#started it ~9 months ago before i actually knew how to use Procreate & started over last week!

[hearteyespierce]

m*a*s*h + vintage pulp novels part 1

[aliendes]

Natural Borns - Prologue

ahhh finally posting this fic that I’ve had a bare-bones outline for, for over a year. I absolutely adore the idea behind this fic and the world that I am creating for it. If you like what you read here, please follow my blog for updates. My goal is to update this series at least once every two weeks, but I will likely post the first few chapters in the next couple of weeks. I look forward to growing this au, reblog if you enjoy! 

dystopian!au / futuristic!au 

Series info/genre: Angset, fluff, (possible) smut NSFW due to darker themes Pairings: ot7 x fem reader (eventual) Warnings: this series will have different trigger warnings listed for each chapter (if there are any), but as a whole, this series will include violence, mentions of depression & other mental illnesses, cursing, abuse, drugs/alcohol, some shitty medical descriptions because i am NOT a doctor, self-esteem issues, fluff, and possible smut in future chapters (but that’s undecided). i will add more warnings/tags in the future if there are any. Description: In the year 2613, over half of the world’s population are what scientists consider ‘designer babies’. YN is a small town girl who is a true natural born, someone born naturally without he help of a lab or gene splicing. Her DNA is greatly sought after, but what is she willing to do to protect it? Word count: 1569 (future chapters will be longer, this is just a prologue!)

In a world where social status is determined by looks, it’s beneficial to have the label ‘designer baby’. 

In the year 2613, over half of the world’s population are now what society considers a ‘designer baby’. This term designer baby, coined in 2051 when scientists in Sweden successfully incubated a baby to term by splicing different genes together, is what people call babies born in a lab. It is commonplace now for people to walk into a lab, go through a catalog of traits, pick out their favorites, pay a high price tag, and wait about 9 months for their baby to fully incubate. Then they can take their new bundle of joy home without all the pain (and sometimes heartbreak) of a pregnancy and labor. Most expecting mothers never go through pregnancy anymore, and labor and delivery wards have become nearly obsolete in the richer areas of the world. In their place, companies began to spring up on nearly every street corner that allowed hopeful parents to pick out their future offspring. 

The process was actually incredibly simple. Scientists are able to take the DNA of both prospective parents, and splice their genes with other genes of their choosing by removing certain markers for things like eye color while not compromising the parents original DNA structure, and create a zygote in a lab. After about 9-10 months of incubation, this zygote will eventually become the perfect baby, or at least, those parents' version of the perfect baby. The only reason the practice took so long to take off was because of the many protests and movements that took place in the late 2000’s. After the first designer baby was successfully ‘born’, people began to protest the process, saying that it was ‘messing with fate’ and that people shouldn’t have that much power over other humans. After decades of fighting and protests, the first designer baby company launched in 2108, in Seoul, South Korea. Since then, there have been smaller groups and nonprofit organizations that try to fight against gene splicing, but it is mostly accepted worldwide. 

Always at the forefront of technology, it was no surprise that the first designer baby company was in Seoul. Hundreds of years later, the largest population of designer babies and companies still reside in Seoul. Over 75% of the population of South Korea is made up of people who were created in labs and have the perfect balance of genes. Some call the country the most beautiful place on Earth. 600 years ago, people would say that because of its rich culture, and scenic countrysides. Now, it’s because the citizens are nice to ogle at. 

Designer babies are so common in South Korea, that schools, office buildings, and even entire apartment complexes were built for them. In today’s society, your job, your relationships, and your status is determined by how beautiful you are. It’s easy to tell who is a designer baby and who isn’t. Most people born in labs have distinct features, mostly from the same pool of genes. You see, after a while, scientists started running out of natural DNA to use that people still thought was unique enough. Now, most designer babies have features that stem from the same catalogs, as they are the most popular. Sure, they’re pretty, but they’re beginning to look a lot alike. 

Part of the reason natural DNA is so hard to find now, is because a lot of designer babies end up procreating with what scientists dubbed ‘natural borns’, or people with 100% natural DNA, and so most people's DNA is muddled throughout generations. These people are not good candidates for gene splicing as the outcome is not easily controlled. Coming across a true natural born is extremely rare these days and the ones you do find are almost always average looking in society's eyes, so labs don’t bother trying to splice them. It’s not that there are NO natural borns willing to give up their DNA. Companies have applicants all the time, what with the hefty sum they pay their donors, but most do not make it past the application stage once said companies determine their genes unusable for various reasons.

