#the Problem is my automatic nervous system but it’s manageable

[amuhav]

my No Problem sweater arriving the day after I get out of hospital, could not have been timed better

[drvitaltips]

How to Stop Cursing When Angry: Get Your Temper In Check

Let's face it, we've all been there. You get fired up, and suddenly you're unleashing a string of curse words. It happens! Anger is a natural human emotion, but how to stop cursing when angry is a question many of us ask ourselves. Cursing in the heat of the moment can damage relationships, get you in trouble at work, or even escalate a situation. If you're ready to ditch this habit, you're in the right place. Let's tackle this together. Why Do We Curse When We're Angry? - It's an automatic response: Think of swearing as your brain's emotional shortcut. When you're super frustrated or furious, it's sometimes easier to let out a curse word than find the right thing to say. - It might be learned behavior: Did you grow up hearing people curse when they were upset? Sometimes, we pick up habits (good and bad!) from those around us. The Problem With Cursing When Angry While it might feel good in the moment, cursing when you're angry has some downsides: - Damaged relationships: Harsh words can hurt the people you care about, even if you don't mean them. - Trouble at work or school: Cursing in the wrong setting can land you in hot water, especially if it's directed at someone. - Things get worse, not better: Does swearing really help you solve the problem that made you angry? Often, it just ramps up the tension. Key Takeaways - Anger itself is normal, but how we express it matters. - Cursing can be a hard habit to break, but it IS possible! Strategies to Stop Cursing When Angry Okay, time to get practical! Here are techniques to try when you feel that familiar surge of anger: - Spot your triggers: What makes your temper flare? Is it traffic jams, certain people, or feeling overwhelmed? Once you know your triggers, you can start to anticipate those situations. - Take a breath (or ten): This classic advice really works! Deep breathing calms your nervous system and helps you think more clearly. - Switch out the swear words: Instead of the harshest curse words, try milder ones like "dang," "shoot," or "fudge." It might sound silly, but it helps break the habit. - Walk away: If you can, remove yourself from the situation. A change of scenery gives you time to cool down and regain control. - Fix the root problem: Cursing is often a symptom of deeper anger. If you're constantly stressed or frustrated, consider talking to a therapist or counselor for help managing those bigger emotions. Quick Tips for the Heat of the Moment When you feel anger rising...Try this instead...You're about to shout a curse wordCount slowly to 5Clenching your fistsTake several deep breathsWant to lash out at someoneWalk away and come back later Need More Support? - Therapy or anger management: A professional can help you understand your anger and develop healthier coping mechanisms. Find therapists through a source like Psychology Today's directory: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us. - Mindfulness and meditation: Learning to focus on the present moment can bring surprising benefits for emotional control. There are lots of apps, like Headspace or Calm, to guide you. FAQs: Your Cursing and Anger Questions Answered Q: Is cursing a sign of a mental health problem? A: Not necessarily. While some mental health conditions might involve difficulty controlling anger, cursing on its own isn't a sign of a disorder. However, if your anger feels overwhelming or is causing significant problems in your life, it's definitely worth talking to a mental health professional. Q: My child curses a lot. How can I help them stop? A: First, try to figure out where they're picking up the language. Then, focus on modeling better behavior yourself. Explain calmly that those words are hurtful and offer alternative ways to express anger (stomping feet, drawing an angry picture, etc.). Q: I need to vent! Are there healthy ways to express anger instead of cursing? A: Absolutely! Here are a few ideas: - Physical activity: Go for a run, hit the gym, or punch a pillow. Getting your body moving can release pent-up frustration. - Creative expression: Journaling, drawing, or playing music can give your angry feelings an outlet. - Talk it out: Vent to a trusted friend or family member who will listen without judgment. Fact: Did you know that some studies suggest a link between cursing and pain tolerance? It's not a foolproof strategy, but letting out a swear word might help you deal with a stubbed toe! It Takes Time, Be Kind to Yourself Breaking a cursing habit is just like changing any other habit – it won't happen overnight. Be patient with yourself, celebrate your small wins, and don't give up if you have setbacks! Finding Your Curse Word Replacements Breaking the cursing habit is easier when you have something else to say in those heated moments. Here are some ideas: - Funny exclamations: "Son of a biscuit!" "Well, butter my buns!" A little silliness can defuse your anger and even make you laugh. - "Feeling" words: Instead of a curse word, try "I'm so frustrated!" or "That makes me so mad!" Naming your emotions helps you process them. - A simple pause: Sometimes, the most powerful thing is to take a breath and say nothing at all until you've calmed down. Beyond Cursing: Building Emotional Awareness Managing anger long-term is about more than just stopping the swear words. Developing emotional awareness is key. This means: - Learning your triggers: Just like we discussed before, what sets off your temper flare-ups? - Noticing your body's cues: Does your heart race, do you clench your jaw? Recognizing early signs of anger helps you take action before it boils over. - Giving your emotions space: Anger isn't "bad." Allowing yourself to feel it (without acting destructively) helps it pass more quickly. Myth Buster: Some people swear that cursing is actually GOOD for you. However, while it might provide a temporary sense of relief, research suggests that over time, it can actually make your anger worse. Conclusion: You Can Do This! Cursing when you're angry is a super common habit, but that doesn't mean it has to control you. Remember, by using the strategies in this article and focusing on building your emotional awareness, you can train yourself to respond differently in those heated moments. It might feel strange at first, but with practice, it gets easier. Key Takeaways - Cursing is often an automatic response to anger. - There are healthier ways to express those big emotions. - Learning your triggers and building emotional awareness are key. - Be patient with yourself – breaking habits takes time! "The strongest people aren't always the people who win, but the people who don't give up when they lose." Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions about your health. Read the full article

[yapposrantcafe]

Grab a chair, a beverage, and get ready to either love or hate me.

This blog is a place for me to be honest about how I feel about many things I find disturbing in the world or society these days. You see I'm a disabled middle-aged woman with a grown daughter and eldery mother living with me.

Stress, conflict, and different ways of seeing the world prevail daily here. I'll let you guess which one of our residences likes to stir the proverbial pot and cause the other two to be miserable. This person finds it fun apparently. It's not a happy place to live. Simply being family doesn't automatically equal happiness when amongst each other. It's simply a roof over our heads and a place to survive.

We are not rich but we manage to never miss a meal. Two of Three of us have college degrees that aren't being used. One on social securitiy, one on disability, and one working part time paying only for gas my car.

I should mention that my daughters father died 3 yrs ago and left her financially well off. Not like Trump, Bill Gates, or other stupidly rich people. But enough to put a roof on my house before it became serious, level garage before it collapsed, new fence in backyard to stop dogs from escaping after losing one on the road, and some of the property cleared so we could expand yard. Some invested for her senior years means it's one less thing I need to worry about.

I don't charge my daughter rent because of the money she spent to save the house, I forgot windows and gutters she had replaced, but I would appreciate some help with the housework.

Again, I'm disabled. Seizures, Daily migraines causing my brain to eat it's white matter like MS but in different areas, random weakness of limbs, Central Nervous System (CNS) that short circuits and throws my motor skills out of sorts, anxiety, panic attacks, and depression, all that to be topped off by a pretty much non-existent immune system that's kept me on antibiotics for the last 6 months.

Now you know my situation. I live with people whom I seem to annoy by my mere presence and I'm starting to feel the same way about them. I can't open my mouth without being wrong even if the dog I'm petting is blond, and I call him blondie. I'm not sure how this is wrong but wow does it set off my daughter. Now my mother just says what she thinks is wrong with my daughter, and myself, and how we should act and what we should be doing that we're not.

I feel stuck. I'd sign this house over to my daughter in a heartbeat and rent a tiny apartment somewhere but I'd have to take my mother and both pomskies so it'd not be much of an improvement since I can't drive, and neither can my mother who has bad sight.

Now you know a bit of my situation and the reason I want, no need, to write this blog. You see i keep a journal for my personal stuff to try and help me stay sane but there's another problem that involves the people around me, even those who aren't related. If I have an opinion or thought on a topic they become aggressively upset and it starts a conflict.

I don't do conflict unless absolutely needed. It stresses me out and causes my health to deteriorate rapidly. So, I try to avoid it when possible. This would be the reason I'm sitting in my room with the dogs napping on my bed writing this someplace no one will likely find it or give a damn if they do run across it.

This, my personal journal, meditation, and other stress management techniques in my room are my only solace these days. I'm fighting to correct my health and waiting to find out if I qualify for IVIg therapy to boost my immune system. It's expensive so if insurance doesn't ok it I will live on antibiotics till I build a resistance and finally pass from some respiratory something.

Everything is so full of stress I will take any outlet to depressurize it and wait till I've hopefully saved enough for another long weekend just by myself in 6 months if I don't have another seizure.

[myfriendskickass]

I'm glad the lego pain scale works for you but I just wanted to point out a few things that are making me concerned:

A doctor telling you that a 10 is "the worst pain you ever felt" is entirely the reason the pain scale I linked was created - because "worst pain you ever felt, makes you crawl on the floor in agony" is a really subjective way of measuring pain. I don't think your doctor was lying to you per se, I think this is unfortunately how they are taught in medical school, but the problem with "worst pain you ever felt" (which my linked video explains, in case you missed it - sorry if you don't have access to facebook :() is that it's really easy for doctors to not believe you because the answers are so subjective.

Even "it's taking over my life and all I can think about" is not the best way to describe pain, because a good portion of the time, the doctors will interpret that as "needs therapy to stop focusing on pain" rather than "needs better pain management."

The scale I showed, though, is a measurable response to pain. It's the way your body physically reacts automatically. It's something that is not under your control, no matter what your pain tolerance actually is. A doctor cannot accuse you of lying or faking your pain because tensing muscles is an involuntary reaction. You have no control over it.

Keeping track of your pain levels is a really good practice and I encourage it! It's just that "makes it hard to do things" is really easily dismissed by doctors. Maybe you have a good doctor that actually gives a crap and is practicing good medicine - and if that's the case, I'm so happy for you. But a lot of people's choices are "shitty doctor that gaslights you and writes you off as a drug seeker" or "no doctor at all, ever." And for those people, if they can come armed with a pain scale that is based on undeniable hard facts, they have a better shot at getting their pain actually treated.

Also, pain tolerance is not really connected to how your autonomic nervous system processes pain. This chart has showed me that there's been plenty of times that my pain was actually in the 8-9 zone (hello kidney stones that I was rawdogging for weeks because I didn't know better) when I really honestly thought it was lower than that because my pain tolerance had me perceive it as a lower level than it was - and that's what I was telling doctors. So they would give me pain meds suited for a level 6 pain, and it wouldn't work, and I would be confused, because this doesn't feel THAT bad, why aren't these meds working?

Again, autonomic nervous system response is important because it affects the healing process. If you have a 7+, your body physically cannot heal from whatever is causing the pain to begin with until the pain is managed.

This scale is also really helpful for ND people who have issues with reading their own body cues. "Pain that distracts you" doesn't work because I can be distracted by anything and my body literally only sends me one set of symptoms at a time. (IE if I am nauseous, I never feel pain. If something starts hurting, the nausea goes away etc.)

Number 7 is actually really, REALLY important to be able to measure - this is what's called referred pain, and it can be the key in diagnosing what is actually wrong with you. Again, going to use kidney stones as an example, kidney stone pain rarely manifests as pain in your actual kidney area, and usually instead hurts in your flank and sides. Being able to tell a doctor "hey, I think my pain is radiating from some other part of my body" helps them do diagnostic testing in the right area of your body.

I really encourage you to actually try the pain scale I found - especially the method of touching the affected area, if possible, and recording the response. You may actually be in more pain, physiologically, than you think you are. Again, it doesn't matter if you feel like it's a 6, when your body is reacting like it's a 10. It will still inhibit your healing process regardless of what you think it feels like.

@ryttu3k here you go

I think I'm gonna add this to my pinned post but basically!

This is a pain scale I found from this group on facebook (although the video is also on tiktok, I think?) It was created by Jones Davis. More info is here, but tldr: This guy made a pain scale based off of how your body physiologically responds to pain - how it affects your sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. This is important because if you don't adequately manage anything 7 or above, you cannot heal properly.

And then the US military made their own pain chart, independently, that came to the same conclusions as this pain chart (it's in the more info link) but I don't like it because it's still too focused on subjective experiences versus measurable responses.

Note that for levels 7-10, the way to assess is to touch the affected area and then record the response. I think all doctors should be using this pain scale tbfh - I encourage everybody with chronic pain issues to print this out, show it to your doctors, REMEMBER THE NAME Jones-Davis pain scale. I cannot guarantee they will consider this valid, but here is a starting point if you want to research more to see if doctors will take you more seriously.

OBVIOUS DISCLAIMER that yeah, of course you should get a new doctor if your current one is shit in any way, but not everybody has that luxury so, you know. I hope this is useful.

[takalzuoom]

Okay so this is literally my 4th attempt to write this.

But

reader is a minor

cw : nagi pretending him and reo are dating 😭 cursing

au : i was supposed to micheal instead of nagi but… 🙈

AND THERES NOT ENOUGH BAROU CONTENT BOOO

athletic trainer reader x Rin, Barou and Nagi🖤

It wasn't good doc.

You know how he has those after training stretching? Yeah… uhm- he ended up overstretching and was now having trouble walking.

Fuck. How does he even manage to do that? Maybe it was because of that stupid Yoichi, or was it the fact that he stumbled over the ball today? Or that he didn’t have his favorite food today in the cafeteria.

He’s not sure, but all he knew was that it hurt like shit.

And what do you need when you're hurting? Ice.

And unfortunately, the cafeteria is closed for the night, so he has no choice but to go there😟

(Which seems almost impossible) he picked up his pride and finally decided that his soccer career was worth more than his pride.

He moved to knock on your door. Well, technically the trainer's door as you were just a trainee-

But you had opened it right before his fist met the door.

“Oh what? What’re you doing here?”

“I overstretched. I need ice.”

“Uh come right in? I guess?” He didn't care about your mumbling afterward, focused on getting this done and over with as he needed to go to bed.

Limping right past you, he settled on one of the doctor beds. He held this calf as he kept his eye trained on the poster of a skeleton body over a bed that was across the room.

It was half a skeleton and half of the nervous system.

A peer from the corner of his eye relieved a different poster behind him. Though he didn't try to look at it, as you were already walking with an ice pack and paper towel.

“Man it’s pretty late huh? What is it, like 8:30? What’re you doing training this late?”

The microscopic twitch of your brow didn’t strain your smile. Handing him the ice pack in silence, he started getting moving to get up, but the hand on his shin stopped him from leaving.

“I’m sorry but you can't leave here”

“Why”

“Cause I can't properly treat you anywhere else”

“I’m fine.”

