#this is Harper the blue one from what makes you beautiful

[meymey-draws]

Saw this on Twitter and I needed to draw one battle mode coaches lol (Also inspired by @vocalaar, they did it first!)

[giuliettagaltieri]

Shower of Gold

Pairing: Dad!Coriolanus Snow x Mom!Reader

Chapter Synopsis: The Mother

Warning: warming up to parenthood

Word Count: 2874

6 of 7

When Aurelius Hyperion Swansworth-Snow was born, Coriolanus’ world just got a whole lot bigger.

He never thought he could love another the same as he loved you.  But he did.

Little Harper, as you would call him, looked exactly like his father.  The same golden curls and piercing blue eyes.  His cheeks were fat and pink as he babbled.

And just like his father, Little Harper loved you very much.

You have never been without Harper.  To the point that it often puts a strain on the intimate relationship you had with your husband.  But one pointed stare from you would let Coriolanus loosen his possessive hold on your waist, often looking like a kicked puppy as he sulks the entire night, sleeping with his back turned to you.

But with a wet kiss and a chubby hand slapping his cheek awake in the mornings, his brooding dissipates and he gladly accepts his little boy’s affections.

“Good morning, daddy.”  You say as your son claps his hands excitedly.

Coriolanus blinks his eyes as he looks at you, the sleepy fog is yet to leave his head but it does not stop him from seeing just how beautiful you are.  You are still in your sleeping gown, your hair disheveled, and your eyes still droop with sleepiness.  He believes it was at moments like this when he loves you the most.  When his mind is empty and your smiling face is the first thing that enters his head.

“Good morning.”  He drawls and he turns to his son who was nibbling at his deltoid that was the size of the kid’s head.  He looks at the string of saliva that webbed on his arm.  “That’s unsanitary.”

You scoff at your husband, cooing at your baby the next second.  “He just misses his daddy.  Don’t you, Harper?”

Harper looks at you curiously, bringing his chubby fist to his mouth.  You lay your head to Coriolanus’ chest as you coo at him.  Harper was unsure what you were doing but the happiness on your face brought forth a toothless smile from him.

He receives a smooch to his cheek from you and absentmindedly, Coriolanus puts his large hands to your baby’s face.

Your baby’s eyes cross as he keeps his eyes on your husband’s enormous hand.

Before you can ask what he is doing, Coriolanus gently pushes him down to the pillow that supports his back. 

You shriek in mortification, your baby blinks at the ceiling, not quite processing what has happened.  You swat at your husband’s chest as you get up to help your son to sit back up.

“I am so sorry, baby.  Daddy’s such a horrible man, isn’t he?”  You coo to your baby who is yet unsure whether he should be laughing or crying.  “Daddy, you bully!”  You accuse him as you pat your baby’s leg gently.

He only looks at you blankly, making you sigh and lean down to plant a kiss to his awaiting lips.  He always gets so cranky in the early mornings.

“Now, get up.”  You say as you rub his chest.  Coriolanus grunts as he gets out of bed, stretching like a cat as he yawns.  He ruffles Harper’s blonde curls before leaving you to take a shower.

He was already halfway through his coffee when you arrived with Harper now freshly bathed.

Coriolanus looks at Harper as you place him on the high chair. 

“We have a meeting today.”  Coriolanus reminds you as he keeps his eyes trained on his son.

You nod.  “Yes, I studied the report last night.”

“Harper?”  He sips his coffee as he reads the recent reports about the new District 12 mayor.

You chuckle knowingly as you nuzzle your nose against Harper’s.  “Little Harper’s coming with mommy, of course.”  He giggled as his fingers were quick to grab at your clothes.

Coriolanus smiles in his seat after he stole a glance at you.

“One wail and he’s out.”

“Oh, honestly!”  You have taken offense for your boy but Coriolanus challenges you with his own stern gaze.  “So mean.”  You mutter as you start feeding Harper with baby food.

Your husband puts the papers away and starts his breakfast.  “I just did not want you to look unprofessional.” 

“Corio?”

“Hm?”

“Shut up.”

His eyes narrow before he returns to his breakfast.

A scowl was painted on your face the entire breakfast and you refused to talk to him anymore.  Responding with nods and silence to his attempt to start another conversation.

Coriolanus knows that he might have offended you deeply.

“Are you ready?”  He asks as you wipe Harper’s face with the bib.

You respond by getting up and scooping your son in your arms, your chin raised as you carry yourself with elegance.  The baby bag was waiting to be picked up by you in the corner but Coriolanus beats you to it.

He walks ahead of you, the baby bag slung on his shoulder and his briefcase on his other hand.  You quietly follow him, not acknowledging him when he opens the doors for you, one leading out of your mansion and the other to your car.

Coriolanus waits by the backseat, just next to Harper’s car seat.  He had to pick it personally.  It was heavily padded, bulky enough to put you at ease, knowing that your baby will be protected should anything happen.

“I’ll strap him in.”  He offers as he fixes the aviators resting on his nose as he looks past your head.

Coriolanus is a proud man, you understand this is his way of apologizing.

You kiss Harper’s nose and you place him in your husband’s secure hold.

In the meantime, you buckle yourself in the passenger seat.

Coriolanus soon joins you in front and he starts the car after securing his seatbelt.

The silence was loud, had it not been for Harper’s babbles, you would have been tempted to turn the radio on.  You choose to review your itinerary for the day when a warm hand sneaks to your thigh and you feel Coriolanus’ thumb brushing it in a soothing manner.

“Apologize properly.”  You quip.

“Y/N please.”  He says tiredly.

“No.  I want you to say you are sorry.”

He wets his lips with his tongue and his jaw tightens as he keeps his eyes on the road, the leather cladding the wheel creaks under his grip.

When he refuses to do it, you return to your schedule.

“I’m sorry.”

You keep your eyes on the piece of paper attached to your planner and your husband groans as he leans back in his chair, his head resting on the support. 

“I’m sorry for antagonizing our son.”  He squeezes your thigh.  “And for insulting you.  I know you are more than capable in balancing both your duties to Panem and our family.”

Finally, your rouge painted lips spread to a small smile.

“You are forgiven.”  You place your hand over his.  The glint of the rings on your finger easing his anxiousness a bit more.

Harper yaps and Coriolanus grins.  “Yes, I know.  I’m sorry, I’m not stealing mommy.”

You press a knuckle to your lips, not wanting to laugh as your son takes quick offense in being left out.  You try to keep your voice down as you turn to your husband.  “I’ll make time for us later, I promise.”

He brings your hand to his lips to kiss and quickly lets you go as Harper yaps angrily.

The moment you enter the presidential mansion, one you use only for official business, Harper understands that he cannot be fussy anymore.  He was seated on your lap, nibbling on a fruit pacifier as a man talked while pointing at the bright square behind him.  The moving objects greatly entertained the baby on your lap.

Harper recognizes your voice and looks up.  He pulls the pacifier from his mouth when your tone sharpens.  The boy’s blond crinkle together as his lips jut out when the unknown man responds to you with anger.

The other people in the room also seem to be angry at the person standing and Harper leans back on your stomach knowing that his mommy is not alone.  But the man is suddenly pointing at you and to him, the poor innocent boy.  Harper grunts and looks at his father angrily.

“Da!”

Coriolanus, who was leaning to the side with his legs crossed, looked at his son.  He brings a finger to his lips and Harper huffs.

“You are failing to see things objectively.”  Coriolanus says to the man who was starting to sweat under the disapproving eyes of everyone present in the room.  “The Lady did not dismiss your idea because she was biased to infants.  Your idea was dismissed as administering a vaccine to the younger population of Panem without having it thoroughly tested could be catastrophic.  We are talking about large scale mortality.”

The man laughs and Harper presses himself closer to you, disturbed by the behavior.

“Why do you care, Mister President?  They’re just Districts!”

Coriolanus nods, finally understanding the argument of this man.  He had suspicions but he wanted the man to say it. 

“Districts.”  Coriolanus grins sardonically.  “Do you plan to instigate a second rebellion?”

The man is tongue-tied, he makes wild gestures but fails to keep his argument.  “Exaggeration.”  He laughs nervously.

“When their children start dying off, will they not fight back?”  Coriolanus asks.  “And a rebellion does not happen overnight.”  He adds.  “It is because of the piling up missteps made by men like you.”  Harper slams his chubby hand on the desk to show he is on his father’s side.  “Thank you, Harper.  And who will suffer when that happens?”

The man looks at his feet in shame.  The backlash could be severe.  The crops and livestock sent to the Capitol could be poisoned.  The Capitol could be powered down when all the system shuts off.

Countless possibilities and consequences could take place after one wrong decision.

“But I understand that this vaccine is important.”  Coriolanus sighs.  “Send it back to the lab.  Study it further for possible adverse reactions.  I will not give the greenlight until you are able to tell me the mechanism of action of this vaccine without looking at your notes.”

As the men file out of the room, you sit Harper on the hard wood table as you clean up your desk.  “I cannot believe the cabinet let this man reach your office.  He was unprepared.”  You say and Harper continues to chew on his pacifier, the crushed cherries inside needs replacing.

Coriolanus agrees with you and scoops Harper off the table, the little boy draws his arms and chin over his father’s shoulder to check if you are close by.  “Shall we go, my love?”

You nod and you stand on your tippy toes to press a kiss on Harper’s cheek as you lean on Coriolanus for support.

The next event is the annual summit, where Coriolanus is expected to give a speech involving the latest reports and advancements made by Panem’s Capitol based research facility and what plans lie ahead. 

In the ceremony, the Lady Justice was often a symbolic figure that was ever present.  Only this time, a sword seems to have gone missing in the smaller statue that is kept in the Presidential mansion’s reception hall.

“This is a disgrace.”  Your husband tells the staff who were in charge of the events.  “How could something so essential be misplaced?”

Harper was getting fussy in your arms at the sight of his father so agitated.

It seemed rather insignificant but having it missing is a blatant display of disrespect.

Your mind races for possible solutions.

You can talk to the media to cut the view of the Lady Justice.

Or perhaps you can have the entire statue be carried out of the room, no that would cause too much commotion.

And then it hits you.

“Corio.”  You call and he reluctantly heads your way.  “The sword in your office.” 

Harper pulls at Coriolanus’ tie and nibbles.  Your husband gently pulls the fabric, ignoring the wet stain as he processes your words.

“I think it might be the perfect size.”  He rubs his chin.  “I’ll go send someone to get it.”

You put a firm hand on his chest and he pauses.

“Harper and I will come get it.”  You smile at him reassuringly.  “It’s only a few floors up.  And the peacekeepers stationed in your office will let me through and out with no hitches.”

Coriolanus wanted to protest but you were right.

You would be most efficient for the task.

“I can watch Harper.”  He offers but you shake your head.

“Relax for now.  Harper is going to help mommy get the sword.”

Coriolanus smiles tiredly and he presses his forehead against yours, his large hand placed on Harper’s back protectively.

“Da.”  Harper calls and Coriolanus chuckles and snaps his fingers, an Avox places a pair of aviators to his hands, one he previously wore, and he puts it on Harper.  

You often do this when you expect a lot of camera flashes.  You would hate to overwhelm your baby.

“Still can’t believe that’s his first word when he’s such a momma’s boy.”  Your husband says, making you smile affectionately.

You give him one last look before you rush out of the room with Harper in your arms.  Camera flashes from the reporters follow after you.

The guests are already arriving and the main media companies are setting up their equipment.  You have no time to lose.

Harper was such a good kid, not fussing as he clung to you when you rushed to the office of your dear husband.

As expected, the peacekeepers stationed outside the doors let you through without even asking about your business to be in the office.

You easily spot the sword on the side.  It hasn’t been removed from the position you first saw it in back at the inauguration of Coriolanus as President.

“You beauty.”  You smile as you easily grab it from the bracket mounted on the wall.  Harper made an attempt to touch it but you were quick enough to pull it away from him.  “This is dangerous, sweetheart.”  You easily slip it inside the scabbard as you refuse to take any chances for Harper.

The peacekeepers stationed outside the presidential office were oriented about what happened and gladly reopened the door for you and Harper.

People moved out of the way as they saw the sword on your hand and the baby on the other.  You have your chin held high as you enter the hall.  Coriolanus stopped mid sentence while talking to Strabo Plinth at the sight of you.

“Oh, good Heavens!”  Mrs. Plinth exclaims and approaches you with concern.  You looked rather dangerous with the enormous weapon in your hand.  Harper smiles brightly when he sees her and he raises his arms, wanting to be picked up by the woman.  Mrs. Plinth cups her mouth, touched by the little boy’s behavior.  You gladly hand her your son.

Grandmotherhood is a privilege stolen from her.

Mr. Plinth was smiling at you when you approached him and your husband.

