their abductions and dark magic controlling the illithid parasites waiting in their heads, the group finds and attempts to kill him.

- Spoiler alert! Cael did originally intend for this to be the case, but apparently mindflayers don’t really take kindly to being told what to do by egotistical and narcissistic drow, so they’d taken him and stuffed his head with a parasite too.

- First, actually. He’d been the first one taken. And he’d used his magic to bind the tadpole to stop the ceremorphosis. And he’d kind of managed to do that to all the tadpoles. Oops?

- Now the mindflayers had a bunch of cursed tadpoles and they can’t resist an experiment, so… sorry everyone else, it’s eye worm time!

- Cael escapes the group. Wren is severely injured during the attack. They break off to regroup. Sparrow takes all of Cael’s journals for a bit of “light reading” and learns all this plot stuff.

- They find Cael again, this time after the drow had been captured (again) and tortured (again) and learn that if he dies then the magic binding their tadpoles will release and then they’ll all become mindflayers (oops).

- And that’s most of the plot, really. There’s probably some deus ex machina in the third act where they find a cleric or other healer that tells them they can remove the tadpole if the spell is broken so Cael has to decide to either sacrifice himself to save the other five, or just allow the spell to continue for the remainder of his natural life and damn the others into not knowing if or when they might be turned into mindflayers, and because character development he lets himself die and it’s all very sad and satisfying. (Can’t there be another way? Shhh. No. It’s about the character arc. Cael has been killing others for centuries to prolong his life, and has the chance to do something good to save the people who he himself had damned okay let me have this.)

- And that’s that. Heroes saved. Probably some mindflayers get killed. Everyone goes off and lives happily ever after (and I get to write the vignettes 🥰)

[aventvrina]

your future never existed- featuring Kakavasha & Aventurine

summary: to seize fate by the throat, we have no choice but to stake everything and kakavasha will reap for every chance (tw: descriptions of death & blood)

What's done can't be undone. All we can do is play the cards we're dealt with, and rake in as much time as possible.

When: 2157/8 amber era - ??? / ??? / ??? year

Where: [redacted] . [redacted] . Pier Point

"If I come back alive, you'll give me thirty Tanbas. Deal?" "Sorry, but that won't do. Don't forget your place, slave. You're not qualified to be at the table." "You're just a chip, a life thrown away in someone else's hands." "It's all or nothing. Don't embarrass me my lucky hound."

What toll does survival take?

Famine-boned hands clench dripping metal, the other lays flat where his body fell. It is still not a corpse, there is still breath, struggled, gurgling, weak, a pathetic show of desperation to cling onto something taken for granted. A life cut short is always a tragedy, but this is catharsis. Kakavasha takes great pleasure watching agony petrify over the slave master's face. A few system hours ago he had witnessed the same expression upon another, the last innocent who also fell by his hands, someone who had not deserved it but in the end it didn't matter. Out of thirty-five, he was the lucky winner, a feat he's forced to acknowledge for it was this victory that granted him this very moment.

He didn't do it to avenge them, corpses do not beg for retribution. He didn't do it for himself, his odds have been stacked since he first drew breath, misery written by others as a trial he must go through for a mission higher than him. He didn't do it for honor, that he never had, could never have again after all he's been put through at the hands of those who pass the chips. In the end, he did it for the seat. To steal the place at the table, to force himself upon it. To take by force the chance he was denied.

The moment feels infinite. Like a candle in the wind, life leaves the body, blood languidly spreading through the carpet much like smoke thins in the air, the only reminder that there was once a life. He can tell the exact moment it happens, there's a specific stillness to the dead, one he has grown accustomed to witness. Despite the brutality, death is a peaceful thing, it pauses time, forces it to a momentary stop, as it grants the soul a respite. Then, the eyes dull, the breath fades, and the dead is left in the quiet solace of whatever last thought crossed their mind.

His hands are cold, looking down he can see red turn copper as it dries, he wonders where he can wash it off. As it is now, there's still time before he has to move. No alarms have rang, he's smart enough to make himself scarce before the body is discovered.

But first, he must clean his hands if he's to play the game.