Moving away from you as he went to hop off. The sudden impact from landing on the floor caused a dull, tightening pain to erupt from his calf. The subtle clench of his teeth hid nothing as you smirked.

“You really wanna walk on that?”

Glaring at you as his fist clenched around the examination table paper. The wrinkling of the paper stopped as soon as it started, hopping back up and sitting on the table.

“See? Better right?”

No response.

“I’m gonna get you some Advil hm?”

…

“How much do you need? What’s your pain on a 1-10 scale?”

Still nothing.

“Okay, only 1 is good :)”

“I need 2.”

“Got it” you mused, chipperly walking to the in-room office with the same automatic smile on your face.

This should be a fun few months

—

Nagi

You were tired.

This was the third time this week that you were visited by the freakishly tall sloth-man.

Or Nagi Seishoru

You rubbed your temple, pen clicking with each scratched as a long sigh escaped you. Holding your plastic blue clipboard close to your chest as the white-haired boy looked around the office like a newborn fawn experiencing the real world for the first time.

“So let me get this straight” he turned to your tired eyes

“Your head and stomach hurt, and you're feeling sluggish… again.”

“Correct-a-mongo”

“…Nagi…”

“ ‘Sup”

“Have you eaten anything? Like, anything at all today?”

With a head tilt and his head in his hands, you saw the gears turning a bit, as a noise you’d hear from an anime escaped him.

“Uhh no, not that I think of”

“Then there’s your problem. If you want I have some-“

“Got any chips?”

“Not any that I can give you”

“Why not?”

“‘Cause- go will kill me for ruining one of his ‘unpolished gems’ “ you mimicked.

“Besides, I’d rather not get blacklisted from the sports industry because I gave you, a bag of chips”

“ 'S okay, no one'll know”

“He’ll know” turning around to the office provided to you, you pointed to the cameras in each corner of the room. Said camera’s almost waving as you mentioned them.

“Oh poo”

“Poo indeed”

To say you’ve gotten used to his lazy antics is an understatement. With either him stopping unannounced to complain of a stomach ache, headache, nausea, and such the likes.

Or to him interrupting your internship to ask stupid questions.

It was getting annoying. Fast.

“Do you ever practice or do you just spend your free time here?”

You could barely hear him over the rustling of plastics and bags as you searched for some pretzels or something.

“Of course, I practice, I’m even on break. It’s also boring as hell out there. They all try so hard and for what?”

Right…

Pulling out a mini bag of pretzels, you closed the cabinet to see his stomach down against the table.

“Maybe that's because they want to be the best?”

He didn’t respond.

The pack of pretzels landed on his back as the clipboard you were still holding now had an extra few scribbles

“Don’t you have that Reo guy to hang out with?”

“We broke up”

“You were dating?” You asked all attention now on the stirring athlete. Reaching to grab the pretzels as he slowly flipped over.

He almost reminded you of a cat slowly stretching.

“Nah. He’s just mad at me for choosing Yoichi over him”

“Oh?” Your interest was now peaked as he started munching on the salty treats.

“How so?”

His eyes finally met yours for the first time as he tossed another piece into his mouth. Shrugging as he looked away- again

“Ugh you're so annoying” you groaned, standing up from your previous position as you walked back to ‘your’ office.

Leaving behind your beloved clipboard as Nagi glanced over to it. Taking it so it was now in his grasps.

-

Barou

“I’m fine! Let go!”

“No! If you keep moving then you might make it even worse!”

“I just fucking rolled it! It’s fine! Now let go!”

“No! I gotta wrap it for at least thirty minutes- Barou get back here!”

The edge lord unicorn impersonator stormed away as un-audio grumbles were heard from him.

“ Stop being so stubborn! I gotta help you!”

“You don't gotta do shit- I’m fine. See? I'm walking fine- now if you excuse me I gotta get back to practicing my shots”

“Fine! See how that works! Your left foot looks a bit swollen so you’ll get an upper ankle sprain at this point!”

Ah fuck.

Freezing, an almost malicious look graced his rugged features as he asked you to repeat yourself.

“Well- well- from the way you were walking just now, you seemed to put more pressure on your right foot, indicating-“

“Yeah I know, but I know my limits”

And with that, he walked away

It wasn't until dinner the next day that was elusively spotted in the office. Rummaging through cabinets like some starved animal.

“Barou? What’re you doing there?”

“Cleaning up you fucking mess. These cabinets are so disorganized…” he mumbled off, probably speeding up as his concentration stayed on the now-empty cabinet, bottles on bottles of pills splayed against the floor as, each cabinet having its own separate materials in front of them.

Like a smack to the face, you got an amazing idea.

“Barou”

“If I can treat your foot, I'll let you continue organizing”

He completely stopped as an annoyed expression was on his face.

“What makes you think I’d ever agree to that?”

“Cause you haven't let go of the Advil”

And true to your word, he was holding both containers of Advil in both his hands. Dropping both the bottles, he slowly stood to his full height, an annoyed expression more prominent than before.

Shit.

You could feel yourself straighten up, clenching your fists as he walked closer to you. Eyes staring dead ahead before flickering to yours. He was next to you.

“Stop standing like a lazy ass and get the tape. You’re lucky, tonight's my break, and already finished training. Now hurry up your scattered medicine is pissed me off”

“Of course, it is'” you sighed out, once white knuckles gained back some color as you peaked back to see him hopping on an examination bed.

You were… well dumbfounded. Somehow the egotistical, narcissistic, terrifying Barou- was tamed by cleaning?

You didn't see that coming. Not even from a mile away.

“Hurry it up, I gotta go to bed!”

“Sorry!” Jogging to pick up the tape from the floor, you made haste as to not come between him and his cleaning.

“Also your shelves are shit. I’m coming back to do them”

“Fine by me”.

[dessarious]

How the Sirens Adopted a Ladybug Pt5

AO3  Beginning   Previous   Next

They ate mostly in silence with Ladybug refusing to look at any of them. The Kwami were all cuddled up against her obviously trying to offer emotional support. Every time she managed to calm herself down Selina would look over at the girl and her rage would build up again. She was going to have to find an outlet for it in order to stay here.

“So why haven’t you asked for help from the European Justice League?” The full body flinch she got in response gave her a target for that rage. She mumbled something that Selina couldn’t hear. “What was that?”

“I don’t think they believed anything was happening. Eventually they just told me that if I couldn’t handle butterflies I shouldn’t consider myself a hero. They had real problems to deal with.” Oh she was definitely sicking Bruce on those idiots once she figured out what was going on. “In their defense once I cast my cure there’s no visible damage so unless one of them had been here during an attack it really doesn’t seem real.” Great, now she was making excuses for heroes who absolutely should know better.

“I don’t care what they thought, that’s unacceptable behavior. You mentioned something about others that were helping you?” She flinched and curled in on herself.

“You should tell them. Plagg’s right, I think they can help.” Most of the other Kwami looked surprised at Tikki’s words. Ladybug somehow just seemed to get smaller.

“Kiddo, the three of us are the last to judge, trust me. We just want to help.” Harley’s voice was gentle and the girl peeked at her before looking back at her hands. Plagg flew up to her shoulder and was whispering in her ear. Eventually she took a deep breath and pulled her knees into her chest.

“At first it was just Chat Noir and me. It was okay for a while. He was always goofing around and flirting but he was there. But things happened and he didn’t want there to be secrets even though it was for our own safety. The Guardian chose what information we got when and he trusted me more than he did Chat, especially the more he pushed. He let me choose temporary holders and that just pissed Chat off more. He started becoming unreliable. Not showing up to fights, spending patrols trying to convince me to reveal my identity. Then he revealed himself to the other holders and got them to do the same. I refused and he convinced the others that I wasn’t trustworthy. I had to take his Miraculous. Too many people knew who he was. After that I couldn’t use any of the others even if they had been willing and I didn’t know anyone else I could trust. Then the Guardian… he got sick and turned his responsibilities over to me. So now I use whichever Miraculous I need for any given battle.”

“And what about your living situation?” She shook her head but it seemed more like an automatic reaction than an answer.

“That could compromise my identity.” Plagg and Tikki both flew in front of her face with their arms crossed.

“You need to tell them. Keeping your identity from Chat and the others was necessary and as we’ve seen showed good instincts on your part, but this is different.” Tikki’s voice sounded encouraging but strained. Their worry was obvious.

“But-”

“No buts Kit.” Plagg pointed to Selina. “She’s one of mine and there’s no malice toward you in any of them. We’re done watching you suffer alone. Not to mention you haven’t had a chance to breathe in months let alone grieve properly.” Selina shared a confused look with the other two. Plagg referring to her as theirs was odd but she was more worried about the grieving comment. Tears welled in Ladybug’s eyes and she shook her head again.

“I can’t.” The words were choked and the rest of the Kwami cuddled further into the girl while Plagg and Tikki just looked at each other.

“Will you let us tell them?” She hunched in further on herself but before she could say anything Tikki let out a string of what sounded like curses. Selina had no idea what language it was in. “There’s an Akuma.” Ladybug let out a tired breath.

“What time is it?”

“School just started. Which one do you think it is this time?” Plagg’s snark just got annoyed noises from all the Kwami. Ladybug stood and started towards the window. “Kit you’re not transformed.”

“Oh right.” Tikki disappeared and there was another flash of light around the girl.

“Why don’t we go with you? I’d like to see exactly what’s going on.” She frowned in thought.

“If you want, but I need you to stay back and not interfere. It’s bad enough trying to keep the others out of harm's way and I really don’t have the energy to look after anyone else and still defeat the Akuma.” As soon as she said it she was out the window.

“What do you think she meant by others?” Harley sounded like she had a guess at the answer, but wanted someone to give her a different one.

“I have a bad feeling that her former help are still trying to pretend they’re heroes. That or they’re actively trying to sabotage her. Or possibly both.” Given what had been said about Chat Noir, she wouldn’t be surprised.

“We should head out and find a good vantage point.” Ivy was just staring out the window but it seemed like she was looking inward.

“I just need to grab my jacket. And for now we respect her wish for no interference, unless it’s a matter of life and death for her, agreed?” Harley and Ivy both gave a nod but neither looked happy about it. Ten minutes later, as they stood on a roof watching Ladybug taking hits for a bunch of idiots who wouldn’t leave the area, Selina wasn’t either. As soon as the fight was over they moved in closer to see what the morons had to say for themselves.

“Looking a bit ragged there M’Lady. Are you ready to admit you were wrong yet? All I want is an apology and a reveal and things can go back to the way they were.” Selina had to grab Harley to stop her from lunging at the boy who spoke but Ladybug shot him a flat look.

“Go back to what exactly? You refusing to respect my boundaries and throwing tantrums during a fight, or you just not showing up at all?” The boy sputtered indignantly and she turned to leave but a different one, the one who’d been possessed started yelling at her.

“Aren’t you even going to ask what upset me so much I got Akumatized? You used to actually care about people.” Ladybug just crossed her arms and waited. “Someone I thought was my friend just moved away without telling anyone! Can you believe that?” That just brought a confused look from the hero as she scanned the others assembled. For some reason that seemed to annoy the girl more. “Marinette! She just up and left without telling anyone!”

“I’m sorry, did you all just now notice she was gone?” Disbelief was the main thing in her tone, but there was hurt there as well.

“What do you mean just now? Don’t act like it’s our fault she decided to bail on her friends.” Ladybug was just staring at all of them like they’d lost their minds.

“Some friends considering it took you six months to notice she was missing in the first place.” There was a blonde girl leaning against a nearby building that Selina would swear wasn’t there a minute about.

“She’s not missing. Her parents sold their business and the family moved.” The blonde looked like she was going to fire back but Ladybug spoke first.

“Believe what you want, you always do. This is not something I’m going to stand here and argue about. I’m sorry you feel hurt but there’s nothing I can do to help the situation.” She tried to leave again.

“Wait!” The blond practically jogged up to her. “I need to speak with you, alone.” Ladybug hesitated. “Please, it’s important.” The hero searched the girls face for a moment before giving a small nod. The others immediately started shouting at her so she grabbed the other girl and headed to a nearby roof. They followed silently and Selina watched as they both stood awkwardly.

“So what do you need to talk to me about Chloe?” There was a wariness to Ladybug's tone and stance, almost like she expected to be yelled at or attacked. The other girl just seemed nervous.

“A couple things. You knew Marinette was missing, do you know where she is?” Ladybug’s entire body tensed up at the question and Chloe saw it. “I’m not asking you to tell me I just… I just want to know if she’s okay. The police are refusing to look for her, claiming she went to live with relatives out of the country even though her passport hasn’t been used, and she hasn’t touched her back accounts since the day after…” She trailed off, obviously not wanting to finish the thought.

“How do you know she hasn’t… you’ve been using your father’s accounts to check the police progress haven’t you?” She just gave a sheepish shrug. “Why? You hated Marinette.” Chloe flinched.

“No I didn’t. We were rivals sure, and I was overall a bitch yes, but I never hated her. We were just so different and… I mean you’ve met my parents. I was taught from a young age that I was above everyone else and that they should be grateful for my notice. Mari… I couldn’t understand for the longest time why she stood up to me. I know it sounds stupid and I can’t really explain it better.” She sounded frustrated but it actually seemed to calm Ladybug down for some reason. “Look, I understand why she wouldn’t want to come back to school. Those ungrateful peasants made her life a living hell, but it’s like she completely dropped off the face of the earth. I can’t even imagine what losing both her parents in an accident like that must have done to her.”

“She’s okay. She just didn’t want to be sent out of Paris, or put into the system.” It didn’t sound like a lie but Ladybug was refusing to look the other girl in the eye for some reason. Chloe was just frowning in thought.

“If you see her again… tell her I can help if she wants. I know I’m probably the last person she wants to deal with but if she needs a place to stay no questions asked, I’m offering. Daddy has a few judges that owe him favors as well so we can probably get her emancipated so she can at least get to her money without worrying about someone tracking her and putting her somewhere she doesn’t want to be.” Ladybug nodded but from her position Selina could see her fighting back tears. “The other thing I wanted to talk about…”

“Yes?” Chloe still hesitated. She looked worried.

“That comment Adrien made, about you looking ragged… he wasn’t wrong.” Ladybug curled in on herself and Chloe panicked. “I’m not say it as a criticism! Ever since those rejects abandoned you it’s obvious things have been getting worse. I don’t know what you home situation is like but it’s kind of obvious it’s less than great.”

“If you’re going to try and convince me to give you a Miraculous-”

“No! No, it’s nothing like that. I just… here.” She pushed something into the hero’s hand and Ladybug just looked at it in confusion.

“What…” Chloe cleared her throat nervously.