“She saves the day.”  He tells Coriolanus who nods with a proud look in his eyes. 

You give Coriolanus the sword and he steps on the ladders to place the sword on the empty hand of the Lady Justice.

“Justice is restored.”  The former President, Maximinius Ravinstill, claps his hand and the rest of the crowd rises from their seats to applaud you and Coriolanus.  Justice was not something that could have easily been lost after the disappearance of a sword but The Lady Justice was an important symbolic figure not just to Corso but to Panem.

That night, you are in your shared bedroom.  You are resting your back on the headboard, your tired back being cushioned by enormously large pillows while your son has fallen asleep from nursing on your ample bosom.

You are humming a soft tune, your feet moving to the melody when Coriolanus enters.  He is yet to change his clothing as he was still in his dress pants and shirt that has a few buttons undone.

“Your grand entrance overshadowed the event.”  He grins as he shows you the paper.  There in the headlines, a picture of you with Harper held on one arm and sword on the other.

“Oh, Corio.”  You frown apologetically.  “I am sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.”  He scoffs, the smile remaining on his face.  “Everybody loved it!  They forgave the errors I mentioned as they were so enamored by you.”

You are not certain how to respond but he shows you the photo once more.

“Look at Harper.”  He says excitedly.  “Grandma’am sent a photo of mine when I was still a toddler and he looks exactly just like me.”

You are not certain if Coriolanus was aware of the smitten look on his face but you dare not point it out as you listen to him talk about the photos and Harper.

Coriolanus might act indifferent to his son at times but he cannot deny the fact that Harper has him wrapped around his chubby little finger.

Quest for Happiness

News Article

More on Harper's name in the comments

[0xstarzx0]

DARK RED

Rafe Cameron S3x Reader

CLOSE COMMAND

[English is not my native language❗️❗️]

SYNOPSIS: Rafe found you and he’s planning on keeping it with him forever.

TW: toxic behavior, manipulation, control manipulation, threats, violence mentions, victim’s reprimand. !The reader is considered a weak-minded person, which explains her behavior towards Rafe! Mention of abortion. Insult

______________________________________________- [PT2]

6YEARS LATERS 

You watched your sons play happily in the streets of Chicago. You no longer lived as a kook, but you were happy with your children.

Music echoed through the streets as the boys were with their friends while you sunbathed peacefully.

"Mom, look what I can do!" said Elijah, making animal shadows with his hands.

You laughed and applauded, Dean coming to sit next to you.

Dean and Elijah are twin brothers.

Dean physically resembles you a lot. His eyes are just a little lighter than yours and his hair is not as wavy as yours.

Elijah strongly resembles Rafe, with the same hair, eye color, complexion, smile, EVERYTHING.

But in terms of character, they are completely different. Elijah inherited your character, while Dean has Rafe's character.

They are too young for you to say which one reminds you more of Rafe, but either way, you do your best to make sure they don’t become like him.

"When is Harper coming?" asks Dean with hint of frustration in his sad expression.

"She's coming at six-" Dean cuts you off. "How late is she staying with us?" You shrug your shoulders.

Tonight, you're working as a waitress for a high-end event in the north side of Chicago. You don't know what time you'll be home as these events can go on sometimes until three in the morning.

"I don't know Dean, but I'll make sure to come home as soon as possible," you say, gently stroking his hair.

"You always say that, but you come back super late!" The little blond puts his head against your shoulder.

It pains you to hear that because it’s true; sometimes in order to make sure you can make ends meet, you find yourself working overtime.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart," Dean hugs you with his little arms. "I love you, mom." You stroke his back. "I love you too, baby."

✯

The event had been going on for over an hour now, and the floors in the luxurious hotel where you were at began to fill up.

You stood up straight and tried to be as pleasant as possible. The atmosphere is enjoyable for the guests.

Each of them flaunts their wealth or talks about business. You recall the parties of this kind you used to attend with your family.

None of them were missed by you, you greet a woman as she starts talking to you.

She's quite attractive, with her medium-length black hair and her brown almond-shaped eyes. She acts as if you were the best friends in the world.

However, she doesn't do anything except talk about her life, there’s no coherence in what she’s saying, but you say nothing.

You hope to get at least a tip of $150 at this point.

She looks away from your eyes for a moment to look over your shoulder and smile. She waves her hand, probably attracting someone.

You begin to turn around to leave when you freeze. Bad memories come back one by one to the surface. Your heart beats so loudly in your ears that you can no longer hear.

You apologize and head to the bar, setting down your tray and run to the bathrooms. Rafe was there, he was right in front of you.

He still looks as charismatic and threatening as before. You walk to the sink and splash some water on your face.

And if he had recognized me? Will he make me pay? Will he be angry that I've deprived him of his children for so long? No, impossible that he’s recognized me.

You lift your head and find yourself face to face with him in the mirror. A satisfied smile on his face. You swallow hard and look at him.

His blue eyes are still as beautiful as ever, his shaved hair gives him a charm.

"It's been a long time." He says, locking the door. He advances, and you back away.

He straightens his tie and looks at himself in the mirror. "How's my child?"

You freeze in fear, the stress is at its peak. "I had an abortion." You gasp for air. He chuckles and looks at you. "You ran away just to have an abortion?"

You look at him angrily. "What do you want Rafe?" You tremble and he finally looks at you. "I know my children are somewhere in the streets of Chicago. Judging by your appearance, they must be in the South Side."

"Fuck off, Rafe!" You yell at him in anger. Rafe comes closer and looks at you with anger. "There are people who have disappeared for less than that Y/N. I suggest you lower your damn tone."

Rafe leans forward and tilts his head slightly. "I missed you." He tucks a strand of your hair behind your ear. You shudder at his touch.

"You broke my heart by leaving. How could you do this to me after everything I did for you." He grabs your chin and forces you to look at him.

There was a time when you would have apologized on your knees, but not anymore. "You were violentwith me."

He shrugs nonchalantly. "That happens in every relationship, it’s nothing serious." You look at him, shocked.

"How did you call them?" He asks, folding his arms across his chest. You furrow your brows. "What?..." he massages his temples. "The twins, what have you named them?" You tremble, how does he know?

"I don’t know what you mean." Rafe sighs loudly. "Do you really think I’m here by accident?" You frown, he takes out his phone and unlocks it.

He puts it on the sink, for the past five months he'd known where you live, your job, your friends, and most importantly, where his children were.

"I don’t blame you for leaving, Y/N, I’ve spent every day for the past six years thinking about you and the kids." He grabs your chin and forces you to look him in the eyes.

"I’m going to change, I promise, just give me one more chance to show you how I can be a good father for our kids." He caresses your cheek. "For our family."

You would like to scream at him, tell him to leave, but Rafe isn’t stupid. He knows that you won’t because you feel too guilty that the twins don’t have a father.

"Alright..." You say, looking into his eyes. "One and last chance." Rafe smiles and kisses your forehead. "Promise."

Rafe hugs you tightly and gently runs his fingers through your hair.

Rafe knew you were going to say yes, he was sure of it, and anyway, if you had refused, he would have made sure you wouldn’t be allowed near the children anymore.

Having money works that way.

Rafe knows it will take some time for you to no longer be afraid of him, but he will wait because that is what soulmates do. 

They always forgive their other half.

______________________________________________

Hello everyone!

And yes, after several months without news about this fan fiction, I finally write the end!

I'm sorry if the end hasn't pleased you, I don't like it too much either but I tried to do what I wanted the most. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask them to me in private or in request, I'll answer with pleasure <3

taglist 🏷️ :

@rafemotherfuckingcameron @macchili18 @devotedlyelectronicartisan @julesandro

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[fagfictions]

National Anthem

Every 4th of July, the Wayne throw an infamous annual independence day party. This seemed out of character for them, especially since they weren't really known for being a patriotic family both as civilians and as capes. However, without a miss, the Wayne family threw an exclusive party every year, thus rendering them unavailable for the rest of the day.

If you find yourself in attendance of this infamous 4th of July party, you'll be met with very generic decorations as sparse red, blues and white were found in some room - decorations not fitting of those in the same caliber as the Waynes. There was not grandeur or splendor found in the way the party was decorated, yet nobody seemed to mind as the main event of the party has yet to unfold.

If you were to spot the Wayne family butler, he would give off a resigned sigh, and explain that this was how his masters liked it - which vindicated the last minute borderline sloppy supermarket decorations that littered the halls of the grand estate.

Once you finally find everybody, don't be shocked if all you'll be met was a congregation of men around a swimming pool while a lone Timothy Drake wearing a white bikini, splashed around in the pool. It would be jarring to see a barely legal boy be shamelessly ogled by almost all the men in his life, yet one can't deny the absolute joy found in his face as he showed all his Bruce's friends his tricks.

"You're here to celebrate America's Independence Day?" A new guest asked older guest.

"Certainly." Ra's brushed him off, eyes not leaving the exposed pale expanses of the sweet boy in the pool.

One year, Jason decided to join Tim in the pool, much to the dismay of the other guests. However, once Jason convinced Tim to play wrestle with him, which led to Tim's bikini top coming off after their roughhousing, everyone seemed to be okay with the idea.

After Tim inevitably tires out, he goes into his room to change, leaving some time for guests to go grab a bite. This grace period was usually the only time where guest can finally interact and catch up with one another.

When Tim finally comes down, he's dressed in tacky outfit of short shorts and an skimpy American flag tank top that barely covered his little tits. Usually, Tim wouldn't get caught dead in such a dreadful outfit, but it's all in the spirit of celebration. Or at least that's what Dick tells him as he helped Tim get cleaned up and dressed upstairs.

Tim usually then shares a vegan hotdog with Damian since he didn't want him feeling left out with everyone eating grilled meat. If that involves sharing a hotdog every single time instead of having their own and Damian slowly hand-feeding it to Tim, nobody seemed to mind. Call it whatever you want, but it's definitely a step up from actively killing each other all those years ago.

When the sky finally turns dark, make sure you leave some space in your lap as you may get the lucky chance of having the sweet boy in your lap. Tim who was usually now tipsy off mimosas, will climb into the lap of one of the guest, and stay there for the entire evening. There was no discernable pattern on who Tim chose, one year it was Commissioner Gordon as he nestled into his hairy dad-bod body, the next year, it was Roy Harper as he settled into that hard ginger body as Roy shameless started groping his little tits the moment he sat down. Last year, it was Clark Kent, despite Tim ignoring him all day.

As everyone settled in their lawn chairs, they could see Tim's slightly swaying body moving around the chairs, only for him to plant himself on top of Bruce Wayne's lap.

"Hi, B." Tim giggled as he looked up at his mentor.

"Hello, Ducky." Bruce greets back with the same enthusiasm.

When the fireworks show begins, you'll be able to finally enjoy the sweet boy in your lap - and that's what Bruce exactly did as he devoured Tim underneath the beautiful night of fireworks.

Everyone could only look in disappointment as Bruce reaped the benefits this year, maybe, they'd have better luck next year.

God Bless, Timothy Drake 🫡

[iboatedhere]

could I please get "heart shaped sunglasses" as a prompt? I love canon but if there's an AU that speaks to you I'd love that too

I went with a photographer/model AU.

—

Alex didn’t grow up thinking he wanted to be a photographer.

He cycled through dreams that almost every kid has—doctor, teacher, President of the United States, and astronaut. For a few weeks, when he was four, he thought seriously about becoming a T-rex.

When he was thirteen, he found an old camera in the attic that his father had left behind when he moved out.

He watched a half-dozen YouTube videos to figure out how to get it to work, then took a photography class in high school and got a position on the school paper, taking shots of football games and events around town.

He thought he looked cool, carrying around a vintage camera that used real film in the age of sleek digital devices and camera phones, and he was good at it. He received heaps of praise from his photography teacher, won awards in local contests, and even sold a few prints at farmer’s markets and craft fairs around Austin.

Alex majored in studio art in college, focusing on photography and media. He learned about color, composition, and lighting. He studied Ansel Adams, Dorthea Lange, Steve McCurry, and Robert Capa. He thought about becoming a war correspondent, embedding himself in the most volatile parts of the globe and reporting the truth through photographs—gritty, raw, and dangerous.

Where he ended up was someplace much softer.

–

Alex first saw Henry Fox on the glossy pages of one of June’s fashion magazines when he was twelve.

Vogue or Harper’s Bazaar. Maybe Cosmopolitan. He can’t remember. What he can remember is Henry Fox’s wide, blue eyes and golden hair. He remembers looking at the close-up photo of him for too long until June cleared her throat and met his startled gaze with raised brows.

He looked for Henry after that. Sneaking into June’s room or stealing the magazine straight from the mailbox when it was delivered. He’d bring it with him to the treehouse in the backyard and search.

