#the game of teaching body

[hivemuthur]

The Game of Teaching Body - Ch. 1.

viktorxfemale!reader mature! (for now, I will mark later chapters as explicit when the time comes)

AU university, AU modern era, slow burn, frenemies to lovers, teasing, pinning, banter, eventual romance and therefore smut, Viktor is simultaneously a menace and needs a hug, TA Viktor

Ch. 2. | Ch.3. | Ch.4. | Ch.5. | Ch.6. | Ch.7. | Ch.8. | Ch.9. | Ch.10. | Ch.11. | Ch.12.

word count: 4,3K

tag: #the game of teaching body

summary: Reader is a second-year science student that had just switched schools to escape the suffocating love of her parents and Viktor is being a black cat all the way through. A 12-chapter story of two emotionally problematic people falling in love through acknowledging each other's imperfections.

author's note: This is less introspective than my other fics, attempts to be lighter and funny at times. World is completely made up, even though contains some real things in it. Viktor's disability is present, but decreased (no back brace and breathing affliction). I will soon create fic masterlist and pin it on my blog and will be linking chapters with future updates.

Cross-posted on AO3 + POV3rd Person Version

—

You sat wedged between a hot, doe-eyed girl named Sue who was going to be your roommate, and some skinny guy whose name you hadn’t caught—Callum, maybe? Your friend Hale had ditched you to join his theatre group on the other side of the campus, leaving you to navigate introductions with your new course mates alone. Changing universities mid-degree was stressful, but staying back in Sheffield with your parents had been worse. So, yes, it had been the right call. A very good call, you reminded yourself.

Camden had a tiny science department with a handful of brilliant professors. It wasn’t the best, but it wasn’t Sheffield. And it had Hale, who had convinced you to come down south with promises of freedom, self-discovery, and the chance to reclaim your status as the unstoppable friend power-couple you’d been in high school (not that you had mattered at all back then, of course).

The room buzzed with overlapping conversations and sporadic bursts of laughter, the faint thrum of inoffensive pop music humming from a Bluetooth speaker in the corner. The second-year welcome party was more like a casual gathering, hosted in one of the university lounges with just enough couches and harsh fluorescent lighting to feel awkwardly cozy. You sipped from a plastic cup of lukewarm cider, your attention flitting between three different conversations happening around you.

To your left, Jayce was in the middle of an animated retelling of how he’d nearly blown up a lab during his undergrad years. His booming laugh and sweeping hand gestures kept everyone engaged, even those who had only half-heard the setup to his punchline. You found yourself smiling despite having missed most of the story. You vaguely recalled his introduction earlier in the evening—Jayce, one of the TAs for your course this year. From Sheffield, like you. Big personality, bigger grin.

On your right stood Viktor, the second TA, his hands resting lightly on his cane. He exuded a quieter kind of presence, his sharp amber eyes scanning the group with an air of detached curiosity. He’d joined the circle mid-conversation, offering the occasional dry comment that earned chuckles from those paying attention.

“You’re training to be a geneticist?” Viktor asked, leaning slightly toward you. His accent caught you off guard—it was Slavic, you thought, though you weren’t confident enough to guess further. You made a mental note to ask him about it one day.

You blinked, surprised to be addressed. “Oh, yeah,” you replied quickly, nodding. “Second year. Still deciding whether I want to focus on medical or research applications, though.” You paused. “You’re in bioengineering for your PhD, right?”

“Correct,” Viktor said with a slight upward quirk of his lips. “It is refreshing to meet someone undecided. Most claim they will change the world before finishing their first term.”

You laughed nervously, unsure if he was mocking you or just making an observation. “Yeah, I’m saving that for third year.”

Viktor raised an eyebrow, his expression hovering somewhere between amused and sceptical. “Ambitious,” he said dryly.

Before you could respond, Jayce turned toward you, pulling the group’s focus with him. “What about you? Have you had Professor Albin yet? He’s a character, let me tell you. Loves his experiments more than his students.”

You grinned, drawn into the shift in energy. “Oh, yeah, I’ve heard about him. But wait, is he the one who smokes under the laboratory fume hood?”

Jayce snapped his fingers in mock recognition. “Exactly! Last year, he almost caused the whole building to evacuate because he didn’t realise the hood was broken.”

The group erupted into laughter. You found yourself relaxing, leaning into the easy rhythm of the conversation. You missed the glance Viktor cast your way, faintly bemused.

He cleared his throat, a subtle gesture that drew only a few eyes. “Albin may be forgetful, but he has published groundbreaking work on single-cell RNA sequencing. One might forgive the eccentricities, no?”

The remark hung in the air for a beat, slightly out of sync with the conversation’s playful tone. Jayce, quick to keep the mood light, grinned and waved it off. “True, but it doesn’t make his lectures any less painful.”

The laughter resumed, bubbling back up with ease. You smiled, but something about Viktor’s expression lingered in your mind—a subtle tightness around his mouth, almost imperceptible but impossible to ignore once noticed.

You thought to say something, maybe steer the conversation back toward him, but Jayce was already pulling your attention with another question, his energy impossible to resist. The moment slipped away, and with it, that fleeting glimpse of something unreadable in Viktor’s eyes.

The party dispersed shortly after midnight, and you went to find Hale for the promised cigarette and your earlier-agreed session of impression comparing. You spotted him by the fountain, his tall figure hunched over in his velvet vest, already smoking.

“My darling!” he exclaimed, throwing his arms wide in a theatrical flourish. “So, spill the tea—how was it? Anyone hot? Anyone you already hate? Good decision? Bad decision?”

“Uh… Can I bum a fag? I forgot my pack in the room.” You patted your pockets distractedly as Hale swept you into his arms, spinning you around dramatically. He placed his own cigarette between your lips with a flourish.

“I’m going to burst if you don’t tell me right now. Your mother already hates me—I need to know you don’t hate me too!”

“Joanne is going to be fine,” you replied, rolling your eyes but letting yourself be twirled in your exaggerated tango. “She already sent me, like, a thousand affirmations for my ‘new beginnings.’”

Hale dipped you low, grinning. “And?”

“I… don’t know,” you sighed as he held you in the dramatic pose. “It’s a bunch of nerds, like me, so I guess I’ll be alright.”