Another problem laboratories run into is the willingness of participants in donating their DNA. The process isn’t as simple as a cheek swab. Once applicants learn about the often painful procedures involved in donating, they tend to back out before signing a contract. These contracts, depending on the company, usually requires the donors to live on company property until they have successfully spliced their DNA. This process involves the donor to take different cocktails of drugs, be put under anesthetic, and be poked and prodded by scientists for weeks at a time. It isn’t the most comfortable thing to go through, but they’re often offered substantial compensation, especially now with the shortage of true natural borns. Some larger companies have been accused in the past of abusing their donors, locking them in prison-like cells and depriving them of food and water, treating them as nothing more than a business transaction, which has also caused natural borns to stray away from donating.

Finding natural borns, or at least partial natural borns isn’t all that hard, though, as most natural borns live in smaller communities outside of larger cities. Because the population of designer babies only continues to grow, most employers no longer hire average looking people. There are even separate schools and hospitals that cater specifically to natural borns, often run by natural borns, since there are a significant portion of designer babies who do not socialize with naturals. Naturals are often considered low-class, and are looked down upon by those in high society. The crime rates against natural borns is becoming increasingly high, which has unfortunately pushed a lot of them outside of metropolitan areas. This resulted in a new social hierarchy where natural borns are at the bottom of the food chain, often poor or even homeless, struggling to find jobs. 

In recent years there have been more protests and rallies ran by both designer babies and natural borns who believe in rights for everyone, they are humans after all,  to try and fight against the discrimination that is heavily ingrained in today’s culture, but not much headway has been made yet. Currently, all world leaders and politicians are designer babies, so going up against them hasn’t been the easiest. 

Because protests are happening more often, companies are having to be even more discreet when it comes to ‘scouting’ potential candidates for donating DNA. They’ve become more desperate to find the new and innovating genes, something unique and different that will drive business in time where labs are a dime a dozen and new genes are hard to come by. 

You would know all about that, though. You are living in a small rural town outside of Seoul with your mother and father, both natural borns. Your family has owned a peach farm for the last few decades and makes enough money to upkeep the small orchard by selling to local markets and restaurants. You’ve been approached multiple times by companies, offering enticing amounts of money to you and your parents, promising things like apartments in the city, college tuition, and fancy cars, if you sold them your DNA. You were a true natural born, a rarity, especially in Korea. Not only did you have pure DNA, but you were unique. You weren’t average looking, no you were ethereal, gorgeous, spectacular in many people's eyes. Not for the reasons that you would’ve liked, though.

People only wanted you for your DNA. Whether it be companies who wanted to splice your genes, or other natural borns who wanted to court you and keep you for themselves, breed you and sell their children off to make a quick buck. It was sick, and that’s why your family kept you close. After you graduated high school, you didn’t attend university and didn’t get a job. You stayed on the farm and helped out your father in the orchard. You knew the dangers of the big companies and citizens alike who only wanted to use you. It made you wary of people, shy, and sometimes insecure about your own person. Your parents did their best to keep you safe, shield you from the horrors of the world, and make sure you felt loved. But oftentimes, you felt lonely, left out, especially when you didn’t have many friends. You felt like an outsider, and even though you were considered incredibly beautiful, you didn’t feel like it.

Growing up wasn’t the easiest for you, having gone to a poor, all natural born school from preschool until you graduated. You didn’t have many friends, most of your classmates bullied you, telling you that you didn’t belong there, that there was no way you weren’t one of those designer babies from the big city and that your parents were lying to you, or you were adopted and didn’t know. These comments were hard to hear, but in the end, you know the truth. You are a pure natural born, and your parents loved you and would do anything to protect you.

But when a mysterious company won’t leave you alone about donating your DNA, you start to question your parents protectiveness over you. Among other things, your biggest question was; what made you so special? 

To be continued...

[chaoticlesbiab]

I’m so happy you’re writing again!!! Can I request #2 and #9 for Venable??

#2: “If I ever see you anywhere near her, you’ll have to deal with me.”

#9: “It’s a hobby of mine to prove you wrong.”

From this prompt list!

WC: 1.1k

Warnings: none

Pairings: Wilhemina Venable x reader

A/N: This isn’t where I initially intended to go with this, but this is where my brain took me. The idea to have the reader be interrogated about their relationship with Mina came from a fic I read months ago and I don’t wanna take credit for it, so if anyone knows what fic I’m referring to, please lmk!!

Your palms were sweating profusely as you walked into Langdon’s makeshift office. From what you’ve heard about his interview process from other grays around the outpost; it’s pretty intense.

He looked up at you from his seated position, “Ah, Miss Y/LN. Please do sit down.”

You obliged, sitting uncomfortably in the armchair in front of his desk. He stared at you for quite some time, and you couldn’t help but feel as if he was looking into your soul. Clearing your throat, you stated, “I’m not sure how something like this is done. Should I act like it’s a job interview?” You joked.

He smirked, “No. You cannot glide through this like you’re interviewing for a minimum wage job, Miss. Y/LN. I’m here to interview you more.. intimately.”