Before Alex even had a word for it, most of the photos had felt exploitative. Henry, too young, around much older models. Odd poses and barely there clothing. Henry never looked happy. He never smiled. Alex would never photograph him like that. He never really thought about photographing him at all. Mostly, he just wanted to hang out with him. Maybe take him swimming at Barton Springs, to a baseball game in Round Rock, or ride their bikes together. He just wanted to make Henry smile.

Alex found out later that Henry’s father was a famous actor and his mother was a supermodel, making Henry one of the world’s biggest nepo-babies.

Maybe doors automatically opened for Henry. Maybe he has a trust fund or an inheritance and never has to work another day in his life. Alex is unsure of those things, but he is certain Henry is the most beautiful thing he has ever seen.

–

Alex lowers his camera as the art director flutters into the frame, tugging on the strap of Emily’s bikini top and sweeping Henry’s hair off his forehead.

“Perfect,” she says before waving in Alex’s direction. “Okay. Keep going.”

Alex rolls his eyes and lines up another shot.

He doesn't really know what the point of this shoot is. He guesses it’s supposed to be playful…a fun day by the pool where Henry has stolen her heart-shaped sunglasses and perched them on the top of his head while she’s taken his diamond-studded watch and is holding it against her throat like a necklace. But Emily’s bikini is practically see-through, Henry is wearing a pair of swim trunks that hide nothing, and Alex doesn’t understand what they’re trying to sell, aside from their bodies.

So goes the fashion industry.

“Did you get it?” Henry calls out to him without moving a muscle.

Alex blinks through the viewfinder. “What?”

“Did you get the shot?” He asks.

“Oh. Yeah. Probably.”

“Good,” Henry says, “my foot is beginning to cramp.”

He shifts, and Emily hops off his lap and into a robe a PA is holding while Henry stands up, stretches the arch of his foot, and accepts his own robe.

It’s all so fast and formal as if they didn’t just spend the last hour dry-humping each other by a pool at a mansion in Beverly Hills.

Alex isn’t sure if he could pull that off, being that close to either of them and acting like it’s no big deal. Things are easier behind the lens of a camera.

Alex busies himself by pulling the photos up on his laptop. He took nearly two hundred. At least one has to be good enough to go to print.

“May I see?”

Alex nods, and Henry steps into his space, pressing their shoulders together before Alex can make room.

“Christ,” Henry says as he peers at the screen. “Am I really that pale?”

“We can fix it in post?”

Henry hums. “Add it to the list,” he jokes, but it’s not funny at all.

Alex knows that no one is perfect, but he thinks the people he photographs—Henry especially—are about as close to the idea of it as possible. That won’t stop every photo he’s in from being scrutinized and edited to death. They’ll airbrush out the moles that dot across his ribs, the small half-moon scar by his left hip, and the line between his brows. Whatever they do to Henry, it’ll be ten times worse for Emily.

“You’re very good at this,” Henry tells him. It’s not the first time they’ve worked together, but it’s the first time Henry has complimented him.

“Thanks. You make it easy. I mean you guys—you two—you and Emily,” Alex flounders. “You look good.”

“Is it the sunglasses?” Henry asks as he reaches up and touches the thin, pink frames.

“Yes,” Alex answers. “They complete the look. Maybe they’ll let you keep them since they suit you so well.”

“I’ll be sure to ask,” Henry says, the barest hint of a smile on his face.

—

Unsurprisingly, it was June that helped him shape his view of fashion.

When he was younger, he’d point to the avant-garde looks in her magazines and genuinely ask who the hell would ever wear this?

“No one,” She’d tell him as she snatched the magazine away. “Sometimes clothes aren’t meant to be worn, they’re meant to be admired. It’s like how some people go to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa. Other people find their art in fashion magazines.”

He reminds himself of that each time he attends Fashion Week in London, Milan, or Paris. It’s an art exhibit; the models are living sculptures.

In the front row of the Dior show at Bryant Park, Alex thinks Henry makes a stunning canvas.

His hair is dyed dark brown, a near match to the cropped leather jacket he’s wearing, only half zipped, his chest bare. Alex watches his long legs in oversized wool shorts as they walk down the runway, where he stops at the end, poses, and then continues back. He looks down at Alex as he passes, tips his head up, and disappears backstage.

Only after he’s gone does Alex realize he didn’t get a single photo of him.

–

They let me keep the glasses, by the way.

Alex frowns down at his phone as he tries to parse out the Instagram DM that popped up on the screen.

He has two accounts—an official photography account and a smaller, more personal one, followed only by his family and friends. Alex knows he isn’t famous, not yet anyway, but he knows that people can get weirdly parasocial, and he’d rather not have to purge his main account a few years down the line.

This message, from a GEJames97, was sent to his personal account.

????? Alex sends back.

The ones from the shoot, the next message reads.

This is Henry.

Fox.

Alex’s frown deepens. Henry has an Instagram account. He has nearly four million followers and posts photos of his most recent campaigns at least twice a week. Not that Alex is keeping track.

Prove it, Alex says.

A few moments later, a photo of Henry Fox in the pink, heart-shaped glasses pops up.

Pez told me about this account. I hope that’s okay.

Pez…..???????

Percy Okonjo.

Percy Okonjo is an up-and-coming designer who is best friends with Henry. They have the entire fashion world buzzing with speculation that Henry will start working with Percy the second his contract with Dior ends.

Percy also was a guest editor for Vogue and had an undefined thing with June. Alex doesn’t know the details, and he’ll never ask for them, but it was enough that Percy followed Alex’s personal account.

How long are you in New York? Henry asks, and Alex feels his heart rate kick up.

Why do you think I’m still in New York?

Henry sends him a photo Alex posted earlier of a friendly Central Park squirrel eating a small piece of bagel out of his hand.

Until Sunday, Alex tells him. Why?

Doing anything tonight?

Alex blows out a breath.

Not yet.

Alex has only been at the bar for three minutes before Henry shows up. Alex appreciates the promptness, it gives him less time to be nervous.

“I’m sorry I’m late,” Henry says anyway, leaning in to press a kiss to Alex’s cheek that leaves Alex feeling untethered. “Traffic in Manhattan is insane.”

“It’s fine,” Alex says, “you’re good. You’re…” Alex trails off because Henry is beautiful in jeans, a t-shirt (that probably cost more than Alex’s hotel room bill), and a Yankees cap pulled low over his face.

“If you want to go someplace else–,” Alex starts.

“Why would I want to go someplace else?” Henry interrupts, raising his hand to wave down the bartender.

“I don’t know. I feel like this place isn’t your usual vibe.”

It’s not a dive by any means, but it’s certainly not the flashy restaurants and clubs Henry usually attends.

“A few months ago, Pez brought me to this place in Chinatown. We followed this woman down a narrow stairwell for what felt like forever, light flickering and water dripping from the ceiling. I would’ve phoned my sister to say goodbye, but I didn’t have cell service. If I can survive that, I can survive this.” He glances around the bar. “I don’t fear for my life at all here.”

“You’re in America,” Alex tells him. “You should kinda always be fearing for your life.”

Henry snorts. “I suppose that’s true, but I am enjoying myself.”

“You just got here.”

Henry shrugs. “Then maybe it’s the company.”

Alex ducks his head. “How long are you in the city for?”

“At least another two weeks,” Henry tells him. “I’ll have a good bit of downtime, but not enough to fly home between shoots. I’m trying to figure out ways to keep myself busy. Do you have any ideas?”

Alex has about a million. He’s been thinking about this since he was twelve years old.

“Have you ever actually been to a Yankees game?” Alex asks, and Henry shakes his head. “They’re in town if you wanna go.”

Henry smiles, big and bright, even in the murky lighting of the bar, and Alex feels like he’s suddenly accomplished everything he could ever want in life.

[mist-the-wannabe-linguist]

So, Pern has limited resources for writing materials, illiteracy is common among people and there is strong oral tradition. Aside from songs this also means the Pernese people should have many proverbs. I know there are already some canon ones, but to spice things up a little I tried to translate some Czech proverbs and sayings and adapt them to fit Pern, which turned out to be a pretty fun exercise. If you have ideas for your own, do share! If you'd like to use any of mine in fics and such, feel free!

Here goes:

"don't provoke a (tunnel) snake with your bare foot" - don't tempt fate

"no Master Harper has ever fallen from the sky" - orig. "no scholar has ever fallen from the sky", no one is born an expert; it's okay to make mistakes

"once in a Long Interval" - orig. "once in a Hungarian year", same as "once in a blue moon"

"to make a herdbeast a Masterfarmer" - orig. "to make a billy goat the gardener", to make someone manage a task they're woefully unqualified for

"every rider praises his own dragon"/"every feline praises its own spots" - orig. "every fox praises its own tail", people tend to emphasize the virtues of whatever is dear to them, or whatever they're trying to sell

"to wheedle a clutch out of a green" - orig. "to wheedle a calf out of a heifer", to be very convincing; to charm someone into doing absolutely anything

"Weaver, stick to your yarns" - orig. "shoemaker, stick to your last", you should stick to things you truly understand

"yeah, and then the Harpers sang for him"/"and now tell the one about a talking wherry" - orig. "and they said they sang for him"/"and now the one about Little Red Riding Hood", said when you don't believe anything someone's just told you

"one about a wagon, the other about dragon" - orig. "one about a goat, the other about a cart", when people talk about completely different things while thinking they're on the same note

"after Threadfall, everyone is a Weyrleader" - orig. "after battle, everyone is a general", it's easy to criticize things in hindsight, especially for unqualified people

"a Smith's runnerbeast walks barefoot" - orig. "a blacksmith's horse walks barefoot", those who craft/sell a particular thing often don't have enough of it for themselves

"so the dragon can eat and the herdbeast remains whole" - orig. "so the wolf can eat and the goat remains whole", essentially "to have your cake and eat it too", a solution that deals with the unpleasant aspects while still benefiting you

"wait like a guardfowl for grain" - orig. "wait like a goose for grain", advice to be patient

"having cheek is better than owning a Hold" - orig. "having cheek is better than owning a Meierhof", being daring and impudent often gets you in better places than being rich

"a fire-lizard on your shoulder is better than a bronze/queen on the Sands" - orig. "a sparrow in your hand is better than a pigeon on the roof", it's better to be grateful for smaller things you already have than to hope for things you have no guarantee of getting

"who wants to beat a wher always finds a cane" - orig. "who wants to beat a dog always finds a cane", people who want to do harm always find a way to do so

"fast of wing, short of mind"/"he's like a green - fast of wing..." - orig. "fast of feet, short of mind", an impulsive person who doesn't think things through

"bubbly pies don't bake themselves"/"roasted wherries won't fly in your mouth" - orig. "kolache don't bake themselves"/"roasted pigeons won't fly in your mouth", if you want something, you have to work for it

"for a quarter-mark he'd let them drill through his knee" - when someone is willing to do anything for money, even at the cost of one's own wellbeing

"beauty without a good heart is like a house without door, a spring without water, a rider without a dragon" - physical appearance means nothing when the person is bad

"every Hold has bread with two crusts" - every place has good and bad things

"what has once left your mouth, not even a pair of draft beasts can pull back" - watch what you say because you can't take it back

"fish start to smell from the head" - when something isn't working, the problem is likely in upper management

"doesn't have to be a downpour, a drizzle is enough" - success doesn't have to come all at once

"smart ones need advice, dumb ones need a kick" - for some people a hint isn't enough, they need to be shown explicitly

"the heart won't ache for what the eyes can't see" - some things do less harm if they're kept secret; blissful ignorance is sometimes better

"sing the song of those who give you bread" - kind of like "don't bite the hand that feeds you"; if you take favors from someone, you should act in their favor too

"he who digs a hole for others often falls in himself" - essentially "hoist by his own petard"

"the tunic is closer than the coat" - people tend to focus on their own interests rather than the interests of wider society

"the scythe has hit a rock" - when someone encounters something beyond their competence

"repetition is the mother of wisdom" - essentially "practice makes perfect", but sounds fancier. could be especialy in connection to memorizing teaching songs

"don't fight fire that doesn't burn you" - mind your own business, don't try to fix other people's problems

"the sated don't believe the hungry" - privileged people tend not to believe others' misfortunes

"he's got butter on his head" - essentially "keeping skeletons in his closet"

"rough fabric needs rough patching" - being soft on nasty people will achieve nothing, you have to answer in the person's own language

"the cape goes where the wind blows" - when someone is too obedient, a blind follower. said as "he's kind of a 'the cape goes where the wind blows' kind of person"

"honey in his mouth, venom in his heart" - a charming, sweet-spoken, but malicious person

Edit: more in reblogs!

[dailyclarkegriffin]

Clarke Griffin Appreciation Week 2023!