Hale gave you a pointed look, his brow furrowing. “You are not just some nerd. You are brilliant, and they are not ready for you.” He placed a soft kiss on your forehead, his voice gentle but firm.

“Alright, alright,” you muttered, waving him off with a small smile. “Full report is as follows: Sue, my roommate—hot and completely oblivious about it. Nobody else really standing out. It’s an even mix of guys and girls.” You started pacing along the edge of the fountain, ticking details off on your fingers. “We’ve got two TAs: one would make you drool, and the other one would make you run for your life.”

“I have to meet them both,” Hale declared with a dramatic flourish, grinning mischievously.

Hale twirled you one last time before pulling you upright with exaggerated care. “You’re lucky I’m such a gracious dance partner, darling,” he said, letting you go with a flourishing bow.

You laughed and brushed your hair out of your face. “Oh, you’re too kind. I didn’t know you’d start your evening in full drama mode.”

Hale smirked, looping his arm through yours as you strolled around the fountain. The air was crisp, the faint glow of the nearby building lights reflecting off the water. “I’m always in drama mode. You know this. Now, tell me—what’s the plan tomorrow? More parties? Some secret nerd ritual?”

You rolled your eyes, nudging him with your shoulder. “Yes, we are totally raising someone from the dead tomorrow,” you smirked. “The TAs are swinging by each room tomorrow to hand out schedules and do a quick orientation. Viktor mentioned it tonight in passing.”

Hale gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. “Viktor, you say? Is that the one who would make me drool or the one who’d send me running for my life?”

You laughed. “The latter. He’s got this whole ‘intimidating genius’ vibe going on, but I can’t tell if he’s just really smart or if he practices those broody stares in the mirror.”

“Oh, I have to meet this man,” Hale said with a gleam in his eye, spinning you around. “And what about the one who’d make me drool?”

“That’s Jayce,” you replied. “Big, loud, charming. Like a golden retriever who also happens to be jacked and into science.”

Hale pretended to swoon, leaning on you for support. “Be still, my heart. This place might actually be worth sticking around for.”

You smirked, brushing ash off your borrowed cigarette. “Speaking of sticking around, how was your night? Any tragic love stories waiting to happen?”

Hale shrugged nonchalantly, but there was a glint of mischief in his eyes. “Same old faces, same old dramas. Nothing new. Nobody around here who could really crush my heart, but you know me—I’ll eat anything when I’m starved.”

You snorted, shaking your head. “That’s the spirit. Settle for mediocrity!”

“It’s a survival skill, darling,” Hale replied, grinning as he plucked the cigarette from your fingers and took a long drag.

You walked in silence for a moment, your steps slow and unhurried. You glanced at the fountain, its gentle ripples catching the light, and exhaled a breath you hadn’t realised you were holding.

“I think it was a good decision,” you said softly, breaking the quiet.

Hale raised an eyebrow, handing the cigarette back to you. “Camden? Or letting me drag you here tonight?”

“Both,” you admitted, a small smile playing at your lips. “Thanks for making me come. For once, I actually feel… scared of something. Not stuck.”

Hale’s expression softened, and he threw an arm around your shoulders, pulling you close. “That’s because you’re brilliant, and the world doesn’t stand a chance against you.”

You rolled your eyes but leaned into the gesture, taking one last drag of the cigarette before flicking it into the fountain.

“Here’s to not being stuck,” Hale declared, lifting an imaginary glass.

“To not being stuck,” you echoed, laughing as the two of you turned and headed back toward the dorms.

***

The sound that woke you and Sue was impossible to describe—a cacophony of metal being violently banged together, accompanied by a high-pitched whining noise. Then came loud banging on the door.

A soft groan came from Sue’s bed as she rolled out, stretching her limbs before sinking onto the floor and curling into a foetal position. “I think it’s the TAs,” she said weakly, yawning.

You decided to be brave, though your first instinct was to shove a pillow over your head and wait for the monster to go away. Dragging yourself out of bed, your head pounding from the cider and cigarettes you’d had with Hale the night before, you trudged to the door. Your expression was one of pure pleading as you opened it and asked, “Is this really how you guys want to start this relationship?”

In front of you, Jayce froze mid-motion, one frying pan held in each hand. Viktor stood just behind him, clutching a bicycle horn and smirking mercilessly.

“Good morning, sunshine!” Jayce boomed, lowering the frying pans slightly but keeping his grin firmly in place, like a weapon. “Ready to seize the day?”

You squinted, shielding your eyes from the hallway light as though it were a personal attack. “Seize the day? I’m about to seize your frying pans and toss them out the window.”

Jayce laughed, completely unbothered, while Viktor raised the bicycle horn and gave it a sharp honk. “Consider it your wake-up call,” Viktor said smoothly, his smirk deepening. “Promptness is a virtue, no?”

“I’m promptly considering murder,” you muttered, glaring at them both.

Behind you, Sue groaned from her spot on the floor. “I’m not coming out. Tell them I’m dead.”

Jayce leaned sideways to peer into the room. “Good morning to you too, Sue!” he called cheerfully.

“Sod off,” Sue replied, her voice muffled by her arm.

Viktor glanced at Jayce, shaking his head slightly as though disapproving of his partner’s antics. Then he turned his attention back to you. “We are here to distribute schedules and perform a brief orientation,” he said, his tone more measured but no less smug. “You should be grateful. Only the science department students receive such... personal service.”

You crossed your arms, raising an eyebrow. “Yeah, I feel so special. Is banging cookware a requirement of this personal service, or is it just a special treat for us?”

“Just for you,” Jayce said with a wink. “And hey, it worked, didn’t it? You’re awake.”

You sighed, stepping back to let them into the room. “Fine. Come in. But if you touch anything, I’m calling security.”

Jayce sauntered in like he owned the place, plopping the frying pans onto the desk with a loud clang. Viktor followed more quietly, his eyes sweeping the room in a quick, assessing glance. He placed the bicycle horn next to the pans, the absurdity of the scene making you shake your head in disbelief.

“You’re like two chaotic sitcom characters,” you said, rubbing your temples. “And I’m the poor, sleep-deprived protagonist who has to deal with your nonsense.”

Jayce grinned. “I like to think of myself as the lovable goofball.”

“And Viktor’s the straight man?” you guessed, glancing at him.

Viktor’s lips twitched, but he didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he handed you a neatly folded piece of paper. “Your schedule,” he said. “I trust you can manage to read it despite your current... condition.” He gave you a once-over and added, “Nice pyjamas.”