“I had part of my floor renovated into a sort of efficiency apartment. That key is to get in through the balcony. The door that leads to the rest of my suite has multiple locks, including bolts that go into the floor that can only be accessed from the inside.” Ladybug blinked at her, not seeming to process what the girl said. “It’s a safe place… if you need it.” There was a long pause then Ladybug lurched forward, pulling the other girl into a hug.

“Thank you.”  The words were soft, almost inaudible, but the emotion behind them was heartbreaking.

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Ko-Fi

Tags

@asrainterstellar @scorchdragon88 @arty-shadow-morningstar @toodaloo-kangaroo @solangelo252 @smolplantmum @jayjayspixiepop

[intheticklecloset]

The Great Academia Road Trip, Part 3 (My Hero Academia)

Primary Universe

Summary: During a particularly long bus ride to the next stop on their road trip, some of the students in Class 1-A take the time to catch up on some sleep. However when they near their destination they'll need to wake up somehow, and lucky for them, Todoroki can get pretty loud when he's being tickled!

A/N: I had a lot of fun with this one! Lee Todoroki has my entire heart. He makes a great alarm clock, too! Enjoy! ^^

Word Count: 1,384

Part 1

~~~

“S-Stop it!”

“What’s wrong? Can’t get away?”

“Kaminari!” There was a low chuckle, followed by the sounds of a scuffle. “S-Stohop, please!”

Mina pulled out one of her earbuds to listen more closely, intrigued by whatever was happening on the bus seat in front of hers. Momo sat beside her, having fallen asleep nearly an hour ago. The harder she listened, the more she matched the pleading voice to Todoroki.

“Plehehease, no! People are t-tryihihing to sleep!”

“Eh, sleep is boring,” Kaminari replied, a smile in his voice. “This is way more fun.”

Mina grinned, already guessing what was happening in front of her. Still, she carefully got to her feet so as not to disturb Momo, leaning over the seat in front of hers to witness the scuffle with her eyes as well.

Todoroki was pressed up against his window seat, desperately squirming and pushing at Kaminari’s hands. Meanwhile the blonde had a huge grin on his face, reaching through his friend’s defenses to poke and prod wherever he could, and poor Todoroki was helpless against his giggles and the sparkle in his eyes that told her he was honestly having as much fun as Kami was.

“Aww,” she cooed, drawing both of their attention. “You two are so cute.”

“Hey, Mina,” Kaminari said casually, switching tactics and squeezing the icy-hot hero’s thigh instead. Todoroki jolted and kicked the seat in front of him, grabbing the blonde’s wrist and shoving it away.

“Hey, Denki.” Mina put her chin in her hand and watched the two of them with a smile. “Having fun, Todo?”

“Shut up,” he mumbled, then received a jab to his ribs. “Stohohop it!”

“If you really wanted me to stop, you’d have said your safe word by now.” Kaminari winked, reaching up into his underarm to scribble at the hollow.

Todoroki jolted again, hitting his head against the window with a low groan. “Ow! Kaminari, please, I’m going to wake someone up or hurt myself or something!”

“If you’d hold still and take it, it wouldn’t be a problem~”

“Again – I’ll wake someone up.” Todoroki finally managed to grab both of his wrists to stop him, face turning slightly more serious. “You know how ticklish I am. Half our class is trying to sleep; I don’t want to wake them up and have them mad at me.”

Kaminari pouted. “Oh, fine, if you’re really worried about it I’ll stop.”

Todoroki looked both relieved and disappointed as he let his friend go. “Thank you.”

Mina frowned, noticing the shift in mood and wishing she could do something about it. After a moment, a thought hit her, and she lit up even as she sat back down, put her earbuds back in, and pulled out her phone to text Kaminari her plan.

Two hours later, when the bus was finally nearing their destination, Mina stored her earbuds away and looked around the bus. Most of those who had fallen asleep on the trip were awake now, but there were still a few sleepy faces. Time to put her plan into action.

Momo looked at her curiously as she stood up, tapping Kami on the shoulder to let him know she was ready. He flashed her a smirk and a thumbs-up. Moving quickly, he reached over to Todoroki faster than their friend could react, grabbing his arms and shoving them above his head. Mina immediately grabbed his wrists and held him firmly in place while the blonde plunged his fingers into his exposed ribs.

“GAH!! Whahahahahahat?! Nahahahahahaha!” Todoroki shrieked on instinct, then desperately tried to muffle his laughter as he wiggled and squirmed against both of them. “Stohohohohop! I already tohohohohold you, I’ll wahahahake someone up!”

“Good news!” Mina announced brightly. “We’re almost there! Which means everyone should be waking up anyway!”

“You’ll make a great alarm clock,” Kaminari teased with a wicked grin, pulling back for just a moment to wiggle his fingers in Todoroki’s line of vision, sparks flying between his fingertips.

Todoroki’s eyes went wide, but the excitement on his face was clear even as he shied away from Kami’s reach. “N-No, wait – WAHAHAHAHAHAHAIT!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!”

At this point several of their classmates had turned to look at them, all of them smiling or smirking. A couple of sleepyheads jolted awake, looking around in confusion.

Kami scribbled his tickle-shocking fingers all over Todoroki’s vulnerable torso, from his hips to his ribs and finally his underarms. Upon reaching this last spot, the half-and-half boy tossed his head back and screeched, legs kicking out automatically, drawing the attention of the people sitting in front of him.

“Mon Dieu, Todoroki, you really are super ticklish,” Aoyama said, popping his sparkling blonde head over the top of his own seat to watch the spectacle unfold. He smiled.

“AHAHAHAHAHAHA!! PLEHEHEHEHEASE!!” Todoroki arched his back, then instantly fell back against his seat when the action only afforded Kami better access to his weak spot. “IT’S SO BAHAHAHAHAHAD – PLEHEHEHEHEHASE!!”

“Aww, does it tickle, Todo?” Mina teased, gripping his wrists tighter to keep him from pulling his arms down. “But you’re waking everyone up, so you’re serving your purpose beautifully!”

Todoroki didn’t reply. For the first time he seemed to surrender himself to his hysterics, going limp and letting Kaminari use his tickle-shocks to light up his nervous system and make him laugh uncontrollably, only squirming slightly.

“It’s too bad we can’t reach his feet like this,” Mina mused.

“Oh?” Kami inquired at the same time Todoroki suddenly began fighting again with a renewed shriek. “Why?”

“That’s his worst spot.”

“NO!! NOHOHOHOHOHOHO!!” Todoroki pleaded even as Kami grinned deviously at him and awkwardly climbed into his lap to pin his knees to the seat while he reached down to take one of his shoes off. Thanks to the confined space, the peppermint-colored boy could do nothing but sit there as Kami began scribbling his fingers over his socked sole. “CRAP, NO – WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAIT!!”

Mina laughed along with him when he threw his head back against the seat and let out a scream of ticklish laughter, wiggling his torso but unable to do much more to relieve his ticklish frustration. Tears sprang to his eyes as he laughed and begged desperately for mercy.

“PLEHEHEHEHEHEHEASE, NOT THEHEHEHEHEHEHERE!!”

“Ooh! Good call, Mina!” Kami laughed, too. “This spot really seems to drive him crazy!”

By now everyone on the bus was awake and watching the scene unfold with smiles and smirks on their faces. Some were even cheering Kami on.

Todoroki was barely aware of any of it. All he knew was that his worst spot was being tickled, and he could do absolutely nothing about it, and it was driving him completely insane. Then suddenly his second shoe came off and both of his feet were being tickled at once, and the first mirthful tear escaped him as he screamed with a fresh round of hysterics.

“PLEASE STAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAP!! KAMINARIEHEHEHEHEHE!!” He begged, too weakened by his own ticklishness to even be able to pull his arms away from Mina’s hold. “PLEASE DOHOHOHOHON’T USE YOUR SHOHOHOHOCKS THERE!! PLEHEHEHEHEHEASE!!”

“Oh?~” Kaminari latched onto the plea and sank his teeth into it. “I wasn’t planning to, but now that you mention it…”

“NONONONO – AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!” For the first time Todoroki’s laughter went completely silent, but the giggles of his classmates made up for the brief pocket of empty air. Everyone was having a great time watching their usually stoic classmate laugh himself silly. Finally he gasped in enough breath to scream only one word: “HOMEWOHOHOHOHOHOHORK!!”

Kaminari stopped instantly, climbing off of his lap. Mina was a bit confused at first, but quickly put together that “homework” must have been a safe word of some kind and released her friend’s arms so he could yank them back down and curl up against the window, still beaming and giggling uncontrollably. Scattered cheers and giggles circled the bus as Kami gently squeezed his shoulder.

“You okay, man?”

“F-Fihihihine…” Todoroki gasped, a little shaky as he let himself relax into the seat. “Now I’m tired, though…”

“Well, you can’t go to sleep now,” Mina teased, ruffling his hair. “We’re here!”

Sure enough, at that exact moment the bus was pulling into the parking lot of the hotel they’d be staying in for the night.

Todoroki groaned. “Dang it.”

Kaminari and Mina laughed.

~~~

Part 4

[elysiadjarin]

Sword and Shield

Tags: Bad Batch x reader (you), fem!coded, poly!relationship, multi-part series, nonhuman!reader, Echo later on

Summary: Well guys, I’m being stupid again and starting another writing project so here you go. It’s gonna get pretty smutty later, so have at it you heathens 😂

Warnings: There will be throughout this fic mentions of war, abuse, gore, and smut. Minors DNI. 18+ only.

1: A New Beginning

“Yo, Shivvie!” a familiar voice hollered, making you look up from your work.

With a blink, you caught sight of Fives trotting across the room. You waved back in acknowledgement, setting down the pieces you’d been tinkering with and wondering what the effusive trooper wanted from you this time. He normally interrupted your sessions of tinkering, but you were fond enough of him that it normally didn’t bother you.

He jogged up, grinning cheerfully. “Whatcha doing? You working on a project again?”

You just nodded and smiled, patting the bench next to you invitingly.

He plopped himself down, glancing briefly at the pieces you’d set down. “So, the Commander sent me over to getcha,” he started, and your eyes widened.

You leaped to your feet, scrabbling to grab your things. “Fives,” you protested, “shouldn’t you have started with that? I gotta get there-“

“Whoa there, Shivvie,” Fives laughed, grabbing at your sleeve. “Calm down, you’re not supposed to show up for another hour. I got sent to tell you so you’d be ready in time.”

“Oh.” You sheepishly sank back down. “Thanks, Fives. Sorry.”

He chuckled. “No problem. Glad I found you on time. I looked in the mess hall and the docks but couldn’t find ya, so I figured I’d come here. Figured you might be working on something,” he said, gesturing widely at the room. “So whatcha workin’ on this time?”

You tilted your head, glancing down at the datapad and the metal scrap bits scattered around you. “Well... I...” you chewed your lip, picking up the datapad. “I dunno, sorta just experimenting,” you tried to explain your own spur-of-the-moment idea. “I was thinking about drills last time, and I realized a couple of things felt... off. I figured I’d try to figure out the details and try to... y’know, make them better,” you offered, handing him the datapad.

He glanced over the blaster schematics you’d pulled up, and tilted his head curiously. “I mean, I don’t really understand all the details, but it looks like you’re trying to fix the stability?” he guessed, handing it back.

“Sorta,” you said with a nod. “I just feel like there’s too much recoil. I mean, imagine if you could fire it with barely any? It’d waste so much less energy.”

“True.” He nodded. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” He grinned. “So, you coming to the 79s with us tonight?”

You gave him a slight smile, setting the datapad aside. “Well, I don’t know, Fives. Depends on what the Commander says.” Nervously, you pushed a stray piece of hair behind your ear. “Did he say what it was about?”

Fives shrugged. “Dunno.” Then he leaped up. “Well, lemme know if you wanna go, you have my commlink number.”

You nodded. “Thanks, Fives. I will.” You realized a split second later what you’d forgotten to ask. “Oh, wait! Where am I supposed to see the Commander?” you called after him.

He turned back. “Hangar Bay Six!” he hollered back, waving as he bounced away.

You shook your head at his boundless energy, turning back to your work. Really, would Fives ever calm down? It was a wonder you ever hit it off.

Then again, opposites did tend to attract.

~

Taking a breath, you shook your head and straightened, picking up your small bag and heading out the door. Considering your role in the 501st, you wouldn’t be surprised if Commander Rex had called you in for some mission or something. There had been the possibility of your getting reassigned, after all.

Heading over to Hangar Bay Six like Fives had said, you let your mind wander a bit, wondering what you’d been called in for. You didn’t think you were in trouble, or else the Commander probably would have come to you personally or called you in straightaway. So it had to be something else, right?

By the time you caught sight of him on the opposite side of the Hangar, your mind had unsurprisingly started to spiral into a pit of anxiety. You were always nervous about getting into trouble, even if you knew you rarely did anything to merit an open rebuke. Still, you’d come to respect the Commander, and you wanted to keep a good standing with him and General Skywalker.

Commander Rex stood by a small group of what seemed to be other troopers, all by a smaller ship. The name Havoc Marauder was painted proudly across the side, and you had to admire the bold name. Rex turned to see you approach as you neared, catching the attention of the others he’d been speaking to.

“Ah, there you are.” He nodded at you. “Thank you for being on time.”

You came to a halt and dipped your head politely, bag still slung over your shoulder. “Yessir. Fives told me you wanted me,” you said, a bit lamely. Still, you gave him a small smile.

“I’m surprised he even managed to find you,” Rex said dryly, earning a small laugh from you. “I’d like you to meet Clone Force 99, a unit that I’ve helped put together,” he said, moving on. He motioned to the others. “They’re an unusual special forces unit, meant to work special ops missions different from the normal cut and dry type. I know that you’ve expressed your hopes to find a group that you’d work best with, and while you’ve been invaluable to the 501st, I’d like you to consider giving Force 99 a try. I think based on your skills that you might suit each other well.”

Curiously, you tilted your head and observed the group of four. At first glance, you immediately noticed that all of them had notable differences from a normal Clone. You wouldn’t necessarily call them disabilities, though according to the Kaminoans they most likely would be. The group seemed to survey you back, and you decided to give them a hesitant smile.

“Pleased to meet you,” you offered with a polite nod. “My name is (Name), though most call me Shiv.” You smiled at the nickname the Clones had given you that you’d readily adopted. “If you’d have me, I’d love to give it a go.”

“You a Nat-born?” The one that seemed to be the leader of the group asked the question, his head tilting toward you in a way that let you easily see the skull tattoo that covered half of his face.