Hey Clarke Kru! It's been a while since Daily Clarke Griffin has had an event, don't you think? Well, it's time to change that! We're bringing Clarke Griffin Appreciation Week back for its third year! As always, the event will run from October 24th to October 30th. (We start on Eliza's birthday and end the day before Halloween, it's the perfect time to celebrate Clarke, not to mention it's her birth month too!)

As we've done before, a list of prompts have been selected for each day to give you some inspiration for what you create for the week! Like we have said in the past, this event is hosted for all types of content creators, whether you make gifs or graphics or moodboards or videos or fic, we try to pick out themes we think will work for everyone. Check them out below!

Prompts:

Day 1: Favorite Look — For our first day we'd love to see your favorite Clarke outfit/look! Do you love her classic season one outfit? Maybe you like the black and blue outfits of season two! Or maybe give a nod to her temporary outfits like the Ark flashback or one of her dresses? Maybe you think her short hair could use some more appreciation, or you could even make a compilation of all her different hairstyles throughout the years!

Day 2: Favorite Underrated Friendship — We've done favorite friendship/dynamic, but what about a pairing that you think deserved more love? Maybe you wished we got a lot more out of the Clarke and Wells relationship. Maybe it's another one of the delinquents like Miller or Harper. Or what about Clarke and Roan? There's tons of duos to choose from, tell us your fave underrated relationship!

Day 3: Color — For this day we want to challenge all of your beautiful creative minds by channeling color! Whether that be one single color that makes you think of Clarke or a whole plethora of colors by making a rainbow edit! You could even use a color palette generator for some inspo if you want! Anything goes!

Day 4: Lyrics & Poetry — We love seeing things like this in the fandom and we want to see some more! Find a quote of some sort, whether it comes from a song or a poem or even somewhere else, and let it inspire you into creating something beautiful to celebrate Clarke! This could be in the form of gifs, moodboards, fanart, even a songfic! Whatever you want to create, we want to see!

Day 5: Bi Pride — It's not Clarke Griffin Appreciation Week without bi pride day! As always, we'd love to see all the bi love whether it's with a bi flag inspired gifset, a moodboard with cute bi aesthetics, maybe you could even use some lyrics from your fave bi musician as inspo! (Gentle reminder that this day is about bi positivity, we're here to celebrate Clarke's role as a bi leading character!)

Day 6: Halloween — The holiday is right around the corner and we'd love to see some fun and spooky ideas! You could do something orange and black themed, you can make an AU edit like Clarke as a witch or a werewolf! Maybe a manip of what you think Clarke would dress up as. You could also do some spooky horror-inspired editing if that's your thing. Even a Halloween drabble if you feel like writing instead. We hope you have fun with this one!

Day 7: Free Day — As always, we're going to end the week by giving you free rein to do whatever you like for the final day! If you have an extra idea or something you've been meaning to post, now's the chance to do it! It can be funny or shippy or completely AU or even just another compilation of your favorite Clarke moments! It's the last day so we want to see what you love to make!

There it is! Clarke Griffin Appreciation Week 2023 is officially happening! When the event begins please tag all your creations with #cgaw23 so we can reblog them here on the main blog for all our followers to see. We hope everyone interested in the event is able to participate, and we'd love it if you reblogged this post to spread the word! See you soon, friends! 💗💜💙

[the-sinful-voice-witch]

The Bi Tim Drake and Stephanie Brown, is time I let them go...

I'm deeply sorry fellow Timstephers... I wanted to be loyal🥲, I really did but in the end... I think Steph deserves better😢 so I must embrace my other options for her because DC actually never let them fully click, at least on Tim's side and honestly this hurts, because despite everything I actually wanted them to work but now I have to accept that maybe the writers just did too much damage 🥺😞, let's start for the beginning👇👇:

I wish her identity was kept secret longer, it would have been more romantic if Tim fell for her not knowing her face and frankly the love triangle/cheating thing with Ariana (his first girlfriend) was so messed up and exhausting to read... I didn't like their first kiss was cheating! 😞 and when they finally got together they had again the stupid problem about Robin's secret identity, (I think somewhere in between there was an issue with another blonde girl, named Greta who tried to hurt Steph and I hated Tim's way of acting 😑 she even kissed him and he didn't react badly despite being with Steph 😠 in fact he smiled and said "chicks dig the cape") then Batman tells her Tim's identity, Tim gets mad then they make up, then she thinks he is cheating on her because a random girl classmate kisses him out of the blue and becomes Robin when he retired, then she dies and... He gave us a dry, tearless and unsatisfying reaction 😒, then not even a year passed (in the comics) he quickly starts having new suitors (writers can't just let him being single), like some girl named Darla, Cassie (another blonde with who he has a double rebound relationship after Superboy's death and Tim expressed a lot of more grief about Superboy, his best friend than the one who was his girlfriend, Stephanie was barely mentioned because they wanted you to forget about her) and then when he had again another civil background character girlfriend named Zoanne BOOM Stephanie comes back to the land of the living... and again... Cheating kiss! 🙄🤦‍♀️🤬 why? Just why? And of course the relationship with the boring civil girl doesn't last but he doesn't get back to Stephanie until he finished his dark emo phase in which he had a relationship with Tam Fox who dumped him because she only liked his Red Robin persona and also has a horny moment with another girl named Lynx while still being attracted to Steph 🙃🙃 What kind of ladies man is this guy?😂 (he also had a thing with jubilee from Marvel in a crossover and... Fucking marries BARBARA GORDON💀💀 in one of Batman's video games, I can't fucking believe there's an universe where Barbara gets to marry Tim but not Steph? Batman beyond doesn't count because is not confirmed the background wife is her and very spiteful I have to mention when Barbara's "death" Happened again he expresses more grief and gives more reaction than when Steph "died" But seriously WTH? In that game Dick is there too why is Tim the one romancing Babs when she is supposed to be even older than the oldest Robin? 💀💀) and finally after Stephanie wins some random tournament they get together again and almost bang but they couldn't because they were all banged up from the fight and I think that was all until the new 52 reboot...

So in the reboot they changed their origins and they met in Harper Row's house, they looked at each other Harper teased him and... They got together out of camera 😑😑 (I hate it when they do that, you skip all the development!) and they gave us this beautiful scene in young Justice

These beautiful moments that we will never get back... I can't believe after this passionate confession of love and everything that happens in these Issues (though to be honest this moment doesn't have as much weight as it would have in the pre reboot because here we didn't see the process of them falling in love) they just separated them like nothing out of the blue in such a tacky VERY tacky and lazy way 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ but before that... Let's talk about the toxic side of their relationship pre new 52 reboot:

Stephanie once told Tim that he was too good for her in anycase when he was having insecurities about her feelings, he once asked her if she would like him even if he wasn't Robin, he was always insecure about their relationship (even thought she wanted him so hard and was so eager and straightfoward on him since he kissed her for the first time) and honestly giving how he treated her... I see so many inconsistencies 😑 or hypocrisy, I always hated how he always put her down and discouraged her from the vigilante life making her feeling she wasn't worthy or good enough (of course under the excuse of good intentions because that life is too dangerous... When he had a normal family and a good life unlike his orphan predecessors and Steph who had a shitty life with a criminal parent and drug addict mother and still demanded to be Robin because that was his dream... And then DC made him conveniently an orphan too to make things easier at the same time they tried to get rid of his girlfriend 🤦‍♀️) when he always felt exactly that way and Batman and other characters had to cheer him up constantly so where did the empathy go? No, seriously🙁 how is it that he is the one comforting her when is Batman the one making her feel that way? What about the times is HE is the one who does it? Feels so hypocritical, he held her back on her potential, I remember reading an issue when he arrogantly said that be a part of the teen Titans is out of her league when she was offered to join and had the entitlement to affirm that she can't speak for herself (and honestly I only saw him be against that because later in young Justice Cassie thought she was joining and was appraised by other members while training, they didn't look down on her but no, she was there only as moral support for Tim) and tried to shut her out a lot of times even in front other characters like Black Canary and Green Arrow's son and in his red Robin period when Bruce was believed death also treated her so bad and demanded her to never be spoiler again, the arrogant prick! I know he was very hurt and sad and what Steph did under Batman's orders was messed up but still to arrogantly demand that? Batman didn't have any right and sure as hell Tim has even less right to take away the Spoiler because is something SHE CREATED without their influence! So dude THE AUDACITY! And again how he called her useless and told her if she was playing dress up when she became Batgirl 🤦‍♀️ yes I know he later apologizes after acknowledging how much better she got at fighting but still... I don't know, all felt shallow. I never liked that she chose to become Robin after she thought he was cheating on her, I saw it as a jerk move but... I can't really blame her for feeling insecure and believe it, after all she became his girlfriend after Tim cheated with her on his first girlfriend and never saw Steph as an equal on that time so... Well I guess all this mess is what helps me to move on them 🤷‍♀️ and now let's talk about the bi disaster... and unfortunately not the good kind:

DC come here, sit with me, we need to talk... Did you hire some kind of... Wattpad fanfic writer by any chance? Because the quality of this pride special... Feels like something you could perfectly find on the lamest part of wattpad 🤦‍♀️, tacky and lazy doesn't even cover up this... and I'm so offended such writing got that amazingly good art 😤😤. So, in the process of making Tim bisexual they had to... Break up his relationship with his girlfriend when they were finally good together without drama after everything they went through for literally NO REASON (seriously there is a real literal dialogue of him explaining to some dude he broke up with his girlfriend someone he LOVES for no reason 🙃🙃) so he could have a relationship with a dude so that he could have a solid proof that he digs in both ways 🙄... This is insulting because in the pre reboot they had a lot of understandable reasons to break up but after the reboot they had a really good relationship of course I didn't like this time they started their relationship out of camera but they still gave us development and a confession I would have loved them to have in the pre reboot but then this shit happened just like that! 🙄🤷‍♀️ So much for be madly in love uh?

You can't just turn that off and then turn it on again on another random person like a switch 🤦‍♀️! Isn't kind of hilarious, people wanted him bi so he could be with Superboy but DC decided to give him instead a background NPC boyfriend created 20 fucking years ago nobody even remembered, yeah sure the guy is not unpleasant but he is so painfully irrelevant just like Ariana or Zoanne (the normal civil ex-girlfriends) but I dare to say at least Ariana provided some "entertaining" drama, exhausting to read nonetheless but still... this random guy was chosen over Superboy Conner Kent! That is literally the only character that could rivalize with Stephanie in story with Tim but noooo Superboy couldn't be Bisexual too... Oh no wait, wait a second... Didn't DC actually made a bi Superboy? Oh dear, let me get this straight (je je "straight", no pun intended 🤪) people wanted Robin Tim bi because they shipped him with Superboy Conner but the ship couldn't be because they couldn't make that Superboy bi but instead they made Bi the other Superboy Jon Kent that shouldn't be in any serious relationship in the first place because he should still be a little kid but they aged him up 🤬🤬 and paired him with another painfully boring boyfriend they think is interesting because is Lois Lane's numer 1 fan🙄🙄 and studies to be a journalist too🙄🙄 because Superman's son had to be in love with a journalist just like him🙄🙄... And he is intangible because we can't have Jon having to worry about his boyfriend being in danger and on top of that has an ugly design, sorry for those who like it but I hate his design... most of the time his hair looks like mushroom style and thick hipster glasses are just not for everyone, Barbara Gordon can pull it this guy can't, I once saw an illustration of him that looked like a pink haired with glasses angry Karen and I just can't unsee it... Seriously he needs another haircut at the very least... Ok back to the Bi Robin...