You looked down at yourself, remembering too late that you were wearing red cotton pants with white hearts and an oversized Nirvana sweatshirt. It was a damn nice set of pyjamas—what was the problem? You snatched the paper from him, your mouth twitching into a reluctant smile despite yourself. “Thanks. I’ll try not to faint from gratitude.”

“Much appreciated,” Viktor replied dryly.

Sue, still sprawled on the floor, finally raised her head and groaned. “Do we at least get coffee with this torture?”

Jayce perked up. “Now that’s an idea! Viktor, we should’ve brought coffee.”

“I am not your barista,” Viktor deadpanned.

You couldn’t help but laugh, the absurdity of the morning starting to chip away at your hangover. “Alright, alright. Give us five minutes, and we’ll join the rest of the poor souls you’ve terrorized this morning.”

“Make it three,” Viktor said, his smirk returning as he turned toward the door.

Jayce followed with a wave. “See you downstairs!”

As the door closed behind them, you turned to Sue, who was now sitting up, her hair a wild mess.

“So,” you said, leaning against the door. “Drool-worthy or run-for-your-life?”

Sue blinked, still half-asleep. “What?”

“The TAs,” you clarified, holding back a grin. “Jayce and Viktor. What’s the verdict?”

Sue rubbed her eyes, yawning. “Jayce is like a golden retriever on caffeine. Viktor... is something else. Sharp. Kinda scary. But, like, in a hot way?”

You snorted, tossing the schedule onto your desk. “I’m just trying to survive their weird buddy cop energy.”

Sue flopped back onto the floor with a groan. “Wake me up when it’s over.”

You shook your head, a smile tugging at your lips. “It’s never over, Sue. Welcome to Camden.”

***

Orientation and the first classes passed in a blur of introductions, schedules, and information overload. By the time the fifth person introduced themselves, you’d already forgotten the first three names. Professor Heimerdinger, perched at the front of the lab like an animated encyclopaedia, launched into an overview of the semester: rules for grades and exams, expectations for in-class behaviour, and a note about optional after-class activities for the particularly ambitious—or masochistic.

You braced yourself for the inevitable repeat classes like chemistry and biophysics, but it didn’t bother you. Repetition wasn’t so bad if you could zone out without missing much.

Jayce and Viktor drifted through the room during the lecture, their presence oddly complementary—one buzzing with boundless energy, the other moving with deliberate precision. They pointed out key locations: lab glass, gloves, coats, goggles, and the cabinets you’d definitely forget the moment you walked out. They handed out maps of the department and listed their office hours. Standard procedure. Functional. Dandy.

When it was finally over, Sue nudged you, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Wanna head to the bar nearby?”

“You want to drink again?” You raised an eyebrow, though her expression hinted at ulterior motives.

Sue tilted her head, all innocence. “Or… maybe I want to go to the bar to spy on our TAs,” she said, her gaze trailing after Jayce and Viktor as they left the room.

You sighed, exasperated but amused. “By my calculations, we have about a week to live before we’re buried in coursework.”

“Exactly! We should enjoy it while it lasts.” Sue clasped her hands together and unleashed the puppy eyes. “Please?” she added, her lower lip quivering with Oscar-worthy conviction.

You rolled your eyes, defeated. “I am genuinely terrified of you. And convinced I’ll never be able to say no to you. Fine. One condition: I get to drag Hale along.”

“Is Hale your hot theatre friend?” Sue’s excitement was palpable, her grin wide enough to make you laugh.

“Yes, and he’s also gay, so don’t get your hopes up. He’ll break your heart,” you warned, pulling out your phone to text him.

“I am desperate for a gay boyfriend, so please drag him along whenever you feel like it,” Sue replied, already on her feet, coat slung over her arm.

Your phone buzzed almost instantly: I know the place – seedy shithole. Be there in no time! Hale’s response sealed the deal. You were officially going to a bar to “spy” on your TAs.

The bar was, indeed, a seedy shithole, but it had a quirky charm. Posters plastered the walls, advertising plays, gigs, and questionable student endeavours. Lamps made of beer bottles cast a dim, golden light, and the furniture was an eclectic mix—like someone had raided every grandmother’s attic in a three-mile radius. A fireplace crackled in one corner, surrounded by mismatched cushions for floor seating, and a jukebox stood proudly by the bar, humming with potential.

You approached the bar with Sue, scanning the menu. Sue’s brows furrowed in confusion as she searched for something that wasn’t beer. The bartender, a man with a weathered face and a disarming smile, leaned in. “What can I do for you, honey?”

Sue’s voice turned soft and sweet, almost like a fairy casting a spell. “Do you have anything… sweet?”

The bartender paused, giving her a look like he’d climb mountains to fetch whatever she wanted. For a moment, you wondered if he might actually run to another bar, buy something sugary, and bring it back. The thought made you chuckle as you watched Sue charm her way to a perfect drink.

“Let me surprise you,” the bartender said, flashing Sue a sweet smile before turning to you. “And for you, darling?”

“I’ll just have a pint, cheers,” you replied, your gaze lingering on the heartwarming interaction between the adorable Sue and the massive, tattooed bartender.

“Ah! Let me get this,” you registered an arm sliding between you and Sue, holding a credit card. “Since we forgot the coffees this morning,” Jayce’s familiar grin soon followed, putting a face to the offering hand.

“I’ll be the one buying drinks for my pookie today,” a strong arm wrapped around your neck and shoulders, and you immediately recognized Hale’s voice from above you. “Let me guess… drool-worthy and”—his eyes shifted toward Viktor—“run-for-your-life?”

“I’ve also been called ‘the straight man,’” Viktor remarked, giving you a questioning look.

“Ah, I can see why,” Hale replied, on the verge of ruining your chances for any semblance of dignity this semester. Then he turned to Sue. “And you must be the hot Sue?”

“Oh my god, did you say that?” Sue squeaked playfully, leaning over to grab your hand. “I think you’re hot too,” she added with a wink.

You wanted to sink deep underground and let the demons of hell swallow you whole.

Waiting for your drink to be poured, you watched Jayce, Sue, and Hale drift toward the fireplace sitting area, Hale’s arm already wrapped around your roommate as they chatted animatedly.