You nodded. “Yes, but I’m far from... I guess what you’d call a Reg,” you said, a little uncomfortably. “I know I’m not a Clone, but I’ve sort of been... viewed like one for most of my life. I... guess you could say I was born for war.” A bitter smile twisted your lips as you glanced down at the floor.

“So what’s your specialty, then?” The one with glasses surveyed you interestedly.

You blinked with a bit of surprise, glancing at Rex. Hadn’t he told them, if he recommended you to the group-?

He shook his head back. “You’re best at describing your own skills. I thought it might be best for you to explain it yourself.”

“Oh.” You supposed it made sense. Hesitating, you glanced at them. “Uh- well, I’m...” You pursed your lips. “Do any of you use any weapon other than a standard blaster?” You decided to preface.

The one with greyed hair and a surly look on his face hefted his weapon in his hands, a sniper rifle. You observed it with a tilted head, mind starting to run its caliber.

“773 Firepuncher sniper rifle,” you automatically murmured, eyes trailing over it. “Oh, has it been modified?” you asked interestedly. “It seems to be a bit different from the standard scope?”

His eyebrows shot up. “Yeah, I modified it.”

You nodded, then turned to the others questioningly.

The largest one of the group, the one with scars over his whitened eye, grinned at you. “This is my favorite!” he boomed unapologetically, hefting a giant weapon.

You had to smile a little, noting the weapon fit the user. “DC-17m Interchangeable Weapon System,” you said with a nod. “That’s one I’m pretty familiar with.”

The lean trooper with the glasses pointed to his holsters.

You barely had to glance before nodding. “DC-17 hand blasters.”

The leader with the tattoo displayed his own hand blaster, IWS, and a vibro-knife.

You had to smile a little, eyes lingering on the knife. “Commander Rex and the others named me after the VibroShiv,” you had to admit. Then you shook yourself. “Um, right. Well, I guess you could in a way call me a weapons expert and analyst. I’ve been responsible for modifying weapons according to someone’s specific skills or fighting patterns. Most of the reason that I have a good grasp of weapons is because I... I um- I am one.”

For a moment, the group just stared at you, as though waiting for you to either yell “Sike!” or explain further.

When you waited for their response, glancing at Rex nervously, they glanced at each other.

“Come again?” the tattooed one said, a little incredulously.

You had the feeling that this would be just as interesting a discussion as the one you’d had with the 501st the first time you’d been introduced.

Part 2: https://elysiadjarin.tumblr.com/post/653202473626025984/sword-and-shield

[swaps55]

Mnemonic

This is an AU version of a standalone scene from Cantata that I rewrote with kissing. Because there was a lot of UST and I am weak. 

Ao3

14 June 2180, Hades Gamma, Farinata System, SSV Myeongnyang

For a biotic, the armor never really comes off. What they carry under their skin is like a live wire, a current always in need of grounding.

Standing face-to-face with half a dozen L2 biotics holding the chairman of the Parliament Subcommittee for Transhuman Studies hostage on the MSV Ontario makes it a lot easier for Kaidan to see how much he takes for granted having a safe place to do it. And knowing how.

Reparations for the L2 side effects are a pipe dream. But a pipe dream Colin Daggett and his people needed to cling to, whatever the cost. And it had almost cost them everything.

Shepard doesn’t say much as they arrange for the survivors to be transferred to the Madrid’s brig and the engineering crew arrives to secure the Ontario for the trip to Arcturus. He says even less on the way through the airlock back to the ‘Yang, and the rest of the squad take their lead from him.

When they’re back on board the ship he disappears, sucking the air out of the room with him. They kit down without him.

“You’re an L2, aren’t you?” Pendergrass asks as she shoves her arms through the sleeves of her uniform, armor plating in a heap at her feet.  

Beaudoin jabs her with an elbow.

“Yeah,” Kaidan murmurs, fingers tracing the amp port on the back of his neck when he removes the protection plate. He flexes his fingers, gravity well jumping into his touch. As he reaches for his chest plate to store it in his gear locker, an electric shock passes through him.

When 23:00 rolls around, Kaidan shows up in the mess as usual, figuring he’ll keep it simple tonight and just make some pasta. Shepard is there waiting, as usual, picking at a spot on the table while Kaidan pulls out a pot and finds a container of pasta. The entire time the water boils Shepard doesn’t say a word, stubbornly lost in thought.

Kaidan tells himself he’s not going to do more than olive oil and garlic – it’s been too long of a day for effort – but by the time he gets it to the table there’s parmesan cheese, parsley, and even a little red pepper in the mix.

“You going to tell me what’s up, or do I get to guess?” Kaidan asks when he sits down across from him and hands off a fork. He spent too much energy on going above and beyond with the red pepper to bother with a second bowl. They’ll just have to share.

Shepard looks up, almost in surprise. “Just thinking.”

“You’ve been thinking ever since you got Chairman Burns through the airlock. Maybe you should think out loud.”

The gravity well churns as Shepard stirs eddies in it, in tune with the twirl of his fork in the pasta bowl. “Everything that happened on that ship hinged on what Daggett did with his pistol.”

His toying intensifies, until blue energy shimmers around his knuckles. This one’s been chewing at him. A snap of electricity skips between his finger and the fork, and he drops it with an annoyed mutter. He looks up.

“You pulled the gun out of his hands,” he says.

And Shepard had put a bullet between his eyes. The fight had gone out of the rest pretty quickly.

“He wasn’t going to put it down,” Kaidan says. “We all knew it.”

“No. He wasn’t. And if you hadn’t been there, that standoff turns into a clusterfuck where everyone dies.”

A soft smile tugs at Kaidan’s lips. “Guess it’s a good thing I was there.”

Shepard picks up the fork again, staring at it with an unfocused gaze before he stabs it back in the bowl and twirls more pasta.  

“I couldn’t have done what you did. I can’t refine a field like that. I was prepared to shoot everyone in that room. But you pulled the gun right out of his hands.”

Only because Shepard had given him the chance. Whether Shepard had done it with purpose or actually hesitated is a question he hasn’t been in a hurry to examine too closely.

“We work together, remember? In case you hadn’t noticed, we’ve gotten pretty good at it.”

Shepard huffs. “Yeah. We have.”

“But you’re just gonna get bent out of shape about not being able to do everything yourself, anyway.”

“Have you met me?” Shepard says with a helpless shrug.

“Yeah, I’ve had the pleasure,” Kaidan says with a chuckle. He pushes his chair back. “Come on, then.”

Shepard casts him a suspicious look. “Come where?”

“To the gym.”

“Alenko—”

“Come on.” He nods towards the elevator and starts walking, smirking a little when Shepard’s chair scrapes against the floor and his feet hit the deckplates.

“You’re just dying to give me a taste of my own medicine, aren’t you,” Shepard grouches when they board the lift.

“Oh, definitely.”

“You’re the worst.”

“Apparently not when it comes to taking people’s pistols out of their hands.”

Shepard chuckles, though he tries to choke off a smile by looking down at his feet. When they get to the gym Kaidan digs a canteen out of his locker and sets it down on one of the sparring mats.

“I’m guessing that your training didn’t include a lot of control drills,” he says.

Shepard shakes his head. “Tulak wasn’t big on control. Overwhelming tidal force tends to be the krogan approach.”

“You don’t say.”

“Sarcasm does not become you, Alenko.”

Kaidan grins and points to the canteen. “Start simple. Just lift it off the ground.”  

Shepard rolls his eyes, but taps into the gravity well, corona enveloping him in a shroud of snapping blue tendrils. The hairs on Kaidan’s arms stand on end.

It’s so rare he gets to just watch Shepard work. All unrestrained power, from the loose, angry snarl of his corona to the sweeping mnemonics, make him seem larger than life. When he swipes the canteen off the floor he does it with his entire arm. The canteen leaps into the air, nearly hitting the ceiling before Shepard wrangles it. He only holds it still for half a second before sending it skidding to the other side of the gym.

“Hm,” Kaidan says.

Shepard gives him a withering look before marching off to fetch the wayward canteen. “It’s small. I don’t do well with small.”

“Not sure the size trips you up as much as you think it does,” Kaidan muses. “That mnemonic of yours applies some pretty impressive force automatically, so you’re already playing catch up if you’re trying to control the speed or direction.”

“See, I can’t tell if you’re complimenting me or giving me shit.”

“Both.”

“Har.”

Shepard resets the canteen and comes back to Kaidan to try it again, standing close but not so close their fields intersect. Kaidan watches through three variations that all end almost the same way, too much force being applied to the canteen, making it nearly impossible for Shepard to control where it goes, or where it doesn’t.

Doesn’t matter that he’s not accomplishing what it intends. The way the gravity well cants under his touch, the way his corona lights him ablaze like a flickering star, the way it caresses every nerve in Kaidan’s body like a swash of silk is mesmerizing. Kaidan swallows before trying to speak.  

“Good news is, if we ever need someone to punt a suspicious canteen into space, I know who to call.”

Shepard rolls his eyes. “And if you’re not around to yank pistols out of terrorist hands?”

“Well, first, I will be around. But second, as for the pistol, yanking it towards you isn’t so different from kicking it away from you.” He cracks a grin. “In your case you just need to be prepared to duck.”

“Have I mentioned that separating the pistol from the person holding it wouldn’t end well for anyone?” Shepard says. “If you were to go hold that canteen in your palm and ask me to do what I just did, you wouldn’t like me very much.”

I doubt that.

“One problem at a time,” Kaidan says. “Let’s work on controlling the canteen by itself, then we’ll add clutter.”

“And how do you suggest we do that?”

“You need a new mnemonic. You’re fighting yourself by adding force and trying to take it away at the same time.”

“I’m sensing a metaphor.”

Kaidan smirks. “Think that says more about you than it does me.” Before Shepard can protest he raises an arm. “Watch me. You don’t have to use my mnemonic, but I want you to see something different so you can visualize it.”

Shepard folds his arms across his chest, but does what Kaidan asks. A nervous thrill runs through him at the undivided attention.

Kaidan waves a wrist, a hard-learned, hard-fought mnemonic that now feels as natural as breathing. Dark energy rushes through him, responsive and willing, as his fingers flex and settle a field over the canteen. Very little mass-shifting needed to pick up a light-weight canteen, which makes it tricky to keep from doing exactly what Shepard did – send it spinning out of control. But Kaidan has spent years perfecting his ability to do exactly this, so the canteen rises off the floor until it reaches eye level. Kaidan closes his fist and holds it still, floating almost motionless in mid-air.

“That mnemonic is so damned subtle,” Shepard says with an appreciative shake of his head. A flush builds at the back of Kaidan’s neck.

“Easier for me that way.”

Shepard grunts and unfolds his arms. “I was never good at levitation.”

“Because your mnemonics always apply force.”

“Need force to yank that pistol.”

“Sure, but if you want to control it, you need to learn how to hold it still.”

“I’m not good at still.”

“I know,” Kaidan says, lips curving into a smile. “So come here and let me show you.”  

Shepard strays a step closer into Kaidan’s biotic field. The blend of auras creates a low keen through his nerves, familiar but always striking. The canteen wavers before falling to the ground.

“Sorry,” Shepard mumbles, but doesn’t back away.

“It’s fine,” Kaidan says, lifting the canteen again with another float of his palm.

Their eyes lock for a moment before Shepard clears his throat and looks down at Kaidan’s hand.

“You put everything in your wrist.”

“Yeah,” he manages. “You do it all with your arms.”

“Yeah.”

“So maybe, if you’re looking for finesse, try to create a mnemonic that’s a little, uh, smaller.”    

“With my wrist.”

“Right. Um, I’ll show you. Here.” He steps in front of Shepard, angling his body to align their right arms. He takes Shepard’s right hand guides it to his wrist, tingle running down his spine when his fingers close around it. Shepard glances at him with soft eyes that stop the breath in his throat, but doesn’t object.

“Hands-on teacher?”

“Best way to learn,” Kaidan replies, gaze flicking to Shepard’s mouth before going back to the canteen. “Just follow my lead. Don’t act on the canteen. Concentrate on what my arm does. Visualize it.”

“Sure,” Shepard murmurs.

Kaidan reaches into the gravity well, his own corona unfurling, a steady candle to Shepard’s flaring torch. Goosebumps rise on Shepard’s arm, a subtle reminder that he’s human after all, one Kaidan is almost never close enough to witness.

He takes a deep breath and flexes his wrist, Shepard’s fingers loose and feather-light against his skin. A crackle of dark energy passes between them before he snares the canteen and turns his wrist palm-up to lift it off the floor, Shepard close enough his breath washes over Kaidan’s cheek. The canteen wavers but Kaidan keeps it afloat for several seconds, the mingle of auras, ripple of kinetic energy and closeness of Shepard enough to make him dizzy.

He lets it go with a clatter and puts space between them.

“Does that help?” he asks, trying not to sound breathless.

“Yeah. It does.” Shepard’s gaze stays on him, still and steady. “Might take a while to hard-wire my brain for something in the wrist.”

“Doesn’t have to be that. It could be something else. But you associate those big movements with force. Take that away, you might have more luck with leaving velocity out of the initial execution, so you can add it how you need it. Have more control over it.”

Shepard’s mouth crooks in a half-smile. “Sure I’m not a lost cause when it comes to control?”

“I’m sure.”

Shepard breaks his gaze and focuses on the canteen, brow furrowed in concentration. Twice he catches himself using his arm, then nearly wrenches his wrist trying to restrict the movement.

“It’s so ingrained,” he says with a shake of his head.

“That’s why they work,” Kaidan says with a smile. “Here.” He steps close once again, positions reversed with his hand on Shepard’s wrist this time. “Let me help.”

“Fuck, your hands are cold,” Shepard says with a laugh.

Hastily, he loosens his grip. “Sorry.”

“No, it’s fine,” Shepard says with a grin.  “Go on.”

Gently, Kaidan closes his fingers again. Shepard trains his eyes on the canteen, though they dart to Kaidan ever so briefly.

Shepard’s corona is so bright, so fierce, it’s a wonder he can wrangle it at all. Kaidan breathes in deep, letting his own kindle, the snick and crackle as they blend together forming a resonant hum that hovers just under his skin.

When Shepard’s arm moves, Kaidan tightens his grip, keeping the motion small. Instead of his usual languid, fluid posture, Shepard’s arm is stiff and resistant against him. The canteen spins in a circle but stays on the ground.  

“Breathe, Shepard,” Kaidan says softly. “Just let it happen.”

Shepard inhales deep, like someone trying to relearn how. This time they move together, Kaidan picking up the slack when Shepard falters, until the canteen hovers briefly in the air. It’s more under Kaidan’s control than Shepard’s, but it’s a start, and that’s what matters.

They gutter out and the canteen falls, but Kaidan doesn’t let go and doesn’t step away, not yet, not quite yet, not while the remnants of kinetic energy are still sharp in the air and he has to remind himself to breathe, too.