Ok so it could not be Conner it had to be a civilian, the thing is there was another character they could have used: Cullen Row! The very first appearance he made he stated to be gay and being very interested of in Tim and at the very least he has the minimum importance of being the brother of a known vigilante character, Harper Row. And Cullen and Harper are friends with Steph so I'm sure Cullen would have scolded Tim for how he treated her and pretty sure he would have threatened him to tell his sister to taser his ass if he doesn't make things right with Steph, she didn't deserve to be ghosted! To be treated coldly out of the blue without giving her a reason! Or for a good reason at all. The point is that this was an established gay character interested in Tim and knows the vigilante life, that already make things easier and also is a good excuse to see Harper Row more often even if she gave up vigilante life, it would be nice to see her again but NOOOOO we pull a forgotten character out of nowhere and without development 🙄😑, they shouldn't have slapped us with all this at once in just one pride special, they should have left hints or showing us something in the regular issues, I don't like things happening just because, ok? representation matters but that doesn't mean we have to accept lazy tacky wattpad shit, that's called pandering! why couldn't they take their time to built properly the relationship just like they did with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn? Like I could see the process of Harley and Ivy liking each other, we also saw the process of Steph and Tim liking each other but they never showed us why Tim and Bernard like each other, what does Bernard has that he destroyed Tim's madly love for Steph so easily? Why does it feel that they weren't on the mood to work on the relationship and simply put a text saying "they've been talking to each other again after Tim and Steph broke up" And boom! They are on a date and the whole story turns into a story about Tim's sexuality 🤦‍♀️🤡, that's right his new boyfriend is a character that is nothing more than a walking proof of his bisexuality, literally that is his one and only purpose of existence and Tim went from being: "the Third Robin" "The smartest Robin" "The true perfect Robin" "The best detective that could best Batman" To literally being known as "THE BI ROBIN"🤡🤡, now the only thing that matters about him is that he was dating a girl and now he is dating a boy... (And same with Jon Kent, he is now just the Bi or Gay Superman, ajjj just make him go back to be 10 years old DC, he was more interesting as a kid with Damian) This is just how badly DC handled this in my opinion because I don't remember Batwoman to be known as the Batlesbian and Harley and Ivy are simply Harley and Ivy they aren't the Bisexual Gotham sirens and we all know Constantine is a manwhore who even banged a embodiment of a whole City but people doesn't only know him because of his sexual orientation, these characters just happened to have this sexual orientations but who they fuck isn't what makes them good characters.

And to make things worse and cringe, because yes this can get worse, on top of making Tim treat Stephanie so badly just because, they denigrated her by not allowing her to feel like a normal human being with feelings who was dumped for no reason, ghosted without a reason and easily forgotten by someone she considered her first true love would feel, you know... Sad, dejected, hurt, angry... Nope. Some idiot thought that she could only do that if she was replaced by other girl but if she is replaced by a boy she has to be nothing but a cringy supportive fangirl ex- girlfriend 🤡🤦‍♀️, that's right Tim decided that the most "sensitive and thoughtful" thing to do with the person he dumped out of the blue for nothing, and ghosted for nothing and tried to ignore her and avoid in her face when she finally confronted him until his friends forced him to behave like a minimum decent person and TALK to her was... Introduce her to his new boyfriend WITHOUT ASKING HER OR EVEN WARNING HER 🤬🤬🤬

and the result was the absolutely cringy shitty wattpad reaction of her hugging Bernard saying "i finally get to meet you, this is the best day ever"💀💀💀💀 excuse me? The best day ever for her is the day she meets her ex's new boyfriend? After everything Tim put her through? Can someone explain to me the need of this? The need to denigrate and ridiculize Stephanie Brown? Hasn't this character suffered enough humiliation?😡😡You know Tim? Superboy at least told Cassie that she deserved a better first love than him and you see I think he never was as bad as you were to Stephanie... 😒😒 in fact I can't simply not understand the incoherence of their conversation... He literally told her: "my feelings for you, I never lied about that you were always what I wanted and more" "It wasn't about your gender, I don't like only girls" (Then he introduces her his brand new boyfriend 🤪) You were madly in love with her, she was what you wanted and more... THEN WHY THE FUCK DID YOU DUMP HER?? THERE'S NO ACCEPTABLE EXPLANATION OF THAT!!! They just said he was on a journey to discover himself phase or some shit bad executioned idea but dude even if discovering you are Bi was part of it that doesn't mean you had to end your relationship... 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️, he later tells to Connor Hawke who is also struggling because he doesn't know how to tell Green Arrow that he is not interested in banging anyone ever (he came out as asexual) that Stephanie was a reminder of his old self that he wanted to let go, suuuuure nice try to make up for a good excuse to be an asshole with her🙄😒.

You know what's funny? I think Steph is bisexual too and I'm not saying this because of her relationship with Cassandra, I'm saying this because when she was talking with Harper Row about Catwoman she was thirsting over Selina's buttonless shirt and later when she was dating Tim she met Zatanna and the first thing she said was "wow you're hot" 😂😂😂 and THAT, simply as it is... Is literally the only proof I need of her being bi, I didn't need her to break up with her boyfriend to be with Cass or Harper (hey, they kissed in that failed show Gotham knights) to believe it, you just need to show interest in both genders 🤷‍♀️, use flirt, use blushing, use a comment mentioning it... You don't need to destroy a relationship!! 🙄🙄🙄 but what is done is done, I'm so tired of Timsteph, I give up I'm sorry fellow shippers I really I'm but this treatment to Stephanie's character is my limit. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH 🥲🥲

And I apologize for this long long long rant but I needed it to get out of my system 🥲🥲 well, like I said Tim wants to stay with his walking Bisexuality proof NPC boyfriend PERFECT, but I need a compensation and I don't want Steph to have nothing to do with that Kyle Mizoguchi, he is as irrelevant and boring to me as Bernard and Jay Nakamura 🥱🥱🥱 I want a proper compensation so I want Steph and Jason Todd to have a slow cooked Romance. Yep you heard me, I demand JAYSTEPH as a compensation for all this mess!!

And of course I plan to make a thoroughly long post like this about why I want Jaysteph to have a chance and with nothing more to say, Bye bye and thanks for reading my post 😘😘😘

[radioactive-earthshine]

Trick or treat?

🎃A TREAT! 👻

You get a piece of the unpublished KonBart Star Trek AU! Enjoy.

🖖

“This is Communications Officer Lieutenant Conner Kent from Cyclone Shuttle #2 to Red Tornado, Stardate [whatever] 05:18 Pacific Standard Earth Time. Status update: This is the third day we have been stranded in orbit above Hogarth 3. All warp capabilities are still inoperable due to what Helmsman Allen has now discovered to be a defective dilithium drive. We are unable to replicate the parts needed for the repair, not that either of us know how to repair the drive as it is, sorry Captain Irons from Engineering 103 at the Academy - I really did deserve that D hah! Annnyway. We’re limited to the shuttle’s propulsion systems which is not a viable option unless we wanted to spend the next ah, 10 years in the shuttle traveling at sub-light speeds to the nearest outpost. Which isn’t viable either because Helmsman Allen has calculated that life support is also failing and we’re likely to run out of oxygen within 24 standard hours. Because of these two catastrophic failures and analyzing our options, and that we have yet to have any of our messages responded to, Allen is going to attempt a manual landing on Hogarth 3. We know the planet is an M-Class type with no known sentient species. We’re going to attempt a landing around the planetary coordinates 19° N, 133° W which Allen has determined to be the most favorable location for an emergency landing and is currently in mid Spring. Thank you Commander Harper at the academy for the A in Survival Strategies, but a bigger thank you to Ma and Pa for the camping lessons in Appalachia. If we make it I’ll send another status update, if not, well… …You all were amazing and I loved every moment serving on Reddy. Thanks for the party. This is Communications Officer Lieutenant Conner Kent, signing off, hopefully just for now.” 

Conner took a long slow breath as he finished his recording and saved the message before broadcasting into the cold cosmos. When he was done he turned to Bart at the front of their shuttle, he was drawing a scale on the window in a coral pink lipstick. 

“You forgot to tell ‘em the navigation equipment was completely down,” said Bart as he capped the lipstick and tucked it back where he found it in the side pocket of the pilot’s chair. Conner walked the length of the narrow long shuttle to the copilot seat and sat down, buckling in. 

“I also didn’t tell them we think this is sabotage,” Conner revealed cautiously. “Three major systems all failing one after the other; we’ve been in some dire situations before but this feels targeted.” 

“Section 31?” Bart suggested as he started to input the commands to the shuttle and they began to glide in position above Hogarth 3 and its beautiful blue and green glory. “Do you think Section 31 is trying to get rid of you again? Er, of us?” 

“I really don’t know,” admitted Kon and he frowned. “Tim says they no longer consider me to be a threat to the Federation and are convinced of my ‘integrity’ and loyalty to not go AWOL. And you well…” he trailed off and Bart smiled tiredly, impishly. 

“Nothing quite like me around either but I guess I haven’t proven myself as trustworthy yet.”  

Conner’s hand moved to cover one of Bart’s. “They’re idiots. I trust you.”

[ladyxnocturnal]

“A Little Phone Sex Won’t Hurt”

Leon Kennedy X Fem Reader

Summary: You really couldn’t stop thinking about the night you had with your lover (Leon Kennedy) so, why not have a little fun after all?

Warning: Dirty Talk (All I can think of)

{A/N: I got pretty much bored and instead of sleeping I wrote a little something something, enjoy! :D}

MINORS GO PLAY IN THE GRASS

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

“God you’re so beautiful.”

Those enchanting words flown in your head. It was a memory that you can’t get rid of. It was only yesterday you and Leon had such an enduring moment between the sheets. The way your bodies heated together, being combined, intertwined, so much love. His words, his presence, you missed it all. Today he was on a mission with another fellow agent he was assigned with, Helena Harper. You knew you couldn’t see him till tomorrow which made you crave for your lover back already.

“I can’t get enough of you sweetheart.”

His words came back to haunt you. You groaned, rolling over on your stomach on the mattress to scroll around your phone. You missed Leon like crazy, it was killing you inside. But you didn’t want to seem TOO clingy for him, he has to do what he has to do. But his words, the precious moment from last night, was like a curse. Sighing, you went to you and Leon’s conversation to leave him a message.

“Hey love, I really hope you’re doing okay. Please be careful out there, I miss you dearly. I love you.”

You quickly sent but thought it would be later till he saw your message but all you knew is that you were getting an incoming call from non other than Leon. Seeing this surprised you but you never did hesitate to answer. Feeling a smile immediately shine on your face once you saw the blonde you adored.

“Aren’t you on the Mission right now Mr.Kennedy?” You asked with a playful manner in your tone. Leon always loved how you would be so playful, he always found it very adorable of you and one of the reasons why he loved you.

“Not quite yet, I’m on the plane right now and managed to sneak in here to make time to call you to tell you, I miss you even more.”

Those butterflies from the beginning of you and Leon’s relationship came back flooding into the pit of your stomach, your heart even fluttering from how sweet it was for him to make time for you. It was adorable.

“You miss me more? I find that hard to believe, you know I miss you even more. You really wanna go there Lee?” You teased like a child, a light giggle following out from your response. Leon cocked an eyebrow, those beautiful blue eyes staying onto the screen to take in your beauty, you were perfection in his eyes and wouldn’t want to lose it for the world.

“Maybe I do want to go there sweetheart. You know.. someone else misses you too.” His voice lowered an octave with a light chuckle.

You knew exactly what he was implying and you liked it. You did miss that night after all and you better hope and pray you can make it longer than last time. “Really? Who is it exactly?” You played off smoothly to see if Leon would catch on but knowing him, he doesn’t hesitate one bit after all.

And as you called it, Leon angled his phone down so you could see the bulge from his tight jeans hugging around his legs, his hand teasingly running through his ‘problem’. “See here? You caused it. I can’t get you off my mind.”

Your jaw could drop from how surprised for how hard he was through his jeans. It made hunger for him worse. If only you was there, you could easily get him off and make him feel so much better. The sight made the heat between your legs haunt you.

“Seems like you need help there love. If only I was there right? But you really wanna fix your problem on the plane? When you’re about to head out for your mission?” You teased, but also didn’t want him to get caught like this but hated to leave him hanging there with an erection and not only that, you wanted him.

“So? A little bit of phone sex doesn’t hurt. Last night was amazing and I can’t get it out of my head ever since sweetheart. But if you was here.. fuck-“ He paused as he imagined you here with him fixing his erection, the tight hug around his bulge wasn’t helping him at all. He unbuttoned his pants to follow the zipper to let his cock free from the tight pants around him to pump into his hand slowly.

“You wouldn’t be able to walk baby.” He finally finished his words, stroking his cock slowly, making sure the phone was angled just right so you could see his actions.

You felt your legs press against each other due to being turned on to seeing your lovers need. His words was enough to make you prop your phone perfectly to see your full body on the bed to pull off your shorts along with your underwear to let your lover see your wetness he caused.

His voice hitched from the sight he saw in front of the screen. Fuck if only he didn’t have to go to the mission today, he would’ve ruined you by now. He cursed under his breath as he started to pick up a bit of the pace from stroking his cock. “Fuck sweetheart- you’re so fucking perfect- all mine-“ he struggled to speak slightly due to feeling pleasure within himself, imaging all the things he would do to you if he was only there.

You moaned with delight of hearing his noises even his words. Leon knew exactly what he was doing and you loved every bit of it. You ran your fingers up and down your folds to show the wetness coat your fingers to now trailing back to your clit to slowly toy with, your moans escaping your lips as you kept your eyes on the screen to watch your lover jerk himself off.

“I wish you were here baby, I want to feel you all over me like last night. Fuck- I want you Leon.” You whimpered in need, toying with your clit like he would. Leon loved hearing you need him, it made him even more desperate to have his sweetheart here. He growled as he quickened his pace, his eyes glued onto the screen to watch you squirm and toy with yourself on full display for him. Fuck he loved it, he loved you.