“You seem to have a lot of opinions already formed,” Viktor’s voice came from above your shoulder as he reached for his drink—a vodka on the rocks.

“Keep looking at me like that, and I’ll indeed run for my life,” you shot back, narrowing your eyes at him, a playful smirk tugging at your lips.

Viktor raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching with amusement. “Is that so?” His tone was smooth, with just a hint of challenge.

“Absolutely,” you replied, leaning in slightly with mock seriousness. “You’re giving off dangerous, 'I’ve got a sarcastic comment for everything' vibes. It's a threat.”

Viktor chuckled, the sound warm and surprisingly disarming. “A threat, huh? I’ll have to be careful then.” He took a sip of his drink, his eyes glinting. “Don’t worry. I won’t bite.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t stop the smile forming at the edge of your mouth. “I wasn’t worried.”

For a moment, you both stood there, the noise of the bar buzzing around you. Viktor’s gaze lingered a moment too long, making you feel slightly off balance. Then, with a casual shrug, he turned back to the group by the fireplace.

“Let’s go join the chaos,” he said nonchalantly, throwing you a brief glance over his shoulder as he walked away.

You followed, still trying to shake the unexpected buzz of the encounter. It was weird how Viktor could throw you off without even trying.

By the time you approached the group, Hale had already charmed Jayce and Sue, effortlessly pulling them into his world with animated tales of his theatre exploits. He gestured enthusiastically, his voice rich with excitement. “So, we’re doing Rocky Horror Picture Show this year for the mid-semester final,” he announced, his theatrical tone drawing everyone in. “We’re looking for actors—are any of you up for it?”

Sue, looking both intrigued and a little unsure, glanced over at Jayce, who was already grinning. “I’m afraid that my singing would have you fail the final, Hale,” Jayce said with a laugh, clearly weighing the possibilities. “I will gladly come and watch, though?”

Hale grinned wider. “I’ll put you in the front row! And Y/N’s been trying to convince me to take on Frank N. Furter’s part, which made me think she’d make a killer Janet.”

At that, you couldn’t help but roll your eyes, your playful tone cutting through the banter. “Only if I can play Magenta,” you said, tossing your head back slightly. “Otherwise, it's a no-go.”

The group chuckled, but Jayce, who had been half-listening as they continued talking, suddenly perked up. “Wait, hold on. Are you both actually from Sheffield?” He leaned forward slightly, clearly curious.

You smirked, folding your arms across your chest and leaning in, dropping the playful façade for a second. “I don’t have my Pulp T-shirt on me today,” you quipped, “but I can show you my ID?”

Raising an eyebrow, you knew full well that a bit of playful sarcasm could spark a reaction. Viktor, standing just a few steps behind, glanced over at you as your words hit the air. His eyes flicked between you and Jayce, his attention sharpened but still calm, like he was quietly enjoying your back-and-forth with the others.

Jayce laughed, shaking his head. “You really are from Sheffield, aren’t you?”

“Born and bred,” you shot back with a grin, your hands slipping into your pockets. “Don’t let the accent fool you.”

Viktor took a small sip of his drink, a glimmer of amusement flickering in his gaze as he continued to watch you. You had a way of carrying yourself—like you knew how to hold your ground, even when teasing. And now that you had mentioned it, there was a non-Sheffield accent lingering underneath your words.

“Eh, it’s not a place for stars like us,” Hale mused, giving your thigh a playful squeeze.

“My darling, brilliant man, you know all I wish for you is to never step foot in that shithole again and rise to stardom so fast the bystanders get their eyes burned,” you replied with a dramatic flourish, your grin wide and teasing.

Jayce laughed, raising his beer. “Well, before anyone dies burned by Hale’s halo, I guess we could all drag along back for Christmas together?”

“Jayce, if there is anything to drag by then, be my guest,” you responded with a quiet clank of your glass against Jayce’s.

“Oh yes, Christmas is a must. I have to bring a peace offering to Y/N’s mother for stealing her precious daughter away from the family nest,” Hale said, making an exaggerated frightened face when mentioning your mum, Joanne.

“Hale, repeat after me: Joanne is going to be fine. It’s about time she grows up.”

***

Jayce and Viktor walked down the dimly lit street, the buzz of the bar still echoing in their steps. The night air was cool, and the muffled sounds of laughter and music faded behind them as they made their way back to the dorms.

“I love freshmen,” Jayce said, a grin tugging at his lips.

Viktor shot him a sidelong glance. “That’s disturbing.”

“Come on, they’re cute.” Jayce shrugged; his tone playful. “Good idea with the morning orchestra, by the way. Got them all riled up.”

Viktor’s lips twitched at the memory. “The girls sure have their eyes on you.” He looked at Jayce, raising an eyebrow. “You planning on visiting Y/N’s family for Christmas already?”

Jayce laughed. “I don’t know, man. I have a feeling her eyes are actually on you.”

Viktor paused mid-step, narrowing his eyes. “She literally called me 'the straight man' and the 'run-for-your-life-one.' I highly doubt it.”

Jayce nudged him with his elbow. “You know nothing about girls, Viktor.” Viktor gave him a sceptical look, but Jayce’s grin only grew wider, and for once, Viktor couldn't help but wonder if Jayce was right.

[soullessseraphim]

SHUT UP I WANNA- I WANNA DRAW BODY HORROR!!!- (below cut)

^here's this for those who don't want the body horror

[gravyhoney]

Hey look at me. Now imagine Lloyd going to Chen’s noodle house every week to get cooking lessons from Skylor. And they’re hanging out bc they are FRIENDS!!!! And they share a meal afterwards and talk about their lives. And they hug when Lloyd leaves. And they text each other EVERY!!!!! DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[angelsdean]

Dean remembering Hell in Supernatural: Bobby Singer's Guide to Hunting.