“How do you do that?” Shepard murmurs. “You worked around me, without…taking over. How do you do that?”

Their eyes lock for just a moment. God Kaidan could get lost there if he’s not careful. “Practice. Years of it.”

Let go.

He means to. He means to. In his head he loosens his hold on Shepard’s wrist, drops his hand away and puts space between them. That’s what he tells himself to do. That’s what he intends to do.

But while he does loosen his grip, instead of fall away, Kaidan’s fingertips brush Shepard’s knuckles, the pad of his thumb running along the round muscle of his palm.

It’s an accident. Just an accident. So many of their touches are, but rather than move or pull away, rather than let it be just another one of those excusable, explainable slips, Shepard exhales, the breath fluttering out of him, then splays his fingers wider, as if making room for Kaidan’s to slot between them.

Let go, let go.

But instead he explores the open space Shepard has left for him, fingertips light, hesitant, ghosting Shepard’s skin as he finds where they fit, hovering, hoping, but never daring to rest. Never giving up the ruse.

It’s an accident. It doesn’t mean anything.

Except it does.

Shepard stays still as a stone save for the rise and fall of his chest. They’re close enough now their cheeks almost touch, though whether Kaidan moves or Shepard does to close that gap he can’t say.

The next time Kaidan’s fingers trespass through that open space, Shepard closes his around them and traps them there.

Kaidan’s breath hitches.

The gravity well sighs as Shepard calls to it, glow of dark energy limming their hands, accompanied by a soundless hum that strums every nerve in Kaidan’s body before settling in his groin. Without thinking his other hand comes to rest on Shepard’s hip, needing something, anything, to hold onto.

A soft sound stirs in Shepard’s throat. Kaidan’s hand doesn’t stay on that hip for long, because Shepard seeks those fingers out, too, lacing them together. Kaidan folds both arms until Shepard is surrounded by them. There’s no imagining any space between them now – their cheeks rest against each other, Kaidan tightening his hold until Shepard is snug against his chest.

Shepard turns his head, but after briefly meeting each other’s gaze, his eyes drift down to Kaidan’s mouth.

Kaidan can still let go. There’s still a way out. Chalk it up to adrenaline, nerves leftover from the standoff on the Ontario. They can walk it off, laugh, pretend it never happened, continue on like they always have.

But he doesn’t let go, and then the millimeters between Shepard’s lips and Kaidan’s no longer exist and the window is gone.

Shepard’s mouth is warm, soft, lips tinged with the salt of his sweat. They start out slow, cautious, neither of them daring to think about it too hard, but that’s not a problem for long, because soon there’s no room to think about anything at all.

Nothing else matters but this.

Slow and cautious becomes deep and headlong, Kaidan pushing his tongue between Shepard’s teeth, Shepard sighing into his mouth and taking him in. His fingers tighten around Kaidan’s, the glow of dark energy rippling out from their joined hands until it swallows them whole. Kaidan gasps at the sensation.

Shepard kisses him harder.

God.

Kaidan wants to spin him around, throw his arms around his neck and meet him head on, give in to everything, all of it, but he can’t bear the thought of turning loose of that hand.    

They part when they run out of air, both straining to catch their breath, fingers still entwined, Shepard still firmly ensconced in Kaidan’s arms as his corona fades.

Shepard rests his cheek against Kaidan’s, ensconcing himself a little further.

“Oh,” he says softly.

“Yeah.”

Shepard’s fingers flex within his, twining and retwining, never letting go.

“You…don’t seem surprised.”

Kaidan closes his eyes, breathing him in, a star he’s somehow pulled down out of the heavens and trapped right here in his arms.  “No. Felt it…for a long time now.”

“Oh.”

“…Yeah.”

Their coronas may have faded, but the mingle of their biotic fields is a constant, soothing whisper under Kaidan’s skin. A small, contented sound slips from Shepard’s throat.  

“Why didn’t I see it?”

Kaidan huffs. “To be fair, I don’t think either of us are very good at this kind of thing.”

Shepard tightens his grip on Kaidan’s fingers and pulls them to his chest. The race of Shepard’s heart thrums under their joined hands. If Kaidan had any illusions about letting him go, they’re gone now.    

“I think I’d like to learn,” Shepard says.

Kaidan’s stomach flips. “Me too.”

They stay still, Kaidan content to hold him, Shepard content to be held, until their lips find each other once more. Kissing Shepard is easy, effortless, like it’s something they were meant to do, a safe place for the live current running under their skin to go to ground.

Shepard, against all evidence to the contrary, is…safe.  

Shepard gazes at him when they part, and butterflies cut loose in Kaidan’s stomach.

“You’re very good at that,” Shepard murmurs.

“We’re very good at a lot of things.”

“Yeah. We are.” He draws Kaidan’s hand up to press a kiss to his knuckles. “What do we do now?”

“I don’t know,” Kaidan admits. “What do you want?”

“You.”

A shiver runs down Kaidan’s spine, the euphoria of that one, single word enough to make him lightheaded. So simple. So complicated. They’ll have choices to make, all of them with compromises and consequences. But that’s something for tomorrow. Right now there is only the truth.  

“I want that, too.”

Shepard releases Kaidan’s hand to turn until they’re face to face, then runs his fingers through the hairs growing over Kaidan’s right temple. All the while those glittering eyes search Kaidan’s face, as though reconciling all the things he knows with the things he’s learning for the first time.

The corners of his eyes crinkle as a smile spreads across his face, pure, open, and full of possibility. “Taste of my own medicine, huh?”

“Well…” Kaidan shrugs helplessly, and Shepard’s grin only gets deeper.  

“Seems like I should have let you teach me a few things a long time ago.”

Kaidan flexes his fingers, a curl of dark energy igniting in his palm that draws out goosebumps along Shepard’s arm. “All in the wrist.”

Shepard laughs. It’s like music. “You and me.”

“I like that,” Kaidan murmurs, before kissing him again. “I like that a lot.”

[baka-monarch]

Oh my gosh I need more of this g/t sitcom like:

Bad and Skeppy have done their best to raise Sapnap to be compassionate and respectful of their tiny counterparts, so Bad is a little ashamed that he has genuine spite towards Quackity.

Sapnap brings his boyfriends home and hes nervous and excited to introduce his parents to the most amazing people he’s ever met- and then Quackity sees Bad

“Dude THATS your dad??!” “Yeah?” “Oh man I’m so excited for dinner.”

And Quackity just annoys the fuck out of Bad. Sapnap warned hsi bfs that its rlly not okay to swear at his place and Karl follows acordingly but Q seems to swear MORE.

Skeppy automatically loves him. Bad seems pleased with Karl but then again so does everyone else- and then Quackity is just causing mistcheif while Bad is cooking and Bad cant yell at him bc Sapnap is RIGHT THERE and Bad ends up glaring at the tiny boy sitting across the table from him.

Hes happy Sapnap has found two ppl that love him, and even more proud that he has managed to cross a social line drawn in the sand and dated who he liked, even if they were smal(no matter what people think).

But did one of them HAVE to be Quackity?

And then things at work get worse because Q is proclaiming loudly that Bad is his future father-in-law and Bad is threatening to seperate them even tho they both know he’d never hurt Sapanp like that

And theres so many times when Sapnaps like “Im bringing my bfs to this fuction, is that okay?”

“Is Quackity coming?”

“Yes hes one of my bfs??”

*Deep sigh that comes from the inner depths of Bads soul* ”fine”

Skeppy figures out quickly that the annoying Q from work is Sapnaps boyfriend and he plots accordingly

And maybe Bad and Quackity finally start to understand each other or at least not hate each other when Quackity is getting harassed or maybe descriminated against at work bc he’s small- bad doesnt hasitate to stand in and tell rhe giant off and then comforts quackity afterwords

And after that quakcity lets go of the idea that he had that Bad may not like him bc hes small and maybe its bc hes annoying af. So now quackity tones it down a bit and bad loosens up a bit and Sapnaps not sure what changed but his dad and Q r talking civil and Karl is looking at their bf lovingly so he supposes everythings right with thr world

(Sorry i slid a lil angst in at the end im a sucker for g/t hurt/comfort)

((I loved your idea and i couldnt help but expand upon the g/t aspect bc g/t Karlnapity is my oxgen and im suffocating from lack of content))

Oh my gods thank you-

I had a mighty need for this and you just fuiled me-

I absolutely love how Quackity is just "I will cause problems on purpose" and it just gets increasingly worse, especially since he's dating Bad's son-

Skeppy finds it a little amusing to see Bad and Q's little rivalry- and yes, yes he does become involved but only in the most annoying ways possible

And yeah- Bad has always been an advocate for tinies being treated equally- so when he sees a giant being rude to tinies in the work place he usually interviens, and would gladly do the same to help Quackity

Mcyt g/t tag list:

@nomynameisanon @trashpumped @loriepoptale @encaos @i-am-a-weeb @wyforyu-gaming @shy-septic-dragon @5unfl0writ3r @colorfulsiren @moonmwah @iwasgoingtohellanyways @echoslime @wilbur-simp @trouble-off-grid @the-misfits-system

[words-writ-in-starlight]

For the ask meme: Sarah x Jareth (I almost wrote that as David Bowie), 14, 22, and 29!

I am RIGHT NOW watching Labyrinth with my partners, EXCELLENT timing!  Cut for length.

14) When one has a cold, what does the other do?

Jareth has never been “sick” a day in his immortal life.  He’s been stabbed, poisoned, cursed, and hungover, but even the weakest goblin is rarely “sick” and Jareth hasn’t spend enough time around mortals to have a good grasp of the fact that nonfatal illnesses even exist.    

Point is, there’s an intermediary period between Sarah pointedly ignoring every owl in sight, no matter the coloring, and Sarah becoming the Goblin Queen where she forces him to visit the mortal world more than he has in living memory, including his.  (Jareth has a vague sense that he might have been here more often once--perhaps when he was young, before he was King--but he’s been King so long, and the Labyrinth has a chain-tight grip on its own.)  Toby is entranced, and also terrified--he doesn’t buy Jareth’s glamour for a second.  Sarah spends half her life running interference on Jareth’s behavior, and the other half doing a double major in political sciences and folklore.  Which she decided to get before she agreed to start talking to Jareth again, thank you, kindly fuck off.

Point is, eventually even Sarah’s suspiciously excellent immune system clocks out for the day, and she wakes up with a splitting headache, a wet and congested cough, and a sense that her skin is being abraded by even her softest sheets.  She’s not sick-sick, it’s just a nasty head cold with a fever, but she calls out of class and flops down on the couch and mumbles non-answers to the goblin who lives in the top of her closet when it scuttles out to see why she’s still home.

She doesn’t even realize Jareth is there until she feels a shadow fall over her and cracks an eye to peer up at him blearily.

“What’s wrong with you?” he asks in his most forbidding Goblin King voice, and she groans and pulls her blanket over her head.

“Go away, Jareth, I’m tired.”

“I will not,” he says automatically as he jerks the blanket down to her shoulder, and then he’s crouching down in front of her, mismatched eyes dangerous and inhumanly bright in the yellow light of her little dorm apartment.  “Who did this to you, Sarah?  I will not leave without an answer.”

“No one,” she says, squinting up at him.  “It’s just a cold.”

“’Cold’,” he repeats, in the same skeptical way that he said ‘phone’ when she complained about his unannounced visits.  “I am not aware of that particular toxin.”

“I’m just sick, it’s not like I’ve been poisoned.”

“An illness?”  He pauses, pulls a glove off one hand and reaches out to touch her cheek experimentally.  His fingers are always cold compared to hers, and she shivers hard when he touches her skin, but he doesn’t flinch.  There’s something odd on his face, a locked-up hardness, and he says, “What is it?”

“A cold,” Sarah says again, pulling her blankets back up to her chin and shutting her eyes.  “I’m just going to feel like garbage for a few days.  Probably less if you let me sleep.  Come back and bother me on Saturday.”

He doesn’t leave.  Whatever, Sarah decides--that’s his problem.  She’s tired and feverish and annoyed and she’s going to sleep whether Jareth likes it or not.  She thinks he’s talking to someone--probably that snitch in the closet--about something--sounded vaguely like library and cold--but that’s Not Her Concern.  Sarah is done here.  She feels the end of the couch sink down by her feet just before she falls asleep.

When she wakes up, the Goblin King is still there, reading a book filched from one of her shelves, pen tapping idly against his lips--he’s marking up the fairy tales again, god, she hates his guts sometimes--and there’s a series of tidy piles on the rickety coffee table.  It looks like someone robbed a pharmacy and cleaned out their Cough And Cold aisle, and then sorted their booty by color, which suggests probably goblins just smart enough to recognize a word their king showed them, but not smart enough to read the labels.

Sarah smiles a little and grabs some cough drops from the top of the red pile, and condescends to drape her legs over Jareth’s lap before she goes back to sleep.

22) Where does their first kiss happen?

Sarah has a much harder time in college than she expected.  Not with being away from home, although she does miss Toby something awful and spends every second of her breaks with him.  No, the problem is that she has to share a room.  All the way through freshman year, she has a roommate, and--

And the roommate is fine, she’s a perfectly inoffensive girl from Chicago who keeps her things on her own side of the shoebox room they share and doesn’t bring anyone back to the room and never makes noise late at night, but Sarah hates it.  She can’t quite put her finger on why--is a little afraid of what she might say if pressed, if she’s honest.  She has these half-finished thoughts that involve words like territory and invader and mine.  Sarah has worked very hard not to be a selfish teenager or, possibly worse, the kind of girl who sometimes talks to a Goblin King and wonders privately if his final offer was serious.

Sarah has no plans to be the Goblin Queen, is the point, no matter what Hoggle mutters under his breath when she admits, the summer after her first year of college, that she’s talking to Jareth again.  (He just--he can come see her, there, and he can look like a person, and none of her other friends can, and people are weirdly nervous of Sarah, these days, and she was lonely, okay, so she let an owl into her room while her roommate was gone, and let them who never made a bad choice in college throw the first stone.)  And that means getting over herself and never voicing any of the thoughts that creep into her head about how her roommate, who has every right to sleep here, deserves to be thrown in an oubliette for disturbing Sarah’s peace.

Sarah is better than that, these days.

The only person who isn’t fooled is, of course, Jareth, who is very perceptive and also very persistently determined to visit regularly.  He smothers smirks when he sees Sarah force herself to be kind, and once offers, sweet as arsenic, to take Sarah’s roommate off her hands if you just say the right words, precious.  Sarah glares at him and pointedly turns her back, and he laughs as he leaves.  But he never does anything to her roommate, and Sarah doesn’t think about how Jareth never actually does anything to her space or anything in it, and doesn’t think about the rules that fairy tales handed down for millennia about places that fall under the power of a creature not to be toyed with.