You chuckled nervously, holding back a grimace. There was something about him that you didn’t trust. You were sure it was partly how he looked at Wilhemina. He always tried to act dominant over her, especially in front of the others. He wanted to make it clear that he was in charge now. It made him look like an asshole. 

You had been seeing Wilhemina for some time now, and you could tell since his arrival she’s been much more on edge. She’s even made you begin to sleep in your room instead of staying in her bed until you had to begin prepping breakfast.

He leaned forward in his chair, “Tell me about Ms. Venable.”

Your face grew hot and you swallowed the knot in your throat. “Ms. Venable? Well I can’t say that I know her too well-“

“You cannot lie to me, Y/N. I can tell when people are lying.” You closed your mouth at the accusation. Mina would kill you if she knew you admitted to your relationship with her. “You love her don’t you?”

“Excuse me?” You averted your gaze nervously. “Love is a very strong word.”

“Yes, but you have very strong feelings for her don’t you? I can see the way you two look at each other, sharing little glances when you think no one’s paying attention. I’ve seen the special treatment she gives you if you do something wrong. While any other gray would be scolded or slapped, you get nothing but a warning again and again.”

You looked at him petrified as he slinks over to you, leaning on his desk. “How long have you two been seeing each other?”

“A few months.” You admitted, tears brimming your eyes. “Is this apart of my test?”

He tsked, “Everything’s apart of a greater test, isn’t it?”

Silence hung heavily in the air as a tear fell down your cheek, “P-please, Mr. Langdon. You can’t tell her that you know. She prides herself on keeping a strong front.”

“That’s just the problem isn’t it? Her pride.” He leaned down to be at eye level with you, “I’d like to take you with me, Y/N, but before I make my final decision you’ll have to do something for me.” He paused, “You’ll need to break up with Ms. Venable.”

Your eyes widened, “Why? If you're worried about how our relationship would affect procreation at the Sanctuary, I can assure you that it won't be a problem-”

“No, I’m afraid that’s not it. The problem is that dearest Wilhemina won’t be going with us.”

You were sure your heart stopped beating at that moment, "What? Why?" You croaked out, trying to hold back your tears. Why would Langdon want to take you to the Sanctuary, but not Wilhemina? She was one of the strongest, smartest people you knew. What could make her an unattractive candidate?

Langdon straightened up, sighing, “Because she’s weak. She puts on a strong front, but deep down she’s just a scared, insecure little girl trying to gain some control in her life. It would be a kindness to just end things with her before leaving. She won’t hold on to false hope, and you can move on. No more sneaking around feeling like you’re not good enough. You can start a new life at the Sanctuary. One that’s not sucked up by the black hole that is Wilhemina Venable.”

You couldn't stop the tears that flowed freely down your cheeks. The way he talked about her made your blood boil. Who did he think he was? You would never leave Wilhemina in this godforsaken wasteland. She was the only thing that kept you going these past eighteen months. You would rather die with her than live without her. 

"No! I can't do that. I won't do that." You bolted up from your seat, "You're out of your depth, Langdon. Your empty promises of paradise mean nothing to me. Wilhemina means everything." 

His eyes turned dark, "You'll live to regret it."

You glared right back at him, "Well luckily it's a hobby of mine to prove you wrong." You clenched your fists as you heard a hard knock on the door. You turned to face the sliding door, revealing Wilhemina. Upon seeing your tear-stained cheeks her brows furrowed in the slightest motion, and you quickly turned away. Explaining to her what happened between you and Langdon was not a conversation you were looking forward to having. 

"Good day, Mr. Langdon." You dismissed yourself. Refusing to make eye contact with your lover, you wiped your tears on your sleeve as you hurried out of the room. 

Wilhemina's eyes followed you until you were out of her line of vision. Her hand gripped the top of her cane tighter as she imagined it was Langdon's throat. She didn't even know what he did, but knowing that he caused such a reaction from you made her want to strangle him.

Langdon retreated to his desk, "Ms. Venable. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

She cleared her throat, pulling herself back to reality. Making eye contact with him she stated, "I came to inform you of the package we've just received from the Cooperative. I assume it was your doing?"

"Indeed it was." He leaned back in his chair, "Will that be all?"

She clenched her jaw and took a step towards him, "Actually, no. I'd like to know what just happened between you and Miss Y/N."

He scoffed, "That's confidential information. If you'd like to know, you'll have to go ask her."

She smirked, "You won't tell me? That's fine. Just know this, though. If I ever see you anywhere near her, you'll have to deal with me."

Langdon fake gasped, "Is that a threat? Now, why would you harbor such strong feelings for Y/N? According to you, you've hardly spoken to anyone here when it wasn't necessary." 

Wilhemina let out a little chuckle, "It's not a threat. It's a promise." She turned to walk out, eager to find you and ask what was said in that interview.