(for context they're up against a Greek Goddess that is feeding on their memories--preferring the good ones--so Dean starts remembering all his worst ones to hurt her)

[agalychnisspranneusroseus]

re: raised in amphibia marcy who is nothing but the cores host

beyond the psychological stuff im also thinking about the physical. the evil science possibilities. im just like. canonically its hinted that the core did stuff to marcys body just in the few months it had her to make its vessel more suitable. the plug ports that were apparently in her limbs bc otherwise she would be getting stabbed by those things. "this thing needs some calibration" about marcys body??? what did it mean by that??? and like u mention her being wired up to it in the original ask

anyways im up here thinking abt how much it mightve done to her if it had her for that long. if it had the same plug things installed in her limbs as she seemed to in canon shed probably need replacements if they happened when she was young enough and grew significantly since then.

also my mom used to work in the brain-computer interface industry and well. to get really any level of highly detailed or accurate data, let alone on the scale youd need to fully interface with the entire brain, you would absolutely need to have direct access to the brain rather than trying to go through the skull. theres no way this girl doesnt have a port of some kind implanted in her head for the core to directly connect to her brain.

hell maybe it doesnt wanna deal with biological organs and the problems that might arise from them. no big deal itll just have them replaced!

Aaaaagh dude i love your asks. Galaxy brain asks from my galaxy friend mutual.

Anyway. Yes i I have thought quite a bit about Marcy's whole deal. What Andrias cares about is her brainnnn that blob of grey matter that's somehow a biological supercomputer. He has no qualms in eventually getting rid of the body and keeping the brain in a jar, immortalized as an invaluable piece of hardware with the help of some shadowfish biotechnology (shhh lemme tell you a secret: he actually does care for her and love her and takes no joy in hurting her. He just doesn't love her enough to save her :3). Anyway, unfortunately, when he found this thing, her brain was surprisingly underseveloped. He had a vague awareness that the unfortunate coincidence of bipedism and viviparity so characteristic of homo sapiens resulted in them giving birth to useless, half-developed fetuses (as opposed to fully mature, egg-born pollywogs), but surely, by age three, a human would be more mature, right? He checked his archives on alien biology and, indeed, no. An average human's brain isn't fully developed until around age 25. Marcy may be smart, but she's still, by all accounts, a homo sapiens pollywog. He consults the Core. The Core wants a host. They want a body, and they want this brain. They will do with just the brain, is Andrias is too useless to secure them the body, but even if they're willing to wait for another body (stronger, bigger, more amphibian) to come around eventually, they know it won't work as well as with the original brain-body combination.

He decides to raise Marcy to be 25. He keeps her mind sharp and body healthy, or as healthy as possible. She undergoes many week-long sessions unconscious and connected to all sorts of wires as tubes. It's so normal for her, that by age 6 she knew how to get on top of the plataform or into the tank without falling, and how to put on her own oxygen mask. She always woke up feeling weak and hungry when it was over, and with one killer headache, but her dad always held the biggest fests for her with all her favorite food when it was over! She always looked forward to her sessions. Like a dog.

In these sessions, she would undergo several procedures. There's mossman, shadowfish and amphibian biotechnology involved. The point is to 1) make her brain Core-friendly - if it has many dimensions that would make things easier! And 2) translate the data from the Core into something that can be run in a biological machine. For which they need to understand and explore said machine. She only has one port, in the back of her neck, hidden by her long hair. It connects straight into her spine and her brain. In essence, these are fitting sessions. The Core is trying out their new house. Ever since she was little, they actually did use her brain to run tests and perform different functions. Most of the times it was mostly to study it, but as she grew older, they began using her whenever a function required too much energy, whenever something that would take forever to load with its own equipment, would render almost instantly with hers. They never left any data behind, erasing all evidence of their presence, and they never fully transported anything to this new extension, using only copies of data with the original files safe in the Core. The point is to leave the Core behind eventually and fully move on to this new computer, but not yet.

A few funny side effects!

Her blood is slowly growing more and more green as the years pass. This actually has less do to with brain stuff, and more as early preparation for eternal youth and immortality. It's mean to make her last longer. When she first meets Anne at age 10 - 11, her blood is a brown-ish color, but by the time things blow up when she's like 13-14, it's just a gross green. Her kidneys filter it out with time and her blood returns to its original red color, and Anne and Sasha see her real skin color for the first time, since before she always had this weird green tint, but they didn't know enough about humans to tell it wasn't normal. Seeing her blush red instead of green for the first time is kinda magical.

Migraines! Especially after a session. Especially when she does something the Core wouldn't like, because despite how hard they try to erase their traces, Marcy's most primal survival instincts remember.

More indirect effect but going several weeks a year without eating can't be good for her. It makes her feel very tired, dizzy and weak, even if she's eating normally, because three days ago she was starving.

The port in the back of her neck itches a lot. After becoming queen, she asked the royal physician that put it her to remove it, but he was scared of leaving her paralyzed, since it was so deeply fused with her nervous system. Sasha still thinks she should've had the guy publicly excecuted or something.

Idk if it counts but ?? Andrias wouldn't touch her if she was sick, so Olivia often found ways to give her a fever in secret or something to spare her. She did it to protect her, but it does mean Marcy spent a big deal of her childhood in bed, recovering from a session or a light illness.

The Core communicates with her nervous system through electric signals, and even thought they don't want to harm it, they still make her muscles contract a lot so she feels super sobre afterwards lots of muscle pain all the time.

There is no helmet in this one. No indirect connection. When Andrias puts the Core in Marcy, he goes all the way. Straight into her brain! They got a new PC :3

[vaguely-concerned]

few things bring me as much joy as my rook's expressive capacity for sudden withering disdain. (he's looking at illario here, of course lmao.) he's so hey i'm just a little guy...🥺 coded most of the time and then someone says something dumb enough that the mask cracks for a moment and every line of him says 'that is the stupidest fucking thing anyone has ever said to me and I'm aggrieved to even have had to hear it'. rye is mostly very kind but there IS a bastard lurking in his head waiting to be let out as well. not just solas but solas too I suppose. two bastards in rye ingellvar's head they keep each other company and are trying to strangle each other as we speak 😌.

(vs. him looking over at lucanis a moment later during the same line delivery. since lucanis was actively into viago once I cannot imagine that getting to watch rye crack and be kind of mean to people who've earned it when too sorely tried is like. entirely without allure to him fhskjadf. witnessing illario pulling the old ingratiating 'rooook reason with him would you~ I'm the cousin with the charisma stats' routine and This being rook's response probably opened some as of yet ill-understood '...I think I hauve covid' corners of lucanis' soul. tfw your buddy has your back so completely (dawning erotic implications))

[cyatzura]

i get why people don't like the culling game arc because it really wasn't required for the narrative for the most part but to me most battles were so much fun!!!!! i think it was way more enjoyable than the school tournament arc meanwhile shinjuku showdown is soooo important for the story but like ... it was kinda boring for the most part

[forlornmelody]

.