She’s signed up to room with the same girl for sophomore year, because she doesn’t have a reason to claim a single and seniors always snap up the free ones.  But she shows up to get her key, and the registrar frowns and clicks a few things and then shrugs and hands Sarah a key.  He gives Sarah directions to one of the buildings up-campus, and Sarah goes, not particularly suspicious--she’s never been to the up-campus buildings, because people are nervous around Sarah and, while she’s manages to make a friend or two, no one really invites her back to their room.  Into their space.

Sarah opens her door and stands there, staring, mildly shocked.

Apparently, she is now the proud resident of a senior-only dorm room, one of the very tiny apartments that are supposed to house two people, with a kitchenette and a couch and everything.  There’s no one else’s name on the other door.  Sarah is late moving in, but there’s no sign of anyone here, except--

The Goblin King is sitting at the desk in the bedroom that gets the most sunlight, feet kicked lazily up on the wooden top and playing a pair of crystals between his fingers, and he smirks at her.

“I know, I know,” he drawls, vanishing the crystals with a twist of his fingers.  “I have no power over you.  But the school’s quartermaster--”

“Registrar,” Sarah corrects automatically.  He makes a dismissive gesture.  “Did you--do this?”

“Of course,” Jareth says.  “This...situation is apparently the height of luxury at this institution.  You did so despise that fluttering creature--”

“Molly was perfectly nice--”

“--and I see no reason for you to endure her for another year.”

Sarah--should really say that he’s an interfering, high-handed bastard who pretends that he has the divine right to arrange her life to his liking, and keeps rules-lawyering his way around her totally legitimate freedom from his interference.

Sarah really doesn’t want to share a room again.

“What do you want in return?”  She doesn’t even pretend that she’s not suspicious, and he puts on an offended face, bringing his feet down and pressing his lips together.

“It is a gift, Sarah.”

...oh.  Sarah blinks for a moment.  He sounds--geniunely annoyed.  Gifts are, in her knowledge of the Underground and the fae alike, serious business.

She acts without thinking, takes a step forward and tucks her hair behind her ear, and kisses the high point of his cheekbone above his frown.  When she pulls back, she sees a moment of transparent, raw shock before he orders his face into a self-satisfied and haughty raised eyebrow.

“Don’t say anything,” Sarah tells him, feeling her cheeks burn.  “If you can keep your mouth shut, this might resemble a nice moment.”

“If I had known that I could claim debts in kisses--”

“You can’t!” Sarah interrupts loudly.  “Don’t get any ideas!  Now get out and let me unpack!”

29) Why do they fall a little bit more in love?

Jareth is already thoroughly decided that Sarah is eventually going to agree to be his queen, one way or another, by the time she finally sighs and opens her window and tells the owl that if he’s very very good, and doesn’t talk to Toby, and looks like a regular person, she will speak to him just to get him to stop lurking.  He breaks all of those rules very quickly, of course, but she doesn’t kick him out--instead, she yells at him, and he puts on his coldest and haughtiest voice as he snaps back at her, and it’s fun.  Jareth never could turn down a challenge, and it’s been a long time since he faced a challenge he might lose, and just like the first time, it makes him ruthlessly determined to win.

It’s not news to him, therefore, that he loves her.

She manages to lie, obfuscate, and generally bullshit her way around admitting what she does at school for nearly three years.  But she starts writing her thesis and slips up, and Jareth is stretched on her bed in the apartment he arranged for her like he lives there when he idly picks up a piece of paper and skims her proposal and she sees his eyebrow rise slowly before he holds it up at her.

“What’s this, precious?”

“Homework,” she says flatly.

“‘Thesis Proposal,’” he reads aloud, drawling.  “‘Sarah Williams.  Proposed title: I’d’ve Et Thy Heart of Flesh: Fairy Tales as a Portrait of Royalty Through History.  Majors: Folklore and...’”  His mocking drawl pauses, and he can’t quite hide his transparent delight as he finishes the sentence.  “‘...and Political Science.’”  

When he looks up from the page, she has a stubborn set to her mouth and a bright spark in her eyes, almost angry.  “It’s not about you, you arrogant prick, I picked my majors years ago.  Give me that, I need the notes.”

“And what do fairy tales say about royalty, dearest?”

“That they’re prideful jerks who steal kids for armies and play favorites--the paper, Jareth.”

“And what do you plan to do with your degree in politics?”

“Regicide,” Sarah snaps, and jumps out of her chair to snatch the paper out of his fingers.  He lets her, and smiles at the way she blushes stark red across her cheekbones and down her throat, and wonders whether she would like the emerald ring he’s kept in his private chambers for the past three years.

Mortals have been doing diamonds, for betrothals, but he thinks green suits her better.

[nevertheless-moving]

Suicidal Misunderstanding Part Three: SW Time Travel AU #27

Part One

Part Two

Obi Wan woke with a dry mouth and a moderate headache. A fairly typical morning these days. 

He peered around his bedroom in the temple confused. Wasn’t he just with Cody? Shouldn’t he be on the Negotiator? No wait, the war was over, Cody tried to kill him, and the Negotiator was a part of the Imperial Armada, of course he wouldn’t be there. He closed his eyes, snuggling back under the covers. Before he could drift back to sleep, his sluggish mind processed that last thought. 

He BOLTED upright in bed. The temple had been razed, his personal chambers scorched with particular thoroughness. Just being on Coruscant was an automatic death sentence. Faint tendrils of panic began to curl around his throat before he remembered his decision to give Spice a try. He had reasoned that he should probably find at least one pleasure in his new life, instead of focusing incessantly on what was lost. 

So what if he lost a few brain cells? Good riddance. 

Obi-Wan had been a bit nervous, but this had ended up being his best decision in years. His goodbye to Cody had been painful, but deeply cathartic. Spice Hallucination Anakin didn’t scream like Nightmare Anakin, and the color of his eyes was perfect. Far better final memories to cling to than reality- a reminder of the good times. Comforted, he relaxed backwards in bed, pulling his blankets back around him.

He LURCHED out of bed, covers tossed aside, movement a blur.

He was still hallucinating?!? Spice shouldn’t last in the system this long! He might’ve been uncertain about whether he was supposed to smoke or snort the substance but it was a well known fact that its exhaustive but rapid passage through the body was half what made it so addictive. If nothing else, his well-restedness and thirst indicated it had been at least six hours. He looked frantically around the room, searching for some thread of unreality to pull at.

This...was not good. Hadn’t the subconscious manifestations of his friends mentioned drugs that interacted poorly with force users last night? He had dismissed it at the time but...

He clearly was stuck in some sort of drugged fantasy combined with force-enhanced memory recall. Kriff, he had to wake up in the real world before he died of an aneurysm. Or just dehydration.

He sat on the ‘temple floor’ to meditate. This could be tricky as he couldn’t risk lowering his outer shields to reach out to reality. It would be deeply embarrassing as well as horrifying if the Emperor managed to find him and, by extension, Luke because he got stuck in a bad spice trip.

The door to his room clicked open quietly. 

“Oh! You’re awake. Sorry to come in without knocking, Master. I wanted to let you sleep, but I’ve been checking on you every two hours to make sure you were still, you know, breathing. You were...pretty out of it last night and I would be a pretty bad ‘best friend in the whole galaxy’ if I let you choke on your own vomit, right?” His blue-eyed Padawan explained with a grin.

Obi-Wan just stared. Oh this- this hurt. It was easier last night, when the whole fantasy had a kind of drunken blurriness. Sleeping and waking had brought sober clarity to the dream world. He could see the bags under Anakin’s eyes as well as the sheepish slouch of his shoulders as he instinctively ducked at the door frame. It was just so real.

“Obi-Wan? Are you feeling ok? Do you still feel drunk?” Anakin asked concerned.

Obi-Wan shook his head. He hesitated, before deciding to just go along with the interaction. He didn’t want to risk his subconscious throwing a less idylic scene at him by pretending to ignore this one. And besides, last night had been, all totaled, a huge relief- an unburdening of things left unsaid. This was probably the closest thing to therapy available to him these days, he might as well take advantage.

“I’m just...processing. Not to mention dealing with some mild dehydration.” He finally answered.

“Processing, huh? So does that mean you, uh, remember last night?” Anakin asked nervously.

“I do.” Obi-Wan smiled gently. As heart-wrenching as this was, it was also adorably sweet. Maybe it was worth it to push off waking for a little while. He could get some closure, maybe even work through some of the past to see where the two of them had gone wrong. It might even be helpful for Luke! Force willing, he would probably end up training Anakin’s son someday.

(the boy wouldn’t have many masters to choose from)

If this dream world could help him figure out specifically how he had failed as a Master, then he owed it to the galaxy to see it through. Satisfied, he resolved to let the fantasy play out. At least for a few more more hours. And...he had missed what Anakin had said. Wonderful start.

“I’m very sorry, Anakin would you mind repeating that? I was still a little distracted, but I promise, I’m focused on you now.”

Anakin shuffled nervously. “It’s nothing.”

Obi-Wan tried to project reassurance without actually projecting. “Please Anakin, I’d like to hear what you have to say. I know I wasn’t the most observant or approachable Master, and I’m sorry for that. But I have always cared about your thoughts and feelings.” It was a struggle and the words caught in his throat, but the raw burn of the apology was cleansing in an almost addictive way.

Anakin flushed. “Did you mean everything you said?” he asked nervously.

“I’d...rather not talk about seeing the destruction of the temple, seeing you... Maybe later...but please, I just don’t want to focus on it while I’m sitting here, looking at you,” Obi-Wan said quietly.

“That actually wasn’t what I was talking about,” Anakin responded quickly. “I mean, I do want to help you with that at some point, but I get not wanting to talk about visions, even if you should probably should. Of course if you do want to talk about that stuff, that’s more important, but since you don’t we can talk about the other stuff you mentioned. I was more referring to, you know, us, and what you said about our friendship?” his voice got progressively higher the longer he rambled. 

Obi-Wan thought back. “Well some of it is a little hazy, but overall yes. I...for a very long time I’ve considered you my best friend, and its not so easy for me to let go of my affections. I miss spending time with you; there are times I turn to say something and am still shocked you’re not there. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, with real words, how much I cared. I’m sorry I didn’t hug you as much as I wanted, looking back that was a nonsensical Jedi custom. It’s not in the code; it’s just an affectation of dignity. All things considered, the fact that you often snuck out to see Padme doesn’t really bother me.” He paused. “Was that everything?”

“Oh. Yeah, that pretty much covered everything.” Anakin looked embarrassed, but happy. “I wasn’t sure if you were just saying that stuff because you were drugged, or really drunk or something.”

“No, I meant what I said. I suppose it just took an altered state for me to relax enough to actually say it instead of just thinking at you and assuming you would know. I must admit, its difficult for me to maintain this emotional honesty without feeling drunk, but it’s good. This is good.”

“Ah, that’s... wow. So you weren’t drugged? Cody was concerned you seemed to off for much you actually drank.”

Obi-Wan frowned. Hadn’t that been a trip? Vision blurring from desert hovel to some nameless Catina he once visited with Cody. The continuity since then was almost unsettling. But, then again, Obi-Wan always did have a remarkable talent for self-delusion, didn’t he. He waved away the concerns.

“My substance consumption was entirely deliberate and exactly what I needed. There might have been some unknown additions with some unforeseen after-affects, but like I said- I’m not drunk. I’m clear minded and in full control right now and I knowingly accept the current fallout from whatever I took. I could meditate and force purge to completely recenter, but I think it would be far wiser to just see where this goes. Do you disagree, Anakin?”

Anakin grinned widely. “Whatever you say, Obi-Wan. Just remember this is your idea. Also, I’m taking you to the healers tonight if you’re not completely back to yourself.”

Obi-Wan signed, “If I’m not back to myself in 12 hours, than I fully agree that’s a problem worthy of the halls of healing.”

“Right,” Anakin nodded decisively, “I’ll go get you some water then comm Cody to tell him you’re still alive.

Obi-Wan smiled weakly in response. This wasn’t just a hashed up memory; the responsiveness was more that. He quickly got dressed, hands lingering over soft fabrics and sand-free linens.

Anakin dropped off a cup of water; Obi-Wan sipped at it hesitantly. Dear force, this was dangerously vivid. It actually felt like a relief in his parched mouth. Clearly his subconscious was pulling out all the stops to trap him in this soft delusion. He would have to deal with the thirst and hunger until he woke up- it was probably the firmest link he had to his real body.

He took one last look around before rushing out of his room, eager to take advantage of the time.

Anakin looked nervously up from the comm when Obi-Wan started pulling his boots on. “You’re not going out in the temple like this, are you?”

“Of course! I want to visit the gardens and the Room of a Thousand Fountains. Not to mention spend some time with a few of the other Jedi. You might still be the dearest being in my heart, but there were other Jedi that I care for, and dammit I’m going to tell them that.” He finally finished lacing up his left leg and moved to the right.

Anakin was dumbstruck, presumably as burnt by the ‘dearest being’ comment as Obi-Wan was. Then he rallied, “Wow, wow, No. You are not running around the temple drugged so you can, I don’t know, give Mace Windu a hug. I thought when you said you were going to ‘deal with the fallout' from whatever the kriff you’re still on, you meant you were going to lounge around the quarters all day!”

His former padawan physically blocked the door when Obi-Wan started to leave, sounding vaguely hysterical, “You can’t run around loopy! You’re a High Council Member!”

“Not anymore,” Obi-Wan replied bitterly. 

“What do you mean not anymore,” Anakin said fiercely, grabbing on to his shoulders . “Did they kick you out? Is that why you’re acting crazy? Did you resign?”

Obi-Wan responded by pulling Anakin into a hug, which was immediately returned, “Of course not, don’t be absurd. Fine, I suppose I’m technically still a high council member, it just seems like a bit of a moot point.”

“What the kark does that mean? You used to dream about being on the council! You’re the wisest Master in any of those stupid chairs!”

‘Master of the High Council’ Kenobi just sighed heavily in response. He maneuvered around the confused errant Knight and into the hall. 

"Obi-Wan wait! At least eat something first! Or let me put my shoes on!”

“Very well, you have one minute to make yourself presentable. I only have a few hours before I’m going to need to get back to reality, and the longer I linger the more I fear extreme measures may be necessary.”

“What does that mean?” Anakin shouted from inside. “Extreme measures sounds really ominous, you know.”

“I’d rather not get into it, alright? Let’s just enjoy the here-and-now, eh, ad’ika?

Anakin crashed out the door with less than a second to spare. “What did you just call me?"