Death leaves a mark. It's invisible and tangible all at once, an irksome feeling that sticks to the skin no matter how many times it's washed. It's a parasite that plagues the host with it's presence. Irremovable, weighted, unseen, the subtle torment of a feasting leech.

Still, as he stands accused, unable to hide his hands, left fist shaking with the strength he clenches the chain, he cannot fail. The confidence of gambler masks even the guilt of a murderer.

The purpose was not to have him sentenced to begin with. This is, after all, where he'll finally partake in the game. All the suffering, all those corpses, all the people who pushed him forward, it was for this moment. The chip eyes the dealer in challenge. All he needs is thirty Tanbas, all he needs is that one chance that'll have him climb higher than ever. For that, the serpent must be fed. And he's willing give everything.

"Thirty Tanbas, I'll give you that, and much more than that. Wealth, status, power... the IPC will give you whatever you want, even what you don't want."

He smiles.

His name is buried. His chains are are bathed in gold. In an absurd turn, death leeches but does not kill. Still, it is felt. Aventurine's first gift to himself are gloves. Though unseen, they hide enough for him to feel that his hands won't stain the chips, at least not the innocent ones.

Aventurine is a sight. There's nothing in him that would make others question whether he's fit for the game. He's fuller, soft cheeks with color, hair clean and styled, adorned high brand clothes, expensive watches and heavy rings. He's everything he could ever hope to be. Were it not for his eyes he could almost divorce their image from one another.

He already lies so much about himself, to himself, what harm would it do to lie about his origins. But his eyes betray, the past, even buried, lingers in them. And with them comes the reputation, followed by the scorn. Still, he can work with that. If anything it's something he prefers. Were he to choose, he'd rather they hate him. At least then he can be sure there is no real interest in him. Eyes won't linger, hands won't seize what they shouldn't. He'll be free to act without giving and use them without remorse.

He straightens his jacket, the mirror reflects. Despite it all, he's still there. The blessed eyes, the exploited body, the broken soul, they're all still there. That's all he is, all he'll ever be. But it's enough. The miserable lying chip is enough to get him exactly where he needs to go.

However the destiny of the victor is that the rest are to lose. Only one player can win in the end.

"The Avgins in Sigonia... what happened to them afterward?"

"Unfortunately, there are no more Avgins in Sigonia. You're the last lucky dog."

"What about those people who helped me on planet ██? Now I can finally repay their kindness."

"They are no more, either."

The aventurine shines. They say the stones reflect their users and with that he must agree. In it's silver encase the cornerstone looks almost regal, were it not for it's natural dull shine, it could almost pass as precious. Just like him, this stone pretends to be higher, dresses for what it'll never be, yet deep down, it stays the same.

But if the stone is the same as him, then it's completely worthless. In the end, it'll be shattered beyond recognition, it's value diminish, it's color dull, abandoned, replaced. There's several fates for the mocking glint and it's aeonic power. Still, the stone's fate should not be his. It may reflect his heart but it's delusional if it thinks that he cannot live without it. The void it tries to fill is far more bigger than a cornerstone. So he lets it shine it's mockery, lets it whisper what he has always thought of himself. It doesn't matter.

He already buried Kakavasha, he can bury Aventurine too.

It was a success. In the end, Aventurine lives while the cornerstone is but dust. And even if that in itself would frighten even the higher ups, the sacrilege of erasing a part of Qlipoth's power themselves, he could really care less. He's back exactly where it started and his end hasn't changed. He cannot be afraid of what he has always known. As he did all those years ago, he'll wager for his place again.

There's a certain thrill that satisfies that hollowness, the leech feasts in delight with every gamble he takes. In the game of unexpected hanging, he wins by expecting death at every hour. Diamond won't sentence him, and even if he does, there's always a chance.

He has made it this far and he can go further. There's no bigger pleasure than testing the boundaries of his destined death.

And what toll does survival take?

The past? The future? Others? Himself?

At least he survives. At least he can say that.

Whatever he killed to survive, within or without, at least there’s enough left of him to say it.

At least he's still sitting at the table, he's still playing.