[igneouswyvern]

i have a lot of stuff i want to draw still but first i decided to try and overhaul my artstyle to improve my proportions and anatomy, which Fucking Sucks. so you might not see art from me for a while

[shellxrls]

can someone teach me how to play resident evil pls i’ll give you a kiss and also you get my amazing personality

[hivemuthur]

The Game of Spin The Bottle

viktorxfemale!reader and also viktorxjayce and viktorxeveryone and everyonexeveryone (mature? I guess)

word count: 2,6K

summary: Lol, the way I've lied to you. Upon an utterly unpopular demand (like, two people asked), I present to you a tiny spin-off of The Game of Teaching Body in which Hale kisses Jayce, and basically everyone kisses everyone. Because no reason.

author's note: I have nothing to justify this. I wrote this for shits and giggles. Please don't ask me to write part two :')

cross posted on AO3

—

Well, this was just severely unlucky. It looked like the entirety of Uni had decided to desert for the long weekend, and the last people standing were Mel, Jayce, Sue, Hale, Viktor, and you. Utterly bored, overstudied, and understimulated, with vast empty spaces of common rooms to occupy, you bothered yourself with card and board games.

Mel and Jayce were scrolling through their phones, showing each other where their classmates had dared to go on a trip and occasionally scoffing. Sue had left around twenty minutes ago after saying, “Ugh, I’ll be right back,” and Hale was splayed on a couch, reading a romance novel, giggling whenever a smut chapter appeared.

You didn’t mind that much, having beaten Viktor in beggar-my-neighbour three times already and counting.

"Alright, this anomaly is against all laws of statistics. You have to be cheating," he sighed when you snatched a stack of cards for yourself, leaving him with barely five in his hand. "We should play rummy. I would positively destroy you in rummy."

"Keep telling yourself that, love," you chirped, shuffling your victory pile. "There is no way to cheat in this game. What was I saying, thank God you’re pretty, right?"

"You will pay for this. Just you wait," he smirked, placing another losing card on the table. And you just sighed, shaking your head, knowing that another round of naked chess was imminent and that you were, in fact, going to pay for this.

"Oh, you are such a sore loser, Viktor. Just bow to my admirable war game tactics. Maybe you were not made for the battlefield, and that’s alright. Just as I said," you mused, covering his two with your four and swiping it off the table. "Thank God you are pretty."

"Guys, a hand?" came Sue’s voice from where she had gotten stuck in the swing door.

Jayce, ever the gentleman, scrambled up from between Mel’s knees on the armchair and rushed to hold it open for Sue.

"Sue, what is this?" he asked with a chuckle, seeing her trotting carefully through the room.

"Drinks. And a bottle. I’m fed up with this morbid time-wasting. We are playing a game," she announced in a tone that would meet no objections.

She placed a tray of six glasses, a bottle of vodka, Coke, and another bottle—an empty one—on the floor between the pieces of lounge set you were all occupying.

"Another game? I might just sit that one out," Viktor winced, having lost his fourth round of beggar-my-neighbour to you.

"Oh, poor Viktor, are you afraid you’re going to lose again?" Mel snickered, her attention caught by Sue’s determined expression. "What are we playing, Sue? Flanks?"

"No. Spin the bottle."

The whine that echoed across the room was deafening.

"Oh, come on, guys. I am so freakin’ bored I will bite my hand off. And"—she lifted her finger and lowered her eyes to the shot glasses—"I am touch-starved."

"Sue, I can give you a kiss if you miss Alice, you know?" you snorted, catching the terror in Viktor’s eyes.

He looked something between deep horror and exasperation, throwing you pleading glances as if to say, Please save me.

“Well, I’m already drunk, so I am obviously in,” Hale sang, waving around his flask. “Never pass the opportunity to kiss my lovely wife.” He rose from the couch and placed a loud peck on the top of your head. And even though he was an image of unwavering composure, you knew how Hale’s heart had jumped at this chaotic idea. Havoc wrecker.

“Eh, what the hell. Let’s do something stupid. But we need some ground rules for that, I think,” Mel shrugged, taking control of the situation. “Everyone gets to veto one person with no questions attached. If you veto twice, you’re out. We don’t tell anyone about it, and we don’t get upset if someone doesn’t want to kiss us. Cheeks don’t count, but a peck on the mouth does. All in favour?” She chanted, raising her hand to seal the vow.

Three hands shot up. Yours joined, timidly, accompanied by an apologetic smile you threw to Viktor.

He scrunched his brows, looked around, and, feeling five pairs of judgmental eyes on him, relented. “Fine. But I need more than one drink for that.”

Sue clapped her hands and opened the bottles. The group settled on the floor in a circle. Hale took over bartender duty while the rest just chuckled awkwardly at each other.

“Are you sure about this?” Viktor whispered, leaning into your ear, his hand searching yours for a reassuring squeeze.

“Since when are you a prude?” you smiled, but seeing his expression serious, you added, “Unless you don’t want to do it, or you don’t want me to do it, which is absolutely fine in both cases,” you muttered, suddenly unsure, only to be met with a cackle.

“Eh, I’ve done worse,” Viktor shot you an innocent look and laughed again upon seeing your feigned shocked face. “Just please, don’t kiss Jayce with a tongue if you get to it.”

“Oh, no worries,” you said, brushing hair away from his forehead and kissing his cheek. “Just please, do kiss Jayce with a tongue if you get to it,” you whispered into his ear and chuckled, watching a red blush rapidly creep up his neck.

One of the rules invented along the way was that everyone had to be at least two drinks deep to start. So the first part of the afternoon passed between jokes and snickering at each other, while Sue complained about Alice not being around. Come as it may, the initial originator was the last one to down her glass, and it only happened under Hale’s hastening comments.

“Alright, calm down! Jesus, and I thought I had a problem,” Sue rolled her eyes, drinking the remnants of a disgustingly warm cocktail of vodka and Coke. “The youngest starts?”

Met with shrugs, she sat up on her ankles and gave the first spin. Six held breaths and approximately two seconds later, the bottle neck pointed at Mel, and Jayce couldn’t help a quiet “yes” slipping from his mouth. He immediately covered it with his hand and let out an awkward cough, but Mel noticed.