“Ad’ika,” Obi-Wan answered, striding down the hallway in the direction of the hanging gardens. “Surely you must have picked up some Mando’a from the troopers?”

“Yeah, but I wasn’t sure if I heard you right, bu- um- ori'vod,” Anakin fumbled out. “Uh, you’re not going to call me that in front of anyone else, right? You do remember that the council already gives us the side eye for over-attachment right?”

Obi-Wan hummed thought fully in responded. “There are far worse things a Jedi could do than admit to affection they already feel. Maybe if I had been honest about my attachments, they wouldn’t have ended the way that...” he trailed off quietly.

“The way that what,” Anakin asked frustrated. “You’re really giving me some emotional whiplash over here, and I’m starting to think that putting off dragging you to the healers is a stupid idea.

“There are far stupider things a Jedi could do,” he responded cheerily. “Oh look, there’s Plo Koon. MASTER KOON!” He shouted, startling the Kel Doran Jedi.

“Yes, Master Kenobi?” He replied slightly concerned as the two human Jedi came jogging over.

“I just wanted to say that I consider my former padawan my family. I raised him, I care for him deeply, and I don’t want to let go of those feelings.”

Plo Koon nodded seriously in response. “I feel just the same about my former padawans, and the Wolffe pack, of course. Denying my attachments isn’t, personally, a practical way to handle them. I’d rather honestly live as an imperfect Jedi than pretend to be a perfect example of the code. If I must have some imbalance, I’d rather it be an excess of compassion than a dearth,” he replied earnestly.

“I always admired that about you,” Obi-Wan replied ruefully. “This might be a little odd, but could I have a hug? I hold you in the highest regard and I’ve realized that there are so many Jedi that I never directly expressed my affection for and...”

Plo Koon didn’t wait for Obi-Wan to finish before wrapping his arms around him. “Of course, dear boy. You’ve had such heavy burdens placed on your shoulders during your life, especially in the last few years; it saddens me to see how deeply they’ve weighed you down. If there’s anything I can do to help, in any way, you simply have to ask.”

Obi-Wan sniffled slightly into Plo’s Shoulder while Plo rubbed soothing circles over his back.

A few passing Jedi gave the embracing Masters uncomfortable looks before hurrying on their way. Anakin stood slack-jawed.

When they finally pulled back, Plo Koon hesitated before finally asking, “I don’t mean to pry, but what brought all this on? I can sense much grief from you, even through your impressive shields.”

“It’s a long story,” Obi-Wan replied, wiping at the corner of his eyes. “I’d rather not get into it.”

“He’s high,” Anakin offered bluntly. “He took something last night and won’t go to medical wing.”

“Ah,” Plo said. “Is that true?”

Obi-Wan looked a little embarrassed. “I have the situation under control. My connection with reality might be...slightly altered right now, but my emotions, and what I chose to do with them are my own. I’m just, taking advantage of a unique opportunity to express myself.”

Plo Koon seemed to scrutinize him intensely, “If you’re sure this is what you need, than I support you. Just don’t do anything too foolish.” he finally offered.

Obi-Wan beamed. “I appreciate you saying so, I thought you would be supportive. Farewell, Master Koon”

Obi-Wan offered a respectful bow and then turned to walk away briskly. Before Anakin could follow, Plo rested a claw on his arm. 

“Feel free to comm me if his behavior reaches a point where you think he truly needs a healer. I’m happy to help you drag him there if need be. A little cathartic release isn’t in of itself such a bad thing, but if he starts acting too out of control...”

Anakin nodded in acknowledgment, then ran off to see who else Obi-Wan had chosen to throw himself at.

Part Four

[creepyscritches]

Think I'm gonna get some sort of fancy pill dispenser once I restart all my meds. Pill management is so hard for me that I miss more doses of more meds when my med list gets bigger. The only thing I seem to be able to take regularly is my narcolepsy meds but they're as much a systemic med as they are a rescue med lmao....like an asthmatic being good about using their albuterol

Anyway could I ask for a little help from yall? I'm thinking of getting a certain dispenser, but wanted some secondary eyes/opinions on it. My partner thinks it sounds nice, but I'm always nervous about buying medical assistance stuff 😅 the only downside is it's a subscription model, but your subscription comes with a $1,000 pill dispenser machine along w 24/7 pharmacy + tech support and an app to organize medication schedules, alert missed doses, etc. I also get my initial $100 machine fee waived if I order before my New Years offer expires (2 days left I think).

Idk anyone wanna tell me I'm looking at this through rose colored glasses? I've read the subscription pricing and the cost isn't a problem--I just wanna be sure there's nothing fishy I missed before I engage w a company that'll have my medication information.

[shinydelirium]

MLQC Season 2 Chapter 15 (Kiro’s Chapter) Part 4 [Double Courage] & [New Game] Translation [CN]

***SPOILERS*** DO NOT READ IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE SPOILED!!! 

I decided to combine 2 parts into one post since 15-5 was short. Enjoy~

For the previous translation of Chapter 15: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

[Double Courage]

There was no sound of footsteps coming and going outside the door and I was the only one left in the empty utility room.

I know he is still outside. Looking at the closed door, I slowly stepped forward and lifted my head.

It suddenly occurred to me, when I first arrived at the hospital after hearing that Kiro had an accident.

At that time, he was also on the other side, refusing me.

I turned around, leaned against the door, and sat down. Soon, the sound of footsteps quietly leaving came to my ears.

I have to admit, I really can’t help him. I am not strong enough to make him feel more at ease.

People need to accept their own weaknesses and limitations in order to think about what they can do from their own perspective.

The whole space is quiet and my heart is surprisingly calm.

I closed my eyes and replayed all the scenes of my time with Kiro over and over again in my mind.

If I were Kiro, why would I need to use another identity while insisting on solving the problem alone?

If I was admitted to the hospital and refused to see anyone, it must be because there is a serious illness and I don’t know how to deal with others.

And I act alone because it may be dangerous and I don’t want to be dragged down by others or….

MC: Drag others down with me.

My brain is spinning so fast. I always feel that there is something that has constantly plagued me and I have come to a conclusion.

MC:…Kiro’s illness has not been cured?

So everything makes sense now.

From beginning to end, he never said why he was admitted into the hospital.

If he was attacked because of what he did, then he abandoned the identity of “Kiro” and acted under the identity of “Helios” which made it even more logical sense.

It is precisely because the illness has not been cured. He cannot expose his weakness but at the same time, he will also worry that he will be a burden to others because of this.

MC: Kiro, are you trying to be strong again?

Secretly covering up his wounds and then create an identity of another person to carry everything on his back.

But this shouldn’t be a world where only superheroes get hurt.

MC: Kilo, display location.

Following my instructions, an electronic map immediately laid out before my eyes. I looked towards the center of the map and was shocked.

Next to the little bear wearing a small flower is another bear.

Helios hasn’t left. He was just outside the door.

I remember coming in, passing by the fire control room.

I thought for a while, not worrying about it anymore, I reached out my hand and touched the head of the little bear that was close to me, as if I could the person behind it.

MC: Kiro, can you hear me?

As I expected, there was no response.

I carefully tapped the microphone on the collar twice and then muttered to myself.

MC: Kiro, I know you are there. You can just treat this as me talking to myself but listen to me, okay?

MC: I know that I am very small and there are many things I can’t do and can’t help much.

MC: I don’t think it is shameful to admit that I am weak, because I know where to move forward after realizing this.

MC: For example, right now I’m thinking, do I have to learn some hacking skills or any combat skills?

There was a vaguely violent cough outside the door and I couldn’t help but smile.

MC: I know you must have encountered something sad.

MC: I also know that I can’t help you with this. You are afraid that I will only worry more so you choose to stay away from me.

MC: But Kiro, do you know?

MC: Sometimes you are a coward and then you make yourself look strong.

Kiro:….MC

Kiro’s dull voice rang in my ears as if it came from the collar and also from the door behind him.

MC: Kiro, you don’t have to be so strong.

MC: Difficulty is like a giant beast with its teeth and claws bared. A little bear will inevitably be nervous and scared when facing it.

MC: But it doesn’t have to force itself to fight alone because if it were two bears, the courage would be doubled.

MC: The weapon to defeat the beast is often not any sharp knife, but the power of courage.

MC: My courage can be lent to you at any time.

There was a small voice and I knew he was listening to me carefully.

MC: I know you are working hard for everyone so I hope I can also help you in some way.

Next, I started to tell him all the information about the hunter game, Joker and the little boy I learned about.

Rather than watching him fight alone, I will accompany the superhero in my own way.

After Helios closed the door of the utility room, he took out the hidden mini computer from under the console of the fire control room.

This is his temporary stronghold. It is located in the center of the city so it is convenient for his system to scan the entire terrain of Loveland City.

After he hacked into the opponent’s map program and was kicked out, he came to a decision.

He wants to build a brand new system to replace the other party’s authority and control over Loveland.

He opened the program on the mini computer and took out another device.

After the device started up, a beam of light projected into the air, showing an unfinished 3D map.

He sat down and flicked his fingers quickly in the air and the program projected in the air began to change with his movements.

This is a program he developed overnight to scan a map of the city and it is more intuitive than a 2D map.

At the same time, he tried to hack into the opponent’s system again, only this time, he did not bother to snatch the program they made.

He just wants to use their system to master the information of all players and all supply points so that he can enter the next step of the plan.

He quickly worked out a plan to end the game, with every step interlocking. And the first step of all plans must be that she can stay safe.

He knows that once Kilo is enabled, his identity will be exposed to the girl.

But in such a chaotic situation, he can no longer consider that much to ensure her safety.

After finding her, his ecstatic mood made him temporarily forget the anxiety caused by those recent events.

He forgot for a while that Kiro is broken, lonely and silent.

When she heard that she was looking forward to meeting the healthy Kiro, he suddenly recovered.

He is no longer the same Kiro, at least not the Kiro she was expecting.

He still couldn’t stand in front of her as Kiro.

The girl’s voice chattered endlessly, but it made him calmer than ever.

When she said that she wanted to learn hacking techniques or combat skills, he couldn’t help but cough.

At that moment, he was sure that she was serious.

She said that he was a coward.

She said that he doesn’t need to be so strong.

Helios tapped his fingers on the keyboard and gradually stopped.

Never compromise, never give up.

He feels his heart slowly being peeled off. There is a force pushing him forward.

She was right. As long as she was by his side, he would gain great courage.

This courage can support him to do many things and make him feel even more strength.

And the information she brought was really helpful to him.

Although he had investigated some information long ago, some of it was the first time he had heard of it.

The name Joker and Evol may be the main messenger of the game and the boy who can provide teleportation for him.

The so-called “ghost” to “human” transmission is actually done by this young man.

He frowned and began to think about what changes his plan needed to make as a result.

Fast fingers flew over the keyboard again and a “beep” came from multiple devices at the same time.

He raised his eyebrows slightly and his eyes showed unstoppable sharpness.

After scanning the three-dimensional map of the city, the player’s information points have been fully entered, the locations of the supply points have been disclosed to him, and the girl’s location information has also been erased from the game.

Helios: This game is mine.

[New Game]

I leaned against the door and suddenly felt a vibration from my phone. When I picked it up, I found that the phone had a black screen.

Before I had a chance to restart it, the screen automatically lit up and then a line of words were displayed.

“Welcome to the new hunter game.”

New hunter game? I was stunned for a moment, before I realized what had happened, the word “hunter” was marked with a red “X” by the animation effect.

MC: Welcome to…..the new hunter game?”

The red animation effect keeps flashing on the screen, seeming to constantly emphasize the concept of “new game”.

Did Joker change the rules of the game? Why cross out the word “hunter”? What does he want to do?

Unsettling emotions came to my mind. I subconsciously wanted to call Helios but I heard a familiar voice come over the phone.

??: Now, the game management rights will be changed.

??: I hereby announce, the new game has officially started.

This voice….is Helios!

I looked at the phone in disbelief and saw the screen change along with his voice.

“Hunter Game Is Out”

Helios: All the rules of the hunter game are invalidated.

Helios: There is only one rule you have to abide by—“No harm to anyone.”

I looked at the big words “NO FIGHT” displayed on the screen and faintly guessed what Helios wanted to do.

Helios: The communication method will now be opened, allowing all players to establish contact.

Helios: The game system adds a help platform and anyone who needs assistance can upload coordinates.

Helios: The map resumes normal use and all supply points will be publicly marked.

When he released these rules, the signal of my mobile phone showed full frame synchronously; a dialog box for help also popped up on the screen.

Then the phone automatically opened a brand new Loveland City map which not only showed the locations of all supply points but also a panoramic 3D map.

Helios: But don’t be too happy. My game will only be harder.

Helios: All of you, still have to follow my rules.

His tone was blunt, as if he was really the master of the game.

I was a little puzzled. Helios is clearly helping everyone to restore peace in Loveland. Why is he deliberately being so cold?

Although the fog has not dissipated, he can directly announce the end of the game. Why would he go the other way and announce the new rules of the game?

At this time, the screen switched to the surveillance on the streets of Loveland City and Helios seemed to have set up thermal imaging technology to clearly see colorful figures on the screen.

After seeing the contents of the surveillance clearly, my eyes widened unexpectedly—

Many people still pushed and scrambled for the aerosol at the replenishment point, fighting hard, and the scene was chaotic.

It seems that the so-called “new game” and “new rules” are meaningless to them.

Faintly, I seem to understand something.

Even if the game itself is stripped away, some people will still be dominated by fear or some kind of temptation and continue to dwell in the cold-blooded fighting.

So is this also Helios’ consideration?

I looked back at the closed wooden door waiting for his answer.

Helios: If someone insists on going their own way and continue to compete for limited resources…

Helios: The aerosol that you’re competing for will be ineffective at the moment.

Before he finished his words, everyone on the screen seemed to be taken aback. Several people raised the aerosols in their hands and panicked.

Helios: This is my game.

Helios: If you don’t believe me, you can try it.

The picture automatically zoomed in and the aerosol in the person’s hand was clearly exposed---the aerosol valve was automatically opened.

The crowd seemed to have finally realized the existence of the new game and stood there facing each other.

This is the meaning of Helios building a new game—

If the game is announced directly, everyone will continue to compete for aerosol if the fog is not effectively resolved.

That’s why he created another image of the game controller and introduced new game rules.

The purpose is to establish authority, let everyone follow his instructions, and get out of the mindset of fighting in a more orderly manner.

Helios: If you want to live, you must act according to my rules.

Helios: All players will be divided into three levels and displayed on your mobile phone screens according to the length of the remaining survival time.

Helios: Sub-level players need to help emergency level players to obtain aerosol.