“I want- you more sweetheart- Fuck I love you so much-“ He groaned, his breathing getting heavy as he tried to maintain himself to steady his limits. Seeing you made him weaker, wanting to cum right on the spot already but he didn’t want this to end just yet. Your moaning was uncontrollable, feeling your head get fuzzy from the pleasured high. You could sense your climax peeking already.

“Le- Leon!- Oh god Leon!-“ your voice hitched from the pleasure, your body shaking as you felt yourself losing control. Leon saw you losing control, it made him go even more crazy for you. His climax was now creeping over him, his top getting swollen from precum.

“Fuck baby.. Keep moaning my name like that I’m gonna cum.” He snickered with his heavy breathing. That’s exactly what you wanted, to see him cum and made a mess just from you. Your breathing was heavy as you felt your climax right there now. “Do it!- Cum for me please.. I can’t hold back anymore-!” You begged with a weak whimper.

Leon chuckled with a wicked smirk, his pace quickening. “Don’t mind if I do. Fuck-“ he grunted as he felt weak and allowed himself to release his seed over his hand, slowing his pace until he stopped to look at the mess he made over his hands but back to you to see your climax being released.

Your breathing was heavy from the aftershock, looking at the screen to see the mess he made which caused you to giggle. “If only I was there to clean you up too huh?” Your words made Leon laugh, finding anything to clean up the mess which made him a bit embarrassed.

“If only. Just expect tomorrow when I get home, you won’t be able to walk for a week.” He added quickly with such an ‘innocent’ smile of his.

You grinned, fixing up yourself. “We shall see about that Mr.Kennedy.”

END

[sunnyie-eve]

2 | Proud of You

Series: Significant

Paring: Colby Brock x Original female character

Warnings: None

Word Count: 1.6k

| MASTERLIST |

~

"Sam! Sam! Sam!" Penelope rushes down her stairs since he was over at her house getting a snack in the kitchen at the moment.

"What?" He freaks out as she rushes in.

"So I've been keeping a secret from you and Colby but I can now tell you because I made it through the prosses and shit. Look!" She shows him her phone which was on an Instagram modeling account.

"Glad to announce our beautiful newest model to the family, Penelope Lane Hill." Sam reads the caption then looks at her, "Wait? What?" He makes her laugh.

"Yeah, umm last few months when I've said I was too busy. This lady reached out to me so I took her offer. Actually modeling kind of helps me with how I see myself." She lets him know.

"I can't believe this... Congratulations, Pen!" He hugs her then looks back at her phone, "That's a really good pic of you. You surprisingly pull off blue lipstick." He hands her phone back. "Also today is a filming day." He lets her know.

"And I still have to go?" She pouts.

"Yep." He takes her hand dragging her out of her house to the car.

When they get to the house Colby was outside waiting for them with his arms crossed, "You're late."

"How can we be late if there was no set time? Also, I have some news to share." She hands him her phone and her looks over it before looking at her.

"No fucking why! My bestie is a model now! Look at you!" He squeezes her picking her up a bit. "I'm so proud of you!" He lets go of her.

"Thank you. I told Sam it helps me a bit feel better." She smiles.

"Are there any others we can see?" He asks as they go inside.

"Yeah, I'll post them to my Instagram later."

"Ok, are you gonna hang alone or watch us?" He asks her. "We're doing dares people sent us on Twitter."

"Maybe both. Depends." She laughs taking a seat.

"Okay." They leave her alone just to see one dare say to have her take part in one video. "PENNY!" They yell for her so she comes in huffing what.

"Our first date is to have you be in one full video." Sam shows her the tweet.

"It's dares for Sam and Colby. Not Sam and Colby and Penelope."

"Come on." Colby pulls her into the frame.

"Fine. I'll do it." She makes them cheer and the first dare was to put ice in their front pants pockets.

"We're just gonna keep it here the whole entire video. Oh! It's already cold!" Colby complains.

"This is easy for me." Penelope laughs at them.

"Of course it is." Colby playfully glares at her.

The next dare was a one-handed handstand and the guys couldn't do it but Penelope did it for a few seconds. "How?" Sam asks surprised.

"She was in gymnastics from four to seventeen." Colby answers for her.

"Yeah, I hated it but my mom wanted me to be like Harper." Penelope tells the camera. "Luckily, she stopped taking me one day." She winks.

"I dare you guys to eat a tablespoon of mustard with ketchup." Sam reads the next one making Penelope make a face shaking her head no.

"Penelope will not do this one. Even if it was for all the money in the world. She hates mustard with a passion." Colby says leaving to go get the things while she stays with Sam.

"Why do you hate it so much?"

"Because it's terrible. I'd rather kiss a snake than eat mustard." She says making him crack up.

"You're terrified of snakes though."

"Exactly!" She laughs with him as Colby comes back.

She watches the two and wants to puke just imagining it as they do it. They both make noises at how disgusting it was.

"Want a kiss? I think I got some on my lips." Colby jokes with Penelope and it wasn't odd for them to joke like that.

"Eww and EWW!" She moves Sam closer to him.

"I dare y'all to switch shirts in under 20 seconds." Sam reads the next one.

Penelope didn't care since she was in a sports bra so she took Colby's shirt, Sam took her shirt, and Colby took Sam's shirt.

"That was easy and this shirt is so soft on the inside." Sam says touching her shirt.

"I know, right. I love that shirt. You're mom actually bought it for me." She tells him.

"Really?" He says surprised.

"Yeah, birthday gift." She laughs.

While the guys wall twerk for a minute, Penelope keeps track of the time for them. "Colby, I love that you peed yourself." Penelope laughs at him and he sees how the ice melted.

"Is y'all's not cold yet?" Colby asks them and they say it's cold for them.

For the next dare, Penelope gets her lipstick out of her bag for the dare, "I'm gonna need to get a new one now." She watches Sam ruin it a bit.

"It's fine. Here put it on me." Sam hands it to her so she does it to him almost perfectly till Colby nudges her arm on purpose.

"You ass." She glares at him.

"Okay, now let me put it on you." He turns her to face him.

"I'm gonna look like a clown." She tilts her head up a tad.

"Pucker your lips so I can do this."

"You don't pucker your lips to put on lipstick." They both bicker so she stops for him to just do it and she ends up having a long line on her bottom lip. "I can't." She wipes it off so she doesn't look stupid.

Colby and Sam look at each other as if they could communicate with their minds so they grab her both kissing her cheeks so their lipstick was on her face.

She just stands there shaking her head annoyed with them, "I quit." She laughs leaving the room.

"Keep that on till we're done!" They shout at her.

"Whatever!" She shouts back.

Sitting around on her phone messages a friend of hers the boys tell her there's a dare to slap Colby in the face with hot sauce. "I'm not excited for this." Colby groans heading outside and Penelope follows wanting to watch.

"Just be careful with it going in his ear." She tells Sam as he sets the camera up.

"I can't help where it goes."

"You sorta can since you're slapping him." She laughs.

"Why can't we see your ice cubes melting? Did you take them out?" Colby touches where her pockets are and can feel the cold melted water. "How is that not bugging you?"

"Sometimes I take super cold baths when I don't take super hot ones." She explains to him.

"Alright, guys. What's up? We're out here. You got about to be slapped with some hot sauce." Sam claps his hands.

"I'm not excited for this." Colby says again, "I'm gonna take off my beanie. Here, hold this for me." He puts it on Penelope's head.

"What am I a coat rack?" She giggles.

"A beautiful coat rack." He pats the top of her head.

"It's in my ear! She even said to be careful." Colby complains.

"Sam, you barely even slapped him in the face. That was all ear." Penelope pulls Colby's head towards her to see how bad it was.

"Why is it burning?!" He walks away.

"Come on. I'll help you clean it." Penelope helps him take off Sam's long sleeves and holds it by his ear so it doesn't get on the carpet as they walk to the sink. "This is gonna be difficult not to wash it down in there more." She huffs.

"You always clean us up after stupid shit so you got this. You're the mom of the group." Colby laughs as she carefully cleans his ear up.

"I'm the mom yet you two ignore me?" She tugs on his hair.

"Exactly. Plus you're still younger than us."

"You're two months older than me so shut up." She finishes up.

"What would I do without you?" He stands up smiling at her.

"Clean the hot sauce out of your own ear for starters." She smiles back, "I texted Harper to come pick me up so she should be here soon. I have to meet with some people tomorrow so." She lets him know.

"I still can't believe you're a model now. I'm happy that it helps you. You needed this because me telling you isn't enough apparently."

"It's just nice hearing from people who don't know me personally saying it. Trust me, it means a lot coming from you. It shows you care about me but still." She explains to him as her sister honks for her. "I would give you your shirt back but Sam is still wearing mine." She looks down at herself.

"It's fine. It's not the first one you've taken and never gave back. But this I want still." He takes his beanie back.

"I didn't want it in the first place." She shoves him as she leaves the room, "Bye Sam!"

Jumping in her sister's car, Harper has Taylor Swift blaring making Penelope laugh. "Sing it with me, baby sis!" Harper starts to drive.

This was the very first page Not where the story line ends My thoughts will echo your name, until I see you again These are the words I held back, as I was leaving too soon I was enchanted to meet you Please don't be in love with someone else Please don't have somebody waiting on you Please don't be in love with someone else Please don't have somebody waiting on you

This night is sparkling, don't you let it go I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home I'll spend forever wondering if you knew This night is flawless, don't you let it go I'm wonderstruck, dancing around all alone I'll spend forever wondering if you knew I was enchanted to meet you Please don't be in love with someone else Please don't have somebody waiting on you

[bluejaysandblackbats]

blood on your altar

Fandom: DC Comics, Titans (fab five), Aquafam, Arrowfam

Summary: Roy Harper is haunted by a strange sight he witnessed while on holiday by the seaside.

Chapters: 1/?

Characters: Roy Harper, Garth, Oliver Queen, Hal Jordan, Dinah Lance

Relationships: Roy Harper/Garth

Additional Tags: Cannibal Mermaid AU, Sacrifice, Cannibalism as a Metaphor, Secrets, Angst, Romance, Horror, 1950's AU

Chapter One: Stained Glass

I watched the thing, meat in its teeth, blood dribbling down its chin as it growled and moaned. Wretched thing. Beautiful thing. Blood drunk. Red drunk. Like wine. My strange beast slurped flesh off the bone as it became more of a man and less of a thing. Claws became fingers. Dark reflective scales like abalone shells became flesh. Its eyes were man's eyes. First, they were bright candles behind amethyst stained glass windows, and then... Dark and dull indigo like a boy's. He wiped the blood from his lips, pretty and pink, before lying on his back in the sand. He spread his arms and legs in a shameful display, unashamed of his nakedness. He writhed pleasurably as the waves lapped at his bare skin. I gripped the fabric of my jacket, swallowing the lump in my throat as I watched my boy-creature. 

I knew it was wrong to watch the way I did, but the blood in my body rushing south only encouraged my voyeurism. I continued, guiltily watching my creature amid a lustful act, his now-human hands poking and tickling his loins, then flapping it back and forth, then as if he'd figured it out, he began to stroke and squeeze and gasp. I couldn't bear to look away. Hungry, dreadful, sinful curiosity captured me. It swallowed me whole, making parts of me long for a man in ways that I'd never imagined. I watched until he dribbled, then spurted alabaster white onto pink-blue flesh. Cold flesh from the looks of it. Then something changed. His man eyes flashed back to their stained-glass amethyst, shining brightly in my direction. I hid behind a boulder, holding my breath. I dropped to my knees and peeked around the corner, watching him crawl to the ocean. Cover his nakedness. Cover his acts. He glanced in my direction, still unable to see me while I hid again. “Who's thir?” he shouted. “Who's thir?” It was a strange accent, but not completely unintelligible. I didn't move. I didn't breathe. 

I stayed there until his honey-sweet voice stopped calling. By that time, he was already inside me. His eyes, his voice, his flesh. His chin was soaked with blood. Every little detail seeped into my brain and my heart, and I couldn't stand it. “I willny haert ye…” 

I crawled on my hands and knees until I bumped into Ollie’s shins. He groaned, bracing himself as he crouched. “Having fun down there?” Ollie asked. I couldn’t stand up. The creature burrowed into my mind, chilling me to the bone. Ollie extended a hand. He worried about me. It wasn’t without reason. He took me out of California to clear my head. Dinah and Hal suggested a trip to the seaside would improve my health. 

“Did you hear someone yelling?” I asked. Ollie shook his head as he pulled me to my feet. 