“I hope you’re happy that I’m kissing your girlfriend—not because I’m not kissing you,” Sue deadpanned, giving him a bored glance. But Jayce was already nodding at the first part, so all was good.

“Alright, let’s break some ice.” Mel smiled at Sue, propped herself on one hand, the other reaching for Sue’s chin, and pressed a loud, affectionate peck to her lips. “Any notes?” she asked, still holding Sue by the jaw.

Sue blinked, gulped, and chuckled awkwardly. “No notes.”

The group laughed, and Jayce looked so overjoyed, Mel had to elbow his ribs to make him stop grinning. “Get a hold of yourself, we’re just starting.”

Jayce muttered a quiet apology but kept giggling all the way through—until Mel’s spin landed on Viktor. She gave him a questioning look, which bounced off him and landed on you.

“Uh, okay? I mean, no notes?” You were actually fascinated by how this was going to go, so you really had no objections. And Viktor seemed unbothered enough. Mel’s eyes turned to Jayce, who was clearly calculating something in his head.

“Honey?” Mel prompted, and Jayce shook his head.

“Are you kidding? Make him squirm, baby.” He patted her thigh and shot a dark, devilish grin toward Viktor, making him clasp a hand to his forehead.

Mel nodded and stood, her legs already a bit wobbly from the alcohol. She stepped through the middle of the cursed circle and crouched beside Viktor, who was leaning against the couch with his legs spread behind you. She cupped his face and pressed her mouth to his. Timid at first—but Viktor wouldn’t lose this duel. No hands involved on his side, he simply leaned into the kiss and swept his tongue across Mel’s lip, giving her a gentle nib. She gasped and withdrew, still holding his face.

“Not bad,” she said, trying to sound unbothered, but it came out too breathy.

Viktor smiled. “I know. And who’s squirming now, Jayce?” he shot back.

Jayce raised his hands in defeat. The only one squirming was him.

You watched the entire scene, utterly bewildered, and wondered if this was what it looked like when Viktor was kissing you. Not bad, indeed.

You didn’t have to wonder for long, because Viktor’s spin landed on you. The way his lips clashed against yours—complete with gross moans and smacking sounds—made Sue look away. His hands had already found your waist before you even glanced away from the bottle, pulling you in, making a clear point of how much he was going to be holding back with everyone else.

“Am I your favourite or something?” you grinned when he finally pulled away.

“Something like that,” he muttered, ignoring the outraged whines in the background. “Seems like it’s your turn?”

It was. And when you spun—reluctantly, because Viktor’s kiss had already made your evening—the neck pointed at Jayce.

“You’re lucky I’m not a vengeful prick,” Jayce smirked at Viktor before crawling toward you on all fours and planting three loud, innocent pecks on your mouth. You burst out laughing on the third one, and Jayce added another, this time on your nose, just for good measure.

Breaths were held again when Jayce’s spin landed on Hale, who tucked an imaginary strand of hair behind his ear, playing coy.

“Mr. Tallis. I thought you’d never ask,” he batted his eyelashes. “Unless… you still get to veto, I’ll remind you.”

“Bollocks, no way!” Jayce exclaimed, visibly offended, but he didn’t move from his spot. “Mel, any objections?” He turned to his girlfriend, who just patted his cheek and sang, “I’d sooner die than veto this, honey.”

Jayce shrugged, waiting for Hale to make the next move. Hale shook his head and rose to his feet. “I see, you’ll make me do all the work,” he mused, stepping carefully between the mess of legs and glasses. He knelt next to Jayce, cupped his face, and hummed, “Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle with you,” earning himself wild howls from everyone and an obscene red blush on Jayce’s cheeks.

And when they finally kissed, the group fell silent. Hale took a deep breath and pressed Jayce’s face into his as if he were his long-lost lover—ever the showman. Jayce allowed himself to be kissed, Mel allowed her boyfriend to be kissed, and both you and Viktor watched with wide eyes, chins propped on your hands. Sue peeked through her fingers, holding back squeals.

It lasted for an eternity before Hale finally disconnected his mouth (and tongue) from Jayce’s, and Jayce whimpered—then immediately clapped a hand over his mouth.

“Mr. Tallis, you are delectable,” Hale declared, caressing Jayce’s cheek and glancing discreetly at Mel, just to check if she minded. She didn’t. He moved back to his spot gracefully, leaving Jayce stunned and red all the way from his neck to the tips of his ears.

“And who, I wonder, will be next?” he mused, twisting the bottle, clearly pleased with his performance.

You almost yelled an undignified “yes” when his spin pointed at Viktor. And Viktor’s breath hitched.

“Shit,” he muttered, scratching the nape of his neck. Jayce giggled, delighted that karma had arrived so swiftly.

“Veto?” Hale asked, his tone challenging.

That was enough for Viktor to recompose himself and smirk. “Never. Show me what you’ve got.”

With the same deliberate movement as before, Hale stood, crossed the circle, and knelt next to Viktor. This time, he brushed his thumb over Viktor’s lip instead of cupping his face. And Viktor waited.

Until Hale’s mouth touched his.

That was when Viktor cupped Hale’s face and pulled him closer. The kiss was slow, hot, with tongue and all. Their noses pressed together, mouths smacking, teeth grazing each other’s lips. And watching two of your favourite boys kiss as if they were alone in the room made you clench your thighs together. Ugh, that’s new.

Before Hale could pull away, Viktor bit his lip, earning a low, guttural chuckle.

Hale took a deep breath and glanced over at Mel. “I second Miss Medarda. Not bad.” He stood, brushing his hand against Viktor’s cheek. “Though if I were to pick… Jayce, you are my favourite.” He smiled with all of his teeth and sent a wink in Jayce’s direction.

Poor Jayce had just gotten rid of his blush, and it came rushing back.

You sat with your eyes glued to Viktor’s lips, your own mouth hanging open. When he noticed, he shot you a glance.

“What?”

“N-nothing,” you stuttered, blushing. Thank fucking God everyone was a deep shade of red—save for Mel, who somehow managed to keep her dignity intact, idly playing with Jayce’s hair, a happy smile dancing on her lips.

When Viktor spun again, it took all the remnants of your composure not to throw yourself back onto the floor screaming.

It fucking pointed at Jayce.

And it was both heaven and hell for you.

They both laughed, shoulders shaking, hands clasped to their foreheads.