Helios: The more people you help, the higher the ranking will be.

Helios: The highest-ranked person can still get a generous bonus.

Helios: Remember, “you are the game itself.”

Helios: Looking forward to your wonderful performance.

Helios completely changed the rules of the game.

If it can be executed smoothly, it will make the hunter game lose its original meaning.

It turns out that this is his “own way” to solve the hunter game?

While sighing, I was also a little worried.

The current situation is undoubtedly a huge change for Joker. In order to take back control,  he will certainly not give up.

I was about to remind Helios to be vigilant but suddenly there was a slight noise outside the door. Helios opened the door in the next second.

Helios: Let’s go.

Helios: Someone has snuck in.

-End of Part 4-

Continue to Part 5 

[sxnyarostova]

otp ask game for hadesephone!

TW//mentions of incest (but are we surprised, it’s greek mythology), alcoholism

What was their first impression of each other?

Hades: “Oh Gods, she’s beautiful even when she’s covered in dirt.”

Persephone: “Alright, this weird dude is trying to disturb my gardening routine but that’s okay. Wow, he’s buff.”

What is their ship name?

Hadesephone!

Describe their relationship dynamic.

Ooh. This is a hard one. Before their relationship started falling apart, the two of them had a healthy relationship. Communication was always slightly stunted, but they managed. They started having frequent arguments when Hades’ need for his underground empire started to grow; that’s when Persephone’s drinking habit started. Communication between them reached an all-time-low, and things were bitter between the couple for a while. They really start fixing/healing their relationship post-Hadestown, because they’re reminded of how powerful love can be when it’s expressed properly.

What was their relationship like before they got together?

The relationship was love at first sight, so... tentative ‘I-see-you-once-a-year-at-family-reunions-on-Mount-Olympus-but-I-don’t-really-know-you?’ In Greek myth Hades and Persephone are uncle and niece so...

How would they describe each other?

Hades: She’s perfect in every way. Seph loves it when I kiss her on her cheek; always blushes crazy when I do it. We’ve had out fights over the years, but Seph...she’s always come with me when I take the train up. She’s never rejected me, never told me no. She’s the most forgiving person I’ve ever met, that’s for sure. Persephone’s wild when she’s had more than enough to drink, though. She gets very, very wild. She’s also very outgoing; an extrovert. Seph is a bit of a rule-breaker; she’s spiked the punch at my brother’s parties many times.

Persephone: Most people think that he’s a stone-cold bastard, but I love him. He built a whole city just to keep me happy; I think that says something, doesn’t it? He’s willing to go to unimaginable lengths for me. He’s not as cruel as people think that he is; he’s antagonistic, but he ain’t the villain. Hades, he’s greedy for my love, for money, but mostly my love. Underneath all the steel and the suits, Hades is a big ol’ softie who works too hard.

What do they love about each other? (I’m going for the little details, not the huge huge things)

Hades: The way Persephone tilts her head back when she laughs, the rasp of her voice when she wakes up, the feel of Seph’s skin. He loves how Persephone talks to people; she’s gentle but firm, sweet but stern. Persephone’s sass; her outgoing personality that radiates more energy than the sun.

Persephone: Hades’ hair, his smile (his goofy one, not the one he uses when he’s luring people to eternal labour in Hadestown), the way he plays with Cerberus (Hades runs around the house with a Frisbee and he is very energetic when he does this, he has stretched multiple muscles in the past few years), and his eyes!

What do they have in common?

They both love each other :shrugs: Ooh and they are both NOT morning people! Contrary to popular belief, Persephone takes AGES to get ready in the morning; just because she’s the goddess of spring doesn’t mean that she’s automatically an early bird.

What are some differences between them?

Hades is a bit of a materialist. He thinks that Persephone is, too, but Seph is far from that. Persephone doesn’t need anything; all she wants is to simply be with her husband. Hades doesn’t understand this and it’s the root of most of their relationship problems.

What made them realize they were in love?

:strums guitar: HE FELL IN LOVEEEE WITH PERSEPHONE. WHO WAS GATHERING FLOWERRRS IN THE LIGHT OF THE SUNNNN

On a more serious note, Hades was making his biannual trip up top when he saw Persephone in a field of sunflowers. The way the light bronzed her skin immediately caught his attention. When Persephone looked up from the flowers, Hades’ heart was no longer his own.

Persephone spent a good hour bantering with him in the field, the two of them sprawled out amongst a beautiful bed of flowers. “You’re withering my buds,” Persephone had said, shooting Hades a playful glare. “Well, you’re making my heart blossom,” Hades had replied, and that was when Persephone’s heart sped up.

What are their love languages?

Hades needs reassurance all the time sometimes, so Persephone gives him that at the end of a long day. Persephone loves spooning, and all kinds of physical affection.

On another note, Persephone and Hades have a squeezing system. They squeeze each other’s hands when they’re uncomfortable or nervous, or simply wishing for that reassuring nod/kiss/hug. It’s a non-verbal way for them to communicate; it’s frequently used when they’re hanging out with the other gods of Olympus.

Do they get married? Who proposes and how?

It’s a very Orphydice-esque situation, but they take it down a notch. Hades proposes in a secluded spot at an Olympus party with a chromium ring, and Persephone accepts in a heartbeat.

What would happen if they never met?

It would stay warm and sunny forever. No seasons, it’s just straight up spring-to-summer all year round!

Who dies first? How does the other one react?

HAHAHA THEY’RE BOTH IMMORTAL SO NOOOOO I WILL NOT ANSWER THIS ANGST-FILLED PROMPT

Are there any love rivals?

Well in canon Greek myth there’s Minthe, who’s in love with Hades. Seph gets mad and turns her into a mint leaf; love rival sorted!

Describe your favorite moment of that ship!

Canonically, Epic III.

What do other characters think about this relationship?

Everyone’s fine with it; it is their love that makes the world go round. However, Demeter and the other Olympus gods are kind of iffy about it.

Talk about a headcanon you’ve never talked about before.

Hades has a secret park built for Cerberus and his wife in the Elysium fields. It’s disguised using the magic of his invisibility helmet, and only he and Persephone have access to it. They spend romantic afternoons there, just wandering through and kissing and doing Functional Couple Things. They also spend very energetic afternoons with their beloved puppy.

What does a typical date look like for them?

DOMINOES! Just kidding. They love playing board games together though, so a game night with an unlimited supply of wine and a large, comfortable bed within reach.

What’s a really significant moment in their relationship?

When the poet boy graces the Underworld with his presence and gives the old couple a little reminder.

[turinn]

Naive

Ray Blackwell x M!Reader

Summary: An invitation at a party reveals that Luka had no idea you’re gay, and brings up a concern you hadn’t had before. Tags: Crack, fluff, secret relationship, mention of homophobia, alcohol consumption A/N: This is based on a dream I had where Luka and I had this exact conversation and when I woke up and remembered it I nearly threw up laughing. I did actual research for the girls outfit and hair bc im a fashion history nerd. the pocket watch i just thought was cute. Fenrir calls the reader fruity but its okay bc hes gay too god bless Word Count: 1.5k

The party was the usual affair expected of the Godspeed's, an air of elegance- present but not too overbearing- hanging over the large hall. Music drifted gently to your ears as you took everything in, a small smile settling on your face.

You couldn't help but feel a little underdressed. The officers had, of course, kept their uniforms on, but everyone else present was dressed to the nines. You'd thought the suit you wore was lovely when you and Seth had seen it last week, dark blue with a white trim, paired with a pale cyan tie and pocket square. The gold watch that settled comfortably in your pocket had been a gift from Blanc, supposedly made by Oliver to look similar to his own, to commemorate your decision to stay in Cradle. Compared to everyone else, it felt rather simple now, but you pushed the thought aside. Nobody was judging what you were wearing, they were here to enjoy themselves same as you.

"Would you like a drink?" Ray asked, voice soft enough not to startle you too much. This wasn't too effective, as you'd gotten lost in your thoughts, and sort of forgotten there were people around you, but it was kind of him to try. "Oh, yes, please." You smiled at him and a moment later he'd walked off, talking to Sirius about something, leaving you alone with Luka. Fenrir had disappeared to greet his family when you'd first arrived, and Seth was who knows where, but you didn't mind it being just the two of you. Luka rarely came to these, in fact this was the first he'd been to since you'd arrived in Cradle, despite it being your fifth, and you decided someone should stick with him so he didn't feel quite as nervous.

As you turned to say something to him, you noticed a lady making her way over to the both of you, looking rather flustered. Her fists were clenched at her sides, and she seemed to be muttering something to herself, but it was clear she had intent to speak to one of you. Perhaps she wanted to talk to Luka? He was cute, it wouldn't surprise you. What did surprise you, however, was when she walked up to you instead.

"Um, excuse me if this is far too forward, but... would you be interested in dancing with me?" She sounded so nervous, and you almost wanted to say yes. Any other man would have been lucky to get such an invitation- she looked stunning. She wore her hair in curls, gathered at the back of her neck, with a hairpiece of pale blue flowers was pinned at the front, a necklace donning the same type of flower hanging just above the neckline of her gown. The gown in question matched the colour of the flowers well, though the width of the crinoline supported skirt would have made you concerned about the logistics of dancing with her- if you'd had any intention of saying yes. Her cheeks were tinted pink as she chewed her bottom lip and waited for your answer, avoiding your gaze. A hand on your chest and a sincerely apologetic look on your face, you began to respond. "Oh dear. I'm terribly sorry, but you seem to have gotten the wrong end of the stick. You're a very attractive young lady but I'm afraid... how should I put this," You glanced at Luka for help, but he seemed to have no idea what you were trying to tell her, "I'm afraid I don't tend to set my eye on the ladies, so to speak." "You're... gay?" A sympathetic nod. "That's the ticket. Sorry, love." "Oh, it's not a problem! I'm really sorry to have bothered you!" She suddenly looked much less nervous, though a little embarrassed, and scurried off. You sighed. "I feel a little bad. I really hope she finds someone to dance with." Luka looked at you quizzically. "Why did you lie to her?" A confused laugh escaped you. "I'm sorry?" "You told her you were into guys. Why lie?" As he said this, Seth and Fenrir came up behind him, and hearing his question their eyebrows shot up. So did yours. Was he kidding? "Luka, sweetie, you have got to tell me what part of my personality made you think I was heterosexual, so I can set about changing it immediately." Seth choked on his drink, and though you flashed him a grin, you weren't entirely kidding. Going from Victorian London to a world where being gay was perfectly acceptable had been quite the change, but you'd been certain all of your friends had known. It's not like you were quiet about it, and sure, Luka was naive but... come on, now. "Wait are you... you were being honest?" "Yes?" "Luka," Fenrir began, stepping next to you and resting an elbow on your shoulder, "How have you seriously not noticed that he's gay yet?" "Well- there was no reason for me to assume!" "You watched me drunk make out with at least 2 different Black Army soldiers in my first month here!" Luka looked flustered, and utterly dumbfounded. The expression was one he wore often, usually when people insinuated that someone was in love- but somehow about five times more confused. He was unfortunate enough that Ray and Sirius returned at this moment, just in time to hear both your last remark, and his next one.

"I thought that was just something you did when you were drunk?" In another moment you were on your knees, legs shaking so much from laughter that you couldn't hold yourself up any longer. Fenrir was right there beside you, practically convulsing. Everyone else was laughing too- except poor Luka. You felt a little bad, truly you did, but this had to be the funniest thing you had ever heard. "He's completely straight, but watch out! Get a couple drinks in him and he turns fruity!" Fenrir managed to get out between cackles, and Ray was glad to have put your drinks down when Luka had last spoken, because he too nearly fell to the ground at this.

"Luka- Luka I'm sorry." You pulled yourself to your feet, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "We aren't laughing at you." Another fit of giggles overcame you. "Okay we kind of are, but it's not malicious or anything. That was just... hands down the funniest thing you've ever said." It took most of you 5 or so minutes to fully calm down from what he'd said, and anything that jogged your memories of it would bring you back to a state of uncontrollable laughter for the rest of the night. Luka came round to it being pretty funny after you talked him through the dozens of times you'd mentioned your sexuality to him since you'd met- every one of which had gone over his head.

Hours after the party had worn down and you'd all made your way home, you lay in bed, your head pressed against a familiar chest, and sighed. "What's up?" "I just... D'you think anyone else just hasn't realised?" Ray cocked his head, confused. "I'm gonna need a little more info than that, kitten." "I suppose I just... Back in London, it's not even legal to be gay, and I don't know if it ever will be. When I first came out to Fen, he told me that it was fine here, accepted and even celebrated. So, I guess I just thought that people wouldn't make the automatic assumption that I'm straight, y'know? I mean I talk about it a lot among you guys but- when I’m out and about... where do people think my final destination is? When I pick up a silly cat themed gift for you does the shopkeep think I’m buying it for my wife? It shouldn't be a big deal, I guess, but I'd never been able to be myself until I came here, and now it's like I can be me but... people will still only see who I am if I tell them. It's just weird is all. I dunno. Maybe I'm drunk." "You're not drunk. It's an understandable concern. I guess I've never thought about it, because whether or not people would accept that part of me has never been an issue, but the fact that you've had to hide it for so long and now that you're able to be open people still aren't seeing it must be hard. If you want we could... come out, so to speak?" Your eyebrows raised, and you moved back, propping yourself up on your arm so you could look your partner in the eyes.

It had been decided at the very start of your relationship, which had officially begun a few months after you'd made the choice to stay in Cradle, that the two of you would keep it under wraps for a while. Being from the Land of Reason was more than enough reason for people to take an unwanted interest in you, and you didn't need the extra attention being the King of Spades' partner would garner. Plus, anyone with a grudge against Ray would see you as a target the second you announced it. It had been a sensible suggestion on his part, one you hadn't hesitated to agree to, and as far as you knew only Sirius and Fenrir knew about your relationship. Fenrir because he had walked in on you sitting in Ray's lap while he worked late one night, and Sirius because- well, can anything get past that guy? And now, Ray was offering to tell the entirety of Cradle you were his, just so that you didn't feel like you were hiding your identity anymore? You could feel your eyes starting to burn, and you cursed the late hour and the alcohol in your system for making you cry so easily, but... "I don't think we need to be that drastic. You were right when you said it would keep me safe for us to not be in the public eye, at least for now. I'm sure Seth can come up with some better way for me to tell the whole world I'm gay." "I don't doubt that at all." Ray grinned, placing a gentle kiss on first your forehead, then your nose, and finally on your lips. "Tomorrow, though. You need your beauty sleep." "Ah, yeah, can't risk getting ugly. My boyfriend might not want me anymore." You quipped. "Exactly." He smirked at you, turning out the light and pulling you into his arms.