“It’s getting late, kid… Let’s go inside,” Ollie suggested. I followed him up the carved stone steps to the house. The faded pale green-grey house with its old beat-up hemlock green shutters. The windchimes blew around, singing hollow wood songs in the cool night breeze. Ollie asked me to go inside and shut the inner shutters to prepare for the coming storm. As I stepped inside the house, the boy-creature’s face faded from my memory. Seeing him felt like no more than a strange dream.

Dinah sat beside the radio with a glass of wine. She hummed to the radio’s tune. It always calmed my nerves. I sat on the floor by Dinah’s feet, and Ollie sat beside her. “What spooked you, Roy?” Hal asked. He noticed. I must’ve looked ill. “Were you out on the beach tonight?” 

“Don’t fill his head with all those ghost stories, Hal,” Ollie warned him. Dinah took a sip and smiled. 

“Awww, come on, Ollie. I wanna hear it,” Dinah replied. She kicked off her shoes and threw her feet over Ollie’s lap. He discreetly ran her thumb across her calf.

“Tell your story, Hal,” Dinah smiled. 

“You must beware of nighttime swims in coastal towns and cities. There are women… Women who dwell in the waters like fish. Some are as vicious as they are lovely. They swim to the surface at night, luring men in—.”

“Are they all women?” I interrupted. Ollie and Hal squinted at me. Dinah smiled and raised her glass. 

“Yes! Do the mermaids have meddling merfathers?” Dinah teased. Ollie playfully nipped at her. 

“I guess there could be male creatures… I could imagine male creatures of that sort are in short supply, though,” Hal answered. Ollie scoffed. He was neither superstitious nor interested in fantasy. “I’d imagine they’re much more dangerous and desperate than their female counterparts. Without the ease of allure, they might rely on speed and force to catch their prey, hiding underwater and dragging their poor victims beneath the waves to tear them limb from limb.”

I covered my mouth. “It’s only a story, Roy. Cut it out, Hal. You’re scaring the poor kid senseless… It’s getting late,” Ollie announced. It was his way of telling me to go to sleep. I left the room and bathed. I sank into the warm water and shut my eyes. My mind strayed to the gore and sweet hunger of the dark-haired thing. I lathered with soap as my hands strayed to my privates. I imagined his bloodstained lips kissing me all over. They couldn’t hear me over the radio. So, I moaned freely. I could almost feel his skin against mine. The warm bathwater was the entire ocean. His skin must’ve been soft like a woman’s. It felt more natural than anything I’d ever experienced… But it didn’t feel common. No. 

I could only feel this way in passing. Soon, it’d be nothing more than a dream to me. I spat white paint onto my speckled canvas. I shuddered as I thought of him doing the same. He writhed shamelessly, almost glowing under the moonlight as he delighted himself. The creature bore himself into my skull and wouldn’t leave me. He was ceaseless… And I was insatiable. I knew someone would worry if I took too long, so I collected myself, dressing in my robe and pajamas before hiding away in bed. 

Ollie was right. The storm set in after I laid down. The wind and rain shook the outer shutters, and thunder shook the house. I loved listening to storms when I didn’t have to go out in them, but something about this one seemed strange. I had a dreadful feeling wash over me as the kisses I imagined turned into bites. Devastatingly sharp and taking chunks out of my skin. I didn’t fight back. I didn’t want to. That’s what frightened me most. I would’ve let him eat me whole if he wanted to. I fell into a deep sleep, so deep I didn’t want to wake up. 

I couldn’t remember dreaming. So, I could’ve been dead… Or perhaps… Perhaps my boy-creature was a dream as well. 

[shimmerbeasts]

You know what? Fuck it

🎲 for Mizora and Jaheira

I want the K||Accepting.

7. A romantic kiss.

What could be considered romantic tended to vastly differ between a fiend and other species of Faerun. In fact, what might be read as romantic from an uncritical angle, was usually more akin to a sudden rush of endorphins and heightened arousal for the fiend in question. Usually triggered by a massive absorption of negative emotions like fear, panic, fright or anger, coupled with the sight of carnage.

Mizora was currently in the thrall of that emotional high after Jaheira and she had beaten down a surprise ambush of a group of Absolute Cultists on the route to Baldur's Gate. While the tadpole gang had been able to take out Ketheric Thorm, it seemed that for many of the survivors of the Moonrise massacre, they were now the enemy number one and many of them hungered for retribution.

The air was thick with a haze of smells. Ironrich blood, so loaded you might throw up if you took too deep a breath. Frosty chills from several bodies covered in rhyme and contorted from the thralls of the Hunger of Hadar, Mizora had trapped a large chunk of the Cultists in. The bodies, which had not been eviscerated by her devouring, cold and toxic darkness and Jaheira's thick, unruly thorns, had been ripped to pieces by the claws of a panther and reduced to ash by the single gesture of a corpse-blue hand.

Mizora was remarkably untouched by the blood as, for once, she had not thrown herself into the fray and instead kept her distance while Jaheira had leapt straight into the thicket of the ambush. As the Cambion looked at the panther, her red eyes glowed with fiery appreciation and a hunger, which differed from the ways, she inspected the corpses. The panther's paws and muzzle were dripping with blood.

Soon enough though, the animal's body was enveloped by golden light before with a sharp tearing sound and a puddle of viscera and blood, the panther shed its animalistic shape and in its place stood Jaheira herself. The half-elf was dripping with blood, her hands and arms drenched in red and even her mouth coated in viscera. The flush, making Mizora's cheeks purple, returned, darkening them even more. She gazed at the half-elf with a sense of sick pleasure and appreciation as if Jaheira had just shown her a colour she really liked.

"You have got a little something there, my dear." Mizora stepped closer and reached for Jaheira's face with her hand. "Let me help you with that." The Cambion traced her fingers over the half-elf's bloodied feature, collecting the red, which had not yet completely dried and crusted up around her mouth. Popping her fingers into her mouth, Mizora suckled off the blood with a satisfied hum as if she had just shared in a kill.

"Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you look like this, Jaheira?"

Mizora's voice was barely above a whisper. Her hand cupped the harper's chin, her thumb tracing across her lips, now mostly clean of the blood. The Cambion stepped closer. Her wings opened wide before they gingerly and carefully wrapped themselves around Jaheira's body, encasing her in a warm, leathery cocoon.

"Don't be afraid", Mizora cooed, "I promise, I will be gentle."

Her hand tightened around the harper's jawline and Mizora guided their heads closer to one another, even bending down a touch to make the following kiss easier. As their lips touched, Jaheira would hear a brief whooshing sound. It was Mizora's wings, trembling ever so slightly. Her kiss was soft and almost a bit succulent as the Cambion nibbled at Jaheira's lips, though wisely kept her tongue with its sharp hooks on the surface to itself. A low purr originated from Mizora's throat as she gave the harper a firm, yet gentle and carefully controlled kiss, which might be compared to a cat softly sniffing your nose.

@harpershigh

[nourishandthrive]

Eco-Friendly Beauty Products: Top Picks and Reviews

Embracing eco-friendly beauty products is a wonderful way to care for yourself while also caring for the planet. These products are made with natural, sustainable ingredients and often come in recyclable or biodegradable packaging. Here are some top picks and reviews of eco-friendly beauty products that you'll love.

Herbivore Botanicals Lapis Facial Oil

This facial oil is perfect for calming and balancing the skin. It's made with natural ingredients like blue tansy and squalane, and it's free from synthetic fragrances and dyes.

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RMS Beauty "Un" Cover-Up Concealer

A versatile product that acts as both a concealer and a foundation. It provides excellent coverage while nourishing the skin with coconut oil and beeswax.

Why It's Eco-Friendly: RMS Beauty focuses on raw, food-grade, and organic ingredients. The packaging is also recyclable.

Ethique Eco-Friendly Solid Shampoo Bars

These solid shampoo bars are highly effective and come in a variety of formulas for different hair types. They lather well and leave hair feeling clean and soft.

Why It's Eco-Friendly: Ethique's products are plastic-free, biodegradable, and compostable. Plus, one bar replaces three bottles of liquid shampoo.

Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser

A luxurious exfoliating cleanser that revitalizes the skin. It's made with natural ingredients like apricot microspheres and BHA from white willow bark.

Why It's Eco-Friendly: Tata Harper uses 100% natural and non-toxic ingredients. The packaging is made of glass and is recyclable.

Ilia Beauty Limitless Lash Mascara

This mascara provides length and volume without clumping or flaking. It's formulated with organic bee and carnauba waxes to nourish lashes.

Why It's Eco-Friendly: Ilia Beauty is committed to clean, natural beauty and uses sustainable packaging materials.

Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics

Known for their vibrant and effective products, Lush offers a wide range of skincare, haircare, and bath products. The Charity Pot Body Lotion, in particular, is hydrating and has a lovely scent.

Why It's Eco-Friendly: Lush focuses on fresh, ethically sourced ingredients and minimal packaging. Many products are sold "naked" without packaging.

Bite Beauty Agave+ Intensive Lip Mask

This lip mask is deeply hydrating and perfect for dry, chapped lips. It's made with agave nectar, jojoba oil, and lanolin.

Why It's Eco-Friendly: Bite Beauty prioritizes clean, food-grade ingredients and uses recyclable packaging.

Tips for Choosing Eco-Friendly Beauty Products

Check Ingredients: Look for natural, organic, and non-toxic ingredients. Avoid products with harmful chemicals like parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.

Packaging Matters: Opt for products with recyclable, biodegradable, or minimal packaging. Brands that offer refillable options are a great choice.

Research Brands: Support brands that prioritize sustainability, ethical sourcing, and cruelty-free practices.

DIY Options: Consider making your own beauty products at home using simple, natural ingredients.

Switching to eco-friendly beauty products is a fantastic way to support your health and the environment. These top picks offer a range of benefits, from nourishing your skin to reducing waste. By making mindful choices, you can enjoy a beauty routine that's both effective and sustainable.

What are your favorite eco-friendly beauty products? Share your recommendations and reviews in the comments below! 🌿💚

10 Simple Ways to Live More Sustainably

DIY Natural Skincare Recipes

The Importance of Detoxifying Your Home Environment

Follow me for more tips on eco-friendly living and wellness!

[balduri4ns]

🗨 @refabled | ♡ starter call.

fire roars in the hearth, not as hot as hells fires, but enough for him to make new weapons. it was an upgrade compared to the wooden tools he had been provided in the grove. danger still stalks them. half of his people taken and the others dead. it was a miracle that some of them made it out of the cult's clutches at all. at least, the children were safe. a people cannot grow when they have no one to carry on their legacy. he wishes to help but what could a measly hammer do against the cult of a false god?

dammon starts pacing, looking for something. " where in the hells is that hammer? " the hammer in question was sitting on his belt, right where he had placed it just moments ago. he looks down and pulls it from his belt, before noticing fable standing near. cheeks become tinted pink after knowing someone had seen his foolishness.

" i'd lose my horns if they weren't attached. " the laugh that passes through his lips is tainted with an edge. " i'm distracted. i know we are lucky - if you could call it that. the harpers have welcomed us with open arms. a touch different from the druids. i just cannot help but to think.. if i had done more, would more of my kin be safe? " he shakes his head, looking towards her with sadness in bright blues. " i know i've said it before, but i am relieved and glad that you made it through this cursed place. you add.. beauty.. i mean, uh, light to the scenery. right, well.." he laughs at himself breathlessly before scratching at the back of his neck. " you have protected us and more. i'm not so easy to trust people or even to admire them, but i do you. i'd like us to be friends. that is.. if you would like that as well? "

[aberrant-webnovel]

Chapter 2 - Interview

Chapter 2 - Interview

I tapped my feet a bit while waiting patiently. I was brought to a waiting room at one of the labs after Auntie Harper found me and Silva. I wonder if Silva is going to be upset with me for not hurrying. She didn't want to get caught by Harper.

I just stared around at the room I was in. It's a white room. Bright, enameled paneling lined the ground. Easy to clean and looked nice. The ceiling has similar paneling to the ground, but some of the panels were a bit different. An electrical charge being linked to it caused the panels to glow and produce light. This type of lighting was common in the whole of the HQ.

There's a few chairs in here, but I'm the only one sitting and waiting. There are two doors. One of them links to the hallway I was guided through to enter this room. The other door led to one of the testing areas.

In the corner of the room is a screen. It's a standard liquid crystal display, but it's an older model so the body of it was a bit bulkier. Newer model are slim and sleek, easy to mount, and don't break very often. This one seemed in good condition. The picture quality was clear and the sound coming from the speakers were easy to understand. Not distortion at all.