“Should we veto?” Jayce asked. “I’m not sure the girls will survive this,” he wheezed, glancing at your pained expression.

Viktor seized the opportunity and pressed a small peck to your temple. “Don’t worry, lásko, you are my favourite,” he barely breathed in between laughs—right as you smacked his chest.

Then, without further ado, he just went ahead and kissed Jayce.

And it wasn’t as hot as either of them with Hale, but when your eyes met Mel’s across the room, you knew you were both thinking the exact same thing.

Viktor and Jayce kissed like people who had already kissed in the past.

And for some weird reason, it made your stomach flutter.

No introductions, no hesitation—just tongues dancing and chests pressed together. Jayce’s hands in Viktor’s hair. Viktor’s hands on Jayce’s waist. Hot.

After another round of unhinged chuckles and drinks, you were all drunk enough to just keep playing until everyone had been evenly kissed. Lucky Sue got to kiss everyone—sometimes more than once—so when Viktor, by now thoroughly intoxicated, asked if she had any special requests for him, she clamped a hand over his mouth and yelled, “Veto!”

By the time the alcohol had run dry, and everyone was kissed out, you helped Viktor scramble up from the floor and passed him his cane with a smirk. The group exchanged warm goodbyes, swearing on your lives never to speak of this night again before heading off in different directions.

You followed Viktor to his room without a word, trotting obediently behind him. Seeing your red face, he cast you a sideways glance.

“Haven’t you had enough for one evening?”

“Please, don’t tease me—I am barely holding it together,” you let out a breathy chuckle and wrapped your arms around Viktor’s waist, utterly defeated. “I think I like watching you kiss boys, Viktor,” you whispered into his ear, wincing at your own embarrassment.

“Oh? Well, I like watching you kiss girls, I must admit. But I generally like watching you… doing whatever,” he smirked, sweeping his tongue across your mouth. “Would you like to… explore the topic further?”

“Maybe. But ask me when I’m sober,” you quipped, covering your face with your hand. “For now, all I want to explore is you.”

Viktor didn’t need to be told twice. He jingled the keys to his room in front of your eyes and hastily unlocked the door.

[stormtide-leviathan]

i love making ttrpg characters that are so fucked up

[breathingsong]

every song is about ellie from the last of us to me now

[jesusinstilettos]

I’m about to save you thousands of dollars in therapy by teaching you what I learned paying thousands of dollars for therapy:

It may sound woo woo but it’s an important skill capitalism and hyper individualism have robbed us of as human beings.

Learn to process your emotions. It will improve your mental health and quality of life. Emotions serve a biological purpose, they aren’t just things that happen for no reason.

1. Pause and notice you’re having a big feeling or reaching for a distraction to maybe avoid a feeling. Notice what triggered the feeling or need for a distraction without judgement. Just note that it’s there. Don’t label it as good or bad.

2. Find it in your body. Where do you feel it? Your chest? Your head? Your stomach? Does it feel like a weight everywhere? Does it feel like you’re vibrating? Does it feel like you’re numb all over?

3. Name the feeling. Look up an emotion chart if you need to. Find the feeling that resonates the most with what you’re feeling. Is it disappointment? Heartbreak? Anxiety? Anger? Humiliation?

4. Validate the feeling. Sometimes feelings misfire or are disproportionately big, but they’re still valid. You don’t have to justify what you’re feeling, it’s just valid. Tell yourself “yeah it makes sense that you feel that right now.” Or something as simple as “I hear you.” For example: If I get really big feelings of humiliation when I lose at a game of chess, the feeling may not be necessary, but it is valid and makes sense if I grew up with parents who berated me every time I did something wrong. So I could say “Yeah I understand why we are feeling that way given how we were treated growing up. That’s valid.”

5. Do something with your body that’s not a mental distraction from the feeling. Something where you can still think. Go on a walk. Do something with your hands like art or crochet or baking. Journal. Clean a room. Figure out what works best for you.

6. Repeat, it takes practice but is a skill you can learn :)

[fwoosheye]

Good grief if you're younger than Minecraft you shouldn't even have any social media yet. Y'all should be out there and develop social skills and learn how to interact with people irl and stuff. Internet manners ≠ irl manners

imagining a ten year old seeing this tweet and going “damn… i can’t retweet it” before walking away sadly and kicking a can

[popculturealchemy]

spiders . black . . . 50 shades basement . . might not know not . . sticky . . temperature difference . . . regulation . . . uncanney valley rods and cones metapore coagulating differently . . . biting not knowing what that means . . eating prey feels good. . . sticking to walls feels good. . . not knowing up from down feels good. . . . a different temperature . . . predicting the future of flies . . . . flies spawing . . . out of the ass of my dog. . . . Immediately in the city. . . . not a fly in sight till now. gravel only . .. . a gap in the earths core. . . . . cold temp . regulating . . . eyes adapting . . . using gravity differently . . . the moon . . . chaser . . gravity giver . . false rep of the moon . confusing us . virgin moon . . untouchable magnet marbell. north star . moon like similar maybe . pushing effect . . . sun . . . pulling effect . . . ripping time . . . In the well . . . In the coolness . . not needing light vision . . cats eyes hurting . . . cat eyes . . seeing it first. . from the treeing it coming from miles away. atop the masses . . like the sasquatch . . Its there . a bear . . on a branch while it happened. . . a bing boing. . . a slinky duct taped to a rubber ball. bounced around .

flapping wing

ugly sightls

.

.

rods and cones mashed together.

.

Ignoring nose in my field of vision

.

.

spiders crawling on my skin

ffeeling anxious

.

.

feeling like a black widow

.

.

like my grandma

.

.

setting traps.

.

.

predicting future to survive.

.

.

comfy bed

.

.

poor vision

.

extra demention.

.

.

loving in touching

.

.

water being close to water.

.

.

living in water

.

.

finding that balance.

.

maybe thats better.

.

trying new things

.

.

bioshock

.

snowflake

.

.

driving by iceburgs..

.

.

what a magnet.

.

.

undertog

tow

.

massive

.

.

Idk

.

.

underwater in the dark

.

.

.

In known properties

.

.

rods and cones bending light.

.so much

.

.

affecting outcomes

.

.

quantum something

.

.

.

kissing matters

keeping it simple

.

.

.

letting them know how you feel

.

tldr.

ending