[Thanks to the efforts of our local Vault Breakers, another important discovery has been made. Following in the footsteps of the great 60th Chief, the 61st Chief, Harper Dirge, has found recording devices from a recent foray into a Class 3 Vault. She and her personal guard had spent two weeks inside and returned with no casualties. The tech brought back seems to be able to be reverse engineered to give us new light on the purpose of the Vaults. "It'll be a few months before the tech will be implemented," says R&D Commander Varun Dirge. "We have also collected various records from the same Vault that we hope to be able to full study." Now we just hope that more enlightening information comes in future updates. Thank you for your time. I've been Lillian Moss from Igneol Broadcasting Channel 4 News. Stay strong, Domain!]

The outro played before product advertisements began to follow. But what was that about Auntie Harper? She just got back from a two week deployment?

"Geez, Auntie really is the best out there, huh?"

"Well she did learn everything she could from nana."

I turned around to see Silva closing the door behind her as she entered the waiting room. I didn't even hear her come in. She's always been like that, though. I wonder if she's trying to join the Scout corps?

Just kidding. Her dream has always been to join R&D.

"She didn't scold you too much, did she?"

"Oh I definitely got an earful. Every time I'm scolded, I'm just thankful she's my Auntie and not my mom. I'd probably be all worked up all the time like she is if I had to put up with that at home."

"Yeah, I can see that. I don't see her very much so her scoldings are rare. Seems like she let you stay, though. She on board with you enlisting?"

"She kind of just relented. Dad came in to save me from the "Fireball" and talked her down a bit. In the end, she said that if I can prove through the testing that I can join, then it's fine. After that, I just came right over here. Testing should be starting soon."

"Nervous?"

"Yeah, I am. I'm not very strong. But I don't want to fight, anyway. I want to join dad in the R&D corp. If I can prove that I'd useful there, then I can enlist."

I'm really proud of Silva. She was just a bit older than me, but was often picked on and excluded for being smaller and weaker than others. She has long, beautiful hair that seemed to make other girls jealous, too. They'd often throw paints at her to ruin the color. One day, she dyed it all blue and yelled at the girls. She told them there wasn't anything to be jealous and mean about anymore. She was laughed off, but all of us in the family saw it as the first time she fought back. That blue hair because her signature style and frequently touched up the color with dye. Ever since she found that courage, she studied and worked hard to learn what it took to join the Vault Breakers. Being her father's daughter, it was natural that she'd pick up whatever her dad taught.

"You're gonna make it, you know? Not a single person in the family thinks you're not capable."

"Yeah? Well I guess I gotta live up to that then, huh?"

"Yup! Live up to our expectations! You owe us!

"Oh, I owe you for believing in me, now?"

I missed our back and forths. Silva was shy, but she lit up when we'd talk and play as kids. Neither of us have siblings, but she was just like my big sister.

The door to the lab area creaked open and a tall, tired man came into the room, closing the door behind him. He had a clipboard with various documents. He flipped through a few pages and then looked up at us.

"Ymir Sorenson and Silva Dirge. Legacy applicants, yeah?"

He looked at us with a cocked eyebrow. I don't have any idea what kind of opinion he had of us. Our families were famous in this place, but it's not like everyone in our bloodlines was some monster of a soldier. Both Silva and I lack any of the intimidation or coolness that Auntie Harper or Gajjet had. I wasn't really anything like my father or grandfather, either.

"Well let's see if you're up to snuff. We're going to move to another room in the labs. I'll walk you through the legal paperwork and what to expect from our testing. Oh, and I'm Dr. Clive Earnest. Nice to meet the two of you."

Dr. Clive nodded his head like a tiny, informal bow as he greeted us. Then he just opened the door to the lab area and gestured for Silva and I to go inside. So we did.

The hallway we entered wasn't as bright and inviting as the waiting room. It was a narrow path over dark steel panels and steel framework for walls. The lighting was a series of old lightbulbs. That type of lighting was only commonly used in poorer homes since they were cheap to produce.

Through the hall was a doorway that lacked any door. It was just a passage through to a large section of the lab. We passed through with Dr. Clive following behind. Stepping into the lab was exhilarating.

The room before me was massive. High ceiling and long walled areas to allow plenty of room for all sorts of machines. As I walked into the room, my eyes were drawn to a work station at the back left side of the room. Different guns were being disassembled, tuned, and reassembled by a few diligent workers. I recognized something on the work station.

A Mk.6 Caliburn. I heard stories about how Gajjet used one of those when she was trailblazing through Vaults. It's a heavy gun, fires heavy rounds, and has an imposing black steel finish. The model over there wasn't my nana's gun. But it was the same kind of thing.

"Hurry the hell up, Ymir! You always stare at things and get left behind."

Silva grabbed my hand and started pulling me along. She was right. I did have a bad habit like that. Hopefully that doesn't hurt my scores in the test.

"Yeah, yeah! Geez! I'm coming!"

We hurried along to a room in another corner of the lab. It seems like there are a few private offices over here. Some were reserved for officers, others reserved for the testing. We went to an unmarked room, but not after passing some of the others. We saw the plaque for Uncle Varun's office, but his curtains were pulled so it wasn't possible to see into the office. Knowing him, he's hiding a catastrophic mess inside there and would be embarrassed to show it.

"Both of you, please take a seat in this office here."

Dr. Clive unlocked a room with a keycard and opened the door. There were two chairs with felt seats in front of a desk. Behind the desk was a nice faux-leather desk chair.

I followed Silva into the room. We each took a seat. I was on the right, she took the left. Dr. Clive sat down in the single desk chair and began to open up drawers in the desk. After a few, I saw two stacks of documents assembled and presented to my cousin and I.

"Start by reading the liability contracts. Once you understand them, I'll collect your signatures. Then we'll fill out the personal information documents."

I started the slog of reading through the contract. A lot of your standard clauses existed. We'd sign as proof that we're consenting to the tests. They possess a risk of physical harm at times, but the safety precautions were actually very detailed. In the event of physical harm, I won't take action against the Vault Break HQ. I would also be awarded compensation for medical expenses and given personal treatment by the Medic corps if I so wished.

I continued to read. As I reached the end, I nodded to myself and resolved to sign the consent form. I looked to Silva. A cold sweat was forming on her brow. The anxiety was clearly getting to her right now. I know Silva wasn't too strong and she was already worried about the testing. Even if she was just here to study tech and join her dad's team, but she still had to go through the formalities.

"Hey, I know you can do this. Even if it's hard, I'm gonna be here too. We're gonna pass together. Okay?"

"… Yeah. If you're going to be here and you believe in me like that, then I can do this too. Yeah…"

We both were resolved now. I trusted her to have my back, too, but I wasn't going to mention it. I didn't want her to feel any extra pressure. I know she was resolved, though.

"Then if you're both ready, please sign here."

I was presented the consent form. I signed it. Ymir Sorenson.

Silva signed hers after watching me. Silva Dirge.

"Thank you. Now, let's go over the personal information. We'll begin with simple stuff. After that, I'll interview you both."

We received the next set of documents and started to fill out the blank area.

[YMIR SORENSON] [AGE: 19] [BLOOD TYPE: B-]

[HEIGHT: 68 INCHES] [WEIGHT: 136 LBS]

[EDUCATION: SECONDARY SCHOOL, GENERAL EDUCATION]

[WORK HISTORY: WAREHOUSE ASSISTANT, DELIVERY DRIVER]

[CHARACTER REFERENCE: ?]

"Excuse me, but how should I fill out this part?"

I pointed at the section for "character references" and asked this question. Dr. Clive looked at it and nodded.

"Ah, well you're both legacies. We have a bit of preferential treatment to the family of our officers. The Dirge family and Sorenson family are long-standing and both have served the Vault Breakers. Just put the names of any family currently serving as Vault Breakers and we'll just be doing a short interview with them a short time later. As long as they don't refuse you to join, we'll take that as enough."

So we were going to get special treatment because of Auntie and Uncle? I guess I can't complain about that, but I don't love it. I wanted to really earn this.

"Well I'll put down Varun and Harper then. Silva, same for you?"

"Yeah, they're the only ones in our family currently serving."

"Then let's do that."

[CHARACTER REFERENCE: HARPER DIRGE, VARUN DIRGE]

I filled out the rest of the info to the best of my ability. It was just simple things like my address and and some contact info for immediate family. I gave them Harper's contact info since my mom couldn't speak. She wouldn't be able to talk on a comm system.

Silva gave Varun's info. He was probably the best for that. He did his research here and was a Commander to boot.

"Very well. Then let's talk about why you're enlisting. I'll be jotting down notes for reference. Let's start with Miss Silva. Please tell me your reasons."

I watched her lips quiver a bit. I don't think she was expecting to go first. If Dr. Clive was testing her nerves, then perhaps the test had already begun.

"My father, Varun Dirge, is an inspiration to me, sir. As far back as I can remember, I was with my father in his workshop at home trying to watch and learn from him. I may not be fit for battle, but I want to follow my father. So my goal is become part of my father's team in the R&D corp."

"That's very admirable. But just so you know, Commander Varun doesn't have a regular team. He only ever takes on two assistants here and instead delegates tasks to other teams in his corp. He also works most closely with Chief Harper. You intend to rise up in the field to the level of assisting our top brass, then?"

"Yes, sir. I've known about that from the beginning. I won't join my father right away. I will join the corpS and prove that I'm an asset to everyone."

"Thank you very much, Miss Silva. Now, Mr. Ymir, please tell me your reasoning for joining."

It was time for me. I didn't feel too many nerves in this test so far. Not even many now. So I looked Dr. Clive in the eyes and told him my reasons.

"I grew up hearing stories about my nana. Gajjet Dirge, the Hellion of Igneol Domain. She's a legend that won't be forgotten. I want to reach her heights."

"So you want to be like the Hellion? She was trained by Yorrick Bartman himself. Not a single Vault Breaker on the continent can hold a candle to those two."

"Yes, sir. I want to follow her path. But I don't want to just follow. I want to surpass Gajjet Dirge."

"…"

A moment of silence took over. I didn't know what Dr. Clive was thinking. Only that whatever it was, he began to grow a serious demeanor. He'd been lax and friendly til now.

"So do you know what the Hellion's greatest feat was?"

"The knowledge she retrieved and used to advance our understanding of the Vaults, right?"

"She escaped a Class 5 Vault."

"What do you mean? Something like that has never been found."

"Yorrick Bartman died in that Vault. He saved Gajjet Dirge and a young woman."

"A young woman…? You mean… mom?"

"That's right. She never told you that she was pulled out of a place like that?"

"Not exactly. She said it was Class 3. Wait, what do you mean a Class 5? Doesn't that mean my mom was surviving somewhere like that?"

"I think you need to somehow get her to tell you. I've read all the files that the last R&D Commander left on the topic. But we don't know what your mother went through. Only she can really fill you in."

"…"

Mom was found in a Class 5 Vault? Isn't that some place that's so terrifyingly dangerous that creatures have never been recorded? Aren't they supposedly strong enough to break out on their own? Why haven't I heard that a place like that exists?

"I can tell you this. It's not a secret in the R&D corps. We just have a policy that we don't talk to the media. We leave all that to the Commander. So don't go talking about this with the people who don't need to know."

"Yeah, I can do that."

Silva was silent for a few seconds, but then responded the same. She hadn't made any comments so far. I wonder what she thought about this stuff.

"So Gajjet Dirge, Yorrick Bartman, and a C-Ranker Scout called Carlyle were tasked with breaking into a Class 3 Vault. An initial entry brought back a report of very little aberration activity, but the ones that were encountered were tough. They were of a type we hadn't yet identified. The crew wasn't supposed to take too long with the job since Gajjet was one of our up-and-coming elites. She hadn't met a Vault she wasn't able to learn about and conquer. From her own report, it took about three days to reach the heart of the place. That's when they discovered your mother. After rescuing her, they seemed to have triggered a defense system. The three of them took six more days to fight through the swarms of unknown enemies. They made it to the blast doors and I think we all know the rest."

"So what was going on in that Vault?"

"We later tried doing some more investigations, but we discovered that something about the Vault changed. Now, even at the safest levels of the Vault, those aberrations were swarming. Multiple parties were dispatched, but there were too many casualties so we pulled out from the investigation. It wasn't until some started escaping that we had to act with urgency. An elite Runner team dispatched the escapees and a Breaker team was sent to seal the Vault. Since that day and even now, we have it under surveillance. We refuse to allow media anywhere near it. Because of the level of power those things have and how tenacious they are with trying to escape, we had to classify it as the first Class 5 Vault in history."

"So Gajjet made it all the way through that place and still escaped? That's where they found mom?"

"Yeah. But your mom couldn't tell us about it. She didn't have the clearest memory. Even after she learned to communicate through writing, she told us only about the same as what Gajjet reported. And only the last couple days or so of the escape."

"I don't know what she'll tell me, but I'll try to talk about it when I see her."

"Maybe you'll learn something nobody else could."

"Yeah…"

Mom. What have you been through?